Chapter Text
Beatrice has always been very good at mentally preparing herself for any situation.
Anxiety and nervousness over confrontation is rare for her.
Only a few ever really stand out. Coming out to her parents is at the top of the list - somehow the biggest mistake and best decision she ever made at the exact same time.
When she quit her job at the massive firm that hired her out of university to start her own with a few of her closest friends, that was scary. That was the first time she actually threw up the night before because her anxiety was so powerful.
Since then, nothing has really made her nervous.
Until today, because today is the next monumental decision of her life.
She made up her mind two weeks ago and has spent those two weeks confirming it again and again.
For a few days last week, Beatrice got sick. It’s not entirely surprising - she spends every day in a hospital, she is always on the go, she hasn’t been eating as well as she used to.
When it started, she tried to just power through - that’s always been her default setting. Beatrice doesn’t like being unproductive. She’s never been good at sitting still and taking it easy.
Taking it easy is the life her parents lived - the way they approached everything. Lazy, filtered, the quickest route to the best possible outcome. They had the money to do it and the lack of empathy to not care who they stepped on.
Beatrice has dedicated herself to being the exact opposite of that.
Still, the sickness was too much for her and at one point on a very long day, she collapsed and while it wasn't nearly as dramatic as it seemed - it did give her a front row seat to Dr. Ava Silva.
Ava was the first person she saw when she woke up, suddenly in a hospital bed and stuck with an IV.
She watched Ava for a moment before Ava realized she was alert. She watched Ava fuss with the IV bag and jot a few things down on the chart. She closed her eyes and listened when a nurse came in and told her they had an ambulance coming.
“Okay, I…is Camila around?”
“Sorry, head lac. I can see if -”
“No, no, I’ll be there.” There was so much softness in her voice. Beatrice couldn’t keep her eyes closed. “It’s just a head cold, temp is 101 but hasn’t gone up since we admitted her. Chest is clear and she seems to be getting some color back with fluids.” Ava sighed and Beatrice could see her wrapping her hands around the stethoscope again and again, like a stress ball. “It was just scary watching -” Ava’s sentence died when she looked back and saw Beatrice looking at her with a small smile. “Bea! Holy shit, hi!” Ava took three long steps towards Beatrice then and immediately put a hand on her forehead. “I’m so mad at you.” She said with a beaming smile.
“I know, I’m ready to meet cranky Ava.”
It was hard to take Ava seriously when she was holding her hand and running a hand over her forehead again and again. “You scared me.”
Beatrice felt the guilt hit her then. She was so used to being on her own - only mattering to herself. The consequences of her decision never affected other people.
She realized then that if she was going to fully commit to Ava, it wasn't just about adjusting to her, it was about adjusting herself to Ava.
That was a week ago, she’s mostly fine now - a lingering cough that’s fading with each day. Ava’s given her a full bill of health to return to work and finalize everything tomorrow.
Which seems easy compared to this.
She knocks on Ava’s door three times and can't help but wonder if it’s the last time she ever will - for better or worse.
When it opens, she’s met with the sight of Ava first thing in the morning. It’s something she’s grown accustomed to seeing from the other side of the door.
“Hey!” Ava smiles and without another word, she and Beatrice step into each other for a hug. “I didn’t expect to see you until this afternoon.”
“I know,” they pull apart but Ava leans in and kisses her on the cheek. Beatrice feels the gesture boost her confidence. “I was…hoping to talk to you.”
When Ava leans back, she nods. “Okay, that tone sounds kind of serious though, I’m not in trouble am I? Vincent fucked the budget up more than I did.”
Beatrice smiles. “No, you’re not in trouble.” Stepping into Ava’s apartment, Beatrice shuts the door behind her and hesitates before taking off her shoes.
Normally, mornings off are rest time for Ava. She loves to enjoy her mornings on the couch with a cup of coffee and Charmed reruns on television. The episodes aired are always random, Beatrice has seen a dozen of them and has no idea what the plot of that show is.
Today though, she hesitates, because the repressed voice in her head she’s long since quieted is a little bit louder today and telling her this is going to blow up in her face.
Fortunately, it’s not nearly powerful enough to match Ava. “Do you want some tea?” Ava asks.
