3

Art frowned at the name on his cell phone, his mother calling him again, ever since he had told her he was sort of seeing somebody she'd been hounding him to bring her to the dinner. He sighed and pressed the receive button.

"Hey mom, I'm a little busy at the moment, do you need something?"

"Oh, too busy to talk with your mother, I understand, perhaps I could go die and then maybe you'd have time to come to my funeral?"

"Mom, don't be so melodramatic, I'm just working, and I could have just pressed ignore, but I answered, because I love you."

"Fine, fine, are you bringing that nice young girl to dinner yet? Guinne is bringing her roommate, so it won't be like it's just the three of us and her, she won't feel so pressured."

Art rolled his eyes, "I'll ask her Mom, but I can't promise she'll say yes."

"I suppose that'll be good enough, I'll see you Friday then."

"Love ya mom, see you then," Art hung up, sighing at the phone and dialing June, it took a few rings before she picked up.

"Hey bug," came her voice on the other end of the phone.

"Hey hon, you know that dinner this Friday? Mom keeps asking me to invite you, I know it's still early in our relationship, and I hate asking, but she's being really persistent, so I promised I'd at least ask. It's up to you though."

"Hmmm," there was a long pause, and he knew she was tugging at her hair, trying to decide.

"You're gonna pull that chunk out if you don't stop doing that," Art said, smiling.

"Hrmph, you're not supposed to know my habits that well yet!"

"Err... Sorry? We talk a lot babe and you do that any time you're thinking about something really hard."

"I'm thinking about something really hard right now," June said with a giggle.

"We're both at work, get your mind out of the gutter," Art tried to sound scolding, but it came out as him kind of laughing in the end.

"Alright, alright, I'll go with you Friday. I have a feeling I'm gonna have to meet your family sometime and I might as well get it over with now."

Art wrinkled his nose a little, he had kind of hoped that she would say no, but it was her right to say yes and it would make his mother very happy. "Alright, I'll let her know then, I better get back to work and you prolly aught to as well."

"I suppose I should at that. You should break your computer so I can come out there though, bye!" She giggled and hung up before he had a chance to respond. He shook his head, setting his phone back on his desk and looking at his computer. Now it was time to email his mother about June coming.

--

Guinne frowned at her laptop, and wrinkled her nose a little, "We're gonna have company at my family dinner, Art is bringing that girl he started seeing. June," she said looking over at Maria, who was at her own computer.

"Okay," Maria said, glancing back at Guinne but then returning to her homework. She seemed rather intent it, and Guinne grunted softly in frustration, and turned back to her laptop. Maria blinked and turned to look at Guinne for a moment, realizing that she had wanted more than just an 'okay'. Homework could wait, Maria supposed, as she crawled out of her chair and on to the bed next to Guinne.

"You okay with that?" Maria asked, running her hand up and down Guinne's spine gently.

"I guess, I dunno, it just feels weird," Guinne had opened up a lot to Maria in the last weeks, telling her about her fixation with Art, her morning habits when she was younger, everything. It had felt good to get it all out, and Maria had been understanding and willing to listen.

"I'm sure it'll be alright Guinne, I know it will be weird, seeing him with her, and ... not being able to be like that with me in front of him."

"I'm just not ready to tell my mother yet, you know I want to, and you know I'm not ashamed of you, I-"

"Shush, I wasn't trying to get in an argument or anything, I was trying to be helpful," Maria kissed Guinne lightly on the tip of her nose. "It'll be fine, I'll be there to help you through it, just remember this is as good for you as it is for him, okay?"

"Okay," Guinne smiled as she said the last words, their paired green eyes locking for a moment and then Guinne pushed forward and closed her eyes as their lips locked together. Maria made a soft sound of pleasure in her throat as she returned the kiss.

It was a long few moments before they broke a part, both grinning, "As much as I want to roll you over and do naughty things to you, I really gotta get my homework done," Maria said with a faint sigh as she rolled away and on to her feet. "It's due in like 2 hours and I'm not even close."

Guinne pouted at her but nodded, "Alright, I'll get back to mine as well I guess."

--

Friday rolled around, and Art was pretty busy at work. So it was a bit late when he went to grab June at her desk, an hour past 'close', and fifteen minutes before they were supposed to be at his mother's, which was a twenty minute drive if there was no traffic. He knocked at her office door and hearing her call 'come in' pushed the door open.

"Hey bug!" June said with a grin, coming around the desk and nearly tackling him, as she kissed him hard on the lips and squeezed him tightly.

