Protective Custody by Dorsai

Copyright (c) 2003 - Dorsai


LEGAL DISBLAMER This is a dirty, nasty, *filthy* story – or some people
would have you believe. If you’re old enough to read it in your area,
make up your own mind. If you’re not ‘of age’, then you’re not
_supposed_ to be reading this stuff. Don’t get caught – I won’t accept
the blame.

INFORMATION You can get a copy of this story in text and .pdf (Adobe
Acrobat) formats, and my other stories, at the alt.sex.stories text
repository at www.asstr.org under my Author name of Dorsai. Or, if you
prefer, you can read it as an HTML document on my web page at asstr. If
you do, *PLEASE* make a donation to them so they can continue to afford
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and you can donate anonymously - see their donations page to learn how.

You can reach me directly at my public email account at:

dorsai@mail.com

This story is released for FREE public distribution provided the
copyright notice is retained. This story is NOT FOR SALE at any time, by
anyone. This story may NOT be included in any collections or posted on
any site for which ANY type of fee or other charge is required before
the user can read it. I *WILL* prosecute any violations of my copyright,
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I first met Lucy when she moved into the apartment building I lived in
at the time, becoming my next door neighbor. Not long after that, I met
her daughter Robyn - and a bit later, deflowered the then-13-year-old at
her insistence. Along the way, I got the two of them to start actually
talking to each other to the point that they were able to get along much
better than either of them had thought possible. That led to Lucy and me
becoming first friends, and then lovers.

It was while Lucy was on a business trip that I was asked to deflower
Robyn's 15-year-old best friend Sandra, again at the youngster's
request. During Lucy's business trip, she found some irregularities and
experienced a few problems with the company that she and her staff were
auditing for a client. She asked me to help find out what was going on
because I was someone she trusted, and I knew enough about computers to
be able to help.

I did the job under contract, and found that the company had been used
for a number of illegal activities, along with being systematically
looted by its upper management. The client wanted to prosecute as well
as see if they could get their money back, and Lucy and I took the case
to the local FBI office because much of the activity clearly involved a
number of out-of-state banks and other operations. By the time it was
all over, I'd earned myself a nice percentage of the 300+ million
dollars that I'd been able to direct the FBI toward recovering - as well
as almost literally handing them the evidence they'd needed to prosecute
by turning over a laptop with the details of what had happened. As the
case developed, Lucy, Robyn, Sandra, and I 'came clean' with each other
about the various permutations of relationships and bed partners. We
also got FBI protection because of involvement by what the FBI
delicately called "an organized crime element". One of the members of
that protective detail became friendly with us - friendly to the point
of joining all four of us in bed.

When the case was over, Lucy and I married, and I adopted Robyn. With my
new wealth, Lucy and I moved into a house closer to where Robyn's friend
Sandra lived, and the two of them spent a considerable amount of time
together - as well as with Lucy and me.

A couple of years later, I got a call from that agent - Amy - requesting
my technical skills as a computer jock to help them break up a small
drug cartel. Along the way, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and
becoming intimate with a couple of the people that were involved with
the case - and then bringing them 'into the fold' with Lucy, Robyn,
Sandra, and Amy. To my deep regret, the druggies we'd been after decided
to try and scare me off by hiring a contract killer to eliminate
Sandra's parents. In the aftermath of that tragedy, I wound up adopting
Sandra, too - and took great pride when she asked to call me her Uncle
Dan. The case ultimately ended with a number of massive raids by the FBI
against a number of different dealers across the country.

The friendships we'd all developed continued throughout the following
years; every so often, one or more of them would join our family for a
period of loving time together.

Lucy, Robyn, Sandra, and I were sitting in the living room one evening
watching a movie on TV when the phone rang. Since I had Sandra on my lap
as the two of us casually and affectionately molested each other, Robyn
got up off of Lucy's lap - where the two of them had been doing much the
same thing - to answer the phone.

I heard Robyn's delighted squeal after answering, followed by a brief
conversation before she brought the phone to me. I looked at her
questioningly, and she simply said "Amy" before handing over the phone.

"Hi, Amy" I greeted her, before asking "What's up? You get some time
off, and want to visit for a while?"

I heard her gentle laughter before she answered "I wish! No, Dan, I'm
calling about something else."

Something about the way she answered got my attention, and I stopped
teasing Sandra's left nipple before asking "What is it?"

At the tone of my voice, Sandra, Robyn, and Lucy all turned to listen to
me.

"I've got a favor to ask, Dan", Amy responded.

"You know I'll do what I can, Amy."

I heard her deep sigh over the phone before she said "I got a call from
the SAC - Special Agent in Charge - in your town. He's got a little bit
of a situation, and he wanted to know if there was anything I could do
to help. I can't do anything to help him, but I think you might be able
to, if you're willing."

Mildly exasperated, I asked "Amy, when have I not been willing to help
the FBI?" - my words definitely got Lucy and the girls' attention, as
well as giving them warning that Something Was Up.

Amy sighed again, and answered "You haven't - but this situation isn't
like anything you've done for us before."

"So tell me."

"Okay, but I have to give you a little background, first."

"I'm listening..."

"He's been running a case in your area, trying to get a handle on a
relatively small group of, well, thugs. They've been involved in a lot
of different things in a small way - small enough to pretty much stay
under the radar, so to speak, and careful enough that they haven't left
any loose threads for us to latch on to." Amy had told us once that the
FBI - and law enforcement in general - couldn't do much about any
particular crime until and unless the person or people involved made a
mistake, saying "There's no such thing as the perfect crime. Sooner or
later, EVERY criminal makes a mistake, and it's that certainty that
we're geared for and count on. All we need is a single loose thread -
sometimes literally! - and we can unravel all their planning and
scheming to build a case the puts them away."

I asked "What is it they're up to, and then?"

"Like I said, a lot of different things", she answered, and then seemed
to run down a mental list: "A little gun smuggling. Snuff films.
Blackmail. Turning kids - girls and boys - as young as middle school
into prostitutes. Insurance scams. The list goes on."

"So how do I come into this?" I asked.

"Dale Kristofferson - he's Agent in Charge there - got his break when
the wife of one of the upper-level scumbags walked into his office and
offered to tell him anything and everything about the operation. She
said that she could live with him abusing her, but when he started
talking about 'breaking in' their fifteen year old daughter, it was too
much."

"Okay, that's the 'why' of it - but you still haven't answered the 'how'
part" I told her.

Another sigh, and she said "The 'how' is that she said she'd only give
up the info if the Bureau would put her someplace he couldn't find them
- she's literally scared spitless of him. Dale offered witness
protection, but she didn't trust it. He offered a protective detail, and
she just laughed, saying that the guy had enough people in law
enforcement working for him that she might as well stand out on the
street corner. Dale got her fixed up with one of those Winnebago jobs
that they're moving every couple of nights, but he and she both know
that can't last too long. So he's looking for something - anything! -
that might bring her around. Like I said, I can't help him, but thought
maybe you could - by taking her into something like protective custody."

"What do you mean?" I asked, somewhat baffled.

"I mean that if you're willing, she might agree to stay at your place
where you can watch out for her. Between your background and that alarm
system you've got, there's a chance that she might go for it -
particularly with you not being in 'law enforcement', per se. I know
it's a lot to ask, and I'll understand if you decide to say 'no'. And I
haven't told Dale about this yet - I just said that I'd see if I
couldn't come up with something. So if you do turn it down, you won't
have to worry about any bad feelings or anything."

I sat there for a bit, thinking about what she'd told me - not just
about what it would mean to me and my family, but to the woman and her
daughter. And the kinds of things that Amy had told me the woman's
husband was involved in.

I finally told Amy "Okay, Amy, I'll think about it - but you know it's
not just my decision."

"I know that, Dan. That's why I'm telling you that if you have to turn
it down, I'll completely understand. To tell you the truth, I'm not real
happy about even asking you about this - but it's the only thing I could
come up with."

"I figured as much, Amy. Can I call you back tomorrow, sometime?"

"Of course, Dan - take whatever time you need."

"Thanks, Amy. Tomorrow, then" I said, and heard her answer "Tomorrow"
before both of us hung up the phone.

I could only sit there, trying to figure out how to even begin bringing
this new 'adventure' up with the rest of them.? My reverie was
interrupted by Lucy's quiet "What is it, Dan? Does Amy need help with
something again?" the worry clear in her voice. My last experience at
helping the FBI hadn't gone as quietly and smoothly as ANY of us would
have liked.

I looked up at her, and saw the concern on her face before looking at
Robyn and Sandra, each of them mirroring her expression.

I released my own heavy sigh, and said "Not Amy, exactly. It's the local
office that needs help, and it's a real gem."

Lucy and the girls waited (mostly) patiently while I got my thoughts
together before I started telling them about Amy's request - and the who
and why of it.

As I talked, filling in the blanks that I knew Amy had left out, first
Lucy, and then the girls, grew paler and paler as I explained the
situation - and particularly, what the woman's husband and his cohorts
were up to.

By the time I was done, all three of them were clearly disgusted,
worried, outraged, and fearful by turns.

I finished up by telling them "Okay, you know who, what, when, where,
and why. I'm going to tell you right now that this isn't going to happen
unless it's by unanimous agreement. I'm not going to tell you what I
think should happen - quite honestly, I don't even know what I think
about it yet. And I don't think any of you should say out loud what YOU
think about it, either. IF this happens, it's going to affect ALL of us
- this woman and her daughter are going to be in our home, living with
us day in and day out for some unknown period of time. It might be a few
days; it might be a few MONTHS. I think we can safely assume that both
of them would come in here with some emotional and mental baggage. If
they're in our home, I don't think it would be... prudent to have them
find out about us and our relationship with each other. We would
basically have to put on our 'public' face in our own home AND deal with
a couple of people that we might discover we don't like and are probably
going to have their own 'issues' - and not only put up with them, but
actually try to protect them however we can in whatever way they might
need."

All three of them nodded solemnly, and I went on "I just told you, I'm
not even sure what I think about this. What I want to do - and what I
think all of you should do, too - is find a quiet spot by myself to
really think this through. When I'm done, I'll come back here. When
you've made your decision, you come back, too. Okay?"

They all nodded, and each got up and left to find their own place to
figure out what they wanted to do. As I expected, Lucy made her way
toward our bedroom; I left her to it, and went out to my office in the
small building near our swimming pool. It was a good two hours before I
made my way back to the living room - and I was the first one there.

Over the next hour, first Sandra then Robyn joined me. A bit later, Lucy
made her way in, too - carrying the small dish that I dumped my pocket
change into and a small vase. I looked at her in curiosity, but she just
gave me a look that said 'wait and see'.

We sat trying not to look at each other for a couple of minutes before
Lucy spoke up, saying "It looks like we've all made our decision - and I
suspect that none of you wants to say anything because you either don't
want to influence anyone else, or because you're afraid you'll be the
'odd' one. So I came up with a solution: I'm going to put the change
dish and the vase over there on the table. Each of us will go over and
take a coin out of the dish, and drop it in the vase - a penny if we say
'no' or a nickel if we say 'yes'. The table is far enough away, and I'll
put the dish and vase close enough together, that none of us will be
able to tell who got which coin. When we're done, we empty the vase here
on the coffee table. If there's even one penny, we don't do it.
Everybody understand?"

We all smiled and nodded - it was a fairly elegant solution of how to
'vote' without being singled out.

Lucy went on to say "I know you girls are old enough to do it anyway,
but I want to make sure we ALL understand that if each of us isn't
absolutely sure that we can do this, and then we should vote 'no' - this
isn't something where 'I think I can' is good enough. Okay?"

Another round of nods and Lucy got up to put the dish and vase on the
table - and stepping away from them so we could all see that the dish
was in front of the vase, making it easy for each of us to use our body
to block the view of the rest.

Lucy came back and sat down before saying "Dan, since Amy brought it up
with you, I think you should go ahead and vote first, then Robyn, and
then Sandra. I'll vote last, and bring the vase with me."

Without a word, I got up and went over to the table. With a sudden
inspiration, I picked out a coin and dropped it in the vase - then
stepped aside so they could watch as I 'stirred' the contents of the
change dish, making it impossible for anyone to even guess which one I'd
selected. Lucy smiled and nodded as I made my way back to my seat. Robyn
stood, and went over to make her decision known before following my
example of stirring the change. When Robyn was seated, Sandra stood and
did as we had. Finally, it was Lucy's turn, and she stirred the change
as well before returning with the vase.

Seated, she looked at each of us before quietly moving to turn the vase
upside down on top of the coffee table, keeping its contents hidden -
then slowly lifting it up to reveal four nickels face up on the glass.
We all looked at each other for a few moments before breaking into
subdued smiles.

"I'll call Amy in the morning and let her know we're willing to help", I
told them quietly.

Lucy spoke up, saying "Now that that's out of the way, I think we'd all
better get to bed - it's late, and tomorrow will be here all too soon."

Robyn and Sandra stood and came over to give Lucy and me each a kiss
before heading upstairs, hand in hand.

When they were gone, Lucy came over to sit in my lap, playfully slapping
my arm when I released a fake groan of complaint - she knew full well
that I enjoyed having her on my lap, and that I was teasing her.

"Dan, I already knew this is right, and I figured you'd say 'yes', too.
But I have to admit that I'm still a little surprised that both of them
voted to do it, too. As much as they like being with you, and with me, I
half-expected that one or the other would say 'no'. It makes me so proud
of them that they'd be willing to put their wants aside to help someone
with as many troubles as this woman, and her daughter."

I kissed her on the tip of her nose and answered "Yup. I think we can
safely conclude that they've turned into the kind of people we wanted
them to be, no matter what else happens."

Lucy gave me a small hug, and the two of us sat there for several
minutes, each contemplating just how proud and pleased we were with the
way Robyn and Sandra had matured - even more than they'd already
demonstrated to both of us before then.

Ten o'clock the next morning, I called Amy's office - and was surprised
when I was put right through to her.

"Thanks for getting back to me so soon, Dan. I'll call Dale and let him
know that I wasn't able to come up with anything for him."

"Whoa, Amy! I'm calling to let you know that we decided that we COULD do
it", I told her when I heard her pause to take a breath.

There was dead silence on the phone for several long seconds before I
heard a soft "I'll be damned" before a relieved voice told me "Thanks,
Dan. That's nowhere near enough - again! - but it's what I have. I'll
call Dale, and give him your number so he can make arrangements to meet
with you; and I'll send him a copy of our file, so he knows exactly who
he's got on his side."

"That's fine, Amy", I answered.

A pregnant pause, and she asked "I've got to know - how did you decide?"

I gave her a quick synopsis, and another few seconds went by before she
said "Every time I forget how grown up those two young ladies are, they
go and do something like this to hammer it home again. I figured you'd
be willing, and that Lucy might go for it - but I never really thought
that Robyn and Sandra would. I know how much it means to them to be able
to come to you and Lucy whenever they need or want; I honestly didn't
expect them to put that aside for something like this."

I smiled to myself, and told her "Yeah, it kinda surprised Lucy and me,
too."

I heard Amy's soft laugh before she said "I don't know if I should be
pleased or amazed that those two could surprise you and Lucy!"

"Probably a little of both, just like we are", I answered.

"Well, you make sure and let them know how much this means to me, Dan."

I released my own laugh, and said "Don't you figure they already know,
Amy?"

"Yeah, I guess they do" she answered with her own laugh, before saying
"I'm sorry, Dan, but I've got to go. I'll get this to Dale right away,
so you should hear from him pretty quick."

"I'll be here" I promised her before putting the phone back in its
cradle.

I wasn't particularly that surprised when I the phone rang barely an
hour later; Amy had said that they were worried about the woman being
'outed'.

I answered it after the second ring, and after answering "Dan Andrews
here", heard a pleasant baritone say "This is Dale Kristofferson, Mr.
Andrews. Amy has told me that you would be willing to make your home
available as a, um, sanctuary for someone that I would like to see
protected. Is that correct?"

"Yes, it is" I answered.

"Amy has already filled me in a little on your previous experience with
the Bureau, Mr. Andrews, and is sending me a copy of the Bureau's file
on you that should be here tomorrow morning. Would it be possible for
you to meet with me tomorrow afternoon, after I've had a chance to look
it over? I'll be happy to meet with you either here in my office, at
your home, or anyplace convenient for you. For reasons I think you
understand, sooner would be better."

His words and tone told me that he really was worried about the woman. I
answered him by saying "Since my home would be the sanctuary, you might
find it reassuring to see for yourself what I have to offer, Agent
Kristofferson. I work from my home, so feel free to stop in any time you
wish tomorrow, morning or afternoon". I figured that once he'd read my
file, he'd be visiting as soon as he could manage: Amy had let me read
it myself one day; on paper at least, I even impressed myself.

"Any time, Mr. Andrews?" He sounded dubious.

"Yes, any time, Agent Kristofferson", I reassured him.

"Tomorrow, then" he said, by way of ending the call.

I have to admit that I was still surprised when someone rang the
doorbell shortly after nine thirty the next morning, and I saw what
could only be an FBI agent on my doorstep - and thus, must have been
Agent Kristofferson.

I opened the door and invited him in, pretending not to notice the odd
look on his face as he got the chance to actually see the person he'd
only known through a folder full of papers.

I stuck my hand out and said "Agent Kristofferson, I presume. Dan
Andrews; I'm pleased to meet you." As we were sizing each other up,
Sunshine, our family dog came up to greet him - and got the attention
she craved, if only for a few seconds.

He shook with me, and I led him through the house and out to my office.
Along the way, from the corner of my eye, I could see him looking over
our house - and felt mildly pleased. Lucy had seen to decorating and
furnishing it with simple elegance; there wasn't anything 'fancy' like
antiques, but all of it was of simple design and the highest quality.
Once in my office, I showed him a chair, and then took my seat behind my
desk. A few seconds went by and I quietly asked him "Would you be kind
enough to give me a little more information about just who it is that
I'm opening my home to?"

With a guilty start, he said "I'm sorry. Our file on you - the
classified version, much to my surprise - was waiting for me when I got
to the office this morning, and I read it immediately. I have to admit,
Mr. Andrews, I've never heard about, never mind actually met, anyone
quite like you before. I trust you won't be offended if I say that I
took the time to make a couple of phone calls to verify some of the
things I saw in your file. Reading about you and your background was
really.... something."

I grinned and said "I assure you - it was really something from my
perspective, too."

He managed a small smile, and I went on to tell him "Agent
Kristofferson, it might be easier if we ratchet this down a little. I'm
a guy that happened to be in the right place at the right time with the
right training and experience - and a fair measure of luck. But I'm
still just a guy - a wife, a couple kids, and an interest in doing what
I can for people that need a little help. How about calling me Dan? If
this goes through, it'll make things a bit easier for both of us."

He just looked at me for a few moments, and said "Okay, Dan. I don't
know about the 'just a guy' part after reading your file and knowing
what you're willing to do to help, though. I'm Dale, by the way."

I got up and went to the fridge I kept in the office and pulled out a
couple bottles of beer, handed him one of them, and took my seat again.
He looked at me strangely, and I just said "I'm sure the sun's over the
yardarm somewhere, and I expect we've got a bit of talking to do. No
sense getting thirsty in the process. If we're going to be working
together, we might as well make it as easy and friendly as possible for
both of us, don't you think?"

He gave me a wry smile in answer and lifted the bottle to his mouth as I
did the same.

Over the next hour, he filled me in on the details of what he needed and
why he needed it. When he was done, I was all the more certain that I
wanted to help him as much as I could; even if the woman turned down the
offer to stay with us, I was going to ask if there was anything else I
could do to be of assistance - and absently toyed with the idea of
contacting some of my old Army buddies before deciding not to. Last time
I'd done so, Lucy had made it more than clear that such things were way
down on her list of Good Things To Do.

"So now you know what's been going on, and who's been doing it" Dale
told me, adding "If you're still willing to take the chance to help,
I'll be more than happy to fill you in on the woman and her daughter
before you meet them."

I drained the last few drops of beer from the bottle and tossed it into
the wastebasket before telling him "I'm still willing. And even if she
doesn't feel safe in my place, I want you to know that I'll do anything
I can to help."

The relief was plain on his face when he said "Thank you, Dan" before
draining his bottle and depositing it next to mine with a soft clink of
glass.

I stood up and said "I think it'll help you convince her if you know
what kind of security system I've got on this place. The last time I
worked for the Bureau, some druggies went after the parents of my
daughter's best friend, killing them. After that, I put a system on this
place - a damn good system."

I saw his eyes flicker as I was talking, and he answered "When I got
this office last year, the man I took over from told me about that event
- but not who you were by name. I'm sorry you, and she, had to go
through something like that. If it's any help, the Bureau and local cops
have infiltrated and busted every gang that's even thought about doing
anything like that since then. There're still drug gangs out there, but
they're small and they spend a LOT of time looking over their
shoulders." With that, he got up and followed me outside, where I gave
him the dime tour of the place, pointing out and explaining the
different security measures and devices. Then it was inside for another
tour of what wasn't visible to the outside. By the time we finished up
in the kitchen, he was visibly impressed.

I poured each of us some coffee, and after I handed him his cup, he
asked "If you don't mind my asking, what did that system cost you?"

"I don't mind", I answered, "A touch over fifty grand" - he gave a
silent whistle - "what with labor and materials. The guy that did it was
a friend of a friend; when he heard why I wanted it, he did it 'for
cost'; he's also doing the monitoring of it for free, too - he's got
kids of his own, and wanted to show his appreciation for what I did
helping bust up the drug gangs."

He nodded, and let me usher him to the little breakfast nook where each
of us took a seat. I spoke first, saying "Dale, I've got no problems
doing this to help you out. But there are a couple of things that I'd
like to ask, in return."

He nodded and said "If I can".

"First, I'd like my wife to be issued a Federal carry permit."

He looked doubtful, and I explained "She's already got a local permit.
The Federal would just make things a bit easier. If the woman or her
daughter DO have to go out - something I think we can pretty much count
on - then Lucy will be able to keep them company in places I couldn't."

He nodded at the logic, but still seemed hesitant.

I realized what the problem might be, and told him "Lucy does know how
to shoot. I taught her." I could see that he was still uncertain, and
added "If you want, I'll have her go up against any firearms
qualification you want - yours or the local PD's. Lucy has been through
a couple of Bureau combat ranges, and done better that more than a few
agents - and she practices regularly."

He nodded, and said "Amy told me that Lucy and your daughters had gotten
a little one-on-one training from the Bureau when you helped her last
time. After seeing your file, I know that if YOU taught her, she can
shoot; my only worry was whether or not she had any experience OTHER
than on paper targets. But if she's been through Bureau combat ranges,
and then I don't see why I shouldn't give her a Federal permit. You said
that was first - what else is on your mind?"

"Second, the only contact between me and ANY law enforcement is through
you - you told me that this woman is terrified of her husband, and has
said that he has cops on the payroll. I'm not about to bet my family on
a rigged game."

Again, he nodded before saying "I'd have wanted that, too - for the same
reasons. What else?"

"Third, I think there should be some kind of documented agreement
between me and the Bureau. Maybe a contract for services or something,
so that each of us has a little CYA. If some bean counter insists that
money has to change hands, make it a buck, payable on the Bureau's
closure of the case."

"I can do that. Anything else?"

I looked him square in the eyes and said "Me, I can take care of myself.
But if anybody comes after my family then all bets are off, and I take
care of these pricks."

He visibly blanched, and then swallowed before he could reply "I
understand. I know what you COULD do if you wanted to. And Amy has told
me that she suspects that some of your Army friends may have made their
own... contributions to the last case you were involved with. If there
is any attempt to harm your family, I will NOT actively pursue any
resulting activities - and I'll put that in writing. Anything more than
that, I can't make any promises."

"Fair enough" I answered, adding "This is a very unique situation, Dale,
and I just want to make sure we both understand where the other stands."

"I agree, Dan. I'd have wanted the documentation anyway, and the other
things are consistent with the nature of the help we're asking you for."

He held my eyes as he was saying that, and I knew I could trust him. I
nodded my understanding before asking "Now that we're both on the same
page on this, who is it that I'm letting into my home?"

He reached into his suit and pulled out a photo that he passed across to
me. Looking at it, I saw three people posing for the camera: a vaguely
handsome dark-haired man, a strikingly beautiful woman, and a pretty
young girl that bore a closer resemblance to the woman than the man.

When I looked up at him, Dale told me "What you have there is a copy of
the ONLY picture we have of the man we're after: George 'Frenchy' de la
Roche, a Cajun from way back in the Louisiana bayou country. With him
are his wife Michelle, a Cherokee from Oklahoma, and their daughter
Marie. From all the information we have on him, we know that he's
slippery as an eel and meaner than two pissed-off rattlesnakes. That
photo is about two years old, taken when Michelle was 33 and Marie was
14. Shortly after it was taken, Frenchy decided that Michelle wasn't
keeping him happy enough and beat her badly enough that she had to go to
the hospital for stitches - and to have her broken arm set. Marie had to
go with her to get a dislocated shoulder treated - she'd gotten in the
way of Frenchy while he was beating Michelle. While Michelle was out of
commission, Frenchy took his pleasure with a number of different
prostitutes - bringing them home to where Michelle and Marie were. Along
the way, he picked up a dose of the clap, which he gave to Michelle, and
then accused her of giving it to him before beating her again."

From the tone of his voice, I knew that Dale's opinion of this character
was pretty close to my own.

He continued by saying "Michelle was pretty much resigned to life with
Frenchy - until he started watching Marie a little too close and making
noises about 'breaking her in'. That was the last straw, and Michelle
bailed out on him when she got the chance. When she left, she had a
notebook that she'd used to record a lot the different deals and people
he was involved with: who was doing what for how much, and when they did
it. As you might imagine, Frenchy was NOT amused, nor is he inclined to
forgive and forget. Word on the street is that anyone that turns up
Michelle or Marie gets a cool twenty-five grand 'Finder's fee' - and
that anyone that helps them will be equally UNhappy."

Dale looked at me intently and said "That's where you come in. Michelle
says the notebook is 'someplace safe', and won't turn it over until she
thinks she's well out of Frenchy's range. I've had her in one of those
motorhomes almost since she showed up in my office - she won't stay in a
hotel or motel because she's afraid the staff will recognize her, she
won't accept witness protection because she thinks it's a scam, and she
won't take regular protective custody because she says Frenchy and his
bunch have too many cops and such on their payroll."

He took a deep breath and told me "If - and it's a BIG if - she's
willing to accept your protection in your home, I have no doubt that
she'll turn over Frenchy's notebook to us, and we'll be able to bust his
ass. But until she's sure she and Marie aren't going to fall into his
hands or get killed, I've got nothing - and Frenchy and his pals get to
keep playing their games. There are exactly TWO things that make me
think this even MIGHT work: first, your background and experience.
Second, who you are and where you live. Frenchy and Michelle have almost
always lived their lives in the, shall we say, less-desirable
neighborhoods. This place, this neighborhood, is about as far removed
from that as possible. When I talk to Michelle, I'm going to be hitting
heavily on both of those points. Right now, it's the only shot I've
got."

With a sigh, he sat back and took a deep breath before emptying his
coffee cup. I refilled it from the carafe I'd brought with us before
asking "Would it help any if Michelle got the chance to actually see me
and my family and where we live and all that?"

He shrugged and said "Couldn't hurt."

"Then you're welcome to talk to her here - with or without me or any of
my family present. I don't see any reason not to stack the deck in your
favor as much as you can."

He sighed again, and asked "You wouldn't mind? My having her here?"

I just smiled and said "If she goes for it, she'll be staying here
anyway. Might as well let all of us get a chance to see and meet each
other first."

He gave me a wry grin, and said "True enough. When would it be okay for
me to bring her here?"

"I know time is a factor - why not make it tonight, if you can? That'll
give me time to let the family know, and you and Michelle can come after
dark for a little more cover."

He voiced his agreement, and added "You know this isn't going to be
easy, don't you?"

I gave him my own wry smile and answered "Yeah, I know - I'm pretty much
used to getting the hard ones."

He gave me an appraising look and said "I guess you are, aren't you?"

With that, we both stood up and I escorted him to the door - where he
was obliged to step over our cat, Wacko, who simply assumed that she
owned everything in the house - including the people. As he was leaving,
he told me that he'd call me later to let me know what time to expect
them. I answered that I'd be waiting, and watched as he went to his car
and drove off.

Back inside, I immediately called Lucy at her office and told her what
had gone on - and that we might be having company that night. She
listened carefully, and then assured me that she was fine with all of it
- or at least as fine as she could be until it was resolved, one way or
the other. I told her that I loved her and said that I'd let the girls
know when they got home. Robyn was in her Junior year at high school;
Sandra was in her Freshman year at a local college, and living at home
with us.

I made my way back out to my office where I spent the next few hours
going over the things that I figured I'd have to take care of if
Michelle and Marie did come to stay with us. Still, I was inside the
house, waiting patiently until about 3:30 when Sandra and Robyn got
home. Sandra's schedule was such that she could drop Robyn off at school
before going to her first class of the day; her last class ended in time
for her to bring Robyn home again.

When they came in, I gave them a little time to change clothes or do
whatever they needed or wanted before heading upstairs to talk to them.
I found them in Sandra's room, listening to music as they washed down a
snack with cold sodas. They both looked at me as I came into the room,
and I sat down on the floor across from Robyn so I could look at both of
them as I told them about what Dale and I had talked about - including
the invitation for Dale to talk to Michelle at our place, and why. Both
of them understood, and I told them that I'd tell them more when Lucy
got home, so I'd only have to tell it once. They grinned at me, knowing
full well that either one or both of them, or Lucy, could have as much
of my time and attention as needed or wanted - but that if I could
manage to have to explain something only once, that was what I preferred
to do, if only to be sure that I didn't end up saying it differently in
any subsequent telling.

Satisfied that they were okay, I went back downstairs to wait for Lucy's
arrival home. She'd been promoted several times since I first met her,
and was all but guaranteed promotion to the next vice-president slot
that opened up at her company - not just because of the results of what
I'd done for her and the company she worked for, but because she was a
highly organized and effective boss: she cared about, and took care of,
her people and they responded by functioning like a finely-adjusted
watch; only rarely did ANY of them have to work late, and even then it
was usually because another department forced them to do so. So I wasn't
surprised when I heard Lucy's car pull into our driveway shortly after
5:30; I met her at the door and gave her a big hug and kiss to welcome
her home, just as I always did. I went upstairs with her to our bedroom
and kept her company as she changed out of her 'work' clothes -
teasingly cheering and applauding as she took things off, and booing and
hissing as she redressed. When she was done, I pulled her into my arms
for another hug and kiss before letting her sit down and tell me about
her day. It was something I made a point of doing for her after every
workday, knowing that it helped her 'bleed off' any stress or tension,
and relax after being at work all day.

When she was done, she asked me about the girls, and I told her that I'd
already spoken with them, and told them that we'd all get together after
she got home. She gave me a Look and asked "And you waited until now to
tell me this because... ?"

"Because I love you and wanted you to have a chance to unwind from work
first."

She smiled at me, and moved into my arms to kiss me before saying "Okay,
I'm unwound. Now, let's hear about this Michelle!"

About that time, the phone rang, and Lucy moved out of my arms to answer
it. She listened a moment, and then handed it to me, saying "Dale?"

I nodded that it was okay, took the phone, and said "Dan here. What's
up, Dale?"

"Michelle agreed to meet me tonight, and come over to your place. I told
her enough about the deal that she's at least willing to listen; I'm
hoping that seeing and hearing about you and your family will do the
trick. Would eight o'clock be too late?"

That time of year, the sun was setting a bit after 7:00; 8:00 would give
them the cover of a little darkness while still getting them to our
place relatively early.

"Sure, that's fine. That'll give me time to fill in Lucy and the girls
while we have supper, we'll be all set when you get here."

I heard his sigh of relief before he said "Thanks, Dan. I'll see you at
eight."

"No problem, Dale" I answered, before hanging up the phone.

I turned to Lucy and said "How about pizza for supper? Then we'll have
time to go over all this and still have something to eat."

Lucy agreed, and the two of us left the bedroom - Lucy to go downstairs
and order the pizza (she didn't have to ask what we wanted, she already
knew what we liked) while I went into Sandra's bedroom - and discovered
that she and Robyn had apparently moved into Robyn's room. I went
through the connecting bathroom between their bedrooms, and found them
in essentially the opposite positions they'd been in before: Robyn lying
on her bed while Sandra sat on the floor as both of them worked on their
homework. I let them know what was for supper, and said that it was time
for us to all get together.

They quickly marked their places in their books, set their things aside,
and followed me downstairs and into the kitchen, where Lucy was waiting
in the breakfast nook for us.

We all sat down, and I spent the next half hour telling them a condensed
version of everything Agent Kristofferson had told me - leaving out the
parts that I knew would only disturb them unnecessarily. I was just
finishing up when the doorbell rang; Sandra got up to answer it after I
gave her money for the pizza delivery person. She came back in with our
dinner, and the four of us talked about Michelle and Marie as we worked
our way through a couple of large pizzas, washed down with sodas.

We'd pretty much covered everything and were just quietly chatting with
each other when the doorbell rang again. That time, I was the one to get
up to answer it - all of us expected that it was Dale Kristofferson with
his two charges.

It was, and I let them in - only to be stunned when the two women pulled
back the hoods of the sweatshirts they were wearing, giving me a good
look at them.

Michelle was easily far more attractive than her photo had indicated. In
person, I could see that there was a more-than-passing resemblance to
the singer Cher. Next to her, Marie proved to be a beauty in, and of,
her own right: she'd inherited much of her mother's facial structure,
and it was clear that she was going to be a lovely woman even into her
old age. Then, when the two of them slipped out of the zip-up
sweatshirts they were wearing, I was in for another shock at how nicely
each one was built. Each had long, luxurious, straight black hair;
Michelle's went down to the small of her back, Marie's 'only' a bit past
her shoulders. Both had dark, coppery skin, with clear, smooth
complexions, and beautiful dark eyes. Michelle was fairly slender, with
a bust that made her look a bit buxom. Marie was a little more sturdily
built than her mother, more of a medium-framed young girl: not a waif,
but certainly not 'well-padded'; her bust was clearly defined, if
smaller than her mother's.

Each looked at me with a different expression: Michelle with a mixture
of mistrust and worry, Marie with her fear and loneliness clear upon her
face.

Dale spoke up and made the introductions - primarily for the benefit of
Michelle and Marie. I told each of them that I was happy to meet them;
Michelle looked skeptical, Marie, hopeful.

I was surprised when Michelle spoke, asking me straight out "Why are you
doing this? Why would you let us into your house when Frenchy is after
us?"

Despite the directness of her questions, and how soon she asked them, I
took a moment to look at her and realized just how afraid she was - even
though she wasn't letting it show enough to affect Marie. I decided that
if she was willing to be that open with her questions, and then she
deserved for me to be equally as open with my answer.

Looking directly into her eyes, I said "Because Frenchy is a scumbag
that NEEDS to be taken down. Not just for what he's involved in, but
because of what he's done to you, and threatened to do to Marie."

Taken aback, Michelle then asked "What makes you think YOU can protect
us? Frenchy's pretty tough - and smart."

I laughed - shocking her - and answered "Frenchy isn't tough. Tough guys
don't have to beat up women and little girls to prove themselves; only
scared little boys do crap like that. Maybe Frenchy is smart - like a
fox?"

Michelle nodded, and I continued "Fine - smart like a fox. But I'm
smart, too - like a hunter" - something that gave her pause again.

I went on to say "I know you're worried. That's why you're here tonight
- so you can see for yourself that you don't have to be worried HERE.
This man is going to show you around my home, so you can see for
yourself that it's a safe place. When he's done, he's going to explain
to you how I can protect you from Frenchy. If you want to, you can meet
my wife and daughters; if you're nervous or don't want to, that's fine,
too. If you want to stay here with us, I'll see to it that you're safe
and protected - but I'm not going to tell you what to do or force you
into anything. Frenchy does that kind of bullshit. I don't."

My straight talk and level tone did more to convince her than anything
else I could have said - I could see that she actually started to relax
just a little bit when I was done.

Having said my piece, I told them "Go ahead. Look around, see if you
think you'd feel okay here. When you're done, just tell Dale whether or
not you want to meet my family, and if you want me there while he talks
to you, or not. We'll be in the kitchen, out of your way."

I nodded to Dale, and made my way back to where Lucy and the girls were
waiting for me expectantly.

I sat down next to Lucy, and let my breath out with a whoosh. All three
of them looked at me, and I explained "Michelle is scared out of her
wits, doesn't trust anybody, and is worried as hell about what's going
to happen - not so much to her, but Marie. Marie is terrified of what's
already happened, and it's pretty obvious that she's feeling pretty
alone in the world. Both of them have had a pretty tough time up to now,
and it shows. On top of that, they're a couple of knockouts."

Lucy raised her eyebrows, letting me know that the last sentence needed
a bit of clarification - which I provided by describing both Michelle
and Marie to her and the girls.

While we waited for Dale to finish showing Michelle and Marie around, we
made some tentative plans in case Michelle decided to accept our offer
of protection. There was a little back-and-forth, and a little
negotiation, but we finally got things worked out. We'd been finished
for just a couple of minutes when Dale came into the kitchen, spotted
us, and came over to where we were seated.

He had a hopeful look on his face as he told us "Michelle's pretty
impressed with your security system. She wants her and Marie to meet all
of you and have all of you there while I tell her why Dan can protect
her. I think she's willing to be convinced."

I stood up, and after a soft comment of "game time" to Lucy and the
girls, they got up and moved with me as we followed Dale back into the
living room where Michelle and Marie were bunched up at one end of one
of the couches.

Dale moved to take a chair next to them, and I made the introductions.
When I was done, Robyn and Sandra took one couch while Lucy and I sat in
another. That left all of us pretty much facing each other as Dale
started telling Michelle and Marie about my background - carefully
leaving out the classified stuff, but quietly emphasizing the military
part. Some of it was stuff that neither Robyn nor Sandra had heard
before; from the corner of my eye, I could see them trying not to stare
at me. Michelle and Marie made no pretense of NOT staring.

When Dale was done, he simply said "That's why I think Dan will be able
to protect you and Marie, Michelle."

Michelle just continued to look at me for a few moments, and then said
"Okay, he was pretty tough in the Army. But that sounds like it was a
long time ago. What can he do NOW?"

Beside me, I could feel Lucy tense in anger at Michelle's question and
tone; I discretely patted her to let her know that it was okay - and she
started to relax again. For my part, I just looked at Michelle and said
"Yeah, that was a long time ago. But don't forget that I spent a long
time learning how to do those things. I did them very, VERY well, and I
haven't forgotten how."

Dale spoke up then, saying "Michelle, he's telling you the truth. You
heard about all the drug busts a couple of years ago?" She released a
short laugh, and said "Yeah, I remember. Scared the crap out of Frenchy;
he was terrified someone was going to come after HIM."

Dale just looked at her and said "Dan is the man that made the case for
us. When one of the dealers tried to kill him and two FBI agents, Dan
not only saved the lives of those two agents, but killed the guy that
tried to ambush them with a shotgun - with a SINGLE shot from the .45 he
carried."

That last bit was something even Lucy hadn't known, and I heard her draw
in a quick breath in surprise. Michelle looked at me appraisingly.

Michelle's next question surprised all of us, I think: "So what does HE
get out of this? How much are you paying him? This place isn't cheap."

Dale didn't know how to respond to that, so I did it for him, telling
her "What I get out of this is watching the door slam behind Frenchy and
buddies when they go to prison. What I get out of this is knowing that
you and Marie don't have to put up with his abuse any more. What they're
paying me is exactly ONE dollar - and I'm accepting that only because
there are some kind of bullshit rules that say if I do something to help
the FBI, they have to pay me. It's just to cover everyone's ass."

Michelle's skepticism was clear on her face; Dale knew how to handle
that one by telling her "Michelle, after Dan helped us with busting all
those dealers, he was offered a reward of seventeen and a half MILLION
dollars by the Director of the FBI himself. Dan turned it down, saying
they should use the money to train agents."

Michelle was stunned, and could only sit there for nearly a minute
before asking "How rich is he that he can do something like that?"

Lucy spoke up at that point, telling her "Do you remember a few years
ago when there was a big story about a bunch of executives stealing
their companies' money, and smuggling guns and such?"

Michelle though a moment, and then nodded her head - it had been
something that had made the news all across the country.

Lucy told her "I was the accountant that discovered something wrong was
happening there, and hired Dan to investigate their computer system. He
figured out what was going on, and the company I was doing the audit for
agreed to pay him a percentage of the money he got back for them. We
took the whole thing to the FBI, and they wound up getting almost all of
the three hundred million dollars that had been stolen. Dan ended up
with a paycheck over TWENTY million dollars. When the FBI offered him
that reward after the drug case, he just told them that he already had
enough money to last the rest of his life, plus some to leave for the
girls. He could have nearly doubled how much money he has, but he turned
it down because he figured other people needed it MORE."

That last part clearly shocked Michelle; she gave me an appraising look
and said "Why are you willing to help us, and then? Why do you care what
happens to us?"

"For the same reason that I went into the Army: because there are things
out there - not people, but things - like Frenchy that think it's okay
to do anything they want to anybody they want, and I'm willing to do
what I can to STOP them. I care what happens to you because I don't
figure you deserve the kind of crap that you've had to tolerate with
Frenchy. I don't care if it's you, the guy across the street, or some
poor asshole living in a cardboard shack - when I see people being
screwed over because they're poor or weak or can't fight it for some
other reason, it pisses me off. I want to help make the world a better
place, even if it's just by helping one person at a time. Because some
people need and deserve the help, and I can do it", I answered.

With that, Michelle sat back on the couch. She pulled Marie close, and
the two of them looked at each other, obviously in some private
communication. After a bit, Michelle turned to face the rest of us,
looking at each of us in turn - paying particular attention to me and
Lucy. Finally, she leaned forward again, and said "Okay. I'm gonna give
you a try, soldier boy. But you promise me this: push comes to shove,
you take care of Marie before you worry about me. I've known what
Frenchy was like for too long, and maybe some of his guilt rubbed off on
me. But Marie, she doesn't deserve any part of it. Whatever happens to
me, you watch out for her, right?"

I looked squarely into Michelle's eyes and told her "If it gets to that,
I will - you've got my promise. But I'm going to do everything I can to
make sure that doesn't happen."

My eyes and voice seemed to let her know that I meant every word I said
- and when I saw her eyes widen slightly, I knew she understood that if
Frenchy came after her or Marie while I was around, he was going to have
one helluva fight on his hands.

Michelle leaned back again, and looked over to where Dale was sitting,
watching us. She looked at him contemplatively for a bit, and then said
"Okay, Mister FBI. I'm gonna trust you. Tomorrow, I get that notebook I
told you about; I'll hand it over to you HERE, when I'm sure I'm safe.
When this is done, you give me that witness thing you said so me and
Marie can get a new start. Agreed?"

Dale Kristofferson didn't hesitate a moment, simply telling her "Agreed.
You won't be sorry, Michelle, and that's MY promise."

She turned back to Lucy and me and asked "Okay, so how does all this
happen? Where will me and Marie be staying?"

Lucy spoke up then, telling her "There's another bedroom upstairs with
its own bathroom. Sandra and Robyn each have their own room and share a
bathroom, but they're willing to double up to make one of the bedrooms
available. So it's really up to you if you and Marie stay in one
bedroom, or each have your own. The only real 'rule' we have in our home
is that a closed door means 'Do Not Disturb' - period. If it isn't
closed, and then how open it is tells you how willing the people in that
room are to have company: a little bit open means a little bit willing,
a lot open means a lot willing. Beyond that, we'll just have to figure
it out as we go along. It shouldn't be too hard as long as we all
understand that there's going to have to be a little give-and-take on
BOTH sides. Fair enough?"

Michelle nodded, and gave us a small smile before saying "Fair enough. I
reckon this is going to be as hard on you as it is on us - more, maybe,
'cause this is already YOUR house. But you'll see: we aren't too picky
or demanding, not after living with Frenchy."

Lucy smiled back and said "Good. Do you know if you want to share a
room, or each have your own? I'm asking only so we have a little time to
get things ready."

Michelle and Marie had another silent conversation before Michelle said
"We've both been cooped up together in that motor home for some time. If
it isn't too much trouble, I think a room each would make both of us
feel better."

Robyn spoke up then, saying "That's fine. Sandra and I will stay in one
room, and we'll get the other one ready for Marie."

Lucy picked up the conversation again by saying "You're more than
welcome to come before dark, and have supper with us if you want."

All of us could see Marie's wistful look at her mother, and Michelle
said "I think we'd like that, having a sit-down meal with someone
besides each other. Would seven o'clock be too late?"

"Not at all", Lucy assured her.

Michelle looked around at all of us, and said "Well, I think that's
taken care of most everything. Mister Kristofferson, if you'll get us
back, I think it's about time we called it a night."

We all stood, and when Michelle and Marie turned to make their way
toward the front door, Dale gave me a big smile and a thumbs-up. I just
nodded and smiled - it wasn't his home and family being asked to make
room for a couple of complete strangers.

Lucy and the girls went with me to say good night to all of them;
Michelle's last words to us were "We'll be seeing you tomorrow night",
and after a moment, she added a quiet "Thank you".

When all of them were gone, the four of us made our way back into the
living room. Sandra opted for my lap, Robyn for Lucy's. Lucy looked over
at me and said "When you told us they were a couple of knockouts, I
thought you were just exaggerating - but when I saw them, I knew you
were right. Is it just me, or does Michelle look like Cher, only with
bigger tits?"

All of us laughed, and I answered "No, I don't think it's just you. I
think her face is a little fuller, but there IS a resemblance."

Sandra spoke up then, saying "Marie looks awful pretty, too. Could you
believe that hair they have! It's so long, and straight, and black!"

To the surprise of the rest of us, Robyn noted "When Michelle first
started talking, I thought she was being really rude. But then I
remembered what Dad told us about what they ran away from, and I
realized she was just scared and didn't know what else to do."

Lucy hugged her, and said "Yeah, I thought that at first, too, before I
understood."

Robyn went on to say "And Marie looked SO lonely - like there wasn't
anyone else in the world for her to talk to." She looked over at Sandra
apologetically and said "I hope you don't mind, but I think I should
spend some extra time with her, so she doesn't feel so bad."

Sandra just smiled and said "I don't mind - I saw it, and want to make
her feel better, too."

In the silence that followed, we heard the living room clock chime -
9:30 - and Lucy said "It's getting late, and you two still have to go to
school tomorrow. Since we're going to have guests starting tomorrow, I
think it would be okay if we all stayed together tonight."

Robyn and Sandra both visibly brightened at that idea, and didn't make
any protest about going to bed so early - knowing that it would be our
last time to be together for a while.

We made our way up to Lucy and my bedroom where all four of us casually
undressed and got into bed. When we bought the place, Lucy and I had
both know that there would be times when one or both of the girls would
be sharing the bed with us; it was an over-sized custom job large enough
to hold all of us comfortably. Lucy and I were the first to lie down;
when the girls joined us a few moments later, they hesitated about where
to go, and Lucy just smiled and said "Go ahead. I know you both want
him."

Robyn and Sandra both grinned and moved to lie on either side of me.
Without hesitation, Robyn and Sandra both reached down to start
caressing my penis and scrotum while Sandra leaned over to kiss me, her
tongue brushing across my lips. When our kiss ended, she pulled back to
make room for Robyn to have a turn kissing me. I could feel myself
responding to their tender ministrations, and saw that both of them
could feel it too, and looked pleased with the results.

As I became more and more erect, Sandra and Robyn looked at each other
for a moment before Sandra began kissing her way down my body while
Robyn scooted up to make her firm breasts and hardening nipples
available to my eager lips. I had just switched from one of Robyn's
breasts to the other when I felt Sandra's warm mouth wrap around my
erect penis, and then her lips slide down my length, taking as much of
me as she could inside.

It wasn't long before I was completely hard, what with Sandra's agile
tongue dancing along the underside of my manhood. While she was doing
that, my mouth and tongue continued teasing Robyn's dark nipples, making
them longer and harder as her small areolas puckered. My hands had found
something to do, as well - the fingers of one were gently probing
between Sandra's damp and parted labia as the other hand softly stroked
Robyn's mons.

After just a minute or so, Sandra let me slip from her hungrily sucking
mouth; I felt her move away from my hand, and then her weight shift on
the bed - and a moment later, felt her straddling my hips. With both
hands free, I gently pulled Robyn up and around, guiding her to kneel
over my face, her back toward my feet - which she did with a broad smile
on her face. I felt Sandra take my erection in her hand and position it
against her opening before slowly lowering herself onto it with a soft
moan of pleasure. Above my head, Robyn was starting to pant as my lips
and tongue teased her clitoris and vaginal opening. I moved my hands up
to cup Robyn's breasts, my fingers gently pinching and pulling on her
nipples; she responded by leaning back to make it easier for me. Farther
down, I felt Sandra lean forward, and knew that the two of them were
kissing.

A few moments later, I felt the bed shift again, and then what could
only have been Lucy moving to sit across my legs, behind Sandra. Even
with Robyn's smooth thighs muffling the sound, I could hear Sandra's
pleased groan and knew that Lucy must being doing her own part to
pleasure Sandra - probably by doing to Sandra's breasts what I was to
Robyn's.

As the seconds ticked by and the sounds of pleasure and arousal
increased, I realized that Sandra was moving herself on me at a pace
that was affecting her much more than it did me. With that realization,
I understood that she was deliberately acting in such a way as to bring
herself to orgasm while leaving me able to continue to make love - and
on the heels of that, that she was doing so in order to leave me in such
a state that Robyn could have her own orgasm while making love with me,
too. In a matter of moments, I went on to recall that I'd never heard
the two of them 'fight' - and only rarely disagree; even then, it was a
quiet and polite difference of opinion, with mutual love and respect on
each side. Not ONCE had I heard either one of them express any degree of
jealousy, envy, or anything like that about each other - or anyone else,
for that matter. Somehow, in some way that I couldn't discern, the two
of them worked things out between them - particularly when it come to
making love, when they always seemed to cooperate in such a way that
virtually assured that both of them got the pleasure and release they
sought. Even as my hands continued to squeeze and caress Robyn's breasts
while my lips and tongue played between her thighs, I was thinking back
to the many times that I'd been with them, and watched them with Lucy
and others - and couldn't see any pattern to their actions. It was as
though each of them knew and understood the exact level of the other's
needs and desires, and compared those needs and desires against her own
before they reached some unspoken agreement to adjust their actions so
as to cooperate with each other.

I was brought back from my distraction by the feeling of Sandra's body
moving a little more quickly as she continued to impale herself on me;
my lips told me that Robyn was rapidly approaching her own orgasm: she
lubricated herself copiously under normal conditions, but now she was
even wetter than usual. The entire lower half of my face was liberally
coated with her fragrant oils, despite my enthusiastic efforts to let
none of them escape my mouth and tongue. Under my hands, I could feel
that her breasts had tightened; her nipples were like small pebbles
between my fingertips.

Another minute or so, and Robyn's smooth, firm thighs clamped around my
head - but even with my hearing muffled, her cry of release was clear as
her vagina spasmed around my tongue. Even as her wet opening clenched
and relaxed, my lips and tongue were eagerly trying to keep up with the
overflow of her delicate young nectar.

Finally, she was through, and only barely managed not to collapse on top
of me; even so, I still had to help guide her to the side. Once my view
was cleared, I could see that I'd been right about Lucy - she had both
of Sandra's breasts cupped in her hands, softly pulling and pinching her
nipples while she kissed and gently bit Sandra's neck and shoulders.
Despite having seen the two of them together like that before, it still
excited me, and made me marvel at my own good fortune that I had not
only such a loving and sexy wife, but two beautiful young nymphs that
were willing to share themselves with us.

Below Lucy's busy hands, I had a clear view of the area between Sandra's
thighs - and more to the point, could watch our joining as she continued
to move herself on me: with each lift of her hips, her vaginal lips
would stretch out slightly as though trying to hold on to my glistening
penis, only to disappear again when she lowered herself back onto me.

Her vagina was hot, wet, and tight around me; with Robyn's thighs no
longer impeding my hearing, the liquid sounds of our union were clear in
the air - as were her soft cries of pleasure and the heady scent of her
arousal.

The sights, sounds, and scents of passion stimulated me tremendously. It
was only by remembering my conclusion that Sandra wanted to leave me in
a state capable of satisfying Robyn, too, that I was able to force
myself to draw back from the pleasure they were all bringing me.

Lying there, I savored the sensations that Sandra's firm young body were
creating as I watched her slide herself up and down my erect member.

As the next couple of minutes passed, I watched, delighted, as Sandra
got closer and closer to her climax- and then found it. With a final
thrust downward to take me as deeply as she could, her body frozen over
mine as she released a loud cry of pleasure, reinforced. As her orgasm
coursed through her body, I felt her hot sheath clenching around me as I
watched spasm after spasm overtake her.

Even as I was getting a sudden whiff of aroused female, I heard a faint
noise next to me. When I turned my head, I had a clear and close up look
between Robyn's thighs as she masturbated herself in response to view
she had. She suddenly looked down at me, and smiled - not embarrassed or
ashamed in the slightest to have me see her pleasuring herself.

I heard another soft cry from Sandra, and turned back to look at her -
and saw that she'd opened her eyes and seen what Robyn was doing, which
apparently triggered her into another, smaller, orgasm.

Finally, covered with a fine sheen of perspiration, Sandra pulled
herself off my erection and let Lucy guide her to lie down next to me as
she slowly recovered from her climax. When she was settled, Lucy turned
to give me a mischievous smile before leaning forward to take my erect
and Sandra-slickened penis between her lips. To my immense relief, she
bobbed her head up and down while licking it only a few times before
letting it pop free so she could say "I think you want this, Robyn?"

"You bet!" I heard her declare before quickly moving to first straddle
my waist, and then move to position herself over my jutting member. Lucy
gave me an amused grin at Robyn's enthusiasm, and then moved to steady
the girl as Robyn took hold of me and held me steady before lowering
herself onto me. Once she was sure I was securely in place, Robyn leaned
forward slightly - still steadied by Lucy - and began pressing herself
downward, taking me farther and farther inside. As aroused and wet as
she was, it took her only a couple of pushes before her dark pubic hair
was enmeshed with mine.

At that point, Lucy moved her hands from Robyn's hips to her breasts,
cupping them just as she had done with Sandra. This time, though, Lucy
also tilted her body slightly, and I felt her begin to rub her mons and
clitoris against my leg as she began squeezing Robyn's breasts and
gently pinching and pulling on her daughter's erect nipples. It took all
of two seconds for Robyn to begin a soft moaning - the delay caused by
her need to draw a breath first. A few seconds after that, Robyn began
her own movement over me, slowly arching her hips and pelvis so that
only the last couple of inches of my manhood slid in and out of her; the
rest was firmly buried in her hot, wet vagina.

A couple of minutes went by with Robyn slowly impaling herself on my
again-shiny erection as Lucy played with her breasts while rubbing
herself against my leg. Robyn had just settled into a steady rhythm when
I felt Sandra start to move again. Reaching out, I put my hand on her
thigh; she turned to look at me, and I gestured with my head that I
wanted her to move closer. She smiled, knowing what I wanted to do, and
readily let me guide her to her knees over my head, facing Robyn and
Lucy.

Looking up at her opening, I could see that her vaginal lips were still
extended with arousal and dark with her desire; the gap between them
still glistened with her oils. I extended my tongue, and ran it along
the crevice between her labia, but couldn't quite reach her partially
visible clitoris. Without a word, Sandra solved our mutual problem by
leaning forward, which not only brought the nubbin of her erecting
clitoris within range of my lips and tongue, but let her reach down to
begin caressing Robyn's mons - and clitoris, too, if the sudden increase
in the volume and intensity of Robyn's cries was any indication.

With the nubbin of Sandra's clitoral hood subject to my dubious mercies,
I again ran my tongue from the bottom of her cleft to the top, where I
slowly circled and teased her clitoris out from under its fleshy cover.
As I was doing that, Sandra released her own moan of pleasure, her body
shuddering slightly in response to my oral assault.

I reached up to begin playing with Sandra's breasts, but found them
already covered by Robyn's hand; so I opted to start caressing any part
of the rest of her body that I could reach, which turned out to be most
of it. For the most part, my touch was light and gentle, with an
occasional squeeze or soft pinch to stimulate various parts of her
delectable anatomy. With Robyn's hands on her breasts, my head between
her thighs, and my hands wandering the rest of her, it wasn't long
before I could hear Sandra's distinct cries of pleasure and arousal
accompanying Robyn's.

Below my waist, I could feel Robyn steadily increasing the tempo of her
self-impalement on my penis - and behind her, Lucy rubbing herself
harder and faster against my leg as her arousal continued to be
ratcheted upward, too.

As the next few minutes passed, the sounds of Robyn's arousal and
pleasure steadily increased, as did Sandra's as I continued to lave,
suck, kiss, and otherwise stimulate the center of her womanhood.
Finally, Robyn's movements on me reached the point where she pushed
herself over the edge into orgasm. With a strangled cry, she froze over
me, my penis deep inside her as wave after wave of release coursed
through her body as her hot, tight vagina spasmed around me.

When it was done, Lucy helped Robyn un-spear herself from my erect
member, and guided the youngster to lie on the side. Before she could
turn back, Sandra had leaned forward to take my throbbing penis between
her lips, using her mouth and tongue to clean Robyn's juices from it. I
was a lot closer to my own climax than I wanted to be, and responded by
giving Sandra's clitoris a furious tongue-lashing, all but throwing her
into her own orgasmic abyss. Her firm thighs clamped down on my head as
she let my penis pull from her lips so she could cry out her release,
her wet vagina leaking her female nectar onto my waiting tongue.

With the passing of her climax, Sandra found the energy to pull herself
off of me, leaving just Lucy and me as the only participants capable of
continuing the action.

With a lusty smile, Lucy moved up to straddle my hips; without ceremony
or delay, she lifted herself up, positioned me at the entrance to her
vagina, and sat back down to take my entire length in a single motion -
and releasing a deep groan of pleasure in the process. Our pubic hair
merged, Lucy leaned forward to kiss me, getting a clear sampling of both
girls' flavors. As our tongues danced and dueled in each other's mouths,
my hands moved to Lucy's breasts, squeezing them. I again marveled at
how firm and smooth they were before letting my fingers trace a path to
her puckered areolas and erect nipples, where I began gently pulling and
pinching at them as she softly moaned into my mouth.

After a bit, she sat up again - but not so far that I couldn't keep my
hands on her breasts, feeling their weight shift as she began hunching
herself to slide nearly half my erection between the fleshy gates
bracketing her woman's cavern.

She continued to make love to me for several minutes, until I saw that
her legs were getting tired. Taking her into my arms, I rolled us over
so that she lay beneath me; a few seconds after that, we'd rearranged
our legs to that hers were outside of mine - parted and pulled up to
open herself to me as much as she could. I happily took advantage of the
access she was giving me to press myself as far inside her as I could.
With inward thrust of my penis, my pubic bone would press against hers,
adding a little extra pressure to her clitoris to increase her pleasure
and arousal even more.

Another couple of minutes, and I was all but pounding into her as she
gasped words of encouragement and fulfilled desire to me; the liquid
sounds of our union filled the room along with our gasps and moans of
arousal.

As the next couple of minutes passed, I knew that Lucy was rapidly
approaching orgasm - and I wasn't far behind. As I felt myself
approaching the point of no return, Lucy suddenly froze beneath me; her
hot, wet sheath began a fluttering and clenching around my pistoning
penis, pushing me into my own climax. With a loud groan, I thrust into
her once again, trying to fuse our bodies together as jet after jet of
hot semen erupted from the end of my penis to wash even the deepest
parts of her.

Finally, when I got my breath and senses back, I managed to pull my
rapidly-deflating penis from her hot sheath; I was surprised when Robyn
quickly moved in to put a small towel between her mothers' thighs to
catch the inevitable leakage. Lucy was still in something of a daze, and
barely acknowledged Robyn's actions. I made up for Lucy's inability to
express the gratitude I knew she'd feel, and pulled Robyn into my arms
for a hug and kiss before telling her "Thanks, Short Stuff". She fairly
beamed at me, and said "After watching that, I'm glad to be able to
help!" with a smile and a small laugh.

I moved to lie next to Lucy and pulled her close, laying my arm across
her body to 'hold' her. Looking across her body, I told Robyn and Sandra
"Thank you - both of you - for this evening. You're both more than
welcome to spend the night here, if you want."

The two of them looked at each other a moment before Sandra said "I
think both of us would like that, Uncle Dan. It's probably going to be a
while before we can do anything like this again, so both of us want to
get as much time with you as we can before then."

