Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Being a pro tennis player is a dream. Being a competitive player on the singles tour is the peak, so what’s the doubles tour? Is it the same? Does it have the same fame? Glitz and glamour? No. It doesn’t, but what it lacks in all that for Beatrice, a doubles player after a career In the singles never really worked out for her, not by lack of skill but by just her abilities being better suited to the doubles format; it more than makes up for it in utter enjoyment.

More than enjoyment, it’s incredible; she loves playing as a doubles player. Why does she love it so much? Why does she enjoy it more than any singles match she played? Simple. She gets to do it with her best friend, not only a best friend, but her childhood best friend Ava. They're a team, and they have a hell of a lot of fun while being so. She’s won Grand Slam titles with Ava; she’s played some of the most intense matches you’ll ever watch with her, and she’s loved every single minute of it. She’d never trade her years playing with Ava for any singles career. Never.

She and Ava just have this flow. This intimate understanding of each other’s game. Each other as people, kinda understandable considering the childhood best friends part. It just all comes together on court to be this beautiful blur. This blur of speed and skill synced up thinking and communication without words when they go through intense rallies.

Like now at the famed Australian Open. The season-opening slam, she and Ava flow through a rally with some qualifiers from Sweden. Twins who are basically the same person, if you ask Beatrice, considering how everything about them is the same on court and off it. They’re nice people, and Ava and she are friendly with them, like most on the doubles tour. But right now Beatrice is just too in sync with her own partner to focus on them. Too focused, too dialled in.

She’s at the net with Ava beside her, going through a volley-filled rally wearing a multi-coloured blue and red top and skirt and a headband, and Ava is in dark green with a backwards cap that fits her goofy, unpredictable personality pretty well and tennis attire, a dress, fighting off an attack on their serve from the Swedes at break point.

Ava volleys a ball downward to catch one of the Swedes by surprise, but it’s quickly returned with a delicate touch to Beatrice’s right. She slides beyond the lines of the service box and slices back. In doubles, the whole court within any white lines is fair game during a rally, unlike in singles where you can’t hit it beyond the sidelines. It makes the court bigger for more competitors, and Beatrice uses all of it now to return effectively. She pushes one of the Swedes to backpedal and ultimately miss the return.

She resets and gets back to even footing, feeling a grin brew; she likes to focus, but she loves playing with Ava. It’s such a rush she can’t help it. Ava’s a fireball—a wacky person, and she gets caught up in her energy even like this. She understands her more than most, but even to her, Ava's unpredictable sometimes.

“Deuce.” The umpire gives the score.

“Boom!” Ava exclaims with a fist pump and a jump and catches Beatrice off guard like always as they save a break point. Dork. Always the goofy dork,

She rolls her eyes like she so often does when Ava does the unexpected and high-fives the toothy grinning dork. “Focus, idiot.”

“Tsss! You focus; I’m on fire right now, Beatrix.” Ava sticks her tongue out, and Urgh, not that nickname again. How many times has she told Ava to stop with it? A lot. It’s Beatrice in Latin. Ava calls her everything but Beatrice. Which is cool; they’re childhood best friends. She just likes to use every blooming version of her name. There’s Beatriz; she uses, there’s blaaah, Trixie. She particularly hates that one. That’s why Ava uses it so often, and of course Bea. The default one. The other ones include Beate the German way and Beata the Polish and Swedish way.

Well, they’re going to Beata these two Swedes right now. She could imagine Ava coming up with that sort of quip at some point today.

She snorts and points to her temple; Ava waves a hand dismissively, laughing, and gives a shoulder bump. She gives it back. Ava may be a dork, a wacky one, but truly she’s her friend for life. Nothing's going to split this duo up. Best friends for life—that’s her and Ava. Champions and partners in tennis crime. Even in their older years, she’ll still be playing with Ava. It’s too fun to ever stop.

Have you and Ava ever considered getting together? People ask, like, once a day. The answer is always no. She may have had romantic feelings toward Ava when they were teens, but it was always an impossibility. Ava’s straight. She's never had interest in women, and that’s fine. Totally fine, Ava once said to their friend and fellow doubles player Camila, “Dude, she’s like my sister, gross, and I’m not into chicks, but I’d be waaaay out of her league if I was.” Beatrice, of course, eye-rolled, as is tradition, when Ava opened her mouth to speak. But words like that just hit home. That she and Ava would always just be friends.

That's fine, and Beatrice moved on from her feelings a long time ago. Well more than fine, as Beatrice is well…engaged to be married after this slam.

Beatrice grabs a few balls from a ball boy and, for the briefest of moments, allows herself to focus in on her engagement ring. Zori. She met her on the tour as Zori’s singles career took off. She just clicked with her, and her parents are friends with Zori’s, so it all fit. She never imagined getting engaged or married, but Zori changed that. She’s just a kind, beautiful person, and she’s more than lucky to have her. Ava likes her too, which was a must. So yeah, she loves Zori; everyone loves her, and she’s comfortable with her. She feels safe with her, and honestly, that’s all she wants from a partner. Safety and love.

Ava comes to stand next to her, and Beatrice covers her mouth as she gives instructions. “I’m going to go down the line for this Aves; try not to get hit again.” She teases. Very much remembering the first service game of this set, Ava accidentally getting bonked on the head with a serve. Honestly, she’s not sure that it wasn’t a terrible thing. Maybe it bonked the nonsense out of Ava’s silly brain.

Ava scoffs. “You try not to hit me, Beatriz.” And jogs to the court.

“I’ll do my best.” She chuckles and gets to her serve. She serves and gets a nice ace.

And what about Ava’s love life? Well, that’s complicated… and not something Ava likes to talk about anymore; she’s completely cut off dating from her life after the Rafael scandal.

Long story short. He’s a player on the men’s circuit, and Ava had an affair with him while knowing and being friends with his wife, or now ex-wife, Crimson. It ended in tears and Ava getting sent to the ER with a broken nose.

Ava hasn’t dated since then and hasn’t wanted to. Rafael broke her heart maybe? Ava never talks about it, so Beatrice is none the wiser. She didn’t even know about Ava being with him in the first place, so she knows little. They know everything about each other, but Ava’s love life is something she's always been very mysterious about in the past and flaky, so Beatrice learnt to never push unless Ava came to her. Tennis is at the heart of their friendship and years and years of just being in each other's lives, something Beatrice never wants to see change. Ava's going to be her maid of honour after this slam ends, and no matter what happens in the future to come, she'll always be that special to her. Her best friend.

Chapter Text

2nd round, first game, first service: Beatrice inhales deep with the crowd on court 19 at the Australian Open around her, with a ball in hand. It's into the 2nd set against some experienced or maybe some would say over-the-hill players today. But they’re showing that tag isn’t totally fair.

The first set was a grind. It was tough work against this Polish and Danish pairing in the sweltering Melbourne heat, but she and Ava pushed and fought to win a tight tiebreak to take the set. When they win this and Beatrice is absolutely dialled into the fact they will, as ever, as she starts to bounce her tennis ball against the blue hard court she stands on the baseline of. It’ll be a harder-fought victory than she and Ava expected.

It’ll take out more energy than anticipated for the rounds to come. Something Beatrice doesn’t like so early in as she and Ava go for their first Australian Open title together.

They’ve won multiple slam titles in France and America at the French and US Opens, making them 5-time slam champs, a feat not a lot of doubles teams can boast, but this right here in Melbourne is one of the three tournaments Beatrice craves the most. Wimbledon for home country glory and the Olympic gold. Though that one is not going to be with Ava in Los Angeles in 2028, so it’s a while off. Ava won the gold with her mixed doubles teammate Mario for Portugal, while in the doubles she got bronze.

Beatrice got nowhere near a medal with her partner Lilith in the games, to her chagrin and to Ava’s smug boasting.

Ava isn’t her only partner in this sport over the normal season, though they both have this unbreakable bond as partners in the women’s doubles tour. And likewise for Ava. The mixed doubles for Beatrice – she, on occasion, plays with Frederick. An excellent player at the net, but she’s yet to win with her compatriot Jamie, who she failed miserably with at the Olympics.

Ava hasn’t won on the tour either with Mario, but that gold they won together last summer has pushed her to make the partnership more permanent as she chases glory in all doubles formats. Beatrice is going to save herself with the mixed until after Wimbledon. She wants the two titles she hasn’t gotten with Ava this year.

Ava’s just as determined on that goal. She may be so chaotic and unserious at times, but she’s a born competitor. She wants it all, and she’s striving to do that in every competition this year.

Beatrice grabs her ball after the last bounce in her routine, sweat soaked up by her green headband and her top and wristbands, and goes to serve.

She definitely has concerns about Ava’s fitness over the whole season with how much tennis she wants to play with her and away from her, but Ava determined isn’t to be swayed. She wants more success like Beatrice, and outside of tennis, she has nothing to hold her back from focusing all on it.

Beatrice has Zori, and she’s a player too, but they try to make as much time for each other as possible away from court.

Ava’s life away from the court isn’t as big as it used to be…before Rafael. There’s a steely focus in Ava now to win and win after that. Though don’t get Beatrice wrong; Ava still very much makes time to unwind. She likes nights out when she can find the time.

Beatrice moves back on the balls of her feet. But she makes sure Ava is ducked under the net low enough and sees she is, as her backward cap rests on her back as she bends down with outstretched legs, strong and deeply pressed into the court. Don’t wanna hit Ava’s noggin again like the last round.

The crowd is quiet. The breeze is barely there in this heat, and Beatrice serves. It’s down the line, and there Danish opponent Liva, on her baseline, red-headed and a rugged competitor, smacks a forehand toward Ava.

Ava adjusts as she bounces up to her feet and bangs in a backhand volley.

Liva whips a return as she runs beyond the singles sideline.

Ava volleys it to Iga, the Polish opponent, with another backhand volley at the service line opposite.

Iga tries to scoop a drop shot, and Beatrice shimmies to her left to cover Ava if she misses. Ava, with her typical skill and flexibility, slides on the court in the service boxes. “Argh!” Ava groans with effort. Beatrice shifts to her right as Liva storms up the court to pounce.

Smash! Liva smashes a forehand toward Beatrice’s right. Beatrice smashes it right back with a forehand of her own, aiming for the court white line limit.

Liva reaches with an outstretched racket, but it's gone. 15 love. Good start to the set.

“15, love.” The umpire gives the score.

“Come on.” Beatrice raises a fist, pleased with the effort and good start to the second set, and gets an applause from Ava and her coach, Suzanne, in the crowd. Neither of their parents are here for this today. They’ll be here for the later rounds.

Ava comes back to her jogging, and they fist bump. “Nice work, Trix.”

She glares at Ava for the nickname. Ava grins as she stands next to her, ready to take instruction for the next serve.

“You know how much I despise that one.” She eye rolls and covers her mouth to shield her lips. “I’m going down the sideline.”

“Got it.” Ava heads off with satisfaction at being a pest. Trixie just – ugh – she hates it. Or just Trix this time.

She expels a sharp breath and goes for the serve. It’s fast and too much for Liva. Great. 30 love.

“30 love”.

Ava returns again. “How’s the elbow?”

Beatrice rubs the old injury Ava constantly asks about during matches. “Fine, no issues so far.” She covers her mouth with the ball in hand. “Down the line.”

Ava heads back to the service box, and Beatrice gets set for the next serve. Her routine isn’t a long thing; she just takes a breath and gets to it as ever. “Huu!”

Liva bangs in a forehand loopy return. Smash! Ava smashes it away back onto the service box easily, with no chance to return. Perfect start to the second set.

“40, love.”

Ava silently points to ask where Beatrice is hitting her next serve out of view of their opponents.

Beatrice pats her left leg over her skirt and gives the answer for down the line.

She takes a breath once more, setting, and smash! She serves it down the T line. Liva smashes it back, but it’s long, and that’s game.

Just a gentle clenched fist for that moment; there’s a long way to go in this. Keeping serve is crucial.

She tosses the ball she had stored away and goes to Ava and her own towels together at the side of the court.

“Nice job.” Ava pats her back.

Beatrice hums. “You too. How’s your knee?” She has concerns for Ava like Ava does for her on the court. Ava took a tumble earlier, and it was a hard shunt. Ava’s strong and doesn’t like to be overly fussed over being the brave competitor she is, but Beatrice worries. It’s okay to not be okay after such things.

“It’s good; just a graze. Stay focused.” Ava tells her, and Beatrice laughs at the notion.

“Me stay focused?” She dabs at her neck with her towel.

Ava does a growl and a little clawing with her fingers as she cleans some sweat off under her cap. “Whoa. Put your claws down, Trix. I know you’re thinking about Zori playing too.”

“No, I’m not. She’s got this.” She really isn’t. She has utter faith Zori will get through. She’s early in her career, and every slam is a learning curve.

She kisses her ring for luck and hopes Zori can pull it off today; it would be such a big thing for her.

“Stop being a sappy fiancé. Kissing that ring isn’t going to get her the win.” Ava pushes her arm, shaking her head at the idea.

“Every little helps.”

Ava stops with her towel on her face. “Did you just reference the Asda tagline?”

“No.” She covers her face with her towel. Asda is a supermarket chain back home. But that isn’t the slogan for it.

“You totally did. Are you going to tap your butt after like they do in those adverts?” Ava shoves her arm again, jesting.

“That’s Tesco. Asda is 'That's Asda price', then the butt tap.” She corrects, and they always find a way of doing this sort of thing mid-game to keep things light. It’s always fun and easy playing with Ava, even when the stakes are so high.

Ava clicks her tongue and plops her towel back down. “Look at you memorising all the hoity-toity supermarkets back home.”

“Stop.” She tries to not smile, but Ava just always makes her smile at whatever nonsense that comes out of her mouth. Best friend for life.

They head back to the court, and that light feeling remains as Beatrice moves to the service box for Liva's serve. She gets ready for the first serve but sees Ava has stopped behind her to stare at something in the crowd. She follows the look and… Rafael is in the opponents' corner, tanned and grinning at Ava. Prick. She wishes Ava would open up with her about him or anything about that side of her life, but she never does.

She jogs over to Ava as she stays rooted on her baseline, not ready for the serve. “Ava.”

Ava blinks with a totally faraway expression. “Yeah?”

“Focus.” She places her hand on Ava’s sweaty shoulder.

Ava just nods, but still her focus has been altered. Rafael and her cheating on Crimson is a story she doesn’t know a lot about, but it’s clear Rafael still has an effect on Ava. She hates to think of Ava in any bad light, but she did have an affair with a married man. She betrayed a friend she knows. Ava would never hurt her, but she does wonder why she did such a thing. Maybe it was just lust and passion. Maybe it was love. Maybe she should finally ask her about it properly rather than dancing around it.

Chapter Text

Game, set and match. The contest ended, and Beatrice, after an ice bath and recovery, rests back against the black wooden lockers in the women’s locker rooms. Just recovering for a moment mentally post-match. She’s a big fan of meditation and clearing one’s mind to calm all thoughts. Zori won, so she’s not worried over that. She’ll see her in, like, a few minutes or earlier when she gets to the locker rooms.

Ava sits beside her with a big sigh. “Remember the first time we came to Melbourne?”

“Of course I do.” She sneaks in a little smile in remembering. “You ran out of our hotel room screaming, ‘There’s a fucking tarantula the size of Ed’s tooth gap in the tub! To your mom.” She fondly remembers that time when their parents would join them for these events, or rather one of them did, both hers and Ava’s.

“You enjoyed that way too much; I came back, and you were holding the thing and called it...”

“Leggy”. She remembers well.

Ava groans long and rests her arm on Beatrice’s shoulder. “Leggy almost made me take the first flight back home.”

“You were just a scaredy-cat; he was harmless. Zori loves spiders, so she...”

“She loves them because you love them. I swear she loves anything you like. Mostly." Ava adds with a fondness for her fiancé but then a big yawn. “God, I’m tired. Think I’ll head back to the hotel now. Get some sleep.”

Beatrice yawns too, calm with her friend as per always. Having a childhood best friend behind Zori is her greatest joy; no one knows her more than Ava. She just wishes she knew Ava in the same complete way she knows her.

Ava pats her lips and rests her weight on Beatrice, worrying Beatrice. She opens her eyes to see Ava in a zipped-up jacket and freshly washed hair on her shoulder, eyes closed and needing sleep.

“I don’t know why you’re stretching yourself so thin like this. Well, I do, but there’s so much time.”

Ava outstretches her bare legs beyond her skirt and then does the same with her arms cutely, like the cutest of kittens. “I wanna win it all in every way.”

“Well, not singles, remember?” She nudges Ava, and Ava stops stretching. She rests back on Beatrice’s shoulder with a sigh.

“Never singles.” Ava repeats dreamily.

“Go back to the hotel; you’re right, you’re beat.” She randomly thinks of carrying Ava to her hotel. That would alert Ava, and then she’d laugh and then be embarrassed by it all, but they’d laugh. They could laugh in almost any moment together, she and Ava

“I am. Is your elbow…”

“Would you stop asking about my damned elbow? It’s fine. It’s been fine for years.” She tells Ava off, not in a serious way though.

“Does Zori get an earful just for worrying? I know it hurts on occasion.” Ava puffs out her cheeks and gets off Beatrice.

“Sorry. It does. And that fall really was heavy. Are you sure it’s alright? Might bruise.” She looks over Ava’s knee and sees the red and raw skin. Yeah, it’ll bruise.

Ava starts to place her last few belongings in her sport bag at her feet. “It was just a shock, you know it is when something like that happens. I’ll be alright, thanks, Trix. Got my match with Mario tomorrow.”

She goes to scowl at Trix but drops it. “Against the Scottish pair?” She bites her gums at the mention of Scottish. Crimsons from there.

“Yup, it should be a win if we perform like how we’ve been doing.” Ava zips up her bag and hoists her bag to be next to her. “You know I’ve been thinking.”

“Uh oh.” She prepares for anything to come out of Ava’s mouth as per.

Ava pushes her hair back in its damp way and sits back. “I might dye a bit of my hair again like when we were kids.”

“Oh?” She reminisces some more. Ava dyed her hair every colour under the sun when they were younger. Her favourite was a little blue at the ends.

“You think it’s too much if I try it again?” Ava worries.

“No, you do you. You always pull off any look.” She does frustratingly. She could wear a potato sack, and she’d make it look classy.

Ava glances over with a small smile. “You know you do too; don’t put yourself down all the time, and if you wore a dress at the wedding, it would look perfect…"

“I’m not wearing a dress.” She has wanted to, but…she doesn’t know Zori wants her in a tux, and that’s fine; she likes that idea.

“Hey?” Ava’s hand rests on her shoulder, supporting – or who knows, sometimes with Ava.

She rests her head back, not wanting to think about the wedding. No, she means she’s excited, but it slightly petrifies her, to be honest. Not the marrying Zori part, of course not. It’s just standing in front of all her friends and family and strangers that Zori and her own parents are inviting. It is scary. She’s terrible in large crowds if it’s not on a tennis court, and she’s worried she’ll not get her vows out or speak in incoherent sentences or any kind for that matter. She would've preferred a smaller affair.

“If you want to wear a dress, then you should. Zori shouldn't mind, and if she truly does, then…” Ava mouths a little hesitant.

“Then what?” She pushes.

Ava darts her gaze to her then away and shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“It’s fine, Aves; it’s a small sacrifice to make Zori happy. You said it yourself; she likes anything I like, and I like tuxedos too." She fiddles with her earring about it. It’s just a small thing; it’s totally fine.

“And why can’t you both be totally comfortable and happy on your wedding day?” Ava tuts again about it.

“Please don’t bring it up with her. We’ve agreed on it. I…”

“Don’t wanna upset her?” Ava barbs at Zori back at Beatrice.

Beatrice is protective of her fiancé, so she bats Ava back. “She’s really keen about it, and I want her to be totally happy…”

“Again, you should be too. I may not be the best at giving relationship advice, but I know this, Bea. The day isn’t just about her; it’s about you and her, you both being a team for the rest of your lives, and I don’t think it’s a way to start it. Fifty years from now, what would you like to see when you look at your wedding photos? You in the tux you didn’t wanna wear or you both in dresses you both wanted to.”

That leaves Beatrice a bit taken aback. Ava’s very passionate about the subject, and she usually reserves that for tennis. Away from it, she’s, of course, a sounding board for Beatrice and kind, and just, well, Ava.

“I…uh. I don’t know. A tux.” She lies.

Ava pushes her tongue against her cheek, not believing. “You don’t want a bloody tux Bea fucking hell it just pisses me off you accepting something you don’t want.” Ava gets up roughly with her bag.

“Why are you so upset by it?” She gets up with Ava, confused at the passion over it. It’s just a small thing.

“Because it’s not right!” Ava shouts at Beatrice, surprising her totally, and faces her angrily. She never raises her voice unless it’s in an excited or silly way, never angry.

“Calm down, yeesh.” She looks around nervously at Lilith tying her shoelaces for her match with her partner, Dora. “Is this about you seeing Rafael in Iga’s and Liva’s corner?”

Ava backs off with a step back and sudden heavy blinking. “Of course not.”

She sees the chance to finally just ask about it. “Why don’t you ever talk to me about that side of your life? We’re best friends; we’ve been that for all our lives, but you never wanna discuss it.”

Ava pinches her earlobe, a little nervous tick of hers that she’s had her whole life. “I just don’t want to.”

That hurts.

“I don’t judge you over it.” She palms Ava’s shoulder, comforting her.

“Everyone judges me about it, Bea. I don’t get involved in that shit anymore or with him. I just wanna play tennis, win everything and go to my best friend's wedding, not having to think about how she’s wearing something she doesn’t wanna fucking wear.” Ava turns to go.

“Hey!?” She grabs Ava’s wrist. Ava pulls herself away.

“Don’t talk about Raf again. I don’t wanna talk about him. Ever.”

“Because he broke your heart when he didn’t wanna be with you after Crimson?” She asks with the suspicion she has.

Ava stops and looks back with a locked jaw. “Oh, he wanted me alright. just not alone and…he wasn’t the one…nevermind.”

That totally takes Beatrice off guard. “What do you mean?”

Ava slumps. “Doesn’t matter. See you later.”

Ava walks away, and Beatrice just watches on, a little stunned over what just happened.

“That Rafael’s a pig.” Lilith chimes in.

Beatrice starts at the interjection from her friend now with her cap on and ready to go. “They both cheated, Lil.”

Lilith scoffs and grabs her sports bag. “He’s a pig of a man, and I’ll leave it at that.”

“What? Ava was the one who got the brunt of everything after that affair…”

“None of my business, sorry.” Lilith leaves too, leaving Beatrice more intrigued than ever.

Maybe she hasn’t been as good a friend as Ava has been to her. She’s supported her always, but if Ava didn’t wanna talk about that part of herself, she wasn’t going to push her. Maybe she should’ve.

“Baby! Did you see the match!?” Zori arrives, and Beatrice is hugged from behind, and it’s such a calm after what just happened. She spins on the spot and gives her perfect fiancé a big hug. She's sweaty and adrenaline-filled, and she won. She did it.

“I was playing Z, you know that. I’m so proud of you, though. I knew you’d do it.” She hugs tight and lifts her fiancé off the ground. Such a big moment, and she’s just sorry she couldn’t be in her box, but she does have her own career.

“I smashed Emma’s butt!” Zori proclaims happily, and Beatrice can’t help but laugh too, but the lump in her throat from that earlier moment doesn’t go away.

“Yeah, you did!” She adds happily that they both succeeded and sets Zori down and gives her a peck.

“Where’s Ava?” Zori spots the lack of Ava.

“Oh, she just left. She’s tired.” She rubs Zori’s arm, calming and enjoying Zori’s bright smile underneath her cap. She’s adorable when she’s happy, and that’s what Beatrice strives to make her constantly.

“Oh.” Zori breathes in to calm, but the smile and kick of winning won’t be going away tonight.

Beatrice suspects she’ll have a lot of energy for, um… some things, to her smirk.

“Well, Mom and Dad are waiting for me, so I’ll have my cool down and…”

“I’ll go say hi.” She cups Zori’s smiling, burning cheek and gets another big excited hug. Excited about this and the wedding, and Beatrice is as well. It’s an exciting time for them both. Very much so.

Chapter Text

Still thinking about Ava’s words about Rafael a day on as Ava is playing with Mario in the mixed doubles. Beatrice is having lunch with Zori’s parents and Zori at a beer garden in the city. One of the benefits of not being famous like the major stars of tennis, despite all the slams she's won, is the ability to just exist in such spaces without being accosted.

Mostly.

She still gets spotted and asked for an autograph, but it’s usually recently because she’s recognised for being the shit British doubles player who failed miserably at the Olympics.

Score for her! She means sarcastically. It’s just doubles players aren’t as keenly followed; it’s not as popular by a long way. It’s fine. She looks at huge singles players getting swamped by fans and thinks, No, not for me. She means back home she can be, but nowhere else other than on the odd occasion.

Zori could become that sort of star, though. She’s got the talent and the drive, so it could be something to get used to down the road. She just hopes it doesn’t maybe change her. Stardom can do that to a person but she’s sure Zori won’t be like that if she does become big.

Beatrice has known players like that. Some stay humble, like before; others become consumed by the things success gives them. Big money deals with big sponsorship companies and becoming a draw for advertisements for the biggest brands; it can go to one’s head.

Beatrice has done a commercial or two, and she does have big sponsors, but there are levels to it. Zori going big means her face would be instantly recognisable; she’ll become a brand and a tennis star, so that would be an adjustment to Beatrice’s easy life away from court. Not majorly, but it could be.

“I knew in set 1 you had her pumpkin; it’s in the eyes.” Davide Zori’s dad, enjoying the libations a bit too much, raises his beer cup to Zori with pride. He’s dribbling down his beard with the beer.

“Daaad, stooop.” Zori whines and bats his hand away from it as she holds Beatrice’s arm.

She’s kind of... okay, there’s no kind of, she’s keeping an eye on Ava’s match on her phone under the table. She wants her to win and achieve her dreams too, despite the inevitable bragging of Ava winning the mixed. It’s how they’ve always been.

Tennis friends. She saddens at that as Ava punches the air then slaps at Mario's hand, celebrating a terrific backhand from Mario to take the first break of the first set. (Of course her phone is muted.)

She shares everything with Ava, always has, and maybe that’s a stupid thing to think – no, it is. She and Ava are, of course, more than friends in tennis, but there’s this big part of Ava she hides from her, like she’s not worthy of seeing it.

She wants her best friend to be happy, and she is, but isn’t it normal for friends of the kind they are, more like sisters, to share that sort of thing? It just hurts that Ava has one part of herself she doesn’t feel comfortable sharing. A lot.

She’s never pushed to know more. She’s seen Ava say, Oh, that guy's hot, or something more crude, but Ava has never asked for advice or come to her with boy, then guy, troubles, and it just sucks the more Beatrice thinks of it. Well, she can’t give advice on guys, obviously. Relationships she can, though.

She inwardly sighs and attempts to focus on the conversation with Zori’s parents. She’ll start pushing more with Ava. Those words about Rafael have sparked new flames of interest about it for her. She said Rafael wanted her but not alone? And he wasn’t the one who dot dot dot unknown?

Not alone? What does that mean? Well, there’s one obvious answer, and it maybe explains Lilith’s jibe at Rafael. Did he want Crimson still after the affair and Ava? In what way? Like an open relationship, um, thing? She could imagine that would’ve crushed Ava, but that’s just it – she’s imagining. She has no idea how Ava felt about him at all. None at all, and she hates not knowing. Ava doesn’t want her to know.

“So round three for our superstar next up! Are you ready, sweetheart? You’ll smash it; I know it.” Zori’s mom, Sandra, in this big, oversized sun hat, taps the table, or rather, she taps wood to ward off bad luck.

She likes both of Zori’s parents; they’re a bit rough round the edges sometimes, but they’re good people, and they’ve raised a beautiful daughter.

“Yeah, I will, won’t I?” Zori doffs her cap, being silly, and her usual, easily pretty self. In an unbuttoned shirt and vest underneath a look Beatrice matches. Not a coincidence, as Zori thought it would look cute to match. And it is. Very sweet and cute.

“Oh, you definitely will. You’re incredible.” She takes Zori’s cap and sets it down backwards on her own head like Ava, so she has both looks on.

“Hey, baby, don’t ruin the match!” Zori yoinks her cap back and plops it back on her head again.

She turns her cap around to match Ava anyway. “This is me showing support for Aves today.” She preens and then enjoys a chip in the centre of the table.

Zori tuts. “You look goofy.”

“What’s wrong with being a goof? It makes Ava happy.” She laughs and taps her plastic cup against Davide’s.

“Right you are, Beatrice. The world needs more goofs like us.” He points at her and winks – total soon-to-be daughter-in-law and father-in-law vibes going on. It feels strange to acknowledge that. He’ll be her father-in-law. Ava’s dad Ted has always felt like a second dad to her; she guesses she’ll have one real dad and two other types of dads now.

“Ava’s happy and single.” Zori barbs and Beatrice double-takes while Zori sips her punch.

“What’s that got to do with that? Any guy would be lucky to be hers.” She didn’t expect that. Zori’s never said anything like that about Ava.

“Mmm, like that woman’s husband she was with.” Sandra chimes in, and Beatrice almost pours her drink on Sandra’s head for that. She can’t hear that about Ava, and she’s shocked at hearing it from Sandra and Zori.

“That’s not fair at all. I...”

“Oh, don’t take it personally, sweetie. She’s a sweet girl, but she cheated with a married man, and in my book, that’s not exactly trustworthy behaviour. Who’d be with her and be able to trust after such a scandal? Trust would be impossible knowing she’s not afraid to cheat with someone.” Sandra utterly disrespects Ava, and she does it with a tone sweeter than this punch in Beatrice’s hand.

She can’t believe what she’s hearing. Just... both Zori's mom and Zori know how important Ava is to her, and they’ve just disrespected her in front of her. It’s not a nice feeling in the least. Beatrice feels compelled to defend Ava. Though she did cheat, and that will follow her around.

“I’m sorry, but that’s nonsense. I’ve known Ava my whole life, and she’s a good person and great partner. She just made a mistake; no one’s perfect, and I don’t see how her making that mistake should follow her about for the rest of her life or how the hell her being goofy has anything to do with her preference to be single. Because that’s what it is. Her choice, and anyone would…”

“Bea, can we not talk about Ava right now? I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said that. It was mean.” Zori gives a peck on the lips, and Beatrice, cut off, feels a little dismissed. Though the apology is what she wanted, she guesses.

She turns her gaze to Davide, wanting to hear his opinion, worrying it's the same.

He stops drinking his beer. “What?”

Beatrice tilts her head with prompting eyes.

He wipes his mouth and puts his cup down. “Ava’s a lovely girl; anyone, as you said, would be lucky to be with her.”

She senses the but.

“But”, and there it is. “Cheating with someone’s husband is never right, Beatrice. Vows are sacred, and I hope you and Zori know that before you take yours.”

“Of course I know that; I’d never hurt your daughter.” She never would and pulls Zori close at the implication she doesn’t know what those vows mean.

She's scared shitless about talking in front of so many people at the wedding, saying them, but she’s not got any doubts about what they’ll be.

“We know that; we trust you implicitly with our Zori.” Sandra calms Beatrice a little with a hand on the table, reaching over kindly.

She nods stiffly at it and picks up her paper fork again for more of her salad. “Still don’t get how Ava being unserious and funny and a goof has anything to do with her relationship status. It doesn’t.” She mutters under her breath.

“It doesn't, you're right. These two are just being ridiculous and ‘ow!” Davide stops and yelps, getting everyone’s attention.

“What happened?” She laughs a little as he winces at something under the table. She quickly sees that Sandra stood on his foot, and her humour dies a death.

He grimaces and drinks from his cup. “Never mind. Sandra doesn’t want me to support the goofy people of the world.”

She glances at Sandra for the first time with distaste. She’s never seen that side of her. Snobbish. What does she prefer people to be? Uptight, with not a humorous bone in their bodies? Sandra isn’t exactly the lady dowager of Downton Abbey, but she’s acting a bit like it. (No offence to the dowager countess from that series; she loves her. She and Ava love that series. Though it makes Ava cry every time she has to see Sybil and Matthew kick the proverbial bucket.)

“So about the wedding.” Sandra picks up a chip and plops it in her mouth, giving Beatrice whiplash at the nonchalant way she’s now being a little silly too.

“Not more tux advice.” She grins at Davide, and he winks back.

Sandra huffs. “No, Beatrice, not that. I was going to talk about the flower arrangements.”

“Oh.” She plays with her salad, standing corrected. Her parents and Zori’s are footing the bill for the wedding after much negotiation. Zori’s wanted to pay for all of it, but Mom and Dad insisted they be a part of it. Of course they want that. They love her and want to help.

“I was thinking roses, Mom. I love roses.” Zori drinks from Beatrice’s cup.

“I’ve always liked ocean blue lilies; could we do both?” She likes that idea, like it’s both she and Zori displayed through flowers across the wedding venue. An outside event.

“Wouldn’t it look a little mismatched? Just roses feels more…” Zori thinks. Beatrice just wants her to be happy. “Elegant.”

“I agree. Red roses are so beautiful, and they need to stand out by themselves, not be overshadowed by silly blue lilies.” Sandra tuts.

Do they now?

“Lilies are just as beautiful.” She denies it,, but half-heartedly. She’s always loved them. Anything blue she loves.

“No, no, Mom. Bea’s totally right; blue is perfect. I love them too.” Zori speaks up for her, and she feels a little better. "We'll find a place for them."

She would leave this all to Zori if she wanted that. She wanted a bigger wedding, so they’re having one. She wants her in a tux, so she’s wearing one. Whatever ensures Zori’s happiness.

Chapter Text

Good first set. It’s been a perfect match so far for Mario and his compatriot and now hopefully regular mixed doubles partner Ava. They make a great team. It was his husband Talos pushing and Ava’s that made this Olympic duo permanent, and here they are performing well at a slam together against the Scottish pair Fergie and Lyall.

Sounds like a TV show, that. Fergie and Lyall like Gwen and Stacy but the Scottish version.

He smirks to himself as he drinks from his water bottle, sweating in this intense heat after removing his drenched cap, and decides to tell Ava.

She loves a laugh mid-match. They’re currently enjoying a well-earned break between sets under an umbrella from the heat next to the umpire's chair on Court 10.

“Hey?” He bumps her shoulder.

Ava wipes her mouth after eating a banana for energy. Her cap still on. It's utterly useless protecting her from the sun the backward way it is. It's more of a style choice.

“Yeah?” She grins, sensing the joke.

He cups his mouth. “Fergie and Lyall, doesn't it sound like one of those sitcoms back in the UK?”

Ava laughs under her breath. “I’d watch it.”

“Same. Though Talos hates that sort of show.” He shakes his head with an eye roll fondly for his partner.

“He’s missing out.” Ava sniffs lightly and grabs her water bottle by her feet.

“Hmm, totally. You and Bea could enjoy it together; I know you love watching your trashy – or, well, any – show or movie with her.” He gets his favourite passion fruit energy gel and squeezes it into his mouth to fuel himself.

Ava uncaps her bottle. “Nah, she spends all her nights with Zori right now. I get it; she is her fiancée after all, and the wedding is soon.” Ava drinks heavily.

He has a slight worry this might be an addition to Ava's calendar she might get an injury doing, but she’s determined. Normally it would be fine, as a lot of players do this, but Ava’s been going nonstop since the Olympics in all formats, like it’s her personal mission to play as much tennis as she can.

“You’re excited for the bachelorette party, I suspect, or is it a hen do?” He doesn’t know.

“Both.” Ava says between gulps, drinking like she’s just come out of the Sahara, and to be fair, it is that hot right now.

“Am I invited?” He teases after he puts his gel down beside him on their bench.

Ava gasps after drinking heavily. “I'd love for us to go do some bubble football – you know, where they put you in those giant zorbs and you just go at it? I'd never seen Bea as happy when she did that for her 20th, but who knows if she’ll even fucking have one? Maybe it’s too silly for Bea to have a hen do separate from Zori. Maybe she’ll have to have it with all of Zori’s friends and none of her fucking own.”

“Whoa.” He laughs nervously and raises his hands. “Where’s my unserious friend today?” He jokes, but Ava twitches as she puts her bottle down, and he sees she’s serious. Not a thing she usually is.

Ava shakes herself. “Sorry, I’m just concerned.”

“About Zori?” He knows Ava is straight, but her friendship with Beatrice is…very, very deep.

They’re more like sisters, and that’s, of course, a thing that can be with childhood friends, but Ava talks of Beatrice a lot. She always adds her name into a conversation. Like, 'Oh, Bea would laugh at that,' or 'Bea loves those flowers,' or something about Bea’s old injury on her elbow when the topic is totally different to that subject. They’ve been attached at the hip for years and years, and now Zori entering the picture might perhaps scare Ava? She’s losing the routine she’s had with Beatrice or lost a lot of it thanks to Zori.

Ava removes her ice towel from around her neck. “She’s just making Trix do things she doesn’t wanna do, and I hate it. It just pisses me off constantly. I like her, but when we need to practise, Zori pushes herself in like Bea’s career doesn’t matter to her. When Bea wants to go with me like we always do when we’re on tour to explore a city, Zori simply must come along, and then, of course, Bea must wear cute little numbers that match Zori. And let’s not forget the stupid tux she’s forcing Bea to wear. Will she even invite Bea to the wedding? Or will she exchange vows with a pristine mannequin in the finest suit money can buy? And don’t get me started on Sandra; she’s a piece of work. Bea doesn’t see that, but I do. She’s poison walking around with a sweet smile.” Ava fakes a sweet smile.

Mario bites the inside of his lip, restraining a smile. Mmm. Interesting. Very, very interesting.

“So other than that, everything’s great.” He loves a little cute romance story, and this looks like something. Maybe Ava doesn’t see, but he does now. The passion she just spoke with. It’s how he’d talk about Talos. But then again friends such as Ava and Bea would talk like that about each other, perhaps.

Ava side-eyes him and smirks. “Yeah, everything’s peachy.” She sighs to her lap. “I just worry, is all. She’s been like my sister, more or less, my whole life; my best friend, and now it feels like she’s being bullied. In a way she doesn’t see. Since she’s met Zori…she’s just talked less of herself. Her needs other than tennis with me don’t seem to matter anymore. It’s always, for example, Oh, I better get back to Zori; she doesn’t like me being out too late. It’s like Zori’s her keeper rather than her partner. Isn’t that what a marriage should be? A partnership?” Ava lifts her head, frowning at nothing in particular beyond him.

“It should, yes. That’s how mine is with Talos. If he’s not happy, I’m not happy. We both listen to each other.”

“Exactly!” Ava lights up at being seen and agreed with.

He fondly nods. “Maybe talk with her about your concerns more?”

Ava scratches the back of her neck. “I don’t wanna make her doubt herself like that. It’s what she wants. I’ve already mentioned the tux thing, and it’s like she’s brainwashed about it. It’s such a big thing, but she’s downplaying it like she doesn’t think it herself, and I know she wants a dress. I know her, and I know she hates the idea of a tux. She'd want it blue, like she likes everything blue." She smiles shyly with a pinkness in her cheeks. Or it could be from the heat and exertion of the match, of course.

“If you can’t talk to her about this, who can?” He rests a hand on her shoulder, encouraging.

Ava looks a little distantly at the ground. “I’ll… I don’t know.” She looks defeated. Not a look Mario is used to seeing her have.

“Time.” The umpire calls, and Mario and Ava get up for the next set, and he collects his cap to put back on.

He spots Ava limping as he collects some balls for his service game. “You alright?”

Ava tips her cap by the brim. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why’d you ask?” She headtilts, looking drained.

“Your leg? You were limping just then.” He bounces a ball on the spot, giving a suggestive glance to her left leg.

She shrugs. “It’s nothing. Just been nursing an injury and fell on it yesterday. Come on, focus.” She pats his shoulder, and he drops it for now. She’s a serious competitor underneath the fun she likes to have on court.

He refocuses on the match at hand and does hope Ava speaks to Beatrice. Marriage is a big commitment; it should be with the right person with respect and love at its centre, not one diminishing the other, as Ava seems to think Zori is doing.

He’s always thought Zori was a bit of a diva, maybe? She’s talented; she could win a slam, but she’s prone to being a bit of a sore loser. Especially when she was in the junior ranks. Unsportsmanlike. Like she had a God-given right to win. He means that not uncommon. It takes that sort of mentality to be the best; he just didn’t know if it spilt out into Zori's personal life. Maybe it does.

"First serve down the line.” He muffles his instruction to Ava behind his hand.

Ava turns to jog to the service box. “What the fuck?"

“What?” He sits beside her, bouncing his ball.

Ava’s jaw locks at someone in the crowd. “I told him to stop it.”

“Told who?” He’s none the wiser and follows Ava’s gaze. He just sees an old guy in a sun hat in the stands behind Lyall at his baseline and a woman enjoying a massive tray of something, probably nachos, at first glance. Damn, that makes him hungry. He bets the food at Beatrice’s wedding will be top-notch.

Talos is an amazing cook; well, he should be; he’s a chef at a restaurant back home in Greece.

Ava jogs to the service box, and Mario doesn’t…ah. Rafael, he’s in the corner of the stand, sat with Dora. He’s laughing with her about something. Rafael was his friend in the juniors before they grew apart.

Rafael and Ava’s affair was… he doesn’t know, a little unsurprising on Rafael’s side. He and Crimson had been having issues for a while, and he’s always been a bit of a womaniser. Ava just got caught up in it, clearly. Hard to blame her. He's hot, objectively speaking. Just looks mask an ugly, treacherous, uncaring side beneath, which Mario grew to see for himself.

He catches Rafael’s eye as Rafael pushes his long brown hair back over his head. He gets a fake, mocking supportive thumbs up. Idiot.

He shakes it off and prepares to serve in his lime green shorts and shirt combo. “Huu!” He serves down the line as instructed to Ava.

Lyall in all dark blue, and a headband whips a return to Ava. She smashes down a backhand volley. Lyall cracks in a forehand down the doubles line. Ava stretches but misses. “Out!” Mario lets it go, and the point is won.

“15, love.”

He gathers another ball but sees another limp from Ava. She’s holding her hamstring. Oh shit. That’s a killer if it’s done… Ava sees and waves off the concern, but he sees it, and she looks in pain. She’s trying to hide it, but he sees it now. Maybe on multiple counts, not just physical. Because of Rafael and Beatrice right now.

Chapter Text

After watching Ava hold her leg, specifically her hamstring and her hip, Beatrice taps her foot impatiently waiting for Ava at the practice courts a day on. She texted Ava, but Ava said she needed sleep and they’d talk tomorrow, and now it is tomorrow. She’s impatient, and she needs to know Ava’s not pushed herself into a serious injury. This competition is massive for them, and it could be in jeopardy, so she needs to know what’s happening.

It appears there’s something else Ava isn’t telling her about, and they don’t do that. They don’t hide injuries; they talk about it always, and it’s just…frustrating and not like them, at least away from Ava’s dating life.

She checks her watch with her sports bag at her feet, and Ava’s late. She’s never late for practice.

“Relax Bea we can train till she gets here.” Zori suggests behind her as she’s waiting too on the floor.

“No, I need to train with Ava; it’s important for our match we do.” She huffs.

“Well, I need practice, and I wanna do it with you like we always do. Come on, it’s not going to hurt to start with me now.” Zori wants and…she guesses that’s true.

She strains her neck trying hoping to see Ava walk down the narrow path to the court, but nothing. She’s not here yet. She’s never not started training with Ava before at any competition. It’s just foreign to her.

She flaps her lips, very put out, and gives in. “Alright, I guess we can.” But… She spots a familiar Ava face bowed and smiles. Phew won’t be ending there streak of starting practice together. “Ava!? Over here!?” She beckons Ava over in her orange and lime mix of a top and skirt with her bag over her shoulder.

Ava gives a weak thumbs up and raises her head with a just as weak smile.

“Took her time.” Zori groans and gets up. “I’ll be with Suzanne on our side of the court.”

“Uh huh.” She says with her focus just on Ava right now, focusing just on Ava’s walking to see if there’s a limp.

Ava approaches, then arrives with a jump on her feet. “Captain Beatrice, sir! Ava Silva, your best friend, reporting for duty!” She salutes.

A smile tugs on Beatrice’s lips, but she folds her arms and sees some strapping on Ava’s knee. “You’re late. You’re never late.”

Ava sticks out her tongue. “A few minutes won’t hurt anyone Bea besides Zori’s here.” Ava whisks past her with effortless lightness and pokes her cheek. “Boop.”

Beatrice eye rolls. “Aves wait.” She grabs Ava’s arm, wanting to know what’s going on.

Ava yawns and covers her mouth, “Sorry Bea I swear I’m just getting more tired by the day at the moment.”

That makes her more concerned, and she sees the bags under Ava’s eyes. “What’s going on? Please tell me. You’re worrying me; we never don’t talk about injuries.” She puts the back of her hand on Ava’s head, fussing like always. She’s burning up, and they haven’t even practised yet.

“I'm fineee, stop fussing; let’s practise.” Ava brushes off Beatrice’s hand and goes to head on to the court beyond the fence.

Beatrice blocks her. Determined. “No, tell me. We don’t hold back about this stuff, and that’s not changing now. If you’re hurt and can’t play, tell me. We have our whole careers to win this slam, and you do in the mixed too. What’s going on? Just tell me. We’re not training; we’re not doing anything till you do.”

“No.” Ava stays stubborn, and it really stings. Ava’s not… She’s just not being open, and it doesn’t feel right at all. She doesn’t understand what she’s done wrong.

She despairs. “Why? I don’t… Why aren’t you being honest with me? I… I won’t play unless you tell me I’m not risking your health. If you wanna play with Mario, fine, but I won’t put you at risk if I can help it.”

Ava blinks and slightly parts her lips, maybe surprised. “I’m sorry? I’m fine Bea why are you making a big deal out of nothing?”

“It’s not!” She stomps her foot and suddenly squirms at doing it. Like she’s a toddler not getting there favourite toy. That’s not her; she just needs to know. This is important. Tennis doesn’t matter if Ava is struggling.

Ava’s lips quiver. Oh god, she’s going to make a big deal about the stomp; she knows it.

Beatrice tries to stay serious while her body wants her to smile, then eye roll and lament that little tantrum-esque moment.

She points at the dork. “Don’t. I’m being serious right now.”

“Yes, you are!” Ava stomps her foot.

For fuck's sake, this woman. She hates it when she does this. She should be utterly stinging, and she is, but now she’s giving in with a laugh, however groaning and exasperated it is as she covers her face.

“Avaaa, please just tell me.” She whines, sags her shoulders and flops forward onto Ava.

“Shhh, there there it’s okay; we’ll get your dolly back later, Trixie.” Ava rubs her back. She's being such a brat.

“Stooop it. I’m worried.” She frustratedly laughs into Ava’s shoulder.

Ava takes a big breath, and Beatrice smells Ava’s usual vanilla milky scent that comforts her. Even when Ava is being a big jerk.

“Fine, it’s just… It's…my hamstring has been bothering me a lot. Like, I’ve had really sharp pains since just before this competition, and…my hip, I…” Ava pushes Beatrice off, breathing out and flapping her lips.

“What about your hip?” She’s already going to insist Ava gets herself assessed by Suzanne, who basically does multiple jobs for them both in one, and she more than confuses the fact that Ava hasn't been telling anyone, it seems, about her injuries.

“It’s getting really stiff and, um…hard to sleep with sometimes. It hurts so much. It’s fine; I'm fine. It’s nothing. I’m fine.” Ava starts to ramble.

“What!?” She can’t believe this. Why the hell has Ava been hiding this?? Trouble sleeping is a major issue with this sort of injury. It just… She’s stunned about what could be worth this risk of playing on with this.

“It’s fine; can we just train, please?” Ava tries to get past.

“No! We're going to tell Sue right now! For God's sake, Ava! How could you be so flippant about being in pain!?” She wells up a little; her closest friend she’ll probably ever have has been in pain, and she hasn’t seen it. Ava’s hurting, and it hurts her too.

“Because!” Ava snaps then immediately hesitates. “It… it scares me.”

She softens slightly, understanding already, and holds Ava’s wrist. “It’ll be worse if you don’t get treatment for it; you know that.”

“No, Bea. I know it’s going to rule me out for a long time. I know it, and as soon as I get it looked at, I’ll be told that too. That’s worse for me. I can’t not play tennis. I have to. You’ll find someone else to play with. I’ll get left behind like I am with you in most things right now that aren’t tennis, and I need the…” Ava stops. She heaves for breath raggedly.

Beatrice instantly thinks she’s the biggest dummy on earth to ever think she’d leave her behind. But she waits for Ava to go on.

“Need the what?” She rubs Ava’s shaking arm; she notices.

“Hey, you two, come on! I need to train!” Zori shouts, making Ava jump and Beatrice wave her off. She can practice with her coach Steven; he’s right there for Zori on the opposite court practising with Camila, but she relies more on Suzanne for some reason. Not ideal, as Suzanne is meant to be dedicated to her and Ava.

Ava blinks fast and steps forward. “Forget it. I'll get it properly checked after the competition is over; I can take injections to get through the pain.”

Beatrice instantly wraps her arms around the dumbo that is her best friend as she tries to walk by again. “I’d never leave you behind, you idiot. How could you ever think that?”

Ava, stiff at first, relaxes shortly after. “You’ve been doing it with everything else. It feels like we aren’t the same anymore. Zori says jump, you say how high, and maybe that’s needy of me, but it’s just how I feel. We’re Bea and Ava; we’re BumbleBea and Avacado.”

Now Beatrice more than softens. The tightness in Beatrice’s chest as she hears those old names they called each other when they were kids is so fierce she struggles for breath. “Haven’t heard those nicknames for a while.”

Ava hums. “Desperate measures.”

She smiles, utterly fond and reminiscing, but says a truth, “You know things will be different now. I’m getting married; of course I can’t hang out as much. That’s just how it is now. I and Zori want to spend time together when we aren’t competing. But you must know I’d never not want you as my partner. We’re a team. Always.”

She feels Ava stiffen again. “Yes… I get it. Of course you do. Sorry.” Ava pushes herself out of the hug. “I’ll go talk with Sue; you practise with your fiancé. I’m not going to pull out of this competition, Bea, or Wimbledon. I’ll manage the pain, whatever it takes.”

She knows she said that in the wrong way, but it is the truth. She has Zori. She can’t be like how she was when it was just her and Ava. She has a fiancé, as Ava said with a little needle she heard, but she follows Ava to Sue, glad Ava’s going to get checked over. Nothing matters more than Ava's health. She can't fathom the pain Ava's been in, and because she believed she'd drop her like some random doubles partner, not her best friend, how could she think that?

They both go round the net to Sue and Zori, doing some practice hits in her cute pink tennis dress groans. "What now?"

She's annoyed at that instantly. After yesterday she's feeling a bit tetchy with Zori after how she and Sandra talked about Ava.

Ava's in pain right now; this is more important than Zori's practice. "Can you train with Steven today? Me and Avacado need to talk with Sue."

Zori flaps her arms at her sides. "So I waited for nothing. Whatever it is can wait; I need you to hit with me. Not Steven."

She heads to Sue, who's coming over to her with a questioning look. "This is important; it's just this once, Z."

"No! It’s...”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Zori! Listen to Bea for fucking once!” Ava angrily points to Steven and Camila, and Beatrice would have been shocked at the outburst before the other day but not now. Ava’s been hurting, and being in pain can, of course, make anyone irritable or maybe show their true feelings on things or... people. Does...Ava not like Zori after all?

“What'd you say to me?" Zori scoffs and removes her pink visor.

Ava waves Zori off, and Beatrice waits for her Ava with Sue. “Just go! Stop being a brat! It’s not a good look on you.”

Zori charges over to Ava, and before Beatrice knows what’s going on, she shoves Ava’s arm. She sees the stumble and the locking of Ava’s leg, and she even sees Ava’s eyes bulge at the instant shock of it. How could she not see this? Not see this hidden pain right in front of her. And now that she does, she can’t stop her emotions brewing again and agonising over Ava’s pain.

It doesn’t last long as Ava pushes Zori back. “Fuck off! I’m sick to death of you! Why do you treat Bea’s career like it’s nothing? Stop it!”

“Of course I don’t! I respect her! You were the one who left us waiting!” Zori pushes back, and Beatrice has to go over to do something she didn’t ever see herself doing: breaking up her best friend from decking her fiancé. She hasn’t seen Ava this angry and red and gnashing her teeth since college when she heard one of their classmates call her a homophobic slur, something she’d rather not repeat.

“Just go then! Or will Mommy come and tell Bea she can’t talk to her coach without you?” Ava’s shoulders rise and fall hard, and she pushes Zori back again.

“Stop it!” She gets in between them trying to break it up, but a sudden pain and hit whip her head back. Zori just hit her. Obviously not aiming for her, but she punched the side of her head. Ava stops her from falling at the surprise of it with hands on her hips, but Zori did, and she immediately covers her face at the impact of it.

“Oh my god! Baby! I’m so sorry! It wasn’t...”

“It’s fine; just go train with Camila and Steven.” She raises a hand stinging from the punch, annoyed with both Zori and Ava for the bust-up. Though Zori should’ve just gone as she asked her to.

Zori cups her cheeks trying to see, but she doesn’t want to be fussed over by her right now; she wants Sue to go assess Ava’s condition. “No, fuck, we should get some ice. I’m really strong, and that’ll leave a mark.”

She gives Zori a look when she says that. Just the way she said it was odd. “I said I’m fine.”

“Trix has taken far worse than that, Zorilla. Don’t flatter yourself.“ Ava scoffs and shoves Zori off, not to Beatrice’s dislike, as she just wants to talk with Sue, not deal with a temper tantrum from her fiancé. “You alright?” Ava worries.

She rubs the side of her face. Ava’s right; she’s taken much worse before. “Yeah, don’t worry about it; it’s you I’m worried about.”

Ava flashes her a small mischievous smile. “Took that hit like a pro. Still tough as fuck, Bea.” And gives her arm a little gentle punch.

She shouldn’t smirk in a moment like this, but as Ava does a little clap for her, she can’t help it. “Stop it; I’m mad at you right now.” She glares and shields Ava from Zori. “Please, Z.” She pleads, and Zori finally takes the message with a little put-off nod and walks off.

Zorilla. She thinks to herself, amused by it.

That's Ava’s typical inventive self on the spot. She shouldn’t be, as that's her fiancé; she should side with her more, but Ava’s humour, even when angry, always gets under her skin in a good way. Always makes her smile.

Chapter Text

Seeing Ava in pain, seeing her in tears at the tournament medical room beneath the Rod Laver Arena, was tougher than tough for Beatrice. Ava only cries on occasion or barely at all. After Crimson broke her nose post everything with Rafael being the most obvious time, for example.

She’s just a light spirit who makes everyone else light around her, and she was in pain and crying, and like on the tennis court or whenever, when Ava feels bright and bubbly, Beatrice picks up the infectious energy of it, so then with Ava in pain, Beatrice pained too as she sat beside Ava.

“I told you, Bea! stupid fucking leg!” Ava punched her thigh.

Beatrice quickly took Ava’s wrist to stop another hit. It wouldn't help it heal. Ava got the news she was dreading. Her hamstring isn’t the issue so much. It’s been strained, not torn, but running on it without treatment hasn’t helped. It’s Ava’s hip. Hip injuries are common in the tennis game with the repetitive high-impact movements required, and for Ava in this case, she’s going to need surgery on it. It’s been damaged and needs surgery to replace the head of the femur and replace the socket with metal implants.

Recovery time for normal day activity is 6 weeks. Recovery for tennis and even just training. 3 to 6 months.

“Fuck this, I’m not pulling out. I’ll take the injections for now, or poof, our tournament is gone, and you’ll just be too…” Ava covered her face in pain on multiple levels. Still in what they were wearing at the practice courts, and Beatrice was very much still stinging from the punch from Zori. Something she got more annoyed at as the doctor assessed Ava.

And she’s still annoyed about it now as she and Ava compete to reach the 4th round at 3/2 on serve in the second set after the first was won a day on while she and Ava take a much-needed break under a cooling umbrella from the 30-degree Celsius heat in Melbourne today.

Suzanne worked on Ava’s hamstring with massage treatment and ice packs and ordered Ava to not walk on it till the match if she was going to compete, while Ava has taken a pain injection for her hip. Plus Ava has some compression bandaging on her thigh to avoid any movements she does causing more injury. She’s soldiering on despite Beatrice protesting. She wants to play in this competition with her and Mario and then skip the French Open with an eye for returning to action for Wimbledon.

It would work in terms of timeline if Ava’s post-op recovery goes well, but playing on here won’t help her chances.

But right now again Beatrice thinks about Zori’s punch as she drinks heavily from her water bottle. Just how Zori’s been acting over the last few days has taken her by surprise. Insulting Ava and then going to punch Ava is not something she likes at all. She doesn’t like violence, and she doesn’t like the way Zori’s been.

She loves Zori very much, and she knows this isn’t the real her. She’s not usually so… brattish. She can be, but it's not in a good way this time.

She gulps down some more water and stops for breath. “Did you mean what you said yesterday? About being sick of Zori? Don’t…you like her? Truthfully?”

Ava squeezing in some energy gel with her cap beside her gives Beatrice a sideways look. Not exactly insinuating she does like Zori as she’s said she has in the past.

“Aves?” She quietly pleads for Ava to say anything.

Ava stops squeezing in the gel and moves it to her lap. “We need to stay on it here, Bea.”

Beatrice glooms. She doesn’t like her. It was always a must for Ava to like Zori, but she doesn’t after all.

With her bottle in her lap, she nudges Ava’s shoulder, wanting to hear her say it. She has doubts they’ll win this competition with Ava pushing through, so her confidence about it has taken a blow.

“Come on, be honest with me. You know how much I value your opinion. I won’t be mad. Just tell me.”

Ava rubs her forehead with an irritated expression on her face.

She sees the pain Ava’s been in has made her not herself of late, and however powerful the injections she’s taken are, she sees she still is. “She’s bullying you, Bea. She’s bullying you and making you feel less than her.”

Beatrice goes to deny it. “That’s not…”

“It’s true.” Ava cuts her off and stares at her with no silliness or humour. She's deadly serious about it. “She and Sandra have been since you got engaged. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. She belittles you, and you seem to accept it with no resistance or, well… she shuts you down before you resist.”

“So you…”

Ava huffs and sags her arms. “This is about you, Bea. You want Zori to be happy, but what about you? Are you happy? Or is that not allowed? Are you second to Zori? Or are you a team? Like us? That’s how it should be, and I don’t think it is that way. Otherwise she wouldn’t have pressured you into a tux or not have blue and red flowers like you wanted at the wedding. You care about what Zori wants to make her happy, and I care about what makes you happy, and if Zori’s like this now, I dread to think how she’ll be when you’re married. She doesn’t respect your career; she only respects her own needs, not yours, and maybe I didn’t see that till now, but I do, and I hate this happening to you. I fucking hate it. You speak about yourself as if you don’t matter, and it’s because of her and her mom. So no, I don’t like her anymore. Not right now, at least. Not for you.”

A little speechless. Beatrice pats her lips. A lot of that touches her to hear. “But… but it’s only recently Zori’s been acting off. She’s really determined to do well this year, and the wedding she’s dreamt of it since she was a child. She just wants it to be perfect; that's not a bad thing. She…”

“She wants her perfect day. Her mom wants Zori’s perfect day. She wants Zori in a dress looking positively marvellous.” Ava does a little mock posh face and posture towards the court. “And she wants you to be just there and overshadowed. You want the dress and fuck Bea.” Ava scoffs and eyes her up. “You know you’d outshine her any day like that. I mean... you would in a tux, but you don’t want a tux, you know what I mean?” Ava shakes herself with pink cheeks from the match.

Beatrice smirks for a moment at the compliment. Ava always gives a little self-confidence boost with her looks. However small she does. Though the "If I were into women, I'd be way out of your league" comment Ava once said always rings in her mind when she does, in truth.

“Why, thank you very much, Avacado.” She raises her chin, lightening.

Ava eye rolls and collects her water bottle. “I’m serious.”

“I know, and I’m saying thank you.” She bumps Ava’s shoulder, being playful for a moment.

“Just do what you think is right for you. Not just her, or you might as well get those divorce papers ready as soon as you leave the altar.”

Ava drinks from her bottle and then puts it back on her lap, distant in her eyes but saying her truth, something Beatrice appreciates. However painful it is to know Ava isn’t a fan of Zori now. She appreciates it a lot.

She doesn’t agree with a lot of Ava's words, but she appreciates it as Ava looking out for her. It’s just a stressful time. She doesn’t want Zori to not have what she wants. Her own desires are…of course important, but she wants Zori to be comfortable. Not upset about anything.

“I…just want her to be happy. On the day, if I have to sacrifice some things to make that happen, then it’s…”

“Not fine. It’s never fine to sacrifice yourself for someone. Never. And I hate that you think that now. I hate it. I’d have a million surgeries to make you get that, and you know how scared I am about it. It’s your wedding too. Your day too. Not just hers, and if she doesn’t understand that, then you know my opinion. Will you have a hen do with your friends, or will she take over that too? I think we both know the answer.” Ava tosses away her bottle, angered.

It’s tough in the moment. She knows how scared Ava is about the surgery, and she means what she says, and she knows she just wants what’s best for her. But she knows her own heart. She loves Zori. She’s sure if she did say she really wanted certain things, she’d say yes. She is including blue lilies after all. She promised she would.

“Thanks for being honest, I guess.” She plays with the cap on her bottle downcast. “Of course we’ll have that; you know I want it.”

“We’ll see how long the status quo lasts on that front.” Ava moves her hand over her face. “Sorry. Maybe I’m being too harsh. I just want you to be happy.”

“I know that.” She smiles, knowing that utterly, and reaches over for Ava’s hand as it falls, and Ava easily lets it fall into hers.

Ava just wants the best for her. Like she would if Ava dated again and found a person.

She checks Ava’s strapping, heavy and covering her knee. “Update on the injuries?”

“I don’t feel it as much. But you’ve asked me that like a billion times. I’ll tell you if…” Ava weakly smiles at her with the eyes Beatrice knows like the back of her hand. “Sorry, I know you’re just worried. I’ll tell you if anything flares up. Now come on, refocus.”

“You’re the one who just went into a big monologue about my fiancé." She pushes back against those words with a little bit of enjoyment.

Ava pinches her earlobe. “Yeah, well, you started it.”

“Time.” The umpire calls, and they both get to their feet.

But Beatrice knows the little tick of Ava’s is only done when she’s nervous. Probably about the match. They’re close; they just need to get it done now.

“Did Zori apologise for going to punch me but hitting you? Sounded more like she cared about the mark than hurting you.” Ava adds a jibe.

That Beatrice doesn’t like. She stops Ava back in her cap at their baseline, seriously. “Of course she apologised. It was an accident.”

Ava puffs curtly. “No, it wasn’t. She was going to punch me; your face just got in the way. Come on, let’s get back to it.” Ava jogs to the ball girl waiting with balls, and Beatrice follows, glad to hear Ava’s true feelings but also not. She wants Ava and Zori to get along. It's vital for her that they do.

Chapter Text

The win was gotten, but Beatrice doesn’t feel a lot of positive thoughts about it, to be brutally honest. They’ll get through the early rounds because she and Ava are just that good with their synced-up everything, but the tougher the opponents get, the more physically tested Ava will be. So she’s down about that, and she’s down about Ava not liking Zori anymore.

She wants to fix this divide because if Ava’s not on board, she can’t say her vows with an unsure mind. Ava's too important in her life, and a feeling that Zori doesn’t listen to her or work with her as a partner on Ava’s side doesn’t compute well. She wants Ava to see Zori has just been stressed and would, of course, allow her more input on the wedding if she really pushed.

So lying back against the headboard of her and Zori’s hotel room bed, she huffs after Zori scraped by this round against a tough French veteran to get to the fourth round and tries to speak with Zori about the last few days.

“Zori, darling, can we talk?” She puts her book down, unable to focus on it or anything much right now, really.

Ava hurting alone in her hotel room isn’t something she enjoys knowing. Painkillers or not, she won’t be comfortable, and she’s alone in that discomfort. She hates that.

Zori lays her head lower, resting a little on her pillow and a bit on the headboard, humming absentmindedly.

Zori’s on her phone at the moment, glued to it, but she loves Zori’s bedtime look. Her hair tied up in a loose bun, the strands of her hair falling down her tanned gentle face. Her pink pyjamas combo of shorts and a baggy shirt. She loves Zori; she just wants to put these last few days behind them and get Zori to prove Ava wrong. Get her blessing back.

Beatrice tries to go about this in a way that’s not attacking or anything, just saying her concerns and Ava’s.

She drops down to Zori’s level and turns over to have a side view of her bride-to-be. “You respect Ava, right? And me?”

“Of course I do; what a silly question.” Zori dismisses her, it feels like.

Not a great start. But she goes on. She did say she respected Ava, and that’s important after all.

“So if I said I wanted to wear a dress for the wedding and wanted to train with just Ava from now on to focus on the tournament, you’d be okay with that?”

“Yes, but we love practising together, mi amor. Why would you change that? It’s never been an issue before.” Zori stays focused on her phone.

Beatrice frustrated a little at Zori’s focus not on this important topic and inches closer so her knees touch Zori’s legs. “And the dress? The flowers?”

“We’ve talked about that, Bea. One of us should be in a tux. Mom really has her heart set on it. It would crush her if you didn’t.”

“And you? You want it?” She smooths her fingers through Zori’s hair.

“Babe, I’ve just done it up. Please.” Zori brushes her hand away a little hurtfully. But she knows Zori doesn’t like her hair messed up in bed unless she and her have some late-night fun, of course.

“Sorry, you don’t like that I know. But you really want me in a tux; you wouldn’t be open to me in a blue dress, for instance? I just… I’d feel like me if I did. Or at least the tux could be blue as a compromise?” She feels a little vulnerable in asking with hope and just puts her hand under the side of her head, watching Zori, wishing she’d put the phone down.

“Blue isn’t traditional; you could wear a blue brooch or something.” Zori smiles softly at something. “You know the tradition: something blue, something borrowed and something old.”

Beatrice supposes it’s something. It’s a little bit of blue, and she’s got the lilies she’d like. It’s just small things. Ava said it isn’t, but Zori is so passionate about it.

She blinks far away at Zori’s cotton sleeve. “Ava said you just want me in the background and, like... the focus on you. That’s not true.”

“Ava’s being silly; of course I don’t want that. You’ll look handsome; I’ll have to bat away my cousins from jumping you.” Zori gives her a little peck, and she enjoys it as ever.

It calms her a tad. Makes her soften. “You think?”

“Oh, I know. Don’t worry though; I’ll protect you.” Zori laughs under her breath quietly.

“Okay.” She tries to snuggle and rest her head against Zori’s arm. Though she never needs anyone’s protection, she likes the sentiment and the lightness. She thinks of Ava’s idea a week before the wedding with a little smile. “I, um… Also, I was wondering about the hen do. It’s not an issue if me and Ava and my friends go do some bubble football for it, is it? You know when they put you in those big inflatable bubbles and you just have some…”

“You don’t wanna have a night out? And considering Ava’s injury, I doubt she’ll be able to play. You wouldn’t wanna leave her out, would you? Come with me and my friends, and we’ll bring yours too – just one big party for us both to enjoy. Ava wouldn’t be left out, and we could have fun together rather than apart.”

“Oh. Yeah, I didn’t think.” She flusters. Of course Ava can’t do that.

“Mmm hmm. Don’t worry; we’ll have fun.” Zori tuts at something on her phone. “Navarro is going to be tough; I’ll need to be so good to beat her.”

“Even if you don’t win, you’ve done so well, Z. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself; you have so much time.” She supports Zori like she always does and rubs Zori’s arm.

“I have to. I can’t say, Oh, I’ve got this far; I’ll leave it now. That’s not a mentality of champions. I’m not one yet, but I need to have that mindset.” Zori’s focused on some clips of the Spaniard 15th seed she’s up against now Beatrice sees.

“Well, me and Ava always took it one competition at a time when we were at the stage you are. Of course we wanted to win, but…”

“Singles is different. I don’t have an Ava to rely on; I have to be like this. I know you’ve won a lot, but it takes more to win how I want to. I don’t just want to win; I want to dominate.”

She frowns at that deeply. That stings. She and Ava are winners. Just because it’s doubles doesn’t mean it’s different. “Well, uh.” She laughs a little offput. “So you don’t think I can advise you?”

“Of course I do. It’s just you have your career and own way of winning, and I have mine. Please don’t take it in the wrong way. It’s a completely different game for me.” Zori kisses her head. “Get some sleep; you’ll need it to cover Ava’s weaknesses for the rest of the tournament.”

“Yeah.” She turns over, not really wanting to snuggle or talk anymore, feeling put off and her opinion, her support, not wanted. “My face won’t be marked, by the way it seems.”

“Oh phew, that’s a relief.” Zori scratches the back of Beatrice’s head a little, causing a little twitch for some reason Beatrice can’t really put a word on. It crawls under the skin and stays there.

“Night then.” She closes her eyes with it. Feeling it slither and tighten. There’s a knot in her chest, and she can’t say she’s felt it before. It’s just…something…no, no, it’s fine; it’s nothing. She starts to try to sleep, ignoring whatever it is.

"Night." Zori rubs her back.

But she asks before she does sleep. "Why'd you try to punch Ava? It was totally out of line."

"I know it was I'm sorry. I'll apologise to Ava tomorrow. I know how important she is to you."

That calms her a tad and soothes the uncomfortable feeling she supposes. Zori does get Ava's importance to her. She respects that.

Chapter Text

Feeling a little low. Camila looks up at the stars after a late practice session ahead of a big match tomorrow for her. She’s taken the plunge and gone back into singles play, and she definitely didn’t expect it to be this successful, but here she is. One step away from round 4 of a slam.

Not a bad return if you ask her.

She plays doubles with Chanel, but they got a humbling by Lilith and Dora yesterday, unfortunately. Not fun. Not fun at all. Chanel was crushed by their performance, understandably, and has headed back to Spain for a few weeks to recover.

She gets it. She’ll miss her a lot though. They’ve become a great team. Not Ava and Beatrice level, but they work.

She rests back on the barbed fence behind her, taking a moment to herself just to calm down.