Ava, who didn’t have tea in her apartment two months ago now has four different brands and a kettle and a mug with a honey bee on it that she bought specifically for Beatrice.
“Maybe after,” she says and steps over to the couch. Ava nods and follows her, sitting down with her eyes on Beatrice the whole time.
Beatrice sits next to her and takes a deep breath. She’s never been one to beat around the bush. “My job here will be coming to an end tomorrow, it will only take us a few days after that to sort out everything before we leave.”
For as much as Ava wears her heart on her sleeve in literally every situation Beatrice has been around her for - she is surprisingly hard to read right now.
She swallows once, then nods. “Okay, so this is…a bad talk?”
“No,” Beatrice answers quickly, taking Ava’s hand to try and stop the thought in its tracks. “I mean…perhaps, it could be - but not on my end.”
Ava frowns. “I don’t follow.”
She’s beating around the bush. Beatrice hates being nervous. “I don’t want to leave, Ava. I…I want to stay here with you.”
“Oh,” Ava’s eyes go wide. “You…you do?”
Beatrice nods. “I do. I don’t know about you, but this thing we have right now is not something I have ever experienced. You’re the first person I’ve ever met in my life that I was instantly comfortable with. From the first night we spent together in that bar to this moment right here, you’ve made my life better. You make me feel a kind of happiness I didn’t even know I was living without. I don’t want to be away from that, I want to embrace it. I love you. I’m in love with you and I wish to be with you.”
As far as speeches go, Beatrice thinks that’s one of her better ones. It’s also the first love confession she’s ever made.
The response she gets at first is silence, just Ava staring at her with those same wide, deep brown eyes.
Her voice is a little watery when she speaks. “You want to live with me?”
Beatrice frowns. “I don’t have to, I just meant live in the city and -”
“Please,” Ava grabs her hand with both of her own and squeezes. “Will you please live with me?”
“Really?”
Ava’s smile splits wide open as her teary eyes spill over. “I miss the fuck out of you when you’re not here, Bea. All that stuff you just said, I get it. Like I heard you say it and it sank down deep in my soul, you know? Like my life here is good. I love my job, I love my friends and my apartment is so fucking cool - but all of it is so much better since you showed up. My favorite foods taste better, my favorite shows are more fun. Going to bed, even if we don’t have sex, it’s different. Sometimes I wake up at night and roll over and you’re there and I get all giddy and have to put my pillow over my face to stop myself from squealing. I just…shit, Bea. I love you so much. I’m in, if you want to go all in then fuck yeah, I am all in with you.”
Loving Ava has always felt amazing, it’s the best feeling in the world - or it used to be.
Because being loved by her mends something deeply broken in her heart from another life.
She surges forward, pressing her lips into Ava’s who giggles at the contact before her hands snake around Beatrice’s back and draw her in.
As the kiss deepens, Beatrice kicks off her shoes and lets them fall to the floor.
She’s home.
--------------------
The next day is the next serious conversation Beatrice has to have - the first of two today.
This one isn’t as scary as yesterday, if only because she has Ava in her corner now. The decision has been made, they spent the rest of the day planning Beatrice’s move and deciding where all of her stuff would go.
Ava has so many plans already. She wants to show Beatrice the city. She wants to have Beatrice come to a barbeque at Camila’s and go skiing with Chanel.
She wants to buy a cat together.
Beatrice is ready to do it all.
This conversation though is a bit sadder, but just as important.
Mary and Lilith are in Lilith’s hotel room when she finds them. They're hunched over their laptops at the table in the corner of the room near the window. Papers are scattered neatly around them, Mary even has her glasses on - which always means business.
She thinks for a second about letting them work - she spent the night last night pouring over everything - she knows what they're doing tomorrow and knows the presentation.
Still, she wants to get all of this out in the open as quickly as she can. “How’s it going?” She asks, sitting on the foot of the bed as Mary looks at her.
“Got a pretty good grip on it all. Safe to assume you sorted all this shit out last night?”
“I did.”
“Ava gave you free time to work?” Lilith says, not nearly as snipey as it used to be, but she will forever be a little bit tense.
Beatrice smiles nonetheless. “Ava worked a swing shift yesterday. She was out until ten.”
