Create a similar story with title, keep the lesbian details and eliminate the sensual activities in the story. 
After standing out in the rain for nearly two hours, Meryn was glad her father's funeral had ended. She drew the wool cloak tighter around her shoulders and glanced at her older brother. The man stood with his hands shoved in his pockets. Rain drizzled down his face and along the sharp angle of his jaw, forming a drip at his chin.
Her mother stood on the freshly turned earth and spread the last of the flowers over the dirt, brushing her hands together to remove any plant residue. She turned to her children and smiled sadly. "Let's go," she said. They both nodded and followed her back home.
Well, Meryn still considered it home. Her brother, Kyle, called it "Mom's house" ever since he had come back. Neither he nor Meryn had lived in the cottage for the last fifteen years, but it still felt more like home to her than anywhere else.
Meryn paused at the entrance and looked up. She had not remembered so much moss or cracks in the stone surface during her last visit, and the shingles on the roof definitely needed to be replaced. The windows still had full panes of glass, but a few of them had chipped or cracked. Perhaps the most telling sign of neglect was the state of disrepair her mother's garden had fallen into. She should have come back sooner.
"Come on, sis." Kyle brushed past her shoulder and followed their mother into the house. Meryn blinked and followed after.
The inside of the home was much cozier than its outside appearance. Meryn hung her cloak on a peg by the front door and kicked her muddy boots under a bench. Her brother shed his coat and did likewise with his shoes. Their mother had moved to the living room where she stoked the fire back to life and rolled a fresh log onto it. She gestured to the couch laden with quilted blankets and furs. They sat down.
"Join us, mom," said Meryn.
The old woman shook her head, grey hairs trying to tug loose of the bun she kept them tied in. "I want to get something warm cooking in the kitchen."
"Aw mom, we just ate," said Kyle. He moved to stand, but she waved at him to sit and wandered off into the kitchen. Kyle groaned and eased back into his spot. Once their mother had disappeared, he turned to his sister. "She fusses too much."
Meryn shrugged. "If it helps her cope." She crossed her arms and tried to ignore the water steaming off her clothes. The fire had blazed into a roar within moments, filling the room with crackling heat.
"She needs a good spell, not practice at baking."
"Kyle!" she scolded. Meryn had trouble believing the words that came out of his mouth some time. The man shrugged and peeled his gloves off, tossing them to the floor where they could dry out.
"I meant for the house," he said, his tone defensive. Meryn did not completely believe him. Kyle had suggested more outlandish practices before. "This place is falling apart. I can't believe dad didn't get anyone to fix this up."
Meryn shook her head. Their father had been too ill to do anything about the house in his last days, and their mother had probably spent all her time just taking care of him. Kyle was probably angry that they had not sent for either of them sooner. She certainly was. "So are you going to do anything about it?" she asked.
Kyle sighed. "I don't have the time to fix it myself. I'll pay someone from town to do the repairs before I head back." Of course. The army could not bear to part with him for longer than a week.
"Don't do that," said Meryn. She could practically feel Kyle's open stare. A cinder popped in the fire. "Mom doesn't need a stranger patching up this place for her. Why don't you stay another week and we can do it together?"
"Can't," said Kyle. "They were very clear on when I had to be back. We're moving a new detachment out to a fort that's crucial for holding the southern border." He sat back and stroked his beard. "They need me."
And of course, Meryn had to bite her tongue to withhold the selfish claim, Mom needs you. They did not speak after that. Instead, they stared at the fire and listened to the flames crackle. Meryn could hear the clang of cookwear as their mother worked away in the kitchen. Finally, she wandered back into the living room with two bowls. She handed one to each of her children.
"So what have you two been talking about?" she asked, taking a seat in the large chair next to the fire.
Kyle glanced at Meryn as if daring her to speak up. "We were just talking about how I'm going to stay a while," she said. Kyle's eyes widened, but he did not say anything.
"Oh, that's not necessary," said her mom. Still, Meryn noticed the smile on her face.
"Yeah," Kyle said smoothly. "Though it might be nice for you to finally settle down for a while. You might even break your record for most months stayed in one spot."
Meryn elbowed him in the ribs while her mom chuckled. "Oh, I've known you'd be a wandering spirit long before you took your leave, dear," she said. Meryn glanced down at her soup and spooned herself a mouthful. "I appreciate the gesture, but you and your brother have lives to lead. I'll manage."
"If you can call being a vagrant a life," scoffed Kyle. She elbowed him again and he yelped when he spilled soup on his pants.
"I made up my mind last night," said Meryn. "I'm going to stay for at least the rest of the season and help you patch up the house before winter settles in." She waited for her mother to reply with some other protest, but the older woman just looked away. Meryn could tell this put a lot of strain on her mom. Asking for a child's help probably seemed so backwards. Instead of pursuing the subject, she ate her soup. The vegetables were good and the broth perfectly seasoned, so some of the garden had to be well-kept still.
