A Christmas Gift

A Christmas Gift

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Chapter Two

By Chrissy and Peyton

Over the next two months Natty and Mary were together most of the time except when they were at work. Most of the times Mary spent the night at Natty's but there were some times Natty worked very late and Mary would stay at her own apartment. Mary's friends noticed the change in Mary as she didn't drink as often or as much. She also didn't come into the pub as often either and when she was there she didn't act as if she was on the hunt for some new pussy to have.

Jill made the comment after Mary came in one night that Natty must have some sort of tight leash on Mary to make her change so much. But she did add that it was a very good change and she liked the new Mary they were all seeing. Even Jordan told Mary how she had changed and how she seemed to have found the person she has needed all these years. She told Mary she was very happy for her and hoped their relationship continued to thrive.

Mary too noticed the change and it is one she was very happy with. She had held her job for months, much longer than any other job she has had, and even got a raise for her hard work. Natty continued to work hard at her job trying to be ready when partnerships were given out. She felt she was now the top choice as she was the number one advertising executive the company had and was given most of the harder clients to handle.

On this particular night at Natty's apartment Mary and Natty had just changed to go to bed. Mary had much of her clothing and things at Natty's already since she was spending most of her time there. As was usually the case they would change into their pajamas either before or after dinner then spend the rest of the waking night cuddled together on the sofa either reading, talking or watching television. Once they were in bed in minutes the pajamas were off as they would make love or just cuddle but doing so skin to skin.

Mary appeared to be more amorous tonight than usual. While they were on the sofa she had already unbuttoned Natty's top and had been massaging and playing with Natty's breasts. By the time they went to bed Natty was already very wet from being aroused. Once in bed and kissing, Mary slipped her hand inside the bottoms of Natty's pajamas finding Natty already soaked and her fingers easily slid inside of Natty.

"Oh, fuck Mary. Yes, finger me, fuck me with your fingers," Natty moaned. Mary kept two fingers inside of Natty as they kissed finding Natty's g-spot and rubbed her fingers across it with her in and out motion she used. Natty responded by arching up to each thrust and moaning louder when Mary would touch her sensitive spot.

Mary pulled her hand out from inside of Natty's bottoms and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Natty pleaded through her heavy breathing.

Mary rummaged through one of her overnight bags she had in the closet and brought out an almost v-shaped tan item.

"What is that?" Natty asked as she had rolled over on her side to see what Mary was doing.

"It's a strapless dildo," Mary said and walked back over to the bed.

"A what?" Natty asked and took it from Mary to look at.

"You know what a strap-on is don't you?" Mary asked her.

"Yes but I've never used one," Natty responded.

"Well this is like one except without straps to hold it in place. Instead this end goes inside of me then I fuck you with this end," Mary said as she pointed to each end. "This way we both get satisfaction at the same time."

"Mmm, I like where this is going," Natty said.

"Good then let's get these off of you," Mary said as she tugged at Natty's bottoms pulling them down and off of her feet. Mary then took hers off too. She took Natty's hand and put it against her pussy. "You are wet enough but I need a little more to get lubricated enough," she said as she moved Natty's fingers up and down her slit. Natty seeing what Mary needed began to rub her fingers through Mary's slit and across her clit. She inserted one finger knowing once she got it in Mary's juices would begin to flow from excitement.

It only took a minute or so of Natty to rub Mary's pussy for it to seep her love juices.

"Mmm, that feels so good I don't want you to stop but I want to use this thing on you first," Mary said as she picked up the dildo.

Mary inserted the end that went inside her moaning as it slid in, then she moved between Natty's legs. Mary pushed Natty's legs out and up as she got between them on her knees. She let go of Natty's legs when Natty grabbed them by the back of the knees and taking the other end of the dildo moved it up to the open slit of Natty's pussy.

Mary moved slightly over Natty holding the dildo as she guided it inside of Natty. Natty moaned from the feel of the dildo enter her and her pussy opened up and welcomed it inside.

Once it was inserted Mary began moving her hips back and forth getting the rhythm going as the dildo moved back and forth into Natty and slightly into her. Natty moaned with each motion of the dildo going in and out of her.

"Oh Mary, oh fuck that feels good. Faster, go faster," she moaned. They continued to move with Mary moving faster but being careful the dildo did not fall out of either of them. Sweat began to appear on Mary's forehead as she worked the dildo in and out. Her orgasm was rising too.

Mary could feel Natty getting close as she pumped her in and out. Natty's eyes were closed and her breathing was quick. Mary could see her stomach and chest rising and falling below her and she could see her sweat drops that were falling on Natty's upper abdomen.

Natty moaned she was going to cum and Mary pumped the dildo even faster and harder to give Natty a big orgasm but it also elevated her own timing. She could feel her orgasm reaching its peak too.

"Oh fuck, awwwhhh!" Natty squealed and her body convulsed as her orgasm hit her big. Seeing Natty peaked was what Mary needed and a few more hard thrusts and her own orgasm overcame her and her body jerked and her head exploded as she felt the orgasm consume her.

Mary slowly withdrew the dildo from Natty then rolled off of her and pulled it out of her pussy. She gasped as it came out. "Wow, that was intense," she said.

Natty hadn't said anything or moved so Mary rolled over to look at her. Natty was lying there legs wide apart, chest rising and falling, sweat dripping from her forehead and off her stomach where Mary had dropped sweat on her, her eyes open but not saying anything.

"Are you okay?" she asked Natty.

"More than okay," Natty said. "That was unbelievable. Where have you been hiding that thing all this time?"

Mary chuckled, "I wasn't sure you would be ready for my toys just yet until you had more time with just us but I guess I don't need to worry about that anymore?"

"How many more things do you have?" Natty asked.

"Just a few but they are over at my place," Mary said.

"Well fuck girl, bring them over. If they work like that one did we need to make use of them. They aren't doing any good over there," Natty laughed.

"You know I have half of my stuff over here now? Mary said.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. Isn't your lease up soon?"

"In three weeks," Mary said.

"Why don't you move in here?" Natty asked Mary. "We are here most of the week anyway and there is no reason for you to be paying rent when you aren't using your apartment anyway."

"Are you sure you want to live together? You know most relationship work because they don't actually live together. Once you live together you are forced to put up with the others quirks and bad habits where now if one of us gets tired we have our own place to go to."