That gets Lilith’s attention. “So you just…hung out in Ava’s apartment alone? I didn’t hear you come back here last night.”
Hearing it called ‘Ava’s apartment’ is a bit jarring, if only because Ava spent their whole day together after the confession calling it ‘our apartment’. Like she was making a very joyous point.
That seems as good of a place to start as any. “Actually, it’s my apartment as well.”
For some reason, watching Mary take her reading glasses off makes it all feel very real. “Your apartment?”
“Do you still have the number of the realtor who helped you and Shannon sell your old place? I may need to call him.”
Lilith’s jaw cracks open, then snaps shut. “Hang on, are you…what are you talking about?”
Here goes nothing. “After we present our findings today, I plan to step down from our company…to stay here.”
The ‘with Ava’ goes unspoken. It’s unnecessary.
They already know.
“Step down? Beatrice you run the company! You can't just -”
“Lilith, we started it together. Both of us. I’m only CEO because I had a slight amount of extra money to put forward. That doesn’t mean I worked harder than you or -”
“I don’t give a fuck about that!” Lilith stands up, always so dramatic. Beatrice loves that about her. “You’re just going to…stay here? You’re going to give up your whole life for this girl? I know you’re in deep, but Beatrice isn’t this a bit fast?”
It is, all conventional wisdom, which has long been the cornerstone of her life, tells her this is much too fast.
Yet, when she thinks about leaving it makes her physically ill. The life she used to live, the one she genuinely enjoyed and built all on her own, feels desolate at the thought of not seeing Ava every day.
Lilith can argue if she wants, but for Beatrice, there’s no argument to be had. “It’s a decision I’ve already made. Ava’s invited me to stay with her. She has some time off coming and we’re going to travel to New York and pack up my things. She…” Beatrice sighs. “She wants to drive a UHaul cross country to bring my stuff here. It’s apparently some kind of joke, I didn’t fully understand.”
“Fucking shit,” Mary snorts, covering her face before she laughs. “I mean don’t get me wrong, Bea. This is wild - but I really like your girl.”
Her girl. It makes her swoon.
God, Ava’s made her someone who swoons.
“So that’s it? You’re just walking away? Moving out of New York? Beatrice, are you sure?” Lilith’s voice changes timber, softens. It’s not a tone Beatrice has heard from her often.
For as much as they bicker and bristle one another, there’s a reason they were able to start a business together.
Beatrice loves Lilith, she loves her protectiveness and her stubbornness. She loves her courage and how she really does care about people - in her own way.
“I am, I know it might feel sudden but I can't let this chance slip through my fingers. I’ve never felt this way about someone before and I need to see it through.” Lilith takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly as her eyes close. “Now you’ll have even more reason to come back to Colorado.”
Lilith’s eyes snap open. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course.”
“Yeah that’s why Beatrice sent me a photo of you and the surgeon sitting on one cushion of a three seat couch in the hotel lobby the other night?” Mary chimes in because Mary is physically incapable of not chiming in.
Whatever softness Lilith carried a moment ago is gone, she glowers at Beatrice who can only shrug. “I’m sorry, I needed ammunition.”
“You’re going to need a lot more than that.”
Mary stands up. “Alright, relax,” she laughs. “Bea, Lilith is kind of right - this is a huge decision. Are you absolutely sure you’ve thought it all the way through?”
She’s only slightly insulted. “Mary, you know me, I never go into anything without thinking through every possible angle.”
“I know, but love can be blinding, it can make even the smartest of us fucking stupid.”
Lilith coughs loudly. “Tiffany!”
Watching Mary’s slow stare turn on Lilith is equally scary and hilarious. “If you don’t stop bringing Tiffany Watts into every conversation you’re trying to win I’m gonna step aside and let Beatrice kick your ass.”
“I’d love to see her try.” Lilith puffs up and Beatrice smiles.
“I’m in love with her,” Beatrice says, wondering if saying it out loud will ever get old. “I know it’s a lot and I’m certain it feels a bit out of character for me, but it’s the choice I’ve made and I really do hope you can both understand that and…” Beatrice feels the strangest wave of fear split through her. She really doesn’t want to lose her friends. “I hope you’ll come visit me here as often as possible.”
