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Through Thick and Thin

By: Smokey125



Smokey Saga #52: "Through Thick And Thin"

***

This story started out a little different, transforming along the way into its final form here. Which isn't to say it's not good; I'm quite pleased with how it all came together. It turned out actually pretty similar to "Costly Confusion" (the sequel to "Give Me A Little Credit Here"). This is like that story, but with a little more bite. "Through Thick And Thin" here is dedicated to anyone who calls him-, her- or itself a true-blue best friend forever to anyone else. Happy reading, buddies and pals.

***

A Promising Proposition

Saturday, March 30th, 2013, 11:38 a.m.

A navy blue Subaru Outback made its way along the road. The two young women occupying the car enjoyed the pleasant ride on this nice brisk spring day. The driver was on a deliberate path, unbeknownst to her companion who was under the impression they were simply taking a casual trip. The passenger grew curious, however, as their surroundings faded from manmade to overly natural.

"Jade?" asked the passenger, gazing through her window as acre after acre of greenery passed by. "Sweetie?...Where're we going?"

"I told you, Portia," the driver replied, eyes fixed on the road. "I just thought we could both use a little fresh air."

Portia Jo Aames felt this was an unusual path to take on a random joyride for some fresh air, but she'd learned not to question her girlfriend Jade's motives. Portia loved Jade. She was bold and beautiful. She was young and restless. She was Portia's guiding light.

Portia pressed her nose and palms against the window with the same sense of childlike wonder she'd held onto all these years. She had just turned 27 a couple of months ago, and still viewed the world through the eyes of a kid. Her innocence and idealism, while lightly tattered, remained intact. She watched endless forestry roll by them as they trolleyed along the narrow way at twenty-five miles per hour. She loved nature. It was so beautiful. Everything was so beautiful. Life was so beautiful.

Wasn't it?

As the overlapping rows of trees grew sparser and less dense, Jade slowed down. Portia turned, noticing the deceleration.

"...Are we here?"

Wishing to answer her with actions rather than words, Jade smirked, pulled over onto the bumpy shoulder and parked. Portia had no clue where they were, much less what they were doing here. And her mate didn't seem to want to tell her just yet. All she saw was a clearing beyond the trees, bordering a duck pond. Interesting... she thought.

"Well, it's...it's certainly pretty, honey," she remarked. "But, um...what's going on?"

Keys out of the ignition, Jade opened her door. "C'mon."

Portia obeyed as Jade led her into the clearing, to what she appeared to have chosen as a specific spot. Jade checked the pocket of her coat, just making sure. She proceeded to sit them down together on a soft grassy tuft. A few minutes passed before she spoke.

"So what do you think, Porsh?"

What did she think? Well...she wasn't exactly sure. In order to discern what she thought, she needed at least a little hint.

"Uh...well, like I said, it seems like a lovely little...

"...Where are we, Jade?"

"Oh," Jade tossed a wave of the hand. "I found this place a couple weeks ago. Just driving around. Thought I'd bring ya out here and...y'know..." She shrugged. "...See what might happen...?"

"...Huh." Portia nodded. Does that mean she wants to make love to me out here? 'Cause I don't think I'm cool with that...

Fortunately for her, this wasn't what Jade had in mind. She waited a moment before continuing.

"You, eh...you remember a couple weeks ago when I told you my company quadrupled my medical premiums?" she asked Portia. "And so even though I was supposed to be getting a raise, I actually wound up making less?"

"...Yeah?"

"And how if we got married, then we could put me on your insurance, get me off mine, and I could have my whole salary again?"

Portia's eyebrows ascended into two symmetrical arches.

"...Yyyyyes?"

This would be her cue. Jade fished into her coat pocket and removed the box. The velvet made the lovely sound as she opened it.

Criiiiick.

"...You wanna?"

A number of emotions hit Portia at this moment, from several different directions. On one hand, she had dreamt of this day since she was a little girl. On another, this wasn't precisely how she'd imagined it happening. She'd fantasized about her beloved Jade tenderly holding her hands as she lowered to one knee, gazing adoringly up into her own brown eyes. Perhaps a speech—a heartfelt prelude to the grand unveiling—nothing extraordinary, just a few thoughtful words about the start of a new romantic, happy life together. The setting didn't really matter; she guessed she'd just always kind of pictured a more..."traditional" type of proposal.

On the third hand, Portia's optimistic, pragmatic nature allowed her to focus on the bottom line that whatever the circumstances, she was in fact being proposed to right now. Never mind the details of how you thought it might be, she told herself. Big picture! It's happening! Your sweetie, Jade Elaina Cosgrove, the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you...is asking you to be her wife!

She reminded herself not to question things. Following her own advice, she became touched and swept away. Her heart melted.

Oh my gosh...oh my gosh! My girlfriend proposed to me!...I'm getting married!

"Of course!" she cried, flinging her arms around Jade. "Yes, my darling, of course I will! A bazillion times over!"

Jade felt and heard her new fiancée begin to cry with joy. This made her feel a bit awkward. While she was happy Portia'd said yes, she herself didn't feel the need to break into tears.

"Oh my goodness, honey, I love you!" Portia sobbed ecstatically. "I love you so very, very, very much!"

Jade rubbed Portia's back, trying to think of the most appropriate thing she could honestly say.

"...Thanks," she softly replied.

***

Phony Flirtin' And Chiro-Practice

Two years later: Monday, June 8th, 2015, 9:27 a.m.

"Hi, Jade..."

"Hey, babe. Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary, honey..."

"'M I on speaker?"

"No."

"Good. Guess what I'm gonna do to you tonight?"

"...Um..."

"Don't try to play innocent with me, sweets. I know you like it rough."

"Er, Jade—"

"No no no, Porsh; no need to thank me now. And don't you get too excited; I want you good and hungry when I get my hands on ya. See you tonight, dirty girl."

"But—" Click.

Portia sighed, having a feeling this would not be the most pleasant evening of her life. True, it was her wedding anniversary, which at the least entailed a lovely romantic dinner after work. It was the real intimate portion of the night that uneased her.

"Dr. Cosgrove?" called Jim, her office receptionist. "Your 9:30's just arrived."

Portia thanked him and asked the patient be sent back in just a moment. Her work wasn't suffering, but lately at the clinic, marriage had her mind on things other than her career as a chiropractor. Not to be gotten wrong—she was, after all...kind of happy—but...she guessed the last two years just hadn't exactly turned out like she'd had in mind. To say that something about Jade had dramatically changed once that ring slid on her finger struck her as a cold and callous thought...but not inaccurate.

Oh, there were certainly very nice days together, to be sure. Jade had a warm body in which Portia loved being swaddled, and she remained devastatingly foxy gorgeous on her outside. Her extraordinary beauty grew only more irresistible since she'd proposed to Portia the two years before. There were definitely no reservations in this department. Somehow, though...

...Jade wasn't precisely the same woman Portia once knew...on the inside.

"Oh, hi there," she greeted. "Good morning, Mr. Roberts."

"Good morning, Doc."

"Okay, so let's see, what do we have here, some...upper vertebrae discomfort?"

"Yes, correct," he confirmed, turning around to indicate. "It hurts right about here."

"All righty, well, just be so kind to roll up your shirt for me, and let's take a look at'cha."

It wasn't like Jade turned into an evil, vindictive monster at the words of the officiant. It was just that at the time, some of her true colors had yet to surface. As time went on, Portia began to feel taken for granted. It seemed Jade's needs and wants ranked higher on the list of priorities. This order of regard placed Portia on the horns of a perpetual dilemma. Sometimes she was content to honor and cherish her lovely bride, as she'd pledged till death do them part. But other times, she grew indignant with this arrangement. Jade had taken those vows too, to love, honor and cherish her back, and Portia didn't feel Jade was fully living up to her end. She'd try to give her a break—Jade had her own demanding full-time career as a corporate executive. She had enough to contend with on the clock, and was entitled to some pampering after a day full of deadlines and obligations, Portia'd agree, but, her occupation wasn't always a breeze through the beach either. She'd appreciate having her meals cooked and her feet rubbed now and then as well.

Half an hour later, she'd finished giving Mr. Roberts one of her famous and fantastic chiropractic adjustments.

"Good God!" exclaimed an astonished Mr. Roberts, as they stepped out of the office. "You're amazing! How do you do that?"

Portia smiled, gentle and modest. Sometimes it seemed her patients valued her more than her own wife did.

"Oh," she waved, "A great magician never reveals her secrets."

Mr. Roberts shook his head. "Feels like I'm on some kind of wonder drugs," he laughed.

Portia joined him in a good-natured chuckle. "My pleasure, sir."

He departed, off to his next activity of the day. Portia briefly wondered where he might be going now, what he was doing after this. She often entertained this curiosity with patients, or with random individuals who crossed her path while out and about. This was all it was—curiosity—but Portia harbored a wealth of this sort of interest in her fellow human being. She'd entered a division of the medical field because she was a caregiver at heart, and as a bonus, she got to meet all different kinds of people. The downside was the doctor-patient relationship, which restricted her proper level of friendliness. The upside was that she needn't see a client as often as would certain other types of doctors. So the professional doctor-patient relationship tended not to last very long.

She and Jade had friends together, but it was easy for her to believe that were Jade no longer around, neither would be the friends. Portia wasn't the most charismatic person, and often felt her marriage was the only link to her other relationships as well. Inane, perhaps, but she got the feeling their mutual chums knew her merely as "Jade's wife." These to her were really Jade's friends, who accepted her presence solely because she was her wife. None of them ever initiated touch with Portia separately, if only to say hello or invite her out for a cup of coffee. And they weren't highly keen on speaking directly to her while hanging out socially either. Their outings together made her feel invisible. Deep down, Portia wondered if Jade's friends even knew her name. Jade was far more extroverted and outgoing than she, but once in a while, Portia wished she knew what it felt like to have a friend who was...just hers.