"Hey June," Art replied with a grin when he was able. "We're gonna be late, we should get going."

"Alright, let me grab my jacket and save what I was working on."

Art nodded to her words and dropped down into the chair by her door. Her office was cluttered with computer parts, towers in various states of completion and monitors. On her desk sat her collection of action figures, from various animes and on the wall was a poster for Trigun. The company gave everyone a lot of freedom as far as that sort of thing went and being in IT she had even more, since nobody from outside the company ever came down here.

"Alright, let's go," June smiled at him, offering her hand as she waited by the door. He took it as he stood slipping out into the hallway, she paused to lock her office up and then they headed for the elevator.

"We could still call this off you know, go do something else," Art said looking over at her as they waited for the elevator.

"Am I really that awful?" June teased.

"No, but my family can be," Art said chuckling softly, "You're the first girl I've ever brought home June. It's going to be awkward for both of us, trust me."

"I'll manage bug, I promise," he smiled at her words, kissing her cheek lightly.

"Alright, well, I better call and let mom know we'll be late."

--

Guinne picked up the phone, "Hey Art, mom's busy in the kitchen; she's making your favorite of course. So, bringing a girl home, I hear," Guinne was grinning, as she teased her brother. She knew she was using humor to deflect the emotions that were warring within her.

"Alright, well, will you let her know we're gonna be a bit late? I was swamped at work, so we're just leaving now and traffic prolly isn't the best at this hour. I would expect us in half an hour to forty-five minutes. As for the other comment, you can keep your teasing inside, thank you very much."

"Ahhh, behave? I suppose I can try."

"That doesn't sound too promising, I'll see you soon sis."

Guinne made a face at the phone as she hung it up, calling into the other room, "That was Art mom! He said they're running late, work was busy he'll be here in an hour." Okay, he'd said a bit earlier, but this way mom could compensate for dinner better, she knew how her mom's mind worked.

"Alright, Maria is helping me with the pie, she's quite helpful like that, I hope you're having fun out there on your computer."

Guinne sighed, rolling her eyes, her mother could be such a pain in the ass. She got up from the couch and headed into the kitchen, looking around. Maria was taking a pie out of the oven, that her mother had done all the work on, and made an 'I'm sorry' look at Guinne as she stepped into the room.

"I'm sure I could help in some way mom, why don't you tell me what I can do?"

"Oh, I'm sure me and Maria can handle it all, I know she drove all the way out here to help her roommate's mother with cooking, I mean, it's not like she has better things to do on a Friday, right?"

Maria blinked, not used to Guinne's mom, Guinne gave her an apologetic look of her own this time and then moved over to the sink, "It looks like this salad needs to be made, so why don't I go ahead and work on that? Maybe Maria, since she's not busy now that the pie is out of the oven, can help me chop some vegetables and you can do whatever it is you're doing at the stove over there."

"Well, if you really think you can peel yourself away from Facebook for ten minutes I guess it would be a help."

Maria couldn't help but giggle softly at that, as she came over to start helping Guinne.

--

"We're here," Art called into the house as he shut the door behind June.

"We're all in the kitchen, come on in," Guinne called back to him.

"Hey Mom, Guinne, and Maria isn't it?"

"Yep," Maria smiled at him, he didn't notice her giving him a pretty long once over as she said it, but June sure did.

"Everybody, this is June. June, this is everybody," said Art as he headed for the fridge, opening it and pulling out a beer for himself and looking at what else was in there.

"Uhm, hi everyone," June said, awkwardly offering a smile and a little wave.

"My son, always so good with the introductions and things," Guinne and Art's mother moved across the room to take June's hand lightly, "Please call me Joyce, we can wait till you're married before you call me mom."

"Mom!" Art glared at her for a moment, "We've been dating like a month, can you please not make implications of marriage and leave any thoughts of asking her about kids at the door please?"

"She knows I'm just teasing her Arthur, so you be nice to your old mother," Art rolled his eyes at his mother's words. Both Guinne and Maria were trying so hard to not laugh that they were practically leaning against one another.

"Looks like mom's got beer, wine coolers, some mike's, and Pepsi, do you want something June?" Art asked.

"Uhm, I'll take a mike's I guess," June said, smiling at him, having a feeling that a little alcohol might take off the edge. Art had spent most of the trip here explaining what his mother was like, but she was still a little nervous at his mother's 'jests'. But she had agreed to come and it was interesting to meet his family.