“Hey, you’re here late?” A voice she’s familiar with makes her jump, and oh fuck, it’s Yasmine Amunet. She shouldn’t really be starstruck by a fellow player, but god, how can she not be?

She goes as pink as her cheeks will allow. She feels her arms, her legs, her fingertips, and her all over heat up. She just parts her lips at Yasmine, who’s in a red tennis dress. Her bushy tied-back hair. She has great hair. Shut up. She has perfectly fine hair and perfectly fine eyes and smile.

She shakes off her eyes from wandering over Yasmine’s form and smiles politely. “Yeah big one tomorrow. Didn’t expect it to be honest.” She scratches her neck, chuckling nervously.

Yasmine’s such an incredible player and role model and being near the 10 time grand slam champion like this…feels surreal. It shouldn’t maybe. She’s seen Yasmine around a lot but this is different it’s just them here on this deserted court.

Yasmine flips her tennis racket then catches it by the handle deftly. “Huh.” She trails her eyes over Camila in her skirt and tank top for a moment. She grins, but the confident demeanour ends quickly as she tries to do the same trick again with her racket and scrambles to stop the racket from falling after it bounces out of her grip, and nope. Down it goes, as does Yasmine’s confidence, with a sheepish look as she picks up her racket. It eases Camila. She’s just a person. And a bumbling one at that, it seems.

“Smooth their champ.” She pouts her lips and nods, making fun.

“Me smooth is not a thing, uh…… Anyway, ignore that moment.” Yasmine smiles timidly and pushes her fingers behind her ear. It’s a small thing but endearing. Camila thinks she’s as nice a person as she appears on TV and with the fans.

“Sure. So, um… I think we’re on opposite sides of the draw, aren’t we? So there’s no chance you’d kick my ass.” She’d pay to have her ass whooped by Yasmine Amunet. Like if Yasmine wanted to straddle her with her legs, she’d be game.

Wait, what?

“It’s Camila, isn’t it?” Yasmine steps over. “Mind if I sit?”

Taken off guard, Camila offers the spot next to her against the fence. “Go ahead. I’m currently stargazing. It’s quite a view tonight.” She looks back up wistfully at the stars.

She’s seen this view before in Australia, but it always takes her breath away and marvels her. The Milky Way isn’t as clear in Melbourne, but the hazy milky band of light stretching across the night sky can still be made out with the naked eye.

“Oh yeah. I haven’t really noticed before. It’s beautiful.” Yasmine sits next to her and crosses her legs and looks up too.

“Oh, come on, how have you noticed this before? Australia is like one of the best stargazing spots in the world. Hello.” She says with a little obviousness, hopefully playfully, and the nice laugh of Yasmine gives her an immediate wave of relief. She nailed it.

“Well, to be fair, I’ve been quite busy when here in the past.” Yasmine just has one of those voices that calms, Camila thinks as she hears it like this in person up close, and not with anyone else about. She just has a nice aura.

“No excuse. Look at this.” She waves her hand up to the night sky in awe of it and well Yasmine herself. “How could you not have looked up when here before?”

“My bad I guess.” Yasmine’s laugh, however small and chuckling, settles the sudden nerves more.

“Definitely.” She smiles at the stars, enjoying both the view and the company.

Things quieten after. They just still. No words or anything. Just existing with a person however holy fucking fuck it’s Yasmine she’s sitting next to of it all it. It feels like she just stills with a warm safe person.

"I told you to stay away! Why can’t you!? Accept it for fuck's sake, Raf! How many times do I have to say it!?"

Camila jumps to the angry voice. She knows swiftly it’s Ava. She just doesn’t see her around the courts. There’s a big bush beyond the fence ahead of her and Yasmine. It came from beyond there.

She gives Yasmine a little surprised glance and looks back to the bush. Ava and Rafael. There’s an interesting combination back in the same space. She really likes Ava; she’s a bubbly person and her friendship with Beatrice is very sweet, but she cheated with a married man, and that does tend to tarnish a person's reputation to people.

"You know why! You know! What we had was good! Really good, and I want it back! She does too!”

"Oh well then, as you both want it, then, of course! Let's get back together! Just stop making a fool of yourself and stop turning up to my matches! I’ve got enough on my fucking plate without you causing me this…this…”

"This what?"

"Just leave me alone, Raf. You both were the biggest mistake of my life. Both of you just… I wish I never… If I never… I would’ve never…”

"What?” Rafael more tenderly asks.

”Nothing. Just nothing. I’m going back to my hotel and sleeping, nothing else. Goodnight.” Ava sounds final.

"Would you at least respond to my texts?”

There’s a silence. Camila doesn’t really think of anything; she just waits and listens in. She really shouldn’t, but it’s kind of hard not to.

”Fine. I’m not going to have tennis anymore, so… I don’t know; just don’t pester me as much now, alright?”

"Alright. We’ll both reach out.”

”Whatever. You're still a pest, you know that?"

"That's what you like about me, though." Rafael says with smugness.

"You were just there with…"

"With something you couldn't not have? I wanted you since the first moment I saw you, Ava. You know it."

"What I know is that you started it, yes, but after? You weren't why I kept coming back. She was." Ava scoffs. "Utter bitch lost her toy, then humiliated me and broke my nose."

"And she'd love you back. Trust me, she wants you again. And when that woman wants something, she usually gets it." He laughs.

"I'm aware."

"Oh, I know you are. She helped you see yourself after all."

"I always knew." Ava's voice goes quieter and sadder. "Deep down. The world is cruel, though; cruel and bigoted everyone is, and I didn't want that. Didn't want what I saw. What I heard. Still don't, but I do at the same time. I can't stop wanting it."

That seems that, and it’s…something. Camila shares a knowing look with Yasmine because who doesn’t know about Ava and Rafael’s affair? The scandal of it. Seems it’s not a thing that ends easily after all.

Chapter Text

Round 4, 1st set, and it’s tight so far versus the American duo of Mary and Kris, but Beatrice and Ava aren’t letting Ava’s injury impact them again so far. They’re going at their usual pace, their usual flow, and it’s pushed them to be 5 all right now on Ava’s serve.

Ava’s been quiet a lot today. Like, there’s none of her typical wit between games, and it’s a little destabilising. Even in the last round when she said she didn’t like Zori anymore, she was still herself mostly, but now she’s just quiet and focused. Shorter with her words.

Beatrice gets it with the injury and everything and the pain that’s nursed through injections, but it’s still an adjustment. She’s used to smiling every so often because of Ava during matches, but Ava isn’t up to her usual shenanigans.

She isn’t again now, as Ava is in an all-blue dress outfit today, and she is in red and black, and they get to their baseline.

“You alright?” She worries again with a hand on Ava’s back.

Ava, with balls in her hand, assessing which one to use, hums. “Yes, Bea. I’m going to Mary’s left, so get ready to smash it away fast.”

She exhales with the downcast emotion she’s had about this competition since Ava’s pain came to light. “Right. Of course.”

She heads back to the service box and bends down low under the net with the racket in both of her grips. The metal frame of her racket touching the blue hard court beneath her.

“Hu!” Ava serves, and Ava goes where she said she would, to Mary’s left, who’s in all green with a headband around her head like Beatrice.

“Uh!” Mary whips a forehand down to Beatrice’s left.

Beatrice adjusts her feet and smashes down a volley to Kris, who is blonde and in all pink.

Kris adjusts to hit a forehand, and Ava moves to her right, ready, while Beatrice stays put. Whack! Kris whacks the return down to Ava.

“Hu!” Ava hits a speedy forehand with plenty of zip to Mary’s left.

Mary’s eyes widen, and she sees it’s as good as it looks. She strains and reaches for a return. Beatrice goes left to cover off a shot down the line for a winner. “Argh!” The shot is made, and Beatrice makes a quick decision to try a drop shot to Kris’s service box.

It’s cross-court and deftly done. Kris advances. Ava joins Beatrice in the service boxes.

Kris hits at Ava with a forehand, aiming to go beyond her. Ava volleys it in between Mary and Kris.

Mary sprints to return to Beatrice. It comes, and Beatrice goes for a powerful backhand smash at Kris’s feet. But Kris tries a lob over both her and Ava.

“Mine!” She instructs Ava, not wanting Ava to jump on the injuries she has. Bang! She smashes it down and good. Too good and powerful in between the American duo for them to counter.

“Come on!” Ava taps Beatrice’s arm encouragingly after the point is won.

Beatrice heads with Ava, not up for celebrating a point gained. It’s just one point to open the game. Long way to go.

“15, love.” The umpire updates.

“Down the line, cover Mary’s return across the boxes.” Ava gets back to it fast, no quip or anything, and jogs back to her service line.

Everyone resets, and Ava goes through her routine. Steady and deliberate. The air is stifled with no breeze, just intense heat so hot in the air you could see it if you got to ground level. These courts would warm your hand up in moments if you placed your palm flat on it; it’s so hot.

Ava’s typical steady breath echoes round the court, and she serves. “Hu!” She serves down the line and fast. Too fast, too good. Great serve.

She heads back to Ava to get more instructions and steadies her friend with a hand on her back again. Trying to do anything to give her support. Maybe today it’s her role to be the upbeat one, the bubbly one.

“30, love.”

Yeah, it could be. Keep Ava’s spirits up more than usual.

“Great serve.” She places her hand on Ava’s hot shoulder and rubs her thumb over her skin.

“Uh huh.” Ava balances a ball delivered by a ball boy on her racket, heavily breathing.

“All blue, by the way? I know you’re trying to send a message.” She has noticed it; obviously she has. She hasn’t mentioned it, but she blooms a little within at acknowledging it.

“Well, as Zori isn’t going to let you have blue anything at the wedding, maybe I’ll dye my entire hair blue.” Ava finally makes a joke or not, perhaps? Beatrice never knows and rolls her shoulder off of her touch. “Same again.”

She nods and goes to go, but she adds something she hasn’t said for far too long. “Love you, you know? I don’t say it enough.”

Ava swivels to her surprised, but Beatrice hurries to her service box. She’s not as focused as she would be. She just isn’t. This competition is a free hit now in her mind, so if they progress and Ava needs a lift, she’ll be the one to do that now. She’ll be the Bea version of Ava. Or she’ll try because there’s no replicating Ava. She’s a one-of-a-kind type of person.

She smiles really hard and warmly at what she just said. It feels good. To let an important person know she loves them. Maybe bad timing, maybe distracting, but she’s glad she did.

“Hu!” Ava serves. It’s right at Mary and instantly too much. Mary awkwardly hits the return, and Beatrice bats the ball away for an easy winner.

She likes to think she'd added a little zip to Ava’s serve just then.

“40, love.”

She smiles back at Ava to see Ava’s already tapping her left foot. Another down the t line. She gets in position and crouches down. The serve is fast and zipped and right on the T line. No chance for Mary, and it’s funny how just a few simple words might push a person like that, or she means she hopes they did.

“Game.”

That was an unexpectedly easy hold. And such a boost to have done. The quicker the games, the better.

She jogs back to Ava, and she’s given a towel from Ava. “Thank youp." She adds a little p with a pop and jumps to be next to Ava at the side of the court.

She mops some sweat off her arms and views Ava’s side profile, her head bowed in moping, her face.

A little smug, a little playful, she adds. “I totally pushed you there didn’t I?”

Ava pats her shoulder warmly. “Yes, you did. I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime.” She reaches up and holds Ava’s hand on her shoulder, steadying her and here.

“I love you too." Ava looks up and at Beatrice unblinking and soft. Her chum. Her bestie. Her partner in tennis for life. Her amiga.

“Awww, you love your best friend.” She sillies. Yup. Focus on this tournament is in the bin. They talk on the court, but not like this to Beatrice’s soft, gentle feeling after Ava’s been struggling today.

Ava doesn’t smile. She just blinks a slow blink. Her eyes trailing over Beatrice with her walls down, perhaps at the seeing they won’t win this slam like this even if they progress today. “I do. I really do, Trix. I love you.”

Beatrice and her smile broadens. Zori hasn’t said that a lot of late, actually, when she thinks of it. Kinda sucks but she always says it to her. It’s important to. And you know they’re getting married; of course she loves her.

Ava lets her hand fall off Beatrice’s shoulder and steps to her service box, letting the moment go by, but it warms Beatrice up in an emotional sense, of course. It’s bloody hot, as the day is long, right now.

She sets for Mary’s serve at the baseline and prepares for the serve to come. Just because this tournament most likely won’t be a win doesn’t mean she’s going to phone it in. Ava’s determined to play, so she has to give it her all.

Mary serves. Smash! It’s hard and fast, and Beatrice grounds her foot into the court and smashes a return to Kris.

Kris volleys. Ava scoops a high return. Beatrice advances to be beside Ava. Bang! Kris smashes an overhead smash down to Ava but Beatrice skids on the court to outstretch and deftly hit a drop shot cushioning the hit with skill and poise. (Maybe tooting her own horn but it’s a nice shot shut up)

Ava flows to Beatrice’s old position as Kris reaches and performs her own drop shot. She gently plops the ball over the net, and it’s sweetly done with a lovely little flourish. But Kris is there to try a swiping hit that makes Ava stumble back and lose the point.

Beatrice reacts swiftly and without thought to keep Ava upright with a balancing hand on her side. “Don’t go falling again.” She darkens at the idea of that.

Ava flushed, and serious hums at her surprised. “Yup, come on.”

“15, love.”

She returns to her baseline thinking and thinks of Ava hurting or falling and hates it. She’d rather they lose a thousand matches rather than see that. She’s already seeing it though. And she’s allowing this when she should insist.

Mary serves, and Beatrice reaches, but it’s too good.

“30, love.”

She transitions to the other side of her baseline. But she glances at Ava limping to be in position. The pain is dulled, but her body shows the signs.

She hasn’t, um, told Ava about the whole no bubble football thing yet. She doubts it’ll dissuade her from her new dislike of Zori, and that continues to hurt as they potentially head into a tiebreaker.

Chapter Text

Ava’s flagging. Mario sees it as he watches on from an umbrella-covered seat with a drink on his table at Court 15, in the crowd with Lilith. A friend, like she is with Ava and Bea of his.

He wanted to watch Ava again after they pushed through to the 4th round here, and he’s not encouraged by what he sees at all beyond his glasses and the rim of his cap.

Not at all.

“She’s going to have to pull out.” He says it, and he knows she’ll have to. Maybe with him or maybe with Beatrice. But she will. She can’t do both.

It’s currently 5 all in the tiebreaker for Beatrice and Ava versus Mary and Kris, and if Ava progresses here, she can’t do more elsewhere. They’ll have to pull out of the competition. It sucks but it’s the reality.

He has the men’s doubles to win too, so it won’t be too big a pain; just he pains for Ava over it. She's really passionate about playing on.

“Shouldn’t even be playing at all.” Lilith remarks, and he agrees. Ava is stubborn, though, and she wants to play.

“You try stopping Ava from doing something she sets her mind on – good luck.” He laughs a little as he sits back with crossed arms.

Beatrice goes to serve, and Lilith waits to reply. “Uh!” It’s down the T line.

Mary whips a return to Ava, and she smashes it down Kris’s throat. Not literally, obviously, but at her and Kris volleys to Beatrice.

Beatrice, with her typical class, punches a fierce forehand down the line. Her trainers skidding on the hard court.

Mario sees it’s very well hit, and Mary has to scramble. “Ah!” The return is high and loose.

Ava readies, and he watches her. That leg is so strapped up it’s more strapping than bare leg exposed to this heat.

“Mine!” Beatrice intervenes, and Ava steps aside.

Looking after her friend again, Beatrice takes over and smashes it away.

“6/5 Silva and Xi.”

He applauds. “Come on, Ava!” He encourages and hopes Ava hears. She doesn’t react; she’s a little slumped as she steps back to the baseline with Bea.

“You know Camila told me something interesting today.”

“Hm?” He hums but is focused on Ava.

Beatrice has been extremely fussing over her partner, and yes, it can easily be seen as a close friend and player showing care and worry, but you’d have to be blind to not see. Not see Beatrice’s eyes be so gentle and caring for Ava. The way she rushes to hold her up if she stumbles and whispers a quiet encouraging word.

Maybe he’s wrong, but that’s not nothing. Though for Beatrice it may feel so on the inside. Acceptance of Ava being straight and all.

“She said she heard Ava arguing with Rafael.” Lilith piques his interest.

“Don’t tell me she’s back with him. God, you make that mistake once, not twice.” He’s maybe a bit harsh there. But Rafael, no matter his attractiveness and ahem size of his… yeah, he’d rather not think of it, though he’s seen it in the locker rooms. The guys hung like a freaking elephant trunk.

He covers a laugh at that thought, going bright red.

“Well, she might be about to, yes. But the thing is, Camila said they both talked about a she too, like Ava wasn’t just with him. She said Ava said she came back and back for her, and then get this… she said she lost her favourite toy and broke her nose and humiliated her after.”

He drops watching the match and turns to Lilith with her cap over her features. Wide-eyed and surprised. “Crimson?”

Lilith nods, watching the match with folded arms. “She wants Ava back. Camila told me Rafael said so, and he’s been turning up to her matches to get her to come back to him and her.”

He whispers this to not reveal something to people nearby that Ava doesn’t want them to know. “Ava’s…bi? Are you sure Camila heard right?” Totally engaged on this, he asks.

“Yes. Camila has great hearing.” Lilith says matter-of-factly. “Ava didn’t cheat, it seems. But she let Crimson ruin her.”

“To avoid coming out?” He aches and pains and agonises for Ava hearing this. Being yourself is scary, and for Ava, it’s so scary that she’d rather be this—rather be seen as a cheater.

Lilith’s eyes flick to either side of the court as the match goes on. “Yes, and she’s poly… and broke it off with them both, so Crimson ruined her…. Or there’s another option.”

“And what’s that?” He frowns while requesting and grabs his plastic cup for a drink.

Lilith shrugs. “They had a threesome.”

He chokes a little on his coke, and it dribbles out of his mouth. “What!?” And coughs and punches his chest, not expecting that.

“You heard me. Or they could’ve had a threesome one time or a few – who knows – to spice up the marriage, and then they were with Ava separately. Just speculating. Maybe Ava did cheat, but it morphed into something else. Maybe it was a poly relationship with them all, and Ava leaving broke it and pissed Crimson off."

“So Ava cheats with Rafael; Crimson comes along, finds them, and bang, a threesome, then a poly relationship.” He stifles a chuckle as hard as it is. But maybe he’s not wrong at all about Ava. Maybe Ava does want Beatrice beneath her internal struggle to be open. She wants her.

“Perhaps I don't know.” Lilith says flatly. “What I’m concerned with is Dora right now.”

“Huh? Why? What’s she done?” He's a little confused at hearing that. Dora is Lilith’s buff, imposing doubles partner, and again, he’s not blind or deaf with Lilith.

He sees her around Dora. She’s stoic usually, but with Dora, on occasion, there is a pinkness in her cheeks, a lingering admiring look that happens often, and a laugh she doesn’t do with others that she does with Dora.

Lilith twitches. “I know she’s been having a fling with Rafael. And add Ava back into things with him while Ava is with Crimson too; it just has disaster written all over it. Stupid idiot likes him. A LOT.” Lilith gives a dirty look of contempt. Now Lilith’s even more obvious.

“So it’s like Ring a Ring o' Roses or tag, you’re it, or I don’t know.” He kids; he gets a stern look. “Sorry.”

“All I’m saying is maybe someone should stop it before it all happens. For Ava and Dora’s sake."

“And who’d that be? It’s not really our place to interfere with that, Lil.”

Lilith doesn’t answer.

“Hu! Come on!!!” Ava yells, and Mario sees her jump in jubilation. He missed the rally, but Ava just won her and Bea the first set in such a big moment. The two clasp hands and smile at the other with expressions of joy. And maybe more than that from Ava.

“Come on, baby!” Zori’s voice booms close, and Mario spills his drink all over his lap.

“Urgh, great.” He pats himself down.

He’s surprised she turned up for this. She has her own match later. She’s at the side of the court clapping and cheering very, very enthusiastically. A little too much maybe? No, there is not too much. She loves Bea clearly. This is all none of his business or Lilith’s. But it confirms what he suspected with Ava. She has more than something for Bea. A very doomed something and a doomed thing like that? Losing Bea in the way she feels she is right now, on top of her feelings for her, can easily lead down a path she’s already been on and knows better about now. But without tennis to distract her from her pain, it could lead her to going down that path once again.

Chapter Text

The first set was won, but the second was lost, so a decisive last set it is. It’ll either be Beatrice’s last set of tennis with Ava for months or not. But even if they do win, she’s made a firm decision. She only wants Ava to play one of the two formats to limit the damage on her.

Mixed or them. It’s just far too much for Ava to do both, and that’s final. Beatrice won’t have anything else for it. Ava’s career has so many more years to go. There’s so much time, so many slams, so many more opportunities here in Australia for her and Ava, and she’s going to make sure Ava knows that from here on out and more.

Ava is her doubles partner always. No one can take her place. Not even if Zori’s career went tits up and she wanted to drop down to the doubles. She’ll drum it so much into Ava’s silly head until she grows sick of hearing it.

She won’t bring up the demand that Ava needs to make a choice between mixed or doubles with her thing now, but she will tell Ava again right this second that she's her partner no matter what as they take another break at 2/1 on games played.

She puts her arm around Ava, who’s continually struggling but persevering, and pulls her close. “You do know, no matter what, we’ll be partners forever, right? No matter what. Zori or no one else will ever take your place.” She whispers calming in Ava’s ear as Ava’s head is bowed and she’s controlling her breathing.

“Yeah. Sure, Bea. Partners for life. Can we not talk right now? I just want to focus on recovering between games.” Ava pulls on her ice towel around her neck.

She understands, but she needs to say this over and over. “Alright, I’ll talk. Please believe me when I say that. You’re a part of my life, and no one will change that. Zori’s going to apologise to you about the other day after this.”

Ava closes her eyes. “She should apologise to you. Not me. I don’t care about her trying to hurt me. I care about you. I love you.”

“And I love you.” She rubs Ava’s arm, being Ava’s anchor in this moment she needs her. “Let’s finish these two off.”

“Yeah. Fuck. I wish Suzanne gave me twenty injections for this – my hip is aching again.” Ava squeezes her eyes shut in pain.

“Ava, are you sure you can go on? We aren’t going to win this slam; it sucks but we know it now. Your health is so much more important than tennis, hey?” She emotionally gives Ava a little squeeze.

Ava shakes her head. “No. Of course we can. I can do this. I can do this. I can. I need to. I want to.”

“But you don’t need to at all. I shouldn’t have agreed to this. Look at yourself; you’re in pain.” She rests her head on Ava’s soothing and soothing in the best way she can. It’s crushing her now. Crushing for her to see Ava like this.

“Time.”

Fuck. She wishes the umpire had given her more time. It’s just causing Ava injury, all this. But she’s so stubborn. Such a fighter beneath the wacky ways of the silly Avacado.

Ava takes off her ice towel and pumps herself up. “No, I’m not; it’s just the heat. Come on, stop mothering. We got this.” Ava pats her back and hops to her feet.

“Yes, you are.” She gets up too reluctantly. “You just told me you are.”

“Well, I was just being dramatic.” Ava puts her cap back on, feigning okayness.

Beatrice hates it. She hates it, and she wants to drag Ava off this court or rather gently drag or like carry her off. But she desperately wants to so…so much. She takes the shakiest of shaky breaths at all this. Ava hurts so she hurts.

“Ball, please.” Ava collects some balls beside her, and Beatrice tries to stay calm. Tries as best she can.

“Where do you want me then?” She gives in for now.

“Low to the left.” Ava decides on a ball and orders, and Beatrice takes the instruction painfully.

She reaches and crouches down low below the net, focusing on its string and the way the square patterns of it move with the slight breeze.

“Ah!” Ava’s serve whips past and lands in. Beatrice can’t tell if that’s a normal grunt or one of agony. She leans toward the latter.

Mary smacks a return. Beatrice covers it and volleys the ball down to Kris’s feet to her right. Kris scurries for the return, straining and straining, and slides on the court for it. “Argh!!” Ooft. That’s all Beatrice can think as she winces. Kris just did the splits, but her foot gave way. The pain when that happens when your foot goes to the side and down hard. It’s a horrible thing to experience. Beatrice knows it well as Kris holds her ankle and curls up into a ball of pain – and crying in pain at that.

It’s always a bit awkward when this happens. The crowd goes quiet – deathly quiet – after the collective wince. The players just stand in place like statues, not knowing how to act other than to wait for the umpire.

She, as horrible as it sounds, is just thankful that it's not Ava on the floor right now. She’s in enough pain already.

Mary jogs over and concerns over her partner, and Beatrice just does what’s natural and returns to Ava.

“That looked bad. Hope she’s alright.” Ava greets her and hmm. Kris isn't the only one in pain right now. The impact will go away for Kris maybe, but Ava’s is there and not going away entirely till it's properly treated with the surgery she needs.

“Yeah, terrible.” She gives Ava a pointed look.

Ava rolls her eyes and pushes her arm. “I’m good. I told you.”

“Yeah, and you won’t look like a Smurf if you dyed your whole hair blue for my wedding.” Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but it seems adequate for the moment.

Ava gasps and clutches her chest with mock offence. “No, I wouldn’t. I’d look like a sexy blue – uh, I don’t know. Let’s check on her.”

Beatrice concurs, and they go to the net as the umpire Duretti calls for a medical timeout. The cry from Kris and Mary’s hushed worried voice to Duretti is there answer. She’s not alright.

“Should we go sit down?” Ava asks with a little want. She’s maybe been saved here. Beatrice won’t hope for that. There isn’t a point in going on after this. There really isn’t.

“You go sit; I’ll go check on her.” She pats Ava’s arm and steps around the net.

“Bea!” Zori shouts and beckons her to her, but now isn’t the time. Not at all.

She raises a hand to say as much and kneels down to Kris in the straining, agonised pink ball she is, with Mary rubbing her side.

“How bad is it?” She asks a stupid question for now. Kris isn’t going to answer in the distress she’s in.

Mary gives her a dirty look. “Oh, she’s just as rosy as can be. What a stupid fucking question. Bet you'd love it if she can't go on, wouldn't you?”

“Right. Uh, sorry, I’ll um… sit with Ava. Sorry.” She gets up after an air quotes ‘successful visit’ to her opponents and jogs around the net, then toward Ava. Feeling the daggers, Mary looks at her back, undoubtedly with. Mary’s always a little snarky with people, but she won’t take offence to that. Her friend is hurt.

“That was a quick check-in.” Ava snorts as Beatrice sits with her.

“I asked how bad it was, and then Mary basically told me to fuck off.” Her tone put off by it.

Ava sniggers. “That wasn’t called for; are you alright?”

She lowers her head a little hurt. But more importantly, she gets a comforting arm over her shoulder from Ava instead this time. Ava’s soft care always comes when she’s hurt; she always defends her and how lucky she is to have that. She’s always had that with Ava.

“Yeah, I'm… okay.” She’s hurt. She takes a breath, still emotional about Ava and now this. That wasn’t called for, actually, at all. Ava’s right.

“Such a…” Ava mutters something unintelligible. It makes Beatrice feel fuzzy and warm and protected. They look out for each other. She knows that. She knows that’s all Ava is doing with Zori.

“It’s alright. She’s just worried about Kris; I get it.” She raises her head and sits back with the aftermath of hurt making it hard to breathe. She hates that feeling. When she’s been scolded like that so openly and obviously with nothing but anger at her.

Ava breathes deep, rubbing her back. “Bea, that’s… That’s just… It’s… you don’t understand how upset that makes me to hear. I don’t…” Ava stops and starts and sighs.

“Is this a bad time to tell you there’ll be no bubble football?” She adds it with little nervousness, with a nervous smile to boot. “Sorry, I know you were looking forward to it.”

Ava blinks. Her expression unreadable; her lips are parted, like she's trying to read her. “Beatriceeee.” She groans and slaps a hand on her face. “What am I going to do with you?” She flops on the spot she has so many times in their lives. Beatrice's shoulder. “It’s not about me. It’s never about me. I wanted us to do that for you. You loved it, and what better thing to do for you on such a special day? Urgh Beaaaaaaaa.” Ava groans and bemoans her with a little funny bump of her forehead on Beatrice and her shoulder.

Beatrice tries to hold on, but why does she try? Why bother trying to not smile just a little at Ava’s funny way of despairing over her? “So you aren’t upset?”

Ava’s reply is to fake cry. More of a groan again. “You make me wanna tare my hair out sometimes, you know that?” Ava moves up, red-faced, before facepalming. “O que eu faço quando ela é tão cega quando eu a amo, mas não consigo. Eu nunca consigo.”

Now Ava loses her. But it’s more than nice to hear Ava speak Portuguese again for the first time in… she doesn’t know how long. It’s been a very long time. Ava’s mom wanted Ava to learn the language even living away from the country she was born in for her formative years; she wanted Ava to know it. Ava's clever. She knows multiple languages. When Ava puts her mind to something, there’s nothing she can’t accomplish.

“What’s that mean?” She grins, not knowing wholly why exactly. They should probably be quiet and respectful of Kris as doctors come on to see her, but she can’t regret Ava having a distraction from the pain she feels.

Ava tiredly rests her head on Beatrice and her shoulder again.

Beatrice rests her head on Ava’s. “Also, um, Zori, when she does apologise, can you try for me to accept it? I really want you two to get along.

“I’ll try my best, Bea. I’ll try for you.” Ava’s voice saddens, and in so doing, so does Beatrice.

This is a good thing. Ava and Zori hopefully can come to find a peace. Ava’s willing to give Zori a chance, but Beatrice just… senses along with the physical pain. There’s more Ava's not telling her. She just feels it. She knows Ava, or she knows her away from her love life.

Chapter Text

Kris had to retire, but it could’ve easily been Ava, and now back In the locker rooms Beatrice tries to get Ava to pull out of any quarter-final match. It’s over; it just is.

“We’ve got to prep for the quarters; only 3 left to go now.” Ava happily takes off her cap and lies down on the bench beside the wooden lockers, like what just happened with her out there didn’t just happen.

“You can’t; it’s over. I’m sorry, but as your best friend, I’m putting my foot down.” She folds her arms above Ava and drops her sweaty headband on Ava’s face.

Ava gets hit, causing her to scrunch her face. “Dude. I’m fine.” She throws it away.

“I’m not playing, so you’ll have to clone me or some shit.” She shrugs, defiant and sure. Ava isn’t playing again, and she’s sure Mario will say the same.

Ava glares up at her with her arms behind her head. It doesn’t last long, surprisingly, as she softens. “No clone could ever replace you, Beatrix.”

She squints her eyes down at Ava. “You know I hate Beatrix or Trixie.”

Ava does the same and frowns. “I do.”

“You know I’ve never given you the amount of nicknames you've given me over the years. What about Vay? Avie? Avatrix? Vee? Avy Bear?” She relishes as Ava’s face contorts and contorts like she’s sucking a lemon. “A-va? Avatron? Avy Pop? Ava Bush?”

“Wouldn’t you like to see Ava bush?” Ava wiggles her brows and belts out a laugh, and Beatrice bites her lip not to laugh, completely forgetting what she was talking about. Cheeky so-and-so.

“Don’t be such a... I don’t know.”

“Minx?” Ava suggests, and if any word could describe Ava Silva, that’s the one.

“Shut up; I’ve forgotten what I was talking about. All I can think about now is nicknames for Ava. What about Avalicious?” She really has forgotten. Mind’s gone blank as she and Ava have their usual banter or back and forth.

Ava mulls it over and rubs her chin. “I do like that one. Keep em coming.”

Enthused and feeling her heart race funnily, Beatrice goes on. “Avesicle?”

“Nope. I’m not an ice lolly.” Ava doesn’t like.

“Avaholic? Avamunchkin? Avazilla?” She references Zorilla. God, she really shouldn’t like that one so much.

Ava points at each individual finger as she lists. “I am addictive; my name isn’t Zori, but I do kinda like Avamunchkin for some reason. Mmm, it makes me feel all fuzzy.” Ava hugs herself like she’s in a warm blanket after coming in from the snow. She’s just taken some powerful pain meds, and she’s definitely feeling better, to Beatrice’s relief.

“So you like being called a munchkin? Like from The Wizard of Oz?” She raises a brow and grins.

Ava’s eyes light up and she clicks her fingers. “That’s where that’s from! I loved that movie! You know the old one... Actually, I do like the new one; what’s it called?”

“Wicked.” She likes it too. She and Ava loved watching movies together before Zori.

“Ah yes. Wicked. And if I’m flying solo! At least I’m flying free!” Ava sings and outstretches her arms, and Beatrice hates that she wants to join in. (Not really. She’s so happy to see Ava happy.)

She slides a hand over her face and laughs. “Stop being such a goofy goof.”

“Tell them how I’m defying gravity! So if you care to find me, look to the western sky!” Ava’s a frustratingly amazing singer.

“So you forgot what it was called. Now you know the whole bloody lyrics?” She puts her hands on her hips, lost for a moment in the energy of Ava.

Ava points up at her. “You’re never going to bring me down!”

“Stop!” She laughs harder and clutches her chest, letting out all the stress and worry from the court, loving her own laugh and loving the moment.

“I’m not doing the last line.” Ava ends it.

“Oh, so that’s where you draw the line.” She wipes her eyes of tears of laughter. Ava. Just Ava. Why is she so Ava?

Ava shrugs cheekily. “Oops.”

“God, you’re frustrating.” She shakes her head, recovering but fond, and kneels down to Ava.

Ava eyes her up gleefully and turns over on her spot. “Down on one knee? I thought you were engaged to Zorilla?”

“Don’t call her that. She doesn’t like it, I’m sure.” She never asked. But she remembers now what she and Ava were talking about. She gentles and cups Ava’s cheek. “There’s only one way to get rid of the pain or manage it until your surgery, and that’s not playing tennis. We have so long. So much time, as I said out there. Please don’t put yourself at risk anymore. It hurts me when you hurt.”

Ava’s eyes glisten, or it could be the lighting in the room. “Oh, BumbleBea. That’s very sweet, but I must. I have to.”

She strokes Ava’s cheek with her thumb and asks simply, “Why?”

Ava flickers with hesitation, but she holds Beatrice’s wrist. “Without... tennis, as I said the other day, it feels like we aren’t the same. I’ll be cut off. I know I will. Zori just takes over everything.”

“And you...”

“Yes, yes, I know she’s your stupid fiancé; you want to spend time with her.” Ava interrupts and lets her wrist go, going gloomy again. “Didn’t I tell you she’d take over your hen do?”

“It’s for you, though, this time. Zori didn’t want you not included. You can’t play bubble football in this shape.” She lets her hand travel to Ava’s sweaty, tired arm with nothing but softness in the touch and her voice.

Ava immediately facepalms again. “It’s not about me. It’s about you. How many times do I have to say to you Bea that you matter?” Ava drags her hand away, becoming more animated as she sits up, and Beatrice can’t say anything she says is wrong per se. “Out there you let Mary speak to you as if you deserved that!” Ava’s voice... it cracks, and Beatrice sees just how much Ava means this. “You’re good and kind, and you only fucking asked if Kris was okay! You didn’t deserve that, Bea! Don’t you get that!? Don’t you see how you’re letting people walk all over you?”

“I’m not.” She says different and bows her head a little. She just isn’t one for confrontation, maybe? She doesn’t know.

“Oh Bea! Come on!” Ava’s voice breaks again, and a little bit of Beatrice breaks with it.

“Hey, what’s all the shouting? Bea you okay?” Zori trots in with a purple skirt and zipped-up jacket. Ready for her match, of course, and she hopes Zori didn’t hear a lot of that.

She gets up and heads to her fiancé with a smile. She’s really happy she came to the match. “It’s nothing; Ava’s just upset about pulling out of the tournament.”

“I’m not pulling out, Bea! I refuse to!” Ava defies emotionally, and Beatrice feels split in the moment, but she takes Zori’s hand. Zori wanted to say sorry, and she’s here to.

Ava darts her eyes downward. Visibly losing her passion so fast it’s hard not to see it.

“Ava, I...”

“Forget it, Trix. I have a call to make. With, uh... it doesn’t matter. I can’t force you to play, I guess. Like I can’t do a lot of things I should. You win. Fuck it, just fuck it. I give up. Do what you feel is right.”

Well, that was sudden and a shift so fast Beatrice gets whiplash, but she can’t deny how relieved she is. It’s for the best. But Ava turns on the spot after being so happy with her a moment ago, now utterly different, utterly beaten, and it just... doesn’t feel right at all seeing.

Ava doesn’t approve of Zori, but Beatrice loves Zori. This isn’t something Ava or anyone should affect. She didn’t ask Zori to marry her flippantly; she wanted it, and here they are. It’s what she wants.

“I’m sorry about the other day, Ava; it was totally out of line.” Zori says her apologies, but Ava doesn’t acknowledge it as she disappears from view behind some lockers. She feels like she’ll be cut off, but she won’t be. She’ll just have to show her.

“Alright, Zori, I forgive you.” Ava calls back in a monotone and down voice. “Bea loves you, so I forgive you. No bad blood; sorry for lashing out at you.”

“Cool.” Zori says, and it just... it just feels weird to hear. “So, um, can you be in my box? I’m really nervous, and as I came to your match, I was hoping...”

“Yeah, sure, of course I will.” She gets a kiss on the cheek, and Zori squeals happily. But she doesn’t look away from the spot where Ava just went out of view to her from.

Chapter Text

You know what Dora likes about Rafael?

Everything. Just everything. Just that little thing that makes her feel all funny and warm whenever she’s near the stallion of a man he is. (Maybe overegging the pudding, she’s mad about him. Cut her a little slack.)

And yes, there’s that whole he slept with Ava Silva and he cheated with her on Crimson, his then wife, but people make mistakes and they grow. He’s one of those people.

She sees he has a good heart along with something else that’s good and big, and he just made an error. It doesn’t mean he’s an awful person. He made a mistake and paid the price for it, or rather Ava did, because however unfair it is, people found her as the easier target for scorn than a highly successful singles player with a much bigger profile. It is unfair, really, not nice at all, but it’s over now, and it’s died down, and everyone is just trying to move on.

Hopefully Rafael will do that with Dora, of course she hopes. They’re casual at the moment. Lots of sex, lots of well, more sex – it’s just light and breezy, but fuck, she’s keen for more. She wants more. She’s determined to have more of him. He’s like a delicious dessert she can’t get enough of, and she wants to indulge more, enjoy more, have him all to herself, and be his.

She already is. She’s his. She just needs to persuade him to become hers solely, and he understandably has said he isn’t up for another relationship after Crimson. But he's only being with her right now, so the path to it is clear.

She has nothing but time to change his mind. Something she thinks of now before tomorrow’s quarter final with Lilith as she heads to the toilets near the practice court.

“Hey?” Lilith bumps her arm with her own like the friend she is, but she needs the toilet right now; she just told her she needs to. Lilith is a diligent trainer, and they’re hitting right now or will be again after the break.

“I just said I need the…”

“Yes, I heard.” Lilith acknowledges and gains a questioning glance from Dora.

She’s hot. She’s always been hot, and she is again with just her general attitude. Stiff posture, great body shown off by her tank top and skirt combo, and her hair braided and tied up in a ponytail as per the usual, but not for Dora. She just feels more like a partner on the tennis court or a friend than more or a sexy school teacher but one who has a bit too much quietness for her. Maybe she’d like her more if she relaxed a little sometimes, but she doesn’t. She’s straight to the point, and Dora’s preference isn’t that.

“So what is it?” She and Lilith walk by a big hedge and the barbed fence to the court.

“It’s about you and Rafael.” Lilith pries where she isn’t… no, she won’t think that. She likes to be open, not standoffish, and Lilith’s a friend.

“What about us?” She adjusts her bandana for when she plays tennis in any way, as it’s her comfort blanket on court. She can’t imagine wearing a cap when playing; it just feels heavy.

“You deserve better than being his little secret; I know for a fact he’s with others too and regularly.” Lilith informs her.

“Don’t lie.” She snaps. “It’s a work in progress, and he’s not with anyone else. He gave me his word he isn't.” She’s annoyed at that silly gossip. It’s a process until they become a thing, hopefully a real thing, and he’s not with another, so that's something.

“I honestly don’t get it, Dora. He’s a cheater and not a nice guy. Everyone says he isn’t. Mario was one of his best friends, and he went off him just…”

“Lily respectfully.” She stops Lilith there by grabbing her friend's arm, not strongly. “I don’t believe that, and thank you for looking out for me, but I have my own mind, and I don’t form my opinion of someone around what others think.”

Lilith, like it’s instinct, holds Dora’s hand on her arm. She has a little look that’s unfamiliar to Dora with Lilith. Loose and wilted maybe? Like, her eyes are wide, and her face overall is a little slack, like she could fall apart if she lets go. She’s never surprised by anything, so it's a little off for Lilith.

“Yeah, okay.” Lilith smiles a smile. Dora isn’t used to seeing with her. It’s a little toothy and shaky.

“Riiight, I’ll see you in a sec.” She gives Lilith’s hand a pat and steps away a bit bemused. But she shakes it off and heads to the toilets at the end of the walkway ahead.

She might text Rafael after practice; actually, she’d like to come see him play his quarter final and give him a little support. As a friend with benefits for now.

She sees the familiar entrance she needs to go through and increases her speed for obvious reasons. It’s hot even at night, and she’s been drinking by the gallon like everyone else at this slam. It’s dangerous in this heat, and in the daytime it’s too intense if you ask her.

“So what are you going to do? Restart the whole thing and just hurt her more? You don’t love her; you’re incapable of it, you piece of shit.”

She stops by the square-shaped and bricked walls to the toilets. That’s Mario, and it’s coming from behind the bushes to her left. She doesn’t stay to listen in. Not any of her business.

—

After making the maybe stupid decision to get involved, at least on Rafael’s side of things, Mario, beyond that thick shrubbery next to the training courts near the John Cain Arena under lampposts shining on them, wants to punch this idiot. He always wants to when he’s near Rafael.

The snarky expression in his arrogant eyes—his nose that has never taken a hit before, unlike Ava, and his cheekbones that are high and sculpted perfectly. His strong chin. His blue eyes. He wants to punch.

He may have back in the day when he could stand to be around Rafael had a crush on him. But sometimes the devil—the cruellest of people—has the prettiest of faces.

Well, anyone can be cruel and uncaring and just want people for sex, but it just so happens this particularly emotionally stunted person right here is a perfectly formed everything.

He saw Rafael on the way to the practice courts and just acted to confront him and his perfect long locks. Well, not so perfect in this heat.

Rafael laughs bitterly and shoves Mario’s chest—his expression dismissive.

“You know nothing of what I feel and what's between me and Ava. Just mind your own business.” Rafael pulls on his sports bag handle over his shoulder and tries to get by.

“No, it is my business. Ava’s a friend, unlike you.” He steps in Rafael’s way with disgust for his old friend, knowing he doesn’t give one fuck about Ava.

Rafael covers his mouth, laughing again a little more, amused. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Mario scrunches his face with bafflement before a big hearty laugh. “I’ll give you credit, bro; you think very highly of yourself. You may be hot, but looks aren’t everything. What’s inside matters more than…”

“So you think I’m hot? That explains a lot.” Rafael talks to himself more than Mario. “Well, I’m flattered, but you’re not my type. My type is a woman with a crazy sex drive and the best blow job I’ve ever had now…” Mario grabs Rafael’s collar.

“Don’t you talk about Ava like that!!” He drops his own bag and roughly pushes Rafael up against the bushes. Pissed off and angry defending a friend. “If you go near Ava, I’ll break your nose like Crimson broke Ava’s. I’ll do worse; just stay away!”

Rafael laughs again, short and sharp, as he grips Mario’s arms. “Sorry, my bad. I shouldn’t have said that. But…”

“Offt!” A blinding pain, hard and brutal, smashes into Mario’s nose. Rafael just headbutted him, and the blood flows as fast as the hit. “Fuck!” He cradles his nose and stumbles away.

“What was that about broken noses?” Rafael snorts. Mario struggles with the shock of that hit and the metal taste in his mouth.

He gets kicked in the ribs in a short painful kick and tumbles to the ground, and before he can respond through blood and pain, he sees Rafael’s face over him, his hand gripping his collar instead.

“Again. Mind your own business, Mario. This is the only warning I’ll give. Ava and I are none of your concern, and contrary to what you may think, I do care about her, I care about her more than you could ever know just not in the way you could get. She’s fiery and one of a kind, and I want what I should’ve kept with her back, and I’m about to get it in about….” Mario thinks, but he knows when, and it crushes Mario to know Ava's truly doing this. "20 minutes and I can't lie; I'm excited as fuck. Finally, I've got her back, and you or anyone else won't ruin it for me."

Mario spits blood at Rafael. “Like fuck, you care about her.” He gets a short, stiff punch to the jaw for that.

“Don’t be a dick; just stay away. If you talk with Ava, this won’t be the last time I punch you.” Another punch smashes against Mario’s nose, blinding him with the pain it provides, and he’s left on the ground, regretting the confrontation, bleeding and shocked at how easily he was beaten.

Chapter Text

After earlier and Ava being in so much pain, Beatrice had to come see her friend in her hotel room even as late as it is. It’s 2am, and she just can’t sleep knowing Ava’s hurting and down about her being maybe truthfully a little bit of a pushover lately. She just needs to know Ava’s not struggling. She has to. She can’t sleep a wink without knowing Ava’s okay.

She also feels like she forced Ava to say things she didn’t mean with Zori. She doesn’t have to forgive her if she doesn’t want to. Ava gave her opinion, and it’s up to Zori to change it. And it won't be changed with one apology, but how she acts with her.

She knocks on Ava’s room door, eager to talk and just see that she’s alright.

“Avamunchkin? It’s BumbleBea. I just came to see if you’re alright.” She says the munchkin line, as Ava liked that one earlier.

She hears little scuffling, and the door opens a smidge. Ava pokes her face through the gap. She looks a bit dishevelled. More than that.

“Now isn’t the best time, Trixie.” Ava's voice. It's a little hoarse. Her cheeks are bright pink, her hair is a mess, and…her lips are swollen. Her eyes aren’t the usual brown; they're more black than that. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what she’s doing currently.

There’s this… real deep tightness, this constriction in Beatrice’s throat. She’s not seen Ava like this before. It’s really hard to see. It shouldn’t be, but it is. It really is.

She takes a step back, dry of mouth and not able to say what she’s… she doesn’t know. She should, but she doesn’t. Stupid, really. Such a silly response. She doesn’t know why she feels like this. Ava’s straight, and she has a fiancé; she conquered these feelings a long time ago.

“Bea? You alright?” Ava steps out of her room just in a dress robe, and it doesn’t help the burning cheeks or the tug in her chest that hurts for some ridiculous reason that has no place in reality.

She tries to speak.

No words come out.

She just claps her lips together, breath taken.

“Bea?” Ava’s voice is gentle – really gentle – the person Beatrice knows and loves as her best friend. The touch of her hand makes Beatrice flinch when it shouldn’t.

She gulps deeply and finds some words, however hard it is, through lack of breath and a knot in her stomach. “Yeah…sorry, I, uh, just wanted to know how you were. But you’re fine, obviously.”

“I’m okay, yes, thanks, but um… It’s a bit late; could you…”

“Yup.” She takes the opportunity given and retreats to the elevator, silver and waiting for her to find a rhythm of breathing normally again.

“Who is it, babe?”

That voice stops her. She…doesn’t know what to think or how to think about this.

Rafael.

What is Ava thinking??

She doesn’t know. She doesn’t know anything. It’s all speculation in her head, and it hurts that it is. It hurts that she’s so open with Ava, but Ava isn’t with her.

“We’re not on babe terms right now; get back inside. I’ll be back in a moment.” Ava isn’t exactly soft with Rafael – quite the opposite. It’s not a meaningful thing, or is it? Has Ava gotten Rafael in the way he wouldn’t last time around? Is this how they are with each other?

She turns stiff and is just none the wiser about Ava’s love life. Just cut off. Not the same type of friend Ava is to her.

“Alright sexy.” He smacks Ava’s butt, and Beatrice doesn’t like to see it. She hates seeing Ava jump a little at the smack. And he’s stark naked; she definitely doesn’t like that as she gets an unfortunately healthy view of his backside as he steps back inside.

She doesn’t know what to feel right now. Ava lost people's trust and their respect because of Rafael, and now she’s gone back to him?

She looks away, repulsed by him. “I guess I’ll never know all of you Aves; I’ll never know. I don’t get it. I wish you’d talk to me, but you won’t, will you?”

“No, I won’t. This side of myself I won’t show…not to you.” Ava doesn’t say coldly, It’s gentle again, but it feels that way; it feels like a gut punch.

“Why!?” She storms back to Ava but makes sure she doesn’t get a view into her room. Not keen for another view of that… cheaters anything. Ava’s a cheater, but she knows that, and it doesn’t define her, but she doesn’t seem to have regrets about it if she’s back with him.

Ava doesn’t bend or break; she just trails her dark eyes over her. “I love you. That’s why.”

Beatrice dismays. “Now isn’t the time to tell me you love me. You know I love you too, but you aren’t …I just. ” She huffs, feeling so out of the loop when she feels she shouldn’t be.

She and Ava are partners and sisters, and yet she’s never truthful about such massive parts of herself, and it hurts again.

“I’ll… I don’t know. You say you feel like you’re being left behind by me, but I’ve never truly been invited in with you, have I? No…sorry, I’m making an idiot out of myself, sorry.” She grimaces; that was wrong to have said. Fuck, she just doesn’t know what to say, so she doesn’t say anything else and goes back to the elevator to go back to her room to fall asleep beside her fiancé. At least things are clear with her because with Ava, they never are, truly. Maybe she should just drop the thought. Not ask again about Ava’s relationships away from tennis because she just doesn’t understand it. Ava will never open up with her.

“You’re not an idiot.” Ava adds so quietly that Beatrice almost doesn’t hear as she gets on the elevator, sad and angry when she shouldn't be. “Você é o amor que eu não posso ter.”

She burns and taps a button to go. “Why are you…”

“Você é o amor que eu não posso ter. Mas eu quero tanto que me parte. Me parte ver você com ela. Todos os dias.” Ava says that with so much meaning, but Beatrice doesn’t understand a word as she looks back, so frustrated and constantly blocked from seeing Ava in the way Ava does her.

She sighs, just confused. “Night, Ava. Try to get at least some rest; you need it.”

Ava blinks, just looking like she did in the locker room again. Beaten. “I will. Night, Bea. Thanks for checking in.” Ava steps back inside her room, giving nothing away but that sadness she’s seeing now constantly. She sees Ava’s tired face, bowed and heavy, before it disappears from her view. It's not just the pain of injury. It's so much more. And she doesn’t know if she’ll ever know why it’s there.

Chapter Text

Contrary to Rafael's words, the little shit, he did not in fact break Mario’s nose. Mario had to go to the medical centre below the Rod Laver Arena and get it checked, but he didn’t break. It still left Mario with a black eye, a bruised ego and a nose that swells and pains him every time he even dares to twitch it.

He did it for Ava, but he just got beaten up in return by a horrible person and it felt pointless to tell someone in a position to do something against Rafael for it, as he instigated the fight. But what’s not pointless is not ignoring the cruel arsehole Rafael is and trying to find Ava the morning after to do something directly to stop her from being with him.

Rafael hasn’t succeeded in getting him to back off. He’s only made him more utterly sure he needs to get Ava away from him. He couldn’t last night. And he stings at knowing Ava was probably with Rafael, but he can now as he moves through the players cafeteria, chatter all around him from multiple tables spread around the room with small plants to the side next to a wall that has an outline of Melbourne's major buildings that looks like a crime scene outline of a murder victim in its design, plates being clinked by forks and knives and the kitchen a buzz of activity. He will. He refuses to let Ava be near him, and he doesn’t care if he’s overstepping; he’s protecting Ava.

He must. Ava needs him, and she’s his friend, and friends look out for each other. Even when it gains them a pain the next morning from a kick to the ribs and punches to the face.

He and Ava haven’t pulled out yet, but he’ll do that today and, in so doing, stop her from hurting herself in that way too.

He looks around the cafeteria from table to table, getting a wince here and a “Whoa” there from some at seeing him, and not the kind he likes. He walks around scanning and scanning the place. The buffet and the chefs behind it. The players using tongs to grab whatever is for breakfast this morning, like bacon and sausages, and, fuck, he is hungry, but screw hunger; he looks for Ava and goes from table to table, feeling like a lost sheep after a while. But he persists.

Bingo. He finds Ava... Oh no, that’s the girl who everyone says looks like Ava beside a tree plant chatting with Mary with a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

He could just text her to find out where she is. Ava’s always in here at this time, though, so he thought he’d catch her. Whatever, he grabs his phone and texts and asks where Ava is.

Ava – I get it. We're pulling out.

She knows that conversation is coming. Or he guesses it doesn't have to now, then. She accepted that well.

Mario – I need to see you, and not just about that. It’s about Rafael. It’s urgent.

He finds a seat at a free table and focuses on his phone, not on his tummy rumbling or his face throbbing.

The three dots on his messages come up, then go away, then appear again, then go away. Yes, Ava slept with him. It’s the answer he gets as he sees Ava’s back and forth without replying to his text.

Ava – What about him?

He goes to scoff, but his nose throbbing and his eye too stops anything of the sort. It hurts to even do that.

Mario – It’s best if you see me in person. You can’t see him again, and I know you have.

He waits for a reply. He waits and waits for Ava to send one, but nothing.

“Offt, who did that, mate? That looks bad.” Who else but Rafael‘s voice comes from above him, enjoying what he did to him.

He ignores the fucker. Not even giving him the satisfaction of looking him in the eyes. “Do me a favour and fuck off.”

Rafael takes an unwanted seat opposite him. His tray hits the table surface, and Mario dreads where this is going. He knows the words before Rafael speaks them. He doesn’t look up, just down at his phone between his legs covered partly by his shorts. One leg under the table, the other outward. Waiting for Ava.

He feels the lean forward from Rafael. He smells his cologne; he can practically see the words that’ll be spoken. Arrogant and smug about Ava. He’s a horrible person with a cruel side, and Mario must get Ava, the complete opposite of Rafael, away from him.

“What a night last night was, am I right? First I had to deal with this thug who accosted me, and I have to say I was definitely shaken by it. I might have to get police involved.” He's snarky and full of shit and makes fun of him. “But after? Nothing quite like being held by a beautiful woman like that. She was better than I remember, so fucking good I think I’m fucked for life.” Rafael lets out a satisfied-with-himself chuckle.

If Rafael cared for Ava in the way someone like Ava deserves, he would hold his tongue from such words, but he doesn't; he's incapable. He's incapable of being someone with integrity and a bit of decency. Ava didn't cheat. Mario just feels it. That's not the Ava he knows; she cares for people, and whatever the situation with Crimson and Rafael, he believes deeply Ava didn't cheat. This is about her not wanting to come out. Being afraid of it. This is about the fear of being herself and her going back to Rafael, and Crimson is for a distraction from all the pain she's in. But this isn't the right one. She deserves far better.

He wants to help. He wants to, and he knows it's not his place, but he wants to. He'd be angrier with himself if he didn't try. Ava has something for Beatrice. She wants her, and maybe if he helped, she could maybe intervene with Bea and Zori.

“I warned you last night: don’t try anything; it’s over. She’s mine, so back off.”

He’s trying him; he may have beaten him up last night, but he’s not afraid. He just got taken by surprise by the headbutt; he won’t be next time if there is a next time.

Fuck it, he calls Ava and gets up.

“Oi!” Rafael tries to stop him, but Rafael can go fuck himself. Threats of being beaten up again won’t persuade against helping Ava.

His arm is grabbed as he goes for the exit to the hallway. “Get off me!” He roughly pulls his arm away but is pulled back. So he snaps. He's angry about last night. He's hurting for Ava and her struggle, which he knows and understands too well, and he reacts. He smashes his elbow back into Rafael’s nose hard.

“Shit!” Rafael pains, and Mario is released, and fuck, it felt good to do that. He walks away with a smile tugging at his lips as the cafeteria goes into a stunned silence.

His peers gawk at him from so many tables. He’ll probably face some repercussions for that, but it was richly deserved.

“Oops! Sorry! Hope I didn’t break your nose!” He calls back with a smirk in a bit of payback and goes to find Ava. He kind of does hope he broke it. Crimson broke Ava's nose, and if Ava never cheated and it was an open relationship with them all, then it was just a woman scorned reacting pathetically to a breakup.

Ava picks up his call as he walks through corridors with pictures of former winners of this slam on either side of him.

“Hiiii, this is your doubles partner. Ava speaking. Please play with me; I’ll be your second best friend.” Ava begs with a low voice.

He can’t help the little affectionate feeling for Ava in his chest with his phone to his ear as he hears her voice. “Firstly, no, it’s decided, and secondly, where are you right now? I’ve got to talk to you about Rafael, as I texted.”

“Douche. Tss!” Ava makes a noise with her tongue, annoyed with him but in her typical silly way.

He eye rolls as he walks. “I shouldn’t say this, but…” he bites his lip, pensive. “The other night Camila heard you.”

“Uh, okay, expand.” Ava drops the playfulness.

He stops and rests his side against a wall. “You had a conversation with Rafael near the practice courts, and Camila overheard and told Lilith, and Lilith told me. I know you’re back with him because before he met up with you last night, he headbutted me and gave me a big shiner for you to see as proof. What the hell are you doing being with him again?”

Ava’s response is silence.

“Ava?”

“I’m… I don’t wanna be unkind, Mario, but it’s not any of your…”

“Alright, put me on FaceTime; have a look for yourself at the kind of guy you’re taking back.” He interrupts, knowing he’s on thin ice here, pushing where Ava doesn’t want him to, but he feels he has no choice.

The FaceTime transition comes, and he sees Ava’s in her hotel room on her balcony. Her hair wispy in parts but shaped to her face, and her eyes immediately widen as he gives her a great look see. She covers her mouth in shock. “Oh, Mario….”

“Believe me now?” He struggles to open his bruised eye but gives Ava a sweet smile. He’ll probably have to drop out of the men’s doubles too now. His slam is over thanks to Rafael. So it just adds to his determination to show him the finger and stop him being with Ava.

“You don’t… Why would he hit you?” Ava sits down, not defending Rafael. All the silliness gone and nothing but concern in her tone and features.

He closes his eyes and exhales deeply. “I confronted him, and I tried to stop him being with you and the way he spoke about you, Ava. He has no respect for you, none at all.”

Ava opens her mouth to speak, but no words, no anything.

“Can we talk? In private?” He looks around the corridor to see if anyone is nearby. No one is, but this should be private.

“No, Mario, you shouldn’t have confronted him, and it’s not your business. I’m sorry. It’s private. Camila doesn’t respect my privacy, it seems, but I need you to." Ava finds her words, and they stun him a little. She’s not said them with sting, but still.

It isn’t his business, but Ava’s his friend; he at least has to know she’s not going to see Rafael again. “Fine, but promise me you’re done with him.”

Ava covers her face, sighing. “I won’t see him again if he’s truly done this to you, but that’s all I’m going to say. Just drop it, please. I won't discuss anything else about what Camila may have heard."

He softens a little at Ava’s struggle. “Ava, I know…”

Ava hangs up, refusing to talk more.

Chapter Text

A day on from seeing Ava with Rafael in…that way. Beatrice is on centre court in Zori’s box for the quarter-finals. Zori’s first major senior slam quarter-final appearance, and she’s feeling really proud of her fiancé for achieving such a feat as she now faces off against her compatriot Shannon Masters for the incredible reality of reaching her first semi-finals. But still Beatrice thinks of the other night.

She can’t erase it no matter how hard she tries. And she’s tried a lot. Rafael’s bottom isn’t exactly something she likes to have plastered in her brain. Pfft, screw that; she hates remembering that man’s ugh. You get the picture. It’s not nice for her, but on top of it all. She can’t erase the hurt.

She’s never going to know how Ava knows her. Never going to help give her a supportive hand with a relationship and give advice; she’s just not worthy of it, it seems.

Not worthy or trusted to know. Not allowed in.

Ava’s explanation of why being I love you doesn’t make sense either. She loves and cherishes her as her best friend too, but because Ava does, she can’t know about Ava’s love life?

Maybe she’s ashamed of it. Of the cheating and the person she is in a relationship with. Maybe she just doesn’t regret cheating at all because if she did, she wouldn’t have been with Rafael again.

And…she can’t lie; her opinion of Ava has perhaps taken a hit.

Ava blocked the idea of dating after the affair completely, but now the first person she’s with since it happened is Rafael. The man she cheated with.

She didn’t judge Ava, but…maybe now she does. Still best friends and partners always, but she just isn’t impressed or something of that ilk now.

Cheating is inherently wrong, and if Ava doesn’t regret it, then maybe she’s just not who Beatrice thought she was. Not a friend to trust completely when she feels no bad feeling about cheating. It shows an uncaring side Beatrice has never seen from Ava.

She's just disappointed. Really disappointed, and it stings to feel, but she does. She’s incredibly disappointed in Ava.

She sees a sadness in Ava now deeply, but if she asked if she pushed to know the why beyond her injuries taking her out of action and her fear, she’d be dropped by her, and her feelings that she just doesn’t stand up for herself, Ava wouldn’t answer. It’s to do with her life that Beatrice isn’t allowed to see.

So what can Beatrice do? If Ava won’t and doesn’t want to talk, then what can she do? She can’t do anything because Ava just won’t talk to her. Ever. She’s made that abundantly clear.

They're just going to have to be the friends they are in the way they've always been. She lets Ava in, and Ava doesn’t.

She watches Zori in one of her cute green dresses, visor on, getting in position to return a backhand from Shannon in an all-orange number with a cap, feeling continuously proud and supportive but sad herself about Ava.

“Uh!” Zori smashes a backhand of her own to Shannon’s right sideline, and…it’s too good. Shannon has to let it go, and that’s 15 love on Zori’s serve at 3 all in the first set. Shannon’s 5th in the world, and so this is a massive challenge for Zori, but she’s performing well, staying strong and holding her ground.

“15, love.” Duretti, the umpire, updates.

“What’s wrong?” Davide sat next to her, leaning forward in a cap like hers, noticing the mood she's in.

She hasn’t seen Ava since she found her with Rafael. She just hasn’t wanted to, to be honest. All the feelings of hurt are too much to engage in conversation with Ava right now and dance around the subject again.

“Nothing, I’m fine.” She rests her arms on the edge of the box, with Sandra in the seat next to her too.

“You don’t seem fine.” He sees through her. She really is happy at the idea of being his stepdaughter. He’s a really good man and dad, however overruling Sandra can be. She’s excited for that dynamic and the time to come.

She stays quiet as Zori gets to serving again and in her routine. “Uh.” Zori ball tosses. “Hu!” She serves down the T line with Shannon to the left of her, and it’s immediately seen as a quality serve by Beatrice. Great one, in fact, and it’s too great. Ace. Nicely done.

“30, love.”

Though, of course, as a doubles player, she wouldn’t know how to advise Zori. She’s not a 5-time Grand Slam champion or anything with years and years of experience in big matches in big moments with knowledge of how to handle pressure. What a silly thought. Her advising Zori? On having a champion mindset? Pfft, of course not. She knows nothing, and Zori doesn’t need her help. Her support is here in her box, just being here.

“Is it about the wedding?” Davide leans forward, his little bit of Italian accent still in his voice after living in the UK for decades now. A bit like Rafael. He’s Italian too, and a cheater can’t forget the last bit.

She writhes her neck and squeezes her eyes shut at the thoughts she has. The sarcastic thoughts—the disappointing ones in Ava.

“No, it isn’t.”

“You’ve barely said a word all day. Even to Zori. I know something’s up. I hope you know I’m here for you now if you need to talk about anything.” He leans forward with his arms forward over the edge of the box too. Not touching her, prying too hard, just worrying kindly.

Zori collects some balls, and Beatrice thanks God she didn’t see more of Rafael that night.

Ava, she did see though. No regret. She was gentle with her, telling her she’d never tell her more about herself than what they’d always been, but it was like a knife to the stomach and a kick in the ribs. She’s not wholly sure Ava understood how much it was.

“It’s just I guess I’ll never know who my best friend truly is.” She sags a little watching Zori’s long fingers as she assesses each ball she holds at the side next to a ball boy below them both. Sad. Hurt. Disappointed. Powerless to help and understand Ava completely. To understand the sadness.

“What happened?” Davide quietly asks, but Zori heads to her baseline, readying to serve.

“It appears she has no regrets about her affair. And I’m not allowed to ever know about her life in that way. She’s my closest friend, but… I feel like I’ve lost some connection with her. Or maybe never had it.” She bows her head, closing her eyes. Not watching, just hearing the first serve be struck and then another whack of a tennis ball against racket strings.

“Out!” One of the line judges calls. She doesn’t know who it’s for.

“30, 15.”

“It can’t be something she’s proud of…”

“I have no idea what she feels. I thought I knew her, but she doesn’t seem to regret it. She’s back with him, and I’m just…disappointed in her. I thought she just made a mistake, but it wasn’t. She made a choice and hurt someone’s wife in the process. I just…see a different side to her now. A side I don’t know…that could betray even my trust one day.” She exhales and rubs her forehead, feeling weak all over about it, hating feeling these things about Ava.

“Has she ever broken your trust?” He asks gently in a whisper to not disturb the players.

She knows what he’s saying. Ava never has, but Ava has that side to her; it feels like now that Beatrice didn't see before. An uncaring side that could appear despite the worry she shows for her with Zori and standing up for herself and being her most trusted person throughout her life; she has a side that’s capable of cheating and not regretting it. Rafael was there obviously and he knew what he was doing when he cheated, but…for fuck's sake, it's just conjecture; she knows nothing at all.

She raises her head as Zori heads to her baseline. “No. She hasn’t.”

“Maybe she really likes this guy. The heart is the heart, Beatrice. Sometimes it just wants what it wants. She’s never hurt you or betrayed you; her relationship with this guy isn’t to do with you. This is just my opinion, but don’t judge her too harshly. Childhood friends are special.” He lays a hand on her shoulder with more reasonable words.

“It just hurts. I’m open with her. I just wanna be there for her too. But I’m not allowed. She won’t let me.” She watches the shots shared, and Shannon gets the winner with a neat little drop shot.

“30, all.”

“Is it vital you know? She might just not feel comfortable talking with anyone about relationships. That’s not something to be offended by. I…”

“It is. It is.” She bites the inside of her cheek, miffed. She feels a vibration in her pocket, and speak of the devil, it’s Ava.

Ava - 🧐 I see you on TV! You're famous!

She smiles at the humour. Ava’s humour. She and Ava are on TV all the time but on the red button channels or main coverage if it’s big events. But it’s a weak one. She doesn’t feel lightened by it.

Beatrice – Can’t text I’m here for Zori. See you later.

She sends with a lump in her throat. It’s a formal thing. A little detached for now. She continues to support Zori and turns off her phone to focus on her fiancé, someone who’s honest with her. Someone who never holds things back, however poorly said they are.

Chapter Text

In what was the biggest win of Zori’s career and quite possibly a breakthrough moment, she beat Shannon in straight sets. An incredible performance, and so with Beatrice out of this slam, she’s all in in supporting her fiancé. Nothing else matters. Nothing at all. She’s supporting Zori, and the day after Zori’s win, she practises with Zori on the practice courts, doing just that.

She didn’t see Ava later, like she texted Ava yesterday. She’s just struggling to get past the hurt and focusing on people who are honest with her, focusing on her partner, her true partner, Zori. She’s going to be her wife, and right now she needs her a lot. She may not want advice playing in the singles, but she can support her in this right here.

She serves Zori a ball from her end of the court, a united front with Zori in Zori’s favourite colour of red with her headband and top and skirt, and steps to the centre of her baseline. Steven, with his usual calmness, is behind Zori, resting against the fence with folded muscular arms, wearing tight-fitting shorts and a cap to boot. Suzanne is with him watching too.

Zori focuses in on the ball and whips a forehand back. Beatrice shuffles to her right to hit it to Zori’s right. She hears a clink of metal behind her, most likely the fence, but focuses on the practice. Just emptying her mind of everything but this.

Zori, with her typical pace, speeds to smash a forehand down the line to Beatrice’s left. Beatrice pursues and tries out a drop shot. She’s great at them, and in doubles they’re extra hard to make a winner, so she has to be this good. Zori’s opponent Yasmine is a fantastic drop shot artist and the world number 1, along with 10 slams to her name, so this is the ultimate test for Zori.

Yasmine's won 2 of this slam, and she’ll be a fierce opponent. Off court she's a big adorkable woman, very sweet and a big klutz, but on it she’s nothing of the sort. Focused, quiet, and methodical, she rips opponents confidence to pieces with her all-round quality play, her speed of movements, and her everything is perfect for the tennis game, and she has few chinks in her armour.

No one expects Yasmine to not win, and Beatrice has told Zori, however fruitless, to not be too hard on herself against Yasmine. Take it point by point; don’t get disheartened. This is a big learning experience, but Zori told her to not say that sort of thing. She wanted to not hear talk of losing, so Beatrice is just helping Zori this way.

Zori struggles with a sprint and skids on the hard court, but it’s too nicely done. The bounce of the ball is too small for Zori to reach in time.

“Again!” Zori demands and goes back to her baseline. Beatrice gets it. Right now is a stressful, nerve-racking time, so Zori’s understandably been on edge.

She feels a tap on her back and sweet mother of Sister Mary Jesus! It scares the living daylights out of her! “Fuck!” She spins to the tap fast and sees one grinning Ava, not in tennis attire. She's just in a blue cap, a top that has a koala face on its blue fabric, and denim blue shorts with a big smile on her face that’s soft but something else.

“Hi, stranger.” Ava waves at her, and Beatrice would be lying if she said it wasn’t adorable, but she just feels different with Ava now. More guarded. Less trusting when maybe it’s unfair, but she feels it.

She’s always been an open book with Ava, and Ava has never been with her. She doesn’t wanna be. She doubts she’ll know one day if Ava is serious with anyone, Rafael or whoever, until she makes some engagement announcement. She’s not allowed to know that part of Ava. Childhood best friends sharing such things? Of course not.

She mops her head, needing to keep on it with Zori and feeling impatient to do so. “Hi.” She breathily greets with a detached feeling she can’t remember feeling with Ava. “I’m practising with Z right now.”

Ava nods and puts her arms behind her back. “Yes, I can see that. Why are you avoiding me?”