Actually, she wished she knew how it felt to have anything that was hers. She'd lived with her folks right up till the day she moved in with Jade as serious girlfriends. She worked for a living, made her own money and shared everything with her spouse—which was fine—but remained oblivious to the feeling and responsibility of looking after her own one-lady home. It was something she thought she'd be rather good at, given the chance. In her residence with Jade, she did, however, enjoy the basement as a second bedroom and hangout, to which she fled when she needed an escape, or a bit of time to herself. It was comfy, homey and relaxing—cool in the summer, warm in the winter. Down here she kept a computer, an entertainment center, DVDs, books, video games, a mini-fridge, snacks, bevvies, and anything else necessary to occupy her time. Portia called it her woman-cave.

Luckily, for all Jade seemed to put herself and her concerns ahead of Portia's, she supported the woman-cave. Jade knew and understood what it was to need one's own space, and liked that they divided their time between hanging out together and separately. It kept them from tiring of the company, and from getting in each other's way. Portia was very grateful Jade appreciated her need for such a privilege, which might otherwise cause a rift in their marriage. Looking after a lifelong union required enough effort as was, especially with a partner who didn't always have her best interests at heart. She often found herself thinking about it all until her head hurt. She wanted to talk these things out with Jade, an easy thing to plan without her around. But once again in Jade's presence, intimidation always took over. She didn't know what Jade might do if she became seriously upset with her. She knew it wasn't good to live in fear of one's mate, no matter how minimal, but...

"Doc?...Dr. Cosgrove?..."

She looked up. Her receptionist was trying to get her attention.

"Huh? Oh...yes, Jim?"

"I said your 10:00 is here. Should I send her back?"

"Oh, uh, yes, please, Jim, go ahead. Thank you."

***

Roughin' It

Monday, June 8th, 2015, 9:48 p.m.

Portia was indeed treated to a splendid, sumptuous supper, which took place at the posh Irish eatery Madigan's. Now that their bellies were happy, it was time to head back home for the portion to which Jade was looking especially forward: the romp.

Jade was erroneous in her belief that just because she liked it rough, her wife did too. But they both also knew full well that Jade really controlled things in the bedroom. She was dominant by nature, complementing Portia's submission. Jade had already begun pouring on hot and heavy seduction during dinner. Judging from what she'd told her on the phone that morning, Portia was a little daunted by whatever might be in store. Approaching the front door from outside, Jade started her off with a bit of pre-taunting.

"Are you scared, babe?" Jade purred.

"Ummm...a little."

"There's no need to be. I won't hurt you...much."

Portia gulped. She'd prefer not to be hurt at all, but...

Jade pulled her into their living room, starting a trail of stray clothes by kicking off their shoes. Joining them, along the carpet fell Portia's cocktail dress, and Jade's suit pants, tie and suspenders. This left undergarments plus Jade's button-up dress shirt. Forgoing the buttons, she tore the shirt right open, revealing to her blushing bride a braless bosom. Her sleek, curvy, and very naked tits bounced out and played against Portia's modest, petite orbs, still encased in their cups. Done with her shirt, Jade immediately palmed Portia's cheeks and came in for another kiss of sizzle. Well, Portia had to admit, this wasn't so bad thus far.

They got into the bedroom. Portia gasped as Jade seized her around the middle and whipped her panties down. A small bit of moisture from her pussy clung to the fabric as it detached from her skin. Her pink bubblegum-like nipples plumped and extended to tighten her bra. She'd never thought she was especially fond of raw sex in her younger years, but this was before she'd met Jade, a core-torrid siren. Once Jade got in the mood, there was no going back till the deed was done. Jade's red cunt was so hungry and wet its secretion bubbled like water on the stove. She still had her panties on, which were soaked clean through. Her taut flesh burned with Portia's nearness, culling sweat through countless pores.

Portia was being overwhelmed with reciprocal heat herself, her own seeping perspiration divinely mingling with Jade's. She sighed and gasped, rapidly losing faculties as Jade groped and grabbed at her. One thing Portia could say about her wife: Jade knew what she was doing in the erotic department. Portia's legs wobbled beneath her, about to give out. Fortunately, they reached the bed first.

Before letting her down, Jade gave Portia an ominous glare for two seconds. She took Portia by her silky fair brunette mane, tilted back her head, sucked her face through another mesmerizing kiss, and proceeded to fling her down onto the mattress.

"Oh!" Portia sank into the spongy mass, heart thundering through her chest. Jade let her to lie still while she prepared. She dug into the closet until she located the piece of equipment she was looking for. She strapped it around her waist, spun around and stormed the bed at the foot. Portia's eyes were somewhere in the back of her head, and so she could only feel Jade seizing her by the legs, forcing them apart. Jade crept nearer her exposed, vulnerable cunt.

"You're gonna get it now, bitch," Jade hissed. "Your pussy is mine."

Portia barely heard a word she said. But she did notice her labia being opened. Jade wasn't much for foreplay; she liked to jump straight in. Portia was more agreeable to whatever the situation might call for. If her partner wanted foreplay, she was fine with that. If not, that was obviously pretty okay too, as Jade had proven since they'd first made love. She'd gladly and openly admit that Jade undoubtedly owned her in the sack. And she was all too willing to play bottom to Jade's top, as even though her wife's behavior could sometimes prove disenchanting, wild hot sex was one hell of an effective diversion.

Jade squeezed a few digits into Portia's pussy, retracted them and smeared the moisture over its lips to ease entry. Portia lay, moaning obediently and brazenly. Jade coated her fingers with more pussy juice and lubed up her dick with it. Portia didn't know how much more she could stand. Jade had such a sexual hold over her, she made Portia die to have the living hell fucked from her.

At long last, seven seconds which felt like hours later, the dick Jade strapped onto herself pushed its way in. Portia screamed, arching her back and clenching her thighs, doing anything she could to encourage. Jade, however, needed no further encouragement now that the major movement was underway. Once her cock was firmly inside, she launched into a quick rhythm she'd perfected to this point. Jade got madly off on invading Portia's fragile womanhood, forcing her to squeal for mercy, despite the lack of attention her own pussy received. When she was normally done with Portia, her poor sweet wife spent and drained, she turned the healthy-sized dildick on herself, or used her own hands. But Portia came first, in every sense of the word.

"Take it, you little bitch!" Jade growled as she jammed inside her. "Take it like a woman, you little fucking cunt!"

She also got off on abusing Portia while throwing it to her, both verbally and physically. Under usual circumstances, such language and actions would break the proverbial deal. But in bed under Jade's hypnotic erotic power, anything went. Portia couldn't hear over her shrieks anyway. But even had she, she wouldn't care. Jade's aggressive thrusts and pumps rocked her so hard, Portia's head ground under the pillows and further into the mattress, hair flying all over her face. Her arms flailed helplessly, hands whapping and snatching at the bedspread, searching for a purpose. They soon clenched into fists as Jade made her next move.


Through Thick and Thin



Rhythmic pace set and uninterrupted, Jade leaned down over her. She tossed the pillows away from Portia's grimacing, sweat- and lust-soaked face, and grabbed her around the neck with her left hand. Portia began to react, but Jade silenced her with a sharp smack! across the face. Portia groaned in anguish between yowls. This novelty brought Portia a long way back to stone-cold sober. This had never happened. Her overwhelming passion raged on, but now with it came a wave of sudden shock.

Jade had decided that she would surprise her this evening. She'd hurled Portia degrading obscenities and other humiliations before, but this was new. Jade had never forcefully struck her like that. When Jade said they were going to have it rough, she'd meant it. This was the form of discipline she'd elected to experiment with tonight. And how deliciously it paid off—for her. Portia's pained shout at the smack! set Jade's hormones aflame. In Jade's mind, she wasn't really harming her, but merely spicing up their romp for a degree of kink previously untapped. Jade became so volcanically hot at the agony that spread over Portia's face, she achieved an initial orgasm without even handling herself. Her pussy splattered hot cum over the sheet.

"YES!!" she thundered, struggling to hold on to Portia as her head flew back in the air. "FUCK YES!!"

Portia was dizzied, unsure of how to feel. She loved Jade, and wanted her to be happy, and the sound of her wife hitting climax and cumming like hell made her want to cum right along. But...she was disoriented. She was being pulled in opposite directions: one by the compelling, monstrous fucking, another by the lingering sting in her reddened cheek, in turn generating a sting troubling her mind. She tried to tell herself this random act of violence hadn't really just happened, but the throbbing in her face wasn't imaginary.

She just...she...sh—...

The relentless pounding in her cunt splitting her wide open didn't allow her to dwell on it. When Jade finished cumming, she kept up the penetration, pushing herself back up to her knees, releasing Portia's neck. Portia felt herself unhanded and took her neck in her own hands with a wheezing cough. She didn't appear to be injured, but wasn't permitted to focus on this either. The energetic Jade steadied herself upright, and reached between Portia's legs with one hand, resting the other on her belly. Portia was still dizzied, but the next thing she felt was undeniable. Jade fingered and rubbed her in a circular motion over her clit.

Abruptly, Portia's cheek sting and shortness of breath vanished. She erupted. She howled with every last vestige of strength and breath she was afforded, as Jade fired her straight through the familiar planes of ecstasy, into the hidden, forbidden pleasuredome. Jade threw it home while massaging her wife's swollen clit, and didn't stop until Portia exploded. She watched with satisfaction as Portia visibly blew through the stratosphere into oblivion and beyond. Portia screeched through one dimension of heaven after another, hot surges blasting at every turn. It was possibly the most incredibly intense physical orgasm she'd ever experienced. But as with all orgasms, it had eventually to wind down. Jade backed off once she could tell her precious princess could stand no more.

Portia's face and body leaked numerous fluids. Jade plucked her cum-drenched dick from her wife's puffed womanly folds and retreated to clean off. Portia lay motionless in bed, barely conscious, a thousand thoughts fighting to be foremost in her mind. But there would be no thorough consideration—of her life, or anything else tonight. Jade had worked her far too hard to recover any time soon; she'd been worn flat out. She was down for the night. The only idea she could process now were three little words to herself.

