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Jen sat on the railing, watching the mountains come to life as the sun climbed into the sky above Ridge. It had been little under four weeks since she had stood on top of Baldy looking over the same view. So much had happened in such a small amount of time. She had broken through some personal barriers, achieved a career milestone, and she had found love.

Love, such an unfamiliar word on Jen's lips. It was over used in today's society, but when truly felt, retained all the meaning it was meant to hold. Jen knew she loved Sam, the same way she knew it was morning and she knew the air was cold. The feeling burned inside her body like a second sun which lit Ridge brighter than the one which was now clearing the mountain tops.

Jen sat there contemplating the implications and intricacies of this strange emotion. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, that she didn't hear the sliding door behind her open or Sam's footsteps as she walked across the deck.

"Hey you," said Sam when she was standing behind Jen.

Jen was so startle that she nearly fell off the railing.

"Hey," Jen said, grinning feebly. She was beginning to realize just how tired she was. Apparently, falling asleep in a snow drift didn't help you achieve a proper REM cycle.

"I didn't hear you come in. Did you stay at Ryan's?"

"No," murmured Jen, yawning widely.

"You don't look so good. Did you get any sleep last night?"

"That depends. Does collapsing from emotional exhaustion count as sleep?"

"Why don't you lay down in my bed," suggested Sam, not trusting Jen to be able to make it up the stairs. "When you wake up, I'll have some breakfast ready and you can tell me all about what happened."

"No, I'm fine"

"You're not fine. You look ready to fall over. Get some proper sleep. Trust me, it will help."

Jen slid off the rail, stumbling as her legs struggled to support her weight. Maybe Sam was right. She walked into Sam's room, the short trip sapping the little energy she had left. Jen reached the bed and fell asleep the instant she hit the mattress.

***

Sam pulled the comforter over Jen's prone form. She un-tucked one of Jen's ears which had gotten folded under her head. Sam stood over her for a minute watching the blankets slowly rise and fall as she slept. Jen's face showed signs of recent tears, but now the expression on it was relaxed and peaceful.

As she watched over Jen, Sam remembered how she had looked the first time she had met Jen. Jen looked so innocent and lost. Sam had done everything she could to help her adjust to a new life. But something had happened Sam hadn't expected. Through their friendship, she had grown closer and closer to Jen. Soon she realized that Jen had become so much more to her life than just a friend.

Sam had considered expressing her feelings towards her, but couldn't. She had seen the happiness that being with Ryan had brought to Jen's life. She wanted the best for Jen, and if this meant being with someone else, Sam would support her completely. She had then dedicated herself to being the best friend she could for Jen. She knew Jen still needed her, and she was going to be there for her. Sam still needed Jen, but now she lived each day to see a smile on her face, or to comfort her through a difficult time. Sam could tell that something had happened to Jen last night, and that Jen would need all of her support today.

Sam stroked a hair away from Jen's face. She looked truly at peace without the strains of her work and life revealing themselves. Sam bent down and kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

***

Jen woke up feeling much better, but her eyes still hurt. She sat up and stretched. She had dreamed, and she knew that Sam had been in them, but, like all dreams worth remembering, the details evaded her. Jen got out of bed, prompted by the smell of food. She spotted her reflection in a mirror. Ug. No wonder Sam thought something was wrong. She walked out of the room to find Sam in the kitchen.

"Food'll be ready soon," Sam called out.

Jen held up a finger to her. "Bath first."

"Then you can tell me why there's a Jen sized impression of a snow leopard on the front walk."

Jen went up to her room laughing and bathed herself. The fur on her back was so matted from lying in the snow all night that she thought it would never lay straight again. Finally, clean and fluffed back up, Jen pulled on some fresh cloths and went back down stairs.

They ate in mostly silence. The hot food and coffee further reviving Jen. After cleaning up, Jen stretched out on the couch. Sam sat down in one of the arm chairs. Jen laughed softly at the seaming parody of a psychologist's office.

"So," Sam began, "what happened?"

Jen told the story up till when she started thinking about Sam, who sat listening patiently.

"Then uh, we started getting uh," Jen bushed a little, "intimate."

"'Right."

"The problem is, I wasn't thinking about Ryan. I was thinking about someone else."

"That's actually pretty common," said Sam smiling.

"No, it's not like that. I wasn't thinking about some other guy."

Jen took a deep breath, scared about what she was about to admit to Sam.

"Sam."

Jen closed her eyes and took another steadying breath.

"Sam, I was thinking about you."