"I don't know where you get your information on relationships but we are living together now for the most part and any problem that comes up I'm sure we can handle it except cheating on me. That is the only thing I will not tolerate and the same goes for me. I won't force you to move in with me if you don't want to but I am putting it out there for you."

"If you really think it would be okay?" Mary asked.

"Mary, I never thought I would ever share my bed with a woman and now here I am. I don't want anyone else in my bed but you. I think it is time we move ahead with this relationship. I know we have never said it before but I love you Mary and I want you with me always."

Hearing that struck home with Mary. She knew in her heart she loved Natty but she didn't want to admit or say it because she knew saying it was usually was the kiss of death for relationships. Anyone she had told she loved before, soon after she never saw them again and she couldn't take that another time. Tears came to her eyes and she didn't want Natty to see so she turned her head away.

"Whatever is going on in that mind of yours we can make it work. Move in with me and you'll see," Natty told her.

Mary hugged Natty tightly not saying a word but Natty could tell Mary was sobbing from the way her body was moving. She let Mary hug her and stayed in Mary's arms until they were both asleep.

After Mary's lease expired she moved her things in with Natty. The night after she moved things in they celebrated by going to the pub to let all of their friends know they were officially a couple living together. They drank for a few hours then went home for officially the first time as a couple living together.

"We're not married so I'm not going to let you carry me across the alter-way but once we are inside I do want you to take me to bed, ravish and make love to me all night," Natty said seductively to Mary as she was putting the key in the door to open it.

"I think someone has gone from supposedly straight to really loving making love to a woman in just over two months," Mary smiled back at Natty.

"Only with you Mary, only with you. There is something about you Mary that I can't put a finger on but you have captured my heart and soul and I only have eyes for you."

They walked inside closing and locking the door behind them, their coats coming off swiftly as they walked straight to the bedroom. There was no seduction this time as they both hurriedly took off their clothes throwing them aside as they climbed in bed. Mary pulled Natty on top of her wrapping her legs around Natty as she did. They kissed with Natty's hands running her fingers through Mary's hair. As their intensity increased and their moans more frequent Mary's placed her hands on Natty's butt pulling her tight into Mary as Mary began moving her hips up pushing her pussy into Natty's. Natty feeling Mary rubbing her pussy on her pussy, started pushing her hips so her pussy would rub against Mary's. They moaned and their juices helped lubricate them more allowing for them to glide their pussy's together easier. Mary grabbed onto Natty's butt holding her down helping to excite Natty especially when Mary would let her fingers run down through Natty's crack and across her rosebud.

"Oh Mary, I love you so much. I love your hands when they touch me. Oh god, yes, you are going to make me cum," Natty moaned to Mary.

"Cum for me Natty. Let me feel you cum on my pussy," Mary softly said back to Natty.

They moved faster with their undulations, their pussy's wet and on fire. Natty could feel her orgasm begin to build and she grunted more letting Mary know she was close. Mary loved the feeling of Natty when she came and it would excite her enough she would climax too knowing she was making Natty cum.

Natty's breathing rapidly increased and her body was beginning to tense. Mary knew Natty was on the edge so she ran her fingers down Natty's crack again putting pressure on her rosebud when she reached it. That was it for Natty and her head arched up and gasped as her orgasm hit her.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, aaawwwhhh!" she cried and her face scrunched up, her mouth forming an O and her eyes closing. Mary kept moving her hips as she was now on the edge too and needed just a little more from Natty to explode in her own orgasm.

Natty in her tenseness moved hard against Mary's pussy which was what Mary needed and she cried out as her own orgasm hit her. Their bodies jerked and convulsed as their orgasms washed through them until the wave began to subside. Natty collapsed onto Mary who unwrapped her legs from around Natty letting them fall flat on the bed. Mary rubbed Natty's back as they lay there recovering from their respective orgasms.

"Sex with you is mind-blowing. I have never climaxed so hard as I do with you," Natty told Mary.

"From my vantage it is pretty intense too. You know I never told you but I knew from that first night in the pub when I saved your ass from that jerk, making love with you would be exceptional. But I never thought it would be this fantastic."

"Saved my ass?" Natty laughed. "You saved my ass? You know the bouncer was right behind you and he would have helped a second later. Besides if the bouncer hadn't been there you would have been on the floor a minute later when John got up."

"But he wasn't so it was me who saved you," Mary laughed.

"Then me having sex with you was all about paybacks then?" Natty jokingly asked Mary.

"Well yeah, you owed me. But I figured we were even after you agreed to sit with me the rest of the night. Ever since then, it has all been a bonus and now I feel I owe you for saving my life," Mary told her.

"How do you figure that?" Natty asked.

"Before I met you, I wasn't that nice of a person. I drank way too much, I couldn't hold a job but for a few weeks, I played around way too much and in general I was not a nice person. But something about the way you said, "Natasha my friends call me Natty", and I knew my life would never be the same because of you."

Natty didn't know what to say to Mary as she thought they were joking around and Mary seemed to be so sincere which touched Natty's heart beyond what words could explain. She looked at Mary then kissed her passionately which Mary responded to with passion.

Within minutes their bodies were in need of more and their hands began to roam and touch each other. Mary flipped them over so she was on top and began to move down Natty's body. "No, don't," Natty said and Mary stopped thinking something was wrong.

"Turn around," Natty then said and Mary smiled knowing what Natty had in mind. She turned her body around so they now were in a sixty-nine position. As soon as Mary had turned and straddled Natty's head she felt Natty's tongue on her pussy and she moaned before she could put her head between Natty's legs and lick her pussy.

They licked and sucked on each other's pussy enjoying the taste and feel of the other's pussy juices. Mary used her fingers to push into Natty's pussy getting them wet then brought them out sliding them down over Natty's perineum to her rosebud.

Natty feeling where Mary's fingers were going moaned in anticipation. As soon as Mary's fingers pushed on her rosebud she moaned and stopped licking Mary. Her hips rose slightly to Mary's touch. Mary seeing the response used her index finger to push through the opening of Natty's rosebud. Once past the opening Natty's rosebud opened up as it relaxed and Mary was able to push her finger in up to the second knuckle. Natty responded with louder moans. "Oh Mary, yes, oh god that feels so good," she moaned.

