Simone’s eyes widened and she felt a sudden need of air. She had expected Annabelle’s father to come up, not the baby talk she didn’t want to have. "Wh- huh?"

Annabelle laughed softly. "Ok, breathe. I was joking." She paused again "For now."

Simone smiled nervously and tried to avoid the subject "So erm, nice talk then?"

"You don’t want babies?" Annabelle asked, knowing she was pushing it, but delighting in her lover’s panicked expression.

"Erm. I don’t know I erm never-No. I mean, yes erm." She paused to take a deep breath "Too soon bab-Annabelle."

Annabelle just laughed heartily and pulled her lover closer to kiss her languorously. "I love you and your panic attacks."

"And I love you and your way you think you’re being fucking funny."

"Using the F word now are we?"

"I guess you’re rubbing off on me."

Now both laughing, Annabelle changed the subject. "So, professor, how did your meeting go?"

"Okay. She asked me about you. Well, no. About the male student I had a wild affair with."

"You did tell her I was a girl and more than an affair?"

"I told her you were more than an affair."

"God Simone! You can’t get crawl back into the closet again!"

"I won’t! Just, she didn’t ask, I didn’t tell."

"Mph. Are you ashamed of being with a hot young woman like myself, professor?"

"No."

"So?"

"I’ll let it slip that I have sex with women."

"You’re using the plural form again."

"Sorry," Simone said before pausing. "Didn’t mean for you to find out that way." Lowering and closing her eyes faking shame, she opened one to see Annabelle reaching over to the pile of letters on the small table and hit her with it. "Hey! Respect your elders!"

"AGAIN Yoda. Stop the age thing!" Hitting harder, she smiled before letting out a high pitched shriek as Simone got up, a pillow in her hand. "Ok, ok. You’re too old for this. Watch your back! No, no!" Grabbing the pillow, Annabelle threw it across the room, making it land on one of the cats – who didn’t even bother awakening – before pulling Simone closer, a devilish grin on her face. "Can we make up now?"