As I was nodding my understanding, Lucy started moving next to me.
Lifting my arm from her body, she rolled over to 'spoon' with me as she
faced the girls, too. I heard her say "Of course you can. Let me rest up
a little, and we'll all grab a quick shower - we smell like a used
brothel - and then go to bed. I think you two should go ahead and be
next to him tonight; while Michelle and Marie are here, you won't be
able to. Is that okay?"

They both nodded enthusiastically before Lucy went on to say "And thank
you, whichever one of you got the towel - I don't think any of us wanted
to sleep in a wet spot tonight!" - making both girls laugh. It had
happened a few times, and none of them liked it, even though they'd
always insisted that they would be the ones to sleep on it despite my
expressed willingness to do so.

With a quiet "Just a minute" to us, Sandra got up and left us - only to
reappear a few minutes later with four glasses of orange juice. Three of
them were small, the fourth half again larger. All of us laughed when we
saw them: as copiously as Robyn lubricated, she was always left fairly
thirsty after making love - more so than any of the rest of us. Robyn
just smiled at Sandra before taking the large glass and taking a good,
long drink from it - making us all laugh all over again.

By the time we finished our juice, we were all ready for a shower. Even
with the extra-large shower Lucy and I had in our bathroom, it was a
snug fit for all four of us to clean up together, but I don't think any
of us minded in the slightest.

Cleaned and dried and back in the bedroom, Sandra picked up the tray
with all the juice glasses on it and took it back to the kitchen where I
knew she'd go ahead and load them into the dishwasher. In the meantime,
Lucy and I pulled the bedcovers back while Robyn went to get another
pillow each for herself and Sandra. By the time Sandra got back, I was
in bed with Robyn on one side of me; Lucy was waiting for Sandra to join
me, and then she'd take up station on the other side. Sandra quickly
slid between the sheets and did as Robyn had: put one leg over mine and
an arm across me so she could hold me as close as possible. Lucy got in
then, turned out the light, and moved to 'spoon' with Sandra, wrapping
one arm around her. That left me laying there with each arm holding a
delightfully cuddly young woman snuggling into my side. A short time
later, all four of us were sound asleep.

Before they left for school the next morning, Sandra and Robyn let me
know that they'd be a little late getting home: they were going to pick
up a few things to help decorate a room for Marie to help her feel more
'at home'. Lucy and I both thought it was a great idea, and thanked
them. Both of them blushed slightly, and I went on to tell them "In a
couple of days, when Michelle and Marie have pretty much settled in,
we'll all go out so the two of them can pick up a few things. I think
we'll be able to talk them into getting some things to 'personalize'
their rooms."

Lucy and the girls all three nodded their agreement and understanding
before Robyn and Sandra left to collect their things and head for
school.

Lucy and I still had a little time before she needed to leave for work,
and we spent it discussing some of the things that we thought we were
likely to run into, and coming up with a general approach to getting
used to, and dealing with, a couple of added "outside" people in our
home. I also told Lucy about her Federal gun permit; it took her only a
second to realize why I'd arranged it. The whole thing didn't take very
long, which left us plenty of time for her to sit on my lap for a little
kissing and mutual molestation before she left for work.

When she was gone, I made my way out to my office. Even with the money
I'd gotten from the criminal case Lucy had told Michelle about, I
continued working as a free-lance contract computer programmer. The only
significant changes were that I was a lot more selective about whom I
worked for, and I had a lot more freedom about just how much work I was
willing to do: first on my list of priorities was my personal life -
Lucy and the girls, and our life together. Working for someone else came
in a FAR distant second.

Even as I was working on some code for one of my clients, my mind was
busy with trying to anticipate - and thus be able to deal with - the
things that might happen while Michelle and Marie were with us;
particularly situations that might come up such as seeing to Marie's
education, their need to 'get out of the house' periodically, shopping,
recreation, and so on. As I did so, a number of things occurred to me,
and I made plans and arrangements to deal with them ahead of time as
much as I could.

I'd finished my work for the day and was back in the house when I heard
Sandra's car pull into the drive a bit before five o'clock. Looking
outside, I saw that she and Robyn were loading themselves up with a
number of packages; I went outside and asked if I could help, and Sandra
smiled and said that I certainly could by carrying the last few bags
they had. I collected the indicated shopping bags and followed the two
of them up to Robyn's room, where we put everything on the bed. Both of
them thanked me, and then politely shooed me out of the room, grinning.
I delayed only long enough to have a quiet conversation with Sandra.

I did as they wanted, heading back downstairs to have a cup of coffee
while waiting for Lucy to get home. When she did, I met her at the door
and walked with her up to our bedroom so she could change clothes. As
she did, I told her about helping the girls with their purchases; Lucy
asked me what they were doing, and I laughingly admitted that I didn't
have a clue - that they'd chased me out without letting me know. She
laughed in reply and said that she figured we'd find out soon enough.
Then it was time for Lucy to let me know how her day had gone; she came
over to sit on my lap and let me hold her - a sign that it hadn't been a
particularly good day, since she needed a little extra comforting from
me.

When she was done, the two of us made our way downstairs and into the
living room to watch the evening news, and then I caught a 'filler'
program afterwards while Lucy got started on supper. The clock had
chimed the 7:00 hour a bit before when we heard a discrete knock at the
front door. I answered it, and found Dale Kristofferson standing there
with Michelle and Marie again dressed in baggy clothes to hide their
shape, with hooded jackets to cover their heads and faces.

I quickly bid them all in, which they did; the sounds of our greetings
apparently made it up to where Robyn and Sandra were - they made their
own appearances a few moments later, followed by Lucy.

There were a few moments of awkward silence before Sandra quietly told
Marie "If you want to come with us, we'll show you your room. We already
started decorating it a little bit for you." Marie looked uncertain at
that, but turned to Michelle who nodded her approval/encouragement. As
the girls were heading off, Lucy said "Michelle, I'll show you to your
room, too, if you like." Michelle agreed, and they were soon following
the girls.

Dale and I were left alone, and took the opportunity to go over a few
details about Michelle and Marie's presence. I also told him about the
things that I'd thought about that afternoon, and what I'd done to
prepare for them. He looked grateful about most of them, but was visibly
concerned about a couple of others. I was able to assure him that his
concerns were things that he didn't really need to worry about. I think
the certainty of my attitude did as much to reassure him as my words
did.

When we were done, we headed toward the bedrooms; we were halfway down
the hall when first Marie, and then Michelle, appeared from their
respective bedrooms. Marie was visibly happy, with Robyn and Sandra
standing behind her, looking pleased with themselves. Michelle's face
made it clear that she was not only relieved, but even a little awed by
her own accommodations.

Marie told Michelle that Robyn and Sandra had already started helping
her decorate by putting up some posters of the latest 'boy bands',
providing her with a small number of music CDs by those same bands, and
a few other things. Michelle looked at them in question, and Robyn
simply answered "I know how I'd feel if I suddenly lost everything, so I
just got a few things I thought she'd like." Following that, Sandra
added "I don't know if we can do anything to make you feel like this is
your home, too - but we can at least make it feel home like."

Michelle started to cloud over in anger? frustration? pride? - but
Robyn's open friendliness and Sandra's quiet dignity made it impossible
for her to take offense at what they'd said and done. Instead, she
thought about it for a moment before smiling at them (much to Marie's
relief) and saying "Thank you, both of you. You're right, and Marie and
I appreciate what you've done." She then turned to Lucy and said "And
I'm thanking you, too - it's a lovely room, and you did a really nice
job of decorating it."

I finally spoke up, telling them "I don't know how much stuff you have
to bring in - if you want, we can get it into your rooms now, or after
supper; it's up to you."

Michelle hesitated a second, and said "We don't have much - we might as
well do it now, so Mister Kristofferson here can get to his own life. I
expect he's been neglecting it some while he's been dealing with us."

Dale started to object, and Michelle just gave him a Look that shut him
up before telling him "Dale, I know you've more than had your hands full
looking after us. Any time we've needed you, you've been there, any time
of day or night. I know you want Frenchy real bad, but you've still
given up a fair chunk of your own life to watch after us. I know it, and
I'm not forgetting it. We'll get our stuff out of your car, and you can
go about taking care of what matters to YOU for a change."

There was nothing for him to do but say "It isn't necessary - but thank
you."

That settled, all of us made our way back downstairs; at the bottom of
the stairs Dale excused himself so he could move his car around to the
back. After asking Michelle and Marie to stay inside until he was there,
I went out back to take care of the gate for him. In just a couple of
minutes, he was parked close to the kitchen door, making the task of
moving Michelle and Marie's things fast and easy. Lucy and the girls
helped each of them gather and carry their meager possessions; when they
were gone, Dale moved to get his car back on the street; when he cleared
the gate, I closed it again.

A minute later, I was letting him back in the front door, and we waited
in the living room for the women to join us, which they did a couple
minutes later. When all of us were together, Lucy told him "Agent
Kristofferson, you're more than welcome to stay and have dinner with us.
But if you have other things that need your attention, I'll understand.
If it makes any difference, supper is roast beef, gravy, potatoes, corn,
green beans, and rolls, with chocolate mousse for dessert."

He licked his lips before answering "As much as I'd like to stay - it
sounds delicious - I really do have to go."

Lucy just smiled and said "Of course. But you have a rain check for a
future time, okay?"

"I'd love it, thank you", he answered.

About that time, Michelle cleared her throat and when he turned to look
at her, she extended her hand, which held a thin wire-bound notebook of
the type used by students all over the country. His hand trembled
slightly as he reached out to accept it with a quiet "Thank you".

All of us knew that he was anxious to have a look at the notebook's
contents, but was too polite to just rush off; Lucy solved the dilemma
for him by saying "I know you have a lot to do, Agent Kristofferson, and
we have a meal cooling. Would you mind if we excused ourselves?"

He pulled himself together, shot her a look of gratitude, and answered
"Of course not. You're right; I do have to be on my way. I'll look
forward to seeing all of you again before too long." With his excuse
made for him, he gave us all a quiet "Good evening", and let me guide
him to the front door.

When he was gone, I went back to join Lucy and the others, getting there
just as Lucy said "Supper is ready, if you are..."

Michelle and Marie both gave her a small smile and nodded, and then let
Lucy lead the six of us into the dining room. Along the way, Robyn and
Sandra separated themselves from us - giving the rest of us time to sit
before they started bringing in the supper Lucy had cooked.

When the dishes were all ready and the girls had taken their seats, Lucy
turned to Michelle and said "We aren't religious people, but if you want
to say a prayer before meals, we'll certainly respect your wishes."

Michelle gave her a wan smile and answered "Thank you. But Frenchy had a
way of turning God-fearing people into non-believers. I reckon you know
what I'm saying..."

Lucy just nodded her head and said "Of course. But if you change your
mind, don't hesitate to let us know."

With that, they took turns handing their plates to me to put some of
Lucy's roast beef on - I simply started stacking it on until the person
indicated when it was enough. From there, the individual foods were
passed around so that each of us could dish out our own portions. There
was more than plenty, and nobody hesitated to take as much as they
wanted.

The meal went by slowly and casually; Michelle and Marie each took turns
telling us about themselves as we ate - Marie much more reserved than
Michelle was. Every so often, either Robyn or Sandra would get up to
refill our drinks before sitting down again. I noticed Michelle watching
all this, but didn't say anything, figuring that if it mattered to her
somehow, she'd let us know soon enough.

When we were all done eating, I got up and started clearing the table.
Lucy and the girls started to say something, but I simply told them
"Don't worry about it. I think all you ladies have plenty to talk about,
so go ahead - this isn't something I haven't done before!"

Lucy and the girls laughed; Michelle and Marie only sat there looking
surprised until Robyn asked Marie what subjects she liked in school. As
Marie answered, Lucy took the chance to start her own conversation with
Michelle. I continued clearing the table and putting the leftovers away
- but I noticed Michelle's eyes watching me whenever she could. Even
Marie threw me a few curious glances.

When I was done, I went back into the dining room and took a seat where
I wouldn't be likely to intrude on the conversations. Sitting there, I
watched and listened to Michelle and Marie, trying to see if I couldn't
get some idea about the emotional and mental troubles they were bringing
with them. It didn't take long to realize that there were a number of
subjects that they were reluctant to discuss - and it wasn't hard to
figure out why.

After a while, Lucy spoke up, saying "I think all of us would be a
little more comfortable somewhere else, don't you think?"

Robyn and Sandra both spoke up, asking if it would be okay if they went
with Marie to her room - something that made Marie blush slightly, even
as she was looking delighted at the idea. Neither Lucy nor Michelle had
any objections, and the three youngsters quickly left us to make their
way upstairs while Michelle, Lucy, and I headed for the living room.
There, I sat at one end of a couch before Lucy snuggled into my side;
Michelle took a chair at a slight angle to us. She looked at us for a
few moments before saying "I remember when Frenchy and I used to sit
like that. But that was a long time ago, and it didn't last very long.
How long have you two been married?"

Lucy answered her, and Michelle responded by telling us "I guess I
shouldn't be surprised to hear that it's been that long. I can see that
you two love each other - a lot. Me and Frenchy loved each other at
first, too - but that didn't last too long before he started in on me.
Then, when Marie was born, it started getting worse and worse. I see how
you all treat your girls - 'specially you, Dan. How come Robyn doesn't
look like you, Dan? And is Sandra really your kin?"

I gave her the edited version of how Lucy and I had met, which seemed to
strike a chord within her. It was when I told her how Sandra had come to
live with us that I saw her façade of strength and courage start to
collapse. When I was done, she just sat there looking at us -
particularly me - before saying "You did that for her? Even without her
being related?" I just nodded, and answered "She's a good kid. I love
her. What happened to her folks was partly - if not mostly - my fault.
What else could I have done?"

At that, Michelle finally lost it - with a sudden cry, she fell forward,
her shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her body. Lucy didn't hesitate to
get up and go over to take a seat on the arm of the chair and pull
Michelle close to comfort her. Michelle latched onto her like a drowning
person would grab at a life preserver, and cried even harder. Knowing
that it was something that I couldn't really contribute to, I went to
get Michelle a dish towel - something large and absorbent enough to do a
fair job of soaking up her tears without being too big or thick. When I
got back, Lucy smiled up at me, took it, and handed it off to Michelle,
who promptly started dabbing at her eyes as tears continued to stream
down her cheeks.

When the waterworks finally began to taper off, Lucy pulled back a
little and asked Michelle "Do you want to talk about it?", and getting a
small nod in reply.

Lucy patiently and gently got Michelle standing and moved over to sit on
the couch next to the one I was still on. The two of them sat down
again, and Lucy and I waited for Michelle to pull herself together again
so she could tell us what 'it' was. I suspected that I already had a
pretty good idea, and was sure that Lucy (as another woman) already
knew, but wanted to hear it anyway.

After a few false starts, Michelle finally found her voice enough to
tell us "I'm sorry. It's just that I've been holding it all in for so
long, so I didn't worry or scare Marie. Then, when Dan said he wanted to
take care of Sandra in such a damn matter-of-fact way, I just couldn't
stand it any more." With a baleful look at me, Michelle said "Dan, I
don't know if you really understand just how different you are from a
lot of people - and especially Frenchy. There's been a few times that
he's made widows and orphans, and it didn't bother him a bit - hell, he
even laughed about it. So when you asked what else you could have done,
well, I just remembered Frenchy - and finally realized just how damn
lucky Marie and I are to have gotten away from him, and stayed away -
and alive! - for so long."

Lucy took Michelle's hand and held it as Michelle took a deep, ragged
breath before telling us "I met Frenchy just a couple months after I
graduated high school - seventeenth in a class of a couple hundred,
would you believe? Anyway, Frenchy was the kind of guy any girl would
want: cute, sexy, loving, attentive, all the rest. Of course, I fell in
love - hard. It wasn't six months before we were married - and I was
still a virgin on our wedding night, would you believe?"

She sighed, and went on "At first, life with him was great. Oh, sure, we
didn't have a lot of money and couldn't afford to do a whole lot of
things, but we were happy together. We lived in this tiny little
apartment - bedroom, living room, and kitchen. We had our own tiny
bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower - no tub. Most of our furniture
was made up out of milk crates. If you ever need to furnish an apartment
real cheap, milk crates are real versatile, let me tell you! Stack two,
and you've got an end table. Six of them arranged two by three, and
you've got a start on a coffee table. Two high and two wide, you've got
a TV stand AND shelving. You get the idea. Frenchy had a job, but it
didn't pay real good because he never finished high school. Coming from
way back in the bayou the way he did, schooling wasn't a real big deal
to him. Oh, he was smart, all right; but he didn't have much in the way
of schooling, and that was something the folks with the jobs wanted.
Money was tight - real tight. It took a while, but I finally convinced
him to let me get a job, too. Even with just my high school diploma, it
didn't take me long to find work - and not much longer before my
paychecks were as big as his. A year later, and I was making MORE than
he was. That's when he started getting mean to me. We'd fight - usually
about money - and every so often he'd get so mad he'd slap me. Never
more than once, and he NEVER drew blood. But it was still hitting me,
and he always felt sorry about it afterwards and apologized and swore
he'd never do it again. That'd last an argument or two."

She tuned us out for a few seconds, came back with a slight start, and
continued "I don't know what it was that turned him, but by our first
anniversary, he had a whole new bunch of friends - people I never DID
like. I tolerated them only because I loved Frenchy. I'd left my job,
and was staying at home again. As time went by, he started finding newer
friends, and as he did, he got meaner and meaner with me. He got
together with some of the people he knew and got involved in something I
knew was illegal, even if I didn't know exactly what it was; just the
way he acted around me and talked with his 'friends' told me so. A
couple weeks went by, and he came home with a big wad of cash. I asked
him about it, because I knew he couldn't have made that much on his job.
He got mad and hit me - not slapped, but hit. I fell to the floor, and
he told me that if I ever asked him again where he got his money, he'd
beat the shit out of me. Just from the way he said it, I knew he would.
Right then, I thought about leaving him and getting a divorce, but I
wasn't raised up to believe in divorce, so I stuck around, thinking I
might be able to turn him back into the man I fell in love with."

She gave a cynical laugh before saying "Pretty stupid, huh? Well, I
didn't think so at the time; I still loved him, and wanted the man I
married back. So I hung in there, for all the good it did me. By our
second anniversary, I knew that there wasn't a chance in hell he was
going back. But by then, he'd beaten me enough that I was actually
afraid of him. One time, I made the mistake of bringing up divorce -
he'd finally worn me down to where I was willing to do it. He let me
know what HE thought about the idea by leaving me with a black eye,
split lip, and bruises all over my body before he told me that if I ever
left him or tried to get a divorce, he'd hunt me down and kill me. I
believed him, and never said or did anything about it again. A couple
months later, I discovered I was pregnant. Frenchy was happy as could
be; me, I didn't want to bring a kid into a house with Frenchy in it. We
moved into a bigger place, and Frenchy took care of me - well, he didn't
beat me too bad - until I had the baby. When he found out it was a girl,
and not the son he wanted, he really went off on me. I think if I hadn't
been in a bed in the hospital, he'd have killed me. By the time I was
ready to go home, he'd calmed down, mostly. He still liked to hurt me,
though - not just by hitting me, but by doing stuff that hurt me inside,
too. I'd be nursing Marie, and he'd insist that I... use my mouth on him
while I was doing it. He'd let some of his friends suck the milk from my
tits right before it was time to feed the baby, so I wouldn't be able to
nurse her and have to give her a bottle; he knew how much it meant to me
to breastfeed. When he got drunk or high, he'd make me take my clothes
off and show all his friends how 'fat' I'd gotten during the pregnancy,
and even spread my legs so they could see that my pussy was old and worn
out."

After that last sentence, Michelle suddenly looked at both of us with an
apologetic expression. Lucy quietly told her "We both know the words. Go
ahead."

She continued by saying "About that time, we moved into an even bigger
place, and he started bringing girls home - whores, from the look of
them - and screwing them in OUR bed with me right there in the living
room tending to Marie. He'd even leave the door open and turn off the TV
or radio, so I couldn't help but hear the noises and all the rest. Then,
when he was done, he'd bring the girl out naked, and compare her body to
mine." She paused to take a breath before adding "Later, when Marie was
old enough to be put in a playpen, he'd drag me into whatever room she
was in and screw me, right there in front of her. I tried to talk him
out of it, but he just laughed and said 'Don't you think she should see
the only thing her momma's good for?'"

I could see Lucy starting to cry, and wasn't any too happy myself when
Michelle sighed again before telling us "By the time Marie was able to
walk, he'd pretty much given up on me. He was involved in more and more
stuff and had a lot more money - which he used for drugs, whores, and
guns, mostly; I almost had to beg him for money to buy food for Marie
and me. We moved into another place, out in the country a way, and there
were always people around - 'security' he called them, but I knew they
were just hoods. And I knew that if I made any move to get off the
place, they'd either stop me and tell Frenchy what I'd done, or beat the
hell out of me themselves. We lived like that for a long time, and I
kind of got used to it. Frenchy was busy with whatever got him his
money, and pretty much ignored me - until he got mad or drunk or both.
Then he'd hurt me, and tell me hateful things. I put up with it so that
Marie would have somebody to love her and take proper care of her. Any
time Marie or I left the house, Frenchy had somebody with us - when I
took Marie in to the doctor, when she went to school, when either of us
went anywhere, we had company. I had pretty much given up on ever
getting away from him. Then, when Marie started to... develop,
physically, I started hearing him talking about her. At first, it was
just how pretty she was, and how she was going to have all the boys
chasing after her. But as she got older, and started having periods, his
talk changed from just talking about her, to saying what the boys would
do to her - and then, later, what HE would like to do. That was when I
got so scared for her that I was ready to die if I had to if it would
keep her away from him."

Michelle was starting to cry again, and her body was shaking as she told
us "I knew I couldn't just go - I had to figure out everything about it.
I didn't know how long I had, and I was SO scared; but I started doing
things in a routine: going to the same places at the same time on the
same days. I knew that if I was going to have any chance of getting
away, it was going to have to be when nobody around me was paying
attention; and that I had to do things in a way that would make them
bored so they'd stop paying attention. While I was doing that, I also
started keeping back some of the money that I was able to get from
Frenchy, and I started writing down some of the things I heard him say;
stuff like what he was doing and who he was doing it with, and so on.
After all he did to me, and what he said he wanted to do to Marie, I was
determined to make him sorry - make him pay for all he'd done to hurt me
and her."

Michelle looked at Lucy, and then me, her face a mask of rage as she
continued "I finally got my chance. A few weeks ago, I was at the mall.
When I left with Marie, Frenchy told me to get something sexy for her to
wear - and I knew I didn't have any time left. While we were shopping, I
said I had to use the ladies room, and took Marie with me. The men that
were with us waited at the end of the hall where the restrooms were;
what they didn't know was that the hall went on past the restrooms to
another door in the mall. Marie and I didn't even slow down as we passed
the bathrooms - we just kept going right on down the hall. I peeked out
the other door to make sure nobody that knew me was around, and we made
it to another store. The manager there was nice enough to call us a cab,
and let us out the back of her store to meet it. After we left, I had
the cab take us to the federal building, and we went right up to the FBI
offices."

Michelle was still crying, but she managed a wan smile before telling us
"Agent Kristofferson was real happy when he found out who I was, and
that I had information about what Frenchy had done, and was doing. It
took him some time, but he finally came up with that motor home that we
stayed in; you should have seen the planning he did to make sure nobody
knew who we were when he moved us to it. He had like six different
groups of people leave all at the same time, heading off in different
directions. Marie and I were in one of the cars, all dressed up like we
were when you saw us last night. We drove around for a long time, making
lots of turns and such to make sure nobody was following us before we
got to the motor home. Every couple of days, he'd come by with another
FBI agent and move the motor home to a different place; always to a
parking lot for a mall or big store, and out away from the buildings. I
guess we must have looked like any other family traveling in one of
those things; there were a couple of times that we got up in the morning
to see that there was another one, or even two of them, parked not far
away. He did all of our shopping for us - even the, uh, personal things
we needed. Whenever the motor home needed gas or propane, he was the one
that did it - Marie and I always hid in the back where no one could see
us. It's been over a month since we first set foot in that thing, and
God's honest truth, I don't want to be in another one, ever again.
They're nice enough, mind you, but they're just too damn small, no
matter how big they look. It seems like everything's always packed in
around you, and you've got no place to move."

Her smile got a little wider as she told us "Those things are just too
small for living in for any period of time. And with it being just me
and Marie, both of us being female and not being able to go anywhere for
being afraid that somebody Frenchy knew would see us, you can probably
imagine what it was like. That's why I said what I did about each of us
having our own room, last night. Marie's my daughter, and I love her to
death - but I don't know that I could have spent another month cooped up
in that motor home with her. One or the other of us likely would have
either gone crazy or killed the other."

By the time she finished, I could see that the simple act of telling us
a little bit about what life with Frenchy had been like had purged a lot
of unpleasant emotions and feelings from Michelle. And from the look
Lucy gave me, she knew it, too.

Michelle seemed to suddenly realize that she had the dish towel in her
hand, and that she'd been crying; with an embarrassed glance at us, she
started wiping her face and drying her tears. When she'd mostly composed
herself again, Lucy squeezed her hand and said "Its okay, now, Michelle.
You're safe here, and nobody is going to treat you that way ever again.
And I know that Frenchy is going to pay for what he's done - not just to
other people, but to you and Marie, too."

Michelle murmured something to Lucy before looking up at me. I just
nodded my agreement with Lucy and told her "Nobody's going to bother you
or Marie while you're in this house. Anybody that tries is going to go
away very unhappy."

My tone of voice was calm and even, so there must have been something in
my face or eyes that caused her to pale slightly before she said "Now I
really believe you, Dan. I know that me and Marie are going to be safe
here. Last night, I couldn't believe all that stuff Dale said about you.
But since then, I've had some time to think on it, and I know it's true,
now." She quickly held up a hand to silence Lucy before saying "Not that
I'm saying anybody was lying - it's just too easy for things like that
to get stretched a little. Like I said, I got to thinking about it, and
what was said about Dan fits in with some of the things that I saw. The
way he moves, for example - it's real quiet, and you don't hardly know
he's there until he says or does something. The way he - I don't know,
holds himself - it's real easy to see that there's a MAN inside there;
one that knows who he is, and isn't afraid of much. That only comes from
actually doing. I know he's smart, too - the way he pauses before he
starts talking, as though he's actually thinking about what he wants to
say, instead of just making noise. The way he talks, it's nice and
polite and all that - until he needs to say something to get someone's
attention like he had to do to me last night, and then he makes it real
clear what he means to say. Then with that business about that company
and those dealers - well, even I know you can't be doing that kind of
thing unless you've got some brains between your ears. What with all of
that, I can believe that he's willing to help us for the reasons he said
- I see how he is with you, Lucy, and those girls. Tonight, after we
ate, he cleaned off the table - something that NEVER would have entered
Frenchy's mind - just so we could all keep talking. The only fuss that
was made about it was by you, Lucy, and Robyn and Sandra. From what I
saw, he knew it needed doing, and was ready to do it so that you
wouldn't have to be bothered by it. You fixed supper, I expect, and
those two girls served it up; it looked to me like he just figured he
was doing his part. Then, when he was done, he just found himself a
place to sit where he could listen and watch us - trying to figure me
and Marie out, I expect. But he didn't get in the way of our talking -
he just sat there real polite, not saying anything. Maybe being married
to him as long as you have, you don't notice it as much. But if you'd
spent any time around Frenchy, you'd see that Dan stands out like a turd
in a punch bowl."

Lucy couldn't help smiling any more than I could at Michelle's
comparison. She seemed to realize that it might not be all that
complimentary, and started to apologize. Lucy just interrupted her to
say "No, that's all right, Michelle. I know what you meant, just as Dan
did. Neither one of us takes offense."

Michelle responded by saying "I'm sorry, anyway. See, that's something
else about living with Frenchy: when I got out of high school, I spoke
nice and proper, like you all do. Now, half of what I say sounds like I
never went to school at all. I think being around all of you might to do
me and Marie some good - maybe both of us will start speaking like real
people again."

That gave me the opening I needed to bring up some of the things that
I'd thought about earlier in the day. I cleared my throat to get
Michelle's attention and told her "I don't know what you've been doing
about Marie's schooling, but there won't be any problem helping her
learn and study here, if you want. We've got plenty of computers, and
I'll be more than happy to help you figure out some kind of schedule and
courses so she doesn't fall behind."

Michelle looked both hesitant and relieved before she told me "I don't
know anything about computers and such; and Marie only got to use them a
little bit in the school she went to. I wouldn't want for either one of
us to break one and cost you more than you're already putting out for
us. But if you can do anything to help her with her studies, I'd
appreciate it."

I smiled and said "Don't worry about it, Michelle. There's nothing that
either one of you can do to 'break' the computer from the outside. The
worst thing you can do is erase something the computer needs to operate,
and that only needs a little time to fix. If you want, I think any one
of us would be more than happy to help you and Marie learn."

Relief won out over worry on Michelle's face, and she told me "Thank
you. I think both of us would like that."

The next thing I told her was "You said something earlier about being
stuck in the motor home." Michelle nodded, and I went on "That might be
a problem here, too. Not as bad, maybe, but still...." She smiled her
understanding as I continued "There are a couple of things we can do
about that. If you want, I know somebody that can help 'disguise' you
and Marie so the two of you can get out of the house sometimes without
having to worry about being recognized."

Michelle's expression told me what she thought of THAT idea, and I
hastened to assure her "No, I'm not just talking about wigs and big
sunglasses. The guy I know, he's the makeup director for one of the
movie studios; what he doesn't know about making people look like
someone else probably isn't worth knowing. The other part of it is that
even if you or Marie DO go out, one of us will be with you. If you just
want to go out for ice cream or grocery shopping, I'll be more than
happy to keep you company. If you want to go a store to get some new
clothing, and then Lucy will go - I think I'd stand out a little bit in
the ladies changing room!"

That last bit got me a smile, and I went on "If Marie wants to go out
without me or Lucy, and then Sandra or Robyn - or more likely, both -
will keep her company."

Again, Michelle's expression didn't look too pleased at that idea, so I
told her "Just so you know, Lucy has been given a Federal permit to
carry a gun - and the only reason she got it is because she's already
gone through a couple of different FBI 'combat' gun ranges, and shown
that she can shoot. Sandra already has her own gun, and both her and
Robyn are pretty darn good shots. Sandra's old enough to have a
concealed carry permit - I checked this afternoon - and she's already
said that she'd like to be able to have the gun with her all the time.
So in the next day or so, I'm going to go down with her to the police
station, and we're going to get her the license."

Michelle looked at me strangely and asked "You'd put your wife and
daughter in the way between me and Frenchy?"

I shook my head and said "No, I wouldn't PUT them there. I'm telling you
that they've already said that they are willing to do these things, and
want to do them. When I asked Sandra this afternoon if she still wanted
to carry her pistol with her all the time, she told me that she
certainly did, and in no uncertain terms. Then she asked me if that
meant that she'd be able to have it with her so she could watch out for
Marie if they wanted to go out someplace."

Her curiosity got the better of her, and Michelle asked "You'd let them
do that? Why?"

"Yes, I'd let them do that - because Sandra and Robyn are both old
enough, and mature enough, to understand what it is they're offering to
do. But I'm still worried about them enough that they won't be doing
that until and unless Lucy or I are available to watch over them. If
they want to go to the mall, that's fine - but Lucy or I will be nearby,
even if we're not actually WITH them. You might not realize it, but
those two girls are more than capable of handling themselves."

Michelle gave me an appraising glance, looked over at Lucy, who simply
nodded, and then back to me before she said "I guess they'd have to be.
If they've already been through all that other stuff, and being YOUR
girls, I guess I can trust them as much as you do. Okay, if you think
you know somebody that can make it so me and Marie can get outside now
and then, I'm all for it."

Lucy took Michelle's hand again and assured her "I'm not going to just
tell you 'trust us', Michelle. Before either one of you goes outside,
you'll know that what Dan and I are telling you is right."

Michelle studied Lucy's face for a few moments before deciding she was
satisfied with what she saw there. Turning back to me, she said "You
said Sandra has her own gun?" I nodded, and she went on "And I expect
you and Lucy do, too." Lucy and I both nodded, and Michelle asked "Then
what about all these guns in the house? Do I have to worry about Marie
finding one of them? I know it sounds silly, after all the guns and such
Frenchy had around, but...."

Lucy smiled, and said "No, you don't. We figured to just keep them out
of the way. Sandra keeps hers - unloaded - in a locked case, anyway; she
and Robyn each carry one of the keys on a chain around their necks. Dan
and I have a small gun cabinet in our bedroom that we lock our guns in
when we're not wearing them - like when we're in bed. It has a
pushbutton combination lock on the door that we can open REAL quick if
we have to, and it's VERY solid. On top of all that, we keep the extra
ammunition - each of us carries several extra magazines - for the guns
in a separate place: a very heavy, very solid locker out in Dan's
office. All of us already know that guns can be dangerous, and we're all
VERY careful."

That seemed to more than satisfy Michelle's worries; she was visibly
relaxed by the time Lucy finished.

About that time, Michelle broke into a yawn that had her jaw audibly
creaking. When she closed her mouth again, she blushed slightly and said
"I'm sorry. It's just that it's been a long, hard time since I was able
to relax even this much. I guess I'm a little more tired from it than I
realized."

Lucy and I both grinned at her before I said "That's fine, Michelle - I
expect that both of us understand. If you want to go ahead and go to
bed, neither one of us will be offended."

"I think I'd like that - to sleep in a real bed, for a change. Uh, do I
need to get up for anything tomorrow?"

Lucy answered "Not unless you want to. Robyn and Sandra head for school
about seven thirty or so, I leave for work about eight. If you or Marie
aren't up to moving around by then, don't worry about it - Dan's a
pretty fair cook, and you're both more than welcome to fix anything you
like for yourselves."

"Oh, I don't think we'll be sleeping that late - but thank you. I guess
we'll see you in the morning."

Lucy and I each wished her a good night, and she got up and headed for
the stairs.

When she was gone, Lucy made a beeline for my lap, pulling my arms
around her as she buried her face in my chest as she started crying. I
knew what the problem was, and just sat there holding her, and rubbing
her back as she wept in pity and sympathy for Michelle and Marie's lives
up to that point.

She'd finished her cry and had dried her tears when Robyn and Sandra
came down to wish us a good night and let us know that Marie had already
gone to bed - but that Michelle had stepped into her room. They saw
Lucy's reddened eyes, but she just shook her head to let them know that
she was okay again. Each of them gave us a kiss - and not just on the
cheek, either, since neither Michelle nor Marie was around.

Some time later, Lucy and I went up to bed ourselves - where Lucy made
it more than clear that she wanted the reassurance of my arms around her
as we drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Michelle and Marie came into the kitchen together as
the rest of us were finishing breakfast. Lucy got up and went into the
kitchen to show them where all the different dishes and things were, and
offered to fix them some breakfast. Michelle politely declined, saying
that coffee was fine for her. Marie had come on over to where the girls
and I were sitting, and hesitantly taken a seat next to them - but away
from me. I carefully didn't notice, or say anything, figuring that she
was probably having an attack of nerves, and wasn't too sure I wasn't
going to suddenly do something Frenchy-like (whatever that might have
been). Even so, she licked her lips as she watched Sandra and Robyn
finishing up their first plates-full of scrambled eggs, bacon, fried
potatoes, and toast. There was more on serving plates, but Marie didn't
seem inclined to either help herself, or ask for any.

Sandra and Robyn noticed, though. Robyn finished first, took a little
more from the serving plates, and then said "I guess I cooked more than
I should have - I've already had enough, and there's still some left."
Sandra responded by saying "Yeah, I think so, too - I've already had too
much!" With a smile, she turned to Marie and asked "Would you like some?
You'd be doing Sandra and me a favor if you could finish off most of
this; I really don't want to have to throw it away or anything."

Marie gave her a small nod of agreement, and Robyn answered "Great!
Thanks so much! Here, I'll get a plate for you..." before getting up and
going into the kitchen. Marie watched her, as Robyn had doubtless
expected, to find out where the dishes were kept; from there, glasses
and the rest would be nearby. As if to make it as easy for Marie as
possible, Robyn casually opened up another cabinet and pulled out two
different sizes of glasses, as she and Sandra had - a small one for
juice, a larger one for milk. Off to the side, I could almost see Marie
memorizing where the items had been, so she'd be able to find them
herself later.

Back at the breakfast table, Michelle and Lucy had both seated
themselves - Lucy next to me, Michelle on the other side of her. When
Robyn was seated again, Marie hesitantly dished herself out some
breakfast; when she was done, Sandra and Robyn began including her in
their conversation as though she'd been having breakfast with them for
years. For our part, Lucy and I did much the same for Michelle. As the
meal went on, both of them visibly relaxed.

Finally, it was time for the girls to head off to school. Both of them
got up and took their dishes to the kitchen and put them in the
dishwasher - giving Marie, and even Michelle, enough time to see where
it was without making it obvious what they were doing. Sandra told Marie
to take her time with breakfast; and that they'd be right back down.

True to their word, both of them were back as soon as they could brush
their teeth and collect their school things. They came back to sit with
the rest of us as they finished off their juice. When they were ready to
go, they kissed me and Lucy goodbye before Robyn told Marie "You go
ahead and decide what you want to do with your room, today, okay? When
we get back, we can help you with anything you're not sure about.
There's a stack of decorating magazines in our room, so don't be afraid
to look in them for ideas and stuff."

Marie gave a hesitant shake of her head, and then Robyn and Sandra both
hugged her before leaving for school.

Michelle watched all of this, but didn't say anything.

Some time later, Lucy left to finish getting ready for work, and stopped
off to give me her own kiss before heading out the door.

When they were gone, it was just me, Michelle, and Marie at the table -
and both of them suddenly had an attack of bashful. I pretended not to
notice, asking Marie "Do you miss going to school, Marie?" She nodded,
apparently not trusting herself to speak, and I told her "If you want,
I'll be happy to put together a kind of study plan for you, so you don't
get too far behind. I know it's kind of a drag not being able to go to
school right now, but that doesn't mean you can't keep learning. Would
you like that?"

She brightened considerably at the idea, and managed to tell me "Yeah, I
would, Mr. Andrews, if it isn't too much trouble."

I just smiled at her and said "Just call me Dan - and no, it isn't too
much trouble. We've got plenty of computers around here, and it won't be
any bother at all to set one up for you to use. It won't be the same as
having a teacher and class in the room with you, but you won't have to
raise your hand to go to the bathroom, either!" - tossing in that last
part just to see if I couldn't get a smile from her. I did even better
than that, earning myself a soft laugh from her, and a smile from
Michelle.

Standing up, I told them "I'm going to go ahead and get started for the
day. Feel free to look around, fix yourselves anything you want to eat
or drink, watch TV or a movie, or anything else. I'll be out in my
office most of the time, so if you need anything, you can either come
out there, or pick up one of the phones; all of them have a button with
my name on it, so all you have to do is push it, and I'll answer. Okay?"

They both smiled and nodded their understanding, and I put my empty
coffee cup in the dishwasher before going out to my office. There, I
took a laptop and quickly got it configured for Robyn to use and
transferred her files and configuration settings from the computer in
her room (where Marie was staying) to it. Then I carefully deleted her
personal files from the desktop machine and set it up for Marie to use.
That done, I made calls to a couple of my clients - companies that wrote
educational software. In both cases, they were more than happy to make
copies of programs suitable for Marie's age available for me to download
- particularly after I gave them a brief, and censored, explanation of
why I needed it. Getting the software itself took only a few minutes,
since I had a high-bandwidth connection. From there, it was a simple
matter to get the software installed and configured. While I was at it,
I set up another laptop for Michelle to use, carefully installing some
tutorials and other software geared toward the beginning and novice
user, as well as some basic programs.

By the time I was done, it was getting close to 11:00; perfect, I
thought - by the time I get things set up, and have them started on the
computers, it'll be time for lunch.

Carrying Michelle's laptop with me, I went back inside the house -
finding both of them in the living room watching TV. I got Michelle's
attention, and said "If you don't mind, I'd like to go into your room so
I can set this computer up for you."

She looked at me as if I'd lost my mind before saying "Why should I
mind? It's your house!"

I smiled and answered "Yeah - but it's YOUR room."

Obviously surprised at my response, she answered "Uh, sure - if you
really think I can get anything out of it, go ahead."

I laughed and told her "I think you can get something out of it. I'll
get it set up, and when you're ready, I'll show you how to get started
with it. From there, I don't think you'll have any trouble."

Her expression made it clear what she thought of THAT.

Excusing myself, I went upstairs and into her room - and saw that she
hadn't done a thing to 'personalize' it. I went ahead and got the
computer tied into our intranet - wiring the place for data had been one
of the first changes I'd had made - and verified that everything worked.

I went back to the living room, and both of them turned to look at me. I
told them "Okay, you've each got a computer to yourself. Marie, I can
show you the programs you can use to keep learning now, if you don't
mind. Then, after lunch, I can work with you, Michelle."

I could see on Marie's face that she was eager to get on the computer;
Michelle wasn't so sure. Marie turned to look at her mother; after a
moment, Michelle got up with her to keep us company.

When we got to the door to her bedroom, I stopped and simply waited - it
took Marie a second to realize that I wasn't going to simply walk into
'her' room. Shyly, she opened it up and led her mother and me inside. I
saw that Robyn and Sandra had indeed gotten a pretty good start on
decorating it for Marie - and that there was still plenty left for Marie
to do, if she wanted. Inside the room, I gestured for Marie to take the
chair while I kneeled down next to her while Michelle stood behind us.
It only took a few minutes to get Marie familiarized with the computer
and software. A couple more minutes, and she was feeling fairly
comfortable, and was happily running a science program. I stood up and
backed away a little, leaving Marie to her own devices. After a bit, I
told Michelle "She's got it, now. She won't have any trouble from here
on."

Michelle looked at me strangely, and followed when I gestured with my
head that we should leave Marie alone. Out in the hall, I carefully
pulled the door to her room almost all the way closed before turning to
Michelle and saying "She might not have gotten to do much with whatever
computers she had access to before, but she definitely remembers how to
use them. It just took her a few moments to remember a couple things,
and she was fine."

Michelle asked me "What was that she was doing? When we left, I mean?"

"She was starting a middle-school level physics program. It will walk
her through some basic physics, testing her along the way, and going
back over the things she has trouble with."

"What about other classes? Like writing, and arithmetic, and such?"

"It's all part of the program. It'll let her do the physics - science -
only for a little while, and then she'll have to go on to something
else. The program was written for parents that home-school their kids,
so it won't let them study just a few things; they have to go through
ALL the subjects before they can start another class in any one of them.
When she's done with the science, she'll have to do something else -
then something else after that. Until she's gone through the whole list,
she can't go back to anything she's already been through. There are two
different programs she can use, and both of them do pretty much the same
thing in the same way; the only real difference between them is how they
go about the actual teaching. One of them is like having an actual
teacher, the other is more like studying with a friend."

"You already had that... software?"

"Oh, no! I called a couple of the companies that I've done work for, and
they were glad to let me have a free copy."

"You can do that? Get free computer stuff from folks you've worked for?"
she asked.

"From these companies, yes. The work I did saved them a lot more than
what one copy of the program cost."

"What do you do with computers, exactly?"

"I'm a programmer" I answered, and then seeing the confusion on her
face, added "I tell the computer what to do, and how to do it, so other
people can use it."

That seemed to clear things up enough for her, and the look she gave me
pretty much let me know that she thought I was some kind of Smart Guy.
She gave herself a little shake, and said "Well, whatever it is you do,
it sure looks like you're pretty good at it. I know Marie was a little
scared of being around you, and I think she was worried about doing
something to your computer. But you were real patient and gentle with
her, and that made her feel a lot better. After being around Frenchy all
her life, she's a bit jumpy around men" - the last part apologetically.

"That's okay - I expect I'd be jumpy if it'd happened to me, too. Maybe
here she'll learn that she doesn't have to be jumpy any more."

Michelle gave me an appraising look and answered "Maybe so."

Just then, we heard the clock strike the half-hour; Michelle looked at
it and said "Eleven thirty. It's getting toward lunch time. Would you
mind if I fixed it?"

"Not at all" I answered, adding "I usually just fix myself a sandwich."

She gave a small snort and said "Sandwiches are fine... for a picnic.
For a meal, you should be having something with a little more to it."

I laughed and answered "I'll leave that up to you, and then. I'm going
to go on back to my office for a bit; what time should I come in for a
proper lunch?" - earning myself a smile from her before she answered
"Oh, a little after Noon would be fine."

"And you and Marie will be eating with me, right?"

She looked a bit uncertain at that, but said "If that's what you want, I
guess we will."

I looked into her eyes and said "Michelle, it's not about what I want -
except for the fact that what I want is for you and Marie to realize
that you're WELCOME here. If you don't want to have lunch with me, and
that's YOUR decision, and then that's fine. What I need you to
understand is that both of you are more than welcome to eat with me, or
not. I'd like the company, but I'm not going to force you to do anything
you don't want to do - I'm not Frenchy."

She gave me a faint smile and answered "No, you're not Frenchy. That's
something I think Marie and me'll have to get used to. It's just that
it's been so long, it might take us a while, is all."

"That's fine. Honestly, Michelle - you and Marie are both a part of our
home, now. That's why I asked you if it was okay for me to go into YOUR
room, and why I waited for Marie to open the door to HER room: so that
both of you know that all of us here are going to respect you and your
privacy. As long as you're with us, those are YOUR rooms, to do with
whatever you like, short of tearing them up. If you or Marie want a
different color on the walls, let me know and we - you and I - will take
care of it. If you or Marie want to hang pictures or something, go ahead
and have fun. Anything you want to do that doesn't need a hammer and
nails to fix is fine with me. Understand?"

Michelle looked at me with such gratitude in her eyes that it got me
pissed at Frenchy all over again - that he would treat Michelle and
Marie so badly that they'd stopped seeing basic courtesy as their right.

"Another thing I want you to know is that you don't have to be afraid or
embarrassed or ashamed to ask us for anything you need that we might
forget. Both of us know that there are going to be things that you'll
need or want that we won't think of, and that you'll want to go places
so you can do things for yourselves sometimes. That's why I have
somebody coming to help you learn how to keep people from recognizing
you - so you CAN go out. You'll still have me or Lucy, or both, watching
out for you, but you'll be OUT. The last thing is that you and Marie
should understand that all of us would be delighted if the two of you
wanted to become part of our family life. If everyone wants to watch a
movie, don't be afraid to tell us what YOU like. If there's some
particular food or drink that you really like or don't like, let us
know, and we'll be happy to take that into account when we go grocery
shopping. Don't feel like you have to keep the same hours as us - if you
want to go to bed later, or get up earlier, go ahead; just don't be
surprised or upset if the rest of us don't join you. If you want a cup
of coffee, and there isn't any made or it's too old, don't be afraid to
make some more. If Marie wants a snack or something to drink, she should
help herself to whatever she wants. If we run out of anything, we'll
just get more. You're in our home, and we're willing to treat you like
family - if you'll let us. Okay?"

She started to tear up a little, but managed to answer "Okay, Dan.
I'll... we'll try."

"That's all I ask, Michelle. I'll go out to my office, now - watching a
woman cry turns me into a big marshmallow" - the last part meant to
tease her out of her tears.

She gave me a half-smile, swatted her hand at me, and said "Oh, go on!"

I looked at her, and she nodded that she was going to be okay. I smiled,
and did as I'd said - went back out to my office.

Shortly after Noon, I went back inside again - and found Michelle and
Marie both sitting in the breakfast nook, apparently waiting for me. I
sat down across from them - I figured both were nervous - and looked
over what Michelle (I presumed) had made: she'd taken last night's
leftovers and turned them into hot roast beef sandwiches, complete with
mashed potatoes and gravy. It was a lot more that I usually made for
myself, and I thanked both of them for joining me for such a fine lunch
- making Michelle beam slightly at the compliment, and Marie blush
slightly at being the focus of my attention, if only briefly.

The next order of business was to get myself wrapped around the food -
and enjoying every bite of it: Michelle had clearly done something to it
to freshen up the flavor. When I asked her about it, she looked down at
her plate and said "I, uh, went ahead and found your spices, and added a
couple of them to make it a little different than last night."

"You did fine - thank you" I told/reassured her.

As we were eating, I made a point of including Marie in the conversation
by asking her a few innocuous questions, and paying careful attention to
the answers. One thing that caught my attention was her reply when I
asked her age - that she'd be sixteen in just a couple of weeks. I
didn't ask what day - for what I had in mind, it really didn't matter. I
also asked her what kinds of things she was interested in - and listened
to the answers.

By the time lunch was finished, both of them were visibly more relaxed -
not just in our home, but around me, too.

When I was done, I got up and started to reach for the dishes; Marie
jumped up and all but snatched them away from me, with a hurried "That's
my job" - and blushing furiously when I quietly told her "Then thank
you, Marie."

As she took the plates over to the dishwasher, I asked Michelle "Are you
ready to start learning how to become a computer genius?"

She snorted and said "I'll be happy if I can just learn how to turn the
darn things on!"

I laughed and answered "Oh, I think you'll do a little better than
that."

Her eyes told me she wasn't entirely sure I wasn't lying to her, but she
got up and led the way up to her room anyway. She didn't hesitate to
open her door and lead the way to the computer I'd set up for her. I had
her sit in the chair while I knelt next to her. I talked her through
turning it on - applauding her when the screen lit up, making her laugh
- and getting logged on to it. From there, we went on to opening up the
first of the tutorials I'd installed, and getting her started on that.
After the first few screens, she was starting to relax a bit, so I
discretely shut up and moved back a little, letting her go at her own
pace.

By the time she was done, she was easily moving around, clicking and
double-clicking, dragging and dropping, and so on. When the program
ended, she suddenly looked around and saw that I was sitting back from
her and the computer. Blushing, she said "I guess it isn't so hard,
after all, is it?"

I grinned and answered "No, not if you want to learn. You're doing
great. There are some more lessons like that, to help you learn about
the computer and how to use it. All of them work the same way - they'll
let you practice something until you're comfortable you know it; then
they'll take you to the next part. Take as much time as you need or
want; it's a computer, so it won't get impatient or yell at you. I've
set up the lessons in an order that should make it easier for you, and
make more sense. If you have any problems or questions, don't be afraid
to ask: this stuff was all new to me, one time, too. When you're
comfortable you know how to use the computer, let me know, and I can get
you started on a few other things that I'll bet you'll think are pretty
fun. Okay?"

She nodded happily, and turned back to the computer, starting up the
next in the tutorials I'd installed. I stood up and made my way out to
the hall - turning back, I could see that she was already engrossed in
learning. I smiled to myself as I pulled her door about three-quarters
closed. On my way back to my office, I met Marie, who was putting the
dishes away from the dishwasher. I thanked her - embarrassing her
slightly - and asked if she was doing okay with her studies. She gave me
a happy nod, and I told her that if she had any problems with anything,
she could ask any of us and we'd be glad to help. She nodded again, and
with a slight blush, turned back to her self-appointed task.

When it got close to time for the girls to be getting home from school,
I got myself a beer out of the fridge in my office and went out to sit
next to the pool, where I'd be able to see them when they parked.

A few minutes later, I saw the door open, and Michelle looking out at
me. I told her "Come on out, if you want - nobody can see this part from
the street." She looked a bit hesitant, but came out anyway - then
smiling when she felt the warm sun on her back.

She came over to where I was, and took a seat nearby. She hesitated a
few moments, and then asked "Do you think Lucy would mind if I cooked
tonight?"

I laughed and said "Actually, it's my turn to cook - and no, I don't
mind!"

Michelle looked surprised, and asked "You really cook?"

I grinned at her and said "Yeah, after a fashion. Not as well at most
things as Lucy or the girls, but better at some. I don't have as much
variety as they do, either. But I haven't poisoned any of us yet, and it
gives Lucy and the girls a break, so I do my share. My specialty is
Burnt Offering" - making her laugh.

Michelle was about to say something else when Sandra's car appeared in
the drive. Both of us watched as she carefully pulled into 'her' parking
space and shut the engine off. She and Robyn got out, and both came over
to where I was to give me a kiss on the cheek.

I picked up my bottle of beer and had a swallow; Sandra took it from me,
had a sip, and handed it to Robyn who had one, too, before handing it
back. Michelle saw all of this, and I saw more than a trace of fear in
her eyes. Robyn and Sandra must have seen it, too, and they both
realized what the problem must be: that Michelle was afraid that I
wasn't going to stop with the one beer, and from there, become a problem
for her the way Frenchy had.

Sandra spoke up first, talking to Michelle, and getting right to the
point: "Michelle, you don't have to worry. I have never seen Uncle Dan
get anywhere even close to drunk. Remember, he's not Frenchy - you don't
have to be afraid of him, for ANY reason."

Michelle seemed to realize that she'd reacted in a way that wasn't
entirely appropriate - but it was also clear that she wasn't entirely
sure that it wasn't INappropriate, either.

Robyn had her turn next, saying "Michelle, look at him, and remember
what just happened. Think about what was going on BEFORE we got here.
You're out here with him, so you must have come outside after he was
here - I don't think you would have come outside unless you were sure
you wouldn't be seen. So, you were probably watching for him, so you
could talk to him, right?"

Michelle nodded, not sure where Robyn was going.

"If you were watching for him, and then you know when he came out here -
you probably saw him go from his office to the chair. Now, think about
it: did he stagger? Did he do anything to make you think that he'd been
drinking before he came outside?"

Michelle shook her head, and Robyn went on "So he looked okay then. You
know how long you've been out here - probably not long, since the beer
bottle is still pretty cold. So you can be pretty sure he's had just the
one beer - and hasn't had much to drink from it. Do you think you have
any reason to think that he's going to have more than that one beer? Or
that even if he does, that he'll have enough to get drunk? Think about
what you know about him, and decide if you think he's really the kind of
man that would get drunk - never mind do anything like Frenchy would."

Michelle DID think about it. And after a few seconds, we could all see
it as she visibly relaxed - and on the heels of that, blushed before she
opened her mouth to say "I'm sorry, Dan. I saw the beer, and I just...
went back to all the times that Frenchy got drunk, and then beat me.
God's honest truth, I didn't even think about it being you - I just saw
the beer, and lost it. I'm sorry."

I leaned forward and gently patted her hand before saying "Its okay,
Michelle. I understand. I think ALL of us do. All of us knew that after
being with Frenchy the way you were, there were going to be 'issues'
that all of us would have to deal with. I'm sorry that one of them came
up so fast - but then again, this is one less issue for later, right?"

She managed a brief smile before asking "You... you let them drink,
too?"

I turned as Sandra answered "Yes, he lets us drink, too. Not often, and
not much, as you saw - Robyn and I each had only a small sip. Uncle Dan
figures that letting us learn how beer and such affect us here at home,
there's a lot less chance that we'll do anything stupid when we're out
by ourselves. It works, too - I've been to a couple of parties where
people brought beer, and even liquor. Other kids, that don't have
parents that think like him, drink too much and get stupid. I know what
it does to me, and I have only a little bit - just enough to be polite.
There are a few girls at school that aren't virgins any more because of
how much they drank at some of these parties. A couple of them have even
gotten pregnant. That hasn't happened to me."

"Or me, either. Both of us HAVE been drunk - but only once, and at home.
That's how we know how it affects us; and how much we can drink. Dad
lets us make little mistakes at home, so we don't make big ones other
places." Robyn offered.

What neither of them was telling her was that they'd already given their
virginity to someone - namely, me. Robyn had been thirteen, Sandra
fifteen, when it happened. But that wasn't exactly pertinent to the
situation, just then, and would only distract her from the point they
were trying to make.

And making successfully, if the expression on Michelle's face was any
indication.

I don't think she was entirely convinced - but she'd heard enough that
she had a different perspective, and something to think about.

I ended that particular conversation by telling her "Anyway, as I was
saying, I'm not the best cook in the house - but I can get the job done.
If you want to cook tonight, and then you'll be sparing the rest of them
from one of my creations. I just ask that the next time you offer, it's
on one of their nights, so I don't get accused of bribing you or
anything."

Robyn and Sandra both grinned before Sandra told her "He's just pulling
your leg. He's actually a pretty good cook. Not as good as Aunt Lucy,
but better than us - at least, a little bit. But we're learning. If
you're going to cook tonight, I think both of us would like to be there,
so we can learn from you, too."

Michelle looked amused at their evaluation of my kitchen talents, and a
trifle proud that they would want to learn something from her. She
hesitated a moment, and then told them "Okay, if you want to learn,
you're welcome. But only one, I think - otherwise, it might be too
crowded. Next time, the other one, okay?"

Both girls nodded, and Robyn said "We'll figure it out. Is Marie busy?
We'd like to see her, if she isn't."

Michelle assured them that Marie had been laying on the bed, reading,
shortly before she'd come outside. Robyn and Sandra excused themselves,
and went inside.

I took another sip from my beer, and Michelle waited until I set the
bottle down before she said "I really am sorry, Dan. When Robyn reminded
me about it, I realized that you weren't the kind of guy that I've
gotten used to."

"No problem, Michelle. Like I said, I think all of us know there are
going to be rough spots along the way. You and Marie shouldn't be afraid
to let the rest of us know when you're uncomfortable about something -
we'll be glad to listen, and do what we can to help."

"Thank you, Dan. We will - or won't, I guess I should say", she replied
with a smile before going back inside.

I was still sitting outside, my beer long gone, when Lucy got home. I
met her at her car and kissed her, and then carried her briefcase for
her as we walked up to the bedroom. Along the way, I told her about
Michelle's offer to cook supper - and that the next time, it would be
for her or the girls.

Michelle called us all - except for Robyn, who had won the assistant
cook lottery - in to supper about six thirty. Once we were seated, she
and Robyn brought in the results of their efforts: Cajun food. It was
definitely something new for us, and we were all looking forward to
trying it out. Michelle told us "I learned to cook Cajun for Frenchy,
when we were first married. He was from the bayou, and missed his home
cooking - so I learned how, and he helped me get it just right. I
haven't done it for a while, but this turned out pretty good. I hope you
like it."

The meal started with stuffed artichokes, which were delicious. From
there, it was on to jambalaya, followed by stuffed pork chops with
caramelized onions, cornbread, and a sweet potato casserole. Dessert -
which none of us was sure we had room for - turned out to be bread
pudding with bourbon in it. When I commented on it, Michelle hesitantly
told me that she'd had Robyn get it from the liquor cabinet. I assured
her that was fine, saying that I was just surprised that bourbon could
be used to such good effect in food - making her smile.

When it was clear that we'd all had our fill, Sandra got up to start
clearing the dishes - followed, a moment later, by Marie. I started to
get up to help, but Michelle just gestured me to sit down again, saying
"As much as you helped me and Marie today, you just sit there."

Michelle saw Lucy looking at me questioningly, and told her "He got
Marie and me both set up with computers this morning. Marie spent the
better part of the afternoon on schoolwork while I was learning how to
operate mine. He was real polite and patient with both of us, and helped
us a lot."

That reminded me to tell Robyn that I'd moved her files over to a
laptop, and that I'd get it for her after supper. She told me that was
fine; she knew that I would make sure everything she might be interested
in or want would have been moved over without my prying into what might
be in her files. Both she and Sandra knew that I trusted them
implicitly.

When Sandra and Marie came out the next time, they had cups of coffee
for Lucy, me, and Michelle; all of us thanked them - causing a slight
blush on Marie - and they continued clearing the table. When they were
done, Robyn excused herself and the three of them left us alone.

I told Michelle that I'd spoken with the man that would be showing them
- and me, I admitted - how to change their appearance so they wouldn't
be recognized. She looked interested, and I went on to tell her that
he'd be there the following Saturday - just a couple days away. She
laughed when I said "If you can hold out until then, I think we can get
you someplace where you can do some shopping." She answered by telling
me that compared to the confines of the motor home, she felt our house
was like being in a shopping mall - making Lucy and I both smile.

When we'd finished our coffee, we decided to adjourn to the living room
- me after making a detour to get the laptop for Robyn and giving it to
her.

Once all of us were seated, Lucy told Michelle "I've noticed that Marie
seems to be, well, pretty shy. It seems like any time Dan or I
compliment her, or say something nice to her, she blushes and gets
embarrassed."

Michelle answered the implied question by saying "I know. You see,
pretty much the whole time she was growing up, the only one she had
around that showed her any kindness at all was me - everyone else either
didn't pay her any attention, or paid her the wrong KIND of attention.
She doesn't really know how to act when somebody besides me gives her a
kind word."