When Mary rolls her eyes and smiles, Beatrice’s tension eases. Then Mary steps over to her and hugs her. “You were supposed to be the sane one!”
Beatrice laughs and wraps her arms around Mary’s back. She looks over her shoulder, where Lilith is still sitting at the desk and watching her.
She gives her a warm smile that only grows when she sees Lilith roll her eyes and fight to keep the corners of her mouth turned down.
“Lily, get over here and join this hug or we’re bringing it to you.”
Lilith lets out the most dramatic groan possible before standing up and wrapping her arms around them both
Beatrice’s second big talk with her family in this life went a lot better than the first.
----------------------
When the proposal is finished, Beatrice stands up and puts her hands behind her back. The end of a job is always a bit of a rush - no matter the outcome. It’s an ending, most of the time.
This one though, feels different. It’s much more of a beginning.
“Thank you for your work,” Dr. Superon says, standing up with a hand outstretched. Beatrice watches Lilith step in and shake it.
Lilith was the one to do the presentation, which is not usually her job - but Beatrice thought it was good for her to get her first one there - where both of them are rather comfortable.
“You run a good hospital here,” Lilith says, sounding genuine. “It’s a shame the system in place frowns upon your methods, because in my opinion it's the way it should be.”
Superion grins a bit, nodding as the handshake ends. “As long as I’m here, I’ll do my best to keep it that way - no matter what the adjustment firm suggests.”
That was the decided outcome. The hospital will hire a firm to come in and implement the necessary changes to keep the hospital afloat.
A huge albatross on their neck was removed when Lilith’s digging into Ava actually led her to Vincent, the accountant, who had been embezzling money for years to some pharmaceutical head, Adriel, that had been stuffing his pockets.
So with him out, at least the budget has a chance, but there’s still work to be done.
All Beatrice can think is how she’ll be here to see it through, in some way. Even that only means being there to welcome Ava home after a shift and listen to her vent.
“Beatrice,” Superion calls her over. “I hear you’re not going to be leaving us like your colleagues.”
“I’ve decided to stay, yes.”
Superion’s stare lingers on her. “Hmm, well Dr. Silva has certainly taken it upon herself to fill me in on all of the great qualities you possess. She’s even mentioned how you might be an asset in helping with the coming changes to this hospital.”
That…is not what she expects. “Oh she…she has?”
“Yes, and she makes a good point. You have worked with these firms, have you not?”
Beatrice nods. “Yes, for years.”
“And I assume you do not currently have any employment in the city?”
“Not yet, I’m in the very early stages of this change.”
Lilith makes some kind of disgruntled noise behind her but Beatrice resists the urge to glare at her. Staying focused on Superion and this opportunity that may or may not be coming her way.
She still can't tell.
“We have a new job opening in finances, with the added workload and benefits to match as a transitional liaison to the adjustments firm we will hire. Helping to guide our hospital through the coming changes and protecting our practice.” Superion holds out her hand. “It’s yours, if you want it.”
Beatrice can't decide if this is actually happening or not. The chance to work here feels too perfect. It’s very similar to the job she has now, but with less travel and certainly more work.
The pay sounds good, if she’s learned anything these last few months it’s that Dr. Superion takes care of her people.
Most importantly, she’d be able to work with Ava. Not so direct that they’d be stepping on each other's toes all the time, but enough that they could ride to work together some days. Meet up for lunch some days.
If something happened and Ava needed a break, she could slip into Beatrice’s office and rest.
If something came up and Beatrice needed some stress relief, she could slip into Ava’s office and slip off her underwear and…
And she really needs to focus.
It’s been at least twenty seconds of silence on her end. Which is ten seconds too long. “I’ll take it.” She returns the shake with a smile
Superion matches it. “Excellent, we’ll sort out the paperwork tomorrow. For now, I have some calls to make to the board. Thank you both for everything.”
As she and Lilith take their leave, is shaking her head all the way to the elevator “You’ve just stumbled into a whole new life here, haven’t you?”
“So it seems,” Beatrice is very good at keeping a calm demeanor, even when she’s bursting inside.