...Sweet dreams, Portia.

***

I Think My Kid Stepped On A Crack

Tuesday, June 9th, 2015, 11:28 a.m.

"Dr. Cosgrove?" Jim called. "Your 11:30 called and said she's gonna be a few minutes late, but she's definitely on her way."

Portia emerged from the office to get some paperwork. "Thanks, Jim. When she gets here, please just let her come right back."

"Will do." Jim started to spin back around in his chair before noticing something.

"Doc, are you all right? You're kind of...walking a little funny this morning..." he remarked.

"I'm fine, my friend, thanks for asking," she chuckled. "Last night was my anniversary, that's all."

Jim smiled knowingly, having gotten the picture. "Ah."

Five minutes later, Portia was not the only person in the office walking funny. Her 11:30 appointment, an early-30s woman named Vikki, made her way through the door with a spot-on impersonation of Quasimodo.

"Hi there," she uttered, staring at Portia's Keds. "Are you Dr. Cosgrove?"

"The very same. You can call me Portia if you like. And good morning to you, Miss...Bowman?"

Miss Vikki Bowman offered her hand. Feeling Portia shake, she curtsied.

"You'll forgive me if I fail to make eye contact," she joked.

Portia politely giggled. She found it a bit remarkable that with such pain this unfortunate lady was clearly in, she was able to make light of the situation. She must have carried an especially sunny disposition (something Portia found quite endearing in a person).

"So what's the tale, nightingale?" asked Portia, her more whimsical and colorful side coming out.

"Uh, heh..." Vikki paused for a wry chuckle. "Well, you see, chickadee...I think my kid stepped on a crack."

Portia covered her mouth to stifle the laugh that wanted out. This quirky patient seemed to shine in the whimsy department herself. She cleared her throat, remaining professional. "A-hem...I see," she noted. "And when did we get...thrown out, so to speak?"

"A couple days ago," Vikki recalled. "This was the earliest appointment I could get, but I figured you must be good if you're booked. So, I hung in there and stuck it out."

Wow, thought Portia. Upbeat, funny, flattering and tough. Impressive.

"So what were you doing when it happened?"

"I was exercising," Vikki sighed. "I was a gymnast when I was a little girl, and I still like to practice little routines and things, but..." She again chuckled with a shake of the head. "Unfortunately, I'm not a little girl anymore."

"Gotcha," Portia smiled. "Okay, well, now, I can see you can't exactly lay down just yet, so let me get you a gown. Once you've got it on, why don't you go ahead and lift the back of your shirt, unhook your bra, and lean over the ol' table here for me."

"Oh, goodness," Vikki replied good-naturedly. "What, no dinner first? No wine, no flowers, nothing?"

This time Portia could not stop the laugh from bursting out.

"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry," an embarrassed Portia said. "I'm so sorry, it's just...I've never had a female patient react that way before."

Gown on, Vikki lifted her top and undid her bra. "Oh," she smiled. "I like to think I have a unique sense of humor. I'm a rare bird."

"Hee hee...yes, I can certainly..." Portia's eyebrows raised at the sight of her shapely torso sans shirt as she leaned over.

"...See that."

For sure it wasn't the first time she'd adjusted a female patient with a curvaceous body. This was very simply her profession, a healing art through manual manipulation of the musculoskeletal system. Jade knew and understood this, and it was clear nothing underhanded—pun intended—went on here. From the moment she'd taken her vows and her new wife's name, Portia remained one hundred and one percent true to Jade Cosgrove, and did nothing to damage their union. There would always be urges and temptation, but Portia had yet to face an allure too great to resist. She entertained stray thoughts, which she wasn't proud of, but chalked it up to human nature. She believed such ideas crossed everyone's mind; this didn't mean they acted on them.

"Okay, ma'am, now please rest your arms in front of you, just—that's perfect; good girl. Now first of all, I just wanna get a sense of how much tension you're carrying here, so on a scale of one to ten—ten being the most tender—how does it feel right here?..."

Portia rested her fingertips at the ridges separating Vikki's top three vertebrae and gently applied pressure.

"Oooohh!" Vikki gave a small cringe. "I'd say that's about an eight."

"'Kay..." assessed Portia, moving down a bit. "...And how about here?"

"WHOA, uh...nine..."

"All right, and...here?"

"AHHH—eleven!"

"I see...okay, good. Now, Miss Bowman, I'm gonna give you what I like to refer to as a 'sweet release'..."

Vikki's eyebrows jumped. "Oh, my..."

"Basically, I'm gonna massage and roll out your spine to loosen up your vertebrae. Now, rest assured this is not going to hurt very much at all. Chiropractic adjustments generally aren't painful, though they can also be tender, depending on tolerance. But the whole point is to relieve you. So just take it easy, relax, and soon you'll be good as new."

"Oh, gosh," Vikki said. "I'll do my best, but...Dr. C., I've gotta tell you, I have an extremely low threshold for pain."

"I'll be gentle. Y'know, some patients like to have a little chat with me, to divert their minds from any soreness or discomfort."

Vikki laid her head on her arms, facing the side. "Okay, well, uh...hmm...how long have you been doing this?"

"Oh, two years now. It's a nice job; I can't complain. 'S a great privilege to be able to heal people for a living.

"May I ask what you do, Miss Bowman?"

"Ohhhhh..." Vikki moaned. "I run a day care center."

"Really, a day care? That's fantastic."

"Yeah, I love kids...and it's given me some better self-control too. Like, obviously, you can't curse in that kinda environment, so now I've got myself in the habit of saying stuff like, 'Oh, whammit!' Or, 'Oh, brother-trucker!' Or even, 'Oh, shiitake mushrooms!'"

"Ha!" Portia giggled. "Well, whatever you've gotta do. I wish my wife watched her language like that."

Vikki's next groan was unintelligible, but bent up at the end in the tone of a question.

"Yeah, she's a potty-mouth," Portia went on. "But, y'know, she's...she's got a lot of redeeming qualities too, though, so..."

"Ahhhehh?..." muttered Vikki, face now half-buried in her arms. "Like wha?..."

"Oh, gosh, well, y'know, she...uh...

"...And-and she's also really...erm...

"...Yeah, y'know, she's got a lotta...uh, that is..."

Portia realized something was amiss here. Try as she might, she was suddenly hard-pressed to find complimentary things to say about the woman with whom she'd pledged to spend the rest of her life. Oh my goodness...what, is wrong, with this picture?

"You don't say," Vikki murmured in amusement.

"Yeah, she's the whole package, a'right. I'd much rather hear about you, though," Portia sidestepped. "Tell me more 'bout'cha."

"Mmmrrrrr..."

"...Or, just enjoy the adjustment; that's fine too. Either way."

Vikki smiled, turning her head to the side to more eloquently produce speech. "Well, lessee now...I'm three hundred and eighty-two months old...I'm single, bisexual...ummm, you know what I do for a living...so you know I love kids. I also love animals and nature...I do crafts, play golf and blog in my spare time...and I'm also something of an actress. Or...hostess, you might say. At the day care, some of the others and I put on funny stage plays for the kids. And we also shoot videos for them, where we do skits and stuff, y'know, to teach them how to interact nice, treat each other with respect, all that jazz."

Portia was touched. "Aw, that's even more awesome. Well, I salute you, ma'am; much as I love kids, I don't think I could even take care of my own if I had any, much less other people's. Plus, my wife's potty-mouth wouldn't exactly play in our favor either."

Vikki giggled as Portia approached a particularly sensitive spot.

"Well, we are essentially organized babysitters, but even we can get a lit—ohhhhfudge-dudge-get-the-judge," she moaned.

"How's that feel?"

"Um..." Vikki winced. "It's okay, it...just...kinda pinches. I'm...really sensitive back there."

"Okay. Deep breath for me, please..."

Portia eased Vikki down by the shoulder. Once she had her back arched at the angle she wanted, she asked Vikki to please hold as still as she could, folded her hands over her spine, delivered a firm thrust downwards on her, and finished with a sharp twist.

"OH!" said Vikki. "Oh my gosh!"

"You're fine," Portia assured, repeating the procedure. "Just fine."

"Oh, I can tell!" Vikki confirmed. "That feels good!"

"So how long have you been at the day care, Miss Bowman?"

"Ohhhhhhh..."

Pause. This seemed to be the sum total of Vikki's response.

"...Miss Bowman?"

"Ahhhh...call me Vikki."

Portia's brows arched in amusement. Such a pleasantry was also her first from a female client. She acquiesced, politely repeating.

"Mmmmsix years," Vikki purred dreamily.

"Wow...well, forgive my mediocre math skills, I know you said you're...what, three hundred-something months old or whichever," Portia chortled. "Would it be rude of me to ask what that translates to in years?"

Vikki laughed through her nirvanic massaging. "Of course not. I will be 32 in August."

"Oh, now, you have got to be kidding me; you don't look a day over 25."

"Aw! You are so sweet, and such a liar!"

"On the contrary! You have such youthful-looking skin!" Portia insisted. "What's your secret?"

"Honest?...Sleep."

"Huh. No kidding?"

"Nope. Good eight hours every night, that's it. Simple as that. Little cream rinse and a healthy diet doesn't hurt either."

"Wow, who knew..." Portia mused. "All righty, Miss Vikki, almost done, and..."

She gave one more semi-firm wrench, culling out from her a relieved gasp! The next thing Vikki knew, Portia unhanded her.

"Arise, dear friend." Portia waved her hands over Vikki's 'L'-shaped body, like a chiropractic David Copperfield. Vikki waited, pushed down with her arms and cautiously fulcrumed herself up. To her awe, she stood perfectly erect without a hint of an ache.

"Oh my gosh..." She reached to touch her spine. "Oh my gosh!" She whirled on Portia in stark astonishment. "I'm...I'm healed!"

"Gee, that's funny," Portia coyly quipped. "I rather thought that's why you came here."

Vikki was so happy she jumped in the air. "YIPPEE!" She threw her arms around Portia. "Oh, I love you! You're the best!"

