DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. This story is uber-Xena and was inspired by the movie Corrina Corrina. There is just a little of subtext in this story, so, if this kind of stuff is illegal where you live, if you're under 18 or you find the notion of two women making love offensive, you should reconsider before reading.

Healing
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Victoria was lost. She couldn't handle her daughter alone anymore and she decided to get help. Women came and went and even a couple of men applied for the job. Victoria picked a few, one at a time, but none pleased her in the end. She was starting to give up when one day, when she was observing her daughter through the window, a tall raven haired woman came. Victoria watched her as she stopped by Alyssa and talked to her for a while. She apparently wasn't disturbed by the fact that Alyssa wasn't talking, because she caressed her and then came to the house.

"Hello, I'm Hope," she introduced herself with a smile. "I heard you were looking for a babysitter and a maid?"

Victoria sighed when she heard the name. Hope, she didn't have much of it left.

"Yes," she confirmed. "I am Victoria."

"I noticed your daughter isn't talking," Hope said as she entered and looked around.

"No," Victoria confirmed.

"Do you know why?" Hope asked and looked at Victoria.

Victoria hesitated for a few moments before answering.

"She stopped speaking when her father was shot dead."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Victoria smiled bitterly.

"What kind of credentials do you have?" she asked, changing the subject.

Hope rummaged through her purse and pulled out a piece of paper.

"Here."

Victoria quickly looked it over.

"I see," she said.

"A big house you have," Hope observed. "You don't have any other maids?"

"No."

"So, what would be my duties?"

"Eh, well, you should prepare breakfast for Alyssa and take her to school. Then you should clean up the house, prepare lunch for Alyssa, pick her up in school and then baby-sit her until I come home. And of course make dinner for us. You could stay here, in one of the guest rooms."

"I see," Hope said and considered. "Okay. When do I start?"

"Eh, I shall call you," Victoria said.

"Okay," Hope said. "Bye."

Victoria closed the door behind her and watched her leave.

Outside, Hope stopped by Alyssa again and kneeled.

"Take care of your mommy, little one, she needs you," she said and smiled. "Okay?"

Alyssa nodded and smiled back.

"Bye," Hope said and caressed her.

Then she got up and left.

Victoria noticed Alyssa's smile, surprised. She hadn't seen her daughter smile ever since her husband was killed and it was good to see that smile again. She decided to call the woman who could make her daughter smile.

Hope came on time the next morning and Victoria showed her around the house and told her specifically what her duties were. It was a big house, but not too big, and Hope was relieved.

"Can I use the pool if I have some spare time?" she asked after Victoria had asked her if she had any questions.

Victoria gave her a surprised look and considered the idea.

"You may," she then allowed.

"Thank you."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Good. I am going to work now."

Hope nodded and Victoria left. When she was gone, Hope went to the kitchen and checked the notes which she had made while Victoria was giving her the tour of the house. There was quite a bit to do and she knew she wouldn't be able to do it all on one day, so she made a curriculum in which she also included the time she intended to spend with Alyssa. That being done, she prepared breakfast for the girl.

When it was time to wake up the girl, she went to Alyssa's room and gently shook her.

"Time to get up, little one," she said quietly and smiled when Alyssa opened her eyes and looked at her. "Your mother said to wake you up at this time."

Alyssa nodded.

"Do you need help with anything?" she asked, but Alyssa shook her head. "Then dress up and come down. The breakfast is already waiting."

Alyssa nodded and Hope smiled. She caressed her and then left.

After she had taken Alyssa to school, Hope returned home and started to do her chores. She soon discovered that not everything was going to according plan and that she would have to change it a bit. After she had prepared everything for lunch, she went to school to pick up Alyssa.

"Hey, little one," she said with a smile when Alyssa came to the car. "How was school? Oh, I forgot, you don't talk," she said when Alyssa didn't respond. "Was everything okay?"

Alyssa nodded and they got into the car.

"Got lots of homework?"

Alyssa shook her head.

"It sucks, ha?" Hope said and started the car. "I remember when I was still going to school, we sometimes didn't have any homework and sometimes we had it so much that we just barely managed. Things probably didn't change much, hm?"

Alyssa shook her head in confirmation.

"Need any help with it?"

Alyssa shook her head again.

"Well, if you do, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Okay?"

Alyssa nodded.

"Good. Anyway, are you hungry?"

Alyssa shook her head.

"Good. When would you like to eat? In one hour?"

Alyssa nodded.

"Okay."

When they got home, Alyssa went to her room to make her homework and Hope cooked the food. When the hour passed, she called Alyssa.

"Do you mind if I eat with you?" she asked her as she set the table.

Alyssa was surprised, none of the previous nannies had eaten with her. She nodded.

"Okay."

Hope set the table for two and then distributed the food.

"I hope this tastes okay," she said as she sat down. "It's been a while since I last cooked something this complex." She tried the food. "Mmm, not bad. Do you like it?"

Alyssa nodded and Hope smiled.

"Good. There's still some left, if you want more."

After a week, Hope noticed that Victoria was obviously drinking. That worried her, especially since Alyssa didn't talk. And the fact that Victoria always came home late only increased the worry. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure what to do. On one hand, she wanted to help Victoria, but on the other, she wasn't sure whether she should interfere. Victoria solved the problem for her.

"You're fired!" she said when she got to the kitchen, obviously a little drunk.

Hope looked at her, surprised.

"Excuse me?"

"You're fired," Victoria repeated and leaned on the table.

"Why?"