"Anyway, I am Guinne, and this is my roommate Maria," Guinne said from where the two were leaning against the counter, dinner was essentially done by this point, so they had just been standing in here talking with Joyce.

"It's good to finally meet you Guinne, and you too Maria, Art talks a lot about you. I mean you Guinne, not you Maria ... you know what I mean."

Guinne grinned, "I understand, mom can be a bit nerve wracking, so being tongue tied is excusable."

"I am standing right here Guinevere, you could at least try and lower your voice to spare my feelings."

"But of course mom, how dreadful of me," Guinne laughed, turning her face away from her mom.

"Hi, by the way," Maria said, offering a little wave.

"Alright, go set the table Arthur, while I finish up in here, you girls can go into the living room and give us a few minutes to get everything ready."

Art rolled his eyes, but went into the dining room to start setting the table.

"This way June," Guinne said, as she headed out into the hall and down it to the living room, "Don't worry we won't bite, promise." She said when they got in there, grinning and dropping onto the couch.

Guinne looked at June quietly for a few moments, she felt some pangs of jealousy at this girl, June was gorgeous, thin, beautiful, a great body. Guinne realized that she was attracted to June, she looked over at Maria for a moment, and she'd never really felt that way about anyone but Maria, but now... She was confused.

"So .... " Maria tried to figure out some way to break the ice, finally settling on "How did you and Art meet?"

"Oh, he and I work together, I'm in IT, he's a graphics designer, well, you probably already knew that, but yea. Anyway, we met a few times through work, then got to know each other a bit better when we both went out to drink with some of our co-workers a few weeks ago. We hit it off pretty well, ended up going out a few times, and well, here we are, I guess."

"I see, well from what Guinne's told me of him he's a good catch," Maria shrugged, and June looked a bit embarrassed by all the attention, plus she was pretty sure Guinne was either checking her out or trying to decide how best to dispose of her body. She wondered at that, Art hadn't ever said anything about his sister being a lesbian, but Maria looked a little butch, and if Guinne was checking June out... well not any of her business she supposed.

"Where can I find a restroom?" June asked.

"Second door on the left, opposite to the Kitchen, door should be open so it'll be hard to miss."

"Thanks," June got up, heading out, and both of the other women in the room watched her heart shaped bottom as it moved beneath her slacks.

"She's hot," Maria said when she was sure she couldn't hear them.

Guinne giggled a little, but then swatted at her, "That's my brother's girlfriend you're talking about there miss."

"You were checking her out way more than I was, so I don't wanna hear it," Guinne blushed faintly and turned her face away from Maria. "Oh please, it's no big deal, we all look. You need to think like you did when you'd check out boys though and be less obvious." Maria laughed at that, grabbing Guinne's chin and turning her face so that they were looking into each other's green eyes.

"Besides, a little play acting in bed can spice things up a bit, not that our sex life needs much more spice."

"It's pretty hot as it is," Guinne agreed, grinning softly. Maria's lip darted lightly over her own lips, they were just a few inches apart, and Guinne looked really good. She couldn't stop herself and soon Maria was inching closer to Guinne, their lips locking together and their bodies pressing to each other.

They broke apart quickly though, worried somebody might see them, they adjusted a little and Guinne got up off the couch. She could hear the door to the bathroom opening again, to let June back into the hallway.

"Dinner is ready," Art called from the kitchen, so Maria got up as well and they met June in the hallway.

"Dinner is ready, I'll show you two to the dining room," Guinne said with a smile.

--

The beginning of dinner was mostly silent, but after a few minutes people started talking and bantering. They had sat in 'couples' though nobody realized that Maria and Guinne were, in fact, a couple. Joyce took the head of the table, which was her usual spot when her kids came to visit.

"So how is school going for you two?" Art asked, looking over at Maria and Guinne. He couldn't help but think about that night Guinne had come over drunk, or rather the morning after. He had done his best not to think about her, but he hadn't had to see her either.

"Good, I was slacking a little, but Maria has been helping me get my grades back up, she's super smart," Maria blushed a little.

"I'm not super smart, I'm just dedicated, which you could do to learn to be, but ... you're much smarter than me," Guinne rolled her eyes at the comment, but smiled a little as well.

"Well I'm glad that somebody can get her to do her homework, I remember in high school she never did her homework, would lie to her poor old mother and say she had, then I'd hear from her teachers that she was behind," Joyce frowned a little, perhaps she was teasing her daughter, but it didn't quite seem like it.