That’s the case right now, and when the elevator lands on the emergency room floor, Lilith gives her a look. “You’re not going to ditch me for our post job celebration lunch, are you?”
“No, of course not. Can you just…give me a minute to see if she’s busy. I’d…” Beatrice sighs, she detests being needy, but she is right now. “I’d just like to see her first.”
“You’re so whipped, Beatrice. Jesus Christ.”
“Why don’t you run upstairs and tell Chanel the good news.”
Lilith scoffs. “I talked to Chanel this morning, she has wall to wall surgeries all morning and unlike you, I can keep it in my pants for a full shift. I’ll be in the car.” With that, she walks away and leaves Beatrice to wander to the front desk of the emergency room.
The first person she recognizes is JC, hunched over a laptop with a long cord attached to a tablet. No doubt filing Ava’s charts.
“Is Dr. Silva busy?” She asks, not feeling entirely subtle.
Thankfully, JC hardly looks up. “Chest pain in two,” he points, still not looking and Beatrice realizes he thinks she’s just another doctor.
She’s not about to correct him, it gave her the information she wanted.
While she’s not about to interrupt Ava at work, she is not above slipping in just close enough to watch her
When she reaches curtain room two, Beatrice lingers near an empty gurney and watches her.
Dr. Silva, in her element, is untouchable. She’s so attentive and personable, sitting down on a stool, face to face with a middle aged man who seems coiled with tension like a snake. His eyes are scared and Ava is talking to him with her most patient voice.
“I promise, you’re not wrong for being cautious. We’ll get you a full workup, chest pain is nothing to ignore, in fact I’d be more worried if you had. You should never ignore it, even if it’s minor.”
The man nods. “It’s not unbearable, it’s just…heart disease runs in my family and my daughter is coming home for the first time in two years - we have so much planned to catch up and I need to be healthy so we can do it all.”
Ava’s smile is beaming, nearly impossible to not be taken in by. “Then that’s what we’ll do, and that starts with covering all our bases. So we’ll get you started today - get you admitted, nothing serious, but I say we take the whole day, sort all of this out and get you ready for your daughter.”
“You’re right, okay…we…we should be sure.”
“Awesome,” Ava stands up, tapping a few things into a tablet. “Okay, so I’ll step out and find a nurse while you change into a gown. Once you do just make yourself as comfortable as you can - we have the nicest gurneys in the state”
That’s a lie, every hospital in Colorado gets their gurney’s from the same distributor.
When Ava steps out of the curtain, she doesn't seem to notice Beatrice - it’s not surprising because she’s in doctor mode and is already seeking out a nurse.
Beatrice doesn’t mind a bit, smiling as she watches Ava explain everything to said nurse.
She decides that she’s probably going to have to leave without talking to Ava because Lilith’s patience is no doubt fading by the second. So as she turns to leave with a promise to text Ava in the car - she is suddenly face to face with curly hair and a lab coat.
“Hi!” Camila says, her smile as beaming as Beatrice remembers it.
“Hello, Camila, it’s good to see you.”
Camila hums. “You too, now I’m going to cut to the chase - Ava’s basically been talking to me about you since the day you arrived here.” This is not what Beatrice expected, at all. “She’s been one of my best friends for years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as happy as she is right now and I know that has everything to do with you. So, as her friend I like to take it upon myself to play protective parent because a lot of people who should have been that for her, haven’t been as I’m sure you know.”
She does, the stories of Ava’s past are still being unraveled but Beatrice knows her childhood was filled with pain and heartache. They both have long scarred over wounds they carry - late nights before bed have been spent sharing those memories.
Despite the fact that both of them have healed from it, having someone to be completely open with, someone who can relate to that loneliness - it’s been cathartic.
“I do, and I have no intentions -”
“Ah!” Camila puts a hand up, effectively cutting her off. “I’m not here to big sister you or try and scare you, Ava’s a big girl and the smartest person I know, so you’re fine. But, if you’re going to be a big part of her life, then I’m going to be a part of yours. So we’re going to have brunch on Saturday!” She beams as she says it, like Beatrice came up with the idea and shared it with her.
It’s the kind of invitation you cannot say no to. “Alright, that sounds lovely.”
“Great! Ava’s working a shift Saturday morning so I’ll swing by her place and pick you up!”