Beatrice furrows her brow and twists her racket by the handle.

“Ball Bea!” Zori hits a ball over to her to serve, and she turns and deftly controls it before spinning around back to Ava.

Ava gives Zori a look beyond Beatrice. Unreadable, like Ava feels to Beatrice now, really, when she’s seeing just how little she must know Ava for her to be back with a man she cheated with.

“I’m not avoiding you; I’m focusing on my fiancé’s big moment.” She steps to the baseline, and Ava steps backward, not letting her continue.

“I’m surprised...”

“Ava.” She stops Ava and catches her bouncing ball. She’s not in the mood to hear talk against Zori right now.

Ava alerts her with a surprised blink.

“If I can’t talk about or have an opinion on you beyond tennis and as friends or rather tennis friends, then I don’t think you should have one on Zori anymore. She’s the person I love. I asked for your opinion on her; I have it now. I’m practising with her; I’ll see you around.” She says a bit harshly, but she’s upset with Ava. She can’t help being upset and disappointed, and she needs to know that.

Any confidence Ava had fades as she parts her lips. “But Bea I...that’s not fair. I...”

“It is. You don’t trust me, or I’m not worthy of knowing who you are truly. I... I don’t know if I can trust you anymore, knowing you’d be with him after the affair. It’s like you don’t regret anything; you don’t regret breaking up a marriage, and that isn’t…” She takes a deep breath and bows her head. She hates this; she hates it, but she needs to say this for her own sanity.

Ava’s look of shaking hurt or not she needs to.

“I never pushed before, and maybe this is wrong of me, but I think this is important, Ava; it’s too important. How do I know if I can trust you when you did something like that and don’t regret it? How can I be like we’ve been now that I feel cut off from knowing you like you’ve always known me? I see you're sad about something, but I’m not allowed to know. Like, I’m just... I’m...I’m disappointed in you. I don’t know how to be around you when I know you have no problem cheating and going back to the guy you cheated with. If...I knew the whole story, I’d...”

“What are you saying?” Ava’s voice breaks, and Beatrice pains at hearing it as Ava blocks her view of Zori. She can’t see Ava upset and her being the cause of it. She hates it. But it’s just the truth of how she feels, and she’s always honest with Ava.

“I don’t know what I’m saying...just that I might need some space before I can go back to how things were. Things just feel different now. Cheating isn’t right, Aves. I don’t know if you know that. I don’t know anything about you if you think otherwise. I don't know if I can trust you now." She wants to be sick for saying all this. Ava’s her best friend, but she can’t get past it. She has morals, and now she can’t stop judging Ava for what she did. Can’t stop feeling this deep pit in her stomach about trusting her anymore.

“Bea!" Zori shouts impatiently. Beatrice waves her off, annoyed. She can wait five seconds for her to talk with Ava, for fuck's sake, now that she is.

But Ava doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t respond with anything at all, so Beatrice looks up again to see her face... She sees the impact of her words, and it hurts to see. Tears fall down from Ava’s eyes. Her lower lip trembles. She hates making Ava cry; she hates it more than anything, but she can’t act like Ava cheating doesn’t bother her if it’s not something Ava regrets.

“How can you say that?” Ava steps forward to her, but Beatrice steps back, sure of herself in this. Sure, she can’t go back now.

“You’ve never broken my trust, but I don’t feel as safe with you anymore. Knowing you can do that to someone and not show remorse. It worries me, and I can’t stop that. Just give me some space for now.” She looks away, unable to see the hurt in Ava’s eyes after she steps back.

“Of course you can trust me.” Ava shakes, and Beatrice can feel it standing this close as well as hear it in Ava's voice. “Isn’t 20-plus years of me never, ever hurting you enough to have that?”

“Not when I feel you have an uncaring side like that, no.” She tries to shuffle along on her baseline to serve and leaves what’s next up to Ava.

“If...if that’s how you feel. I guess I’ll do that then... I’d never hurt you, but...I...I get it.” Ava meekly replies.

She instantly returns her gaze to Ava, a little shaken. Ava is so determined to never show that part of herself that she’ll jeopardise them. She doesn’t understand. It just hurts. It all hurts.

She splutters, “So you don’t regret it?”

Ava wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. Not harshly, just softly, like the other night – a soft way about her but with actions and words that sting. “I never said that, Trix.”

“But that’s the issue! You don’t say anything! What I’m supposed to think!” She raises her voice, easily emotional again, just wanting something, anything, to cling to, to know Ava isn’t this person she’s being led to believe she is.

Ava stares at something far away, tears still falling. “If I told you the truth, it wouldn’t be…right of me. But I guess if this makes you presume things about me and not trust me anymore, despite every year I’ve known you and every time I’ve defended you, I can say…” Ava’s pupils go down in thought, serious thought. Beatrice waits hopeful. “I’m not going to see him again. I found out he was the one who gave Mario that black eye and…” Ava slowly returns to share eye contact with Beatrice, glistening but finally saying something. “I’ve never been a cheater. I was only with Raf because it was something to push the pain away. It was a night to not think about it. But I guess I’m not allowed a distraction from it other than… one other thing.”

“What?” She asks breathlessly but so confused. Ava didn’t cheat? But why would Crimson go after her like that if she didn’t? She doesn’t deny she was with Rafael when he was married. But she didn’t cheat? And Mario? She knew he’d been beaten by someone, but he just said it was some silly altercation with a friend. Guess not. It was Rafael. He hurt him, but why?

“That’s all I'm going to say. I can’t talk with you about this. Or anyone, really.” Ava steps away back to the court gates, gloomy, but Beatrice doesn’t want her to go. She wants to know more, but also there’s a big guilt – she’s hurt, Ava – added to it when she's waiting for her surgery in a few weeks, enduring uncomfortableness in the meantime.

Maybe it was a mistake to push; maybe she should’ve just gone on as usual.

Ava breathes a little laugh without humour, not looking at Beatrice. “And you said nothing could push you to not be my partner anymore. I guess now you’ve seen me with someone like Rafael or probably won’t believe what I just told you; you’ll just find someone else you can stand to be around.”

“I never said that. I just thought you didn’t…”

“You didn’t know anything!" Ava snaps, and Beatrice flinches. But she quickly closes her eyes tight. “Sorry, sorry, just have your space then. I’ve done nothing but look out for you, and I'm not comfortable talking about certain things with you, so that means you can't trust me unless I make myself say things I don't want to around you. That makes me a horrible person you should avoid. I get it. I’ve heard Camila is looking for a partner for the French Open; maybe you can get her.”

Speechless and burning with unshed tears for this, for Ava’s words that aren’t true, she goes to take Ava’s arm, but she brushes her off. She walks away, and Beatrice is left with new information she struggles to take in and guilt for gaining it.

Chapter Text

Beatrice couldn’t go on with practice; she couldn’t. She had to go find Ava and make this right. She presumed things, and she shouldn’t have. She knew nothing, and she jumped to a conclusion and hurt Ava in the process, and as per usual, when Ava hurts she hurts.

She’s heading up to Ava’s hotel room to see her there hopefully to just apologise and hopefully for them both to forget everything she said. She doesn’t want space. Not from Ava. She’s her…her tether. Her silly best friend. She’s the person who stood up for her in their school years against people spouting horrid things at her when she was too hurt to defend herself. She looks out for her with Zori and wants what’s best for her. And she’s sure Ava in the past has done things for her to protect her that even she doesn’t know about.

Like when they were kids, she’d constantly be harassed by this boy who wouldn’t leave her be, but then poof, suddenly he stopped, and she remembers Ava saying in her typical silly way, “Don’t worry about that do-do face. He won’t bother my BumbleBea again.”

She squeezes her eyes shut at the memory hurting. She's hurt, Ava. Her eyes burn and burn so hard it’s hard to stop the tears again. Ava’s had a lot of backlash about the “affair”, and she’s just landed the deepest cut.

Her mind just feels like a mess, and she won’t be able to recentre any of it till she makes this right with Ava. She's still processing everything Ava said.

Ava never cheated. Firstly, it shouldn’t have mattered if Ava did or didn’t or whatever. Ava’s always been there as a safe person to trust implicitly and never gave her any reason to doubt her when it comes to them, and she should’ve just stayed firm in that no matter what happened with Rafael.

But that’s the thing. Beatrice knows now in her frayed thoughts as she’s still in her outfit from the practice courts, just without her headband. She knows that Ava never cheated.

She tries to piece it together again. As she holds the steel handrail in this elevator hard. Focusing on its coldness to ground her away from the pain of hurting Ava in this way.

She has breadcrumbs. But she organises them in her head. Rafael wanted Ava after there time together, but Ava said it wasn’t him that dot dot dot.

Ava ended things, not him. She was never heartbroken or in love with him, the violent, arrogant man he is for attacking Mario for something Beatrice doesn’t know why.

So Ava didn’t love Rafael. She ended things with him, but it was never cheating? But Crimson, who is here in Melbourne playing in the mixed doubles, punched Ava for cheating with him, said Ava. Did?

Crimson said Ava cheated with Rafael, and Ava has never denied or spoken about it, nor has Rafael. But Crimson did. She peddled the line to everyone and hurt Ava’s reputation in the process.

So why did Crimson hurt Ava in the way she did? What happened? Was it a consensual thing with Rafael with Crimson’s blessing? And she just flipped out when Ava ended whatever it was she was with Rafael?

Why would Ava let the lie become fact in people’s minds? Her best friend's mind? What could be so bad that she’d rather be known as a cheater?

She doesn’t understand. Ava’s suffered a lot because of the scandal, heckling and the like, and her peers losing respect for her. She batted it off, but it hurt. Of course it hurt. So why would Ava let herself take it? And why the fuck did Crimson break Ava’s nose?

She gets increasingly more and more mad at Crimson. She was back then, but Ava stopped her from doing anything. Now she’s furious about it.

Ava didn’t cheat, and Crimson broke Ava’s nose and ruined her reputation for what? Spite? She wants to know, but she doesn’t need to. What she needs to do is to make things right.

The elevator dings at Ava’s floor near the Australian Open venue and… The first thing she sees is Dora. This isn’t her hotel?

She looks mad. Really mad, and it looks like she just came back from her match. Still in her bandana, green and white like her top and skirt. Lilith and Dora won to reach the semis like an hour ago tops, so this is a bit of a surprise to see Dora here of all places.

“Uh, hi Dora, congrats on the win today.” She squirms a little as Dora steps into the elevator and she steps out. She notices Dora’s lip is bleeding.

“Fuck off. You and your cheating bitch of a friend can both fuck off.”

Beatrice stops and holds the elevator. Feeling cold at someone calling Ava that. Ever. “What did you just say?”

Dora wipes her mouth of blood. “He promised he was with no one else, but of course he lied to me. Of course it was Ava.”

“Rafael?” She had no idea Dora liked him or even knew him personally.

She looks at Dora’s lip again and then back to Ava’s room. The door is open. “Dora…did you just hurt Ava? Because if you did, I swear to God that lip of yours won’t be the last thing that bleeds.”

She locks her jaw hard. Dora’s not leaving. She pushes the elevator door all the way back, demanding with her threatening eyes to know.

Dora scoffs, “Maybe she’ll get a black eye like Mario. She…ooft!” The punch is fast and cracks against Dora’s cheek. She's never punched someone so hard and fast before, and she wishes it was fucking Crimson, but Dora hurt Ava. She’s not a violent person but she’d do anything to protect Ava.

Dora stumbles back against the elevator in shock. She may not stick up for herself a lot, but when it comes to Ava, she’d break anyone in defence of her.

Dora holds her cheek, gripping a handrail, heaving for breath. “What the fuck was that!?”

“No more than you deserved! How dare you come here and hurt Ava!” She shouts back, and Dora pushes herself and her bigger muscular frame to retaliate.

Dora throws a punch. It’s sloppy, and Beatrice dodges it easily and unceremoniously punches Dora’s other cheek, sending her to the floor. She’s taken a lot of self-defence lessons in the past, and her dad teaches aikido, so Dora fucked with the wrong person.

“Jesus.” Dora spits some blood on the floor, stunned at it.

Beatrice just leaves and rushes to Ava’s room. She sees her legs around the small path from the door to the bedroom on either side of the bathroom and a clothes cupboard. Her bare feet on the marble floor.

“Ava!?” She speeds inside with a worried mind and heart and finds Ava holding her nose. Blood seeping out between her fingers. Her head is bowed, and as soon as Beatrice sees Ava’s shoulders shake in tearful emotion, she rushes to help.

“Bea?” Ava cries up at her softly. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s okay; I’m here. I’m here; let me see.” She gets on her knees below Ava and gently moves Ava’s fingers away. She winces at the blood dripping down to Ava’s chin. “I saw the bitch just now; don’t worry, she’s regretting doing this to you right now.”

Ava’s breath hitches. her mouth open as she struggles. She’s in pain already; she didn’t need this. “She just came in shouting about Rafael I… I told her I didn’t know he was… was with anyone.” Ava cries and wraps Beatrice in a tight, shaking hug. “I’m sorry, Bea. I’m sorry.”

She wants to stop Ava’s nose bleeding, but she places a calming hand on Ava’s back. Holding her friend when she needs her. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” But she leaves the hug to get some tissue paper for Ava or anything to stop her nose bleeding, and Ava lets go. “Um, pinch your nose and tilt your head forward a little. I’ll go get some tissue.”

Ava laughs bitterly as she follows the request. “I swear to God if I’ve had my nose broken again because of that arsehole, I’m going to flip."

Beatrice grins briefly, but she rushes to the bathroom in a hurry, gets some tissue paper and goes back to be below Ava again just as fast but not before kicking the door shut. “Hopefully not. I think you’ve been in too much pain as it is recently. Aviebug.”

Ava darts her eyes to Beatrice as she moves to block Ava’s nose with tissue and then pinches. “Aviebug? I like that one.”

“Yeah, me too.” She smiles again briefly but worries. She should take Ava to the bathroom to help her clean up after the blood stops, but for now she sits with her on the bed and rubs her back. “I'm really sorry about before. I shouldn’t have pushed. It was wrong of me. I just wanted to know my best friend, like she knows me, but I shouldn’t have pushed. I shouldn’t have put distance between us. It was stupid. I’ll always be able to trust you; I know that.”

Ava, breathing heavily, tries to calm down. “I just…find it hard, Bea. Really hard to talk about that side of…of me with anyone." Ava winces as Beatrice keeps pinching to stop the blood.

“It’s alright.” She shushes.

“It’s not. Just… I never cheated, but telling you everything is… I can’t. I want to so much, but I can’t. I hate it, BumbleBea. I can’t.” Ava weeps, and seeing how hard it is for Ava, for whatever reason, to talk about that side of herself, she drops it for the future. She won’t push again. It hurts Ava for some hidden reason when she does. If Ava wants to someday, she’s here always. She's always been there for Ava and Ava for her. That won't change.

Chapter Text

All cleaned up. Beatrice just spends some downtime with Ava after a bit of a whirlwind of time today. She’s calmed down. Ava’s calmed down now too, and they’re just watching the sun shine through so many skyscrapers and Melbourne Park ahead of them. Just a moment of calm to help Ava, most of all, from a hurtful and distressing moment with Dora and after their argument earlier.

She keeps Ava close with an arm round her shoulder and a hand on Ava’s arm, and Ava rests her head on her shoulder while sitting outside on her hotel balcony. No broken noses, thankfully; it was just a bad nosebleed, and they got it under control. Ava now has some tissue wrapped up and plugged in her schnoz as makeshift nosebleed plugs. Still, it was a shock, and Ava needs her. Like she needed Ava after their argument. To not let things linger. To not have things change for the worse between them.

“I can’t believe Dora punched you. You did nothing wrong; it’s just...ridiculous.” She grinds her teeth against her gums, just so angry at Dora and Crimson both. Ava’s been hurt by both when she did nothing wrong. And it’s not right. She knows of Dora more, so she’s going to focus on being pissed about that.

The mental rigmarole of the whole Ava, Crimson, and Rafael thing has fried her brain enough for one day.

“I don’t know, Bea. Maybe I deserved the hit. I’ve…always known Raf isn’t a great guy. It was never an emotional thing with him, so I guess this is the world reminding me I have shit taste in men.” Ava sighs.

And Beatrice, feeling a little flutter at Ava, or rather a burst of energy to hear Ava be so casual about Rafael with her, gives Ava a little rub on her arm. Up and down. Soothing and gentle.

“You know you didn’t deserve Dora doing that. It wasn’t on you; you didn’t know he was with someone else. She should be attacking him. He’s the one who led her on and promised he was with no one else. I’d… anyone who hurts you will get that treatment I gave her. Always. Bloody bitch. She literally just reached the semi-finals and comes to hurt you after just a…” She twitches, hating Dora. “I’m so angry I can barely contain it. I hate her. I hate anyone who touches you like that.” She feels her body intensely at the anger she feels about this.

“My hero, Trix. I love you.” Ava shuffles and gets comfy on her spot on her shoulder. Zori doesn’t really rest on her shoulder like this; only Ava has ever done this with her in this way and her with Ava.

“Love you too.” She flicks a brief smile at the view of reflective skyscrapers and the like, but it’s just that. Brief. Dora was totally out of line and then some. Ava would have every right to press charges for it too. It was an unprovoked attack. Assault. Well, Beatrice did knock Dora on her ass, but…she doesn’t know; she just hates Dora for what she did.

“Can I…ask something? Mario, why’d Rafael hurt him?” She could ask Mario, but it’s not invasive to ask Ava.

“He confronted Raf in some noble thing, trying to look out for me. Raf said he was just defending himself, but… I asked Mario, and he said he only got physical when Raf started spewing some stuff about me. Raf headbutted him, then kicked him and punched him on the ground when he was stunned, then threatened him to stay away. I…believe Mario.” Ava flaps her lips. “I needed something to take my mind off things; it’s over now.”

“Sorry, it’s his loss.” She comforts without details. It’s true it’s anyone’s loss. The Ava she knows is a wonderful person.

“You wanna know a line Rafael used on me once?”

She hums, not pushing or wanting more but really liking to hear Ava tell her stuff. Anything, really; she’s going to take it.

“I said, ‘Do you want my number then? And he said, No, thanks; I have my own.” Ava breathes in a little, clearly enjoying the line.

Beatrice cringes. “That’s not really a pickup line, just…”

“Him trying to be funny or sound more confident, yeah. He had his moments, but then he’d say something dumb, and it reminded me it was only a physical thing with him. He’s, uh…good, very good.” Ava laughs awkwardly.

Beatrice does too a little. “I get it.” She doesn’t get what happened originally to set what happened with him in motion, the specifics and such, but she gets the appeal of having a booty call or something. Like really great sex, and it’s addictive, and it makes you feel good, so you go back for it even if the person isn’t entirely your favourite type of individual or a person you see yourself in a relationship with. And considering Ava’s struggle recently, she understands.

“Mm, oh well. It’s…not the only thing I can do to try to not think of…things and the pain.”

Beatrice raises a brow, wondering about what Ava means by that. So much for not thinking of Ava and working out the whole thing with her, Rafael and Crimson for one day. Ava’s offering details, though, so she can’t not think about it.

“Maybe ask the doc for heavier pain meds, or if you want something to replace our time together, we could do things. We are in Australia after all, and when we get back, we can still spend time together. Just different things, rather than tennis-focused.” She offers. They do do stuff away from tennis, but there lives have been so consumed with it and hers with Zori, so it’s been less of just days out to do things with each other as friends do and rather nights out on the odd occasion.

Ava lifts her head off and gives such a silly look of surprise. She’s going to prove to her that her fears that Zori will take over her life utterly are bullshit. And this is a great chance to do it.

“I told you, silly, nothing’s going to change with us. If anything, we’ll be able to do other things now, hey?” She does a little tender thumb drag over Ava’s weak cheek. Her hair is a bit all over the place in its tied-back way. She looks ridiculous with those tissues up her nose, but she’s always a cute goof. She looks perfect as ever.

Ava smiles a tiny little smile, fluttering her eyes hopefully. “Like what?”

“What would you like? Zori’s only in this competition for a few more days max, you know, if she wins a slam and her life changes forever.” She does a small little quiet laugh as she strokes Ava’s hair back with her palm flat and her fingers straightening it to the side, hating seeing the blood and the nasally voice of Ava but nervous about how success would impact Zori.

Ava loses her smile. The sun makes her hair shine – her eyes too. She’s always liked looking into Ava’s eyes, and it just pains her more that she hurt the person behind them today. “Does it make you nervous? The thought of her winning?”

She shrugs and moves her soft touch away and places her hand back in her lap. “I hope not. I don’t think she’ll be all that different; I love her, so I have faith she’ll be who she’s always been.”

Ava nods thoughtfully. “I know you do. Have I…ever told you how much I admire you, by the way? Because… I do Bea and not just because of the tennis, but... ” Ava smiles to herself gently before she rests her head back on Beatrice’s shoulder. “You being yourself in this world is no small thing; it’s brave.”

She rests her back against Ava, disagreeing a little bit but getting her point. “It’s just me. I love who I love; it’s just… I don't feel brave.”

Ava holds her hand on her lap, wrapping her fingers around the side of it. “You are Bea. You are. You’re strong just with Zori… You don’t show it as much. But you’re happy with her no matter what. I respect that. I’ve just been really terrified. When you get married, I’ll…not be…” Ava doesn’t finish; she just slumps a little.

“You won’t be moved out of my life, Aviebug. I can’t promise we’ll have movie nights like we did before I met Zori, but nothing's going to change because I’ll be her wife.”

“What if she just – or you just – no, I’m sorry, I’m being needy; I’m just sad, really sad. The injury – not spending training sessions with you regularly – I’ll be in a stupid wheelchair for the first weeks post-op too, so that’ll be fun.” Ava buries her face in Beatrice’s arm. “I hate the idea of that.” She turns back again and rests her head on her spot. “I’ll have to stay with Mom and Dad. That’s not so bad, but still I’ll be reliant on them to help me move.”

“It’ll only be a few weeks like that. Then crutches. It’s better than this; you’re so uncomfortable, and when it’s over in a few months, you’ll be stronger. You’ll come back stronger than ever; I can feel it.” She closes her eyes and hopes she soothes. It’ll be a mental hurdle this process, but Ava has her family; she has them. Day or night, she’s a call away; whether she’s in the Bahamas for her honeymoon or at a tournament over the months, Ava is home while she isn’t.

She’s yet to decide on a doubles partner.

But to be honest? She might just focus on the mixed doubles with Fredrick or Jamie. If it helps reduce Ava’s fears, then she’d gladly not compete in the women’s doubles for a few months.

“I know. But Bea… It will be different over the next few months. We won’t even be in the same country for most of it, and time like that… can change things. It will. I know it will. It just will. But I guess this was always going to come. I was always going to lose you to some lucky woman.” Ava goes sadder and more dreary. “Se eu fosse mais corajosa, talvez não te perdesse, mas não sou. Não sou corajosa como você. Rafael e Crimson me ajudaram a ver quem eu sou, mas não posso ser. Não do jeito que você merece.”

She listens to the quiet nice words in a language she doesn’t understand calming her in place, but she knows what Ava is doing. She’s saying her truth but in a way she doesn’t understand. Maybe one day she’ll tell her. She hopes so.

“There is a thing called FaceTime, you know? I highly doubt I go a day without calling.” She says whimsically. Believing her own words defiantly.

“Yeah. FaceTime.” Ava says so faintly, so soul-crushingly dispirited.

“How about...” She squeezes Ava close. “We go to the Melbourne Zoo? See some koalas like your silly shirt.” She suggests with a little tug on Ava’s top to do anything to help Ava feel better. “Or the kangaroos, the lemurs I know you’d love that. I’m game for anything if you’re there.” She adds meaningfully.

“You’re right. I would love that. Zori will too. If she allows us. I really would love to, though.” Ava tiredly finishes, but her words strike a chord inside. It shouldn’t. Zori wasn’t particularly happy she cut the session short for her to see Ava. Scratch that; she was furious.

It went along the lines of, “Oh, sorry! Go see your friend! It’s not like I’m about to play the biggest fucking match of my life and need you to train with me right now! So go ahead!”

It stung, but she understood the anger, the short fuse. Others wouldn’t who don’t know the pressure, but Beatrice knows it can do things to a person.

Has she ever acted like that though?

Not really.

She almost snapped at Zori for it. Zori can train and train and train, but being calm on the day is what will be most important for her to succeed. She’s the opposite right now, and she doubts it’ll change. She’s not collected, and a player like Yasmine, who senses that anxiety, that stress, that desperation to win, will methodically tear Zori apart if she goes into the match like that.

But of course. Beatrice’s advice isn’t wanted. Nope. Zori doesn’t need support despite her words that she did think she could advise her in some capacity. Or other people’s experience to guide her. To help her. She knows it all. She knows everything she needs to know. She’s her own person and player.

Chapter Text

In the corridor that leads to the Rod Laver Stadium's Centre Court, geeing herself up with a side-to-side movement of her hips, Yasmine is bathed in blue light. Either side of her are vertical long screens with the names of former champions and their nationalities. One by one the screens go and go as you walk and walk to enter the court, and at the end of all the famous names, both male and female, Yasmine’s name is 3rd from last with two titles under her name. 2024 and 2021 during Covid. They’re two of her ten slam titles, and she’s keen for number 3 to make it 11 slams.

Off court she’s not the most confident of people. She likes to keep her circle of people small, and she’s definitely not some diva like some of her peers, despite all her success. She has her feet firmly on the ground in that sense. She’s a clumsy, a bit awkward type of person who loves tennis. She was a girl with a dream, and she’s more than achieved those dreams. She’s won every slam; she’s won the Olympic Gold. She’s got the golden slam by winning that medal and all the major tennis slams, but still her hunger for more remains.

Her coach Omar always says she doesn’t need him because on court Yasmine is just a different person. When playing the sport she loves in major events or any event, she’s a ruthless, cold winner.

She’s quiet, methodical and surgical in her stripping down of opponents.

She shows no mercy. She’s merciless on the court and silent. Just pure, utter conviction and focus on winning. If you’re in the way, you get dispatched. If an opponent shows her weakness, she holds on tight to that weakness and uses it to crush them.

It’s just how she is on court. Omar’s right and wrong. She does need him; of course she does. He’s a great coach, but on court she doesn’t need help focusing. She’s just naturally focused by her own way of being, and she’ll have that focus in a moment when the first ball is tossed high for the first serve as she fights for a spot in the final of this slam.

She grips her bag handle over her shoulder just in an all-red top and skirt with wristbands and waits for the call to start heading onto court. Or waiting for Zori, more like. She’s taking her time.

Could be mind games, but if they are, they’re very silly ones. Yasmine is a brick wall on the court; nothing distracts her. Even a fall or an unexpected incident doesn’t really. She just resets and gets on with it, so it’s rather pointless to try this from Zori.

Either way, Zori will lose this one. Yasmine knows her ability, and she doesn’t take any opponent for granted. This could be Shannon, a multi-slam winner whom Zori beat, or it could be Mickey Mouse. It matters not. She plays the same. Calculated and cool. Well…she’d laugh a little if Mickey did come on to court; she’s not a cyborg after all.

She bows her head, stretching her legs with little kicks back, and warms up. This is the last moment for thoughts of anything else before Yasmine locks in on tennis. So she takes it and thinks of Camila.

After their initial night looking at the stars and… then overhearing Ava with Rafael. (He’s a total dick. Just not a very pleasant person underneath all the charm and smiles of his.)

She and Camila have had similar nights since. Camila points out constellations, and Yasmine just listens to her calm voice, enjoying the sound of it.

She may be in trouble.

She might have a crush. A big one, and Camila is that. She’s just a nice person. A bit of a bumbling mess like her too. It excites her, and she’s thinking of asking Camila out sometime. Hopefully she doesn’t get turned down because that would suck. Really suck.

On the Ava thing. It’s not Yasmine’s business, so she hasn’t thought or talked about it much. She knows Camila has, and that does give her pause. It wasn’t Camila’s place to tell people about Ava’s private matters, but she did. She told Lilith a little flippantly.

It’s not great. Yasmine likes discretion, and gossiping about others isn’t really something she likes to see unless it’s on a TV show or something. So it’s a thought before asking Camila out. Just a small thing. Not major.

She hears some footsteps and knows it’s Zori. Ok. Give her a polite greeting, and then let’s get going.

She looks back and finds her opponent in all pink with her usual visor on, looking effortlessly stunning. Oh, she’s with Beatrice. Final good lucks and all that. So Yasmine just turns back and waits to let Zori head out first. It’s a big moment for her in her first semi-final, and she should get the chance to take in Centre Court’s applause first.

“Right. Good luck, darling, you got this.” Beatrice gives support.

“Bea, we’ve already done this in the locker room; go to my box now. I need to focus.”

“Of course. I’ll be there. Sorry. I don’t know why I came out with you; sorry, my bad. Just stay cool out there.” Bea babbles a little. It’s sweet. It’s a bit unorthodox for Beatrice to be here, but it’s very sweet to want to be here for Zori. It’s a big moment for her. But it’s probably Beattice’s anxiety more than anything why she came this far with Zori. Again, sweet.

“Okay, thanks, but this wasn’t necessary. Bye. You’d think you’d know not to do this…whatever.”

Yasmine hears a kiss, and she melts a little. No mercy in a few moments, but for now she goes aww a little inside. From Beatrice’s side at least she aww’s. Zori’s a little cold, but it is a distraction for Zori, she guesses.

“See you later.” Zori steps to Yasmine from behind, and the competitive side of Yasmine licks her lips. Nerves are there to be exploited.

She smiles at Zori as she stands beside her with her bag over her shoulder. “Hi, Zori. Good luck out there.” Not really, but it’s polite to say.

Zori grunts.

Yasmine takes the hint and motions for Zori to head out first.

Zori, chewing some gum and not looking at her, walks ahead, and Yasmine can smell the fear. Smell the nerves. Zori’s the prey, and Yasmine’s the hunter. Congrats to Zori for getting this far, but this is as far as her tournament goes.

She follows after Zori, who walks far ahead of her, and steps in between the line of screens on either side of her, feeling a sense of belonging. She’s one of these champions. She belongs on a court like this. Zori doesn’t. Not yet.

Yasmine wants to win slam number 11, and Zori is just a pest in the way to be swatted aside with her racket.

She sees Zori not greet the crowd as she heads down the tunnel away from the champion screens and grins a dangerous grin. This is her stage, and Zori’s just a nervous sheep ready to be eaten by her for the day.

She’s not dropped a single set all tournament, and in the last round she won in under fifty minutes. An easy demolition job. Zori’s next.

—-

A few games in, and things haven’t gone great for Zori so far; it’s 3 love on games. Zori’s a double break down under the Australian Open lights as night has fallen overhead. Beatrice is getting the brunt of Zori’s frustration. She’s shouted up at her multiple times in Spanish with a look that could kill.

Beatrice hasn’t reacted; she’s stayed cool and just kept a rigid posture and stone face to be steady for her fiancé, but it’s majorly embarrassing, and it’s not helping Zori at all.

She’s being a brat. Again. She’s acting like a stuck-up princess, and she’s airing her anger about Beatrice joining Zori in the corridor near Yasmine pre-game as if it’s why she’s losing. Yes, it was maybe not the correct thing to have done, as the mental mind games Zori wanted to work on Yasmine were at play, and her presence showed weakness, but she just saw Zori freaking out in the locker room, not able to stay calm like she needed to before this, and she thought she’d be a stabilising presence before Zori headed out.

She wanted to help Zori find a calm; she hadn’t. Find a comfort before she went out, but all it’s done is piss Zori off.

She gets it to a degree, but what’s the point in doing this really? Just focus on the bloody match and stop whining. Yasmine sees this weakness from Zori, and she’s crushing her for it. Doesn’t Zori see that? Zori’s furious about her showing support? It’s a joke. She’s sorry she loves Zori, but this is an embarrassing joke from her in this match.

It’s embarrassing for Zori, and it’s embarrassing for Beatrice having to take this tirade every time Zori loses a point on live television. It just shows a lack of awareness and care for her partner, and it’s utterly making Beatrice red all over with a range of emotions she’s shaking at feeling. Zori’s never been like this before, and it’s not something Beatrice is enjoying.

She watches Yasmine at the other end of the court go to serve next to Sandra and Davide and is constantly tempted to get up and go. That’s how upset she is by Zori tonight. She’s been made to feel like she's done something wrong for only showing her support. It’s not a nice feeling. But she stays for Zori. For the person that isn’t this one she’s seeing.

They’ll have to have a long talk after this, and Zori, for once recently, will have to listen. This is never happening again.

Yasmine serves down the line at Zori, while Beatrice is sitting behind Zori up above in her box, and Zori shuffles. “Hu!” Zori smashes a forehand to Yasmine’s left cross court. Yasmine doesn’t make grunts or any noises during matches, and she doesn’t again as she, with focus, smashes a backhand down Zori’s right, down her sideline.

“Ah!” Zori strains in the running to retrieve it but too good. Too clean and crisp. Yasmine’s a monster of a player, and she forgets the point won quickly without emotion and gathers another ball from her undershorts. Fast and repetitive. Not letting the pace slow.

Yasmine makes a winner and then doesn’t waste time; she goes back to her baseline and doesn’t let opponents breathe, and on top of everything, it’s only making Zori more erratic.

Zori glares up at Beatrice as she steps to her other baseline. “¿¡Estás feliz!?”

Beatrice bites her tongue. She doesn’t show any emotion. She just lets Zori shout at her again, but she mouths focus and points to her temple.

Zori just rolls her shoulder with a disgruntled face.

“15, love.”

Zori gets back in position for Yasmine’s next serve, and Yasmine, as per usual, goes through her routine fast. Smack! The ball smacks against the hard court white service box line to Zori’s right. Done. Too good again. Point.

The crowd applauds the show of power from Yasmine, a two-time champ here in Melbourne and fan favourite for her personality and professionalism, but Yasmine again doesn’t pay it or anything else any mind. She gathers two balls and goes into position for her next serve.

“30, love.”

Zori’s attitude isn’t winning her fans in the stands. And that’s another downside to her being like this. Letting her anger get the better of her.

Fans don’t warm to whining from players. It can lose you the crowd's support, and it’s happening with Zori right now, and that only adds to the pressure. The feeling of claustrophobia out here on court. It’s like everything is against Zori right now, and she’s making it so rather than calming herself and focusing.

Yasmine bows her head in focus with the ball to her racket after Zori got to her other baseline, muttering some words under her breath, and serves! Down the line again.

“Uh!” Zori rushes to hit a double-handed backhand hit to Yasmine’s left.

Yasmine slides against the hard court and slices a backhand to Zori’s left. Beatrice watches her fiancée slice a backhand slice up Yasmine’s right sideline.

Yasmine shimmies and whips! A forehand to Zori’s right. It’s quick and got a lot of topspin and bounces against Zori’s right sideline for Zori to watch helplessly.

“40, love.”

Again Yasmine moves on. Just an unemotional and steady player. One pint… Beatrice means point away from going four up, but, god, after this Beatrice could use a drink. She hasn’t drunk any alcohol in years, but tonight she’s tempted after experiencing this from Zori.

“Amunet! Amunet! Amunet!” The crowd shouts in support of Yasmine, and the tide is utterly on Yasmine’s side. The Brit who Beatrice did ask to play with at the Olympics in the doubles is in total early command of everything. This is her stage, and Zori has made it that way so far.

It wasn’t a flat-out refusal on Yasmine’s side at the Olympics; she just wanted to focus on the singles, and she did to great effect, as she won gold, so Beatrice understood. Yasmine was very gracious about it and said she will play with her next time.

Beatrice doesn’t like to toot her own horn, but she’s the best British female doubles player around with all her success, so having to pull out like she did here in Melbourne stings. Ava and she got to the quarter-finals. And that was with Ava struggling. They could’ve won this tournament. Beatrice knows, and Ava does. It’s definitely a regret now that she didn’t enter the mixed too. But it’s done.

She’ll be in the mixed doubles at the French Open with Frederick. He’s the better partner than Jamie. He’s a blonde Finnish joker of a guy. Not like Ava, of course, but he’s just a chill, funny person eager to win.

Yasmine serves again. Zori watches helplessly again as it’s smashed down to Zori’s left. Brutal. Utterly brutal. Zori needed to be on top of her game tonight and focused, and she’s not. So here she is so far.

“Game.”

Beatrice claps in support, though. “Come on! Stay on it! Focus!”

Zori whips her head back up to her. Beatrice glares back, saying, Just don’t. Stop it and focus with her eyes.

She doesn’t think she gets through to Zori at all as Zori gathers some balls and begins her service game, muttering again.

Zori tosses her ball high. “Hu!” It’s loose and to Yasmine’s right. Bang! The crowd murmur in a little bit of awe as Yasmine cracks down a ruthless forehand to Zori’s right to win the point immediately.

“Love, 15.” Jillian, the umpire tonight, updates.

Zori adjusts on her baseline to serve to Yasmine’s right, but she’s going too quick. She’s playing Yasmine’s game, not her own. She needs to slow it down, but she’s not.

“I mean really, Beatrice, look what you’ve done. What were you thinking distracting Zori like that?” Sandra remarks next to her.

Beatrice doesn’t turn; she just takes a short and hurtful breath. “I was trying to calm her down. You saw her. She was a nervous wreck and snapping at anything that moved. She’s not focusing because she’s being…” She again bites her tongue. She struggles, but she bites her tongue.

She feels a buzz on her phone in her lap. Ava’s been texting her to tell her to stay and not leave. She’s watching on TV, and the texts have really helped.

Ava – Keep encouraging her. Stay strong like you do when it’s just us on court. You’re doing great. 🫶

She feels a little bloom in herself at the support.

Beatrice – Thanks, Aviemunchkin. ❤️

Her smile forms at that text. She likes giving Ava these nicknames too now. It’s fun. She can see why Ava’s loved it over the years rather than just sticking with one.

Ava sends a Munchkin gif saying, Welcome to Munchkin Land! Beatrice blooms some more.

Ava – But seriously, Munchkin is offensive to small people.

“Love, 30.” She missed the point played, and Zori shouts something in Spanish again.

Beatrice – So you’re saying I’ve been insulting you this whole time?

Ava – I am not small! I’m a good 5 foot 3!

She bites her lip, chuckling, ignoring the match. Caught up in a respite from Zori.

Beatrice – You’re 5 feet 2.

Ava – I am not! You’re hardly big!

Beatrice – I’m bigger than you, future Marge Simpson.

She sends a Marge Simpson gif because of Ava’s vow about dying her hair blue. She doesn’t look up still. Needing this.

Ava – Marge!? Her hair is like a foot long! I’m not going to be like Marge freakin Simpson! Take it back! 😡😤

Ava sends a toddler scowling gif. Hmm, a bit like Zori right now throwing a tantrum.

Beatrice – Nope. 🙂‍↔️

Ava – You’re uninvited from our zoo trip.

She gasps, playfully affronted. Jerk.

Beatrice – No!! I take it back!

Ava – I’ll consider your apology later in person 🤥

She scowls at her phone and furiously types at the long-nosed emoji.

Beatrice – Meany.

Ava - 🥰 awww, thank you, Bea.

“Love, 40.”

She shakes her head, feeling a little red and better now. She doesn’t see the glares from Zori. She hears the muttering about her, but she just focuses on being comforted by her best friend, who she doesn’t want to argue with like they did again.

Chapter Text

Breaking news. Shock. Zori crumbled to a brutal defeat. The dreaded double bagel. 6/0, 6/0. Ouch, yeah, not good. On top of the ridiculous tantrums, Zori decided to have all game blooming long; she was embarrassed by the scoreline too.

Did it end with Zori only shouting up at Beatrice constantly, you ask? Hm, did it fuck.

Zori managed to endear herself to the crowd some more with an unsportsmanlike whack of the tennis ball against Yasmine, clearly done on purpose, and then she screamed at the umpire Jillian for what reason, sigh. Honestly, Beatrice didn’t know.

Beatrice is just tired of Zori tonight. So tired, she’s badly tempted to ask Ava if she can stay in her room to avoid being near Zori. She’s just been drained of her, well, everything tonight. It took a lot to endure that from Zori as she sits in the hospitality lounge at the Rod Laver Arena vacantly staring at centre court now empty of fans at a seat by the corner. But she’s waiting for Zori. She’s here. Drained but here in a top Zori wanted her to wear. One of her red ones that’s too tight for her in support of Zori.

She could cry at tonight’s events, but she’s here with that pint of beer she mentioned before, slumped against a black wall with her head rested against it, feeling beaten and bruised emotionally.

Ava helped lighten her mood, kept her going, and kept her spirits up, but it just went on and on and on and on. Zori’s behaviour didn’t relent. It was a painful experience to endure, and she promises to herself she’ll never experience it ever again.

Ever.

She didn’t deserve it. She wasn’t respected by Zori tonight as her partner. There was zero respect or consideration for her mental wellbeing. She’d never do that to Zori, but she did it to her.

She's felt safe with Zori, but she doesn’t think she does anymore. For now at least. She feels like a punching bag for Zori. An emotional punching bag.

She puts the glass to her lips and drinks. She’s really not a fan of beer or alcohol, but she needs it tonight. Something bitter after a tough night.

She closes her eyes and thinks of calling Mom or Dad. But most of all she wants to call Ava. Yes, they had a tricky moment recently, but Ava’s always the one to give her comfort when she needs it. She starts to lean toward just going and seeing Ava more and more. Screw seeing someone who’s made her feel like this tonight.

She thinks of going with Zori on the trip to the zoo that Ava and her wanna go do or anything else, like relaxing at the beach, and in this moment, she can’t imagine the experience being very fun with Zori present. She’ll probably move on to the catering for the wedding now and not want her opinion about it. Just book what she wants to have for food that suits her.

Her wedding doesn’t feel like her wedding. It feels like Zori’s. Ava was right. She can’t sacrifice herself in this way for Zori’s happiness. What about her happiness on a day like that?

She hates tuxedos. There she said it. She hates them. She loves blue anything. Won’t get it, most likely. All for Zori. It’s her special day. Not for Beatrice.

There’s an alert on her phone on the table in front of her. She wearily checks it with the bitter taste of her drink filling her senses.

Ava – How are you doing?

No emojis or anything else. Just her best friend showing her typical worry for her.

Beatrice – Tired. I don't know if I wanna see her after that.

Ava – Then don’t.

She raises a weak brow and texts back.

Beatrice – I have to. I promised I’d be here waiting for her.

Ava – What do you want?

Beatrice – To not see her tonight and fall asleep in your room away from her.

She waits as Ava types and types and feels herself tire. She won’t sleep comfortably tonight with Zori, that’s for sure.

Ava – Then come. We can watch a movie or just sleep. I definitely could use the company.

Beatrice – Are you in pain?

Ava – I’m uncomfortable. I’m always uncomfortable at the moment so if u wanna come over I’m more than willing.

No joking, just compassion, and fuck, she needs that right now.

Beatrice – I’d love that, Aviebug. I’d love to.

Ava – I’m here in my pyjamas in bed watching some trashy romcom and waiting with a spot next to me if you want it.

She loves the sound of that. More than anything. She thinks she really needs it right now. Yes. She needs to not be near Zori right now. Fuck it.

Beatrice – Are you sure it’s not an imposition?

Ava - 😑😑😑

She snorts at the deadpan expression emoji.

Beatrice – What’s that mean?

She knows what it means, but this and Ava were what kept her going out there and it makes her light now too. Thank god she and Ava made up because without this, knowing Ava was angry and hurt because of her would crush her if it was still a reality right now on top of Zori.

Ava - 😵‍💫

She squints her tired eyes playfully at her phone and enjoys Ava. Enjoys the person who knows her most. The fact she ever thought she couldn’t trust Ava annoys her. She and Ava have never ever broken each other's trust. And that won’t change.

Beatrice – I don’t speak emoji.

Ava – Just get your big Bea butt over here, you big dummy.

Ava – Imposition??? 😭 Is breathing an imposition for me?

Ava – What am I going to do with you?

Beatrice laughs a soft, affectionate laugh. She loves having this to fall back on. If she had no Ava, her life would be a hell of a lot darker.

Beatrice – Be my BFF and never doubt I love you and want you as my partner for the rest of our careers.

She sags against the wall, wanting to assure Ava right now. Make sure she goes into this time out of tennis totally at ease that she’ll never move on from her.

Beatrice – I’m not going to play doubles other than the mixed while you’re out, and don’t argue about it. The decision is final. ❤️‍🩹

Ava takes a moment to text back and forth, and Beatrice knows she wants to argue about it, saying you can’t cut off playing normal doubles for four months minimum, but it’s final; it’s done. She won’t.

Ava – Okay if that's what you want. See you in a min. 🫶

She solidifies the decision, takes a big breath and chugs down the rest of her drink to not waste a drop. She hates spending money and then not finishing whatever it is, from a meal to a drink. Just a tic of hers.

“Ready to go?” Zori. Groan. Just groan.

She slumps in her seat after she starts to get up, not bothering to look at Zori right now. “I’m going to go sleep in Ava’s room tonight.”

Zori doesn’t reply for a moment. “No, you’re not.”

She laughs a humorous laugh. Just fed up down at her lap. “Contrary to your belief, you don’t own me. I’m meant to be your partner. The person you protect and respect, but after how you acted tonight, I don’t think you understand that at all. Do you know how embarrassing that was for me out there? I’m sorry you lost, and I’m sorry you felt I distracted you so fucking much just because I wanted to help, however misguided in the way I did it, but how you acted was out of order, and I can’t look at you right now, never mind sleep in the same bed as you.”

She gets up and sees Zori standing behind her chair in a sports jacket and bottoms, freshly washed hair smelling nice and looking nice, but Beatrice only wants to be near one person right now, and it isn’t her fiancee.

She pushes past and bumps her shoulder against Zori’s, wanting her to know how much she hurt her tonight. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Not now.”

Zori holds her arm, stopping her. “I’m sorry. You just distracted me, and it just all fell apart out there.”

“I distracted you by supporting you.” She scoffs. “Work that one out.” She doesn’t look at Zori, just the bar ahead and the exit.

“You know you shouldn’t have done that; it totally threw me off, and look what happened.” Zori argues softly. Wanting her to not go. But not taking responsibility for her actions. Her performance was her own fault, not anyone else's.

Beatrice closes her eyes, just wanting to go. “You lost, darling, because you acted like a child and lost any type of composure. I’m sorry if it’s harsh, but it’s true. You did. Your own dad was embarrassed about how you behaved. Of course Sandra wasn’t, though.” She scoffs again, feeling tipsy a little. Her alcohol threshold isn’t there at all; she hasn’t drunk anything for a long time.

She goes to go, but Zori doesn’t let go. “Please don’t go. I don’t wanna sleep alone knowing you’re upset. We should talk, not let it fester.”

She hums and nods, and that sounds reasonable, sure. “I need some space, so I’m taking it.”

“I don’t want you to. We’re getting married. No matter how angry we are at each other, we don’t do this. Let’s just go back to the room and…”

“I’ve told you I don’t want to. It’ll just be for tonight.” She sighs deeply and feeling so heavy. It’s not like they snuggle or anything. She doubts Zori will even notice she isn’t there.

Zori kisses her cheek and rests her forehead against her. “I’m sorry, alright. I’m sorry.”

She won’t sleep well with Zori. She will with Ava, so she’s going. She’s had enough. Just…enough.

“See you tomorrow.” She doesn’t say it harshly; she just moves her arm away and leaves, needing at least tonight to not be with Zori.

Chapter Text

Being outside Ava’s hotel room again feels a little bit funny, to be honest. Like the last two times Beatrice has been here, two big things happened. She saw Rafael with Ava and was dismayed at Ava never showing that side of herself to her, and then she found Dora fleeing the scene of the crime post punching Ava. Though of course Ava landed a blow on Dora’s lip. Ava’s a scrappy little minx; always has been, always will be.

But hopefully this time there are no surprises as Beatrice knocks on Ava’s door. “Aves, I need a pre warning if there’s Rafael’s or Enraged Dora’s in there before you open the door.” She grins at saying so through the door.

“Neither are here, but sorry, Bea! There are currently two large heffalumps with me! and we’re having a threesome!”

Beatrice spits out in laughter. Such a just... silly beautiful best friend she loves. Heffalumps are elephants from Winnie the Pooh. An old fondly remembered childhood book.

She rests her forehead against the door, so happy, so relieved to be away from centre court or Zori or Sandra. Just here with her goofy best friend. “Care to make it a foursome?”

The door opens at her words. There Ava is. A look Beatrice knows well. A big shirt that covers her thighs with something cute on the front – this time a kangaroo from the Winnie the Pooh books called Kanga with an adorable smile down at her adorable child Roo in her pouch. Wavy hair not done up for bed, just down and comfortable.

The relief grows. She needed this. Just to see Ava is such a salve to the hurt tonight that she melts a little at Ava’s mischievous smile as she holds the door open. “Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, home of Winnie, Kanga, Heffalumps, Tigger, Roo, Eeyore and so much more. Care to come inside and relax for the evening, my perfect best forever friend?”

She melts a lot. She melts a whole lot. They used to love Winnie the Pooh even when it was beyond their age group; they loved him and his friends, and... it... this just feels like home to her, really. Like when any bad things happen, this is a place to return to. She forgot that. She let herself forget who she and Ava are. Friends since they were toddlers and special ones at that. So special.

It’s so perfect. All the emotion held inside on an awful night comes out when she doesn’t expect it to. She sobs, and Ava’s face turns to nothing but worry instantly. The hug is fast and warm and right, and she sags into it so easily, like a well-fitting glove. She slips into its warm protection from the harsh elements, away from it, away with Ava, where it's safe.

Ava rubs her back, shushing. “You did amazing, Bea. You were so strong; I'm so proud of you. It’s okay; it’s over, and you’re more than she deserves.”

She squeezes tighter; sometimes she wishes... sometimes she feels... if Ava. If she...was an option, she’d...

It doesn’t matter. Ava never will be. But she has her in this way, at least. She has this to fall back on to find comfort in—to find joy. She calms and calms, and she doesn’t wanna let go, so she steps forward, and Ava, understanding her without words, backs into the room and shuts the door with her foot.

“It was so horrible, Aves. I’ve never…never felt so embarrassed like that before. On show and stared at, I hated it. I hated it so much.” She cries into Ava’s shoulder, shaking, wrapping her arms tight around Ava’s back, needing this so much.

“Want me to guide us back to the bed?” Ava chuckles so warm, so so so so warm and homely.

She settles into the hug more and more. With her chin on Ava’s shoulder. Her nose taking in Ava’s milky vanilla smell, letting herself fall into its plush comfort like a soft pillow that comforts before sleep. “Yes, please.”

“Would you like one of my heffalumps to hold?” Ava kisses her cheek, and Beatrice almost lets out a whimper at the soothing of it. The utter blanket of safety she’s wrapped up in, as well as Ava’s arms.

“Mmm Hmm,” she cries gently, and she’d love to hold one of Ava’s heffalumps, stuffed and soft.

“Then you are most welcome to.” Ava walks back, and Beatrice walks forward in a funny walk through the room straight to the bed, just them being them.

“Please tell me your bed has been cleaned of Rafael.” She jokes.

“They clean the rooms each morning, dumbo.” Ava whispers quietly and calmly, no matter the words said. They're calming.

“That’s good. He’s not hiding in the closet, is he?” She smiles, still crying.

Ava stays quiet for a moment as they shuffle step by step to the bed. “So what if he was?”

“Then I’d be traumatised.” She probably would be. She hated seeing him with Ava. Absolutely hated it. “I didn’t like him spanking you like he did.”

Ava takes a while to reply as Beatrice’s legs hit the back of the side of the bed. “1. You’re drunk or tipsy; we both know you can’t handle alcohol, and 2. I hate to say it, Trixie, but I didn’t. I kind of enjoyed that. He always did something like that with me or the like. It’s a turn-on, as much as it shouldn't be sometimes. Again, I have terrible choice in men."

Beatrice winces a little but sits on the bed, feeling floppy. Ava lets go with a light sigh. “Oh.”

Ava laughs a little soft laugh as she opens up the covers for herself, and she takes off her shoes with a frown put out and at her lap. “You wanted to know more of that side of me, bestie.”

“So you like spanking from a douchebag? I don’t think I wanna know this after all.” She flops back down on the bed.

“Mmm, okay, I’ll say I didn’t enjoy him doing it that time in front of you. Is that better?”

She smiles sleepily at the ceiling. “Much.” And pats her lips. “Though if it was with a nice guy, I wouldn’t be sooo…”

“Disgusted?” Ava takes off her socks. Ava knows she hates sleeping with socks on.

She frowns again. “No, I’m not disgusted, silly; I just think you deserve someone better than him to do that.”

“Like who?” Ava leaves to walk around the bed on her bare precious feet. She’s just gonna fall asleep in Ava’s dreamland of a bed she thinks holding a heffalump. Sounds lovely.

“I don’t know. Someone kind and appreciative of you and with a big heart that is the nicest heart in the world and someone who’d never disrespect you. Someone like that.” She closes her eyes, already drifting now that she’s here, as her jeans are removed and she gets under the covers.

“Someone like you?” Ava asks with a voice that’s barely there but is, and Beatrice is so happy it is.

She looks for one of the heffalumps and sees one right next to her on the bed. The elephant is so plush and soft as she expected and smells like Ava. Its trunk is big, and its feet are facing upward as it’s in a sitting pose and has a goofy little smile like Ava’s. “Hi, Heffalump.” She grabs one of them and holds him or her close under the covers, feeling like she’s in a dreamland made for her to be safe in.

Ava gets in bed too. The covers rustle as she gets under them. A sound that comforts more than it does when she’s with Zori before bed. It’s felt like forever since she and Ava had a sleepover. They always got the same room in the past when coming for events like this. She misses that a lot.

She hugs Ava’s elephant and closes her eyes, happy like Ava in brief periods against the embarrassment on centre court helped her feel.

“Just wanna sleep then?” Ava turns over on her side, and Beatrice turns on hers.

She smiles again. Ava doesn't have her heffalump, though. She pouts. “Where’s yours, Aviebug?”

The back of Ava’s delicate and tingly fingers strokes Beatrice on her cheek. So nice. So Ava. So nice. “She doesn’t deserve you, but she has you, and I hate her for it. I’ll try to say I don’t mind her for you, but deep down I’ll hate her. She could be the kindest person in the world, and I’d still hate her.”

Beatrice closes her eyes again. Enjoying being touched in bed in a way Zori doesn’t do. She and Ava will always be more comfortable with each other than with others. It’s been built over two decades of love and friendship and laughing and consoling on tough days. It’s just always going to be easier than with anyone else. At least for Beatrice.

“Love you.” She says and means it with her whole being.

Ava shuffles close. Her knees pressing against hers so nicely. Her fingers pushing into her locks. Her thumb caressing her cheek like she’s special. “I love you, BumbleBea. I’ll always love you. But more than you know, more than I can share with you. I’ll always be on your side. We could have argument after argument, but how I feel about you will never change. It grew when I saw. It’s my curse now. To lose you to someone.”

She trails a hand onto Ava’s side and pulls her close. So she can nestle her head under her chin. Safe. Ava. Home. “You’ll never lose me.”

Ava doesn’t speak more. She just kisses her forehead, pressing and pressing her lips so wet and light, sending a shiver down Beatrice’s spine. Her whole faltering consciousness focuses in on the lips. Two of them and on her. Precious and sweet. But a precious thing that can’t ever be hers in the way she wanted them to be once. Maybe how she wants them…still. Maybe the world would feel better and easier and right if she had them in the way she has Zori's. But despite that dormant ache resurfacing again, she so easily falls asleep to them in a blissful comfort she badly needed and could've only found in Ava.

Chapter Text

“Someone like you?”

Beatrice hears in her sleep. Ava’s voice is so quiet, barely there but very much Ava, as she sleeps in a comfy snuggle of Ava, exactly where she dozed off.

She feels Ava’s fingers on her cheek again. Feels them be so delicate with her, so caring, so gentle. “She doesn’t deserve you, but she has you, and I hate her for it. I’ll try to say I don’t mind her for you, but deep down I’ll hate her. She could be the kindest person in the world, and I’d still hate her.”

“Love you.” She said, half asleep.

Ava shuffled close. Her knees pressed against hers so nicely. Her fingers pushed into her locks. Her thumb caressing her cheek over and over like she was remembering freckles she’s known her whole life. “I love you, BumbleBea. I’ll always love you. But more than you know, more than I can share with you. I’ll always be on your side. We could have argument after argument, but how I feel about you will never change. It grew when I saw. It’s my curse now. To lose you to someone.”

“You’ll never lose me.”

Then Ava’s lips. They came and rested on her forehead. Home. Heffalumps and Ava. Her safe haven. Always.

“Have I…ever told you how much I admire you, by the way? Because… I do Bea and not just because of the tennis, but... you being yourself in this world is no small thing; it’s brave.”

“It’s just me. I love who I love; it’s just… I don't feel brave.” She hears her own voice.

“You are Bea. You are. You’re strong just with Zori… You don’t show it as much. But you’re happy with her no matter what. I respect that. I’ve just been really terrified. When you get married, I’ll…not be…”

She opens her eyes, fluttering them as she does to the morning light. But her view is Ava. In her mind, when Ava said those words, hesitating, and in her eyes view. She’s fast asleep. Cheek rested on her pillow, looking beautiful, as she always has to her.

Beatrice moves back a little with a Heffalump still under her arm. Feeling a little bit of a migraine, but she scans Ava’s resting face.

What did…Ava mean by all that? She’ll always hate Zori?

Ava loves her more than she can know? More than Ava can share?

She travels with her eyes blinking from sleep down to Ava’s hand on her side. Resting there. Looking right there.

They’ve been saying I love you more than ever recently, and every time there’s been something… No, no, she’s just…imagining things?

But her mind had a will of its own. It wanders. This sadness. This unknown thing that stops Ava from telling her about the romantic side of her life. It’s all connected, and… she asked Ava desperately outside this room why she never talks to her about Rafael or that side of herself.

Ava said it was because she loves her. Beatrice didn’t take it in at the time, but… no, that’s not… Ava’s straight. She’s always been that way. She’s always even joked about not being into women with those words that have stayed in Beatrice’s mind when Ava said them to Camila when they were in the junior tennis ranks. “Dude, she’s like my sister, gross, and I’m not into chicks, but I’d be waaaay out of her league if I was.”

Of course Ava isn’t. Ava isn’t bi. How would… She processes everything about Crimson and Rafael.

She didn’t want Rafael after it, whatever it was, ended. Crimson punched Ava, but Ava never cheated. Crimson only told everyone Ava did. What would’ve elicited that sort of reaction other than from…a scorned lover? Or rather scorned a person from losing sex?

She rubs her forehead pulsing with this. Her whole body feels so dug into this thread of thought now as her heart races and she stares at Ava’s calm sleeping face.

Ava let herself be known as a cheater…to avoid being outed? As bi? She’d rather be in the closet than out? She's seen how Beatrice has had to deal with homophobia throughout her life, and maybe it… maybe when she had maybe a sexual awakening in a thing with Rafael… and Crimson, she didn’t want to be exposed like that. She let herself endure so much pain to avoid it.

It all makes sense. It all clicks into place like the final piece of a huge puzzle Beatrice had pieces for but no idea where to put.

But what if she’s wrong? But it doesn’t make sense if she is. And it makes perfect sense, heartbreaking as it is, to know Ava has been in pain about hiding her true self if this revelation is the truth of it.

She’s sensed a deep pain beyond the physical for Ava. A deep sadness. This being why just makes every bit of sense in the world for being the cause of it. Zori has taken her time away with Ava from Ava.

Ava’s been different as the wedding has approached and approached. She’s not as bubbly. It’s been because of the pain from her hip but because of this pain too. Ava needed a distraction in Rafael from the pain and pain about Beatrice too?

She sits up in bed and rests back against the headboard, knowing her mind and Ava’s words have clicked the truth of everything for her together.

But Ava said that she’d never be interested even if she was into women.

She pushes her fingers back into her hair, thinking about it.

Yeah. Ava said I’m like her sister. She said it would be gross. She said she’d be out of my league.

But she also knows Ava says a lot of things and doesn’t mean a lot too. She’s all over the shop sometimes, and sometimes words just come out without her meaning them.

Plus, things change. People change. Outlook changes. Ava had this experience with Crimson and ended it with her and Rafael, and ever since she’s been utterly focused on tennis. To levels that caused her injury. Serious injury.

Has it all been a distraction from…from her feelings? For me? Does Ava love love…me? Not a friendship type of love but more?

The same type of love Beatrice felt when she and Ava were younger but couldn’t express, as Ava was always clear about being straight.

What does she do? How does she react to this information that makes too much sense to be wrong?

Ava’s gone to great lengths to hide it from her. Cutting the romantic side of her life off from her. She always has.

She promised Ava she’d never push her again. She promised not to push her.

Ava said her romantic side of her life was too hard to talk to her about, and now Beatrice thinks she fully sees why.

“She… loves me.” She gulps as she so quietly says the words to herself to existence. Ava forgave Zori for the attempted punch because Beatrice loves Zori.

“Ava wanted me to be happy.” Her lower lip shakes. She shakes. Ava accepted the apology that she didn’t want to. She said she was going to try to like Zori when she didn’t mean it because she wants what Beatrice wants. Despite Ava’s love for her…she encouraged Beatrice last night with Zori.

Don’t go. Ava said. Don’t leave, or you’ll regret it. You love her. Stay strong.

Selflessness when Ava herself can’t be open with her sexuality. Ava wouldn’t want her to be in something that’s not accepting and full and in the open like Ava can’t be yet. Or maybe ever.

“Mmm, morning.” Ava stirs and awakes. She rubs her eyes from sleep below Beatrice with a sleepy smile. “Did you enjoy sleeping with my heffalump Trix?”

Beatrice opens her mouth to say something with this truth now in her. This understanding.

Ava’s smile turns to innocence. “Bea? You okay? I can get some aspirin from my bed if you’ve got a headache. We both know you, my friend, are an absolutely terrible drinker. How much did you drink?” Ava chuckles, not knowing Beatrice knows.

“Uh…just 1 pint. I know, right? Such a lightweight, aren’t I?” She smiles, but it’s weak as Beatrice feels all over. Reverberating with feelings she had to bury.

Last night was one of the toughest things she had to endure. By someone that supposedly loves her. Zori was meant to always protect her and be her partner; now they’re getting married, but she crushed her last night. She's made light of any suggestion she’d like for the wedding. It’s not her wedding; it’s Zori’s.

It feels broken inside of Beatrice. It feels broken, and she doesn’t know if she even wants to repair it. She does love Zori, though. She does. But maybe it’s not a love that fits like a glove for her.

Ava eye rolls affectionately as she moves back and up against the headboard beside her. “I’ve got to teach you how to handle your liquor. You’ll be drunk as fuck at the wedding, won’t you, if I don’t?”

“Sure will.” She agrees with a forced smile. Wanting to say something. Tell Ava she knows.

Ava shakes her head, sighing. “Again, what will I do with you, hey?”

She inches closer so her hips touch Ava’s under the covers. Ava doesn’t mind in any way. She never does with touch between them as she rests an elbow against the headboard and a hand on the side of her head as she smiles at her. Being a cute morning person.

“Ava…do you love me?” She shouldn’t push. But she asks.

Ava gives a little confused face. “Uh, duh, of course I do. We’ve been saying it a lot recently, haven’t we?”

“Yeah, we have.” She almost whispers, This means so much. This moment. These stirring feelings are roaring to life from a long-pushed-down slumber. “What did you mean recently when you said you had another distraction from the pain to do?”

Ava flickers away from her lightness. “Nothing, just a thing.”

“A person?” She fills in the blank.

Ava shrugs. “I don't like them especially, but yeah.”

“You mean Crimson?” Fuck, she couldn’t stop herself.

Ava freezes, and the truth is solidified in ink. She’s bi. She never had an affair. It was a poly relationship or a threesome or something or both.

“Uhh, the woman who broke my nose, of course not. I’m not bi, Bea.” Ava lies. She doesn’t want to say her truth to her.

“I…Ava…you…” she stammers painfully. For Ava. She pains. Ava doesn’t want this. But Ava loves her. Ava's scared of being herself, and it’s hurting Ava, paining her to hide.

Will she be in pain forever because of this? Is that the path Ava wants? She wants a man that’s safe and without prejudice against her if she’s with them.

She can’t push more. It’s Ava’s decision. She can’t push her to reveal that part of herself openly to her, and it leaves Beatrice with a mind that’s frayed and divided at acknowledging.

Chapter Text

Back in her own room, Beatrice waits on her and Zori’s bed for Zori to come out of the shower.

She came back, and Zori opened the door in tears. She hugged her tight and said all the right things. I love you. I’m so sorry. I’ll never do that again. You did nothing wrong. I overreacted; it was just the pressure of the tournament.

But like the other day when she felt detached from knowing Ava. She felt that too when Zori spoke all those words. She feels it with Zori now but far more intensely. The Zori she asked to marry her wasn’t the one who embarrassed her like last night. Force her to find solace in drink. But maybe this was always Zori, and the wedding, the arrangements, the dismissal of her, the way she’s been pushed to a mindset of anything Zori likes, she wants for Zori, for Zori’s happiness, ignoring her own desires and happiness, has just illuminated Zori in a way Zori hasn’t been before.

And that attempted punch of Ava by Zori.

She let it slide. She made excuses. But she knows if Zori had landed a blow on Ava and Ava fought back whose side she’d be on.

Ava’s.

Not Zori’s.

She’d have done what she did to Dora to Zori or…less, as she loves Zori. Fuck, she doesn’t know. Everything’s fucked now. It feels fucked.

But Ava isn’t even available, truly. She’s hiding herself. She’s got no intention, it seems, to come out. She’s afraid of it. Deathly afraid of the idea of being with a woman. Being with Beatrice.

It’s causing Ava pain, though, to not be out and herself. Couldn’t Beatrice help with that? Tell Ava she knows… No, no, she can’t do that. Ava has to come to the moment of coming out herself. She can’t have it forced on her. Beatrice would’ve been mortified when she came out if someone had instead pushed her to, and it wasn’t on her terms.

Ava loves her, but she doesn’t wanna be with her. That’s the reality.

Could it change if she changed her current status though? Ended…gulp things with Zori? Call off the engagement?

Could that be the breaking point for Ava to try? Ava loves her, and she hates Zori for being with her. So take Zori out of the equation, would Ava pursue her then?

She remembers her thoughts last night. She knows she feels them still. She’s always felt them deep down but had to accept them not being in reality.

Being with Ava would feel right. If Ava was ever an option, she would feel far more like home than Zori. She already does. She’s always been that. She would jump at the chance.

But then what if a romance didn’t work out? She could lose her best friend. Her partner in tennis crime. It’s such a risk to enter into. It’s majorly risky. Losing Ava as a friend. The friend of her life. The friend she’s always been able to rely on would crush her. She couldn’t bear it.

Her mind is all over the place. Her feelings are.

She thinks of ending things with Zori, and it stings. But…more in a way that she’d agonise over hurting Zori.

“Pfft, doesn’t seem she cares about hurting me deep down.” She scoffs but takes it back. Zori loves her, and she’s made some mistakes….But there she goes again making excuses for Zori. When she knows Zori will hurt her again in some way. She’s lost trust in Zori.

She doesn’t feel like Zori’s partner. She feels like a person Zori controls and doesn’t truly listen to. She no longer feels safe with Zori, and when she goes to sleep, she doesn’t imagine feeling that safeness, that protection she wants with Zori anymore.

She’s always felt it with Ava. Twenty years she’s felt safe with Ava. Even when they were kids, she felt safe with Ava.

Ava is different. There are no doubts with her. She thought it herself last night. She’s her home.

And isn’t that worth fighting for? Risking things for her? Taking a leap when the Zori option is easier and safe?

Well, it’s not safe with Zori, is it? So plainly it’s just easier to not do anything. To sit and act like her world hasn’t just utterly been rocked by seeing Ava’s feelings for her. To stay with Zori and continue to be minimised and pushed down. For what? A marriage that’ll end in pain most likely?

It doesn’t make sense to.

It becomes clear what she needs to do. Crystal. This Australian Open has been one that’s become illuminating and painful and filled with things Beatrice didn’t think would happen, and this is just another. In a thick fog of Jesus Christ, this is a clusterfuck. Two things are clear.

Marrying Zori makes Beatrice feel a deep pit of dread. Being Sandra’s daughter-in-law does. Davide she really likes, but great parents-in-law or not, Zori isn’t the one for her.

And two, she wants to try with Ava. If she doesn’t come out and want her as well, then it really sucks but she can’t say she didn’t go for it. It’ll be in Ava’s hands.

That’s the truth, and she has to try for it. Even if it doesn’t happen, she knows Zori isn’t the right person for her. This slam has shown her. Zori lost her last night. She lost the match, but she lost her too.

Now comes the hard part.

Actually doing this.

It’s going to be extremely hard to do. Painful.

She has to. But with anything like this sort of thing, it won’t be a smooth thing. It shouldn’t be. She’s about to hurt Zori, and it should hurt her too in doing so. It's an ugly business for everyone involved, but for Beatrice, it needs to happen.

She hears the bathroom door unlock, and her heart drops. She hates it, but she has to. Maybe she should pack her things first into a bag? No. She won’t run off; she has to face this. This relationship was a big thing for Beatrice. Massive. She wanted for the first time to marry someone when she never thought she would, really. Zori changed that. It’s become something untenable, but that remains the truth.

She’s had so many great times with Zori. She loves Zori still. That doesn’t just stop. It’s just not the right type of love.

“Bathroom’s a bit steamy; be careful when you go in there wouldn’t want you to slip.” Zori comes out drying her hair with a towel covered in one big one.

Fuck. This is horrible. So fucking horrible. She promised Zori’s parents she’d never hurt her, but sitting here in the same clothes from last night, she must.

Being with Ava last night felt too right, and knowing Ava loves her. The choice is there to be made, and it has been.

“Zori. Come sit with me, please.” She huffs, readying herself.

“One sec, babe.” Zori seems fine now.

She can’t tell if those tears from before were real, and the fact she thinks that speaks volumes by itself that she’s thinking that.

She waits and waits with closed eyes, but she hears the dropping of a towel in front of her. Oh fuck. Damn it. Hellfire. Every curse of the like.

What the fuck does she do now?

