Title: Promises Made
Author: A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Feedback address: stormwriter@shatterstorm.net
Date in Calendar: 21 December 2008
Fandom: Poltergeist: the Legacy/LWM
Pairing: Alex/Rachel
Rating: PG13
Date Written: 14-21 December 2008
Word Count: 1044
Summary: Alex wants to attempt an experiment but Rachel isn't sure about the request.
Written for: sinandmisery & shiplessheathen's Finish It All Off ficathon
Written for: licenseartistic
Prompt: December 2008 free month using G. K. Chesterton quote from May 2008
Warnings: Loving, long-term lesbian relationship. Don't like it? Don't read it…
Archive: This is a ShatterStorm Productions exclusive piece. Contact the webmistress for archive options.
Link to: http://bdkk.shatterstorm.net/
Website: ShatterStorm Productions’ Doggie Duo’s Fanfic
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW08

Disclaimer: This story is an original work of amateur fiction, and is written purely for the private entertainment of P:TL fans. This story is no way affiliated with Trilogy, MGM Worldwide Television or the Sci-Fi Channel. The characters are their property, and this story is not meant to infringe upon the copyrights of MGM, Trilogy, or anybody else who owns an interest in "Poltergeist: the Legacy".

Note: This was written initially for the Finish It All Off ficathon, with the first three lines of dialogue as my prompt. I knew I could do pretty much anything with it, but I wanted to do something within the LWM universe, as I always do that for the calendar. So after deliberating for a bit, I planned on doing something with tantric sex out in the desert, where Rachel could really let go with her magic. Except the muses just weren't cooperating, particularly while on the road trip from hell to BFE Winnipeg. *g* That tantric sex part will get written…one of these days.

Dedication: My muses, for always coming thru under the wire…

Beta: ardvari

"Promises Made"
by A. Magiluna Stormwriter


"We can’t."

"We can."

"Fine. We shouldn’t."

"Just because you’re too chicken to try it out," I toss back airily and snort in amused exasperation at Rachel’s scowl, the direct result of her paused pacing at my dare. "I'd prefer doing this with you, but if you really don’t want to, I’m sure I could find someone else to help me test out my theory. Since Darya was the one who mentioned it to me in the first place, I’m pretty sure Karen would do it, and Dace would probably jump at the chance."

Rachel’s low, possessive growl at the mention of Dace’s name amuses me greatly. It’s something of an underhanded tactic, but the competitive edge Rachel has with Dace where I’m concerned is a great motivator sometimes. Her eyes narrow as she studies me for a long moment, arms crossed over her chest.

"Is this really so damned important to you?" she asks in that low, slow tone after a couple of minutes have passed. I have to bite back a triumphant smirk; if she’s actually considering it now, there’s a ninety-five percent chance she’ll agree to this request.

"I really want to try it, yes, and I want it to be with you, Rachel. I’ve heard so many good things, and now that you’re working on finessing your latent abilities, I think it could be really good for us, a really transcendent experience that will only enhance our relationship."

She falters a bit, arms beginning to loosen their tight grip across her chest, her vulnerable soul. "Is our relationship not enough as it is?" The words are soft, fearful, and I realize belatedly just how potentially wrong this conversation could go.

"No!" I’m on my feet instantly, pulling Rachel into a close embrace. One hand strokes down her back repeatedly, the other massaging the base of her skull in an attempt to loosen the stress knots there. "There is nothing wrong with our relationship as it is. I love us, I love you more than I can ever begin to express. I want to use this experience as a way of deepening and intensifying what we already have, not replace something that’s missing."

My words appear to be exactly what Rachel needs to hear; she relaxes into my embrace with a heavy sigh. The silence settles around us for long moments; I'd really like an answer to my request, but I'm content to wait until she's ready to continue the discussion. Before I even realize it's happening, we're swaying along with the music only our hearts can hear. Rachel snuggles in closer, nose tucked in against my neck.

"I love you, Alex," she finally whispers against my skin. "But I can't do this. I can't take the risk."

My heart sinks at her confession, but I do my best not to let it show. Instead, I walk her over to the couch, stretch out comfortably on my side along the back of the couch, and guide Rachel down to lay back against me. She immediately nuzzles her face back into the crook of my neck and I soon feel the tears against my skin.

"Hey, you okay?" I ask softly, trying to lean back to look into her eyes, but she resists. "Rachel? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," she whispers raggedly against my throat. "I want to, really I do, but I just can't. You can't expect me to just do something so reckless as to let loose the magical abilities that I can barely control now. I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen, Alex."

I shake my head and grip her chin tightly, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Rachel, love, it's okay. I was foolish to ask for this so soon. You've only just started working on exploring and expanding your abilities."

"It's not that I don't want to do it at all," she says finally, tearing her gaze away from mine. "It sounds like what we did when Rose was conceived, only more intense, right?" When I nod, her smile grows bolder. "Okay, then I'll make you a deal, Alex. Let me do a little more studying, get used to really using my abilities and not having a complete hysterical breakdown at the thought of doing so. Once I'm more comfortable with it, and can have better unconscious self-control, you and I have a date out in the desert. Does that work for you?"

And in the end, even without the instant results I wanted, I get my wish anyway, and I let her know that. "I think that's a fabulous deal actually, even better than the original." And then I can’t help but tease my beloved Rachel. "So should we shake on it to seal the deal?"

A very mischievous glint replaces the fear and self-recrimination in her eyes and she tugs at my hair. "Shake hands, my ass," she retorts. "The day you and I seal a deal by shaking hands is the day you put a bullet through my brain for being an idiot to no longer love you. I want a kiss."

"Far be it from me to have you wanting for a kiss," I reply with mock horror, and pull her face up to mine for a light brush of lips. "Deal accepted."

With a barely feigned snarl, Rachel shifts to straddle my stomach, looming over me with a very different gleam in her eyes now. "That wasn't a kiss, Alexandra Moreau." And she leans in to take wild possession of my lips. I wouldn't stop this lovely assault if my life depended on it; in fact, I encourage my love as she brands me with the fire of her adoration until I'm left limp and breathless. "That," she says with a self-satisfied smirk, "is a kiss to seal a deal."

All I can do for a couple of minutes is giggle dumbly at her in the wake of the hormones roiling in my blood. "Deal," I parrot back and reach up to pull her down into another kiss. The ritual can wait as long as necessary until Rachel feels secure enough in her abilities to attempt it. Until then, I have all the time in the world to love my dearest love.