From the Author

So I should be working on the sequel to My Fake Heart! But instead, I got attacked by the random plot bunny of doom. Enjoy, this was thought up and written in one sitting, forgive me is it's rather nonsensical.

Implied yuri/femmeslash

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Moonlight Woman

by Niki Lemonade

October 30 2007

She smiled at me again. It was the only detail about her face that I could discern behind the swirling mists that made up her hair and long, flowing garment. It was a kind smile, one that spoke endless volumes of love to parts of my heart that haven't been awakened just yet. Parts that demanded to be explored.

The night sky seemed to be reflected in the simple, oversized gown she wore. It shimmered and rippled as her perfect form danced to the rhythm of the earth. Waving her arms, weaving her hands through the air in an intricate pattern that begged me to join her. But I could only stand awkwardly by, watching this entrancing performance from my place beside the sturdy oak along the edge of the glade.

The dew showered from the short grass as she danced, causing a waterfall of miniature diamonds around her nimble feet. She flashed me that same smile again; she wanted me to come with her.

Where? I asked silently.

Who knows. I think not knowing adds to the fun of a long journey, her movements answered. Please dance with me...

I felt a cold wind come through the glade, one that chilled me to the bone. I closed my eyes against it, and opened them again to see the ceiling of my room. I took a deep, sobering breath, and rolled out of bed. My brown bob of hair fell over my shoulder like a short curtain. Standing, I felt my slightly overweight body shudder against the chill of winter's invasion. I shuffled down the hall, rubbing my arms to ward off the cold.

After running warm water across my face to rid myself of the residual feelings of my dream, I looked to the mirror. My belly pouched out slightly, my generous hips gave way to my too large rear and thick thighs. My face was round, with an upturned nose that reminded one of my friends of a pixie, or so she said. My lips were pouty, my eyes a muddle of green and brown. I knew exactly why I dreamed of this moonlight woman who beckoned me to journey with her to parts unknown.

I hated my body, and hated my insecurities for making me hate my body. It was a long, complicated cycle of self-hatred, and it interfered with my desire to find someone special. Ever since these dreams began, I took another look at the women surrounding me, and was surprised to find I wasn't attracted to any of them. The only one who caught my eye was the girl who works in the HR department at work, one who was short with long, soft blond hair and kind eyes that never looked down on me. Her kindness had caught my attention, but after observing her some more, I realized that even she couldn't keep my interest. I found myself dreaming of the moonlight woman even more.

And since she was just a dream, she couldn't hurt me. She wasn't a real person to me, it was like flirting over the internet. I would sit back and watch her for hours, days on end it seemed sometimes. I stayed far away for fear of her rejecting me because of my appearance. I didn't see how someone so beautiful could be so patient, yet beg me constantly.

As the moon waxed full, I was visited almost nightly by this beautiful entity. I could never see her face, just her kind, pleading smile. Always I refused. I didn't want to look foolish in front of my idol.

On the night before the full moon, she didn't come. I slept fitfully, tossing and turning and feeling so empty. I think I might have woken up at one point in tears.

The next day, I met the blonde girl on my way into a small cafe. She was walking in at the same time, so I gave her a small smile and held the door open for her. She thanked me and entered, brushing past me and leaving a trace of some scent on the wind. It was tantalizingly faint, and I unconsciously followed the scent. I closed my eyes to strengthen my sense of smell, then bumped into something. Startled, I opened my eyes to find a flash of blond hair right in front of me. My stomach knotted nervously as she turned to face me.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright?" she asked with her sweet, remorseful voice. It took me a moment to answer because I had been mesmerized by her melody of speech.

"Oh, uh, I'm," I stuttered anxiously, "it's o-okay, I should've been, been uh, watching where I was going..." I took a step back, and she followed suit with a step towards me.

"Me too. I'm Alex," she said, offering me her gloved hand.

"It's okay. I'm Jennie," I said, taking her warm hand in my freezing one.

"Your hand's like ice!" she said, shocked.

"Oh, um, yeah. S-sorry," I said because I couldn't think of anything else in the entire world to say.