Feeling really excited, she licked Mary hard then sucked her clit into her mouth biting on it then sucking it like she was sucking through a straw. Mary responded with her own moans and increased her speed of her finger moving in and out of Natty's rosebud while her mouth sucked and licked Natty's pussy faster.

Both of them were quickly reaching their peaks as they seemed to be in a race to get the other to climax first. There was no relenting and both of their motions caused the other to climax almost at the same time. They both squealed their bodies tensed and jerked at the same time as their orgasms hit them. As they allowed their bodies to recover, Mary gently ran her fingers around the edges of Natty's pussy. She licked the juices that had seeped out of Natty then she kissed Natty's clit.

Mary moved off of Natty but she remained with her head down at Natty's waist . She looked behind her to see Natty lying with her eyes closed as she rubbed around her vulva. Mary stuck two fingers inside of Natty and pushing them in and out she got Natty aroused quite quickly. She leaned over kissing and using her tongue on Natty's clit as she increased her speed with her fingers. Natty moaned and began to raise her hips as Mary finger fucked her. Mary sucked hard on Natty's clit and bit down on it slightly which is all it took and Natty exploded again in a very intense orgasm. Her hips bounced up and down, her legs went stiff and her toes curled as her body was awash in her ecstasy.

Natty after a minute or two of jerking fell still and her head fell to her side as the intensity of her two strong back to back orgasms took everything out of her. Mary pulled her fingers out licking them clean then kissed Natty's hip before moving up lying next to Natty. She nuzzled up against her kissing her cheek whispering, "I love you Natasha Semenov."

The next day Natty and Mary went to see Natty's parents. This was more or less Natty's coming out as she told her parents she was in love with Mary and they were now living together. Natty's parents at first were taken back and didn't say anything. Her dad was the first to get up and kiss his daughter on the head telling her in Russian he loved her and if this is what made her happy then it made him happy too. He then went over to Mary kissing her on the head telling her Natty was his baby and to treat her right. He could already see the happiness in her eyes and he hoped they always made each other happy.

Natty's mom then came around and kissed Natty too before kissing Mary telling her they now had two daughters instead of one.

Life was going well for Natty and Mary. Mary was moved to another area in the store and she was doing well getting another raise. Natty was still pushing hard for a partnership at her advertising company landing some big contracts. But the hours were the downfall as she was putting in fifty to seventy hours a week. Mary had already discussed this with Natty telling her she wasn't sure the hours were worth what she was going through as she could see how tired Natty was and it also meant they had less time together.

Natty for the most part ignored the pleas and request from Mary determined to become a partner where she knew the hours would be less and the pay would be more. She continued to work long hours causing some stress between her and Mary but not enough to do any lasting damage to their relationship that a nice weekend together wasn't able to mend.

The firm announced they had decided to add another partner and the announcement would be this coming Friday around quitting time with a celebration party to follow. Natty was very excited as she felt certain she would be announced as the next partner. The morning of the announcement Mary wished her luck before Natty left for work. During the day Mary had contacted their friends to tell them they might be throwing a big celebration party tonight for Natty.

That afternoon the announcement was made and to Natty's great disappointment she was not selected as a partner but a guy who Natty knew was not near as good as she was as an ad exec. She put up a good face at work then after the celebration party began she slipped out to go home.

Mary already knew it wasn't good as she had received a text from Natty saying she was coming home and needed some quiet time with Mary. Upon arrival and opening the front door Natty took one look at Mary and broke down crying running to Mary's open arms. Mary stood there holding Natty letting her cry and knowing all she could do was be there with her. Nothing she was going to say at this point would make it any better.

That night Mary held Natty who cried for most of the night. She felt awful not being able to take the pain away her lover was going through. Finally Natty was all cried out and slept on Mary's lap on the sofa well into the night before she woke up seeing Mary asleep sitting up. She pulled Mary up and the two went to bed, Mary spooning Natty to give her comfort.

The next morning, Mary got up making coffee and was preparing to make omelets for them when Natty came out. Her eyes were still swollen from her crying and Mary felt awful still not knowing what to do. Natty walked over to Mary putting her arms around her from behind, "Thank you for being here for me. If you hadn't been here I'm not sure I would have gotten through the night. I love you, Mary."

Mary turned around to hug Natty. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I wish I could say or do something to make this better but I have no idea what to do."

"You did what I needed you to do and that was to be here for me. Now move out of the way so I can make breakfast," she said and smiled at Mary.

"I was going to ma...," Mary tried to say.

"Nope, I'm going to make you Syrniki's," Natty said.

"You know I can't turn down your Syrniki's. You have me hooked on them," Mary said and held up her hands and moved aside so Natty could make breakfast.

Later that morning Mary's phone was going crazy with text from their friends wanting to know what happened. She texted them back telling them Natty didn't get the partnership. Within minutes they were texting back to meet them at the pub tonight and they would celebrate Natty anyway.

Mary convinced Natty they should go to the pub even though Natty wasn't in the mood. That night once they were there, the girls brought Natty out of her sadness in no time and they partied hard. During the night though, the topic of Natty's promotion came up.

"Have you ever considered going out on your own?" Jill asked Natty.

"No, it would be much too hard to start up," Natty told her.

"Why?" Donna asked. "Do you need to have a big investment to begin?"

No, not too big, but I would need a support person to do some of the work and there would be some investment but not very much. The bigger issue is clients. If I went out on my own I would have to start all over and find new clients. It might take months before I get one and I couldn't live that long without income," Natty continued.

"You don't think some of your present clients wouldn't bail and go with you if you went on your own?" Jordan asked.

"Maybe but that is no guarantee," Natty said.

"I'm sure if you drop hints here and there to let them know you might be on your own they would let you know if they would go with you," Jill said.

Nothing else was said about it but the next morning over breakfast Mary and Natty were talking.

"I think you should consider what Jill said last night," Mary said.

"Do you really think I should?" Natty replied.

"Yes, and I'm positive some of your present clients would go with you because they know you and your work and that is the reason they are with your company," Mary said.

Mary and Natty discussed it some more over the next two weeks. Natty came home one day and told Mary she was going to do it. Over the next month, Natty told each of her clients she was leaving to go out on her own. Four of her ten clients agreed to move with her, thus guaranteeing a beginning of her company with almost instant income.