“I was thinking.” Zori sits on her lap. God. She’d love this if it was a day ago. Now she doesn’t want to be… Fuck, she just doesn’t. “Maybe I could make yesterday up to you with a little bit of fun, perhaps?”

She lowers her head. Not opening her eyes. “Zori. We need to talk.”

Lips touch her neck. Hands crawl to the sides of her shirt. “No talking.”

She holds Zori by her arms to stop her. “Please.” She whispers. She should’ve just told Zori when she came in, but her thoughts were on Mars; she hadn’t found the resolution she has now. She can’t be with Zori with the knowledge it’s over. She won’t.

“Shhh, let me kiss it better.” Zori tries to kiss her neck again. But Beatrice keeps her back, and she feels awful. She can’t let it happen though.

“Last night was too much. It broke me, Zori. It broke me. Please get dressed.” She says gently.

Zori stops trying. She feels Zori’s everything on her and feels detached from it. She loves Zori still, but she’s broken them. She has. It’s broken. “Are you turning me down right now?” Zori laughs disbelievingly. “Okay, wow.”

She keeps her eyes closed. “You’ve not let me say anything since I got back, but I need to. I’m not having sex right now.”

“Look at me.” Zori demands or pleads or both; Beatrice can’t tell.

“I can’t. Please put some clothes on. Please.” She says so quietly and begs so she can do this better.

“Why? Sex always makes you happy.” Zori speaks flippantly, and Beatrice flinches.

“It was making love that made me happy, Z. This wouldn’t be that,” The words come out, and they linger in the air like a dagger cutting the veil between what she and Zori were and what they are now.

“Sorry? It’s always love when we do this? Now stop being silly.” Zori doesn’t listen. She tries to take her shirt off again.

“Zori, can you just please put on some clothes?” She asks again.

Zori scoffs. “Have it your way then. Ridiculous. Last night wasn’t right of you Bea we don’t run off after something like that. We…”

“Talk!? No! I never get to talk anymore; you talk, and anything I say doesn’t matter!” She opens her eyes annoyed. She closes them again after seeing Zori. She still loves her, and this is breaking her, but again she must. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”

“I’m going to go dry my hair and get some clothes. Then we’ll talk then.” Zori finally blissfully gets off, and Beatrice releases a massive breath. This definitely won’t be easy. But it’s going to be over.

Chapter Text

Preparing to serve in the semi-finals of this boiling hot slam, Crimson MacInnes pushes for the victory with her partner Emily against Dora and Lilith.

Dora’s got a swollen, well…face, to be blunt. It’s like she’s been hit by a cannonball or some shit. She hasn’t. Rafael told her Dora got a taste of Ava’s little clueless bodyguard and secret love Beatrice’s wrath, and Dora won’t be quick to make that mistake again.

There’s been a bit of that of late as Crimson has sat back and waited for Ava to come back to her and Raf.

Rafael kicking the shit out of Mario and now this.

Well, he’s made an arse out of getting the trio of her, Ava, and him back together by doing that. She left him to entice Ava back at first. He succeeded, and they fucked like they always did in steamy roughness that was such a thrill to watch. Ava enjoyed it. Rafael lined it all up perfectly for burnt bridges to be rebuilt and for them to be what they once were again.

Together. Apart. All of it.

She looks into the stands, knowing she has work to do to get Rafael back involved, but up above, Ava is back. Her eyes are covered by her cap, but Crimson has got her claws in Ava, and she didn’t even need to do much of the work. She can persuade. It won’t take much. It’s not complete without Rafael. It was a hot fucking sexy relationship that Crimson started.

Her marriage to Rafael had gone a little stale, and it needed something…exciting to keep the fire burning hot.

So they both together decided to find a third. One to be with together and one to be with individually away from each other.

Ava was that one.

Rafael was the one to suggest the idea of Crimson’s fellow doubles player after he and Ava met at a bar. They flirted a little, and with Crimson’s go-ahead, Rafael made the flirting go from tournament to tournament and country to country. Flirtation turned to want, but Ava wasn't interested with her morals and all that about cheating.

But Rafael assured Crimson that Ava could be chaotic; she could be spontaneous with herself, bubbly and excitable, so the groundwork was there for something good.

Just a little hitch that Ava said she was straight. Pfft. No bother. Crimson knew she could persuade any girl she liked if she tried hard enough. But that wasn’t the proposition offered when she joined Rafael to see Ava at a pre-French Open players event last year.

She remembers it now vividly as she serves an ace and then gives Ava a dangerous, confident wink in the stands. And Ava reacts grimly with a bow of her head in pain from her injury and needing her surgery to alleviate that pain, but until then, needing something, anything, to feel good.

Last year.

Crimson smirked keenly at Ava’s wide-eyed surprise. Ava was hot as fuck in her short black dress that hugged her body in all the right places. Her breasts were a little on show. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun. It made the look utterly perfect.

They were all standing around a circular table at the French Open pre-tournament party. Rafael swirled his cocktail on the table with a swizzle stick as his frame was on show, just in a tight buttoned shirt. While Crimson wore a red velvet dress with a plunging neckline and a slit down her thigh. She wore not too much makeup but enough to make her eyes pop, her lips seem luscious and her cheeks sparkle.

She knew her power over people if she used it, and as soon as she saw Ava and Ava saw her, she just saw in Ava’s brown eyes the instant attraction. It was fast.

She saw it so fast, and in doing so, her first thought was. She isn’t straight. No straight woman looks at a person like Ava looked at her when Rafael introduced her.

Maybe she was Ava’s sexual awakening from the moment she saw her. She thought and still thinks she was. Despite the start of things being about Rafael.

“I’m… I’m sorry? You want what?” Ava laughed in shock, disbelief, and an obvious intrigue. Flushed. Flustered. Fucking hot. Crimson knew Ava would be a submissive just by looking at her.

Crimson’s version of sex was…layered. Explorative. She was the dominant, and Rafael was the submissive. And Ava was like Rafael. A lover of sex and being controlled and fucked hard in steamy passion.

She stayed mischievous and unwavering at Ava, holding her cocktail, stunned at what Crimson asked for. So malleable and beautiful. Eager. Ava was eager beneath the shock. She liked Rafael’s flirting; she liked how he was.

Crimson rested her hands, ringed and long-fingered, onto the table and leaned forward, giving Ava a view of her cleavage. She saw the glance. The mouth of Ava’s parting and coming together like she didn't just quench her thirst from her drink. Ava wasn’t straight. Maybe she buried it deep down, but in that moment of Ava turning so ironically crimson all over and before when Ava laid eyes on her for the first time. Crimson knew Ava liked women.

“You heard me, Silva; I want you to have Raf. And I want to watch.” She said with smug confidence and leant against Rafael, with her fingers then moving into Rafael’s locks, playing a game she knew she’d enjoy playing. Ava was a stunned mouse, and Crimson was the cat. It would be easy prey.

The early stage was simple. Watch Rafael and Ava go at it. Let Rafael work his magic with his incredible skills in the bedroom because Rafael was amazing – always amazing – at crumbling a person with perfect pleasure. It helped he had a massive package too. That always helps.

Ava darted her deer-in-headlights eyes at her and then Rafael. “But you’re married? Why? I’m not going to…” Ava stopped as she went so fucking red she put the red floor of the outside venue under a big tent to shame.

Crimson’s dug her fingers into Rafael’s hair harder. He always liked that. “You want my Raffy. Don’t deny it. You want him, and I want you to have him. But I wanna watch you both as you do it.”

There was a laugh booming across the tent, and it caught Ava’s attention. Her partner in the doubles, Beatrice, was in a flowered silky red dress with chopsticks in her hair keeping it up, and she was laughing with Zori.

Crimson saw something in Ava’s eyes. Sadness. Ava’s shoulders slumped. Her defences, for whatever reason, were gone in an instant.

The moment led to Ava eventually agreeing. They went to the hotel she and Rafael were staying at and the sight of them together. Rafael’s tanned skin behind Ava’s pale skin and pressed together on ruined red sheets was more than anything Crimson could’ve imagined it being.

Ava was needy. Very needy. Rafael had his chin on Ava’s reddened shoulder buried deep in her core. And Crimson? She watched and touched herself. Touched and never broke eye contact with Ava.

Ava’s desperation to be fucked was ridiculous. “Oh my god, oh fuck, oh fuck. I’m going to cum!” Ava cried, and Rafael dug his fingertips so deep into Ava's skin that Crimson saw the next morning it broke skin. It left marks. Ava was marked and theirs.

“Hold it.” Crimson demanded with a lick of her grinning red lips.

Ava panted, taking Rafael repeatedly and fast, struggling to hold on. She strained her neck. Her neck veins bulging. “Oh god!” That whine so desperate and clinging was intoxicating. Crimson’s hunger grew and rapidly.

She got up. Ava followed her with her blown eyes, taking and taking but listening like a good girl. “Would you mind if I joined?”

Ava slowly shook her head at Rafael’s relentless pace. Open-mouthed and so easy.

Crimson gave a dark grin and let her dress fall. She revealed herself to Ava, and Ava was hers as soon as she did. More than Rafael. Ava was hers. Ava came, but Crimson knew Ava was utterly thinking of her as she did.

Crimson stepped foot, delicate and precise, on the marble floor and then watched up close. She crawled on the bed with eyes only for Ava. Her breasts, Ava’s, her body, Ava’s.

Rafael slowed, and Ava rasped and rasped for breath as he did. But nowhere other than at her did her eyes remain.

Crimson darkly smirked at the way Ava crumbled. So easy. She and Ava had never played a match versus each other, so they hadn’t met before. Fuck, they had then. She cupped Ava’s cheek so hot it warmed Crimson as soon as she felt it. “Want me to kiss you?”

Ava, in a daze, nodded.

“Say please. Beg me.” She gripped Ava’s hair hard.

“Ah.” Ava whipped her head to the pull. Eyes didn’t leave Crimson’s still. Desperate. For her. For a woman. It was a thrill to see Ava see who she was and see it plainly.

“Say it, bitch.” She demanded as the dominant.

“Please, kiss me. Fuck, please.” Ava begged, and Crimson supplied ragged and sloppy. She bit Ava’s lip so hard she bled. She tasted Ava that night. She showed Ava how to make a woman fall apart, and Ava learnt. She took direction very well. Better than Rafael ever did.

—

Back in the present moment, getting a towel, Crimson grinds her teeth at the pain that followed.

After months and months of threesomes and times with Ava separately. Ava decided to ruin it.

Ava said she couldn’t anymore; the most exhilarating sex of Crimson's life, and Ava took it away. It was bliss, and Crimson began to love it.

She began to love…Ava. No idea if Rafael did. But what they all had. Call it what you like. Crimson had fallen for it all. Together. Apart. She fell for it. It enraged Crimson when Ava broke it.

She buries her face in her towel, remembering the moment Ava told her she wanted it to be over.

It was in a hotel in Switzerland.

“I’m sorry, Crim, but... I can’t anymore.” Ava’s voice shook. They had just had sex without Rafael, and Ava looked in pain. Deep under-the-surface type of pain.

“You’re not taking this from me.” She sneered back, and Ava, dressed and clean after a shower, headed to the door in a warm jumper, but Crimson felt the opposite of warm.

She stormed after Ava and pulled her by her shoulder. It shocked Ava, and the blow to the nose shocked her more. She pinned Ava to the door as Ava frantically cried and held her ruined, streaming with blood nose. Ava couldn’t speak; she was so shocked. She wouldn’t have been able to stand had Crimson not kept her up.

“I’ll ruin you! You hear me!? I’ll tell everyone you fucked my husband! I’ll tell them you both fucking cheated! I know you’ll never say anything against it. You hate being who you are, don’t you!? You hate liking women!" She punched Ava’s face again, and Crimson felt the crack. She broke Ava's nose with the second hit. Ava pushed her off and stumbled out of the room, blood falling on the floor in an unrelenting stream, and the rest, as they say, is history.

She turns around to Ava and sees that same person. A submissive. Desperate for some relief for some more. But Crimson sees more now. She sees why Ava wanted things to end.

She’s seen Ava around Beatrice of late. Seen how she looks at her. How, when she sees her, her whole face lights up. She left what they all had because she couldn’t do it anymore. She loves Beatrice, and she hadn’t been with anyone since because of that love. Crimson won’t let Ava get away this time, and the best way to do it is to ruin what Ava and Beatrice have in their friendship. Take Ava away from Beatrice. Permanently.

Chapter Text

How did the breakup talk go? About as well as you could expect. Zori went from anger to tears to ripping at her hair to pleading to do anything to save them. “We’re getting married, Bea! This isn’t how it’s supposed to go! The wedding is just in a few fucking weeks! You can’t do this! We’ve sent out invites! I said I was sorry! This is insane! You’re just being ridiculous!” Those were some of Zori’s words.

Beatrice wasn’t swayed by them in the slightest. In fact, it only hardened her resolve. Her feelings again minimised, the wedding was put into terms that made it sound like Zori was more upset that the wedding itself wasn’t happening all grand and beautiful to Zori’s and Sandra’s tastes. It was the final nail in the coffin already sealed up.

She told Zori how last night illuminated things for her—that if Zori could embarrass her with such ease and make her feel so much distress just because she showed her support, that marriage would only end one way, divorce, and it was pointless to get married if she felt that way now.

“Pointless!? We love each other! Of course it isn’t pointless! You’re not doing this to me after last night! Please!” Zori screamed, and Beatrice shed some tears at seeing Zori so upset. Hearing her voice break. But that was just it. She was upset that she hurt Zori. She wasn’t crying about the relationship ending.

It felt liberating. Like all the downtrodden moments, all the times she forgot about her own wants were never going to happen again, and she could take the biggest, deepest breath of relief at that fact. She did it. She didn’t want it, and she did it. She finally just stood up for herself and said, No, I’m not doing this.

It wasn’t like that last year with Zori or before the Australian Open began. She was in love and felt sure. But things change. Zori changed in her eyes, and Ava was right all tournament. She accepted too much. She’d been led down a path of talking little of herself, and Zori made her be that way. Maybe it was her fault. Maybe if she were more firm in herself, it wouldn’t have come to this. But it did, and marrying Zori after seeing all this left her with a deep pit of dread so deep she felt weak all over. She couldn’t head into a marriage knowing it was doomed from the start.

She didn’t mention Ava because Ava isn’t out, but Zori sensed it. She could tell Zori sensed Ava had a part to play. And Ava did, but beyond Ava, this was the right call. No matter how things turn out. This was right. It’s right as Beatrice drags her suitcase to Ava’s hotel room door, and it’s right as she knocks.

Ava may not come out, but it was right.

Beatrice knocks again. Just because she won’t tell Ava she knows doesn’t mean she won’t try to help her come out and not just for her own sake. But for Ava’s too. As the person that wants Ava to be happy. She wants to help Ava not hide herself. Not be scared. Maybe her being an option again could push Ava, or maybe it’ll take a lot more than just that to help Ava find the strength to push back against her inner pain.

It’ll hurt and hurt for Ava’s whole life if she doesn’t. If she stays hiding.

It’s the hardest thing. To be yourself. To let yourself be open to hate, but the alternative of not is more painful than anyone’s words. Ava has a weight on her shoulders, heavy along with her pain, and releasing it could be such a big thing before she faces this time out.

She and Ava. They could...start something special. Really special.

If Ava just lets them. Ava loves her and Beatrice? It feels easy to say she loves her too. She relegated the term I love you to friendship with Ava, but that was when there was never any hope with Ava.

Ava was straight, so Beatrice did what she had to. She buried it all. But those intense feelings. That desire to be with her best friend, who’s always been more than just simply that. Are back and reverberating throughout Beatrice. It made the Zori breaking up the obvious choice.

She knocks again as Ava said she’s here after going to watch Dora and Lilith versus….Crimson over text, and maybe just maybe her knowing it’s over with Zori could change things. She’ll see.

“Ava? It’s Bea.” She says through the door. Eager to tell Ava what she’s done.

Fuck, she hopes her no longer being with Zori means Ava won’t be with Crimson like she planned on. She’s in pain and wanted the distraction from her and the pain. She doesn’t need that now. Beatrice will have more time than ever to be with Ava. They can do anything now. Go on the zoo trip and go on other trips across Australia before going home for Ava’s surgery. Anything.

Though she will have to get her belongings from Zori’s and her apartment together. Yeah, there’s a lot to do. Ava will be staying with her parents post-op, as Beatrice will be away, but maybe initially after Beatrice can…take care of Ava. Be there for her. Maybe she should just say fuck it and be there for Ava entirely and not play tennis too for a while.

But she knows Ava wouldn’t want that. She’ll ask Ava though. If…she could stay at hers for a while. Ava won’t need distractions from her pain if she has Beatrice, maybe like she feared she wouldn’t anymore?

Also, sex with a person like Crimson, no matter how good, or Rafael, heaven forbid, is only going to put more strain on Ava’s hip. She needs rest. Recovery. But in her mind at the moment she finds that addictive feeling of sex soothing to it, Beatrice guesses.

“Hold on!” Ava finally shouts behind the door, and Beatrice waits patiently.

“Don’t tell me the Heffalumps aren’t decent now?” She chuckles, and a few nights in the comfort of Ava’s room sound nice… if Ava wants her to stay. She means she can get her own room; it’s fine, but she’d love to sleep with Ava. No, no, not like that. She means to sleep beside Ava. Yes. Sleep next to Ava. Duh, of course.

The door swings open, and Ava appears with a sunhat on, short cream shorts, and a tank top with thin arm straps. Her smile radiant. Her hair swept from rushing about for some reason or other.

“Hello there, Aviebug, Aviemunchkin or maybe Avalanche?” She preens.

Ava beams. But she looks down. She sees the suitcases, and to Beatrice’s ache, the beaming smile fades. “Where are you going?” Ava’s voice is one of hurt. It won’t be for long. “Not back…home? What about our zoo trip? I was… I wanted us to go see the Great Barrier Reef. And maybe Kangaroo Island? But...” Ava shakes herself. “Yeah, sorry, you and Zori, that’s too much, right? Of course I, um… I guess I can go myself. Alone.” Ava presumes. She babbles. She darkens. She’s a big, silly, adorable Avy Bear.

Beatrice rests against the door frame with crossed arms and sighs wistfully. “Well, I was hoping maybe I could stay with you for the rest of our time here, but it seems I’m going home.”

Ava’s darkness goes in an instant to be replaced by sweet innocence. “Huh?” She head tilts, none the wiser.

Beatrice softens. “I ended things with Zori. Last night was too much. You were right. You’ve been right all tournament, Aves. I’ve let myself be bullied. I want…” She flicks her eyes over everything on Ava’s shocked, dumbfounded and cute face. Her raised brows she knows so well she could draw them perfectly. Her lips that she could remember with months without seeing so easily; she could get every line perfect if she drew too. Her nose so perfectly soft and squishy. Her ears. Her chin. Her cheekbones. All of it. Beatrice adoringly traces her eyes around in the seeing of.

“Oh Bea, I’m so sorry. Are… you sure? It’s such a big decision. The wedding? You love her, and you live together. That’s…”

“I’m sure.” She moves off the doorframe, seeing. She sees Ava. She sees her eyes; however, against Ava’s will, she finds joy in the news. A light. She sees Ava wanting her to be sure. Just wanting her to be happy.

“But Zori… I know you and her… I mean, I know you two or she’s been a bit difficult… Fuck, I don’t know. Come in, come in. Stay with me if you want… I wow Bea.” Ava slides her hand over her face, stunned and taking it in. It’s clear in Ava’s voice she’s happy deep down.

Maybe her hope that Ava could try for her isn’t too misplaced. Maybe.

She drags her suitcases in with a shyness, and Ava shuts the door. “You actually left her. How’d she take it?”

“Not particularly well, of course. But honestly…after last night it just broke me. It broke us. I was more concerned about hurting her rather than sad about ending the relationship.” She places her things beside the bed and sits on the bed to play with her fingers in her lap with a shyness around Ava she isn’t used to feeling. “She said everything right. I’m sorry. It’ll never happen again. She wanted me to have makeup sex, but I just felt detached. I listened to her, and it sounded more like she was devastated about the wedding not happening by itself than losing me.”

Ava silently sits beside her. Hip touching hers.

She glances up to find Ava staring into space down at the marble floor. “You left her.” Ava whispers like it’s not real.

“I did.” She quietly confirms it. She confirms with shy affection, and Ava stays like this. Just stunned.

“I can’t believe it. How are you feeling?” Ava turns to see her face, but her eyes seem far away.

“I’m okay.” She trails her eyes over Ava. Sure.

Yes. If there’s a chance at this. She wants to be available for it. However long it takes. She can wait. It’s worth it.

“Do you want a hug?” Ava opens her arms with a warm sympathetic smile, but still she’s far off. Absorbing this.

“I always want a hug from you, silly, night or day, I do.” She hugs Ava tight, resting her chin on her shoulder, smelling her shampoo, Honey and Milk.

Comforting and home: if Ava lets it be beyond what it’s been.

“Thank you so much for last night; it meant the world. You mean the world to me, Aves. You mean everything to me. We’ll do everything and anything while we’re here now. I um…might need a place to stay when we get back.”

“Yes, of course, stay with me as long as you need. Fuck Bea. I won’t lie; I wanted better for you, but I didn’t expect you to do it.” Ava laughs a little disbelievingly.

“Well, here I am; I’ve done it. I did it…for me and…for you.” She says a truth, THE truth, and lets it sink in.

“For me?” Ava shakily asks, confused, and rests her head against Beatrice’s in the big hug. Settling like Beatrice so easily.

“Yes.” She rubs Ava’s back more familiar than any back living to Beatrice. Even Zori’s, and she’s held hers on countless occasions after intimacy. But that’s the thing. She never really got Zori’s permission to snuggle on nights they weren’t intimate. She thinks she’s a snuggle-type of person. Zori wasn’t.

Beatrice wants the clingy. The hugging in bed when it’s just because. She wants that. With Ava, like last night. She’d have that with Ava. She’s always had that as friends to a degree.

She pulls back to see Ava’s eyes again. Blinking and processing.

I love you too. She wants to say. She desperately wants to as she cups Ava’s weak cheek. She drags her thumb over Ava’s skin, so warm and right against her touch.

Ava flicks her brown eyes, knowing entirely of Beatrice, to Beatrice’s own. She doesn’t say words, but Beatrice hears Ava say it back. Through her eyes. So perfect. She hears. She sees.

“I’m… I’m…” Ava doesn’t blink anymore. Her breath hitches. “I’m sure you’ll…find someone…better…someday.” She wants this too. She does. It’s so clear. She just has to let herself.

“I think I will too.” Beatrice whispers with meaning she hopes Ava sees with a swelling, a roaring of every old feeling, every restrained moment from her youth of needing to be with Ava finally coming back with real, tangible hope.

She’s already found someone for her. Someone she’s always wanted within.

She softly places her palm flat on Ava’s skin. Her fingers in her hair – so soft, so wanting of, so precious. Ava’s her person. She just didn’t think she could be hers ever. Until today. Her actions were fast for it. For the hope of it, she didn’t take long at all to commit to being Ava’s with the knowing of Ava

“Bea…I…”

“Yes?” She asks with breathless anticipation. Her breathing laboured. Her eyes so alive to any movement in Ava’s sculpted face, she sees the emotion of wanting her within. Wanting this.

“I…” Ava’s dazed focus goes to a buzz on the side table. Beatrice starts to stroke Ava’s cheek over and over like she’s all that matters. But Ava checks her phone.

“Who is it?” She looks for herself. Ava hides it. But she saw it was from a contact Ava listed as C. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.

“Just um…the person I was talking about.” Ava types on her phone with a focus away from Beatrice. But Beatrice sees how close Ava was there. She just needs to be patient. She thinks Ava will pursue her. She thinks she will.

“And you want to be with them…physically? To have a distraction?”

“Yup. I need it. I need something.” Ava defies what’s plain. To them both. She doesn’t wanna be out. She doesn’t wanna be with her when she can’t be. But she wants Crimson. She’d rather be with a woman that ruined her than accept who she is. Accept the chance for them to be together.

At least for now.

It doesn’t mean that as Beatrice slides her hand away to be on her lap to watch Ava type and type that she has to watch Ava do it. She decides to intervene. Directly to Crimson. Ava deserves better, like she did with Rafael, and get rid of Crimson, and then maybe Ava might get the little push she needs. It’s long overdue.

Beatrice was held back with Crimson before. She won’t be now. She’ll get her to back off and never bother Ava again. She ruined Ava’s reputation. She crushed her. Broke her nose. And now she thinks she can get Ava back? Just like that? Because Ava’s suffering? Fuck that. Fuck Crimson. It’s not happening again. Beatrice won’t let it. Even just as Ava's friend, she wouldn't, and she definitely fucking won't with the knowledge Ava loves her too. Crimson can fuck off. She’s not going near Ava again. Not if Beatrice has anything to say about it. And she very much does so.

Chapter Text

So Beatrice feels a bit ridiculous right now. It’s nighttime, and Ava said instead of accompanying her back to the hotel room, she had an errand to run alone.

Hmm, an errand indeed. Errand Beatrice’s backside. So in something Beatrice never thought she’d do, she’s decided to follow Ava. She’s following her best friend, the person she knows that loves her and she loves too, and she’s intervening.

She’s currently behind Ava in a bush. Hence the feeling of being ridiculous part. She’s near the practice courts in joggers and a tucked-in buttoned shirt and ready to end this with Crimson. Maybe it’s wrong to approach. Ava doesn’t wanna be out to her. She could’ve gone to see Crimson earlier, but she’s been with Ava all yesterday and today, just not pushing or mentioning anything. Just settling in Ava’s room and going to watch the other doubles semi-final. Crimson lost in the match Ava watched, so it’s an opportunity for Lilith (fuck Dora) to win a slam.

Back to this though. Ava. She gets the need for a distraction from pain, but she’s back now for Ava. She’s here. She’s staying in Ava’s room. Zori’s gone. Isn’t that enough to be a distraction from the physical pain she’s in?

But maybe there’s something more at play here. With Crimson and Rafael. Maybe they were a drug. And Ava’s fixed on it again. Rafael was one part and Crimson the other. Rafael’s gone, but maybe Ava doesn’t want him to be gone. Maybe she wants it all with them. Maybe… to Beatrice’s heartbreak as she gets poked by multiple twigs in this bush. Crimson breaking Ava’s nose wasn’t an anomaly. Maybe the whole thing was abusive. To Ava.

Maybe it was a big part of the whole lust of the thing that was emotionally abusive to Ava. But that’s not going to help Ava’s pain. Beatrice just doesn’t know. She has a strong feeling she’s about to find out.

At the very least she stays close to make sure Ava’s safe.

She takes a peek outside of her position at the dimly lit path to the courts and sees the back of Ava. She's in shorts and a top. Green and black, and she disappears from view after a few moments of Beatrice watching.

She goes to follow, but her phone buzzes again. She did have a few moments away from Ava today. It’s Mario. She told him about leaving Zori; he read her like a book, and she asked about the whole Rafael incident. He explained everything.

Lilith and Dora. Camila gossiping about hearing Ava at these courts arguing with Rafael and mentioning Crimson and how Ava didn’t want to be out due to the fear she feels about it. So they’ve talked over text, and she told him her plan. They were both going to see Crimson get her back off, but Ava had other plans tonight with seeing the bitch, so this is happening, and Beatrice is following closely.

Mario – Update? What the fuck is Ava doing?? You’re free now. Why is she doing this?? Crimson broke her nose, ffs!

She gets out of hiding and texts back quickly.

Beatrice – Following still. She’s at the practice courts. I don't know why she is. Maybe it was something abusive. Addictive, etc. Idk.

Mario – Fuck. If it was do me a favour and beat the fuck out of Crimson. Well…do that anyway. 🥊

She grins at her phone as she walks.

Beatrice – I will if she lays a hand on Ava, dw.

She puts her phone away and quickens her pace. She wishes this wasn’t the case. She wants to be with Ava, not skulking around in bushes following her, trying to protect her from a toxic renewal of sex with Crimson. But here she is, and she has to be.

She won’t reveal herself if nothing physical takes place. She can’t. It’s Ava’s own journey to do that with her, but if Crimson does anything that warrants it, she’ll break her for it. She’s more than earned it.

She stops at the end of the straight concrete path with grass beside it and takes another slow peek. She instantly tenses up. In front of the wired fencing Ava is with her abuser. Crimson.

Ava’s walking up to Crimson, who’s confidently resting her back against the fence with arms folded and an arrogant grin on her lips. Like she knew Ava would come back to her. Crimson’s hair is down and wavy, and she’s in a revealing crop top. Her abs on show, her fingers in her jeans, with an air about her that just knows her own attractiveness.

She was Ava’s sexual awakening, and with that comes power over Ava no matter what happened.

“Hi there.” Crimson is just about audible from this spot for Beatrice.

Ava takes this big breath. It’s visible by Ava’s shoulders rising high from behind as she stops with her back to Beatrice.

“Hi. Again.” Ava’s voice is defeated, like she’s already Crimson’s.

It still confuses Beatrice. Zori’s gone. She’s not even in the country anymore, as she headed straight home after the breakup. No backlash from Sandra or Davide yet, thankfully. She would want it to be amicable, but it doesn’t seem like a possibility with Zori.

“So wanna go back to my room? And you want Rafael too, don’t you?” Crimson softens, but it’s poison. Crimson’s poison. “Listen, baby, he made a mistake, but he loves you. I love you too. I made a mistake too. Yet here we are; you’ve forgiven me for it. Mario attacked him. What was he supposed to do? Not defend himself?”

“He told Mario I was the best blowjob he’s ever had and then hit him while he was stunned, so I’m not just going to forgive him, Crim. I don’t forgive you either.” Ava stands against the idea, giving Beatrice a little bit of hope that she’s not here for what she thinks with Crimson.

It makes her heart make a tiny skip in its beat in that hope, but she stays utterly still and silent, watching on.

“But you love me? You love us? All of us together. It’s fireworks, Ava. You know it is. I’ve never had intimacy like it before. You want it back; you need it back. Especially with the pain you’re in. I promise we can just be gentle and make you feel good.”

Crimson reaches over to Ava. Beatrice gets ready to move.

“I divorced Rafael because how much losing you broke me. I reacted poorly, and I’ll never do it again.” Crimson softly caresses Ava’s cheek, and Beatrice holds back. But it stings to see anyone else do that to Ava now.

“I hate you.” Ava doesn’t say it with force or sternness, maybe… giving in entirely.

“Shhh, you love me; you love what we were.” Crimson pushes off the fence with tenderness in her. Her hands cupping both Ava’s cheeks. Ava doesn’t move, but she lets it happen under the dim court lights. “I know about Beatrice. With me, you’ll never have to be out. It can be our secret.” Crimson lowers her voice to sound so tender; her eyes are that way too, but it’s all fake. It’s fake. A wolf trying to get back in sheep’s clothing to appear innocent once more.

Ava’s arms stay at her sides, but she lowers her head. “I can never be with Bea. I can never be out and what she needs. I don’t want that for her. She deserves the world, and the world is something I can’t give.”

No. Beatrice squeezes her eyes shut, feeling herself so utterly disagreeing, with tears forming behind her eyes. Ava is the world. She’s so much. She doesn’t see. She’s everything. She just needs to take a step, and they can be together. Just one scary step for them.

“When Beatrice thought you didn’t regret cheating, what did she do? Hm?” Crimson strokes and strokes Ava’s hair with both hands on either side, her eyes wide and unnaturally trying to be something she’s not. A decent, caring human being. “She told you she needed space from you. She judged you; she was disgusted by you. She’s not worthy of all this. She’s been your friend for so long, but poof, just like that, she wanted to push you out? That doesn’t sound like someone to trust anymore. You can trust me.” Crimson lies; she twists the truth; she places a hand on her chest to push her point home.

Beatrice struggles to restrain herself. The need to get Ava away from here burns so fucking hard it feels like she’s about to break.

—

Weak. Tired. In pain. Ava drearily sees Crimson be soft. She sees her whole face that dragged her into her and Rafael’s arms like a drug she couldn’t stop wanting. She wants the drug again. The pleasure of it. It makes the pain be replaced by lust and distraction. There’s still pain, as Crimson or Rafael are never gentle, no matter how many cooing words filled with seduction Crimson sings to her, but it distracts and drags Ava in and gives her a thrill. Not a healthy thrill but a thrill.

She has no love for Crimson. She has no love for Rafael. It’s sex. Just sex. She hates herself for it. She hates how she enjoys being degraded. She hates it, but she likes it.

Bea is free; she’s free and away from Zori, the person who made Bea talk so little of herself. The Zori that made Bea be small because of love. Blind love that didn’t see what Zori was doing.

But Ava can’t… She loves Bea more than the breath she breathes. She loves her smile that she has known all her life. She loves how safe she always is when Bea’s around. She loves how she makes Bea laugh. She loves Bea’s laugh. Her voice. Her eyes that carry so much inner courage and bravery and so much empathy and so much emotion. She loves all of Bea.

She probably loved her in this way before Crimson and Rafael. No. She did. She just buried it. Ignored it. Ignored how when Bea was happy, it made her heart flutter. She ignored the feeling she felt of utter dejection and agony as she saw Bea get closer and closer with Zori pre-Crimson and Rafael.

Seeing Bea with Zori that night last year. Laughing a laugh she only laughed with her made her feel so crushed. She didn’t acknowledge it for what it was, but she felt it and then, the same night, gave in to the proposal of Rafael, the easy-talking charmer he was for months on end with her. She let Crimson show her who she was in its entirety.

The love for Bea only grew after that. After she saw herself so clearly. It grew and grew until she could take being with anyone else no more. It got her a ruined nose that required surgery; it was so badly broken. She’d never bled so much before. It terrified her.

But not as much as her love for Bea. She loves her too much. She feels for her too much. She craves her too much. She buried herself in tennis after Crimson. Ignoring her feelings. Not willing to be out in a world she saw was so cruel and hateful to people like her and Bea. She’s scared of it. Terrified, and in so doing, her love for Bea does still.

She’s fucked up in a way Bea doesn’t see. She’s not good enough. She can never be what Bea needs. She can never be open with herself. Bea deserves that.

Bea will find it. With someone worthier than Zori. She’ll find it, and Ava will keep burying this feeling of love. She’ll be in pain so hidden and deep. When the surgery comes and goes and her hip is repaired, she’ll still be in so much pain.

Though the pain right now is so fucking much. She’s in constant uncomfortableness. The pain meds help, but it hurts more than she shows. Playing on intensified it to be unbearable. She barely sleeps, and when she does, it’s fitful. She’ll have to get stronger meds. but away from the pain and back to Bea, with no hope of Bea.

With no hope of ending this pain in her heart for Bea. She feels she deserves this as well as craves it. She’s a coward. She wants this. Fuck, she wants Rafael and Crimson both, and that in itself shows how much she doesn’t deserve Bea. Fucked up. Not for someone like Bea. Her best friend. Her safe place.

She’s barely listened to Crimson’s words. She doesn’t care what comes out of her mouth. It’s all bullshit. She knows what Crimson is trying, and it’s ridiculous. Just shut up and let’s go fuck, she wants to say, but she’s always been weak in front of Crimson.

Always been her submissive. Crimson leads, and she follows. Crimson orders her to suck Rafael’s hardness, his scrotum hard, so he gasps; she does. Crimson wants her to be raggedly taken by Rafael from behind with no relent; she does that too.

Crimson strokes and strokes her cheeks, but it’s foreign. Crimson being soft isn’t natural; it feels forced. She’s restraining herself. Her lust is a violent, degrading thing that Ava wants.

Crimson’s smile is forced too. Crimson had her in a cage as soon as she laid eyes on her, and even in the months of avoiding her, of hating her; here she is again. Crimson’s plaything.

“I love you, Ava. Rafael was just with Dora because he needed a fix, but he really wanted you most. He’s sorry he didn't tell Dora; it just happened so fast. We both love you. Married or not, we want you. You were what kept us together. Beatrice was ready to toss you aside. We’d never toss you aside; we love you so fucking much. I burn for you, baby. I burn so fucking hard.” Crimson leans in and kisses her deep. Ava kisses back. It’s sloppy and all tongue and without softness. It’s the kisses Ava longed for.

Her hip that’s not pained is pulled so deep into Crimson’s. So heat filled. So intoxicating. It feels so empty. But it’s the drug she needs.

She thinks of Bea. She thinks of the other night being so downtrodden, and then as Crimson squeezes Ava’s ass so hard, Ava gasps as the fence Crimson rests back against chinks at their movement; she remembers Bea coming to her. Snuggling with her. Heffalumps and peace and home.

She’s not brave for it. She’s so weak. Crimson makes her feel weak. Crimson, Crimson, Crimson. Must have Crimson. Rafael too.

Crimson grabs the back of Ava’s neck hard and pulls her back to reveal her throat for her to conquer again. “Fuck, I’ve missed you, you fucking bitch. Fuck, I crave this.”

Well, the softness lasted long.

Ava gasps as teeth dig into her throat. “Mine. I want Beatrice gone.” She rasps and bites again.

“Ah.” Ava hisses at the pain. She thinks of the moment back in Switzerland. The shock. The rage. The punch so hard, the blood so heavy. She clawed at her face, struggling to breathe. And then another punch came, and Ava felt the crack. Her face felt numb; it caused so much damage.

She couldn’t breathe after she pushed Crimson away and stumbled out into the hallway. She couldn’t breathe. She needed Bea. She found her downstairs, and she saved her from the distress of the blood. She calmed her; she was there as she always has been.

Crimson kisses Ava’s swollen lips, unable to be gentle like she said she would. Utterly unable. She pulls back. Eyes so black and angry. “Come on.” She grabs Ava’s hand and yanks her to follow.

But… Ava’s feet stay planted. She doesn’t. Crimson made her an outcast beyond Bea. Even with Bea she felt lesser. She does still. Crimson broke her nose and kept her secret, but she crushed her nonetheless out of spite.

She’s yanked to follow, and she does. But she stops again under these dim lights where it’s just her and Crimson.

“I…don’t want to.” Words come out. They come from Ava, but they don’t feel like they do. Like it’s just her mind saying stop. Not her. Rafael was easier. He wasn’t as harsh. He never was. He had a different way. A way that was far less painful. It was more utter pleasure. He’s an arsehole, but fuck, he was great. Crimson is a different scenario. She had bruises she had to hide because of Crimson. She thinks of more, and she wants to be sick.

Crimson steps in front of Ava and grabs her cheeks again. No softness. Rough and shaking of Ava. Lips smash into Ava’s.

Ava wants to push back like she did in the hotel room in the Alps. One of Crimson’s hands latches onto the hip that’s causing Ava so much discomfort. She squeezes hard and slaps.

“Fuck!!!” She howls up to the sky in pain. Like there’s a knife being dug into her side. Tears are easy. She’s cried a lot of late because of how much she wants the uncomfortableness to stop.

Crimson doesn’t care; she goes for Ava’s neck with teeth again as Ava feels like collapsing and rolling around in pain. She can’t; she’s held in tight, unable to breathe again because of this woman. She can’t fight back. She’s trapped. She’s trapped; fuck, she doesn’t like it. It’s too much. Crimson’s too much.

With nothing but instincts, she bashes her forehead forward. “Fucking bitch!” Crimson holds her nose.

“Crim, I’m…” She panics but stops. She needs to sit; fuck, it hurts. So with shaky breath, she rests a knee on the ground. It would feel better if she rested it. So she does. She needs to. Fuck, she must.

“Hey!?” Bea?

Ava, hurting and gritting her teeth at the hurt, snaps to Bea’s voice. What the fuck is she doing here? How? How did she?

It goes so fast; everything happens so fast as Bea in this jumpsuit-type outfit from earlier with white sleeves, speeds past her.

“Look who’s here!? Ava’s little guard dog!” Crimson laughs with blood in her mouth.

Beatrice, with rolled-up fists, goes for a punch. Crimson dodges. Little known secret about Crimson, she told Ava once. She grew up taking taekwondo classes, so Ava feels a fear for Bea. But she knows Bea is tough and strong and brave. Always brave.

Crimson goes for a backhanded slap. Bea dodges with a jerk of her head. She grabs Crimson’s wrist and smashes down on the centre of Crimson’s arm hard. “You’re never touching Ava again!” Smash! Beatrice cuts with her hand against Crimson’s throat.

Ava’s in pain, but she can’t help the laugh. “Bea the badass. Never should’ve doubted.”

Crimson stumbles back, clutching her throat.

“Had enough? Or would you like some more? Because, fuck, I’ll give you more and gladly.” Bea tilts her head at Crimson, and her protective side comes out. Her confidence in herself. Ava loves that side of her. She loves all of them. Zori hated it, really; Ava loves it.

Crimson snarls up with her hands right around her throat. “Fucker! She’s mine!!” Crimson charges and throws quick one-two swinging punches. Bea blocks and bats the other blow away with her arm.

“Fucking psycho!” Bea does the fucking coolest thing Ava’s seen her best friend do. She roundhouse kicks Crimson in the face, smashing her boot against Crimson’s cheek, and down goes Crimson.

“Okay.” She giggles, impressed, as Crimson groans on the ground like she’s just been hit by a freight train. “Beatrice, you’re a badass for life.” She was weary and self-hating, but now she's the opposite. Bea’s here. She's safe; she’s always safe with Bea.

Bea, no lie, Ava swears does a superhero pose. Arms down at her side, and she huffs out a breath. She loved doing that, and Ava loved watching. “Stay down, or I’ll knock out your fucking teeth, you bloody nutjob.”

“Bea?” She struggles to get up, but so fast Bea’s helping her. Her arm around her shoulder to pull her up.

“I’m here. You’re okay. What were you thinking, Ava?”

“Why’d you follow me? You…” she feels her heart twist. “You know I’m…how?”

“The other night when I was drunk, you basically told me, darling. I love you too. I broke up with Zori for you.”

“No. Bea.” She shakes her head in pain again. Not the physical. Emotional. “I didn’t want you to know. I can’t, Bea. I can’t. I’m not strong enough. You were always the strong one.” Her voice breaks as she’s helped away from Crimson. She can’t believe this. Bea wasn’t supposed to know. “You deserve more than having to hide with me. I didn’t want you to know, fuck Bea.” She wasn’t…fuck, Bea wasn’t. She can’t be with Bea. She broke up with Zori for her? For this? She didn’t want that. She wanted someone better for Bea. Not her. She can’t wait for something that may never happen.

“You don’t have to say it back. It’s okay. I’m not pressuring you. Maybe… I shouldn’t have said that.” Bea helps her pass the bushes away from the stricken Crimson.

“I can’t.” She cries and shakes all over, covering her face with a furiously shaking hand.

“I love you, Ava. I never thought it would be possible with you, but I always have deep down. I buried it. But I have.” Bea stops. But her words are a dagger to Ava’s heart to know.

Bea can’t love her. She needs to have better. Not to be ashamed of who she is because Ava doesn’t wanna be out.

“Hey?” Bea’s delicate and natural feeling against her skin fingers peel away Ava’s hand from covering her tear-stained face. And then Ava sees that smile of Bea’s. Any of them. She feels too much for. Any version she loves too much. “Can I carry you? Best if you don’t walk now.”

She limply agrees, and Bea with knowledge of her. And, with familiarity that no other person alive will ever have, picks her up by her legs to be held so sure and steady against her chest. A chest Ava buries her face in and lets herself exist in to find her calm. To ease her mind that’s been in so much inner pain.

“I love you, alright? Fuck. I love you, Bea. But I’m fucked up. I’m a fucking mess, Bea. I’m terrified of this. I can’t.” She sobs and sobs into her home's chest.

“You can.” Bea emotionally denies as she holds her and carries her with so much sureness and strength that soothed Ava to be held up by. A kiss is planted on Ava’s forehead. “You can. I want you too. I’m not going to push, but I want this. You’re my home. You’ve always been that for me. I love you.”

Ava cries and cries, buried in the warmth and scent that’s just Bea. Sandalwood. Bea’s favourite scent beyond Ava’s own that she knows Bea likes too. She knows Bea and she knows how stubborn she is. She clings on tight and knows Bea won’t give up easily for this now. She hates… no, she can’t hate it. She despairs that she doesn’t want Bea to. She wants Bea so much. Too much. She loves her too much. She can’t stop. She can’t.

Chapter Text

Ava didn’t want to talk last night after Crimson. She was in too much pain. So she slept. Fitful, but she slept. It’s the next morning, and it feels better with her healthy dose of pain meds. She’s on the made-up bed with Bea beside her, just staring up at the ceiling. Not knowing the next move. She never intended for this to happen.

She wasn’t going to say anything to Bea. Ever. But she has now. Bea isn’t stupid; she’s intelligent, and she heard Ava tell her things she thought Beatrice was too drunk and out of it to remember. That helped too, but she pieced things together.

“Are we going to talk about it?” She asks the burning question. Her hands fitted together by her fingers over her pyjama shirt. She wants it. She can’t stop wanting it. But it’s not what Bea deserves. She should have someone unashamed and brave.

“I love you. You love me. I wish it was that simple, but I want this. I want you, and if I have to be with you in secret, then I’ll do it. I’ll do it without hesitation.” Bea is as stubborn as Ava thought she’d be. Bea wants her too. But for Ava, it’s just not that simple. Not for her.

She smiles at that, but it’s a pained one. “You deserve more than that, Trix; you…” She exhales a shaky little laboured breath, her heart feeling so tight.

She feels this big lump in her throat about this. It feels surreal. That Bea knows now. It feels like something she shouldn’t do but wants so much that if she doesn’t give in to it, it’ll keep on crushing her.

It feels like a first day back at school after a summer break… No, it’s not bad, but it feels so big, so world-altering, to try it. It won’t stop terrifying her. It can’t.

She closes her eyes too tight. Imagining the touch of Bea’s lips. How will it feel? To kiss her childhood companion? To see her? To unravel her? To be unravelled by her? To lie with her naked and exposed in a way she hasn’t with Bea.

Bea’s family. What if she loses her? There’s so much she doesn’t want, but it’s unbearable. So unbearable.

She feels Bea turn over, but she stays in place, silent with closed eyes. Not giving in. She can’t. But she will. She can’t in so much of it, though, and that’s not for Bea.

“Tell me everything; let’s just go from there.” Bea suggests quietly.

“That sounds like a plan.” She laughs, but it catches quickly in her closed-up throat. “It started with Rafael. He would flirt, and I couldn’t stop flirting back. I knew he was married, but he…was a smooth talker, shall we say.” She smirks, but that fades fast too. “He kept it up and up until Crimson approached me last year at the pre-French Open party. I saw her and…something shifted.”

She lets it flow out of her, feeling a liberation in it. It starts to feel good too. It’s been such a burden. She’s loved Bea harder and harder and carried such a weight of this on her back. It feels good. Really good.

“I think I’ve always been this way. It’s always been there. I just buried it. Ignored it. I saw how you were treated Bea and it terrified me. To be attacked like that just for who you are – I’m not like you. I’m…weak where you’re strong. I can’t do it.” She takes a breath, and Bea just waits; she doesn’t ask questions. She just lets Ava take her time.

Typical calming Bea.

“Crimson that night… She just had a way about her that drew me in. I can’t explain it. I just saw her. I saw you with Zori; I think deep down before then I loved you like this. Crimson made me see just how much. She knew I liked Rafael and had this…thing with him I wanted, and she said she wanted me to have him. She wanted to watch. She did. We went to their hotel room that night, and I’d never felt so hot. Never felt so desperate for something like that. It was like something exploded in me. But… Crimson’s way was what did it. She was dominant and hard and commanding, and I wanted it. I wanted it more than Rafael. She kissed me, and it wasn’t gentle; none of it was ever gentle. It was rough and ragged and intense.” She takes a moment again.

She’s just saying it all. Unvarnished. She feels free to. Bea has to know everything now that she’s seen things as they are.

“It left marks; it was constant. We had threesomes and were with each other separately. It was just sex, never love; it was just the passion of it that had me and wouldn’t let me go. I crave to be submissive now because of it. I enjoyed being treated like shit. I loved it. Rafael was gentler, so I guess I preferred him to a degree. It’s why it was so easy to fall back into him first. They’ve never been nice people; it wasn’t about that. It was sex, as I said. But…” She breathes out through her nose, opening her eyes to stare at the white ceiling.

God, this feels really, really amazing. It makes her body just melt into the bed at how good it feels.

How untethered she feels now.

“The more sex I had with Crimson in particular, the more I saw you with Zori. I just couldn’t bear it. It got too much, Bea. I loved you and loved you and loved you harder, and it became harder to not say anything when Zori made you talk so little of yourself. It crushed me. I had to end it. Crimson didn't like that. She made it clear what she’d do. She surprised me as I left her room and then punched me. You know the rest of that particular trip.” She quips at the memory. The blood. Bea helping her.

Bea still doesn’t speak. She just listens. Fuck, she knows how much she needs her to not interrupt. She just knows her.

“I increased my match load to bury it, but my body couldn’t take it. I didn’t care about being called a cheater in comparison to coming out. It was the easiest of the choices for me. It stung a lot. But I could take it. I had you still in my life, but when I saw you slipping away when I saw Zori taking over your life and my tennis was going to be gone, my distraction from you was at risk. I clung to it. But I clung till I broke down. When we pulled out, I needed something else to distract me. You were going away, and I loved you, but I could never have you. So… I went back to the drug I knew. To Rafael. It helped. I’ve had to separate this side of myself from you; it was cleaner and less risky that you’d find out. But it didn’t matter in the end. You’ve found out. You’ve found it all out.”

She turns over and sees Bea. She’s in one of her Kanga pyjama shirts that’s too small for her, but she looks so nice in. Her hair is tied back but messy. Her bare legs like Ava’s, so close to Ava’s. Knees inches from hers.

She sees Bea’s eyes glistening. Emotional but listening. Patient and her best friend she’s terrified of losing.

“I can’t let you be with me, Bea. You deserve better than hiding. You don’t want someone that likes the sex like I do now. You should have someone not ashamed of themselves like me. Not afraid of being themselves like you. You deserve the world. And that’s not something I can give.” She finishes, and she feels tired after it but unburdened. She said it all, she thinks.

Bea smiles softly and frustratingly, not giving up. But… Ava doesn’t want her to. It’s selfish. But she wants Bea to be stubborn.

Bea doesn’t say words, but her eyes understand. The touch of her hand on Ava’s cheek makes everything else, however wrong it is, feel unimportant. Ava can’t stop or want to stop herself from relaxing at the touch.

No more secrets. No more hidden pain from Bea.

“I know how hard it is to be out. I know. And if you don’t want to, I won’t force you. That’s your choice always. But…” Bea laughs emotionally and then tearfully that it swells, a familiar ache in Ava. Too much love in her for Bea. Too much pull to her. “I love you. I love you, and I can’t let you go now that I know you love me in the way I never thought you could. You’re stuck with me. Knowing you love me made leaving Zori the easiest choice I’ve ever made.” Bea’s tears start to fall down the side of her face, and Ava feels the pull become something she doesn’t think she’ll be able to endure now. She thinks she’s fucked.

“But I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to love you in the way you deserve to be loved. I won’t hold your hand in public. I won’t kiss you. I won’t tell people about us. You can’t want that. It’s not something you’ll like eventually, and then what? Our friendship could be broken, and if that happened…” She shakes her head, breaking at the thought of it. Her face showing nothing but fear and emotion in pain at the idea of it. She cries too. Gentle and terrified. “I can’t lose you.”

Bea’s thumb drag over Ava’s skin. Centring and centring Ava. Calming her. Bea’s eyes don’t stop looking at her with a love she feels for Bea too. “I’m scared too. You’ll never lose me, Aviebug. Never. No matter what, you’ll never lose me. If you’ll let me, I wanna support you in this. We can keep it secret, but I want this, and I know you want it too. I know you, and you know me. It’ll be the easiest thing for me to do. If I get…”

“It won’t be. You’ll get hurt when you see I’ll never come out. I can’t hurt you. I can’t.” She feels and hears her voice break. She can’t. She wants to. But she can’t.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit; you are strong enough. However long it takes for you to want to, I wanna hold your hand when you do.”

Bea scoffs playfully. “I don’t need kissing in public if you don’t want that. I can do this with you, and I know you can do this too. I know it.” Bea whispers the final words with such sureness and warmth that Ava knows and loves.

Bea moves close to rest her forehead against Ava’s there breaths however small, mingling like they’ve always been linked throughout their lives.

Bea’s smile turns into a smirk up close. Creating a little still in Ava’s heart. Her breath. ”And as for the sex part, I don’t mind if you have a kink; I don’t mind being a certain way if you want that. You’re not fucked up, Avielicious.”

Ava giggles; she loves Bea using more nicknames too. She loves it like she loves Bea.

Bea caresses and caresses Ava’s cheek with her thumb and this pull. It’s only heading one way. “I’ll be with you in any way you’d like. I just wanna be with you if you want me. I’m yours. If you…kiss me.”

“I can’t.” Ava refutes it, but it’s pointless. It’s pointless to deny. It’s happening, and Bea has her now. She has her. She shouldn’t. But she has her. She does.

She looks to Bea’s lips. Lines on the pinkness she knows. The Cupid's bow she knows. The lips she knows but has never felt and desired to feel every day for longer than just a year deep down.

“You can. I love you; you love me. So kiss me.” Bea says it likes it’s simple.

“It’s not that simple.” She rubs her forehead against Bea’s. About to kiss Bea for the first time.

Bea inches closer. Their knees touch. Bea’s hand stills on Ava’s cheek. “Kiss me…please. I want this. So kiss me.”

“You’re so stubborn.” She despairs with a wilting smile and inches closer so her nose touches Bea’s at the tip.

“And you’re so perfect. You’re my home. You’ll always be my home.” Bea leans in. Their lips inches apart. Ava does too.

“You’re mine too. Fuck, you’re mine.” She whispers, feeling this feeling of love pulsing more than ever.

“I am, you’re right, you big goofy silly. I’m yours. So what are you waiting for?” Bea’s breath hits Ava’s lips. It’s too good too much.

“I love you.” Ava closes the distance and her lips… They find Bea’s, and they smoosh against Bea’s. It feels right – so unbelievably right. A whimper comes out of her into Bea’s lips. She needs to have a hand on Bea’s cheek too. So she does. She caresses Bea’s upper lip. Bea her lower one. Sticking so wetly together. Two puzzle pieces coming together to make one right picture. That’s what it feels like.

Bea’s hand transitions to Ava’s hip, but there lips don’t part. Ava can’t part from these lips now. She’s already addicted. There’s no going back, and as Ava feels pulled to Bea’s hips so gently but surely and kisses Bea like she’s the only kiss that’s ever truly felt important, she doesn’t want to go back. She’s never going back to before now, and she can’t want to now that she’s kissed these lips. So right and perfect, caressing hers too.

Bea’s lips slide off hers, her lower lip...flicking off Ava’s so wetly. “I love you too.” Bea saying that again. Ava can’t let Bea’s lips go away now. She’s screwed, and Bea’s lips... she needs them to stay. “I can’t believe mph.” Bea places a small kiss on Ava’s trembling lips and then another.

“Mm.” Ava whimpers. She gets another one and another. “Can’t...believe what?”

“That I’m kissing you. I’m fucked.” Bea smiles into the next kiss, lasting longer. More caressing. First contact of tongue. Why does Bea’s tongue have to feel so perfect? Why does she have to be? She’s imagined this and imagined it, but this is better than anything she’s imagined.

Ava slithers her fingertips to the back of Bea’s neck, pushing her to stay. “So am I. Are you sure about this?” She rasps, and she is. She’s fucked, and Bea has made her this way.

Bea kisses her and kisses her again and kissing Bea to Ava’s reluctant but happy tears shakes the foundation of what was. “I’m so sure.” Bea ends the talking and smoothly covers her Ava’s lips with her own. She wraps her arm around Ava, and Ava’s locked in now. She knows Bea isn’t going to let her go...nor does she want her to.

Chapter Text

Last night was something. Kicking Crimson’s abusive ass was a much-deserved and satisfying moment after everything she’s done to Ava. Seeing Ava be hurt by Crimson made Beatrice act fast. A little bit of the anger was fuelled by the kiss. She was jealous, really jealous. She’s never felt so jealous. And when Ava was in distress, the jealousy added to the no hesitation to act. She didn’t want Ava to be forced to be out to her, but she couldn’t stand by and watch. She had to help.

She had to get Ava safe, and she did, and she can’t regret that. Then she told Ava she loved her. Like Ava loves her too. She couldn’t regret that either. She couldn’t. She picked Ava up and held her close and… Ava said the words Beatrice didn’t think she’d say. She said those 3 words out loud that changed Beatrice’s life, hearing from Ava.

When she was young she dreamed of it, knowing it was hopeless. But it wasn’t hopeless anymore in that moment. It was real.

It’s scary, but it’s happened, and as soon as Ava said those words. There was no going back. She is, as she told Ava this morning. Unequivocally fucked.

Her home loves her too.

Ava didn’t say more after saying her truth before sleep, but this morning Ava talked, and Beatrice listened to Ava speak and saw how this massive weight on Ava’s shoulders left her. She got to tell her truth to her. Finally she could let it go, and then…it happened.

The kiss.

It was something so different from any kiss Beatrice had felt. It meant more than any other. It was more. She wanted it. She wants Ava. She can hide for however long Ava needs. She wants this. She wants to help Ava be herself. It’s worth every challenge and every hurdle that Ava didn’t want to face.

She sank into the kiss. She was kissing Ava. The Ava. She was kissing. Ava wanted her, and she wanted Ava. She’d call off a million engagements and a million weddings to perfectly fine people for it. She kissed Ava, and Ava kissed back. She had hope, but the kiss to hear the mutual I love yous was everything. She said Ava was home, and Ava said it back between kisses, and since then? Beatrice hasn’t left this hotel room, nor has Ava. It’s been quiet as Ava and she have accepted the new reality.

It’s a new reality. A new normal, Beatrice hopes. They’ve just sat and held each other, watched the sunset, and had dinner in the room with room service. She’s helped Ava find a calm after last night, like Ava did for her after Zori’s tirade in her semi-final against her. They’ve just sat on this new truth between them. Hanging in the air. Ava’s out to her. She’s her…girlfriend. Her partner in tennis for so long, her best friend, is now…more. It’s the same but more in such a world-altering way.

It’s changed everything, and yet when the dust settles in whatever normal she and Ava get used to in this hidden place they’ll be in for however long Ava wants until she’s ready, a lot will be the same. She and Ava know each other. They know what it’s like to sit together close like a couple and watch a movie. They know so much; they already have comfortability in so many ways with each other.

Now it’s just going to be more. Closer. It’s going to breach things that Beatrice accepted to her old ache that would never be breached. She’ll kiss Ava and Ava her in places neither thought they would ever.

It’s something she and Ava will traverse. Together. It’s something Beatrice doesn’t want to rush Ava with if Ava doesn’t want that. They don’t have to rush with intimacy. No rush at all for anything. They don’t have to talk about it more. Like Beatrice doesn’t with Ava now as they watch an old animated movie. A short thing about a duckling before another movie as they quietly hold each other in bed.

She’s on her back, and Ava is quiet, as she has been since their kiss, and the girlfriends tag became official. Beatrice is under covers. Heffalump under Ava’s arm.

She doesn’t kiss Ava like she’d love to against her hair after this became real. She lets Ava set the pace of this. It’ll all be at Ava’s pace. She wants this, and Ava does; it’s just the accepting of this being real. She’s Ava’s now. She’s not going to be affected by not being open about them. It’ll be secret. She’s not put off by Ava’s want for a certain kind of sex. Ava knows she’s stubborn. She knows. Zori wasn’t really the top in that relationship. Beatrice does enjoy being that way a lot, so Ava needn’t worry about that.

She’s not swayed by anything. Ava’s not fucked up, as she said. She just has a liking of a certain way of sex. It’ll be safer with someone who loves her who knows her. Not Rafael or Crimson, who don’t care about her.

“I can’t promise you anything, Bea. You have to know that. I can’t promise I’ll ever want to come out. To my parents, even, never mind others. Being free with myself isn’t something I know if I’ll ever feel comfortable enough to do.” Ava finally again talks about it after earlier. After the perfect earlier.

“I’m not asking you to promise me anything.” She says with the want to help with Ava’s acceptance of herself. It’s scary, but life itself is scary.

She learnt long ago to cover herself from hateful things with a wall of outer strength. She stopped letting it get to her. She’s just been herself, and that was that. She couldn’t ever pretend. But it’s different for Ava. She needs to build up the strength about it that Beatrice knows Ava has. Homophobic people are inevitable; as wrong and sad as it is, it’s the truth, but it doesn’t mean Ava shouldn’t live her life in the free way she can. It’s causing her so much pain to not be who she is. She’s just scared. Beatrice wants to help Ava through that fear. Talk about it in ways Ava hasn’t before. Ava can be brave; she just needs someone to hold her hand and tell her she can be with this.

“Being…like this. In this way, ‘with me isn’t something you’ve…”

“I have actually, remember? I have been in a relationship with someone not out.” She interrupts that notion. She has once. A long time ago, but she has.

But suddenly... Ava does something unexpected, something totally unexpected that melts Beatrice where she lies. Ava glides her fingertips to her cheek so delicately they barely feel like they’re there and places the softest of kisses, lighter than the brush of the softest feather one can find against her cheek.

She loses her train of thought at it. She forgets. Ava loves her. The Ava who’s laid her head on her shoulder for so many nights. The Ava who’s been there through every little moment in her life that ever meant anything. Loves her in the way she buried her love for her. She loves her. And this sort of love has to be fought for. Hurdles be damned.

When is something worth it ever easy? When is something that’s right and world-enhancing ever without a little bit of a journey before it becomes its full self? She’ll never be as open with a person as she is with Ava. She’ll never be as known and seen.

Ava kisses her cheekbone this time, lingering and lingering. Beatrice dizzies at a kiss from Ava. Another. Ava’s always been so unpredictable, and she can tell if she helps Ava have confidence in herself to be out and proud. She’d be like that with kisses like this often. Maybe when it’s just them she will be anyway; when there’s no fear, anyone shall see.

“Sorry, I know you did. Sorry.” Ava kisses again. There’s really no need for sorry's; of course she could forget her first girlfriend; it was a long time ago.

She falls against these wet lips like she did right after the Zori match, but that feels so far away now. A different existence it feels like. She had no reason to think Ava would be an option. She is. She is. She really is.

She parts her lips, lost in the touch of Ava’s. Her eyes shut and devoted utterly to making this work. “Then…you know I can handle it. Tell me you love me. I love you. Nothing else matters. You’ll get there i know you will. It’s so hard, but hiding forever, hiding now, is crushing you. I see it, and I know you feel it.”

Ava kisses again. “I love you. This is what scared me. I knew you’d be stubborn. I knew you’d…”

“Do anything to be with you.” She finishes with words she speaks so barely with any breath.

Ava pulls away. To Beatrice’s whimpering ache. She opens her eyes to see Ava after a day of quiet that yes, Ava’s eyes still love her. It’s the truth. Ava loves her too. “Bea. You deserve more than this.”

Beatrice shakes her head with a cup of Ava’s cheek in return. She wants this, and right now nothing else is important. “I want you. Do you want me?”

Ava covers her face again, still struggling but wanting this too. She doesn’t have to hide from her anymore. Beatrice sees her completely now, and she loves her. The world away from them can wait. “I do. But I just want what’s best for you.”

She peels off Ava’s fingers from her hand to show that silly face shedding tears she hates to see. This isn’t something to cry in pain about. It’s right. “You’re what’s best for me. Tell me you love me again.”

Ava lowers her gaze, relenting; she sees and she knows. Knowing surely there’s no going back now. “I love you. Seeing you marry Zori would’ve killed me inside. Seeing you marry anyone would’ve hurt, but I would’ve been happy for you as much as it would’ve hurt. I just want to see you be happy and loved how you should be.”

“I know you would’ve.” She blinks so slowly, her tone so low and sultry. “But no one will love me like you can. I don’t want you to be happy for me. I want you to be happy with me… darling.” She already sees how that word affects Ava. She’s only used it on girlfriends or Zori, and now she’s done it again for Ava.

Ava intakes a breath below her eyes so dark. She’d never seen this side of Ava; now she does, and she can’t go back to anything else now that she has. “Don’t...”

“Darling. I love you, darling. I’ve loved you since we were kids; I just had to bury it. I can’t now that I know how you love me too.” She does it again, seeing. She leans forward. Ava follows, and their lips don’t crash. They meld like they were always supposed to meld together. No one else’s lips will do now. No one but Ava’s, as she and Ava kiss again in a kiss that feels as naturally done as breathing does.

“I shouldn’t accept this.” Ava murmurs into Beatrice’s lips, the wet melding not stopping. It’ll be so hard to stop as Beatrice shuffles down the bed and tugs on Ava’s back to pull her in, but being careful, not rough, not yet. In the way that Ava desires. She can, though. She will. She feels a surety about herself being like that for Ava.

“But you are. We’ll go at your speed.” She murmurs back before Ava's lips cover hers. Ava’s lips. On hers. It’s not a dream; it’s reality, and she’s never going back to a time it wasn’t.

“I am. I love you. It’s selfish of me, but I want you. I want this.” Ava slips her lips off Beatrice just for a second to say, and then there are no more words – no need. If Ava didn’t accept this is what was happening between them before. She is now. She is.

Chapter Text

The slam that would change things forever for Beatrice ends with winners decided. Yasmine claimed another ruthless title to make it 11, and Dora, still probably smarting from Beatrice’s fists and being misled by Rafael that she was his one and only, won with Lilith. Happy for two of the three of those winners.

Beatrice would demand an apology for Ava, but Dora can do Dora.

So with the first slam of the year over and Zori gone from Beatrice’s life, and this new surreal status with Ava there now but early and tentative, at least on Ava’s side. They’re both going on the planned trip to the Melbourne Zoo. Just a day to enjoy and see some animals, both big and small. Indigenous and not.

They’ve taken a tramline journey to get to the place, and currently with Ava sitting at the window seat, they’re just existing. Waiting. Watching Melbourne fly by as the tram goes through the city centre. Ava looks adorable in her big koala T-shirt and shorts with her cap on her head and sunglasses covering her eyes. While Beatrice is in shades too with a Nike top and longer shorts.

There hasn’t been much, if any, talk again about them being together. Ava’s uncomfortable, of course, with her hip, but it’s more than that. She wants this but doesn’t for Beatrice in the same breath, and as much as this is real, Beatrice knows Ava will keep asking the question if she truly wants this scenario. But Beatrice will have the same answer.

Yes and yes and yes again.

She watches buildings pass people and cars, and the sun shines into the tram so bright – so flipping hot in this steel tin can. Her legs feel like they’re squished in her seat uncomfortably behind the seat in front, but with Ava it’s calm. This trip should be nice, but before the new reality with her and Ava, it would’ve been different. The old normal. She and Ava would be laughing like usual despite her talking about the slam and such, but instead for now it’s quiet. Ava’s never been so quiet around her throughout a day.

It’s strange, really strange. But with something like this, it changes everything. It’s not simple. It’s exciting for her, and she hopes for Ava, but right now it’s changed things between them. It’s not like it was before. It wasn’t going to be, but this calm quiet feels so deafening in its silence.

She outstretches her fingers and sees her engagement ring less finger and still takes this fact in. She’s not engaged anymore. Maybe she hasn’t processed it totally yet. She’s not with Zori, and there’ll be no wedding. It was right and wasn’t just for Ava, but it’s a really big thing that has changed now in her life. She lives with Zori. She has a home with her. It hasn't been long in that case, but it's going to…really feel strange when she's home.

She had a sureness about herself and her future, and it was with Zori, and now poof, that future has changed. She was excited about marrying Zori – really excited, albeit nervous too – and it’s not real anymore. It’s over.

It’s ended. Her most serious relationship she’s ever had is over.

Hopefully her belongings aren’t just thrown out of her and Zori’s place. No. Zori wouldn’t do that.

She’s told Mom and Dad, and the news is filtering out to her friends and everyone.

Should she have waited? TIL they all got home? No, no, it would’ve been wrong to prolong it. The semi-final was her breaking point. She did it… She wished she had been able to do it not in the way she did, though. Zori was kissing her, and she couldn’t do that with her at that point, but it was after a moment of being open with herself and her body for Zori. It just… she just wishes she had done it the moment she walked in the door.

“Does it feel strange?” Ava senses her thoughts. It makes her smile. To hear Ava talk and the fact that she knows her so well.

She rubs her ring finger's absence. She'd gotten used to wearing the thing. It’s strange it's not there anymore. “It does, yeah. Guess I’m still processing it. I was getting married. I have a home with Zori now… it’s just over. I was nervous for it but excited, and now it’s gone – no honeymoon in the Bahamas, no reception, no anything.” She says it with a lot of sadness hitting her over it.

“She wasn’t the one, Bea.” Ava replies like she isn’t that one. She is.

Beatrice shifts to see Ava facing her ring finger with a blank expression. It’s a constant worry with Ava’s uncomfortable feeling with her hip, but she says she’s fine now, and she has slept a little better after getting a heavier dosage of her pain meds.

“Guess you’ll never be my maid of honour now, hey?” She bumps Ava to jest.

It’s like the wind is once again taken out of Ava. She’s down about something that she should be excited by. It’s not sadness but worry. Not the greatest of feelings for Beatrice, but she knows the why of it. Ava wanted better for her. Not have to hide.

“It would’ve ended badly in the end. It’s for the best.” No quip or line, just Ava not being her goofy self as she focuses back on the view outside.

“You’re not unhappy with us becoming a thing, are you?” She bites her lip, worrying. It’s not really a joyous start to this on Ava’s part.

Ava sighs softly. “I dreamed of it with us, but I dreamed of it as me being someone I’m not. I’m worried about this – really worried.”

“But you love me, and I love you. Isn’t that…”

“Love is special, but having to be with someone who’s scared of being with a woman – any woman – is a big ask; it could go badly and fast if you start to see how much I’m not ready any time soon to be out.” Ava whispers the words. The conversation in public about it with people nearby too much even.

She inches herself closer but sees Ava twitch and roll her shoulder, about being obvious in public. “My eyes are wide open with this. I want all of it – every hurdle, every hard part I want.”

“The hurdles aren’t just simple Trix; they’re full-on blocks. I won’t be pressured. You have to understand this with me. I want this; I do. I feel so much lighter now that I’m open with you, but I’m your best friend still, as well as…the other thing.” Ava clears her throat, checking who can hear.