"Because you stole my bottles."

"What bottles?" Hope asked, confused.

"My… bottles."

Hope got it.

"Your alcoholic drinks?"

"Yes."

"I don't even know where you keep them," Hope said. "I don't rummage through your closets." She hesitated for a moment. "And I don't approve of you drinking so much. Or working late. Alyssa needs you, but you're never there for her."

"How dare you!" Victoria said, angry. "You have no right…"

"Keep your voice down," Hope interrupted her. "Alyssa just fell asleep and I don't think you want her to wake up to us arguing."

Victoria stared at Hope, astonished.

"How dare you…"

"Because I care about Alyssa. And right now you're drunk."

"Don't you…"

Hope rolled her eyes, realizing that the argument could go on for hours if she didn't do something about it. She picked her up, threw her over her shoulder and carried her upstairs. She put her into the shower booth and turned on the cold water. Then she closed the door and kept it closed until Victoria stopped trying to open it.

She opened the door then and looked at Victoria, who was sitting and crying.

"Take a shower and get some sleep," she told her. "You can fire me in the morning."

Victoria didn't look at her. Hope sighed and left.

Outside, she ran into Alyssa, who came out of her room. She smiled and went to her.

"Hey, little one," she said and kneeled in front of her. "Did we waked you up?" she asked and Alyssa nodded. "Don't worry," she said and caressed her, "your mom is just taking a cold shower. Come, let's get you back to bed."

She picked up Alyssa and took her to bed. She stayed with her until Alyssa fell asleep. Then she went back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up.

The next morning, Hope avoided Victoria, having a feeling that Victoria would fire her. But she couldn't avoid her all the time. Victoria didn't even look at her for a while and Hope felt relieved, though she still had the feeling that Victoria would fire her.

She was right.

"You're fired," Victoria said after Alyssa finished her breakfast. "I want you gone when I come home."

"No," Alyssa said and both women looked at her, surprised.

"What?" Victoria said, surprised.

Hope smiled.

"You spoke," she said. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Alyssa smiled briefly and then looked at her mom.

"I don't want you to fire her," she said.

Victoria stared at her, surprised.

"But…"

"No," Alyssa said firmly. "I want her to stay."

Victoria stared at her daughter for a while, shocked. Then she looked at Hope.

"You turned her against me," she accused her.

"I did no such thing and you know it." She sighed. "Look, I'm not your enemy. I want to be your friend."

"I don't need friends," Victoria snapped.

"Yes, you do." She thought for a moment. "Look, there's no time to talk right now, unless you want to be late for work and Alyssa for school. I'll be here when you come home and I'll listen, if you want to talk."

Victoria stared at her for a few moments and then left for work.

Hope sighed and turned to Alyssa.

"Looks like your mommy is hurt," she said and Alyssa nodded. Hope smiled. "Will you talk now?"

Alyssa hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"Yes," she said.

"I'm sorry things got so bad between your mother and me."

"It's not your fault."

Hope thought for a moment.

"Speaking of fault, you wouldn't happen to know where your mother's alcoholic drinks are?"

Alyssa looked down.

"I threw them away," she said quietly.

Hope smiled and caressed her.

"Good," she said. "I'm glad you're taking care of your mommy."

Alyssa looked up, surprised, and then smiled.

"So, how about I take you to school now. Go get ready."

Alyssa nodded and then ran to her room. Hope stared after her, smiling, having a feeling that things would turn out okay.

When Victoria got home around noon, she called for Hope, but Hope didn't answer. She looked for her around the house and in her room, but she wasn't there. She returned to the kitchen, wondering if Hope had left, and took an aspirin. Just when she was about to sit down on the sofa in the living room, she noticed Hope lying by the pool, naked. She went to the window and stared at her, surprised. Then she noticed the lack of pubic hairs on Hope's mound and her hand reached down to her own mound as she wondered what it would feel like not to have any hairs there.

She jerked when Hope stretched and she accidentally hit the vase on the shelf. She caught it, but when she looked back at Hope, she saw that Hope was now sitting. She blushed as Hope got up, wrapped the towel around her body and came in.

"Victoria? I didn't expect you home yet," Hope said.

"I… Em.. I…" Victoria stammered. She stopped and took a deep breath to calm down. "I ate some bad food and the doctor sent me home."

"Oh. Are you okay?"

Victoria nodded.

"Yes."

"Did the doctor give you any instructions?"

"Just to rest for the day and not eat any heavy food."

"Good. Are you hungry?"

"No," Victoria shook her head.

"Will you be eating with us then?"

Victoria hesitated, she hadn't spent much time with her daughter lately and she barely dared to look her in the eyes.

"I…"

"At least some soup, it will do you good. Now why don't you go up and change while I dress myself. Then you can come down and rest, perhaps watch some TV."

Victoria stared at Hope, surprised at how she took command. She nodded. She turned to go to her room, when she realized that she should apologize.

"Em, Hope."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry." She sighed. "Ever since my husband was killed, Alyssa didn't talk. Me, I started to drink and I buried myself in work. I wanted to forget and I couldn't face Alyssa. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you, you're the best maid I've ever had."

Hope smiled.

"Apology accepted," she said. "Oh, by the way, Alyssa threw away your bottles."

"What?" Victoria said, surprised.

"She's worried about you and she knows you drink. It's her way of taking care of you."

Victoria bit her teeth and tears ran down her cheeks. Hope hesitated for a moment and then hugged her. Victoria hugged her back and she cried for a while.