The look on Lucy's face was a mixture of horror, disgust, and sympathy.
Michelle saw it, and said "Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel about it,
too - only more, since she's my daughter. Around you, Lucy, she's not so
bad, what with you being another woman, and all - she's still shy and
all that, just not as much. Around Dan, it's another story. All she
knows from grown men is that they're loud, mean, hurtful, and not to be
trusted about anything. I wish it was different, but it isn't. What you
did today, Dan, helped some - but not much. There's still too much of
the other in her for what you do to wash it away any time soon."

Lucy looked at Michelle in curiosity, and Michelle explained how I'd
waited for Marie to open the door, and hadn't 'crowded' her when working
with her on the computer. Lucy nodded, and told her "That's just the way
he is - polite and all that, whenever people will let him. He seems to
know when somebody needs some kind of special attention or handling, and
he does what he has to, to help them out."

"That's what he did with me, too, getting me started learning about
computers. He didn't crowd me any, and was as patient as anybody I ever
knew. And once I started to get the hang of it, he just kind of eased
back and let me have at it. I didn't even know he did it until
afterwards."

Michelle went on "You said he's polite and everything when people will
let him?" Lucy nodded, and Michelle went on "What do you mean by that?"

Lucy laughed, and told her "Have you ever been in a store, and gotten
bad service?" Michelle assured her that she had, and Lucy continued
"What Dan does is wait nice and patiently until he gets someone's
attention. Then he asks for their manager. He's still real polite, and
real calm, so they try to ask him what he needs a manager for. He says
he needs to tell them something; he's still polite, but from the way he
talks, they know they'd better do what he says. When the manager shows
up, Dan calmly and politely chews them out for how bad the service was.
He never raises his voice, and he never uses profanity - and that just
seems to make it even worse for them. If the service was bad enough,
he'll even tell them that they've lost whatever chance they had to sell
something to him; he'll hand everything he's carrying to the manager,
and tell them that their bad service cost them the sale, and walk out.
Other times, if the people he's dealing with are rude or anything like
that, he'll be just as rude - usually more! - as they are, until they
settle down. He's got a stubborn streak in him that's truly amazing:
once he sets his mind to something, that's it - unless you've got a
truly exceptional reason he should, he's not going to change his mind.
He'll just stand there and look at you, waiting for you to run out of
steam, and then he'll go do what he was going to in the first place."

Michelle looked at me for a moment, and then said to Lucy "It sounds
like he's not too easy to live with."

Lucy laughed again, and said "On the contrary - he's VERY easy to live
with. He treats everyone with courtesy and respect, as long as they do
the same toward him. He's so patient with people that don't know to deal
with him that way, too - until he decides, as a last choice, that they
aren't GOING to treat him the way he does them. Then it's over for them
- they won't get another thing out of him, ever. He's willing to learn
from anyone - and expects them to be willing to learn from him. When he
comes across someone that can't or won't learn, he just ignores them."

"You two ever fight?" Michelle asked.

Lucy smiled before answering "No, never fought. We've had just a couple
of disagreements about things, and we managed to work those out. I've
gotten upset with him a few times, but it usually turned out that he was
being perfectly reasonable, and that I'd made assumptions or some other
mistake and didn't know or understand why he was doing what he was. He's
never hurt me, or even raised a hand toward me - or the girls, for that
matter. He won't even spank them. He just tells them why he thinks
something they did was wrong, and why he's disappointed in them. They
know how much he loves them, so when he talks to them like that, it just
makes them feel that much worse."

Lucy looked at me, and I could see how much she loved me - and Michelle
must have seen it, too, because she got a wistful look on her face
before Lucy turned back and told her "Every day I'm alive, I thank God,
the Universe, or whoever, that I met him. He's as tender and gentle with
me and the girls as any of us could ever want. We all know that he loves
us with everything he's got, and all of us know how far he would go to
protect us from being hurt - or to get anyone that DID hurt us."

"What do you mean?"

Lucy looked at me, and I nodded that she should go ahead. She did,
telling Michelle about all that had happened during the two previous
times that I'd helped the FBI - including how she knew, but couldn't
prove, that I'd had a couple of my Army friends come into town and scare
the man that had killed Sandra's parents into confessing to the police.
She finished by telling Michelle "The only time that I've been genuinely
angry with him was when he came home to help Sandra after her folks were
killed. I knew from the smell that he'd been firing his gun; when I got
a chance to look, I saw that he'd used up two of the three magazines of
ammunition he carries - so I knew that it wasn't just a 'small'
situation. What upset me wasn't that he'd been in some kind of gunfight,
but that he hadn't said anything to me about it. I knew that he didn't
want to worry me, but not knowing made me feel like he was leaving me
out of part of his life - and I love him too much to want that to
happen. I got a little mad, and told him what I was mad about. He
understood, damn him, and apologized before I could even say anything to
him!"

Michelle smiled in sympathy and understanding before Lucy turned to look
at me again, her eyes telling me how much I meant to her - and reminding
me (as if I needed it) how much I loved her, and why.

Michelle saw how we were looking at each other, and I saw a deep sadness
cross her face before she got control of herself. By the time Lucy and I
were looking at her again, she was the model of composure.

Michelle looked at me and said "If you're the kind of man that can make
a woman like Lucy love you, and have those girls adore you the way they
do, and then I expect that me and Marie'll be safe enough around you.
I've got to admit that I was a little nervous, what with you being the
only man here, and having this pretty woman and those girls around. But
I've had a chance to watch you some, and seen how you treat all of them.
I know I don't have to worry about you doin' anything that would make us
uncomfortable, never mind comin' after us. I know if you were doin'
anything bad to them, they wouldn't behave the way they do around you."

Lucy smiled at her, and said "I told you last night that I wouldn't just
say 'trust us'; I said that before either one of you went outside, you'd
know for yourselves that you could. It sounds like you know it, now."

Michelle gave her a grin, and said "When you told me that, I wasn't any
too sure you were right to be that confident. But it sure looks to me
like you had good reason. Yeah, I trust you - both of you. Marie, she'll
be a little longer - if she ever trusts you, Dan."

"Whether she trusts me or not doesn't matter, really" I answered, to
Michelle's surprise. "What matters is that before long, she'll know that
she doesn't have to be afraid of me - and that's enough."

Michelle thought that over for a moment before nodding and saying "I
reckon so - for now. If she can learn that not all men are like Frenchy
from you, and then that's gonna be a good start on learning to trust
them; at least, the decent ones."

I changed the subject to something else by telling her a little more
about the upcoming 'disguise' school - who the man was, and what he did,
as well as letting her know that he'd suggested a few things that we
might want to have handy to help things along. She looked curious, and I
said "I think it'll be pretty clear when you see them, and after you
listen to what he has to say. He told me a little bit about what he's
going to do, but not much. I've told Lucy about some of the things he
suggested, and she'll be asking you for some information."

Michelle got a look of curiosity on her face and asked "What kind of
information would Lucy ask me that you couldn't?"

"Some of your clothing sizes", I answered.

She still didn't understand, and Lucy offered "What he's not saying is
that one of the things Mike told him was to get bra sizes - yours and
Marie's."

Michelle looked mildly concerned, and I hastened to reassure her "No,
there isn't going to be anything like that happening. I'm going to have
to ask you to just wait until you hear what he has to say; THEN it will
all make sense."

Michelle still wasn't too sure, and Lucy told her "That's why it's ME
asking for that information - so I can take care of getting you some
things."

Michelle looked back and forth between us before seeming to come to a
decision. She looked at Lucy, but I knew she was talking to me, too when
she said "I figured I could trust you two, and I'm going to. You said
the stuff you're going to get will help, and I'll take you at your word.
After what Frenchy's done with me, I'm not going to worry about whether
or not Dan knows what bra size Marie and me wear. For her, it's a
thirty-two 'B'; mine is thirty-four 'C'. Is there anything else you need
to know?"

Lucy patted her hand and answered "No, that's fine, Marie. Any other
clothing you need, you'll be able to buy for yourselves."

That reminded me about something else, and I told Michelle "I got a call
from Dale Kristofferson today. He's going to be stopping by tomorrow or
the next day with some money for you. He said he doesn't know how much
you managed to get away with, or how much of it you have left; he wants
to make sure that you can get anything you and Marie need in the way of
clothes, soap and shampoo, and such."

Michelle managed a smile before telling us "While Marie and me were
hiding out, he took care of buying anything we needed. When either of us
was having our period, he was buying THAT stuff, too - and I think it
embarrassed him some."

Lucy laughed, and said "The first time I went shopping with Dan, and
asked him to get me a package of tampons while we were on that aisle in
the store. He didn't hesitate at all - went right to the brand I told
him, picked up a large package, and then threw it down the aisle and
into the shopping basket. I knew right then that he wasn't bothered AT
ALL about such things."

Michelle laughed, too, and turned to face me. I just shrugged and said
"It's not like none of us knows the how and why of it, or it's any big
secret. It's a woman's body preparing to let her get pregnant, is all -
so why worry about it?"

Lucy laughed again, and said "See?"

That got Michelle curious, and she started asking questions about how
Lucy and I met, and so on. The rest of the evening was spent with Lucy
telling her about it, and from there, about her job. Lucy was just
finishing up telling Michelle how business accounting really worked when
all three of the youngsters came into the living room. Marie went over
to sit next to Michelle while Robyn and Sandra stood next to me. Lucy
and I looked up at them, and Robyn told us "We're getting tired, so
we're going to go ahead and go to bed."

Lucy told them "Okay, we'll see you in the morning", and both girls
leaned over to give Lucy and I each a kiss good night, and then left.
When they were gone, Lucy asked Marie "You're not sleepy, yet?"

Nervously, Marie answered that she wasn't. Lucy smiled and told her
"That's okay, Marie. I expect this is still kind of new to you, so maybe
you're having a little trouble adjusting. I promise, you'll be just
fine. Are you having fun with Robyn and Sandra?"

Marie graced us with a shy smile and nodded her head before answering
"Yeah, a lot. I didn't get to spend much time with other girls before,
and it's really fun to be around them."

I smiled in reply, and she fixed her eyes on me as she said "They also
told me how nice you are, Mister Andrews. They said that you would never
do anything to hurt me or make me afraid. I told them that I was still a
little scared, but they said that it was okay - I'd see for myself that
they were telling me the truth."

I leaned forward to slowly and gently take her hand before I told her
"You can call me Dan, Marie, just like you can call her Lucy; both of us
would like that very much. Sandra and Robyn should have told you that
I'm also mean to them sometimes."

She got a nervous expression on her face, and I went on "I do things
like make them clean their rooms, and turn down their music, and do
their homework, and all kinds of terrible things."

It took her a second to realize I was teasing a little; then she smiled
and managed to tell me "I don't think that's so mean. I think you're
more like the way they said you are - like when you were talking to me
about the computer this morning: real patient and gentle and everything.
I was kind of afraid, but you didn't get mad or yell or anything, so I
felt better after a while."

I patted her hand gently and told her "I'm glad you felt better, Marie.
I want you to know that you don't have to be afraid here - and all of us
would like to be your friend, if you'll let us. Okay?"

She gave me a shy smile and answered "I think I'd like that... Dan."

I released her hand, and she turned to look at Michelle to ask "I think
I'd better go to bed, now, Mom. I want to get up early tomorrow so I can
study on the computer some more. Is that okay?"

Michelle's eyes misted up, and she answered "Of course it is, honey. You
go ahead; I'll be up in a little bit myself."

Marie got up and kissed her mother on the cheek, blushed a little when
she saw us watching, the quickly made her way upstairs.? When she was
out of earshot, Michelle told me "Thank you, Dan, for talking to her
like that. I know she's still a little afraid - but it's nowhere near
what she was like around Frenchy, or while we were hiding from him. I
think it was worse on her than it was on me. As bad as Frenchy was, she
pretty much knew how to deal with him; on our own, she doesn't know WHAT
to do anymore."

"I figured as much" I answered. "A few more days, a week maybe, and I'll
bet she's fine again."

"I hope you're right. In the mean time, I think I'm due for some sleep,
myself."

"Go ahead - we won't be far behind you" Lucy assured her.

When she was gone, Lucy told me "Every time I see Marie acting like
she's afraid someone's going to jump on her for something, it just
pisses me off all over again - that an asshole like Frenchy could DO
something like that to an innocent little girl like that."

Lucy's vehemence - and choice of words - surprised me. I looked over at
her, and she blushed slightly before saying "I'm sorry, Dan - but it
really galls me!"

I sighed and pulled her close for a hug before answering "I know. It
makes me mad, too - but now she's away from him, and she can learn how
to be a normal fifteen-year-old."

Lucy sighed into my side, and said "I hope so. She's already had to deal
with too much crap in her life."

Lucy and I sat there for a few more minutes before going upstairs
ourselves. After we were in bed, she snuggled into my back, spooning
with me, before saying "I'm always happy to be married to you, Dan. But
when I hear Michelle talk, and watch Marie, it makes me realize just how
damn lucky I am that we met each other."

I squeezed her arm - her hand was cupping my penis - and answered "I
know. It's guys like Frenchy that make me ashamed to be the same sex as
them - they do stuff like Michelle and Marie have had to put up with,
and it leaves them thinking ALL men are like that."

Lucy gave my penis a little squeeze - felt it twitch in response - and
said "That's okay. Being around you, they'll learn better."

Still holding each other, the two of us fell asleep.

The next morning, after cleaning up and getting dressed, Lucy and I
started for the kitchen - only to be greeted halfway there by the smell
of fresh coffee. We looked at each other, since the girls were usually
running a little later than we did. It took a moment before Lucy said
"Michelle"; I knew then that Michelle had undoubtedly gotten up early
enough to at least get a pot of coffee going.

When we got into the kitchen, it was clear that she'd done more that
start the coffee: the aroma of food greeted us along with her cheery
"Good morning!"

First on the priority list was to get ourselves some coffee; after a
couple of sips, we drifted over to where the stove appeared to be
entirely covered with various dishes. Once we got closer, though, we
could see that it was actually just a few things: a number of various-
sized omelets, hash browns, oatmeal, and stacks of toast.

Lucy and I looked over the food arrayed in front of us before looking up
at Michelle - who suddenly seemed a trifle anxious. She hesitantly told
us "I thought I'd get up and fix breakfast for everyone..."

That jarred Lucy, who quickly told her "That's fine, thank you. I think
we were just surprised by it, is all."

"I didn't make too much, did I?"

"Oh, no" I told her, "this'll be just fine. Might be a little short, but
I don't think anyone will complain about starving."

Michelle looked at me as though she thought I was joking. I just smiled
and said "You'll see."

Lucy and I each got a plate and started putting food on it; each of us
left the two largest omelets, taking smaller ones instead. After adding
a ration of everything else, we went over to the breakfast nook and sat
down, where there were glasses of orange juice at each place, and milk
at three of them. We'd just taken our first mouthful of omelet when
Robyn and Sandra appeared, closely followed by Marie. My two expressed
their delight at finding food ready, and quickly got plates: Robyn
loading hers with the largest omelet, Sandra with the next. Marie took
what I suspected was the smallest. After that, all three loaded
themselves with side dishes, and came over to join Lucy and me. Michelle
then made her own plate with the remaining omelet, added the rest, and
sat with us too.

A brief glance let me know that I'd been right - Marie had taken the
smallest omelet; I saw Michelle give her a brief Look that made Marie
look guilty. Meanwhile, all the rest of us were making happy noises
about the choice of fillers Michelle had opted for: crisp bacon and
American cheese, with a little sharp cheddar added for a little extra
'something'. I cleaned my plate first, and went to retrieve the plate of
toast still in the kitchen, along with the rest of the hash browns and
oatmeal. Lucy and I each took another slice of toast while Robyn and
Sandra topped off their oatmeal.

It didn't take long before all the plates were clean and the food dishes
empty. Sandra and Robyn finished off their milk, and then asked to be
excused. When they stood up, Robyn said "Come on, Marie - we'll show you
those magazines I told you about, so you can see if there's anything you
want to do to your room."

Marie looked at her mother, got a small nod of approval, and quickly
moved to join them - each of them carrying her dishes to the dishwasher
and putting them in.

When they were gone, Michelle gave us a smile and said "I thought you
were pulling my leg about having enough to feed everyone."

Lucy laughed and answered "Just looking at them, you wouldn't think
they'd eat enough to feed a puppy; if you just watched them eat, you'd
wonder how they stay so damn slender! Sometimes, it makes me jealous."

Michelle laughed too, and said "I know - I wish I could eat like that,
and still look like they do!"

I told Michelle "Just so you know, the omelets could have been, oh, a
quarter again the size they were, and that would have been about right."
Michelle nodded sagely, knowing that I was just giving her a better idea
of how much to make next time, not griping about that meal.

A bit later, all three girls came back downstairs - Robyn and Sandra
clearly ready for school, Marie with a handful of magazines held close.
My two put their knapsacks next to the back door, and all three sat back
down with us. Robyn and Sandra each had a cup of coffee while Marie went
through another glass of orange juice, all three of them talking with
each other. When the time came, Sandra and Robyn wished us all a good
day, kissed me and Lucy on the cheek, and went out the door with a
promise they'd see Marie later. Marie was visibly sad to see them go,
but not overly so. A few minutes later, she excused herself, saying that
she wanted to get her 'schoolwork' done.

We watched her leave, and when she was out of sight, Michelle told us
"That's the happiest I've seen her in months, when she was with your
two. With them being older and all, I don't know how long they can stand
having her around, though. I remember when I was that age - it made a
WORLD of difference if another girl was even one year older, never mind
two or even four."

I answered by telling her "They can't 'stand' having her around, now."

Michelle looked both horrified and angry, until I added "They like being
with her. Both of them have an idea of what she'd been through,
remember? They already know how they'd feel, and what they'd think, if
it had happened to them - so they're actually happy to be able to spend
time with her: they want to help her get out of whatever kind of
emotional and mental dungeon Frenchy might have put her in. Marie has
what used to be Robyn's room; when I asked them about it, they told me
that it was Robyn that got to give up her room, because she's closer in
age to Marie than Sandra is. Do you understand? They BOTH wanted to give
up their room to help Marie; Robyn won the prize of being able to do so.
It was THEIR idea to start decorating the room for Marie, so it would be
special for her when the two of you got here. And you just heard them -
they WANT Marie to decorate it to suit herself."

Michelle didn't seem convinced, and Lucy told her "Before we told the
FBI that we were willing to let you stay here, we had a little family
meeting - then all of us went off by ourselves to think about what it
would mean, having you here. When we got back together HOURS later, we
voted - and it was unanimous. If it hadn't been, we would have tried to
find some other way to help, but you wouldn't have been HERE. You and
Marie are here because all of us want you here."

We watched as Michelle kind of went off into her own place in her mind.
A bit later, she came out of it with a little shake, and then looked at
each of us. Her face held gratitude and awe in equal measures as she
told us "I didn't know that. I mean, I knew that you were letting us
stay here because you were willing to help the FBI; I didn't know about
the other. And I guess I'm just not used to giving credit where credit
is due: I've seen how your two are with Marie; it simply didn't cross my
mind that they might actually be grown enough to understand about her,
and give up what they have so willingly to help her. I expect that I owe
them, and you, an apology."

Lucy reached over to pat Michelle's arm and say "No apology necessary,
Michelle. Remember, I told you last night how Dan is when he's dealing
with somebody new? That's exactly how all of us are acting, now: there
are a lot of things that you don't know about us yet, so we're willing
to SHOW you what we're like so you can treat us the same way. And you've
been doing that - I don't think any of us has any cause to say that you
haven't been friendly and polite with us. Now you know a little more
about us, Michelle - and you can, if you want, reassure Marie if she
comes to you with any worries or fears; either about Robyn and Sandra,
or me, or Dan. I'm sure our two have already told her that if she wants
to talk, she can come to them any time - and I'm going to tell you the
same thing. Any time you or Marie want to talk to any of us about
anything, we'll be glad to sit down with you and listen, no matter what
it's about or how long it takes. Both of you have had a rough time, and
if there's anything any of us can do to help smooth it out, we'll do it.
Okay?"

Michelle's eyes started to mist over, and Lucy patted her arm again,
saying "No, don't start crying. You'll get ME started, and then I'll be
late for work because I had to do my makeup again!"

Michelle pulled herself together with a visible effort, and quietly told
Lucy "Thank you".

Lucy just answered "Don't worry about it. When - not if, but WHEN - the
time comes that you can do something to help someone else, pass it
along. That's what Dan tells the people that he's helped along the way,
so that's what I'll say to you."

"I'll do it, too!" Michelle declared.

Lucy just smiled and said "I know."

Lucy looked at the clock and told us "I'd better get going if I don't
want to be late. I'm the boss, so I have to set a good example." She got
up and went upstairs to brush her teeth and give her hair one last
combing before leaving. When she came back down, she gave me a kiss,
patted Michelle on the shoulder, and went out to her car.

After she was gone, Michelle looked at me and said "That's some kind of
lady you've got there, Dan Andrews. I sure hope you appreciate her the
way you should."

"I do" I replied, "every time I look at her."

Michelle gave me an appraising look, and said "Yeah, I expect you do, at
that. You're some kind of guy, yourself."

To save either of us from any embarrassment, I got up and reached for my
plate. Michelle gently slapped my hand away, telling me "No, you get on
about your business - you've got things that need your attention, and
I've got more than enough time to take care of something as simple as
dirty dishes. Go on, scoot!"

I laughed, and did as she told me - getting a smile from her as I filled
up my coffee cup before leaving for my office.

I had enough to keep me busy for the whole morning; I didn't even notice
what time it was until the phone rang. I looked and saw that it was our
inside line, and knew that it must be Michelle or Marie. I answered, and
Michelle's voice told me "It's lunchtime, Dan. You'd best get in here,
if you want any!"

"Yes, Mother!" I joked, hearing her answering laugh as I hung the phone
up.

Back in the house, I saw that she'd apparently taken the last of the
roast beef to make roast beef hash. That, with the rest of the corn and
green beans on the side, made for a fine meal for all three of us. Marie
even responded to some of my gentle teasing with smiles and a couple of
small laughs.

After lunch, I got up and made a big show of reaching for a plate - in
exaggerated fear of Michelle. Marie thought it was funny, even if I was
clearly crazy; Michelle smiled and said "Go on, then, if it means that
much to you!"

I'd put my things in the dishwasher and had just opened the door to go
back to my office when Marie hesitantly got my attention: "Uh, Dan?"

I closed the door, and turned to her, asking "What is it, Marie?"

"Would... would it be okay if... if I wanted to put a different color in
Robyn's, I mean my, room?"

I smiled and said "Of course it would. Didn't they tell you that?"

"Yeah, they did, but I just wanted to make sure."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked.

"Would light blue be okay?"

"No, I don't mean color - that's all up to you. What I meant was what
did you have in mind for HOW to change the color. Painting? Wallpaper? A
little of each? Do you want to look at some different colors and designs
so you can pick something special out?"

Marie seemed a bit overwhelmed at the idea of actually having options; I
told her "I've already told your mom that there's no problem if you want
to change the room around a little bit, as long as I don't need a hammer
and nails to change it afterwards. Okay?"

She nodded, unsure, until I smiled at her. With that, she seemed to
realize that I really meant that there wasn't any problem with what she
was asking. Still, I could detect a hint of trepidation in her voice
when she asked "Uh, could it be paint? With maybe some wallpaper to trim
along the top?"

"Sure it can. Do you have something in mind already?"

She nodded, and I said "Okay. Just let one of us know what the pattern
or color is, and we'll take it from there. Anything else?"

She gave me a shy smile, and shook her head. I opened the door again,
and went out to my office. A little while later, there was a small knock
at the door; when I opened it, I saw Michelle standing there. I invited
her in, and showed her to a seat. She made no effort not to look around
and see where it was I worked. When she looked at me again, she blushed
a little, but only said "Thank you, Dan."

"What for?"

"For letting Marie change that room around to suit herself."

"I said she could, so why are you thanking me for doing what I already
said I was willing to do?"

Michelle gave me an exasperated sigh, and said "Exactly BECAUSE you're
doing what you said you would. I know, it doesn't mean anything special
to you, but it sure means a lot to me - and especially to Marie. While I
was fixing lunch, she came in with one of the magazines the girls had
given her, and showed me how this one room looked. I told her it looked
nice, and she had tears in her eyes when she asked me if I thought you'd
really let her do anything like that. I know you said you would, but I
have to admit that I still wasn't sure you were willing to go that far.
I didn't want to tell her you would if you had changed your mind, so I
said that since it was her room, it was up to her to ask you. It still
surprised me some when you agreed."

"But it's just a little paint and some wallpaper. When the two of you
leave, it's easy enough to change back - if Robyn decides she doesn't
like it. She may well decide to keep it - then you'll have done me a
favor. Either way, it's no big deal."

"Maybe it's no big deal to you - but it is to Marie. The whole time she
was growing up, she hardly ever got to pick anything out for herself ;
at least, nothing like this. When I went shopping with her, we picked
out her clothes together, but as for the decision being all hers, well,
this is the first time she's gotten to choose about something this big.
It's just a bucket of paint and a couple rolls of wallpaper to you. To
her, it's a whole room - HER room! - and she gets to pick out the colors
for it. If you'd said 'no', it wouldn't have broken her heart or
anything; but by saying 'yes', you've made her a lot happier than I
think I've ever seen her. Even now, she's up there measuring all the
walls so she can tell you exactly how much surface there is, so you
won't have to buy any more paint than you have to. And she's also adding
up how much wallpaper trim it will take, so you don't have to buy any
more of that than you have to, either."

"Measuring the walls? She has a tape measure?"

"No, she doesn't have a tape measure. She's doing it with an ordinary
old foot-long ruler."

I started to get up, saying "Oh, hell, I've got a twenty-five foot tape
measure; she's more than welcome to use it."

Michelle said "No, you sit down, Dan. If you go up there with a tape
measure, and then you'll be taking a little bit of this away from her -
and I don't think either one of us wants that."

I sat down again, the confusion clear on my face. Michelle told me
"She's up there measuring with that ruler - and having the time of her
life. Every time she lays it down, that room becomes a little more hers.
Both her and me, we know that it isn't really 'hers' to keep forever;
but if she's allowed to paint it and put up that trim, and then it
becomes hers in a way that's way more important to her. If you go up
there and give her a tape measure, and then you're taking some of that
ownership away from her. Oh, she'll still be happy as a clam - and
she'll never forget you. But if you leave her to do it her way, well,
that makes it even more special. She'll not only remember you, but
she'll remember how she was able to do something herself - and she
hasn't had all that many chances like that. And like I said, none of
them have been anything this important - small as it is to you."

When she explained it that way, I could easily understand what she was
telling me - and knew that no, I didn't want to take that away from
Marie.

I sat back in my chair and said "You're right. Okay, it's her room, and
her project. I'll leave her to do it however she wants. And if I'm right
about something I suspect, and then I'll even be able to add something
to it to make it even MORE hers. Would that be okay?"

Michelle fairly beamed at me as she answered "I think it would be more
than just 'okay', Dan. Thank you."

I grinned and told her "No, it's my turn to say that - if you hadn't
come out here and said something, I might have ruined this for her."

Michelle told me "No, you wouldn't have 'ruined' it. She wouldn't be
having as much fun, and she wouldn't have gotten as much out of it, but
she'd still have been happy."

We sat there looking at each other for a few moments before Michelle
said "Well, that was all I had to say. I'll go back to the house now, so
you can get back to whatever it is that you do on that computer."

I asked her "How are you doing on YOUR computer?"

She gave me a big grin and said "I think I'm doing pretty good. I'm
learning how to touch-type again. Making mistakes, but learning from
them."

I grinned back and said "That's the secret: everybody makes mistakes.
The trick is to learn from them."

She stood up, gave me another smile, and left.

The rest of the day and evening went by pretty much as they had the day
before. The only real differences were that Lucy, Michelle, and I could
hear the girls - all of them - laughing and giggling upstairs for most
of the evening. I don't think any one of us gave any thought to asking
them to quiet down - none of us wanted to do anything to disturb Marie's
happy times.

Once bedtime rolled around, Robyn and Sandra came down to give Lucy and
me our goodnight kiss; I was surprised when Marie managed to tell me
"Goodnight, Dan". I wished her a good night in return, which gave her an
attack of shyness, but she managed a smile before following the other
girls upstairs. Michelle just watched it all with pleased surprise.

When Lucy and I were alone in our bedroom, I asked her when she'd be
going to get the things for Michelle and Marie. She told me she planned
on doing it after work the next day. I added something else to her list,
and when I explained why, she smiled and gave me a fierce hug.

The next day was a close match to the one before: Michelle made
breakfast - more of it - and I spent most of the day working on some
code for a client.

Dale stopped by with some money for Michelle and Marie. They came down
to talk to him for a bit, and I left them alone. When he was ready to
go, I let him out and re-set the security system.

The girls got home on time, and I got to spend a little time with them
before they went up to Marie. Lucy got home late, as she'd said - and
when I met her at her car, she gave me a conspiratorial wink and said
"Mission accomplished, Dan. It'll be ready Tuesday." I hugged her, and
then helped her carry the packages she'd brought home upstairs. There,
Michelle and Marie each took possession of what was theirs - both of
them clearly confused by what Lucy had bought, but willing to go along
with it for a little while.

The evening passed with all of us watching a movie on cable television;
it being a Friday, all the girls were allowed to stay up later.

When bedtime did come around, there wasn't any of the usual playful
fussing or complaining - particularly after I reminded them that we'd be
having a visitor the next day, and that Michelle and Marie would
probably be able to go shopping, if they wanted.

Eleven o'clock the next morning, there was a knock at the front door.
Everyone but me had been waiting anxiously for our visitor, so when he
finally showed up, there was considerable excitement. I opened the door
and let him in - and when I turned around from closing the door behind
him, found myself wrapped in a bear hug. He finally released me, clapped
me on the shoulder, and said "It's been too damn long, Boomer. I thought
you'd forgotten about me."

"Not a chance, Mutt. Things just kind of happened, you know?"

He gave me a grin and said "Yeah, I know - they kind of happened to me,
too."

He turned around to see the women and girls standing behind him, and
quietly whistled - making all of them (except Marie) grin. I led him
forward, and made all the introductions. When he met Lucy, he said "So
you're the one that managed to catch him, huh?" She smiled and said "I'm
not sure which one of us caught the other", making him laugh before he
told her "Well, you take good care of him. There's a lot of folks that
owe this guy, and I'm one of them."

She gave me a Look, but didn't say anything. When the introductions were
done, all of us went into the living room, where Lucy had set out coffee
and some pastries. Mutt accepted coffee, but passed on the food -
something the girls were more than willing to compensate for.

When we'd all had a sip of our coffee, Lucy asked him "So, Mutt, how is
it you know Dan? And why do they call you 'Mutt'?"

He laughed and said "My real name is Christopher Heinz." Lucy didn't get
it, and he added "When you hear 'Heinz', what do you think of first?"

"Steak sauce", Lucy replied.

"And what is the full name of that sauce?"

"Heinz 57."

"And what else is called Heinz 57?"

She thought a moment, grinned, and he answered for her "A dog -
specifically, a mutt", grinning back at her.

"As for how I met him, well, that's something else. If you're married to
him, you probably know some of what he used to do in the Army, right?"

Lucy nodded, and he went on "There were a bunch of us intel - that's
intelligence, as in spying - types that were assigned the job of getting
some information about this fella and some friends of his. Boomer and
his crew were assigned to watch out for us - we weren't anywhere near
being able to do it ourselves, not in the conditions we were being sent
into. It was supposed to be a two-week mission - pretty damn long, all
things considered. It went along okay the first week. The second week,
things started getting 'interesting'. It was a couple days before we
were supposed to be extracted that it hit the proverbial fan. One of the
other intel guys got popped - caught, I mean, not killed. They hauled
him down into their camp, and started trying to find out who he was and
what he was doing there. On top of that, the sent out a bunch of patrols
to see if there was anyone else they might have missed."

"All of us were laying around doggo - not moving, and hardly breathing,
so nobody would find us. But damned if one of the patrols didn't come by
where I was hanging with Boomer, here. One of the guys in the patrol
steps on me - my leg actually, and broke my ankle. I let out a holler,
and all hell breaks loose. Boomer pops up and takes out the patrol, and
then helps me get back to where we were camped. Not all of us in one
place, of course, but not spread out too far, either. He turns me over
to a guy named Muddy - huge Black guy, carried a thirty cal machine gun
like it was a water pistol - who starts taking care of me. Boomer, he
gets a couple more guys, Speedy and some other fella, and the three of
them head off. I didn't know it, but they were going down into the camp
to rescue the guy that got caught. The rest of the guys, they're keeping
an eye on things to make sure no more patrols get too close."

"A while later, we start hearing all kinds of racket from the camp:
explosions out the wazoo, gunfire, screams, the whole thing. Some time
after that, Boomer and the other guys, they come walking into camp,
carrying the fella they rescued. He's some kinda screwed up; he'd been
beat, tortured, all kinds of crap - but he was alive enough to let them
know where he was. They had to blow the door off his cell and get a
manacle off his leg before they could get him out. He told me later that
Boomer had used a pinch of C-4 - that's plastic explosive - to blow the
manacle off his leg; said all he felt was a little hot flash when it
went off."

"They turn my buddy over to this Muddy guy, and a bunch of them take off
again. They're back maybe an hour later, and Boomer says it's time to go
home. One of the guys gets on this satellite radio they've got and makes
the deal. Eight hours later, I'm laying in a hospital bed on some Navy
aircraft carrier. Next to me is my buddy that got caught. Boomer and his
guys, they're pretty much doing whatever they want - and the swabbies
and Marines aren't giving them any crap, when you'd usually expect a few
comments, anyway. Just looking at them, you can see you don't want to be
pissing them off, you know? Even the Navy officers are giving them
breathing room."

"Any way, a couple days later, they load us all onto this big-ass
airplane, throw the damn thing off the boat, and we land Stateside a few
hours later. There's regular Army to meet us, and the rest of it goes
along like you might expect."

Lucy had a lot better idea of what I'd done in the Army than the rest of
them, so she wasn't staring at me the way the rest were - particularly
Michelle and Marie.

Lucy told him "We've had the chance to meet Muddy - several times, in
fact. You're right, he is big - he liked to have scared the pee out me
the first time I saw him! How did you go from being in Intelligence to
doing makeup work?"

Mutt laughed and said "The way that little adventure turned out, they
weren't going to send any of us out into the bush again. We got the
intel we were after, but it didn't happen as quiet as the folks upstairs
wanted. After my ankle healed, I got transferred to a different base.
There, I got involved in working with agents, and from that, into
disguises. When I got out, it seemed pretty natural to just keep doing
that kind of work. Hollywood figured I was gay, at first - you know, a
guy doing makeup and such. But when word got out about my Army days,
well, let's just say things changed."

"A few days ago, I got a call - my secretary tells me it's a guy calling
himself Boomer. It takes me a second to remember - it's been a while,
right? I answer, and it's him. He asks me if I know anybody that can do
him a favor by coming out for a day or two. I tell him that of course I
do - me. He says I don't have to do that, and I tell him to go to hell,
I'm doing it. I ask him when and where. He tells me, and I ask what the
job is. He tells me a little bit about it, and asks if there's anything
he can do. I told him a few things, and as soon as we're off the phone,
I'm making airplane reservations. Tonight, they're having the
'wrap' party for the movie I was on; Boomer saved my life, so I'm here,
not there. Simple as that."

"Wrap party?" Lucy asked.

He grinned and said "Yeah. Whenever they get done shooting a movie -
like 'it's a wrap' - they have a big party for everybody that was
involved. The stars, the crew, everybody. It's usually a pretty big
deal, and everybody has a lot of fun."

"And you're here to help us, instead of going to a big party like that?"
Michelle asked.

He looked at her and said "Like I told you: he saved my life. He was
there when I needed help - big time! - and I'm damn well gonna do the
same for him. I've been to a couple dozen wrap parties, always had a
blast. But being able to help Boomer, well, that's something special."

Mutt looked around at all of them and finally settled in on Michelle and
Marie. He looked at them carefully for a few moments, and then said "I'm
guessing you and the girl are the ones he called me about?"

Michelle nodded, and when he saw the expression on her face he explained
"Dan said he needed help for a woman and her daughter. The other girls,
they look like they're part of his family - and I don't think he'd need
help with anyone that messed with his family. That leaves you two. So
what is it you need me to do, exactly?"

Michelle looked over at me, and I told him "Without going into too many
details" - "That's cool" he offered - "we'd like to be able for Michelle
and Marie to be able to go out in public; it doesn't have to be often,
or for very long. The problem is, there are a bunch of unhappy folks
that don't want them walking around. So I'm hoping that you can help
us."

He smiled at all of us and said "Sure, that's no problem."

He saw skepticism in Michelle's face and told her "No, really, it isn't.
I've done this very thing a BUNCH of times - not just in Hollywood, but
in the Army, too. Learned from some of the best, in fact."

He went on "Here's the thing: it's not about wigs and big sunglasses.
All that does is actually DRAW attention to you. The thing you're after
is to make anybody looking for you to think that you're not you. You
don't do any ONE thing; you do a little bit of several things. The deal
is that if you only change a couple of things, and then it's still you -
just in a disguise. If you change several things even a little bit,
you're not you any more. You'll still look kinda like you, but not
enough - there'll be too many little differences. Understand?"

Michelle did, though it was still a bit much for Marie. Lucy got it,
too, as did Robyn and Sandra.

"What can we do, then?" Michelle asked.

He smiled again and said "That's easy, too. What I'll do is show you a
few things, and explain to you how they work. When you get the idea,
you'll be able to do it yourself any time you want. Let's get started,
okay?"

Michelle nodded, and he said "Stand up for me, if you would."

She did, and he looked her over - directing her to turn around a few
times, and even walk a little distance away and back again. Then he had
Marie do the same things; she was visibly afraid, but followed his
gentle instructions. He sat looking at them for a few minutes -
heightening the tension considerably - before saying "Okay, I'm ready to
go."

He looked from Michelle to Marie and back before asking "What I've got
to tell you, it might be kinda personal. Understand, I'm not going to be
saying anything to you as a guy to a girl; it'll be makeup guy to
client, okay? Do you want me to talk to you around these other people,
or in private? Like I said, some of it is going to be... direct."

Michelle shared a look with Marie, and then told him "The others can be
here, too - we don't mind. As for what you say to us... well, let's just
say that you won't be saying anything to surprise us."

I saw an unhappy expression cross his face, but he covered it quickly
and told her "Okay, that's fine. What I'm going to do first is tell you
what you look like - again, it's like a makeup director, not me
personally, okay?"

Michelle nodded and he said "Here goes. You're beautiful. You look like
Cher, but you've probably heard that a million times already. You've got
beautiful bone structure, you're trim without being skinny; I don't
think your breasts are as big as they look on you, but they're still
nice. Your skin is probably your most valuable feature - clear, smooth,
and a very lovely color. That hair - I know a dozen women, easy, that
would KILL to have hair like that: long, straight, black, rich and full.
And even as long as it is, I can see that you don't have the split ends
and other problems women usually have with hair that long. You've got
nice curves, and you move well. All in all, you're a very lovely, very
memorable woman. That's actually a GOOD thing for what we're going to
do. Plain women, there isn't much that can be done, really. With the
really good looking ones, and the really ugly ones, it's easier - just
move them to that middle area."

He looked at Marie next, and said "You're a lot like your mom. Beautiful
complexion and hair, nice body, great legs. You're cute as you could be,
and I KNOW that you're going to be good-looking for a long, long time.
You're not as trim as your mom; you're a little more 'compact', I'd say.
But on you, it looks great. You move well, too. You're going to be only
a little harder to work with than your mom."

He turned to talk to both of them as he said "Neither one of you is
going to be particularly tough to change. Like I told you, once you get
the idea about what I'm going to show and tell you, you'll be able to do
this yourselves, any time you like."

He pulled a bag he'd brought in over and rummaged around inside for a
moment before pulling out an instant camera. With a smile, he said "What
I'd like to do is take a picture of each of you. Boomer told me that
there's folks looking for you, so that's why I'm using the instant
camera - so you'll be able to keep the pictures. This first picture is
what we'll call 'before'. When we're done, we'll take another one we'll
call 'after'. You'll be able to look at them side by side and see for
yourselves just how effective what you're going to learn is. Okay?"

Michelle nodded, as did Marie - though Marie's was a bit more tentative.

Under Mutt's patient guidance, both Michelle and Marie had their photos
taken: both full-length and portraits. In each case, he handed the
picture to them without even looking at it first. When he was done, he
turned to face Lucy and the girls and said "What I teach them, you can
do it, too. Just change the stuff that's appropriate to YOU - and you'll
know what that is by the time I'm done."

For the next couple of hours, he carefully and patiently went over the
different things that Michelle and Marie could do to alter their
appearance. In addition, he explained that it wasn't just looks; it was
how they moved, their gestures and mannerisms, and so on.

When he was done, he asked "Okay, which one of you wants to try putting
it into practice first? I'll be there to help, if you want it."

Michelle didn't hesitate to say she would - I think all of us could see
that Marie was simply too worried to do it.

Michelle led him upstairs, and when they were gone, Lucy and the girls -
including Marie - started talking about all they'd heard him say, and all
he'd shown them. Marie wasn't as active a participant as the others, but
she did join in.

It was maybe twenty minutes later when Mutt rejoined us - minus
Michelle. He saw the expressions on our faces and smiled, saying "She'll
be here in a moment; she just wanted to do one last thing."

He sat down, and a minute or so later, she came in. I say 'she' because
the woman that came into the living room bore only the vaguest
resemblance to Michelle - at least, at first glance. Even when we looked
closely, it was hard to be sure that it really was her. As he'd said, it
wasn't any one thing; there were simply a lot of subtle differences that
were tough to put a finger on. Even Marie didn't seem entirely sure that
it was her mother standing there.

When all of us had gotten the baffled looks off our faces, Mutt stood up
with a smile and went about telling us the things that had been done: an
under-sized bra that reduced the appearance of her bust. When asked, she
admitted that it was uncomfortable, but not painful. Next was the
removal of a little bit of one shoe heel - again, a small difference,
but it subtly changed the way she walked and stood. Oversized stockings
- the wrinkles served to hide the general shape of her legs, and made
her look vaguely older. An adjustment in the straps of her bra that
caused a slight change in her posture. A slight excess of makeup that
made her not only look different, but older. The addition of a little
padding that subtly - but effectively - changed the shape of her hips.
There were a few other things, and when he pointed them out, it was
clear that none of them made any significant change in her appearance -
but the cumulative effect was MORE than sufficient.

When he was done, he went on to tell us about the other choices that
could have been made - a larger (padded and stuffed) bra; putting a coin
in one shoe to change the gait of a person's walk. Putting on extra
clothing - preferably lightweight and seamless - to simulate added bulk
or weight. Wearing different styles and colors of clothing than people
would expect. He talked about a few more things, and I could tell that
everyone else was listening as closely as I was - it was actually rather
fascinating.

He finished up by saying "As a general rule, it's easier to look older
than it is to look younger. Not that it can't be done; it's just a
little harder, and takes a little more time and effort."

He looked over at Marie and said "If you want to go upstairs with your
mother, I think she can show you how you can do this, too. I told her a
couple things to help her get started." Marie nodded - a trace of
eagerness on her face - and followed Michelle out of the room.

When they were out of earshot, he looked at me and asked "Okay, what's
the deal, Boomer? It's been a while, but I can still smell a mission."

I looked at Lucy - who was a pretty fair judge of character in her own
right - and she nodded that it was okay. I looked back at Mutt and began
to explain it to him - minus any details that weren't pertinent. He knew
I was leaving things out, but also knew that they were things that he
didn't need to know. By the time I was finished, he was clearly
outraged, telling us "Some schmuck actually did that kind of crap? To
her, and that little girl?"

I nodded, and he said "Jee-zus Christ! You sure you don't want to take
care of this yourself, Boomer? Even if it's too much for just you, I'll
bet a couple of the other guys would be happy to come along - 'specially
after you told them about these two. Shit!" - the last followed by a
slightly guilty look at Robyn and Sandra. Neither one showed any
indication that she'd heard it.

A few minutes later, Michelle reappeared with Marie next to her. Again,
the change was startling: Marie looked to be about twelve - and a young
twelve, at that. Even having some idea of what to look for, it was still
tough figuring out the changes that had been made. A couple were obvious
- but only from having seen Marie before the changeover: her bust had
all but disappeared, and the curve of waist to hips had been reduced as
well. Robyn asked if the too-small bra hurt; Marie gave me an
embarrassed look, but answered that it didn't - that it was just
uncomfortable.

Both of them were a lot more agreeable when Mutt asked to take the
'after' pictures - and both gasped when they had the chance to put the
before and after images side-by-side.

They were still a little awed when I asked "Okay, do you two think
you're ready to go out and do a little shopping?"

Michelle indicated that she was; Marie was still feeling a little
bashful, but agreed. I looked over at Mutt and asked "Do you carry?"

He laughed and said "It wouldn't do much good laying home on the
dresser!"

A brief discussion followed while we worked out how all of us could get
to a nearby shopping mall. Michelle excused herself to make a quick trip
upstairs; I figured it was to get some or all of the money Dale had
brought her. It had been in an envelope, so I had no idea how much it
was - and since it wasn't MY money, I wasn't going to ask.

The mall in question wasn't large, but still had a variety of stores
that I figured would be more than sufficient for Michelle and Marie's
first time out. It finally worked out that I would drive my car with
Lucy, Michelle, and Marie; Mutt would drive his rental with Robyn and
Sandra keeping him company. With everything settled, we got going. On
the way, I told Michelle and Marie that the rest of us would stay in the
general vicinity, but not actually WITH them, so they could talk or do
whatever they wanted. Both of them gave me a grateful smile via the
rear-view mirror.

At the mall, I let Michelle and Marie out at one entrance, along with
Lucy to keep a discrete watch over them until I got the car parked, and
joined her - along with Mutt and the girls.

In short order, Michelle and Marie had found a store they wanted to go
in. Mutt and the girls discretely followed - never getting very close,
but always keeping them in sight. Lucy and I 'window shopped' nearby.
Again, both of us kept a discrete and long-range eye on them.

Over the next couple of hours, Michelle and Marie must have been having
themselves a grand time - they were in and out of almost every store,
and seldom left one without at least one package added to their
collection. Watching them as they moved around the mall, I was amazed
yet again at the change in their appearance - and even how they moved.
Neither one of them was readily recognizable as who they were without
the disguises.

Finally, the two of them stopped; I saw Michelle gesture discretely that
Lucy and I should go on by her. We did, and heard her softly tell us "I
think we're done here - let's go home."

Mutt saw what happened, and casually led Robyn and Sandra in a direction
that would intersect with Lucy and me. As we passed, I relayed
Michelle's message and saw Mutt's eyes signal his understanding.

Lucy and I wandered back around to a door near where I'd parked the car,
and split up - me to obviously pull it around for her. Behind us,
Michelle and Marie casually made their way toward the same exit - and
paralleling them were Mutt and the girls.

I got Lucy in the car, and then made a loop around one aisle of cars,
coming back to the mall entrance just as Michelle and Marie were coming
out. They saw the car, and veered off so that they were out of sight of
anyone inside the mall; I pulled up next to them, they got in, and I was
on my way again in just a few seconds. I'd seen where Mutt had parked,
and slowly guided the car that direction - and passing him just as he
and the girls were getting inside. They saw us, and Sandra nodded. After
that, it was just a matter of getting home again.

Back inside the house, Michelle and Marie were both ecstatic at having
been able to go out shopping. When Mutt and the girls joined us, both of
them hugged him - though Marie's was a bit more restrained than her
mother's. Mutt just laughed and told them how happy he was for them.

Lucy asked him if he wanted to stay for dinner, announcing that steak
was on the menu in celebration of Michelle's and Marie's 'outing' -
causing a small riot of laughter at the phrase.

Mutt accepted, and Michelle and Marie both excused themselves to change
back into 'real' clothes. When they reappeared together, it just made
their previous appearance all that much more amazing.

As supper was cooking - with Marie and Michelle helping Lucy - Mutt and
I sat in chairs out by the pool, Robyn and Sandra keeping us company.
Both of them listened quietly as Mutt and I caught up on some of the
people that we'd both known.

They were so quiet, in fact, that Mutt seemed to completely forget about
them when he told me "This is some kinda family you've got here, Boomer.
That wife of yours is a babe, and those girls are a couple of beauties.
You said both are adopted?"

I said they were, and he asked "Why do they look so different?"

I explained to him about Robyn being Lucy's natural child, and how I'd
come to adopt Sandra after her parents were killed. Hearing about it,
Mutt's face clouded over, and I heard him mutter "Sonzabitches!" before
he said "So that was you on that drug bust, huh? Good deal. I heard
about that other thing, that company that the crooks got into. Didn't
think it was you, at first, until they had that press conference. Twenty
mil paycheck, huh? Well, if there's anybody deserves it, it's you.
There's a lot of people that owe you a hell of a lot - some of them
without even knowing it. I gotta tell you, Boomer, I'm real happy to see
you again. I never did thank you proper for what you did for me and my
bunch."

I told him it wasn't necessary, and he answered "Maybe not to you, but
it is for me. You and your guys pulled our chestnuts out of the fire on
that one, and there wasn't a one of us that didn't know it. You've got a
helluva family here, Boomer. Lucy's about the nicest lady I've ever met,
and you've got every reason to be proud of those girls of yours. While
we were in the mall, we had plenty of time to talk, and they've got
their heads on straighter than most so-called grown-ups I know do. On
top of that, they're smart, and a couple of damn nice people. I'm glad
to see that things worked out for you, Boomer. You've got it coming, if
anybody does."

Before he could say anything else, Lucy announced that supper was ready.
Mutt seemed genuinely surprised when Robyn and Sandra stood up not far
away. He looked at them and asked "You heard?" Sandra just nodded, and
he said "That's okay. I don't figure you're the kind of girls to get
big-headed about a compliment - and every word I said about you and your
mom is true."

Sandra just smiled and said "Thank you."

After that, supper went pretty much as expected - with the possible
exception of Mutt telling some fairly unbelievable stories about some of
the figures in Hollywood, much to the amusement and surprise of Lucy and
the others.

As the evening finally wore down, Mutt stood up and announced that he
really did have to go - that his flight home was early the next morning.
All of the women expressed their regret that he had to leave so soon -
and thanked him for coming. Michelle and Marie were particularly
emphatic about their thanks; he just collected a kiss on the cheek from
each of them (making Marie blush) and said that was all the thanks he
needed. As he was leaving, he told Lucy and the girls "If you ever get
tired of this character, you give me a call - I'd be happy to have you
anywhere around me."

All three of them laughed before Lucy told him "IF that ever happens, I
will - but do yourself a favor and don't plan on it!"

He put an exaggerated expression of heartbreak on his face, getting a
laugh from them, and then wished us all a good night - after telling me
not to forget him again. I assured him I wouldn't.

When the door closed behind him, Michelle came over and wrapped her arms
around me, giving me a solid hug before pulling back and saying "Thank
you, Dan. What he did for us, well, it's amazing. But he wouldn't have
been here except for you. You've given us a little bit of our lives
back, and BOTH of us appreciate it."

"You're more than welcome - both of you", I replied, before Lucy,
Michelle, and I all sat down again.

Still standing, Robyn and Sandra said that they thought it was late
enough that they wanted to go to bed; a moment later, Marie said she
thought so, too. Robyn and Sandra came over to kiss Lucy and me good
night while Marie did the same with Michelle. I think all of us were
surprised when Marie came over and gave me a quick peck on the cheek
before saying "Good night, Dan. Thank you for today."

"I was happy to do it, Marie", I assured her.

Satisfied - and a little embarrassed, I suspected - she turned to go
with the others as they got ready and went to bed.

When they were gone, Michelle told us "I can only guess that you were as
surprised by that as much as I was. I knew she was starting to settle
down a little around you, Dan, but I didn't know she'd gotten to THAT
point."

I smiled and told her "I don't think she has, really. I think tonight
was a special occasion, just like today was. I doubt that it'll happen
again any time soon." Next to me, Lucy nodded her agreement.

Michelle looked at both of us and said "Well, whether she does it again
or not, I don't have any problem with it. I know you wouldn't do
anything to hurt her, and I'm glad to see her able to give ANY guy a
kiss on the cheek - never mind YOU. And Lucy, I hope you didn't mind
that I hugged Dan earlier - but it was such a relief to be able to go
out again."

Lucy laughed and said "No, I didn't mind - I understood as soon as you
did it."

The three of us chatted for another hour or so before deciding it was
time for bed, ourselves. Lucy and I cautioned Michelle that Sunday
mornings around our house were decidedly more casual than the rest of
the time - that she shouldn't be surprised if she saw all of us having
breakfast in our robes, and wearing slippers. She gave a little laugh
and said that it would be nice change to unwind like that.

It was eight o'clock before Lucy and I made our way downstairs for some
coffee. We'd actually awakened at six, but spent the intervening time
having a little fun together. Both of us were suitably relaxed - and
cleaned up - before we left our bedroom.

In the kitchen, we found Michelle and Marie reading the Sunday paper -
neither of them any more dressed than Lucy or I. Marie looked a little
shy, but when nobody said anything, she quickly went back to the comics
she was reading.

Lucy and I had gotten through about half of our cup of coffee when
Michelle told us that she'd started some home-made breakfast rolls - and
that they'd be ready in another fifteen minutes, or so. She smiled at
the anticipation on our faces, and said "You gave me and Marie a treat
yesterday, so I thought I'd give you one in return this morning."

Neither Lucy nor I tried to make any protest; we just thanked her and
let it go at that.

A bit later, Michelle got up to check the oven, and with a noise of
approval, got a pot holder to take the pan of rolls out. As soon as the
cleared the oven door, all of us could smell how delicious they'd be.
Without a word, Marie got up and brought us the coffee carafe, and then
went back and started another pot of coffee. When she sat down again,
Lucy and I both thanked her; she gave us a shy smile, but didn't say
anything.

Michelle let the rolls cool, and then broke them apart and stacked them
on a tray. She was carrying them over to the table when Robyn and Sandra
made their appearance - drawing a laugh from Marie when she saw the
monster (Robyn) and bunny (Sandra) furry slippers they wore. Both of
them smiled back at her before pouring themselves a cup of coffee - then
following their noses to the source of the delightful aroma that
pervaded the kitchen. In short order, each of us had a breakfast roll in
some stage of consumption. Michelle had clearly made plenty, so there
wasn't any need for any of us to 'hold back' - and we didn't. I
accounted for three of them, myself, as did Robyn and Sandra. Lucy and
Michelle each went through two, with Marie having only one. There were
still several of them left, even after all that.

Along the way, each of us had a turn at the different sections of the
paper. It started when I got the comics from Marie, who went on to the
magazine section. Robyn and Sandra took Lifestyles and Sports,
respectively. Lucy went after the front page, and Michelle busied
herself with Arts.

It was closing in on ten o'clock when we all decided that it was time to
get dressed. The youngsters left first, so they could each take a
shower; Michelle went next after Lucy told her we'd already had one.
Lucy and I simply had to get dressed, so we were back downstairs well
ahead of the others.

The rest of the day went by quietly. Robyn and Sandra snuggled next to
me on the couch as we watched sports on TV. Michelle had found a book we
had that she wanted to read, and was holding down a chair in the corner.
Marie was on another couch, surrounded by more of the decorating
magazines from Sandra's room.

Lucy claimed to have some errands to run; only Michelle and Marie were
unaware of what those errands were.

It was mid-afternoon when Lucy got back. I casually asked her how
everything went, and she just as casually let me know that they'd gone
fine. Robyn and Sandra kept straight faces, but couldn't help nudging me
in the side.

Lucy joined the rest of us with a couple of trade magazines that her
company provided her.

Supper was a bit early, but not excessively so. I did the honors by
preparing cheeseburgers, fries, and sodas. Lucy and the girls teased me
about taxing my cooking skills while Michelle and Marie looked on with
amusement. Dessert was another of Michelle's breakfast rolls, reheated -
and still delicious.

The next couple of days were pretty routine. Monday, Marie shyly gave me
the list of things she wanted to do to her room - the paint color, the
trim pattern, and even a scaled drawing showing the wall dimensions. I
thanked her and said I'd have the things for her the next Saturday -
visibly pleasing her.

Tuesday, Lucy was home a bit late, bringing in a couple of packages.

Wednesday, Robyn and Sandra did the same. Michelle and Marie didn't seem
to notice.

So when we hit Marie with the surprise birthday party, it really was a
surprise - not just for her, but Michelle, too. Michelle tried to
protest that it was too much, but it was obvious that her heart just
wasn't in it, and she soon gave in.

Marie was embarrassed terribly - and equally as delighted. Robyn gave
her a portable radio and CD player, while Sandra had come up with a
poster of another of the boy bands - signed, no less. Lucy had a book on
astronomy for her - she'd told me that she was fascinated by the stars
and constellations. Michelle didn't know it beforehand, but Lucy had
gotten Marie a fairly decent beginner's telescope in her name. When she
found out about it, Michelle tried to give Lucy and me a Look - but was
simply too happy and grateful to manage it.

Marie was looking at me somewhat expectantly when I handed her the last
gift. She opened it up to reveal that it was a pair of coveralls. She
looked a bit confused, but held them out, revealing that her name was
embroidered over the breast pocket, while the back held the logo
"Andrews Construction - if it ain't broke, it will be!"

When they saw it, Robyn and Sandra both broke into laughter. Marie
didn't understand, so I explained it to her.

"Those are your coveralls."

"What are they for?"

"To cover you of course, silly."

"But what do I need to be covered for?"

"You don't think I'm going to be doing the painting and such in your
room, do you? It's your room, YOU do the work."

"But I don't know how!"

"Then I guess you'd better learn, don't you?"

The expression on her face was priceless - Robyn finally told her "It's
okay, Marie. We'll help you. When Dad told us we could change things
around when Sandra moved in, he did the same thing to us. After all the
workmen were done, the only thing left was to paint and do the other
decorating stuff. He told us that since they were our rooms, it was up
to us to fix them up. He helped a little bit, showing us how to paint
and such, but we're the ones that really did most of the work. So we
know how to do it, and we'll teach you. We have coveralls just like
those, so we'll all be dressed up like a real construction crew."

Marie finally understood then. With tears in her eyes, she put the
coveralls down and came around to give me a hug, not hesitating in the
slightest. When she turned loose of me, she stepped back and said "Thank
you, Dan. It's the best thing I ever got!" - then, with a small blush,
she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek before going back to where
she had been sitting. There, she promptly got into a huddle with Robyn
and Sandra as they started explaining to her what they were going to be
doing, and how and when.

Michelle eased her way over to where I was sitting with Lucy next to me,
and leaned over to whisper to us "That's the damnedest thing I've ever
seen. You just made my daughter happier than I've ever seen her -
without a doubt. It looks like I owe you one, too, Dan!"

Lucy and I turned to look up at her, and saw the tears of happiness in
her eyes as she watched an animated Marie eagerly talking with Sandra
and Robyn. Lucy and I looked at each other, and knew that we'd done a
Good Thing.

As it turned out, the next day was actually Marie's birthday - but
nobody minded in the least.

Friday afternoon, after we'd had lunch, I went up to Marie's room and
knocked on the door. She told me to come in, and I did - then pointedly
looked at her and asked "Aren't you ready yet?"

Confused, she asked "Ready for what?"

I released a theatrical sigh, and answered "Ready to go get the stuff so
you can do your room tomorrow. I'm not going to carry all that stuff - I
mean"

"It's my room!" she finished for me, laughing.

"Exactly right. If you're not ready in fifteen minutes, I'm going to
assume you've changed your mind."

With a smile, she ran out of the room to find Michelle - who was
actually standing out in the hall, listening in. Michelle gave me a big
grin when I walked by, and then went into Marie's room to help her get
ready to go 'out', closing the door behind her.

Ten minutes later, Marie presented herself as ready to go. Again, she
and her mother had implemented a number of the minor changes that Mutt
had suggested; though dressed in jeans and a shirt, she bore only a
vague resemblance to her 'previous' self. As we started toward my car,
she even dared to take my hand, holding her 'plans' in the other.

I drove us to the home improvement store, and we got a shopping cart
before starting down the different aisles. Along the way, I told her
about the different things that she was going to need; she paid careful
attention, asking plenty of questions. When we got to the paint
department, she was ready - she handed the salesperson the sheet, and he
easily got the paint mixed and wallpaper trim gathered. As we were
waiting, I asked her "Okay, you've got the walls and decoration taken
care of - but what about the trim?"