"Oh, wow! Okay," Portia giggled, modestly accepting the hug. "Okay, that's all right. All in a day's work."

"Lemme take you out to lunch," Vikki offered, taking Portia's hands. "Really, please, I insist; it's the least I can do."

It was Portia's turn to be surprised at the sudden turn of events.

"Oh...well, I'm...actually, I am free for lunch, and...I guess I'm also kinda hungry..."

She paused, leaving the sentence hanging. From her tone, Vikki expected a "but" coming. Portia was just weighing her options. Medical professionals weren't supposed to fraternize with patients for pleasure, but once she left the office, Vikki wouldn't be her patient anymore. A bit of a gray area, but...quite frankly, Portia liked the idea of someone—not exactly just anyone, but a delightfully whimsical young woman such as her Miss Vikki Bowman—asking her to a nice, cordial luncheon just as a budding friend, no strings attached. It could possibly be the start of something special, the sort of a friendship she'd been looking for...perhaps not, but...

"...And...I guess a little lunch couldn't hurt."

Vikki's hopeful eyes lit up. "Oh, wonderful!" she clapped. "Can we go to the Moonbeam Café? It's my favorite."

***

Out To Lunch

Tuesday, June 9th, 2015, 12:09 p.m.

"Well, I'm from here; I was born and raised in Green Plains—went to GPHS, then Denmore, and then to Hopkins Medical."

"And the rest is history."

"Pretty much. I've always been a huge admirer of anyone in the medical world, and so I wanted to join the ranks in one field or another. Then when I was sixteen, my kid brother hurt his neck and shoulder, and after a little reading and studying up, I literally straightened him out and made him good as new again. Our parents thought it was prodigious, like a randomly discovered area of expertise. And boom, there was my calling: chiropractor."

"That's a beautiful story. Mine pales in comparison, but it's still cute. About seven years ago my own brother and his wife had to go out of town, so they asked me to babysit their kid, my niece, who was five at the time. So we hung out, and by the time they came back, I'd just...gotten so darn attached to her...I just didn't want it to end. And I still don't think I'm ready to have any of my own kiddos, but I figured, what better way to make a living than taking care of children when their parents aren't able to?"

"Well, and plus, too, you're single, and...I know points of view vary on this, but in my ever so humble opinion, kids benefit much more from a family with two parents than one."

"Oh, I couldn't agree more. Y'know, this may be premature, Portia, but I think we may be more of kindred spirits that it might've seemed earlier this morning. I know that's a weird thing to say from someone you just met an hour ago, but I've been known to get these hunches now and then. And they turn out to be right surprisingly often. Let me ask you: what's your favorite holiday?"

"Mm, I guess I'd have to go with Christmas."

"Mine too!! Oh, Portia dear, this is so much fun! Forgive me for getting a little ahead of myself, but I'm having such a great time hanging out with you. Enjoying the pleasure of your company, this nice, pleasant conversation, finding all the things we have in common...it's all very encouraging. I've never exactly had a really close friendship that lasted, y'know, that stood the test of time. Oh, I've had friends, sure, but...ah, over the years, we lost touch, or they moved away, or something else happened. It got to be a real bummer after the umpteenth time, but I've never given up. I've never lost hope that somewhere out there for me is that one true-blue B.F.F., and that all the fun times we'll have together are just ripe for the taking.

"Portia...in all seriousness and sincerity...do you think, after this, you may wish to...y'know...play with me again sometime?"

"Hm...well, Vikki, it's kinda funny you bring that up. I've never really had that sort of friendship either. Close, but no banana."

"...No kidding?"

"A'right, ladies, here're your club sandwiches. Please enjoy. Anything else I can get you?"

"Oh, I think we're fine, thanks."

"Yup; we're beautiful.

"...I hope you don't mind me being a copycat and getting the same thing you got, Portia. It just looked and sounded so good."

"Of course not, Vikks. This is America; you're allowed to order absolutely anything the restaurant offers on its menu. Oh, listen to me—I sound like I'm advertising the place. Besides, if anything, I think you just made things easier on the waiter."

"Hee hee...

"...I really like you, Portia."

"Why, thank you, Vikki. I'm feeling sort of a unique camaraderie with you too."

"I know, right?! Like I said, sometimes I get a little ahead of myself, but I'm really feeling good and excited about this."

"Me too...it'll be interesting to see just where this might lead."




Through Thick and Thin



***

Birds Of A Feather...

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015, 5:17 p.m.

It led to a plethora of new experiences and grown-up play dates for the girls. Over the next two weeks, Dr. Portia Cosgrove and Vikki Bowman shared more of their lives with one another than many friends do in years. It was a remarkable coincidence that both had searched for such a close chum to pal around with on a semi-frequent basis, a confidante with whom to have fun while time flew, to celebrate good times and help each other through bad. Portia already had Jade, who fulfilled some of these desires, but was unable to meet others. Vikki was a wonderful avenue for Portia to open up about things that might harm the feelings of her wife. Portia felt a bit guilty about keeping such secrets from her betrothed, but she wasn't foolish. She knew Jade. She knew what made her tick. And she knew that honesty was sometimes the best policy—not always. The truth was, she'd been rather longing for someone to let her get these things off her chest. She could have gone to therapy, but she didn't really want a therapist. She wanted a friend.

Vikki had wanted the same, and let Portia in as well on her own feelings and desires, hopes and dreams, fears and joys. She didn't mind if Portia wished to unburden herself vis-à-vis Jade, or anything else that happened to be on her mind. She wanted Portia to feel that she could talk to her about absolutely anything she wished. Vikki considered herself an open book, a clean diary for Portia to flip to any page and get her thoughts out. It proved beneficial for both, as while Portia had been seeking an outlet to get things off her chest, confiding in Vikki allowed her feelings to be absorbed and minded while not having to scribe them down on paper. Portia didn't want to take the chance of having a real diary read behind her back, and thankfully, her friend Vikki had both a good memory for such things, and loyalty by the codes of friendship to keep everything just between them.

Every other or third day, they took turns hosting outings on their play dates, each alternatingly taking the other to a venue relevant to her interests. After the Moonbeam Café—Vikki's pick—Portia took Vikki to the Juniper art museum. Vikki took Portia to a Twins game. Portia chose the Hard Rock Café. Vikki chose Barnes & Noble. Portia went with the arboretum. Vikki went with the zoo.

Which led them to this date, two weeks after they'd originally crossed paths. It was Portia's turn, and she'd been thinking long and hard before finally deciding to invite Vikki home to introduce her to Jade. While not really miffed at their diminished time together, Jade had grown curious about the infamous Miss Vikki Bowman, and agreed she wouldn't mind seeing what this girl was all about.

Vikki found the house from Portia's directions without a problem, approached, and rang the bell. She was a bit nervous, but determined to simply be herself, and let the proverbial chips fall where they would. If, just hypothetically, for whatever reason Jade didn't take a liking to her, she couldn't possibly believe it would mean she'd have to give up Portia as well. Still, she hoped. She considered herself quite a likable, lovable lass, but her record wasn't flawless.

An excited Portia pranced to the door and let her in.

"Hiya, buddy!" Vikki grinned, holding out a single hand palm up.

"Heya, pally!" Portia greeted, granting her the requested low-five. "Well, c'mon, get on in here!"

Jade studied her. She was decked in a light flowered peasant dress, offset with a pair of brown ankle boots. Her blonde hair was down, but bowed on top with a thin pink ribbon. And she was smiling at her.

"How the heck do you do, Mrs. C.!" Vikki exclaimed, turning her hand sideways to meet Jade.

So this was her bride's new bud. Well, while Jade would promise nothing, she'd do her best to be polite, welcoming and hospitable.

"I do quite fine," she replied, extending her own hand. "Mrs. Vikki Bowman, I presume?"

"Oh, no; it's Miss," Vikki corrected, holding up her other hand. "No ring on this here finger!"

Really now... Jade thought. Hmm...

And so the Cosgroves set about to giving Vikki a tour of their home. When they got downstairs, Portia perked up to proudly display her abode within the abode. "And this..." she announced, turning the knob. She tossed the door open, danced into the middle of the room and twirled like a little ballerina, arms flourishing in the air.

"...Is my woman-cave!" She bounded back over to where her friend and wife were standing at the entrance, took Vikki—easy but excited—by the arm, and eagerly led her about, exhibit by exhibit. The Portia-cave was cozy and lovely, Vikki noted. It was walled on all sides by finely polished wood paneling, and opened in the middle by a Venetian blinded bay window. The window led outdoors to a staircase that took Portia up into the backyard, she explained.

"That's right," Jade confirmed. Her tone seemed to carry a note of sourness. "This is where she comes to get away from me, and if she wanted, she could just up and leave the house and come back without me finding out about it.

"Hell," Jade aggressively went on. "She could be out there having an affair, F.F.S, and I'd never even know."

Vikki laughed, assuming Jade was making a funny. Her giggling tapered off when she realized Jade was not laughing. In fact, she was wearing a quite unamused frown. Vikki abruptly turned serious and cleared her throat, a bit perturbed.

She...is joking...right?

"Bad taste, Jade," she heard Portia admonish. "In bad, bad taste."

Jade turned her head and held out her arms as if to say, ...Well?

"Yes, well, anyhow, I've gotta get upstairs and start dinner. Staying to eat, Vikki?"

Vikki turned to Portia, tossing the question her way. Portia completed the visual triangle, looking back to her wife.

"...You don't mind, do you...honey?"

Jade stared back at her a moment before answering.

"Of course not," she stated inscrutably. She waited one more beat, then started back out the door.

"Dinner will be ready in half an hour. You two have fun."

***

...'Til The End

Saturday, June 27th, 2015, 8:24 p.m.