"I'm sorry," she said, embarrassed, when she stopped crying.

"It's okay," Hope said. "And my offer still stands. If you want to talk, I'll listen."

Victoria nodded.

"Thank you."

Hope smiled and went to her room.

"Mommy?" Alyssa said, worried, when she came home.

Victoria got up and smiled.

"I'm fine, honey."

"You won't die?" Alyssa asked, scared.

Victoria frowned, surprised, and glanced at Hope.

"No, of course now, honey. Just some harmless stomach cramps," she said and hugged Alyssa.

"Are you hungry, little one?" Hope asked when Victoria and Alyssa stopped hugging.

Alyssa looked at her and nodded.

"Yes."

"Then wash up and come to the kitchen," Hope said with a smile and looked at Victoria. "How do you feel about food?"

Victoria thought for a moment.

"I think I could eat some soup."

"One soup coming up," Hope said with a smile and went to the kitchen.

In the evening, after Alyssa had gone to bed, Victoria came to Hope.

"Come," Hope said after she heard the knock on the door. "Hey," she said with a smile when Victoria entered.

"Em," Victoria started hesitatingly, "you said you would listen if I wanted to talk."

Hope put away the book and sat straighter.

"Yes."

Victoria hesitated for a moment and then sat on the bed, nervous.

"I'm not really used to this."

"That's okay. You don't have to…"

"I want to," Victoria interrupted her. "I need to," she added more calmly.

"Okay," Hope said and waited patiently.

Victoria took a deep breath.

"I was born in England and my family is of noble descent, so I was raised to be an aristocrat." She paused for a moment. "Okay, I was a bitch," she corrected herself and Hope smiled at that. "But then I met Bobby." She sighed. "Well, to cut it short, I fell in love with him. Most of my family disapproved. Only my sister Elizabeth and Brian, my older brother, supported me when I married Bobby, the rest of the family didn't even show up for the wedding." She paused. "My father even disowned me." She paused again, her family not being one of her favorite topics. "Mom was a bit more liberal than Dad, but she died before I married Bobby."

Hope wanted to tell her that she was sorry, but she decided to wait and hear Victoria's story to the end. Victoria sighed and continued.

"Bobby was great and when Alyssa was born, well, we're just about the happiest family in the world." She paused for a moment to collect herself. "He was shot two years ago in a robbery. And we saw it. That's when Alyssa stopped talking and I started drinking." She sighed. "I didn't know how to help Alyssa, she didn't even smile until you came." She looked at Hope. "Thank you."

Hope smiled.

"It's okay. I'm glad I could help. Feel better?"

Victoria took a deep breath and nodded.

"A bit." She got up. "I should go now," she said and left.

Hope stared after her, thinking about what Victoria had said, hoping for the best.

When Hope passed Victoria's room in the morning, she heard sobs. She peeked in and saw that Victoria was sitting on her bed, looking at the wedding photo of her and her husband. She knocked, but Victoria either didn't hear her or she chose to ignore her, so she quietly entered, went to the bed and sat beside her. She put her hand on Victoria's shoulder and Victoria looked at her. Hope could see tears in her eyes and Victoria looked as if she might start crying again at any moment. She hugged her and Victoria hugged her back, letting the tears go.

Hope just held her. She liked holding Victoria and being close to her, but somehow it didn't feel right. She broke the hug.

"Sorry," she said, "I… Em, I shouldn't have."

"What do you mean?" Victoria asked, confused.

Hope sighed, knowing her confession might cost her her job.

"I'm a lesbian," she explained.

Victoria just stared at her, surprised.

"Oh," she finally said, blushing slightly.

"I don't want you to think that I'm using your pain to be… well, close to you."

Victoria blushed some more.

"I see," she said, trying to sound calm.

"I'm sorry. I hope I didn't offend you."

Victoria shook her head.

"No."

Hope smiled and left the confused Victoria alone.

"Hope."

Hope turned.

"Hey, little one," she said with a smile. "You're up early. What can I do for you?"

Alyssa hesitated for a few moments.

"What is a lesbian?" she then asked.

Hope's face became serious.

"You overheard our conversation?" she asked and Alyssa nodded. Hope sighed and stopped washing the dishes. "Sit down," she said and went to the table. Alyssa did the same and Hope thought for a few moments how to explain it to her. "Em, you like boys, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, I like girls. Women."

"Why?" Alyssa asked, confused.

Hope shrugged with a smile.

"I don't know, I just do."

Alyssa thought.

"Is that why you are a lesbian?"

Hope smiled.

"Yes. There are also boys who like boys and they are called gay. Some people, however, boys and girls, like both boys and girls."

"How come?"

"I don't know, they just do. The same reason probably that you like boys."

"Oh."

Alyssa thought for a while and Hope noticed that there was something on her mind, but that she was obviously too embarrassed to ask.

"Yes?" she encouraged her.

"Em," Alyssa started, blushing, "how… em… Do you make love?"

Hope smiled.

"Yes."

Alyssa hesitated.

"How?"

Hope smiled and thought.

"Tell you what, I'll get some magazines tomorrow and then we'll have a talk. Okay?"

Alyssa nodded.

"Okay."

"Oh, I'll have to clear this with your mommy."

Alyssa blushed.

"Why?"

"Because you're her daughter and she should be the one with whom you should have this talk. But I'm willing to help her out since she's not familiar with homosexual sex."

"Homo… what?"

"Homosexual. Gay and lesbian."

"Oh."

Hope smiled.

