"Better make it a quick shower, I'm afraid," Laura said apologetically. "I had to wait for the dishwasher to finish before I went in to take mine."

Crystal nodded, knowing her hair would have to be washed first lest the hot water ran out and she was unable to get the paint out. The last thing she wanted was to face their mutual friends with streaks or spots of white in her hair. As she made her way up the stairs, Crystal lifted her arm and sniffed delicately, deciding there was something far more offensive she did not want to face her friends with. She only hoped the hot water would last long enough.

Crystal finished her shower and was just coming down the stairs when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Laura called.

"Well happy twenty-ninth birthday!" Jenny said when the door opened, giving her ex-lover a kiss on the cheek along with a one armed hug, the other hand holding Laura's present.

"Thank you, hon." Laura set the present on the side table and motioned at the couch. "Do you want something to drink? The pizza won't be here for at least fifteen minutes or so."

"You know what I like," Jenny said. "Hi Crystal."

"Hi Doc."

"Have a seat," Laura said. "Crystal, can I get you anything?"

"I'm all set," she replied, resuming her seat at the end of the couch. A quick glance over the side showed her present was still hidden from view. Jenny sat down at the other end and kicked her shoes under the table.

"Are the boys coming?" Jenny asked.

"They're running late but they said they'd be here. Jen, orange or root beer?"

"Orange sounds good. Goes well with pepperoni pizza." Jenny leaned over and lowered her voice so it would not carry to the kitchen. "So what'd you get her?"

Crystal fidgeted. "Well um just a little something. What did you get her?"

"Un uh, you don't tell, I don't tell." Jenny smiled and straightened up just as Laura came out of the kitchen with two tall glasses of soda in her hands. Frowning, Crystal looked over at the side table where a flat rectangular shirt box wrapped with red paper sat and tried to figure out what could be hidden inside.

"Here you go," the writer said, handing one glass to Jenny and keeping the other for herself, settling down into the chair. "Guess who I heard from today."

"Who?"

"Use a coaster please."

Jenny rolled her eyes and reached for a coaster. "Better? Now who called?"

"Shelly," Laura said with a smile.

"Shelly? Jet setting Shelly? What's she been up to?"

"She's getting married to an Alaskan fisherman."

Jenny let out a whoop and clapped her hands. "I can't believe it. Miss I always have a tan is going to live up in the frozen north?" "That's what she says." Laura took a sip. "I give it a year before she starts longing for the friendly skies and warmer climates." "You never know. It could be true love. Stranger things have happened."

Crystal, who had noi.e.who they were talking about, quietly watched the exchange and continued to fret over her choice of present. Lost in her insecurities, she missed Jenny addressing her the first time. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Which time?" Jenny patted her on the shoulder. "What planet did you go to anyway?"

"It's nothing," Crystal said, abruptly standing up. "Does anyone need anything from the kitchen?" The answer was obvious in the nearly full glasses Jenny and Laura were holding. "Guess not. Be right back."

The kitchen provided little relief other than the bottle of beer Crystal quickly acquired from the refrigerator. The doorbell chimed, announcing the arrival of Peter and Michael. Crystal hesitantly made her way out from the kitchen, more than a little worried that her present wouldn't hold up to the large box being cradled in Michael's arms.

The pizza arrived shortly after, providing Crystal with some reprieve before the moment arrived and Laura took her place on the couch. Michael sat in the chair while the wiry Peter perched himself on the arm. Crystal sat where she usually did at the far end of the couch, her present still hidden between the side and the bookshelf. Jenny sat on the couch arm to Laura's left, leaving the center cushion open to place the presents.

Laura opened Jenny's present first, eyes widening in surprise as she pulled the thick terrycloth robe out of the box. It was a rich cream color, a shade that Crystal felt complimented Laura's dark hair nicely. Laura thanked her ex-lover profusely for the gift, agreeing that a nice warm robe was most welcome with the coming winter.

"Our turn," Peter said, taking the large box from its resting place on the floor and setting it on the coffee table. "Now before you get excited about the box, that's not what's inside," he warned, wringing his hands excitedly. "Well go on, open it up."

"I'll have you know Mister Prim and Proper over here ruined his manicure looking for these," Michael said, reaching up with his hand to brush his wayward blond hair into place.

Crystal watched as Laura ignored the promise of a rather nice looking crock pot on the box label and tore back the tape keeping it sealed. It took some seconds for the writer to find the actual presents hidden with the crumpled newspaper. When she did, Crystal was surprised to see her holding a set of antique wall lights.

"Oh, they're perfect," Laura said, setting one down to examine its mate in more detail. Personally Crystal thought they were hideous, the brass wall plate sporting a collection of swirls and the base where the bulb went was designed in the form of some medieval creature with a diabolical grin on its rounded features holding up the hardware. Crystal decided her roommate had an odd sense of what perfect was. "Where on earth did you find them?"

"Well when I put those simple lights in on the balcony and deck I knew you didn't like their style," Michael began.

"And the griffins are a nice touch, don't you think?" Peter asked, obviously proud of his choice. "I saw a set of wrought iron coach lamp style lights but I thought they were just too common. Imagine my surprise to find these in the bottom of a box in the back of the dealer's showroom."

"Of course I'll get them installed before the cold sets in," Michael promised.

Laura looked appropriately pleased with her present and reluctantly put it back in the box before all eyes turned to Crystal expectantly.

