The next morning Elizabeth woke up to discover herself in his bed. Once again he was already up and in the kitchen enjoying his first cup of coffee when she came in. 

"Good morning!" Peter said, "Want a cup - it's freshly made?"

"Please," she said softly. She sat down at the table and he brought her cup and sat down as well.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked, trying to hide the smirk on his face.

"I'm a little sore. Umm... did.. did I..." she said meekly.

"Yes, you did. But I found out some interesting things in talking with your other half. And I think I have a solution to the situation," 

"Really? You can help me? You can make this split personality stuff go away and merge me?" 

"Not exactly. But I do think I have a workable solution. After breakfast, we'll sit down and I'll explain it to you," 

Elizabeth fixed a nice breakfast for the two of them and they sat down to eat. Elizabeth couldn't really enjoy her breakfast thinking about what Peter had to talk to her about. She had waited a long time and it had been hell living like this - she would be glad to get this behind her.

Once breakfast was over and the table cleared and dishes soaking in the sink, she went into the living room where Peter was sitting with a fresh cup of coffee.

"Okay, Peter, I'm dying here - please tell me what you have in mind to fix my problem!" 

"All right but I want you to listen to the whole thing before you make any decisions, okay?" 

"O-okay," she said cautiously.

So Peter began recounting his encounter with Beth. "Last night as I was laying in bed, Beth came in to see me. She was rather... provocative, we'll say... but she found out that the good doctor had a few surprises of his own! As a result, she found herself in the passenger seat for a change. She and I had a little talk and I learned a bit more about why Beth came out and a bit more about you that I wasn't aware of." 

"Like what?" 

"Well, for instance, I learned that the reason Beth came out is that she is a product of your past history with people in your life leaving you. From your father running out on you to your mother dying on you and you being bounced around from place to place and never having any friends.

"It's really no wonder with your past history that you aren't more messed up than you are, to be honest. But Beth is a manifestation of the need for human contact that you have buried inside you. The fact that she is so sexual is also a result of not having love in your life. You are so desperate to have someone that your slutty side, Beth, will sleep with anyone and do anything to get even a little attention.

"Beth is simply a concentrated version of what you wish you could be. You wish you could have a man in your life - someone who wouldn't leave you, and someone you could love who would love you back." 

"That sounds reasonable, I guess. A little weird, but you are the doctor. So how do we fix it? I mean I can't exactly just go out and find a guy to love me - if it was that simple I wouldn't have this problem to begin with, right?" 

Well, I have thought about the situation.. in fact, I was awake all last night thinking about it. And I think I have a plan, if you are game for it. Now it's pretty obvious that hypnosis isn't going to work in this case. I mean we could try it a couple more times, but I don't think we'll have a lot of luck with that therapy.

"What can we do then, Peter?" 

"Beth told me that she came out because of your lack of having someone to love and to love you. Your lack of companionship - namely male companionship. And you said you can't just go out and find a guy. Well, what about me?" 

"What about you, what?" she asked, not quite sure what he was getting at.

"What about living here with me...permanently? Listen I have a big house here as you can see. A big lonely house. And it's close enough to your work that if you wanted to keep on working you could. Although I would be perfectly happy if you just stayed here and took care of the house. 

"There's something I think you should know about me Elizabeth - something that Beth knows now but you don't. Beth and I are a lot alike. Beth is a nymphomaniac, you are already aware of that. But I am a satyromaniac - a male nymphomaniac. So last night we both got what we needed. And while I wouldn't want you around just for sex, having you with that particular condition fits very well with my needs as well. And if you want companionship, I think you and I work pretty well together. I mean it's only been a few weeks, but I have had a lot of fun having you here and having companionship as well.

"I think we could actually be good for each other. And being together would keep Beth under control because you would have the companionship that brought her out and Beth and I have reached an understanding of sorts... she has given control to me and will do as I say. So I can help you keep her from getting you in any more trouble.

"Now I haven't mentioned any of this living together stuff to her - you are the dominant personality of you two, so I wanted to get your take on it first. I'm already pretty sure she will be all for having a steady, safe, sex partner." 

"Peter honey, that is an amazing offer and my first thought is that I would love to come live here with you. But I have been hurt a great many times. I have heard the whole 'I would never leave you' speech so many times I can recite it verbatim. And while you may mean it right now, we really don't know that much about each other. So please forgive me if I'm a little skeptical now. It is a wonderful offer and I really do appreciate it." she said.