"Why don't you go see now how your mommy is, she has been crying."

Alyssa nodded and left.

In the evening, Hope went to Victoria.

"I need to talk to you," she said.

"Sure. About what?"

"About Alyssa."

"Alyssa?" Victoria said, concerned. "What about her?"

Hope smiled.

"She overheard our conversation in the morning and she was curious about what a lesbian is. I explained it to her."

"Oh," Victoria said, blushing a bit. "And?"

"Well, she was curious about sex and I told her I'd get some magazines tomorrow and explain it to her. But I need to clear it with you since you're her mother."

"Oh."

"She's curious and one of us better explain it to her. I can do it, if you're not comfortable with it, but I would still like you to be present."

Victoria thought for a moment, but finally her aristocratic upbringing won.

"Okay," she said.

Then next day, Victoria got home earlier. She felt a bit nervous about the whole sex talk thing, but she decided to go through with it. She went to the kitchen and prepared herself some coffee to calm down, while Hope fetched Alyssa and the magazines.

When they came home, Alyssa sat next to Hope and Hope started to browse through the magazines and explain things to Alyssa, from gay sex to lesbian sex, masturbation and straight sex. Alyssa listened, curious, and asked a question occasionally. Victoria also listened curiously, although she tried to hide it. She wasn't so much interested in gay sex, but lesbian sex peeked her interest. She was relieved that Alyssa asked most of the questions, so she didn't have to.

Although she did masturbate occasionally, she was still surprised at the variety of things she didn't know about it and about straight sex. She was glad she didn't have to explain things to Alyssa, because she wasn't quite sure if she could do it, and most certainly not as thoroughly as Hope.

"Do you have any questions?" Hope asked when she had told Alyssa everything she knew and answered all her questions.

Victoria jerked and blushed.

"No, no."

"Okay then. I'll leave these magazines in the closet upstairs, so you two can look at them any time you want," Hope said, gathering the magazines. Victoria blushed at that and Hope smiled. "It's nothing wrong if you look at the pictures and masturbate," she said and winked, making Victoria blush even deeper.

Hope left, leaving Victoria alone with her daughter. They were quiet for a few moments and then Alyssa left. Victoria sighed, she had lost contact with her daughter and she didn't know how to reestablish it. She really needed to think about it.

Several days later, Victoria was late again. Since it was Friday, Hope allowed Alyssa to stay up longer. While Alyssa was watching TV, Hope prepared dinner for Victoria. She had noticed lately that Victoria was not drunk that often and that she came home early, but she also noticed that whenever Victoria came home late, she was usually a bit drunk or at least smelled of alcohol.

She was just in the middle of a shower when she heard noise and a scream. She quickly stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in the towel. She slowly opened the door and peeked outside. She heard Alyssa's screams and two male voices. She left the bathroom, turned off the lights and carefully went to the stairs and looked down.

There were two masked men, both armed with a gun. Alyssa was lying on the sofa, tied up and one of the men gagged her.

"Let's get out of here," the other then said.

The man who gagged Alyssa picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Hope knew she had to stop them. She quietly sneaked down the stairs. At the bottom, she picked up a plant pot and tried to approach the kidnappers without them hearing her. She then rushed past the one who was carrying Alyssa and crashed the plant pot on the other one's head. She then turned and kicked his surprised accomplice in the groin. The man groaned and let go of Alyssa. Hope quickly took her away from the kidnapper and carried her to the sofa. Then she ran back to the kidnappers. The one whom she had kicked in the groin was reaching for his gun and she hit him in the face and then kicked him in the groin again. She grabbed his gun and pointed it at him.

"Don't move, asshole," she said and backed off a bit.

"Bitch," the kidnapper swore.

While Hope was concentrated on the standing kidnapper, she didn't notice that the other kidnapper wasn't unconscious. The other kidnapper used that, quickly turned around and shot at her. Hope staggered back, hit in the shoulder, and quickly shot back. Her shot was more accurate than the kidnapper's and the kidnapper died. Hope collapsed on her knees, the wound taking its toll. The remaining kidnapper tried to use that and he attacked her, but Hope had still enough consciousness left and she killed him.

Outside, Victoria, who was just returning home, heard shots and she immediately started to run toward the door. She screamed when she opened the door and saw Hope and two masked men lying on the floor, covered with blood. She quickly ran to Hope and checked her pulse. Hope slowly opened her eyes.

"Where's Alyssa?" Victoria asked, worried.

"Sofa," Hope said and coughed.

Victoria immediately ran to the sofa.

"Alyssa!" she said, relieved, when she saw that her daughter was not harmed.

She hugged her and then quickly untied her. Alyssa then got up and ran to Hope.

"Mommy!" she cried and hugged her.

Victoria was shocked. Has it really come that far? Her daughter was now calling a maid Mommy? She just stared at them, tears slowly starting to escape her eyelids. She was hurt when her husband was killed, but this hurt even more because this was her fault. She should have done something, but she hadn't. Surprisingly, she didn't blame Hope for it, she knew that Hope was only trying to help and help she did, a lot.

She finally went to the phone and called 911. After that she went to the kitchen, got a wet cloth and returned to Hope. She wiped the blood around the wound and pressed the cloth to it. She hoped that Hope wouldn't die.

The ambulance came quickly and Victoria let Alyssa ride with Hope to the hospital. The police came next and Victoria gave her statement. While the forensics did their job, one of the detectives was kind enough to take her to the hospital.