"Oh." Realizing it was her turn, the blonde reached over the arm of the couch and retrieved her present, shyly handing it to Laura and wishing more than anything that she had gotten the gift certificate instead. "I didn't know what to get," she offered in her defense as Laura carefully tugged along the seams and removed the paper. Then there was nowhere to hide, the wooden and brass gift coming out of the box to be held between Laura's hands.

Cut from fine cherry, the solid base supported the curved letters of Laura's name resting atop it. Affixed on either side of the name was a quill on the left and a magnifying glass on the right. A discrete brass holder provided a place for the matching pen and pencil to reside. "It's beautiful," Laura said honestly, visibly moved by the sentiment.

Crystal shrugged, certain her roommate was just being gracious. "Well, you're a mystery writer and well, I just saw it and thought you'd like it."

"I love it," Laura said, reaching over and pulling Crystal into a one handed hug. "It's really a very thoughtful gift. Thank you very much." "You're welcome," the blonde mumbled, still unsure of the sincerity of the words.

"It is very nice," Jenny said, the boys nodding and adding their words. One by one they took the ornate pen and pencil holder to look at and all agreed that it was perfect for their favorite mystery writer.

"What a night," Laura said after seeing the boys to the door. She looked at the time and sighed, seriously considering letting the vacuuming wait until morning. The box the robe came in was carefully folded and put with the other boxes stored in the closet. One never knew when one needed a box. Michael and Peter's present was left in its box, moved to a corner away from the traffic flow until the contractor had time to install the lights. With the robe draped over her arm and the personalized desk accessory in her hands, Laura favored her roommate with another smile.. "This really is beautiful," she said, indicating Crystal's present. "What made you think of it?"

Crystal shrugged. "I actually didn't know what I was going to get you. I saw one of these at the mall and I just thought you would like it." "I've never seen one with a quill and magnifying glass before. It's really unique. I'm putting this right on my desk so I can see it whenever I'm writing." Before Crystal could react, Laura used her free hand to pull the younger woman in for another hug. "It really is special and I love it. Thank you." Crystal was feeling better about the gift and smiled when Laura released her. "I'm really happy you like it."

"I do, very much," the writer agreed. Giving a small smile at the noisy yawn from her companion, Laura patted Crystal on the shoulder. "Come on, it's late."

"Sounds like a plan," the blonde agreed.

"So tell me why again we're doing this?" Crystal asked as she hefted another load of dried branches into the wheelbarrow. "Bonfires need wood," Laura said, dropping her load. "Besides, it's a great way for Carmen to get all of her friends out to her place to help clear up the deadfall."

"That's what I figured," the blonde said with a smile. "At least she's got plenty of beer."

"I'd say so. You know there's two more kegs besides the one on the porch?"

"Ah, a reward for all of our hard work," Crystal grinned. "At least with you helping me I'm not having to fight off the Cuban Don Juan's advances." "That's right, just stick with me," the writer said. "I'll protect your virtue."

There was a raucous snort and they turned to see Alex stepping through the brush. "That's a line if I ever heard one, Taylor," she said, dropping the branches she was holding into their wheelbarrow. "Don't worry about this one, Crystal," she said, patting the young woman on the shoulder. "I'm a cop, you can trust me."

Crystal smiled. "I don't know if I can trust any woman who carries handcuffs with her at all times," she said.

"Ah, no sense of adventure," Alex said, pantomiming an arrow piercing her heart. "All right, all right, I'll leave you two lovebirds all alone. You'd better hurry up, though. The food's almost ready and Carmen's already opened up the second keg." The cop disappeared back through the bushes, leaving them alone once again.

Laura shook her head. "I've told her before we're not lovers."

"I've given up trying," Crystal said. "Besides, if she thinks I'm with you she doesn't hit on me as much."

"Actually with some of my friends being attached is an attraction. Wendy just loves going after someone in a relationship. I think it's the challenge."

"I must not be her type," the blonde said, stooping over to free a fair sized branch imbedded in the leaf and needle covered earth. "She's one of the few who hasn't made a pass at me."

"She prefers redheads and brunettes, I think, so you're safe. Need some help with that?"

Crystal tried again to free the stubborn log, exhaling loudly when she failed. "If you don't mind." Together they freed the log, disappointed to find the lower half decayed by insects. "So much for that," she said, letting go of her end.

"Well it's not like there's any shortage of limbs and branches around," Laura said, pulling her handkerchief out and wiping her hands. "Actually," she said, looking at the nearly full wheelbarrow, "I think we should have enough."

"I vote we head back before all the beer is gone," Crystal said, using her jeans as a towel for her muddy hands before grabbing the handles of the wheelbarrow.

"I can do that," Laura offered.

"Naw, it's light enough," she said. Where once the full cart would have been too heavy for her, two months of hauling drywall and plywood had built up her muscles enough for Crystal to hardly notice the strain of the weight. "Tell you what, why don't you go get us some beers while I bring this over to the rest of the burn pile?"

"Sounds like a plan to me," Laura said. "I'll meet you over there." She turned and headed toward the house while Crystal followed the furrow in the grass made by the other wheelbarrows until she reached the bonfire site. They'll be able to see this fire in space, she thought, looking at the large hill of wood.

"We were about to send a search party out for you," Jenny said as she approached, a clear beer bottle in hand. "Where's Laura?" "She went into the house to get me a beer and who knows what for herself," Crystal said. "Help me unload this, will ya?"