"Well, it sounds like she's doing great now mom, so nothing to worry about right? What's your major Maria?"

"Photography, well, photo-journalism, so I take writing classes as well as photo classes. I'm minoring in web design as well, though I may change that soon. I'm at the point where I have to make that decision next quarter though. Guinne is telling me I should stick with it, but I kind of want to switch to creative writing. I dunno," Maria tucked some hair behind her ears as she spoke, cutting into the rice crispy chicken on the plate in front of her.

"I just think you're good at it and how you tie your photography into it most of the time is really great, plus you already have a ton of writing credits and I know you enjoy the web design even if it frustrates you sometimes."

"There's good money in it too, even free lance and amateur stuff, if you're good. I got myself through college doing it," June chimed in.

"Yea I've done some free lance stuff, to help with money," Maria took the bite of chicken and her eyes got a little wide, she made an mmm sound in her throat as they did, once she had swallowed she turned to Joyce. "Wow, this is amazing, I thought rice crispy chicken sounded weird, but you're a great cook."

"Thanks Maria, how nice of you to compliment me, my kids just take it all for granted," both Guinne and Art groaned softly, rolling their eyes.

"You know we love your cooking mom," Art chimed in.

"I suppose," was all they got out of Joyce in response to that.

"Well, anyway, June I hear you work with my brother? Are you a graphics designer too?"

"No, I work in the IT department, I keep all the computers in the office running."

"Ah, cool," Guinne wasn't sure what else to say, she chewed her lip and Art looked at her as she did, remembering the last time he'd seen her do that. "Uhm, well, how did you and Art hook up anyway? Have you worked there long?"

"I've worked for the company about a year now, we bumped into each other at work once or twice. Your brother usually does his own repairs, even though he's not really supposed to, so we hadn't really run into each other much. You remember us talking a bit at that party a month or so ago, and then we ended up going to to drinks with some coworkers. Though I thought he didn't like me much at first, but we went out a few more times, and now ... I guess we're dating," June glanced over at Art, smiling faintly at him, then looking back to Guinne.

"Interesting, guess you both got lucky that he decided to go out that night," Guinne smiled, though it was a little forced. She felt Maria squeeze her knee under the table, where nobody could see it.

"Yea, not even sure why I did, but I am glad I did," Art smiled over at June, and avoided eye contact with his sister.

They're happy, Guinne realized, as she glanced between her brother and his new lover, That's it then, isn't it? I have to let him go... I have to move on, I have Maria now and I got some closure from Art. It's time to let him go.

"So, did you name Art and Guinne after the King Arthur myth?" June asked, looking over at Joyce.

"I didn't, but they are named after them yes. My ex-husband had a thing with fantasy, it's where his kids get it, I suppose, their heads stuck in the clouds. I wanted to give them normal names, but he pressed the issue and I caved," Art frowned a moment, kind of wishing June hadn't brought that subject up. It was always great to hear your mother tell people how she wished you weren't named after 'stupid fantasy characters'.

What about you June? Named after anyone or anything interesting ... other than the month I mean," Guinne tried to steer the conversation away from their names, the same thoughts Art had cropping up in her mind.

"My grandmother, was named Juniper, which is actually my full name. But my mother started calling me June when I was a baby, and it stuck," June smiled at Maria, "Well we got our three's, how about you?"

"No real story behind my name, my mom just liked it," She shrugged her shoulders to that.

"Liking a name is a fine reason to have it," Joyce chimed in.

"I like it too," Guinne said grinning at Maria, Art raised his brow lightly at his sister and Maria. Something was off between them, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. He dug back into his food though, the rest of the meal was pretty quiet and when they were all done Guinne got up with their mother, clearing the table and heading into the kitchen to clean up.

"I'll help you," June said, getting up and following them, leaving Art and Maria alone in the dining room.

"How has Guinne been doing? I know she had some problems a couple of weeks ago," Art asked Maria, leaning back in his chair and stretching a little.

"She's fine Art, I wouldn't worry about her. I think that, the thing that made her upset, is doing fine. She's happy that you found June," Maria smiled and pushed the chair out, standing up. "I'm gonna go use the bathroom, maybe you can see what your mom has for dessert, she said it's your favorite."

