Chapter Text
Seasons change with the scenery
Weavin' time in a tapestry
Won't you stop and remember me?
They were tucked up cozily in each other beneath the blankets, bare skin against skin. Serena had tangled their legs together and wrapped her right arm around Bernie’s waist, tucking her head under Bernie’s chin where she could feel the rise and fall of Bernie’s chest. Bernie had flung an arm over her side, one hand resting more or less innocently on her arse; the warmth of her breath occasionally ruffling Serena’s hair.
Oh, it had been a long time since Serena had felt this kind of afterglow, sated and safe and warm. She felt a little burn at the back of her eyelids at the thought that she might never have experienced this with Bernie if she had succeeded in driving her away, or if whatever had caused that scar—and there was a story she hoped Bernie would tell her someday—had taken her away before they had ever met.
There was a lump in the back of her throat, and she pressed a kiss to the top of the scar where it faded away into a twist of skin at the shoulder.
Bernie rubbed her cheek against Serena’s hair in response. “What was that for?”
“Nothing,” Serena managed. “Just glad you’re here.”
“Mmm.” Bernie’s arms tightened a little around here. “Me too.”
Serena snuggled in a little closer. She was loath to potentially pop the post-coital bubble, but-- “You…enjoyed it, then? It was all right?”
“Very all right,” Bernie told her with a squeeze. She pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Must be beginner’s luck.”
“Ha!” Serena retaliated with a pinch to Bernie’s arse that made her squeak in a very gratifying way. Serena was very much considering biting it if they decided to go for Round Three.
“And, um,” Bernie said. Serena thought she could feel her blush through the top of her head. “And how did you like it? The new…vintage?”
Serena made a show of lazily swiping her tongue up the column of Bernie’s neck consideringly, enjoying the stuttered gasp it got her, and the way Bernie rocked into her a little, helplessly. “Definitely a new favorite. Might have to buy a whole new tasting notebook.”
Bernie honked a laugh and nuzzled into her hair. “Let me know if I can help with that.”
“I’m certainly hoping you can.”
They lay together in silence for a few minutes, and then Bernie twitched a little like she was thinking of getting up.
“Can you stay?” Serena blurted. Oh god, had she really said that? One roll in the hay and she was already clingy; Bernie would expecting her to pull up in a U-Haul next. “I mean, you don’t have to, obviously, if it’s not what you want, I wouldn’t want—”
Bernie stopped her rambling with a kiss. “I can stay.”
“Oh,” Serena said, a little breathlessly. “Good.” She nestled back into her, trying to settle down, but her brain had started up again and refused to let her be. “I—I fly out tomorrow afternoon.”
Somehow, saying that felt like confessing something terrible.
Bernie dropped another kiss on her hair. “I’m here another week.”
“Mmm.” Wistfulness tugged at Serena’s heart. She felt selfish; Bernie had already given her so much, and here she was, resenting the adventures that Bernie would be off to without her. “And then?”
She felt the shrug. “England for a bit, probably. Contractor, me, I go where the jobs take me.”
“Action woman,” Serena murmured.
Bernie snorted. “That’s a bit strong. The job might take me to different countries, but you’ll find the inside of one lab looks much the same as another. Sometimes I actually forget what city I’m in until it’s time to order lunch.”
“It can’t be all bad,” Serena said. “If you’ve been doing it since you got out of the army.”
“No, no, you’re right,” Bernie said. “I like a lot of it. Still…” she hesitated for a second. “I have been thinking…there are some universities in England that I could take a research position at. It’d be nice to be closer to my kids. And…and other things might be more…convenient.”
Serena felt her heart in her throat. Bernie couldn’t be saying what she thought she was saying. Could she?
She tried to play it cool. “Could you really leave this jet-setting lifestyle?”
“The jet-setting would be the easiest part to leave. Research institutes don’t spring for anything above economy class. I’m getting too bloody old for that nonsense.”
“Says the woman who still fits into skinny jeans,” Serena muttered darkly, then giggled when Bernie tickled her side in response.
“I was thinking…” Bernie’s voice had gone all hesitant again. “I could give you another ride in, tomorrow? Keep you company until your flight?”
Serena felt tears prick at her eyes. She looked down at Bernie’s hands, hooked the tips of her fingers around Bernie’s.
“Careful,” she warned. “I might try to keep you.”
Bernie gave her fingers a little tug back. Her voice was soft but sure. “I think I might like that.”
It’s just like make-believe
Each night is New Year’s Eve
Each day is Christmas Day
You make me feel this way
It's gonna snow outside
The weather will be cold
But I'm gonna be warm
This winter