It had taken several minutes of stalking back and forth between the seemingly endless rows of parked cars but Donna had managed to find a stop within a swift walk from the entrance to the airport.

 

The website said that Madison’s plane was still another 20 minutes out so she had time to center herself and set the scene. From within her purse she fished out a bottle of lavender essential oil and dripped a single drop on the dashboard and then another on the handmade sprig of lavender that Madison had gifted her for the seasonal end of year gift exchanges.

 

She had dressed up for the occasion. She wore a green suit with a red shirt and used the lavender as an adornment to her front pocket. She’d planned on surprising Madison with this look at the hypnosis event they were both attending in the near future but the unexpected opportunity to show off early was too tempting.

 

Madison had just spent the long weekend with her family and was flying back home to Saph. It was a coincidence that her connecting flight allowed a few hours in the airport by The House.

 

Neither Madison nor her partner(s) knew they would be seeing one another on this day until the week of the visit.

 

But now that she knew and had time to prepare, Donna had plans.

 

Last time she had plans they had not panned out.

 

-

 

 

-

 

It was a lovely memory and she would not change it for the world, but she had intended on making Madison beg for it.

 

This time she was going to allow herself to enjoy the fruits of her scheming. Nothing would stand in her way.

 

She noticed her leg bouncing with excitement.

 

No one would, anyway.

 

Closing her eyes she tried to picture the library. The lazy amber light spilling from windows, the musty smell, the dust floating in the air and collecting on the central table. More important than the visuals, though, was the emotions that she felt. Warmth, comfort, familiarity. Clare had helped her design this space within their mind to be a neutral ground where the parts that made up Belladonna could transfer emotions, understanding and communication without their nervous system being activated.

 

The visualization and the little flourishes were just Donna’s way of showing off how good she was as both hypnotist and hypnotic subject. She did not need to imagine purple cursive on a page requesting Bella’s patience, understanding and restraint for the coming meeting with Madison. But she wanted to. She enjoyed it.

 

Upon letting herself feel the library clearly and placing the letter on the “round table”, she felt Bella’s presence and a surprising warmth as she pictured her softer side cuddling against her.

 

It was still difficult to tell what was imagination and what was legitimate action from a dissociated part. Perhaps there was no difference at all. Donna decided not to question it and felt for the shape of Bella within her heart and imagined patting her head.

 

Elsewhere in the library she could feel Bell, watching and analyzing. There was apprehension, caution but… trust coming from her. As if she was accepting that the plan was something that Madison would enjoy and she was giving her blessing, if not her approval.

 

Opening her eyes again, Donna sat behind the wheel of her car and measured her emotions. She felt calm. She felt unburdened by the pulling emotions of her other parts. Her head felt light, almost as if in an altered headspace. But more than anything she felt confident.

 

It was time to greet Madison.

 

-

 

The flight had been kind to Madison. A WiFi connection had allowed her to keep her headphones on and let the time breeze on by. Her nerves were settling from the long weekend with her family. She had some positive new memories for the price of the stressful environment and her tolerance to it all had increased the moment Belladonna had offered to meet her on the journey home.

 

All thoughts about the prior week melted away the moment she walked out the arrivals gates and saw her love.

 

Decked in green and wearing a radiant grin, Madison felt a tug at her heart upon seeing her. But it was more than a warm smile or a light pull on her affections, it was so much more. It had only been a few weeks since she had last seen her girlfriend, and she knew this was Donna, but the sight and thought of her was intoxicating. Like her heart was leaping out of her chest.

 

Across the way, Donna raised her hand and beckoned.

 

The pull on Madison’s heart was yanked like a leash on her soul. Not that she required hypnotic compulsion to close the distance as fast as she could but the desire was amplified. Donna had done something.

 

“Well hello there…” Donna husked as softly as the airport atmosphere would allow for, “Follow me.”

 

Madison straightened up instinctively and took Donna’s offered hand, being whisked away.

 

“That’s it. Just let me lead you.”

 

Donna was glowing. Literally. Her skin was shimmering and smooth. Her hair was like a living flame. Her touch was warm enough to send shivers of delight down her nerves and straight back to her heart and mind.