Maria got out of the room before Art could say anything, his mouth was open a little when she left. Had she just implied what he was pretty sure she had implied? Had Guinne told Maria about them? He swallowed thickly, frowning at the table cloth in front of him. Had it all been some game to her? Something to tell her friends, her roommate? He sighed and frowned, getting up, obviously there was nothing left there. How could she have told anyone else? He headed for the hall, sticking his head in the kitchen.

"I'm gonna go up to my room for a few," He told the women in the kitchen.

--

Guinne wondered where Maria had gotten off to when Art stuck his head into the hall, and excused herself from the kitchen. The bathroom door was shut and she knocked lightly, "Maria?" She called through it, trying to make sure nobody in the kitchen heard her.

"It's unlocked," Maria called back, and Guinne looked down both ends of the hall, then opened it and ducked into the room. Maria was sitting on the toilet, wiping herself when Guinne shut the door behind herself.

"What happened with Art? He only goes up to his room when he's upset or something," Guinne moved over to the counter and leaned against it a moment, then pulled herself up so she was sitting on it.

"He asked how you have been doing, I told him that you were fine, and wanted him and June to be happy," Guinne sighed, frowning at Maria.

"You didn't imply you knew what had ... well, you know."

"I don't think so," Maria frowned, thinking back over her words as she flushed and pulled her jeans up, buttoning them up and walking over next to Guinne. She washed her hands before she spoke again, "Maybe... I didn't mean to, but I could kind of see how he might get that from what I said. I'm so sorry!"

Guinne frowned, and sighed softly, "Well it's done," Maria nodded, still looking sorry. Guinne tugged her closer though, between her legs, wrapping them around her waist and kissing her hard on the lips. "You can make it up tonight," She said with a grin when they broke apart. What was done was done, he either thought Maria knew, or he didn't.

--

"You can leave this to me hon, Art usually goes up to his room when he's upset about something, could probably use the company,"

"Uhm, alright, thanks' Joyce," June turned out of the room, heading upstairs. She stopped at the bathroom, some noise distracting her. It sounded like people were kissing in there, Maria and Art? Then Guinne's voice 'you can make it up tonight'. Make what up? Who was she talking to?

"As long as you give me time to finish my essay, you know school work comes before sex, plus you got that paper due Monday as well."

June blinked at what Maria had said, and quickly headed up the stairs looking for Art. Maria and Guinne were a couple huh? Interesting. She looked around the hall, trying to figure out which room was Art's, it was interesting that he still had a room at his mom's house. She finally found him at the end of the hall, the door a little bit ajar. She knocked lightly at it.

"Come in," He called back, so she did. He was lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling; June looked around the small room. There were old band posters and things on the wall, some random art as well, she recognized the style in a few, and was pretty sure they were his work.

"How's it going?" She asked, shutting the door fully this time, "Your mom said you might be upset if you came up here," she moved into the room, sitting down on the edge of his bed.

"Just something Maria said, about Guinne, no big deal though," he tried to smile for her, but it looked forced.

"Oh good, so you know about them then, I just heard them making out in the bathroom downstairs."

Art blinked at her, and she realized that 'that' had not been what he was referring too, "Oooor ... maybe I heard something else, I dunno."

Art put his hand on hers, "Interesting, well ... I dunno, maybe you did, maybe you didn't. It would actually explain something Maria said, and makes me a bit less upset. Though I wish Guinne could have just come out and said something, if that's true. Mom would be okay with it, I think, and I have no issue with it."

June giggled as she put a hand where the faint outline of his erection was forming, "Looks like you might be more than okay with it, or some part of you is anyway."

"Hey now, that's my sister we're talking about," Art said, defensively, though he knew that was exactly why his erection was growing.

"She's pretty Art, and you're a guy."

"It's not that, it's just having you up here in my old room, you're the first girl I've ever had in here."

"Ooooh," June grinned and looked at the door for a moment, there wasn't a lock. She got up and grabbed the chair from his desk, putting it under the handle, and then came back over to the bed. "Move up," she instructed him, "I'll help you out with that."

Art looked at the door for a moment, considering, it was locked, but what did she have in mind? He considered a moment more, and then scooted up. It was kind of thrilling to think about doing something up here in his old room. June reached out undoing his pants and pulling them down a bit, just enough to reveal his erection, tucking his boxers under his balls and then leaning forward.

"Better stay quiet," she whispered a moment before her lips engulfed him, slowly sliding down his shaft. She knew that if they did more than get him off the whole house might hear. She was not very good at keeping quiet. Art gripped the sheets, as she began to slowly slide her mouth up and down his shaft. Her hand grasped his base and began to move along with her mouth. She twisted her head as she worked up and down, making a sort of figure eight with her nose, using her hand to make the same motion.