Beatrice nods. “Sure, I’m looking forward to it.”
Then Camila steps forward and hugs her, Beatrice stiffens a bit, then settles into it and pats her back a few times “I will kill you if you hurt her, I know like fifty different ways to do it.” She whispers, then pulls back with an even bigger smile. “So glad you’re here! See you Saturday!”
As Camila leaves, Beatrice takes it all in for a moment, suddenly with a full plate on Saturday morning.
She turns back, finds Ava now further away and already with another patient - but a few moments later, Ava’s eyes flick up to her and she grins, a little wave that Beatrice returns before Ava goes back to work.
Beatrice is suddenly looking forward to brunch.
-------------------------
That old saying of not being good at goodbyes has never really applied to Beatrice.
Goodbyes have never been a large part of her life. When she left her home in London there were no goodbyes, no hugs and promises to stay in touch. Nothing of the sort.
No, goodbyes back then were with her life, her favorite spot in her bedroom and the tree she used to sit under and read out back.
As her life started to build on her own, Beatrice kept enough distance between herself and everyone else that exiting someone’s life didn’t mean anything.
Then Lilith came along and they kept being paired off and grew close and things shifted then. Lilith became the first mainstay in her life in years - and eventually she added Mary and Shannon by extension.
Before she knew it, Beatrice had people - friends.
A makeshift family that looked out for her and that she found herself doing the same for.
So when the day comes that she’s staying behind and they're going back home, to their home - she’s surprisingly unprepared.
She’s been on the verge of crying all morning.
Beatrice drove them to the airport, so out of place without a bag of her own. No seat on the plane waiting for her, she won’t see her apartment again for another two weeks and when she does, it’ll be with Ava at her side.
Her life in New York was very good, it brought her a lot of joy and gave her these people. She’s going to miss it dearly, but after this she’s going back to the hospital to pick up Ava and go back to her new home.
It’s too many emotions, she has no idea how to process all of this.
“Are you crying?” Mary asks, eyes wide and frown deep as she looks at Beatrice.
Reaching up, Beatrice wipes her eyes and glares back at her. “Is that so bad? That I’m going to miss you?”
Mary laughs. “No, of course not, it's just…you don’t cry much.”
“She does,” Lilith says, sliding up beside Mary and shaking her head. “You just have to know how to get it out of her. Homeward Bound, when the old dog comes up over the hill and makes it back home? Gets her every time.”
“Shut up, Lilith,” Beatrice says and then she steps forward and pulls Lilith into her arms.
This is the first hug they’ve ever had quite like this. Occasionally when they’d celebrate after a case, Beatrice would have too much to drink and nuzzle her a little, which Lilith would complain about, but reciprocate. Mostly though, they don’t do these kinds of things with each other.
So when Lilith’s arms wrap around her waist and squeeze her tightly, the tears spill over even more.
“I’m fully prepared to whip her ass if you need me too.”
Beatrice laughs, sniffling as they pull apart. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“Yes well,” Lilith’s eyes are red, no tears shed, but they're there and they mean the world to Beatrice. “She does seem to be wrapped around your little finger.” Lilith sighs, her smile lingering. “I’ll take care of our company.”
Beatrice nods. “I know you will.”
“Alright, Jesus,” Mary steps in and hugs Beatrice. “You two are supposed to be the surly stoic ones.” Beatrice laughs and sees Lilith blush and rub her eyes as she turns away.
Hugging Mary is different. Mary hugs with her whole soul - lifting Beatrice off the ground a little and holding her so tight. “You’re going to do great here, Bea. You already are.”
More tears, Beatrice is not used to this, at all. “Thank you. Please promise you’ll visit?”
“Are you kidding? Shannon’s already planning a ski trip in the fall. She’s going to call you tonight, by the way.”
“Great,” Beatrice says, she’ll be so glad to talk to Shannon about all this.
The loudspeaker calls out their flight after that and it’s time to go.
Beatrice again feels that strange feeling, where she feels like she’s supposed to follow them. Then her phone dings as Mary and Lillith are gathering their things.
She checks it and sees a text from Ava.
Ava: thank god it’s friday right?
