“It will break her heart if we don’t… if this doesn’t…” She breaks off with a deep breath, her words resolute. “We can’t tell her.”

It’s not exactly what Caroline wants or wants to hear. She wants to really be with Hannah. She wants it all with her. But what she wants more is to make Hannah comfortable with them.

Caroline agrees.

But mostly, things are lighter –

“Have there been other women?” She asks one night as she’s brushing her teeth before bed, genuinely curious. “That you’ve been attracted to?”

Hannah is quiet for a few seconds before she hums under her breath. “No. Not really. I mean, I’ve always found women to be… aesthetically pleasing.”

“Agreed,” she adds in with a grin.

She can hear the way Hannah rolls her eyes but also can picture the smile on her face. “No kidding.” Hannah blows out a breath. “But I don’t remember a time where I’ve been actively attracted to one. I didn’t really look at anyone when I was married.” She pauses, her voice growing contemplative. “Sometimes, I would think about…” But she stops herself, her voice quiet. “It’s just been you.”

Caroline can’t help but smile like a fool, before she catches herself in the mirror and shakes her head. She wonders aloud, “Does it – bother you? How are you doing with… that?”

“Being attracted to a woman?”

She hums her affirmation. “I mean, I struggled with admitting it to myself. I think most people do, it’s totally normal.”

But Hannah’s voice is honest and light, “No, it doesn’t bother me. I didn’t really struggle with it, either. It just is.” She can hear her shift around. “Tell me about that. When you came out?”

Caroline sighs, exaggeratedly, as she switches off her light and walks to her bed. “Well, it all started when I was twelve and Buffy the Vampire Slayer started airing. Sarah Michelle Gellar really did things to me.”

Hannah chortles, “Really?”

Caroline hums under her breath, and takes a second to wonder if she should say it or not, but – “Mm, I have a thing for blondes.”

Because she can do that now.

Hannah’s laughter cuts off, her breath catching. “Oh. Well. Continue.”

Caroline’s smile is satisfied as she settles back against her pillow.

***

“Are you and my mom fighting?” Abbie asks her the day before Thanksgiving, standing on the step stool in Caroline’s kitchen.

They’re trying to follow Hannah’s recipe for an apple pie, but neither one of them are particularly talented in baking. Caroline knows her mom and their other relatives will supply at least two other pies so she isn’t worried; Abbie’s having fun and that’s all that matters.

She turns to give Abbie an incredulous look. “What? No. Why would you think that?”