Jade pulled back around the corner to the house from her weekend errands, which ended taking hours longer than they should have. It had frankly been a terrible day for her out and about. It was as if as soon as she got into her car and turned the key, someone had placed a curse on her. For starters, she was cut off on the highway while taking a sip from her bottle of Minute Maid, causing her to slam on the brakes and spill juice on herself. Secondly, when she reached the store from which she'd needed a few supplies, she was dismayed to find they had somehow run out of everything she needed. She was getting tired, and didn't feel like going to another store. So to cheer and energize herself up a little, she stopped on the way home for a burger and fries.

Unfortunately, while the food had the desired effect at first, it subsequently brought her on a bout of heartburn. Luckily, the heartburn did not take long to go away. Unluckily, this was because her physical anguish was nudged aside by mental anguish—panic and anger, which took over after sitting patiently at a red light, still in broad daylight, and being bopped from behind by an inattentive driver. Great, she thought. Now on top of everything else, she had to wait for a cop to show up, fill out a report, and stop by her insurance office the next day. At least it had closed today, giving her the excuse right now to skip this chore.

To finish it all off, her cell was dead, she was perilously low on gas, and didn't make it to the station. So just to add insult to all her injury, she was forced to walk a quarter mile with her portable tank just to get home. She was beyond aggravated, and just wanted all this behind her. She wanted to come home and have Portia to herself. If one more thing went wrong, she felt like she would snap.

She was so exasperated, she failed to observe the additional car parked alongside their curb. At first inside glance, no Portia was to be found. Oh, please let her be here, goddammit, Jade groused to herself. I really don't feel like being by myself right now.

Portia was at home. However, so was someone else.

Down in the woman-cave, If These Walls Could Talk 2 swelled the emotions and moistened the eyes of the galpals who sat together watching, sharing a bowl of popcorn. The blinds were shut and all lights were out, simulating a private cinema for two. The movie played at a higher than audible volume. Similarly, they passed small snippets of conversation back and forth at whisper-level.

"I'm so glad you picked this movie," Vikki murmured. "I've loved it ever since it came out. It helped me realize I'm bisexual."

"Ditto," Portia nodded. Gesturing to herself, she added, "I, meanwhile, couldn't be gayer, but, ditto."

"Mmm...which vignette's your favorite?"

"Honest?...Believe it or not, the first one."

Gasp. "Me too! It totally kills me every time! Buckets! I love how it goes from sad to funny by the end, though, too."

"Yup; everyone loves Ellen."

"Especially you...Portia."

Vikki sniffled, eyes welling up. Emotions getting the better of her, she slipped her arm around Portia's and sat her head on her shoulder. Portia neither recoiled nor reciprocated. Engrossed in the film, she merely continued munching popcorn.

Upstairs, Jade kicked off her shoes and threw her purse. "Porsh?" she called out.

Letting all other sound fade, she listened to the stillness, and faintly heard something coming from the basement.

Figures. She really wanted her wife to be here for her right now, and said wife was hanging out in her little bridey-hole. Jade was normally content enough to grant Portia her private time in the woman-cave, and to find something to do on her own. Right now, however, was an exception. She had reached the end of her rope, and needed Portia to pull her back. She started down the stairs. Portia would forgive if she intruded on such rare occasions, needing and longing for her comfort and succor...

...Wouldn't she?...

...Well, she was going to have to.

"Oh, yes! Oh goody, Michelle and Chloë're gonna make love! Yes, ladies; go for it!" Vikki celebrated, bringing her twitching bare feet up onto the sofa and snuggling in closer. "Portia, I'm about to start melting all over you."

"So pay for my dry cleaning," Portia replied, offering her a piece of popcorn. "Shh. Here."

Vikki's eyeballs were glued to the screen. Keeping the glue intact, she leaned down to the kernel in Portia's hand and gobbled it straight from the palm. Her head returned to Portia's shoulder as she chewed. She idly walked her fingers into the bowl where Portia's hand rested. As the movie maintained their attention, their hands went on autopilot. Their fingers linked. Now that Portia's was occupied, Vikki retrieved another kernel with her free paw, glanced up at the outline of Portia's illuminated face, and fed her.

Captivated as they were, neither woman noticed the hand that pulled the open door further ajar, or the figure who slipped inside.

Jade was a bit disoriented and bemused to see a dark room with only the television on. It was true that she didn't spend a lot of time down here, but she hadn't known Portia to just sit in the dark by...

...Herself?...

Her eyes shifted from the TV to the sofa.

She wasn't by herself.

The room was dark, but the glow from the screen was bright enough to expose two bodies to Jade's dilated eyes. One of them was her wife. The other was also familiar, sitting cuddled up...close to Portia...and seemingly...feeding her popcorn.

A chilly feeling rushed her. She flipped on the doorside switch. The ceiling fixture alit above them.

"What's going on??"

The sudden light and accusatory alarm in her voice broke the film's spell. The interlocked Portia and Vikki turned and looked up.

"J—...Jade?"

Portia stood and broke contact, as Vikki noticed she had returned home.

"Mrs. Cosgrove?"

Jade's eyes widened intensely as she clearly saw Portia pull herself out of Vikki's embrace—looking rather guilty, Jade thought.

"What the hell's this??"

"Oh, God," Vikki silently mouthed. Portia, now on her feet, began speaking.

"Okay, now, just hold on a minute here, Jade. Nothing happened. There's nothing going on here; we are only watching a movie."

Jade felt that she may have been stepping out of line and getting a little carried away here, but she knew a thing or two about intimidating the truth out of someone. And she couldn't have stopped the next word out of her mouth if she'd wanted to.

"Bullshit."

Vikki felt her blood run ice-cold, realizing she was in (big) trouble, even though they'd crossed no serious boundaries.

"Don't you hand me that," Jade ranted, marching closer in on Portia. "Don't you fucking dare stand there with those innocent little doe eyes, and lie to me. You think I don't see what's really going on here? How the hell blind do you think I am, Portia?? The movie, the popcorn, the cutesy little snuggles? Flirting disguised as emotion? Feeding each other?? Huh?!

"Just how it started with us, Portia." Jade's eyes narrowed. Her voice quieted, but lost no hostility. "Right before our first time."

Portia was afforded little silence to think back, but she tuned out the next few words to do just so. She honestly didn't believe she could remember the first time they'd made love. She found only spotty, vague recollections of it not being very pleasant for her.

Come to think of it...Jade seemed to have a way of making life not very pleasant for her.

Meanwhile, Jade's venting continued. "Two more minutes, and you'd've been all over each other. Don't deny it, Portia Cosgrove. I can read you like a goddamn book. Nothing puts you in the mood like that scene." She shook her head, inching in.

"You're so fucking pathetic. You're weak, Portia. You're weak, and needy. You just can't handle it when things are any less than perfect, can you? No, that doesn't work for you. God forbid your poor spouse has a shit day, and comes home to find the only person who's supposed to be there for her, sitting on the couch with someone else. Oh, it must be so much nicer being around her, huh?"

Portia absorbed these accusations like one blow to the soul after another. She felt her heart begin to bleed. A small opening of silence found its way into Jade's speech, which Vikki took as a window of opportunity to plead her case, getting to her feet as well.

"Mrs. Cosgrove, please, she's telling you the truth! Portia wouldn't lie to you for the world! Honest to all goodness, nothing ha—"

Jade instantaneously silenced her with a piercing glare.

"If I were you, I would keep my fucking mouth shut right now, you conniving little slut."

Vikki immediately clammed down. "Yes, ma'am," she mouthed, dropping her eyes to the floor, where her nervous toes awkwardly dug into the carpet. Suddenly, she heard Portia pipe right up.

"Hey!" she shouted, pointing one angry finger. "Don't you dare talk to her like that, Jade. Don't you dare talk to her like you talk to me. It's one thing to abuse me. But I won't stand here and allow you to menace Vikki like this. She's my friend."

"Oh, I believe that," Jade retorted, closing the space between them. "That, I'll buy. Introducing her as your 'friend' just as a red herring, Portia? Just to throw me off? What, 'dya think it'd just magically slip by me, that I wouldn't even notice, for fuck's sake?!"

Portia's blood was beginning to boil. She glared back, turning red.

"I'm telling you, there is nothing to notice, Jade," she huffed, struggling to keep her tone under control. "I did not cheat on you, nor was I about to, nor would I ever. And I've had just about enough of these accusations. But y'know what? Yeah! We were sitting there on the couch together, and maybe we were cuddling a little! Yeah! Okay! Maybe we did even feed each other a little popcorn!" She waved her hands in the air. "'Cause we all know that's so exactly the same thing as the red-hot sex of an infidel, Jade, but, oh, GOD forbid anyway! Anything doesn't make Jade happy, God forbid it makes Portia happy! So shoot me! So shoot me, if yes, it does happen to be nice to spend a little time with a person who can show some heart! Some kindness! Some compassion!"

It was Portia's turn to rant with her own monologue. It kept flowing out; she was now the one who couldn't stop.

"'Cause you sure as hell can't, Jade. And I don't know if you've ever been able to. Yes. I may be weak, and even a little needy. But you, Jade...are selfish. You're a selfish, egoistic human being. And those are your good qualities. You're not a nice person. You know something? I thought you loved me these two years. But you never really did. Did you? Did you?? No. You tricked me. You made me think you loved me, then you changed. You only proposed to me to get on my insurance plan 'cause your job raised your premiums. Admit it, Jade: everything you've ever done in your entire life has been only for yourself."

Jade flinched, visibly wounded by this remark. Portia felt guilt flood in, but forced it back away. Jade poked her in the sternum.

"You take that back right now."

Portia was not proud, but she took a small bit of satisfaction in hurting Jade, in giving her a taste of her own medicine, as it were.

"Oh, why? Did I hurt your feelings, Jade? Your selfish, egoistic feelings? Doesn't feel so hot to be on the business end, now does it?" Portia stepped up to Jade face to face. "Let me tell you something, wifey. It's not entirely uncommon for someone who really is having an affair to project her guilt onto her spouse. Sound familiar, Jade? Tell me...who's your conniving little slut?"

Jade seethed. Her eyes went fiery and her nostrils flared.

"You fucking bitch."