This really won’t be easy. It’ll definitely take some adjusting to in multiple ways: the dynamic shift with Ava and the reality of a girlfriend who is sort of closed off from being herself.

“And as that, I’m not going to stop worrying about how this’ll hurt you. I just won’t. A big part of me feels guilty I’ve even let it get this far.”

“Don’t be.” She stubbornly denies it. “You and I have done so many amazing things together, and I know we can make this work; we can…”

“Alter my whole mind so I feel safe enough to be us? In the way you want? I’m not going to stop referring to you as my best friend if someone asks who you are to me when we’re out together. You can’t tell me that won’t hurt you to hear. It will.” Ava rests her forehead on the back of the seat in front, grimacing. “I might hate myself for seeing you stung like you will be. Crimson said to me once that I hate who I am.”

Beatrice lays a supportive hand on Ava’s back. Ava’s talking, and the more they talk, the more she might see she can do this. She’s held this in, and every conversation, however hard, is going to keep letting out the knots of pressure she’s built and built about this. The more speaking and acknowledging the fears, the more she can say, What's the worst that could happen? People say hurtful things no matter who you are in this world. It’s just sadly how it can be. What matters though, really, in life? Love or letting hate win?

“How do you view being yourself? Sinful? Do you view me as that?” She asks plainly. No one’s nearby in the tram, so Ava need not be scared. People have far better things to do than interrupt two strangers talking. Ava will view it differently. Judging eyes everywhere she looks. It’s a mental fight more than anything.

“No. Of course I don’t. You’re a brilliant, perfect person I’m in love with. You’re Bea. You're my… BumbleBea.”

She smiles at that with a little blush. “So there’s your answer about yourself. You don’t see me as wrong, so you don’t see yourself as wrong. It’s just the fear of it. Facing what I have, and that’s totally understandable.” She massages Ava’s back, wanting the best for her person. “But here I am. After all of it. Still here, still okay with friends and people that care about me. You know how I deal with it?”

Ava glances back softly. “How?”

“I remember who matters and who doesn’t. I’m me. I love you, and if some douchebag wants to be cruel, fuck them, and yes, I know it’s not that easy; it really hurts when someone is cruel, and it’s never something you can just brush off. I never have.” She talks with passion and places her hand on her heart – that’s Ava’s. For Ava, this subject is about herself—really wanting to put things in perspective that maybe Ava hasn’t looked at. Fear can blind, and she wants to be the sounding board Ava needs.

She can do that. She’s tried to be throughout their lives, and this is something bigger than a lot of other things, but still.

“But we only have one life, darling. We can’t spend it trying to satisfy people that just have different wrong hateful opinions and think that gives them the right to hurt others not like them. If we aren’t who we are, however that is, then they win. Plus Aviebug.” She lowers her voice and beckons Ava to sit back with her, which Ava does with her eyes focused on her, listening. “I don’t go round screaming who I am; it’s my business. It’s really not a requirement to broadcast yourself if that’s something you don’t want.”

Ava takes Beatrice and her words in with a bite of her fingernails. “But what about at our matches? There could be jeers or heckling or something.”

Beatrice offers her hand. Ava’s wary about it with a sheepish look, but she slides her fingers into hers, and Ava holds tight, her heart tightening too at doing this.

“Fuck them.” She shrugs. “Fuck them all.”

Ava, however small, smiles. She’s strong; she can do this. Beatrice knows it. She believes in Ava. She can do anything she puts her mind to. “You were badass with Crimson, by the way. I never thanked you. Thank you, BumbleBea. My hero.” Ava’s smile grows soft on one side of her cheek. She's looking lighter for the chat, for listening to her talk.

Beatrice raises her chin defiantly to protect Ava always from people like Crimson who’d hurt her. “No one hurts you if I have anything to say about it. I’ve waited a while to do that too. Kinda loved it.” She sways to Ava and adds with a lower, unserious voice.

Ava shakes in quiet enjoyment. “I could tell.”

She goes to say something whimsical, but…she does have a question that’s been in the back of her head. “Can I ask you something?”

Ava drags her thumb. Beatrice’s hand nodding a little. Just a small act Beatrice loves.

“You told me once… You’d be out of my league if you…”

“Bea, you know I didn’t mean that. It was like a decade ago. We’ve kind of kissed now, and we’re… together, so if it wasn’t obvious, I definitely don’t believe that, and I recall telling you you’d outdo Zori in a dress too, so if it's not obvious, I think you're hot.” Ava laughs under her breath.

“Yeah, I know; just an old thing I had in my head.” She shakes it off for good. Loving Ava saying that they’re together.

Chapter Text

At the Melbourne Zoo and at a particular exhibit, Ava was excited to go through first the Australian Bush. (Yes, she made a bush joke, and Beatrice was thrilled to hear it. That’s her, Ava.) Beatrice kneels down to feed a real-life kangaroo along with a group of other zoo-goers.

It’s a nice change of speed. No tennis or thinking about Crimson or anything, really, just her and Ava enjoying a day out.

Just being in the moment, feeding her kangaroo with an open palm and smiling wide, feeling giddy at the small lips slobbering a little to eat the grass pellets provided. To feed these wonderful creatures Ava’s always loved. (Bouncy and sometimes unpredictable, of course; Ava loves them as her favourite animal.) in there enclosure with open grass areas for the kangaroo’s grazing, shelters and climbing structures.

There are, like, maybe 5 or 6 surrounded by the group nearby some rocks and a tree on dusty ground.

“Bea! Look! Look!” Ava excitedly gains Beatrice’s attention.

Beatrice glances away from her roo with a small head and large body with a thick tail and large powerful hind legs, large ears, and a long face, like all of her species have, picking up its pellets from her palm to eat with its forepaws. So flipping sweet. They’re really friendly in this environment, and there so soft too there fur is addictive to touch.

Ava’s roo, she’s affectionately named Kanga, has her little forepaw in Ava's palm, with Ava just as excited as she was when they arrived in this enclosure, happy and totally unburdened from everything. Under her cap and sunglasses. “I’m the kangaroo whisperer.” Ava purses her lips, bobbing, having the time of her life.

Beatrice laughs, her heart thumping at seeing this. Seeing Ava and her just being normal around each other. “A very cute Mrs Roo.”

Ava happily quickly nods with her beaming smile and strokes her roo’s fur. “She’s so soft! Eee! Bea I want one!” Ava squeals and bounces like her bouncy new friend.

“We can sneak them out and bring them home on our flight.” She strains her cheeks smiling too and thinks of a funny line as she enjoys her roo's fur too. Trailing her hand over and around its back as the roo eats out of its paws. “I’m sorry, Avazilla. I might have to change partners after all. My roo is far bouncier than you.”

Ava gives her a little scowl. “I knew it. You were going to replace me.”

She laughs with a huffed breath and shrugs innocently. “I’m sorry, but I want to win slams, not be held back by old partners with failing hips.”

“Uh!” Ava gasps dramatically and clutches her chest with pellets in her other hand being eaten by her Kanga.

“What? It’s true, you are going to have metal in your hip soon, and will you ask me to help you get up after this?” She focuses on her own roo friend feeling cheeky and feeling Ava’s disgruntled eyes on her.

Ava shoves her arm. “That’s mean I can get up no problem.”

Beatrice gives Ava a disbelieving look.

Ava eye rolls, knowing yes, she will need help. “Shut up. Come on, pose with me. I’m taking pics.” Ava gets her phone from her back pocket, and snap. She captures a few dozen selfies of the four of them. They do one, both petting their individual roos and others together, arms around each other's shoulders, petting Kanga. They get more standing together beside the whole enclosure taken by Nico, one of a few Brazilian tourists. He’s here with his friends on holiday.

She and Ava eventually, much to Ava’s heartbreak, move on to another enclosure but not before Ava’s sad farewell. “Don’t forget me, Kanga.” She mock-cried in dramatic agony as she stroked his fur one last time. "I wish I could take him with us, Bea! Why, God!? Why!?"

Beatrice offered her hand afterwards, constantly chuckling at Ava’s ways. But…maybe she’s been a little too optimistic? Or rather too much about the whole thing?

She just walks alongside Ava on the scorching hot terrain, dry in parts and grassy in others, instead of pressuring for the handhold. They see lions and giraffes. Ava loves the visit with the gentle giant animals. An occasional pinky finger brushing with Ava’s is exchanged, and Beatrice sees and starts to properly digest how challenging this will be. She did already.

She knew it could be a long time for Ava to be out, and she wants this in any form, but seeing and experiencing this out in public has made it clear if she needed it to be clearer.

They reach the koala enclosure with the furry teddy bear-like animals thick with woolly coats, brown or grey, and fluffy ears, small beady eyes, and their big leathery noses clinging to eucalyptus trees under some shade. She sees Ava’s curiosity and her radiance. She sees her home, and maybe she’s pushed too fast? To call them girlfriends?

She grips the wooden railing between them both and the enclosure and leans forward, watching Ava out of the corner of her eye, and decides to tone herself back. She was excited about being with Ava. Eager. After everything became open with them both. She loves Ava, and Ava loves her, but this is…more than just that. Ava likes women. Ava loves her, but love and being with her as a girlfriend are different. Ava didn’t expect this. She dreamt, as she told Beatrice, of how it would be if she didn’t have her fears and was open with herself to be with her.

Not like this.

She stares a little vacantly at a koala enjoying eating some eucalyptus leaves on a branch, accepting of that.

“I don’t think we should be together yet.” She says with a heavy heart. “Like in a relationship. I want it, but I don’t think it’s fair of me to force it if it’s not what you want right now. Maybe I got a bit too excited.” She smiles sadly. She doesn’t want Ava to feel sad just because she’s with her. It’s not right to start a relationship like that.

Ava’s silence speaks for itself as she rests her arms on the railing too. As both of them enjoy seeing real-life koalas in person for the first time like this. (They’ve never really explored Australia a whole amount when here previously.)

“I…” Ava exhales heavily—heavy like Ava’s been since the I love yous were shared in the first place. “It really hurts Bea, You’re right; I’m in pain because of it. Not being who I am. Has crushed me a lot. But what would hurt me more than this hip of mine or seeing you marry Zori or someone who treated you how you deserve is seeing you hurt because of the reality of being with me. I don’t want that for you. I didn’t want you to marry Zori because she made you feel small and…” Ava scoffs. “Made you accept being bullied about anything and everything, and I hated Sandra too.”

“So you never really liked her then?” She raises a light brow with a sly grin. Guess there’s been a lot about Ava that she hasn't seen.

“I thought she was nice at first. She made you laugh; she made you happy, but she didn’t treat you right. Didn’t respect you or your career.”

“Love blinded me, I guess. But…” She downcasts her gaze to the dusty ground. “I’m not blind with this.”

Ava touches her hip with hers. “I know you’re not. And neither am I. You just came out of a massive relationship, BumbleBea. Really big, and as much as I really want this too, and I can’t say otherwise, I don’t think it’s right. You should digest what happened more. You said it yourself earlier; it’s a big reality shift. I just don’t think it would be wise to jump into something this tricky and inevitably hurtful to you after you’ve just experienced so much hurt.”

She knows Ava’s right, but it sucks. She wants this so much; she wants to help Ava, and she can, and she will. It’s just… Ava’s not ready. She respects Ava too much; she loves her too much to put this weight on her right now. She won’t stop fighting for this to happen, but when the time isn’t right, it isn’t right.

She brings her saddened view up to Ava’s sad face too. “You’re not ready.”

Ava comes in to wrap her arm around Beatrice’s side, and Beatrice, aching hard, wraps hers around Ava’s shoulder, feeling emotional but also… she wants this to be done right. Not rushed. Unlike Zori, Ava’s thinking of Beatrice first, and she knew that’s what Ava would do.

Ava knew how stubborn she’d be about them being together, and her stubbornness does remain the same about them, but right now a relationship isn’t right for Ava.

She’ll still be stubborn in encouraging and supporting. But it’s a journey to feel ready to be open about yourself, and Ava just isn’t there. She doesn’t want to be in a relationship in secret with her. That’s not what Ava wants. Ava doesn’t want her to be in something that may hurt her.

Beatrice would take the hurt all day and every day. She wants it, but Ava doesn’t, and she can’t be with Ava when Ava’s not comfortable with knowing she’s hurting her in some way. She’d do it to be with Ava, but it’s just not what Ava wants. Ava isn’t Zori; she's thinking of her first protecting her and taking care of her, and Beatrice can’t not appreciate that.

It only reminds Beatrice how special and important it is to get this right.

“I don’t think it’s fair on you, no. I love you, and I know you’ll support me. But I can’t see you hurt because of me.” Ava confirms things, and she looks lighter. She had been since she got to this zoo. She’s been able to get her mind off it, and that also speaks for itself. She’d be carrying a weight of burden, worrying about how every spurned or any affectionate act Beatrice knows she’d want might sting her.

She lays her head against Ava’s, letting this sink in. This isn’t about facing hurdles as a couple; it’s about Ava being ready, and her quiet gloom has been a clear sign she just isn’t.

She smirks, though. “You need your distraction from…”

“No Bea I don’t think we should do that. I want it to be right when we are together. I wanna be with you when we have that moment.”

It should hurt, but it does the opposite. Ava said when. Not if.

“So you…definitely do want this…eventually? Truly?” She asks with hope.

Ava takes a beat. A deafening one.

“Of course I do.”

Beatrice feels such a surge of hope with those words. She wants them, and Ava does too. Just in the way that’s not this one.

“I can’t give you a timeline, Bea. I want to be with you, but I can’t do that. I can’t be yours like this.”

She knows that sadly. She sees it. “How will it work then? Everything goes back to how it was? I don’t think it can ever now. I don’t want it to. This doesn’t mean?” She gulps with worry.

“No. I’m done with all that now. Crimson and Raf may have been…good, but it’s all over now. I’m done. Things are different now. Kissing you… I can’t imagine it with anyone else anymore. I don’t want to. I want us too. Just not like this.” Ava threads her arm through Beatrice’s, and any fear that it won’t happen at all flows away. Almost.

If Ava never feels comfortable to be out then…it won’t happen. Ava doesn’t want it to, in that case.

“Sorry if I pressured you in any way or…made you…feel anxious or anything. That’s the last thing I wanted. I just got excited and enthusiastic, but I see it wasn’t considering what you truly wanted.” She moves off Ava. Just in this strange place of hopefulness and not knowing when Ava will be ready.

Maybe it is right to have some time to digest Zori ending. Sort things that need sorting back home before any relationships. Especially a big one.

“You didn’t. I loved that you were excited and wanted us; that’s never wrong. But this time, unfortunately, I’m the rational one.”

“Okay then.” She closes her eyes, taking in and taking in. She feels worse than she did breaking off her engagement. She does. She was excited about being Ava's. Really excited.

“Hey, Ava? You wanna get close with me?” Nico makes her twitch. She stays where she is, though. She doesn’t look.

“Sorry?” Ava laughs awkwardly.

Nico laughs. “No, I mean the koala’s.”

“Oh, right, um. Bea? You coming?” Ava thinks of her, but she needs a moment.

“No thanks, I’ll watch.” She bows her head, hurting but accepting.

Ava just brushes her hand on her shoulder, apologetic and sad too, and she goes to cuddle a koala. She’ll take pics from here for Ava, but she’s just had the wind taken out of her. It's hard to put on a brave face. She could be stubborn in saying what she wants and be with Ava now, but it would be wrong to be so.

“Nice shirt, by the way.” Nico is going to flirt with Ava; it’s painfully obvious.

“Thanks.” Ava doesn’t invite it, but in public she’d feel at ease doing it. With any guy, she would.

It just… She doesn’t know; maybe there’s a truth in Ava’s never truly wanting this. Despite her words. Love isn’t enough. She could find a man and love him and have no qualms about it. It would be a free thing for Ava. Totally free. She'll guess she'll see how much Ava means what she says over the next period of time.

Chapter Text

So Nico invited Ava and Beatrice to stick with their group around the zoo, and Ava lightened her burden gone from her shoulders completely about being with Beatrice excitedly agreed.

They’ve just gone from exhibit to exhibit, seen penguins and lemurs and zebras and pelicans and meerkats, and the silky-voiced Brazilian Nico has taken…more and more of a shine to Ava.

He’s awkward but funny, at least to Ava, and his muscular figure with his arms and his chest on view in his vest tank top has gained a glance from Ava on occasion.

It seems the feeling of like is mutual despite Ava blowing him off a bit.

It’s only deepened Beatrice’s thoughts—only made Ava’s words that she does truly want them to be together less believable for Beatrice.

They cut off the relationship before it started, and Ava…she’s happier. She looks it. Even more now since the distraction of this trip. She looks happy.

Of course she’s allowed to be happy. Beatrice loves that she’s feeling…better. But watching on as Ava chats away with Nico enthusiastically watching the giant tortoises with their slow movements and big shells move along their large lawn in the reptile exhibit flickers and flickers something painful in Beatrice.

Ava’s allowed to be attracted to Nico. She’s allowed to do anything, really. There’s no commitment here.

No obligation. If Ava just plain finds she can’t ever be out, then it’ll never happen. If she finds she loves her but finds a like for Nico and thinks she’d like to pursue that? Then she can do that too.

It makes seeing Ava with her arms rested on the wood railing of this enclosure with Nico and laughing hurt. Badly.

Beatrice looks away back to the big reptiles that smell a pungent muddy smell that fills her senses, unable to look at the scene.

She couldn’t ask for a commitment from Ava. Not when she wasn’t sure if she’d ever want to be open with herself. She’s kissed Ava now. She’s held her, not as friends, and it’ll never be the same with them now. They can’t go back.

Ava wants them too, but for Beatrice, seeing her be like this. Totally unburdened now from the idea for now of actually being with her makes Beatrice doubt it. She can’t help but doubt it, and if this is the case going forward constantly, it may not go where Beatrice was so excited about before they got here to the zoo today at all.

She decides to not think about it. As hard as it is and how much Ava’s unknowingly hurting her right now, she decides to just put the sadness away as best she can. They keep going on the tour and visit the adorable red pandas they feed some grapes to; they see the Tasmanian devils at the Lion Gorge exhibit.

It doesn’t go away. It just hurts more as Nico invites Ava to a waterfall at Dight Falls after the trip reaches its end at the zoo gift shop.

Beatrice hears the invitation while scanning some of the zoo’s branded merchandise. Shirt after shirt with different animals they’ve seen over an eventually tiring afternoon and glooms.

“They say it’s not advised to swim, though, so, uh, we’ll just be having lunch and admiring the view, I guess.” Nico laughs awkwardly with Ava near some plush stuffed toys stacked high.

The shop is well air-conditioned, and thank god for it; after the heat outside burnt Beatrice to a crisp, it felt like. But she still burns. Just not because of the heat anymore. Jealousy or annoyance at Ava or both. She burns.

“Oh. I’ll have to ask Bea.” Ava thinks of her for the first time since the koala exhibit.

That’s what it feels like. Ava’s been having the time of her life with Nico and his friends.

“Sure thing. Well, here’s my number, and let me know. It’s been so great meeting you…and you, Beatrice.” Nico “kindly” adds in Beatrice. He forgot she existed till now since he started so obviously flirting with Ava.

“Mm, and you.” She hums absentmindedly, skimming over shirts and shirts, not really taking them in.

She's pissed. She’s fucking pissed, and she shouldn’t be… no, she thinks she’s allowed to be. Ava’s gotten very friendly with Nico, and today wasn’t the day for it. They were literally together not that long ago. Ava never wanted it yet. But they were, and it feels like poof, she’s over it now. All over.

Does Ava love her? Truly? Or does she see now that maybe she doesn't? With her secret out in the open with her now. Loving her as an idea and actually being with her wanting that, truly wanting that as a reality, are different things. Maybe Ava’s seeing that.

No. She squeezes her eyes shut for that. Ava loves her. That was just an irrational thought. She’s just not enjoying this day out anymore.

“So yeah, text me if you want, and we’ll come pick you both up tomorrow for the trip!” He raises his voice, clearly taken with Ava and flustered because who wouldn’t be?

“Will do.” Ava clicks her tongue.

“Bye then.” He awkwardly goes to give Ava a hug.

Ava just shakes his hand with a grin and a silly bow of her head as he does. “Bye, Mr Nico.”

Beatrice eye rolls. Mr Nico.

“Miss Silva.” He plays along. Beatrice gets more pissed as he bows dramatically and steps away to the exit.

She vibrates with held-in hurt and anger. It reminds her of the Zori semi-final. Less but still. It feels similar. Not the embarrassment but the unawareness.

And speak of the devil. She’s got a text from Zori just now. She must be back home.

Z – I’ve had time to think on the plane.

Beatrice grips her phone, waiting for the next text. Not knowing what’s next.

Z - Ik I didn’t behave well for, well, any of the trip, Bea. I let you down. I know I did, and I’ll never not be sorry for that.

Z - Mom took over the wedding. I did. It was wrong of me. I did so much wrong, and you did nothing but support me.

Beatrice weakens a little. She knew Zori wasn’t totally like she’d been portraying over the slam just gone. She still loves her. Ava is a chance for something, but that’s just it. It’s just a chance. It may not be anything for Ava ultimately. Love be damned.

Z - I love you, and I don’t want to give up. I want to be better for you. Just give me the chance. We have a home together. We have a life. And I know you love me too still. Tennis, in comparison to you, means utter shit. Please, Bea. Just think about it. Stay safe. I’ll be home when you get back. ❤️

Z – P.S. I haven’t gone crazy, ex, and burnt all your stuff in a fire. If anything, I should be the one to move out. I broke us. I just wanna try to fix the broken trust.

Staring at her phone. Beatrice hurt about Ava. She feels her thoughts are a bit muddled. She can’t think straight. But she does spare a little smile for Zori.

Zori loves her and wants her back; that's never a terrible thing at all. She’s taken everything in and reflected, and she wants to fix things.

“What a nice guy.” Ava sighs contentedly.

Beatrice snaps out of it for this. “Oh yeah, you really liked him; that was clear.” She sharply says in return.

“Bea? What’s wrong? We…”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She turns to Ava, feeling this hurt because of her.

She flaps her arms at her side at Ava’s confused face, her eyes still covered by her sunglasses, her cap removed, her hair all damp from sweat.

“Just that you seemed delighted to flirt with him literally just after we ended things?” She heaves for breath, ragged, and is about to let every ounce of the hurt she’s felt because of Ava out.

Ava tilts her head like she’s utterly unaware of what she’s been doing. “What are you talking about? He’s nice. I meant every word I’ve said to you; I want us; I just need time. I love you.”

She scoffs. “Well, maybe you don’t. Because you’ve looked way too happy about us not happening.”

Ava takes off her glasses so Beatrice can finally see her eyes that know her but didn’t see her today. There’s nothing but confusion in them. “I was just enjoying the day; it’s been hard recently for me – really hard. I needed this.”

“With him you were yes.” She feels a deep lump in her throat being like this. Jealous. But here she is, and she can’t stop. Though maybe she’s miscalculated.

Ava steps to her and tries to take her wrist. Beatrice begrudgingly allows it but looks away, tapping her foot, feeling feelings she didn’t expect to feel today. “I’m…sorry. I didn’t know I was. He’s not interested like that.”

She flicks her eyes back to Ava, not believing. “You certainly liked the view of him, and he likes you.”

Ava looks away, darting her eyes like she’s trying to remember ogling at his chest on multiple occasions.

“Yeah. You know you did.” She takes her wrist back and just wants to get back to the hotel.

Ava’s eyes widen, seeming to remember. “Oh Bea! No, no, he just had this necklace and…”

“Oh, give me a break.” She huffs and folds her arms, not leaving but not believing. He did have a necklace that went down to his chest. But still Beatrice saw Ava’s eyes lingering.

“Bea.” Ava’s soft voice. Her soft fingers on her arms don’t sway the hurt. “I love you. I want you. Only you. No one else, alright? Not Raf or Crimson or anyone. You know why we’re not together. I couldn’t hurt you and…maybe I’ve been feeling a bit better because I’m not anymore. That’s all. Not because I don’t want you. You know I want this. Us.”

Ava’s fingers crawl to Beatrice’s cheek. Tender and delicate. Did Beatrice just see things? Maybe she did. She doesn’t know; she’s just sad about not being with Ava. She wants to be. She knows why she can’t, but it hurts. She knows she needs to be patient and supportive, and she is. She will be, but today wasn’t the day for this, by Ava.

She relents in her stubborn facade with a saddened, lowered gaze. Ava’s fingers turn to a full cupping of her cheek, helping a little. “I know it would be easy for you to be with a guy. If you found the right one. I just… I don’t know, Aves. I don’t know. I think not being together was definitely the right call. I don’t know if you truly want me like I do you. I don’t know.” She moves away from Ava’s hand and doesn’t know if she’s just being too insecure.

She’ll probably look back on this after getting back to the hotel and feel silly, but she doesn’t in the moment.

“Of course I do. Have you forgotten the last few days or something?” Ava laughs, baffled, it seems.

She shrugs forlornly. “Forget I said anything. I’m just silly, I guess.”

“I said I wasn’t going to be with anyone else…”

“You said Rafael and Crimson. But if you find the right guy, you’ll go for it. It…would make sense for you.” She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose, struggling. “But yeah. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip. That’s what I wanted today. For you to be happy.” She turns to the shop's exit.

“But…we have to… I wanted to get you a stuffed Roo. And a shirt? I wanted to…” Ava stammers. It cuts Beatrice. She’s made Ava hurt. She shouldn't have; maybe she was just wrong in all she said.

She turns back and sees the hurt in Ava’s eyes and continues shopping, but what she’s feeling doesn’t go away.

Chapter Text

After getting back to the hotel, Ava is still a little thrown about what she did wrong. With Nico, at least she is. She knew she hurt Bea with the cutting off of things for Bea’s sake, and she hated that she did. But it was the best thing to do. It needed to be done to stop Bea from experiencing more prolonged pain and having a big, utter hope that may not come to fruition.

She’s still ended up hurting Bea and that’s the whole point of not being with Bea. She’s not thinking of herself first, and that’s all Ava has wanted beyond her own needs. If Bea was happy with Zori and respected her, and Bea was making sure she was taking care of herself in the relationship, not just Zori, it would’ve crushed Ava to see her slip away, but she’d be happy for Bea. She’d lose her best friend, but she’d have been happy for Bea.

But Bea still isn’t. She still isn’t thinking of herself first. Reflecting and taking time to come to terms with her engagement ending was the right thing. She can’t head into a relationship straight after that. Especially one where she’ll need to sacrifice things she shouldn’t again.

Bea agreed she needed time herself, but Ava’s not sure she believes it herself.

Ava, weary-legged and exhausted after having a day she started down about because Bea was willing to sacrifice her wants to be in a secret relationship with her, sits on her hotel room bed with a sigh and feels upset about this. She’s just trying to do the right thing for Bea.

Nico was nothing. It was nothing. He was just a nice person she enjoyed for the day and after, and still, with all the pain she’s been in, both physically and mentally, she enjoyed just a breath of fresh air from it all.

Bea kept to herself after things were ended. Ava just wanted to give Bea space after, and it seems that wasn’t right of her.

Bea closes the hotel room door and slides her hand over her messy hair and her face as she turns around. Ava sees Bea not believing she loves her. Not believing that she wants them, and that’s the furthest thing from the truth. She just wants to protect Bea. That’s what they do for each other. They look out for each other, and this wasn’t right for Bea.

“Bea, we need to talk.” She decides she wants to make this so clear that Bea has it inserted into her big beautiful brain.

“Okay.” Bea flaps her lips, exhausted too, as she steps to and sits on the edge of the bed beside her, and the one who’s down instead now, and Ava hates that she’s caused it.

“Hand, please.” She opens her palm for Bea stubborn and wanting to get this right. She loves Bea and she won’t love anyone else. She’s not interested in anyone other than Bea. Crimson and Rafael were for a distraction, but she doesn’t need a distraction; she has Bea. No more pain about seeing Bea with Zori, someone not right for her. No more about losing the time she has with Bea. She loves her, and she wants this.

Bea smiles a forced smile, still clearly hurting about Nico. She takes Ava’s hand, and Ava wraps the precious hand with the other one too and places it on her lap. She inches as close as she can be.

She takes a breath and admires there hands together like this. It’s what she wants. “Listen. I honestly didn’t know what I was doing with Nico...” Maybe she did take a peek at his chest on occasion, but the guy was ripped; it was like he was some glistening bodybuilder. She’s human; she did feel attraction, but attraction to a random guy she just met is nothing compared to this with Bea.

Her heart belongs to Bea. She has to know that.

“He wasn’t unattractive, and I won’t deny I, on occasion, looked, but only because I’m human, and yeah, did you see the guy?” She laughs but doesn’t get a reply. She knows to drop saying that. That was totally a foot-in-mouth type moment. “Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. But I truly was looking at his necklace. It was like my grandma's necklace, didn't you see?” She raises her eyes, and Bea clearly doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

“Didn’t you know...” she thinks and remembers no Bea never did meet her grandma; she's so used to Bea knowing everything about her that she forgot something she doesn't. She brings Bea’s hand up to kiss. “It had a falcon pendant, and my gran always wore one similar. I wasn’t checking him out like every five seconds, I promise. It just brought back a lot of memories from when I was really young.”

“But I...”

“Can I finish, please? I need to say this.” She asks, and Bea stays quiet.

She needs to get this out in the open. Make herself abundantly clear if she hasn’t already.

“I’m sorry. It was poorly timed for me to be like that; it was our day, and I should’ve spent it with you. I just felt really, I don’t know, free from knowing you’d be hurting because of me. You wanted us, and I do, but knowing you’d get hurt because of me isn’t something I wanted. You shouldn't have to hide yourself. You’re…beautiful and brave, and it’s not fair of me to ask that of you.”

She feels annoyed with herself for saying that about Nico. Stupid of her; it just slipped out, fuck. But she keeps going and glides her fingertips over the back of Bea’s hand, hoping Bea wasn’t stung by that. She sees she’s made a mistake with Nico. It was unaware of Bea and she should’ve spent the day with Bea like they planned. She was stupid and just thinking about how relieved she was to not be hurting Bea.

“I don’t want you thinking I don’t want us. It’s all I want; it’s just I got swept up in how relieved I was and wasn’t thinking, and that was wrong of me. I hurt you; I see that now. I can only say I’m sorry for how I was. The whole reason I’m not with you is to protect you, and I ended up hurting you anyway, and I’m sorry. I cut myself off from dating or anything since Crimson and Raf because of you. I have no intention of being with anyone else. If you need that commitment from me, I’ll give it gladly. I want this. I do. I love you and the kisses. Bea… They felt more than anything I’ve felt before; they were the only kisses I think I’ve had that mattered to me, really. Truly mattered. I want more. I want to be your girlfriend, just not at the cost of you not taking your time after Zori and definitely not knowing that you’re not putting yourself first again after that relationship.”

She huffs and thinks she said that well or hoped she did. She’s never had a serious relationship, really, if she’s honest. She’s never had something heading into it that she knew it could be a lasting thing, and this is with her best friend. It’s different, and adding in the hiding-who-she-is part, it needs to be done right.

“Maybe I overreacted. You’re allowed to like a guy or be attracted to someone.” Bea again makes her feelings small, and fuck no, it’s not what Ava wants.

She looks up again, seeing Bea still not convinced after today, and in hindsight now Ava can’t blame her. “Bea no. You were right to be upset, and I was wrong. This is what I’m talking about; you’re still minimising yourself, and you shouldn’t. You have the right to be upset about Nico and…” She flickers, needing to do something, anything, to affirm to Bea that she truly wants this.

She starts to comb Bea’s hair back with her hand over and over above her head. Angry at herself for today even more and frustrated that she can’t just be with Bea. Really frustrated, as Bea looks as down as she’s seen her be. Not taking her words in. Or maybe taking the wrong ones in.

“Do you want me to commit to you? I will. I can’t be with you right now for both our sakes, but I can do that. I want to. Just say the word, and that’s that – I’m yours and only yours, just without the being together bit.” She places a lingering kiss on Bea’s forehead, desperately trying to show Bea she means what she’s said.

“No, Aves. You shouldn’t commit to anything when you aren’t sure you’ll ever be able to be out for me. I can’t ask that of you. You say you’re sure, but I can’t be sure of that myself because… you said it yourself. You preferred Rafael. Do you even know your own mind on who you are, really, yet? Was Crimson just a thing you enjoyed, and the idea of loving me just sprouted from that? Because we’re so important to each other, and I was with Zori and unhappy, according to you? I don’t know. I can’t know. You’re right; I have to think of myself, and maybe even if I wanted us to be together in the way we were before today, I don’t think it would’ve been right for me at all. I’m here for you, but until you figure out who you are and what you truly want, I don’t want any commitment.”

Beatrice speaks and speaks, and Ava wilts and wilts. She doesn’t know how to respond to that. That’s not true. She knows she’s bi; she’s been suffering because of how she’s been hiding it and hiding it from Bea. Crimson had a hold on her far more than Rafael.

She goes to deny.

“I need a shower.” Bea glumly gets up and grabs her phone off the bed before she goes. Leaving Ava not knowing what to do or say to show Bea she wants this after everything she just said to her already.

—

In a hoodie that covers her face and smarting from Beatrice’s beating, Crimson is with Rafael at her hotel bar. She now knows what Dora felt like because, damn, that bitch Beatrice knows what she’s doing in a fight.

She flicks her tequila glass with her rings in dull pain. Her face took a beating. First Ava with her headbutt and then Beatrice.

She had everything she wanted. She had Ava, and she knew she could’ve convinced Ava to forgive Rafael. But she was too rough too soon. If she hadn’t, Ava’s protector would not have approached. Stupid. She was stupid.

“So, uh, what now?”

“I don’t know.” She sneers at her glass through gritted teeth and soreness at Rafael’s question.

“You know I’m not interested in us getting back together, right? I want us 3 together or nothing.”

She turns to see her ex-husband, as strapping as ever in a tight-fitting shirt, drinking down a shot with a grimace, looking nonplussed with a glaze in his eyes. She’s forgotten why she married him, really. He’s a player; he likes pussy more than he thinks with his brain. She can’t remember the feeling she felt with him when they were in love.

She knows they were. She just can’t imagine the feeling of swooning over him. It’s the sex; it’s the three of him. Ava and her together is what she loves. She wants her Ava back. She needs them all back and enjoying each other once more.

This is just a setback that can be remedied. She needs to. She has to get Ava back. Ava and Rafael are hers. The sex was too good. That kiss with Ava was incredible. It was fiery and hot, and she needs more.

She blinks at Rafael and grins. He goes red. That’s all it takes with him. She grins, and he falls in line like a good boy.

“Don’t do that.” He, like a little sheep, writhes his neck and focuses his attention on another shot glass. “You know I did like Dora. I hate that I hurt her, but it’s just us 3. I’ve missed it. You look awful, by the way. Think it’s best we back off. Looks like Beatrice is going to pursue Ava now, and there’s no competing with that.”

She scans him wanton for what he can do rather than anything else. She taps her rings back on her glass, thinking.

“Have I ever been one to back off?” She gives his leg a little kick, poking him.

He moves his fingers behind his ear to move his long hair, sharing a knowing look with her. “You backed off since you broke Ava’s nose and framed her and me for cheating.” He says with bite.

She acknowledges with a hum and swivels on her stool back to stare at her drink. “I made her pay for breaking us all up.”

“Will you again? How are you going to do that this time? Tell everyone she’s bi out of spite.” He laughs without humour.

She could do that. If she can’t be with Ava in the way she wants, she could land a blow Ava doesn’t want her to blow.

She bites her cheek at the notion. Hurt Ava again.

It would definitely be the final nail in the coffin for the three of them, and that’s not what Crimson wants.

“No, I want her back. This…thing with Beatrice will be hidden, no doubt. Ava accepted the affair lie to keep it secret, and that won’t change. If I out her, it would only help her with Beatrice. We need her closed off. Isolated.”

“And you need to learn to not be so fucking aggressive so fast. She's in pain, you idiot. What were you thinking?” He scolds her, and she knows he’s right. To her hatred. “If you were gentler with her, if you were always gentler, we’d probably never have lost her.”

She darts her eyes at him coldly.

He doesn’t give her a glance back as he drinks from his glass. “You were the one in charge, and we followed, but there’s a difference between having incredible sex and what you started doing. When I and Ava were together, she did nothing but love it. You were too much, Crim.”

“You didn’t sound so against my ways at the time. You loved it. You’ve always loved it.” She sharply denies it.

“All I’m saying is if you do get her back and you want to keep it going, you can’t be so rough again. She’s literally limping right now, and you hit her there? She likes it with us, but tone it back, and we can keep her. Or…” he smirks to himself.

“Or what?” She winces at her face throbbing. It just feels like one big throb and ache at the moment.

“Maybe I’ll try and get Ava back to be just with me. You know what? Fuck you, I don’t…”

She grips his arm, digging her nails into his wrist. He hisses, feeling it. “You’ll do as you’re told. Sit back down.”

He looks like he’s about to defy her. She sees her control over him slip. “No Crim.” He yanks his wrist away, and she sees it go. She sees Ava go with it. Ava always wants Rafael. He made a mistake, but she’d want him. Not just her after how she was with Ava.

He walks off, and she’s left with only one thing to do. Ava won’t be leaving this unscathed like she didn’t last time. She won’t. Who cares if it helps Beatrice? She’s taking away Ava’s freedom of choosing to not come out, like Ava took away what Crimson loved.

Chapter Text

Flat on her back, staring at her hotel room ceiling. Crimson dithers at her next action. No, Rafael, and there’s no chance with Ava at all. None at all. But Ava did look apologetic after the headbutt. She could get through to Ava potentially still.

If she tries. She could. Ava is weak. Crimson craves the woman, but she is. She’s a weak thing and malleable to her. It’s how she got Ava to be a part of the threesome with her and Rafael and apart from him and him with Ava. She just needs to try again. At least try? She could.

She closes her eyes under the covers of this bed, remembering all the times with her Ava and Rafael. So hot. So steamy. So electric and rabid and rough. She’d tell Ava to suck Rafael’s scrotum, and she’d go wild for it. She loved taking commands. She loved to please her. She was such a good girl. She’d suck so hard Raf would go. “Jesus fuck, Ava, wow.” With a gasp or a lustful laugh.

She grins at that. Ava had a way about her. She was incredible at anything she did. The first time she sucked Crimson’s clit, she was amazing. Hungry. Needy and slick, like she’d never been straight.

She laughed down at Ava, pinching her nipples at the time, dark and struggling not to cum hard the first time they were together as she fisted Ava’s hair in her grip. “If you’re straight, honey, then Raf’s dick is the smallest fucking dick I’ve ever seen.”

Rafael laughed on his side, watching them both. “To be fair, you are hot, Crim. Can you blame her for turning gay because of you?”

She turned her head on her pillow, feeling so good and so much pleasure about to squirt into Ava’s lips and shaking to do so, but she gave him the side eye. “She’s bi, dumbass.”

He, with a hand on his ruffled hair and his cheeks red from fucking Ava back to the next century, shrugged. He was stroking himself. Still so hard that his hardness throbbed in his grip as he watched with relish. “Right, sorry, my mind's a little poof.” He made an explosion noise and a gesture with his hand beside his head to emphasise his point. “Ava babe, you’re amazing. Please say we’ll have more of this.”

He really was and is a bit brainless. He even called Ava a Latina when she was sucking his cock, and it made Crimson facepalm when she watched them. Ava was too into it to care. She was just all focused on following the command of sucking him and hard till she reached his scrotum with her lips.

“She’s not Latina, nitwit.” She shook her head as Ava looked so fucking hot in front of her. Her ass and curved back and the back of her legs were on view for Crimson to rub her fingers over her clit and be turned on by to ridiculous degrees at seeing. Ava wanted Rafael badly, but she wanted Crimson more. She did everything to please her like that.

He started thrusting his strong bare hips so his cock went into Ava’s mouth. Fuck, it was dirty and exhilarating to see. Like some sort of porn take. But he gave her a confused look. “Huh?”

The marriage really was in the shit before Ava. The barbs like that were often, but to be fair, Rafael was frustrating as fuck to listen to when he spoke words of any kind. He’s good at tennis and fucking – that’s it. Everything else he’s useless at. He still struggles, probably, to use a TV remote. All those pesky buttons to navigate.

She stopped her fingers rubbing in circles over her clit and despaired. “Come on, Raf.”

He scratched his hair, embarrassed, and focused back on Ava and stroked her cheek with a softness, however brief, he’d never shown Crimson. “You like that, babe? I love how you do this; you’re so good. I’ve wanted this so badly. I’ve wanted you.”

Ava, with her fingers gripping his shaft and mouth filled with him, nodded with her eyes utterly black and dazed at him and her and all of what they were so early. “Uh huh.” Ava could only communicate with his hardness in her mouth being thrust into her and making her gag on occasion.

She slid her lips along him until she reached his tip. Her eyes were all on him, and when her lips came off him, her lips soaked in him, she grinned with want.

She was never anything to him or her, really, in terms of speaking. She just followed. Took orders and had the time of her life being with them. She grew to be especially kind with Raf, unlike Crimson. Never correcting him after they had more and more times together on basic things he should’ve known. She didn’t make him feel small or stupid. She just enjoyed him, and she loved the dominance Crimson had over her.

When Crimson wanted to do new things. Ava would obey. Anything Crimson wanted, and Ava would obey with red cheeks, like she did when Crimson asked Ava to fuck Rafael in front of her for the first time.

Crimson’s tennis suffered, but her sex life roared into something she’d never known, and it was because of Ava. She used a strap on Ava, and Rafael would go into her too. Ava loved it.

She loved being treated like their toy. At last year's Wimbledon. Crimson, just with Ava and no Rafael, held Ava’s hair tight in her fist and spanked her so hard that Ava yelped and jerked in pain, but she didn’t say stop. She loved it. Later she’d smack Ava’s cheek as Ava came to kiss her in a fit of lust. Ava was shocked at first, but she didn’t care after she took it in. It just drove her to be more turned on. Crimson did it again and again until Ava's cheeks went beet red from soreness.

But…maybe she did do it too often. Maybe she should’ve done it in healthier doses. Maybe Rafael is right. If she had been less brutal, she might have never lost Ava.

She opens her eyes and looks under the covers at her own wetness. Fuck, she’s soaked. She craves Ava badly, and the bitch took it away.

She grabs her phone to text Ava and make a first step, but she sees her number has been blocked. “Fuck!!” She smashes her fist down on the bed.

She covers her face, shaking, needing Ava. But she can’t have Ava. She can’t. “Fucking bitch. I had her. I had her back. Fuck her. Fuck Rafael. Fuck them both.”

She brings her phone up to her face and thinks of the how of outing Ava. She has a few options. She doesn't think for long as she starts to call a friend she gave the scoop to on “Ava’s affair with Rafael.” She’ll give her another scoop, and fuck, this one’s good.

"Uh, hello? It's a bit late, Crimson?" Megan groggily answers. She works at a well-known tabloid as a reporter, and she loves getting juicy stories like this.

With her phone to her ear and a crushed feeling at no more Ava and Rafael, she sets up an interview. She’ll twist the truth a little; she won’t say Ava never cheated; she’ll just utterly expose what a desperate submissive she is. She’ll out Ava in a way Ava would never want.

—

After getting a constant earful from Lilith about this, Dora ascends Ava’s hotel back in the same elevator Beatrice knocked her down in. She won the slam; she’s happy, and Lilith is, but Lilith threatened her eventually with ending their partnership if she didn’t go see Ava and apologise. So she’s here and on her way to do just that.

She knows after reflection she threw her anger at the wrong person. Don’t get her wrong; she gave Rafael a well-deserved tirade, but she went for Ava and wouldn’t hear her. She punched her, and Ava was tricked too. She didn’t know Rafael had promised he’d be with no one else. She obviously likes his…skills still, perhaps, and thought he was available for it.

He wasn’t. He just never said he wasn’t, and he led Dora on. Ava didn’t do anything wrong. Rafael did. And this is the right thing to do against Dora’s own pride.

She moves up onto the tips of her feet in an Adidas shirt and bottoms, just wanting this to be quick so she can go to bed before the flight back to the US tomorrow. Her face still feels a little puffy from Beatrice’s fists. She played on, but she saw stars after that beatdown. She’ll not mess with anything Beatrice cares about again, that’s for sure.

The speed of the hit Beatrice gave was blisteringly quick. But she probably… no, she deserved it. She hurt an innocent person on this occasion with Rafael, as she did cheat with him after all.

The elevator door dings open, and Dora steps through to the brightly lit corridor to head straight to Ava’s door. Room 303. Third door on her left. She’s not great at apologies, but here she goes. She knocks and waits.

“Ava? It’s Dora; can we talk for a moment? I come in peace, I promise.” She lightly waves the white flag of no threat here.

The door is opened straight after, and the first thing Dora thinks as she sees Ava in some cute pyjamas with a kangaroo on the white long top to her knees all ready for bed is, ‘She looks down. Really down.’ It only intensifies Dora’s regret. Her wounded pride in having to apologise and admit she was wrong for what she did goes quickly.

“Uh… Hi Ava, you alright?”

Ava pushes her fingers over her forehead and her down hair, sighing. Not a mark on her from the punch Dora gave her. “What do you want? I’m really not in the mood for anything from you unless it’s an apology. You’re lucky I didn’t get authorities involved after what you did.”

Dora lowers her gaze guiltily. She deserves the scorn. “Why didn’t you?”

“Because you were angry and blind with hurt about Rafael, and the punches from Bea were enough punishment in my eyes.” Ava tells her tiredly.

She won’t take up much of Ava’s time. Dora knows Ava’s struggling with her injury.

She looks at Ava, at her tired eyes, sad and drained from the day, to say this. “I am here to apologise. I shouldn’t have attacked you. I just felt really stung by Rafael, and I thought you cheated with him again. He was the one who cheated, not you. You told me, but I was too busy seeing red to listen, and I’m sorry. You’ve always been nothing but kind to me, and I’m sorry I let your reputation dictate how I acted. It was wrong.”

Ava grips the door and nods, clearly just wanting to not talk. “It’s fine; you’re forgiven. Now I want to try to get some sleep.”

The response is what Dora expected. She plays with her fingers and hums understanding. “Right. Of course.” She goes to go but stops with concern. “Are you alright, truly?”

Ava pinches her earlobe and turns back into her room. Dora follows Ava’s look and sees Beatrice outside on the balcony in a dress robe on the phone with someone and laughing.

“She seems happy?” She notices. Strange considering her engagement is off. Though who could blame her for ending that? Watching Zori lambast Beatrice on centre court on live TV made Dora squirm. It must’ve been really embarrassing and hard to get through that sort of thing for Beatrice. If it was Dora, she would’ve left Zori’s box. But Beatrice was stubborn and took the abuse she got from her fiancée.

“I don’t know who she’s talking to. She's had multiple calls since we got back from our trip today. She’s barely talking to me right now, no matter what I say. I acted…poorly. I just… I wasn’t thinking. I hurt her, and I don’t know what to do to make it right. I said I’m sorry; I told her it didn’t mean anything, but she doubts me now. She’s here with me, but she seems a million miles away.” Ava talks more to herself than to Dora.

“Well, um…” she pinches her lips together, thinking of some advice with the limited information she’s got. “I don’t know what happened, but maybe give her space?”

“I worry that’s what she wants. It feels like… I’m losing her. I…she’s just… I only wanna protect her, but I’ve just hurt her. What can I do when everything I say doesn’t seem to be the right thing?” Ava visibly slumps. “Goodnight, Dora. Congrats on the slam.”

“Oh, uh, thanks. Goodnight.” She thanks Ava, unsure of what to say next, and the door is shut on her. She had no idea of what to say just then, but she said sorry; she did what she came to do. Lilith hopefully will keep on with her now, and whatever’s happening with Ava and Beatrice, she hopes they figure it out.

Chapter Text

Snoring in a blissful slumber, dreaming about tennis and getting back to Athens to see Talos, a bruised Mario smiles in his sleep. He’s covered by his duvet, and on the right, of course, as Talos always sleeps on the left. He…a knock on his hotel room door ends his bliss.

He opens an eye and sees it’s still nighttime. His whole room is covered in darkness. Nothing but the quiet spin of the ceiling fan above.

He grumbles. “Urgh. What sort of time is this?”

He rolls out of bed groggy and annoyed. He was dreaming, and happily so, and his dreams are usually things that aren’t overly happy. Especially after learning of Ava’s struggles to be out. His father and mother weren’t the most accepting of people. Pfft, scratch that; they hated him for being gay. They don’t even talk to him anymore because of it, so he knows full well how bigoted people can be, even those you love and are close to. So the struggle for Ava of coming out is totally understandable in its fear for her. But love? It can conquer fear; it can conquer so much because it’s so worth it if you let it be what drives rather than that fear.

He wipes his unhurt eye with the back of his hand from sleep and goes to answer his door now with that thought in his head rather than Talos, and oh, of course, his eye still throbs, and he can’t open it entirely, so waking up to that at the moment isn’t nice either. Rise and shine, but here’s a wake-up throb to greet you. He hopes Rafael’s face is smarting from the elbow he gave him. If there’s justice, he’ll be in some sort of discomfort too.

The threat of his wasn’t ever going to stop him with Ava, and whatever form of feelings he thought he and Ava had were bullshit. It’s over with him and with Crimson.

He flaps his lips long and loudly, wishing he was still in his dream of Talos’s smile, his skill in the kitchen that always brings so many glorious smells in the morning back home in their little piece of paradise, wearing just his boxers, and grabs a dress robe hanging from the cupboard next to his bed.

He gets himself covered and secures the soft cotton belt around his waist, and oh, there’s another impatient knock. “Yeah, yeah.” He mutters and lets the tied belt drop.

He steps and steps over the marble flooring toward the narrow path to the door and grabs the handle to open it. He’s too fresh from sleep to think about who it could be. He just opens the door.

He finds an instantly saddening sight as he sees it's Ava. She’s in a long pyjama shirt and creased bottoms, not even looking up. Just crying into her hand, sniffling.

His face contorts to one of deep hurt on her behalf. Sadness and understanding. “Ava? I…oh.” He’s hugged before he can finish, and he can only melt into the hug, knowing Ava, whatever’s happened, needs this. Especially at this time if she’s coming to him now.

He thought Ava would be a bit happier now after the burden of hiding herself from Beatrice was gone. Clearly not.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” His voice wanes; his heart does too a little as he feels Ava shake in his arms and cry quietly into his chest.

“I made a stupid mistake, and she’s punishing me for it. She won’t even talk to me anymore other than being stupidly polite.” Ava scoffs. “I feel so frozen out, and we’re sleeping in the same bed. And… and she’s talking to Zori. She said she loved me.” Ava labours for breath as she emotes distress, and he listens. “She gave me a fucking day, not even that, before she gave up on me. I wish she never found out. Fuck her. If she goes back to her, I’m done. I won’t watch it happen. I won’t. One minute she loves me and wants to be patient for me; the next she’s doubting if I even know my own fucking sexuality. I’ve never felt so… dismissed like that by her. I know my own mind. I know who I am.”

He slowly cottons on to Ava’s situation, but he really feels a gladness and pride that she’s being open with herself like this with him. It’s late, and he’s foggy in his thoughts, but Ava is doing this. Not just talking about herself with Beatrice, like Beatrice told him she has been, is such a big thing. Really big. This is a step. However small it is, it's a step.

He stays in the hug to comfort. “Sorry, I might need a little bit more context here before I give my world-famous advice.” He chuckles, and she laughs tearfully.

“Sorry, yeah, can we talk? I know it’s late or early, but I feel so claustrophobic in that room with her right now, and I’ve never felt like that before with her. It’s so strange.” Ava moves away and dabs her eyes with the back of her hand.

He smiles softly. “Sure. Come on in and tell Father Mario all about it.” He makes a bad joke to help Ava smile.

She hitches her breath as she laughs and nods hurriedly. “What does that make me? A sinner coming to a confession?” She steps on in.

He hums as he steps aside. “I’ll have to get the whole story before I decide that, Sister Silva.”

“Sister Silva.” She repeats with a little amused tut as he closes the door.

“Right, umm… balcony. Let’s talk outside.” He offers, and she hums in agreement and heads to the window door to the outside. “Want some water? or some terrible hotel room coffee I can make?”

Ava clears her eyes of tears, sniffling into the bottom of her shirt while walking. “No, thank you. I really just need to talk with someone – anyone not Beatrice – right now.”

“Right.” He scratches the back of his neck and follows Ava outside, closing the door behind him before accompanying Ava by moving his chair beside hers.

When they talk, usually it’s like this, on or off the tennis court, and he knows Ava will feel more at ease to open up without having to sit opposite him across the round table outside.

He snorts at the round table, though. “We’re sat next to a round table, so who am I? Merlin? Lancelot? Or Arthur?” He hopes for a laugh; he just gets a cringe and a despairing groan from Ava as she lets her head fall back against the white wall behind her.

“Marioooooo, now isn’t the time for jokes. Especially bad ones.” She whines and covers her face before flopping against his shoulder. “I’m a coward. I know I am. I’m a coward, but Beatrice…she’s being the same too. She’s giving up on me, or she’s given up. I offered to be committed to her and…” She sighs. “Right, sorry, I better fill in the blanks. I know Bea and you spoke about me, and you know I didn’t cheat.”

“Yeah. I'm proud of you, though, for coming out to me, like, fully.” He bites his upper lip a little guilty for knowing so much when Ava wanted it all secret. But he knows. He was going to confront Crimson with Beatrice before the beatdown Crimson so richly deserved came from Beatrice the other night.

Things obviously haven’t gone totally smoothly since for Ava and Beatrice.

Ava doesn’t respond to the words of pride, but she goes ahead and fills in the blanks of what he didn’t know. Everything with Crimson and Rafael. The…intimate details he definitely didn’t know of how Ava got attracted into the threesome and separate relationships with Rafael and Crimson both. The utter bare truth of how Crimson was with Ava as her sexual awakening, or rather, as Ava puts it, the awakening of what was already there. Or how Ava had never felt such lust before.

Then she tells him all about the last few days since Beatrice got her away from Crimson. The kisses they shared, the I love you's, the reluctance on her part to be with Beatrice when she’d cause her pain being in a hidden relationship, and how Beatrice encouraged her to come out in her own time but encouraged all of it – Ava tells him.

He has to take it all in for a moment after she’s finished and rests her voice. He slides his hand over his mouth, digesting it all as Ava just sits back and sighs to the sky.

“I might need about 3 weeks to digest all this.” He laughs. She groans.

“I never wanted this. Well, I did. But I didn’t want to be put in a position like this. I’m not ready for it, if I’m honest. I wanted it so fucking much, but not like this. I wanted her to be happy, and she was, and then she just started getting bullied and controlled by Zori and her mom, and it got worse. I needed tennis to distract me. I still had her with tennis, but that went, and I needed anything to distract me from her and how uncomfortable I was and still am. I needed something, and those two always made me feel good, however rough it was. I...I just didn’t think it was right for her or for me, and she agreed, but then I just… I felt so free of causing her pain that I forgot about everything. I forgot about her feelings and just focused on how I was feeling. I just had a day free of it. But I hurt her, and I have no idea how to fix it. Everything I say just feels wrong. I hate it so much. She’s shut down totally on me for it; I know she can block people out when she’s hurt. She did it when her parents divorced, and now it feels like back then but with me instead.” She bemoans tiredly and flops again against his shoulder.

He rubs his chin with the back of his knuckles, trying to get his head around it all. “It sounds like one big clusterfuck of not communicating.”

“We were, though. We were talking just maybe… Not in the right way, fuck, I don’t know. If I didn’t… I don’t know… glance at Nico’s pecks a few times or leave Bea alone when I thought she wanted that. We would’ve been fine. Now she’s talking with Zori and texting her too. She... I just... fuck, I don’t. I love her, but she thinks I’m not even bi after all, and she’s the bloody one who figured it out!” Ava shouts to the night air and buries her face in her lap.

This is just… He needs more time; like, seriously, he needs time to write down his thoughts because, pfft, taking all this in is definitely not possible this early, but he’ll try. He spares a grin at the impact Beatrice has had or just living in England for so long has done to the way Ava speaks. Bloody indeed.

“Can I ask you something?”

She, red-faced and in a place of hurt and struggle, looks back at him, listening.

“What does she want, or rather, what did she want? What do you want? What would make you and the version of her before this happened happy? Not what you think she needs or thinks she should do, but what do you want and what does she want? Just strip it back to that and go from there.” He asks plain and simple to get to the heart of it. “And tell me about Nico; he sounds hot.” He adds for humour with an eyebrow wiggle.

He loves Talos, but objectively, obviously, others can be hot and attractive to his gaze, and the same can be true of Ava and Beatrice. It's just shite timing on Ava’s part to be caught checking this Nico out, however fleeting.

Ava moves to sit upright, eye rolling. “He was built like freakin John Cena or Hercules or something, for crying out loud. I mean, I’m human; I have eyes, but it didn’t mean anything. He was hot. I liked the look of him physically, but that was it.” She laughs a short laugh, but it’s more of an exasperation scoff. Then plays with her fingers timidly. “And… She wanted to be with me even in secret, even straight after Zori; she wanted that.”

“And you?” He tilts his head, asking gently.

“I just don’t want her to be with me when it could hurt her. I wanted her to have time to digest leaving Zori and not jump into something with me that could hurt her. But I’ve just hurt her anyway now, so yeah, I’ve fucked up; I put my foot in my mouth, and my eyes might as well have eye-fucked the guy, according to her, when it wasn’t like that.” She sits back again, having the answers but just in her own head to see them.

He puts an arm around her and tries to help her get out from the fog of it all. “No. What do you want? Ignore the fear of being out or the fear of Bea getting hurt. What do you want? What do you want right now most of all? Selfishly. Ignore everything else. What do you want?”

Ava bows her head, ready to say her desire. Her simple desire. Away from the thoughts and worries. Her desire. “I'm in love with her. She’s my best friend. I’m her Avacado and she’s my BumbleBea. We rely on each other, and I want to be more. I want her. To be with her. I know I’m not ready, and I didn’t plan for this, but…selfishly I want her to be my girlfriend now. I want it more than anything. More than tennis or anything. I want her to be with me.” Ava squeezes her eyes shut emotionally, and there’s the answer.

“There you go then.” He pats her arm encouragingly. “Everything else will sort itself out, but just be with Beatrice. Don’t overthink it for now. Just offer her that and show her how serious you are. Don't leave her any room for the imagination. Just say you, Ava, want her, Beatrice, and you want to be with her even in secret. If she wants that too still, of course.” He grins with a little devilishness. “Plus, you know, being in a secret relationship is kind of hot, right?”

Ava covers her face, despairing at seeing that fun fact now when maybe she didn’t before. “But she gave up on me, Mario. She said she wanted to face the hurdles with me and be patient, and she gave up after one bump in the road. I need time, and she…does. I said I was sorry; I offered commitment, and I know she wouldn’t see that as worth anything anymore when she thinks Crimson was an experiment and me loving her is something that just came because of that and the history we have and because things have always been easy with her, and she knows me so well and I already loved her just as a friend, but it’s not true; it’s not. She jumped to conclusions after she saw me with Rafael and cut me off, and now this. How can it work anyway if she cuts me out every time we argue or she gets upset? And yes, I know I kept Rafael and Crimson secret from her, but still.”

He can’t tell her she’s wrong. It’s not great on Beatrice’s part or Ava’s, but shutting Ava out every time things get hard isn’t a great sign.

He mulls on it and gives Ava a reassuring squeeze. “Okay. Maybe find out what she’s doing with Zori first. Because if she loves her and folds this easily for her, it might be…best to let her make that mistake. If she can give up this easily, then maybe that’s what you should do.” He finds it hard to say, but if Beatrice wants Zori over fighting past the first setback and over going for it with Ava, over the long term, having faith in her, then she doesn’t love Ava enough. She loves Zori.

“I won’t watch it happen. I won’t. If she chooses her, then she’s broken us. I hate it, but I can’t watch her do it.” Ava sounds certain and firm on that. “She crushed Bea and she’s going back to her? Despite telling me she’s loved me since we were kids? No, I won’t be able to take that.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.” He turns to her and implores tenderly. “You’ll never be broken. Friends like you who have been like the two of you have been can survive anything.”

She looks away with folded arms, stubborn. “I don’t know. I don’t think I can ask her to even be with me in secret now after this. She’s been my safe space, my routine, and the person I can always rely on for all my life, basically. I’ve always been comfortable with her, but now I’m not. I hurt her, I know that, but this is all new for me – not just being with a woman but wanting a relationship like this. And it just feels like she’s just disregarded that and me for Zori again.”

“Actually no… Tell her what you’ve told me. Screw watching it happen; ignore what I said. Talk with her – really talk with her.” He changes his mind. Beatrice making a poor decision on Zori is reactionary about Ava, about feeling like Ava rejected her and was never truly in love with her. It would be the type of mistake that could make Beatrice deeply unhappy and lose Ava in the process.

"No. I can’t. Not when she’s gone straight back to Zori like this; she's letting her get under her skin again. Doubt she'll even move out of their place at this rate. Zori's probably got the wedding wheels back rolling, knowing her. Pfft, she’s fucked; I’m her home, she said. If she can give up this easily, I’m not the one who isn't really in love. She’s in love with Zori still then, never me.” Ava grumbles and stays in her form unmoving, and he's not sure Ava's mind won't shift if Beatrice goes back to Zori like she seems to be heading to.

Chapter Text

Talking with Mario helped clear Ava’s head a little, but she’s hurt and been blocked from Beatrice, and she can’t find the drive to break the tension between them. She just can’t. She can barely stand to be in the same room as her as they have breakfast at the hotel buffet filled with activity and clinking plates from people’s knives and forks and the noise of the kitchen staff working away behind the buffet. She tries to speak to Bea and even small words feel stuck in her throat.

She made a poor decision by forgetting Bea’s feelings for an afternoon and checking out a hot guy, but this isn’t fair. It’s not right how Bea’s being with her. She loves her. She's her home, and she says all these things, and then slam. Nothing, and she’s gone back to Zori or is going back.

She’s said she’s sorry, and she thinks Bea should apologise too for how she’s being. Bea can be so fucking stubborn and not in a good way right now as Ava roughly smothers some butter on some toast, not looking up. Spreading like the bread has personally insulted her.

“Easy, you’ll break the bread.” Bea remarks with no humour, just an even tone she’s decided to only give her now.

She doesn’t reply; she just goes on to spread the jam next with her knife, as this all stings right now, and her beaded bracelet she carries around of her mom's for support clinks against her plate. She wishes Mom and Dad had come rather than wait for the potential semis. They have work and all, but she could really do with one of Mom's famous hugs at the moment.

Maybe… She should just tell her parents about herself at long last, like she did Mario. Maybe that might show Bea that she knows who she is. She’s not making the first move to end this fight; it should be Beatrice. She needs to see how utterly unfair she's being right now.

Facing hurdles, no matter what they are, my backside.

She, trying to be equally as cold back, looks up from her toast at Beatrice on her stupid phone, with her leg resting on the other, showing off her great thighs in her stupid shorts and a buttoned shirt that she’s decided to unbutton all the way to her sternum so her stupid breasts are shown off with a stupid correct posture with neatly tied-in-a-bun perfect hair. Why does she have to look so good and look like the Bea she’s madly in love with yet not be like the Bea she knows?

“You’re being ridiculous.” She finally spouts out, unable to bear not saying it, and tosses her knife down on the tablecloth on the table surface.

Bea doesn’t say anything back, and it makes Ava want to tear her hair out like she has for so much of this trip over Bea with Zori.

She increasingly loses her cool as she frowns deeply at Bea. Her hands are on her lap, gripping her skirt like it’s the only thing that keeps her sitting here with Bea right now.

Bea smirks at something on her phone, and Ava twitches at the sight of it.

“I’m… I’m this isn’t the Bea I… know. I know you can blank people who upset you like this. I remember your refusing to speak to your parents during their divorce, but this is ridiculous! You’re not a teenager anymore!” She slams the table not in a way that draws attention, but she does it for Bea to just look at her.

Bea glances at Ava’s steaming face with so much frustration and gives nothing away.

Ava scoffs bitterly. “You’re being childish. Okay, I found Nico hot. He had great muscles, and you know what? If I didn’t love you, I’d fuck his brains out. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Well, no shit, really?” Bea says with sarcasm, and it makes Ava just… double-take at her coldness. Bea’s never been like this with her. Never.

“I hate that you’re acting like this. If…if you go back to Zori, we’re finished. I won’t see you do it. Partnership done. Friends done. We’ll be done.” She threatens, and she knows it’s the wrong approach, but she’s uncomfortable and being constantly hurt by her supposed best friend and the person who said she loved her.

That does make Bea linger in her intense gaze at Ava.

Ava stares right back at her, trying to not show how hurt she is but failing miserably.

It lasts and lasts. Cold eyes versus heavily blinking back tears ones.

“You don’t mean that.” Bea finally breaks the silence.

“I do. I mean it. It’s her or me.” She doesn’t know if she means it, but she says it like she does.

Bea takes a little disdainful breath through her perfect nose and focuses on her phone again. “Whatever, by all means. I’m back with her now, so I guess we’re over then for good.”

Ava’s defences crumble instantly. Tears fall at the coldness of the words, so harsh and not Bea. This isn’t Bea. She isn’t like this. She’s not. She wouldn’t say that. But she just did.

She feels herself tremble all over. “Stop it. I love…”

A loud snore interrupts her words. One becomes two snores. Until she’s not outside in the light of day anymore. She’s in the darkness of a room not her own.

She sees she’s under covers and feels such relief so fast. It wasn’t real. Well, a lot of it might as well have been. But she looks down… and sees she’s not in pyjamas. She takes a peek under the covers and sees she’s naked, and she sees another next to her. A guy's legs. Bare. His everything is bare. It’s not Rafael. She knows his legs; she knows his thing between those legs. You get the picture.

She doesn’t remember anything happening last night. Other than falling asleep in Mario’s room for another night, as she needed the space. And there’s more chance she slept with Marge Simpson than him ever cheating on his husband with her and the obvious fact that he’s gay.

So she pushes herself up, feeling her hair all dishevelled and her head throbbing from something, and she sees who the guy is who's sleeping on his side. It looks like Nico and she see it is. His cheek rested on his pillow, his hand underneath. His shoulder is the size of a bowling ball; it’s so broad. But that makes no sense? She didn’t see him at the waterfall? She didn’t even text him.

She pokes his arm. Fuck, it’s hard. There’s not an inch of fat on this guy. “Ava.” He pats his lips. She pokes again. To see if he’s real. Her body feels like it’s had sex, so she guesses this must be real. Just she has no idea how she got here. She already feels so much guilt, but why should she? Bea’s going to go back to Zori. She’s given up on her. Barely speaking with her right now, and she’s in pain.

She shouldn’t feel herself saddened right now. She has every right to be with who she wants.

Nico rolls over onto his back beneath her. She pokes his rock-hard chest. Still real. How can’t she remember this? Drank too much? She doesn’t know.

“Ava? You okay?”

What the fuck?

That’s not Nico’s voice; it’s soft and squeaky. She’d burst into laughter if she weren’t so confused. She looks to his face again. Beaded black eyes. Yellow round plush face. Two round plush ears and a small, lazy black string smile.

Ava freezes.

The unmistakable face of Winnie the Pooh changes expression into something confused. “Ava? Baby? What’s wrong?” Winnie’s soft voice a little squeakier than she remembers asks worried. Soft cotton slides on her bare arm and then onto her cheek. It’s a paw just like a teddy bear. He is a teddy bear.

“Ahhhh!!!!!” She screams like she never thought she’d scream. Her voice shrieking.

“Ahhh!!” Winnie screams too, and Ava’s scream almost turns to a laugh; this is so fucking ridiculous.

“Ava!? Wake up!”

“Fuck!!!” She shrieks and jumps upright in bed again. She heaves and heaves and quickly sees she’s not in the same bed anymore.

A hand massages her back. Another is on her shaking shoulder. A soft shush sounds from behind. Soothing but not Mario’s. She knows Bea’s voice anywhere.

“It’s alright. It was just a nightmare. Shhh. It’s okay. You’re safe.” Bea rubs her back.

Ava palms her sweaty forehead. She wants to laugh at the absurdity of that nightmare. But she also feels a certainty inside. She doesn’t want to be with anyone else. She doesn’t want that.

She quickly remembers she never slept in Mario’s room. She’s slept with Bea even when she’s been so distant and everything's felt frayed. She slept with her. She hasn’t been like that nightmare. She hasn’t been cold, just distant.

“Come on, lie back.” Bea guides her gently. Ava follows and rests back with Bea and Bea hugs her side and rests her chin on her shoulder in a tight calming hold, like the wall of her not being herself with her anymore hasn’t been there.

“What the fuck?” She finally lets out a short laugh.

“What? What was the nightmare?” Bea rests her forehead against Ava’s temple, confusing her, but she can’t say she doesn’t love it despite how she’s been with her.

“Uh.” She palms her head again, still breathing raggedly, and laughs again. “I think I just had a sex dream about Winnie the Pooh.”

Bea sits up. “Say what now?” Bea’s hopefully real smile is confused but amused down at her. Her messy hair still gives Ava a warm, homely feeling.

She nods and lets out more so-fucking-confused laughs about the nightmare before, and Bea laughs too, like the last few days never happened. Even for a brief moment, things feel normal again. She and Bea laugh together like they have on so many days in their lives. Maybe Mario is right. Maybe she should have a long talk with Bea – a proper talk – or offer it. To cut this tension short before it festers.

She turns on her side, and Bea falls back to bed as the good feeling of laughter carries on, and Bea doesn’t stay on her side of the bed as Ava expects. She hugs her from behind, confusing her a lot. She calls her silly, and only she would have a dream like that, and Ava hardens in her thoughts. She can’t stand this status quo. She doesn’t want it. She wants to show Bea she’s serious about them. More serious than she’s ever been about anything. She won't watch Bea be lured back to a woman that crushed her spirit because she's angry with her. She won't.

Chapter Text

Nervous but needing to talk, Ava arranged for Bea and her to have room service for breakfast. Last night feels like it’s thawed the ice. Bea’s way right now with Ava is in between them, but Ava wants to know where she stands. She wants to turn the ice to water and melt this tension away. Stop Bea going back to Zori if she can, at the very least.

She sits opposite Bea with a mug of coffee slurping its warming caffeine goodness, holding the mug with both hands, still in one of her heffalump shirts and pyjama shorts.