"Don't be. You should get some coffee to warm them up though. You're in the Graphics department right? It's got to be difficult to work those Macs with iced fingers." She gave me a joyful smile.

"Yeah, it is," I smiled back. Suddenly I realized I was still holding her hand. I dropped it like it was a scalding pot. "S-sorry," I muttered.

"Don't be," she said quietly. "I um...Well, would you like to get some coffee together?" she said with such speed that it took me longer than it should have to answer. "I mean, if you're not in a rush or anything."

"I-I'm not...I mean, I'd um, love to," I stuttered. She smiled hopefully at me. I had my usual cup of black coffee, and Alex had a cappuccino with so much cream and sugar it could hardly be called coffee anymore. We talked about some happenings at work, about Leslie Feist's sudden explosion of popularity, the rising amount of young artists using the 'anime' style of Japan; just about everything under the moon. Our drinks had been long gone by the time the conversation lulled. A random breeze from across the table brought to me that same scent from when she brushed past me. "What kind of perfume are you wearing?" I asked.

"Oh, um," she seemed flustered, "this natural honeysuckle stuff I got at this organic place down on Third."

Suddenly, I realized the level of intimacy of the question I had just asked, and subsequently blushed. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," I blustered. "I just...smelled it when you went through the doorway and..." I took a deep, steadying breath, "and I really liked it..."

"Oh." She smiled in a contented way. "Thanks." We sat in a comfortable silence for a while, then she reached for her empty cup. "I have to go get some errands done." My hand moved on its own, covering her fingers, and I felt words tumbling out of my mouth.

"Can't you stay a bit longer? It's almost lunchtime and I was wondering if you'd like to maybe order some lunch from here or we could go somewhere else..." came my eager voice.

She smiled shyly at me. "I'd love to, but I have a lot to get done today, and I've got to run and do some paperwork tonight. Maybe another day." Her hand swiveled, holding onto mine now. I smiled through a blush and wished her a good day.

That night, the moonlight woman was absent again, and once more I slept listlessly. Fed up, I sat up on my bed. A cold breeze left goosebumps as it passed. An outside, winter night breeze, not a chilly house breeze. Confused, I looked up, and saw my bedroom window open. I walked over to it, to pull it shut, when the light of the full moon caught my eye. In this small city, the night time lights were too weak to block out the starlight, so the forceful moonlight had no problem making its presence known. I glanced all around, then reached up to close the window, when something caught my eye.

There, sitting on the roof of my home, was a glowing figure in a long, night sky colored gown. My moonlight woman was there, sitting and smiling up at the moon in a grateful way. Disregarding the weather and all sense of caution, I crawled through my window and onto the roof.

Feeling the winter's chill seep into me, I stood shakily and padded quietly towards her. When I sat beside her, she smiled at me happily. Her hair, so like clouds constantly moving, parted and I looked into her eyes. They were the same almost black color of the sky above us

You have missed me?

I have.

Why don't you dance with me? Come with me on some glorious adventure through the world that I see?

I...I'm afraid.

Of what?

Rejection. My heart spoke to the wind, and my moonlight woman spoke to me through the wind. Suddenly, I felt something as cold as ice touch my cheek. It was her pale hand, turning my face to hers as she leaned forward. Our lips met, and a cold fire filled my being. Its frozen flames licked up the sides of my soul and sent my heart racing with an anxious rhythm. I thought to myself, so this is how moonlight tastes. We parted, I felt my blood flowing through my veins again.

I could never reject you. But I think you will reject me.

Never, I protested.

She shook her head, sending her cloudy hair swirling. You do not understand. I came because of the lonliness in your heart and in another's called out for love. I came to bring you strength and confidence. I came so you would believe in yourself and end your lonliness, and hers. Her eyes began fading, her hair and clothing dissipated. Please don't disappoint us, she requested quietly as she disappeared into nothingness.

When she had gone, I sat for a while longer on the roof, admiring the starlight and the cold blue light that she gave me. Then, I went back inside my cold bedroom, shut the window, and crawled into bed. I slept peacefully, dreaming of myself dancing without shame or worry.