“You alright, sweetheart?” Adagio asked as she watched Sonata fidget on the sofa.

“Yes… I’m just…. Aria’s coming back soon, and I’m kinda nervous,” Sonata admitted.

“Aw, why’s that, sweetie?” Adagio asked, sitting down next to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“I just don’t know what to expect,” Sonata snuggled against her, “I know things got better with her, but now… I don’t know! We haven’t really been close in forever and she just saw me after thinking I was dead. I just… what’s gonna happen?”

“I’ll tell you what’s going to happen,” Adagio said with a smile, “She’s going to come in, you two are going to catch up like it’s only been a week since you last saw each other, it’ll be like all that time apart never happened and then you’ll be making out all over the sofa and grinding on each other like a couple of horny teenagers.”

Sonata blinked, wide-eyed and blushing a bit, “...You… really think so?”

“Oh I know so!” Adagio grinned, “It’ll be sweet, and adorable, and hot as hell!”

“Oh, okay…” Sonata giggled a bit, “I… didn’t expect her to feel that way about me, and I sure find her attractive! I guess I… just… I don’t know. I gotta find out how I feel about her.”

“Oh you’re so into her,” Adagio teased, “I saw the way you eagerly kissed her!”

Sonata blushed some more, “Okay, so at least it’s a good start…”

“So when does the little fireball get here?” she asked, kissing Sonata’s cheek.

“She said at around three…” Sonata nuzzled her, “Look, I know she said some things last night about you… and I didn’t like it either… but I hope you guys can be friends… or at least get along! She really does mean well, it’s just that she kinda doesn’t express herself in a sappy way…”

“Oh it’s all water off a duck’s back,” Adagio smiled, which curled into a smirk, “Though I am still upset about you confirming it.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” Sonata pouted, “Can I make it up to you?”

Adagio grinned and tackled Sonata onto her back, snuggling her tightly, “After Aria leaves you can lose those clothes of yours for the rest of the day. Sound fair?”

Grinning widely, Sonata nodded, “Yes! Very fair! And I’ll do anything you want me to!”

“Oh you bet you will,” Adagio giggled, “Calling me a pedo, you naughty little girl!”

“Yes, I am a naughty little girl!” Sonata nuzzled her cheek and kissed her face, “I’m your naughty little girl!”

“And what’s my naughty little girl gonna do?” Adagio asked sultrily, kissing the top of her head.

“Obey your every whim,” Sonata cooed, nuzzling noses with her.

“Good,” Adagio giggled, “...You know, I think I want you all worked up when she get’s here. Constantly thinking about pouncing on her,” she chuckled.

Sonata blinked, then nodded, “Well, okay. How should I do that?”

“Oh you’re not going to do it, I am,” Adagio grinned as she reached down and gently pressed between Sonata’s legs.

“O-Oohh…” Sonata moaned, squirming against her a little, “Okay, Adagio…! I want to be worked up…”

“Good girl,” Adagio snickered as she rubbed slightly harder, leaning down, “You’re gonna be all hot and bothered by the time she get’s here,” she whispered softly into her ear.

“I already feel it...oooh…” Sonata moaned a little more, clutching at her.

Adagio pulled her hand away just as she heard a soft knocking on the door, “Well, that would be her,” she smirked as she strode off into the kitchen, “You kids behave yourselves!” she called back, smirking evilly as she closed the door behind her.

“Uh?” Sonata managed to sit up, still in a bit of a daze, “Already…?”

She got up and answered the door to see Aria standing there, her cheeks flushed from the cold as she clutched at her bag.

“Hey…” she said quietly, looking up at her, “You okay? You look warm…”

“Fine!” Sonata squealed, jumping up off the bed and grinning nervously, “It’s just a little too hot!”

“Man, you’re lucky,” Aria chuckled, sitting down on the sofa next to her, “My place is a freezer half the time.”

“I’m sorry,” Sonata pouted a bit, sitting a little more comfortably.

Aria shrugged her bag and her sweater off her shoulders, revealing that she’d worn a very light shirt underneath. Wrapping and arm around Sonata’s shoulders, she clung tight to her for warmth, “Oh, you’re REALLY warm!”