She grins at last night's interesting, to say the least, dream. On any earth did she ever think she’d have a Winnie the Pooh sex dream. All she’ll say is Winnie had a very soft touch, but unlike Tami-Lynn in the movie Ted, where a teddy bear comes to life and Tami gets it on with the foul-mouthed bear, she doesn’t have an attraction to stuffed teddy bears. Even childhood favourites like Winnie. Perhaps her love for him and his friends still to this day formed that dream. She means she does like to sleep with Heffalumps a lot. (Doesn’t need them if she has Bea.)

Though she is kind of horny after last night. Can’t deny it. She has a craving. It’ll pass. Nico’s muscles were really so defined and strong, and those bowling ball shoulders...shut up. She’d probably feel claustrophobic under all that anyway. Crushed more like. Rafael was ripped, but Nico was a different level of it. She prefers sun-kissed best friends with great breasts and a smile to be transfixed by. When she snuggles with Bea and smells her distinctive Bea smell, it’s better than any feeling she’s felt with the guys she’s been with. It always has. She’s safe with Bea or she was.

She places her mug down and clears her throat, reddening at the prospect of the act with Bea. Only Bea. Last night, thinking she had slept with Nico just didn’t feel right at all. Though she’s attracted to him, she admits. She’s not interested in anyone but Bea.

Maybe if this goes well. She and Bea can talk about how when one of them checks a person out on occasion, they shouldn’t take it personally… No, it sounds ridiculous in her head. She’s new to serious relationships of any kind. Of course her partner won’t want her admiring a person's physique. Well, Nico was unique, to be fair. No, Bea should be the only person she ogles at from now on.

The Bea who’s on her phone with her own steaming mug touching lips Ava’s in love with. The Bea who got all dressed before sitting down like this. The Bea who looks kind of similar to her dream in appearance right now. A black and red patterned buttoned shirt exposing her chest and shorts that, like the dream, give Ava a healthy view of legs she wants to kiss and kiss and kiss again so often Bea will never doubt her like she does. Her hair is more of a messy bun, with hairs on either side of her face making her look more beautiful than she did in the dream. Well... no, Bea’s always beautiful. Make up or no. Sleepy Bea is. Fresh out of the shower, Bea. Sweaty from tennis, Bea. Any Bea is beautiful.

She just wants to do anything that makes Bea see she can trust that she knows who she is and what she wants. She wants Bea to stop treating her like this, stop giving her this polite cold shoulder and just talk to her. This isn’t doing either of them any good. This isn’t them. They’re each other’s safe space, and they aren’t right now.

“So, um. Bea? Can we talk?” She finds the courage and asks. Tapping her fingertips on her warm, centring mug.

“Hmmm.” Bea hums, focused on her phone, just like the nightmare.

Okay, she’s waiting for this to be a nightmare too now, and Winnie to appear anyway at any moment. Maybe with Nico’s body and fluffy yellow arms and legs. Damn. She can’t get the vision of Winnie in bed out of her head.

“Bea, please talk to me; I just wanna talk.” She feels an enormous anxiety now because of that nightmare and what Bea said in it. She doesn’t want Bea to ignore her like this; she just wants to get through this and be on the other side of it.

“Hold on.” Bea rests her mug down and taps and taps on her phone with both hands fingertips like it’s the most important thing in the world to her. “Okay, sorry.” Bea blissfully places her phone down and gives Ava her attention. Her gaze is impatient, but Ava has it; she has her attention.

She takes a deep breath through her nose and goes ahead. “I know I messed up, but I don’t think I deserve this. No, I know I don’t. I admitted Nico was attractive, and it was wrong of me to look at him like that. I was insensitive, and again I’m sorry, but this isn’t right, Bea.”

Bea sits back with her mug in her hands, not replying, just knowing Ava’s not done. And of course she’s right.

“I spoke with Mario, and I’ve been trying to think of how to get through to you that I know who I am and what I want. But you’re hurting me by being like this. I…”

“You hurt me first. I don’t think you appreciate how much you did.” Bea interrupts evenly, slightly surprising Ava. “I’ve thought about it, and it just hurts more. It made me feel so worthless, you did. It was like, Zori, you totally were unaware of me. Do you know how much it hurt to see you be that happy that our relationship ended? Whatever the reason, it hurt me.”

Ava’s sureness falters. She pats her lips together, finding it hard to respond, but she needs to. “And I apologised. You can’t just shut down like you have when you’re upset with me. You did it when you saw Rafael with me, and you’ve done it again, and I don’t think either time it’s been fair to me. I don’t think you see how much behaving like that has hurt me.” She uses Bea’s own words back,

Bea looks away a little stiffly at that.

Ava keeps going, glad she’s doing this and not letting Bea’s behaviour put her off. She’s not letting this go. She's not letting Bea go. She’s fighting for what she wants.

“Listen. I know I’m bi. I know what I want, and it’s not because of Crimson. I know my own mind, Bea and it hurts me too that you think I don’t. I never wanted this. I did, but I didn’t plan on it happening. But it has, and I'm going to make mistakes. You know I’ve never been in a relationship that’s serious before, and you know the struggle I’m in with not feeling able to come out. You knew this – I’m not perfect – but you said you wanted to face all the hurdles with me, and it just feels like after my first error you’ve given up on us like that.” She clicks her fingers for effect.

Bea winces at the click.

“You said you loved me too, but I’m not sure if I even believe you now after this. If you loved me, you wouldn’t be going back to Zori straight after us. Nico wasn’t anything real, but Zori is. She’s more than real. She crushed you Bea how can you just throw in the towel like this? You’re not even giving me a chance.” Her voice pleads; she pleads for Bea to not go back to Zori. “Don’t I deserve that? To prove my intentions to you?”

“I’ve never even mentioned Zori; how did you…”

“Your phone I saw the texts she sent you.” She answers quickly and sharply, feeling so exasperated that Bea would ever go back to her, no matter the anger she feels toward her. “Are you going to marry her then? Is that what’s happening? Was all that talk about me being your home too just that? Talk? Did the kisses just mean nothing to you?”

“Of course they meant something. They meant everything to me.” Bea disputes with a little bit of passion. It gives Ava a little warmth, but she doesn’t know if she believes Bea right now.

“It certainly doesn’t feel like that to me. You’ve made it seem as if I’m a passing thing in the night rather than something you really want. I’m not with anyone else, and I told you I won’t be, but you look like you have no qualms about it.” She stands her ground and pushes her point of view home some more. “What’s going on? Do you love Zori so much you want her back and realise that now? Was I just nothing?” she remembers, to her pain, what Mario said and what she said to him too. If she loves Zori. If she’s truly giving up so fast for her, Ava may love Bea in a way Bea just doesn’t love her.

Bea lowers her mug and quickly blinks hard to read away from Ava to the view beyond their position. That hesitation creates an instant deep pain in seeing for Ava. “I love Zori still, yes. And she’s showing me the side of herself I knew from before, and she’s trying to make amends. I hate things ending how they were going to with us or how they did. I don’t want that to be how we end things.”

Ava darkens. She darkens hard and weakens harder and falls back on her chair. The wind kicked out her. The spirit stomped on inside of her. “And you want to fight…for her? Not for me? After everything you said? You said I love you in a way she never can.”

“I…I…” Bea stops and starts furrowing her brow indecisively. Ava feels the moment the knife will be dug into her heart approach. “I never said that. I meant everything I said to you.”

“But you don’t know anymore? You don’t know.” She stares into space at the truth of this. She had Bea and she’s lost her. Mario said to see what Bea wanted, and she’s seeing now. It’s changed.

“I feel I don’t know… My mind feels like it’s all over the place. Ever since the other day, I’ve struggled to think straight, so no, I don’t know. I don’t wanna be kicked around ever again; I know that, at least. Which I guess is something.” Bea scoffs at herself.

It is something; it’s more than something.

“Maybe I shouldn’t be in any relationship at the moment. Maybe I don’t know how to be when I feel… like I forget my own needs. At the moment I just…don’t know. I think I just need time to think straight again. I was so angry, and now I don’t know what I feel.” Bea sighs and runs a hand over her face.

Ava guesses it’s… She doesn’t know what this is from Bea. But she likes hearing that. Bea’s thinking of herself more.

“I am sorry, though. You’re right; I shouldn’t have blocked you out. Maybe it's a bad habit I need to work on when I get upset; you’re right about that too. It’s not exactly healthy for me to be like that in a relationship. Maybe I should be single for a while or maybe…I don’t know.” Bea apologises with a little bit of self-deprecation, and the knife wound to the heart doesn’t come. Ava’s just left feeling so annoyed with herself again. She knows Bea is what she wants, but now Bea doesn’t know what she wants, and she did before.

“I see.” She saddens; it'll be a long journey to get back to where Bea was, it feels like, as Bea gets off her chair. “I...Oh.” Inhales deep at this. She’s happy for Bea yeah. She’s happy she’s focusing on herself. She’s not back with Zori...yet. She doesn’t know what she wants.

“Hey?” Bea gains Ava’s sad eyes from above her now. The smell of her blueberry perfume is really nice. Bea really has an obsession with anything blue. Zori not letting her have prominent blue around for her own wedding still angers Ava. It stings her more to think that wedding could still happen.

“Yeah? Why are you stood up?” She performs a weak smile at Bea’s stunning self this morning. Her easy hair, her legs, her chest – she doesn’t know how good she looks with it exposed a little with buttons undone and below her shorts. She saddens at the idea that Bea doesn’t want to stay and eat her breakfast across from her, still steaming and fresh on a plate on her side of the table with her.

Bea leans down, eyes that have such intenseness looking at her as softly as they have recently. She pinches Ava’s chin with her thumb and her index finger, creating a little gasp so quiet, but Bea hears it. To her small smirk. She’d know Bea would take command of her like she enjoys from partners; she’d do it amazingly. She wants to experience it... someday. She’d like it now, but that doesn’t seem on the cards now anymore, even if she asked for a secret relationship.

“You look beautiful this morning.” Bea praises with a whisper, sinking Ava into her seat, changing the dynamic that's between them to something sensual and unnamed. Ava’s blush is pink and rosy and needy as she parts her lips, feeling her heart rate increase at the awareness she feels of Bea so close. Her fingers touching her chin so delicately.

“Oh...thanks, Trix. I’m just in my pyjamas, though.” She lets out a hot and unsteady laugh and says Trix like she would when they had never kissed, but Bea always sounds the sweetest from her own lips. She loves Bea. It’s always so nice to say Bea.

Bea’s grin fades. Something serious taking its place as she darts those brown eyes by the irises around Ava. “I know, and you’re beautiful, and I’m sorry about how I’ve behaved; I shouldn’t have. Sorry darling, you’re right, you didn’t deserve that; it was childish of me. I’ll try not to do it again.”

Ava goes to say something; she doesn’t know what, but before any semblance of words comes out of her lips, her lips are smooshed like her mind is from hearing darling again. They are given a kiss from Bea. Soft and wet and right. Bea’s nose touching hers. It’s confusing but nice to feel. Bea’s the unpredictable one for a change, and Ava leans in for more lingering of these sweet lips, but they go away.

She moans at the loss, and Bea leaves to sit back down, leaving Ava unbalanced but craving more. Needing more. She loves kissing Bea so much. She wants Bea to kiss her again. She wants it; she’ll do anything to make it happen. She wants to woo Bea. Show her she’s deathly serious about her. Not let Zori weasel her way back in like she could. But Bea just kissed her, so beneath all the fogged-up thinking on Bea’s part, maybe that won’t be the case. Maybe she just wants to, as she said, end things well with Zori how she wants.

Chapter Text

At the beach, feeling like she’s burning to the driest, crispiest crisp ever crisped, Ava lies back and takes in the sun on a towel over the sand. She has a straw sun hat over her face, and she’s in a bikini one-piece swimsuit, just chillin today with Mario to her left, equally enjoying the sun before he heads off to Athens tomorrow to see his boo Talos and before the next day when she and Bea return home.

She’s still thinking of the talk this morning. How can she think of anything else? She doesn’t want to think of anything else, especially her surgery when she gets back. It scares the fuck out of her. So Bea’s words are what she focuses on and wants to focus on most.

Plus Bea’s decided to make Ava’s mind feel a little jelly-like today since they decided to come to this beach to relax. She’s in a swimsuit too. Of course a blue one. Ocean blue. Have to be specific with that. Bea’s favourite blue is ocean blue.

Ava knows Bea’s figure, each phase of it she’s known; she’s seen it every day, more or less, for the past two decades. But right now? She’s just carrying herself differently. Her shoulders are more sure. Her eyes look sharper. Her hips have a freeness to them when she walks that she just didn’t have with Zori.

It’s only increased Ava’s belief that Bea’s talking and texting with Zori might not necessarily mean she’s going back to her. She did say before this that she regretted how she and Zori's ending came about. Zori embarrassed her and made her feel so attacked and unprotected by the person she was going to marry, but ending it on bad terms in the moment she did wasn’t what Bea wanted. She wanted it to end, but just if she could’ve, she’d have ended it better.

Maybe now her anger about the Nico thing has subsided, she might not be so reactive and just cut the cord with Zori? Maybe she already has? Maybe the person sending texts a lot isn’t Zori. Or Ava hopes it isn’t. Or maybe Bea’s just organising her stuff to be taken out of her and Zori’s home; she hasn’t a clue.

She pinches her earlobe in worry about it all. She’s starting to accept how she should’ve just been with Bea in a secret relationship. It would’ve been hot, and this would’ve never happened. Bea wanted it. She should’ve just done it. It’s what she wanted too.

And of course then there’s the kiss. It left Ava confused but desperate for more—more than she needs to guzzle down some more water from her big 2-litre water bottle on the sand next to her right now.

Bea wouldn’t kiss her like that and call her beautiful while on the road back to Zori? That isn’t Bea. Her mind's all over the place, but she wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t. It’s not Bea to do that. To lead her on.

Should she start the wooing now? See for herself? Don’t hold back in that way?

“I can hear you thinking from here. Tell Father Mario what’s up before your girl gets back here.” Mario hears her thoughts and calls Bea hers. She likes it. She likes it a lot.

The air's been cleared. Bea just needs her to prove to her she means everything she’s saying. She can woo. She wants to woo. This wasn’t something she planned for, but she wants it, and she wants to woo Bea.

She smiles briefly at Mario’s words. Behind her straw hat. The little holes in it are her view, as the hat blocks the sunlight. “She’s not mine, Mario. She’s just stopped being angry with me. She couldn’t even confirm to me if she’s going back to Zori or not.”

“She said she’s struggling to think clearly at the moment. Doesn’t mean she’s seriously considering it. Plus the kiss. Bea wouldn’t do that and be ready to toss you aside. She’s just hurt by what happened with Nico. Being hurt like that and straight after the Zori debacle is bound to confuse someone and make it hard to think.” Mario says a lot of what she’s thinking. That does comfort her more.

“What if she does, though? She said she meant everything she said, but what if she actually goes back to her? What do I do then?” She feels the deepest tightness in her chest at the thought of that. She couldn’t bear it. Not after how Zori treated Bea.

She feels Bea’s hurt like it’s her own and knows if Bea’s back with someone like that and marrying her, it’ll crush her. She couldn’t bear it. She couldn’t stand at Bea and Zori’s altar in a bridesmaid dress faking a smile for Bea. She couldn’t be happy for her. It would crack a hole in her heart she didn’t think she could feel.

She wouldn’t do that romantic thing when the priest says, "Does anyone here object to this union?" and shout, "I do!" And deliver a cheesy romcom speech to win Bea. She’d be too heartbroken that Bea chose to love Zori rather than trust her and fight for her like she’s trying to fight for Bea.

“I don’t think she will. She said it herself; she wants to end things right with Zori. It’s her first serious relationship, and having that sort of relationship is so important to her, and it ended badly. Not ending it on good terms would be really difficult for her to accept. Just keep saying you want her. Keep saying it. Keep showing her with what you do how you are with her, how much you truly want her, and she’d be a fool to not be with you after everything she told you she felt too.”

Seriously, Mario feels like her own personal relationship counsellor right now. He’s probably become her 2nd best friend if there is such a thing.

“Yeah.” She smiles more freely. She smiles for longer under her hat. She’s going to woo the pants off Bea. “But she’s texting Zori, I presume. A lot. What does that mean?” She worries again.

“Maybe just ask her. See for yourself. She may be more amenable to telling now that she’s not blocking you out.” Mario reasons.

She could. Bea won’t say bugger off or anything that’s not her. She’d never.

She lifts her hat off her face and gets a blinding sunlight in return. But she turns on her side to her friend in only swim shorts while he's resting on his front. His arms are underneath his chin, relaxing, and she just wants to thank him for everything recently.

“Hey, um, thanks for everything, by the way? Defending me with Rafael. Talking with me at like 4 in the morning about Bea. It means a lot to me; Talos is a lucky guy.” She smiles at Mario’s face covered by his tilted-down cap.

“You don’t have to thank me. We’re friends. I want to be here for you… And you’d totally be with me if I were bi, wouldn’t you?” He quips cheekily.

“You think highly of yourself.” She laughs fondly and eye rolls at the idea. Maybe she would in another world.

“Babe I’m a catch, and trust me, I’m no Winnie the Pooh.” Oh for fuck's sake. She wishes she didn’t tell him about that.

“Urgh, fuck, I wish I never told you about that!” She groans and laughs and rolls onto her back, covering her face with her hat again, embarrassed. “It’s my meds! I’ve never had a dream like that before. It was like a flipping horror movie. I screamed, and then I and Bea laughed, and I wasn’t sure if it still wasn’t a dream and Bea would turn into Winnie as well.”

“Mm, though I have to say this Nico with Winnie’s face and soft touch? I and Talos would take a whirl at the thing.” He kids. Right?

She edges her hat down and squints her eyes at him, struggling to hold back a booming laugh. “So you’d have a threesome with Winnie, you’re saying?”

He grins just below the rim of his cap. “Maybe. Nico’s body sounds hot, and threesomes seem to be the in thing right now.”

“Urgh! douchebag! What about Talos?” She clutches her chest dramatically, feigning offence at the teasing, and throws her hat at him. He catches it and tosses it back.

“He’d be with me, of course. Emphasis on threesome I'm surprised you're that shocked after Rafael and Crimson, after all.” He moves his arm back under his chin again. He's got her there. “How did that work anyway? Were you three like a human centipede sometimes?”

She opens her mouth in shock. “You did not just say that! We never did…” Well, they did pleasure each other at the same time, of course. Rafael at the back behind her would grip her hips and pump into her centre so slick while she went at Crimson’s clit in a mad fit of lust. It was just that lust. Rafael wasn’t the brightest tool in the kitchen, but he knew not to get carried away, unlike Crimson.

“Knew it.” He quickly makes Ava go a deeper shade of crimson over crimson.

“I’m not talking about it with you.” She squeezes the fabric of her hat down hard on her face, covering the utter blush she blushes. She has an image of the Winnie the Pooh from the horror movie Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey now. She regrets researching Winnie and horror. Her childhood favourite teddy she only sees as an axe-wielding gone-bad bear now, who she thought she had sex with.

There’s a ding on Bea’s phone. She left it behind on her towel as she went to the loo. No. Don’t look. She looked before and read Zori text. I love you. It was great to talk with you, etcetera, etcetera.

But she ignores her thoughts and takes a little peek.

The alert is on Bea’s screen. In front of a background of Ava and Bea has changed; she notices first, though. It’s of her and Bea at the zoo with Kanga. The kangaroo she made friends with. She flutters the most hopeful of smiles she has yet since this morning.

She looks down at the text.

Z – What do you mean? So you want it? Truly?

Huh? A multitude of theories flow through Ava’s mind. Bea wants to get back together? She wants to be with Ava? She wants to get married? She wants to stay living with Zori and move past things? What does it mean?? Fuck, she needs to know.

She spots some blue at the corner of her eyes, though, and sees it’s… fuck, Bea. She just really looks bigger in stature. Taller maybe? She walks in her tight swimsuit, not knowing how she makes Ava feel. How Ava swoons over her legs. So sun-kissed and shining. Her torso. Her chest that her swimsuit leaves nothing to be desired beneath and shit Ava desires it. Her arms are so glistening. Her cool look with her shades on and her own sun hat and the way her light, barely-there kimono flows down to her knees make her seem so majestic without her even trying.

Her heart goes slow then aches within for her. Like it has so often for Bea since she accepted she was in love with her.

But she quickly lies back down to avoid getting spotted snooping like Snoopy, the animated dog.

Bea arrives a few seconds later. “I’m back, guys. I can confirm the toilets are disgusting.”

Ava bursts into a laugh that fluffs her hat off her face.

It dies as she sees Bea sit back down beside her. Leaning to get her phone with effortless confidence. She hasn’t carried as much since Zori. The air in Ava’s lungs ceased at seeing Bea like this. She crushes harder than she can remember crushing.

Bea frowns at the text and types readily. It only swirls the theories in Ava’s head some more.

She gulps before she goes to ask, Who’s that? To get Bea to talk about what she’s talking about with Zori. But she stops herself. She has an idea to start showing Bea with what she does rather than what she says about her seriousness over them. She gets her own phone and calls her mom and quickly transitions to FaceTime.

“Bea, can you come lie down next to me a moment? I want you to be here for this with me.”

“Mmm? For what?” Bea confuses down at her. But she comes anyway and rests her head against hers after her sun hat is removed. Their bodies touching in ways Ava is used to but wants more of in a different way with Bea than she ever has.

“I’m coming out to my parents, and I thought it might be easier over the phone for me.” She waits for Mom to pick up defiantly.

She hears the little gasp, however tiny Bea does, and the eyes of hers on her. “Are you sure?”

She turns to Bea’s surprised face. Her eyes behind her shades still. Very sure. “I am, yes.”

“Don’t you want to do it when you get back? If you are… it’s such a big thing.” Bea gives her an out, but Ava doesn’t want a delay or an out. She has the courage now, and she wants to.

She flicks her eyes around Bea’s face. The face she knows every inch of and wants more with. “I’m very sure. It’s not the world, but it’s a step, and I want them to know, and I want to show you how serious I am about us.” She turns to Mario, and he gives her a supportive little wink, and she shows Bea rather than just using her words with her. She and her are what she really truly wants, even with just a small step. She shows Bea.

Chapter Text

Back at the hotel, smelling of suncream and just… Honestly relieved it’s out in the open to her parents at long last, Ava smiles up at the ceiling. The ceiling fan cools her off as she lies back on the bed. Her feet on the cold marble.

She’s going to have a shower to wash off the sand she got coated in a sec. Bea’s in the bathroom right now. (Beach hot dogs definitely didn't agree with her.)

But she did it. She told her parents, and they were supportive, and it was all fine. They were who they’ve always been, but there’s always that pit of dread about if they might have reacted in a surprising way.

They didn’t. It was fine. Mom kept insinuating with her eyes wordlessly as someone else spoke if it was Beatrice why this has come about. Ava gave back a slight nod, not wanting to pressure Bea.

Well, it was Crimson that showed Ava this side of herself, but she wasn’t going to silently tell her mom, Oh no, it wasn’t Bea it was this incredible poly/threesome I was in that did it. Crimson’s hotness and commanding energy were world-altering as she commanded me to do anything to her and Rafael.

Or how her first kiss with a woman was when Rafael was fucking her from behind in some of the most intense sex she’s ever had—how she came because of his hardness moving so rapidly and sloppily and Crimson’s taking her dress off.

Yeah, that’s a story her mom will never hear.

Was telling her parents about her want to, though? And not just showing Bea she’s serious about them?

She thinks it was yes. Bea drove her to do it, but it really did feel good to do. Like letting everything go with Bea felt like a weight gone; that with her parents did too. She got to come out on her own terms this time rather than with Bea.

So that is something she’s happy about. They still love her; nothing's changed. She just feels a big weight gone at the secret being not a secret with the most important people in her life anymore, and that’s for her. She doesn’t want to be back in the closet with them. She’s glad she did it.

Being outwardly open about it is a different thing entirely.

She puffs out a little breath, letting this feeling sink in. It’s invigorating – a little scary – but it’s done. No going back. It’s done.

So what now? Right woo, Bea. Let the wooing commence.

How does she start? Well, she hopefully did it a little with that call. But maybe start tomorrow. She just wants to rest right now. Or maybe after her surgery. It would give Bea some air to breathe and some for herself.

They can just cool it for a bit and then pick it back up after this trip and all its drama has settled into memory. It’s been an eventful time in a very short time period; maybe that’s best.

Bea needs to clear her mind, and Ava has a surgery to have and then recover from. Though why can’t she send Bea little gifts constantly? Blue lilies. Her own Heffalumps. She’s sure she can think of other things to do for Bea to make her feel wanted and chase away the competition.

Yes. She’ll do that. She’s excited by doing that. Just small but meaningful acts of love.

She still has no idea anymore if Bea is staying at hers before she heads off for her next tournament or if she’s leaving Zori for sure, so she does need to know about that.

Ava’s staying with her parents post-op. She’s going to need support, and she doesn’t intend to ask Bea to do some of the things she’ll need help with in the short term before she heads off. Getting dressed using the restroom, she wants to be at home to get the support for that.

She feels a buzz on her phone and flops her arm to bring her phone to her face. Probably Mario sending more Winnie the Pooh gifs her way. Jerk that he is.

It’s Rafael. She didn’t block him like Crimson. She should really after what he did to Mario.

Raf – Hey, bitch. Crim here. Enjoy the fallout. 🖕

She scoffs at the middle finger. Very classy, Crim. She wishes her sexual awakening was because of someone nicer. It’s her kink now. To want to be dominated. Talked dirty to and turned into a puddle of want. Because of Crimson. But she wishes that.

Then she sees the attached link. One of the tabloids back home. Her face is on the cover. Rafael’s and Crimson’s too. They’re all stills of the three of them individually competing.

She sees the word exclusive. That’s all she needs to see. To know what this is. To understand Crimson’s text. She’s done it again.

She’s never felt such a cold pit of despair eat her up so fast. She’s never felt so overwhelmingly limp because of a headline like this. Even the affair, the cheating lie, didn’t make her feel this way. She’s just had her right to come out when she’s ready ripped from her with non-family (she includes Bea in that and perhaps Mario too), and to top it off, she doubts Crimson held back. She can be cruel, and she has been again. She should’ve never gone near her, and she’s just been given the consequence of doing so.

This’ll impact Crimson too, though?

She reads the magazine stories pages Crimson sends over in a flurry of texts before it’s released, presumably tomorrow, and sees what Crimson’s said.

Ava and Rafael cheated, but I wanted my power back, and it just came about. I’d never experienced anything like it. Ava was the weakest. You wouldn’t believe the stuff she did for us.

It goes on. Ava feels limper if she could. Her body vibrates with embarrassment and pain and the fear of the upcoming world she’ll be faced with in reaction to this story.

The more she reads, the more she sees just how far Crimson goes. She tells things that no decent person would reveal. Rafael won’t be happy with some of the quotes. Definitely not. She calls him dumb in every way but actually using the word.

It doesn’t paint Crimson herself in a great light, really, either. She’s just cut off her nose to spite her face.

She comes off as a cruel dominatrix. Like a full-blown dominatrix, and, well, she was. But she sounds like she is. She’s just exposed herself as she truly is.

It slightly lessens the blow. Crimson’s the centre of the story. She’s come out with this. If Ava doesn’t respond or doesn’t give it any credence, or Rafael, then its credibility wouldn’t hold, maybe? But then again, when this is out there it tarnishes no matter what, like the affair scandal.

She’s been outed against her will. But…maybe Crimson just did her a favour to a degree despite the pain over this. Maybe she just ripped the band-aid off?

There’s a flush, and Bea steps out of the bathroom. “Never eating from a street vendor again.”

Ava meekly glances over to see Bea in normal clothing, not for the beach anymore. She misses the swimsuit, but Bea’s hair down and in comfy shorts and a blue Adidas vest isn’t half a bad view either.

Bea stops at the side of the bed, getting something out of the drawer from the bedside table, quickly shown to be Ava’s pain meds, as she travels to sit on the end of the bed with Ava.

“Bea?” She sits up, holding back her pain about the story she’s just read. It’s hard, but she tries as Bea confuses her again.

“Here.” She takes the box of pills from Bea and takes a powerful painkiller out, and before she has a chance to ask, she’s given a bottle of water.

“Oh.” She blushes about a simple act. She has been feeling more and more uncomfortable since she last took one of these, and enough time has passed for her to take another now. “This bottle isn’t filled with toilet water in revenge for Nico, right?” She finds the strength to joke.

She gets a warm feeling inside again today despite the pain Crimson just caused. Despite Bea being noncommittal about the status with Zori.

“Thanks.” She barely above a whisper gratefully so gently smiles up at Bea and drinks down her pill.

Bea flickers a soft smile. “You’re welcome. And no, the water is from the shop we went to, dummy.” She cups Ava’s cheek to Ava’s warm surprise.

Bea’s so confusing right now, but in a good way. The kiss was, and this act of care is too. Ice is thawing more. She hopes it’s gone soon entirely so they’re back to who they always have been.

Ava’s heart aches again. Her smile shakes. She just had her private life brutally revealed, and Bea made her feel less heavy in seconds.

Bea drags her thumb over Ava’s cheek. Ava shivers to it. She can’t stop smiling. She feels her eyes burning. Maybe Crimson really has done her a favour in a sense.

“I’m so proud of you, by the way. I know I already said it, but I really am. So proud.” Bea’s proud of her and… Ava’s proud of herself too as she shakes over the care and the story to be released.

“What are all the calls with Zori about, Bea?” She asks the question she burns to know the answer to.

Bea blinks, unreadable, and to Ava’s sorrow, lets her hand fall to her lap. “Um, I've been talking to a friend to get some recommendations for some things to use during your recovery. Like the best shower chairs, raised toilet seats and all those fancy nicknacks.” Bea chuckles, but Ava doesn’t understand. She knows she needs that stuff at her parents home. She asked about Zori, and Bea avoided it.

“Uh.” She laughs, confused. “You know my parents will take care of that for me, right? No matter what happens with Zori, I want to be home with them. You’ll be on tour.”

Bea nods, her eyes going to her lap; her hand goes to her neck to rub. “I just… I’m um… Since this morning, my mind has kind of cleared. I think us talking and me stopping being so upset, I guess, cleared my thoughts. Well, they already were sort of, and maybe I should’ve just told you, but, uh… I’m moving out of Zori’s. That’s what the phone calls and texts have been about today. It’s what I think is best. We’ve talked, but I don’t want her back; it wouldn’t be what’s right for me.”

Ava’s eyes shed tears from so much. The pain from Crimson, yes, but the sheer relief of hearing this most of all. The weight of fear that Bea would go back to Zori fully flows away. She’s not going back to her. She’s not.

She blinks and blinks at her tears, smiling so happily she could sob. “Really?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I should’ve asked, but I… I’d like to look after you. I don’t want to compete when I know you’re struggling. If you want that after how I’ve been?” Bea uncertain raises her gaze to Ava. Her expression changes so fast in worry that a sob breaks loose. Ava sobs. “Aves? What happened?” Bea holds her shoulder and hugs her without question. The ice is gone. It’s gone.

“Crimson’s told some stupid tabloid about me, Rafael, and her. She’s just outed me.” She lets out another sob mixed with happiness and pain and relief. All of it.

“What?” Bea voice turns defensive over her again. It’s not even been that long, but it feels so good to hear Bea sound like that again. The days of Bea being so withdrawn have felt like forever. They’ve hurt so much.

“She’s done it again. I was so stupid getting involved with her again.” She cries on Bea’s shoulder, squeezing Bea tight. Her nose buried in Bea’s skin.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say; I could punch that bitch for this.”

“You already kicked her ass, Bea. You don’t have to again.” She falls into the hug, finding her comfort.

“She deserves it, though. Please.” Bea pouts in her voice and gives Ava a much-needed laugh. The best medicine, especially when it’s because of Bea.

“No, Bea. Just hold me. That’s all I want right now.” She and Bea drop to the bed, and she rests her cheek on Bea’s chest. Her mind shifting a little as she freaks out at having her cheek against Bea’s bosom.

She’s felt Bea’s bare chest in this way over the years, but this is very different; she feels far more aware of herself and the touch of Bea. It creates another little shiver that travels from her cheek to the rest of her shaking body. Feeling more bare skin in more places previously unfelt will be something so sensitive, so different than with others, because it just will be.

“I can’t let you look after me, Bea. You can’t miss tennis, but…thank you. It means so much you'd be willing to. Thank you.” She calms and calms and enjoys the position; she tries to forget the world outside and enjoys the snuggle. She needs it right now; it’s all she needs.

Chapter Text

So the last few days or however long it’s been. Beatrice honestly doesn’t know. It’s felt like a blur. She shut down on Ava, and she didn’t intend to at first, but then... Ava’s admittance that she did find Nico attractive and she did check him out just made her so upset she could barely think straight. The only response she felt she could do to handle the sheer hurt was do something she did when she was younger.

Just be polite and not engage so much. It was childish. She went from being the one in the right, she felt, to the one in the wrong. She started getting calls from Zori, and she could breathe in a conversation with her again like she once did, but there was this inner voice of reason. In the back of her head, saying, What the fuck am I doing?

She reasoned that she wanted to find an ending with Zori that would be more amicable, and she negotiated that tricky terrain to get to that place.

But she just couldn’t uncloud her mind no matter what she did. It just felt like her brain had been scrambled, and she knows that’s no excuse, but it’s just how she felt. She just couldn’t have the fortitude to deal with her hurt normally. She just shut down. She saw in herself even more that maybe she just isn’t ready for something with Ava or anyone.

Zori and her relationship was so toxic, and she didn’t see it. She was blinded by her love, and she let herself be trampled on, and then with Ava, after she told her how hurt she was because of her and how she felt she didn’t love her the same because of it and her resuming talking with Zori, she saw it more.

She hurt Ava far more than Ava hurt her, and Ava was already in pain. She is in constant pain. She didn’t deserve it. Nico was nothing, and Zori was someone she was going to marry.

She told Ava things, and she meant them, but then after the first setback, the first hurt, she went into her bubble. She shut down. And when is that good for healthy relationships? Never. It never is, and she sees now truly Ava’s words were right; she needs time to digest and figure out how she wants to be in a relationship.

She only wants Ava to be that but not yet anymore. She doesn’t know when she’ll feel ready after this, but she knows she just isn’t. The guilt she’s feeling about hurting Ava how she did and about making Ava question her love instead of the other way round might take a while to forgive herself over. Her words with Ava feel not as flowing for now. She let her down; she said she’d be patient and support her, and she acted out of being petty rather than how she should’ve. She feels a little to a lesser extent like Crimson. Pettiness in response to Ava.

Nico hurts still, and it still leaves her with doubt about Ava even now after she came out to her parents, however unreasonable that may be, and add in that guilt she feels; it’s a mixing bowl that makes her feel less of herself with Ava.

But she wants to make amends for the block she put on Ava, and the best way to do that is by supporting Ava through this tabloid bullshit storm she might or will endure on the tennis scene now or even from friends or her peers and the offer to take care of Ava. She wants to. She doesn’t want to be countries away for months. She wants to look after her best friend and be there for her when she needs her. With her surgery, with her home life, with the painful moments she struggles with as she starts walking again when she needs someone and to support her with the pre-surgery nerves. All of it she wants to help with.

Though Ava is stubborn in not wanting her help right now in that way, as they’re staying in the hotel room after that story was released back home, players in this hotel will have read it too today.

Ava was really keen to visit Kangaroo Island, and Beatrice wants that too, or they could still go to the Great Barrier Reef like she wanted. Both will take flights to get there to cut the travel time short, so time is of the essence today.

Beatrice knows she messed up, and she wants to as she’s sitting on her and Ava’s bed against the backboard watching an Australian soap on the TV set up on the white wall beside Ava.

She looks over to Ava below. In a baggy Winnie the Pooh shirt. (Never letting Ava live that sex dream down), resting back with arms crossed over her chest, focused on the programme, and feeling awkward. It’s her own fault why she does. Anger just made her act stupidly and unfairly, and now she feels this way because of it all.

“We could stay an extra day? Rottnest Island? You wanted to go see more quokkas, remember? You and they are the happiest animals on earth after all. You simply must join your kindred spirits in their natural habitat. Maybe you'll love it so much among them you'll want to stay. Hm?" She tries to help Ava laugh

Ava frowns at the TV. “Do you think the Quokkas will have read the tabloids? Even they’ll make fun of me.”

Beatrice’s shaky smile lessens, and she fiddles with the kangaroo shirt Ava got her from the zoo. Feeling its white fabric at the collar with pinched fingers. It only makes her feel more guilt. Ava got her a shirt that day and a stuffed kangaroo, yet she just ruined it. Ava went to Mario for support because of her.

It’s not a nice feeling, but she deserves it right now.

The only way she’ll feel better is if Ava feels better.

“Come on, another day in Australia? Can’t pass that up. We could book a hotel for the night closer to the island than here. Or we could go to Kangaroo Island like you wanted or the Great Barrier Reef today. I know it’s a big day out, but we’re here once a year; don’t let this…or me ruin it for you. You were so excited.” She lowers herself to the bed and turns on her side, encouraging with hope.

“I’ve already had to block, like, 4 people I thought were friends numbers because of this. I don’t know if I’d be great company.”

“Pfft, that's nonsense.” She bats off with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You’re always excellent company. I’m the one who’s been a big misery guts. Please, Aves.” She pouts. “You deserve to have a little bit of fun before going back to all that and the surgery. I…I want to make how I’ve been up to you. I just got stuck in my own head, but I’m not anymore. You helped me not be.”

Ava makes a funny face, scrunching her face and moving her chin back down onto her chest. So utterly random and typical of Ava.

“Come on.” She dares Aves with a little push on her arm.

“Tsss”, Ava sticks out her tongue. “I don’t know. I guess I’m sort of relieved it’s out there in a sense about my sexuality and stuff. Crimson did make herself look like a…”

“A cruel dominatrix? Yeah, totally. Don’t worry; I won’t read any of it.” She gives Ava’s strong arm a shake, making her shake, making her smile reluctantly.

Ava eye rolls. “Our friends will read it. That’s for sure. Not Mario. I asked him not to, but it'll just go round now. People will look at me differently. They already do.”

“Well…” she bobs her head whimsically. “They don’t know about your Winnie the Pooh sex dream; there are small victories.”

“Urgh!” Ava groans and covers her face. “I wish it was Nico now. That dream is ruining my favourite bear. He and his friends are on all my pyjama clothes in some way.” Ava frantically shows off her Winnie the Pooh shirt with him eating some honey in utter heartwarming adorableness.

Beatrice grins with a hand on her cheek and an elbow on her pillow. “Well, if you don’t want to go home, stay another day and see more quokkas. Or if not then I guess we can spend the day watching Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. Should I read the descriptions? There are two of them, by the way. We have all day to watch them both.” She flashes two fingers and raises teasing brows.

The prospect of watching Ava’s favourite childhood bear go on killing sprees in two horror movies makes Ava jerk her face with a scowl at her. “Don’t you dare.”

She rolls over and grabs her phone. “Oh, I dare. Let’s order both movies right now.”

“No!” Ava pulls on her hip desperately. Beatrice fights a little as she laughs but not too much. She lets Ava win. She lets… Ava pin her by her wrists on the bed.

She lets her straddle her by sitting on her stomach. Legs on either side of her hips. Knees pressed into the bed. Ava, breathing heavily, heaving for breath with an excitable smile on her lips, above her, her hair falling down her face. Her face red and always beautiful, and the one Beatrice hurt too much. Ignored when she shouldn’t have.

She breathes heavily too. She smiles too, just like Ava does. Until a gulp feels inevitable, and it happens. She sees Ava’s wide eyes dart to her throat, noticing.

“Well, well, well, what a fortunate thing to have I…” Ava starts speaking, and Beatrice stops breathing at the clear want, but Ava’s interrupted by a grimace and holding of her hip. “Fuck, I shouldn’t have done that.”

She fusses and helps Ava back to lie flat on the bed. A hand on her back, a worry in her eyes as Ava squeezes hers shut. “I just want this surgery now; I’m so tired of feeling like this.” Ava, frustrated with it all, now slides her hand over her face.

On her knees above Ava now, Beatrice hums with sympathy for Ava’s pain. “So you wanna go home to prepare for it rather than stay?”

“I don’t know; a day won’t change anything. It’s not until next Monday anyway. I guess seeing more quokkas would be nice. How much walking is involved?”

“Not much. I promise.” She edges her fingertips into Ava’s warm, familiar palm, facing down on the bed.

Ava sighs. “Alright then. One more day here then…but on one condition.”

“Anything.” Beatrice covers Ava’s hand with both her own, smiling, wanting to make amends.

Ava sneaks a peek through her hand. “Tell me more about what you and Zori talked about over those texts and calls. It didn’t seem like you were just organising your moving out before yesterday.”

They weren't.

She lowers her gaze to the bed, sad at making Ava worry when really deep down she was never going to go back to Zori when she found her mind again.

“I already told you she showed me the self she was before. I love her still, but every time we spoke, it didn’t feel like I was me, if that makes sense? I was just angry with you. It was all wrong, but I got better closure with her, and that’s something I’m happy about, I suppose.” She runs a hand behind her neck, grimacing. “She’s taking our place. And we um… Yesterday I talked about you with her a little when I stopped being a jerk.”

“You did?” Ava asks through a little whisper.

“Yup. It was just me telling her about everything that’s happened with us, but yeah.” She covers Ava’s hand with hers again entirely. Not looking up. Guilty of everything. “I really would like to be the one to take care of you, Aviebug. If you’ll allow me. Consider it me making amends.”

Ava doesn’t respond, so Beatrice shyly looks to see her face scrunched in thought.

“And I want to!” She adds in a panic. She really does want to, not just because she’d be making amends.

“It’s not a small thing, Bea. The first 6 weeks are…”

“I could just do it until you’re back on your feet; it won’t even get in the way of me at the French Open. There’s plenty of time. 6 weeks is nothing. Please just let me. If…if you’re comfortable with it, of course, but yeah, I’d like to.” She rambles.

Ava pinches her earlobe. Her habit. “I guess…if you really want to.”

“I really do.” She nods gently. Really keen to help.

Ava gives a silent acquiescence with a relenting nod and rests back on her pillow.

Beatrice breathes a little breath of relief. She really wanted to help. She sees Ava showing she wants them, and she does too, but not for a while. She doesn’t feel ready anymore. She just wants this right now. To help Ava with her recovery.

Chapter Text

A 5-hour flight and a ferry trip to Rottnest Island later, Beatrice is at the beach on her and Ava’s last full day in Australia, walking alongside Ava. They have a small cabin beside the beach for a day. And they just had a rather splendid encounter with some naturally smiling marsupials, quokkas, the world's happiest animals.

Seeing Ava with those peaceful creatures. Looking so happy taking selfies pulling silly faces as the quokkas happily feasted on some grassy deliciousness bloomed a really nice bloom of affection inside of Beatrice. She was relieved to see Ava smile like that. Ava’s endured enough on this trip.

Ava’s had nice moments, but mostly it’s been a hard time. Her hip. Crimson. The story Crimson just released, and of course, with Beatrice herself. She’s had a lot to deal with. Too much. So this and the moment with Ava’s kindred spirits in the world’s happiest animals with no natural predators to fear on this island felt so good to witness. She deserves that sort of joy.

Beatrice is just sorry she contributed to Ava’s troubles of late. She’s Ava’s best friend, and she doesn’t think she’s been a very good one recently. This whole trip she hasn’t been, it feels like. As she holds her sandals with a sunhat on her head like Ava but in one of her casual tops and shorts, and Ava’s borrowing one of Beatrice’s kimonos over her bikini.

Ava squeals. “That was so sweet! I love those little guys! They’re little faces; I wanted to squish them together!”

Beatrice chuckles down at the sand, enjoying the sound of Ava’s happiness. “They were rather sweet. They had no match on you, though.” She bumps Ava’s shoulder with her own. Feeling the warm sand on her toes.

“Thanks.” Ava’s voice shies.

She has this sudden unbearable urge to reach for Ava’s hand. She doesn’t think she deserves it, though, right now.

“This has been an eventful trip, hasn’t it?” She frowns at it all. It’s been a lot.

“Yeah, it has. Too eventful, really. I’m still annoyed we couldn’t win. I knew we would’ve if I could’ve gone on.” Ava speaks a truth Beatrice knows to be true too.

“We would’ve, yeah.” She brings the smile on her lips to Ava. Her eyes feel lighter now; she and Ava are back to who they should always be as she sees Ava under her straw hat focusing on the sand too. The crystal clear ocean beyond Ava is so glistening and tempting to jump in for a swim.

“Always next year, I guess. Hopefully I’ll still be as good after this surgery. I might not be the same player anymore. If I were a singles player, I’d probably be screwed, wouldn’t I?” Ava queries with clear worry.

Beatrice hums and focuses on the sandy path ahead. Yellow cabins to her right in a calming place away from tennis or tabloids or any of it.

“Not necessarily, but you have me and Mario, so I think you’ll be fine long term. You know, um…” she scratches her neck, thinking of something she’s been researching. “You won’t be in a wheelchair for long at all. Crutches definitely, but the wheelchair won’t be needed for long. You’ll need one, but yeah.”

“Mmm, I know. The surgeon wants me to put weight on it the day after; it’s just a lot of basic stuff I’ll need help with. Can’t cross my legs afterwards. Avoid twisting. No low toilet seats…”

“Raised toilet seat? Don’t worry, as I said yesterday. I’ve been talking about it with a friend; I’ll install the thing pronto when we get back.” She salutes with a chuckle.

“You better, or I’ll be stuck on there without your help.” Ava laughs. “I’ll need it anyway, maybe. That's if you are sure?”

“I am.” Beatrice is more than sure. And says as much with a little sway to Ava’s worried self.

“I’m going to need to do flipping sponge baths to not get the incision wet. I can do that myself; don’t worry.” Ava scratches her eyebrow uncomfortably.

“I’ll just be there if you need me.” She assures.

“Hmm, it would've been hard with the stairs back at my parents house, to be fair. So this, um, does mean a lot, Bea. Thank you.” Ava slows her pace.

“You’re welcome.” Beatrice starts to as well until they both stop and sit on the sand together. Legs outstretched, hands behind them, watching the waves.

“I’m glad we came here. I needed it.” Ava breathes in the clean air.

“Me too.” Beatrice follows. Her usual meditation to clear her mind has absolutely not been used of late, as she lost her centre. “Are you still planning on dyeing your hair blue?” She muses lightly.

Ava snorts, “I was only getting it fully blue for your wedding. Might get it done at the ends still at some point.”

“In protest against my fiancée, yeah, I remember. Sad I never saw it, to be honest. Would’ve been something.” She watches the waves hit the shore, calm as she has been since arriving in Australia.

“I’d have done it; I wouldn’t have cared how it looked. You deserved blue at your wedding. Not some stupid brooch. Still pisses me off to think about. Wonder how Sandra would’ve controlled the catering.” Ava reminds her of Sandra, and Beatrice would rather not think of her. She soured quickly on that woman.

“Davide would've been a nice father-in-law, though. I promised him and Sandra I wouldn’t hurt Zori.” She saddens. But doesn’t at the same time. Zori broke things.

“She hurt you, Bea.”

“She did. Sorry that I ever made you think I was seriously thinking of going back to her.” She apologises again, feeling she needs to over and over.

“It’s okay. I… I just missed you. We were in the same rooms, but I felt you weren’t with me anymore. It really…” Ava labours a sad breath. “Hurt. It did after Rafael. Promise me you won’t cut me out like that again. It’s horrible.”

She feels shittier again. She offers Ava her hand, facing upward on her own thigh.

Ava hesitates but just for a moment as her fingers wrap around Beatrice’s palm and hold tight. She inches close so her hip touches Ava’s and gives the most determined look she can to Ava, a little sunburnt and smelling of sun cream too underneath her sunhat.

“Never again. I promise.”

Ava smiles. Eyes having lost the childlike wonder she just had with the quokkas. “You swear?” Ava’s voice breaks, and the ache of guilt pangs again, harder than ever for Beatrice.

She hurt Ava. Badly. Acting like that towards her. She’s angry at herself over it and guilty, and she’ll never ever do it again.

She shakes her head determinedly and squeezes Ava’s hand. Ava’s bracelet of her mom’s touching Beatrice on her wrist. “Never ever again.” She vows to Ava’s hurt eyes.

“Okay.” Ava hitches a breath and wistfully stares at the waves again. “I need you, BumbleBea. It felt like I was losing you. I felt it twice on this trip. I can’t feel that again. I can’t.” Ava’s voice doesn’t stop shaking. Beatrice doesn’t stop hating herself for causing it.

“I let you down, I know. I won’t again.” She wraps her arm around Ava, and Ava’s head falls on her shoulder, trusting that Beatrice won’t break that trust again. She won’t.

Ava hopefully believes that as she quietens, they watch the waves silently for a while. Together. No one else. Just two childhood friends after a trying time on their friendship and more.

She thinks of changing the subject if she talks again. She doesn’t for a while, though. She just listens to the sea. Feels the warmth of Ava. The touch of her arm against her palm and fingers. The sun on her back.

“Mario told me something I can’t believe I didn’t think about at the time.” Ava breaks the silence, sounding lighter again.

“What did he say?”

“That a secret relationship would’ve been hot and I should’ve just done that with you. I wanted it; you wanted it at the time. We would’ve had fun rather than what happened.”

“I know, right!?” Beatrice emphatically proclaims immediately. It really would’ve been hot. “I was so up for it!” She laughs.

“Mmm. Maybe an error on my part.” Ava concedes with a small laugh. “You uh wanna know more about what it was like with Crimson and Rafael?”

That catches Beatrice off guard, but Ava never talked about her sex life before this trip. Is it awkward after everything recently? Potentially, but she can’t say she isn’t intrigued about it all still.

She goes a little pink. “Why’d you wanna tell me about that?”

“Just something I’d like to open up with you on, I guess, rather than you accidentally reading it or getting told it by someone.”

She gets it. It could easily happen, yes. “So, uh, like, what do you want to tell me?”

“Rafael, unfortunately, was a bit dim, bless him or not. He hurt Mario. I know it sounds crazy maybe, but I think deep down he’s not an awful guy, or maybe that’s just how he was with me. I think he does love me in his own way. He was aware of my injury when we were together again. Crimson literally just loved the sex; she was in love with the sex we all had together, but I think he was different.”

“Did you feel something with him then? Beyond sex?” She wonders.

“No, no. He just knew not to get too carried away like her. Not a great endorsement, really; she took it far sometimes. Like, once she slapped me so hard I couldn’t believe it. He’d never done that. But, uh, I still liked it. It was all so fucked up, and now the whole world knows about it.” Ava despairs with a long groan.

“Think we went over this. It’s not fucked up. It’s just that if you… um, did sex like that or to a lesser degree again, it would be safer with someone that loves you. If it were me, I…” Fuck, she shouldn’t have said that.

“Go on.” Ava wants to know with a playful tone.

Beatrice doesn’t hesitate in answering. “I’d ask you beforehand what you were okay with. I’d never do something that surprised in a…bad way.” She adds with a little dark energy. Eventually she wants the chance with Ava. She wants it like she wants oxygen for her lungs to breathe in.

“Hm, sounds…interesting.” Ava lets that word fall out of her lips in such an intentionally sensual way it stirs Beatrice. She’ll be tested, she knows, with Ava. She wants her, but when she’s ready and when she feels more sure of Ava – but fuck, she does want her.

She decides to be a little bold. She whispers with a sultry tone she hasn’t used before against Ava’s hair. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Ava lifts her head off Beatrice and her shoulder. She travels so close to Beatrice’s ear. Her lips inches from the shell of it. So close, Beatrice anticipates it with goosebumps over her skin. “I don’t know if you could handle me like I’d like. I don’t think you have it in you. You’ll…” Ava kisses. Beatrice holds back a whimper as she jerks at the slightest of touches. “Have to prove me wrong someday…baby.” That one word. One pet name so silky and lusciously done into her ear does something. It’s intense. Beatrice feels herself sink into the sand. Her eyes go up to her head in shivering arousal. Zori called her that, but from Ava... it does something Beatrice dizzies at hearing.

She has the unbearable urge to prove Ava wrong. It’s desperate. She can be a dominant like Ava desires. She can.

Fuck that word. She won’t forget hearing it like that. She won’t forget the second kiss, so unbelievably light it’s barely there at all. A teaser. Ava teases her. With a shuddering kiss Beatrice will dream of having more of and on her lips again. When that'll be, she doesn't know, as Ava decides to rest back on the sand with a contented, cheeky sigh. But she knows she wants it.

Chapter Text

With the surgery underway after fear made Ava shake with nerves beforehand as Bea stroked her face and tried to soothe her with gentle words and a parting kiss on the forehead. Ava’s now unconscious. Knocked out. Of all the words for Ava’s current state. Those two are the simplest.

She falls into dreams of kangaroos and quokkas and Bea. She falls more into her past, into Rafael and Crimson. The numerous times shared and commanded by Crimson.

“Beg me.” Crimson’s dominant voice echoes. Her face unmoving above but with clear, frantic, intense desire down at her. Fingers inside where Ava desired them to be.

“Please.” She begged. Needy. Desperate. Then a slap on the cheek and squish of them straight after with hardness.

Aggressively and in command, Crimson licked her teeth as she grinned at how submissive she had made Ava. Both of them in a bed after some random tournament in Belgium. “Beg.”

“Please.” She gripped the sheets and begged once more. Another slap. Quick and sharp and stinging, and then another hard squish of her cheeks. Fingers moved in to Ava's clit. She could feel the roughness of Crimson pushed inside. So much pleasure. The need Ava wanted was satisfied.

The dream flows into somewhere else. Grey filling Ava’s view. Then a vibration. Her shoes rest on something hard. Metallic. Quickly she feels more. A hard back of a seat. A view outside a window of total darkness, almost. She squints her eyes to see if she is moving. She encounters dry land zooming past her. Cactus and long distant mountains shrouded by darkness in the distance.

“Hey.”

“Fuck!” Ava jumps to the voice beside her suddenly. It’s a coach she’s on, and next to her is Lucia? What in the world of fuck? She hasn’t seen Bea’s first girlfriend for like a decade, but here she is, casually sitting next to Ava on a coach ride. One leg crossed over the other and in a long overcoat. Close to Ava’s own age. Hair still curly black. A calm expression on her face.

Lucia licks her lips with a small grin to match. “Long time no see.”

Ava clutches her top—her chest—utterly confused and recovering from the shock. “Lucia?”

“The one and only, Silva.” Lucia winks.

Ava looks around. No one else is here in this dimly lit coach in any of the seats in any of the separate aisles. Just Ava and Lucia, a combination Ava never thought she’d experience again or never really did experience other than a few times for long.

“Where are we? Or where are we going?” Ava settles—looking for anyone around but them.

Lucia shifts back to her calm, neutral expression. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Ava quirks a brow.

“No clue.” Lucia makes a pop with her lips nonplussed. “This is your rodeo; I’m just along for the ride.”

“My rodeo?” Ava doesn’t understand. Her hands are fidgety in her lap.

“Mmm hmm. All yours.”

“Last I saw you, you…”

“Broke Bea’s heart, I remember.” Lucia stays the same. Ava remembers Lucia more now. She forgot about Bea’s first relationship the night or whatever it was after Bea saved her from Crimson. Lucia wasn’t out. They were in college, and it ended. Ava forgets how it ended. Bea never told her. But it ended, and Lucia hurt Bea in the process.

Lucia was never out. Like Ava has been forced to be. She didn’t wanna be out like Bea.

“I don’t think you broke her heart, Lucia.” She doubts it was that deep. (Don’t go there. She feels this tiredness inside when she thinks of men at the moment. Bea is all she desires.)

“Why am I here, Ava?”

“You tell me.” Ava scoffs a half laugh. Baffled by this encounter. All of this, in fact.

“I’m sure you have some idea.” Lucia suggests and maybe Ava does know. “So you had a threesome? Can’t say I’m not surprised.” Lucia laughs, vexing a bit. “You could be an eccentric; you probably still are, aren’t you?”

Ava sheepishly turns to the front of the coach. “Is that why you’re here? To have a jab at me like everyone else?”

“You have nothing to be ashamed of. You know it. I know it, which is you, and you know it. So you know times two.” Lucia quips.

Ava questions with her eyes at Lucia’s side profile. “I wasn’t ashamed of it. I loved it. I won't say I didn't. It’s just other people who are trying to make me now. Crimson had the story released, and now it’s out there for anyone to judge in whatever way, but I wasn’t and am not ashamed.” She says with truth laced in every word.

Lucia hums. A slight small thing. “You got through the affair scandal; you’ll get through this. You can’t say you don’t have experience with people judging you. Mocking you. You’re stronger than you think.”

“Bea never told me why you didn’t want to be with her anymore.” She never did. She’s the open one, but she never did on that front.

“Think you can put two and two together?” Lucia insists, and yes, Ava thinks she can connect the dots.

“You hated yourself? Or you were scared?” It hits close to home as she asks.

“What’s more scary? Not embracing something you’ll regret not embracing and living with that or loving your best friend and not giving a shit about who knows?”

“You say that so easily. I may be out now, but it's still scary as hell for me to be expressive like that." Ava lays her head back on the seat behind her. Arms crossed. With fear over being Bea’s fully eventually still there and not going anywhere.

“I know.” Lucia sighs. “But you know your own heart. She wants it. You want it. It could take months or weeks or days, but you know what you want. You'll find your moment."

She does know. She does. Bea with anyone not her and Ava herself with anyone not Bea feels so wrong to Ava now. It was a dream she thought she’d never have, but it’s going to happen. She’s had to have time to accept that. She still has fears. A lot of fears.

Fears of what would happen if Bea and she broke up and how Bea would be then. Would it be too strained? Too awkward? Would a lifelong friendship be stopped because they went for it with each other? Bea icing her out scares her even more about that.

But she wants it. She wants it too much. She longs for Bea and her first time together with her.

The coach grinds to a halt, jolting Ava from her smile, thinking of Bea.

“This is your stop.”

“It is?” She turns to Lucia, but…she’s gone. She searches the coach but doesn’t find her.

She never imagined being sad to see the back of Lucia. She was never a fan of her, but Bea liked her. Dated her.

“Lucia?” She grips the top of her seat but no one. This is her stop, Lucia said. So she stands and walks to the end of the bus, waiting for something to happen.

“Darling?” Bea’s voice smooth and quiet swoons Ava to it.

“Bea?” The coach fades. A white glare hits Ava’s fluttering eyes as she’s met with so much grogginess and discomfort. She feels confusion, a disorientated feeling.

She feels a hand slide up and down over her cheek. “Told you you’d be fine, silly.”

“Mm.” She groans and sees Bea’s smile. Her sun-kissed face freckled as always. Home. She sees home. Always has been. She shimmers in Ava’s weary eyes. She’s safe. Bea’s here.

Bea wouldn’t leave her if things went south with them. She has faith in that. In them. They always find a way through difficult moments. They always do.

She tilts as much as she can in her moment of grogginess. To the warm palm and fingers that are going to take care of her. “BumbleBea.” She releases Bea’s name through her lips and smiles a tiny smile, a weak one, but she smiles, hoping this is real.

Bea beautiful and where she promised she’d be when Ava awoke, strokes Ava’s cheek with warmth, a stabilising touch. “Aviebug. I’ll get the nurse, but how’d you feel?”

Ava soothes because of Bea’s hand. “I’m okay; promise me we’ll never not be in each other’s lives. No matter what.”

Bea slants her head, smirking with the corner of her lips. Amusement in her eyes as well as understanding. “No matter what.” She whispers and leans down to press her forehead against Ava’s. The blueberry smell faint on Bea filling Ava’s senses.

“I saw Lucia in my dreams.” She closes her eyes. Being grounded by this.

“That's random, isn't it?” Bea muses with a chuckle.

"I don’t think it was 'no'." She disagrees. Lucia wasn’t out with Bea but Ava would like to find the courage to be after a while whenever they do find their moment to be together. Whenever Bea is ready.

Bea presses two wet lips to Ava's nose. "You somehow manage to pull off your post-surgery look, darling." Bea tuts, and Ava hangs on her every word. It feels so different for Bea to call her darling, but she's starting to adore it. Or she did as soon as Bea did it for the first time.

"There's no more perfect a thing than waking up to you…" She enjoys this before she even says the word. "Baby." She whispers like silk, and Bea's small and affected breaths are addictive. She wants more.

Chapter Text

Pushing Ava into her apartment, it's time to get Ava straight to bed. Ava’s a bit woozy still after a few days in hospital. It was challenging for Ava post-op. She had to start moving soon after with the aid of physiotherapists, and she’ll have to continue those exercises at home, but she was nauseous and was sick a few times, and the incision site had bothered her before some more medication eased that post-surgery. And after all that, she’s, of course, tired. It was an ordeal. Beatrice has everything she needs to aid Ava’s recovery in terms of information supplied by Ava’s doctor, but first things first. Sleep. In Ava’s own bed. Not a hospital one with a lack of privacy from nurses or anyone else.

She closes the door after Ava’s been pushed in and returns to Ava and crouches down in front of her. Fretting, knowing she’ll have to play the role of nurse for Ava for the next period of time. A job she’s only too happy to have in Ava’s home.

She lays her hand on Ava’s knee, stroking Ava with her thumb, and sees Ava’s clonked out again. Head slumped. Heffalump in her arms and wearing a shirt with a sloth on the front holding a mug of coffee saying, ‘Not To Brag But I Totally Got Out Of Bed This Morning’

A silly shirt for a silly person who’s hopefully, after her rehab, not going to have any more drama around her for a while. Though it is Ava, and when she’s finally free of feeling any pain, she’ll probably have another adventure of some kind to get wrapped up in. Not like the previous Crimson one but an adventure of some sort. Beatrice wants to be there for it, whatever it is beyond tennis.

Ava won’t be playing tennis for a long while, and yes, Beatrice will, but maybe... she hopes Ava can still join her when she goes abroad. If…Ava wants that, she’d love that. Just keep travelling together as they have for so long in what’s become the norm.

She faintly moves some hair out of the way of Ava’s sleeping face behind her ear. She has a spout of mischief seeing Ava this way. She’s seen this look a lot, but Ava’s not in the most flattering of places right now. She’ll hate it if Beatrice takes some pics and keeps it as a screensaver on her phone.

She grabs her phone from her back pocket and takes some drooling Ava pics to tease the Heffalump mother that is Ava later.

“Trix.” Ava mumbles in her sleep.

Ava’s stirring, so she heads back around Ava’s wheelchair and pushes the knocked-out goofball toward her bedroom. There are still boxes upon boxes of Beatrice’s things in the guest room she has to sort out, but other than that, despite Ava being categorised as an all-over-the-place type of person her apartment is always tidy.

Her front room with its white L-shaped couch on top of a black and white striped rug over an oak flooring is never messy. Ava’s living room just oozes Ava, despite the fact it’s so against Ava’s personality sometimes. The flowers propped up at the centre window of three are the TV so close to the couch on the adjacent white wall is—Ava’s small kitchen ahead of Beatrice as she approaches Ava’s room along the pathway, with narrow walls and pictures of Ava and Beatrice and Ava’s parents on the walls. Ava’s home is uniquely Ava. It smells of Ava. It’s just Ava.

An Ava that Beatrice is still kicking herself for blocking out like she did.

She makes the turn into Ava’s room. Blood orange walls. Clothes cupboard by the door. A diffuser by Ava’s bed on the side table fills the room with milky honey beside the window Ava looks out of every morning when she awakens. It’s all Ava, and Ava needs to sleep in her safe space, not in a hospital room that felt so hollow and cold.

She wheels patient Ava in towards the side of the bed and stops there. “Please don’t go.” Ava weakly mumbles.

Beatrice smiles for a moment, but she feels an ache inside as she sweeps around Ava’s wheelchair to move the covers for Ava to just fall into and sleep under. She’s promised Ava they’ll never not be in each other’s lives, and that’s what she’s always wanted too, but the fact Ava had to ask her to promise that crushes her.

She feels like she’s maybe lost Ava’s trust. Especially when it comes to a future relationship. They both aren’t ready for it, but in something like that it feels like that for Beatrice. She’s unsure, and Ava is too. They both are of each other. The I love you's’s are said with the deeper meaning now, and the kisses are one of more with Ava and Ava with her, but that remains true.

She doesn’t think Ava trusts her anymore to be more with her. Maybe it’s a thing that’s in her own head, but she feels it like she feels a doubt over Ava ever being ready for them. She shut down on Ava, and a relationship of her doing that isn’t ever going to work.

She smooths out the bed sheet for Ava and grabs a few pillows from the other side. Ava has a big bed just for one, just how she likes it. A big bed to stretch in.

Ava needs some pillows for her legs to be between her legs for comfort for her, so Beatrice gets them set up for her.

“Okay. Next up, Ava.” She sighs and pushes her hair back over her head once finished. Before she returns to Ava. One arm underneath Ava’s legs. A hand slid onto her lower back.

She takes a moment and then slowly lifts Ava up into her arms. Ava feels as weak and tired as she looks. Ava’s cheek rests against Beatrice’s chest soon after. Ava’s hand fists in her shirt as she groans at the movement. It’s a precious thing, this. Right here. To be allowed to care for Ava in her moment of need. She doesn’t like to be weak or a burden she sees in her eyes. But Ava is never ever a burden. She deserves to be looked after.

She cradles Ava just for a moment. Watches her against her chest. Weakening and feeling a tug in her heart for the adorable sight of Ava like this. Seeing her wispy hair fall into her eyes. Her shallow breath as she rests her eyes in sleep.

It’s bothered Ava a lot – the tabloids and friends she thought were friends showing themselves not to be, like with the affair.

She has nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing at all, and this has only shown Ava who her true friends are, if anything.

“You're perfect.” She whispers, places a kiss on Ava’s forehead – something she’s doing a lot with Ava even after everything – and heads over to lay Ava down in bed. “I don’t care how many times I have to promise I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll keep promising.” She grins at her own words. “I promise that too.”

She’s kissing Ava so much she’s forgetting what it was like to not kiss Ava often like she is. Not on the lips but on her cheeks, her nose, and her forehead, she’s kissing. She can’t make herself stop. She doesn’t want to. Ava does the same back. Unspoken since Australia, but they're still there and happening regardless of their words. To say they need time.

She covers Ava with the duvet and makes sure Ava’s heffalump is under her arm. She wishes she could do more. Protect Ava from people. Protect her from people that judge her for the affair that never happened, the threesome, and polyamory both. Some are just idiots behind screens, but others, like Ava’s friends or old friends rather now, hit deep. They know her, and yet after this, they’ve lost respect for her, which is absolutely ridiculous.

She feels a little lightheaded all of a sudden. Never enjoyed hospitals; they always make her feel uneasy.

She hasn’t slept next to Ava since she settled in. She wants to, like, really really want to. But she didn’t want to cross the boundary of friends in that way, at least again for now.

She misses it. She did it before with Ava, but it means more now. To sleep next to Ava. They’ve always snuggled even as friends, which, yes, she knows sounds like they’ve always been heading this way, but it’s just… okay, it sounds like it sounds the more she thinks about it. She and Ava have always been very close in that way. It’s just Ava was straight to her, and outwardly Ava was. Do friends snuggle like they have for all these years?

Not able to hold the need in for it again, she gets into bed herself just for a moment. Just lay down after a long day next to Ava. She lets a tired breath flow free and closes her eyes. She's hated leaving Ava in that hospital for the last few days. She got home to Ava’s and slept. That was it. She didn’t want to linger for long, knowing Ava needed her to be by her side, giving support.

“Mm.” Ava moans out in her dreary state.

Beatrice opens her eyes again to see if anything’s wrong as Ava ruffles the covers, moving, but she’s encased in an arm of Ava’s over her midriff shortly after. Ava’s nose touches her shoulder. It swells her. To feel this. To be in bed with Ava again. It feels too natural. Too right.

She slithers her fingers onto Ava’s arm wrapped around her and holds. Ava’s home. Back in her safe place.

“Love you, Bea.” Words slip out of Ava. “I missed this.”

She kisses Ava’s hair, smiling with gentle lips. “Love you too.” She inhales, relaxing next to a more awake Ava. “And me too. It’s felt weird not sleeping next to someone after Z.”

“Why did you and Lucia break up? You never told me.” Ava’s random woozy question brings back an old wound again.

She thinks of a little teasing answer to push it back. “She asked me to have a threesome with Nico. I told her, Babe, I’m a lesbian, not bi.”

Ava snorts. “You know it’s not nice to tease a patient, nurse.”

“I know.” She flicks a smile but answers truthfully this time. Remembering the pain. “She told me we were just an experiment for her. She…” she stutters at this part of it. It was around the same time when her parents were separating.

She felt forgotten. They weren’t happy, and it spilt out into how they were with her. It was like she was an inconvenience to them in the bitterness of it all.

“I guess I clung too hard to her. Pressured her too in the end. She’s probably why I became closed off that year.” She shuts her eyes again, remembering and remembering. She pictures Lucia. Her youthful cunning exuberance. She was a firecracker. Her first.

“Was she just scared of being out like me? Why didn’t you tell me I could’ve…”

“I didn’t want to. You were always my life raft away from things that weren’t us.” She answers, interrupting.

“Did she say it in a cruel way?” Ava squeezes her weakly comforting. Plopping her Heffalump on to Beatrice’s chest.

She bites her gums a little, then scoffs, thinking about it. “Yes, it was Chanel’s birthday. You know the time Lisa puked…”

“In the swimming pool.” Ava recalls in faint amusement.

“Yeah, well, I went to get us drinks – me and you, not Lucia – and she was there. I didn’t know she had come. She wasn’t keen on it beforehand, but then poof. Relationship over. I was an experiment. She told me she had started seeing someone. A guy. Maybe she was scared, yes, but she never told me that, and before I knew it, she had left college. No explanation, just that was it.” A painful memory is let go of, and it feels good to do.

“Sorry, Bea. That’s awful.” Ava rubs her arm softly like her voice.

“I’ve not had a great track record with relationships, it seems.” She says some self-deprecating words that are true. It really doesn’t bode well for anything with Ava.

“Me too. Doesn’t mean we can’t do better…for each other?”