 

She’d certainly done something.

 

On the escalator to the parking lot Donna took a step above Madison and looked at her, eyes flickering with this strange magic, pulling her in. She gently nudged her chin to force eye contact. “Doing so well. Follow.”

 

Madison felt her lips move unbidden, the two syllables drowned out so none could hear but she knew Miss Donna’s words were coming out of her own lips. Her head felt blissfully swimmy. The world faded and all that remained was the radiant beauty that held her hand and beckoned her. Every step the connection between them grew stronger, the delightful dizziness grew. She swooned more and more and let herself be guided, let herself let go entirely and just submitted to Donna’s whim.

 

“And freeze…”

 

Madison complied instantly and perfectly.

 

The pair were standing by Donna’s car. Concealed enough that Donna could take her time with this little indulgence of hers. Madison stood tall and still. She pulled in closer and ran the back of her hand against her cheek.

 

“That’s it… my good, good, lass…” she whispered, drawing her lips to Madison’s ears, “Just for a few short hours I have you… and I want to make every. Single. Moment. Count.” as her words growled out she could feel shivers try to move Madison, a gentle whimper escaping those still lips.

 

“And make no mistake, my love… I do have you. Have you noticed my glamour, perchance?” she moved into Madison’s line of sight and gave a curtsey with invisible fabric. Madison’s enchanted mind was almost able to see the outline of an impossibly elaborate ball gown dancing on the wind but she knew Donna was wearing that green suit that clung tight to her skin.

 

Somehow both felt true. No, she couldn’t explain it.

 

Donna watched Madison’s subtle reactions, mostly held in her eyes, and smiled to herself, satisfied. “My magic is certainly working its charms on you now. But that is what you get for loving a Fae, my dear.” she drew in closer and pulled her lips right to Madison’s “...I do so wonder what you would give me for a kiss, my love…”

 

Madison weakly whimpered as much as her still frame could manage.

 

“That’s right… that’s right. You’re not really in a bargaining position right now, are you, my love.” she turned and looked at her with intensity. Those glowing eyes were so vibrant in the daylight, “Madison… kiss me.”

 

The command rippled through her mind and body, she so desperately wanted to obey. But her mind had decided it was more important to remain frozen.

 

“Oh… Madison. Madison, please…” Donna husked, taking a step forward, “Kiss me.” her hair was still fluttering like a gentle flame, her eyes were still ethereal orbs that melted hearts at a glance, Madison wanted so desperately to kiss her magical Fae love.

 

A finger pressed to Madison’s lips. “Speak. I grant you permission.” Donna said, with theatrics and mischief in her every word and action, “I want to hear you beg.”

 

Madison let out an unguarded whimper of yearning, “Please, Miss Donna, please…” she whispered, her voice shuddering with the compelled desire gripping her heart, “You’re so pretty and I missed you so much and I just want to kiss you, please let me kiss you, please, please?”

 

Ever the soft hearted creature, Donna could not stand to deny her for very long and took a step back to enjoy the sight of her desperate and frozen partner one last time before clearly saying “Release.”

 

All of a sudden motion returned to Madison and her sole focus was completing the kiss, a kiss she would have given just as eagerly without hypnotic compulsion. 

 

Their lips locked and Donna grasped around Madison and savored the fortune that had let them be together. This was not an expected trip that had been imagined for months. It was a whim. A moment stolen from the universe. She intended to embrace every millisecond as firmly as she could, terrified that the universe would try to steal it back if she did not value it for all it was worth and even more still.

 

“H—HI!” Madison finally breathed, finally able to process what had happened since she first laid eyes on her love, “You did something, didn’t you?”

 

Donna grinned and performed a theatrical bow, “I am nothing if not a trickster, my dear. I did indeed use my opportunity to perform a little scheming. I hope it was okay. I must admit I have been looking forward to doing something like that for some time.”

 

Madison took stock of herself and really asked herself the question of comfort. It was always important to her to never answer such queries based on instinct. If someone was checking in with her then she owed them an honest answer, not a polite one.