They quickly found Alyssa, who was sitting outside the operation room, waiting for Hope. Victoria hesitated for a moment, but then she hugged her and took her into her lap. The detective waited for a while and then took Alyssa's statement.

As Victoria held Alyssa, she decided that it was time for her to go to AA and get clean. She had ignored her daughter for much too long, she hoped that not for too long.

When Hope was brought out of operation room, Alyssa jumped to her feet and ran to her, but Hope was still under narcosis. Victoria followed her.

"Alyssa, sweetie, let's go home now. Hope won't wake up until tomorrow, you can come back then."

"Will she be all right?" Alyssa asked, tears running down her cheeks.

Victoria looked at a nurse, who nodded.

"Yes," she said. "I will take you myself tomorrow, okay?"

Alyssa nodded absentmindedly. Victoria caressed her and took her hand. Alyssa hesitated for a few moments and then followed her mother home.

Next morning Victoria got up before Alyssa and she cleaned up the mess. She was pretty tired after she finished and she realized that it wasn't such an easy job as she though and she decided to give Hope a raise. If she'll even want to come back. Victoria found herself hoping she would, not only for Alyssa's sake, but for her as well, she had grown to like Hope.

She had just finished making breakfast for Alyssa when Alyssa came down.

"Morning, sweetie," Victoria greeted her with a smile.

"When are we going to see Hope?" Alyssa asked.

Victoria bit her teeth, hurt.

"As soon as you eat your breakfast," she said.

Alyssa sat at the table and started to throw the food into her mouth. Victoria quietly observed her, wondering if she would ever be close to her daughter again.

In the hospital, they had to wait for a while for the visiting hours to begin. Then Alyssa immediately ran into the room, Victoria slowly following her.

"Hope," she said, worried, as she approached Hope's bed.

Hope opened her eyes and smiled when she saw her.

"Hey, little one," she said and took her hand. She looked at Victoria. "Hey."

"Hey," Victoria responded. She hesitated for a moment. "Thank you for saving Alyssa."

Hope smiled again.

"Of course," she said as if that was perfectly normal.

"I'll just…" Victoria started, wanting to leave Hope and Alyssa alone, but Hope beat her to it.

"Stay," she said softly.

"I…"

"Stay," Hope repeated and Victoria gave in with a sigh. Hope then looked at Alyssa. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, just a couple of bumps."

"Good."

"And you?"

"I'll be fine, the bullet went right through."

Alyssa hesitated for a moment.

"Will you come back when you get well?"

Hope smiled.

"Of course I will." She looked at Victoria. "I can, can't I?"

"Of course," Victoria quickly said and blushed slightly.

"How long will you be in the hospital?" Alyssa asked, saving her mother.

"About a week or so." She smiled. "I see you're having a little vacation yourself."

Alyssa nodded.

"She's going back to school tomorrow," Victoria said and Hope nodded in agreement.

"Yes, you can visit me in the afternoon."

Alyssa pouted for a moment and then nodded.

"Okay."

"Good," Hope said and looked at Victoria. "Will you hire another maid until I come back?"

Victoria shook her head.

"No, I will take her to school myself and pick her up afterwards."

Hope nodded.

"And breakfast and dinner?" she asked.

"Well," Victoria said hesitatingly, "I can make breakfast and dinner and I can make something simple for lunch. Or I can order. We will manage."

She frowned as she realized she was talking to Hope as if she was Alyssa's mother and she herself merely a maid.

"Good," Hope said, smiling. "Em, could you bring me some clothes? All I had was a towel."

"I will," Victoria said. "Em, do you want some coffee?" she offered.

"Yes, I could use some."

"I will get it," Victoria said and left, almost fled, the room.

She felt very uncomfortable because of Hope. As she waited for the coffee to be prepared, she decided to get rid of all the alcohol she had in the house.

When they returned home, Victoria piled up all her alcohol in the kitchen and then emptied the bottles into the sink. When she turned after she was done, she saw Alyssa standing in the door, staring at her. They stared at each other for a few moments and then Victoria approached her daughter. She hesitated for a moment and then kneeled and hugged her.

"I am so sorry, sweetie," she said. "I was hurt when your daddy died, but I should have been there for you. I am so sorry."

Alyssa hugged her back.

"I love you, Mommy," she said and Victoria caressed her.

"I have decided to join the AA," Victoria said when they stopped hugging. "I shall start as soon as Hope gets back." She thought for a moment. "If you catch me cheating, you can throw away the drinks, okay?" Alyssa nodded and Victoria wiped her tears. "Good. Now, how can I help you?"

"I'm hungry. When will lunch be ready?"

Victoria hit herself on the forehead.

"I have completely forgotten. How about we order something?"

Alyssa's eyes brightened.

"Yes," she said enthusiastically and Victoria caressed her, smiling.

When Alyssa came home one week later, Hope was already back.

"Hope!" Alyssa cried, ran to her and hugged her.

"Hey, little one," Hope said with a smile and hugged her back.

"When did you come home?" Alyssa asked when they stopped hugging.

"Your mommy brought me just before she went to pick you up."

"How do you feel?"

"I'm fine. The shoulder still hurts from time to time, but it will pass."

"Hope," Victoria spoke, "I want you to be careful and not push yourself. I shall hire another maid if need be."

"There's no need for that, but thank you," Hope said.

"I mean it, Hope. You have been badly wounded in the shoulder and the doctor said you shouldn't push yourself for a while." She paused for a moment. "I don't want you to go back to the hospital."

Hope smiled.