She looked confused, and I explained it to her. She admitted that she
hadn't given it any thought - and I just asked "Better take care of it
now, don't you think?" She nodded, and I stood off to the side, waiting
patiently while she got together with another salesperson - a female -
to go over choices for what color to paint the trim in her room. When
she had one picked out, it was mixed up for her, and added to the cans
and rolls in our basket. From there, it was down the painting supplies
aisle. Again, I explained to her the good and bad points of the
different items, and made a few suggestions - which she accepted without
question. Once loaded up with everything she (and the girls) needed to
do the job, we made our way to the checkout - where I had her stand far
enough away that she couldn't see or hear how much it all added up to; I
didn't want the price of it to frighten or worry her.

We got everything loaded into my car, and it was back to the house -
where she insisted on unloading everything without my saying a word.
From looking at her, I knew she was taking possession of the project: it
was her room, and her responsibility to see it done - and that included
unloading the materials into the garage until the next morning.

Only then did she go back up to her room and change clothes. By the time
Sandra and Robyn got home, she was fairly vibrating in her seat in
anticipation of showing them everything. Michelle saw it, and could only
laugh quietly.

When they got home, and Marie showed them everything, Robyn and Sandra
were suitably impressed - and quietly amused. While Marie was discussing
how long the job would take with Robyn, Sandra came over and asked "Do
you have any idea how happy you're making her with this?" I just smiled,
and nodded.

The next morning, when I went downstairs for breakfast, I was a bit
ahead of the others - but still found Marie sitting in the breakfast
nook, waiting. The coffee had already been started, so I got a cup and
went over to sit with her. She smiled at me, and I could see that she
was both excited and nervous about what the day had in store for her. I
asked her if she wanted to talk, and she first shook her head - and
after a moment's thought, nodded it. I smiled and asked which it was;
she managed to smile back before saying "I guess I do."

"So what's on your mind, Marie?"

She looked at me and asked "What if I make a mistake today? What if
something goes wrong?"

I just smiled and answered "If you make a mistake, we correct it. If
something goes wrong, we fix it."

"But you already paid for everything. What if it's so bad we have to do
it over again? You made me move away so I wouldn't know how much all
this cost, but I still know it was expensive, and I don't want to waste
your money - you've already been so nice to us!"

"Marie, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay?"

She nodded solemnly, and I went on "Whatever happens today, its okay. If
you spill paint, we'll just get more. If you paint something wrong,
we'll just paint it over. What I paid for this doesn't matter - what
matters is that you get to make it into YOUR room. I told your mom that
ALL of us would like to think of you as family, if you'll let us. And
people in a family don't worry too much about things like this. You're
careful and do the best you can. If you're happy with the way it turns
out, and then there's nothing for the rest of us to say about it. Robyn
and Sandra have both done this before, so they can help you - but
they're working for YOU, not the other way around. It's up to you to
decide what you want, and how to make it happen. All of us are perfectly
willing to help you - but it's still YOUR room. Okay?"

She smiled and nodded, and I could see that she had settled down
considerably. I asked if she had made the coffee, and when she said she
had, I thanked her - which pleased her.

A little later, Lucy showed up, and then Michelle, and finally the
girls. We all had a nice breakfast prepared by Robyn and Sandra;
Michelle said she'd clean up so Marie and the girls could get started on
painting. A little later, I went upstairs to see how things were going;
I was looking through the doorway and listened as Robyn told Marie
"Don't worry about getting paint on your coveralls. You might think that
you're messing them up, but that's not what's really happening."

"It isn't?" I heard Marie ask.

Sandra spoke up, telling her "Not at all. When you get paint on them,
you're making a memory. Each time you put them on, you can look at the
different colors of paint, and remember the whole thing - and it's a
nice feeling, I promise. See this green here? That's when I accidentally
bumped into Robyn as she was painting the trim in my room, and her brush
hit me. This yellow is from the ceiling in this room - I remember how it
seemed like I was getting more paint on ME than on the ceiling. You see
what I'm saying?"

I heard Marie's quiet "Yeah, I do."

I made a little noise, and then walked into the room - and saw that
Robyn and Sandra hadn't forgotten anything from when they'd done it. The
furniture was all pushed to the center of the room, and covered with
drop cloths. The floor was covered, too, with the edges of the drop
cloths securely taped to make sure any spills were kept off the hardwood
floors. All three of them were dressed in their coveralls, and looked
cute as could be. They had the paint cans open, and each held a painting
weapon of one kind or another. It looked like Sandra, the tallest, was
going to do the ceiling; Robyn had a trim brush, so I figured she was
going to follow Marie and do the detail work. Marie had a roller with an
extension handle; I could see that it was plenty long enough to let her
reach the wall all the way up to the ceiling.

All three of them grinned at me, and I said "Looks like you're all set.
Have fun!"

Robyn laughed and said "Oh, we will, Dad!" - followed by similar
comments from Sandra, and then Marie.

I waved to them, and then left them to go to it. I figured they'd be
done by late afternoon, at the latest. By bedtime, everything would be
dry enough that Marie would be able to sleep in the room that night; the
paint was all latex, and didn't have any odor or dangerous fumes.

During the rest of the day, I went up to see how they were progressing a
few times. Each time, I was pleased at how well things were going. As
expected, there were a couple of minor paint spills - but nothing
serious. All three of them had an assortment of splatters, smudges, and
paint spots on their coveralls - and were having a great time.

Around mid-afternoon, Michelle found me lying on the couch as I read a
book. She sat in the chair next to it and told me "I was just up there,
and all three of them were painting and laughing to beat the band. I
haven't seen Marie that happy since she was a little girl. Thank you,
Dan."

I just grinned and told her "You'll want to be there when they show me
the place after they're done. I think you'll like it."

She got the idea that I was Up To Something, but let it go - Marie was
happy, and Michelle knew that I wasn't going to do anything to mess that
up.

It was almost 4:30 when a disheveled but happy Marie came in to tell me
that they were done, and ask me to come up and have a look. I followed
her, and we picked up Lucy and Michelle along the way.

When we got to the doorway, I saw that the three of them had done a fine
job - and I told them so, as did Lucy and Michelle. Robyn and Sandra
just smiled; Marie beamed at us.

I stood there for a few moments, obviously looking at everything. Marie
started to get a little nervous, and I finally told her "There's only
one problem, that I can see."

Worried, Marie looked around before asking "What is it?"

"It's ugly."

Looking crestfallen, Marie asked "What do we need to do?"

I pretended to think about it for a few moments before telling her "I
guess there's only one thing TO do - take it out and do it over."

"Paint the room again?" Marie asked.

"No, silly. Get rid of that bedding and these rugs. Take them out and
get something that matches the room - those things are hideous. You
might be able to get Lucy to take you to the store in a couple days to
get new stuff; so you'd better think about what you want to put in
here."

Only then did Marie realize that I'd been pulling a prank on her - the
mix of relief and happiness that crossed her face was priceless. Next to
me, Michelle couldn't help but start laughing - which got me, Lucy, and
the girls started, and finally Marie herself joined in.

When we'd all calmed down again, I told Marie "You did a fine job in
here, Marie. You should be proud of yourself."

She gave me an embarrassed grin, but managed to nod, too.

I finished up by telling her and the girls "If you can get this mess -
including yourselves! - cleaned up in time, I could probably be talked
into pizza for supper."

That seemed to be all the motivation the three of them needed; they were
gathering things up even before Lucy, Michelle, and I could turn away
from the door. As we were making our way back downstairs, Michelle
softly laughed again before telling me "That was a terrible thing to do,
Dan - and I'm glad I was there to see it!"

As expected, all three girls had things cleaned up - including
themselves - in short order. I let them cajole me into springing for
pizza without too much trouble. We all ate in the living room while
watching a videotaped movie. When we were done eating, Wacko, our cat,
lay down in Marie's lap and started purring - loud and hard. Marie had
been a little afraid of Wacko and our dog Sunshine at first, but both
animals were so affectionate that she soon got over it.

By bedtime, the paint in Marie's room was almost completely dry; still
she was careful not to do anything to disturb it.

Monday morning, after everyone else had left after breakfast, I asked
Michelle if she wanted to go to the store for anything. She gave me a
grin and admitted that they'd forgotten a few things the last time. I
told her I'd figured that was probably the case, and asked if that
morning would be too soon. She said it wouldn't, and asked if Marie was
going. I said that she could if she wanted, but that the more times the
two of them were together, the more likely it was that someone would
recognize them - pointing out that Frenchy and crew were looking for a
mother and daughter, not just one of them. She immediately understood,
and said that she figured Marie would understand. The youngster did -
even to the point of telling Michelle that since she (Marie) had gotten
to go out 'alone', it was only fair that Michelle got to do so, too.

After grave assurances from Marie that she would NOT be answering the
door for anybody, and would not answer the phone, no matter how much it
rang, a disguised Michelle and I went to a larger department store. I
stayed with her, letting everyone assume that I was her
husband/boyfriend; she added to the illusion by asking me how I thought
she looked in a few of the things she looked at.

We were gone for over an hour; on the way back home, she had me stop in
at a chain store, where she went in to get 'a few other things' as she
called them. I accompanied her, of course, but gave her some 'breathing
room' - she took the opportunity to pick up a few non-feminine-specific
items, as well.

When we got back home, I left her and Marie to themselves for a while,
and then asked if I could speak to both of them together. Both were
curious, but not concerned when we all sat down in the living room. I
started out by telling Marie why I'd just taken her mother out, which
she understood readily enough. Then I gave the two of them a slightly
longer and more detailed explanation than I'd given Michelle: that the
disguises were good, and would hide who they were - but that they
weren't perfect, like a surgery or anything. That the people that were
looking for them were looking for a mother and daughter, so the more
often they were together, the greater the chance that someone would
recognize them - or at least, be suspicious enough to pay too much
attention. That spreading the shopping trips around a number of stores -
as opposed to just a few - reduced the chance that anyone would have
multiple chances to recognize them. I said that either one of them, with
any one of the rest of us, was pretty safe from being recognized, but
that together, the chances went up - a lot.

I finished up by saying "That doesn't mean that you can't go shopping
together - only that you can't do it all the time. Mutt told both of you
that your single most memorable feature is your hair - its length and
style. NOBODY is going to ask you to cut it if you don't want to, and
I'll remind you that Mutt said you still had other options - changing
its color or style. I'm just letting you know that as long as you choose
to keep it the way it is, it's going to reduce the number of times that
we can take you out. You understand?" Both nodded, and I went on "You
both know that the rest of us are trying to watch out for you, but we're
trying to let you keep as much of your freedom as we can. It's a tough
balancing act. That's why I told you about all the things we have to
consider when one or both of you want to go out shopping. Now you know
what our perspective is on things, and you have enough information to
make your own decision about how much of your appearance you want to
keep, versus how often you want to go 'outside'. It's not an all-or-
nothing proposition, either: the more your appearance changes, the more
often we can risk taking you out in public. All the rest of us are going
to accept whatever decision you make - we all figure that both of you
are old enough to make your own choices and live with the consequences.
You don't have to decide together, or all at once, any more than you
have to verbally tell us what your choice is. You know what our limits
are, so we'll just let you do what you feel is right for you within
those limits. Fair enough?"

Both of them assured me they understood perfectly. I smiled, and said
"Thank you. Now, did either one of you get anything you want to show
off?"

Marie grinned, and said that Michelle had gotten her a new blouse, but
that she wanted to wait until supper to show it off. I said that was
fine, and excused myself to go out to my office.

I heard Robyn and Sandra get home, and after a while, finished up my
work so that I could have a cup of coffee in the breakfast nook while I
waited for Lucy.

I was there when she got home, and I went upstairs with her as usual.
When she was changed and de-stressed, we went back downstairs to catch
the news. It would have been Lucy's night to cook, but Michelle had said
she'd do it. Sandra was to be her understudy.

During commercials, I told Lucy about taking Michelle shopping, and the
talk I'd had with them when we got back. She nodded her understanding,
and snuggled into my side, holding my arm as my hand rested on her warm
leg, softly caressing it.

We were sitting just like that when Michelle came in to tell us supper
was ready - and both of us could see the mixture of happiness and sorrow
in her eyes when she saw how we'd been sitting.

The rest of the evening went as usual; Lucy and the girls all ooh-ed and
ahh-ed over Marie's new blouse, making her blush even as she grinned
happily.

Agent Kristofferson stayed away as much as he could, simply so that he
didn't draw any more attention to my place than absolutely necessary.
Still he did call to let us know how things were progressing, and to
give me warning when he wanted to drop off money or anything else for
Michelle and Marie.

The first time he came by after Mutt's visit, we played a trick on him.
Both Michelle and Marie got 'disguised', and were waiting with me for
his arrival. When we heard his knock on the door, Marie got up and
answered it, letting him in and telling him where I was. He got as far
as the living room, saw Michelle, and was asking "Dan, who was that, and
what are these people doing here?" when he stopped dead in his tracks.
Everything going on in his mind was visible on his face as he just stood
there: confusion, curiosity, worry, amazement, and finally,
understanding.

With a soft "I'll be damned", he turned to have another look at Marie,
and then back to look at Michelle, before saying "I wouldn't have
believed it was possible. This is Marie and Michelle, right?"

All three of us laughed, and I assured him that they were, indeed, the
people he'd left in my home. Staring from one to the other, he made his
way to a chair and sat down. He finally managed to pull his eyes away
from them and looked at me to say "I don't know who that guy is that you
called, but I want his name and telephone number. The Bureau needs him!"

All three of us laughed again, and I told him Mutt's name, and phone
number. Dale quickly wrote them down, looked from Michelle to Marie
again, and carefully tucked the note away.

Shaking his head as he continued to look back and forth between the two
of them, he reached into a pocket and pulled out an envelope, handing it
to Michelle and saying "Here's some more pocket money. If you run short,
don't be afraid to let me know - we want to take good care of you,
okay?"

She smiled and nodded, and discretely tucked the envelope into a pocket
as Dale turned to me. He looked at me and asked "They've been out?"

I said that they had, and went on to tell him about Mutt, how the
transformation had gone, and the visit to the mall afterwards. Dale
looked a little concerned, but I assured him that all of us had been
there, watching out for them - and that they'd come home not only safe
and sound, but considerably happier.

Marie wanted to show him her room - he didn't know why of course, but
went along with it. Michelle and I kept them company as Marie led him
upstairs and showed him the changes she'd made. He was impressed, and
let Marie know it. She smiled and thanked him for his compliments before
Michelle told her "Come on, Marie. I think these two need to talk, and I
expect they'd both be happier doing it alone."

When they were out of earshot, Dale told me "Dan, what you've done here
has gone way beyond anything I could - or would - have asked. I know
that redecoration job in there cost you some money; the Bureau will
cover it as part of their expenses."

I looked at him and said "If I get a check from the Bureau for anything
other than the contract fee, I won't cash it. I'll sign it, and send it
back - so don't bother."

He tried to protest, and I finally told him "Look, Dale, I saw what kind
of condition those two were in when they got here. If I can make them -
and particularly Marie - feel better and happier, and then I'm going to
do it. All this cost me was a little money, and the way she's been so
happy and cheerful since then is all the payment I need or want. So stop
bitching at me."

The look he gave me let me know he wasn't happy about it - and that he
understood that I wasn't going to accept any kind of payment from the
Bureau, either.

We walked back toward the living room slowly as we got caught up on the
status of his case against Frenchy, and Michelle and Marie's situation
in the house. By the time we got to the living room, we'd each gotten
the other fully up to date.

Michelle and Marie were standing there waiting for us, and Dale looked
at them again before saying "I still can't believe it. I know it's you,
but you don't look like you!" - making all three of us laugh, with Dale
joining us a moment later. A bit later, he told us he had to get going,
and left - and he'd barely pulled away from the curb before Marie and
Michelle were in near-hysterics at the way he'd reacted to seeing them.
Their laughter was infectious, and I was soon laughing along with them.
When they'd gotten themselves back together, Michelle came over and gave
me a hug, saying "Thank you, Dan" - followed by Marie who hugged me,
too, before the two of them went upstairs to change.

That night, over supper, they described the event to Lucy and the girls,
and had all three of them laughing so hard they cried as they went into
detail about the looks on Dale's face, and what he'd done and said.

Over the next couple of weeks, Marie and Michelle finally came to treat
us as though they were part of our family. Each of them got to go 'out'
every so often, once together. Marie got to the point where compliments
didn't make her blush, and she was able to talk to me as easily as
anyone else did. After a timid start, she was soon comfortable giving me
a kiss on the cheek, just as Robyn and Sandra did, before going to bed
each night. The first time I swatted her on the butt she was surprised -
until she realized that I was doing to her the same thing I did to
Sandra and Robyn, and for the same reasons. She gave me a happy grin,
and went on about her business. Michelle saw it, and just gave me an
amused smile when I looked at her.

Another week, and things had changed again - and not for the better.

It was Sunday morning, and Lucy and I turned out to be the first ones
downstairs. I dug out the box of doughnuts Lucy had brought home from
the store the evening before while she got the coffee started.

When it was ready, each of us took a couple of doughnuts, got our
coffee, and went over to sit in the breakfast nook. We were reading the
paper - Lucy the business section, me the comics - when Michelle came
into the kitchen.

To our surprise, she didn't stop to get some coffee or anything to eat;
she saw us and came straight over to where we were. Looking down at us,
we could see that she was upset about something, and waited to hear what
she had to say.

She made a couple of false starts, but finally managed to tell us "I
think that me and Marie need to find someplace else to stay until they
get Frenchy."

To say that Lucy and I were surprised would have been an understatement
- neither one of us had any idea of how or why Michelle had come to
saying anything like that to us.

I asked her "Would you like to talk to us about it?"

Her lips tightened and she shook her head, before she answered "I don't
see any point to it. My mind's made up, and that's it."

Lucy asked her "Michelle, we really don't understand this. Yesterday,
everything was fine. Now, this morning, all of a sudden you want to
leave. Would you at least show us the courtesy of telling us why?"

Michelle's expression softened - marginally - and she said "I reckon I
owe you at least that much."

Lucy quickly asked "And would you sit down to do it? It's kind of
awkward to be looking up at you like this."

Michelle hesitated a moment, and then took a seat - well away from where
Lucy and I were. Not a good sign.

She took a deep breath, and then said "It was late last night, and I was
already asleep when Marie knocked on my door. I answered it and told her
to come in. She was some kind of upset, and it took me a few minutes to
get the story out of her."

"What happened?" I asked.

Michelle gave me a Look and said "She told me that she got up to use the
bathroom, and while she was in there, she heard noises coming from the
other bedroom. I asked her, and she said they weren't like anybody was
getting hurt or anything, just different than she's ever heard before.
She opened the bathroom door a little and peeked in - and saw that Robyn
and Sandra were both naked and laying on top of the bed. Marie didn't
know what they were doing, but when she described it to me, I reckon
they were... using their mouths on each other. She watched them for a
bit, until both of them kind of cried out, and Robyn - she was on top -
kind of fell over and laid down on the bed. That's when Marie closed the
door again and came over to me, scared out of her wits. She didn't know
what they were doing, and didn't want to sleep in her room last night,
so she stayed with me. I kept her company while she got some clothes
this morning, and now she's all dressed and waiting in my room for me to
get back, so we can pack up and leave."

On hearing that, Lucy and I both knew what had happened: Marie had heard
them making love, and had watched as they brought each other an orgasm.

I thought about what Marie had said for a few moments, and had a few
questions.

"Michelle, you said Marie heard noises from their bedroom?"

She nodded, and I asked "And she opened the bathroom door to see what
was causing them?"

She nodded again, and I asked "Wasn't the door closed and latched, and
then?"

I could see that she hadn't thought to find that one out.

"I don't know", she grudgingly admitted.

"Well, you know that's the one rule we have here - that a closed door is
as good as locked. If Marie opened a closed door, and then she did
something she knows she shouldn't have; I've seen her knock on one and
wait for an answer often enough."

Michelle just looked at me, and I said "It might be worthwhile to find
out if that's what happened."

She slowly nodded, and I went on to say "Marie said she saw Sandra and
Robyn in bed and naked, and watched them. From the sound of it, that's
where they stayed - on the bed. Marie said that when Robyn lay down, she
closed the door and went to your room, right?"

"That's right."

"So neither one of them said anything to Marie, or did anything to let
her know they knew she was watching? Neither one of them said or did
anything to try to get her to come into the room, or do anything?"

"No, they didn't."

"Then what's the problem?"

Michelle flared up and said "The problem is what they were doing! It
isn't right, those two girls... doing that! Specially not with Marie
sleeping in the next bedroom!"

"But Marie wasn't in the next bedroom - she was watching them through a
door that she opened."

"It ain't the same thing - you know what I mean!"

"You're right - it isn't the same thing. Between the time you moved in
here, and now, you don't have any idea if Sandra and Robyn have done
that before, or if they have, how many times. I know Sandra and Robyn,
and I don't think that's the first time they've been together like that
since you got here - have you noticed anything different about them
BEFORE last night? Did you think there was anything wrong with them
BEFORE you found out they like to give each other pleasure?"

I watched as Michelle thought that one over, and could tell that I'd put
a hole in her balloon. But she wasn't going down without a fight,
exclaiming "But it ain't right for two girls to... do that to each
other!"

I just looked at her levelly and asked "Why?"

"It ain't I tell you!"

"Yes, I heard you - but I want to know WHY you say so. What are your
reasons?"

She sputtered for a few moments, and then got thoughtful, hemmed and
hawed a bit, and finally said "That's just what folks say. It means
they're lesbians, and no man'd want 'em!"

"That's what folks say, is it?" I asked. Michelle nodded, and I asked
"Are those same folks right about the things they say about you, being
married to Frenchy and all?"

I'd nailed her square between the eyes with that one - she only sat
there stunned as I went on "You think they're lesbians, and no good for
a man? Aren't you forgetting that both of them have been out with guys
from school - several times each? And that you've seen them kissing
those same boys, and looking like they really meant it?"

She grudgingly admitted she remembered exactly that.

"Now, if they were lesbians, they wouldn't be kissing guys and meaning
it, now, would they? So maybe what's going on is that they like boys AND
girls. For all you know, they like boys better, but want to keep
themselves safe until marriage, so they take care of their 'feelings'
with each other. If that's the case, is that really a bad thing?"

She had to think that one over, too - and I watched as her balloon
deflated even more.

"But what about Marie?" she demanded.

"What about her? Don't you think that if either one of them had done
anything bad with her, she'd have come to you and said so? She hasn't,
so you can pretty much figure that THEY haven't. Have you seen them
treat her with anything BUT affection, and care, and friendship? No?
They won't, either. Have you ever seen any of us do ANYTHING to trick or
force someone else into doing something bad, or that they didn't want to
do? Of course not - and you won't either. That's not how we are in this
house. If Robyn and Sandra have found love and comfort and happiness
with each other, who the hell are YOU to tell them it's wrong? They
haven't said or done anything to rub it in your face, ask you to approve
of it, or anything else. If anything, it sounds like they've been
careful to avoid doing anything when or where you and Marie might be
offended."

I went on to say "You know that the only rule in this house is that a
closed door is as good as locked. The same way, the only code we live
our lives by here is that each of us makes our own decisions, and
accepts the consequences - good or bad. We don't force anyone else to do
ANYTHING; and just the reverse is true, too: we don't let anyone else
force US, either. Last night, Robyn and Sandra were behind closed doors,
doing what they wanted to because both of them wanted to do it, in the
privacy of their own room. You'd never have known anything happened
between them if Marie hadn't opened that bathroom door and seen them.
And Marie wouldn't have been frightened of what she saw if YOU had taken
care to teach her about sex - and not just for married people to have
babies. YOU don't think its right for two people of the same sex to have
pleasure with each other - but it's not YOUR decision to make for them.
If YOU don't like the fact that Robyn and Sandra are willing to find
love and happiness with each other, and then that's YOUR problem - not
theirs, and I'm not going to let you try to make them feel bad, or say
or do hateful things to them. And that's what it would be if you said or
did anything: hateful; hateful because you hated the idea that two women
could be happy with each other when you aren't happy at all, hateful
because you hated the idea that they could find physical pleasure - and
you know that's what they felt - without a man when you haven't had that
kind of pleasure with anyone for a long time, hateful because you hated
the idea that they could find love and comfort in each others arms when
you don't have anyone's arms around you."

Michelle sat there, frozen, as I took a breath and finished by telling
her "Marie broke the rules of our home by opening a closed door when she
knew she shouldn't. Now you're angry that Marie saw something that she
didn't understand, and scared her. Now you're upset because two people
that aren't responsible to you found happiness and pleasure with each
other. Now you're worried that maybe they're going to 'do' something to
'bother' Marie - when you obviously haven't said or done anything to let
Marie know that there's anything TO be done. Tell me, Michelle - which
one of us do you really think is doing wrong here?"

Michelle turned to look at Lucy - whose face made it clear what SHE
thought. Michelle flinched slightly, and turned back to me. I sat there
watching her for a moment, and then said "Not sure, Michelle? I'll tell
you what - you go and think about it some. After you do, if you still
want to leave, and then I'll call Dale, and he'll find you another place
to stay."

She had enough of her wits about her to realize that I was - politely -
telling her to get lost. She slowly stood, and made her way out of the
kitchen without a backward glance. When she was gone, Lucy and I looked
at each other before she told me "I'm sorry it came to this, Dan."

"I am, too. I didn't figure Robyn and Sandra were playing at being
vestal virgins, so I expected it to come out sooner or later. I just
didn't think it would happen the way it did - with Marie seeing them."

"What you said to Michelle was right, though. I'm going to be sorry if
she decides they have to leave - I like her, and just love Marie. But I
won't have her in this house hurting our kids, either."

I sighed, finished off my coffee, poured myself another cup and tried to
go back to the comics - which weren't so funny, any more.

A while later, Sandra and Robyn turned up - surprised that Michelle and
Marie weren't there. Both of them grabbed a cup of coffee and a couple
doughnuts before coming over to sit with Lucy and me. When they were
seated, we told them about the whole thing with Michelle. The only
expression either one showed was sadness - and regret when Sandra told
us "I'm sorry, Uncle Dan. I don't think either one of had any idea she
was there; that's why we always waited until way late, so that she'd be
asleep and not hear us."

I patted her hand and said "No, you two didn't do anything wrong - at
all. Marie shouldn't have opened the door, and both of them know it.
After that happened, any problems are from what Michelle has or hasn't
done."

I handed the comics off to Robyn, and got up. In the kitchen, I put
together a plate of a few doughnuts, a carafe of coffee, and another of
milk. Putting it all on a tray, I took it upstairs and set it in front
of Michelle's door, told her "There's breakfast, coffee, and milk on a
tray here, if you want them", and left.

After the rest of us had eaten, Lucy and I went back upstairs to get
dressed - and saw that the tray wasn't in the hallway. Lucy gave me a
half-smile, and we went on into our room.

It was a little after three that afternoon, and Lucy and I were cuddled
up on a couch listening to music in the living room when Michelle
appeared in the doorway. She came in, and we could see that her eyes
were red and her face a little puffy - she'd clearly been crying. We
started to sit up, and she just waved us back down, saying "No, there's
no need for you to get up. What I've got to say won't take long, hard as
it is to say."

We watched as she sat down, and were listening closely when she finally
told us "What you said to me this morning, Dan, wasn't something I
wanted to hear. But it was something I needed to hear - and hear good
and plain, just like you said it. I asked Marie, and she said that the
door was closed; she had to turn the handle to open it, so I'm
apologizing to you for what she did."

She gave me a baleful look and went on to say "What you told me this
morning about two people finding love and comfort and all that... Well,
I thought on it. A lot. And I had to admit that you had a good point. I
didn't like it much, and I thought on that some, too - and finally had
to confess to myself that you were right about the other things; not
exactly right, but sure close enough to count. I finally understood that
I would have said and done things to those girls, and I knew that they
would be hateful - and why I'd say them. It hurt me some, but I finally
got honest with myself, and saw what I was like, and how what I was
thinking wasn't good - not for me, and not for Marie."

"I also thought about what you said about not telling Marie things - and
knew that I should have been talking to her a long time before we ever
got here. And that I should have been talking to her about a lot more
than what I would have before you said anything to me. So me and Marie,
we had us a nice sit-down talk, and I explained things to her - a lot of
things. I was scared, and ashamed, and embarrassed, and about anything
else you could think of - but I done it. I was right surprised when she
just sat there listening to me, nodding her head every now and then,
like what I was saying was just as normal as could be - and then I
realized that what I was saying should be right and normal. A man and
woman, they get together to make each other happy; there's no reason
that talking about it should be anything to be ashamed about. When I was
done, I told Marie the other stuff, too - like about Sandra and Robyn.
And I told her that what they were doing was their decision, and it
wasn't for us to judge the right or wrong of it, any more than it'd be
right for them to judge us. She told me that when she saw them, she
didn't think it was right or wrong; that it just scared her because
she'd never seen or heard about anything like that before - and I knew
right then that I'd done her wrong by not talking to her sooner, just
like you said."

Michelle blushed mightily as she continued "When I was done, Marie
started asking me questions, and for the life of me, I didn't know the
answers to any of it. We didn't have much in the way of schooling on
this stuff where I went to school - a few films the gym teacher showed,
and that was about it. Even my own momma didn't talk to me about it,
except to tell me about having periods and not to be layin' with boys
until I was married."

Michelle lowered her head to stare at her lap as she told us "So what I
have now is a fifteen year old daughter upstairs that's got questions
and is a little scared, and her momma down here who doesn't know the
answers and is a LOT scared."

She lifted her head again to look directly at Lucy, and then me, before
she said "Lucy, Dan - I'm telling you that I'm sorry about coming at you
like that. What I did was wrong. If you can forgive me, I'd like for me
and Marie to keep stayin' here - you and your girls are good people, and
I think we could still learn a lot from all of you."

Lucy knew what I would say, so I just waited for her to make up her mind
about where she thought it should go, and tell Michelle.

A few moments went by, and Lucy finally spoke up, saying "We accept your
apology, Michelle, and we forgive you. I know that all of us would like
for you to stay here, too - after you left this morning, I told Dan that
I liked you, and loved Marie; and that's still true. Sandra and Robyn
came down to breakfast and asked where you were, so we told them that
Marie had seen them last night, and that you were upstairs deciding if
you wanted to stay or go. Both of them were sorry that Marie had to find
out about them that way - not because they thought it was wrong, but
because they understood how it could surprise and even frighten her,
which is something that neither one of them would ever do willingly. If
you and Marie want to stay here, both of you are still more than
welcome. But you're going to have to understand that we aren't going to
change our lives to make you happy - any more than we would expect you
to do it for us. Remember the first time you sat down to dinner with us?
And how we told you that we weren't religious people, but that if you
wanted to pray, we'd respect it? That's what we want from you: to
respect OUR ways, too. If you can do that, and then I think everything's
going to be fine."

Michelle started to get misty around the eyes, and answered "We can do
that - that's one of the things that I thought hard about, that you and
Dan and those girls have done nothing but show us respect. Honestly, I
don't know if what goes on between Robyn and Sandra is right, or not -
but I DO know that it's not for me to decide for them. As long as we're
here, I won't say or do anything to either one of them about what they
do amongst themselves." After a deep breath, she went on "And I know
that after seeing them, Marie's gonna be some curious about it. I don't
think she's gonna want to run in there and join them, but I don't doubt
for a minute that she's going to have a passel of questions. I hope she
comes to me with 'em, but I know that some of 'em are going to be things
that only Robyn or Sandra can explain - and I'll be okay with that. Not
happy about it, not because of Robyn or Sandra, but because of my own
not knowing the answers. I thought about it hard, and I know what kind
of girls those two are, and I'm not worried about them doin' anything
with Marie. It's my own not knowing that gets on me."

Lucy looked at me, and I just nodded before she told Michelle "Michelle,
you don't have to 'not know' if you don't want to. I know you're not
ignorant; you just don't have much schooling - and that's something
that's easy to change. You've heard about the internet?"

Michelle said she did, and Lucy continued "That's where we can go to
help you learn. Yes, I said 'we' - I'll be more than happy to help you,
if you want. Or I can just get you started, and let you alone from
there; either way, it's up to you."

Michelle looked at her and asked "You'd do that? Even after how I talked
to you this morning?"

Lucy smiled and said "Yes, I'd do that - because of how you talked to us
this morning. I think you said a lot of what you did because you didn't
know better. If it will help you learn, and then yes, I'd be glad to do
it."

"How can you do this? Be so nice to me, and be so willing to help me and
Marie after the way I talked to you this morning?"

I spoke up then by asking Michelle "Have you ever seen somebody on the
street asking for money? Somebody that obviously wasn't a bum or a
drunk, but just down on his luck?"

"I have."

"Ever give him money?"

"I did."

"Why?"

"Cause it wasn't much to me, and a lot to him - and he looked like he
deserved it."

I just smiled at her. She looked perplexed for a moment, and then
understood. She opened her mouth and said "But that's different. I'm
just giving him a little money; you're opening your house to us, and
even putting yourselves between us and Frenchy."

"Is it something entirely different, or just a difference of doing more
or less of the same thing?" I asked.

She thought that one over, and finally answered "Just more or less, I
think. But still..."

"But still, it's the same thing. You did what YOU could with those
folks. Lucy and I and the girls are doing what WE can with you. You gave
what you could afford and were willing; we're just doing the same thing
- except that we have more, so we can afford more."

She tried again, saying "But it's not just the money - and I know you've
spent a fair chunk of that. It's giving us so much of your lives, too.
That's different, isn't it?"

That time, it was Lucy that smiled, and asked "Is it? Think about what
you KNOW about us, and tell me how different it is, really."

Michelle just sat there blinking slowly for nearly a full minute. She
finally came back with a small start and said "It isn't different - not
really. I can see that all of you love each other so much, and how much
each of you trusts and respects the others. So I guess any love and
trust and like that that you give us is just a little bit of what you've
already got - just like the money you spent on letting Marie decorate
that room is a little bit of what you've got in the bank. As much as it
seems to Marie and me, it's really just a little bit of what you already
have - and you can afford to let us have it because you've got so much
more where that came from that what you give us won't hardly be missed."

Lucy smiled and said "That's it, exactly."

Michelle just sat there, stunned, as she thought about all she'd just
heard meant - not just to us, but to her, and Marie.

After a bit, her eyes got huge, and she stared at each of us in turn
before saying "Dear lord! What kind of people you must be, that you can
DO things like that!"

Lucy and I grinned at her, making her realize how she must look; she
quickly got herself composed again, but was still somewhat awe-struck as
she heard me say "I think maybe now you can really understand why we're
willing to have you and Marie in our home, and do what we can to protect
you from Frenchy."

She nodded, and managed to answer "I do. And with what you know, Dan,
and what Lucy and those girls have learned, he doesn't have a chance,
does he?"

"Not even a little one", Lucy told her, amused.

Michelle suddenly laughed before telling us "And the poor dumb bastard
doesn't even know it! He is in such deep shit!" - then looking slightly
guilty at her choice of words.

Lucy and I laughed with her, and Lucy said "Yeah, he is, isn't he?" -
making Michelle laugh again.

With everything said and done, Michelle stood up and told us "Thank you,
both of you - more than I could ever tell you. I'm going to go upstairs
now, and finish my talk with Marie - at least, what I can of it." With a
sudden inspiration, she asked Lucy "Do you think it would be okay if
Marie learned this other stuff with me? So that it's the two of us
learning together?"

"Of course its okay with me - whether or not to do it is up to YOU."

Michelle grinned, and said "My daughter, my decision. Yeah, I understand
that" before turning to go back upstairs to where Marie was waiting.

When she was gone, there really wasn't anything that needed to be said
between Lucy and me; she just snuggled a little closer, I hugged her a
little tighter, and we went back to listening to the music.

Supper that night could have been a lot more awkward than it was. I
think it was only Robyn's friendliness and Sandra's innate dignity that
saved the evening. Michelle and Marie, of course, couldn't help looking
at them, and watching them. Both girls noticed it, just as certainly -
and promptly proceeded to ignore it. Robyn cheerfully drew Marie and
Michelle into conversations about Marie's schoolwork, and what she'd
been seeing through her telescope. Sandra did her part by asking them
how they were doing on their computers, and if they'd found anything
interesting on the Internet. By the time supper was over, Michelle and
Marie had both gone back to treating Sandra and Robyn as they always had
- almost. There was still a trace of hesitancy on Michelle's part, and
Marie was again being a touch shy, but it was infinitely better than
when the meal had started.

Over the course of the following week, Lucy had her hands full showing
Michelle and Marie around on the Internet, finding sites for them to
learn more about not only matters sexual, but even their own bodies - as
Lucy lamented to me "Both of them are absolutely ignorant of what goes
on in their bodies; particularly their reproductive system. Neither one
knows diddly about nutrition and pregnancy - even though Michelle's been
pregnant, she really didn't understand it from a medical point of view -
and it's tough getting them up to speed. The only good part is that
Marie is too innocent to know how ignorant she is, and Michelle's bound
and determined not to inflict her own ignorance on Marie."

I knew when they got to the part about the male anatomy because Marie
suddenly started focusing her attention on the area immediately below my
belt buckle. I carefully didn't notice while she got past that stage.

That was soon followed by what could only have been her education about
the mechanics of sex; every time she saw me looking at her, she'd get
wide-eyed and blush furiously. That, too, went by apparently unnoticed -
though it amused Robyn and Sandra to no end, neither said or did
anything to let Marie know they'd seen anything different about her.

Finally, it got to the subject of human sexuality - and particularly
FEMALE sexuality. Lucy grumped at me that neither one of them would
admit to any kind of desires - never mind actually doing anything about
them. She claimed she couldn't do anything to educate them until they
'got over it'. She finally got to the point that she must have read them
the riot act; I wasn't privy to listening to what she said, but I knew
she'd said something by the way the two of them walked around for a day
looking as if they'd been pole-axed.

The day after that, Lucy was back at it again - and even without saying
anything to me, I knew that she'd gotten through to them, and was making
progress again.

It was several days later that Michelle caught me, Lucy, and the girls
together while Marie was off doing something else. She didn't pull any
punches about what she wanted to talk to us about, either.

"I need some help from all of you about something Marie asked me about
last night."

"What's that?" Lucy asked.

"She wants to know what it felt like when I lost my virginity, and what
it feels like to make love. Considering who I've been married to, I
don't think I'm such a good person to be answering that last question.
Maybe if she hears about some good experiences, she won't be afraid as I
was when it's her time."

Then, much to my surprise, Michelle turned to me and said "You might as
well be there, too, Dan. Maybe you can add something from a man's view
that none of the rest of us would think of."

Lucy and the girls all looked at each other - Michelle was asking
something big of them. She knew it, too, and waited for them to let her
know what they'd do. The three of them did their silent conversation
thing, and after a bit Lucy turned back to Michelle and said "We'll do
it."

Michelle breathed a sigh of relief and told them - and me - "Thank you.
I know it's a lot to ask, but I think it's important; and I guess you
do, too."

All three of them nodded, and Michelle thanked them again before leaving
us.

When she was gone, all three were looking at me. I raised an eyebrow in
question, and Sandra asked the question: "Do we tell her about you,
Uncle Dan?"

"I don't see why you can't tell them about what you felt, without saying
who you felt it with. I know they're LIKE family, but it's not like they
ARE family." I replied.

Robyn opened her mouth to ask "And if she asked us what it's like to
make love with another girl?"

"Tell her the truth. You don't have to go into details, of course, but
you can let her know what your feelings are."

"And me?" Lucy asked.

I grinned at her and said "You're old enough to decide what to say for
yourself. I'm not even going to BEGIN to try and tell you what you can
and can't talk about!"

She grinned back and said "Good choice" - making Sandra and Robyn both
laugh.

At supper the next night, Michelle waited for a lull in the conversation
to tell Marie "Marie, honey? You know that talk we were having the other
night?"

Marie thought a moment and nodded; Michelle continued "We're going to
finish it up tonight after supper. Lucy and Robyn and Sandra are going
to talk to you, too. And Dan's going to be there if there are any
questions that only a guy can answer. Okay?"

Marie looked around at all of us, thought it over, and said "Yeah,
that's okay, momma."

From there, the rest of the meal went as usual. When it was over,
Michelle took Marie into the living room for a little pre-talk talk
while the rest of us got the table cleared and everything put away. In
the living room, Lucy and the girls all took seats generally around
Michelle and Marie; I selected mine to put me off to the side a bit -
out of Marie's direct sight, but still within 'conversation distance'.

When everyone was seated, Michelle told Lucy and the others "While you
all were taking care of the dishes - thank you - I was telling Marie
that I might not be the best person for her to ask those questions. I
explained to her about me and Frenchy, and she understood - she saw
enough of him that she knew what I was talking about, even if she was
never actually there. I told her that I asked you three to help, and
that you agreed. I'm only asking you to realize that she's still only
fifteen, and that you don't have to go into detail about who did what,
and how - you know what I mean. Otherwise, I'm not going to interrupt or
get in the way; Marie's asking the questions, and you're all being kind
enough to answer them the best you can - and both of us are grateful. If
there's anything you don't want to answer just yet, we'll both
understand."

That said, Michelle sat back and waited for Marie to start. After a
moment's hesitation - and a brief glance my direction - she asked "What
does it feel like when a guy is inside you for the first time?"

Lucy spoke first, saying "For my first time, it hurt a little. Both of
us were young, and didn't really know what we were doing. We didn't have
enough time to do it right, and it was in the wrong place - the back
seat of his dad's car. Because of all that, it wasn't very nice for me:
it was over before the pain stopped."

Robyn spoke up next - I saw Michelle's eyes widen in surprise, but she
didn't say or do anything else - and told Marie "The first time I was
with a guy, it was wonderful. He was real careful with me, and went real
slow, so that I had plenty of time to get used to what he was doing. He
was patient with me, and as gentle as anybody could want. There was a
little bit of pain when he broke my hymen - my 'cherry' - but it wasn't
much, and it didn't last long because he was so considerate with me.
Before it was over, I'd had a climax - you know, and orgasm - from
making love with him. I couldn't have asked for a better first time."

Sandra spoke up next - no reaction from Michelle - and said "My first
time was a lot like Robyn's. The guy was SO patient with me, and SO
gentle - I knew that I didn't have to be afraid that he was going to do
anything to hurt me. My hymen was already gone from and accident when I
was younger, so that part of it wasn't any problem. Still, he was so
kind to me - he went slow, making sure that I was ready for him - you
know, wet enough inside. When he was all the way inside me, it felt so
good - and before he finished, I'd had orgasms with him. Like Robyn
said, I couldn't have dreamed for better."

Marie looked at all of them and asked "How old were you when that
happened?"

Sandra spoke first, telling her "Fifteen."

Lucy was next, with "Sixteen."

Robyn closed it out with her quiet "Thirteen" - followed by a soft gasp
from Michelle.

Lucy pretended not to hear it, but she knew Michelle was listening when
she told Marie "There's no one 'right age' for every girl. It depends on
when she'd old enough to understand the choice she's making. It's when
she knows in her heart and mind that she's ready. It's when she finds a
guy that she loves and trusts enough not to hurt her, and do right by
her. Honestly, I wish I had waited longer - but I didn't, and it took a
long time before I got to where I could enjoy making love. Sandra was
about your age, and from what she'd told me, she did exactly like what I
just said a girl should do. Robyn was younger - but she's always been
more grown up than her calendar age. I was sorry that it happened for
her so young - until I learned how it had gone for her; then I was happy
that she had had such a good first time. Honestly, I was even a little
jealous of her, for having an orgasm her first time - it was years
before that started happening for me."

Marie thought that one over for a bit before she asked "What's it like
to make love? I mean, what does it feel like?"

Robyn spoke first, answering her by saying "I've only been with one guy,
so I don't know how it is with another one - but I like it, a lot. When
he's inside me, it's like there's been a part of me that was missing,
and then I have it again."

Sandra went next, telling Marie "It's kind of like that for me, too.
When my guy is inside me, it's like I know exactly why I'm a woman, and
what I was put on earth for; making love just makes me feel so
complete."

Lucy closed that round with "I haven't been with very many men. But with
each one of them - except for one - it was pretty much the same: it felt
nice, and sometimes I even had orgasms while they were in me, but it
really wasn't anything special. I used to think that having sex and
making love were the same thing, but now I know they aren't. It was that
one exceptional guy that taught me that making love is something SO much
better than just having sex. With him, every time we're together he
makes me so happy, and feel so good, that I fall in love with him all
over again. And in case you didn't figure it out, the guy I'm talking
about is Dan."

I just sat off to the side, patently not noticing that Marie AND
Michelle were giving me the once-over.

Marie's next question came as something of a surprise to all of us -
including Michelle.

"What do you feel when you're with a guy? I mean physically", she asked.

Sandra spoke first, telling her "I feel my breasts start to get tight,
and my nipples getting hard. I start to get wet between my legs, and it
feels like there are butterflies inside me. As I get more excited, my
nipples actually start to hurt a little - but it's a GOOD hurt; and my
vagina opens up so that I feel like there's an empty place in me that
needs to be filled up. My clitoris comes out, and it's real sensitive -
almost any kind of contact with it makes me even wetter, and more
excited."

Robyn told her "What Sandra said - except that I get SO wet between my
legs; after I make love, I'm always thirsty because of it."

Lucy closed again with "It's pretty much the same for me, too."

A brief silence followed that before Marie asked "What's it like when
you... orgasm?"

Lucy went first by saying "I don't know that any woman can really
describe it to anyone else - and once you've had one, it doesn't NEED
description. I guess the only thing I can say is that it's a really,
really, REALLY intense pleasure that seems to take over your whole body.
The French call it 'the little death', and that's about as close to
putting it into words and I can get."

For their parts, Sandra and Robyn simply nodded their agreement with
Lucy.

A longer pause, and Marie asked "Uh... what kinds of stuff do you think
about when you're with a guy? I mean, what do you like him to do?"

Robyn smiled and answered "Kissing is always good. Having him touch me;
not just on my breasts and between my legs, but all over. Feeling his
warm body next to mine. Feeling his hard penis, and knowing that I did
that to him - that he finds me exciting. Having him lick my breasts, and
kiss and bite - softly! - my nipples. Sucking on my breasts and nipples.
Using his mouth on me, between my legs. Feeling how strong he his when
we're together, and knowing how gentle he is with me."

Lucy went next, saying "What Robyn said. And when he touches my butt -
holding it and squeezing it. Having him slide his hands up and down my
legs SO softly and gently it's like his fingers are feathers. When he
softly bites my earlobes, and kisses my throat."

Sandra added her bit with "All of that, and when he kisses my shoulders.
The way his hands touch my skin - softly, like he's afraid he's going to
break me. His lips on my skin. My breasts pressing into his chest."

When they finished, all three of them were clearly aroused - as were
Marie and Michelle, if their breathing was any indication.

Marie took a deep breath and pulled herself back together before asking
"What, uh, do you like to do for him?"

Lucy grinned and said "Pretty much everything he does for me. With Dan,
he actually likes to cuddle with me, holding me close, after we make
love - and I'm always happy to!"

Sandra had her own smile as she told Marie "Like Aunt Lucy said, what he
does to me, I like to do back. When he's done, I like to hold him inside
me, trying to see how long I can keep him there before... it's too
late." I saw Michelle's relief when Sandra didn't go into the gory
details.

Robyn's happy expression only emphasized her words: "Anything and
everything I can. I love him, and anything I can do to make him happy
and feel good, I'm glad to do it."

Marie's next question was hardly unexpected, and obviously directed to
Robyn and Sandra: "What's it like to be with another girl?"

They shared a look, and Sandra answered the question.

"It's different than being with a guy. Not better or worse, just
different. Robyn's softer and smoother than... my guy. But she isn't as
strong, either. Robyn knows what I feel like because she's another girl
- but the same way, she can't DO things the way a guy does. Her and my
guy, they're two different ways of sharing love and happiness - neither
one is better than the other; they're just different. It's like one of
them is chocolate mousse, and the other is a chocolate bar - both are
good, just in different ways."

The comparison seemed to be something Marie could relate to, and she
nodded her head in understanding.

She finally turned to me, and with only a faint blush asked "Dan, what
is it that guys think about all this?"

"I don't know - I'm not all guys. I'm not even the same guy I was ten
years ago, never mind when I was your age. All I can tell you is that it
depends on the guy - some are going to be mature and considerate, and do
what they can to make their girl happy. Others are going to be like
little kids, and only want to make themselves happy. Most are somewhere
in between: not grown up enough to put the girls happiness first, but
more grown up than to just want to get their own pleasure. You want to
know what I think?"

She nodded, and I answered "I think you don't want a guy that's too
worried about whether or not you're a virgin. Chances are, he's not, and
his wanting you to be one only means that he's insecure enough to not
want you to know whether or not he's a good lover. On the other hand,
you probably don't want a guy that seems too interested in the details
about any other men you've been with - he's probably going to use that
as an excuse to leave when he gets tired of you. A guy that doesn't
trust you can't be trusted himself - either he's feeling guilty about
what he's up to, and projecting it on you, or he's got an emotional
problem that you don't want any part of. A guy with a temper will
probably wear you out with it; the same for a guy that keeps making
'suggestions' about how you'd be better if you did this thing or that
one. A guy that's only interested in your body isn't going to be happy,
either - everybody grows old, and our bodies change along the way; the
firm tits you've got now may be sagging a little in ten years, and that
won't be what he wants. You get the idea?"

She said she did, and I finished up by telling her "I heard a saying
once that seems to pretty much sum it up: women marry so they can change
the guy into what they want; guys marry what they want, and don't expect
her to change. What you want is a guy that you love enough that you
don't want to change him, and he loves you enough to accept that you ARE
going to change. Both of you have to work at making it work. Then it'll
last a long time, with each of you happy with the other one. A real
marriage isn't 'him and her', it's 'them'."

Marie was sitting there watching me, and I asked "Is there anything else
you wanted to ask me?" She shook her head 'no', and I asked "Anything
else for Lucy or the girls?" Another head shake, and I said "Well, it
looks like class is over. I'm going to get myself a beer" - and did just
that. When I got back, I was surprised to see that not one of them had
left - or even seemed to have moved, for that matter.

I sat down again, and Michelle asked me "You really believe that? About
a guy accepting that his wife is going to change? And that a wife
shouldn't try to change her husband?"

"Pretty much", I answered, adding "I mean, if she's changing in an
unhealthy way - physically or mentally or emotionally - then he
shouldn't accept it; but he shouldn't drop her, either, if that's the
case. They should go together to a professional to get whatever help is
needed. By the same token, if he's got things that make him a social or
professional outcast, and then it's her duty to help him correct the
problem. Otherwise, what I said applies."

She looked doubtful, and I asked Lucy "Since we've been married, has
your weight changed? Don't answer with which way, or how much, just
whether it has, or not."

Lucy levelly told me "It has."

My next question for her was "Do you think I love you any more or any
less because of it?"

She just laughed - and said "And so you don't have to ask, no, there's
nothing I'd change about you, either."

Michelle got the point.

The next question was from Marie - though I actually expected it from
Michelle.

"You already knew that Robyn and Sandra aren't virgins?"

"Yes, I knew."

"And you don't mind?"

"It wasn't my decision to make. I know that both of them are very
mature, and that they would know and understand the consequences of
losing their virginity. The who and when and how had to be THEIR choice.
I respect that choice, just as I respect the choice they've made to
share their bodies with each other in love and happiness."

Michelle asked "Do you know who they're having sex with?"

"I know they're not just 'having sex' - what they're doing is making
love. Yes, I know who with, but I won't say any more about it - if they
want you to know, they'll tell you. It's..."

"Not your decision. I know." Michelle finished for me, smiling.

Marie again: "You said that they aren't 'just' having sex, that they're
making love. Lucy and the other kept saying 'making love', too. Isn't it
the same?"

Lucy jumped in at that point, telling her "No, Marie, it isn't - not by
a LONG shot. Sex is what two people do with their bodies. When they
include their hearts, it's making love. Sex can make your body feel
good, but making love makes your heart and mind feel good, too."

Michelle stuck a nickel in the meter then by telling Marie "There is a
difference, Marie. When Frenchy and I were first married, we made love.
Later, it was just sex for him - and no love at all, for me."

Marie turned to Robyn and Sandra and asked "What you two do... is it sex
or love?"

Both of them smiled before Robyn answered "Yes", and a moment later,
Sandra explained "Both of us feel desires. We aren't always able to
satisfy those desires the way we want to, so we help each other out. We
share physical pleasure with each other, so it's part sexual. But we do
it BECAUSE we love each other - so it's part love-making, too." They
shared a look, and Sandra added "Actually, it's mostly love-making."

Michelle looked at Lucy and asked "And you're okay with this, too?"

Lucy simply told her "Of course. Dan already told you that they're both
mature enough to know what they're doing - you know it, too, if you'll
think about it. Beyond that, what they do and how they do it isn't
really any of my business - I love them, and all that matters is that
they're happy. They are. Don't you think I have better things to worry
about?"

Michelle thought it over for a moment, and admitted "I see your point."

At that point, Robyn chipped in by saying "Michelle? Neither one of us
is involved with drugs. Neither one of us is in a gang, or has ever
gotten into trouble with the police or at school. Neither one of us has
gotten pregnant, even though we go out with boys. WE had a vote on
whether or not to let you come here or not, too - and you're here. Both
of us get good grades at school. We don't have to dye our hair green, or
get all kinds of body parts pierced. Sandra not only has her own gun,
but a police permit to carry it wherever she wants. Doesn't all of that
sound pretty mature to you? And considering all that, do you really
think that either one of us would have given our virginity - and that's
what both of us did, GIVE it to someone; it wasn't taken from us -
without knowing the consequences? Do you really think it matters whether
or not we find pleasure in each other's bodies when BOTH of us want to
do so, and do it in private?"

Michelle paused again before answering "Looking at it that way, I guess
you're right."

Sandra demanded "How else should we look at it?" Sandra was generally
the most patient and tolerant of all of us; Michelle knew that she'd
stepped in it in a BIG way.

With a tone of contrition, Michelle answered "I'm sorry - I shouldn't
have said it that way. What I meant was that I just hadn't though about
it any way but my own; and when Robyn pointed out the facts of it, I saw
she was right."

Mollified, Sandra didn't say anything else.

Michelle looked at Marie and said "I think you've all given both of us
more than enough to think about. I expect we'd better be going on to
bed, now."

Marie didn't offer any protest - but did come over to give me a kiss on
the cheek before joining her mother at the doorway.

A few days later, I got a call from Dale, letting me know the status on
the case against Frenchy. He didn't sound happy when he called, and when
he hung up, I knew why.

That night, at supper, I relayed the information to Michelle and Marie -
and then NONE of us were particularly happy: Dale had said that they had
most of the people in Frenchy's group staked out and ready to scoop up -
but that there were still too many of them running around without cover
for him to be able to risk arrests. He was afraid that anybody that got
away would just end up causing even MORE trouble - not just in general,
but against Michelle and Marie, particularly.

The following Saturday, Sandra and I were keeping Michelle company while
she did some shopping at the mall. Lucy, Michelle, and the other girls
had opted to stay home and watch cartoons while eating doughnuts and
laughing themselves silly.

We'd taken care of everything we were after, and had decided that we
were ready to go home. The previous couple of days had been rainy and
cloudy, so we decided to leave the mall via a seldom-used entrance and
go ahead walk around to where the car was parked - it was a nice day,
and none of us felt like fighting the crowds to get to a closer exit. We
were halfway to the door when we heard someone behind us call out
"Excuse me! Excuse me! Can I talk to you for a minute?"

We stopped and turned around, and I saw a couple of people coming toward
us. When they got close enough, I could see that they weren't what could
be called society's 'upper crust'. But we'd already stopped and seen
them, so it wouldn't have been polite to turn around and walk off.

When they got close, one of them stepped forward and said "I'm sorry to
bother you folks, but I saw this lady with you, and she looks like
someone I know, and I just wanted to see if it was her."

When I heard that, I knew I'd fucked up.

Behind me, I heard Sandra unsnap her purse - then the sound of her
rummaging around in it. I knew she knew where everything was in it, and
realized that she was covering the fact that she now had ready access to
her pistol. To help her, I turned to the guy that had spoken and said
"Who is it you're looking for, then?"

He said "A lady by the name of Michelle de la Roche - know her?"

Michelle kept her cool, and didn't say a word - I just looked at the guy
like I was trying to remember, and then answered "No, can't say that I
do. What does she look like?"

"A little like this lady with you - smaller tits, but nice long hair
like she has."

"Well, I suppose there's lots of women with long hair. And like you
said, this one has a larger bust than this... Michelle?"

"C'mon, man, quit shitting around. I just wanna talk to her, and that'll
be the end of it."

"Then talk - nobody's stopping you."

"I don't wanna talk to her here, dumbass. I want her to come with me."

"Oh, well, that' going to be a problem, and then. You see, she's with
me, and I don't think she wants to go with you." I told him.

"Too bad, buddy. She's going anyway."

"I wouldn't try to force her, if I were you."

He laughed, reached into his jacket, and pulled out a hunting knife
before asking me "And why not, asshole?"

Next to him, the other guy opened his jacket, showing me a revolver in a
shoulder holster.

"Because it might prove painful, stupid" I replied.

With a snarl, he started to swing the knife at me.

He didn't make it.

I stepped between him and Michelle, continued the motion his arm was
making, and when he relaxed after realizing he'd missed, changed the
direction of his hand so that I firmly stuck the knife in his chest,
between his ribs, and straight into his heart. The surprise on his face
was almost comical. Almost.

His partner was pulling his revolver out; I slid over in front of him,
and grabbed his hand and pushed up - the muzzle of the pistol resting
under his chin. A finger into the trigger guard, a pull, and the top of
his head exploded into a pink mist. I felt some of it settle on my face
and arms as the sound of the shot reverberated down the empty hallway.
Looking over my shoulder, I could see that Sandra had drawn her pistol
and had it ready, but wisely decided not to shoot while I was 'mixed in'
with the two stupids.

Without turning around I said "Sandra! Get Michelle out of here. Take
her home now. Then tell Lucy to come back and find a place to watch me
so she's not noticed. If the cops take me in, she should call Ira." -
Ira Weintraub was my lawyer; he was the guy other lawyers went to when
THEY needed help - "Otherwise, wait for me to make a call on my phone.
When she sees that, wait ten minutes, and then come up like she just got
here. Now, GO!"

All Sandra said was "Got it", and a moment later, "Come ON, Michelle -
we've got to get out of here". I looked over my shoulder again and saw
that she was all but dragging Michelle down the hall. They'd gotten
outside and just disappeared around the corner when one of the mall's
security people peeked around the corner. I stood there with my hands in
plain sight and told him "I think you'd better call the cops. These guys
just tried to rob me."

Five minutes later, the hall was approaching its occupancy limits, what
with the cops, mall security, various Officials, and mall denizens that
wanted to see what was going on. A couple minutes later, and one of the
senior cops took charge and things quickly settled down. The crowd was
pushed back far enough to keep them out of everyone's hair, I'd been
assigned two cops to watch me while a more senior one asked me what the
hell happened. A few more were guarding the bodies until a forensics
unit showed up to do pictures and collect evidence.

The story I told the cops was that I'd been leaving the mall when the
two characters called out to me; I'd done as they asked, and when they
got close, the one had pulled the knife and threatened me with it if I
didn't hand over my money and jewelry. I explained that I was ex-Army,
and Special Forces, so I wasn't too worried about the knife - until the
guy decided I was taking too long and tried to stab me. I claimed my
Special Forces training kicked in, and I got the better of the guy with
the knife; when he hit the floor, I saw the other one pulling a gun. I
got to him, and we struggled over the gun until it went off -
unfortunately under his chin and pointing toward the top of his head.

The cops asking the questions didn't look too certain, so I told him
that he could verify who I was, easy enough. He asked how, and I told
him that I'd done a couple of computer jobs for the FBI, and that the
local office would be able to verify my identity and military
background. The cop asked "You saying this was part of an FBI case?"

I hastened to tell him that it wasn't - that the only involvement the
FBI would have would be to verify who I was for him.

He got on a cell phone and made a few calls. As he was doing that, I
looked around - and saw Lucy watching everything from the very edge of
one of the glass panels at the mall entrance. There were a couple of
mall security types keeping a small crowd from coming in, so Lucy would
seem to be just one of the rubber-neckers to anyone that didn't know who
she was. I reached around to scratch my back, and discretely gave her a
thumbs-up in the process.

A few minutes later, the cop came back over and told me "Okay, the local
Feebie in charge said he knew who you were, and was able to describe you
pretty good. I asked him how he knew you, and he told me that their
office gave you some security a couple years ago. That's when I
remembered that big drug bust, and how somebody here in town got some
extra protection after the Bureau requested it. Would that have been
you?"

"It was."