“Hee… We cranked up the heat here!” Sonata blushed a little bit.

Aria pulled back a bit, “Why are you blushing about turning up the heat? Is that a double entendre?”

“Noooo!” Sonata shook her head, then pulled her back, “Please don’t pull away. I like snuggles.”

Aria smiled and wrapped her arms around Sonata’s shoulders, “Me too…”

“Really?” Sonata managed a small smile, “You always pushed me away anytime I tried to hug you when we were kids. I thought you just didn’t like hugs.”

“Times change,” Aria said, blushing softly as she hugged her tighter.

Sonata nodded, managing to hug her back, “Well, we… sure have a lot to catch up on, don’t we?”

“Mmhmm…” Aria smiled, nuzzling into her neck, “I missed you so much, Sonata…”

“I didn’t think you did… But now that I’ve seen you, I’ve missed you too,” Sonata hugged her tight and nuzzled her hair.

“...Your heart is racing,” Aria giggled softly as she nuzzled her warm body.

‘Just like Adagio said… all worked up….’ Sonata thought, nuzzling her cheek, “Yeah… I feel pretty overwhelmed. In a good way! A really good way!”

“Really?” Aria smiled, “Something happen this morning, or is it me?”

“...Uh… kind of both,” Sonata admitted, burying her face in her neck.

“So how does that work?” Aria giggled, nuzzling Sonata’s sweet smelling hair.

“How does what work?”

“I mean what happened this morning?” Aria asked, snuggling Sonata under her chin.

“Um…” Sonata wrinkled her nose, “Adagio’s trying to work me up…”

“Work you up? What does that mean?” Aria snickered, not understanding her meaning.

“She was trying to make me all hot for you…” Sonata admitted, “And I really do! I feel like… I want to pounce!”

Aria blushed a bright red and looked away from her, “I… oh boy… now I just have the mental image of that woman on top of you…”

Sonata giggled, “Well, we have been together for three years... we, uh...have a very active sex life…”

Aria wriggled squeamishly in Sonata’s arms, “She’s like… twenty-three years older than you!”

“I know…” Sonata let go of her, pouting a bit, “But that doesn’t matter to me. We love each other, and she’s… She’s been there for me since the moment I met her. I can’t explain it, I just… I was so drawn to her and I couldn’t believe her kindness. She helped me and did so much without even asking for anything back. I mean, I did help her get her club off the ground and all, but still. I know you’re not exactly fond of her, but… I just hope you can see what I mean!”

“Yeah… did she at least wait until you were sixteen before… you know?”

Sonata blushed and giggled, “...No.”

“Ah!” Aria covered her ears, “Sonata!”

“What? It was perfectly consensual!” Sonata exclaimed, “It kind of happened fast, but I swear, she didn’t force me! We both wanted it… Oh, I know how it all sounds! Beautiful older woman consoles a vulnerable teenage girl, said girl mistakes her care for love, and it’s all one big story like that! I know! But I swear it’s not like that! She’d never hurt me! She even gave me a choice to stay behind at home or run away with her!”

“It’s still gross!” Aria murmured, “She’s still an old lady!”

“Aria!” Sonata gasped, pulling away now, “She’s only fourty-one, she’s not old!”

“She is old!” Aria pursed her lips, “Okay, seriously. Aside from the whole ‘she was there for me’ thing, what exactly is supposed to be attractive about her?”

Sonata gaped at her, then slid away, turning around, “I can’t believe you’re saying this stuff! You don’t even know her! And to answer your question, you go and take one good look at her, then look me in the eye and tell me she’s not beautiful!”

Behind the kitchen door, Adagio smiled as she laid a hand over her chest.

“I have, I just can’t get past the fact that I might get roofied here,” Aria muttered under her breath.

“SHE’S NOT LIKE THAT!” Sonata shouted, getting up from the couch, “She is not a predator, she’s not a rapist, she’s a really great woman! I know she puts on this femme fatale kind of persona, but she’s really sweet! I want to be your friend and I want to reconnect with you, but I’m not going to sit here and let you trash talk my girlfriend! I love her, and if you can’t accept that, then maybe I don’t want your approval!”