"Me neither. I promise I won't push myself too hard."

"Good. Em, can you drive?"

"I think so, but it would be better if you drove Alyssa to school and back for a while, until the pains stop."

Victoria nodded.

"Okay," she agreed. "Em, did you order the food?"

"Yep. Should come in a couple of minutes."

"Good."

Things went smoothly for a while, and Victoria was trying to give up the alcohol, but it was hard. She could go without alcohol for a week or so, but then she needed to have a glass. She slowly, without even noticing it, started to drink again.

Then one day, she came home drunk again. Alyssa was already sleeping, but Hope was still up, cleaning the dust in Victoria's bedroom.

"What are you doing here?" Victoria snapped when she saw Hope clean the dust near the place where she had hidden her drinks.

Hope looked at her and shook her head when she noticed that Victoria was drunk.

"I'm cleaning the dust, so I won't have to do it tomorrow," she said. "And you're drunk."

"You've been snooping around, haven't you? Trying to find my bottles."

"You're drunk," Hope said again.

"And you're fired. First you take away my daughter and now you want to steal my bottles."

Hope looked at her, shocked.

"I didn't take…"

"Get out!"

Hope rolled her eyes and wanted to give Victoria another cold shower, but Victoria backed off.

"Don't even think about it. You touch me and I'll call the police."

"Victoria…"

"Get out! Now!"

"What about Alyssa?"

"She's my daughter and I'll take care of her. Now go or I'll call the police."

Hope considered her options, but she realized she didn't really have a choice, unless she wanted to cause Victoria some serious trouble. Which she didn't. She sighed and shook her head.

"You have my number," she said sadly and went to her room to pack.

Victoria constantly kept an eye on her, like a watchdog, and when Hope left the house, she looked up the door.

When Alyssa stopped talking again the next day, Victoria was very concerned. For the next week she tried to be more at home and show Alyssa that she loved her, but the girl didn't respond. She even threw away her drinks. Again. It didn't take her long to figure out why Alyssa stopped talking, it was because of Hope, or rather because of her firing Hope, and she knew that Alyssa felt like she had lost a mother.

Not to mention that she regretted firing Hope and was missing her already. She thought about what to do for a few days and then decided to find her, apologize and ask her to come back. Yes, she definitely wanted Hope back, but this time she wanted to do it right. She knew Alyssa considered Hope her mother, her second mother, and she herself liked her a lot as well. Sure, she knew Hope was a lesbian, but she couldn't help herself, she liked the woman and, in a way, she was also attracted to her. She didn't consider herself a lesbian and until she had met Hope she never thought much about it, but she often found herself staring at Hope, especially that time by the pool. She shook, remembering the smooth curves of Hope's body.

She considered where she could find out where Hope lived, but then she remembered that she still had Hope's credentials. She looked around and quickly found it. She wanted to call Hope directly, but she decided it would be better if she apologized in person. She called one of the people on the list and got her home address, the name of the bar she worked in and the address.

She checked up on Alyssa first and then called a cab.

"Are you sure this is where you want to go?" the cabbie asked when she gave him the address.

"Yes."

"Okay," the cabbie said and drove off.

When they stopped in front of the bar, Victoria stared at it through the window.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" she asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," the cabbie said.

Victoria hesitated for a moment and then sighed. She paid the cabbie and entered the bar. She had seen outside that it was a lesbian bar and it made her feel a bit nervous. Inside, she looked around, hoping she would see Hope somewhere, but Hope was not there.

She decided to ask the bartender about it.

"Hope? Yeah, she's on next," she said.

"On?" Victoria asked, confused, and the bartender nodded at the stage.

Victoria turned and just then Hope came from behind the curtain, dressed in her stage clothes. The music started and Hope started to undress herself. Victoria stared at her as she realized that Hope was a stripper. She wanted to leave at once, but when she saw Hope as she sensuously undressed, she just stared at her, mesmerized.

"She's gorgeous, isn't she?" the bartender said, seeing Victoria stare at Hope agape.

"Huh," was all that came from Victoria's mouth and the bartender grinned.

Hope slowly and sensuously stripped her clothes off and the women cheered and gave her tips. She locked her eyes with the forward spectators as she teased them. When her eyes finally wondered to the back audience, she was astonished to see a known face, Victoria. She stopped dancing for a moment, but she quickly pulled herself together and continued.

Victoria blushed when she saw that Hope had seen her.

"She likes you."

"Eh?" Victoria looked at the bartender, confused.

"She likes you," the bartender repeated her observation.

"What do you mean?" Victoria asked and glanced at Hope.

"She became nervous when she noticed you."

"Oh," Victoria said and blushed.

"You know her?" the bartender asked.

Victoria nodded.

"Yes." She thought. "How long has she been working here?"

"Quite a few years, I don't know exactly how many. She worked for a rich woman for a while, but the stupid fired her."

"What do you mean?" Victoria asked, blushing, not from embarrassment over Hope but over being called stupid.

"Some woman hired her as a full-time babysitter and then fired her." She shook her head. "She used to baby-sit my girlfriend's son and I know she baby-sat many kids from her neighborhood. She's very good at it."

"Yes, I know," Victoria said quietly and sighed.

The bartender smiled. She had guessed who Victoria was the moment she asked for Hope.

Victoria looked at Hope and noticed that she indeed seemed a bit nervous and that she kept glancing at her. That made Victoria nervous and she blushed an even deeper shade of red.