Natty asked Mary if she would come work with her to do all the paperwork, research and purchasing. Mary told her she would but what Natty needed more than ever was an experienced person who already knew the industry so there was no learning curve to deal with. Plus, with Mary's job, they had steady income in case they needed it to fall back on.

Taking Mary's advice, Natty hired an experienced girl to work for her so Natty didn't have to be concerned with those duties and could concentrate on selling and developing the advertising her clients wanted. What they didn't realize was the hours Natty would be putting into getting her business going. She was now working sixty to eighty hours a week and was taking clients out to wine and dine them to land contracts.

Mary, at first understood, but the late hours into two to three in the morning were too much for her. She didn't understand why with her other employer Natty didn't wine and dine clients. So why now did she feel like she had too?

"Why do you do that? You didn't before and I bet the other companies are not wining and dining the clients?" Mary argued.

"Because I don't have a large established firm backing me up. It is just me and I feel I have to go the extra mile to guarantee their trust in me," Natty said.

"Is it trust you are getting or is it something else?" Mary said out of anger.

"Just what do you mean by that statement?" Natty fired back.

"Staying out late with a bunch of drunk guys, what else are you giving them to convince them to contract with you?"

Natty slapped Mary then retorted, "How dare you insinuate I'm fucking them to land a contract." She then walked into the bedroom slamming the door and locking it.

Mary knew she was wrong but she was angry too. She trusted Natty but she didn't like her having to work these hours when a lot of it she felt was unnecessary. To her, the clients would go with her based on her ability to produce what they needed, not by wining and dining them.

The following week little was said between Mary and Natty. Natty continued to work long hours and Mary started going to the pub after work and drinking again. Her friends knew there was trouble brewing, but sometimes with Mary it was best to not get involved. It was better to just keep an eye on her and things would work out. As time went on and Mary drank, it was noticed by Natty. She grew more impatient with Mary for not doing some of the things around the apartment that needed to be done and they argued more. While they slept in the same bed they had not made love in almost a month.

One weekend they had a really big argument over Mary's drinking. Natty accused Mary of sleeping around on her since she had not made any attempt to make love to her in a month. Mary basically told Natty to fuck off and when she quit fucking her potential clients she would quit fucking around on her. They both knew neither was cheating but then neither was thinking clearly and both were speaking out of anger and hurt feelings.

Tuesday came and Natty was feeling really bad for talking like she did to Mary and treating her the way she did. When she came home from work around six Mary wasn't there. She figured she was at the pub so Natty drove there. She walked in and finding her friends, asked if they knew where Mary was. They all looked at each other not knowing what to say as Mary had been there but she left with another girl. Jill finally spoke up. "She was here earlier Natty. She was talking to some girls over there but they all seem to be gone now so I don't know where she is."

Jill hated to rat on Mary but they all liked Natty and they didn't want to lie to her either.

Natty left and went home. About fifteen minutes later Mary came walking back in to the pub.

"Where did you go? Natty was just here looking for you?" Donna said.

"I was out in the parking lot. I knew that girl from when I was little and I hadn't seen her in several years. Her dad bought her a new Vette and she took me for a ride in it," Mary said.

"And nothing else happened?" Jill asked.

"No, nothing else happened! You know I couldn't do that to Natty. We may be having a hard time but I'm not going to cheat on her, ever!" Mary told them.

Mary stayed a few more hours before she went home. Natty was already in bed asleep so Mary stayed out in the living room watching some television before she went to bed. Natty never said anything to Mary about looking for her or what the girls had told her.

Another month went by and things were no better between Mary and Natty if not worse. Mary received a text from Jordan for her and Natty to meet her at the pub after work to celebrate. She had just received a promotion with the management company at the mall she worked for. Everyone was there except Natty who wasn't told by Mary though she was supposed to tell her. They drank hard especially Jordan who in a few hours got totally wasted. Mary decided she had drunk enough too and she helped Jordan get home. Once she was there Jordan stated puking and Mary stayed with her to keep her hair out of the toilet and to clean the puke off Jordan and her clothes. Keeping an eye on Jordan took longer than she thought. She lay down next to Jordan on the bed and soon she had fallen asleep.

That same night Natty had come into the pub wanting to see if she and Mary could get past all of this crap they were dealing with. Finding the girls they told her Mary had gone home with Jordan.

Natty went home expecting sometime for Mary to show up. By the next morning she awoke and Mary still wasn't home. Natty had had enough. She suspected once before Mary was screwing around on her and now she thought she had with Jordan. She gathered up Mary's clothes and put them in garbage bags and threw them out the door. She put a sign on the door telling Mary she had had enough of her cheating and here were her things. She never wanted to see or talk to her again.

Mary woke up in the morning lying next to Jordan on the bed. She jumped up saying cussing to herself for not getting home. Jordan hearing Mary, rose out of bed with a splitting headache. Seeing Mary there she asked her if she stayed all night to which Mary nodded. She thanked Mary then lay back down to sleep off more of her hangover.

Mary hurried home hoping to catch Natty before she left to tell her what happened. Finding her clothes outside and the note she was heartbroken. She had fucked up and fucked up bad. She tried to call Natty but found Natty had already blocked her number. Mary sat down outside the apartment and cried. She didn't know what to do but somehow she had to reconcile with Natty. She picked up her things and went back to Jordan's.

Jordan answered her door looking hung over but awake. Seeing Mary crying she pulled Mary inside closing the door. "What happened?" she worriedly asked Mary.

Mary showed her the note Natty had left her and told her Natty had kicked her out.

"Did you try to call her and explain what happened? You didn't cheat on her?" Jordan reasoned.

"She blocked my number," Mary told her.

Jordan retrieved her cell phone and tried to call Natty only to find that Natty had blocked her phone number too. "Shit, she is pissed as she has my number blocked too!"

Jordan called in sick as did Mary that day. Jordan fixed them some coffee and they sat on the sofa talking about what to do. Mary began to cry again and laid her head on Jordan's lap curling up into a fetal position crying herself to sleep.

The next few weeks after work was the same routine for Mary and Jordan. Jordan was allowing Mary to sleep on her sofa. They would come home from work and after dinner they would sit on the sofa with Mary eventually putting her head on Jordan's lap and cry herself to sleep. They both had called the office number of Natty's new business only to get the new girl, who would only take a message, but Natty never returned the call.