It was all a bit much for Art, the thought of getting caught, of his sister with Maria, and just the pleasure that June was giving him, he only lasted a minute or so before she was getting a mouthful of his juices. She gagged a little, but managed to swallow it all down.

She grinned up at him, wiping a little dribble from her lip and tucking it into her mouth. "You taste nice."

Art blushed a little and tucked himself into his pants, redoing them, "Thanks, but we better get out of here. I'm gonna want to get a taste of you now and we still have dessert to sit through. The sooner that happens the sooner we're home."

--

Guinne looked at her brother a little oddly as he sat down at the table again, she was pretty sure that was the look he had after getting off, as she'd seen it more than a few times. She glanced at June, and quirked a brow, which caused the other woman to blush a faint red and look away. Guinne held back a soft snicker, though to be honest even deeper than her desire to snicker, was a green monster wanting her brother for herself.

Dessert was indeed Art's favorite, French Vanilla ice cream, with fudge and chocolate shavings to sprinkle on top. There was whip cream and some smashed oreo's and a few other things that could be put on the sundae's, but those were his favorite things. Guinne piled more whip cream on hers than anything else, though had some ice cream and fudge as well. Maria had only a half portion, with a little fudge and some oreo's on hers. Maria had a little of everything on hers, and their mother just had plain ice cream.

Art surveyed the room, taking in each bowl of ice cream, wondering what they said about the various people who had made them. Nobody really spoke, a few pleasantries and things were exchanged, but no real conversation came about. All of them were wondering about things that hey potentially discovered this evening, mulling it over. Dessert was finished after a half hour or so and Joyce collected up the dishes to clean up, heading into the kitchen.

"Let me help you with those Joyce," June said, standing up and following the woman into the kitchen.

"Yea me too," Maria said, getting up after somebody had pinched her a little hard on the side of her leg.

Guinne and Art watched them go, and then Guinne turned toward him, staring at him across the table for a few seconds. "So is that it then?" She finally asked.

"It was never going to be anything but what it was Guinne, you and I both know that ... what's going on with you and Maria? June said she heard you in the bathroom."

Guinne chewed on her lower lip for a moment, "We're lovers. I've never felt this way about anyone, except you."

"Well good then, tell Mom, don't make her suffer through it sometime later, if you and Maria work out and stay together after college."

"I will, not tonight, I think she's had enough excitement for tonight, but I'll be by this week with laundry. I'll tell her."

"Good, I hope it does work out, I love you and I want you to be happy. That's all I ever wanted for you," he smiled at her, they could both sense the sadness in it. Part of him knew that he still loved her, both as a brother and a lover, but this was how it had to be. Guinne could see it too, in his smile and in his eyes.

"I hope you find happiness too Art, with June, or whoever," Guinne grinned, hers was a little less sad. Maybe they had only shared one night really, but that night had fulfilled a life long desire in her and she could finally move on. Art on the other hand had just had the stirrings of those feelings, the beginning of them.

It was best to leave them there though, to be done with their fling. Nothing could ever really come of it, they could never be more than sometimes lovers, no matter what they did. So they would just not be lovers, happiness could be found in other arms and perhaps their connection had allowed them to finally find that happiness. The evening ended shortly there after, and two couples went home that night, to delve deeper into their budding romances.

I had a few more words, I started writing this about 8 years ago, and it has went through several Editors and I want to thank all of them, SL, FernieLynn, and then H.M. H.M. was kind enough to write me an intro for the final edited version and I cannot thank him enough for all the work her did. In the letter where I asked him to write the intro I said that I felt in many ways this story had become as much his, as my own. I stand by that statement. H.M. made this story what it is today, it is all my writing and my design, but it was him that made little suggestions that really brought things together, and turned this into what I feel is a great piece of literature.

Touching on what I said at the start, I am sorry to those that feel I didn't stick enough to the incest theme, but I really feel like this was a coming of age story more than anything else, and it grew and changed as I grew and changed, I was 21 when I started writing it, and now I'm nearly 28. My life has gone through so much, and Art and Guinne have changed with me, matured with me. They just did it much more rapidly in their timeline. But the two I feel had each other to teach them what it meant to love, and so they grew as people, and as lover and as friends and siblings. To those of you that enjoyed my story, thank you. To those of you that didn't, again, I'm sorry, but thank you for at least giving it a full chance.