She raised an open hand in one fluid motion and hit Portia across the face with such brute force, she was knocked off-kilter and fell to the floor. A terrified Vikki threw her hands over her face and cried out, telepathically feeling Portia's pain. But as great a fright as was thrown into her at this action, it doubled as her eyes rose...to see Jade turning on her.

She put up her hands. "I...pl—...p-please, Mrs. Cosgrove, I-I bruise easily."

Vikki regretted saying this once it was out of her mouth. It sounded as if she were only concerned with her own safety. But she didn't know what else to possibly say right now. She was too frightened. Jade gazed back down at Portia, still on the floor, covering her sore cheek. All three hearts pounded in alarm. Jade was stunned by what she'd done, but, she'd snapped. She'd just needed one more thing to go wrong, and it had. How dare she, thought Jade. How dare she?? She had not cheated on Portia, but instead walked in on the two of them...hugging, watching a movie. When she thought of it this way, it did seem like maybe she'd overreacted just a bit. Maybe Portia had a point. Maybe she was selfish, egoistic, abrasive...perhaps even abusive...but...she was too angry and upset to care. Her straw had severed. Her camel's kid had stepped on a crack. She took a breath, and ominously ordered Portia the following.




Through Thick and Thin



"...I want you...and your 'woman-cave'..."

Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to keep her emotions in check to maintain authoritativeness.

"...Out of my house."

She reached down to take Portia's hand, and plucked the ring off her finger. She stopped briefly to bore another hole of fury into Vikki with searing eyes, forcing her to tearfully shut her own. She didn't strike Vikki, but picked up the almost empty popcorn bowl, and flung the remaining kernels, salt and duds all over her. Finally, she turned and marched back upstairs.

Her ired footsteps faded away. Vikki, too petrified to move, began to sob. She felt very possibly worse than she'd ever felt in her life. She felt totally to blame, that she'd destroyed her dear friend's marriage. She hadn't meant for any of this to happen. Her legs went weak and wobbly, and she lowered to her knees, dropping her face into her hands. She didn't know what to do. She wished she could turn the clock back and avoid this whole horrible scene. But she couldn't. She wanted to run upstairs after Jade, fall at her feet, hug her legs and cover her in tears and apologies until everything was somehow okay again. But she couldn't. She was too scared. Besides the fact that she didn't feel an apology (or seventy) would do any good, she wasn't lying when she said she bruised easily.

An indeterminable number of minutes later, she felt someone approach, a pair of arms taking her in them to console and comfort.

"It's okay..." she heard. "It'll be okay...it's all right, cry all you need to. I'm here, honey. We'll get through this. I won't let anything happen to you. Don't worry, everything'll be fine...

"...Everything's gonna be just...fine."

The movie ended.

***

Best Official Friends Forever

Saturday, July 11th, 2015, 6:45 p.m.

One week later, proceedings were underway. Once she learned the big bad 'D' was really happening, Vikki hated herself all over again. But Portia assured her that it wasn't her fault. Unfortunately, it had taken some time to figure it out, but she and Jade weren't the people for one another. She promised that even if Vikki hadn't entered the picture, something else would inevitably have gone too wrong to fix. The timing was simply unlucky, she'd insisted. The marriage was coming to an end, like it or not. Some couples were meant to be together forever, and some weren't. Sadly, she and Jade had just fallen into the latter category.

Portia had taken a vacation week from work to get a collection of boxes together and pack her things. It was inconvenient, and unfair to her time and schedule, but so, oftentimes, was life. And she knew Jade was serious about what she'd said. While incomparable to friends and family, her material possessions were fairly dear and important to her too, and she very much wished to keep them. It broke her heart to take them and herself from this beautiful house to which she'd grown so accustomed. But had anything of Portia's remained in the house for too long—including her body—it would be unceremoniously disposed of. Or worse.

Vikki still couldn't help but feel responsible for some of this happening, and insisted on helping Portia move her belongings. And on offering her apartment as a place to stay, if only during daytime. Her dwelling couldn't house all Portia's things, but her folks'—the Aameses'—could. While grateful for Vikki's offer of shelter, Portia didn't yet know how she felt about sleeping in her friend's home. But Vikki suggested now that she was free, it could be fun, like a slumber party. And they could run the gauntlet of traditional slumber party activities: playing games, doing each other's hair, cooking up more popcorn, s'mores or other snacks, telling funny and scary stories, pillow-fighting in their jammies, gabbing about cute girls, childhood, or anything else under the sun.

Portia let herself be convinced. Her things were safely moved out of Jade's house. It was time to move on—to put this chapter behind her and get on with life. She felt a little sad and melancholy, but moreover, she felt relieved and liberated. It had taken a hurtful shot to the soul as well as to the face, but she was out. Her cheek and her heart would heal. Things would look up again.

Vikki kept a tasteful apartment a few blocks off Juniper Street, in a residential area of suburban Juniper called Statler. It charmed Portia just the same way Vikki herself did. The apartment was just so her. It was a perfect extension of Vikki's delightful personality. It wasn't enormous, but two could hypothetically live together comfy enough—if a wee bit cramped.

On the 11th, one week after both America's, and Portia's own personal Independence Day, she agreed to spend the night with Vikki for her slumber party idea. So they got into their pajamas, ordered a pizza, and spent the evening doing everything else on the itinerary. It was one of the most fun nights Portia had enjoyed in recent memory. So much fun, in fact, that by 10:30, both were ready to hit the hay. Vikki decided she would leave it up to Portia where she wanted to sleep—that she could make up the couch for her, or if she really wanted to, she had Vikki's permission to share the bed. For the sole reason that she preferred beds to couches—and knew as a chiropractor they were better for the skeletal system anyway—Portia took her up on it. They lay together under the covers, staring at the ceiling and just talking, until they could hold their eyes open no longer.

Nine hours later, they awoke, groggy but happy. Once they realized they were both up, they shared a coy smile.

"Hi, stranger," slurred Vikki. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Hee hee...isn't it though?" Portia chuckled.

Neither saw immediate need or cause to vacate the bed just yet. Instead, they went on exchanging minor flirtations: a wink-smirk-look-away here, a light fingertip caress there, even an ever so subtle kissing gesture, which didn't go unnoticed.

"...Are we still having a slumber party?" Portia wanted to know.

"...Are we still only and nothing more than really really good friends?" Vikki rejoined.

Portia gave it some thought. It had been quite an eventful past month. In almost five weeks since they'd met at her clinic, Portia'd learned more about Vikki Bowman than she fathomed learning about anyone, even Jade. They really had become super-fast buddies. It was easily the quickest friendship she'd ever drummed up. And what was more remarkable was that of all the numerous, varied Vikki-isms shared, Portia found very few she could view in a negative light. Not that she wanted to, of course, but after being with the woman who was now her ex, Portia had become Jade'd—pun most certainly intended—and was a bit used to detecting the less than favorable traits in a person. It wasn't a skill she was proud of, but so few bells and whistles went off as she got to know Vikki, it was disorienting—in a good way. Portia was always on her guard by this point, but Vikki helped her to relax and invest some trust.

"I don't know," Portia smiled. "Care to find out?"

"Well, y'know..." said her hostess, "I am a bit regretful we didn't get to finish that little cuddle sesh we had going at your place."

"Hm...well, I suppose, under the circumstances, there's nothing wrong with a little innocent cuddling."

The way she cooed the word "cuddling" filled Vikki with such warmth and enthusiasm she quivered, giddy like the little girl she wanted to remain. They sidled up along the mattress towards one another, inch by inch, till they were close enough to embrace.

"Ooh, that feels nice," Portia commented.

Vikki shut her eyes dreamily. "So 'snugglable'..." she purred, enjoying making up words as part of her whimsical nature.

"Yeah..." Portia sighed. Her face abruptly fell a bit, as a bittersweet memory crossed her mind. "Forgive me...I don't wanna spoil the mood, but...Jade never really wanted to cuddle. She just always wanted to have rough, havoc-wreaking sex."

Vikki arched her brows. "Oh?...Well...that can be fun too," she opined, always the validator.

"Mm, not the way we had it," Portia shook her head. "I should've known something was up from the kinda stuff she did to me. She would grab me by the throat, and start choking and smacking me. I couldn't breathe. And I think she liked it."

A look of stunned consternation washed Vikki's face. "Oh, no! That's terrible!"

"Yeah...and the smacking—not like a soft little slap. I mean hard. Like you saw her do to me that night. Heavy 'ouch' factor."

"God," Vikki shut her eyes in sympathetic concern. "How you must've suffered. I'm so sorry those things happened to you. Well, you know what, though? You survived. That's behind you now. You're a free lady. She can't hurt you anymore.

"And for the record," she added, "Speaking hypothetically, I would never do things like that to anyone I cared about. I mean, I have little inner kinks and things too, but none of them involve pain, or danger. Mine are really just very...fluffy, and playful."

Portia smirked, taking a tendril of Vikki's loose hair between her fingers and twirling it back and forth.

"Well, you're a fluffy, playful person."

"That I am," Vikki laughed. "My speed's more...I dunno, dressing up like a French maid and...teasing someone with a feather duster. Something along those lines."

Portia considered. "Sounds like an 'uh-oh' if you're ticklish...but after the escapades I've endured, that'd be a breeze."

"Really?...Hmm..." Vikki summoned bravery to take her flirtation up a notch. "Might have to put that theory to the test sometime."

Portia smiled. "I'm game if you are."

Vikki's heartbeat accelerated. A green light if ever she was signaled one.

"Portia..." she whispered, "...I really like you..."

"Thank you, Vikki, I really like you back."

"...And you know, ordinarily in a situation like this, I'd be worried about taking any further steps, because I wouldn't wanna do anything that might harm our buddy-ness. I mean, let's face it; this kind of friendship doesn't come along every day. But, I already feel such a strong bond with you after only this much time, I don't think it's possible to harm it."