After a few weeks Mary and Jordan returned to going to the pub. This time Mary would drink far in excess and have to be carried home most nights. All of the girls could see Mary was going into depression but as much as they tried to help Mary she refused all efforts from her friends. Jordan though, knowing Mary, knew she was fast approaching her breaking point and knew she had to stay close to be there when Mary hit rock bottom.

It didn't take too long as Mary continued to drink excessively and soon it cost her the job she had worked at for so long and made such good progress with. The one thing Mary hadn't done which everyone had noticed was she wasn't hitting on anyone and even months after her and Natty had broken up, she still had not been with anyone else.

Jordan came home from work one day to find Mary passed out on the floor of their apartment. She tried to get Mary up but Mary was out like a light and too heavy for Jordan to pick up. Jordan called Julie who came over and between the two of them they got Mary up and into Jordan's bed. Julie and Jordan sat out in the kitchen drinking coffee deciding on what to do with Mary. They had been out there for a little over an hour when Mary came stumbling out looking like hell warmed over. Julie and Jordan quickly got up and helped Mary to a seat at the table. They fixed her some coffee and tried to get her to drink it.

After another half hour Mary finally was coming out of her stupor. She looked at Julie and Jordan with tears in her eyes and told them, "I need help. If I keep this up I'll be dead in another week."

"What do you want us to do for you honey?" Jordan asked.

"I don't know but I need help," Mary mumbled.

Jill looked at Jordan and getting her attention she wrote on a notepad that was on the table, "Would she go into rehab?"

"Mary," Jordan said as she took Mary's hand. "Will you let us take you to a rehab clinic?"

Mary didn't say anything but she looked up and with tears coming down her eyes she nodded.

Jill got her phone out and finding a couple of rehab places in town she showed them to Jordan. Jill called both to find out about their services and availability. They decided on one of them and got some things together for Mary and drove Mary to one of the facilities.

Visiting Mary over the next few months to check in on her progress and to bring her more of her clothes, Mary's friends had come to their own conclusion. For their own sake, and for that of Mary, they decided the pub was no longer their place to meet but the Central Brew on Central Avenue would be their new hangout. It seemed that with what happened to Mary, it was a wakeup call for all of them and they didn't want them to suffer like Mary, or with their drinking cause their friend to relapse.

It took Mary five months to get clean and sober. She had been on suicide watch for the first two months, as not only was her drinking a problem, but her emotional state was very fragile from losing Natty.

As it neared time for being Mary to be released, she asked Jordan if she would be willing to allow her to stay with her because she was afraid to live alone. She feared she would fall back in to drinking and depression if she were left alone. Jordan, her closest friend, agreed as it would be good for both of them to share an apartment. Jordan upgraded her apartment to a two-bedroom so they would each have their own room and bed. Even after discharge from rehab, she needed to go to professional counseling from time to time dealing with getting over losing Natty.

Jordon was able to get Mary a job through her brother-in-law working at his law firm as a file clerk. She told him about Mary and if she didn't cut it then fire her and she wouldn't hold it against him.

Jordan's job was going great and she received another promotion and now was an assistant to the director of the management company she work with managing two malls in the area.

Natty's business was also going great. She had been able to secure several clients and in addition to the office girl she hired, she now had two advertising sales people working with her. She continued to work long hours as now she had no one in her personal life and had no intention of having anyone.

Not long after she and Mary had broken up she went over to visit her parents. While she was there she told them she had broken up with Mary.

"Why did you two break up?" her mother asked.

"We were arguing all the time and she started drinking again. Then she cheated on me which I had already told her would be the end to any relationship we had so I kicked her ass out along with her clothes and that was that," Natty told her mom.

"Natasha, you seem bitter but I detect you are not being truthful with yourself or to me," her mom told her.

"Well I have had plenty of time to think it over and I know the drinking is partly my fault because for months I literally ignored her, working so many hours and staying out late at night with clients," Natty admitted.

"You know in every relationship you have to find the time for the two of you to be together without distraction. Love is not one-sided and doesn't come without work from both people. Ignoring one or the other is going to eventually lead to one doing something they would not normally do if the other were more attentive to their relationship," Natty's mom continued in more of a lecture than consoling way.

"Yes, mom. I know and it was my fault that she was going to the pub all the time as I wasn't home sometimes until two or three in the morning," Natty pleaded her side.

"And you don't think that Mary didn't wonder what you were doing out at those hours? Don't you think she had doubts about your commitment to her?"

"Yes, mom, I did but she knew me," Natty reasoned.

"And so she is supposed to trust you but did you trust her? What proof did you have she cheated on you that is any different than what she might have suspected you were doing?"

"Why are you defending Mary? I'm your daughter!" Natty finally said somewhat indignant.

"If Mary were here I would be talking to her just the same as I'm talking to you. I'm not defending either of you. You both made this mess. I'm just trying to understand why two people who have shown so much love for each other can throw it away because of assumptions and inattentiveness," Natty's mom replied.

Natty had to think of a response but she couldn't. She realized Mary had thought she was cheating on her. While she knew it wasn't true, she ignored Mary's concerns putting her ego and career over their relationship. Then she did the same to Mary. She assumed, even though she remembered Jordan telling her they were only good friends and sex was not going to ever happen between them.

The following week Natty unblocked Mary's number and tried to call her. But all she got was a message saying the number was not in service at this time. She went by Jordan's apartment where she suspected Mary to be only to find Jordan had moved. Natty even went to the pub a few times and not finding any of the girls there she asked the bouncer and bartender, both who said the girls had not been there in months. Natty was lost as she didn't know what to do so she figured Mary had moved on and thus she needed to move on too. She put all of her efforts into her business making sure it was a top-notch advertising firm and was doing well.

For Mary, once she was out of rehab, life seemed to be different. Mary appeared to be a completely different person avoiding any drinking establishments and meeting the girls at the Central Brew for coffee instead of the pub for drinks. She shared an apartment with Jordan and once she had a job she was able to get her life back on track. She was lucky she was able to retain her phone number once she paid her bill. At the law firm she started out as a clerk doing filings, answering phones and whatever else she was told to do. The attorneys liked her work and saw she was putting an extra effort in to learn their business and do a good job.

After several months the firm decided they needed another paralegal but instead of hiring one off the streets they asked Mary if she would be interested. They sent her to school to learn how to be a paralegal. With the raise she got from the promotion, she was doing great. Everything her friends had paid for while she was in rehab and before she was able to pay them back though they all tried to tell her that was what friends were for.