"Okay, Mister Andrews. You're sure these guys aren't part of that
operation?"

"Quite sure. Like I said, these guys were trying to rob me."

The cop was standing there looking at me like he wasn't sure if he
wanted to believe me or not when a uniformed cop came over and told him
"Okay, Detective, we've got ID on these two. Both of 'em have sheets
long as your arm - strong arm, robbery, assault, ADW, that kind of
shit."

That seemed to settle it for the detective, and he told me "Okay, sounds
like it's just what you said - a robbery gone bad; bad for the crooks,
for a change. I won't be filing any charges, Mister Andrews - it looks
like you did us a favor, here."

"Thank you, detective. Would it be okay if I called my wife to come and
get me? I don't think I'd better drive myself just yet; I'll come back
later for my car."

"Sure, go ahead."

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Lucy's number; when she answered,
I went through the dialog that I figured the detective was waiting to
hear, and finished up by asking the detective which entrance she should
use so that she could get through the police lines. He told me, I
relayed the information, and that ended the call. As I was putting my
phone away, he asked me what she looked like. I gave him a description,
and he pulled a uniform over, told him who to watch for, and sent him
off to the entrance he'd told me to use.

Fifteen minutes later, the uniformed officer came back with Lucy at his
side. She rushed over to where I was, and did a fine job of pretending
she'd just gotten there - asking what happened, was I okay, the whole
thing. I did my part, telling her I'd explain in the car, that yes, I
was fine, and so on. The detective watched us for a moment, and then had
the uniform escort us back to where he'd let Lucy through the lines.

Once we were outside, in the car, and on the way home, Lucy asked me if
there were any problems. I told her that I didn't think so, and asked
how things were at home. She gave me a Look, and said that Michelle was
in shock, Marie was terrified, and that Robyn and Sandra were both
worried, but taking care of the other two.

When we got home, Lucy ran interference for me, so I could go upstairs
and clean up - neither of us wanted the rest of them to see me with the
guy's blood all over me and my clothes. Once presentable again, I went
back downstairs to where I could hear the rest of them gathered in the
living room. As I went in, I could see that Michelle had what looked
like a pretty stiff drink - and that it had enough condensation on it
that it must have been made before I got home. I figured she needed it
from the look of her, and didn't worry about who'd made it for her.
Sitting on the floor next to her, clearly scared out of her wits, was
Marie - holding tightly to Michelle's leg. Robyn and Sandra had the ends
of the couches on either side of Michelle; Lucy was at the end of the
couch from Robyn.

When they realized that I was in the room with them, their reactions
varied considerably. Robyn and Sandra both simply looked relieved. Marie
looked like the sight of me lifted the weight of the world off her
shoulders. It took Michelle a few seconds, but she finally jumped up
(Sandra neatly caught the drink before it spilled onto the floor; she'd
make somebody a FINE infielder) and ran over to wrap her arms around me
and start crying into my chest. Lucy stayed seated, and looked on
indulgently as I tried to soothe the crying Michelle.

It was a good ten minutes before Michelle would let go of me, and
another ten before the waterworks slowed to a trickle. Five more were
spent blowing her nose and trying to dry eyes that continued to leak
tears. Finally, I was able to guide Michelle back to the seat she'd been
in; Marie promptly wrapped her arms around Michelle's leg again. I took
a seat between Lucy and Robyn - both of whom immediately moved to sit
next to me and pull my arms around them.

That left the all-but-implacable Sandra to ask "So what happened, Uncle
Dan?"

I started to tell Robyn and the others, but only got as far as the two
guys coming up to us before Michelle declared "He jumped in between me
and a guy with a knife, is what happened. He got into a fight with the
other guy who had a GUN, and shot him. He saved my life, and then told
Sandra to get me out of there so I wouldn't be in any trouble! THAT'S
what happened!" - then proceeded to start crying and blubbering again.
While she was going on, I told the rest of them what had happened -
minus any inappropriate details.

Sandra looked concerned, but pleased - as did Robyn, when I looked down
at her. Marie's expression could best be described as something just
short of hero-worship. Every time Michelle looked at me, she just
shuddered and started crying again.

A while later, the phone rang; since Sandra was the only one not grafted
to anyone else, she got up to answer it - then brought it in to me,
saying "Dale". I took it and heard him ask "Okay, what the hell happened
today, Dan? I got a call from some detective about you killing a couple
of guys at the mall. He said all he needed was for me to tell him
whether or not I knew who you were, and to describe you. I said that I
did, and did, and that seemed to be all he needed. But I still want to
know what really happened."

So I ended up having to go through it again for him - again leaving out
inappropriate details for the benefit of Robyn, and particularly Marie.
He seemed to know what I was leaving out, and why, and didn't say
anything about it. When I was done, he was quiet for a long time before
he said "I don't know what to say, to tell you the truth. You did a damn
fine job of protecting Michelle, and on top of that, managed to keep
both Michelle and the Bureau out of it. It wasn't strictly legal, but
that's okay; and if there's any crap about it, I'll take the blame. The
thing I can't get over, though, is that she was out there. Yeah, I know
she had a damn good disguise, but now I'm wondering if she should have
been there in the first place."

"Dale, you know that if she and Marie had to stay in the house all the
time, they'd both go bugshit. Yeah, it's a nice house, and there's
plenty of room, and all that. But they'd still be stuck in one place,
not allowed to do much of anything - and I expect you've seen how that
affects other people. It was a calculated risk that we rarely took; this
time, Lady Luck just spit on us, instead of smiling. We could turn
around and take either one of them out another thousand times, and
nobody would give them a second look. You know it, and I know it: shit
happens."

I heard him sigh, and he said "Yeah, I know it. But I want you to
promise me that neither one of them goes out until there's a serious
change in their appearance, so nobody else tries to make the
connection!"

"I promise, Dale. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"All right, later."

I turned off the phone and gave it back to Sandra; she went to put it
back, returning with a cold beer for me - as well as one for Lucy, and
another for her and Robyn to share. Robyn lifted my arm up and moved to
the other couch to make it easier for her and Sandra to pass the bottle
back and forth. Lucy scooted back over so she could sit up - and make it
easier for her to drink her own beer. Sandra handed the drink to
Michelle, who only then seemed to realize what it was - and quickly took
a long pull from it.

She came up gasping; it must have been even stronger than I thought it
was. Her eyes watered, and she coughed a little bit, but she finally got
herself back under control - and looked a little more at ease by the
time she was done.

All of us were about halfway through our drinks when Lucy announced
"There isn't a chance in hell that I'm going to cook tonight. If
somebody else wants to, that's fine. If not, and then somebody better
get on the phone and order something - I'm getting hungry."

That simple, defiant statement was all that was needed to break the mood
- first Robyn, and then Sandra, and then me, and finally Michelle and
Marie started laughing; a moment later, Lucy joined us.

Robyn took another pull from 'her' beer, told Sandra "Share with Marie,
if it's okay", and left. A minute later, we heard her talking to someone
on the phone. Sandra took a swallow, and then looked at Michelle in
question. Michelle didn't even hesitate - she just reached out for it,
and passed it to Marie. Marie took a tentative sip, made a face, and
then took a longer pull from it before turning it back over to her mom,
who handed it back to Sandra. A moment later, Robyn reappeared, saying
"Chinese. Half an hour, fifty-two and change."

I didn't even put up a token fight; I just pulled my wallet out, dug out
three twenties, and handed them to her. The delivery person would get
the change for their tip.

With Robyn back in the room Sandra gave the beer back to her; Robyn took
a swallow, and then held it up toward Marie. Marie thought a moment, and
then turned loose of Michelle's leg in favor of going over to join Robyn
and Sandra on the couch. There, the three of them took small swallows of
beer as they passed the bottle around. Michelle looked on benignly,
taking an occasional, smaller, sip of her own drink.

The food arrived on schedule. Robyn, Sandra, and Marie went to take care
of it; I heard Robyn talking with the delivery person as I saw Sandra
and Marie carrying the cartons into the kitchen, where they were joined
by Robyn. A few minutes later, all three came out, each carrying two
plates with cartons on them. When they got in the living room, the
cartons of food went on the coffee table and the plates were
distributed. We all took a little bit of pretty much everything, and
chowed down - AFTER Sandra showed Michelle, and Robyn showed Marie, how
to eat with chopsticks. The conversation was quiet and insignificant
throughout the meal.

When we were all done eating, the youngsters all went about cleaning
things up, without prompting from anyone. When they came back, they had
more cold beer for the rest of us; Michelle was still nursing her drink.

As we were sitting there, quietly just enjoying each other's company,
Michelle spoke up, telling me "Dan, if I had any doubt about how serious
you were about protecting me and Marie, its long gone, now. And if I had
any worry that you might not be able to do it, that's gone, too. You
settled the first part by standing there and telling that guy that he
wasn't going to get me - period. You took care of the second part by...
doing what you did. I don't even remember seeing you move - it was like
one second, you're standing there; the next, it was over. Whatever else
happens, you've got my trust, and my confidence."

She looked at Sandra next, and said "And don't think I didn't notice
what you did, either. When it was over, I saw you had your gun out, and
were ready to use it if you had to. I saw your face, too - and you
weren't going to let them have me any more than Dan was. I... I'm sorry
I froze up like that; before, any time there was anything physical like
that going to happen, I learned to just hold still so I didn't draw
attention to myself. That, and I've never seen anything like... that
happen before, and it just scared me so bad."

Lucy told her "Don't worry about it. It's over, and done with. They're
not going to bother you or anyone else any more. As for Dan" - Lucy
looked up at me with pride in her eyes - "well, he's just who he is. He
made you a promise, and he'll do everything in his power to keep it. And
now you know why I love him and trust him so much - there isn't a thing
in the world that would get him to hurt me or these girls for ANY
reason.

Michelle laughed quietly to herself, causing Lucy to ask "What is it?"

Michelle just smiled and said "If Frenchy had any idea who was watching
out for me, he'd just walk into some police station and turn himself
in!"

Lucy smiled back, and we went back to just sitting there and relaxing.

It finally got late enough that the youngsters decided they were ready
to go to bed. Lucy and I both got our usual kisses from Robyn and Sandra
- but that night, Marie decided that I needed more than the quick peck
she usually gave me; instead, the kiss she put on my cheek let me know
how grateful she was that I'd protected her mother.

Some time later, the rest of us started yawning, too. By mutual consent
we all got up and headed upstairs for some seriously needed sleep.

Lucy and I had undressed and gotten into bed when we heard a soft knock
at the door. I turned the light on my side of the bed on, and told
whoever it was to come in. The door opened, and Lucy and I were both
surprised to see that it was Michelle.

She moved to stand at the foot of the bed, her robe wrapped tight around
her body. She looked at Lucy, and then me, before she said "What you did
today, Dan - I don't have words for it, and I don't know how else I can
thank you or make it right with you except this:" - and with that, her
hand pulled the belt of her robe free, letting it first open, and then
with a shrug of her shoulders, fall to the floor.

In the dim light, I could see that she was as beautiful as I'd thought
she would be: her breasts were full, standing out firmly with only
enough sag to prove that they were hers, and hers alone. Each was tipped
with a small, dark areola and nipple - visibly erect. Below, her belly
was smooth and flat; between her thighs, there was a small, dense
thicket of dark black hair. She made no move to cover herself, inviting
examination.

Lucy and I could only lay there looking at her as she calmly said "I
don't have anything else that I think you might want, so all I can offer
you is me. If you want me, I'll lay down with you and do everything I
can to make you glad you did. I expect that Lucy keeps you more than
happy, but I want you to know that I'll do anything you want - anything
- to make sure you know that I'm properly thankful for what you done
today. And I'm doing this in front of you, Lucy, so that you know I'm
not sneakin' around behind you trying to steal your man; I don't think
Dan COULD be stole, but I just want to make sure you know that all I'm
tryin' to do is show him how grateful I am about him savin' my life -
and keeping my little girl from being an orphan. If you're not
agreeable, and then I reckon I can try to find some other way of showin'
y'all how I feel."

From the way she stood there, the tone of her voice, and the words she
used, I knew that even a simple "yes" would have her in my bed before I
could even blink - and that she was absolutely serious about being
willing to do anything I asked of her, without hesitation or complaint.
Lucy and I looked at each other, and I could tell that Lucy knew it,
too.

I looked back to Michelle, and saw that she was patiently waiting for
either Lucy or me to give her an answer - and that she'd accept it
without question.

"Michelle, you don't have to do this. What I did today - what Sandra did
today - was done because we care about you, and Marie. We didn't do it
so that you would come in here like this; we did it because it was the
RIGHT thing to do. Nothing more, nothing less. You're a beautiful woman,
and I'm truly flattered that you would offer yourself to me - but I
can't accept. If you came in here and said that you wanted to share my
bed because you liked the kind of man I am, I would be happy to have you
join me. But to have you here because you think you owe me something
because of what I did... well, that's just not reason enough for me. If
I took you into my bed now, I wouldn't be the kind of man I want to be -
I wouldn't be keeping the promises that I've made to myself about how I
want to be with other people. I'm sorry if I've hurt your feelings, or
done anything to upset you - but I have to be true to myself before I
can be true to anyone else. Do you understand?"

She gave a small laugh, tinged with bitterness, before she said "I do
understand. I guess if you weren't the kind of man you are, I wouldn't
be here to offer myself to you this way. I thought you were so different
from Frenchy that I could do this and make it right. But I forgot just
how different you are from Frenchy - and you've just reminded me. I'm
sorry if my coming in here has troubled you, or caused you any problems.
I'll put my robe on, and be leaving you alone now."

She started to bend over to retrieve her robe, but was stopped by Lucy
softly telling her "Don't be ashamed or embarrassed, Michelle. What you
want to do is fine - it's WHY you want to do it that Dan doesn't agree
with. Think about that, and when you're ready, I'll be glad to let you
borrow him - because you'll be getting him for the right reasons."

With the end of Lucy's words, Michelle continued her motion to pick up
her robe. Standing upright again, she casually put it around herself,
and then closed it and drew the belt tight to hold it. Looking at us,
she calmly said "I'll be thanking you for not saying anything about this
where Marie might hear of it. She might not understand, and think the
wrong things about it."

I told her "You have our promise on that."

Michelle looked at Lucy and said "I'll be thinking about what he said -
and what you said, too. Good night."

Something clicked in my mind, and I threw the covers back and stood up -
naked - to walk over to where Michelle was starting for the door. She
saw me come toward her, and stopped, waiting to see what I was going to
do. I cupped her face in my hands and tilted it up, so I could softly
kiss her on the lips. When I pulled back, I could see the surprise and
hurt on her face. Still holding her face in my hands, I looked into her
eyes and told her "I do love you, Michelle. I love you enough to NOT let
this happen now because the reason you want to do it isn't right."

With that, the tears started to silently flow down her face. I released
my hold on her, and she turned and quietly made her way out the door. I
closed it behind her, and slowly went back to lie next to Lucy. I turned
the light out again, and pulled my wife close, holding her as both of us
felt sorrow for the woman who'd just left. Sleep did not come easily for
either of us.

The next morning, Michelle was up and going when Lucy and I got to the
kitchen. She was a little 'distant' from us when she let us know that
she'd make fresh cinnamon rolls, but we pretended not to notice. By the
end of the day, she was back to normal, as far as we could tell.

A bit over a week later, Sandra and Robyn came into my office when they
got home from school. They did that every so often, so it wasn't
anything particularly unusual. What they had to tell me, though, was.

"Dad, there's something we need to talk to you about" Robyn informed me.

I quickly finished up the little bit of code I was working on, saved it,
and turned to look at the two of them. The words, and tone of voice she
used, made it clear that whatever it was, it was Class A-1 Priority.

Sandra picked it up then, telling me "The last couple of weeks - pretty
much since that uh, 'class' where she was asking us all about sex and
stuff, she's been asking Robyn and me questions."

"Questions about what it's like to be with another girl. Specific
questions" Robyn added.

"And they're coming more and more often. And she's started touching us"
Sandra said.

I raised and eyebrow, and she quickly explained "Oh, no, not like that.
It's just that before, she'd touch our hand or something, but it was
just for a moment, and that was it. Now, she's touching our arms and
legs - nothing sexual, yet - and doing it longer. Then, last night, when
we were going to bed, she kissed me. Not on the cheek, like usual, but
on the lips. She did it to Robyn, too. No tongues or anything, but
still..."

"We think... we think she wants to be with us - you know, physically.
She's smart, and cute, and we both love her to death; but we're not sure
what to do about it. If she really wants to, we'd both be happy to help
make her happy, and help her feel good - but we're worried about what
Michelle might say or do" Robyn said, her concern clear on her face.

With it out in the open like that, both girls waited to hear what I had
to say, and whether there was any advice I could give them. Honestly, I
really hadn't thought that any 'experimentation' Marie got involved in
would happen anytime soon, so I was nearly as surprised by what Robyn
and Sandra had told me as they probably were to have experienced it.

I sat there and thought about it for a while, and finally came to the
conclusion that there was really only one thing that COULD be done - and
that anything else would have to come out of that.

I looked from Robyn to Sandra, and both of them perked up a bit, clearly
paying attention to what I was about to say.

"The only thing I can tell you now - until something happens, that is -
is to keep going like you are. I know that neither one of you is doing
anything to induce her into doing any of this; but I still want to
remind you that she's still pretty vulnerable and kind of naïve. Please
remember how I was with you, and try to be the same way with her: it's
up to her to make it clear what she wants, and it's up to you two to
make sure that SHE'S sure about it. If you have to, remind her that she
how scared she was when she saw you that time, and that her mom might be
worried about her - so if she really wants to do anything with you, she
should make sure her mom knows whose idea it is, and why."

Both of them nodded their understanding, and I went on "It's good that
you came in here to talk to me and tell me about it - now I, and Lucy,
will have some time to think about it some more and decide how we want
to deal with it if Michelle says anything to us about it. Honestly, I
don't know how she's going to react. But you two are doing the right
thing: trying to keep it low-profile, and handling the situation on as
low a level as you can while you keep it private. Until you were pretty
sure what Marie was doing, you played it cool and didn't say anything to
anyone; now that you think there's more to it, you asked for advice -
quietly and privately, and that's exactly what you should be doing. Now,
it's up to Marie - and if what you're concerned about is correct,
Michelle. Until or unless she makes an issue of it, just keep doing what
you're doing, and leave it up to Marie to make her own decision. Okay?"

Both of them looked relieved and a bit more confident when they thanked
me, and got out of their chairs. Both came around my desk to give me a
kiss - not on the cheek, either, since no one was around - and left.
AFTER I'd given each a soft pat, and squeeze, on the butt which earned
me a happy smile.

When Lucy got home, we went through the usual 'decompression' routine.
After she'd told me how her day had gone, I told her about my
conversation with Robyn and Sandra. Lucy looked concerned, but not
worried - she knew as well as I did that the girls were easily as mature
and thoughtful as anyone half again their ages.

A few more days went by and I figured things had either evened out, or
maybe even eased off, between Marie and the girls. I found out
differently when Michelle knocked on my office door one morning.

I invited her in, and she thoughtfully handed me a large mug of coffee
to match the one she was carrying. Then she sat down across from me,
took a sip, and said "There's something I have to get straight with
you."

From the tone of her voice, I figured I knew what it was about - and
resigned myself to the fact that I'd been busted.

"Go ahead" I told her.

"After breakfast this morning, Marie came to me and told me that there
was something she needed to do. I asked her what it was, and she said
that she needed to find out for herself what it was like to make love.
Well, you can image what went through my mind. She must have seen it,
too, because real quick like, she told me that she wasn't looking to be
with a guy. That threw me for a bit, until I realized that she was
talking about Robyn and Sandra. I'll be honest with you, it upset me
some, at first. But sitting there looking at Marie, I realized that she
was probably gonna do what she wanted anyway, and that I might as well
let her do it honest instead of trying to sneak around and do it behind
my back."

Each of us took a sip of coffee before she continued "I also started to
wonder whose idea it was, her wanting that. But before I said anything,
I thought it through, and realized that your two wouldn't be doing
anything to try and force her, or trick her: she saw them that time only
because she didn't follow your house rule about doors; they'd taken some
care not to be pushing it onto anybody. I asked her about it, and she
said that it had been her idea - that she'd had to talk to Robyn and
Sandra and explain herself to them before they'd even think about
letting her be with them. That settled my mind some considerable."

"The last thing I thought about was whether or not they were going to
hurt her, or that she might decide that she didn't like men. I thought
about your girls again, and figured that since both of them have already
said they've been with a man, and enjoyed being with him, that they
weren't likely to be saying anything to Marie to make her shy away from
boys, either. Then I thought that Marie might decide that way anyway,
for herself, and it worried me some - until I decided that if that was
gonna happen, it was best it happen now, before she tried to do
something against her nature, and get hurt by it. If it turns out that
way, I'll be sorry for her - but only because there's folks out there
that'll want to hurt her because of it. Me, she's my daughter, and I'll
always love her, no matter what else happens."

I took another sip of coffee and Michelle told me "The reason I came out
here is to get something straight with you, like I said. If it hadn't
been for you and Lucy and those two young ladies of yours, I don't think
I'd have been anywhere near able to handle this as calm as I am. Maybe
it wouldn't have happened if we weren't here - but then again, maybe it
would. Either way, you and the rest, you've gotten me to thinking about
things different, and it's made me realize that there's a lot more about
being with Frenchy that I need to get myself clean of. And you've also
got me thinking that the world isn't like I thought it was, and I need
to be looking at a lot of things in a different way, and thinking about
them. What I'm telling you is that I came out here to thank you - again.
On top of keeping us safe and protecting us and all the rest, you and
your family have done me, and especially Marie, a good turn by showing
us what it's like to be good, friendly, honest, open people. I know
Marie has changed a lot since we've been here, and it's all been for the
better. I hope I've changed some, too - and I know I'll be changing
more."

With that, Michelle took a long drink from her coffee and waited to hear
what I had to say.

I thought about it a moment, and answered "You and Marie were good
people to start with - you just didn't have a chance to show it because
of living with Frenchy. I knew it, Lucy knew it, and the girls knew it.
That's why we were willing to have you here: because we figured you were
good people that had been dealt a bad hand from a marked deck; and that
staying with us and getting rid of Frenchy would be a new deal with
honest cards for you. Anything good you say you got from us was already
there; we just maybe helped you find it a little sooner. As for anything
that happens between Marie and Robyn and Sandra, as far as I'm concerned
that's up to them. I don't ask my two what they do when they're alone,
and they don't volunteer anything. It's not that I don't have a pretty
good idea, it's just that it's their private business. I'll only suggest
that you do the same: don't ask what Marie is or isn't doing with them;
that way, you don't back her into a corner where she either has to lie
to you or tell you something you might not want to hear. If you really
think you want to know what happens between two women, you might want to
talk to Lucy."

The surprise was clear on Michelle's face when she asked "Lucy?"

I grinned, and said "Lucy. If I'm okay with Robyn and Sandra, do think
I'd be any less so with Lucy?"

Michelle sat there a moment before asking "Since you've been married,
even?"

"Plenty of times. I knew about all of them - at least, who it was and
that they were together. Sometimes, Lucy and the other person want to be
alone; other times, they want me with them. It's their choice."

The added shock was plain, too, as Michelle asked "You've been with
other women, too? And Lucy knows?"

"Of course. Do you really think I'd do anything like that without her
knowing about it?"

Curiosity got the better of her, and Michelle couldn't help asking "Why
does she do it?"

"I don't think I know ALL the reasons; but she's told me that she loves
me and trusts me enough to let other women 'borrow' me for a little bit;
she knows that I love her more than anything else in the world - which I
do - and that she knows I wouldn't want to be with anyone like that for
the 'wrong' reasons."

"Wrong reasons?"

"Wrong reasons. Reasons like doing it just for sex. Doing it because the
woman thinks she has to for some reason. Doing it without having at
least a little bit of love for her."

"You... you love the women you're with? And Lucy, too?"

"Sure. I don't love them as much - which Lucy knows - but there's love
there. Lucy knows that, too, and I think that's part of why she approves
of it: because she knows that I wouldn't give my love to just anybody;
they'd have to show that they were pretty good people first. The people
it's happened with, they've been friends first, lovers second."

She looked at me curiously, and said "And you've let Lucy be with other
men."

"Yes - for the same reasons. I don't know how or why, but it seems that
I wind up with more women than she does men - but both of us are okay
with how it works out. You have to understand that I love her - without
question, without doubt, without fear or jealousy. And she loves me the
same way. Remember when I told Marie about the reasons men and women
marry, and how it should work?" She nodded, and I went on "That's how
Lucy and I got married: she accepted me the way I am, and I accepted
that she was going to change. By accepting each other on those terms,
it's actually worked out the other way around: I've changed - for the
better, I'll admit - and she's hardly changed at all. Curious, isn't
it?" I finished, with a smile.

"How do you figure that happened?"

I laughed, and answered "I don't know HOW; I just know what we did. We
accepted each other - I did my best, and Lucy accepted that. She did her
best, and I accepted her. Both of us knew what the other was doing, and
that made it easier for each of us to do things that would make the
other happy. What we're doing, after a fashion, is trading in love."

I saw the disbelief on her face and explained "Really, we are. I offer
Lucy the best I can give her, and she loves me for it. In return, she
gives me the best she can - and I love her for that. Because both of us
know that how and why the other one loves us, both of us know that as
long as we keep doing what we're doing, the love will be there - each of
us knows exactly why the other one loves us, so neither one of us is
afraid that that love is going to go away for some reason we don't know.
I love her, she accepts it, and gives her love back - which just makes
me love her even more because she's accepting the love I'm offering.
That makes her love ME even more, and it just keeps going back and forth
and around and around, building on itself. Both of us know how and why
our love is there; and knowing that, both of us know and trust each
other completely. I KNOW that whatever Lucy does, it's because she loves
me; and she knows the same thing about me. So when she lets me be with
another woman, Lucy knows that I love that woman at least a little bit.
And because she knows how and WHY I love, she knows that I wouldn't love
that woman unless she was a good person - just as Lucy knows SHE'S a
good person. So, if I love that woman, she's a good person. If she's a
good person, and then Lucy is willing to let me be with her because she
knows that sooner or later, she's going to meet the woman - and like
her. And she knows she'll like the woman because she knows the woman is
a good person - which she knows because I loved the woman enough to be
willing to be with her. The same way, I know that if Lucy is willing to
be with another man, HE'S a good person - the same way, and for the same
reasons. Understand?"

Michelle just sat there, blinking at me for a full minute. I finally
heard her draw in a breath before she softly said "Dear, sweet, Jesus!
How much you must love and trust each other to do that!"

A moment later, she looked at me intently and asked "What if one or the
other of you finds someone you can love like that, only more?"

I gently laughed, and answered "How can that be? The love and trust we
have is already total and complete. Do you think she would be able to
share me with other women - sight unseen - if her love and trust weren't
absolute; a TOTAL love and trust? Yes, there are other women that I love
almost as much as I love Lucy - she knows it, and accepts it because she
knows that no matter how close it might be, she's still first with me -
and always will be. She knows that because it was her that I married.
She knows me, remember - and knows that I wouldn't make a promise or
commitment to someone without standing ready to back it up - and that
the more serious the promise, the more I'm committed to keeping it. And
what promise is bigger than to swear to spend the rest of your LIFE with
someone?"

Michelle was listening closely, and hanging on every word; when I was
done, the full implications of what I'd just told her sank in - and on
the heels of that, understanding. Her face went blank for a few seconds
as her mind explored the potential of what I'd just told her; then she
got positively radiant as she said "I'll be go-to-hell. That love and
trust and all the rest of it - that's how you're able to give so much of
yourselves for other people. You've got the whole universe to draw on,
and no matter how much of yourselves you give away, it's just a drop in
the ocean! And these good people you and Lucy meet - they get some of
this, too, don't they?"

"We try to show them it's there. If they start to see it a little bit,
we explain it to them. Almost all of them have gotten it, so far. When
that happens, they always turn out to be even better people than they
were when we met them - and they were pretty good to start with."

Her eyes got big before she told me "Holy shit. If folks you told this
to were good anyway, I can only imagine what they must be like now! How
in the world do you find them?"

I smiled and said "Lucy and I just live our lives. People see what we're
like - and some of them respond in a way that tells us they're good
people. Because we're honest with each other - and ourselves - we can
figure out how much those people want to get to being like us, and we
get them started toward it. A couple of them, they've gotten as close as
they wanted to, started to see the rest of it, and wanted more. The
rest, they were happy with what they found, and didn't look any farther.
Either way, they're happier with themselves and their lives than they
were to start with."

Michelle sat there for a couple of minutes before giving a small shake
and saying "I came out here to tell you that I wasn't going to make any
fuss about Marie being with your two. Now, I've got something else to
think about when I go back to the house!"

I smiled and said "Sorry."

She quickly looked at me and said "No, you don't have to be. What you
said, it's something that I'd have wanted to hear, anyway. Still, I'll
be going inside now - you've got work to do, and I don't want to be
taking up too much of your time."

When Lucy got home, I relayed the whole conversation to her, and she
just smiled.

After supper, all three girls cleared the table. When they were done,
Marie came over to where Michelle was while Sandra and Robyn waited in
the doorway.

Marie got her mother's attention, and said "I'll be upstairs in Sandra's
room, momma."

Marie looked at her closely and said "You going to be all right?"

Marie smiled and said "I'm nervous - but I'm not afraid."

Michelle hugged Marie and said "Okay. You go along now, and I'll see you
in the morning."

Marie hugged her mother back, and then went over to where Sandra and
Robyn were waiting. The three of them turned to go upstairs, and the
three of us watched as Marie reached out to hold hands with Robyn and
Sandra.

When they were out of sight, Lucy and I looked at Michelle - who saw it,
and simply said "It's all right. I know she'll be okay with them."

There didn't seem to be anything else to be said, so I just picked up
the conversation we'd been having where we'd left off.

The next morning, Michelle was sitting with Lucy and I having breakfast
when all three girls came in to eat. There didn't seem to be any change
visible in Marie - until she got close, and we could see the sheer joy
on her face.

Michelle asked her "Are you okay, honey?"

Marie just answered "I'm fine, momma."

Looking at her, I figured she bore the same resemblance to 'fine' as a
bakery did to a breadbox - but let it go without comment. Robyn and
Sandra, on the other hand, didn't look any different than usual -
something that Michelle clearly noticed, too.

When it was time for the girls to head off for school, Marie got up to
go to the door with them, and didn't make any pretense of not kissing
them - full on the lips - before they left. When they were gone, she saw
us looking at her, blushed only slightly, and told us "I'm going
upstairs to study, now" before putting her words into action.

When she was gone, Lucy and I were looking at Michelle again - and
again, she noticed it. She smiled and said "I reckon she found out what
real loving and happiness are, last night. That being the case, I'm not
going to worry myself about it: she's happy, and knows there's other
folks that love her, too. That ain't a bad thing, in anybody's life."

Lucy reached over to give Michelle's arm a squeeze, and we went back to
our previous conversation.

By the time a week had passed, Marie had settled down again - mostly.
The expression of sheer joy was replaced by one of continual happiness.
Her previous timidity was replaced with a reasonable level of self-
assurance. Her bashfulness was traded out for confidence. Her gentle
disposition was supplemented with a measure of courage. She was always
careful to avoid any overtly sexual contact with Sandra or Robyn outside
their room - but she wasn't afraid to hold hands with them, or kiss
them, either. In fact, she wasn't afraid to kiss anybody in the house.
It became routine for her to kiss me on the cheek before bed AND on
seeing me at breakfast in the morning. Even the occasional hug from her
stopped being surprising.

Michelle watched all this with varying degrees and permutations of
amazement, concern, pride, worry, respect, and fear. Throughout, though,
she loved Marie - unhesitatingly, and without question.

One morning, Robyn and Sandra joined us for breakfast before Marie made
her appearance. Neither of them said anything, though I noticed them
sharing Significant Looks. I knew something was up.

Then Marie came into the kitchen, and I knew what it was: she'd not only
cut her hair shorter, but colored it blonde and styled it. I about fell
off my chair.

Lucy and Michelle both gasped - then Lucy looked at me, and both of us
turned to watch Michelle. As Marie came over with her breakfast to sit
at the table with us, we saw Michelle start to cloud up, as though going
to blast Marie for what she'd done. But as the girl got closer,
Michelle's predicted intentions seemed to dissolve; by the time Marie
sat down, Michelle looked much as she usually did. A glance around told
me that Sandra and Robyn - the stylists, no doubt - were waiting for an
explosion.

It didn't come.

Instead, Michelle waited a while, and then casually said "I see you did
something different with your hair, honey."

You had to be looking close to see the brief flicker in Marie's eyes
before she said "Yeah - do you like it?"

I inwardly cringed, but Michelle just said "Yes, it looks like whoever
did it did a fine job on it for you." It did, in fact. And I didn't
doubt for a minute that Michelle knew full well whose handiwork it was.
"Any reason in particular for doing it?"

Marie screwed up her courage and looked at Michelle before answering
"Well, it was a couple of things, actually. Part of it was I just wanted
to see how I'd look blonde. The other part was thinking that it makes
for a good disguise. Remember, Mutt said that our hair was pretty
memorable, so I thought if I cut it shorter and colored it, I'd be able
to start going out again - with Dan or Lucy, or course."

Ah.

Michelle considered that for a second, and said "Yeah, I can understand
both of those. You look nice - is this something you think you'll want
to keep?"

"Oh, no. It's nice - for something different - but I think I like my
hair better the other way. When this is over, I'll probably let it
change back."

With that, she turned to me and said "Dan, when Mutt was here, he said
that if we cut our hair, he knew of a place that could use it to make
wigs for kids with cancer. Do you know where he was talking about?"

"Not right this moment, but I can find out. Why?"

"Because I saved the hair that got cut, and I want the kids to have it.
It's not fair that they don't have any, so they should get it."

To cover for Michelle's rapidly misting eyes, I answered "Okay, Marie -
I'll find out right after breakfast, and let you know, okay?"

She smiled and said "Thanks, Dan" before returning to her breakfast.

When the youngsters were gone, Lucy and I looked over at Michelle, and
saw the tears streaming down her face. I grabbed a dishtowel and handed
it to her; she smiled her thanks and started drying the tears as she
told us "When I first saw what she did, I was ready to get all over her.
But then I thought about how she's changing, and figured I should find
out WHY she did it, first. When she told me, it made perfect sense, and
I couldn't be mad at her. It's nothing personal, but I'm starting to get
a little stir-crazy, myself. Then when she said she wanted to give her
hair to that place so they could make wigs for those kids... well, I
damn near lost it."

I got up to get us some more coffee - Lucy wasn't going in until later,
for a meeting - and heard the two of them whispering back and forth. Not
A Good Sign, for you guys out there - when two women start whispering
behind your back, it's a pretty safe bet that whatever it is they're
doing, you're in for a Surprise. Probably a big one.

By the time I got back, they'd quieted down - but both had Who? Me?
expressions on their faces. I knew that all I could do was hope to get a
little warning before the 20-Ton Weight fell on me.

When it came time, Lucy got up and left for work - AFTER she and
Michelle shared a Look. I just went out to my office, called Mutt, and
got the name and address of the place he'd mentioned, telling him that
I'd be sending them some hair soon. He said he was both sorry and glad
to hear it - sorry because it looked so beautiful on whoever had been
wearing it, and glad that it meant some kids would get it. I told him I
felt the same way about it.

After the call was over, I went back inside and up to Marie's room - her
door was mostly open, but I still knocked first. She told me to come in,
and I saw that she was busy doing schoolwork on the computer. I gave her
the slip of paper with the name and address of the place that did the
wigs, along with the instructions for sending it that Mutt had given me.
She smiled at me prettily, and thanked me. I assured her that it wasn't
any problem and went back to my office.

That evening, after supper, Marie asked if I could take her shopping the
next afternoon. I said that I would. She asked Sandra and Robyn if they
would go with her; Sandra claimed too much work for school, but Robyn
agreed, saying that as soon as they got home from school would be best.
I said that was fine with me - and noticed Lucy and Michelle share a
smile.

As planned, the next afternoon had me escorting Marie and Robyn around a
shopping mall - a small one, and different than the one where I'd had
problems before; no sense going someplace where I was likely to be
remembered when the idea was to not be noticed.

Robyn and Marie had a great time - in and out of stores, going through
clothes, window-shopping, the works. Along the way, they bought things -
Marie more than Robyn - and I somehow got talked into carrying most of
the bags. It was pushing six o'clock when I finally told them that we
needed to get home for supper. Neither fussed - at least, no more than a
token effort - and we were soon pulling into the driveway at home. I got
the car parked, and the two girls went racing into the house to show
Sandra what they'd bought. I lagged behind, and had just gotten through
the door when Lucy handed me a paper bag, saying "Here's some more hair
for the kids."

Okay, sometimes I'm kinda slow. I stood there a good five seconds,
trying to figure out where this bag of hair had come from before looking
at Lucy for the answer. She just laughed at the expression on my face,
and said "Come on out!"

Behind, her I saw someone step into the kitchen. I didn't know who it
was for a second, and then the bag of hair in my hand tripped my memory
switch. It was Michelle - minus about three feet of luxurious black
hair. In its place was a short - shoulder-length, at most - head of
auburn hair with what looked like reddish highlights. It was simply
styled, and actually looked quite attractive on her. I looked from her
to Lucy and back again - then both of them broke into laughter, which
brought the girls in to see what was so funny. In turn, THEY were amazed
at the transformation in Michelle - and commented on how nice the style
and color looked on her.

I turned to Lucy, who just grinned at me before saying "I'm sorry, Dan,
but we just HAD to do it this way. Yesterday morning, Michelle said that
she wanted to get out of the house, too - and that she was willing to
cut her hair to do it. After I got to work, I made an appointment for
her with my hairdresser for this afternoon. I was on my way home today
even before you got the girls to the mall; we went straight from here to
the hairdresser. They cut it - they were glad to save it after I told
them about the wig thing - colored it, and styled it, all in a little
over an hour. They rushed the job a little, but it still looks fabulous,
don't you think? Anyway, we made a quick detour to a department store,
and came back in time to get back before you did - we only arrived about
five minutes ahead of you, and Michelle barely had time to get out of
sight before the girls came in. We had to hurry because I knew the girls
would only keep you out of the house for a couple of hours. They weren't
in on it; I just figured that they'd keep you at the mall until you
decided you all had to get back for supper."

"Well, it worked - obviously - on both counts: changing her appearance,
and surprising me with it."

Lucy laughed and answered "Yeah, I saw that."

I grinned back and said "That's okay. You've still got birthdays, and
anniversaries, and...."

I had a tendency (okay, I did it whenever I could) to come up with
'creative' ways of giving her presents, or surprising her with an
affectionate message. It invariably surprised her. Pleased her
immensely, but surprised her. One anniversary, she had a constant stream
of florists coming into her office throughout the day, each delivering a
single rose. For her birthday, a large box was delivered with dire
warnings and instructions that only SHE was allowed to open it. She did,
and a bouquet of balloons floated out, lifting a small package that
contained the diamond earrings I'd bought for her. The Christmas where
my 'under the tree' gift to her was a new bathrobe - and in her jewelry
case, unwrapped and unclaimed, a shiny new gold necklace. The
Valentine's day that I gave her a gift that was canned - literally. I'd
taken her gift to a place that could seal it inside a tin can - along
with a small bell and a couple of pennies, so it would make
'interesting' noises when shaken. Only when she opened it did she
discover the matching silk camisole and panties.

So when I commented on the special days ahead of her, she knew that
she'd only challenged me to come up with even MORE creative ways to
surprise her. She laughed, and said "I started a fight I'm not going to
win, didn't I?"

"All things considered, is losing really so bad?"

She laughed again, hugged me, and said "Not even a little bit!"

The next evening, Lucy and I took Michelle shopping again - and had a
blast.

The following Saturday, we dared make a mass-visit to a mall - Lucy, me,
Michelle, Marie, Robyn, and Sandra. For some reason, Lucy and Michelle
took no small delight in hanging on each of my arms, and nuzzling my
ears - drawing the attention of almost everybody above the age of
puberty. We even went so far as to have lunch at the food court - the
youngsters sat at another table, so they could pretend they weren't with
the two women that took turns hand-feeding the one guy sitting between
them, and just generally pampering him to within millimeters of his
life. Lucy, I could understand after a fashion - every so often she'd
get into some kind of 'pamper Dan mercilessly' mood; she usually
exorcised them at home, not a shopping mall. Michelle's participation, I
just couldn't figure out - except that maybe she was just having her own
fun, having gotten carried away by all of us being out together.
Whatever it was, there wasn't anything to do but let them do whatever
they wanted: with Lucy, I knew if I protested too much, she'd just go at
it even more. So I gently took the bites of food they held out for me,
took sips from the proffered drink, and tried to be as blasé about it as
I could while ignoring the looks of envy (from guys) and hatred (from
women) I got.

They finally had mercy on me and declared that they were done shopping -
mostly because I didn't have any more arms to carry stuff, I think. We
made our way back to the cars - me, Lucy, and Michelle in one, Sandra
driving the other), filled them up with all the shopping bags, and
headed home. There, I was able (willing) to make a stand without
worrying about making a scene: I simply stated that since the stuff
wasn't mine, I wasn't carrying it any farther. Teasing and cajolery were
tried, but without effect. Michelle and Lucy were both still laughing,
though, as they carried their purchase up to their respective rooms. The
girls didn't even bother - they were to anxious to get their stuff
upstairs and start trying it on.

Supper was something of an Event: all of them had bought something
fluffy/foamy/revealing, and they all wore it to supper - which I was
obliged to cook, it being my turn. As it turned out, the spaghetti and
fixings I'd prepared seemed to somehow fit the atmosphere of the meal.

As we ate, I carefully looked around at all of them - and couldn't fault
a one of them for their choice or taste. Lucy, Robyn, and Sandra were
familiar to me; I appreciated how good they looked, but it was Michelle
and Marie that I couldn't help looking at the most.

Marie was wearing a little number that wasn't particularly revealing -
but it definitely made it clear that there was a real, live girl
underneath, and that she most definitely had a very pleasant shape to
her. The cut of it was such that she could have been wearing a bra
underneath it - but the small irregularities on the front of it, about
where her nipples would be, seemed to proclaim that she wasn't.

Michelle, on the other hand, was wearing some kind of
sleeveless/strapless something or other that made her look sexy as hell
- displaying a nice measure of cleavage, and molding so close to her
skin that there was absolutely no doubt that she wasn't wearing a bra.
If the way it followed the rest of her curves was any indication, she
was without panties, as well - there wasn't a line to be seen on her
anywhere.

I made sure to compliment all of them on their outfits - drawing happy
smiles, and a couple of sultry looks, in the process.

When we'd finished eating, Robyn and Marie started to get up, with the
obvious intention of clearing the dishes. I simply told them "Don't even
think about it. You're not getting anywhere near the kitchen or these
dirty dishes in those outfits. Just sit down and enjoy yourselves; I'll
take care of it." Each of them gave me a Look, but did as they were
told.

I got the table cleared, the dishwasher loaded and started, and the
leftovers put away before I went back into the dining room with a fresh
bottle of wine. Everybody had their glass topped off, and the
conversations continued.

After a while, it was decided to adjourn to the living room - I had a
fine time watching all of them walking ahead of me. I'd heard a radio
talk show host once say that he liked the women's movement best when it
was walking ahead of him; right about then, I had to agree with him.

The rest of the evening the six of us sat in the living room enjoying
quiet, pleasant conversation with each other as we finished off the
bottle of wine. There were enough of us, and the evening lasted long
enough, that none of felt any effects from it - other than to enjoy its
pleasant taste.

Still, it finally got late enough that we all felt the need for some
sleep. Again, the movement to upstairs and our respective bedrooms was a
group operation. Once in the hallway outside our rooms, Sandra asked
"Uncle Dan, would you unzip my dress, please?" I agreed, and she turned
around and pulled her hair to the side to give me unencumbered access as
I wondered why she didn't just have one of the others do it, since
they'd doubtless helped each other do the zippers in the first place.

I'd no more than released the tab on Sandra's dress than Robyn made the
same request with a "Me, too?", followed, unsurprisingly, by Marie
asking for help, as well. When I'd finished with Marie's dress, it
parted slightly, and I was given the chance to see that there was, in
fact, no bra under it: from shoulders to hips, the smooth expanse of her
back was unmarred by anything so mundane as cloth.

All three girls held their dresses to their bodies as the moved close to
give me a good-night kiss, and then disappeared into their respective
rooms.

That left me, Lucy, and Michelle standing in the hall. I wasn't
surprised when Michelle said "Since you're here anyway, Dan, would you?"
- and turned away from me in a gesture that she wanted me to unzip her
dress, as well. I looked at Lucy - whose contribution consisted of
shrugging at me - figured "what the hell..." and did as I was asked.
Michelle, too, held her dress against her body and turned back around -
where she promptly kissed me softly on the lips, said "Thank you, Dan.
Good night", and went into her room.

Back in our own room, I happily helped Lucy with her dress - and didn't
hesitate to slip my hands inside it, and around to cup her breasts in my
hands. She leaned back against me and said "That was nice, tonight -
just sitting there and talking."

I agreed, and began softly caressing her nipples, feeling them erect
under my fingertips. She moaned softly then said "Keep that thought - I
have to get out of this dress, first" before easing herself away (my
hands were between her skin and the material, remember). We moved apart,
and started slowly undressing, each of us watching the other. Lucy, with
less on in the first place, was naked before I was - and casually went
over and pulled the bedcovers down before slipping between the sheets.
She lay there on her side with her head propped up as she watched me
finish taking my clothes off. When I was naked, too, she gave me a come-
hither look and said "Hmmmm. I think I know what I want to do next,
tonight...."

I grinned, and made my way around to my side of the bed, and then
slipped in to lie next to her. We were kissing as she was gently
stroking my penis; I had my hand on her breast, softly stroking it when
we heard a soft knock at the door. I looked at her, and she at me, and
both of us wanted to ignore it - but it came again, and we decided to
deal with whoever it was, first, so we wouldn't be disturbed again.
Separating, I called out for whoever it was to come in - and when the
door opened, saw that it was a very naked Michelle.

She stepped into the room, closed the door behind her, and moved to
stand at the foot of our bed, facing us. Déjà vu all over again, I
thought to myself, with a silent tip of a nonexistent hat to Yogi Berra.
Without the intermediate step of taking off a robe, it was a pretty
close match for how she'd appeared before us the last time.

Both bedside lights were on, and we had no trouble making out the
details of her nude body as she calmly stood there looking at us for
several seconds before speaking.

"The last time I came into this room, it was to offer myself to you for
saving my life. You refused, Dan, telling me that you couldn't do it
because I was doing it for reasons that you couldn't accept. I left here
ashamed, angry, and deeply, deeply hurt. But before I went to sleep that
night, I thought about what you'd said to me. And I realized that
offering myself to you that way, I was doing two things wrong. First, I
was offering myself to you as payment for something - in other words,
exchanging sex for another kind of service; or prostituting myself, to
put it bluntly. Viewed that way, I couldn't blame you for not wanting
me."

"The other thing I realized was that you did care for me - enough that
you were refusing something that you knew would actually hurt me in the
end: you were keeping me from having sex with you for what I know - now
- were the wrong reasons. What I wanted then was not just to repay you
for what you did for me in the mall, I was also trying to find what I
thought were the love and companionship of a man - the kind of gentle,
caring man that I haven't been with for entirely too long."

She took a breath and said "I didn't understand, and then, how or why
you would want to protect me from myself that way when it would have
been so easy - so I thought - for you to use me and then throw me away
when you were done. But then we had that talk, out in your office, the
day I came out to tell you that I was okay with Marie and your girls.
You didn't talk to me all that much, really; but what you said meant a
lot. I've been thinking about all you said to me that morning since then
- and I've started to understand a lot of what you told me. But the most
important thing that's happened is that I've realized something."

"I've realized that you, and Lucy, and Robyn, and Sandra have all been
doing what you told me you do to people: find good ones, show them how
they can make their lives better, and help them along. I'll admit, it
took me a while; I knew you were helping us, and I knew you were showing
us how we could make our lives better. The thing that it took a while
for me to understand was that you thought you had found good ones - that
is, that you thought Marie and I were good. Sure, you told us that
plenty of times - but I always thought that you were saying it to make
us feel better; I honestly didn't think that you meant it. You know what
made me realize that you DID mean it?" I shook my head, and she said "A
couple weeks ago, Robyn kissed you goodbye before she left for school.
You swatted her on the butt and said 'You be good, today'. She answered
'I will', and went out the door. I thought 'Why is he telling her to be
good? She is already!'. Then I thought about Marie, and wondered if I
needed to tell her anything like that. Suddenly, I realized that I
didn't - that she was good, just like Robyn. When that hit me, I started
wondering if maybe, just maybe you meant it when YOU told her you
thought she was good. Remembering that talk we had, I figured you did.
That's when I knew - knew - that you meant it when you said the same
thing to ME. All of a sudden, I understood that you and Lucy and Sandra
and Robyn were telling us we were good people because we ARE good
people, and that because we were good people, the help you were
offering, and the showing us how to make our lives better was all of you
doing for us what you do for each other - and that all of you loved us,
just the way you said you told me you love each other, Dan. And the
moment I understood that, I knew that I loved YOU - all of you - for the
same reasons, and in the same way. And that Marie was doing it, too,
even if she didn't have the words or understanding of it, she was doing
it in her heart."

She looked at us in a kind of awe before she said "Since then, I've been
paying close attention to how all of you act toward me and Marie - and
all I can see is love and trust and respect in everything you do. You,
Dan - when you talk to her about the stars she likes so much, you listen
close, and actually talk TO her, and not AT her. It's like your whole
focus is on her, and what you and her are talking about. Lucy, when you
were talking to me about your job the other day, you were doing the same
thing with me: you explained to me about what you do and how you do it,
but you did it like you thought I would actually understand it, not like
I was some little kid where you had to use small words. I had questions,
a lot of 'em, and you answered every one so that I could understand what
you were telling me. By the time you were done, I felt like I knew what
it is you do - didn't figure I could do it, but knew what it was. The
other night, I heard Marie ask Sandra and Robyn what love was. You can
damn sure bet I hung around to listen to how they explained THAT one!
And damned if they didn't - they pretty much told her the same things
you told me that day, Dan. Different words, and they took a little
longer to explain it, using a bunch of examples, but they did it. Marie
asked them some questions, and they were able to answer her. When they
were done, she says 'Oh, okay. I understand that.' I heard her asking
some questions, kind of like she was trying to see how what they said
worked, and they didn't hesitate to answer her, telling her when they
KNEW something, and when they only THOUGHT something - like they were
making sure she understood between what was fact, and what was their
opinion."

"I thought about a lot of other things, too - like how you all left it
up to Marie and me to decide whether or not we wanted to cut our hair so
we could go out again after... the mall. You reminded us that Mutt said
changing our hair was the one thing that would change how we look, and
that whether or not we did it was going to have to be up to us. You
reminded us what needed to be done before something else could happen,
and left the decision up to us - trusting us to decide for ourselves."
She laughed, and said "Marie made her decision a little earlier than I
did, and kinda forgot to let me know, but she did what was right. All
along the way, all of you have told us what you thought the good and bad
of something was, left us to decide for ourselves, and accepted whatever
decision we made. The only time you didn't do that was when we were
trying to decide something without knowing all the facts about it; even
then, all you'd do was show us that there were things we weren't paying
enough attention to, so we could decide better."

She took another deep breath and stood a little straighter before she
told us "So I'm here tonight to tell you that I love you - all of you -
and that if you'll let me, Lucy, I'd like to show your man how much. And
seeing how happy Marie is with Robyn and Sandra, I reckon I'd like to
find out if I can be happy like that with another woman, too."

Lucy and I turned to look at each other, communicating without saying a
thing. Then, still without a sound, both of us got out of bed went to
stand in front of Michelle, who had backed up a bit.

Each of us took one of her hands and Lucy told her "Now you want to be
with us for the right reason; and both of us would be happy to have you
join us." Then Lucy leaned forward, plainly intending to kiss Michelle.
Michelle didn't hesitate, and moved to meet Lucy's lips with her own.
Nor did Michelle flinch when Lucy raised a hand to cup her breast. Their
lips parted, and Lucy's hand returned to her side. Michelle turned to
face me, and I told her "Yes, we love you. Not because of this" -
gesturing to her nude body - "but because of this" - a touch to her
chest above her heart - "and this" - my fingertip to her forehead - as I
finished "A body will eventually grow old, and wither. But a good heart
and working mind - those are things that will last a lifetime."

Michelle nodded, and Lucy asked her "What would you like to do? There
are two of us, and just the one of you - would you like to be with him,
first, or me? Or would you like both of us to welcome you to our family
together? Remember, there is no jealousy between us, so neither of us
will be hurt or offended if you choose just one."

Michelle looked from Lucy to me, and back again, and realized that what
Lucy was telling her was true: that whatever her decision, both of us
would accept it without question or feeling slighted.

Finally Michelle said "Both of you, I think. I know what to do with a
man, and I think that will help keep me... steady with you, Lucy."

Both of us smiled at her, and she smiled back as Lucy said "That's fine,
Michelle. Since you're more comfortable with a man to start, and then
why don't you go with Dan, and then."

I reached out, and Michelle confidently put her hand in mine. She
hesitated a moment, and quietly asked "Can... can I look at you, first?"
I nodded, and she let her eyes wander my body - pausing to examine the
scars before letting her eyes drop to my manhood. Her eyes looked me
over carefully before looking into my face again - starting to blush
when she realized that I knew where she'd been looking, before realizing
that it didn't matter to me.

Next, she turned to look at Lucy - and I heard her breath catch in her
throat when she did. I knew how lovely Lucy was to me; my wife
apparently had the same effect on our guest, and new friend.

When Michelle looked at me again, I smiled, and she let me lead her
around the bed, and then guide her to lay down on it. Lucy and I slowly
got in with her, on opposite sides so that she was between us. Each of
us put a hand on one of her breasts, softly squeezing it and letting our
fingertips caress its surface as we took turns kissing her. Soon, both
nipples were hard and long, her dark areolas puckered and begging for a
mouth to consume them as she softly panted her growing arousal.

I moved first, leaving a trail of kisses behind as my mouth blazed a
trail across her smooth flesh on the way to the breast in my hand. My
mouth finally crested the firm mound, and my lips captured the flag of
her erect nipple. My hand, displaced, wandered across her body, teasing
and caressing her soft, supple skin, gradually making its way lower and
lower, finally coming upon the dark forest of her pubic thatch. There,
it carefully explored the soft, dense mass as my lips and mouth
continued to dance and play on the peak of her mammary.

When my fingers had mapped the range of the small dark wedge of her
pelvic thicket, they went on to do a detailed survey of what lay
beneath; drifting between her thighs, they discovered the hot, damp
cavern of her womanhood, and the fleshy gates around it. Above my head,
Michelle was softly moaning her passion - between kisses from Lucy.

My fingertips began to detail their discoveries, including the sensitive
nubbin at the top of her cleft - and how it got hard, casting off its
cloak to show itself in response to gentle touches and soft caresses.
Between my lips and hand, her body undulated with her increasing
desires; under my tender ministrations, the petals of her labia got
longer and thicker, the area between becoming slick with the overflow of
warm oils escaping her hot female channel.

My lips left her breast to lay claim to that which my hand had
discovered. My head moved lower on her body, my lips softly biting at
her warm skin as they traced a circuitous route along her belly -
delaying briefly to let my tongue delve into the soft indentation that
was her navel before continuing on their journey. Above, her noises were
less vocal; my ears told me that her mouth and lips were busy with other
things - such as introducing themselves to Lucy's.

My mouth finally came across the edge of her pubic fleece, and skirted
the edge of it, tracing it's outline lower and lower. As I got closer
and closer to the steamy entrance to her vagina, her legs parted to make
room for me, and her pelvis lifted in welcome. With such a greeting,
there was nothing to do but open my mouth and dip my tongue between the
fleshy folds of her labia; as I did, she released a deep groan of
pleasure as her thighs snapped open. My taste buds found her oils to be
as delightful as the scent of her had been to my nose. I moved to place
my open mouth over her opening, softly sucking her delectable fluids out
as my tongue wormed its way inside her as far as it could reach; she
responded with a cry of "Oh, God!" before being silenced by Lucy's lips
again.

The flavor of her was heady and full, but there was more yet to do. I
softly sucked each of her labia into my mouth, where I gently 'chewed'
them with my lips. When both were full and thick with her desire, I
returned to licking at her opening, drawing more of her juices out
before lifting my head to tend to the erect nubbin of her clitoris.

Fastening my lips around it, I began to flutter my tongue across its
surface - and felt Michelle lift her hips in response. When I had it
standing as proud and tall as I could, I changed over to circling it
with the tip of my tongue, applying varying amounts of pressure.
Michelle softly squealed her pleasure, arching her back to make herself
as available to me as she could.

With my mouth busy, my fingers elected to renew their explorations - by
going spelunking in the damp cave between her firm thighs. First one
finger made a tentative probe into the tight confines; when that was
welcomed, it went further - then further still, until it was buried in
her as far as it could go. Michelle's response was a deep groan of
pleasure, so the first finger was joined by a second; together, they
probed her depths time and again.

It wasn't long before Michelle's increasing arousal found a peak; with a
loud cry of release, her thighs tried to clamp together as pleasure
overwhelmed her body. Her vagina clenched around my fingers, holding
them tightly in place; beneath my lips and tongue, her clitoris suddenly
got shy, and disappeared under its hood. When her vagina relaxed a bit,
I rotated my hand and curled my fingers - applying pressure to the
sensitive area at the front of her vagina, just behind the entrance. She
nearly screamed in response as she clamped down on me even harder. When
she finally relaxed again, I straightened my fingers, and began slowly
thrusting them in and out of her in time with the spasms I could feel
going through her body. She reacted by lifting her hips and spreading
her legs again, moaning her pleasure.

When she was reduced to mild aftershocks, I gently slid my fingers from
her vagina; she shuddered slightly when they finally pulled free. From
there, I began kissing my way back up her body. When I got as far as her
bellybutton, Lucy started kissing her way toward me; we met at
Michelle's breasts, where we shared a kiss - Lucy getting a good sample
of what waited for her between Michelle's thighs - before both of us
began licking and kissing the twin peaks of Michelle's bust. A bit
later, each of us resumed our journey - me toward Michelle's head,
Lucy's target laying the other direction.

When my lips found Michelle's she eagerly parted them so our tongues
could introduce themselves to each other. I knew that she must be able
to taste herself on my lips, but she didn't seem to have any reaction to
it. As our tongues were dancing, Michelle released a long, deep groan of
pleasure that told me Lucy had reached her goal.

Lucy and others had told me that the way one woman pleases another is
much different than how a man does it. I resolved to let Michelle focus
on what Lucy was doing by simply contributing to the stimulation she was
receiving without getting in the way of the sensations Lucy was
generating.

When Michelle started moaning again, almost continuously, I went about
doing my part toward letting her enjoy her first experience of having
another woman pleasure her. Lifting my head, I saw that Michelle's face
and shoulders were flushed with her arousal - and that gave me the
inspiration for what I wanted to do. Lowering my head again, I began
kissing Michelle - but not on the lips. Rather, I started at one
shoulder, softly kissing and biting her as I slowly worked my way toward
her neck - detouring to her ears for a bit, and then back down to her
throat. Across that - a longer side trip to her breasts - then on to the
other ear, and finally across the other shoulder. The entire time,
Michelle's cries of pleasure and arousal steadily increased - both in
frequency and intensity.

When I lifted my head again, I saw that the flush had not only deepened,
but expanded to include the upper slopes of her breasts - which I
quickly fastened on as my next target. I let my head drop to her chest,
where I began licking my way across her breasts, from one nipple to the
other, and then back again. Taking as much of her nipple and breast into
my mouth as I could, and gently sucking on it in time with the slow
thrusts of her pelvis. Taking only her areola and nipple in my mouth,
and sucking on them like a newborn child. Gently biting her areolas.
Planting my mouth on random locations on her breasts, and gently
'chewing' with my lips.

The entire time I was doing that, my hand was wandering her body, again
caressing and stroking any part of her that I could reach.

I'd just raised my head to figure out what to do to her next when she
cried out her release, her eyes flying open to focus on a point
approximately three light years over my left shoulder. She cried out
again, and I turned to look down to where Lucy's face was buried between
Michelle's thighs, her eyes closed as she focused on bringing Michelle
as much pleasure as possible.