Jen looked up at her face to see a strange expression there. Was it shock, no, that's what she expected. It was almost relief, or triumph.

"Me?"

Jen sat up and stared at the wall.

"I didn't know what to think or do, so I left. I ran all the way back here and..."

"Fell down in the front yard?" Sam finished for her.

"Yes, but this morning, when you found me, I had time to think things over, and I realized something. I'm in love with you Sam."

As she said these words, Jen blushed deeper than ever. Saying them out loud, with the person they applied to present, seemed to solidify their truth.

"I'm in love with you Sam," she repeated, "and I don't know what to do."

Jen looked over to where Sam sat, a look of astonished desire crossing her features. Then, Jen must have passed through a worm hole, because the nest moment Sam was in her arms, pulled into a kiss. It was everything and more Jen had imagined. She could feel Sam's love for her like radiating heat in her embrace. Sam was so tender and passionate. It was as if she had been holding these feeling back and now let them out expressing a lifetime of desire. Jen's heart raced as they stood there in a seemingly endless moment of shared love.

They broke apart, still holding each other, both of them nearly panting from the experience. Jen looked down at Sam.

"You've always loved me haven't you?" she asked.

"For a long time."

"It must have been torture, not to express it."

"I found other ways to show my love. It was hard not to tell you, yes, but I could get by on knowing I was doing everything I could for the girl I loved."

Jen kissed her.

"I should have realized sooner."

"Your heart knew, even if your mind took a while to catch up."

They kissed again, now more tenderly, their explosion of passion coming under control.

Sam smiled at her. "You know what we need to do?"

"What's that?" asked Jen.

"Go skiing."

Jen broke out laughing. Of all the things to say at such a time.

Sam glared at her in mock seriousness, "this relationship can work out, or it can't, but either way, I'm not breaking up with my other love."

"I'll go get my things," said Jen, both of them now laughing.

It was another great day for skiing. The air was cool, the sun was out, and the lines were short. It seemed like the perfect way for Jen to spend the first day of her new life with Sam, the same way she had spent the first day of her old life with Sam.

They were standing in line for a quad lift. A lift op, a snowshoe hair, was standing in the front of the queue, directing the multiple lines, and grouping them to fill all the seats. He talked in a loud, buoyant voice, like a sales man as he kept a steady flow of full chairs.

"Ski school has two. You two," he called pointing at Jen and Sam, "join up with ski school!"

Jen pushed herself forward not paying attention to the pair who pulled up next to them as they loaded the lift. The instructor was just as preoccupied, talking to his student, when Jen looked over to check if they were ready to pull down the foot rest. As she took in his appearance, Jen recognized the white ears poking out of a gunmetal gray helmet, and his thin white tail. It seemed that fate had a sense of humor.

"Ryan!" she gasped startled.

He turned and looked just as shocked to see her "Jen!"

"Awkward," giggled Sam from her other side. Jen elbowed her.

Jen was about to say something when Ryan spoke up first.

"It's okay. I figured it would only be a matter of time."

"It's... you figured... a what!?" Jen stuttered, perplexed by this statement.

"You, and Sam," said Ryan, clarifying himself.

"You knew?"

"I guessed. The way you looked at her all the time. Hi Sam," he added leaning forward to see her.

Sam smirked back. Jen felt embarrassed. How had she been the last to figure it out?

"Don't worry about it. I think your heart knew, even if you didn't."

"You're cute," said Jen smiling, "and thank you."

She hugged Ryan and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

He smiled embarrassedly and turned back to his student. "Now, back to what I was saying about the fall line."

Jen looked over at Sam who had a bemused expression on her face.

"Oh, shut up!" Jen laughed.

"I didn't say anything."

They left Ryan at the top of the lift. Jen knew that they would stay friends forever. She and Sam finished the day skiing and headed home.

That night, Jen found herself back in Sam's bed. This time however, she wasn't alone. Every fiber of her being needed Sam, longed for Sam, and she knew Sam felt the same way. This wasn't sex. This was a completely new experience for both of them. Jen had experienced sex, even with a girl during one of her more rebellious years. Sex was and impassionate fulfillment of a primal instinct. As they spent that night together, exploring and learning each other, she felt that this was different. This was the physical manifestation of her and Sam's love.

Jen woke the next morning with Sam's naked form still curled up in her arms, their tails intertwined. She breathed a long contented sigh. Sure, life may have its twists, but let them come. With love, and friendship, and Sam, and yes, occasionally some humor, Jen knew that she could handle them all.