As fall was arriving, the mall was getting bids on a new advertising firm to handle its winter season. If it was successful, then it would be year round as the management company had lost confidence in the old advertising firm. After all the bids were submitted the firm now owned by Natty was selected. This was going to be a big contract and with the potential to expand, it could be year- round and cover two malls in this area plus several others in areas not too far away. Natty decided this big a contract deserved her personal attention thus she handled the bid and negotiations with the management company.

Natty was to meet with the director of the management company to finalize its plan for the holidays. This included a Santa Claus for children to come see and all the winter decorations up and around the mall, plus advertising on television and in the paper for the mall as a whole. At the last minute she was informed she would be meeting with the assistant to the director as the director was out on maternity leave a month early due to some complications. She was not told who she was going to meet with, but would find out once she arrived at the mall.

Walking in the mall office she was told someone would be with her in just a second. Then out of the door walked Jordan who walked up to Natty.

"Hi, Natty, it's nice to see you again," Jordan said and held out her hand to make it seem more business than pleasure especially for the receptionist. "What's it been, two and a half years since I've seen you?"

"There must be some mistake. Are you Ms. Jenkins assistant?" Natty said being a little flustered as she didn't want to be talking or working with Jordan who she still had suspicions of sleeping with Mary.

"No there isn't a mistake. In fact I insisted Ms. Jenkins assign me to work with you," Jordan told Natty.

"I'm not sure this is such a good idea. No offense but I feel ambushed and I'm not sure we should work together," Natty said.

"Come with me," Jordan said and opened a door for Natty to go through. She took Natty to her office and closed the door. She then sat down not at her desk but in one of the two chairs in front of her desk and motioned for Natty to sit in the other. "I knew you would react this way and if I were in your shoes I would have too. But before you get up and leave I have something to show you." Jordan then pulled out a sealed envelope addressed to Natty.

Natty opened the letter and began to read it.

Ms. Semenov,

I know this is a surprise to you but unfortunately due to complications during my pregnancy, I cannot be there to work with you or referee between you and my assistant Jordan. Please note that I take this issue very seriously and have discussed at length with Jordan the consequences of any personal issues that might occur between the two of you that would affect our business relationship with you and your company.

At Jordan's insistence I have allowed her to make one and only one effort for the two of you to reconcile your differences and work amicably and professionally to complete this project. Should the two of you not be able to come to an understanding, upon my return we will permanently sever our employment relationship with Jordan and per company policy severe our contract with you. Furthermore, you will be barred from working on any contract with our company and any of its subsidiaries for a minimum of five years.

I trust that you will be able to reconcile any differences the two of you have during your first meeting and I welcome a long and productive relationship with your company in the future.

Linda Jenkins

"She isn't serious is she? I mean terminating you and severing my contract because of personal issues?" Natty questioned Jordan.

"Very serious. So serious I have already applied and been accepted at another firm. If we do not resolve our issues all I have to do is accept their offer and I am out of here," Jordan replied to Natty. "Are you prepared to lose this contract and all of its potential for a minimum of five years? Ms. Jenkins wanted to sever your contract before we ever met, but I told her to give me a chance to make peace with you before she did that. That is why my job is now at risk. I put that condition in there to her allowing me the opportunity to discuss why you do not like me to see if we can't come to an agreement. Are you willing to try?"

"Jordan, I'm sorry you put your job on the line, but what is between you and I should not reflect in my fulfilling my end of the contract," Natty tried to reason with Jordan.

"I beg to differ, Natty. Any compromise we have to make can only be made if we are not personally involved in trying to get the better of the other and I do not believe we can handle any issues as long as you have bitter feelings about me," Jordan explained to Natty.

"What then do you propose that could possibly change the way I feel about you?" Natty questioned.

"All I ask is for you to listen to me. You never gave me or Mary a chance to explain to you what happened that night and thus you made assumptions that have affected not only yourself but Mary, me and all our friends. You have no idea what has happened over the last two years because of that one assumption you made. I am not criticizing you, but your decision to break it off with Mary radically changed all of us and you need to know everything before you keep carrying your animosity for us around with you," Jordan said putting the ball in Natty's lap on how this will go.

"I will not give you any guarantees other than I will listen to you. I still believe I can handle this contract even if we do not agree on personal issues," Natty said.

"That is all I ask of you Natty. I am not here to change your mind. My intent is for you to know the real facts that led up to your decision and what that decision has done to many lives since that time. Any decision after that will be totally up to you," Jordan explained.

Natty thought for a few minutes before she let Jordan know she was willing to listen with an open mind. "You haven't talked with my mother lately have you?" Natty asked Jordan.

Jordan laughed and replied, "No, I have never met your mom and haven't talked to her. Why?"

"Because you sound like her when I told her I broke up with Mary. She questioned why and then practically accused me of causing the situation and breaking up without talking to Mary first," Natty said and smiled at Jordan.

"Maybe if the shoe fits, Natty," Jordan responded. She then paused before she continued.

"Let me start by talking about my relationship with Mary which I believe is most pertinent to you understanding the night in question. I have known Mary since we were in high school together and she has been my best friend since then. At the time I knew she was gay and it didn't matter to me because we always got along so well. She never hit on me or made any suggestions about us doing anything together. It wasn't until a few years ago after I realized I was bi that Mary and I had a heart to heart talk. We told each other things we have never repeated to anyone else so what I'm about to tell you about Mary, you have to give me your solemn word you will not tell anyone including Mary I told you."

"I promise whatever you tell me stays between us and I won't tell anyone else," Natty said.

"When Mary was thirteen she was repeatedly raped by her aunt and uncle while they were caring for her while her parents were in Europe on business. Since then she has had a very hard time keeping friends and relating with people for any period of time. Her anger for what happened came out in the way she treated others. Once she was old enough she drank which she told me would temporarily help her forget the pain she lived with everyday." Jordan could see she had Natty's full attention and the concern and hurt in Natty's eyes.

"Mary and I became very close and I can tell you that I do love her and I know she loves me. But nothing has ever happened between us because of the love we share. She told me long before she met you, she didn't want anything to come between our friendship because the day would come when one or both of us would need that friendship to help us get through some bad times. Neither of us realized how close those bad times were to happening. She told me she rather have us as friends who love each other to rely on, then have sex and then something happen and we never talk again like what has happened between you two. Thus our friendship has to this day remained one of two girls who love each other but keep our love life and sex apart from our friendship."