Finally, with a deep sigh, Michelle collapsed on the bed, her eyes
closed and breathing rapid and shallow. I watched as Lucy's eyes opened.
She saw me, and pulled her head from between Michelle's legs, the lower
half of her face coated with what could only have been Michelle's
juices. Lucy grinned at me mischievously, and moved up so the two of us
could kiss - and giving me a fresh sample of Essence of Michelle in the
process. I ostentatiously smacked my lips and said "Hmmm. I think I
could learn to like that!"

Lucy laughed softly, and said "Me, too - in about a heartbeat!"

I got out of bed and went into our bathroom, returning a minute later
with a damp washcloth and hand towel. I handed the washcloth to Lucy,
who used it to wipe the rest of Michelle off her face before handing it
back in exchange for the hand towel. While she was drying her face, I
moved to begin cleaning the overflow of juices from Michelle; the few
times that I had to go across her mons, she softly moaned and lifted her
hips - amusing Lucy and I tremendously. Next, I dried her off; when I
was done, Lucy took the cleaning supplies and put them in the laundry
hamper in the bathroom. When she returned, we went back to lying next to
Michelle, each of us with an arm across her, holding her. After a couple
minutes, her eyes opened again, and she looked around in confusion for a
bit before seeing Lucy and me. She looked at both of us, and then broke
into a big smile before stretching hard enough that we heard joints
creak. Relaxed again, she said "God! I thought that was all a dream -
that I'd died on gone to a really sexy heaven!"

Lucy smiled and said "We're glad you liked it. Feeling better now?"

Michelle grinned in reply and answered "WAY better!"

She looked at each of us again, and hesitantly told us "When you first
kissed me, and started touching me, I was kind of nervous. But both of
you were so gentle that I realized that I didn't have to worry about
anything. Then, when you started playing with my..."

"Tits", I offered, "They're called tits. Boobs. Knockers. Knobs.Your
'rack'. Your..."

I was interrupted by Lucy's hand over my mouth as she and Michelle both
grinned at me.

Michelle laughed, and said "Okay, my tits; it felt good. And when Dan
started kissing one, and sucking on it... it was great. I felt his hand,
you know, between my legs, and I started to worry a little bit - but
again, he was so gentle and patient and careful, and it started feeling
so good."

She turned her head to look at me and said "When you started kissing my
belly, I liked it - until I realized where you were going. Frenchy never
did anything like that to me, and I didn't know what you were going to
do. But when you touched me with your tongue the first time, it was so
sexy, how soft you were about it. Then, when you did it again... well, I
knew I was in heaven."

She turned back to Lucy and said "I was kind of nervous with you, too -
about kissing, I mean."

Lucy smiled and said "I know."

Michelle smiled back and said "I thought so. But you kept doing it, and
I realized that I liked how you kiss. The way you kiss is different than
how Dan kisses. Not better or worse, just different. I like how you
kiss!"

Michelle suddenly turned back to me and exclaimed "That doesn't mean I
don't like how you kiss - I do!", concern on her face. I grinned and
said "I'm glad to hear that - because I want to kiss you again." She
grinned back, and I did that very thing. When we were done, she smiled
at me and said "I like that, too!" - making Lucy laugh.

She looked at both of us before saying "After I had my..."

"Orgasm. Climax. Big 'O'..." I got out before Lucy put a finger across
my lips with a smile.

"orgasm", Michelle finished with a grin "you started kissing my belly
again. Then you both started kissing my body, and met at my tits. I knew
you kissed, and wondered if you could taste me on him, Lucy. But then
both of you started sucking on my tits, and I forgot about it - until
Dan kissed me again. I could taste something, and it took me a second to
realize that it was ME. But it didn't taste bad or anything - actually,
it was kind of... nice. I think I can understand why some guys like to
do that - I tasted kind of spicy and sweet at the same time. Anyway, I
just kept kissing him until you started using your mouth on me, Lucy.
When you did that, he started kissing my shoulders and nibbling on my
ears, and nipping at my throat, and sucking and biting my tits and
nipples and it just kept getting better and better - until I had another
orgasm. Then I guess I kind of lost it, because I don't remember
anything until I woke up just now."

Lucy grinned and told her "You did kind of lose it. While you were gone,
Dan got some things and cleaned you up" - Michelle's hand flew between
her thighs, and she blushed - "and we decided to hold you until you were
ready to come back to us."

Michelle looked at each of us and said "I had two orgasms with you;
before, all I ever had was just one, sometimes, with Frenchy. And I had
them just from you using your mouths on me." She tilted her head to
focus on me and asked "Is... is it going to feel that good when we
actually start to make love?"

Lucy reached over to tilt Michelle's head back toward her and said
"Michelle, dear, we were making love. Making love isn't just about body
parts; it's about your heart, too. But to answer the question I think
you were asking: yes, I think you'll feel just as good when Dan's inside
you. You said that sometimes you had an orgasm when Frenchy was inside?"

Michelle nodded, and said "Back before he started getting mean to me,
yeah, sometimes. Not every time, though." She looked at me a little
shyly and said "He wasn't as big as Dan, I think; I... I don't know if
that makes any difference."

Lucy spoke up again, telling her "It doesn't really make that much
difference how big or small the man's penis is, Michelle. What makes the
difference is how interested he is in making you happy with it." With an
impish grin, Lucy added "It isn't the size of the tool, it's the skill
of the craftsman. And Dan is a very good craftsman! Would you like to
find out for yourself?"

Michelle blushed faintly, and said "I... I think I'd like that."

"I think you'll like it, too!" Lucy teased, and then added "He isn't
ready yet, though. Do you want to get him started, or should I?"

Michelle looked a bit uncertain, and Lucy smoothed it over by saying
"Why don't I go ahead and start, and then you can take over when you're
ready."

Michelle nodded, and watched as Lucy gently nudged me onto my back, and
then leaned across Michelle's legs to take my flaccid penis into her
mouth as she cupped my balls in her hand. In just a couple of minutes, I
was nearly fully erect, my penis shiny with Lucy's saliva. She pulled
her head back so that only the crown was past her lips, gave me a little
lick, and with a soft pop, let me pull free of her mouth.

Michelle had watched all this, and looked surprised that Lucy had done
what she had. Lucy turned to look at her, and saw the expression on
Michelle's face. Concern in her voice, Lucy asked "What is it, Michelle?
Is something wrong?"

Michelle hesitantly told us "I... I never done anything like that to
Frenchy - except after he started getting mean to me, that is. Even
then, the only thing I had to do was open my mouth, and he'd use it like
it was my... between my legs."

Hearing that, I couldn't help but start to soften again - that Frenchy
had a talent for screwing things up even when he wasn't around!

I could see the hurt in Lucy's eyes as she told Michelle "I understand,
dear - I wouldn't be too happy if something like that happened to me,
either. But you just saw that Dan didn't do anything like that; it was
me doing things to him. If you don't want to, or don't think you can,
and then that's fine - with both of us. But I'll bet you that it would
be a lot different for you if it YOU were the one in control, like I
was. It's actually kind of sexy for me, knowing that I can make him
excited like that, just using my mouth, and nothing else."

"Is... is he going to... squirt his stuff in my mouth? Frenchy never did
that, but he'd pull out and squirt it on my face when he was finished."

"He won't do either one of those things if you don't want him too,
Michelle. And I'll be here to help you learn how you can tell when he's
going to squirt, so you can take your mouth off, first. Would that be
okay?"

Michelle nodded, still hesitant, and Lucy told her "Michelle, don't do
this if you don't want to. Dan and I neither one wants you to do
anything you aren't happy or comfortable with. That's Frenchy's way, not
ours."

Michelle looked at her and managed a smile before saying "I know. I
think that's why I want to try."

And that's how it came about that I became the practice dummy (no
comments, please!) while Lucy gave Michelle blowjob lessons. It was
rough going at first (at least, from my perspective - teeth can hurt!),
but Lucy's patient tutelage and my lack of response except to the most
extreme provocations (see previous comment) had her gradually shift from
hesitant to willing - and then on to eager. By the time I was ready to
blow my load, she was enthusiastically using lips, mouth, and tongue all
at the same time, her eyes smiling. Lucy was watching me, and saw that I
was getting close; she took Michelle's hand and cupped it under my
scrotum, telling her "After you've been doing that for a bit, you'll
want to hold him like this. When you feel his balls pull up close to his
body, he's getting ready to squirt. It's up to you if you want to take
your mouth off and finish him with your hand, or let him cum in your
mouth. If you keep your mouth on him, it feels better for him, and you
can still choose whether you want to spit it out after, or swallow it."

Michelle's eyes told Lucy and me what she thought of that last idea, but
she managed to nod to let Lucy know she'd heard.

A minute later, I knew it was going to happen. Michelle felt my balls
pull up, and quickly pulled her mouth off, but continued sliding her
hand up and down my saliva-slick erection. She hadn't stroked me but a
few times when the first shot of cum burst out the end of my penis,
landing near my chest; the following spurts were successively milder,
leaving a trail of puddles of cum that got closer and closer to where
Michelle was softly pumping my slowly-softening member.

When all that was left was a small trickle of semen, she released her
hold on me and turned to Lucy with a big smile on her face, saying "I
did it!", her joy clear in her voice.

Lucy laughed, and answered "Yes, you sure did!"

Only then did Michelle seem to realize that there had been an actual man
associated with all of it; blushing, she turned to look at me and gave
me a shy smile as she asked "Did I do okay, Dan?"

I grinned and said "You did fine, Michelle - didn't you get the results
you wanted?"

She blushed even darker, gave me a happy smile, and answered "Yeah, I
guess I did, didn't I?"

Then, amazed, Michelle watched as Lucy reached out to collect a small
puddle of my semen on her fingers and put it in her mouth, smiling.
Fingers clean, Lucy took them out and told her "Me, I like the way Dan
tastes. When I can, I like to keep him in my mouth so I can have all of
his juice - it makes me feel SO sexy to know that I can make him climax
like that, and that his juice is just for me."

Michelle's expression made it clear that she wasn't convinced. Lucy just
told her "Didn't you ever get any of Frenchy's juice in your mouth? You
said that he squirted on your face."

Michelle hesitantly nodded, and said "I did, sometimes - but I didn't
like it."

Lucy asked "You didn't think you'd like using your mouth on Dan because
of how Frenchy used you; do you think maybe it would be the same way
about his cum?"

Michelle considered that for a few seconds, and then tentatively reached
out to dip a finger in a larger puddle of my semen. She lifted it to her
lips, sniffed, and then delicately touched her tongue to it. Another
second went by, and she stuck her finger in her mouth, drawing it out a
moment later, cleaned of my juices. She collected another, larger,
sample, and did it again - but when she pulled her finger out the second
time, she gave us a half-smile and said "I guess getting to choose DOES
make a difference. Dan's stuff is kinda like custard, only a little
thinner, and a little salty. I... I guess it would be okay if he was to
squirt in my mouth, next time" - then after realizing what she'd just
said, Michelle got a worried look on her face and asked "Is... is there
gonna be a next time?"

Lucy laughed and answered "Yes, there's going to be a next time - if you
want" - and laughing again when Michelle nodded her head.

Lucy got up and went into the bathroom, reappearing a few moments later
with a damp washcloth. She started to clean me off when Michelle said
"Here, let me do it..."

Lucy smiled at me and turned the job over to Michelle - who methodically
and thoroughly cleaned me from where the first spatter of cum was
pooled, all the way down to making sure she got all traces of semen out
of my pubic hair. When she was done, she quickly disposed of the
washcloth and got back into bed with us, taking her place between us
with a broad smile on her face.

Lucy and I were both surprised when the smile left Michelle's face, only
to be replaced with a look of worry. Lucy asked "What is it, Michelle?"

She answered with a question: "Is... is Dan done? I mean, for the night?
Or can he... you know..."

Lucy smiled in reassurance and answered "No, Dan isn't done for the
night, and yes, he'll be able to have another climax - or even two, if
we help."

Michelle looked relieved - making Lucy and I grin at each other - and
said "When me and Frenchy was first married, we'd do it two or three or
even sometimes four times in one night. But after a while, it was just
once, every couple of days. Then it was a week, maybe, and then a couple
of weeks. Finally, he didn't want me hardly at all. I didn't know if it
was me, or Frenchy, or something else."

Lucy told her "I don't know what it was, either. I think maybe it was
just Frenchy; I know that Dan has surprised me a LOT of times with
how... enthusiastic he can be. I remember one time he gave me and two
other girls several orgasms each before he finished."

Michelle looked at her doubtfully, and Lucy just smiled and nodded,
saying "Really, he did. We were on top of him so he didn't have to do
too much of the work, and it was a special occasion - a really special
occasion! - but he did it."

Michelle turned to look at me with a mixture of awe and anticipation on
her face.

I smiled and raised an eyebrow; Michelle got the deepest blush I'd seen
in a LONG time, making Lucy laugh.

The three of us lay there in the bed as the two of them waited for
enough time to pass that I'd be able to 'respond' to them again. As we
did, Lucy and I took turns telling Michelle about some of the more
intimate friends we'd made, using just first names. Michelle was
somewhat amazed that so many people were willing to not only make love
with us, but each other, as well. As we were talking, the three of us
were also casually stroking and caressing each other; Michelle had
finally reached down to take my flaccid penis in her hand and had been
gently squeezing it; Lucy started talking about Abby, and Michelle felt
me twitch in her hand. Her head snapped around to look at me, and then
she looked back at Lucy, who asked "What?"

Michelle answered "While you were talking about Abby, I felt him. In my
hand. He..."

"He moved?" Lucy asked.

Michelle nodded, uncertain whether she was getting me in trouble or not.
Lucy smiled and said "It's okay - I know he thinks she's special. She's
one of the ones that Dan did something special for, and that always
makes men a little more possessive. She's smart and friendly and really
cute and sexy; I like her, too."

Michelle had continued her gentle, rhythmic squeezing, and felt me
slowly getting larger in her hand. She looked down as Lucy asked "He's
getting harder?"

Without even thinking about it, Michelle nodded her head, her attention
still on where her hand was wrapped around me.

Lucy quietly said "When he's hard, he'll be able to last a lot longer
this time. Go ahead and help him, if you want to."

Her focus still on my steadily growing penis, Michelle slowly shifted
around to bring her head closer to where I was filling her hand. Without
hesitation, she slowly lowered her head and wrapped her lips around the
head of my penis, softly sucking on me as her hand began to slowly
stroke my increasing length.

When I was almost completely erect, Michelle looked up at me, her eyes
twinkling in satisfaction at what she'd done for me. I smiled back, and
nodded my head to let her know that she was doing just FINE.

Next to us, Lucy started moving as well; in a few moments, she'd turned
around so that she was lying next to Michelle, her head even with
Michelle's ass. From there, Lucy moved closer, reaching out to nudge
Michelle's legs apart to make room for her head. Seconds later, Lucy had
her face neatly tucked between Michelle's thighs, her mouth starting to
go to work on Michelle's womanhood.

When Lucy started, Michelle softly moaned her pleasure - something that
sent a decidedly pleasant vibration through my penis, and into my balls.

A couple more minutes went by, and I was fully erect between Michelle's
lips; the sounds of Lucy's mouth between her thighs and the aroma of her
arousal were clear in the air.

I knew that Michelle was ready - indeed, MORE than ready - by the soft
moans she was making around my penis. I reached out and gently guided
her head up until her lips pulled free of me. She looked at me in
question, and I simply told her "That's enough. Now it's time for more."

In a split second, her expression changed from one of concern and
curiosity to eager desire. Lucy must have heard me, because she
carefully extracted her head from between Michelle's slowly clenching
thighs. Michelle let us guide her back around and up the bed, so that
she was laying parallel to where I was. I leaned over and took a nipple
between my lips and softly sucked at it for a few moments as my hand
dipped between her thighs. She readily spread her legs for me, and my
fingers found her labia parted, and the area between them all but
dripping.

I lifted my head from her breast, and looked into her face as I slowly
moved myself between her legs, holding my body over hers. A little
adjustment, and then I gently lifted her legs and draped them over my
own, which left my erect penis resting against her mons.

Her desire was clear on her face, but there was also a trace of fear,
too - and that fear came through in her voice as she asked me "You're
going to make love to me now?"

I smiled and shook my head, answering her by saying "No, Michelle. I'm
not going to make love TO you now. Now, we're going to make love
together."

She visibly relaxed at my words, and smiled as she nodded her head in
understanding. I eased my hips back and the head of my penis slid down
the crease of her womanhood; when it brushed across the hood of her
clitoris, her eyes closed and she sucked in a quick breath of arousal
before opening her eyes to look at me again.

The head of my penis was resting between her labia, the end of it softly
pressing against her hot, wet opening. Our eyes locked, and I slowly
began to press myself into her. Beneath me, I felt her start to tense
up, and I immediately stopped, easing back again so that I wasn't
applying any significant pressure against her.

She was looking up at me, and I could see that there was still a trace
of fear in her eyes. I smiled down at her and said "I'm not going to
hurt you, Michelle. I want to make love with you. If I force myself
inside, that isn't love; and love is what I want to give you. Will you
trust me, and accept it?"

Hesitantly, she nodded. I leaned over far enough to be able to kiss her
on the forehead before saying "Thank you."

She managed a smile, and I raised myself up again. With another gentle
push of my hips, I pressed myself against her opening again. I felt her
tense up slightly, and stopped, waiting. A couple seconds went by, and
she realized that I wasn't going to just bull my way into her - probably
as Frenchy had done all too many times. She relaxed, and I pressed
myself forward still again. She stayed relaxed until the head of my
penis popped through the tight ring of her opening; I felt her clamp
down again, and stopped to wait for her to calm down again - which she
did a little faster. I began to press myself into her, and as I slowly
got deeper, I felt her body begin to tighten up again. I quickly slowed,
and then stopped, what I was doing, and felt her immediately relax. I
gave it a couple of seconds, and then began to withdraw from her. She
got a look of surprise on her face when I did; but it quickly changed
into pleasure when I stopped with just the head of my penis inside and
slid forward again. That time, I was able to get nearly half my length
in her before having to stop for her. Another slow withdrawal, and then
back in again - ending when three quarters of my manhood was inside.
Back out, and I was able to gradually bury myself in her on the last
push.

I held myself steady over her, giving her time to adjust to my presence;
from the things she'd said, I had the impression that it had been a long
time since she'd had anyone inside her like that.

Looking down at her, I could see that she was somewhat distracted, so I
waited patiently for her to let me know when she was ready for me to
continue.

After a bit, she did - looking up, at me she said "It's been a long
time... too long, I think. And you're bigger than... him. But I'm ready,
now. Please, Dan - make love with me."

So I did.

As I slowly eased myself out of her, Michelle's eyes closed and she
moaned softly. Then, when I started to push back in again, her eyes
opened and she lifted her hips in welcome, groaning her pleasure.

Over the next couple of minutes, I slowly increased the tempo at which I
was moving in and out of her; she responded by grabbing my forearms and
squeezing them with each penetration.

Around me, she got wetter and wetter, and her vagina gradually relaxed
around me - but she was still deliciously tight inside, and amazingly
hot. Lucy made her own contribution to things by coming over to begin
licking and sucking on Michelle's breasts, and pulling and pinching her
erect nipples - between bouts of the two of them kissing deep and long.

Sitting as I was, on my heels, I didn't have to put forth much effort to
make love with Michelle. But the position did mean that I was eventually
subjected to a little muscle tension in the backs of my thighs, and in
my calves. As nice as it felt to making love with Michelle, there was
still some discomfort, and I was starting to think about changing
positions when she suddenly tightened around me, crying out as she was
overtaken by an orgasm. It had come as something of a surprise to me,
but I was still able to enjoy the sight, sound, and feeling of her body
experiencing what must have been a considerable sexual release: looking
at her, saw that her head was thrown back, the tendons of her neck drawn
tight, her eyes rolled back into her head. She was releasing a long,
deep, drawn-out groan; her fingers pressed into my forearms as her
vagina repeatedly clenched around my stilled penis. A couple of seconds
went by, and she all but collapsed, drawing a deep, shuddering breath
before stiffening underneath me again. The second period was a trifle
shorter, and didn't appear to be as strong, but it was soon followed by
a third - then fourth. She was laying there gasping when a fifth struck,
and again when the sixth overtook her. She was looking up at me, covered
with a fine sheen of sweat, panting when another shudder ran through her
- I wasn't sure if it was the final wave of her orgasm, or 'merely' an
aftershock. Either way, she was clearly too wrung out for me to continue
right then. So I leaned forward and lowered my head to kiss her, her
tongue brushed my lips and when I opened my mouth, came in to re-
introduce itself to mine.

I was both happy and disappointed that it didn't take her long to get
herself back together - disappointed because kissing her and feeling the
hard pebbles of her nipples pressing into my chest was quite pleasant;
happy because it meant that I could shift my position to relieve the
first mild cramps in my legs.

I shifted my weight, and Michelle suddenly realized that I was still
inside her - and still hard. The look of amazement on her face was
priceless; next to us, I could see the amusement on Lucy's face.

"You're... you didn't... you can..." Michelle began to say a number of
things, but wasn't able to finish any of them. Lucy, though, understood,
telling her "Yes, he's still hard - as you can tell. No, he didn't
climax. Yes, he can still make love with you."

Michelle looked toward Lucy, who smiled and nodded her head in
affirmation. Michelle turned back to me, and I smiled before saying
"I'll be happy to keep making love with you - if we can move to a
different position. I'm about to start getting cramps in my legs."

Michelle silently nodded - then closed her eyes and moaned softly when I
slowly eased my penis out of her. When I slipped free, she released a
disappointed groan, but quickly opened her eyes to look at me - first my
penis, and then on to my face - before asking "What... what do I have to
do?"

I grinned, and told her "You don't have to do anything. But if you want
to move to a different position, we can make love some more."

She'd recovered enough that she was able to stick her tongue out at me -
I mimed kissing it, making her smile - before saying "No, I mean - what
should I do so we can... All I know about is like this", the last
apologetically.

I didn't notice the tone of her last statement, and replied "That's up
to you. We can stay like this, and I'll stretch my legs out; that's
called the missionary position. You can be on top, if you want, facing
either direction. If you want to turn over, you can either lay down, or
be on your hands and knees, and I'll be behind you. Whatever you want to
do that makes your part A line up with my part B" - the last making her
smile.

She thought for a moment and shyly said "I think I want to be on my
hands and knees. That's how dogs do it, and I always thought it looked
kind of... sexy."

"Doggy style, it is!" I declared.

She quickly moved to get her legs from around me, and rolled over onto
her stomach. There, she moved forward a bit, slid a leg to my other
side, and then backed up so that she was reasonably close to me again.
Looking over her shoulder at me, she grinned in anticipation - and I
could see the smoky lust in her eyes, as well. Getting up on my knees -
a relief, I admit - I paused a few moments to look at the view she was
giving me: at the vee of her thighs, the dark cloud of her pubic thatch
was split down the middle; in the center, the pink flesh of her vagina
winked at me, around it, her soft, thick labia were well-parted, the
inside surface of each glistening with her oils.

She looked back at me in concern, and I smiled as I told her "I was just
looking at you" - and when she looked concerned, added "You're
beautiful, there." She looked doubtful, and I explained "It's like an
exotic flower, blooming just for me" - and she smiled before wiggling
her hips a little to remind me what I was there for - as if I'd forget!

Moving close to her, my penis came to rest in the cleft of her ass,
making her gasp. I arched my hips back slightly, and pushed myself down
so that the head was wedged against her opening. Putting a hand on one
of her hips, I held myself steady as I pushed my hips forward again -
slowly pressing myself into her hot, tight channel. With a single slow
stroke, I found myself buried in her; I could feel the deepest part of
her faintly nudging the very tip of my penis. I know that I'm only
slightly above average, so to be that far inside her, I knew that either
she was unusually small inside, or Frenchy - God curse him - was hung
like a field mouse.

Either way, it was a delightful experience to be so totally encased by
hot, wet female flesh. So I held myself inside her for a bit, savoring
the sensations being inside her were creating - until she decided that
enough savoring was enough, and began pressing herself back against me.

Taking the hint, I put my other hand on her other hip and held her
steady as I began slowly pistoning in and out of her wonderfully wet,
tantalizingly tight vagina.

It wasn't long before I was sawing into her even more quickly than I'd
been able to before; she expressed her appreciation by pushing back at
me with every thrust, grunting in pleasure when I bottomed out in her.

After a couple of minutes, I felt Lucy moving next to us again - then
watched as she moved to in front of Michelle, got onto her back, and
wormed her way underneath until she was able to lift her head and start
sucking on Michelle's wobbling breasts.

Michelle threw her head back and groaned, enjoying the added stimulus
for several seconds before letting her head drop to reciprocate on
Lucy's breasts. Around me, Michelle got even wetter, telling me that she
was enjoying Lucy's attentions - and probably what she, herself, was
doing, as well.

A few more minutes went by, and I felt Lucy start moving again - and
after a few seconds, knew that she was sliding herself even farther
under us. I knew when she stopped because I suddenly felt a tongue
sliding along the underside of my scrotum as it swung back and forth in
response to my thrusts into Michelle. A few moments later, that same
tongue (a reasonable assumption, I think) began gently probing at where
Michelle and I were joined. At the touch of it, Michelle again threw her
head back, crying out in pleasure - before dropping her head again.
Looking around her body, I could see that she'd buried her face between
Lucy's thighs, and was enthusiastically tonguing Lucy's visibly wet
cleft.

It was that sight that shifted me from 'this is nice' to 'gonna get
off'. I continued to watch Michelle's inexperienced but frantic licking
of Lucy's labia while I felt Lucy's tongue sliding along the underside
of my penis as she (apparently) licked Michelle's clitoris. All the
while, I was sliding myself into Michelle's tight pussy, feeling myself
hit the very end of her vagina with each inward thrust.

As I was watching and experiencing all of this, I continued steadily
pumping in and out of Michelle - and that pumping was happening faster
and faster, and I was pressing into her even harder and harder. That
seemed to suit Michelle just fine: she started pushing back at me even
harder and making even more noises between slurps at Lucy's pussy.

Finally, there was nothing left but to take a couple of slow strokes,
and bury myself as deep as I can into Michelle's hot twat as my nuts
tried to blow out the end of my dick.

With the first shot of my jism, Michelle's head flew back again, and she
almost screamed as I felt her clamp down around me - the entire length
of her vagina was clenched around my penis, feeling like I was on the
inside of one of those Chinese finger-traps. Only it was a hot, wet, oh-
so-tight female.

At long last, there was nothing left for me to squirt into Michelle's
full-to-overflowing pussy - the mixture of our juices had turned into a
white froth that had soaked all the pubic hair on both of us, and
continued on to the insides of her thighs - where Lucy eagerly licked
them up.

Michelle started to collapse; I managed to get my arms around her enough
to support her until Lucy can get clear; then with Lucy's help, I let
her down onto the bed slowly - but I kept a hold on her hips, lifting
them to try and keep any more juices from draining onto the bed. Along
the way, my penis pulled out of her vagina; she shuddered and made a
noise of disappointment when it happened.

I continued to hold Michelle while Lucy made a quick dash into the
bathroom, returning with a towel that she quickly tucks under the two of
us. I'm finally able to let the rest of Michelle's weight down on the
bed, and carefully moved to lie next to her. Lucy made another trip into
the bathroom, coming back with not one but TWO damp washcloths, and a
hand towel.

I reached for one of the washcloths; Lucy just shook her head 'no', and
proceeded to clean my entire pelvis and groin of my and Michelle's
juices. When she was done, she quickly dried me off, and then started on
Michelle. As before, contact with Michelle's pubic area resulted in some
involuntary responses - something that Lucy and I still found amusing.
Lucy got as much as she could with Michelle lying on her stomach; I
carefully turned her over, and Lucy went about finishing the job, and
then carefully patting the affected area (about half her body, it
seemed) dry.

By the time she was done, Michelle's eyelids were starting to flutter;
Lucy quickly tossed the cloths in the hamper and came back to slide in
next to Michelle.

A minute later, Michelle's eyes opened, and just as she had the first
time, she had a little trouble making out where she was. When she did,
though, the smile and look that hit her face were beatific - she fairly
glowed in happiness and pleasure.

"Feel better?" Lucy asked, teasing.

"I... I didn't know it could be so..." Michele tried, unable to find the
words.

"Yeah", Lucy said, smiling.

"All the time I was with Frenchy, I never had anything like that happen
to me. I mean, I had orgasms, sometimes, but never anything like THOSE.
Is that what making love is supposed to feel like?"

Lucy held Michelle's face in her hands and answered "Yes, dear - that's
what making love is supposed to feel like. Every time."

"That's nothing like what me and Frenchy used to have together. Does
actually loving someone really make that much difference?"

I tilted her head my direction, and looked into her eyes as I asked
"Don't you think so? You and me, we love each other - and you know what
happened. If you didn't have anything like that with Frenchy, what do
you think was missing?"

She looked at me and said "But I DID love him!"

I just raised an eyebrow in question; she looked at me for a few seconds
before her eyes got wide and she said "But he didn't love me, did he?
Not even in the beginning; not really."

I saw her start to get misty-eyed, and quickly told her "I think he did
love you, Michelle - as much as he could, anyway. But I don't think that
he could love you completely. Remember our talk in my office? And what I
said about how Lucy and I love and trust each other?"

She thought a moment, and nodded. I saw her eyes start to clear up a
little, and told her "Maybe that's why Frenchy got mean with you: he
realized that he couldn't love you as much as you loved him, and it made
him bitter and scared inside. He didn't know what else to do, so he
started hurting you to try and make himself bigger. Except that it
didn't work - he still knew that you had more on the inside than he did.
He kept hurting you more and more trying to make himself big, and it
never worked - because he always knew that you were a better person
inside than he was; he knew that YOU knew how to love, with all your
heart, and he didn't."

Michelle looked at me for a moment, and then at Lucy, who nodded
agreement with what I'd just said. Michelle looked contemplative for a
bit, and then told us "I never thought about it that way before. At
first, I thought it was something wrong about me, and I tried so hard to
figure out what it was so I could fix it. Then, later, I just figured
that it was the people he was hanging out with that changed him - they
were mean, and figured he just kinda 'caught it' from them, that it
wasn't really his fault. I finally just gave up on it - until he started
talking about Marie. Then I knew I had to do something. And what you're
saying is that it was him, and just him, all along? Why didn't I see it,
and then?"

Lucy got her attention and said "You loved him. You loved what you saw
in him. There were probably little signs, but you didn't pay any
attention to them. I'll bet if you think back, you'll see them for what
they are, now."

Both of us watched as Michelle sifted through her memories of her life
with Frenchy. After a bit, we saw her frown before she looked at us
again. Sadly, she told us "You're right. There were signs, and I didn't
pay attention. Things like he never told me he loved me; he'd only say
'me too' when I told him that I loved him. Whenever we wanted to do
different things, it was always me givin' in to him. Him always wantin'
to lay with me, even after I told him I wanted to wait until I was
married. How he didn't hardly want to spend any time at our house, where
my folks were, but wanted us to be alone all the time."

I lifted my head to look down into Michelle's eyes, and told her "Don't
feel bad, Michelle. You were only 18, and you didn't know. You loved
him, and that was all that mattered to you; you didn't want to let your
mind get in the way of what your heart had. There's something that
almost nobody understands - or even suspects, really."

"What's that?"

"That if your heart and your mind are both going to be happy, and then
you've got to get them working together. You can't turn your heart loose
and your mind off - you'll end up living with Frenchy. And if you turn
you mind loose, and close off your heart, you don't have anybody. The
trick, the hard part, is to use both your heart AND your mind."

"How?"

"You know that Lucy and I love each other, and how much, right?"

She got a wistful look and answered "Of course."

"Do you know WHY we love each other that much?"

"You just DO, I guess."

"Nope. Think back to the talk we had in my office. Remember what I said
about me and Lucy trading love?"

A moment later she nodded, and I went on "That's how you use your heart
and mind at the same time. You figure out what things about someone that
you like - and what things about YOURSELF that you like. You like them
because they're honest or caring or smart or whatever, and you like
yourself because you're sincere, affectionate, caring, or whatever.
You've got to be honest with yourself, otherwise it won't work. So once
you know about yourself, and about the other person, you can start
seeing what it is that you have that they like, and what they have that
you like - and you start giving it to each other. What you're doing is
trading with each other: you're caring, and they like that; they're
honest, and you like that. You're happy and they're happy. Now, figure
out what would happen if there was even more to it - the better person
they were, the more there was for you to like; and the better person you
were, the more there was for THEM to like. Now, there's a whole lot of
liking going on here - and depending on what it is that each of you
likes about the other, and how much, maybe it turns into love. Oh, boy!"

She grinned at me, and I continued "Hot damn, you're in love - and you
know exactly why: remember, you kind of took inventory of yourself and
that other person. You're getting so much of this, and so much of that,
and a little bit of the other thing from them; they're getting about
this much of this, that, and the other from you. Both of you know
whether or not you're getting enough from the other person in exchange
for what you're giving to them. Now, what do you suppose happens if one
or the other of you figures that it isn't exactly an even trade. All of
a sudden, one of you is maybe losing a little bit in the deal - so what
do you do? You try to talk it out, and see if you can't get things
evened up again. If that doesn't work, what else can you do? Maybe you
try holding back a little on some of what you've got, to try and balance
it out. That doesn't do any good, either. Now what? The only thing left
to do is not to trade with them - because if it isn't an EVEN trade, and
then somebody's going to be happy, and someone isn't. Sounds like a lot
of trouble, doesn't it?"

She nodded, and I went on to say "Now, suppose that instead of going
through all that after the fact, you decided to be more careful in the
beginning of the process. You meet somebody, and the two of you start
swapping values back and forth - remember, you're getting something of
value to YOU from them, and they're getting something of value to them
from you. Okay, you're going along then, and you notice that there's
things they don't want to give you - but things of yours that they want.
What do you do? Trade anyway? Hell, no! You don't want to get into all
that other mess, so what you do is let them know, nice and polite, that
it wouldn't be an even swap; and you don't want to see anybody's
feelings hurt, so you don't want to trade with them like that. Sure,
they're likely to get upset and call you names - but that's still a
whole lot better than the other, right?"

Michelle grinned, and agreed.

"Okay, there're only a couple of tricky things about this. One of them's
kinda tough; the other one's actually pretty easy. The easy one is the
trading will only last as long as the value of what it is. By that, I
mean that if all you're after is how handsome a guy is, you're only
going to love him for as long as he IS handsome; if he gets into a car
wreck or gets old and ugly, the love goes, too. On the other hand, if
you love someone for something about their character, like how honest
they are, or how brave they are, and then the love lasts as long as
they're honest or brave."

"The tough one is this: you've got to be absolutely honest about what it
is you're trading, and you have to be absolutely consistent about how
you trade. You can't lie to yourself or someone else and you can't just
do it part time. It's everything, all the time, or you're better off not
doing it. If you're honest and consistent about it, and then the person
you're trading with will always know where they stand with you - so if
you love them for their honesty and courage, and then they know that as
long as they're honest and courageous, you'll love them. Once you've got
that with each other, and then giving a hundred percent of yourself gets
pretty easy: you know that as long as you've got what it is that they
love about you, you've got their love. And you know that if you start to
change in a way that they wouldn't love, and then you'll lose it, too -
and that makes a powerful reason to stay a good person; particularly if
you really like what it is they have."

Michelle lay there, blinking at me, for several long seconds. Then she
turned to look at Lucy, who just smiled at her. A bit later, she opened
her mouth to speak, closed it, waited a bit, and then opened it again to
tell us "It's not that hard of an idea, is it?"

"As an idea, no, it's not." Lucy told her.

"But actually doing it, that's something else, isn't it?"

Lucy answered "At first, yes. But once you get started, and get a little
practice at it, it actually gets easier the more you do it."

"And it works."

Lucy laughed, and simply gestured between herself and me before saying
"And for Robyn and Sandra, too, of course."

"Them? How? They understood what you were talking about?"

My turn to laugh before I told her "It wasn't necessary to explain it to
them. They're already living it. Lucy and I got together when Robyn was
still young enough that something like this was a perfectly reasonable
way to live - better, in fact, because it made her life more consistent:
she knew that we loved her, and why. She didn't have to worry that we
were suddenly going to stop loving her for some reason she couldn't
understand, and she knew what kinds of behavior on her part were going
to get what results and reactions on OUR part. Her 'universe' was neat
and orderly and predictable. Sandra picked it up from being with Robyn
so much; but she already had a pretty good idea of it to begin with."

"How in the world do they handle trying to work and live with people
that aren't like you?"

"The same way we do: on our own terms. For the most part, we don't have
to spend that much time with people that don't understand what we do.
But we still watch out for those that are close, and we try to 'bring
them along' when we can - kind of leading them into being better people
by setting an example for them. For a lot of the people that we know, it
works - better for some than others, but it works. There are a couple of
families that we know that we think will understand before too long;
they were having problems and asked us how we managed to not do what
they were doing. We told them, in general terms, and let them SEE how we
do it. They saw it worked, and started doing it. They had a little
trouble at first, getting their hearts and minds tied together, but they
got the hang of it. Now they're just learning how to do it ALL the time;
and like I said, I don't think it's going to be much longer before they
do" was Lucy's reply.

"On top of that, each of them has a few friends that are learning from
them, too. Remember, there ARE people out there that are good, and just
don't know it yet - kind of like you and Marie, when you first got here"
I added.

Michelle grinned and said "And when these other people 'get it', are you
going to take THEM to bed, too?"

Lucy and I both smiled before Lucy said "If they want. Remember, it's
about loving - not just the sex. The physical part of it is a concrete
example of an otherwise abstract idea."

Michelle said "You sound like you're some kind of philosopher, or
something."

"No, that's him, remember? Degree from Princeton."

Michelle said "All of this makes for an interesting conversation - but
we ARE in bed, and I DID ask you two to make love with me. Dan and I
have had a turn, so I guess it's you and me, Lucy", grinning.

Lucy grinned back and said "That's fine with me. I've got to admit, I
was kind of surprised when you started licking me while Dan was inside
you."

Michelle blushed slightly and said "What you were doing felt good - real
good. I didn't even think about it; I just wanted to make you feel good,
too. It kinda surprised me, too. I didn't exactly know what else to do,
so I just licked you, kind of like you were licking me."

Lucy laughed and said "You did just fine - I had a small orgasm while
you were doing it."

"A small one?"

"Yes, why?"

"After you and Dan have given me so many tonight, and they've all been
so good... I feel like you're being left out, or something."

Lucy smiled and said "No, I'm not being left out. You're still here,
aren't you?"

Michelle smiled in response, and moved to begin kissing my wife. After
two fairly powerful climaxes, I wasn't in any shape to start responding
to the sight of them, erotic and stimulating as it was.

They started out by kissing each other - lip to lip. But it was only
seconds before each had their lips apart, and I knew that their tongues
were dueling in each other's mouths. It wasn't a minute later that each
had a hand on the other's breast, testing its firmness, hefting its
weight, caressing it, and rubbing a thumb or finger across its peak.

A couple minutes more, and both sets of nipples were hard and erect as
each of them began a soft moaning, and they became more active with each
other.

It was Michelle that pulled back first, her eyes smoky with desire as
she looked at the softly panting Lucy. Softly, Michelle said "I... I
didn't know that being with another woman could be so sexy..."

Lucy answered "We haven't even started, yet!" - and Michelle responded
by lowering her head and leaning forward to suck one of Lucy's nipples
into her mouth. Lucy put her hands on Michelle's head while tilting her
own head back in pleasure. A bit later, Michelle switched over to the
other breast, leaving the first with an erect nipple glistening with
saliva. As she tended to Lucy's other breast, I saw Michelle's hand
begin a slow journey down Lucy's body; Lucy felt it, too, because I saw
her spread her legs in invitation to Michelle's touch - which came soon
enough.

Michelle continued to switch back and forth between Lucy's breasts as
her hand repeatedly delved between Lucy's parted thighs - and each time
her fingers made an appearance, they glistened with Lucy's juices.

Lucy's moans and exclamations steadily increased; eventually, Michelle
had mercy on her and began kissing her way down Lucy's body. Lucy
responded by spreading her legs even more, to make room for her new
lover.

Eventually, Michelle was lying between Lucy's legs, the core of Lucy's
womanhood open and exposed to her. I watched as Michelle slowly caressed
Lucy's labia, examining Lucy's vaginal entrance closely. Finally, she
lifted her head and looked at Lucy, and then me, before saying "It does
look like a flower! I never realized!"

Having announced her discovery, Michelle quickly returned to tending
that flower, and a bit later, lowering her head and extending her tongue
to sample its nectar. I saw Lucy stiffen, and then heard her soft groan
of pleasure at what Michelle was doing. I watched Michelle's head start
moving slightly as she tried to bring Lucy the kind of pleasure that
she'd been the recipient of; and I was privileged to listen as one woman
softly and patiently taught another the art of oral pleasure.

"Yes, like that... Oh, God... It's good when you use your lips on my
clitoris - yes, that... Oooooh... tease my lips... that's it... it's
okay, you can suck a little harder... Oh, yes... oh, that's good, do
that some more... yes, that's a good place, too... use your tongue there
- yes, like that..."

Lucy was a good and patient teacher; Michelle an enthusiastic pupil. It
wasn't long before Lucy didn't need to give directions to Michelle - and
not much longer before she couldn't have, even if she'd wanted to.

I knew Lucy, and knew that she was getting closer and closer to her
orgasm - and watched as Michelle reached around Lucy's waist to take
hold of Lucy's breasts, and start squeezing them and pinching her
nipples.

It didn't take much of that to push Lucy over the edge; with a deep,
shuddering groan, she came - hard. I saw Michelle's eyes widen as she
was suddenly presented with a goodly amount of Lucy's vaginal fluids -
and watched as she happily licked them up as fast as Lucy presented
them.

As Lucy's climax began to taper off, Michelle responded by slowing her
actions between Lucy's thighs - but not stopping them. After a bit, Lucy
was once again a willing subject of Michelle's wanton attentions. This
time, though, Lucy wanted to be a participant, too. She looked down at
Michelle and said "Get up on your knees, and turn around so your feet
are up here."

Michelle did as she was asked - careful not to leave Lucy's mons
unattended for too long - and quickly realized what Lucy wanted; Lucy
gently guided Michelle's leg over her head, leaving Michelle's mons and
opening as exposed as her own. Michelle again dipped her head between
Lucy's thighs, even as Lucy was lifting her head between Michelle's.

My position left me with a view of where Lucy was engaged in a furious
tongue-lashing of Michelle's clitoris and labia; that was followed by
extending her tongue and trying to see how hard she could fuck Michelle
with it. From the sound of it, though, Michelle was matching her, lick
for lick - so to speak. It was only a couple of minutes before I heard
each of them cry out as they found their release - Michelle only
slightly ahead of Lucy. As I watched, one of them would experience a
wave of pleasure, and then catch her breath as the other was peaking.
Back and forth they went, leaving me to watch tandem orgasms. It was a
truly spectacular sight.

Lucy was first to recover enough to begin a new oral assault on her
partner's womanhood; the stimulation seemed to bring Michelle out of her
post-orgasmic fog, because she quickly began to return the favor.

The sight of the two of them eagerly lapping at each other's pussies -
and the dense fog of pheromones and eau de femme - were having an effect
on me; I found that I was nearly fully erect, even as a simple observer.
I got to my knees and looked at them, trying to decide which one I
wanted more: my wife, or our new-found lover. The problem - if it could
be called such - was solved for me by Michelle. She must have seen me
from the corner of her eye, because she lifted her head long enough to
say "Do Lucy... I've never seen it before, and I want to watch!"

That was all I needed, and carefully knee-walked my way between Lucy's
legs, facing Michelle. She lifted her head, and with a happy twinkle in
her eye, opened her mouth and quickly sucked over half my length inside.
Using a tongue that seemed to have learned a LOT of tricks since the
last time she'd used it on me, coupled with a gentle suction and
twisting, bobbing head movement that almost brought tears to my eyes,
she soon had me hard as a rock.

Satisfied that I was ready (!!), she let me pop free of her lips - then
reached out to take me in her hand and guide my penis to Lucy's open and
glistening pussy as I got myself steadied. Positioning the end of my
penis between Lucy's glistening labia, Michelle quietly told me "Do it -
I want to see it!"

She continued to hold and guide me as I pressed my hips forward, slowly
loading Lucy's wet channel with my manhood. When about half of me was
inside, Michelle licked her lips and muttered "That is so sexy! I never
thought it would LOOK like that!" - her eyes locked on where Lucy and I
were joined.

In just a few moments, I was sawing in and out of Lucy's pussy as
Michelle offered a softly spoken color commentary on the action -
occasionally interrupted by her need to release some sound of arousal or
pleasure in response to Lucy's continued efforts.

Lifting my hands, I cupped Michelle's breasts, feeling their spongy mass
shift slightly as she moved in response to the stimulus of Lucy's
talented tongue. Carefully, I took her nipples between my fingers, and
began to pull at them - gently at first, and then harder and harder as
she eagerly responded to my touch.

I was surprised as hell when she suddenly lowered her head slightly, and
fastened her lips around one of MY nipples. When she began sucking on
it, it was like there was a fiery electrical connection between my
nipple and my penis; the harder and longer she sucked, the harder and
longer I became. Then, when she began biting at it, too - well, that was
entirely too much. I felt myself rapidly approaching the point where I
was going to spray Lucy's hot pussy with my jism; even as I felt my
balls begin to tighten, Michelle released my nipple from her lips to
again cry out her release. The sensations she'd created in my nipple
continued long enough that I felt my penis swelling before the first
thick wad of my semen erupted from the end.

Even as I was washing Lucy's womb with my hot seed, I heard her shout as
she, too, fell into the abyss of climax. There we were: the three of us
all climaxing in, on, and around each other.

Michelle was the first of us to fall from the summit; only because my
hands were still filled with her delightful mammaries was I able to
support her long enough to guide her to the side so she wouldn't cause
any problems for Lucy. I wasn't far behind her, though. Three climaxes
in - I checked the clock: two hours - was a bit much for me. Still, I
managed to slide my rapidly shrinking penis from between Lucy's labia,
and scoot backward far enough that I could get out of bed without having
to worry about collapsing on one of them.

Pulling myself together, I managed to half-stagger into the bathroom,
where I supported myself on the sink as I collected a small stack of
hand towels and several washcloths - then wetting the latter in the sink
before carefully wringing the excess water out of them. Prepared for the
aftermath, I managed to carry my burden back to the bed and set them on
the nightstand. From that point, it was a barely-controlled collapse
next to Michelle.

Some time later, I watched as Lucy was able to sit up. She looked around
and saw that I'd brought back cleaning supplies; she crawled over us -
somehow managing not to knee anyone - and grabbed a still-damp
washcloth. With it, she first wiped her face - as much to help her get
her wits back as to remove any of Michelle's fluids, I figured - then
her pelvis, where a goodly amount of my semen was running down the
inside of one thigh. With that taken care of, she grabbed a towel and
dried herself before setting it aside in favor of another washcloth -
which she proceeded to use on me, again starting by wiping my face with
it before moving on to clean my penis. The cool water did serve to
refresh me more than I'd have expected, and I found enough energy to sit
up, using the headboard as a backrest. Lucy smiled at me, and collected
another washcloth, which she handed to me with the question "Do you
think you can clean her up a little while I get us something to eat and
drink?"

I nodded, and turned to begin wiping Michelle off as Lucy crawled to the
edge of the bed, stood up, and went out the door - leaving it almost
entirely closed behind her. As I was cleaning Michelle, I heard Sandra's
voice asking "Is everything okay in there, Uncle Dan?"

I assured her that it was, and I heard the smile in her voice as she
said "I just thought I'd better check." I heard her softly padding
across the hall, and then the door to her room close.

I had finished cleaning Michelle, and had started drying her off when
Lucy reappeared, carrying a tray with several bottles of club soda, one
of those lemon-shaped plastic bottles full of lemon juice, and a small
stack of the granola bars the girls favored.

She set the tray on the nightstand on her side of the bed and got back
into bed on the other side of Michelle from me. By then, I'd finished
what I was doing and had set the towel aside. Together, Lucy and I got
Michelle turned over and around - she'd been 'facing' the foot of the
bed - and propped up against the headboard.

As Lucy tried to get some fluids into Michelle, I picked up another damp
washcloth and finished the job of cleaning her off, and then dried her.
By the time I was done, she'd started to come around.

Lucy had squirted a healthy dollop of the lemon juice into the bottle of
club soda she was trying to get Michelle to drink; we knew Michelle was
on her way back when she made a face at the taste of the lemon.

Gradually, with Lucy and me helping each other, and both of us helping
Michelle, we got to the point where we were all generally alive and
alert. I say 'generally' because Michelle seemed to have decided that
her function in life was to sit there owl-eyed, watching Lucy and me,
her head turning achingly slowly when it moved at all. Lucy said later
that Michelle most closely resembled an infant who's just learned to sit
up: everything's a surprise, and there isn't a lot of fine motor control
over the muscles.

Whatever the problem, Lucy and I both began trying to bring life, if not
mobility, back to Michelle. Through patient instruction and gentle
cajolery, we managed to get a granola bar and bottle of water into her,
and then each of us had something to eat and drink while we waited for
Michelle to catch up with us - at least, part of the way, anyway.

Eventually, she did. With a soft noise, she tried to reach for another
bottle of water. Lucy opened it and handed it to me; I carefully helped
Michelle drink from it while Lucy unwrapped another granola bar. Between
the two of us, we got more nutrition and fluids into her, which seemed
to help tremendously.

As we waited for the food and drink to kick in, Lucy asked me "Do you
think she's always going to be like this after making love?"

I considered the question, and finally answered "No, I don't think so. I
mean, it HAS been a long time for her, and it's not like she's getting a
lot of exercise or anything. I think it's just a question of building
her stamina up again."

Lucy thought that over, and said "You're probably right. I mean, she's
starting to come around okay, now that she's got some food and water in
her." She laughed then, and said "I wonder if anybody has ever thought
about making an after-sex nutritional drink, like they have for
athletes?"

I grinned and said "I don't know - but whoever gets it on the market
first is gonna make a bundle!"

Both of us laughed softly, until Michelle managed to speak up, telling
us "You two are entirely too alive."

I looked at Lucy and mimicked Peter Lorre by saying "The monster lives!"

Lucy slapped at me, and leaned over to look at Michelle and ask "Are you
okay now?"

Michelle made a face and answered "'Okay' is a relative term. Relative
to being run over by a particularly large bus, yes, I'm okay. Any more
than that, no, I don't think so. What the hell did you two DO to me?"

I looked at Lucy and observed "Her speech is better. Not so bayou-ish."

Michelle turned to look at me and said "What we just did was good for
cleaning the cobwebs out. I expect it cleaned a LOT of things out. But
you haven't answered the question yet."

Lucy laughed and said "We just made love, is all. Why?"

"You do this to people you LOVE? What do you do to folks you DON'T
like?"

Lucy grinned and answered "Ignore them, mostly. What, don't you feel
better after that?"

Michelle managed a grin and said "Oh, I feel a WHOLE lot different. I'm
not sure 'better' is the word, but definitely different. Wore out is
more what comes to mind."

I laughed and told her "We were talking about that. I figure it's just
that you haven't made love for while, and that you haven't been getting
enough exercise; you just don't have the stamina, yet. It'll come,
though."

Michelle looked at me and said "Before tonight, I NEVER made love, EVER.
Had sex, but never made love. You're probably right about the exercise,
too. Question is - will I live long enough to get the stamina?"

Lucy and I both laughed before I answered "Oh, I think you'll live. Look
at it this way: until you do, you'll sleep like a baby all night after
making love!"

Michelle gave me a Look, which amused Lucy, who told her "You'll be
fine, I promise. Tonight was just kind of a special occasion - your
first time with us and everything. Next time, it won't be so much -
you'll see."

"You want me with you again?"

"Of course - if you want it, too" I answered.

Michelle's eyes got wet and she told us "I... I thought it was just the
one time. I didn't think that you'd want to be with me more than the
once, what with all the friends and such you have."

Lucy told her "Oh, pooh. Don't be silly. Of course we'd want to make
love with you more than once. After all, we love you, don't we? And if
you want to, I think the rest of our friends would like to be with you,
too. They all like each other, so I'd bet they'd like you, too."

Michelle was openly crying as she told us "I... I think I'd like that.
Being with you two again, I mean. I'm not sure yet about the rest - this
is still kinda new to me."

"Of course. Whenever you're ready, and want to" Lucy assured her.

Michelle suddenly started and said "What about the girls? I know I
yelled kinda loud. Do you think they heard?"

Lucy and I shared a look before I told Michelle "I don't know. Does it
matter, really? You know what they've been doing, so why should you be
worried whether or not they know you've found some happiness and
pleasure too? Don't you think they'd understand?"

Michelle looked at me for a second, and then smiled and said "No, I
guess it doesn't matter - I guess they would understand about it."

Following that, she yawned so hard we heard her jaw creak. When she was
done, she shyly grinned at us and said "I guess I'm kinda wore out from
tonight."

Lucy and I just smiled and said "That's okay. It's getting late, and we
really should be getting to sleep anyway."

Michelle started to move and said "Okay. I'll go on back to my room
now."

I put a hand on her leg to stop her and asked "Why? Don't you want to
stay here with us?"

She looked at me in amazement and answered "Yes, I do - I just didn't
figure I could, was all."

I gave her a mock-stern look and said "Anybody we make love with is MORE
than welcome to sleep in our bed. That's House Rule number Two."

She smiled at me and said "I don't want to violate any house rules, so I
guess I'm staying here tonight." She looked around, and asked "Where in
the world did you get this bed, anyway? It's got to be big enough to
sleep six people!"

Lucy laughed and told her "It's custom-made. With all the friends we
have, we figured a big bed was a good idea. And it held eight, once.
Well, several times, but it was one occasion. Now, would you like to
take a shower with us before we go to sleep?"

Michelle suddenly realized that there wasn't any of the sticky residue
usually associated with intimate contact, and looked at us accusingly. I
just told her "Yes, we cleaned you up a little. We love you. Now, do you
want to shower with us, or not?"

She broke into a smile and told me "Yes, I'd like to shower with you.
And I love you, too."

"Good. You wash my back, and I'll wash yours."

Michelle played at giving me the Fish Eye, but couldn't keep it up - she
dissolved into laughter after telling me "I'd think you were up to
something, if you hadn't already done it!"

Lucy and I both helped her get out of bed, and kept her company - still
chuckling - into the bathroom where we shared a friendly shower, without
too much groping and fondling. Not that there wasn't any, mind you, just
that there wasn't TOO much of it. Afterward, we all got into bed, Lucy
and I bracketing Michelle. It wasn't long before all three of us were
sound asleep.

The next morning, Lucy and I both tried to get Michelle moving, but left
her alone after our efforts resulted in repeated unintelligible
complaint noises.

We were in the kitchen having breakfast with all three of the youngsters
when a disheveled and robe-clad Michelle wobbled into the kitchen. She
managed to pour herself a cup of coffee and carry it all the way to the
breakfast nook - all without spilling any. On sitting down with us, she
gave Lucy and me an Evil Look, asking "Why didn't you wake me this
morning?"

"We tried, really. But you kept making noises that sound like complaints
- and not very polite complaints, at that" Lucy answered with a grin.

Michelle relented from glaring at us long enough to take a sip of her
coffee - quickly followed by another.

Only then did Marie ask "Are you okay, momma?"

Michelle answered "I'm fine, honey. I was just up too late last night,
and I need some more rest."

"Were you with Dan and Lucy?"

Michelle perked up a bit at that, and answered "Yes, I was, dear. How
did you know?"

"I heard you yell, and when I went to your room, you weren't there - so
I figured you might be with them, instead, so I didn't worry about it."

"You weren't worried about me being with Lucy and Dan? Why not?"

"Because I figured if you were with them, and then they were making you
feel good, like Robyn and Sandra do with me - except different because
of Dan, of course."

"And you don't mind?"

"Of course not, momma. I know you weren't very happy when we were with
Daddy, so if being with Lucy and Dan makes you feel good, and you want
to be with them, why would it bother me? You deserve to be happy, too!"

"Thank you, dear. Yes, I was with Dan and Lucy, and they made me feel
very good, and I was very happy."

On hearing that, Robyn and Sandra shared a smile and a Look that
Michelle didn't see - though Lucy and I did.

Marie replied "I'm glad, momma. I hope you're with them some more, so
you're happy, too."

"I'm glad you're glad, dear. And I think I will be with them again."

"Okay."

That seemed to settle things for Marie, and Michelle just turned to look
at Lucy and me, clearly surprised at how easily her daughter had
accepted her time in our bed.

Lucy just smiled and quietly told her "See? When you live it, you don't
HAVE to explain things to them."

Michelle just nodded, and went back to her coffee - which she seemed to
need very badly.

After a while, Robyn and Sandra got up and went upstairs so they could
finish getting ready for school. When they came back downstairs, kisses
were passed around and they left for school, with Marie going upstairs
to start her own 'school day'. That left us three adults sitting in the
breakfast nook. Michelle was looking like she might have a pulse by that
time, and with a mischievous gleam in her eye, Lucy got up and moved to
stand next to her. Without a word, Lucy eased Michelle upright, guided
her over to where I was - and then went about getting her seated on my
lap, straddling my legs and facing me.

"Good morning" I told her, smiling.

She looked a bit uncertain, but answered "Good morning to you, too."

"Did you sleep well last night?"

She gave me a Look and answered "You know damn well I did!"

"Any regrets?"

Without hesitation, she smiled and said "Not a one."

"Good" I told her, before leaning forward to give her a good-morning
kiss. She accepted it, and then began to return it. In just a couple of
seconds, we were touching tongues again; and she didn't flinch when I
slipped my hands inside her robe and up to cup her breasts, my thumbs
brushing across her nipples, feeling them erect in response.

When our lips finally parted, Michelle pulled back slightly and looked
at me for a moment before saying "Now that's the way to wake up in the
morning - but I think we better stop in case Marie has to come down for
anything. She's okay with my being in your bed in another room; I don't
know how she'd react to see you playing with my tits at the breakfast
table!"

I grinned, and slid my hands down to her hips; she started to stand up
again, but I held her for a moment so I could lean forward and softly
suck on each of her nipples for a few seconds - making her gasp in
pleasure. When both stood out, I released my hold on her, and she got to
her feet.

With a feigned Angry Look, she made a show of pulling her robe closed
and re-tying the belt to hold it in place. I responded by pretending to
be heartbroken, and on the verge of tears. She couldn't help but start
laughing, and gently slapped my arm before saying "You!"

I enthusiastically nodded my head, and agreed "Me!", as if verifying who
I was in response to her declaration. She laughed again, shook her head,
and went back to where she was sitting - after pausing to give Lucy a
kiss, and getting another quick fondle in return.

When she was seated again, she suddenly seemed to realize that there was
still food on the table - and promptly went about correcting that small
oversight. Lucy and I watched in amusement as she demolished the rest of
the toast, all but inhaled several strips of bacon, tore through a small
pile of hash browns, and washed the whole thing down with another couple
cups of coffee. Only when she was done did she seem to realize that all
she'd done for the last few minutes was eat - and with an embarrassed
note to her voice told us "I was hungry..."

Lucy responded by saying "I kinda noticed" before the two of us started
laughing - and after a moment, Michelle joined in with us. In short
order, all three of us had tears streaming down our faces.

We'd barely managed to get ourselves under control when Lucy glanced at
the clock and regretfully told us "I have got to get going - by the time
I get my makeup fixed, I'm going to be late anyway!"

She got up, kissed both of us, and hurried upstairs; she returned a few
minutes later, issued another round of kisses, and rushed out the door.

Michelle and I sat there for a few minutes drinking our coffee before
she looked at me and said "Now that I know how to look, I can see just
how much you two love each other - and those girls of yours. And I know
how lucky Marie and I were that we took you up on your offer to let us
stay here: she's SO much happier and all that than I ever saw her while
we were with Frenchy; and I can look back and see how much I'VE changed,
too. I guess God or whoever put us here so as to try and make up for all
the time Frenchy had us. I can only hope that Marie and me, we find
ourselves a guy that's willing to love us the way you love Lucy, and let
us love him back the same way."

"I think you will, both of you. You, Michelle - you know what you want,
and as long as you don't settle for anything less, you'll get it. It
might take a while, but the good things never happen quick. As for
Marie, by the time she gets to marrying age, I think she'll have been
living like this long enough that she won't even have to think about it
- she'll just know what the guys are like, and only accept one that'll
treat her right."

"You think so?" Michelle's voice held no small measure of hope.

"Yeah, I do. In fact, I'd be willing to bet on it happening just that
way."

Michelle looked visibly relieved, and a couple minutes later said "Well,
it's getting to be late, and I think I'd better get dressed and get
moving."