"I can see your point, and I was ready for that. I have taken you on as a patient, Elizabeth, and told you when we first met  I was not going to give up on you until we fixed the problem. So either way, you and I will be seeing a lot of each other for a long time - especially since hypnosis hasn't seemed to work. 

Let's do this then - you come to live with me on a trial basis for a few months. If during that time, we find we just can't stand each other and our lifestyles don't mesh, we can go back to being just doctor and patient or you can just drop me as your doctor altogether. 

But if we find that we do work well together - which is what I really believe will happen - then you can give up your apartment and come live here with me for good. Meantime, you can work or not and we will keep your apartment until such time as it's not needed anymore.

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "I would like to get out of that dinky apartment - are you absolutely sure that you don't mind if I don't work? I don't want to seem like a golddigger or anything. I mean I can contribute by keeping the place clean and doing chores around here for you." 

"Elizabeth, I would actually prefer you not work. With you home here I wouldn't have to worry about triggers that could bring out Beth and you would take a load off me having to work all day then come home and do housework too. And it would be nice to come home to a hot meal for a change instead of just heating up a frozen dinner or can of something!" 

"You said when we started this together that because it was court-ordered that I see you, you could get my boss to hold my job while I underwent therapy?" she asked.

"That's right. They can't fire you or fill your job permanently while you are in therapy. They can hire a temp to take your place but when you are better you can get your job back." 

"Can we think of our living together as therapy - I mean you will be helping to cure me in a manner of speaking," she asked. "That way if I decide to go back to work I can get my job back and not have to look for a new one and all the hassles that brings."

"I suppose I could swing that." he said.

"Well if you can hold my job and my apartment until we figure out what we're going to do then I would love to come stay here with you! And don't you worry honey - I'm going to take real good care of you! You will have a clean house, clean clothes, and hot meals all the time!"

"And let's not forget Beth's part in all this!" 

"Of course! I have a feeling she is going to be very excited about this idea!" Elizabeth giggled.

So the next day when Peter went to work, he made some phone calls to the courts, to his fellow psychiatrist, Dr. Wilkinson who sent Elizabeth to his office, to begin with, and to her landlord and boss. He explained the situation as tactfully and diplomatically as he could especially to the landlord and her boss, telling them she was undergoing treatment with and not going into a lot of detail with them. 

Everyone seemed satisfied with his explanations and so things were all set. Peter would continue to pay the rent on her apartment and they would use it as storage until it was decided what they would do. He helped her move some of her things over to his place - their place - so she would feel at home too. Her boss said he would probably hire a temp to keep up the manpower, but he liked her and hoped she would come back to work soon.

The day she "officially" moved in with him, Peter gave her the closet in the master bedroom and he moved his few clothes into the room she had been using. He figured that way, he could get up and get dressed without disturbing her when he had to go to work. Elizabeth's condition prevented her from driving (she never knew when she would have an episode so driving was out of the question), but they were able to coordinate when she needed to go shopping or something.

Things went great for about six months. Peter and Elizabeth were getting closer and they found that they did work well together. The pair had a lot more in common than they first thought and they were happy. Beth came out to play many times and she and Peter always had a wonderful time. She was very happy with their little arrangement - she had finally found someone who could not only keep up with her but could keep her in line too!

It was the day of their six month anniversary and Peter and Elizabeth were sitting in the living room cuddling in front of the TV. Elizabeth had just fixed a wonderful dinner (she was a great cook thankfully!) and as the two of them sat there, Elizabeth sat up and turned to him.

"Peter, I need to talk to you," she said. He sat up and gave her his full attention - sentences that start that way rarely end well!

"What is it?" he asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.

"You and I have lived together for six months as of today and they have been the best times of my life. I can't remember being this happy. I have been thinking about this for several days and... well Peter. I think I'm in love with you. I don't know how you feel but I have never felt more happy, more content and more... loved in my life. And if you are willing, I am ready to move in permanently - to give up my apartment and my job and just live here with you." 

"Ready? Elizabeth I've been wanting to tell you how I feel for the past two weeks! But I didn't know how you felt and I didn't want to push you into anything! Yes, of course, you can move in permanently! We can go get the rest of your things this weekend and you can tell the landlord and your job about our decision." 

"I'm glad! I was afraid I might be moving too fast for you!" 

"No sweetheart, I've been waiting for you to say something so I would know how you felt," 

"So... how do you feel, Peter?" 

Peter stood up and took her hand leading her down the hallway. "Do you want me to call Beth?" 

"Not tonight. Tonight I want to make love to you, Elizabeth," he said kissing her before they went into their bedroom.