"Oh, I know!" said Portia. "I've been feeling the same way! Vikki, meeting and hanging out with you has filled an empty void in me that's been there a long time. I don't make friends very easily, and not that it's been a horse race, but I think I feel secure and confident right now in saying that you are my best friend."

Vikki blinked. As her eyes reopened, a glimmer of moisture appeared.

"You're mine too, Portia.

"And this is also the most unique friendship I've ever had. 'Cause every moment I look at you...you just get prettier and prettier...and more irresistible...until I can't wait one more second to kiss you."

Portia's heartbeat joined Vikki's in double-time. If they hadn't known they were thinking the same thing before, they did now.

The magical first kiss happened.

The instant their lips made contact, they settled into a dual moan of mellowed, sublime happiness. Soft whimpers followed as they broke from each subsequent kiss, losing no time in rushing to the next. All of a sudden, they couldn't stop themselves. They locked and entwined legs, playing an intimate round of footsie. They each took one another's faces in both palms, fluttering their eyes, tickling with their lashes, getting acquainted with each other's unique pheromonal scents.

Fabric was pinned under writhing limbs as they twisted and turned. Their sleepwear hugged them snug and tight. They alternated pawing faces and holding embraces, one arm around the other's back. They Eskimo kissed, butterfly kissed...they even doggy-kissed. Their aims began to miss as they got too excited to focus. Eager breasts pressed and bumped against each other. Each movement generated more lovely body warmth. Fingers fumbled their ways along pajama fabric, feeling for equally soft bare skin.

They stopped kissing out of need for oxygen. Their lips were kept occupied by now whispering and trading sweet nothings. All four eyes shimmered with limerence.

"You're beautiful," Portia proclaimed, gliding a finger down the tip of Vikki's nose.

"You're beautiful-er," Vikki ad-libbed.

She was blessed with the heaven in Portia's gleeful laughter.

"You're beautiful-est," she declared back.

"Oh yeah?" said Vikki. "Well, you're beautiful-est infinity."

More laughter. Vikki steeled her nerves and mustered courage to say what she wanted to say.

"And I want to...to..."

She blinked several times, praying Portia felt the same way.

"I wanna love you...

"...Miss Portia Aames."

Portia, who liked the idea of returning to her maiden last name, eyed her adoringly, but unreadably, for just a moment.

"Welllllll...having reminded us that I am not in fact any longer married...since you put it that way..."

Vikki was so elated she gasped, then squealed in laughter. She didn't wait for the rest of the affirmation. She couldn't; she was too enthusiastic. She closed any remaining space separating their precious flesh. All twenty fingers picked up speed roving and roaming, frantically fondling, reaching, groping, fewer and fewer patches of territory untouched. The clock ticked away, minute after minute after passionate minute. Juices were flying. Hormones raced. Neither girl could take much more before needing to shed her pajamas.

Portia let herself be marvelously seduced, lolling her back on the pillow as Vikki traced an aimless pattern of kisses over her, kisses of varying degrees: a peck here, a hickey there. The unpredictability turned Portia wild, keeping her libido guessing, pulling it one way, then another. She felt Vikki slip up the front of her nightshirt, circling her bellybutton. She giggled.

Then things weren't so humorous anymore, as all of a sudden, Vikki ever so tenderly palmed her naked breasts, in both hands.

Gasp. "Oh!" Portia rejoiced, tilting her head further back. Oh, how she'd longed for this, the soft, gentle touch of one who treated her like the delicate flower she was. Her libido and psyche no longer responded to rough sexplay: harsh grabs and squeezes, digging and thrusting, malicious and profane pillow talk, choking and slapping. She'd experienced each of these with Jade, and any once-existent interest in their novelty had long since worn off. Portia wanted only soft gentleness. Something that Miss Vikki Bowman was able to give, where Jade Cosgrove had failed. Oh, Jade made her cum hard, but somehow her heart was just never quite in it. But this...this Portia could get on board with. This lady could make Portia feel, at long last, what she could only imagine for so long.

And the loveliest part was that she hadn't even to ask. She didn't even need to say what was on her mind, how she wished to have such perfect love made to her, how fragile she was. Vikki knew. She knew Portia so well by this point, it was now she who could read her like a book. Portia liked this. She vastly enjoyed being looked after by a playmate so caring, so empathetic, so...wonderful.

Eyes closed in ethereal bliss, she felt a double dose of euphoria descend on her, as Vikki snugly hugged Portia's thigh with both of hers—sending tingles through her with soft, easy strokes and licks over her perking nipples—and also as she realized in her mind what was happening here. For once in her life, she had a chance to be with someone who made her truly happy. Who would gratefully accept the devotion she offered, and give equal parts of herself in return. Who would actually prioritize Portia's feelings and desires above her own, encouraging Portia to reciprocate. Oh, this was going to be even more splendid than she thought.

Vikki fingered one nipple and tranquilly sucked the other, wrapping her legs and feet yet tighter around Portia's as the divine, overwhelming romance finally generated dampness through Portia's pussy. Oh, it felt good...she couldn't believe how lucky she was getting, in more ways than one. This was all she wanted in the intimacy department from the person she would call hers. This was really just it. She didn't feel it was too much to ask. And it wasn't.

Part of her couldn't help but wonder if Vikki wished she could receive the same passionate affection that she was bestowing, but she remembered a time Vikki'd told her how much more vital (or "vital-er") it was for her to give, rather than get. Vikki Bowman was a giver by nature. Doing things for others and putting smiles on their faces made her even happier than having a favor granted for her. And so Portia told herself not to worry about it, to just revel in the magnificence. It was what Vikki would want.

"Oh, yay..." she smiled, colors dancing and swirling in front of her eyelids. "Oh, finally...finally..."

Vikki's upper hand, which had been absentmindedly playing with Portia's hair, brushing it behind her ear and back, floated down to join the rest of her. She repositioned herself. She leaned further over Portia's sprawled frame to reach her other nipple with her mouth. Lifting her pajama shirt, she let free her own tits to brush lovingly over Portia's belly—similar to her doctor appointment, except that now she was the top, she thought with a roguish chuckle. The hand which had been toying with Portia's hair now set about to soothing the wet nipple she'd been sucking a moment ago. And her other hand slipped further south, gliding so very serenely down her skin, producing goosebumps on Portia's bare tummy. But this was not the hand's destination.

Portia gasped as she felt Vikki sneak her fingers beneath the hem of her jammie pants.

"Oh my gosh..." she exulted. "Oh, yes, my angel, yes..."

Vikki blushed and smiled in modest pride, easing Portia's other nipple in her grinning lips. It was true; she was loving how happy she was making Portia. It briefly crossed her mind that it was safe to say they were no longer just friends, but this was a thought for another moment. Her lower hand traversed the rest of its way down, and finally graced Portia's wet pussy. Portia's eyes went back. In this instant, she could swear she heard beautiful music swelling around them, culminating in a great crash! of cymbals.

Just now, Portia Jo Aames could have died an ecstatic woman. A beautiful, warm girl was draped over her, one hand manually loving her right breast, lips and tongue administering supple oral love on her left, other hand grazing over the slit of her exhilarated cunt. She felt Vikki's stiffened nipples tickle her abs, both legs still hugging one of hers, the girl's feet sliding up and down her calf and ankle, massaging with her soles. Her body overlapping provided all the warmth Portia needed, and her gloriously haphazard hair tossed all over. It boasted the scent of shampoo and conditioner, wafting botanicals into Portia's nostrils.

She, was, in, heaven.

She couldn't believe sex could ever be this spectacular. She couldn't believe anything could. It could get no better than this. She literally could have perished the happiest girl on Earth, if she didn't want to live forever by Vikki Bowman's side. She began to cry.




Through Thick and Thin



Her still, silent weeping was interrupted as Vikki's fingers burrowed through her pussy lips and entered her.

"OH!" she bellowed. Vikki marveled. She had barely even felt her on the inside, and this was just about all it took. She needn't push, thrust, ram, jam, cram, not at all. Portia would make this easy on her digits. She slipped inside, taking time to thoroughly explore, letting her fingers do the walking. Portia's hands ran through her silky hair, appreciatively petting and stroking her head. Though Vikki didn't anticipate, she wouldn't have to do very much more to bring Portia's wild experience to its zenith.

Portia's mind was blown. When she was with Jade, raging sizzle was forced upon her, again indeed making her cum like a lawn sprinkler, but something was undeniably missing. Now she knew it was the emotional component. The true heart and devotion in the technique. She was right; Jade had never really loved her. Jade couldn't make love to her this way. Vikki could.

She loves me.

So this was how it felt. Portia could get quite used to this.

For Portia, whose heart was won with unbridled romance, the realization that she was now doubtlessly loved finally did it.

She came.

It was astonishing. Her emotions and libido became one in this unique dual climax, making her laugh, cry and scream all at once.

"OMIGOD! OMIGOD!! OH DEAR GOD!!" she shrieked. Vikki heard that she was cumming, and hastened her actions, applying pressure to intensify her pleasure, while remaining gentle and mild. She didn't want to give Portia more than she could handle.

Well...

Portia's cries of joy carried on. "Oh! Oh! Vikki! I love you! I love you! I love you! ILOVEYOU!!..."

Everything she'd ever felt with Jade was washed clean and purified with Vikki. She blew through the unlimited dimensions, somersaulted through countless plateaus, rode the shooting stars, spiraled through oblivion, and nabbed the brass rings. Finally, she had been finished, and the smoke began to clear.

When she could think and see again, the clouds vanished from her sight, and a pretty 31-year-old blonde was smiling at her with glowing teal eyes. Portia felt her own damp baby browns dripping tears down her face. It was true, without a shadow of a doubt.

"I do...I do!" she told her. "I really do!!"

Vikki arched her brows. "Did...you just marry yourself to me?" she asked amusedly.

Portia blinked repeatedly and bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from bursting prematurely.

"No," she shook her head. "I mean...I love you, Vikki Bowman."

Vikki's face morphed to astonishment. "What??" she gasped in disbelief.

"I do. With all my heart and soul. From the very bottoms of my feet," she joked.