“Yeah.” She echoes. That makes Beatrice so happy. To hear Ava say that. When the time is right. Not now. But them being open and not holding things back. Sharing fears or doubts can only be a good thing.

Chapter Text

With Ava taking a nap after doing some exercises she didn’t enjoy but needed to do to continue to aid her in regaining strength in the operated-on hip and flexibility and general mobility. Beatrice relaxes with Ava’s head on her lap on Ava’s couch, watching what else but tennis. It’s the Indian Wells WTA event in the singles.

Zori’s competing.

Things aren’t how they were with Zori, as she’s told Ava, who she faintly delicately moves some of her hairs behind her ear as she rests on her non-operated-on side facing Beatrice while Beatrice has her legs rested on the table ahead of the couch.

It’s been a week post Ava's operation, and it’s been equal parts a pleasure to aid Ava in tasks like maintaining incision hygiene and helping her plop her silly butt on a toilet seat to use the loo or being on hand if Ava needed help when she bathed, but specifically not her hip, but it has felt odd still for Beatrice. She’s very much still adjusting to her new status quo post Zori.

Change when the routine has been set with something. Is always this way. It feels a little alien.

Nothing to do with Ava, and looking after her has kept her mind off it, but it’s just felt really not her routine.

She definitely was rushing things with Ava back in Australia; she sees and accepts that. She needed this time of quiet and no drama. Just to sit on things for a while. Reflect. Take it in. Accept it. Let it properly sink in. Not head into a relationship back to back like she was thinking of doing.

That simply was the wrong thing to have wanted to do.

But in another reality she’d be with Zori in the Bahamas right now. Enjoying her newfound status with her wife. A thing that would’ve been nice to experience at the time only for it later to end when something happened to make her see Zori and her would never be right.

A lot of pain was avoided.

Still, there’s pain, but not to the same extent a divorce would bring. She’s already thought this, but she’s pictured it more over this time. It would’ve been awful. And not something Beatrice would’ve gotten through easily.

She hates divorce. Her own parents one made sure of it.

Zori has accepted things, but when Beatrice came over for the last of her things, she said she’s not done fighting to get back together. In spite of Ava. Which in itself again highlighted the issue again. She doesn’t listen to her. They were never a team.

Never equals and would’ve only gotten worse with Zori’s career about to skyrocket.

All of that doesn’t mean she’ll stop supporting Zori from afar. It’s not bitter anymore, albeit as Beatrice looks at Zori in all pink right now returning a serve at a competition she wasn’t going to play originally; as you know, the honeymoon still aches. She’s remembered the pain. The broken trust. The embarrassment and emotional distress Zori caused her. She doubts they’ll be friends.

The laughs and easy talking over the phone weren’t natural. Beatrice felt heavy during them.

Not friends but a distant fondness for a person she wanted to marry. She hopes she wins slams and has the career she dreams of. Just Beatrice won’t be a part of it. Near it or Zori.

Zori hits a forehand wide. “Out!” The line judge shouts on the TV.

“Come on! What was that!?” Zori shouts at herself and uses her rackets against her heel to smash it. “Stupid!”

Toxic.

It inevitably takes Beatrice back to the semi-final. Sandra’s in Zori’s box with Steven and Davide. She wonders if Sandra will be as flippant about Zori being the way she was with Beatrice if she receives the same tirade sometime.

Beatrice won’t be there to find out if she does. Frankly, she doesn’t care.

Maybe Zori will make it, but maybe her attitude that Beatrice didn’t see like this so plainly – will stop her from winning. Perhaps it will.

She won’t take advice, and that is a recipe for non-success, other than maybe if she has the raw ability and drive all by herself and her own beliefs.

She feels a little touch on her hip. She’s in leggings, and she may or may not have been wearing clothing of tightness of late purposefully.

Has she noticed Ava become more and more red when she sees her in them? Has she seen Ava’s breath hitch a little whenever she picks Ava up like she weighs nothing to her?

She grins at the TV. Maybe.

She’s definitely been growing in her admiring of Ava like that again after her poor behaviour in Melbourne distorted those feelings. How she feels in her arms.

She’s freely imagining Ava and her together. Craving it again and again like she did in Australia. How Ava’s breast would feel in her mouth and how Ava would look when she showed her the other side of herself more. Darker, lustful and commanding.

Every person is different and unique. Every person's centre is there own with their own triggers and sweet spots. Zori had her own skill set and her own kinks. She enjoyed things that Ava might not. It’ll be exploratory and exciting.

Whenever that is, of course. In the future.

She feels Ava’s fingers twiddle the fabric of her leggings. Trailing along to touch a little of her butt sat like this. “You touching my butt right now? Ava, how scandalous! We’re best friends! You can’t do that!” She mocks scandal.

Hm. No reply. Just a quiet Ava, eyes closed, feigning sleep with a tank top on that makes her always-great breasts look great below her. What would it look like to see these breasts spill out of this clothing for her? It would be angelic. Cupping them. Sucking them would be.

She pinches her lips together, narrowing her eyes down at the recovering goofy goof. Watching for any flicker of a movement on Ava’s lips. “You’re awake; you can’t fool me, missy.”

Ava’s lips do a little slight teeny-tiny curve upward.

“Aha! You’re not asleep. I think you exaggerated how tiring your exercises were to have me like this, didn’t you?” She points down at Ava and then pokes her squishy cheek. “Does this remind you of your dream? You know when you poked Nico’s shoulder? This could be one too. I might be Winnie the Pooh as well.” She, laced with mischief, readies to do a squeaky voice. “Ava! It’s me, Winnie the Pooh! Baby? What’s the matter?”

She pokes her nose against Ava’s cheek. Over and over, like a chicken pecking at some feed. Ava stays strong. Not for long.

“What’s wrong!? Baby!? It’s me!? Bop Bop Bop.” She repeats her nose pecking. “I wuv you, Avaliciious; you did so well in your exercises today. Why won’t you react to me? You’re touching my butt; can I touch yours?” She doesn’t even try to hold in her smile. She lets it fill her face.

She feels Ava shake. Oh, and she definitely feels Ava’s cheek move in a smile she can’t hold back. The nose pecking turns to kisses. She can’t stop herself. In the exhilaration of it. Of being silly with her best friend. Of being so much more to come.

“Bea! Okay! Okay! I’m awake!” Ava laughs, finally giving in. Always a perfect sound. Beatrice keeps kissing and kissing and kissing a little bit more. She feels the addictive feeling of it again.

She wants lips. Her body reverberates with a tingling sensation in the needing of them. But kissing this smiling, shaking cheek is heavenly all by itself. They’re friends that are very affectionate now. Such good friends.

Ava lightens her laughter; fingers become a whole hand sneaking its way between the couch and Beatrice’s ass. She feels this too. She thinks. Beatrice knows Ava, but she doesn’t read minds.

She rests a hand on Ava’s arm, then her forehead against Ava’s temple. Slowing everything. She flicks a smile, thinking of Ava’s surprise of ocean blue lilies yesterday.

She came into the kitchen and saw Ava in her wheelchair in a Grumpy Cat shirt being all adorable with her hair down and a nervous smile on her lips. With the lilies on her lap and a Heffalump new and for her.

“What’s this?” She said with a little adoring laugh and a swell sweet and for Ava within.

“I just wanted to thank you for taking care of me.” Ava laughed nervously at her lap with shyness. “I know it’s not much, but I just wanted you to know how much you being here for me means to me.”

Emotional was an understatement as she listened and knelt down to gather her lilies, smelling there smell she loves. “Mm, my fave; however, did you know?” She fluttered her eyes at Ava, and her heart did too.

Ava eye-rolled, and the severe pinkness in her cheeks around her was worth the flutter and then some. “Don’t make fun. Here’s your Heffalump, Trixie.”

She felt tears in her eyes at the gesture. She took her Heffalump and gave her a kiss on the trunk. “Why, thank you, Avazilla. I’ll treasure her always, I promise.”

Ava beamed. “I… you’re welcome. I want to do this right with us. I…yeah.” Ava said, breathing nervously, unbearably cutely.

She hummed. “I want to as well.” She laid a hand on Ava’s knee. Ava’s eyes smiling, her cheeks straining with her pinkness in them melting a hole in Beatrice so deep and longing. And a moment later Ava’s hand lay on hers.

Ava looked into her eyes, and she looked into Ava’s. No words but a mutual burning desire to get this right.

And back to the moment right now, Beatrice feels that again. “Thank you for the blue lilies, darling. You needn’t. I…”

“I did. You deserve it, baby. I wanna woo you. Make you feel special. Because you are. I’ve never had a relationship that’s meant anything before, and I want to start it with you not having any doubts about me.” Ava tickles her fingertips to Beatrice’s loving up under her top against the skin of her lower back.

Beatrice raises her head to see Ava again. Affected by the use of baby easily. She sees glistening eyes. Nothing but genuineness.

“Woo me? Mm.” She tilts her head with a smirk, liking the sound of that. “What if I woo back? I can court my girl; I can court her pants off.” She wiggles her brows, but along with Ava’s faint smile, she notices Ava’s eyes widen. “You like me calling you mine, do you?”

Ava nods, and a little tiny glimpse into what Crimson might’ve seen Beatrice now sees. Well, she’s not Crimson. Nothing like her, but she can see the allure of Ava like this. Pink-cheeked and gagged and wide-eyed and a submissive.

It won’t be like Crimson, and submissive isn’t a term Beatrice really likes, but she can easily be what Ava needs, as she’s already thought. Take the lead. Unlike with Crimson, though, if Ava wants to lead, she can take the lead. But God, she’d love to take the lead right now and rush in and kiss Ava’s lips again.

“Mmm hmm. Say it again. Please.” Ava begs?

Beatrice licks her lips a little. Her pulse increasing. “You’re my girl.” She caresses Ava’s cheek with her thumb.

Just her and Ava and another moment of closeness over so many recently with the knowledge of them being real. Ava’s cheeks are so hot it warms Beatrice’s hand.

She has a little thought that’s been bugging her. “You know I’ve been thinking about me not telling you about Lucia?”

Ava blinks at the topic change, but what her eyes want is an alluring view. There’s a buzz inside to kiss Ava. Just a primal need.

“What about her? You’re not thinking of calling her up and getting with her, are you, BumbleBea?” Ava tries to be playful – emphasis on tries – as her breathing stays shallow.

“Nope.” She kisses Ava’s forehead. Such great friends.

It’s really quite special to be such a close friend with Ava. So special.

“Mm.” Ava whimpers. She really is a bottom. Ava the bottom. Ava Bottom. She’ll enjoy that name.

“No, I was thinking how it was kind of hypocritical of me with being so pushy about you and Rafael and Crimson when I had my own relationship I was closed off about how it ended. Its…”

“No, Bea.” Ava shakes her head, denying. “It’s a lot different; you were open about that with me for the most part; it’s just the end with her that you understandably felt too hurt to share. You’ve always been open with me, till Australia. I totally blocked that side of myself from you. It’s very different. Even before Raf and Crimson I was, and that wasn’t something I should have done.“ Ava slows. Her eyes narrow in on Beatrice’s lips. “Fuck the world.”

“Hm?” She hums, confused by the random words, but it’s brief as Ava’s fingers crawl over the back of her neck and pull her downward; Beatrice follows the need. Her heart ceases. Her mind all on the next millisecond before the contact. Ava’s lipstick. Ava’s lips against hers. “Mm.” She’s the one to whimper this time as their lips smoosh.

She doesn’t know what this means. Doesn’t have to mean anything yet, but fuck, it feels so good. To meld herself with Ava. To taste the cherry on her lips. To feel her nose against hers. It’s felt like so long since she kissed Ava on their hotel room balcony, and this is more than that. It’s fierce. It’s needy. It’s quickly tongue. It’s teeth knocking. Ava wants her. She’s getting more and more comfortable with herself like this.

More confident when it’s just them. Beatrice gets smothered in the want of Ava. So smothered. Ava’s need holding her in place and Beatrice’s own keeping her even without that. “My girl.” She rasps for Ava’s pleasure to prod the lust in her. Can’t do more right now; it's not the right time, but she loves this; she soaks it in. Ava’s need. She’s covered in a wet, warm blanket of Ava’s lips. It’s blissful; it’s home; it’s one wanton of her Ava.

Ava taking the initiative like this means more than all the other kisses. Teeth are nipped into Beatrice’s lower lip. Beatrice’s breath hitches, so laser-focused on these teeth. Fuck, this is only going to make the craving more intense again.

“Shit!” Beatrice jumps at the shout from the TV. Zori’s angry voice and then a smash of her racket. But the effect of Ava’s ravaging of her lips is so hot and intense she can’t look for long.

Ava’s lips are redder. Her eyes once black for Rafael are black for her. “Zori shouting at you pissed me the fuck off, and it still does. Bitch didn’t see how special you are, and I don’t care if it’s bad to call her that. Come here, baby.” Ava pulls on her neck, and Beatrice follows with her heart racing like a jackrabbit and her mind going mushy. Fuck, she likes this version of Ava. She feels an intense volcanic burn in her tummy upon seeing it. Ava’s taking what she wants in the moment, and Beatrice is instantly addicted to it. Her whole body hums in the liking. Her lips tremble at being smothered.

She was addicted when she kissed Ava’s lips for the first time, but this is different; it’s Ava she hasn’t seen all that much. Directed at her. Pulling on her. Smothering her lips and sucking like she’s a drug she can’t get enough of. If Ava was well enough, she’d be pretty sure where this would go, and it’s frustrating. It’s for the best. Not ready and all. But it’s so good. So fucking good. To feel Ava’s desire.

Chapter Text

Tossing and turning Ava’s going to be uncomfortable for a while, but fuck, her dreams are not uncomfortable. Her desire for Bea is growing and growing, and if not for her body, she would’ve ravaged more than just her lips.

She imagines. She dreams. She pulsates with want for her bestie Bea. She feels this like it’s real. Is it not real? Ava doesn’t know. She’s too into this. Is there one, Bea? No, there are two. This may be a manifestation of Ava’s threesome experience, but two Bea’s? She isn’t complaining.

She's on her back. One Bea is on her side smugly; the other naked Bea is on top of her. Her clit hovering above her lips. Her sun-kissed thighs she’s never felt in this way. This Bea she's never seen be so dark and commanding above her. She sees Bea’s tits. Her abs. Her hands resting on her hips, about to lower herself to her.

“Please, I need you.” She hoarsely begs. It feels bad. Forbidden. Her best friend. But it isn’t bad. It’s perfect. Bea is perfect.

Bea licks her teeth. No soft smile. Just a dark grin, menacing and with nothing but desire. No hesitation. No, nothing but the want.

“Fuck Aves, you definitely like my pussy, don’t you?” Bea pants down in such a blunt, no dancing around the subject type of way.

Ava nods limply. “Yes, fuck yes, I love your tits, your clit—your everything. I love you so much. Fuck Zori. “

“Fuck her indeed, you little minx.” Bea pulls on Ava’s hair at her hairline, demanding. “Fuck me, be my good goof.”

She laughs with relish. “A goofy best friend that’s imagined this for so long.” She crawls her fingertips up Bea’s firm sides and…tug. She tugs Bea down to her. Bea’s breath is taken. Her hair bobs as she does it, and her boobs bounce. So hot. Bea. This is Bea. It’s not cold, abusive Crimson. It’s not Rafael. A man that yes, wasn’t like Crimson but still a piece of shit. It’s simply one hot Bea. She’s safe with. One Bea that she loves.

Nothing else. Just the Bea that looks beautiful like this and tastes instantly so good. She feels so good. Her ass is so plump in her hands. Finally in her hands after the teasing from Bea of late. It feels like so much more. She can’t describe it. She just feels more in tune with herself, more sensitive. Bea’s folds feel so different in her mouth. Her centre between with her tongue feels unlike anything else. It’s really Bea she’s licking and sucking and creating moans of pleasure from right now. Holy fuck, it’s Bea. The Bea she loves and always will love, be it as a friend or this. She promises to always love Bea.

Damn, she feels like breaking out into song against Bea’s clit, singing I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. Most, if not all, of the words would be muffled by Bea’s pussy, but it would make Bea laugh, and she loves making Bea laugh, of course.

She’s never laughed during sex before. Okay, maybe in dark lust, but like the way she laughs with Bea. She smiles into Bea’s folds at the thought of it. Squelching her mouth over Bea’s soft sex.

“Oh fuck, Aves, just like that. Don’t stop. Fuck yes.” Bea runs her hands into her hair going wild for this for Ava’s tongue and mouth at work. Ava’s only ever tasted Crimson. She was addictive in a demeaning way, a rough way. Bea is different; she tastes so sweet and safe, and her release tastes sweeter. This is really happening; fuck, it is. She’s wrecked for Bea’s clit. She loves it. God in heaven, she loves it so much she could cry.

Ava’s hip in her sleep bothers her, and she, in her unconscious uncomfortableness, groans half in lust but half in that as Ava’s world shifts.

Hands gripping bed sheets. Feeling ravaged by sex but needing more. She feels hands grip her hips and dig into her skin.

No.

She feels someone’s hardness go inside. She doesn’t want it to be Rafael or Nico. She doesn’t want to be like this with a man. She wants Bea.

“Darling, you’re so tight.”

She lights up. Her heart doing somersaults. Such an adrenaline rush and relief in equal measure make her feel close to coming. This cock did feel different. It’s a strap. Bea in a strap. What a sight that would be to see.

“Bea, it’s you.” She smiles so wide, so happy. She takes Bea. She loves how Bea moves into her, how her thighs start to gently slap into her own. The slapping noise driving her crazy.

“Yes, it’s me. Who else would it be? Winnie?” Bea makes fun of her, and it’s so perfect. She laughs tearfully happy, and it feels so weird to be like this in this sort of position. She’s close and on a cloud of bliss and close to an intense orgasm, but she’s so emotional in an amazing way.

“Oh my god, Bea, you’re going to make me cum. My best friend is going to make me cum.” She says it in disbelief and love. No despairing at Bea never being hers. Just that plain truth.

“I love your ass; I’ve always loved it.” Bea spanks her like Rafael and Crimson once did. She loves it. It’s different too. It makes her yelp and laugh. Not just lust. “Hold on. Lay down.” Bea demands, and Ava, with a dildo, full of Bea lets herself fall to the bed. She shivers as Bea’s breasts slide on her back. Bea does. Until she’s right behind her ear. She could come at just that. “You like my cock?” Bea says words Ava never thought she’d ever say to her.

She grins down at her pillow, but the grin is ripped from her lips as Bea’s everything pushes into her. “Fuck.” She rasps. Wow. Just wow. Bea goes so deep, and it feels so safe. So gentle, but also Bea’s in command, and she loves that.

“You’re my girl now. All mine.” Bea kisses Ava’s ear as she thrusts, and Ava jiggles with a wide-open mouth in heaven. It’s too good. Too shakingly good. Her toes curl. Those words. She loves those words. Bea’s girl. Bea’s darling. She loves it. She loves all of this.

“All yours.” She’s at the precipice, barely able to take a breath, feeling utterly filled with Bea. “I’m going to...”

“Cum for your girl?” Oh dear god, that sounds amazing too. Bea’s her person. Her woman. Her girl. Her partner. Too good. Too right.

“Yessss, Trixie, yessss.” She hisses at the thrusting back and forth so slick.

Bea nips Ava’s ear. “You know I hate Trixie; why do you still say it?”

She grins, taking Bea. Feeling Bea. “I’m always going to... shit... shit, yes, I’m always going to like teasing you, baby.”

That makes Bea growl. It makes her go fast. Ava comes, harder than she can remember coming for a person. Even Rafael and Crimson. She shakes with it. The powerfulness of Bea. She tangles her bare legs with Bea’s and doesn’t want her to stop. She takes Bea and that line, even thinking it is incredible. The bed creaks. Bea takes what’s hers and only hers now. Her girl. All Bea’s.

She opens her eyes drenched in sweat. On her back in bed, she feels the release was real. But she sees it was a stupid dream. She checks. “Oh shit.” She laughs when she sees she’s wrecked. She’s an utter mess. Her desire for it to be real is untameable, but she can’t for a few weeks. Until she’s further along in her rehab. But she needs it. It felt so good. The real thing will be better. She knows it will. She needs it. Soon. Or she’ll burst. They both need more time, but she needs it. She needs Bea. But…most of all she needs and misses sleeping next to Bea like she did in Australia. She wants that. More than sex. She wants to snuggle with her again. Be held by her in bed and drift beside her.

She flops back on her pillow, really wanting that so much. She wants Bea. A lot. She wants her like it’s breathing. That Lucia dream and the time just with Bea and shutting out her socials entirely and just experiencing life with just her and Bea has been such a joy. That kiss with Bea was everything. She saw Zori on TV and flickered with the hatred for her she’s had. She didn’t appreciate Bea. What sort of idiot doesn’t appreciate Bea?

She closes her eyes and imagines more. Her hip is uncomfortable, but compared to before the surgery, she’ll call this a heavenly uncomfortableness with pain meds too. She can’t wait to be better and not need crutches to walk. She can’t wait to do more for Bea. She can’t wait for Bea to, as she put it, “court her” too. She hasn’t done a lot, though, as she’s focused on her rehab. She wants to be bolder. Show Bea more.

Fuck it, she wants to dye her hair for Bea. It’ll be like this big statement. Bea did want to see her like that, so why not? She always got it blue at the ends when she was young, and it was always for Bea. She never told Bea but she did it because Bea liked blue and she liked her best friend. Her companion. It was for Bea.

She pictures herself in this bed as the one in the strap. She’s never used one before. Crimson was many things, and being possessive and demanding she be the only one to use the toy was one of them. She said. “I have Raffy for that; I don’t need it from you.” Which Ava hated her saying, but of course she was submissive and never really safe to be bolder with herself. She could with Bea. All of this with Bea excites her now that she’s letting it. Like she didn’t in Australia. She’s feeling ever so steadily more and more ready if she isn’t already. Maybe it’s the closed-off world she has with Bea that’s making her feel this way, but she is.

“Bea’s girl.” She whispers to herself with a smile, excited and blooming for Bea. She remembers slobbering over Crimson. Hungry and her first, but she wants it to be Bea. Will she ever feel as safe with a person as she will with Bea? No. Has she ever felt utterly safe during sex with a person?

She thinks and thinks of her experiences. No, she doesn’t think she’s ever felt fully safe. Post sex she’s never really snuggled with someone and talked about what she and the partner she was with just did. She could with Bea. She could, like, tell Bea what she liked and ask Bea what she liked most, or she could request a certain thing she hasn’t tried. That excites her too.

She recalls some of Crimson’s words post sex with her and Rafael. “Alright then, out with you. We’ll call for our next time.” It was so harsh and not with any consideration of her, but she thought it was hot too. To be belittled. A bit like Bea was with Zori in a different way. She and Bea have had a lot of experience with things that weren’t healthy for them both. Toxic relationships or hidden ones; she and Bea both know.

It would never be like that with Bea. Yes, she’s scared, and yes, Australia and Bea shutting down on her is a source of that fear, but Bea didn’t take long to come round. She talked with her. They know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable or dismissed or blocked, and they wanna do better for each other. They’re talking. In a way Ava just hasn’t been able to with others. Because of the history of knowing each other.

She wishes she could get up and go to Bea’s room. Slip in bed beside her, but she’s not enduring the strain of limping there right now. She’s found a spot in bed that’s the least uncomfortable.

She bites her lip, unable to get back to sleep with her heavily beating heart, and gets her phone from her side table. She loves seeing Bea and her on her home screen. It’s one of Bea and her next to a capybara smiling like idiots who love each other. Her head on Bea’s shoulder, dimpling a smile. Bea’s pulling a funny face and sticking her tongue out, doing the peace sign.

She scrolls down her photos through the years and goes through so many of Bea. Her photo album for every year is filled with Bea. Every month, every year, she has Bea take pictures with her wherever the place. Ava and Bea against the world.

She could call for Bea? No. Yes. No, yes? Call Bea to get her Bea butt in here.

“Bea! Help! I fell out of bed!” She calls and feels herself giddy as there’s instantly some movement.

“What!? I’m on my way!” Bea shouts like some sort of knight in shining Bea; was she awake too? Wanting to snuggle too?

Her door is opened quickly, and a windswept Bea in the Kanga shirt she got for Bea in Australia halts at the door, dishevelled from sleep. “You’re not on the floor.” Bea states the obvious with a little laugh.

Ava purses her lips, pulling her covers up to her nose, trying to be cute. “I’m cold. Can we snuggle again?”

Bea sees her want and rests against the doorway, squinting her eyes in a little standoff; Ava returns it. “And why, pray tell, are you not holding a Heffalump?”

She shakes her head and pouts. “No Heffalump is you, Bea. Need you for warmth, please. I’ll be your best friend?” She bats her lashes, seducing Bea to snuggle.

Bea wordlessly steps into the room and kicks the door shut. “And how ever can I refuse that sort of offer?”

“You can’t BumbleBea. Get your butt in bed now!” She harrumphs, wanting Bea. Then remembers she’s a mess right now.

Bea notices the hesitation. “What’s wrong, Goofy?” Bea glides across the room to the left side of the bed and stops with folded arms, playing a funny role.

“I might have just had a certain type of dream.” She blushes.

Bea cottons on. “And why ever would that put me off snuggling? Maybe I can…” Bea’s eyes widen. Ava’s heart stops.

“Maybe you can what?” She’s checked this, and she’s not allowed to resume sex for like 5 weeks. But what Bea was about to say made Ava feel dizzy. If she were well, she and Bea would go for it. They would’ve after their kiss today if not for it.

Bea’s confidence slips. “What was the dream about?” It comes back as she opens the covers and ruffles them as she gets under.

Ava wants to wiggle in happiness. She blushes harder but stays in this spot she’s found that’s comfortable. “Just a dream about Winnie.”

Bea raises a disbelieving brow as she gets settled and lies on her side. “You do have a kink for stuffed bears, then? Oh dear, I can’t consider getting involved with such a person. Bear kinks? No, no, darling, I have to draw the line at…” Bea trails off as Ava says fuck it and turns onto her side too. Her pillows are between her legs. She wants to kiss Bea again. In bed.

She runs a hand onto Bea’s hip. So firm but soft under her top. “I loved our kiss today.” She directs her gaze to Bea’s lips. Being obvious.

Bea darts her eyes to Ava’s. Her breath still. “I loved it too. Did you dream about me?”

“Yeah. It was so freaking hot, Bea.” She laughs a short, breathless laugh. It catches in her throat.

Bea cups Ava’s cheek. “Can I, um...?” Bea pats her lips. “No, I, uh—”

“What, Bea?” She whispers. So quiet. So intense. Seeing what Bea would like.

“I, uh...nothing want me to...” Ava takes the initiative. Claims Bea’s wrist and directs her hand low. “Aves I...”

“Don’t you want to?” She stops, being aware of Bea or trying to be.

Bea parts her lips, no words escaping. Ava stills Bea’s wrist in her palm.

“I do, but we shouldn’t.” Bea lets those words linger but inches as close as she can without touching Ava. Her eyes seem bigger. Her hesitation seems less.

Ava lets Bea’s wrist go. Bea just wanted to snuggle. She wants to. So she closes her eyes. Not saying anything. Anticipation filling her.

Bea kisses Ava’s nose. It’s sudden, and Ava jumps a little at it when she was expecting something. Soft and wet and brief. She feels her whole body again be attuned to Bea. The real Bea. “Guide me again.” Bea whispers like they aren’t alone and someone can hear if she doesn’t.

She opens her eyes. Quiet desire in Bea’s eyes but a need for Ava to take the lead. “Okay.” She follows the request and runs her fingers over Bea’s wrist, feeling her veins and her warm skin. “I’d never felt anything like it – you in my dreams. I felt so safe.” She lets her truth be free.

Bea lazily smiles for a moment, but then Ava’s guiding and Beatrice’s fingers go underneath Ava’s shorts. Ava lets out the faintest of gasps. Bea too. No words. intense and important.

Bea crawls her fingertips downward, and Ava runs her hand up her arm, needing this. She just came, and Bea feels it. She feels her cum she released for her. Bea’s pupils enlarge. Her lips part, wet and surprised, as she feels and travels. Until she stops on Ava’s soaked folds. Bea’s really touching her clit. Bea’s touching her, and Ava wants more. “You’re so wet.” Bea really says that. She really heaves for breath as she feels.

“For you, Bea.” She wants Bea but she can’t yet. They can do this, though.

Bea licks her lips. Gulps a little. “I’m actually touching your clit.” She laughs shortly like Ava did, but it catches as well. “What now?” Bea asks, unsure, and Ava has some ideas.

She guides Bea’s dampened fingers with hers and directs her out and up. She opens her mouth.

“Ava”. Bea utters it like it’s a Bible verse.

She takes Bea’s fingers, tasting herself. She takes two and wraps her warm lips over them. Loving Bea in this way. She slides her lips all the way to the bottom of Bea’s fingers, tasting herself. Salty and her own essence for Bea. She prefers how Bea’s fingers feel in her mouth to her own taste. She licks between them, never breaking eye contact.

Still doubt I’m bi, Bea? She thinks, and Bea must sense her words; as to Ava’s loss, she takes her fingers out. She directs them to her own mouth. Opening and then shutting over them tasting. “Mmm.” Bea tastes Ava. Where Ava’s lips were, now Beatrice has hers.

“How’d I taste?” She asks with a nervous smile.

Bea sucks. A view Ava wants In a different way with a strap or against her folds. She’d like both. She slides her lips back and forth like she wants to take every inch of Ava and not let a drop of Ava go to waste. “Perfect.” She rasps after her lips slip off her fingertips.

Ava directs her gaze downward. Wanting to taste Bea too. Bea sees. She acts. She guides Ava instead now. Taking her wrist. Ava’s pulse increasing at this being the reality. She feels every inch of herself, every crevice of Bea’s palm on her wrist. Covers pushed back and then her tips slipping under the waistband of Bea’s sweats. She feels Bea’s wet too. The sensation is something not of this world to experience, it feels like.

And then.

She feels Bea’s folds for the first time. Bea intakes a breath, and Ava follows. So warm. Slow, not rushed. Vulnerable in a way Ava hasn’t been or hasn’t seen in a person she’s touched before, bar maybe her first time, but it wasn’t safe like this.

“Bea”. She smiles breathlessly. Bea stays as she is. Dark and wanting. Bea pleads with her eyes, and Ava starts to rub. The effect on Bea is so instant.

Unable to take it anymore, she lunges for Bea’s lips. Continuing the fierce kiss, she hated stopping earlier. Her teeth scrape against Bea’s. Her tongue swipes Bea’s. She tastes herself on Bea and the natural taste of Bea’s tongue and lips. She wants to taste Bea too, so she brings her fingers up but doesn’t leave Bea’s upper lip there lips stuck together, their breath intermingled, their noses tipped and touching. She’s about to taste Bea. She’s about to, and she does. She wraps her lips around Bea’s fingers again. It’s like the dream but multiplied. This is real. It’s Bea’s cum she tastes. Sweet, but more intensely so than any dream.

“We’re such good friends, tasting each other like this?” Bea murmurs into Ava’s lips. The need to kiss fully Bea too great, she slips her fingers out of her mouth and covers Bea with her lips. Caressing and home again.

“I wanna make you feel good.” She begs in Bea’s mouth.

“By all means.” Bea playfully rasps and then covers Ava’s lips back. Their tongues finding a rhythm together.

She returns to where she wants to. Under Bea’s sweats. To Bea’s clit. Bea exhales through her nose at the contact again. It’s exhilarating. She goes for all her fingers to rub this time. She rubs and rubs, and Bea gets wetter and wetter and messier like Ava is. Bea’s lips parting.

She takes a leap she never thought she would in reality. She hooks two fingers up into Bea’s centre between her wet folds. Bea lets out this needy, alighting gasp against Ava’s lips. It only maddens Ava more. She’s inside of Bea. She’s really inside of her. In a warm blanket of Bea. Not a dream. She’s so tight. So right. So uniquely Bea. She starts to move inside of Bea.

“Ava”. Bea begs. Ava keenly delivers, desperately wanting more but waiting for that when she can give more in a fitter state. This is perfect, though. Snuggling is, and fuck this is.

“I love you.” She says with meaning in every word said into Bea’s mouth. Lips both touching, Bea’s quivering like hers.

“I love you.” Bea whispers back, and they meld again. They caress and love and swirl, and Ava increases her fingers speed. Wanting to feel Bea come on her fingers. “My girl.” Bea knows how to make Ava go faster, and she does. She must. The blanket of Bea around Ava’s fingers so good, her walls so slick and tight.

“Cum.” She wants. Bea obeys like Ava’s words made it so. So warm and squirting and heavenly. She made Bea cum, and she loved it. It was uncoordinated, but she really did it.

She stays inside. She stays in the kiss, desperate. Her heart beating outside her chest for more. She stops for a second, though, to ask. “You okay? Mphh.” She gets an empathetic answer as Bea’s lazy hand on her wrist goes to her cheek and locks her in more fiercely. Bea’s so right; they’re such good friends—friends that make each other cum in their dreams and with their fingers for real. The best of friends.

Chapter Text

Tasting the bitter taste of defeat to add to the heartbreak she’s in, Zori grips her knees. She’s just been beaten in the first round of Indian Wells, a major tour event. Everything feels wrong. It doesn’t feel right without Bea. She lost because of this agony she’s in.

She buries her face into her legs, angry and sweating and wanting Bea to be here. She’s fucked up, and she’s still processing that Bea actually has moved all her things out of there place.

She’s really gone.

For Ava. She’s gone to be with Ava.

“Fucking bitch! Ah!!!” She shouts into her legs. Furious. Embarrassment coursing through her still about the wedding being cancelled.

Her friends and family have all sent conciliatory messages, but it’s not what she wants. She wants Bea back. Now.

She should’ve seen this with Ava. She was always close with her, yes, as they were childhood friends, and Ava was important to Beatrice, but Ava was straight. She wasn’t a threat. But she was.

And then this story with Crimson and Rafael comes out, and Beatrice explains it all about Ava being in love with her but never expecting to be outed, but Beatrice figured it out and how she can’t not try to be with Ava when Ava wants her but just needs to get through her own struggle with people’s homophobia in the world.

Ava was a threat all along.

Zori should’ve seen and should’ve kept Beatrice as close as she could.

She’s been softer with Bea and Bea responded well; they laughed and joked, and she thought she was chipping at Bea’s resolve for Ava, as Beatrice has had major doubts about Ava’s trueness of her sexuality, but Bea for a change, again with all of this was unmovable on a subject. How can Zori change that?

Ava’s thing with Crimson was just an experiment. That angle could work. Deepen Bea’s fear about that.

She controls her breathing and rests back on the lockers behind her in this wide open locker room. Her tennis equipment by her feet. Her visor on the ground in a crumple.

The way Bea spoke of Ava with this Nico, it made it seem like Ava’s attention could easily be taken away by a hot guy.

Rafael. She thinks of Rafael as the obvious option. Bit of a dick, but Ava liked him despite that.

If anyone could seduce Ava in spite of her state at the moment in recovering, it would be him.

And one more thing like Nico? Another chip in Bea’s belief in Ava. That could break them.

She’s seen Rafael about recently being very withdrawn and shying from the spotlight at this event. Crimson’s interview made him sound like an utter empty-headed tool.

Ava’s hurting about the tabloid focus. Rafael comes to see Ava, and bang, they connect over there shared situation. Ava’s had sex with him very recently, and she can be lured into it again.

Zori could persuade Rafael to try and then pick up the pieces of Beatrice if he succeeds.

She dabs her forehead with her sweatbands of perspiration and tries to calm down. She did so many wrongs. Too much. She let her desire for the perfect wedding mask what everything was about.

Being married to Bea. She can do better, and she will; she just needs to get Bea back, like she told Bea she wouldn’t stop fighting to do.

Bea kept the ring. That means something. She wanted to keep it. Zori’s hope stayed aflame when she asked to, and it fuels Zori right now. Bea isn’t lost to her yet. Ava’s in the way, and she can remove that obstacle if she plays her cards right.

The ring wasn’t a family heirloom or anything. She got it for Bea and Bea wanted to have it as a memory of there relationship.

It almost made Zori scoff when Bea said that. She isn’t a memory for Bea.

That ring isn’t a souvenir from Bea’s first long-term adult relationship after Lucia. It’s a symbol. Bea wore it as she belonged to Zori, and she will again. She still does. That ring will slip back on with ease onto Bea’s finger to cover that silly tiny tattoo Bea got there when she was younger of a tiny smiley face.

Some crazy night out with Ava when they ended up at a tattoo parlour.

Ava’s a chaotic mess. Bea doesn’t need that. She needs Zori.

Zori gets up and does her cool down. She just zones out through all of it. Her ice bath not affecting her, bar the relief her muscles feel by being dipped into the cold water. When she sets her mind on something, she achieves it. She’ll win slams, and she’ll win Bea back.

She gets changed into some sweats and a fresh top after returning to her locker and sets out to find Rafael. Luckily, he’s just finished his 1st round match; he lost, so he’ll be heading back to the men’s locker rooms, a short walk from the women’s.

Everything’s a blur as she carries her sports bag. Her mom’s voice. Her dad’s hand on her shoulder, consoling her after they meet up with her outside the locker room. She absentmindedly waves them off, moving through corridor after corridor. The wait outside the men’s locker rooms is the same. A narrow, dimly lit path into the changing room behind her. Posters of former champs on the wall ahead of her.

“Heyo! Raf for Brains is on the move! Look out, ladies! Donkey dick is about!” A booming laugh set of laughter jolts Zori from her daze at a certain poster of that bitch Yasmine.

Yasmine utterly embarrassed her in Australia. She’ll pay for it.

It’s Michael who shouted that. He’s a fellow singles player like Rafael, as he and his mates walked past the crestfallen Rafael. His face bowed. Covered by his cap and gripping his sports bag strap for dear life.

Zori almost feels sorry for him if he weren’t a well-known womaniser and all-round not a nice human being.

Rafael closes in, and she steps to be in his path. Rafael doesn’t look up in his shorts and tight shirt. His long hair flapping at the back.

“Hey?” She puffs out her chest with intent.

He doesn’t stop. “Leave me be.”

She steps in his path as he tries to enter the locker room. “No, I’m Zori, you know Ava’s best friend’s ex-fiancée?”

That does make Rafael halt. His cap lifts, and his eyes, stone dead on her, are immediately intrigued. “And what can I do for you, Zori?”

She intakes a tiny breath for confidence. “That article – it said you cared for Ava. That you were gentler where Crimson was more commanding. Bea’s told me the truth of the story. But you still want Ava, don’t you? You love her?”

He slants his head, analysing her. “Yes. I want her.”

She grins. “Then allow me to assist. Ava’s home right now with Bea. I want my fiancée back, and if anyone can seduce that bitch, it’s you, so what’d you say?”

His lips quiver to a smirk. “What do you have in mind?”

She shrugs, feigning casual playfulness. “I’ll get Bea out of the apartment, and you do you.”

“Ava’s recovering after her surgery; I doubt I can…”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” She laughs short and sharp. One thing Crimson’s interview made clear is Ava loved the thing between his legs. She desired Crimson, but Rafael made it what it was for Ava in its entirety. Crimson was Ava’s awakening, but that bridge is burnt. This bridge might not be. Yes, Rafael beat the shit out of Mario, but she’s sure Ava can be tempted. Submissive that she is. She isn’t really into women. It was all just some exciting experiment.

He raises his head, something else in his expression, as he wipes his nose with his knuckles.

“What?” She loses her confidence for a moment.

“You remind me of Crim. Plotting and scheming, if she wanted something, she usually got it. Not anymore, the bitch. You definitely give off the same energy.” He looks at Zori with eyes filled with want. Zori instantly squirms.

Fuck, he really is a slimeball. But he’s Ava’s weakness, along with Crimson. He’s necessary to get Bea back. She doesn’t give two shits about Ava; she wants Bea and she’ll have Bea. Whatever it takes.

Chapter Text

After last night Ava does something she hasn’t done before. She talks about the act of sex the morning after with the person she did it with, Bea. It wasn’t the full deal, and Ava’s so excited for that yes, but as she lies on Bea’s chest in bed the morning after, feeling okay with her hip. Not too uncomfortable, she smiles and talks and holds Bea’s hand about it.

“I can’t believe we actually did that.” She laughs really emotionally. Yes, it was just fingering or tasting, but it was her first time with Bea and it meant more than anything she’s done with anyone else ever. "I mean, I can. I've wanted it, but it doesn't feel real. I was dreaming one second, and then you and I were together for real. I loved it so much, Bea; you were perfect."

Bea rubs Ava’s back, humming. “Me neither. You were incredible; we’ve become amazing friends, haven’t we?” Bea jokes.

Ava brings Bea’s hand to kiss at the knuckle. “Friends that love each other.”

“Mm.” Bea plays with Ava’s hair around Ava’s ear. Making Ava feel so warm and fuzzy in bed with Bea at last again. “Does this make things hazy now? Like we’ve done that now, and we love each other. We both want it. But you’re not ready.”

Ava gets Bea’s meaning. It’s funny to call each other great friends, but this does blur the lines a lot. They aren’t together, but they’re having intimacy like that and snuggle time and kisses and romancing each other more soon as well.

She runs her thumb over Bea’s hand with eyes closed, listening to her person's heartbeat. “I think…I might be ready. Maybe it’ll be different when I go out again, but I don’t want it to. I want just to be with you. I feel like I already am."

Bea kisses Ava’s forehead to Ava’s silent joy.

Ava would wiggle, but she isn’t risking any pain right now when she’s comfy. She feels a little gloom looking back on Crimson and Rafael. “I’ve never felt safe during sex before, like we were or we’ll be. Crimson could be so dismissive. I loved that, but I never felt like I could just request something I liked. It was the same before them. No one’s been safe for me.”

“You'll never have to worry about that with me. If you want me to be in command, I will, but I’ll always be ready to let you be. I respect you, darling; never feel afraid to ask for something. I’ll never say no.” Bea says. And hmm, interesting.

Ava grins. “Anything you say?” She gets excited and feels a skip in her heartbeat.

Bea kisses Ava’s hair. “Anything.” Bea whispers playfully.

“So you fully believe I’m into women now?” She laughs. “I hope I convinced you yesterday.”

Bea chuckles and lies back. “I knew you liked women, silly; it’s just the relationship part. The commitment of being with me is more than just the sex, and you feeling ready more and more by the day is so amazing; I feel like we're close to it now too."

Ava, stubborn of course, is going to keep proving to Bea that she wants that. A relationship. Her first one.

“I’ve never had a serious relationship of any kind, man or woman, so it’s new in every way, really, for me. But… There’s no one I’d rather have it with. As I said. Fuck the world. I want to be brave enough.”

Bea plays with Ava’s toe with her own. Shivering Ava in such a snuggly sort of way. She loves snuggling. She’s so warm right now. So calm and content. “I want to be different with you this time. I don’t want to pressure you like I did before. Just do it when it's right."

“As Lucia said in my dream, we’ll find the moment.” She repeats the dream. Lucia’s words, feeling frustrated, but waiting is fine. They have time.

“Lucia would’ve never spoken like that, you know?” Bea laughs at her ex. “She was brash and feisty. I never had a moment where she just talked to me about us being out with each other.”

“I’m not going to be like her.” She hates Lucia for hurting Bea in that way. She frowns in thought. “You know I've been thinking about the parallels with my relationships with Crimson and Raf and you with Zori and Lucia. We both let ourselves be demeaned in some way. Our wants sometimes weren't considered. I want us to be nothing like that.”

“I never snuggled with Zori like this – not after sex; that’s the only time she wanted it. I wanted it. I want that.” Bea being open again with her wants makes Ava plant a little kiss on Bea’s chest—the fabric of Bea’s shirt. Ava wants that too.

“Me too. Can we…sleep together every night now? I feel so cold without you. Could we?” She looks up so hopefully and really wants that. She smirks at Bea with wispy hair from last night and sleep, being all perfect, and Bea but she’s desperate for more sleeping with Bea.

Bea smiles softly down at Ava. Her chin on her chest. “I’d love to. Now kiss your friend.” Bea wants a smooch, and happy, so happy, Ava smooches. A little wet smoosh of her lips against Bea’s lips.

She giggles after a kiss on Bea’s nose. “Love ya.”

“Love ya right back.” Bea kisses Ava’s lips with a quick peck, and they snuggle again. Ava’s cheek on Bea’s chest.

She licks the inside of her teeth, thinking. Wanting to talk more about them. Keep talking. The more they talk, the closer they’ll be to just being together. Ava feels ready to. Bea doesn't. “Can we talk about any future Nicos?”

“Like, if some guy flirts with you, what's the protocol?” Bea’s tone is a little flatter, but it’s genuine.

“Yeah. I’ve never, like, belonged to someone before, if that’s the right way to put it.” She worries.

“I mean, don’t invite it; it’s about trust, I guess. Both ways with us.” Bea reasons.

“I’ll just give any dude who approaches the finger in future if they flirt with me.” She laughs, and Bea does too.

“I’m not saying to do that. Just be more aware of me." Bea wants, and Ava really, really loves how Bea is telling her her wants in their relationship.

“Okay. I promise.” She hugs Bea’s torso, happy and knowing she’ll never not be aware of Bea again like she was with Nico.

“Mmm, look at us being all mature.” Bea rubs Ava’s arm, being whimsical.

Ava squints her eyes up at Bea.

Bea does it back. “What are you looking at, missy?”

“I’m looking at my not-girlfriend right now.” Ava pouts and narrows her eyes some more in her and Bea’s natural standoff. “Kiss, please.”

Bea kisses her but moves back with her eyes still narrowed. “After you can walk without crutches, come with me to France for the slam.”

“Yes, please.” Ava pokes Bea’s nose at the tip, being silly.

Bea pecks Ava’s lips, and this… This doesn’t feel like it’ll last. As them not being together officially. Not when there are so many kisses like this. Bea might not feel ready, but it might just happen naturally.

“So.” Bea sighs and stretches her legs in bed. Comfy and snuggly. “Tell me some more of your kinks.”

“I like it from behind.” She giggles at saying such a thing so bluntly.

Bea hums in a very interested type of way. “I’m sure we can arrange that.”

Ava connects her hand to Bea’s again. Fingers locking together. Excited as fuck for her dream to be real. “And you, Bea? What’s your favourite thing in sex?”

“Huh, never thought about it before. I like a lot of things, I guess.” Typical Bea answer.

“I’ll figure it out; don’t worry.” Oh yes, she will.

“I look forward to it.” Bea flirts.

“I look forward to it more.” Ava flirts back. “You think it’s safe for you to eat me out?”

Bea belts out a laugh. “We’ll check, maybe if we’re careful, but I don’t know.”

“Pfft.” Ava puffs out her cheeks. Stupid hip. “Better not disobey doctors orders.”

“Yeah, I…” Bea’s phone buzzes on the side table. “Hold up; it might be Mom.”

“Oh?” Ava’s intrigued as Bea leans over and grabs her phone and checks.

“Yeah, she and Dad want there money back from Zori's parents for the wedding.” Bea tells, but Bea frowns at her phone. “It’s Zori. Better answer: I might have left something back at the apartment or something.”

“She’s in California, though?” Ava wonders why the call, but Zori and Bea will, of course, still communicate on any issues from their parting, or maybe Zori might ask for a favour now and then. Ava doesn’t know how she’d feel about that. For Bea more than herself. Zori’s just toxic. Zori and Bea have parted amicably, but Zori still wants Bea.

And when Zori wants something with Bea she’s not used to not getting it. This whole situation must be hopefully a reality check that she can’t control a person like she did Bea.

“Z?” Bea answers. Her phone against her ear. Bea flicks her gaze to Ava with meaning that Ava doesn’t know.

Ava just tilts her head, smiling gently, trusting for Bea it’s totally done with Zori. She and Bea are going to be together. She’s Bea’s now in all but confirming.

“Hold on.” Bea puts the phone on speaker. Ava appreciates it definitely, but she doesn’t need to hear the call. She does appreciate it, though.

“Right, so I'm on my way back to London, and I was wondering if I could come by and we could get coffee? Not anything else; I just want to talk about tennis, if that’s okay. I might, uh…” Zori laughs awkwardly. “I think I need your advice, Bea. I’d like it if you’d be available. I was so stupid to not listen to you before. Please. I want us to be…friends at least. I know Ava’s it for you, but I’d like to be that.”

She’s got some cheek, but Ava stays out of it. She rests her cheek on Bea’s chest. It’s Bea’s choice.

“You do?” Bea answers flatly.

“Yes, I really do, Bea. Can we do it tomorrow at lunch? At our cafe?”

Ava eye rolls. Knowing full well Bea hated the cafe Zori speaks of but just went to for Zori. El Sol it's called, and the coffee is shit.

“Can I call you back later?” Bea decides, and Zori accepts that before Bea hangs up. “I don’t want to be friends with her, if I’m honest.” Bea tosses her phone on the bed, sighing.

“Oh no.” Ava sarcastically replies flatly, being a little cheeky.

Bea enjoys it with a snort and twirls some of Ava’s hair behind Ava’s ear. “But should I? I do sort of want her to do well in her career, I guess. It is important to her.”

“Mmm, she didn’t give a shit about your opinion before you broke up with her.” Ava grits her teeth a little. “But do what you feel is right for you. It’s just a coffee, I guess, however shit the coffee is.”

“Their coffee isn’t that bad; it’s just…”

“Has a funny aftertaste no matter what you buy?" Ava completes the sentence.

Bea tuts. “You exaggerate.”

“I pontificate.” She bats back.

“So you’re pompous?” Bea jests.

Ava can’t help the smile brewing again on her lips. She just said that word because it popped to mind.

“Yes.” She eye rolls and wants another kiss. She cranes her neck, pleading with puppy dog eyes, and Bea softens. She kisses her again. This one is lingering. Bea’s soft palm on Ava’s cheek.

Bea slips her lips off. Her nose staying close. “You’re such a big goofy brat.”

Ava grins. Her eyes darting around Bea’s face so perfect up close. The face she wants to see for all their lives. “Your goofy brat or…your unofficial goofy brat. This is confusing.” She whispers with a little giggle.

"Mucho confusing, Aviebug. So, so confusing." Bea hums, agreeing. "We'll be official soon, I promise." Ava loves hearing that. They're each other's but not officially. More than friends who kiss like lovers. Like they do again after Bea glances to Ava’s lips and Ava to Bea’s with seriousness with a gentle smoosh in Ava’s home. A home that's made warmer by Bea being here with her.

Chapter Text

So Ava did a thing or is currently doing a thing. Bea’s out to see, yuck, Zori. as Bea’s too kind for her own good sometimes, and Ava thought, You know what? Fuck it. I'm showing Bea I'm ready to do anything for her. I’m ready to do things that scare me for her.

So what did Ava do?

Well, she already promised herself she would. She’s dyeing her hair totally blue, and she’s trying to get it done before Bea gets home. (She likes saying that) She’s letting the dye sit right now in a shower cap while she’s in a dress robe sitting on her couch before she rinses it out with cold water, then uses a vinegar rinse to prolong the colour and make the blue more vibrant, and then shampoos and conditions her hair again to get rid of the vinegar smell.

It’s a pain to get up, so she’s just been using her wheelchair to go to and throw to the bathroom.

She makes a popping noise with her mouth reading an article on her phone or rather…the article.

In hindsight Ava did me a favour with her cheating with Rafael; he really had a way of making me want to rip my hair out. He could never take a simple instruction unless it was tennis or in the bedroom. Ava can have him for all I care. I’m done with him and her. I’m free of them both now and focusing on my career.

“Bitch.” She scoffs. She’s read this bit before, but it’s still annoying. Again, Ava knows Rafael’s a shit, but this is humiliating for him. She has empathy for someone she was intimate with recently; she doesn’t think that’s bad just because he hurt Mario. That night with him was a tonic to her pain, however purely lustful it was and however stupid a choice it was to get involved with him and ergo Crimson again.

I’ll give Raf this. He’s got the biggest dick I’ve ever seen in my life. Ava reads and starts to groan. Crimson can be such a cruel person she really can.

She reads another line and cringes despite already reading it.

Ava’s got an amazing gag reflex. Trust me, she showed us that and then some. Raf loved her for that. That’s why Raf got so wrapped up in her.

“Fucking...” she mutters under her breath, squeezing her phone hard. Humiliating is all that needs to be said. She still can’t fathom that this is actually out there. It’s so blunt and unfiltered.

She can’t do anything really that’ll remove this stain on her from Crimson. She’s not ashamed, but any response to it will just get jumped on. Well, no response will, too. It’s a lose-lose situation, so she’s just going to bury her head in the sand and be here with Bea and be happy with her in there escape from the world.

Knock, knock.

Ava jumps to the door knocks. Could be her neighbour Tammy. She has this rather disturbing fascination with stuffed animals. Yeah, not going into it, but seeing the whole line of stuffed squirrels of Tammy’s from Tammy’s doorway in Tammy’s kitchen freaked Ava the fuck out.

She keeps to herself and doesn’t bother Tammy, and Tammy likewise. They have an understanding.

She lifts herself up onto her chair with a grimace and suddenly feels this…cold feeling. A shiver down her spine.

Maybe it’s just the building manager. It can’t be anyone else.

She wheels herself to her door and unlocks it. And there the person standing outside Ava’s door ceases Ava’s heart from beating.

Rafael.

He’s holding a bouquet of roses and wearing a suit.

It reminds Ava instantly of the night she, Crimson and Raf had there first night together. His hair down to his shoulders. But very much unlike that night, he’s wearing the goofiest smile she’s seen on the guy.

She gets a whiff of pungent cologne that makes her want to cough. But the shock of Rafael at her door takes over anything else. She doesn’t know what to make of it.

“Uh, Raf?”

“Hi Ava, How’ve you been?” He practically shoves the flowers into Ava’s lap.

Feeling on guard and hesitant and wondering how he even got up here without being buzzed in by her, Ava takes them. She doesn’t wanna embarrass him like that, or maybe she shouldn’t care and just slam the door in his face. “Um, ahem, thanks. What are you doing here? How’d you get up here, you...”

“You know me, amore; I’m persistent and a pest.” He rubs the back of his neck laughing.

Ava doesn’t know what to do. “I, uh...Raf, thank you for the flowers, but this isn’t appropriate. I’m not up for visitors right now, and I didn’t let you up here. I...”

“Can we talk? Just for a few minutes?” Rafael interrupts. His eyes are desperate and pleading. “I really need to talk to you, and you blocked my number. Please, Ava. I need you. It’s been hell for me, and you’re the only person who knows what I’m going through right now. I...have no one else.” He flaps his arms sadly.

She covers her chest with her robe some more and feels trapped and uncomfortable. No, Bea. She knows Rafael isn’t going to hurt her or anything, but she feels vulnerable right now, really vulnerable in her current state. Plus she’s in a shower cap and wearing a robe, so that adds to it. It’s not the time. There’s never a time for Rafael to come inside, but this is definitely not.

“Raf, I...don’t feel comfortable right now; you should’ve...”

“Called? I couldn’t.” He despairs, and his voice breaks. It’s odd to see him emotional. He’s never like this. She doesn’t know. She gets it might’ve been a hard time.

He steps forward. Ava holds the door firm so her knuckles go white.

“Please?” He kneels to Ava’s level. Smiling a shaky smile.

She doesn’t say yes. She’ll text Bea an SOS message or something.

He bows his head, breathing heavily. “I was scared you’d slam the door in my face.” And he lets himself in to her dismay as she has to wheel back at him walking forward like she just agreed.

She keeps the door open. “Hey!? I didn’t let you in! You can’t just invite yourself in like that!” She wheels herself around and follows him into her living room.

“I remember how much I loved your place.” He takes in the room, hands in his pockets, admiring the place. The orange walls, the rug, the TV on the wall, and Ava’s L-shaped couch. Ignoring Ava.

Her heart feels like it’s in her throat. “Why do you want to talk with me about it? It’s out there now; it’s over. I’m with Bea now.” She loves saying that, however inaccurate it technically is at the moment.

That gains Rafael’s attention. Not Ava’s protestations to him coming in. “Can I sit?” He points to the couch as Ava places the flowers he brought on the table in front of the couch.

She keeps her chest covered tight with a tight grip on the two sides of her robe. She only nods. She shouldn’t, but he’s not listening.

He nods and spins to sit on the edge of the couch. She wheels herself so she’s facing him. “I’m sorry.” He lowers his eyes, trying to be contrite. His hands lock together on his lap as he leans forward. “For Mario?” He flicks her a smile. It’s not confident, and it’s not like him.

“You should apologise to him.” She corrects him. Maybe if Raf did, he’d show he isn’t an utterly awful guy like she’s always suspected underneath everything. But him coming into her home like this ensures it wouldn’t.

He nods again a little. “Yes, of course. I will. He was just defending your honour, and I was being a big dick.”

She snorts and looks away, biting back her smile. She really has terrible taste in men. “So I guess you aren’t uncomfortable with Crimson telling the world about that.”

“Of course I am. It’s humiliating. It’s why I’m here. I need this… I’m in love with you, Ava. I love you.”

He places his hand on her bare knee. She tenses up all over.

“How’s the recovery going? When will my girl be back on her feet?” He strokes her knee with his thumb. Ava feels her skin run colder. Her heart beat rapidly in distress.

She brushes off his hand. “4 weeks till just one crutch, and then at 12 weeks post-op I’ll be able to walk without any. But please don’t call me that. Now please, can you leave? I didn’t let you in.” She only ever wants to be called that by Bea like that. She doesn’t like this. She wants him gone and quick. She thinks of her phone in her robe pocket, but she doesn’t know what he’ll do if she gets it out.

She doesn’t know anything right now other than how utterly powerless she feels.

He repositions his hand on her knee. Shit. She thought he wouldn’t hurt her, but she doesn’t know. “That’s great.” He gets up and gets on his knees to be directly below her. Placing his other hand on her knee without her consent.

She squirms back. “Raf, please, I… Can you stop? I don’t like this. I…”

He trails his eyes over her face, not listening again. “No one’s seen the person I could be beneath everything, Ava Silva. I wish we were together after Crimson revealed that affair nonsense. I should’ve been with you. We should be supporting each other now. You’ve always seen the best in me. I want to be the man you saw. Being with you again means more to me than winning slams or having sex by itself. I think we fit together. When Crim was treating me like shit and talking to me like I was an idiot every time we were together, you showed me nothing but kindness. I want us.”

He slides his hands on her thighs with that look in his eyes that she knows. Lust. She doesn’t want it; she pushes his wrists back. “Please go.”

“No. You want me; you always want me.” He gets up, and Ava fears his intent as he hunches over her.

“Stop it! I said no! Listen to me and get out!” She slaps his cheek, hating it. But she hopes that makes the message clear rather than her words that haven’t.

Rafael stays struck. His jaw clenching. Ava’s breathing shallows in dread. She’s misread him. She feels her skin tingle, feeling fear she can’t remember feeling.

“Get out!” She shouts, trying to get him to leave again and again, but as soon as she opened her door to him, she now feels faint at the thought that he wasn’t going to let her close it. There’s no man beneath. He is what he is on the surface. Like Crimson.

He turns his face now turned to stone to her, utterly tearing off any mask he may have had from when she answered the door. “I know we like it rough, Ava. Do you want it rough now?”

She grips the arms of her chair. Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Go! I…” Before she can slap him again, his hand curls and tightens around her neck. She claws at her throat. Such an idiot. She should’ve slammed the door in his face. She feels so stupid; she feels so powerless as his grip tightens. They did choking in the threesome before, but Rafael never did it. Only Crimson. His grip is harder and more constricting. Too much as she tries to pull him off, and her windpipe is being crushed.

“I want you back, and I’ll have you. I know you’re injured, but you’re mine. Do you understand?” He’s colder than cold; he’s nothing but stern. His breathing heaving, his teeth gnashing like he’s suddenly lost all sense of rational thought, with eyes dark and angry and rabid.

“Pl…ease.” She can’t breathe. She can’t breathe.

She scrapes her nails against him. Slaps him again. Punches him. His lip bleeds. But he doesn’t let go. He enjoys it.

She starts to see spots in her vision. Help!! She tries to scream, but she’s cut off from doing it as he fills her view and grips her neck with his other hand, totally losing it.

“Shut up! You know you like this. You’re such a submissive little oft!” She punches his cheek. He doesn’t care. “Come on!” He laughs. “Do it again! You can do better than that.” He sneers. Her vision starts to go black. Her lungs burning. Unable to breathe in a way she hasn’t felt before. He’s lost it, and nothing she does gets him to get off her.

“Ava!? I’m back! Why's the door open? I…”

Bea!

Ava tries to scream for Bea but she can’t. She can only claw at Rafael’s hand and scratch him, but he doesn’t get affected by it still.

“Ava!” Bea shouts, and then there are feet sprinting into the room, and Rafael’s tackled off of her in an instant.

Ava scrambles to catch her breath. Her eyes are seeing spots still, but the dark approaching is gone. Her hands holding her throat that feels so red and burning

Bea’s on the ground with Raf, and she has him instantly in a chokehold with her legs around his throat. Her arms locking one of his in place.

“Argh! Get off!” Rafael screams and fights, and then there’s a loud crack. “Ahh!!” Bea snaps his arm so hard it must break; it goes at a funny angle.

Bea’s too angry to speak, too defensive of Ava, and Ava’s too desperate to claim her breath with everything she can. She’s never felt distress like it.

“You bitch! You broke my…” Bea cuts him with a violent kick to his head, and he goes quiet. Lights out. It feels like Crimson again but scarier for Ava. Bea’s a badass. This is known.

“Bea.” She just wants Bea to hold her — to ground her, to feel safer, and she outstretches a hand desperately for her now that Rafael’s been conked out.

“Ava!” Bea panics; she lets Rafael’s broken arm flop to the ground and rushes to Ava’s side. A hand on Ava’s cheeks helps the distress. The eyes of Bea worrying over her help calm. “Try to breathe.”

Bea makes Ava laugh breathlessly. “What do you think I’m trying to…do?” She struggles with her last word. Her breath is hard to take, but she’s okay. She’s okay.

Bea smiles briefly, but she gets up and rubs Ava’s back, trying to help. “I’m going to call the police. How the fuck did he get up here?”

Ava rubs her throat as she regains herself more and more. “He just walked on in after I opened the door; he wouldn’t listen to…me.”

“It’s okay. I’m here. What’s with the shower cap?” Bea manages to make Ava laugh again in the scariest of moments.

“Dyeing hair right now. Was meant to be a surprise.” She rests on Bea catching and catching her breath. Safe again. In the arms of her home, as Bea doesn’t let go.

"Well, I'm surprised. I'm sure it'll look great; it always did." Bea tries to calm Ava some more lightly, but Ava's freaked out and wants Rafael out of her home. She wants to never see his face again.

Chapter Text

Holding a distressed Ava with blue hair now that, despite all that’s just happened, makes Beatrice blush. Beatrice sits with Ava at the hospital right now, waiting to be seen on a hospital bed. She rubs Ava’s arm trying to calm her down as what just happened really hits home as Ava sits back in some hastily put-on hoodie and jeans, holding some ice against her throat.

The damage needs to be assessed further by a doctor; Rafael was strong with his hold against Ava’s throat.

It hits home for Beatrice too as she stares at the ground and imagines it’s Ava’s carpet that she held Rafael unflinchingly tight in a hold she’d practised so many times she’s lost count with her dad on. She’s never broken an arm before, but the red-hot defensive anger she had as soon as she saw Rafael strangling Ava with Ava desperately trying and failing to get free in her wheelchair just activated in her a strength she’s never known.

She’s never been so angry. Even with Crimson. Rafael could’ve killed Ava, and that’s not an exaggeration. He could’ve. Ava’s vision was fading; she was fading. If Beatrice hadn’t arrived when she did…she could’ve lost Ava.

She goes limp while she rests her head on Ava's below her. She could’ve lost Ava. It could’ve happened. It would’ve broken her into a million pieces. Ava didn’t do anything wrong, and she got attacked like that. She could’ve died.

Rafael deserved more for what he did. Beatrice broke his arm. She knocked him out, but as she imagines the linoleum flooring of this hospital as the black and white carpet, she wants to kill him. She wants to hurt him more for this.

How the fuck did he get in the building in the first place? She doesn’t know. He must’ve just slipped in or something. They’ll have to get Ava more security in future. Especially after this.

She shakes and feels sick. Ava’s hurt. She’s just been attacked in her own home by a man she was intimate with.

Beatrice imagines a world without Ava in it, and her eyes start to burn at even imagining. She buries her nose in Ava’s hair. “I love you so much. It’s over; he’ll never hurt you again.”

Ava resting her head on Beatrice’s shoulder, recovering after everything, with the police having taken Rafael away at the apartment, feels so limp too. Ava’s shaken, and totally understandably so. Her parents are on the way now.

“He’s just like Crimson; there was never any difference. I just fooled myself; he’s worse than her.” Ava’s voice is a little strained after the strangling.

Beatrice closes her eyes, trying not to imagine any more. Needing to feel this with Ava. She’s not letting her go. “He’s just ruined his own life; he’s as stupid as Crimson said, and yeah, more dangerous. I wish you never got involved with them.” He definitely has. This’ll, if justice prevails, end up with him behind bars.

“Same. I’ve never… felt like that. I felt so scared.” Ava lazily replies, her legs resting on the bed as Beatrice sits on hers.

How much pain does Ava have to endure? She had such a hard time in Australia; when she came back for her surgery, it went well, things were going smoothly, and Ava was having some much-needed home time, and then this happened in her own home. It’s shaken Beatrice as well.

“I can’t believe this happened. You’ve been through enough; it’s not fair. I hate it. I hate that you’ve suffered so much recently. I fucking hate it.”

She kisses Ava’s forehead and then her cheeks, wanting to comfort and comfort her… girlfriend. It’s too soon, but right now Beatrice can’t avoid it or want to avoid calling Ava her girlfriend. They both know it’s happening.

“Seems I’m a magnet for pain; I can’t escape getting hurt. Even in my own home. As soon as I opened that door, Rafael didn’t listen to anything I said. Nothing I did got him to go away. I felt so powerless, Bea. He made me feel so weak. Nothing I…did stopped him.” Ava takes a shaky breath, emotional, and Beatrice just hates that this has happened. She went out for one hour, very reluctant to leave Ava, and this happens.

“You’re safe. I’ve got you.” She reassures again. She doesn’t know what else to say right now; such is her shock.

“You were badass again, Bea, always my hero.” Ava moves, and Beatrice follows to see Ava’s tired, tearful face. Her throat so red, already starting to bruise with ice being pressed by Ava into it. Makes Beatrice ache all over.

She delicately cups Ava’s soft, emotional, smiling cheek. Stroking her skin, feeling the shock and fear of what could’ve happened. “I could’ve…lost you. I’d be lost without you, my darling. Lost. You’re my anchor, my person if…” She lets these held-in tears finally go. She sobs with a smile on her lips at Ava being safe. “God, you’re so beautiful. How could anyone hurt you like that who claimed to love you? You’re too perfect to ever be hurt by someone like that. Too good.”

Ava’s smile fades to just total, utter softness. “Bea.” She whispers so quietly, and her hand is rested on Bea’s thigh that feels like it shakes too. “I really wanna kiss you right now.”

Beatrice wants nothing more than that again. To feel these lips. To feel them kissing back gently and cared for. She smiles softly to Ava’s lips; there are people nearby in other beds behind blue curtains and others sitting across from them being seen to, but Ava wants a kiss. She wants them. “So what are you waiting for?” She whispers back, Daring.

Ava leans in, and Beatrice waits with bated breath for another gentle smoosh. So many kisses. She’s loving them all. So much. She loved the other night with all her heart. It was perfect and just them. Yes, it could’ve been more with Ava in a different state, but, god, it was so perfect and unexpected. The desire was there but Beatrice didn’t think it would happen that night, but it did, and she never wants to forget it. She wants to hold Ava in bed, and she doesn’t want a night where she isn’t. She’s too addicted to snuggling, kissing Ava, and existing with Ava. The latter of those she always has been.

“Mm.” Ava whimpers at the little press. Wet and soft.

“Mm.” Beatrice whimpers back and kisses back totally and utterly gently as she can. Repetitive and plush. “I love you, I love you.”

“I love you.” Ava kisses and does a small thing that makes Beatrice’s heart swoon. Ava drags her nose over Beatrice’s and then kisses her tip and then her lips again. “Thank you for saving me, baby.”

“Always.” She kisses Ava’s nose back. Then slants her forehead to rest against Ava’s. “I’m not letting you out of my sight after this; I’ll be too scared.” She inhales shakily, meaning her words; she’ll be clingier than she ever has. She’s not letting anything happen to Ava again. No one will do what Crimson or Rafael did to her. They’ll have to get past her to even try.

“You promise?” Ava pouts in her voice, and Beatrice’s heart thrums and thrums for Ava. Her home is safe. She’s safe. Nothing else matters more to Beatrice.

She pecks Ava’s lips. “I promise.” She smiles with a whisper and presses a lingering kiss on Ava’s cheek. “No one hurts my girlfriend ever again.”

“I want it. I want to be that.” Ava says what Beatrice just plainly wants too after this and before this, but she wants it intensely right now. It’s nothing like it was in Australia; things have calmed, and this is what they want too much. Both of them.

“Seal it with another kiss?” She quirks.

“Mmm hmm.” Ava places a warm and binding kiss on Beatrice’s lips.

Girlfriends. Each other’s. One foot in front of the other.

“I didn’t ask how things went with Zori.” Ava settles back smoothly onto Beatrice’s shoulder. Her place.

Beatrice settles back against Ava’s head, wondering how long this doctor will be. It hasn’t been long, but Ava needs seeing to. Though she sounds okay. She should probably be resting her voice.

“It was fine.” She’s nonplussed about it. Zori tried to make jokes when she talked about her career and be self-deprecating, but Beatrice just felt detached again. She doesn’t wanna be friends. She has no desire to be. She’s going to give her the ring back. She doesn’t want it. It was silly to have kept it.

It was a memento of sorts to keep hold of, but Zori’s hope was still in her eyes where there was none. It just gave Zori hope.

“She tried to flirt and be like she used to and whatever again, but I just felt nothing. We’re done. I don’t want to be friends. Her career is her own problem now, like she wanted it to be.” She feels over it.

“The timing is a bit funny, though. Raf was coming over when you were just getting back.” Ava suggests something Beatrice didn’t think of.