 

“I’m fine. I trust you and my brain enough to know we were being safe with that scene. I think I am a little more worried about Bell, though. Knowing her she may have been uncomfortable with that whole sequence.”

 

Donna chuckled lightly, “You really do know us well, don’t you?”

 

“I would hope so.” Madison brightly chirped back, “But I’m being serious. Are you all okay?”

 

Donna closed her eyes and took a moment to compliment Madison’s honesty with her own. She felt floaty, disconnected from her body, like her heart was racing in her chest but she could only recognize it if she concentrated. The primary feeling was a swimming in her head. Donna knew this emotion well and referred to it as “performance anxiety”, it was the emotion they felt when they needed to lead a meeting or perform during a tabletop session.

 

It was a Donna shaped emotion. Which was a weird thing to consider when she, herself, was Donna. But it had only been weeks since their diagnosis. Understanding and familiarity with the concepts at play would take time.

 

She tried to pull up the library inside of her mind but could barely visualize anything and she certainly couldn’t feel anyone else, everything felt Donna shaped.

 

“I don’t feel anything wrong right now but I shall keep you informed.” Donna said, “Presently I do not feel anyone else’s presence at all.”

Madison took a moment to consider that and nodded, “It is a little odd but I’m sure they’ll come and say hi before I go.”

 

“I have no doubt.” Donna responded, gesturing to the car, “Let’s sit down and enjoy the time we are oh so lucky to have right now. Though, I suppose I could always claim another kiss. Madison, Kiss me.”

 

This time there was no hesitation. Like her lips had been powerfully magnetized to find Donna’s, Madison propelled forward and locked lips with her, almost knocking her slim partner off balance, though she would never under any circumstances allow her to fall.

 

Breaking the kiss, Madison grinned, “Oh, I like that one. We’ll have to use it in a few weeks at the event.”

“As you wish, my darling. I do so wish to make you smile.”

 

“You do.”

 

“Then I shall endeavor to continue.”

 

With a smirk and a wink Donna opened up the car to get settled in, the moment Madison sat in the passenger seat she took her hand and refused to let it go. Typically that would have been a Bella shaped action but she noted it was all her. She just didn’t want to waste a moment of this real world connection that was so rare for the two of them to share.

 

“So what did you do?” Madison asked, raising an eyebrow, “I know you were up to something.”

 

Donna’s smirk remained fixed upon her face, delighted beyond words, “Tell me, my love. How do I look?”

 

It was dimmer inside of the car but Donna’s skin and hair was still glowing to Madison’s eyes, she just seemed… in a word, “Enchanting, Miss Donna.”

 

“And if I were to say ‘Glamour at a 5?’”

 

Madison blinked and the softened edges seemed to rough out. Donna seemed as she would any other day, a confirmation of Donna’s shenanigans but not an explanation. She folded her arms in protest, both at losing the gorgeous illusion and in being denied context.

 

“Then how about if I told you to Remember.”

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh.” Madison whispered, putting a hand to her mouth.

 

Donna grinned boldly, “I do so hope I was not overstepping. I feel I should have likely discussed that more in detail before springing it on you. We had discussed the trigger for the event but I made a bit of a leap to break it out early. I did some safety language but you were fairly deep and we both know the mind does not latch well to a suggestion spoken in negative.”

 

“At the moment, I’m fine with it? As you say, we had discussed it for the con in a few weeks. But … I reserve the right to want to talk about it more later, when I’m not recovering from the visit home, a pretty potent amnesia trigger, and your quite-potent Glamour?”

 

There was a mixture of pride and caution that bubbled up within Donna. She was delighted that her scene had gone so smoothly and was appreciated but knew that she had tested boundaries a little more than she may have if Bell were present. It did not do well for the friction between the two parts to push limits like this.

 

“I will remind you that I made a promise to Bell.” Madison added, as if she could read Donna’s thoughts, “And part of that trust we share is knowing you’ll honor her comfort as well as my own.”

 

Donna still had her hand gripped tight around Madison’s wrist. She had no intention of letting go. This conversation was starting to make her thoughts clear a little. The thin and trancelike sensation she had been experiencing was giving way to more grounded thoughts.

