Chapter Text
Henrietta Wilson prided herself on her observation skills. In her professional life it was essential, her team and their patients depended on her for it. On a personal level, where her friends were concerned, she could read them like a book and very little slipped passed her. Athena had given her a lot to think on since the divorce from Michael, she’d watched her best friend go through all the stages of a break down of a marriage, through the rebound phase and now, she watched as Athena tried to figure out life as a working single mother.
Hen knew, of course, that Athena could, and would, handle everything her new normal could throw at her. She knew her to be strong, capable, independent and steadfast in her abilities both as a police officer and a mother. On the other side of the coin Hen also knew Athena could be sensitive, cautious and vulnerable. Athena was a kaleidoscopic of qualities that all seemed to move around each other seamlessly and this was possibly what Hen loved most about her best friend. In truth she loved and respected nearly everything about Athena, except maybe, her ability to remain so stubbornly tight lipped.
Hen loved the challenge though, when Athena was holding something back, whether it was something of nothing or something that was deeply personal and important, either way Hen would do everything within her arsenal to get her friend to talk.
Over the past few months Hen had stood by her friend as Athena transitioned through the changing face of her family, her life in general really. She had seen Athena devastated, furious, heartbroken, Hen had been there for the highs of her all be it brief liaison with Aaron and the lows of moving on into an unknown existence. To be honest Hen had seen it all, or so she thought.
If there was one time of the year that Hen would’ve bet good money on being able put a smile on Athena’s face it was Christmas. And yet, her best friend seemed more miserable than ever. So much so that Hen had even avoided her for a short time. She wasn’t proud of that, certainly not her finest moment as a friend, and she had planned to make it up to Athena over shopping and dinner and had a fully formed plan in mind to achieve that. Except, when she picked up Athena earlier today, her plan had been thrown completely off track. No longer was her friend irritable and snappy, no, the mood had shifted it seemed, to be replaced with an air of nervous energy, tinged with just a small amount of distraction.
They had shopped away the afternoon, successfully securing gifts for Karen and some more for the kids but it was Athena’s somewhat frantic search for a new outfit that had first piqued Hen’s interest. Athena’s closet was impeccable, Hen knew this, and yet there was in a bag right now a brand new pair of skinny jeans and a rather nice sleeveless red wrap top.
It was at that point that Hen had steered them into a cosy Italian restaurant and wisely waited until they were onto the second glass of wine before she began her inquisition.
“So?” Hen raised one eyebrow at her friend across the table, watching Athena’s reaction closely. She wasn’t looking at her fully, that was always a tell tale sign that she was guarding something.
“So what?”
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on or am I going to have to piece it together myself?”
“Nothings going on Hen,” Athena shrugged, twisting her wine glass as she watched the deep red liquid swirl around inside, “I’m just not feeling the season yet is all.”
“Is it Michael? Is he being difficult about not spending the holiday with the kids?”
“Michael is fine. Surprisingly he seems perfectly happy with the plan for Christmas, admittedly I was prepared for some push back but he’s good with it.”
“Then what has had you in such a funk this week, ‘Thena?”
Athena sighed then, on the one hand she really didn’t want to talk about it but on the other, she adored Hen for caring. “Honestly, I don’t even know Hen. I just, feel like I’m forcing it, the whole love and joy and Christmas cheer. The kids deserve a happy Christmas Hen but I’m just not sure I can really, get there, this year.”
“That’s fair,” Hen nodded, leaning forward onto the table with folded arms, “after the year you’ve had girl, no one would expect you to be the queen of Christmas.”
“Have I ever been the queen of Christmas?” Athena arched an eyebrow as Hen laughed in reply.
“You do host a good holiday party ‘Thena! And Karen has always said you have the best decorated tree! Speaking of trees,” Hen paused mid sentence as she watched her friend falter slightly as she lifted her glass to her lips. The movement would have been imperceptible to most but Hen knew her best friend too well, she’d hit a nerve somewhere, “I hear Cap is taking you to pick out a tree tomorrow?”
Hen’s eyes narrowed as she watched Athena take a long drink, stalling, for some reason.
“He is.”
“Since when did you two become such good friends?”
“Bobby and I have always been friends, Hen.”
“Sure, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the two of you hanging out alone before.”
Athena took a long deep breath in as she prepared her next response, unwittingly fuelling Hen’s newly established intrigue.
“He offered, and to be honest I could use the help it’s not easy negotiating a literal tree home and through the house by yourself Hen.” The words sounded defensive but she couldn’t help it, although innocent enough the questions around Bobby had set her heart racing with nervous energy.
“I’d have helped if I’d known ‘Thena, or do you prefer a big strong fireman instead?” Hen took a long sip of her wine as she watched Athena closely. She knew what she was doing with her question and the answer was evident in the blush that covered her best friend’s face.
There was no response to her question verbalised as at that very moment their food arrived, and Hen was certain that Athena breathed a literal sigh of relief.
For a few minutes neither spoke, instead eating in a companionable silence. Hen took the time as she ate her pasta to really think about Athena’s reaction to the mere mention of Bobby and her mind began to analyse their past interactions. Even just the previous evening at the bar, it was obvious now that she was looking for it, they gravitated to one another, no matter where or when, the two of them were so obviously drawn to each other. What Hen had always considered simple friendly banter between her best friend and her boss now looked more and more like flirting. The way he looked at Athena and the way she looked at him, could there be something more here?
“Last night at the bar, this mood you’ve been in seemed to lift a little though right?” Hen spoke quietly, still watching her friend as she nodded in reply.
“I had a nice time, Bobby was right, it was good to get out of my head for a while.”
“I mean, your mood lifted when you were around him.”
“Hen,”
“Hear me out a second ‘Thena,” Hen placed her cutlery down on her plate and looked intently at her friend across the table, “now that I think about it, all you’ve been through the past few months, you’re always at your most relaxed when Cap is around.”
“Hen,”
“Thena, be honest, to yourself as much as me, do you have feelings for Bobby?”
“Yes.”
Hen’s eyes widened in an instant, not expecting such an honest reply so quickly, but there was a conviction in her tone that left Hen with no doubt that she meant it.
“Thena,”
“I know, it’s insane, Hen!”
“How long?”
“Oh god I don’t know, maybe I’ve always liked him, maybe now that I’m free to actually feel what I feel my subconscious has just let it come to the surface, I have no earthly idea Hen.”
“So, is tomorrow like a date or…?”
“No idea, I mean, Bobby said it was but did he mean it or was he just being sarcastic?”
“You want me to ask him, I could just text him…”
“Hen!”
“I’m kidding! Do you want it to be a date?”
“Did you see me trying on six different new outfits today or?”
“Oh yeah you definitely want it to be a date, that red blouse screams date.”
“Hen, what if I’m reading this all wrong? What if he really does just care about me as a friend?”
Hen sat back in her seat and thought about her friends question, honestly, she didn’t have the answer, but she did see potential. They were good together, they could be even better together, if they were both just brave enough to try.
“Honestly, I think the only person that can answer that is Cap. Look, spend the day with him tomorrow, just the two of you, no distractions. Wear the new sexy red top with that fitted leather jacket and if he does like you, girl he won’t be able to resist you.”
“You think?”
Hen nodded, smiling softly at the nervous look on Athena’s face, how she had never picked this up before she would never know. It was as obvious as the sky is blue. “Thena, it’s Bobby, just talk to him, tell him how you feel.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, and hey, if you need a little helping hand I can always swing by while you’re out and hang some mistletoe over your front door!”