When Hope finished, she disappeared behind the curtain to the ovations of the women. As she waited for her, Victoria became more and more nervous and when she saw her approaching, wearing only a dressing gown, she was ready to run.

"Hi," Hope said when she got to her and Victoria was relieved when she didn't detect and hostility in her voice.

"Hi," she said.

"I didn't expect you to come here," she said.

"I… Well, I wanted to apologize," Victoria said and looked down for a moment, embarrassed.

"I see," Hope said, her voice a touch colder.

Victoria took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Hope," she said. "I've had a lot of problems since my husband was killed. Alyssa stopped talking and I didn't know how to handle her, so I started drinking." She paused for a moment. "And then she called you Mommy." She paused again. "I'm sorry I took it out on you."

Hope stared at her for a few moments and then smiled.

"Apology accepted," she said.

Victoria smiled briefly as she hesitated.

"I'd like you to come back." She paused. "Alyssa stopped talking again after you left, but that's not the only reason I want you back." She paused again, nervous. "I… I miss you," she said and looked down, embarrassed.

Hope stared at her, surprised. Then she smiled.

"Okay," she said and Victoria looked at her, her eyes bright.

"You'll come back?"

Hope nodded.

"Yes."

"Thank you," Victoria said and hesitated a moment. "I don't want you to come back as a servant but as a… a part of the family," she said and looked down, feeling a blush creep up her neck and cheeks.

Hope was surprised. She had suspected and now knew that Victoria liked her, but she was still surprised that she wanted her to move in as a part of the family. She was starting to think Victoria was falling in love with her. She liked the idea.

"Okay," she said and Victoria looked up, a smile on her face.

"Thank you." She thought. "When will you come?"

"Well, I have one more performance later, but then I can come."

"Already?" Victoria asked, her heart starting to beat faster.

"Yes. We can go to my place, pack and then go to your place."

Victoria thought about it.

"Okay," she agreed, excited.

"Good. Why don't you wait here or get us a table, I'll just go and dress."

"Okay," Victoria said and looked around.

She quickly found a table and claimed it. The waitress came around and she ordered a drink for herself, a non-alcoholic, and one for Hope. In the meantime, another dancer came on the stage and started to strip. Victoria couldn't help but admire the way she undressed so erotically. But for some reason she found Hope's performance way more erotic.

"Are you alone?" a voice interrupted her thoughts.

Victoria looked at the speaker, startled, and saw she was a luscious blackhead. She gulped.

"Eh, no," she said. "I'm waiting for Hope."

"Oh. You her new girlfriend?"

Victoria blushed. She wanted to give the woman an angry reply, but she changed her mind. On one hand, she liked Hope and was even attracted to her and on the other, she didn't want to have another woman's company.

"Yes," she said defiantly.

"Lucky her," the woman said and winked at her. "Bye."

Victoria stared after her, mildly shocked. She found it weird, women hitting on her and complimenting her. She jerked when the waitress brought her the drinks.

"Thank you," she said and the waitress gave her a smile.

Victoria smiled as well as she thought about what her family, especially her father, would say if they knew where she was and why. She shook her head and took a sip.

Then she noticed Hope coming from backstage, wearing a very sexy dress, much more than those she saw her wear so far. She followed her with her eyes and froze when she saw her kiss another woman on the lips and then hug her. She frowned when she realized she was actually feeling jealous. She was totally confused.

Then she saw the blackhead join them and she gulped and blushed when she saw Hope look at her and raise an eyebrow.

Hope soon said goodbye to the women, kissed again the first and then came to Victoria.

"Is that for me?" she asked as she sat down, nodding at the drink.

Victoria nodded.

"Yes."

"Thanks," Hope said and took a sip.

Victoria smiled nervously.

"Who was that woman?" she asked when she gathered the courage.

"Which one?"

"The one you… kissed," Victoria said and blushed.

"Oh. That was Nikki. She's my ex-girlfriend. We broke up a year ago, but we're still good friends."

"Oh."

Hope thought for a moment.

"Marie said you told her you were my girlfriend," she said curiously.

Victoria blushed and nearly choked on her drink.

"I… Well… I… Em… She… Well, she… Em…I didn't want… her… her attention," she stammered nervously and took another sip.

Hope smiled.

"I see." She thought. "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

Victoria nearly choked again and she coughed violently.

"What?" she asked with disbelief.

Hope smirked.

"I asked if you would like to be my girlfriend," she repeated.

Victoria stared at her, shocked. She was completely speechless. A woman was asking her if she would like to be her girlfriend? Sure, she knew Hope was attracted to her, but she didn't expect such a direct question. She was barely admitting to herself that she was attracted to Hope and she was no way ready to go out with a woman, no matter how attractive she was. And then there was of course Alyssa.

"I… I don't know," she finally spoke, her voice husky. "I mean, this is a bit too fast for me. And I have to think of Alyssa, she has the final say."

Hope nodded.

"I understand," she said with a soft smile.

"I… Well, I'm not ready for a girlfriend, yet, but I would like to be your friend."

Hope's smile widened.

"I was hoping we already were."

Victoria smiled back, glad that Hope wasn't angry.

"Yes." She thought. "When's your next performance?"

Hope blushed at that. Even though Victoria was pretty cool about it, it still made her a bit nervous, especially since there was a slight possibility that Victoria might become her girlfriend. She was glad it was dark where they were and Victoria couldn't see her blush. She glanced at the clock at the bar.

"In about an hour."

"Oh."

"Does it bother you?"

"What?" Victoria asked, confused.

"That I'm a stripper?"