"That night you thought we had gone home together and she cheated on you didn't happen like you think it did. Mary saw I was too drunk to care for myself so she took me home. Well into the wee hours of the morning she was still holding my head above the toilet while I puked my guts out. She washed the puke out of my hair, stripped my clothes that were covered in it and washed them too. She then sat beside me while I slept in case I woke up and needed help getting to the bathroom. Unfortunately she too fell asleep. It wasn't until daylight she realized she hadn't let you know what happened and she hurriedly got up and headed home only to find you had already packed her things up and left them outside. She tried to call you but you had blocked her number."

"Mary came back to my place in tears with her things. I tried to call you to let you know what had happened but you had blocked my number too. Even though she had helped me the night before and I was still not very alert, I took her in. She put her head in my lap and cried most of the day because she had lost the only person who she loved so much and wanted to spend her life with."

"You're just saying this, trying to make me feel guilty or bad aren't you?" Natty questioned Jordan.

"Natty, everything I'm telling you is the truth. Mary didn't cheat on you. She was taking care of me who had gotten totally drunk and couldn't stand up. If anything it was my fault for being that drunk and causing Mary to stay with me."

"Well that doesn't explain the time before that," Natty said almost flippantly.

"What time was that?" Jordan asked.

"The time I came into the pub and all of you said Mary had just left with some girl," Natty told Jordan.

"Oh, oh, okay. At first I didn't remember but now I do. Yes, Mary had left with a girl but not fifteen minutes after you left she came back in. We all thought she had hooked up with her and Julie asked her about it. That girl was someone Mary knew growing up and hadn't seen in many years. She was in the pub celebrating with her friends because her dad had just bought her a very expensive fast sports car. When you came in she had taken Mary for a ride in it. When we told Mary about you coming in and we had thought she had hooked up with that girl she told us no way. She loved you too much and would never cheat on you."

Jordan could see Natty begin to absorb what she had said about Mary not cheating. What Natty's mom had said that assumptions could be made both ways and without discussions or proof they only cause trouble was beginning to become clear to Natty.

"I can see you are thinking about what I said. You see Natty, I know how much Mary loves you. I also feel bad because not only did I see what happened to Mary after you broke up, I lost you as my friend too for something I could have easily explained to you had you not blocked me."

"Jordan, I'm sorry for what I did. I too lost a group of friends that I had come to be very fond of and it took awhile to get over it. Because of what my mom told me or should I say chewed my ass a new one over, I tried to contact Mary but her phone was no longer in service. Her work told me she no longer worked there. I went to the pub but they told me you all had stopped coming in some time before. I even went by your apartment but you had moved so I thought you all were intent on me not coming back into your lives for what happened so I felt it was over and I needed to move on."

"Natty, there's a reason for all those changes and what I'm going to tell you now is going to be hard for you to take. After you broke up, Mary would come home from work and cry most of the night with her head in my lap until she fell asleep. Then one day she came home and said she was done crying and if you didn't want her she was finished waiting."

"Only she didn't really believe what she wanted us to believe. Mary began drinking and drinking hard. She got fired because she was late or missed work or came in drunk. We all tried to keep track of her, but Mary is headstrong and if she was going to drink there was nothing that was going to stand in her way. She was sleeping on my sofa since you all broke up and one day I came home and that's when I found her."

Jordan paused to get straight in her mind what she wanted to say but Natty took it the wrong way. "Oh my god, no!" she exclaimed and her hands went to her mouth.

"No, no it's not what you think. She was passed out on the floor of my kitchen. I tried to get her up but had to call Julie to come over to help me get her into my bedroom where we left her to sleep it off. A few hours later Mary woke up and came stumbling out of the bedroom. She had hit rock bottom and she knew it. Through her slurring she told us she needed help or she wouldn't make it through the week. Jill and I called and found a rehab place that would take her and we drove her over there that night."

"Five months later Mary was sober and released. She came to live with me because she was afraid to be alone for fear she would fall back in her ways. I got us a two-bedroom apartment since mine was only a one, plus we got her phone back in use. With the help of my brother-in-law, I was able to get her a job with a law firm and she is doing great. She earned a promotion and they sent her to school and she is now a paralegal with them."

"During her time in rehab all of us talked about how much we were drinking and decided we were headed down the same road as Mary. We decided for ourselves and for Mary we shouldn't go to the pub anymore. Now we go to the Central Brew and have coffee instead. I haven't had a drink in almost two years. So you see there is an explanation behind all of the things you have mentioned."

They sat in silence for a while before Natty spoke. "Do you think she would see me again?"

"Natty, I don't know if that is such a good idea. Mary struggles everyday with wanting to drink and she stills goes to therapy for her emotional state because frankly she has never gotten over you. For you to come into her life just to apologize or to say hi to her could easily set her back years in her recovery. I would need to think about that and maybe run it by her therapist to see if she thinks it's a good idea or not."

"I only told you everything because I wanted you to know. I like having you as my friend and don't want to keep something from you. Do you think we can finally put our differences aside and work together on this project?" Jordan asked Natty.

"Of course, Jordan. I'm so sorry I accused you of cheating with Mary. I wish there was some way I could apologize to everyone for how I fucked up. Maybe when you see them at the Central Brew you can let them know I am sorry."

"I'll do that." Jordan then stood up and held out her arms for Natty who with tears in her eyes wrapped her arms around Jordan telling her she was sorry. "I do wish you would consider me seeing Mary. I have never been able to put her behind me either. I still love her."

Natty and Jordan began working on the project that was to culminate with the lighting of the Christmas tree and all the lights in the mall at a ceremony right after Thanksgiving. Santa Claus would be there along with the Mayor to light up the mall. Jordan and Natty were getting along very well and even though Jordan was keeping it a secret from Mary, she had told the others about her and Natty's discussion.

Every day that Natty and Jordan talked, Natty would always ask how Mary was doing. Jordan had taken a picture of Mary who was cooking breakfast one weekend. "She was trying to make some sort of Russian pancakes and was using a recipe she found on-line, but Mary said it just wasn't the same as what she had eaten in the past."