Beatrice: It’s Wednesday, Ava
Ava: i know :) that was my subtle way of asking you to dinner tonight
Ava: it’s a secret coded message bea
Ava: TGIF
Ava: like the restaurant
Of course it is. This life with Ava will never be boring.
She waits to respond, saying one last goodbye to her friends, her family, before they head to the gate and board the plane.
When they're out of sight, headed back to New York, Beatrice feels a rush of loneliness that catches her by surprise for only a split second.
She holds onto it, processes it and then squeezes the phone in her hand.
She’s not alone, she’s less alone than she’s ever been in her life.
Beatrice: Let’s order it online and pick it up on our way home? We can wear our pajamas and watch a movie.
Ava: oh hell yes!! I know exactly what we can watch! one of those streaming services has all three of the classic 90s ninja turtle movies! they’re so good with bad costumes and cowabungas it’s amazing bea
She has no idea what Ava is even talking about, but her excitement is enough to make her look forward to it.
Beatrice: TGIFriyay
As Beatrice makes her way back to the rental car, her phone goes off when she climbs in.
Ava: i love you so fucking much
Yes, she’s going to be just fine.
----------------------
The painting above their toilet is crooked. Beatrice has never noticed it before, maybe because she’s never been in this position before. With her back pressed against the sink, elbows leaning on the marble countertop to keep herself upright.
She’s never had her legs spread open with Ava kneeling between them either.
Not until today, she just hopes the orgasm that’s building up doesn’t wipe her memory clean so she can remember to come in here later and fix this picture.
It wasn't their intention, all of their friends are here, out in the living room laughing and learning each other. Two groups of friends brought together by the madness of the way Ava and Beatrice fell in love.
Beatrice came in here to clean up when she spilled a bit of pizza sauce on her pants. It wasn't as easy as she thought so she ended up taking them off and rinsing them under the sink. She was going to change, just throw these in the wash and worry about them later.
Then Ava came in to check on her and saw Beatrice in her underwear.
The next thing Beatrice knew, Ava was kissing her, her hands were slipping beneath said underwear and grabbing her butt.
Now that same pair of underwear is tangled around her ankles, her shirt is hiked up and the bathroom door is locked.
Beatrice moans, desperately trying to keep quiet when Ava swirls her tongue around her clit just right.
She’s so good at this, she knows every inch of Beatrice and how to manipulate it just right.
This happens quite a lot really, especially around the apartment, but also at work from time to time.
Camila says they're currently, quote, neck deep in the honeymoon phase - but Beatrice can't help but think this feeling is never going to go away.
She spent too much time alone, never imagining herself having this kind of emotional connection with someone. The thought of not wanting to press into her at every moment she gets seems insane.
Especially when it feels so good.
“Ava,” she says, needing to say something just to breathe.
Ava hums against her, creating a vibrating sensation that thrums through her skin. Looking down, she can see Ava staring up at her, dark eyes focused as her lips are wrapped around Beatrice’s clit and lapping it with her tongue in steady, trained strokes.
Beatrice reaches down, fisting a hand in Ava’s hair and then loosening her grip. She can't keep her hips steady and they start to roll, pressing herself down into Ava’s warm mouth, seeking that last bit of pressure to drive her over the edge.
When her breaths start to become a little more ragged, Beatrice knows it’s coming - literally.
She clenches her teeth, feeling her chest tighten as her legs shake. Ava’s hands are there, holding her upright. As she tips over the edge of the cliff, Ava reaches up with both hands and wraps them around her waist.
It’s just enough to stop her from toppling over when she forgets her legs are tied together by her underwear.
As the aftershocks hit her, she lays back, head pressing into the mirror as the faucet of the sink digs into her back.
Opening her eyes, she sees Ava rising up to her feet, a glisten on her lips and a smile on her face.
“My…” Beatrice is still a little breathless. “My pants are still dirty.”
“Funny, my panties are kinda messy now too.”
Beatrice sighs, the words stirring her up again. “Ava, we have people over.”
The grin that shoots back at her is devilish. “I know, babe. Just something to think about.” Ava leans in and kisses her, letting Beatrice taste herself on her tongue. It only adds to the pressure in her lower belly.