“Now now girls,” Adagio said silkily as she emerged from the kitchen, holding two mugs of hot chocolate and handing them to the two of them, “Don’t fight, you’re supposed to be friends.”

“Friend? If by friend you mean back-stabbing biotch who trashes your girlfriend for no good reason, then yes! Best friend forever!” Sonata said sourly.

“Sona!” Adagio chided, “You know better than to say something like that!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, then she’s a Super Pretty Sparkly Rumblebottom Mean Princess, then!” Sonata turned away, “I am not listening until she apologizes! I’m not standing for it!”

Adagio giggled and sat down next to her, bringing Sonata into her arms despite Aria’s recoil, “Aw, you’re cute when you’re all disgruntled, Sona-baby.”

“Hello? She’s being a meanie! I don’t like it!” Sonata squirmed against her, but was powerless to even escape.

Adagio pulled Sonata into her lap and danced her fingers across her stomach, “Oh you’re just being a little crankypants,” she purred as she nuzzled Sonata’s cheek.

“I am not! She’s saying mean things about you and I want her to apologize!” Sonata groaned, nuzzling against her now.

“Okay, okay okay okay!” Aria cried, standing up, “Just… stop! I’m sorry! I just… how? How does all of this work? There’s a twenty-three year age difference! I don’t get any of this!”

“What’s there to get?” Adagio asked with a smirk, kissing Sonata’s cheek as she cuddled her close to her, “We love each other, we make each other happy, and the sex is great,” she grinned cheekily.

“Yeah, but some day she’s going to find some girl her age and then just leave!” Aria protested.

“Stop putting words in our mouths!” Sonata cried.

“You know what? I’ll make a bet on that,” Adagio chuckled, “Fifty bucks says she doesn’t.”

“Are you even listening to yourselves? Everything you’re saying sounds like you’re an eighty-year old playboy millionaire and she’s a twenty-something! Oh, it’s true love! Never mind you’re old enough to be her grandpa! Yeah yeah, sugarcoat it!” Aria uttered, palming her face, “Fairy tale true love! Sonata, I love you, I really do, but sometimes you really don’t have a grasp on reality.”

“I do so!” Sonata protested, offended, “Why does everyone think that just because I’m a little ditzy that I’m stupid and have my head in the clouds 24/7?”

“Sona-baby, last night you spend ten minutes trying to answer the remote control,” Adagio cooed softly, patting her head.

“Wait, what?” Aria turned to Adagio now, “Did she seriously do that?”

“Oh yeah. The phone started ringing and she just picked up the remote trying to answer it,” Adagio giggled.

“Hey! It was right next to the phone and it was a little dark in the room from the movie I was watching!” Sonata protested, “I wasn’t paying attention, okay?”

“Making that mistake once is one thing, but it was ten straight minutes,” Adagio laughed, nuzzling Sonata’s cheek.

“Be quiet!” Sonata looked away with a pout.

“Wow,” Aria murmured, shaking her head, “I didn’t think you could get that dim.”

“Would you stop it?! I’m not talking to you!” Sonat said sourly, “And now you’re insulting me! Go away!”

“Hey, come on!” Aria held her hands up, “I’m not trying to be mean, Sonata, I swear. You know I mean it with love. Relax, okay? You’re not stupid. I know you’re smart and you’re seriously good at math. But seriously, just calm down already.”

“Me?! You were the one who waltzed in here with your dumb high horse about my being with an older woman!” Sonata turned away again.

“You vanished with her! Right up out of nowhere!” Aria bit back, “This woman is beyond creepy!”

Adagio responded by grinned widely at Aria in the most unsettling way possible.

“...Okay, now you just look demented,” Aria shivered a little, “Seriously, stop that. It’s creepy.”

Adagio’s grin widened as she leaned closer to her.

“Stop it! Jeez, you’re creeping me out, lady!” Aria took a few steps back, “You know what? Fine. I’m gonna leave. If you want to throw your life away and tether yourself to some creepy predator, you be my guest! But don’t come crying to me to pick up the pieces because I won’t!” She snatched up her bag and jacket before storming toward the door.