"Syrniki's. I used to make them for her all the time. She loves them," Natty said and smiled. "She looks more beautiful then she was before. Her hair is gorgeous and has grown out some. She looks so happy."

"She is doing fine Natty. She is trying very hard to move on," Jordan replied.

Thanksgiving was approaching and Mary went home to her parent's house. Several years had passed since she had talked with them. A month before her aunt and uncle had been discovered having sex with a ten-year old girl from the neighborhood and were in jail. They had admitted to having sex with many underage girls over the years including Mary.

Her parents were devastated as they now understood what Mary had been going through all the years after they had returned from Europe. They met with Mary and after much crying and apologizing, Mary and her parents reconciled and were going to have a family Thanksgiving that was going to include everyone except of course her aunt and uncle for the first time in many years.

Jordan had asked Mary to come to the lighting ceremony at the mall on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. She and Natty had come up with a plan they hoped would be good for all of them. The last thing either of them wanted to do was to cause Mary any problems that would ruin or hurt her recovery.

Friday came and Jordan was very excited as she had received a big bonus for completing this project and for settling the differences between her and Natty. She wanted Mary to be a part of the celebration of the lighting of the tree.

When Mary arrived she located Jordan up towards the front. They stood together outside the area that had the tree and Santa's workshop which included his chair he would use to see children. There were stanchions and red velvet ropes for the lines for children to get in to see Santa.

On the stage was the Mayor, Santa Claus and Jordan's boss who was just back from maternity leave for this event. Mary was standing next to Jordan and they were talking about how many people had come for the lighting and how excited the children were because Santa Claus was there too. As the speeches were being made and the countdown began, Mary noticed out of her eye on her left side someone had stepped up next to her. She didn't look but something in her gut told her she knew who it was. She tried to move Jordan who was on her right to another location but Jordan interlocked her arm with Mary's and stood fast.

As the lights were lit and everyone was cheering and clapping the person next to her spoke. "It is so pretty, isn't it Mary?"

Mary knew the voice instantly and her gut feeling was true. She gasped and tried to figure out how to shrink away but Jordan was holding her in place. She then felt the person place her arm though hers and intertwine their fingers together.

"Merry Christmas, Mary," Natty said and leaned her head onto Mary's shoulder.

"I have something to discuss with my boss. I'll catch you all later," Jordan said and quickly walked off leaving Mary there with Natty holding her hand with her head on her shoulder.

"Merry Christmas, Natasha," Mary told Natty.

"Please, my friends call me Natty," Natty said and squeezed Mary's hand.

Mary's mind was racing. Holding her hand with her head on her shoulder was the girl she loved so dearly. The person she dreamed of many nights working to get through the pain she had getting sober. Yet here also was the girl who threw her out and refused to talk to her. Mary didn't quite know what to do but her heart knew what it wanted to do.

"Then Merry Christmas, Natty," Mary said and laid her head on Natty's on her shoulder. They looked at the lights for a while watching the children line up to see Santa Claus before Mary got up the nerve to say anything.

"Natty, I want to..." she started fumbling for words.

"Shhhh," Natty said and put her other hand to Mary's lips to silence her. "I know there is a lot to say on both of our parts but all of that can wait until later. For the last two years, the only thing on my Christmas list I am holding next to me and I don't intend to let it go again, ever. Let's just enjoy the moment with my hand in the hand of the one person I love so much."

Mary's heart skipped several beats hearing what Natty said. If she wasn't so happy and scared at the same time, she probably would have cried like a baby, but right now her whole world was coming together as the last missing piece seemed to be falling in place.

A few moments later Natty noticed Jordan off to the side looking at them. When her eyes caught those of Jordan she saw Jordan hold up her thumb in an indication things were going well. Natty, using her outside hand lifted it slightly so it was out of sight of Mary, gave Jordan her thumbs up back.

"I'm getting thirsty. Would you like to go get a hot chocolate with me?" Natty asked Mary.

"Sure I would love one," Mary said. "Let me text Jordan to tell her where I am going to be."

"Tell her if she wants some Syrniki's to come over to our place around nine-thirty tomorrow morning. I have the feeling we will be busy having make-up sex from now until around then," Natty told Mary as she began walking off towards the coffee shop in the mall.

"Wait, what? You mean you want me to stay overnight at your place?" Mary asked somewhat confused.

Natty stopped long enough to turn around and smile at Mary. "Our place Mary, and only if you want some of this," Natty said as she waved her hand around her body. "Oh and Syrniki's too," she added.

Mary tried to text Jordan but her hands were shaking and she was stumbling to put everything together. Our place Natty had said plus stay the night and on top of it Syrniki's in the morning. "Oh the hell with it," Mary finally said and put her phone away as she ran after Natty grabbing her by the waist and turning her around to face her.

They looked at each other with big smiles before wrapping their arms around each other and kissing very passionately. As they kissed they heard clapping and cheers then someone yelled out, "Get a room!"

Their lips parted and they looked at each other with the deep love they had for each other before they burst out in laughter. They hugged and then with Mary's arm around Natty's shoulder and Natty's around Mary's waist they walked through the mall to the coffee shop.

The End

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Hope you enjoyed our short Christmas story. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday time. Our next story "Memoirs" will be out after the first of the year. Until then Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and please don't forget to contribute if you can to nifty.org.

In our introductory comments in chapter one of this story, we mentioned a new tradition of ours, watching cheesy love stories on a certain television channel owned by a famous greeting card company. Since we posted chapter one, it has come to our attention that this channel had bowed to conservative pressure and withdrew all advertising that depicted gay relationships. In this case a lesbian wedding with the couple kissing in the advertising. As a lesbian couple, while not surprised, we are appalled that such opinion is still so prevalent in today's society to pull advertising on a channel that promotes love and happiness. We believe everyone should be allowed to love who they choose to love without reprisal or recrimination. Had we been aware of this we would have never referenced them in our story. Even though they have since reversed their position after the LGBTQ community rose up against this action, we will no longer watch that particular channel and will no longer purchase any greeting cards with their name attached until such time as this company demonstrates they are sincere in their inclusiveness of everyone in their programs, advertising and merchandise.

We apologize to the LGBTQ community as we are a part of it and proudly support gay rights and the ability to choose who to love. We also apologize during your reading pleasure to have to become political in our story but this issue has extreme importance to us and we felt we needed it to be mentioned.

Chrissy and Peyton