Behind the Bleeding Veil

Regina awoke in a state of bliss she had never known before. On one hand she felt completely at ease, at one with everything. At the same time her body also felt more alive than it ever had. Every nerve cell seemed to twitch and tingle. She was both a torrent of feelings and completely Zen at the same time. Most importantly, she was happy.

She was happy being in Faustine's arms, feeling her warmth, the softness of her skin against hers, the sound of her gentle breathing and slow, rise and fall of her chest as she did so. She was happy in a way beyond words and their narrow definitions. She was whole now. Aware and in possession of her true self; lying in her lover's arms, safe and warm. The sex had been amazing, Faustine had made her feel waves of pleasure she would have thought impossible but more than that she loved the fact she was able to return the favor and pleasure Faustine as well. All was right and just in this new world.

She slowly got up and looked down at Faustine. Even in sleep with no make-up, closed eyes, messed up hair, she was beautiful beyond words. Regina slowly reached to touch her cheek, approaching it as though she were about to touch the face of God Himself, and gently stroked it. Tears began to form and fall from her eyes as she looked and thought of how much she loved her; how perfect she was.

"I love you; more than anything, more than life itself," she gently whispered (she thought) under her breath but Faustine must have heard as she opened her eyes.

Fluttershy looked at Regina in an expression that Regina thought of as minorly disquieting. It was blank yet sad, with a touch of confusion and a just a hint of anger. Fluttershy blinked a few times and Regina saw one tear roll down the side of Faustine's face. She thought it was for her but it was for one long dead. A boy with green dreadlocks, hacked to death by a cult as a warning for her and her friends to not to try and stop them from unleashing a bunch of insane ancient gods. A boy whom she had also said I love you more than anything to after they had finished making love one night.

Faustine's face softened and she touched Regina's left cheek. "I love you too my precious key."

Regina leaned down and the two began to kiss. She then laid her head back down on Faustine's breast and cuddled up next to her. "Let's not go out today. We can just lay here, together. How about that? You, me, this bed, all day. Sound good?"

Fluttershy laughed and hugged Regina. "That does sound enticing but we both have things we need to do today."

"Aww," Regina said sadly. "Do we really?"

"Yes, we do," Fluttershy responded somewhat regrettably. "BUUUUUUT, we don't have to go now. I mean, I still have to eat breakfast."

"Oh?" Regina asked coyly. "And what did you have in mind to eat?"

"Spread your legs and you'll find out."

"MMMM, just what I wanted too."

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As Regina walked back home from the library. She had gone to do research for a paper she was writing. While she had been gone, she couldn't help but feel that time had slowed down to an almost intolerable degree. All day, all she could think about was getting back to Faustine. Her absence, her not being by her side, let alone not in her arms; was a torture she could barely sustain. Her face, her voice, her touch; being without all of those was excruciating and she longed to beside her once again.

While she walked, she went back over her life. So many things made sense now. When her mother first showed her pictures of what people from the fallen world dressed like; she had been fascinated and fixated on the girls. She just looked at the pictures and wasn't able to take her eyes off them. At the time she thought it was due to her being in shock at how sinful they looked. Now she knew she was really just attracted to them. She was free. Free to look at the other women and admire them, lust after them, and it was all ok. She was a lesbian and she was proud.

"Hey," came a voice off to her left. She turned and saw it was Beth. She had on an old style military jacket, white shirt, jeans, and black Converse Chuck Taylor's.

Regina was almost giddy with excitement. She bounded up to Beth with a big smile on her face. "Oh, hey, I'm glad you called over. Hey, listen, I just wanted to say sorry for how I acted at the party last night. It was inexcusable and, well, you were right about who I am. I'm gay; a lesbian. I was just too ashamed and afraid to admit it. You don't have to forgive me; I understand if you don't, but I really am sorry."

Beth smiled and shrugged. "Eh, it's all good there sugar tits. Hell, I should have known better. I was too worried about adding another notch to my lipstick case, I never thought about how you might be feeling. Religion fucks you up. It fucks straight people up, and it really fucks people like us up. I should have gone slower. I am glad you finally got your shit straight. Welcome to the sisterhood."

Beth opened her arms and Regina came in for a hug. Regina could only think that had she not already belonged to Faustine, Beth would make a terrific girlfriend.

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Regina finally walked in to her dorm and was surprised to see Ryan standing there. Faustine was sitting on her bed, Indian style. He looked confused and she looked slightly scared.

"Oh, hey," Regina said awkwardly as she walked in.

"Hey," Ryan replied back in a friendly but confused manner.

"Listen, I'm glad you're both here," Fluttershy started to say but was cut off by Ryan.

"Um, you asked me to come over here," he said.

"Well, yes I did. I have to talk to you, both of you. Ryan, I love you. I was attracted to you the very first time I saw you and was grateful that you turned out to be such a wonderful guy as well. I really do love you." Fluttershy spoke in an apologetic voice.

"But? Where's the but? After an opener like that, I know there's a but comin'; so just say it," he said annoyed and growing hurt and angry.

"You're right, and here it is - I love someone else as well. I love Regina."

Ryan looked in stunned silence from Fluttershy to Regina and back again. "Oh this is some bullshit! Really? Fucking really? You all gonna play me like that huh? You be on me like a mother fucking rash; I finally give in and give some dick and now it's all abroad the tuna express? Fuck y'all; I'm out!"

Regina went to move out of his way as fast as possible when Faustine called out, "I'm not dumping you!"

Ryan spun around and looked at Fluttershy in absolute confusion as did Regina.

"I love you both, equally. I'm not choosing one over the other. I want to be with both of you or neither of you. You each mean too much too me. I know this is weird. We're taught monogamy is the only way and that polyamory is wrong but it just is how it is. You two complete me and fill me up in such different ways but each is as valid as the other. I can't imagine and don't want to be without you both.

"Also, since I'll be with the both of you, it would be wrong for me to demand monogamy from either of you. You'd both be free to see other people if you wished. I'm fine with that; but I'm not dating one without the other. I get you both or I leave both you. I can't choose, I won't choose. That's just how it is. I'm sorry. It's up to you two now. I'll respect any decision you make."

Regina looked terrified. She spoke in an almost hysterical tone at first. "I . . . I, no, no. I love you Faustine! You're my first girlfriend, I gave my virginity to you!"

"Whoa, back the fuck up," Ryan butted in. "Really? When was all this?"

"Last night," Regina turned to Ryan, still in a minor panic.

"WHAT? Yo, seriously? You fucked me and come here and fuck her as well? Are you that god damn horny? Jesus fuck!"

Regina turned back to Faustine, not even acknowledging what Ryan had said. Her face and her voice were full of sadness but calm as well. "I want to be your one and only. I want to be your everything because you are mine. However, if having in my life means sharing you, well, I'd rather have fifty percent than nothing. I'm ok with it." She bowed her head and sat on her bed.

"Ryan?" Fluttershy asked with sympathy but also with a touch of impatience.

"I can't believe this. I literally can't believe this." He turned his back towards her, looked up at the ceiling, and shook his head. He then turned around again and looked at both of them.

"I loved you, dig? I knew I was making a mistake but I loved you. Now you gonna play me like this huh? You don't deserve either of us! We should both just get up and walk the fuck out!"

"But?" Fluttershy said with a growing sense of impatience.

"But goddamnmit if I don't love you too. Fine, fuck it. I'll try to make it work." Ryan sounded broken down and defeated.

Inside, Fluttershy smiled. All the pieces were in place now. A few final moves and she would rip through the veil.