“Fine! Be that way!” Sonata shouted after her, tears in her eyes.

“Aria wait!” Adagio called out.

“What?!” Aria snapped, turning back around.

Adagio grinned widely at her.

“...Screw you both!” Aria snapped angrily, then left, slamming the door behind her.

Once the door slammed, Sonata shook, then began to cry. “How could she do that?! I hate her! I hate her! She waltzes in, insults you, insults me, and just… urgh! I don’t care anymore! She doesn’t love me! She’s just like everyone else back home! Pretending they love me, but then when I’m somehow different, turn their backs on me! I don’t care anymore! I hate her!”

“You don’t hate her,” Adagio said softly, nuzzling her cheek as she reached down and gently patted her rear, “You two are just having a fight.”

“Did you not see the way she acted?! She’s no better than the bullies back home! I thought she was my friend and I thought she loved me… But she’s just as fake as everyone else! And she wonders why I was miserable! She wonders why I actually want to be with someone who cares about me!” Sonata shouted, tears streaming down her face, “She doesn’t understand me… And just walks out on me first chance she gets… I knew it was too good to be true! I thought maybe someone back home cared about me… But I was wrong!”

Adagio patted both her back and her bum as Sonata cried into her neck, “Oh, poor Sona-baby,” she cooed softly as she rocked her in her lap, “You know what? Why don’t we forget throwing your clothes away and I’ll make you some soup, alright?”

Sniffling loudly, Sonata nodded, “Okay… Your soup always helps…”

Outside the door, Aria leaned against it, her hand over her mouth. ‘What… did I just do? Oh, damn it… I fucked up all over again...’ She held back tears, quietly shuffling to the main door and heading outside. ‘Too late now...’

Adagio lifted Sonata into her arms and carried her into the kitchen, setting her down at the table as she moved to the stove, where her soup was already on the stove and labeled her up a bowl. Setting it down in front of her, she kissed the top of Sonata’s hair, “There we go, sweetie.”

“Thank you…” Sonata proceeded to slowly eat the soup, calming herself down a little.

“You’re welcome,” Adagio purred as she sat down next to her, kissing her cheek.

Sonata sniffled, taking a few more gentle slurps of her soup, “...I don’t want to hate her. But she just… doesn’t care about me at all... I’m so done with everyone back home. I don’t even want to tell my parents I’m alive… Let them think I’m dead…”

“You know that Aria’s probably going to tell them, right?” Adagio asked.

“Yeah. To make herself feel better,” Sonata said bitterly, “Whatever. If she tells them, I’ll just skip town for a few days.”

“Oh you can’t do that, I’ll worry about you,” Adagio pouted, nuzzling her cheek.

Sonata giggled a little, “It’s okay. I’d just go into the next town, stay in disguise, call you every day, and then come back when the dust settles.”

Adagio mewled in disappointment, “But then I’d be here for a few days without you to cuddle up with me…”

“I’d say we could go together, but I know you don’t like closing up shop for long periods of time, especially without a good reason,” Sonata said, then had some more soup. “...Okay, I’ll just hide in the closet or something, like I was never even here in the first place.”

Adagio giggled and kissed her cheek, “Oh now you’re just being a silly pants.”

“What? I don’t want to face them… I’m sick of it,” Sonata sighed, leaning against her, “The only reason she cared was because she thought I was dead. What makes my parents and anyone else there any different…”

“You want to see them, you’re just afraid about what they’re gonna say. And besides, they can’t do anything, remember?” Adagio cooed, nibbling her ear.

“I don’t want to be hurt anymore…” Sonata sniffled, “Aria hurt me… and if my parents hurt me, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“If your parents hurt you, I’ll drop kick them out of the house,” Adagio purred.

Sonata sniffled, “Okay… But, what was that with Aria earlier? It was like you were having fun with what was happening…”

“Oh I was. Watching someone make an ass of themselves is a riot!” Adagio grinned.

“Sure wish I could’ve laughed…” Sonata sighed a bit.

“You will once it all wears off, sweetie,” Adagio smiled, kissing her forehead.

Next Chapter: Lap Dance To A Cuddle Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 32 Minutes