If they were alone, this would only be round one. But there are people here and even though Beatrice came embarrassingly fast, they’ve already been gone too long for everyone not to notice.
“Wash your face, I’ll go get a new pair of pants and change.”
Ava nods, her smile leaving as she kisses Beatrice again. “You got it, make sure no one eats the last twiced baked potato! I didn’t spend all week learning how to make them to not get at least two.”
Beatrice can't contain her laughter as she agrees before slipping out and darting across the hall and into their bedroom.
It still surprises her how fast she’s adapted to the idea of this being her home. It’s only been two months and she’s still learning about everything. How the toilet in the guest bathroom doesn’t always flush properly. How the hallway gets colder at night than the rest of the house because of how the air passes through it.
How absolutely magical it is to wake up early and sit on the couch next to Ava and watch the sunrise- only for Ava to doze off again on her shoulder.
Being here has only shown Beatrice that she never knew what a home really was until now - until she had one.
By the time she finds a new pair of pants (and changes her underwear because they were a lost cause as soon as Ava started touching her), Beatrice uses a tissue to clean off Ava’s kisses from her face before slipping out into the hall.
When she makes her way back into the living room, everyone is still chatting away.
Camila and Mary are in the kitchen, sharing war stories of concerts they’ve been to, already planning to take in a few shows in the city when Mary comes back with Shannon for their ski trip.
Speaking of Shannon, she’s currently embarrassing the hell out of Lilith with stories about their time together on a bar crawl after Lilith graduated. Much to the absolute delight of Chanel, who is sitting on the back of the couch with her arm wrapped around Lilith’s shoulder.
Of all the changes that have happened since they came here, Lilith might take the cake. Sure, Beatrice fell in love, quit her job and moved halfway across the country - but Lilith finding someone who brings this kind of affection and patience out of her is nothing short of a miracle.
Beatrice takes a breath, soaking it all in - this life well lived has somehow only gotten better.
Then there is suddenly a pair of arms snaking around her waist. “Huh, I guess they didn’t notice we were gone long after all.”
“So it would seem,” Beatrice leans back into Ava’s embrace. “Perhaps we should -”
“Hey!” Ava’s voice is loud in her ear and suddenly she’s pulled away from Beatrice and racing into the kitchen. “Mary, I love you, but that potato has my name on it.”
Mary, who Beatrice knows won’t fold so easily, picks up said potato and looks at every side of it. “Funny, I don’t see your name anywhere, babygirl.”
“Mary…I made those with my bare hands. Hands, mind you, that have saved lives.”
“Oh here we go,” comes from Camila, and suddenly everyone is gravitating towards the kitchen.
Beatrice slips in behind Ava, leaning against the fridge to watch.
“Well I personally think that you should be thrilled I want another one. It means you were a good host.” Mary says.
“As a good host, I feel like I’ve earned a second potato.”
“Perhaps you should have made more if you were going to eat so much,” Lilith says, Beatrice resists the laugh in her throat when Ava snaps a glare at her.
“One day you’ll be on my side, cerberus!”
Lilith hums. “One day, not today though.”
“I got you, Ava!” Chanel says and Beatrice sees Ava wink at her.
“Alright,” Beatrice says, stepping forward and plucking the potato out of Mary’s hand.
“Oh come on, you can't just give in to her because she gets you off, Bea. We’ve been friends since-”
She ends the conversation by taking a massive bite out of the potato, right down the middle. Her cheeks fill with fluffy, mashed potato goodness and gooey cheese as gasps fill the air around her.
The loudest coming from Ava. “Wow, Bea. Betrayed by my own girlfriend.”
With a puffy cheeked smile, Beatrice tears the potato in half at the point she bit into and holds out each end to the both of them.
Ava greedily takes her piece as Mary winces. “Lilith is right, she’s ruined you.” She takes her half of the potato and goes over to Shannon to pout.
When Beatrice turns to look at Ava, she’s got just as much potato in her mouth as Beatrice had. “Wuv yu.” She mumbles and Beatrice tries not to laugh as she swallows down the last of her bite.
“What am I going to do with you?” She asks, with all the affection in the world.
Ava wiggles in her spot, taking another bite before offering Beatrice the last piece.
She’s so glad she walked into that western themed bar five months ago.