"You don't have to do that on my account", I told her, adding "In fact,
if you wanted to just lay around naked, that would suit me just fine!"

She laughed and asked "And what would Lucy say if I did that?"

"Tell me to save her some, probably" I responded, making Michelle laugh
even harder.

Michelle finished her coffee, deposited the cup in the dishwasher, and
went upstairs. I cleaned the table off and got the dishwasher started
before going out to my office.

Over the next couple of weeks, Michelle found herself sharing a bed with
Lucy and/or me several times - usually every two or three days. As we
figured, she did develop more stamina, and was able to recover from some
fairly powerful orgasms much sooner than she had that first night with
us. She also relaxed enough that she was willing to 'play' with us -
pressing her butt back at me when I patted it, giving one of Lucy's tits
a gentle squeeze in passing, and so on. The change in her, from the day
she arrived until then, was simply amazing. Even Dale commented on it
during one of his brief visits. I simply attributed it to her finally
feeling safe and secure. He didn't seem entirely sure, but accepted my
explanation.

He also let us know that he and the rest of the people on the Frenchy
'squad' had almost gotten everything into place - almost all the players
were covered, and they were close to having something like a schedule
and pattern to everyone's movements. He tried to apologize to Michelle
for how long it was taking; she just looked at him and said "You take
the time you need. Frenchy's a mean and slippery one; if you don't get
him the first time, you won't get a second try."

From the updates we (I) got from Dale over the phone, we knew he was
just a short time from making his move against Frenchy when Sandra and
Robyn came into my office after getting home from school one afternoon.

I quickly gave them my full attention, and Robyn started things off by
telling me "Dad, I think Marie wants to ask you and Mom and Michelle
something."

"What's that?"

Sandra answered "We don't know, but we think it's something about her
virginity."

I raised an eyebrow, and Robyn said "The last couple of weeks, it seems
like she's asked us about what it was like for us a lot, and saying
things like she wished it could be like that for her, too."

Sandra added "She hasn't come right out and said anything, but..."

I nodded and asked "So why are you telling me this now?"

"Because we think she wants to talk to you and Mom and Michelle" Robyn
answered, adding "Soon, we think, and we wanted you to know first, so
you could all talk to each other before."

"Thank you for telling me. I'll get together with her mom and Lucy, and
we'll see what we can figure out."

Both girls got up then, and gave me a kiss - and not the kind we usually
reserved for when company was around, either. I knew that both of them
missed being able to spend time with me and Lucy - and truth be told,
Lucy and I missed them, too.

When they were gone, I started thinking about how to bring this up with
Michelle; Lucy would be able to understand both sides of it, and would
probably be able to help me - a LOT, I figured.

When Lucy got home, I went up with her for our usual 'decompression'
time; when it was over, I let her know about my talk with Robyn and
Sandra. Lucy seemed to understand, as I'd thought she would, and said
that we should probably talk to Michelle that night, after everyone went
to bed - assuming that Marie didn't make her move first.

Fortunately, she didn't, and Lucy and I were able to let Michelle know
that we expected her to join us that night. When bedtime came around,
she casually came into our bedroom with us, just as Marie did with Robyn
and Sandra.

With all of us naked, and Lucy and I bracketing Michelle, I finally got
up the nerve to let Michelle know that we needed to talk - and that it
was about Marie. That got her attention, and we spent the next half hour
telling her about what we thought Marie might have on her mind, and why.
To say that Michelle was surprised would have been an understatement;
stunned would have been closer, but still insufficient.

Michelle finally got her mind around the idea that Michelle was
consciously thinking about changing her virginal status, and started
talking to Lucy and me - mostly Lucy, for obvious reasons - about what
she could do, and what the possible options were. It finally got down to
the point where we figured that there really wasn't much that could BE
done; all we could do was wait to see if that was really what she had in
mind, and if so, who she was looking at - and try to make sure that
she'd really thought it through, and was really ready for it.

After that conversation, none of us really felt like making love; by
mutual consensus, we all just spooned together and turned out the lights
- and pretended we were going to fall asleep any time soon.

The next few days, all three of us discretely watched Marie like group
of hawks eyeballing a particularly tasty mouse. If she noticed, she
didn't say or do anything to indicate it.

Finally, at supper one night, she calmly asked if she could talk to the
three of us after supper - alone, she said apologetically to Robyn and
Sandra. They both nodded and smiled to let her know that they weren't
offended.

When we'd finished eating, Robyn and Sandra got the table cleared and
made a quick but controlled exit to their room.

As the four of us sat there in the dining room, the tension was thick
enough you could have sliced it, wrapped it, and sold it off.

Finally, Michelle took the bull by the horns and asked "What was it you
wanted to talk to us about, honey?"

After a bit of hesitation, Marie told us "There's something that I've
been thinking about for a couple of weeks, now - almost a month,
actually."

"What's that, dear?"

"I've been thinking about how nice it is to be with Sandra and Robyn,
and I've asked them if being with a guy is as nice as being with them.
They both said that they were two different things - that being with a
girl was like having cake, and that being with a guy was like having ice
cream: they're both nice and fun, just different. I thought about that
for a long time, and I really like being with them. But I think maybe I
want to try being with a guy, too."

Lucy asked "You think maybe?"

Marie blushed slightly and said "I mean I know I do. Like I said, I
thought about it a long time. I know that I'm a virgin, and that if I'm
with a guy I won't be afterwards. And I know that if I do... that, and
then I can't go back to being a virgin when it's over, either. I know
that you might think I'm still too young, but I found out on the
Internet that I'm about the same age that most girls are when they do
that the first time."

"So why are you telling me this, Marie?" Michelle asked.

"Because I want you to know that I don't want to do this without knowing
about it first, and there's something I need your help with."

"Okay, I'll accept that you really thought this through, and you're sure
you want it to happen. But what could you need MY help with?" Michelle
asked.

"Because I want it to happen with someone that I know will be nice to
me, and not hurt me. I know I'll be nervous, and even a little scared,
and I want him to be somebody that I can trust not to hurt me or make it
happen too fast. I know who I want to do it, but I don't know if he
would or not, so I need you to help me convince him that this is really
what I want, and that I'm ready for it."

Michelle asked "Who is you want, honey?"

"Dan."

Hearing her say my name, my heart dropped. Even though I'd been the one
to deflower both Robyn and Sandra, I'd still made sure that both of them
were ready and understood the consequences. The thing was, with them, it
had still been done privately and quietly; Marie had just announced to
the whole world what she wanted to do, and who she wanted to do it WITH.
All three of us adults sat there looking at her for several long
seconds.

It was Lucy that got things rolling again by telling Marie "This is
something pretty important, you know. Would you let us talk about it
first, before we give you an answer?"

"I know it is, Lucy - that's why I wanted all of you together when I
asked. And I know that you'll want to figure out whether or not you'll
agree to it, so I don't mind waiting."

The three of us excused ourselves and made our way up to Lucy's and my
bedroom. Once inside, and with the door closed, I emphatically told them
"I'll tell you right now - I'm not going to express ANY opinion about
this; it's for Michelle to work out, not me."

Michelle stared at me and asked "Why won't you say anything?"

"Because if I say I'm willing, you might think I'm just trying to jump
her bones. If I say I'm not, you might think that I don't love her and
care for her. So I'm just going to shut up and listen and let YOU
decide; she's your daughter, so you've got the biggest say in this."

Lucy gave a wry laugh and said "You're dead wrong, Dan. If she's
anything like I was at that age, SHE'S got the biggest say in it. All
anybody else gets to decide is HOW she says it."

Michelle looked at Lucy in question, and Lucy explained "If she's told
'yes', and then you've got some influence over who and when. If you say
'no', and then she may well do it anyway, without your guidance. Either
way, I think it's a safe bet that it's going to happen, sooner or
later."

Michelle nodded her understanding, and sat on the edge of the bed,
obviously considering what to do. Lucy sat next to her and took
Michelle's hand, saying "It's your decision, Michelle - but I'll be
happy to answer any questions or let you know what I think, if that's
what you want."

Michelle nodded, and continued to think about what to do. I took a seat
on a chair, and waited. Over the next half hour, Michelle did ask Lucy a
few questions, and solicited Lucy's opinion on some things. Finally,
better than 45 minutes after we sat down, Michelle looked at Lucy and me
and said "I've thought it through, and decided what to tell her."

Lucy and I both looked at her expectantly, and she said "This is
probably the hardest decision I've ever made - except for leaving
Frenchy. Like Lucy said, if I tell her no, she might up and do it anyway
with somebody I wouldn't like. But if I tell her yes, and then she might
understand it as something I wouldn't say."

She sighed and told us "There's a few things that I'm sure about. I'm
sure that she really did think about this, long and hard, before coming
to us with it. I'm sure that she really understands what it is she's
asking, and knows what's going to happen after. I'm sure that I want it
to go right for her, so she doesn't have the kinds of fear and not
knowing I had at her age - and after. I'm sure that I'm going to be
worried about her, whatever happens with her." With a look at me,
Michelle added "I'm sure that if she was with Dan, that he'd be as
gentle and patient and understanding with her as she'd ever need or
want."

To both of us she said "God's honest truth, I wish she'd waited - like
till after I was dead. But that ain't gonna happen; she's ready and
wanting it to happen NOW. I know that if Dan said yes, it wouldn't be
because he just wanted to lay with her; he's nowhere near being like
Frenchy. And I know that if Dan said no, it wouldn't be because he
didn't love her and care for her; I just have to watch him with her to
know he does. I know she's had a fair chunk of lovin' from those girls
of yours, and I know how happy it's made her; and I think that if she
was to be with someone like Dan for the first time, she'd be able to
find that kind of happiness with men, too - a lot more and a lot sooner
than I ever did."

Taking a deep breath, she said "What I'm saying is that I've thought on
it hard, and know what I want to tell her. I want to tell her it's fine
by me, and that I'm proud of her and love her. But I can't do that until
something else is settled, first."

Michelle looked right at me and asked "Dan, would you kindly be the one
to show my daughter what it's like to make love with a man for the first
time? She wants it, and I'm telling you that I'd be right happy about it
if you'd do that for her."

I looked to Lucy, sitting next to her, and saw that Lucy was looking at
me with love and trust and compassion in her eyes. With only the most
minute nod of her head, she let me know that she thought it would be the
right thing to do for Marie.

Even with the approval - even encouragement - from both of them, I still
had to make the final decision; a decision that I'd have been just as
happy had been made by someone else. When I'd deflowered Robyn, and then
Sandra, I'd been in love with them in a way that was still more physical
than emotional and intellectual. I wasn't particularly happy about it,
but that was the way it had been. I'd changed since then, though -
living with Lucy and the two of them as I did, I'd come to realize that
what I'd done with them had been not entirely proper. Sure, I'd made
both of them think it over, and given each of them multiple chances to
change their minds; but in the end, it had been an older man taking some
small advantage of a couple of much younger, very inexperienced girls.

What Marie - and Michelle - were asking was something entirely
different: they were asking me to consciously, deliberately go about the
task of separating a fifteen-year-old girl from her virginity. And not
only that, but do so in a way that would leave her at least satisfied -
if not pleased - enough with the event so as to leave her capable of
enjoying further sexual encounters with men.

As much as I loved Marie, and wanted to see to it that she was taken
care of and had a happy and joyous life, what I was being asked to do
was still a major request. What if I screwed up? What if I did or said
something that frightened or hurt her? Thinking about it, I realized
that the penalties for failure - and the rewards of success - were
equally great.

Looking into Michelle's eyes, I told her "I just don't know. I'm afraid
that I'll do something to hurt or scare her."

Michelle gave me a confident smile and answered "Nobody's asking you to
make it perfect Dan. And I think - no, I know - that me and Marie both
know you'll make it as easy and good for her as it can be. Me and her,
we both know you love her, and how much. Neither one of us doubts for a
minute, a second, that if anybody can make it right for her, it's you.
Both of us TRUST you, Dan. And if not you, and then who?"

And that last question was what decided it for me. Indeed - if not me,
who? I knew that if I was 'it', that I'd be as patient and gentle as she
needed. Did I dare trust that anyone else would be, too?

Finally, I gave Michelle my answer: "I'll do it."

She and Lucy both looked relieved - and pleased.

Michelle told me "Thank you, Dan - for BOTH of us. I think we'd better
go down and tell her; she's probably getting pretty nervous by now."

All three of us stood up and went back to the dining room - where it
didn't look as though Marie had moved so much as a muscle. Still,
looking close, it was possible to see that she was, as Michelle had
predicted, getting pretty nervous.

We all sat down and Marie turned to her mother, who told her "We talked
about it some, but Lucy and Dan both told me that since you're my
daughter, it was really up to me. I thought about it hard, honey. I love
you - you're my little girl, and you always will be."

I could see in Marie's face that she was expecting an unhappy answer.

Michelle must have seen it, too, because she quickly said "But I also
know that you're growing up. Faster than I like sometimes, but that's
what being a mother is all about. I talked to Lucy and Dan, and he
agreed that he was willing to do that for you."

Marie's face went from despair to delight in about zero seconds flat.
She quickly turned to face me, and I smiled and nodded to her, making
her light up even more.

Michelle got her attention back by asking "Marie, honey. Have you
thought about how? I mean, do you need or want anybody else there to
kind of help you out?"

Marie smiled and said "I thought about that, momma. At first, I thought
that I might be too afraid and would need somebody to kind of hold my
hand. But then I thought about Dan, and I realized that I didn't have to
be afraid - I know that he wouldn't do anything to hurt me on purpose,
and that if it did hurt, and then it would be a lot less with him than
anyone else. So I decided that I wanted it to be extra special - just me
and him."

Michelle smiled and told her "That's fine, honey. Me and Lucy, we know
he'd be like that, too. Did you have anything else in mind? A time or a
place?"

Marie blushed slightly and said "I was kinda hoping... that it could be
just me and him, like for a whole day, so we didn't have to hurry or
anything. And I was thinking that my room would be good - that way,
nobody else has to move out or anything."

Michelle just patted Marie's hand and said "Then that's how you'll do
it, honey. What time were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that maybe Friday night" - two days hence - "would be a
good. Then when our time was up, we would still have Saturday night and
all of Sunday to kind of celebrate."

I could see that Michelle was a little surprised at the idea of
celebrating the defloration of her daughter, but she quickly realized
that that was exactly how Marie thought of it: as a good thing worth
celebrating, not a bad one to be lamented.

Michelle told her "That sounds just perfect - and that's how we'll do
it."

Marie looked inordinately pleased, and Lucy told her "Now that that's
all settled, how about if you go on upstairs so we can get this all
worked out?"

Marie nodded happily, and all but floated out of the room.

When she was gone, Michelle looked at us and said "Did I just hear my
daughter ask to spend an entire day making love with Dan?"

I grinned and said "Sounds like she takes after her mother!" - making
Michelle blush. Since the first time with us, she'd demonstrated a
healthy appetite for making love.

We spent a little time working out the logistics of the situation; it
didn't take long, since all of us were dedicated to making things as
special for Marie as we could.

The next two days, Marie had to be pried off the ceiling. Robyn and
Sandra had learned what was up, of course, and proceeded to get Marie as
primed and prepared as they could: hair done, manicure, pedicure,
primping and preening - Marie was the willing target of all manner of
help and assistance from them.

Lucy watched all of this with clear delight; even Michelle seemed to
find it amusing - even if it WAS her daughter that was the target of all
the madness.

Finally, it was time.

Friday, Lucy and Michelle teamed up to make supper - beef stroganoff and
the rest. It was filling, but not heavy - something I think they
planned, so as to keep Marie and I from feeling logy later.

After supper, Robyn and Sandra quickly got the table cleared and brought
in a bottle of wine, which they gave to me to open. I knew that all of
them were trying to make it as special as they could for Marie, and I
willingly went along with it. The wine was poured, and I was surprised
slightly when Michelle made the toast "To Marie!" - both pleasing and
embarrassing her.

We all lifted our glasses and had a sip. Lucy got Marie's attention, and
told her "Marie, tonight's a special night for you, and there's
something special I want you to know."

Marie looked at her expectantly, and Lucy told her "Remember that night
you asked all of us questions? And I told you what it was like for me
the first time?" Marie nodded, and Lucy continued "What I didn't tell
you then was that ever since Dan and I have been making love, I've
wished that HE could have been my first. He's so gentle, so patient, so
caring that you don't have to worry about anything, okay?"

Marie nodded, and then Michelle spoke up.

"Marie, honey, I want to tell you something, too. You know that me and
Lucy and Dan have been making love together. What I want to tell you is
something that you already know, but I want to remind you of: Dan isn't
Frenchy. Dan is kind and loving and understanding. You shouldn't be
afraid that he's going to hurt you - because he won't. You shouldn't be
afraid that anything you do will bother him - he loves you, and it
won't. You shouldn't be afraid to talk to him and tell him what you're
feeling - because he'll understand. Marie, I want you to know that if I
could do it over again, I'd want my first time to be with Dan. So when
you're with him, you tell him what you feel, and what you need - and
he'll make it as special as you could ever want."

Marie solemnly nodded her understanding, and Michelle just smiled back
at her.

Sandra broke the serious mood by announcing "Well, if Marie is going to
get to start making love with Uncle Dan, I guess that means that Robyn
and I are going to have to start making other plans." Then she turned to
Robyn and asked "You want to go out on a date tomorrow night?"

Marie blushed slightly as Lucy and Michelle and I all laughed.

We'd all gone through about half the wine in our glasses when Marie
quietly got up and came around to where I was sitting. I turned to look
at her and asked "You want to go now, dumpling?"

She smiled and nodded, and after I stood up, she took my hand. The rest
of them saw, of course, but didn't pay any special attention; they
seemed to know that to do so would only embarrass her unnecessarily.

Together, the two of us went upstairs. Outside her bedroom, we stopped
and waited. After a moment, she realized that I was waiting for her to
open the door to her room. She gave me a shy smile, and did - then the
two of us walked into her room. I looked around and saw that she'd
continued the decorating that Sandra and Robyn had started - there were
a few more posters of guys, and some of various space photos. I also
noticed that there was a small stack of hand towels on her dresser,
ready for whatever use someone may have had for them. Her bed was made,
but the bedcovers were turned down.

The rest of her room was immaculate - knowing how Robyn's and Sandra's
rooms usually looked, I suspected that its current condition was as
special as the occasion.

I sat down in the chair in her room and gently guided her onto my lap.
Putting my arms around her loosely, I looked into her eyes and told her
"Marie, I'm here because you asked for me. It's up to YOU to decide what
we do, and when we do it. If you want, I'll be happy to stay up here
with you until tomorrow night, and not have us do anything - you can
tell them anything you want, and I won't talk against it. Anything that
happens between us is private - it's just for you and me; I will NEVER
tell anyone about what happens here."

She nodded, and I went on "We're here because you want to learn how to
make love with a man. You're a virgin, and you don't want to be one any
more. That's your choice, and I respect it. But because you've never
been with a man, that means that there are things you don't know, or
aren't sure about. I want you to know that you don't have to be ashamed
or embarrassed or anything like that; I know that you don't know, and
I'm not going to think anything bad about you if you have a question, or
want to say something to me. The only 'silly' question is the one you
don't ask, okay?"

She smiled, and I told her "I'm here for YOU. Don't worry about me - the
whole reason I'm here is because I want YOU to be happy, and feel good.
There are a lot of things that a man and woman can do while making love;
and if YOU want to, I can help you learn some of them. Maybe there are
things that you've heard of, and you want to find out about them. That's
fine, I'll be happy to do that with you. But the same way, if I start to
do something you DON'T like, you have to tell me that, too. We can take
as much time as we need, so don't feel like you have to hurry about
anything. The door is closed, so nobody will bother us until YOU open it
again. You understand?"

She nodded her head and told me "Yes, Dan, I understand."

I smiled back and asked "Good. Now, what do you want to do?"

She grinned, and said "I want us to be naked."

Though surprised, I simply asked her "Okay. How do you want to do that?"

She didn't hesitate before telling me "I want to take your clothes off,
and let you take mine off."

Apparently, she'd thought this a LOT farther through than any of us had
guessed. Either that, or she'd gotten a lot more input from Sandra and
Robyn than I'd have expected.

I smiled and nodded in response to her remark, and she slid off my lap
and took a step back, waiting for me to stand up.

I did, and after I slipped the holster with my pistol and spare
magazines off my pants at the small of my back and set them on the top
of the computer desk. Marie watched carefully, since she'd gotten
instructions from everyone in the house that she wasn't to even touch
any pistol she might see. When my hands were at my side again, she
carefully stepped forward and began unfastening the buttons on my shirt.
When she got to the bottom, she carefully pulled it out of my pants and
got the rest of them undone, too. That accomplished, she slowly opened
it, revealing my chest and stomach - and when she had a full, unimpeded
view, I heard her moan softly. Apparently without realizing it, she
released her hold on my shirt and moved her hands to my chest - slowly
running her hands across it, feeling the muscle and bone beneath; then
it was on to my belly. I worked out regularly, so I was in fairly decent
shape. I didn't have the 'six-pack abs' some of the younger guys at the
gym did; but then, I was in my late 40's and carried some scars that
they'd never earn, so I figured it worked out okay.

When she'd had her fill of checking me out, she gave a little shudder,
and reached up to pull my shirt off my shoulders. When it was free, she
carefully laid it across the back of the chair I'd been sitting on.
Next, she reached for the buckle on my pants, her hands trembling
slightly. She fumbled with the clasp for a moment, paused to take a deep
breath, and got it on her second try. Then it was time for the button at
the waist of my pants; I pulled my belly in a little bit - she looked up
at me and smiled - and she had that undone in short order. She hesitated
slightly when she reached for the tab of my zipper, but got hold of it
and pulled it down in a single, sure motion.

With another deep breath, she put her hands at my waist and slid her
fingers under the waistband of my pants. A moment's hesitation and she
began to kneel down, sliding my pants down my legs as she did. When they
cleared my shorts, I heard a soft gasp as she got her first look at the
bulge in my shorts.

She kept enough presence of mind, though, to continue sliding my pants
down my legs - only then realizing that I still had my shoes on:
something that would make it difficult to get my pants off. She covered
it well, releasing my pants long enough to untie my shoes and slip them
off, and then my pants legs, as I lifted each foot in turn.

My pants soon found themselves keeping my shirt company on the chair -
leaving me standing there in just my under shorts as she knelt before
me.

She reached up to slide her hands underneath the waistband of my shorts
and slowly lowered them - lowering her head, as well. When they were
pooled around my ankles, she carefully slipped them free, as she'd done
with my pants. Then, almost reverently, she lifted her head to look at
what it was that she'd claimed to want: my manhood - and softly sucked
in a breath at seeing it.

She started to reach up to touch me, hesitated, started to move again,
and stopped. I saw her look up at me, uncertainty on her face. I smiled
and gently asked "You want to touch?"

She nodded, slowly, and I told her "Go ahead, and then, if you want."

Her eyes lowered again as her hands rose up, not stopping until she had
laid them on my thighs, alongside my penis and scrotum. Then she slowly
turned her hands, sliding them underneath me until she held my balls and
penis in her cupped hands.

She tilted her head forward slightly, to give herself a little closer
look at what it was that she had asked for. She tilted her head a few
times to either side, and gently moved her hands as though hefting me.

Finally, she gently let my slip between her hands and come to rest at my
normal position.

She looked up into my eyes and saw only acceptance of her. Smiling, she
slowly stood up as our eyes remained locked.

When she was again standing tall in front of me, she quietly told me
"Now it's your turn, Dan."

I stepped toward her and cupped her face in my hands before leaning
forward to place a small, soft kiss on her forehead. When I straightened
again, I could see in her eyes how happy that small gesture had made
her, and how deeply it had moved her.

I slowly slid my hands from her face to her shoulders, where I paused a
moment before letting them slide down and together so that they met at
the collar of the blouse she was wearing. Gently, I began to unfasten
buttons, slowly working my way down the front of her blouse. As she'd
done, I carefully pulled it loose from the skirt she was wearing to
finish the job.

I put my hands on the sides of her neck and softly stroked her jaw line
with my thumbs before moving my hands down to take the edges of her
blouse in them. I carefully peeled her blouse from her shoulders, and
then down her arms and off her body - revealing that she was wearing a
very sheer, very sexy black bra. Her blouse was left to keep company
with my shirt and pants.

I stepped behind her and rested my hands on her shoulders before leaning
over to give her a soft kiss on her ear, and getting a soft sigh in
response. I slid my hands down her bare arms, and then around to where
the clasp on her bra was. Many years of practice paid of then, because I
was able to unfasten it quickly and easily. To my mild surprise and
great delight, her bra didn't immediately fall forward; her breasts were
large and firm enough that they easily held it in place. I slid my hands
up her back so my thumbs could gently push the straps off her shoulders,
and then back down again so that my hands ran the span of her back and
around to her sides. I let the tension build for a moment, and then
carefully slid my hands under the material of her bra and moved them
around her body so that I was cupping her breasts from behind while the
lacy cups of the bra covered my hands. At the first touch of my hands on
her firm young breasts, Marie gasped and tilted her head back to rest
against my chest. Then, when I ran my thumbs across her small, hard
nipples, she moaned softly and tried to press her chest forward to
increase the contact.

My fingers mapped the surface of her smooth mammaries, tracing their
curves, memorizing their heft and texture, softly testing their soft
surface. Only when I was sure that I would never forget the feel of her
did I let my hands release the warm mounds of her bust to slide her bra
down, and then off, her arms - leaving her torso bare, delighting my
eyes; the lacy material of the bra was left piled on the seat of the
chair where her blouse and my clothes lay.

Next, I slid my hands to her waist, holding her softly as I kissed a
path from the point of one shoulder to the other, delaying at the back
of her neck to allow my nose the chance to take in the pleasant scent of
her hair. With a final kiss to the top of her head, I let my hands glide
to where the snap of her skirt awaited. It resisted only momentarily;
then my fingers took hold of the tab that would release her skirt from
the graceful curve of her hips. I lowered the zipper of her skirt
slowly, letting the rasping of it add to the delicious tension I was
creating between us. Too soon, it was at the lower limit of its range;
shortly after that, there was a puddle of material at her feet.

Looking down, I saw that she had on a pair of panties that were a clear
match for the absent bra - and wore nothing else from the hips down. I
carefully kneeled behind her, kissing the vertebra of her back along the
way, causing her to tremble slightly under my touch.

Once on my knees, I gently cupped the lovely orbs of her ass cheeks
through the thin material of her panties, and marveled at how soft they
were to the touch, and how firm they were underneath.

My hands traced the soft curve of her hips around to the front of her
body; she gasped slightly when my fingers dipped below the top of her
panties. I slid my hands back around to her sides, and then carefully
eased the thin material of her panties down her legs - kissing the top
of the cleft between her ass cheeks when it was revealed to me. When her
panties were bunched around her ankles, I put one hand on her waist to
steady her as she gracefully stepped out of her clothes, and her shoes
when I held them for her. Her skirt was tossed over to join her blouse,
the panties went with her bra.

Standing with her back to me, she was a sight to behold: smooth, tawny
flesh without a blemish or mark flawing it anywhere. From the tips of
her toes to the bottom of her ass, her legs were gracefully curved,
smooth, and muscular. Above them, her heart-shaped ass was a treasure to
behold; above that, the curve of her hips flowed smoothly into her
waist, and then back out again to frame a smooth, graceful back that
turned into delicate shoulder. Set on those was a graceful, slender neck
that simply begged to be kissed - and if the truth be told, gently
bitten.

My hands slid back up the outsides of her legs until they were again
resting on her hips. A gentle pressure and she easily turned to face me,
the dark wedge of her pubic hair falling under my gaze. Again, I leaned
forward - and placed my lips at the very edge of that dark mass of hair.
At the touch of my lips on her belly, Marie again drew in a sharp
breath, releasing it slowly as I began to kiss my way back up her body.

When I got to her belly-button - an unconscionably cute 'innie' - I
paused long enough to dip my tongue into it, and felt her shudder
slightly in response before continuing my journey up her body.

On reaching the level of her breasts, I was faced with a difficult
choice: Left? Or Right?

I found my own solution: Both.

With an erratic - and erotic! - figure-8 pattern, I managed to kiss
almost every square inch of her marvelous breasts; what I didn't get
then was simply left for later. Under my lips, her dark nipples grew
even longer and harder; the areolas, only slightly larger than the
nipples themselves, puckered in sympathy. With the peaks of both breasts
faintly glistening with my saliva, it was time to finish the journey.

Up her chest to her throat. Along that to her ear, whose lobe was
subjected to a brief but gentle nibbling. Then it was back around to her
face, where I softly put my lips to hers.

When I stepped back from her, I saw that her eyes were closed, and
listened to her soft panting.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes to look at me - and in them I
could see a trace of nervousness. But more than that, I saw love, and
trust, and most of all - desire.

Stepping forward, Marie took me by the hand and led me over to the bed,
where she indicated that I should sit down. I did, and she unashamedly
moved to sit on my lap, straddling my legs as she faced me. She scooted
close and pulled my arms around her waist. With her warm firm ass on my
legs and the softness of her pubic hair gently brushing against my lower
belly, I felt myself begin to get hard - hard enough that I could feel
myself slightly pressing against her lower mons.

I knew she could feel it, too - she wiggled her cute little butt in my
lap and smiled at me before telling me "There are a lot of things that I
want to know about guys, and making love. I learned a lot when momma was
looking things up on the internet with me, but seeing drawings and
pictures and such isn't like real life. And when I talked to Robyn and
Sandra, each of them told me how much she liked being with her guy, and
now nice it felt for her to be with him, and make love... and I knew
that I wanted that feeling, too. So when I started thinking about it, I
decided that I wanted it to happen with somebody that I knew I could
trust, and that would be nice to me - and the best person I could think
of for that was you. I didn't think that we were going to be here very
much longer, so that was when I decided that I had to say something
about what I wanted. And I wanted it to be tonight - or tomorrow -
because I don't start my period again until Tuesday, and I didn't want
you to have to worry about getting me pregnant, or using a condom. You
understand, don't you?"

Put to me that way, and under those conditions, there wasn't anything
for me to do but tell her "Of course I do, Marie."

She gave me a beatific smile and said "I'm glad. As long as momma and I
have been here, I've gotten to watch you and Lucy and Robyn and Sandra,
and I can see that all of you love each other very much." She paused to
give me a shy grin before saying "At first, I was really kind of afraid
of you - you're bigger than daddy, and you always have your gun with
you. But when I saw you were always so nice to us... I decided that you
were a lot nicer than I thought. I think momma got mad at you a couple
of times, but you never got mad back at her. You just stayed so calm and
patient with us, and it made me feel SO much better. Momma doesn't know,
but sometimes, I used to hear daddy yelling at her, and calling her
names and things. And I saw him hurt her a lot of times; he even hurt me
once when I tried to help her. She never said anything, but I know momma
was really afraid of him, and I think maybe she was even afraid of all
men. So when she wasn't afraid to be with you - and Lucy - I knew that
you must be a nice man. And that's why I want to be with you, too, so I
can learn about making love with a man - a gentle man.

I pulled her close and gave her a hug, which she happily returned -
hearing about life with Frenchy from her perspective just made me
despise him all the more.

We slowly released each other, and Marie looked up at me and asked "Are
we going to start, now?"

I smiled and said "If that's what you want."

She nodded, and I asked "What do you want to do first, then?"

She grinned and said "All I ever got to see on the internet was drawings
of what men have. So I want to find out what you're really like."

I grinned back and said "That's fine with me. What do you want me to
do?"

She hesitated a moment before asking "Can you... can you just lay down,
on your back, so I can look?"

"Of course I can."

"And can I... touch you?"

"It's up to you, Marie. You look and touch as much as you want; if you
do anything to hurt me" - I saw the expression on her face at that idea
- "by accident, then I'll let you know, okay? As long as you're even a
LITTLE bit careful, chances are that that's not going to happen; I'm
just letting you know so you don't have to worry."

She nodded solemnly; then grinned at me again when my penis twitched
against her mons at the idea of having her playing with it. She scooted
back - the muscles of her ass felt great - and finally stood up so that
I could move. I pivoted and lay down on her bed, then scooted myself to
the side a bit so that I was more in the center. When she saw that I was
ready, she casually climbed up onto the bed, and made straight for my
pelvis.

The first few minutes, she just looked at me - from the top, the bottom,
the sides, even end-on. Eventually, she carefully reached her hand out
and delicately grasped my penis just behind the glans. She looked up at
me hesitantly, and I smiled to let her know that she wasn't hurting me.
She smiled back, and started gently exploring my manhood - how firm it
was (not very, just then), how flexible (quite), how big around, how
long, and so on. For some reason, that I was circumcised seemed to
fascinate and trouble her at the same time - something that didn't
prevent her from taking some small delight in my foreskin, however.

The feeling of her soft, warm hand was starting to have a little bit of
an impact on me: I could feel myself starting to get a little firmer in
her hand when she abandoned my penis in favor of my scrotum and
testicles. Again, she was very careful, and I spoke only to tell her
that they were particularly sensitive to pressure; she nodded her
understanding, and continued her exam.

Finally, her exploration of the male anatomy was done, and she moved
toward my head a bit before laying down next to me on her side, so she
could hold her head up with one arm and look down at me.

The first words out of her mouth did wonders for my ego: "Are all men as
big as you?"

I smiled and said "Pretty much - I'm only a little bit above averages
size; there are some that are smaller, and some that are bigger." The
idea that there was a penis larger than mine seemed to amaze her.

"Is... is it like that when you make love?"

"No, dear. Before a man can put it inside a woman, it has to be harder
than that. When it gets hard, it also gets bigger." THAT idea left her
speechless for a few moments.

"It... it really fits? Inside a woman, I mean? I checked, and I'm small
inside; if I try to put two fingers inside, it hurts a little." On the
heels of that statement, she realized what she'd just told me and
blushed slightly. I smiled and told her "Its okay, Marie. Everybody
touches themselves like that when they're young - and even when they're
older. It's called masturbation, or playing with yourself, and it's
nothing to be ashamed of; like I said, everyone does it. I'd be
surprised if you didn't try to find out how big you are inside."

Reassured that she wasn't any different than anyone else, she asked "So
it fits?"

"Yes, dear. A woman can stretch inside so that any man can fit inside
her. After all, a baby comes out that way, and it's a LOT larger than a
penis. Besides, if they go nice and easy - like we're going to do! -
then she has plenty of time to adjust to it, so it doesn't hurt her."

She considered that for a few moments, and nodded her acceptance.

"So how does the man's sperm get inside? All the stuff I read says that
he puts it there, but they didn't say HOW - just that he had to be
inside her. Is it like you pee or something?"

"'Or something'", I replied, and continued "I told you that a man has to
be hard to be inside the woman. Well, when he's inside, he has to move
in her to kind of tickle his penis. When he's tickled it enough, he
squirts his sperm in her. It comes out the same hole, but it's not pee."

"Does a man HAVE to be inside a woman for that to happen?"

"No, he doesn't. If he's hard and his penis is tickled anyway, then
he'll squirt his sperm anyway."

She thought that over for a moment, then looked at me and asked "Can...
can I make you do that? I... I want to make your penis hard, and see
what it looks like when you squirt like that."

Hmmm. Should I let a naked, cute, nubile young sixteen-year-old give me
a hand-job..... decisions, decisions....

"Yes, Marie, you can do that, if you want to. That's why I'm here, so
you can learn about making love."

Delighted, she quickly got into a sitting position and reached out to
take my flaccid penis in her hand. Holding it, she looked at me and
asked "How... how do I do it?"

Surprised at the question, I had one of my own: "Didn't Robyn and Sandra
talk to you about this?"

She gave me a shy smile and said "They said they would, but I told them
I wanted to hear it from you, instead."

Ah. This is already too easy, why not add a little more pressure and
raise the expectations to make it a little more 'challenging'?

"How do you do it when you're with Robyn or Sandra?"

She started to get upset before she realized that I wasn't asking for
any gory technical details; after a moment, she said "I use my hands,
and my mouth. That works on guys, too?"

I smiled and answered "Yes, it works on guys, too - maybe even better
than it does on girls, since we usually get sexually excited faster and
easier than you do." She thought that over for a few moments before
turning to look at my penis as she gave it a small, experimental stroke.

It wasn't much, but it was a start. In a few sentences, I gave her a
brief tutorial on how to use her hand to get a guy hard; she easily
caught on, and was soon sliding her hand up and down my penis as it got
harder and harder - something that seemed to both delight and amuse her.

I was at full hardness and enjoying my role as tutor when she asked "If
I used my mouth, would it happen sooner? Like it does with Sandra and
Robyn?" She didn't seem to have even realized what she'd just told me -
either that, or she simply didn't care.

"Yes, it would, dear."

"How do I... You're not the same as them."

Obviously.

"You can just lick it, or if you want to, you can put it in your mouth."
She made a face at that idea, and I told her "Before you decide that's
gross, remember that when you and the others are together, your mouths
go where you have your periods, too."

From her expression, I could see that she was thinking that one over.
Finally, she asked "What if it's in my mouth when you squirt?"

"I'll tell you before that happens. Then you can decide if you want to
let that happen or not. Some women like the taste of it, and some don't.
You'll have to decide for yourself."

She considered it, and apparently decided she could trust me: lowering
her head, she opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around my penis,
just behind the glans. She looked at me, and I said "That's fine,
Marie", encouraging her, then added "Now there are different things you
can do: you can suck on it - gently! - or you can take more of it into
your mouth. You can use your tongue to kind of lick and tickle the
underside of it, and you can kind of twist your head while you use your
mouth like you were using your hand. If you want to, you can even use
your hand like you were before AND your mouth, or use your hand to play
with my testicles. If you want, you can do a little bit of all those
things at different times and in different ways. It's all up to you, and
how much pleasure you want to give the man. The only other thing I can
tell you is that it helps make it easier for both of you if you use a
little bit of your saliva to kind of lubricate things."

She nodded and tried to smile around my penis; I smiled back and watched
as she started trying to learn how to do the different things I'd just
told her about. Only once did I have to caution her about teeth; after
that, I was more than happy to be the learning tool (pun intended!) for
her education on fellatio. It didn't take her long to get the hang of
the different things she could do, so most of her time was spent
learning how to mix them together in different ways - and repeating them
when she got a positive response from me. She didn't have much in the
way of technique, of course, but she MORE than made up for it in
enthusiasm and willingness to experiment.

Between the sensations of her eager mouth as it was wrapped around my
penis, and the sight of her head slowly bobbing up and down on it, I
found myself moving closer and closer to my release. At great personal
sacrifice, I tried to put it off so that she could have more time to
practice her new lessons, but there was only so much I could do.
Finally, there came the point where I knew the inevitable was going to
happen, and I told her "Marie! I'm going to do it!"

She bobbed her head again, and then let me slip from her lips. She gave
me a couple more strokes with her hand, and it was time: the first wad
of cum erupted from the end of my penis to fly nearly straight up into
the air, only to come down just above my navel. Marie tilted my penis
slightly, and the second shot arced to land a little higher on my body
than the first. The third hit below my belly-button, the rest traveled
progressively shorter distances, until the last bit of it simply erupted
from the end to begin coating Marie's hand where it was still wrapped
around me.

With the first shot, her eyes had widened in amazement, and she
continued to watch, fascinated, as the rest of my climax occurred. Only
when she realized it was over did she give my penis a couple of slow
strokes - as much to get a feel for how slippery my cum was as to finish
me off, I suspect. When she felt me beginning to shrink in her hand, she
released me and lifted her hand to her face to examine the deposit I'd
made on it. She looked closely, slid her thumb and forefinger together
to test its texture, and then lifted her hand up so she could test to
see if there was any aroma.

Looking at me, she hesitantly stuck her tongue out to find out what the
taste of it might be like. When she pulled her tongue back in, she
crinkled her nose, thought a moment, and went about cleaning my juices
off her hand.

Only then did she seem to remember that there were puddles of semen on
my belly, too. She quickly moved to grab a small towel off the dresser -
her breasts moving quite fetchingly - and came back to wipe it up. When
she was done, she carefully set the towel aside and moved to lie on her
side and snuggle up to me again, asking "I did it okay?"

I gave her a small hug and answered "You did just fine, Marie. That was
very nice - thank you."

She smiled shyly and snuggled a little closer before extending a hand to
start playing with the hairs on my chest. After a couple minutes, she
hesitantly asked "When... when can we do some more?"

I gently laughed and said "I can't do any more with that for a little
while - maybe a half hour. But that doesn't mean that I can't do
something for you, though!"

I could FEEL her smiling into my side, and said "You've heard Sandra and
Robyn say that it's different, the way a man and a woman do things.
Would you like to find out how it's different when I use my mouth on
you?"

She tilted her head to look up at me and asked "You... you'd do that?"

I smiled and told her "Yes, I would. I like to do it!"

She grinned, and nodded her head to let me know that she was agreeable
to my offer.

"Here, lets change over - you lay on your back, and I'll rest on my arm
next to you, and we can talk a little bit, too, okay?"

Without hesitation, she did just as I suggested; a moment later, I was
propped up on one elbow, my hand resting on her belly as I looked down
at her. She saw me looking at her, and gave me a shy smile that went
straight to my heart.

I asked her "We've got a whole day together; do you want to just talk
about sex and making love, or is there anything else you want to
discuss?"

She smiled again, and said "I've wanted to talk to you about a lot of
things while we've been here, but I never really felt like it was the
right time or something. Until now, I guess."

I grinned and agreed "Sure, now is good!"

Her first question was what I thought would happen to her and Michelle
once Frenchy was taken care of. I told her that I couldn't be certain
because I wasn't in the FBI, but then told her what I thought would
happen. Over the next little while, we chatted with each other about a
number of different subjects - and as we did, I slowly began moving my
hand on her body: softly caressing her skin with my fingertips, sliding
my hand along her side, gently cupping her breast with my hand, tracing
the outline of her throat and jaw, and a number of other subtle actions.
She didn't even seem to realize what I was doing, but I was watching
her, and saw her breathing quicken slightly - and watched as the first
faint blush of arousal started to tinge her ears and face.

At my request, she'd just finished telling me what she wanted to do with
her life - namely, be an astronomer; the stars and galaxies and all that
fascinated her. She was good in math and science, and didn't care so
much for Social Studies. She was looking up at me when I leaned over
slightly and softly kissed her on the forehead. She smiled, and I moved
in to kiss her again - on the lips.

She met my kiss hesitantly, at first - but soon responded by kissing
back. Then I felt her lips part slightly, and her tongue faintly touch
my lips. I let my lips separate, and a moment later, her tongue was
back, and began to introduce itself to mine. A few seconds later, our
tongues where dancing and playing in each other's mouths; I moved my
hand to her breast again, and heard/felt her soft moan as her nipple re-
erected in my palm.

Our mouths separated after a bit, and I looked down at her to see that
the faint blush I'd seen on her before had noticeably darkened, and that
there was desire and arousal in her eyes. I leaned back in for another
kiss, which she eagerly welcomed, and even more eagerly participated in.
A minute or two later, I pulled back from her a little and began kissing
her face: lips, nose, eyelids, and so on. When I got to her jaw, I
followed her jaw back to the vicinity of her ear - and nuzzled it for a
few seconds before softly nibbling on her earlobe, something that had
her arching her back in a matter of seconds.

From her ear, I began leaving a trail of butterfly-soft 'lip-bites' down
her neck and across to the point of her shoulder. Then it was down a
little and back across, following her collar bone to her neck, which I
happily showered with kisses as I traced a path across to the other side
of her neck. Back along her collar bone to her shoulder, and across her
shoulder to the other ear, which got the same treatment as the first as
she started an almost continuous soft moaning.

I followed her jaw line back to her chin, and then it was back to her
lips - which she used to shower my face with kisses before I could even
pucker up. She finally relented and let me kiss her again: mine were
soft and loving, hers were eager and passionate.

I finally pulled my head back again and smiled down at her, clearly
seeing the desire and passion on her face as she looked back up at me
with hooded eyes. I kissed her softly on the chin, then on down her
throat - and still farther down, ending in the valley between her
delightful breasts. I did a slow figure-8 around her breasts, leaving a
trail of damp kisses where they flowed into the rest of her body. I
continued to repeat that slow, tantalizing pattern on her beautiful
breasts, gradually shrinking it so that each circle around a breast
brought me a trifle closer to the nipple that eagerly awaited my hungry
lips.

Then it was time: with the closing of the circle, I wrapped my lips
around the peak of her breast, feeling her dark areola tightening
between my lips and her nipple hardening in response to my gentle
sucking. Marie groaned softly, lifting her chest to try and get more of
her breast in my mouth as she put her hands in my hair to hold my head
in place.

When I had her nipple as long and hard as I could get it, I released it
from my mouth, and started to move my head. Marie held me in place
briefly, before realizing that I wanted to do the same to the other;
only then did her hold on me loosen enough for me to kiss my way across
her body to the other, which got the same treatment - and brought the
same results.

Back and forth I went, breast to breast, until I had both of her nipples
standing proud and tall, faintly glistening with my saliva. I made one
last trip down the breast I'd just finished with before curving away to
start kissing my way down her body; in a series of curly-Q's and
flourishes, I moved lower and lower, steadily working my way toward the
source of the heady aroma I could clearly detect. When she finally
realized what my target was, the scent of her became even stronger, and
she began a small writhing underneath me as she parted her legs to make
room for my legs, then body.

When I got to her navel, I toyed with it for a little bit: kissing
around it, softly sucking on it, and delicately washing it with the tip
of my tongue; Marie responded by clenching her fingers in my hair and
panting her increasing desire.

But there were still better things ahead, and I eventually turned away
from the cute dimple of her bellybutton to continue my expedition of
discovery.

It wasn't much longer before my mouth reached the narrow wedge of her
pubic hair; my lips found it to be delightfully dense and surprisingly
soft. I kissed a zig-zag pattern down and through it: a kiss to the left
edge of it, another to the middle, and a last to the right edge, then
back again; each path across the luxurious carpet of her pelvic carpet
taking me a little lower - and bringing me a little closer to my goal.

My lips came in contact with her hooded clitoris; she gasped, and her
legs opened even farther as she tilted her pelvis up - revealing the
damp cleft that was clearly visible among the short straight hair
surrounding it.

Finally, my lips brushed hers.

Lifting my head a bit, I welcomed the chance to finally look at what I'd
been working my way toward from the time we'd first lay down on the bed,
and the source of the delicate aroma I'd detected some time earlier.

Her labia were short and thin, but easily seen; between them, the
entrance to her vagina was faintly visible - and not just damp, but
clearly wet. Above, the fleshy bump that I knew hid her clitoris was
also within sight; and unless my eyes deceived me, starting to pull back
from that small pellet of pleasure.

She saw me looking at her, and I caught a trace of nervousness in her
eyes; I smiled at her before saying "I just wanted to look at you for a
moment. I was right: you're as pretty here as the rest of you is."

Those words not only allayed any nervousness she felt, they also
reassured her; she smiled at me in a way that told me I'd said something
to her she would happily remember for a long, long time.

Looking at her again, I knew what I wanted to do first - and did it.
Extending my tongue, I dipped it into the bottom of her opening and drew
it upwards, flooding my taste buds with her nectar. The flavor of her
was the liquid concentrate of her scent: light and delicate, and
slightly musky with a hint of sweetness. Once I had sampled the taste of
her, I wanted more; and began gently lapping at her labia and the area
between them, relishing the delectable flavor of her as she begin a soft
moaning in response to my actions.

When I'd consumed the readily available supply of her feminine oil, I
expanded my efforts to include softly licking the folds of her labia and
gently sucking on them, placing my mouth over her opening and pressing
the stiffened rod of my tongue into her hot sheath, and using the tip of
my tongue to tickle and caress her erect clitoris.

In just a few minutes, she was writhing under my tender ministrations,
moaning and gasping in pleasure and arousal, her smooth thighs clenching
against my head. I reached up to take her breasts in my hands, and began
squeezing and caressing them, and softly pulling and pinching her
nipples. I continued my labor of love, moving to eager lap up her
virginal juices whenever they were available to me, and stimulating her
into producing more of them when they weren't.

A few more minutes, and I could tell that she was getting close to an
orgasm. I brought her to the edge a couple of times and let her slowly
slide back; then I brought her to the peak and held her there for a few
agonizing seconds before adding the last bit of stimulation that would
put her over the edge - loudly crying out as her orgasm hit her full
force.

Her clitoris disappeared under its hood, and I moved my mouth down to
begin laving the entrance to her womanhood, preventing the overflow of
her fluids from getting any farther from her labia than my lips and
tongue.

When she was again able to express herself, I heard her shakily tell me
"Don't.... don't do that again, please - I don't think I could stand it
if you did..."

I lifted my head to look at her - saw how flushed she was with continued
arousal - and answered "Okay, Marie, I won't - I promise", and saw the
relief in her eyes before her head fell back. Reapplying myself to the
happy task of getting her highly aroused again, I began kissing the
insides of her thighs, from knee to just short of her vaginal opening;
the next time I did it, I started marginally higher on her thighs, the
time after that a little higher still. It ended when all I had to do was
move from the crease of one thigh to the other; at that point, I again
began using my tongue to probe at her wet opening.

When I did, she started arching her hips up, as though trying to get my
tongue farther inside - and that was the point that I'd been trying to
get her to. Carefully wetting my finger, I touched it to the tight ring
of her entrance. Then, carefully and gently, I began to worm it inside
her - and listened to her groans of pleasure as my digit moved farther
and farther inside her. It was when I felt the tissue of her hymen
against the end of my finger that I stopped - I had no desire to cause
her any pain; my primary purpose of getting my finger into her was so
that I could first try to see if I could determine what condition her
maidenhead was in: thick or thin, tough or delicate? I had a secondary
purpose, as well, and that was to see if I couldn't 'loosen' her up a
bit, so that it would be easier for her later when it came time to slip
something more substantial than just a finger between her delicate
vaginal lips.

As I used my tongue to tease and tantalize her clitoris, I was using my
finger to carefully test the nature of her virginity. She responded well
to my presence inside her as I used my mouth on her clitoris; she didn't
seem to notice the small movements I was making with it as I made my
examination. I finally decided that her hymen wasn't particularly thick
or tough, and gently eased my finger out of her - accompanied by her
mild complaint at its absence. Encouraged, I got the finger next to it
wetted, and slide that one inside her, to her distinct pleasure. When it
was thoroughly coated with her oils, I slid it back out, gently put the
first back in to get it covered as well. With both fingers well-
lubricated by her natural oils, I slowly and gently began trying to ease
them into her. She made a small initial complaint, but when I eased off
slightly, she didn't repeat it. Moving even more carefully, I finally
managed to slip both fingers through the tight ring of her opening; from
that point, it was relatively easy to slowly slide them farther inside
and begin gently stretching her vagina before it reached her maidenhead.

While I was doing that, I continued to use my lips and tongue to
manipulate her clitoris; even putting my mouth over it and applying a
soft, rhythmic suction that soon had her crying out as she climaxed
again. Her vagina clamped down around my fingers, all but cutting off
any blood flow to them - but their presence didn't seem to impede the
power of her release; if anything, it seemed that her second was even
stronger than the first.

When her vagina stopped clenching at my fingers, I carefully eased them
out of her - pausing to lick them clean - and moved to lie next to her
again. I could see that she was still in something of a post-orgasmic
thrall, and reached out to hold her close to me, felling minor shudders
course through her body ever so often.

After a minute or so, she looked up into my face and gave me a smile
that would have captured my heart, if it hadn't already been claimed by
Lucy.

It took her a couple of tries, but Marie finally managed to tell me
"Robyn and Sandra were right - it is different when a man does it that
when a girl does. It's not better or worse, just different. I like how
it's not the same!"

I grinned at her and said "I'm glad that I was able to make you feel
good, honey."

She looked at me mischievously and said "Oh, it was a LOT better than
just 'good'!" - which got both of us laughing.

When we'd both calmed down again, she moved to lay on her side so that
she could put one leg over mine and snuggle into my side; her hand
rested on my chest and she let her fingertips map out random designs in
my chest hair. I had an arm around her, and I began to caress the
graceful curve of her hip and waist.

A couple minutes later, she casually let her hand move down my body and
wrap itself around my penis and start gently squeezing me. I felt her
nipples harden slightly in my side, and my penis began to swell in her
hand in response. She looked up into my face in surprise and asked "You
can get hard again, now?" - her voice eager.

I smiled and answered "It sure seems that way, doesn't it?" - and got a
happy nod in reply.

She quickly sat up again - her firm breasts wobbling EVER so slightly,
and in such a delightful way - and looked down at me to ask "Does that
mean you can... that we..."

"That I can be inside you now?" I asked for her.

She blushed slightly and answered "Um, yeah", before looking at me
expectantly.

"We can if that's what you want to do", I assured her.

"That's what I want to do" she calmly informed me, her voice steady and
certain.

I asked her "How would you like it to happen?"

She didn't flinch or hesitate, telling me "I looked it up on the
internet, and almost everyplace said that it would be easier for me if I
was on top of you - so that's what I want to do."

I smiled and told her "Then that's how we do it." - then both of us
realized the double entendre of what I'd just said, and laughed.

When we'd both settled down again, I told her "It would probably be
easier if I sat up and rested against the headboard. Then you can kind
of sit in my lap and I can help hold you steady."

She said she understood, and asked "But aren't you going to have to be
harder than this, first?"

I smiled and said that I would; she responded by moving to position
herself between my legs, leaning over, and taking me into her mouth
without any hesitation at all. Looking up at me with my penis between
her lips, her eyes were sparkling in delight and anticipation as she
smiled around my stiffening member.

She quickly equaled the successes of her earlier experience, and went on
to surpass them. In just a few minutes, she had me fully erect as she
slowly bobbed her head up and down while running her tongue along the
underside of my penis. When she was satisfied that I wasn't going to get
any harder (I don't think I could have, anyway), she slowly pulled her
mouth off of me, leaving me coated with a fine sheen of her saliva. She
got to her knees and let me sit up and scoot back so that I was resting
against the headboard of the bed. When I was ready, she knee-walked her
way up my legs until she was bridging my waist. At that point, she
cautiously lowered herself so that her mons was resting along the
underside of my penis. I reached out and cupped her breasts in my hands
and began caressing them, and playing with her nipples as she began a
slow rocking motion that rubbed her cleft - and her clitoris at the end
of one direction - against me. In just a few moments, I could feel a
slight decrease in the friction she was generating against me, and knew
that the oils she was again producing were being smeared along my shaft
by her movements.

She seemed to know it, too, and her breathing began to increase as she
became more and more aroused. After a bit, I leaned forward slightly and
took one of her nipples into my mouth and began sucking on it - which
served to fan the flames of her desire.

I was starting to wonder if she wasn't going to keep moving on me like
that until she orgasmed when she slowed, and then stopped her movements
on me. She looked into my face, and I could see the desire and arousal
in her eyes; her face and shoulders were blushing darkly.

She managed to gasp out "I... I want you... inside me."

I put my hands on her hips, and helped steady her as she got to her
knees. There, she reached down to take my penis in her hand and hold it
upright before lowering herself again. She discovered that we weren't
quite lined up the way she wanted and moved herself back slightly, then
looked down to watch as she tried again - and found that the alignment
was perfect. She slid the head of my penis back and forth between her
labia a couple of times, softly moaning at the contact, before
positioning me at her opening and lowering herself a trifle to help hold
me in place.

She lifted her head again, and I looked into her eyes as I told her
"Marie, there's no hurry on this - any of it. Don't rush things - take
your time and don't hurt yourself. That's the only important thing to
me: that you aren't hurt by this. Only go as fast as you're comfortable
with - if it starts to hurt, then stop or slow down. Okay?"

The sincerity of what I was saying got through to her, and she smiled
and nodded to me before saying "I will, Dan, I promise. But I want to do
this, too."

"That's fine, Marie - just remember that if you hurt yourself, you'll be
hurting me, too."

She nodded again, and I felt her begin to let some of her weight down so
that my penis was pressing more firmly against the entrance to her
vagina. I could only hope that the little bit that I'd been able to
stretch her before was still working and that it would be enough.

Marie slowly let more and more of her weight come to rest at the point
where the head of my manhood was splitting her labia. At first, I
thought that it simply wasn't going to happen, but as the pressure
steadily increased, I could feel her tight opening begin to spread. It
wasn't much, and it was slow, but it was progress for her.

My hands were on her hips, and all I was doing was helping to steady
here - I was being most careful not to apply any downward pressure: I
expected that unless she knew she was in full control, the effort to get
me inside her would only make her nervous and fearful. The only thing I
thought of that might help her was to lean forward again and use my
mouth and lips and tongue to tease her breasts, in the hope that the
added stimulation would increase her arousal enough to make it possible
for her to get me inside.

After a minute or so, she eased up in her efforts to fit herself onto my
penis; then, after taking a few deep breaths, she tried again. Whether
it was the added lubrication of her earlier effort, that she relaxed a
little more, or my efforts at her breasts, I don't know - but she did
make more progress: to me, it felt like I was on the cusp of slipping
inside her when she backed off again. A few more deep breaths, and she
was back at it once more.

That time, I could feel that she quickly got as far as her most recent
attempt. A few seconds more, a little more weight lowered, and I
suddenly slipped through the tight ring of her opening. She gave a small
squeak and immediately froze over me. When heard her, I immediately took
hold of her small waist and tried to support her as best I could; she
managed to look up at me, and gave me a small smile of appreciation.

I asked her "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

The look on her face in response to that was one of pride and
satisfaction as she told me "I'm fine, Dan. No, it doesn't hurt - it
just kind of surprised me when it just kind of popped in like that, is
all."

"You're sure you don't want to stop, of get off?"

Her initial response was an emphatic "No way!"; then seeing the concern
on my face, she hastened to assure me "Really, Dan. It's okay. Now that
I've got you inside me, I'm not going to stop until it's over!"

After a few moments, she carefully lifted herself up a trifle, then
settled back down - and gained another tiny fraction of an inch more
progress. A second later, she did it again, with the same results.

Over the next couple of minutes, she slowly impaled herself on my
further and further that way: lifting up a bit, then lowering herself
again to get a little more of my erect penis inside her. As nice as it
felt to have her incredibly tight and wet sheath slowly enveloping my
penis, I was worried about her enough that the sensations she was
creating around me were nowhere near moving me toward my release. If
anything, they were only sufficient to keep me hard enough for her to
continue her efforts.

Finally she was sliding up and down the end of my penis fairly freely
when we both felt the head of my penis come up against the obstruction
of her hymen. When that happened, I heard her release another small
noise - but understood it to be one of surprise, not pain or discomfort.

She settled herself down so that her maidenhead was resting firmly
against my glans before looking into my face and asking "Is this the
part that's going to hurt?"

I tried to give her a reassuring smile (how reassuring could I be when I
wasn't the one being deflowered?), and answered "That's up to you, dear.
I think if you take your time and go slow, you can find out how easy we
can get past this point. I can only offer just this one bit of advice."

She looked at me expectantly, and I told her "If something hurts, don't
do that."

She gave me a look of exasperation, then smiled and said "Okay, Dan,
I'll do that. I mean, I won't. Whatever."

With a look of deep concentration, she started sliding herself up and
down as much of my penis as she had inside her; I continued to steady
her so she could focus on what SHE was doing.

After a couple of 'warm-up' moves, she began pressing herself against me
with each downward movement; I could feel myself bumping against her
hymen, but it didn't seem to hurt her any, so I could only trust her to
act intelligently on her own behalf.

It was perhaps a minute later when I felt myself bump against her
maidenhead, a brief resistance, then on past it a bit before she
stopped. I was watching her face closely and saw her wince briefly, but
nothing more - no noise, no tears.

She looked up at me again, the delight clear on her face as she told me
"I did it! You're inside me! I'm not a virgin any more!"

She saw the worry on my face, and sobered (slightly) before I asked "It
looked like it hurt you a little. Are you all right?"

Her smile added weight to her words when she told me "No, it didn't
hurt. It kind of felt like something pulled on me inside, and it was
uncomfortable for a second, but no, no pain."

I looked at her closely, and she nodded as she said "Really, Dan. It
feels good!" - the last part with a lusty grin.

What else could I do or say? Nothing but smile, reach down to give her a
gentle pat on the butt, and say "I'm glad for you, Marie" - and get a
big smile in return.

With The Deed taken care of, the rest was relatively easy for her - it
was just a matter of gradually working herself farther and farther onto
my erection, being careful to stretch her insides no more or faster than
she was comfortable with. With one last downward push, her cute butt
settled into my lap as the tight ring of her entrance closed around the
base of my member; the head of it was firmly resting against the
furthest wall of her hot, wet, oh-so-tight vagina.

