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Lisa had good taste, that much was true - but it was Barbara who helped her pick out the outfits that would end up in their emergency package. Now that she was sitting on the beach, fidgeting in her place, and watching Jean in her state of undress as she stood in the ankle-deep water, she knew that she chose well. Her big sister was so tall, and she had such nice, long, smooth legs... Barbara was dying to touch them, to run her hand all the way up, up, to where Jean's legs met, and...
"What do you think?" Jean asked.
Barbara blinked. "Huh?"
Jean gave her a strange look, then laughed. Archons, she was even prettier when she laughed. "Did you doze off a bit while I was talking? Maybe this summer heat is getting to you." And then Jean sat down next to her and put her hand against Barbara's forehead, as if she was checking for a fever. It was an affectionate gesture, and it was so unusual for Barbara... Jean was always so busy working, she barely had time for her little sister anymore, and it simply wasn't fair, because Barbara made time for them to be together even with all her church duties and her performances and...
"Jean," she said suddenly. "Are you happy to be here with me?"
Jean glanced away, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Of course I'm happy to be here with you. I... I know we don't spend enough time together, and I'm sorry for that. Maybe you're right. Maybe I really needed this break."
Barbara nodded, sitting closer. This was risky, but Jean was so different here on the islands, more relaxed, more carefree than Barbara had seen her in years. If not here, then where? If not now, then when? She didn't think she could wait any longer.
"I've been reading something lately, you know," she said, a bit faster than she meant to. "It's-- it's a book I found in the library. Lisa recommended it to me. It's about two sisters." Barbara never told Lisa about it, not even a word. But somehow, she thought the librarian knew. Somehow, she thought Lisa was helping her. "One of them has a Cryo Vision, but she loses control, and... well, really, that's not even the important part..." Barbara huffed, and she pushed a stray hair behind her ears. Where was she going with this? She swore she had a plan this morning.
"Is it a good book?" Jean asked, blissfully oblivious.
"Yes, it's a good book. So, these two sisters, they really love each other, and it's the little sister's love that saves her big sister, and..." Barbara bit her lip. When she didn't say anything for a moment, Jean hummed and reached out to take her hand.
"I understand."
No, you don't understand, Barbara thought. She knew she wasn't explaining it well. But how was she supposed to explain at all? "These two sisters," she tried again. "They really love each other. And when the story is done, they kiss each other. On the lips. There's even an alternate ending that somebody else wrote, and it's not an authorized addition, but Lisa had it in the library, and, well, it gets kind of steamy..."
"Oh..." Jean was blushing now, and wasn't that a wonderful sight? "I... I didn't know Lisa showed you things like that." She said that in the tone like she was going to talk to Lisa about it, and Barbara felt almost offended.
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Jean! Is that still how you see me?" she asked desperately.
Jean shook her head. "Of course not! I know that you're an adult now, and you do so much for the church. I'm not trying to... to police what you're reading or anything, just... I'm not sure if that kind of content is..." It was clear she was tripping over her words and didn't know how to finish. Barbara sighed, frustrated. They were getting off topic.
"Jean," she said, drawing the name out. "Do you love me?"
Jean looked at her in confusion. "Of course I love you, Barbara. I... Even if I'm busy, I never thought you'd doubt that." She looked uncertain now, and Barbara hated the look on her face. "Was I really such a bad sister, that you'd have to..."
Barbara shook her head vigorously. "No, Jean, you don't understand!" Oh, how, how to say what she was thinking, how to take that leap without being worried that it would ruin everything between them? But Jean was so pretty, and the sun was shining so bright, and they were right here on the beach where everything felt like summer, and... And Jean's legs were so smooth.
She put her hand on Jean's thigh, and then slid it up, up, until her hand was almost meeting the space between her big sister's legs. "Jean. Do you love me?"
Jean looked at her, and then, finally, finally her eyes widened in a moment of understanding. Her face was scarlet red, and she moved her lips into a silent 'oh'. Then, still blushing, she reached out to hold Barbara's hand again.