 

“We’ll discuss at another time then, my love. Thank you for holding me to my commitments. For now, shall we continue enjoying that lingering potency?”

 

“Flirt.” Madison shot back dryly, leaning across the car and giving her girlfriend a kiss.

 

“I am nothing if not shaped like myself, my dear.”

 

“A shape I have come to love. A shape I am so fortunate to be allowed to see.” Madison said, joyfully smitten, “I still count myself so lucky that you show me all your wonderful parts.”

 

The grip on her wrist got tighter and she heard the most delicate squeak of affection.

 

“Hey there, sweetling.” Madison said, recognizing the switch without even needing to look at the way Donna’s fierce expression had been replaced by sheer glee.

 

“Hiiii!” Bella sang, squeezing the wrist again to add emphasis, “So so so glad to see you.”

 

The unguarded way that Bella’s voice squeed excitement never failed to make Madison’s heart melt. She gently pulled her arm upwards and Bella’s hand along with it to plant a gentle kiss against the back of her sweetling’s hand.

 

“And to think… we’ll see one another again in a few short weeks, precious. Are there any things you want to request for it, cutie?”

 

Bella squirmed, refusing to let go of the wrist, “I– I– I haven’t decided!”

 

“Mhmm… but I know you are always such a good girl and know how to ask for what you want.” Madison teased, knowing just how to edge her words to make her partner whimper and recoil.

 

Bella ducked her head low and mumbled.

 

“What was that, sweetling? Use. Your. Words.”

 

A squeak emitted from Bella’s lips causing Madison to burst into an unguarded cackle, “I- I— want to do some vampire play?” Bella said slowly and uncertainly.

 

“Vampire play, hmm? And what is it that entices you so much about vampire play?”

 

Bella perked up, her eyes shining with excitement, “Well, well, it’s just… they have that hypnotic seduction and the way their eyes light up and they ensnare people and make them all open and vulnerable to the point they let themselves be fed upon and the bites feel really nice and there are just so many times where they can like summon someone like they are just spellbound and can’t help but come to the one who summoned them.”

 

Madison listened, nodding along, she did so enjoy it when Bella was excited like this. “So you want me to ensnare you and feed on you, cutie?”

 

Bella nodded hurriedly, “I do! I want you to gesture to me and for you to become my whole world and all thoughts but offering myself to you to just fade away! I want to be enthralled.”

 

Madison pursed her lips, “I think I’d need to ask Dove before I think about anything that intense, sweetie, but drawing you to me? Making you offer your neck or wrist to me? I think I could do that.”

 

“Please, Miss? Please mesmerize me? Ensnare me? Captivate me? Feed on me?”

 

Madison let out another cackle, “Oh you plead so well.” she pulled her arm up again and Bella’s hand remained clasped to her wrist, “You want me to do that for you, sweetling?”

 

“Oh so very much, Miss!” Bella cooed desperately.

 

“Well… I don’t think it’s a good idea to hypnotize you when you have to drive soon… but I can leave a little promise of what’s to come…” she raised Bella’s wrist to her lips and looked her girlfriend dead in the eye, “if you would like?” 

 

“P-please? Please bite me! Please Miss. Please!”

 

“As you wish, cutie.” she locked her lips on Bella’s wrist and gently braced her teeth on skin, sucking in and drawing the captured flesh into a vacuum. Bella instantly melted at the sensation and let out cute squeals of rapture, squirming back and forth against the hold, gasping in breath and shuddering with the imagined sensation of a vampiric embrace.

 

The ‘kiss’ only lasted a few seconds and yet the moment it was released Bella sank back in her chair with a euphoric grin.

 

“Oh you did like that, didn’t you?” Madison gloated, “Imagine how the real thing will feel after I get into that pretty little head of yours.”

 

Bella could only whimper in response.

 

“We’ll have to work on making a scene of it when we’re at the con then, cutie.”

 

Bella nodded hurriedly, “I want that. I want to go to there.”

 

“And so you shall.” Madison smiled back.

