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The sun is slowly going up on the horizon, bathing the gorge and the valley below in a warm, embracing light.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?”
Beatrice takes a moment to consider her answer. She’s never had time before to pause and stare at the beauty of the world, there’s always been something more important to do, some mission to be focused on. Her life has been the one of a servant; first, being the dutiful daughter her parents wanted, keeping her flaws at bay, and mastering skill after skill in hopes that they would, someday, acknowledge her efforts. But, those efforts took her into a path that would strip her away from any freedom; she became a servant of God. At least, even if she made that choice being heavily influenced by her family and the environment she grew up in, becoming a nun took her on a path that gave purpose to her life, alongside a true family and a cause important enough to leave her freedom behind.
So, she never had time to admire how beautiful a sunrise could be.
But now, she’s not a servant anymore.
Ava gave her that.
She gave her so many things in so little time, and Beatrice blames herself for not being able to see them right until the moment that the woman she loves went through that portal.
Bea finally turns towards the person at her side and smiles.
“It is beautiful,” she says answering the previous question, “But I saw an angel fall to Earth two days ago and it’s difficult to top that.”
“Well, that was not a graceful fall.”
Beatrice reaches out to tug a wild strand of hair behind the other girl’s ear and smiles fondly.
“At least, it was water this time and not concrete.”
+++++++++++++
Beatrice had stayed behind at the Cat’s Cradle with the excuse of making sure that everything was in order before leaving for the new headquarters. Mother Superion saw through the nun’s stoic façade though, but once everything important was packed, she left with Camila and the others, giving Beatrice the peaceful solitude that she needed.
It wasn’t until she found herself completely alone, that Beatrice broke down and mourn the loss of the only person that made her feel alive in years.
That night, after crying for hours, she took her bag and went down to the city, to sleep there for a few hours before joining the others.
She had a specific place in mind.
One slow afternoon, back in the Alps, Ava had told her about that first night with the halo, how it felt being able to walk again, run again, after twelve years of being stuck on a bed. She told her about the beach, about the overwhelming joy of feeling the sand and the water on her skin. How, for a few moments, she felt like the happiest person in the world.
So, that’s where her feet took her; the beach where Ava started living again.
It’s funny how history has a way to repeat itself sometimes.
Beatrice felt a weird disturbance in the air at first, like static all around her, which was soon followed by a deep rumble. Something told her that it wasn’t just the weather changing.
Then, the night sky was ripped open and her heart skipped a beat or two.
Something came through the hole in the stars and was quickly falling towards the dark waters.
There was a yell before the waves engulfed the fallen body.
Bea would have recognized that swearing anywhere.
+++++++++++++
“I still can’t believe you’re here.”
Bea’s hand cups Ava’s cheek gently, letting her thumb softly stroke the sun-kissed skin. Ava leans slightly against the touch, closes her eyes, and smiles. There are now little wrinkles on her face, but she looks happy and relaxed.
“This still feels like a dream to me.” She says with a bit of sadness in her voice, “I’ve been feeling the ghost of your arms around my body for years. My brain is still catching up.”
“It seems unfair now that I’ve only mourned you for three days.”
“I’m happy that you didn’t have to do it for longer. Imagine if I had come back twenty years older.”
Beatrice can’t help but entertain that thought for a moment. Twenty-seven years old Ava has been a shock, but it was still her Ava, puppy eyes, goofy smile, and all. But…, forty years old Ava would have hit completely differently.
+++++++++++++
She was on her feet and running towards the water in seconds.
Her heart was hammering against her chest, the salty air was impossible to breathe, and the wet, sticky clothes against her body were making it harder to swim, but nothing mattered at that moment.
The only thing on her mind was reaching Ava.
A few minutes later they’re lying on the sand, completely wet, but holding each other so tightly that the freezing air of the night doesn’t even register in their minds.
“Are you real?” Beatrice desperately asked, drowning her sobs against Ava’s neck, “Tell me I’m not losing my mind, please.”
“I’m here, Bea. I’m here.”
Beatrice held onto her even tighter, terrified of the possibility that the other girl would disappear again if she’d let go of her. After a couple of minutes, though, Ava started pulling away, just a little, enough to be able to look at her, but Beatrice felt like the air wasn’t flowing into her lungs anymore.
“It’s okay, Bea, I’m not going anywhere,” The other girl reassured her, leaning over her to place the softest kiss on the nun’s forehead, “But we need to get out of this beach and find someplace warmer to change and rest. I don’t know about you, but I would die for a big, comfy bed.”
Ava’s voice was different, somehow. Still soft, still her, but deeper, stronger, older… And Beatrice, remembering how much Michael had grown up before coming back, couldn’t help but wonder how long it’s been for her on the other side.
“I know you have a lot of questions,” Ava said as if she could read her mind, “And I’ll answer them all, I promise, but not tonight. Tonight I just want to fall asleep with you in my arms.”
In the end, they went back to the little hostel room that Beatrice had booked to spend the night. It was small and the bed wasn’t as big as Ava would have liked, but it was comfortable. They wouldn’t need that much space, anyway.