"Ohhh!" Vikki flung her arms around her once more, squeezing now hard as she could. "Oh, my darling! I love you too!"

They spent the better part of the morning in one another's arms, exchanging tears of joy. Each was more thrilled than she could ever recall. They'd both found the friend they'd always wanted, and now, the girl of their dreams, in one fell swoop. Their worries and cares eroded away. Everything was going to be fine now. Better than fine.

An hour or three later, tears dry, Portia'd almost fallen right back to sleep. Meanwhile, Vikki remembered something. She slipped free of Portia's embrace and rolled away from the bed. Only semi-conscious, but certainly feeling Vikki part from her, Portia whined.

"Don't you worry, my love, I'm coming right back!" Vikki promised. She went into her closet and rummaged till she found what she was looking for. She pranced back around to the other side of the bed, closer to Portia's half-asleep body—which now faced the other direction—let herself down to her knees, and tapped Portia on the shoulder blade.

Portia turned just a little the other way and looked behind her. "Hmm?..."

"I have something for you."

Portia blinked about a dozen times and shifted around till she and Vikki were face to face again. She covered hers momentarily, yawned, and propped herself up on her elbow. Vikki produced before her a small velvet box.

Portia's groggy, weary eyes opened to full wideness at the sight. Then they moved up to Vikki's face.

"...Y—..."

Vikki held up one hand, asking for a few moments to speak. "Just humor me, please, darling."

Portia held on, willing to play along and let her orchestrate what was happening. Vikki continued.

"I don't have a speech prepared, and I'm lousy at them anyway," she chuckled. "But I am okay at just saying what's on my mind. And I wasn't sure I thought it was possible to meet someone who could make me so very happy, in so many ways before. I cannot believe we have only known each other for one month. But I don't believe knowing the person you're meant to be with is necessarily a function of time. I absolutely believe in love at first sight. And I believe it's possible to fall heels over head in love overnight, because it's happened to me. Miss Portia Jo Aames, in the short time we've spent together, you have become my sweetheart, my mentor, my role model, my guardian angel, and most importantly, my best friend. I love you so, so much. All this being said..."

She popped open the box, bringing about that same familiar, lovely sound of the velvet creaking.

Criiiiick. Portia looked down, heart abruptly starting to pound.

Inside lay a beaded friendship bracelet.

"...Will you be my best official friend forever?"

Portia gasped with a smile, eyes watering up all over again. "Oh-ho-ho-ho!" she giggled. It was the sweetest, most adorable thing she had ever seen. Her heart stopped pounding, and swelled like a warm, happy balloon. Then she thought of something.

"'Best official friend forever'?" she repeated. "...Your B.O.F.F.?...Your 'boff?'"

Vikki processed what Portia had just said. She darted her eyes back and forth a moment, realizing the unintended acronym. Her eyes shut in embarrassment, and she blushed even redder than she had in the midst of their passion. Oops.

"...Um...yes?...Well, we, uh...we did just...y'know..."

Portia was so enchanted she found this only even more charming. She caressed Vikki's cheek with the back of her hand.

"Of course I will, buddy."

Vikki grinned with zeal, and set the box on the mattress. She removed the bracelet, took Portia's hand, and gingerly fastened it. "There you go. I really hope you like it; I had it made special for you."

Portia studied it. The bracelet consisted of beads of different shapes, sizes and colors. They made up a symmetrical pattern, six small cubes in the middle. As she held it close and looked, six tiny engravings on the cubes bore the letters spelling out her name.

"Aww, Vikki...I love it so much. Thank you."

Vikki shook down her pajama sleeve and showed her wrist, wearing an identical bracelet with five cubes to spell her own name.

"It's official."

She popped up, stretched, and removed the box. "So then, mejor amiga por siempre, what would you like for breakfast?"

"Hmm...I'd love to go to the IHOP."

"Oh, capital idea!" said Vikki. "And while we're out, I can pick up a French maid's outfit and a feather duster."

She winked at Portia with a mischievous smile, and headed off to the bathroom, as Portia felt her ticklish spots tingle.

***

"Rescue me/A-take me in your arms/Rescue me/I want your tender charm/'Cause I'm a-lonely/And I'm blue/I need you/And your love too/Come on and rescue me/Come on, baby, and rescue me/Come on, baby, and rescue me/'Cause I need you by my side/Can't you see that I'm a-lonely/Rescue me/Come on and take my heart/Take your love/And conquer every part/'Cause I'm a-lonely/And I'm blue/I need you/And your love too/Come on and rescue me" —Raynard Miner and Carl Smith, 1964

"When you're down and troubled/And you need some lovin' care/And nothin', nothin' is goin' right/Close your eyes and think of me/And soon I will be there/To brighten up even your darkest night/You just call out my name/And you know wherever I am/I'll come runnin', a-runnin', yeah, yeah/To see you again/Winter, spring, summer or fall/All you have to do is call/And I'll be there, yes I will/You've got a friend/If the sky above you/Grows dark and full of clouds/And that old north wind begins to blow/Keep your head together/And call my name out loud/Soon you'll hear me knockin' at your door/Now, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend/When people can be so cold/They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you/And take your soul if you let them/Oh, but don't you let them" —Carole King, 1970

"Ooh, you make me live/Whatever this world can give to me/Is you, you're all I see/Ooh, you make me live now, honey/Ooh, you make me live/Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had/I been with you such a long time/You're my sunshine/And I want you to know/That my feelings are true/I really love you/Oh, you're my best friend/Ooh, you make me live/Ooh, I've been wandering 'round/Still come back to you/In rain or shine, you've stood by me, girl/I'm happy at home/You're my best friend/Ooh, you make me live/Whenever this world is cruel to me/I got you to help me forgive/Ooh, you make me live now, honey/Ooh, you make me live/Oh, you're the first one when things turn out bad/You know I'll never be lonely/You're my only one/And I love the things/I really love the things that you do/Oh, you're my best friend" —John Deacon, 1975

"Sweet love's showin' us a heavenly light/I've never seen such a beautiful sight/See love glowin' on us every night/I know forever we'll be doin' it, doin' it/Whenever I call you 'friend'/I believe I've come to understand/Everywhere we are/You and I were meant to be/Forever and ever/I think about the times to come/Knowing I will be the lucky one/Ever our love will last/I always wanna call you 'friend'/Now I know my life/Has given me more than memories/Day by day/We can see/In every moment there's a reason to carry on/You're the glowing light in my life/Source of pride in my life" —Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester, 1976

"Thank you for bein' a friend/Travel down a road and back again/Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidante/I'm not ashamed to say/I hope it always will stay this way/My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow/And if you threw a party/Invited everyone you knew/Well, you would see the biggest gift would be from me/And the card attached would say/Thank you for bein' a friend/And when we both get older/With walking canes and hair of gray/Have no fear/Even though it's hard to hear/I will stand real close and say/Thank you for bein' a friend/And when we die/And float away/Into the night/The Milky Way/You'll hear me call/As we ascend/'I'll see you there'/Then once again/Thank you for bein' a friend" —Andrew Gold, 1977

"And I never thought I'd feel this way/And as far as I'm concerned/I'm glad I got the chance to say/That I do believe I love you/And if I should ever go away/Well, then close your eyes and try/To feel the way we do today/And then if you can remember/Keep smiling/Keep shining/Knowing you can always count on me, for sure/That's what friends are for/For good times and bad times/I'll be on your side forever more/That's what friends are for/Well, you came and opened me/And now there's so much more I see/And so by the way, I thank you/Oh, and then for the times when we're apart/Well, then close your eyes and know/The words are coming from my heart/And then if you can remember" —Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, 1981

"Hello, old friend/It's good to be with you/Time is standing still/Our love shines true and bright/It always will/My wishing star has guided all you do/My empty heart you fill/We still feel forever young/Looking back, we're just the same/As we were when we began/This love will keep protecting us/Reach for me and I'll take your hand/When we're apart, just close your eyes and you'll see me waiting there/You can always count on me/I will always care/My special friend/Inside my heart you'll stay/You'll be with me until/The sun shines through the night/It never will/My little star/You'll never fade away/The hands of time are still/And we'll be forever young/Hello to you/It's nice to see your smile/Step up and take my hand/One touch/And we'll be friends forever/Hello, old friend/It's good to see you too/Time is standing still/Oh, we'll be forever young" —Dean Parks and Carol Parks, 1985

"We all know that love is blind/And it grows from deep affection/We all find our meanings/While we search for some protection/And you don't know/What on Earth to do/And what I'd like to do/Is offer me to you/Come inside/My love is open wide to you/Come inside/I have a place that I've been saving specially for you/Nobody said it would be easy for you/To find someone who cared/But there is someone waiting patiently/Who'd be glad to have you there/And you don't know/What on Earth to do/But what I'd like to do/Is be the one you choose/Come inside/My love is open wide to you/Come inside/I have a place that I've been saving for you/I have a place that I've been saving specially for you" —Dead Or Alive, 1986

"I know there's pain/Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?/No one can change life except for you/Don't ever let anyone step all over you/Just open your heart and your mind, mmm/Is it really fair to feel this way inside? Whoa/Someday somebody's gonna make you wanna turn around and say goodbye/Until then, baby, are you gonna let 'em hold you down and make you cry?/Don't you know, don't you know things could change/Things'll go your way/If you hold on for one more day/Can you hold on for one more day/Things'll go your way/Hold on for one more day" —Chynna Phillips, Glen Ballard and Carnie Wilson, 1989

"You've got a friend in me/You've got a friend in me/When the road looks rough ahead/And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed/You just remember what your old pal said/Yeah, you've got a friend in me/You got troubles, and I got 'em too/There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you/'F we stick together, we can see it through/'Cause you've got a friend in me/Now some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am/Bigger and stronger too, maybe/But none of them will ever love you the way I do/It's me and you, girl/And as the years go by/Our friendship will never die/You're gon' see, it's our destiny/You've got a friend in me" —Randy Newman, 1994