Victoria blushed.

"Well, I… I didn't expect that, but… you're… very good," she said, her blush deepening.

Now it was Hope's turn to blush again.

"Thank you," she said. "We can go somewhere of you don't like it here or you can go alone," she suggested.

Victoria shook her head.

"No, I want to… adjust. Get used to it."

Hope smiled

"Okay." She paused. "Is Alyssa sleeping?"

Victoria nodded.

"Yes."

"If you want, I can send one of the girls to check up on her."

Victoria shook her head.

"No, thank you. I wrote her a note in case she woke up and she knows my number."

"Oh. Good."

They were quiet for a while, both observing the dancer on the stage and then Victoria started a conversation by asking Hope about her life.

Next morning Alyssa was awoken by a familiar voice.

"Hello, little one," Hope said with a smile. "I'm back."

"Mommy!" Alyssa said, sat up and hugged her.

Hope hugged her back.

At the door, Victoria winced when Alyssa called Hope Mommy. It hurt that a strange woman could achieve something she couldn't. Alyssa called her Mommy because she gave birth to her, but she called Hope Mommy because she loved Hope. She wondered if she was still important to her. She didn't blame Hope for that, she blamed herself, she had let it come this far.

Alyssa and Hope stopped hugging and Alyssa finally noticed her mother.

"Oh, Mom," she said and glanced at Hope, then back at Victoria. "I'm sorry. I…"

"It's okay," Victoria said. "You can call her Mommy if you want, she deserves it."

Hope looked at her, surprised, and raised an eyebrow.

"Victoria…"

"No, I mean it. You've done so much for her, you deserve it." She looked at Alyssa. "Get dressed, sweetie, breakfast is waiting."

"Yes, Mommy," Alyssa said.

Victoria flashed her a smile and left, but Hope knew that she was hurt. She sighed and looked back at Alyssa.

"I'll see you downstairs, little one," she said with a smile and got up.

"Wait! Are you staying?" Alyssa asked anxiously.

Hope smiled.

"Yes. Your mother apologized and asked me to come back. As a member of the family."

Alyssa's eyes lit up.

"Really?" she asked, excited, and then thought. "So what do I call you?"

Hope shrugged.

"Hope or Mommy."

"Really?"

"Yes," Hope said with a smile.

"Wow, now I have two moms."

Hope's smile widened.

"Yes. But you should tell your mom you love her, because she thinks you don't, now that you have me."

"Really?" Alyssa asked, concerned, and Hope nodded. "I will."

"Good," Hope said with a smile and left.

But when she got downstairs, Victoria was not there, she had already gone to work. Hope sighed, she would definitely have to talk to her.

Alyssa quickly noticed that her mother was not home.

"Where's Mommy?" she asked Hope, confused.

"She went to work."

"Oh," Alyssa said, a bit disappointed.

She sat at the table and started to eat.

Hope sat opposite of her and thought.

"Alyssa," she said after a while.

"Mmm?"

Hope hesitated.

"Do you remember when we talked about gays and lesbians?"

"Mhm."

Hope hesitated again.

"Well, you know I'm a lesbian." She paused. "Would it bother you if your mom was one?"

Alyssa stopped eating, surprised.

"She's a lesbian?"

"Well, no, she's not. Would it bother you if she was?"

Alyssa thought.

"Well, not really. I mean, it's none of my business if she prefers women to men."

Hope smiled.

"Your mother treasures your opinion and it matters to her what you think."

"Oh. Well, I don't mind, especially if you're the one she loves."

Hope blushed, surprised.

"I… Em… Well, it's good to know. In case we become a couple."

Alyssa smiled.

When Victoria returned home in the afternoon, she tried to avoid Hope, but Hope didn't let her.

"Victoria, we need to talk."

"About what?" Victoria asked, avoiding her eyes.

"About me."

Victoria looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Alyssa calls me Mommy and you're afraid she doesn't love you anymore."

"Oh," Victoria said and looked away, trying to hide her feelings.

Hope put her hand on Victoria's shoulder.

"She loves you. She was hurt just like you. While you drank all the time, she stopped talking. She didn't know how to reach you and you didn't know how to reach her. She has to get used to you being normal again, just give her some time."

Victoria thought about it and nodded.

"Okay," she said. "Thank you."

Hope smiled.

"That's what family's for," she said.

Victoria nodded, smiling, and Hope left. Victoria then sat on her bed and thought again about what Hope had said. She missed the close relationship she used to have with her daughter.

After she took a shower and dressed, Alyssa came to her.

"Hey, sweetie," she said and smiled.

Alyssa hesitated for a moment. Then she walked to her mother and hugged her.

"I love you, Mommy," she said.

Victoria was astonished and moved.

"I love you too, sweetie," she said and hugged her back, happy tears rolling down her cheeks.

When they stopped hugging, Victoria kneeled.

"Thank you, sweetie," she said, smiling, and caressed her.

Alyssa smiled. She hesitated for a moment.

"Are you in love with Hope?" she then asked.

"What?" Victoria said, staring at her daughter agape.

"Are you in love with Hope?" Alyssa repeated her question.

"I… I… Would it bother you?" Victoria finally managed to asked, blushing.

"No. Hope likes you too." Victoria blushed. "It's okay, Mommy."

Victoria smiled and hugged her daughter.

"Thank you, sweetie."

Alyssa smiled.

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too, sweetie."

Outside, Hope, who had just been passing by and overheard the conversation, smiled and moved on, looking forward to the future.

The End