A knock at the door broke the silence. Kyle glanced from their mother to Meryn. The latter rolled her eyes and set her soup bowl aside. "I'll get it, mom," she said.
"Thank you. It should be one of the neighbors with some supplies."
Meryn nodded and walked into the main hallway. Their father had replaced the window in the door with more solid paneling, so she had no way of telling who was there. "Hale? Are you in?"
That voice. Meryn froze in her tracks. She turned around and glared at her mom, who only gestured for her to go get the door. Meryn placed her hands together as if to plea, but her mother shook her head. "If you can hear me, go ahead and give a holler," said the woman outside their door. Rolling her eyes, Meryn continued down the hall and opened the large door.
A woman close to her in age stood on the other side. Her eyes widened at the sight of Meryn and she almost dropped the basket of herbs that she carried. "Morgana's crest! I thought you were arriving next week!" she said.
They stared at one another for a few seconds, both unsure of what to do next. Sandra had filled out since they had seen each other last. Her hips had a better curve in them and her face had lost all remnants of childishness, though her dark eyes still sparkled like Meryn remembered. The dark ringlets of her curls had grown into a large mane of hair, giving her almost a feral look.
Finally, one of them found their voice. "Though it's good to see you," said Sandra.
Meryn felt her face heat up. "It is," she answered. She did not move to let Sandra in. She had forgotten people usually did that for guests.
"Is... is Hale around?"
Meryn blinked. "Oh." She had come to see mother. "Yes. This way."
Sandra smiled her thanks and Meryn led her into the house. Her mother stood up from her chair. "Sandra, how good to see you!" she said. The two women embraced before Sandra gave her the basket full of herbs.
"That should have everything you need. And I'll get your payment after my dyes sell."
"Nonsense," said Hale. "I don't charge old friends. I'm going to put this with the rest of my stores. Meryn."
She barely heard her mother call. "Yes?" She blinked as she tried to refocus, but it was hard when Sandra stood in her mother's living room, dripping wet and shaking the rain water out of her hair.
"Get Sandra something from the kitchen."
Kyle chuckled as she tripped over her feet to get around everyone. Meryn couldn't help noticing that her mother had not ordered Kyle to do anything. "Oh, you don't have to go through the trouble," said Sandra, moving to stop her, but Meryn weaved out of her grasp. "I was going to head home anyways. I have my own food to prepare."
"Oh." Her mother frowned and looked down at the herbs. "Well, it was nice of you to rush these over to me today," she said.
Sandra nodded. Her cheeks had started to grow red. "It's fine. I'm happy to do it any time." She glanced at Meryn. "It was nice seeing you again." Kyle cleared his throat and turned around to watch her from the couch. "Oh! And it's lovely to see you, Kyle."
Her brother grinned. "The pleasure is all mine. You should come by again before I leave. I don't think I've seen Meryn blush so hard since all of us were children. It'd be nice to have someone help me tease her." The both of them chuckled and Meryn crossed her arms. Her face got even hotter.
"I didn't know you were still living here," she muttered. Sandra's smile faded and she placed a hand on Meryn's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. We didn't mean to tease." And as fast as her touch came, it was gone. Meryn stood stiffly in her spot as Sandra walked toward the door. "And I'd be glad to come by again," she called to Kyle. "When do you leave?"
"Five days," he called back.
Sandra nodded. "I'll make the arrangements later, but we'll all get together, I promise."
The three of them nodded back and waved, though Meryn hardly managed to move until Sandra had shut the door and walked away. Then she turned on her mother. "You did that on purpose," she growled.
"As much as you and I would both like to think that, I had nothing to do with Sandra's untimely arrival," said her mother, though the older woman could not suppress her smile. Kyle openly laughed.
"This isn't funny," said Meryn. "I left for a reason, and I came back because I thought she wouldn't be around to muck up everything."
Meryn's mother raised an eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. "Oh?" she asked. "And how is Sandra going to 'muck up everything'? It seems to me that you should be thanking her. She's the only reason this house is not falling apart."
That comment stung. Meryn balled her hands into fists and swallowed a rising lump in her throat. "You should have sent for us sooner, then." Before her mother could reply, Meryn walked away, wandering through the small home's halls until settling in the kitchen. She sat down at the table and crossed her arms in front of herself. She was acting like a child, but she hardly felt the need to stop. After all, her father had just died and her brother was a career-obsessed ass who refused to take leave to help her make sure mother would be all right.
And her mother...
The old woman did not know when to let old matters rest, like Sandra. For a moment, Meryn wished she could just wander off to the next village and lose herself there. But she could not run away anymore. She had responsibilities to attend to. Perhaps that was the most precious thing her father had allowed her: freedom from responsibility.