It was like the woods were waking up or coming back to life.Suddenly, as his climax approached, they seemed to be transported to a glade at the heart ...f a verdant woodland. The blight was replaced by green. Colourful flowers dotted the grassy meadow around them. Even the monster tree became a huge, flourishing oak shading the glade. Was this a hallucination? Or a vision of what the woods would become now that their goddess was freed from her curse?Then Severus climaxed. His eyes shut and he. Alyssa, who sits across from her,although Kathy keeps momentarily mistaking her, with her hair done likethat, for the red-headed Beth, is still picking, against all odds, at herarugula salad."Hmm?" she says, smiling, pretending she's still chewing. "The rightthing about what, exactly?" About Kenny...you know." Oh yes...oh Kenny..." Alyssa, formerly Beth, waved her fork, momentarilyempty, in a little circle in the air, "...he'll get used to it...I guess."It was possible, Kathy mused, sipping her. "'One for the books', Julia thought to herself. Rarely had a patient's intelligence, drive and spirit been so hidden by the trauma of circumstances. Even more rarely had such a dramatic turnaround occurred. She wished she could take more credit for it, but she always rejoiced when good things happened for a patient. Theresa's children were still aloof to her, and now she was facing divorce, but she had a new purpose in her life. All of her natural abilities were again in play, but this time,. Lara looked at Ben, trying to gauge his expression, then stepped close to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ben's face was blank, and his body wooden, but after a moment he put his arms around her and rested his hands on the small of her back. She rested her head against his shoulder and sighed. Even though they were here for the most unromantic reasons, standing in Ben's arms felt ... good. His chest was strong and warm, and his arms felt good wrapped around her. His jaw, rough with a.