Firmly impaled on me, she took a little time to kind of 'go inside'
herself, familiarizing herself with how it felt to have someone inside
her in way she'd never experienced before as she tried a few small
tentative motions to see what effect they had on her.

After a while, she 'came back' and looked into my face with a happy
smile as she said "Being with Robyn and Sandra was nice - really nice -
but this feels way better! I think I'll like being with girls, but guys
are going to be a LOT more fun!"

I smiled back, and she began moving herself on me - small movements at
first, but as her comfort and confidence grew, so did the range and
enthusiasm of her activity. When she was taking nearly my entire length
easily, I had a look at where I was sliding into her; I saw a few faint
traces of blood, but nothing more. Apparently, it had been a lot easier
and less painful for her than either one of us could have reasonably
hoped for.

Even so, I was still amazed when, several minutes later, I felt her
action on my penis noticeably speed up for a minute or so before she
suddenly settled onto my lap again and gasped out in what could only
have been an orgasm. A small one, granted - but an orgasm none the less.
I had no doubt about what it was because I could feel her already-tight
vagina begin clenching around me so tightly that it was almost painful,
and as I watched her, I could see her body going through a series of
spasms that matched the tightness she was creating around my member.

It was a small orgasm, though, and didn't last very long - but when it
was over, she looked at me in clear delight as she said "That felt so
good! It wasn't as hard as what I have when you or Robyn or Sandra use
your mouth on me, but it felt so much deeper than the other ones I've
had."

With that, she started raising and lowering her body again: lifting up
until the ring of her opening was just behind the crown of my penis,
then dropping back down again until we both felt the end of my dick
bumping against the deepest part of her.

I could only envy the energy and enthusiasm of her youth - and be
grateful that I was being included in it.

Still, her youth did have its limitations - a little longer, and I could
tell that she was starting to get tired. I managed to capture her hips
again, and held her down until she opened her eyes to look at me.

"You're getting tired" - it was a statement, not a question, I directed
to her.

"A little bit - but I don't want to stop; it feels too good!"

I gave a little laugh - I knew she was sure to keep her husband happy,
whoever that lucky guy might be - and said "We don't have to stop; you
can just let ME do some of the work, instead."

She considered that for a moment, then smiled and said "Yeah, that would
be good, too."

"You know that there are different ways that we can make love?"

"You mean positions? Sure."

"Which one would you like to try next?" I asked with a grin.

She grinned back and said "Anything that's easy for you - I just want to
keep going!"

"Me behind you?" I offered.

She nodded her head in agreement, and I released my hold on her hips so
that she could slide herself off of me. She lifted up, and when the head
of my penis pulled out of her, she released a small moan of
disappointment. Still, she quickly moved to get on her hands and knees,
watching me in anticipation, a "What are you waiting for?" look on her
face.

As I moved to get behind her, I had to reflect on the changes she and
Michelle had gone through since they'd come to stay with us. For Marie,
the transition from the fearful, shy, quiet little girl I'd first seen
to the confident, bawdy, extrovert I was sharing a bed with was amazing.

As I moved in behind her, the sight of her nearly took my breath away:
the firm globes of her ass pointed right at me, below them the dark
smudge of her pubic hair was neatly divided by her glistening extended
labia, the dark pink entrance to her vagina visible between them.

I positioned myself close, then eased my hips back and pressed my
erection down so that it was wedged against her opening. Holding myself
steady with one hand, I barely had time to put the other on her waist
before she was pressing herself back against me - and watched as her
efforts caused her wet sheath to wrap itself around the head of my
erection.

I quickly put the other hand on her waist and held her steady as I
pushed my hips forward, slowly burying myself in her hot, tight channel
- accompanied by her low groan of pleasure at being filled again.

In less than a minute, I was pistoning in and out of her in a slow,
steady motion that seemed to please her tremendously. After a bit, I
leaned forward and took her breasts in my hands, feeling their firm
spongy mass shift slightly in response to my thrusts. I began rolling
her erect nipples between my fingers and gently pulling and pinching
them; she responded with an increase in the intensity and frequency of
her aroused moans.

The pace I set for my thrusts into her was such that it was more than
enough to keep me fully erect in her, but not so stimulating that I was
at any risk of climaxing too soon. She'd said that she wanted to make
love more, and that was what I was going to do for her. This was her
first time to be with a man, and I was determined to make it as pleasant
and memorable for her as I could manage.

Over the course of the next twenty minutes or so, she had three more
orgasms - each a little more powerful than the one before. Any man she
blessed by taking to bed was going to be left feeling like a king from
the way she responded to making love.

By the time she recovered from the third, I could see that she was
getting tired again - small wonder - and held myself still in her until
she managed to look back at me over her shoulder. When she did, I told
her "You look kind of tired again - how about we change around so you
can rest, too?"

She didn't argue; she just nodded her head with a lusty grin.

I pulled back until my penis slid out of her - another moan of
disappointment from her - and she asked "What now?"

"How about the old standby: you on the bottom, me on top?"

She smiled her agreement, and moved to lie on her back, spreading her
thighs in open invitation (as if I had any doubt!). As I moved between
her thighs, she looked up at me and said "I... I want to see. You know,
while we..."

I grinned and said "We can do that."

I reached down and slid each arm under her legs, so that they were
'draped' across my elbows - she was still small enough that she didn't
weigh enough for it to be uncomfortable, and it put enough of an arch in
her back that by lifting her head, she could clearly see where her
vaginal lips were parting her pubic hair. I heard her softly say "I
didn't know I looked like that..." before I eased myself forward enough
to get the head of my glistening erection wedged against her mons.

Helpfully, she reached down between us and guided me so that I slid down
between her labia and held me there while I adjusted my position a bit.
She felt me begin to press into her and guided me until she was sure I
wasn't going to veer off in a different direction than she wanted. When
her hand was out of the way, both of us watched as my penis slowly
disappeared between the folds of her vaginal lips - she with a long, low
groan of pleasure and arousal as it happened. Only after I was fully
inside her did she tell me "I... I didn't think it would look so
sexy..."

I just grinned and told her "Keep watching. It gets better."

She looked at me as though such a thing weren't possible, but did as I
said; and gasped when I began to pull back out of her, and she saw her
labia pulling out, too, as though they were trying to hold my penis
inside her. She uttered a throaty "Oh, God!" at the sight, and watched,
mesmerized, as I reversed direction and eased myself back into her.

When I was embedded in her again, she let her head fall back and quietly
announced "I can watch it happen while I'm feeling it, and it's so
sexy..."

With those words, I began pumping in and out of her again. With the
position we were in, and the angle I was entering her, I couldn't enter
her far enough to touch the deepest part of her vagina; instead I was
impacting it more toward the 'front'. Being a guy, I obviously don't
know if there is such a thing as a 'G' spot - but I will vouch for the
fact that Marie got an inordinate degree of pleasure each time I thrust
myself into her. In just a few minutes, she had another orgasm - by far
her strongest. Several minutes later, another, stronger still.

As I continued my steady pistoning in and out of her she continued
having orgasms, ever growing in intensity, several minutes apart.
Between the sight of my penis disappearing into her tight sheath, the
liquid sounds of our union and her cries of pleasure, and the feeling of
her hot, tight vagina spasming around me with each of her climaxes, it
wasn't too long before I felt myself getting closer and closer to my own
release.

As the pace of my thrusts increased, the time between Marie's orgasms
decreased; when I reached the point that I was all but jack hammering
into her, she was having what seemed like a single, continuous climax.
Finally, it was too much for me, and with a deep groan, I pressed myself
into her as far as I could, feeling the first hot jet of my cum racing
toward the head of my penis. Even as I was washing her cervix with that
first spray of semen, Marie's eyes flew open and she all but screamed as
her body froze beneath me. Though her body was still, her vagina wasn't:
it clamped down on me again before it started a rhythmic spasming that
ran from the base of my penis toward the head before starting over
again. The feeling of it was incredible, and I felt myself squirting my
cum into her even more powerfully under the added stimulation she was
giving me.

It was with a mixture of relief and regret that I finally stopped
unloading my hot jism in her - relief that the amazing intensity of it
was over, and regret for that same reason. Beneath me, Marie was going
through the final throes of her release, her body shuddering as spasms
continued to wash through her.

I carefully eased my arms from behind her legs and eased them down onto
the bed, scooting myself back a bit so that she could straighten out a
bit, too. But I was careful to keep my still-erect penis from pulling
out of her; after how enthusiastic as she'd been about having me make
love to her, I thought she'd want me inside as long as possible.

I was supporting my weight on my elbows and knees as she gradually got
her breath and senses back. I was watching her when she opened her eyes
and looked up at me, a big smile creasing her face. She started to move,
and realized that I'd let her legs down - and that I was still inside
her. Her eyes got big as saucers as she asked me "You're still hard?
Inside me?"

I grinned and said "No, not hard all the way, but mostly. And you can
tell that I'm still inside you."

She grinned back and said "We can make love some more?"

It was at that point that I wished I'd had a little warning or something
about how enthusiastic and/or insatiable she'd be - I could have started
on a special high-energy diet or something.

I sighed and smiled before telling her "No, dear, I'm sorry - we can't
make love any more for a while. You see, I'm old and worn out, so I just
don't have enough youth and energy to keep up with you."

She made a face at me and answered "Oh, pooh. You're not old and worn
out; you're mature and experienced - plenty experienced enough to take
care of me!" - the last with a lusty grin. I couldn't help but grin back
at her.

She looked into my face and asked "Why are you still in me? I mean, I
felt you squirt in me. It was so hot, and I could feel it every time you
squirted, and it just hit me so hard."

"I'm still in you because I thought you might like to have me there. But
if you don't, I'll just pull out now."

"Don't you dare!" she exclaimed, before realizing that I'd been teasing
her.

I grinned at her, and she gave me a surprisingly shy grin back before
telling me "I like having you inside me, and I want you to stay there as
long as you can. It feels really, really nice."

So I stayed there, as long as I could, while she happily told me how it
had felt for her when I was making love to her - something that delayed
the shrinking process considerably. But there was no stopping it
completely, and it got to the point where I knew that there wasn't
anything else to do but uncork from her. She seemed to realize it to,
and calmly accepted the inevitable. I had her draw her knees up and tilt
her pelvis up before I did, though, explaining to her that it would give
me a little time to grab a towel for her. She understood what the towel
was for, and surprised me by blushing slightly. On the count of three, I
pulled back from her and quickly moved to grab one of the conveniently
located towels, and positioning it under her. She let her hips lower
then, and made a face as the combination of our fluids began to flow out
of her.

I told her "Hold on a minute", and quickly went into the bathroom she
shared with Robyn and Sandra, got a couple of washcloths, dampened them
with some warm water, and went back to her. I used one of them to begin
cleaning her up, and she started to protest. I just told her "Hush up. I
did it, and I'm going to clean it up." She stuck her tongue out at me,
but did as she was told - gasping slightly when she saw the faint tinge
of pink on the washcloth. By the time I was done, pretty she'd pretty
much emptied out, and she sat up, insisting that since I got to clean
her off, it was her duty to do the same for me. I conceded the point,
and as she was doing so, we heard a discrete knock at the door, followed
by Lucy's voice telling us "There's water and something to eat on a tray
out here. When you're done with it, just set it back outside and we'll
take care of it."

We heard a little more noise, then silence.

When Marie had me cleaned off to her satisfaction - I was clean sooner
than she stopped wiping at me; I think she just wanted to play with my
penis - she took the washcloth I still had hold of. Putting both of them
in her hand, she reached down to tuck the towel close and got to her
knees, telling me "You can get the tray while I'm in the bathroom."

I laughed and gave her a salute - making her smile - and did as she
said.

When she came out, she looked as fresh and clean as she had when I first
undressed her; she quickly came over to where I was propped up against
the headboard and collected a bottle of club soda and a sandwich. We
quietly chatted with each other as we replenished our energy and fluid
reserves.

By the time we were done, the food was all gone, and there were still a
couple bottles of water unopened. Marie waited in bed as I collected the
empty bottles and set them on the tray with the empty plates, then set
the whole thing out in the hall. When I was back in bed with her, she
guided me to lie on my back, and then lay down so she could cuddle up to
my side, one leg over mine and an arm across my chest.

I glanced at the clock, and saw that only a little over two hours had
gone by since we'd entered her bedroom; I could only hope that I'd
survive the rest of the time. As we lay there, both of us drifted off
for a short nap...

I did survive - though barely. The rest of the time Marie and I were
together, we made love several more times, and in a variety of places
and positions. When we took a shower together after our nap, she happily
dropped to her knees and proceeded to use her mouth to get me hard again
- then had me make love to her from behind as both of us stood under the
shower spray. Only after her third orgasm did she have mercy on me and
let us stop so that we could actually clean up.

Later, we got into a session of '69' that left both of us exhausted, and
her temporarily satiated; she'd taken no small delight in teasing me
while I brought her to some number of orgasms - she was barely able to
hold herself over me as she finally brought me to release, eagerly
swallowing my cum as I fired jet after jet of it into her greedy mouth.

I woke up from one nap to discover that she was sleeping on top of me,
my erect penis buried inside her. When she woke up a minute later, she
gave me a lecherous grin and said that she'd rolled me onto my back,
used her mouth to get me hard, and climbed aboard.

We made love on the bed. We made love in the shower. We made love on the
chair. We made love on the floor. She was on top. I was on top. I was
behind her. We were laying down, standing up, and kneeling. Anything and
everything she could think of that would get our parts lined up was in
the play book.

The only thing that I think saved me was the frequent discrete knock on
the door that let us know refreshment was available. No small number of
snacks showed up that way, as did breakfast, and even lunch.

By the time Marie was willing to call an end to it, she'd brought me to
climax no less than seven times in a twenty-four hour period. I lost
track of her orgasms somewhere around sixteen or seventeen.

Both of us were on the bed recovering from out last go-around (Marie
sitting on my erect penis while playing with her clitoris through
several orgasms; I couldn't have climaxed again if my life had depended
on it) when I asked her "Okay, dumpling, you think you've had enough for
your first time with a man?"

She gave me a lusty grin, and answered "I guess so."

"You guess so?"

"Well, it's been a LOT of fun, and you made me feel really, really good,
but I'm starting to get a little tired."

A little tired. Dear God in heaven, take me now!

We rested for a little while longer, and then had another shower
together. Much to my surprise, she didn't try to get me 'fired up'
again; if anything, she was quite solicitous of me. After we were dried
and dressed again, I put my pistol back on and she opened the door so we
could go downstairs. When she did, the draft of fresh air from the hall
made it obvious that her room would probably have to be fumigated to get
the smell of aroused female out of the walls.

Hand in hand, we made our way downstairs to where Lucy and Michelle were
having coffee in the breakfast nook. I sat down next to Lucy, who looked
at me in sympathy while Michelle's expression clearly stated that she
didn't expect me to survive the night. Marie stood there a few moments
before Michelle asked her "Did everything go okay, honey?"

Marie gave her a radiant smile and answered "Oh, yes, momma - it didn't
hurt at all."

"And you think you like making love?"

"Oh, yes - it was wonderful" Marie answered, her face lighting up like
one of those big spotlights they use for special events.

"I'm glad, honey", Michelle told her.

"Is it okay if I go to Sandra and Robyn?"

"Of course, dear."

We all knew what she was going to talk to them about, of course. When
she was gone, Lucy announced to nobody in particular "I don't think
'Marvelous' even comes close to what she felt."

Lucy turned to me then and sympathetically asked "How are you? Are YOU
going to survive?"

"I'm not sure. With luck, no."

Lucy laughed and said "We heard the two of you a couple of times, early
on. Michelle was worried that Marie was hurt the first time, but I
stopped her and asked if that really sounded like anybody was in pain."

Michelle blushed and said "Well, I really didn't expect her to holler
out like that. But when Lucy asked me, I realized that if anything, she
was having a better time than I ever did!"

Lucy looked at me mischievously and asked "So what was the final score?"

I gave her a baleful look and answered "Seven for me, lot's more than
that for her. I lost track around seventeen or so - but that was real
early this morning."

I could see the shock and surprise on both their faces as Michelle asked
"You're sure it was that many? She's only fifteen, and I figured she'd
be sore and such! I sure was!"

I mentally tallied up to where I lost count, and verified "Yup,
seventeen. That was about four this morning; there were a bunch more
since then. I don't know about sore or anything - she barely bled at
all, and claimed that it didn't even hurt; just a kind of pulling or tug
inside. Judging from the way she acted, I'm going to have to believe
her. She's real enthusiastic, she is."

Lucy gave a small laugh and said "I guess so!"

Michelle stood up and went to get a cup and brought it over to me before
filling it with coffee. Looking at me in sympathy, she said "I reckon
you need this, if that's how it was. And Dan, I'm thanking you for
making it so good for her - it's pretty obvious she isn't going to be
having any troubles about men."

"The only trouble she's going to have with men is the ones that are
afraid of her after she wears them out!" I answered, making both of them
laugh.

Lucy told me "We waited on supper, since we figured you'd be out about
this time. What do you want to eat?"

"Pretty much anything. Killing and cooking it are optional."

Lucy gave me a sympathetic smile and said "How about pizza? Your
favorite: pepperoni and sausage, extra cheese?"

"Deal. But the next time somebody wants me to deflower a sixteen year
old, I want at LEAST a couple months warning, so I can work up to it."

Michelle and Lucy both laughed until tears streaked their faces. I just
drank my coffee, hoping that it would jump-start my heart.

Lucy got up and ordered the pizza; when it arrived, all of us gathered
in the living room to eat it. Lucy sat next to me, indulgently, while
Marie sat on my lap. Marie carefully fed me slices of MY pizza as she
ate some of the other two we got, holding my bottle of beer to my lips
when I indicated I needed a drink. I think I surprised everyone by
eating even more than Robyn did - there wasn't a bit left of my medium,
while there were still a couple slices of the other two.

When we were done eating, Lucy surprised me by bringing out a bottle of
champagne and glasses. After getting it opened and distributed among us,
she announced "This to help Marie celebrate her change from virginal
maid to experienced woman - Cheers!"

Marie surprised me by blushing furiously, but all of us lifted our
glasses in toast.

Later that night, when Lucy and I were alone in bed, she asked me
"Really, Dan - how many orgasms did she have?"

"I'm serious - it was seventeen when I lost count."

She looked at me doubtfully, and I raised a hand as though taking an
oath and said "Really. Surprised the hell out of me, too. I mean, they
weren't your pass-out-afterward kind, but there wasn't any doubt that
they were orgasms. She liked to have killed me."

Lucy grinned and said "Oh, I don't think it was all that bad, was it?"

"There were parts of it that were right nice, I'll admit. But she was
like the Energizer Bunny with his batteries in backwards: instead of
going and going, she just kept coming and coming and coming and..."

That got Lucy laughing, and after a bit, I couldn't help but join in
with her. When both of us had settled down, she looked at me in sympathy
again and said "If it was really that bad, I think Michelle and I can
give you a couple days to recuperate before one of us comes looking for
some loving."

I gave her my best moon-eyed look and solemnly answered "Thank you,
thank you, thank you!" - getting her laughing all over again.

When she was done, she turned onto her side and wriggled back at me,
spooning with my front before pulling my arm around to cup her breast.
With a deep sigh, I dropped right off to sleep...

At breakfast the next morning, Robyn and Sandra were looking at me with
something akin to awe. Michelle and Lucy both noticed it, and shared an
amused smile. I was still too damn tired to care.

During the following week, I found myself making love not only with my
wife, but both of our guests as well.

It was one night when Michelle was with us that our 'family secret' came
out.

The three of us had finished making love and were resting against the
headboard when there was a knock at the bedroom door. Without even
thinking about it, Lucy called out "Come in!" - and when the door
opened, it was a very sleepy, very naked Sandra that came into our room.
She was rubbing her eyes and didn't see Michelle as she announced "I had
a really bad dream - can I go ahead and sleep with you tonight?"

Michelle could only sit there stunned as Lucy and I gave each other an
"Oh, crap, now what do we do?" look.

Sandra turned as was facing us from the foot of the bed - leaving all of
us with a very clear view of her - before she quit rubbing her eyes and
saw who all was present. The look on her face made it clear that she
knew she'd just opened up a BIG can of worms.

Michelle just sat there, looking at her for several long seconds before
turning to look at Lucy, then me. Both of us just looked back at her,
saying nothing.

A few more seconds went by before Michelle quietly asked us "I'm
guessing this isn't the first time?"

Lucy answered "No, not the first time."

A couple seconds, then "Robyn, too?"

"Yes" from Lucy.

Several seconds more, and Michelle asked "Both of them... with both of
you?"

"Yes" Lucy confirmed.

"How? Why?" Michelle asked, scooting around to face Lucy, leaving a gap
behind.

Lucy took a deep breath, and began to explain how she and I had met in
more detail than she'd offered before. As she was talking, I mouthed
"Robyn" to Sandra, and gestured with my head; Sandra nodded and left us,
reappearing a minute later with a very nervous Robyn. I gestured to both
of them, and they quietly climbed up onto the bed with us, electing to
sit next to me and pull my arms around them.

Michelle was listening intently to Lucy, and didn't seem to notice the
addition - until Lucy had explained how it had all come out that I had
been involved with Robyn and Sandra with her knowledge, and how she and
the girls had come to share their love with each other.

Only then did Michelle look over toward me, and see that the girls were
on either side of me - my arms around them as they held my hands, their
faces making it clear that they were afraid of what she would do or say.
Looking intensely at each of them, she asked "That night you were
talking about the man that you gave your virginity to, and the man that
you love so much. Him?"

Both of them nodded slowly, and I saw Michelle give me an unfathomable
look before turning back to Lucy and saying "This is some kind of
surprise, learnin' about all this, this way. I'm gonna have to think on
it some. I'll be goin' to my own bed, now - seems you've got enough
company for tonight already."

With that, she calmly scooted to the edge of the bed, got up, and
quietly walked out of our bedroom.

There wasn't anything for the rest of us to say, except for Sandra who
hesitantly told us "I'm sorry, Uncle Dan and Aunt Lucy."

I gave her a hug and reassured her "Its okay, Sandra. We know you didn't
do it on purpose."

Robyn looked up at me and asked "What's she going to do, Dad?"

I sighed and said "I don't know, Short Stuff. I guess we'll find out
when she's ready."

Lucy gestured for the two of them to come to her, and they did - and all
three of them started to quietly cry as they hugged each other for
reassurance. I went over and put my arms around all of them, to give and
seek solace with them.

When the tears were gone, and they'd dried their faces, we shared a
round of kisses and went to bed - Robyn and Sandra in the middle, Lucy
and I bracketing them.

The next couple of days were tense for all of us. Though nobody said
anything to her, Marie seemed to know that something had changed, but
didn't outright ask about it - even after seeing Robyn and Sandra each
on my lap at different times.

In the meantime, Lucy, the girls, and I didn't treat Michelle or Marie
any differently than we had before - Marie was still comfortable with
spending a night with Sandra and Robyn. Michelle just watched all of us,
even as she was putting up a front that everything was fine for Marie.

It was the third morning after Michelle learned about us that she stayed
downstairs with Lucy and I after the girls had all gone off to their
studies - Robyn and Sandra to their schools, Marie to her computer.

She looked from one to the other of us for a few moments before saying
"That was some kind of surprise, learning that you two have been layin'
with those two girls of yours. What surprised me most was learnin' about
it after you two - hell, all of you - have done so much for me and
Marie. I've got to tell you that it bothered me - bothered me something
fierce. I've been thinking on it, these last couple of days - what you
told me, Lucy, and what I've seen about all of you since me and Marie
have been here. God's honest truth, there was a couple times thought I
should be callin' somebody to take them away from you - like maybe the
police or some such."

Lucy took my hand at that, and I could feel how cold her fingers were -
and knew that she was absolutely terrified at the thought of losing
Robyn and Sandra; never mind the possibility of going to jail.

I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze just as Michelle started talking to
us again.

"But I don't reckon I can do that. Whatever else is going on, I know
that you two aren't doing anything to hurt those girls. What I finally
figured out was that what you're doing isn't for everybody, not by a
long shot - but its right for you."

Michelle looked at me and said "I remembered what you told me out in
your office that day, Dan - and what it meant. I couldn't see how
somebody that could love another person the way you love Lucy and those
youngsters could do anything to hurt them, in any way. And I thought
about how you were about helping Marie out when she said she didn't want
to be a virgin any more - and I figured that anybody that had that much
of a time with her wouldn't have done any less with Robyn and Sandra.
From what I've seen of those two, if they weren't willing to be layin'
with you, they'd be more than able to tell someone - if they didn't take
care of it themselves."

Looking at each of us again, Michelle went on to tell us "More than
anything else, though, was what I knew, knew mind you, about all of you:
that you all love each other, a whole lot more than I ever even thought
people could love someone else. I know that if I was to bring the law in
here, I wouldn't be RIGHTING a wrong, I'd be DOING one to someone else:
all of you good people."

Next to me, I felt the tension drain out of Lucy, and she turned to give
me a relieved smile before Michelle said "What you all have, well, it's
something special. Way too special for the likes of me to be messing it
up - not after where I've been and who I've been with. Like I just told
you, I ain't saying that what you all do is right for everyone. But it's
right for YOU - all of you. What you've give me and Marie, it ain't but
a fart in a hurricane compared to what you have with each other. And
after all you've done for us - not just lettin' us stay here, but what
you've taught both of us about what it means to be good people, and
showin' us how we could be like that, too - I know that what I started
out thinking about you and those girls couldn't have been right. For
that, I'm apologizing to you - even if I didn't come out as say
anything, or do anything to cause offense, I know it wasn't right. You
know what finally made me realize that I was thinking wrong about you?"

Lucy and I both shook our heads, and Michelle smiled before saying
"Watching all of you these last couple of days. I knew that all of you
were worried about what I might say or do - but I could see that all of
you loved each other too much to let ME get in the way of it. You just
kept loving each other, without fussin' or fightin' - and you were the
same way with Marie; and as much as I'd let you, me. I knew that any
group of people with that much love and caring for each other deserved
better than to be broke up for any reason."

With a deep breath, Michelle went on to tell us "The thing of it is, is
that Marie loves all of you - the way that you love each other and her,
I think - and I know that I love you, too. I couldn't love either one of
those girls of yours any more if they were mine; and you've treated
Marie as good as if she was YOUR own. I don't know if I can do it, but I
want to try to show you two, and those two young un's, that I love you
and them, too."

With that, Lucy started to quietly cry as she reached out to take
Michelle's hand - and I saw Michelle start crying herself. After a few
moments, the two of them got up and moved close, hugging each other. I
got up, too, and joined them; Michelle readily opened an arm to make
room for me.

After a bit, Michelle asked "You're not vexed at me?", her concern clear
in her voice. Lucy managed to stop sniffling long enough to say "No, not
vexed. I think Dan and I both understand that you had to think about it
- because WE did, too, before any of this happened."

Michelle looked at each of us again before saying "Yeah, I reckon you
did, at that" before hugging us again.

A few minutes later, we broke up, taking our seats again at the table in
the breakfast nook. Lucy's makeup was a wreck, and she started dabbing
at it before realizing that she'd basically just have to clean it all
off and start over. Finally, she announced "Oh, hell with it. I'm just
going to go upstairs and take another shower; after all this, I need
it!"

Hesitantly, Michelle offered "If you don't mind, I'd be willing to come
along and scrub your back. Seeing as how it was me that caused all this,
anyway."

Lucy smiled and answered "I think I'd like that" before reaching over to
pat Michelle's hand.

Together, the two of them stood up and made their way out of the
kitchen. I watched them go, and sat there a while longer, drinking my
coffee.

When I went upstairs some time later, I saw that they had apparently
gotten each other's motors going: both were lying on the bed, shining
faintly with perspiration as they held hands. I looked down at them and
smiled; after a couple seconds, they seemed to realize they weren't
alone any longer and looked at me in return before Lucy smiled and said
"We decided that we still love each other."

"So I see. Is there any reason that I can't show Michelle that I still
love her, too?"

Lucy grinned - as did Michelle - before she answered "Not a one - except
that I'm already late for work, so it'll be just you two."

I grinned back and told her "No, you're not late for work. You're home,
sick - I called in for you."

Surprised, Lucy looked at me as I told her "I kinda figured that today
would be a good day to love."

She smiled widely and nodded before saying "Yes, I think it would.
Thanks for calling in for me."

With that, she and Michelle shared a Look, and then started moving
toward me. When they were close enough to touch me, Michelle said "It
looks like you're overdressed for this shindig, Dan."

I looked down and smiled; somehow, I didn't think that it was going to
be a problem much longer.

When the girls got home from school that afternoon, they would have seen
that Lucy's car was still in it's parking spot; they came right up to
see if she was okay - and discovered that she was a bit more than just
'okay': she was being supported by me and Michelle, who had brought her
to a thundering orgasm just a few minutes before.

They could only stand there, somewhat stunned to see that Michelle had
apparently not only decided against causing any trouble for us, but
opted to return to sharing our love.

When Michelle saw them, she smiled and said "I expect that this is
pretty much of a surprise to you. But I finally decided that you all
loved each other, and Marie and I loved you, too much to get in the way
of that love. Dan and Lucy both understood that it was something I had
to work out for myself. Now that I have, would you let ME love you,
too?"

Robyn and Sandra shared a look with each other that clearly said "Damned
if I know what happened..." before both moved to where Michelle
gestured. When they were close enough, she leaned over and kissed them -
not just on the cheek, but on the mouth. And from the way their eyes
opened, I expect that it was a more enthusiastic kiss than either of
them expected - but both responded in kind.

When they were done, Michelle tilted her head and asked "Now, why don't
you two shuck those clothes and join us? I reckon the bed's plenty big
enough for us..."

Both girls looked at me, and I smiled to let them know it was okay - and
after only the briefest hesitation, both did just as Michelle asked.
When they were naked and in bed with us, Michelle first kissed Robyn,
then Sandra - and in both cases, the kiss went on for no small time,
ending only after the two kissing had reached up to cup the other's
breast.

By that time, Lucy had recovered enough that she was able to look on, an
expression of bemusement on her face.

Perhaps a half hour later, Sandra was sitting on my lap as Robyn was in
a three-way molestation with Lucy and Michelle when we heard Marie's
voice asking "Has anyone seen Robyn or Sandra? They should be home from
school by now and...." - her voice trailing off as she came into the
bedroom to see all of us naked on the bed.

She just stood there a few seconds watching all of us, when Michelle
caught sight of her. Michelle released Robyn's left breast, and Lucy's
right one, and turned to Marie to say "Honey, I found out a couple days
ago that Dan has been making love with Robyn and Sandra, too, before we
got here. It surprised me, and it took me a couple of days to remember
how much they love each other, and that I love them, too."

Without even blinking, Marie asked "What took you so long, momma?"

Michelle answered "Well, sometimes it just takes me a little while, is
all. Does it bother you that Dan makes love with Robyn and Sandra?"

"Of course not, momma. I know he loves them, even more than he loves you
and me. And I know they love him, too - so why shouldn't they make love
with each other?"

With that response, Michelle just sat there, just blinking for a few
seconds before turning to me and asking "Does everyone but me understand
this love thing you have going on?"

I smiled and said "No, you understand it, too - you just let something
distract you from it for a little while, is all."

Michelle nodded in understanding, and then turned back to Marie to say
"You might as well join us, too, honey - God knows, the bed's big
enough!"

Without hesitation or concern, Marie did just that: took her clothes off
as if it was perfectly normal to disrobe in front of five other people,
and climbed in to join us. When she did, Robyn unobtrusively eased over
to be with Lucy, leaving Michelle and Marie to themselves. Without
appearing to do so, I think all of us watched the two of them.

Marie moved into her mother's arms, saying "I love you, momma. I'm glad
we got to come here and stay."

Michelle hugged her, and answered "I love you, too, honey. And I'm glad
we did, too."

With that, Marie tilted her head back and, without a qualm, moved to
kiss Michelle - square on the lips. Michelle was surprised, but quickly
got over it, and kissed her daughter back; in less than a minute, each
of them was cupping the other's breast.

When their lips finally parted, Marie looked up at Michelle and asked
"Momma, if it's okay for Dan and Lucy to make love with Robyn and
Sandra, does that mean its okay for us to make love, too?"

Startled, Michelle hesitated only moment before answering "I guess it
does, honey."

"Good. Because I know how lonely you got sometimes when we still lived
with Daddy, and how afraid I was there. Now we can make love with each
other, so both of us can be happy again."

Michelle's eyes misted a bit at that, and there was a definite catch in
her throat when she said "Yes, honey, it does" before tilting her head
down to kiss Marie again.

When their lips parted again, Michelle asked "Marie, would it be okay if
I made you happy now?"

Marie just smiled and said "Of course, momma", and moved to lie down,
looking at her mother lovingly. Michelle sat up, and then turned around
so that she was kneeling next to Marie, facing her. Looking down,
Michelle softly said "You're so beautiful, Marie. I never realized just
how beautiful you are until just now."

Marie beamed and responded by telling her mother "And you're beautiful,
too, momma. I love you so much, and I'm glad you want to make love with
me."

Michelle smiled again, and leaned over to kiss Marie - a kiss that ended
only after both of them had put both hands on the other's breasts, and
teased the nipples to erection. When they came up for air, the love was
clear in both sets of eyes - along with no small measure of desire.

Michelle leaned forward again, but her new target was Marie's breast;
taking it's nipple into her mouth, Michelle soon had her daughter
panting softly in desire before moving to give the youngster's other
breast the same treatment. Even as she was doing so, her hand came to
rest on Marie's belly - and began traveling south, soon coming in
contact with the soft, dark mass that covered her own daughter's pubic
mound. A few seconds more, and her hand dipped between Marie's thighs -
causing Marie to groan at her mother's intimate contact with the core of
her femininity.

In return, Marie reached out to softly place her hand on the inside of
Michelle's thigh - then slowly caress her way upwards, until her hand
was cupping her mother's sex. At the touch of her daughter's hand on her
mons, Michelle shuddered slightly - from the way her nipples erected, we
knew that it was arousal, and not aversion.

Over the next several minutes, Michelle continued to nurse at Marie's
breasts and let her fingers toy with the youngster's most intimate
places; in return, Marie kept her hand between her mother's thighs,
returning the favor.

It wasn't long before Michelle's hand was displaced in favor of her
mouth: turning around, Michelle leaned forward again to slowly place her
head between Marie's well-spread smooth, firm thighs - and a moment
later, we heard Marie's groan softly in response to her mother's
actions. With the two of them obviously focused on each other, the rest
of us began to openly watch them.

Marie just lay back on the bed, writhing slightly in response to her
mother's tender ministrations, for several minutes before pulling
herself together enough to reach out for one of Michelle's legs -
guiding it back, and over her head so that she could return the oral
favors Michelle was bestowing on her.

Next to me, I heard Robyn say "That looks so hot. I wonder if we look
anything like that when WE make love, mom."

Before Lucy could respond, I told her 'Yes, it does - and so do you two.
Better, even."

Lucy and Robyn both turned to look at me, pleased smiles on their faces,
before going back to watching Michelle and Marie.

As we continued to watch them, we also detected the unique scents that
were Michelle and Marie, as well - along with the sounds of eager
tongues lapping at wet openings, and soft moans and groans of pleasure
and arousal. A few more minutes, and we saw as Marie went through a
small orgasm, followed a couple minutes later by Michelle having her own
release - but both of them continued to tend to the other's desires. It
wasn't long before Marie had another orgasm, then a third in sync with
Michelle's second. A bit later, as Marie cried out her fourth release,
Lucy turned to me and said "After seeing this, now I really believe she
had that many orgasms while she was with you! It's like it's non-stop
with her!"

Robyn and Sandra looked at her, and Lucy explained "Dan told us that
when she was with him, she had seventeen orgasms before he lost track at
four o'clock in the morning. Michelle and I didn't want to believe him -
but now I do!"

Both girls turned to look at Michelle and Marie again, somewhat stunned
to learn just how much passion and pleasure was inside their young
friend. They'd known she was 'enthusiastic', but didn't know that she
could keep going that long.

Michelle and Marie continued to give each other orgasms for the better
part of an hour - with Marie having roughly three smaller climaxes for
each of her mother's larger ones. Finally, Michelle lifted her head -
the lower half of her face shiny with Marie's oils - and all but fell
over onto her back with a BIG smile on her face. When we could see
Marie's face, it was as shiny as Michelle's - and bore an equally happy
expression.

When it became clear that neither one of them was in any condition to
move, Sandra and Robyn got up to get warm washcloths and begin cleaning
them up - and both were amused to discover that the process of cleaning
Michelle's mons resulted in an involuntary lifting of her hips.

While they were doing that, Lucy and I went downstairs to load a couple
of trays with assorted munchies and drinks - we'd agreed that it looked
to be a long afternoon and evening. By the time we got back upstairs,
Marie and Michelle were both semi-alert; with the addition of some food
and liquid refreshment, both began recovering nicely - though they
tended to make cow-eyes at each other for a little while.

It was well after midnight before we all decided to call it quits -
mostly because Robyn and Sandra ganged up on Michelle, leaving her as
little more than a single quivering mass of flesh that probably would
have orgasmed at the slightest touch. For our part, Lucy and I tag-
teamed on Marie, finally exhausting her - but leaving us in only
marginally better shape.

The next morning, I woke up to discover that it was just Lucy, Michelle,
and me in the bed. I sat up to see if perhaps they were in the bathroom;
when I moved, Lucy woke up. When she saw me, she gave me a big smile
from where she was spooning with Michelle. After a moment, she asked
"What are you looking for?"

"The girls."

"Where are they?"

"I don't know - that's why I'm looking for them."

Lucy stuck her tongue out at me, and I leaned over to give her a kiss on
the tip of her nose - and getting a whiff of Marie in the process - and
waking Michelle. As she blinked at me, I gave her a kiss, too - getting
Eau de Sandra - before edging to the side of the bed and standing up. I
was about to walk to the bathroom when all three girls came into the
bedroom, bearing trays - Robyn with cups and lots of coffee, Sandra with
a small pile of cinnamon rolls, and Marie with orange juice. I quickly
took care of my bathroom needs and made my way back to the bed. There,
the youngsters were patiently doling out breakfast, clearly amused at
the condition of the rest of us.

Michelle, Lucy, and I had all gotten a couple cups of coffee and a roll
into ourselves when Michelle asked "Where in the world do they get the
energy?" nodding at the girls. Lucy just laughed and said "I don't know
- but if we could figure out how to tap into it, we'd never have to
import another barrel of oil!"

For their part, the girls just grinned at us before Robyn told us "We
woke up a little while ago, and saw what time it was; we figured you'd
be getting up soon anyway, so we went ahead and made breakfast. When
you're ready, it's downstairs, keeping warm in the oven."

Lucy raised an eyebrow and asked "This isn't breakfast?"

Marie laughed and answered "Oh, no! This was just something to help get
you going; all of you looked like you'd need something just so you'd be
able to get out of bed!"

Michelle and Lucy both laughed when I muttered "Damn kids." - Robyn,
Sandra, and Marie all just grinned, knowing that I wasn't really upset.

When we three elderly folks were able to move again, each of the girls
took one of us into the bathroom and helped us get cleaned up. Robyn
teamed up with Michelle, Sandra with Lucy, and I got Marie. I don't know
about the other two, but I finally decided that there were worse ways of
getting going in the morning than being pampered by a naked, slippery,
conciliatory young girl.

Downstairs in the breakfast nook, all three girls continued their self-
appointed mission of taking care of us by bringing us our breakfast
after they'd gotten us seated. Bacon and cheese omelets, hash browns,
loaves of toast, gallons of coffee, and orange juice by the quart were
made available to us - and all three of us gladly dug in, having nearly
exhausted ourselves the previous evening.

By the time we were done, I think all three of us were feeling
approximately human again - but it was still depressing to watch the
girls scampering around, laughing and smiling, and generally cheering us
up.

I have to admit to being somewhat relieved when Robyn and Sandra finally
left for school; Michelle, Lucy, and I all shared a look of "Thank God
it's over!" - but smiling, none the less.

For the life of me, I don't know how Lucy made it through work that day
- Michelle and I cuddled up for a brief nap right after lunch.

That night, the evening was a LOT more subdued; when bedtime came around
(early), we casually broke into two groups: me, Robyn, and Marie in one;
Lucy, Michelle, and Sandra in the other. Since Lucy actually had to go
someplace the next day, she got our bedroom; I joined Robyn in Marie's
room.

That pretty much set the tone for the next few weeks - weeknights,
various permutations of people would gather for a little mutual fun and
frolicking after an evening of casual fondling and friendly kissing. At
various times, Lucy, Michelle, and I all had one or more of the girls
either on our lap or cuddling with us.

Weekends were something else, entirely - all of us tended to gather in
Lucy's and my bed for mass-molestation exercises and general debauchery.

It was a Thursday night and all of us were sitting in the living room
watching a movie on cable when the phone rang. Since Marie was parked on
Lucy's lap and Robyn and Sandra were cuddling with Michelle, I got up to
answer it.

"Andrews residence" I said.

"Dan? It's Dale Kristofferson. We've made our move against Frenchy, and
we got damn near everybody."

"That's good to hear!"

"There's just one problem - Frenchy and some of his boys got away from
us; damned if I know how. The thing is, he knows who you are, and where
you live - and I'm afraid he's on his way there now. Some cop figured
out who you were, and told him where you live."

At those words, my blood ran cold. I pulled the phone away and told Lucy
"Lucy! Dale made his move, but Frenchy got by him, and he may be on his
way here."

All of them paled, but Lucy managed to ask "What do you want us to do?"

"Get everybody upstairs. Lucy, find a spot where you can watch the top
of the stairs; if you see anybody but me, shoot them. Sandra, get your
weapon and you and Robyn get into one of the closets in our bedroom; if
anybody but me or Lucy opens it, shoot them in the lips." Our closets
were large, walk-in jobs that would hold all four of them easily.

Sandra paled even more, but nodded; all of them got up and started to
move as Lucy asked me "What about you, Dan?"

She went white when she heard me say "I'll be down here, waiting for
them" - the tone of my voice telling her that it wouldn't be with a
bouquet and box of chocolates.

As they started toward the stairs, I put the phone back to my ear and
Dale told me "I heard that, Dan, and I've got cops on the way already;
they'll be there in just a few minutes."

"Fine - but you tell them they'd better stay outside. Anybody that comes
inside is mine."

I could hear the mix of regret and trepidation in his voice as he said
"I'll tell them. We'll be there as soon as we can, Dan."

"I just hope it's in time." I replied before hanging up the phone.

I quickly went upstairs and saw that Lucy had found herself a spot in
the doorway to Robyn's bedroom, where she was almost entirely concealed
by a potted plant when she kneeled down - but that she had a clear view
of the top of the stairs. Next was the bedroom, where the rest were
waiting in the closet, the door open. I had all of them but Sandra lay
down; she remained sitting upright - I figured if bullets started
flying, they'd be at or above waist level. I gave Sandra a kiss, assured
her that everything would be okay, and closed the closet door.

Back out in the hallway, I turned out some of the upstairs lights, so
that anyone coming up the stairs would be looking into the light, but
Lucy would have a nice, well-lit target against a darker background.

Downstairs, I disabled the alarm system so it wouldn't make any noise: I
didn't want any distractions; I knew all the doors and windows were
locked, so having it off meant that I'd be able to hear anyone trying to
break in. That done, the next step was to turn off all the lights so
that I'd have the advantage of dark-adapted vision in my own home - I
knew where all the furniture and things were, so I'd be able to move as
freely and noiselessly as possible while anyone coming in would still be
a little light-blinded and on unfamiliar ground.

As I waited where the living room, dining room, and stairs pretty much
came together, I closed my eyes to help speed the adjustment to night
vision. I heard a couple of cars go by, but neither one stopped.

I was still standing there when I heard something outside the dining
room. I quietly made my way inside, and was standing next to the window
when the glass broke in; a moment later, a head appeared - then went
back outside with an additional half-inch hole in its forehead.

Even as the echoes of my shot died out, I heard more glass break - in
the living room, and in the kitchen. Figuring the living room had more
stuff for whoever it was to trip over, I headed for the kitchen,
slipping diagonally through the doorway so that I had my back to the
wall. Looking around carefully, I saw a shadow rise up in the breakfast
nook. Whoever it was must have seen me, and started to raise a gun a
moment later - but it was a moment too late, because I put a double-tap
right into his chest. He fell backwards with only a grunt at the impact
of the bullets - hollowpoints tended to make people do that.

I was about to head for the living room when I heard Lucy scream; I
quickly went to the stairs, where I could see someone just reaching the
top of them. I recognized him, and yelled "Frenchy!"

As he turned toward me, I heard two shots ring out, and watched as
Frenchy started to fall back down the stairs, dropping the small
automatic pistol he had in his hand. When he hit the floor at the bottom
of the stairs, I was right on top of him - and saw that he'd ended up on
his back, and that he was still alive. Across the side of his shirt,
there were two grooves that were already starting to leak blood; a half-
dollar would have spanned both of them easily - Lucy's shots had both
been in the X-ring, and either would have killed him if he hadn't turned
just as she fired.

When Frenchy got his senses back, the first thing he saw was the muzzle
of my .45 resting on the bridge of his nose. After uncrossing his eyes,
he next looked up at me - and promptly wet himself.

In a very calm, very sincere voice, I told him "If you so much as
breathe funny, I'll cap you. You understand me?"

He very carefully nodded, and I said "Now, raise up your waist and tuck
your hands under your back - very carefully and very slowly if you don't
want your brains splattered all over my floor."

After he'd done exactly as I'd told him, I moved to kneel on his belly -
not a pleasant thing for him, but it made sure he didn't try anything
stupid.

When she saw that I had control over things, Lucy came down the stairs,
her pistol in her hands, looking around. When she got close, I told her
"It's okay - only three tried to get in, and I got the other two. Just
keep everybody out of the kitchen, okay?"

Lucy knew what I was saying to her, and answered "I will. What now?"

That question was answered for me by the arrival of what seemed like
every cop car in town. A minute later, there was a frantic knocking at
the door along with shouts of "Police!"

Lucy went over to the door and checked that it was, in fact, the cops
outside - a lot of them, in fact; satisfied, she carefully safed her
weapon and opened the door for them.

The first couple of cops inside didn't seem to know how to handle the
sight of her standing there with a pistol in her hand, never mind me
kneeling on someone else with my gun in his face. Their quandary was
solved by the appearance of Agent Kristofferson, who told them "She's
okay - so is he. The bad guy is the one on the floor; cuff him and read
him his Miranda."

With things coming under control again, I saw Lucy almost collapse in on
herself in relief. The cops soon had Frenchy cuffed and standing; only
when he was secured was I able to go to her and take her in my arms. I'd
barely hugged her when she said "Upstairs!" - and both of us hurried to
our bedroom, where I called out to Sandra that it was us - and watched
the closet door open to reveal Sandra sitting there with her pistol
cocked, apparently ready to do just as I'd told her. Seeing us, she
started to cry, but kept enough control to carefully let the hammer down
on her pistol before standing up.

A few moments later, all four of them were huddled around Lucy and me,
crying in relief.

That was how Dale found us a minute or two later. He delicately cleared
his throat, and when all of us were looking at him said "We got one
more, in a car down the alley; he didn't give us any trouble. With the
ones Dan took care of, that accounts for everybody we were after."

He hesitated a moment, then apologetically told me "I'm sorry, Dan."

I looked at him and asked "How did they know?"

He got a mildly outraged look on his face before telling me "There was a
police detective that told them - the guy that took your statement at
the mall, of all people. He recognized Frenchy's boys, but didn't put it
together until a couple days ago."

"You've got him?"

"Oh, yeah - and he already knows he's in deep shit."

I just nodded, and turned back to Lucy and the others. A moment later,
Dale turned and left us alone again.

When everyone had mostly gotten over the shock, we made our way back
downstairs: Robyn and Sandra holding hands with Lucy and me while
Michelle had an arm around Marie. When we got to the bottom of the
stairs, we saw that they still hadn't hauled Frenchy off yet. The cops
watched closely as Michelle took her arm from around Marie and walked
over to him. She looked at him for several long seconds, and then simply
spat in his face before turning around and walking away again.

She was again holding Marie when Frenchy angrily told her "I never
should have married you, bitch!"

I think all of us were surprised when Michelle just laughed - then told
him "Where you're going, you're going to be the bitch, tough guy!"

With that, the cops apparently decided it was time for Frenchy to go -
he tried to resist a little, but it didn't accomplish anything.

I saw Sandra start for the kitchen, and quickly told her "Don't go in
there!"

She stopped and looked at me in curiosity for a moment - then understood
that there was undoubtedly a good reason I didn't want her in there.
Shortly on the heels of that, she seemed to understand what that reason
probably was, and paled - but kept herself together and came back to
where Lucy and I each had an arm around Robyn. She moved close to us,
and Robyn and Lucy made room for her between them.

Dale looked at me, and said "If you'll keep everybody here or in the
living room for a little while, we'll take care of the, uh, mess. Both
of them."

I nodded, and gently herded the rest of them into the living room.
There, I went about making stiff drinks for Michelle, Lucy, and me - and
milder ones for the girls. There wasn't any ice for them, but all things
considered, I didn't feel like stepping over the dead guy in the kitchen
was worth getting any.

As we sat there, Lucy suddenly had an attack of the shakes - it was only
by holding onto it tightly with both hands that she was able to set her
drink on the table before all but collapsing in my arms.

I knew what was happening, of course - the same thing that had happened
to me after I'd had to shoot at someone the first time. I just held her
close and did what I could to comfort her; the rest seemed to have a
little appreciation for what she was going through, and left both of us
alone while they tried to reassure each other.

When she'd calmed down again, Lucy looked up into my face and said "I
tried to kill someone tonight", her voice shaking, clearly anguished.

"Only because HE came into our home, trying to kill us" I reminded her,
adding "Maybe you didn't see it, but he had a machine pistol. If you
hadn't shot, there was a pretty damn good chance that he would have used
it - or tried to."

About that time, Dale stuck his head in to see how we were doing; I made
sure Lucy could hear me as I asked him "What was Frenchy carrying?"

Dale raised an eyebrow and answered "MAC-10, with an extended clip. The
one outside had an Uzi, and the guy in the kitchen had a Thompson, of
all things." I knew he was referring to the old WW-II era Thompson .45
caliber submachine gun.

Lucy listened to that, and I could see her thinking about what might
have happened if she hadn't been there, and ready to shoot.

Dale seemed to realize what was happening, and came over, saying "Lucy?
If you hadn't been there, and shot when you did, he would have been able
to kill all of you several times over; that extended magazine he had
holds over FORTY-FIVE rounds. You only did what you had to do, and only
because he forced you into it. Shooting somebody is a long way from
anything to be happy about - but the reason you had to shoot was RIGHT,
if that helps you any."

Lucy looked up at him and nodded; reassured that she'd heard him, Dale
looked at me in sympathy and left us again.

After while, Lucy moved off my lap and saw that Robyn - and particularly
Sandra - were pretty shaken up. She quickly gestured for them to come
over to us; Robyn headed right for Lucy, and Sandra for me. Each of us
did what we could to settle them down again - me by quietly telling
Sandra how much I loved her, and how proud I was of her. I could feel
that she had calmed down considerably when she looked into my face and
said "Uncle Dan? Now I understand why having Michelle and Marie here was
right. I mean, I knew it was right before, hiding them from him; but I
didn't really understand WHY. But now I do, and I'm glad that we were
able to keep them safe. I was really scared, because I was afraid that
you or Aunt Lucy would get hurt - but I knew that I had to help protect
Michelle - and especially Marie. I... I didn't want to, but I knew that
if he got past you and Aunt Lucy to where we were, I was going to do
just like you told me: put my gun in his face and pull the trigger."

I hugged her and said "I'm glad it didn't come to that, dear."

Sandra was ready to get off my lap before Lucy was done with Robyn; when
she got up to move, I went over to where Michelle and Marie were, taking
them into my arms and doing what I could to let them know that it was
finally over, and that everything was going to be okay.

I was still holding them when Dale showed up again. I looked at him and
he quietly told me "We, uh, got everything taken care of, so you can
move around again if you want to. There was only a little bit of, um,
mess in the kitchen, but we got it cleaned up. There's still a little
outside the dining room, so you might want to take care of it, Dan,
before anyone goes out there."

I thanked him, and assured him that I'd do just that. Relieved, he
looked at us again before clearing his throat and telling all of us "If
it helps any, we got all the rest of them; from a quick look at their
records, there are a couple dozen kids - some even younger than you
three - that are going to be able to get some therapy for what they've
been through, and go back to their homes and families. And we've got the
evidence we need to put several people away for murder - they're the
ones that produced the snuff movies. All told, we - the Bureau, the
local cops, and YOU - are going to put a BIG hole in the crime element
around here."

I nodded in acknowledgement of what he'd just told us; he didn't get
much of a response from anyone else - but didn't seem to expect one,
just then. He excused himself after a moment, and left us alone.

At my side, I felt Michelle move, and pulled my arm back so she could
get up if she wanted. She didn't, and quickly pulled it back around her
waist before telling me "I'm sorry that you and yours got mixed up in
all this, Dan - especially with it going this far. I don't reckon I have
to say it, but I will: me and Marie, we'll never forget all you've done
for us. Not just tonight, but before, too. I'm just sorry you had to
learn what Frenchy's like for yourselves; I wish there was some way I
could take the hurtin' of that away from you."

Lucy heard what she said, and answered for me by saying "Don't,
Michelle. What you did was right - getting yourself and Marie away from
him, and doing what you could to see him pay for what he's done to
others. I wish it hadn't come to this, too - but it did, and that was
Frenchy's choosing, not ours. Now he's going to pay for what he's done.
I think maybe you're right about what he can expect when he gets to
prison; he's going to be as afraid and abused in there as you were with
him - maybe even more. We - all of us - have learned what kind of people
you and Marie are, and if we were able to help you, then I'm glad of
it."

Michelle looked at her, then Robyn and Sandra, who both silently nodded
their agreement with what Lucy had just said. Then she looked at me, and
I simply told her "There's a quote from a guy by the name of Edmund
Burke: 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men
to do nothing'. We couldn't just 'do nothing' for you, any more than you
could for Marie - and for the same reasons: because Frenchy is an evil
man, and it simply wouldn't be right to let him hurt you that way."

Comforted, Michelle leaned against me again, letting me hold her close.

Some time later, Dale came in and told us that everything was done, and
that everybody was leaving. He asked if I needed or wanted anybody to
stay behind; I just told him that if a patrol car could swing by a
little more often, that would be fine. He assured me that he'd see to
it. I eased myself from between Michelle and Marie, and escorted him to
the door. There, he told me again how sorry he was that Frenchy had
gotten to us. I told him that we'd talk about it later, that the rest of
us needed to pull ourselves together, and see if we couldn't get some
rest. He said he understood, and left. As he was leaving, I saw a cop
car go by, the officer driving it paying close attention to our house.

I went and reset the alarm system, and when it complained about the
broken windows, told it to ignore those particular sensors - but to
continue to watch everything else. Then I went out to the garage and got
a piece of the foam backing board that Robyn had needed for a school
project; it was large enough that I could cut and trim it down a little
and use it to block off the missing windows, keeping the bugs and such
out. I fastened it in place with duct tape (the handyman's secret
weapon), and detoured through the kitchen to make sure it was
presentable for the others. It was, relieving me considerably. I got all
of us something cold to drink, and went back to the living room.
Everyone was glad to see what I'd brought with me; Lucy, Michelle, and I
went over to fortify ours with a little alcohol while the youngsters
used theirs to chill down the weak drinks they still held.

When we were all seated again, Lucy happened to look at the clock and
exclaimed "It's only eleven o'clock!" - clearly amazed that it was still
that early. Subjectively, I think all of us figured it to be much, much
later.

After we'd all pretty much finished our drinks, Lucy stood up and said
"I don't know about anyone else, but I think I'm ready for bed. This has
been one hell of a night!"

The understatement brought smiles to everyone's faces, and we all agreed
that it had, indeed. We slowly got up, and holding each other close, the
whole troop of us moved upstairs to Lucy's and my bedroom where we
gently undressed each other and got into bed.

None of us felt like doing anything more than simply holding each other
- and it was a long time before any of us fell asleep.

The next day, I had workmen come out and start dealing with the
aftermath of the night before - replacing the missing windows, patching
the holes where Lucy's bullets had hit after grazing Frenchy, and so on.
I personally went out and dealt with the mess resulting from the guy I'd
shot in the forehead; as I turned the soil in the flowerbed to conceal
the bits of brain and bone the others had missed, and carefully hosed
the blood off the plants and grass, I could only wonder if something I'd
heard was true: that plants seemed to grow better where blood had been
spilled - and decided that I'd find out soon enough.

That night, Lucy and I were sleeping alone - Robyn and Sandra were
keeping Michelle and Marie company in Marie's room - when I woke up to
the sound of Lucy having a nightmare. It take much to figure out what it
was about, and I gently woke her up, then held her close as she cried
into my chest. Off and on, her nightmares continued for the better part
of a month - and it was the hardest thing in my life to have to wait for
them, knowing that there wasn't a damn thing I could do to help but be
there for her after the fact.

Sandra had a little bit of a haunted look about her for a few days, but
gradually found her equilibrium again, becoming the friendly, dignified
young lady that all of us loved. Robyn - to no one's surprise, I think -
bounced back the fastest; she was simply too friendly and happy to let
it get her down for too long.

Michelle and Marie were probably the worst hit by it - and when I talked
to Michelle about it, she admitted that it wasn't just Frenchy that
bothered her, but guilt over the fact that he'd come into our home to
try and get at her and Marie. It was all I could do to convince her that
there wasn't anything for her to feel guilty about. Marie was a little
bit easier; she was more frightened than guilty - but as things settled
back into something resembling a routine, she began to recover, as well.

Dale offered to move Michelle and Marie to someplace else; after Lucy
and I assured them that they were welcome to stay, neither one of them
wanted anything to do with it, thank you very much: they both told him
that they felt safer and more secure in my house than they figured they
could anywhere else.

It didn't take long to deal with Frenchy and his buddies; the evidence
against them was so overwhelming that every last one of them copped a
plea rather than risk a jury trial. Even so, they were all sentenced to
lots and lots of time in various prisons. After they were all taken to
their various new homes, we were able to relax the security around
Michelle - but she still felt better when Lucy or I would accompany her
or Marie when they went out.

Dale had made the arrangements for Michelle and Marie to go into Witness
Protection; they were a few days from making that move when I got a call
from him telling me that he'd just gotten word that Frenchy had been
gang-raped in prison. I thanked him for letting me know, and got
Michelle off by herself to tell her what had happened. Her only reaction
was to tell me "I reckon' he's finally reaping some of what he sowed."

The time that Michelle and Marie left us was a sad one for everybody -
Lucy, me, and the girls all loved them, and knew that they loved us. But
we also knew that it was for the best; that Michelle and Marie would
have new identities and be able to get a fresh start in life without the
dark cloud of Frenchy hanging over them.

It was nearly a year later when we got a letter in the mail; the return
address was for a Melissa Rockford someplace in Wyoming. Not recognizing
the name or place, I opened it up and began to read - and soon realized
that it was from Michelle, even though it was written so that it
appeared to be meant for someone else.

It seemed that she had been able to go back to school, and gotten some
kind of certification or something that let her be a legal aide - and
that she was working in a small office that helped people that couldn't
afford a regular lawyer. She wasn't making a lot of money at it, but
felt so good about what she was doing that it didn't matter: she had
more than enough to take care of her and 'Martha', and it made her feel
like she was giving back some of what she'd gotten from 'some very
close, very special friends'.

She went on to say that Martha was in school, and doing better than
anyone had hoped or expected - she was a full grade ahead of where she
should have been, something that Melissa credited her 'most special man
friend' with making possible. Martha was making lots of new friends -
good ones - and that she was generally behaving the way she should - she
had a few very close friends, was very selective about making new ones
of either gender, and discrete about any other activities.

She also wrote that she'd met a few guys, and thought she'd found a nice
one. He loved her, and doted on Martha; he didn't pressure her to do
anything she wasn't comfortable with, and had made it clear that he
cared for her for what was in her heart and mind, not her looks. She
thought he might be going to ask her to marry him, and she said that she
figured she'd say 'yes' - though the one she really wanted was already
taken, this one was gentle and loving and patient.

Finally, she said she wanted to express her love and gratitude to the
friends she'd made, and who had helped her so much and so willingly,
even when it had made things extra-difficult for them. She wrote that
she'd never forget all of them, and would love them always - just as she
knew they loved her.

When Robyn and Sandra got home, I let them read the letter, which made
them sad (a little) and happy (mostly) - as it did for Lucy, later.