Part Ten
Just to get up to speed, it's now July 2003, and Kerry's birthday weekend. Kim moved back to Chicago, got her old job back at County and moved in with Kerry. The girls have had their share of fights, but have come out of it stronger than ever. Now, on with the story.
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Kerry heard a door open to her left as she walked to her office, then felt a sharp tug on her wrist as a voice hissed, "C'mon, get in here."
"Kim--"
But Kim cut off her protests with a kiss as she shut the storeroom door. Kerry slid her arms around Kim's neck as the blonde worked her lips down Kerry's , unbuttoning the redhead's blouse as she kissed her way across her breasts. Kerry nibbled at Kim's ear, causing her to squeal with delight. Kerry in turn moaned softly as Kim's tongue swirled across her left breast, finding her nipple through the material of her bra.
Eventually the two pulled apart, and Kerry finally managed to ask, with a coy smile, "You wanted something, Dr. Legaspi?"
"Yes. You." Kim was about to kiss Kerry again when the storeroom door burst open as Abby came in to find some supplies. Kerry hastily buttoned her blouse as Abby winked at a very red-faced Kim. Without saying a word, she left, shutting the door behind her.
Kerry started laughing a half second before Kim, and before long the two were leaning against each other, barely able to stand as gales of laughter washed over them.
Eventually, they got themselves under control, and Kerry asked again, "Kim, what do you want?"
"We're going out tonight for your birthday. I've got a table booked for eight. Make sure you dress up, I want this to be a really special night for you." Kim's eyes glittered with a promise of some sort, but Kerry totally missed it.
"Kim, can't we just stay in?" Kerry was almost whining. She'd hoped for a quiet - or not so quiet, depending on how you looked at it - evening in, making love all night. A week ago, she'd seen a Victoria's Secret bag in Kim's drawer, and couldn't wait to see what was in it. In her excitement, she'd missed the small jewellery box lying next to it.
"No, we can't. You're off at 5, so you've got time enough to get home and get ready. Anyway, I have a treat for you." Kim raised one eyebrow and gave Kerry a mysterious smile as she slipped out the door, leaving the redhead totally confused.
Six hours later, Kerry is standing in the living room, wearing a long black dress with buttons right down the back. It clings to every curve, the low front showing off her bust and accentuating her flat stomach. It shows off her slender figure to perfection. She turns around as she hears Kim coming down the stairs. She'd refused to tell Kerry what she was planning to wear, and Kerry's jaw drops as she sees Kim in a long, tailored black jacket, with a faint charcoal pinstripe, and a matching skirt that has perfectly straight sides and almost touches the floor. Both are thin material, perfect for the summer. Under the jacket is a soft lilac shirt, unbuttoned far enough down to show off the top of Kim's exquisite breasts. Kerry's mouth goes dry as she notices an identical reaction in her lover.
"Come on, let's get out of here before we spontaneously combust." Kim's voice is the first to break the magic that has fallen over them, captivating the two women. Kim slides her hand to her jacket pocket, unconsciously checking it.
The drive is agony. Kim is driving, and Kerry longs to reach over and take her right then, just as Kim has to work hard to avoid pulling over into an empty parking lot and jumping on Kerry. Fifteen minutes later, they arrive at the restaurant. Walking in, Kim spots the maître d' and calls him over, simply saying, "party for Legaspi". Kerry's eyes bulge slightly at the word 'party', but she follows the maître d' to the stairs, where he leads them to the upstairs function room. Kim stands back, letting Kerry enter the darkened room first. She stands there for a few seconds, totally bewildered, then the lights come on and a huge shout of "SURPRISE" goes up, and she sees almost all of her staff and friends standing round, cheering and clapping. Several tables have been pushed together on the other side of the room to make a long table for them all to sit at for the meal, but for now Kerry is totally overwhelmed at the number of people hugging her and wishing her a very happy birthday. She feels a hand on the small of her back, and turns, wrapping her arms around Kim's neck and leaning up to kiss the blonde right there and then. She pulls away again, and there are tears in her eyes. "Darling, thank you so much. This...it's incredible."
Two hours later, everyone is on the dance floor, and Kim has her arms around Kerry as they sway gently to the music, totally absorbed in each other. "Happy Birthday, sweetie." Kerry looks up at Kim, love shining in her eyes. She leans up for a kiss, but the song ends, and Kim pulls away. Kerry looks at her again, wondering for the third time that day what on earth is going on. Kim puts a finger on Kerry's lips, stopping the question. "Just wait here, honey."
Kim slips away, leaving Kerry standing alone on the dance floor. Suddenly the lights go out, but before Kerry, or anyone else, can respond, a spotlight comes up on Kim, standing at the mic on the stage.
Music begins to play, and another light falls on Kerry as Kim begins to sing.
"Your love is like a gentle breeze
Upon a brand new day,
Your touching what it does to me,
Like a flower needs it's rain.
We are like one of a kind,
True love is hard to find.
I can't go on another day,
Just hear me when I say:.."
Kerry's eyes are filled with tears, and as Kim starts the chorus, they spill over as the two women stare at each other. A soft light fills the rest of the room, but everyone's focus is on the two women.
"I ask of you,
Would you love me,
If nothing else went right,
And I ask of you,
Would you hold me,
Forever in your life.
And don't let me fall,
'Cause I can only give my all.
Here I am: I ask of you."
Kim sticks her arm out, beckoning Kerry up onto the stage. Kim is facing Kerry, one arm around her waist as the two stare right into each others' eyes, each others' souls. A thick atmosphere fills the room as Kim continues to sing.
"I've found a place where I belong,
It's right here next to you.
And nothing else matters now,
With all we've been through."
Kim quickly slips her mic hand into her jacket pocket, drawing out a small jewellery box. Kerry's hand flies to her mouth as Kim's voice carries on.
"I can't go on tryin' to deny,
Just what I feel inside.
But before I let go,
you gotta let me know"
Kim removes her hand from Kerry's waist, and bends one knee as she flips open the box, revealing a diamond ring. Tears fall unnoticed down Kerry's cheeks as Kim sings the chorus again, her meaning now plain, her voice cracking until she just speaks from her heart.
"I ask of you,
Would you love me,
If nothing else went right,
And I ask of you,
Would you hold me,
Forever in your life.
And don't let me fall,
'Cause I can only give my all.
Here I am: I ask of you."
As the music continues to play, Kerry smiles and nods through her tears and Kim gets up, sliding the ring onto Kerry's finger. The two kiss, and Kim pulls away first, to sing the end of the song. She holds Kerry's hand, forging a bond that the two instinctively know will never be broken.
"I never really thought that you'd be
All that matters to me,
I give everything and all I am to you..."
END
Song: "I Ask Of You", Anastacia, from the album "Not That Kind"