 

The pair continued to enjoy bright and peaceful conversation discussing how their end of year celebrations had panned out with Madison’s blood family and Bella’s chosen one. All the while Bella’s hand clung tight around Madison’s wrist, refusing to let her have it back at all. All the while Bella’s face was plastered in a joyous grin that made Madison’s heart melt.

 

Unfortunately the clock was the enemy.

 

“Sweetling. I love you and I’d never want you to feel like I didn’t want to spend time with you, but I do have to ask if Bell or any of the others want to come out and say hi? I don’t have very long left and I do like to spend time with all of you.”

 

Bella swallowed and nodded slowly before slamming her eyes shut and making a show of concentrating. “I’ll check!”

 

“Good girl. Thank you.” she paused and leaned across the car seats and plucked Bella’s chin between her thumb and index finger, gently tilting to get a good look at her soft expression, Bella melted into the touch letting out an unguarded murmur of raw delight before Madison pulled her in and completed a passionate kiss.

 

Drawing out and savoring Bella’s besotted expression, she smiled back, “I promise we’ll have time in a few weeks and I’ll make sure you are rewarded for being so very good.”

 

Bella whimpered and popped her eyes open to give a longing look at her Miss before slamming her eyes shut again.

 

The library was not easy for her to draw up. Donna always seemed to have an easier time of it, but she focused on the golden light spilling from the window and the dust in the air. It made her consciousness tickle when she thought about the dust dancing in the air. Almost like being in trance but not quite the same.

 

Fact is the parts that made up Belladonna Cooper only had the barest bit of framework for their so called conference space. Bella was fumbling in the dark and trusting that it would work. In some ways it was a lot like a hypnotic suggestion.

 

 

Madison watched as the overly expressive features of Bella hardened into something more firm and solid. 

 

“You’re getting better at that.” Madison remarked.

 

“Thanks,” Bell responded, “I’ll be sure Clare knows. Still a long way to go, though. I don’t think Ben or Sis will show up, though.”

 

“Never an expectation.” Madison clarified, “I just want them to know that they’re welcome. Though I don’t think I’ve had a chance to see Ben yet. Not since the IRC days, anyway.”

 

Bell’s eyes flickered in a way that Madison had come to recognize as inner-chatter but she did not translate the words to speech. She always said that Bell was allowed to have private thoughts but she was curious. It meant she cared.

 

“It’s really good to see you.” Bell said, gently. “I’ve missed you more than I can say. I know we only saw one another last month and we will see one another next month so we’re being spoiled a little, but I can be a little selfish sometimes and I don’t like waiting.”

Madison placed a hand on the back of Bell’s hand, still gripping her wrist, and looked her in the eye, “I wish there wasn’t a distance at all. But I’d never take you away from your family and I know you would never want me to move away from mine… well Saph’s, but the past week has shown I could use some distance from my parents.”

 

“It has… are you doing okay? I’ve been worried.”

 

“As okay as can be expected?” Madison tried, “Having this to look forward to really helped and you and Saph both helped a lot in getting through the hardest parts of it.”

 

“Moments like this make me glad I’m No Contact with my roots. It has drawbacks but moments like this just make me grateful, you know?”

 

“I do like having them in my life.” Madison clarified, “They’re just a lot.”

 

Bell nodded empathically, “And you paid your dues and now you can go back home. Soon enough it will be time for your flight out to Colorado Springs.”

 

“I’m looking forward to it. I only have a couple classes I’m teaching this time. If you’d like, I would really enjoy seeing you in the audience. No obligation, of course.”

 

Mesmerized was the winter hypnosis con. There were a number of them annually but Madison and The House only attended the two biggest held at the start and middle of the year respectively. The previous one, Bedazzled, was where Belladonna and Madison’s relationship had officially begun, six months ago.

 

Mesmerized was the place that Madison and Belladonna had first met, 3 years earlier.

 

“The House are all looking forward to it. We go to the local one because it’s nearby but Colorado is our big family vacation so we make a much bigger deal of it. Dove has a big class on Thursday so we’re going in early.”

 

“You said you were teaching a class too, right? Suggestibility?”