While they were changing into warmer clothes, Beatrice couldn’t help but stare at the other girl and take her in. Ava, in an attempt to give her some privacy without leaving the bedroom, had turned around and removed her drenched shirt, which gave Beatrice an unobstructed view of her back. Ava had already been pretty toned while training at the Alps, but now she could trace with her eyes every single muscle moving. It would have made a very enjoyable view if it wasn’t for the number of scars engraved on her beautiful skin.
Before she could think about it, Beatrice closed the distance and let her hand reach to touch the exposed back, letting her fingers trace the edge of the only scar she had seen before, feeling the warm energy of the halo still there, and then, moving gently towards the new ones.
Ava shivered and Bea had the instinct to pull away, but the other girl seemed to notice and leaned more into the touch.
“Things work a bit differently there. The halo works differently.” Ava said. Her voice barely a whisper, “They could have cleaned them, but I needed a reminder of time moving forward.”
Beatrice, who was still trying to process that she was really there, alive and soft under her touch, gently stroked with her thumb the scar closer to the halo.
“Will you tell me about each one?”
+++++++++++++
“Oh my god… You’re totally thinking about it!” Ava starts laughing at that, “Do you have a thing for older women?”
“I have a thing for you, regardless the age.”
“Even with all my new, fancy scars?”
“Even with the ones I can’t see.”
“You’re such a sweet talker.” There’s a playful smile on Ava’s lips as she leans closer, wrapping her arms around Beatrice’s waist and hiding her face in the crook of the other girl’s neck. “You should keep your charm at bay, though, because I have very little self-restraint and you’re still a nun.”
“Just on paper.”
Ava sighs and the warm breath on her skin makes Bea shiver a little. It’s kind of funny how that stubborn woman still wants to respect her vows, even when Beatrice herself hasn’t given them a second thought since the moment they kissed. It’s not like she wants to jump right into bed with the other girl; that would be too much, too soon, and Bea’s grateful that she wants to give her time to process and think carefully about her next steps, but…
She doesn’t want to wait. She doesn’t need to wait.
Beatrice almost lost the love of her life and, with her, the faith in a God that only takes and never gives. But then, by some miracle, Ava came back. So, she takes that miracle as a sign from the Universe to finally listen to her heart.
+++++++++++++
“I heard you, you know?”
Ava’s voice was barely a whisper, but Beatrice could feel the vibration of each word against the hand that the other girl was keeping close to her heart. They’d been lying in bed for a while now; Beatrice engulfing Ava’s whole body from behind so tight that she could feel every breath, every sigh… She was planning on spending the whole night awake, just absorbing and committing to memory every single minute of it, when Ava interrupted her thoughts.
“What?”
“You said it back,” Ava explains, “I think the portal was still working after I went through and it carried your voice to the other side. It’s what kept me sane all this time.”
“I thought I was too late…” Beatrice admitted, thinking back to the moment and how she had been in such a shock that Ava’s words didn’t register in her mind until the girl was gone.
Ava turned around, until they were face to face, and brought a hand to gently stroke Beatrice’s face. Slowly, she leans a little closer, enough to leave the cutest kiss on the other girl’s nose.
“Bea…, I already knew,” She said, smiling at how oblivious Beatrice had been all the time they spent at the Alps, “You wear your emotions on your sleeve.”
“I do not,” Beatrice complained.
The other girl snorts at that and had to lean again to erase the little frown that appeared between Bea’s brows.
“You do, at least when I’m around.”
At that comment, something got triggered in her mind and Beatrice felt anxious again. Ava was there now, in her arms, warm, soft, and alive but..., for how long?
“Will you stay around?” Bea asked when all she wanted to say was ‘Can I keep you forever?’
Ava took a deep breath, giving herself a moment before answering. Beatrice knew that she was asking too much, that her question implied a whole universe of feelings that they had yet to talk about, and she was ready to take back her words when she felt the softest pressure on her lips.
That woman and her ability to make her brain go blank were astonishing.
“I fought heaven and hell to come back to you, Bea. I can’t promise forever, because there are bigger things coming, but I will fight with teeth and claws whoever tries to keep us apart again.”
+++++++++++++
The street behind them is starting to get a little busier now. The sun is completely up and people are starting their day, without paying too much attention to the couple standing at the bridge. She knows that Ava promised Mateo the night before that they would help with breakfast, but they still have some time to enjoy the peaceful views.
“So..., have you thought about what you’re going to tell Mother Superion and the others?”
“Not really,” Bea sighs, “I don’t want to lie to them, though. I just want to give her the letter resigning my vows and get out before she sees through me.”
“That woman is just too smart.”
“And scary,” Beatrice points out. “Are you sure we can’t tell them that you’re back?”
Ava sighs heavily and turns a little to stare at the horizon.
“I know I’m being selfish,” She says, “Wanting to spend a couple of days here, asking you to come with me for a while without the OCS knowing… I know I should go back to my duty as the Warrior Nun, that it’s what everyone expects… But I want some time for me, for us, before we have to go back to save the world, again.”
Beatrice leans closer again, finally brave enough to be the one to capture Ava’s lips in a reassuring kiss. It’s a kiss that says that she’s not alone in the fight, a kiss that promises that she’ll follow that woman wherever she goes.
She made new vows the first night that Ava came back, not to God, but to the woman sleeping peacefully in her arms. Beatrice would love and cherish her as if every day would be their last.
“Let us be selfish together, then. The world will have to wait.”