 

“Right…” Bell mused, furrowing her brow. “I actually forgot about that…” it was not uncommon for things to slip Bell’s mind like this but she was feeling far more vulnerable about it now that she was aware of her condition.

 

“Good thing you take such good notes, then, isn’t it?” Madison said, “I’ll be at your class for sure. I saw the schedule and I know we don’t have conflicts.”

 

“Right, you’re doing Switch 101 and Bratting.” Bell proclaimed, her recollection returning to her, “I’m really looking forward to being there. It won’t be my first time in those classes but it’ll be a different experience now that we’re dating.”

 

“Speaking of which… I wanted to check in with you especially… is it okay if I share a few stories while teaching? You don’t have to answer right now but I wanted to know how comfortable you were. Like you said, it’s my first time teaching these classes since we started dating and it’s given me a few extra things to consider.”

 

Bell swallowed her lip and took some time to consider it, “I’ll give you a more full answer later, but I think it’s important to share what we know. It could help people.”

 

“Thank you.” Madison said, emphatically, “I’ll show you my notes when I’m home but I wanted to be sure before I said anything.”

 

“Same in return, I guess?” Bell said with a shrug, “Heck knows my impression of suggestibility and consent has changed a lot in the past year and this will be my first time teaching solo.”

 

“You’ll do fine.” Madison insisted, “You know more than you give yourself credit for.”

 

“Thank you, love.”

 

Discussion continued in an animated fashion but time as always was the enemy and soon enough Bell found herself walking back to the terminal with Madison. The security line wasn’t terribly long but they had milked the clock for every second they could and now it was time to part for a few weeks.

 

Madison looked down at her wrist and then to Bell.

 

“Oh sweetling…” she sighed, her voice starting to crack at the emotional strain of having to make the request, “I promise I’ll see you again really soon but I have to go.”

 

Bell’s eyes flickered and her expression solidified in resolve, “Love. It’s okay. You don’t have to be strong right now.” she released the hand from Madison’s wrist and pulled her into a tight embrace, “We’ll be together again soon.You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be okay. I’m more worried about you.”

 

Madison drew in a breath. She had a habit of doing this, raising herself up and walling off her emotions so she could handle them privately at a later time. In a way it was no different than Belladonna’s own emotional compartmentalization, it just didn’t require a literal system to handle.

 

“Thank you for this.” she finally said, trying hard not to let tears get to her, “I didn’t expect it and… thank you.”

 

“It was a treat for me, too.” Bell reminded, “I’m glad we got even a short time. Every second is precious.”

 

“It is.” Madison agreed.

 

Bell squeezed her again and received a big squeeze in return, “Now go on, we could stand around trading goodbyes for a while but it won’t do us any good.”

 

“I love you. All of you.” Madison said and gave a firm kiss to cement her statement, “I’ll see you soon.”

 

Bell reciprocated as best she could and pulled back. When she was close to Madison there was an elation in her that made her heart feel full of life and love, it was the closest to feeling ‘whole’ that she tended to get. The moment she backed off it was like that ice sheet between her and her heart had been pulled up. She could no longer feel Bella or Donna. She had no desire to reach for them.

 

She felt nothing. She felt empty.

 

It reminded her of how she felt when she was in the closet.

 

Still, she forced herself to smile and wave off as Madison, tears stinging the corners of her eyes, pulled away and joined the security line.

 

Bell watched. Waited until she could no longer make out the back of Madison’s head from the rest of the crowd and then walked back to the car. She felt disconnected from her body. Like it was moving by itself and Bell was just watching from behind her own eyes.

 

On her side of the security gate, Madison went through the motions. Obtained food for herself, put her headphones on and just let her heart hurt a little. It felt silly, to be sad for having gotten a little extra time with her partner, but the price of having is losing and she would gladly pay that price each time without counting the cost. It did not stop it from hurting, though.

 

She would see Saph in a few hours and see Belladonna again in a few weeks. She knew this.

 

It did not stop it from hurting.

 

It wouldn’t be long before they saw one another again.

 

But it always sucked to say goodbye.