“Zori doesn’t even know Rafael personally.” Beatrice tenses up at the thought that Rafael is probably around here somewhere having his arm seen to. Though with police around him, the idiot. His life is about to be very different.

“Mm, I don’t know. It feels too coincidental.”

“Maybe. Just rest your voice till the doc arrives now.” She plays it off, but it lingers in her mind now. Did Zori have any part in this? If she did, Beatrice doesn’t know how she’d take that. How would that have worked? Get her out of the apartment for Rafael to get Ava alone after Zori and Rafael planned it together? For what? For Rafael to seduce and then for Beatrice to find Ava and him? It only left a vulnerable Ava exposed. She’s on crutches, for God's sake.

If Zori did do this… Beatrice will make sure she never dares attempt anything against Ava ever again. Recently ex-fiancées or not. Zori wouldn’t get away with it. No one puts Ava in jeopardy and gets away with it. No one.

Chapter Text

Home and healing from something else to add onto the hip of hers. Ava lies back on the side of her bed, smarting from what happened. She can’t get over the fear. The utter fear she felt. The burning in her lungs, the splotches of dots in her eyes, and the darkness that was approaching fast.

If Bea hadn’t come, she would’ve blacked out. Rafael wasn’t letting go. Would that have been it? Poof. All the pain she experienced in Australia deemed meaningless in a single moment as her life was cut short.

She smooths her hand over her Winnie the Pooh shirt, needing him and his comfort and those warm fuzzy feelings of her childhood in the process. Needing Bea to come back from the kitchen after she went away to make them some breakfast to have in bed this morning.

She stares at the ceiling with this heavy weight on her chest about the what-if. It terrifies her. The fear she felt terrifies her.

Rafael’s been charged and will have his day in court for what he did. Prison for him and a restraining order for when he gets out are what she wants for the future. But...the future is never a sure thing. Rafael’s strangling of her is just proof of that.

Back in Australia, Bea told her we only have one life, and she shouldn’t live it being in fear of what others think if it means she’d be in pain.

At the time Ava was so worried about hurting Bea to take that in, but since then her mind has altered. She’s done things she didn’t think she could. She came out to her parents. She kissed Bea in public. She really genuinely believed herself when she said fuck the world to Bea.

Becoming Bea’s girlfriend feels utterly right after Rafael. But not just because of the fear of wasting time. She wants it with all her heart. It was her dream, and she wants it. She has it. She’s officially Bea’s, and Bea is hers.

And yes, it hasn’t been that long since Australia, and so many words of time were said about needing time before they happened from her and Bea, and Ava wanted to protect Bea from jumping into something after such a toxic relationship with Zori and jumping from one relationship to another serious one too fast, but things are different. Things have happened. They’re talking about everything. Bea’s fears. Bea’s wants. Her concerns about her old relationships and how she treats herself in one, Bea's worry about herself diminishing her own wants, and Ava’s fear of homophobia and the trust between them that was damaged in certain regards in Melbourne.

Ava’s committed. Bea’s committed. They know the fears they feel, and after almost dying, this doesn’t feel like the wrong step despite the shortness of time between her and Bea’s vows or now-former resolutions. It feels right. Really right.

The heavy weight on her subsides. The blossoming feeling of love for Bea takes its place in her heart. She smiles at the ceiling, shedding tears at not wanting to waste a moment in life, her throat sore around her bruised windpipe, so certain of her and Bea’s step.

She has no intention of stopping her wanting to woo Bea and romance her, and she definitely hopes Bea isn’t stopping her plans.

She has blue hair for Bea. A love letter for her girlfriend. She’s going to keep doing things like that. Over and over and over. Make Bea know how utterly in love she is. She must. She will.

Hopefully no more incidents for the next fifty freakin’ years would be nice after this. She’s with Bea and she just wants to enjoy that and live life and get past this near trauma she experienced. She hasn’t had a nightmare yet about what happened, but she might, and there’s nothing she wants more than to be held by Bea if she does.

She wants to wake up after a nightmare in Bea’s protective arms. She wants to face the hurdles Bea spoke of, and she wants to give them a big middle finger, as she feels safe with Bea by her side just living life and loving each other and, when she’s better, playing the sport they love. Together.

She brightens some more away from the dark cold fear of what could’ve been. She’s excited but also not wishing time away. She’s never doing that again. She’s going to live the moment with Bea and be her girlfriend and not yearn to be walking again normally or competing or anything else. Rather just enjoy Bea and the ones she loves and ignore the people who are just cruel and want to hurt.

“Right, Aviekin. I’m back.” Bea’s warm and domestic voice almost makes Ava sob in joy. Bea’s back. She could’ve followed her on her crutches, but she doesn’t wanna leave this spot right now. She doesn’t wanna move. Other than to carefully move up the bed and rest against her headboard.

And that she does as Bea comes over to her side of the bed in her long Roo shirt covering her thighs. (Total bummer she wants to see Bea’s thighs all the time.) wearing a smile on her face with her hair down to her shoulders.

She knows Bea is just trying to be calm and mostly steady and unaffected for her sake after what happened. And Ava appreciates that so much. It’s what she needs around her.

It was a shock not just for Ava but for Bea too. Though she was an incredible badass who kicked some Rafael ass. Bea emotionally has been struggling with the trauma of what could have been too. She’s clingy, as she promised, and right now Ava just wants to lock the doors tight, never open them for the foreseeable future, and heal. Get past this trauma no matter if Zori truly plotted with Rafael to allow him to get her alone.

Zori can fuck off. Everything can wait. This right here is what’s most important.

“Here we are, darling.” Bea lays the tray on Ava’s lap as she gets under the covers with a warmth filling Ava up. There are two mugs of tea on either side of the tray. A fruit bowl. Pancakes to Ava’s drooling and scrambled eggs, and holy shit, Ava’s in Bea heaven right now.

Bea’s taking care of her. It’s hard to swallow a little bit, so Bea’s only made easy-to-swallow foods this morning. Typical Bea just being so Bea and beautiful, and Ava’s incredible, heroic girlfriend who saved her life.

Bea’s her hero. Her saviour. Bea will protect her from any more Crimsons or Rafaels or Zoris if she truly did set the Rafael thing up.

“Thank you, mi amor. Where’s my Kiss, please?” She feels so pampered, and her request is granted with a lean down and soft cup of her cheek from her sweet BumbleBea.

“Mm, mi amor. I like that.” Bea adds another kiss on Ava’s forehead to create a big straining smile on Ava’s smitten lips and glides around the bed afterwards.

Ava can’t stop just surveying their breakfast. She’s safe and home with her girlfriend, and that’s all that matters.

Bea gets under the covers on her side, and it is her side now, and inches close so there hips touch. “You think you’ll be able to swallow the eggs? I made them extra fluffy just in case, love.”

Ava jolts her gaze to Bea so fast. Really emotionally. Bea called her love. She likes that more than darling, and she loves that.

She and Bea smile at each other, laced with the undercurrent emotions over the fear they both felt in differing ways.

Ava’s smile turns toothy. “I love you calling me love, and yes, I think I can handle the eggs. Thank you for looking after me.”

Bea preens. “Then I shall call you love regularly, and you are most welcome. Anything for you.”

Ava rests her in-love head against the headboard. Just looking at Bea. Appreciating her. Taking her hand to hold on Bea’s thigh. “We’re girlfriends.” She laughs emotionally with her tearful eyes. “I just want to stay home with you for the foreseeable Can we do that? I know if Zori set the Rafael thing up, you’ll want to be your amazing badass self and defend my honour, but can we just stay home for a while? Both of us? No going after people, just be together?” She says with hope, and Bea squeezes the side of Ava’s hand and nods.

“Of course we can. I’m not wasting a second’s thought on Zori right now. Though if she did plan me coming back like that, it would’ve been a terrible plan. Rafael was literally only here for a few minutes. What did she think, you two would immediately go at it? It’s crazy. I’m with you, and no one is going to get to you again. I’m...”

“Gonna protect me?” She pouts, loving being under Bea’s protection.

Bea bites her smiling lower lip. Eyes cheeky all on Ava’s lips. “Yes. I’ll keep you safe, precious silly goof.” Bea kisses. Bea kisses Ava’s lips. Her cheeks and her nose. Bea wipes her tears away with her thumb.

Ava feels loved. So loved and doted on like never before.

“We were so determined to not be together after Australia and after, and now look at us?” She airs some of her thoughts. Holding Bea’s hand so tight back.

Bea hums. “Things have changed a lot in a short amount of time. But...” Bea brings Ava’s hand to her lips, being a romantic and kissing her knuckles.

Totally smitten, Ava wants one more thank you for being you kiss from Bea before breakfast. “Kiss?” Bea pecks at Ava’s lips, and Ava pecks back as wanted. It’s so sweet, and Ava’s want for sweetness like this overrides any lust any day. “You were saying?” She giggles and adds another kiss because she can and loves Bea’s lips. She drags the tip of her wet nose over Bea’s, wanting this far more than silly pancakes. Though she does love pancakes. “I’ve never given Eskimo kisses before, BumbleBea. I love it so much.” She says with a playful voice and lives and feels all tingly and wants a billion Eskimo kisses like this with Bea from here on out per day. She loves them so much. She loves her saviour so much.

“Mmm, I love it so much too; please never stop. Another rule of girlfriends unlimited: Eskimo kisses.” Bea drags her nose over and over too. Ava’s so sure of them, so sure she wants Bea’s words to be real and to happen.

“Sounds like a deal, my hero.” She rests her forehead on Bea’s, totally safe and loved and feeling better no matter her uncomfortable silly body.

Bea pulls back. Her hand sneaking onto Ava’s wet cheek. Nothing but love and gentleness in these eyes so different from Rafael. Completely different. “Let’s not think about previous stuff right now; we’re together, and we’re talking about the fears we have. That’s far more than I ever did with Zori; we got this.”

Ava so agrees. Her eyes keen to indulge in Bea’s kind face so close. “We got this; fuck everything else.”

“I love this Smurfy hair.” Bea tangles her fingertips in Ava’s hair. “However, did you know blue is my favourite colour?”

Ava bobs her head. “No idea; could be I’ve known you all my life. Just that teeny-weeny tiny detail.” She pinches her fingers together, licking her teeth happily and playfully.

“Mm.” Bea narrows her eyes suspiciously, slanting her head, silly Bea that she is. “Indeed.”

“Mm. I...” Her throat feels really burnt suddenly again from the constant talk, and she rubs the area. She still feels a weight there like his hand is stuck on her. She wants it to go away as soon as possible. “Maybe I should, like, not talk for a while, like I was told.” She laughs, and that hurts too.

“Yeah, take it slow. I love hearing your voice, love, but rest. We’re together and here, and that’s all that matters right now.” Bea worries, and Ava falls harder. Unbearably harder as Bea tilts Ava’s neck to place the softest of kisses on her throat. “Precious. So precious.” Bea kisses up Ava’s neck until she returns home to Ava’s lips. Totally treating her gently. The kisses make it better. Bea makes it feel better. She made everything feel better when she came back from the kitchen. Bea close like this is better than any medicine, however medically incorrect that is. That’s what Ava feels in her heart that beats for Bea. Her heart belongs to her equally precious Bea.

Chapter Text

Stunned at the utter stupidity of Rafael or maybe just the fact she didn’t see what sort of man he was. Zori stands outside Ava’s apartment door, ready to knock after being buzzed up. She got Ava some wine too, you know, to play the role of just a concerned ex of Bea’s that wants Bea back but genuinely gives a fuck about Ava.

She doesn’t. But she is sorry for what happened. Rafael was meant to seduce her, not fucking strangle her. Zori underestimated Crimson’s interview and her words about it being a feisty threesome with her, Ava, and Rafael.

Zori planned it, and it’s…her fault. Ava was almost killed because of her. Mostly Rafael, but yes, it wouldn’t have happened without her.

To be fair, though, how the fuck was Zori meant to know Rafael would do that? It’s on him, but she played a part in it, and she wants Bea back, and the only way to keep that as a possibility is to appear concerned for Ava and her well-being.

Show Bea she cares about Ava.

Zori did her role. She got Bea to their cafe, and they chatted, and she thinks it went well. She made jokes and spoke about her career and Bea’s on the occasion. She just needs to stamp down any thoughts that she may have had about having a role in Rafael arriving at Ava’s door while Bea was out with her. Quash them dead and keep the ember of hope alive with Bea.

This changes nothing. Ava’s not bi, and Bea loves Zori, and they’ll get back together. They’ll get married as planned after Ava’s shown to be what she is.

There are other opportunities. Other men. Other ways to test Ava. She’s a chaotic creature, and away from Bea she’s a mess. Getting Ava to falter will be easy. Just at the right moment.

Zori will have to play the stupid long game now.

Bea wasn’t overly chatty over the meetup, and she seemed distant, but that can be chipped at. The damage Zori did can be undone. She just needs time and determination and to be her best self near Bea.

Bea has her ring still. She’ll keep it, and the wedding will be back on at some point.

She undoes a button on her loose-fitting blouse to expose her tanned chest. Flourishes her undone hair back and knocks.

There’s movement behind the door, and a second later it’s opened. And there stands Bea. Her hair is classily tied back in a bun, but she’s wearing a silly Mr. Rabbit t-shirt that’s long and covering her jeans down to her thighs.

Bea’s face is hardly welcoming as she grips the side of the door open. It’s rigid in a way Zori doesn’t really remember it being with her.

Protective. Bea’s no nonsense about Ava. She gave Dora a beating after Dora hurt Ava. She destroyed Crimson for it, and she broke Rafael’s arm and knocked him out.

She takes no prisoners with Ava, however sweet and gentle a person she is. Ava doesn’t get hurt by anyone on Bea's watch without consequences.

And Zori contributed to Ava’s new hurt. If Bea suspects Zori suddenly feels a weak feeling at Bea’s reaction.

This is tricky terrain; Zori will have to deftly flow around without suspicion.

“Hi.” Zori greets with as genuine and gentle a disarming smile as she can. “How’s she doing? I got her some wine.” She waves the wine bottle.

Bea pokes the inside of her cheek with her tongue. Unmoving. “Why don’t you come see for yourself?” Bea’s blunt, and okay, let the tricky terrain crossing begin.

Zori gratefully smiles and steps on in with wine in hand as Bea steps aside. “I can’t believe this happened, but I want you both to know I’m here for you if you need anything.”

“Hmm.” Bea hums and shuts the door and quickly overtakes Zori to the living room.

Does Bea suspect? Zori doesn’t think so. It would be quite the leap in Bea’s mind to arrive at the truth. To Bea she’s never interacted with Rafael, but this visit is to completely dispel that notion if it is in Bea’s head at all. Zori’s good at that. Getting Bea to accept things. She still is; she just needs to work her magic and grind Bea down and find a different route to booting Ava out of the way eventually.

Again, nothing has changed. The end goal remains the same.

Zori sees Ava sitting with her legs on the table in front of her, in sweats. She sees her with utterly ridiculous blue hair. She sees she’s in a Kanga shirt from Winnie the Pooh. And the crutches rested beside Ava’s couch.

And then she sees Ava’s neck as Ava stares at her after she steps to be in front of Ava.

Zori instantly winces at the bruising setting in. Rafael, what the fuck??

“Hi, Ava.” She steps to Ava, feeling analysed. Suspected. And hands Ava the expensive bottle of wine. “I got this for you; it looks like you need something like it.” She jokes with a nervous laugh.

Ava takes the bottle with her fingers around the top and checks it out. “Merlot. That’s kind of you; thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I’m here for you if you need anything. I’ve just told Bea. I know it was frayed with us in Australia, but I want to make amends.” Zori decides to take a seat next to Ava, but Bea brushes past to sit where Zori intended. Close to Ava and a protective hand on Ava’s thigh. Staring at her too.

Just play the role. They don’t know anything.

She sits on the chair next to the couch to Ava’s left and tries to keep her disarming energy going. Her elbows on her knees. Concern in her eyes over Ava’s throat wound. “I like your hair.” She lies with a smile on her face. “So sorry this happened to you.”

Ava places the wine on her lap before to Zori’s twitching reaction Ava takes Bea’s hand. “I did it for my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend? So you’re official then, are you?” She burns within. She didn’t know that. And she hates it. Every word from her lips is fake. Changes nothing. She’s here for the long run.

“Yes, Zori, we are. After Rafael, we wanted to be official, so we are. And I have something for you.” Bea gets something from her pocket.

The ring.

Zori stares at it. Any of her fake sweetness fades for a moment as the ring is handed to her. “You wanted to keep it?”

“I don’t anymore. There isn’t hope for us, Z. It’s over. I loved you, but it’s over now. I want you to accept that.” Bea speaks, and Zori grits her teeth.

“I do, Bea.” She lies again at Bea’s unmoved eyes still. She definitely suspects. “We’ve talked about this; we’re going to be friends.” She directs her fake kind eyes to Ava. The same look that Bea has is in Ava’s eyes too. “How are you feeling? It must’ve been really scary for you for someone you were intimate with to do that to you. I’m sure he’ll be locked up for a long time if justice is done.”

“Don’t you find it a funny coincidence that Rafael came by just when you were out with Bea and then just as Bea was coming home?” Ava sees through Zori.

Fuck.

“I mean, it’s almost as if—stop me if I’m being paranoid here.” Ava laughs but with no humour at all. “You intended for Bea to find me and Raf in a compromising position? You told Bea yourself you’d do anything to get her back, and Raf doesn’t live in London, and he arrived here surely just around the time you did after your tournament in California. That’s a big coincidence, don’t you think?” Ava tilts her head innocently.

Zori purses her lips, staring right back at Ava’s false calm face. “I think you’re still a bit out of it after what happened. That’s ridiculous.”

“Hm.” Ava nods, frowning at her lap. Feigning thoughtfulness. “I think it would be kind of dumb too. I mean, Raf was literally in the apartment for a few minutes before Bea arrived. Maybe I’m…”

“You are.” Zori finishes Ava’s sentence coldly.

“Is she? Did you arrange it, Zori? Did you?” Bea asks plainly, and Zori didn’t expect this, but she denies.

“How could you ask me that?” She clutches her heart. “That hurts me deeply. We were about to get married, and you’re with Ava shortly after I made one mistake, and now you accuse me of dealing with a man I’ve never spoken with? To get you to see Ava will give in to any man that she’s attracted to? To convince you she’s not bi? And it was all an experiment for her, and she’ll grow tired of it after a while? Of being with a woman? When she only really likes men? I mean.” She scoffs. “Crimson’s interview made it abundantly clear Ava likes dick A LOT, and she almost fucked the first hot guy she saw in Melbourne after you were over the first time. She was so relieved you and she wouldn’t be together. Rafael was an abusive arse, yes, but the next man Ava eye-fucks? Who’s sweet? You think she’ll hesitate to end things when she sees she can have a relationship free of any prejudice?”

What. The. Fuck?

Zori realises what she’s done. She just admitted to it. Without saying it outright, she organised Rafael’s arrival here, but she admitted it. She let her anger and rage blind her again.

Ava sits back. Unflinching in her hatred of her. Just like Zori hates Ava.

Zori transfers her eyes slowly to Bea. She’s greeted with a locked jaw and eyes that could kill.

Bea gets up, and Zori flinches to get up too. “I didn’t…”

“Yes, you did!” Bea shouts in Zori’s face. Shit. “You almost got Ava killed!”

Zori quits the lie. “He wasn’t meant to fucking strangle her! He was just meant to fuck her or kiss her or whatever!?”

“What!? She’s on crutches, you idiot!? She was defenceless! She was vulnerable, and you led a man that was abusive toward her right to her fucking door when she was alone!” Bea points at Zori’s heaving chest in a rage Zori hasn’t felt the brunt of before.

“How the fuck was I supposed to know he’d act like that!? He just got carried away!”

“Carried away!? If I hadn’t come back…”

“But you did! I arranged it so you would!” She screams back.

“You never respected me or Ava.” Bea quiets her voice, but it’s thick with hatred. “The only person you care about is yourself, and you threw your toys out of the pram after you couldn’t believe I was finished with us.” Bea grips Zori’s shirt and pulls her close. Cold and about to end things forever. “If you ever come near me or Ava again, I’ll show you what I did to Rafael and Crimson. No one hurts Ava. Not you. Not anybody. I’ve had enough of violence recently, but this I promise you, Zori. Don’t you dare test me on this. Go before I drag you out, and don't you dare hurt Ava ever again.”

Zori, shedding tears rabidly, pushes Beatrice back, but Bea doesn’t wilt. “You love me! Why’d you keep the ring in the first place!? Why did you even invite me up if you were going to ambush me like this!?” She screeches.

“Because we wanted to see if it was true, and it is. I needed to know. I needed to give you your ring back and make clear to you we were over.” Bea pushes Zori away roughly.

Zori angrily looks to Ava.

Ava just rubs her bruised purple throat, wanting Zori gone too. But the temptation to go out kicking and screaming is strong.

Zori doesn’t listen to the urge. And steps up to Bea and sneers. “She’ll break your heart; we both know it.”

“No, she won’t. Unlike you, she loves me and actually cares about what I feel. She’s my best friend and my girlfriend; you were never my partner. She’s always been.” Bea steps back from Zori. Finished, and Zori shrugs her arm to leave in an angry, heartbroken huff. Now it’s over, and she can’t change it. She hates it. She hates Ava, but it’s over.

Chapter Text

The plan with Zori wasn’t something Beatrice was intending to do, and especially not after she promised Ava they’d just shut out the world after a traumatic experience for Ava, but it became an option when Zori texted wanting to come over to see Ava.

It made sense for a multitude of reasons. If the suspicions that Zori set the Rafael visit in motion were wrong, then it was a moment to tell Zori, with Ava beside Beatrice, that they’d never get back together and she didn’t want to be friends and to give the ring back to show that.

She would’ve done it in a gentler way, perhaps. Not harsh. She would’ve wished Zori well, and that would’ve been that. Part officially and amicably.

But then Beatrice saw Zori at her door. And she knew that would never ever be a reality. Never.

She saw the falseness. She saw the truth as Zori spoke. She saw under the act. She saw her flicker of distaste at the Mr. Rabbit shirt she wore. A shirt that belongs to Ava and that Beatrice loves Ava in. The way she said hi to Ava and offered her that wine with a you look like you need it coming out of her mouth so not warmly. Sickly sweet and false as her smile when next she falsely complimented Ava’s hair.

It was obvious Zori was trying to get ahead of things and halt any suspicion of her having any involvement with Rafael.

But by trying, she just exposed herself in the process. She couldn’t help herself. To try to manipulate things. The mask fell off, and there was no putting it back on ever again around Beatrice.

She shrieked petulantly at being seen, and Beatrice stood her ground. Enough. It was just enough.

She became inflamed when Zori spewed out her horrible words that insulted Ava’s character. She doesn’t know how she held herself back from punching Zori, but she did. She doesn’t wanna be seen as violent, but she made it clear and simple to Zori.

Hurt Ava again, and I won’t hold back.

Zori screamed in her face and left, and then afterwards emotion just poured out of Beatrice. The fear about Ava being lost to her forever. The most important person in her life. The betrayal that someone she once loved and was going to marry recently would put Ava so flippantly in danger. The guilt at ever hurting Ava back in Australia when she was in so much pain. The ever-growing heart-trembling view of Ava’s purple neck. Her precious neck and her throat that hurts so much that she can’t eat heavy foods for a week or so until the swelling subsides, and the idea of, however much Ava enjoyed it, that people like Rafael and Crimson treated her like shit with no respect for Ava.

It all finally burst out, and Beatrice couldn’t stop it, nor did she want to. She knew Ava needed a stable presence around her after Rafael, but she couldn’t hold it in. She couldn’t not sob into Ava’s arms after she made sure Ava’s door was locked after Zori left and slumped on the couch next to Ava.

It felt like such a release. Such a needed, so needed release into the embrace of the person she loves, who only always wants what’s best for her and nothing else. Even if it meant she’d hurt herself, Ava has always wanted her to have the best. To feel loved in the right way, in a way that was healthy for her.

She’s never hurting Ava again; she never wants to see her hurt again like she has been, as she’s promised to herself already. She’d fall on her proverbial sword in defence of Ava. She won’t let Ava feel such fear again. She’s her girlfriend, and she loves her so much, and now as Ava’s mom, Mariana is here for Ava, taking over doting on Ava to Beatrice’s slight jealousy, which she really shouldn’t be; it’s Ava’s mom after all. She’s committed totally to making Ava happy and to the courting of Ava as she promised she would. Make her feel special every day and enjoy every moment now that she and Ava are together. Don't overthink things. Just keep taking one step at a time and keep talking about the worries the two share. Never holding back.

She’s with Ava on the couch, a protective arm around Ava’s back in another of Ava’s oversized shirts. And of course Ava is in one of her own—the kangaroo shirt Ava got for herself in Australia—as Ava’s sipping on some soup from a tray on her lap while the TV is on. The movie Wicked is currently showing.

Beatrice is more focused on Ava than the movie. Watching her sip. Ready to be there for Ava if she has issues swallowing.

“Mmm.” Ava closes her eyes and sighs contentedly after the sip from her spoon and rests against Beatrice’s arm, blue hair and all. “Nothing like Mom’s famous tomato soup.”

Beatrice smiles a little and plays with Ava’s hair around her ear. Doting and snuggly in an I’m Ava’s loving girlfriend and give her affection type of way. “Small sips; it’ll be hot for your throat.”

Ava smirks. A dimple on her precious cheek. Leaning down for another sip. “Yes, Trixie Bea.”

“Mmm.” Beatrice narrows her gaze at her cheeky girlfriend and pinches her lips. “Trixie Bea.” She scowls playfully.

Ava sips and does a dramatic. “Ahh.” As she returns back against Beatrice’s arm, she always knows Trixie will never be Beatrice’s favourite nickname from Ava.

She prods Ava’s temple with her forehead. Her lips frowning and close to Ava’s cheek. Her eyes so close to the side of Ava’s. “You cheeky. Where’s mi amor or baby or BumbleBea or just Bea? Trixie is tss!” She sticks out, inadvertently touching Ava’s cheek and loving the giggle that follows from her girlfriend at feeling its ticklishness.

Ava spins quickly and smooches Beatrice’s lips just as quickly before spinning her head away, filling Beatrice with a gentle heart-skipping warmth. “You know you love it.”

She never has, but it’s growing on her. She kisses this smooth cheek, smiling, loving to kiss Ava over and over. “Maybe, love. Maybe.” She kisses along Ava’s cheek to her ear to kiss Ava’s lobe, the shell of her ear. Using her fingers to expose the ear more. Feeling Ava tilt to her. Loving and loving it. “Your mom’s taking my job.” She chuckles after her whisper and kisses Ava’s jaw.

“Mmm, I do like jealous Bea, just…never imagined it would be because of my mom.” Ava laughs a cute little laugh.

“Mmm, I was thinking.” She kisses and stays kissing Ava’s jaw, lingering and lingering and savouring her home’s soft skin.

“You…were…thinking?” Ava hums, tilting to rest her temple against Beatrice’s forehead, relaxing and totally safe from anything and everyone. Just with the ones who cherish her most.

Beatrice drops her hand to rest on Ava’s thigh barely covered by her shirt. Hesitating but imagining. “When your throat is better I could…as you wanted…”

“Eat me out?” Ava says with a loud voice, alerting Beatrice to Ava’s mom in the kitchen.

She goes beet red at thinking Mariana heard that. “Ava, your mom’s here; she could’ve heard that.” She warns giggling before she kisses Ava’s hair and strokes the blue back and burns up. “But yes, I’d definitely love that.” She flirts keenly for Ava.

Ava turns to place another warm, wet kiss tasting of tomato on Beatrice’s lips. Not quick. But staying and staying and then deepening as she caresses with her lips and Beatrice tilts to caress back. Their tongues brushing the other as gently as Beatrice can kiss and do.

“Ahem, you two?” Mariana frustratingly interrupts, but Beatrice just moves back a little. Stroking Ava’s hair still. Giving Ava loving eyes up close. She's so proud of Ava being this open with her parents near. Ava's dad is working right now, but Ava was the same at the hospital with Beatrice with both of her parents around. Affectionate. Unafraid. Wanting to be with Beatrice in this way.

Ava’s eyes twinkle, and to Beatrice there is no more beautiful a sight to witness. “So beautiful.”

Ava’s smile flames the fire in Beatrice’s heart again for another small meaningful kiss. Every kiss is that. “You’re beautiful.” Ava whispers back with a kiss again and then slowly moves back. Smiling and smiling and then reluctant as Beatrice feels too, she turns to her mom above, who…baked a cake.

It’s big and chocolate and fluffy, and Beatrice feels her tummy rumble. Mariana’s baking has always been a weakness. She used to come home from Ava’s some days feeling so full she thought she could burst. The days when her parents were divorcing, she’d come over to Ava’s a lot; however distant she was at the time due to that divorce, she came and felt lighter; she felt seen and appreciated.

She smiles up at Mariana, who’s in an apron, her hair in a bun, unlike Beatrice today, who is just going for it down, with that familiar warm smile of a loving woman on Mariana’s lips. She’s greying a little bit, but not much. She’s, of course, so much like her daughter.

“What’s this?” Beatrice licks her lips keenly.

Mariana laughs down at them both with nothing but warmth. She accepted Ava like she accepted Beatrice in Ava’s life from the moment they met. “Seeing you with my Ava feels like the rightest thing I’ve ever seen, Beatrice.”

That reaches Beatrice deeply. To have Ava’s mom’s blessing and to know she feels that way means the world. It took a moment for her own parents to accept her sexuality. However much they do now, that still hurts.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Ava chips in with a smooch on Beatrice’s still burning cheek. “My hero.” She tilts against Beatrice again. Her darling Ava.

So much affection directed her way elicits shyness and flusters Beatrice to smile at her lap. She loves it. Mariana and Ted have always been her second parents in a way. She’s always felt welcomed by them.

“You’re that too.” Mariana steps over, and Beatrice smiles up to Ava’s mom as she plops the big-ass cake on her lap as she sits beside her. Surrounding Beatrice with the warmth of Ava moving to rest on her spot on her shoulder and her mom’s comforting smell of rosemary. “This is all yours.” Mariana’s eyes glisten. “You saved my baby. You’ve always been there for her, and this is just a small thank you. I’m so sorry about Zori; you deserved so much better.”

Mariana’s going to make her cry, and as Mariana leans forward and wraps an arm around her, she does. Beatrice does cry again gently as she’s given a kiss of a mother’s love and affection into her hair.

“Doce e corajosa Beatriz.” Mariana pulls back and rubs Beatrice’s back, and the love in Beatrice’s heart is so, so, so much; she feels so loved. Her own mom was never an overly affectionate woman to her. She feels so much warmth and fuzzy love deep inside she doesn’t know what to do with it.

She cries and holds Ava’s hand and gets held by Ava’s mom, feeling this is exactly where she’s supposed to be. This is where she belongs. It’s what she’s always wanted but thought was just never possible. To be Ava’s girlfriend. This is her home, and she cries, leaning her temple against Ava and being warmed by the hug of an accepting, kind mom, nothing like Sandra feeling it. She’s appreciated and wanted and home.

Chapter Text

Standing is hard, but right now, after another day with Bea it’s the only thing Ava wants to be doing right now as Bea holds her so she doesn’t fall, and she rests her cheek at the crook of Bea’s neck as they sway together to a gentle song.

It’s not something Ava has ever done in this way, but she’s dancing a slow dance with the woman she loves. It’s not her doing most of the work, but it’s perfect; the music is played on her iPad. This heartbeat is beneath her.

If the World Was Ending by JP Saxe Julia Michaels

She has her hand on that heart. Feeling it beat. Feeling safe, feeling its vibration through Bea’s jumper.

“Really romancing me now, huh?” She says. And yes, she feels romanced; she feels special.

Bea kisses Ava’s neck as they sway to the gentle song, so gently Ava could burst out in tears. Bea’s being so gentle with her. Only Bea and her parents have treated her with this much gentleness.

She closes her eyes, soothed by the music and Bea and not caring about anything else in the world but this right here, right now. Home.

“You deserve to be romanced; you deserve everything.” Bea whispers and kisses her hair, and everything right now comforts an uncomfortable Ava from her pain. She’s comforted with Bea holding her, not letting go.

Bea let out her emotions about Zori, and Rafael and Ava felt right holding Bea through it, as she always has in moments of pain for Bea. She was right where she was supposed to be for Bea. She’s had her own trauma, but Bea shouldn’t have to hold in her pain. Just like Ava shouldn’t have either. Ava’s learning, and she feels braver. After Rafael and feeling so powerless, she never wants to not let herself rely on people when she needs them most again.

Bea held in her emotions, and Ava held in hers before Australia and during. No more holding in. No more holding the hurt inside. Let it out. Trust in each other.

Ava lets herself shed tears, just not wanting to hold anything in. Not wanting to. She’s scared of a nightmare about Rafael, but when she feels this beat, she feels as she always has. Safe.

She might become addicted to this. She’s addicted already to being Bea’s. She’s addicted to kisses and snuggling as girlfriends. She’s addicted to not wasting time with Bea. But she might become addicted to the gentle.

She doesn’t want to ever not appreciate the heart she feels beneath. Her partner. Bea’s always been her partner. She’s always been. Bea’s the other side of the coin of her. Where she went, Bea has gone too. Protecting. Safeguarding.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to eat all your mom’s cake alone, love. Could you help me?” Bea chuckles quietly and holds tight. Her cheek slides down to rest against Ava’s, and Ava slides hers to Bea’s, cooing to the touch.

“Mom won’t be pleased if I eat your cake, Bea. It’s for you. You saved her child; it’s all yours.” She whispers delicately and softly and is here for Bea as much as Bea is here for her.

Bea shudders a breath. Then she whimpers. She’s vulnerable, and Ava is too. Nothing hidden. Just this. “She’s always been lovely with me.”

“She’s a lovely person and so are you. You’re a part of our family, mi amor; she loves you. Just like me.” She whispers and places the softest of kisses on Bea’s cheek.

Bea stays quiet for a moment. She kisses back on Ava’s cheek, dancing and staying as Ava’s anchor too. That’s what Bea called Ava and Bea’s that for Ava as well. Her BumbleBea. This is right, as Mom said. It’s too right. It’s the rightest thing Ava’s felt. This was always right. She’s just letting herself have it now. Just holding on to Bea and not letting her go.

“What I said to Zori is what I feel. You’ve always been my partner and always wanted what’s best for me. I trust you, and I love you so, so much. I love you with everything in me, darling.” Bea kisses and kisses Ava’s cheeks, eliciting more steady tears, with one happy crying Ava on her shoulder being loved and held in the safety of her hero. “You getting your hair blue was…”

“Always for you. It’s always been for you. I got other colours, but when I got it blue and saw your eyes light up, I knew it was always to see that. You love blue, and I love you, so I love blue too.” She rubs Bea’s back, meaning every word she says and hating Zori for how she was with Bea. How she tried to get in between them. But not letting it fill her thoughts. Only this. Right here. Right now in the quiet of her home warmed with Bea in it, dimly lit with a candle or two in her living room. In a place where she felt so scared because of Rafael, she now again feels utterly the opposite.

“You never told me that.” Bea says, and Ava grins against the fluffy fabric of Bea’s jumper.

“Well now you know.” She kisses Bea’s cheek again and breathes in Bea’s natural smell, warming her up. “Mom’s coming back tomorrow. I think she’s determined to keep an eye on us after all this.” She eye-rolls with the love of a daughter that knows how lucky she is to have a mom like her own.

“Don’t think I’m too averse to that. She’ll keep us crazy kids from getting into more shenanigans.” Bea jokes. Ava rests but tuts with another fond eye roll.

“I’m quite alright with no more drama for a long time, Bea. Unless it’s tennis or showing me what you can do for your bestie.” She imagines again easily. She imagines Bea using her lips where she used her fingers before in there first time.

“Your bestie has a lot more experience with women. When I’m done, you’ll forget Crimson ever existed.” Bea promises, and hmm, promises, promises.

“Mm, that sounds nice.” She feels a flutter in her heart. She doesn’t doubt Bea will put Crimson to shame. She doesn’t doubt it at all. She already has.

“When you’re ready, I’ll make you cum so hard you’ll forget your own name.” Bea laughs afterwards and pulls back. “Sorry, sorry, I totally took away from the mood just then.”

Mood? What mood? Ava’s turned into one big simmering, turned-on mess after Bea said that. She gulps at Bea’s expression going from self-deprecating to confident right in front of her as Bea sees that for herself.

Bea grins. “Or not.” Bea winks. Ava’s legs turn to jelly. She isn’t very strong on her feet already, and without Bea holding her up without her crutches, she’d struggle, but Ava turns to jelly, and any weight she had on her feet goes away. She wants Bea badly.

She will, just not now, but the anticipation will only make it more. It’ll only make there first full experience more gloriously perfect.

Bea straightens. Confident and lightened by the dancing. Preening. “I have an idea.”

“Mm?” Ava pats her dry lips.

Bea scoots down. Her arm wrapping around Ava’s leg. “I’m going to hold you up.”

“Okay.” Ava quickly says yes and loves the idea of this.

Bea so sure and calm, keeps a hand on Ava’s back and lifts Ava up by her legs. “Oh!” Ava yelps as she’s held up close to Bea. Off the ground. Breathless. Arm around Bea. A hand on Bea’s heart. Smiling. Seeing the colour in Bea’s cheeks. The love in her eyes for her home too.

Bea’s smirk goes soft. She tips her forehead against Ava’s shifting back to the romancing.

The song changes as the former ends.

Butterflies by Abe Parker.

The gentle words and the gentle hold off the ground in Bea’s strong, safe hold soften Ava where she’s held. She closes her eyes again.

“We may not be able to be with each other like that, my love, yet, but we will, but before then.” Bea starts to turn and move in a circle, and if this is what it’s like to be romanced by Bea she knows she’ll never stop loving it.

She tilts to Bea’s lips and kisses them gently, and Bea kisses back, feeling so much love in her heart as Bea spins with her in her arms. She aches. She aches for Bea. She feels a feeling…of butterflies for Bea. Bea makes her feel so many blooming butterflies inside. She's Bea's. She thinks for a very, very long time.

Chapter Text

After waking up with Bea again, Ava has gotten back to where she awoke after a little morning freshening up with the help of Bea. She doesn’t feel great this morning. Her surgical incision needed its daily maintenance, and it’s, as always, a debilitating condition that needs rehab and more rehab and walking through the uncomfortableness to do that rehab.

But it’s her neck and throat that she’s focused in on most. She still feels Rafael’s hands on her, and she continues to hate it.

Though. Bea staying in bed with her and Mom being here again to constantly take care of her will get her through this. Resting on Bea’s chest does. In a comfortable enough position on her side. Her cheek where it rested last night as Bea romanced Ava and put Ava’s wooing so far to shame. Ava’s going to do something back for Bea when she thinks of something.

Well, she did get the blue hair. But she wants to do more. It has Ava’s mind’s thoughts a lot, and she’s keen to deliver. Maybe Mom could help her think of something. Anything.

She plays with Bea’s fingers, enjoying how her pale skin collides with Bea’s sun-kissed skin. She admires Bea’s nails. Her pinky finger. Her index finger. Her thumb. The hand that touched where Ava craves Bea to touch again.

She starts to play with Bea’s ring finger. No more Zori. Bye-bye, Zori, and good riddance. This Bea is my Bea Go get your own or not.

She doesn’t care. Zori almost got her killed. She can go marry Nico with Winnie’s face and arms for all Ava cares. Though that would be far too good for Zori.

She smiles at the tattoo on Bea’s finger. It was hidden by her ring. A little smiley face. One fun night she and Bea had a long while ago. It was probably before Bea got drunk on that one powerful pint of beer back in Melbourne post-Zori’s tirade the last time Bea touched alcohol.

Definitely the result of such a night, Bea’s tattoo put Bea off. Though Ava knows Bea likes it.

“Remember the night you got this?” She fondly recalls. She doesn’t remember a lot, but she remembers one very drunk Bea being a big baby as she got the tiny tattoo. Hissing as it was done. Though of all things, Bea is no baby. She’s tough as nails in a fight. As she’s proven of late again and again. Dora’s still seeing stars, Crimson’s face is probably still bruised, and Rafael’s most definitely in a sling, and his own face will be bruised too. Mess with something Bea loves, and she holds no prisoners. No mercy. Ava grins at the thought. Bea likes that show Cobra Kai, and that’s there motto. Bea would definitely be a part of Miyagi-Do, the far more peaceful dojo.

“Nope, I just remember the searing headache I had.” Bea makes Ava sniff humorously.

Ava strokes the tattoo of Bea’s with her thumb. “No more ring covering it up. Tss!” She sticks out her tongue.

“The ring has been gone for a while now.” Bea reminds her.

“Mm. Never to return. Oh, and I never asked, did El Sol’s coffee or whatever taste any better this time?” She quirks, knowing that cafe favourite of Zori’s won’t have improved.

Bea makes a little squelchy noise with her lips. (Definitely a noise Ava wants in a very, very different scenario.) “I just got an orange juice, and then Zori went ahead and ordered two teas for us both.”

If Ava could groan and cover her face in exasperation for, like, an hour right now, she would. Again, Zori couldn’t help herself.

Ava just moves her eyes to the back of her head with a tired-of-Zori feeling. “She couldn’t help herself, could she?”

“I guess not.” Bea hums. “Guess even the small things I let fly a lot.”

Ava slides her fingers into Bea’s. Releasing a calming breath seeing their hands like this. Locked and together.

“Why does your hand always fit so well with mine? It always has.” She kisses Bea’s hand and then lets their hands rest together on Bea’s chest—the white fabric of her pyjama top. Ava’s nose brushes the fabric on Bea’s shoulder as she moves off Bea’s chest.

“I don’t know.” Bea kisses Ava’s hair, light as her voice.

“Beaaa?” She purses her lips, feeling a little giddy—the warmth in her neck subsided, or at least Ava’s distracted by it through this with Bea. just talking for talking’s sake with Bea because it’s always been her favourite pastime. Well, in the past, it didn’t involve sex life when it was about her, but things, safe to say, have changed.

“Hm?” Bea pats her lips, feeling comfy too. Well, probably no, definitely more comfy than Ava is with her body right now.

“Why are you so hot? Like it’s a crime, Bea.” She licks her teeth playfully, changing subjects to flirt with her girlfriend.

“Why are you using that voice? You should be resting.” Bea retorts back.

Ava gasps dramatically. “Bea! Did you just tell your bestie girlfriend to shut up!?” She clutches her chest with her free hand down at Bea’s slightly smirking morning face.

“You know what I mean.” Bea shakes her head fondly and delivers another sweet morning kiss for Ava to soak in.

“Mm, much better.” She murmurs into these lips with a smile. And Bea supplies another Eskimo kiss Ava loves. Their noses dragging over each other. Before she returns to her spot against Bea’s shoulder, continually helped to feel better by Bea.

“You know, um… We should probably get up. Your mom’s making breakfast, and it smells…”

“Delicious? It always does.” From here, Ava sniffs in Mom’s cooking from the kitchen. Mom may have arrived a little early, but Ava really loves, of course, her mom's morning healing presence in her place. The home feels totally full with Bea and Mom here. Just Dad missing, but he’s at work. He’s a very important figurehead at one of the national banks. Still, when he’s not there and with his family, he’s always been the best dad she could want.

“Always delicious.” Bea clears her throat. Shifting. Something on her mind. “You know this Rafael thing will involve you going to court? To provide the testimony for the prosecution?”

“Yes.” She closes her eyes, not really wanting to think about it. But Rafael will be given bail, and there is going to be a process with the case. Dad is sorting out everything legally. And she’ll have to give detail about the relationship and how it led to Rafael’s actions and then face Rafael again at some point for the court date. As if having her story released by the tabloids wasn’t enough, she’ll have to recount it and confirm things for the case.

“How’d you feel about it?” Bea asks, and honestly, Ava doesn’t know.

“I’m meant to be resting my voice, aren’t I?” She kids.

Bea does a little hiss of amusement.

But Ava answers truthfully. “It’ll be something I’ll just have to get through. I have recovery to focus on, and then…” She frowns in thinking. “You know you shouldn’t just go straight into the French Open, right? You’ll need a practice tournament.”

“It’s a while away yet. I’m just going to do the mixed with Frederick and…”

“I’d like you to do both. Play both doubles; you shouldn’t have to miss out on that chance to win in Paris again. Double the chance if you play in both formats.” She’d really like that for Bea. There’s no Zori or anything anymore. Bea can compete, and Ava will be there supporting her. She’s already discussed this with Bea but she tries again.

Bea interlock there fingers again on her chest. “I just wanna play with Fred. It won’t feel right without you, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

Ava smiles again. Bea wants something, and she’s sticking to her guns. Ava can’t say after all the times Bea didn’t do that with Zori she doesn’t feel so proud inside. She kisses Bea’s upper arm, warmed by it. “Okay. Just don’t rule it out. I’ll support you whatever decision you make. And if that’s what you really want, then that’s fine.”

“I know you will.” Bea kisses Ava’s hair, and Ava’s early morning discomfort is given more Bea medicine. “It’s a long while away, though. All that matters right now is recovery and this.” Bea kisses Ava’s hair over and over, and Ava slants to them all until they reach her smiling cheek. The future is the future, but the present is what matters most, and Ava’s determined to live in it and heal. With Bea. With her family and in a second more of Mom's amazing cooking in her tummy. Nothing else. Just being domestic, recovering with her family and her girlfriend. Bea. Her girlfriend. She’s never getting tired of thinking and saying that and how lucky she feels to be able to.

Chapter Text

Days flow by, and Dad arrived today, of course, with Mom because, as previously stated, she isn’t letting her daughter out of her sight for long right now. But back to Dad. He’s here to check in on Ava, obviously. After such an attack like Ava had that almost killed her, he’s here after work to give comfort and support to her. Like Bea is doing.

No nightmares as of yet, and that is a relief. If Ava had a dream about not breathing, she’d…she doesn’t want to imagine it.

But again, back to Dad. The thing is, as Ava sits with her legs elevated on her couch, on a footrest Mom brought over from home, ahead of her. Eating dinner. Her tray on her lap. More soft foods. With Bea next to her eating too. and they all watch TV, like the way Ava always ate dinner back home with her family growing up when she got older.

No eating at the dinner table for the Silva family.

Dad is on the chair beside the couch. Mom is just beyond Bea. The room filled with the smell of Mom’s spaghetti Bolognese.

Ava hasn’t really spoken much with them both about the whole Rafael and Crimson thing in this way. At home. Because now they know it as fact—it is a thing. They love her and accept her as bi, and that means everything but the threesome thing? The abuse? The way she liked it? It feels like this unspoken-of thing, and now with Dad here too, maybe Ava doesn’t know; she just worries, maybe very wrongly, they’ll see her differently.

She spills some of her spaghetti on her favourite Eeyore shirt and tuts as she gets distracted by those thoughts. (Still debating the next wooing attempt toward Bea.)

Bea laughs and then tuts despairingly. “Ava, love, you’re getting your shirt all covered in sauce.” Bea does a simple lick of her thumb and pinches Ava’s shirt to rub out the mark. But seeing Bea’s tongue lick anything turns Ava on. She’s getting hornier for Bea by the moment, if that were possible. Her throat feels better and better, and soon Bea can make good on her promises to rock her world.

Ava’s position in the experience will be on her back, despairing that she can’t be with her girlfriend in the way she desires. Totally and freely of movement.

She burns up and places a hand on Bea’s back as Bea works. Rubbing the fabric of Bea’s top. Wanting. Feeling Bea’s muscular back.

A strand of Bea’s hair in a lazy bun falls, and Bea grins as she smudges the mark, knowing exactly what Ava’s thinking right now. It’s hot. Everything Bea does is hot to Ava right now.

“I was thinking.” Dad says through a mouthful. Then he finishes before he begins.

They’re watching Downton Abbey right now. Avid fans and all that.

“Hm?” Ava questions just about as she starts to rub Bea’s bicep after she sits back. Why does she have to be so hot? It’s not fair. If Ava could jump Beatrice after her parents went by god, she would.

Dad in his work shirt and slacks. Tray on his lap. Keeps watching the TV. “How about when you’re better Beatrice teaches you some advanced self-defence?”

“That sounds like a great idea, Ava; you can be as badass as your girlfriend.” Mom? Says that?

Ava laughs at her mom ever using the word badass to her left.

Ava gets a tut for the look of surprise. “Honestly, you’d think I’m 80 by that look. I can say badass, filha.” Mom shakes her head, smiling.

Ava swallows her food, and it still hurts but it’s not as bad. Puts her hand back on Bea’s as they eat in the gap between them on the couch.

“Ava, that’s so rude to your mom. Apologise at once.” Bea has some fun at Ava's expense. Ava pokes her tongue between her teeth, straining to not smile.

She goes redder and bumps Bea’s shoulder. “Shut up.” She shies at her plate. “I guess it would be a good idea; Bea can turn me into a total aikido master, hi-ya!” She does a little two-punch combo to thin air, rocking her tray. Bea as always, is there to stabilise the tray and prevent any disasters with a little balancing of the tray with her fingers.

“We’d have to wait a while after you’re recovered, but I’d love to teach you. Though you’d have to promise to maintain your focus…”

“Might be hard.” She smiles and raises her brows playfully at her girlfriend. Hm, it sounds even better now that Ava thinks of it. Train to kick ass and get aikido’d into submission by Bea. Every girl’s dream.

Bea smirks. Her cheek dimpling. Definitely knowing Ava’s thoughts as her ears have a bit of colour in them. “But you simply must promise you will.”

“I give no promises, Trix.” She winks and does a little happy bob as she swirls some spaghetti around her fork.

“So…how’d your parents take the news?” Dad pops in with a question about Zori. Dad knows Bea through years and years and years of dinners and sleepovers, but this is probably the first time he’s seen Ava be with a person and flirt like this or be kissed by them, as Bea does on Ava’s cheek quickly to Ava’s shyness.

Ava starts to play with her food rather than eat it, listening.

Bea sighs. “Sad for me, I suppose. But after how Zori was at her semi-finals with me, neither Mom nor Dad particularly held great feelings toward her anymore. But they are friends with Davide and Sandra, so it’s difficult for them in that way. Sandra isn’t happy. They mostly want the money for the wedding returned.”

“Knowing Sandra, I doubt they’ll see a penny.” Dad chortles at his bowl, and yes, he never liked Sandra either. They met once or twice.

“Mm, guess with Sandra I was a bit blind too.” Bea glooms, and seeing it, Ava squeezes Bea’s hand to comfort her before giving a little smooch on Bea’s cheek.

“Have I said how right the two of you look together? Because you do. I always, um…felt if Ava was interested, you’d be perfect for her. I mean, you’ve been inseparable your whole lives.” Dad chuckles. And like with Mom. Hearing that. Means everything.

“I wish I had seen it sooner. Then I wouldn’t have…” Here comes the chance to talk more openly about Crimson. No attorneys. Just Dad and Mom. Ava feels Bea’s hand overturn and squeezes hers back in support. It helps as Ava keeps playing with her spaghetti. “Gotten involved in something toxic like I did. And Rafael would’ve never come here. Crimson would’ve never shattered my nose, and then Dora wouldn’t have punched me too in Melbourne.”

There’s a moment of understandable awkward silence.

Ava hesitantly looks up from her bowl to see Dad smiling a sad smile at her. “Ava.” He says little emotionally and tilts his head with no judgement. None at all. She thinks, and she hopes. “You’re young; exploring yourself is natural. You weren’t to blame for…”

“I was. I encouraged it all, Dad. I went back to them after everything; rather than be honest with Bea I went to them for a coping mechanism. With my pain with Bea marrying Zori. It’s my fault how this unfolded.” She blames herself.

“No.” Dad shakes his head. His brown and slightly grey hair shaking with him. His beard is the same colour. His eyes loving her and nothing else. “Crimson was an abusive person and she hurt you in Melbourne when she didn’t need to. Just thank God Beatrice was there to protect you when you needed her to.” Dad flicks a fond smile for Bea with gratitude, like Mom feels too. “And Rafael coming here to your home? And barging in and…” He labours for a breath, closing his eyes in pain. “Strangling you. Ignoring you. Was on him and Zori for facilitating it. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Crimson spun stories that weren’t true about you.”

“We knew there was far more to the Rafael story than you let us or anyone know after Crimson’s first article.” Mom tells her, and yes, she never spoke of the “affair” with them or anyone.

There was always more.

“I mean, that girl made herself sound more awful than you by what I’ve heard. I won’t read that bullshit article any time soon.” Mom surprises Ava again.

She laughs, shocked. Mom isn’t a swearer. “Mom!?”

Mom absentmindedly shrugs with her fork in her food. “I can swear.”

“Yeah, but you never swear; you’re like the beacon of Saint Mommyhood.” Did she just say Mommy?

Bea bites her lower lip as Ava flusters.

“Zip it.” She side-eyes Bea.

Mom laughs, clutching her chest. “I’ve never heard that one before. And you do like your random names like that.”

“You all love it.” She sheepishly darts her eyes at them all.

“That we do, my goof, that we do.” Bea kisses her hair, and Ava’s smile isn’t a small one. It’s a relieved one again and a little bashful. She shouldn’t have worried again like she did. Her parents love her. Always. She’s always going to be there baby. That'll never change. And she’ll always be there daughter that loves them with every fibre of her being, like she loves Bea too.

Chapter Text

Helping Mariana with the dishes, Beatrice cleans and Mariana dries. She’s really happy that Ted and Mariana accepted Ava and everything, of course, and she’s more than happy that Ava’s worry about them both seeing her differently after Rafael and Crimson and such was quashed.

It just… It did bring Beatrice’s own coming out again to her own parents all those years ago back to the surface.

It’s fine. She’s fine. Just an old wound. What matters is the now. Ava’s on the mend. Zori’s toxic self is far away from her, and Rafael can’t go near Ava again, and Crimson is whatever. Ava just survived a terrible experience, and Beatrice doesn’t want to focus on what’s been and gone.

Her parents love her and accept her now. They always loved her. That’s what matters most. And she just had a dinner with her…family. Girlfriend or no, she’s always been made to feel that way when she looks back.

Ted’s words and Mariana’s again that she and Ava look right together meant everything to Beatrice. It meant the world.

It made her so happy to hear that from Ted too. To be accepted as Ava’s girlfriend like that. Barely a thought on it. It was just, yeah, we always liked the idea of you and Ava together. We’re happy you’re together.

She smiles a faint little smile as she scrubs at a plate under the hot water in the basin; she’s washing the plates and pans and such, feeling the warming feeling of that.

She has Ava’s parents approval. They trust her with Ava. They always have.

“Ted meant every word, by the way.” Mariana bumps her shoulder. Seeing.

Beatrice glows a little, she feels. She coyly smiles at Ava’s mom. Mariana’s sleeves rolled up as she dries. Hair at her shoulders and a beacon of motherly warmth.

“Me too.” Mariana winks at Beatrice.

Beatrice smiles more obviously as she hands Mariana a plate. “It means the world to me. And…” She looks pensively at the next plate she scrubs under the suds. “I promised Zori’s parents I’d never hurt Zori. She was the one who hurt me in the end, and my relationship history really isn’t great at this point now.” She laughs bitterly. “But I really want this to be it for me. It’s what I’ve always wanted. I just really…”

“Beatrice, you don’t have to promise us anything.” Mariana tuts. “You and Ava have been through everything any couple would go through your whole lives. You’ve always got each other’s backs, and when you fight or argue like you did in Melbourne, you always find a way through it; twenty years and still being as close as you were as friends speaks for itself.”

Beatrice warms again. She grins. “Though before Melbourne we hadn’t had any sort of fight for a long time.”

“Exactly. And yes, being together is different for you both; you’ll make mistakes, and yes, please be patient with Ava and keep supporting her like I know you will with her journey. It’s her first real relationship, and it’s her first time openly being with a woman, and then add on all the things she’s dealing with—the stories and Rafael—but you’ll figure it out. I know you will.”

“Any advice?” She pops up with the question as she hands off a plate and collects a glass to wash.

“Don’t hold things in or block each other out after something happens again.” Mariana pointedly says, and Beatrice knows that’s something she’ll have to fight against ever doing again with Ava.

She inhales a pained breath. She’ll never do that again to Ava. Never ever. “I’ll never treat Ava like that again. I promise it’s…just an old habit seeing Ava with that guy…”

“Hurt, yes, I know, but you trust her, and she trusts you. You know each other’s hearts; you know each other, full stop.”

Beatrice rinses the glass, nodding along. Guys will approach or crush on Ava, because you know Ava’s insanely hot and beautiful and so infectious to be around. She just needs to trust in Ava and trust in them like she always has.

“I do. I let her down in Melbourne; I won’t ever again.” She stubbornly speaks again on the subject. Never ever.

“Mmm, good. And…there’s something I wanted to mention.”

“Hm?” Beatrice flicks a curious smile back at Mariana as she hands off the glass.

Mariana smiles, but it’s laced with sympathy or empathy or both. “When Ava told us she was bi, I could see you were happy, but…”

“Wistful, yes.” She collects another pot to clean, knowing where Mariana was going with her words. Inwardly groaning at seeing some spaghetti stuck to the pan. She hates it when that happens. Either soak it or chip it off. “My parents weren’t like you and Ted.”

“How were they when you came out?” Mariana gently enquires as she dries and stacks plates, glasses, or pans to be stored away.

Beatrice does a small, disheartened shrug. “You know my mom; she’s never an overly emotive person of any kind. Dad was a little rigid. They didn’t say anything; they just went back to what they were doing. Eating dinner, if I recall.”

Beatrice stops with her sponge in the pan. Imagining the moment. It was a very long time ago. But she remembers it was like how Ava and she and Ava’s parents were a minute ago but eating at the dinner table. There was nothing after she spoke her truth. Just a look between her dad and mom, and then they silently went back to eating. Leaving Beatrice deflated.

“They had a look of ‘it’s a phase or something, I don’t know. They didn’t say anything, so I didn’t know. They accept me now; that’s all that matters. They liked Zori. They supported me with the wedding, and that’s what matters; the past is the past. It’s gone. They love me and gave me everything I have with tennis. They’re good parents.” She reasons glumly. It’s passed; it’s fine. It’s long gone now.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Mariana gives the love she has so much for her family, to Beatrice’s surprise. She shouldn’t be, as Mariana’s hand rests on Beatrice’s arm, and Mariana gives her a comforting squeeze and kiss on the head. But it does.

She feels a little shaky, a little emotional, but touched at the act again. It swells her being. To feel a mother’s affection. “Thanks.” She lets out through slightly parted lips. Heavy but comforted. Mariana doesn’t have to say more; the act of that was enough.

She doesn’t, and they return to their task together as Ava and Ted watch TV in the living room together.

“You know Ava wants to do something special for you, by the way. Heads up. Oh blast! I shouldn't have told you that." Mariana despairs at herself with a bonk on her head.

Beatrice hums, knowing and excited for whatever Ava is thinking of. “Don't worry, I know. Me too for her. Though I think the blue hair was statement enough.” She chuckles.

“And the slow dance.” Mariana teases.

“She told you about that then?” She glances at Mariana enjoying the gossip. Her shoulders are shaking as she smiles down at drying the pan. Beatrice hands her.

“Want me to tell you what she told me about it?”

Beatrice swivels and rests her back against the countertop. Arms folded. Smirking slightly. Eyes narrowing, burning to know. Ava loved it like she did, and she blooms inside at what Ava told her mom.

Mariana’s eyes Ava’s eyes smile at her. “She said she’d never felt so romanced before.”

Beatrice blushes quickly and shyly. Ava said as much, but to hear she felt that way and felt it so deeply she told her mom about it ignites such a joyful feeling in Beatrice. She looks back up at the path to the front room, wanting Ava to feel like that over and over with her and giddying at Ava’s next attempt at showing her love. Knowing Ava, when she thinks of something, it’ll be special. She means blue hair—totally blue—speaks for itself. Ava doesn’t do things by halves when she sets her mind on something. She never does. Beatrice's goofy, beautiful girlfriend never has.

Chapter Text

Beatrice was utterly reluctant to go out when Ava wanted her to get some takeout. Why not use one of the delivery apps? She didn’t wanna leave Ava. She meant it when she didn’t wanna let Ava out of her sight after Rafael, but Ava was insistent.

“It tastes better when you get it, Bea!” Ava did a cute little stomp with her fully functioning leg staying up by her crutch.

And how could she refuse that?

It made zero sense to go out, but Ava wanted something, and Beatrice wanted to go do it for her. And yes, Beatrice wanted Ava to come along for the car journey, but nope, Ava said she and Mariana were fine at home. So off Beatrice went to get Ava’s favourite Thai food for dinner.

Something Beatrice is just coming back from doing now as she holds the white plastic bag with boxes of dishes stacked up on top of each other, ready to be taken out and eaten by the blue-haired Smurf Ava.

She unlocks Ava’s door, wanting to see her girlfriend’s face. See her radiant smile. Aching in the missing of Ava.

It’s been a week plus, and Ava’s throat is looking so much better. It’s healing, and Ava’s been brighter as it has.

She pushes the door open, steps inside and…blue. The floor on either side of the narrow path to the living room is lined with blue lilies in pots.

It stills the beat of Beatrice’s heart.

Blue lilies. Ava’s next declaration of love. More blue. Beatrice’s favourite flowers. Ava already got her some not long ago, but this is different. Ava’s filled the apartment with them. The walls have pictures of them.

Beatrice. She…doesn’t think a single thought. She just feels. Ava’s love she feels.

She just feels the ache of missing Ava intensify until it tingles her skin. Takes her breath.

She trails her fingertips with tears in her eyes along the petals in pot after pot. How’d Ava do all this? Beatrice wasn’t out for long.

Mariana. Of course she helped. Beatrice imagines Ava hopping around the apartment with pots and picture frames trying to get the job done. Easily making the smile on her face grow, that would totally be an Ava thing to have tried.

She takes her shoes off and sees a small path of petals start from the living room along the path to the kitchen and bathroom and bedrooms.

She picks one up and feels the petals so delicate. and sniffs the smell in with an onrushing blush and a fluttering heart. She loves the unique watery violet scent of blue lilies. She has since she was a child, and her dad brought some home one day for her mom.

He was definitely the more romantic one. However icy her mother could be and however much they didn’t accept Beatrice when she came out at first or even mention it after she told them, they do have hearts; they do love each other and her, just not in the way she needed. But that’s the past, and this is the present, and the smell only brings happiness to Beatrice, as it always has.

Not having them at the wedding with Zori was never a small thing. They mean a lot to Beatrice. The flower in itself represents purity, and there’s nothing more pure than enjoying the smell of a flower.

She drops the takeout on a side table in the living room, and with a shyness, she follows the trail of petals.

Beatrice fights to protect those she loves, and it feels like she’s done that a lot of late, and she has. She can be strong. She can be blind to her own needs like she was with Zori, but she can also be extremely sensitive when her walls are down and she feels safe. She is again now.

She’s mostly in her life ever really been truly safe with Ava and her family.

She twirls the petal by its stalk between her fingers as she walks so slowly, wanting to not forget the anticipation and the excitement for whatever else Ava has planned to surprise her.

No one’s done this sort of thing for Beatrice, and it’s Ava who does it. It’s Ava who brings Beatrice to a shaky welling-up feeling in Ava’s home. This could lead to a trash bin and Ava jumping out to surprise her with something wacky, and Beatrice would still feel the same.

She gets this big whiff of a fragrance stronger than the lily in her fingertips. So strong as she approaches the slightly opened door to Ava’s room where the petals stop.

Calming. To Beatrice, along with the smell of lilies, is Ava’s smell. Vanilla milk and honey. Ava’s favourite scent is automatically then one of Beatrice’s and the source of ease before, during and after Australia; it always will be.

She slides the stalk behind her ear to rest in her hair. For Ava.

She begins to see what this is, or rather, already did, but now as she slips some fingers on the door handle, she feels it more intensely.

She pushes the door to open. Following the petals on the floor that go on and on to the bed and up onto the blue covers, she sees legs. Bare. On their side one rested on the other.

So transfixing and Ava’s. She trails her gaze along and along the perfect legs of the woman she loves until she reaches the silky fabric of a nightdress covering Ava’s hip.

Beatrice’s breath that was taken dizzies her. Her legs turn to such a weak jellyness she feels like dropping to her knees in devotion. She trails further along the curve of Ava’s blue silky hip. A hand. Ava’s fingers delicately resting on her side. Her elbow in the air. Beatrice follows and follows, emotional and turned on and emotional. Did she mention she’s turned on? She feels sappy and aroused in equal measure.

Beatrice reaches Ava’s shoulder. Bare and stirring something deep in Beatrice to quench. A thin strap over Ava’s shoulder. A plunging neckline where the bruise of Ava is fading and showing off Ava’s supple breasts and one silky blue-haired Ava Silva. A glint in her eyes of want. A grin on her lips as she bites the stalk of a lily in her mouth.

It’s like Beatrice is in some sort of romantic movie. Not real life. Not Ava, her girlfriend, doing this. But it’s real and happening, and Ava did do this. A bottle of champagne in ice beside the bed, like in the movies too. She doubts it’ll be drunk this evening.

Has Beatrice smiled so breathlessly and in love before in her life? Has she felt so much in one single moment? She can’t remember right now. All she knows is Ava has upped the ante in the courting department.

“What’s all this?” Beatrice laughs but not for long. Her breath is too far gone to do that. Her heart swelling in her chest, it hurts as she lets her fingertips fall off the metal door handle.

“Why don’t you come over here and find out, Trixie Bea?” Ava dares with a wink and a muffled teasing voice with the stalk still between her teeth.

Beatrice pats her dry lips. Tugging at the zip of her coat. “But I bought takeout.” She just mumbles, utterly entranced. Not knowing what she said or why she said it. Transfixed by the stunning blue vision of Ava.

Ava cocks a brow. “Do you want takeout, or do you want me?”

Beatrice sinks into the floor she stands on. She shakily smirks for a second. “Did Mariana set this up with you? I…”

“BumbleBeaaa.” Ava so elegantly shakes her head and removes the lily by its stalk. So much dark want in her eyes and at her.

“Uh huh?” Beatrice sways on her feet and slips her jacket off, letting it drop to the floor. Eyes staying firmly on Ava, and never being so turned on in her life.

Ava narrows her eyes and points the petal she holds at Beatrice. “No questions. Come here.”

“Yes.” Beatrice shakily takes a step and kicks the door shut with absentmindedness. All focus on Ava and her blueness and her everything else. “I thought you liked to be…”

“Submissive?” Ava sniffs the petal with batting eyes.

Beatrice nods as she undoes her buttons, lured in like Ava’s a siren in the sea, ready to take her down into the blue depths never to return, and god, Beatrice wishes to go.

Ava flicks her dark seductive eyes to Beatrice’s ear, and Beatrice notices. She mimics with a grin. Placing her own petal in her ear. Ava’s just… She’s always been the most beautiful person Beatrice has known, and she’s the hottest to her.

Ava outstretches a hand. Fingertips reaching. “Come to bed, baby. I don’t wanna wait anymore. You have a promise to keep.”

Beatrice finishes unbuttoning and tosses her shirt aside as she steps and steps to the end of the bed. Petals at Ava’s feet on the bed. Blue everywhere. Bea’s home. This is Bea’s home, and she wants to make her home feel great. In the safeness of them. Take care of her in a way no other person ever has.

“Which promise? I’ve been making so many I’m losing track.” She laughs for a second again, hot and heavy, and unbuckles her belt, and Ava’s eyes go so big, so wanting, as big as Beatrice has seen them be with desire. Beatrice never needed to have worried about Ava. She’s hers, and Beatrice is Ava’s.

Ava bites her lower lip in undoubtedly the sexiest act Beatrice will ever see. “Something about making me cum so hard I’ll forget a certain bitch and douche ever existed.”

Beatrice pushes her jeans down and steps out of them to be just in her underwear. Black like Ava’s eyes. She places her knees first on the bed. One after the other. Grinning at the words spoken as Ava dazes over Beatrice like Beatrice does over Ava. “I did, didn’t I? It’s definitely time I make good on that promise, my love.”

She stops above Ava. With a little more confidence at Ava’s gawking eyes and open mouth.

“Better close your mouth, darling; you’ll catch flies.” She bites her own lower lip.

Ava whimpers. It’s so quiet. But Beatrice, to her relish, hears it. “Baby?” Ava limply says. Still in her position.

“Mm?” Beatrice headtilts, matching Ava’s seductive energy with her grin. She lowers to be on all fours. Eyes hungry and on her girl.

“Can you help me lie back? I’m stuck like this.” Ava makes Beatrice laugh.

“Why, yes, of course I will.” She leans in for a soft kiss. Ava too. Their lips smoosh together. Beatrice is the one to whimper this time. She runs her palm and fingers up Ava’s leg. Her thigh. So arousing to feel. The silky fabric of her dress is too much to bear, not ripping off Ava in a moment or maybe hiking it up and having Ava expose her breasts as she has Ava.

Ava pulls back, and without looking away like Beatrice doesn’t, moves back and back on the bed, with Beatrice slowly moving Ava by her feet to be straight. Unlike this needy Ava.

Ava settles. Her chest heaving. Her eyes downward and begging.

Beatrice starts to crawl over Ava. Eyes never leaving Ava’s, wanting to take in every little tiny expression in Ava’s beautiful face. She’s never seen Ava’s clit before. Never seen her utterly bare. She’s about to, and Ava likewise with her.

It’s the most exciting moment; Beatrice doesn’t dare compare it to anything else.

She crawls and crawls, and Ava follows and follows with her big eyes. Ava’s fingertips running up and down Beatrice’s skin. Making Beatrice feel such a jittery, shaking arousal.

Beatrice settles above Ava. Hands either side of Ava’s blue hair on the pillows. Beatrice’s own hair falling a little out of her bun. “Hello there.” She kisses Ava’s lips with a grin.

Ava's pinked cheeks and desperate eyes continue to daze. She runs her hands over Beatrice’s hips. “Mi amor, do you wanna see my boobs?”

Beatrice laughs softly and adoringly. “Would be nice, yeah. If it’s not too much trouble?”

Ava slips her fingers to the back of Beatrice’s bra. She unclips. Beatrice slowly slowly pulls down Ava’s thin straps of her dress down her shoulders.

Ava removes the bra. She’s transfixed, and it only increases the confidence in Beatrice as she drags down Ava’s neckline to expose her perfect breasts. Supple and pink nipples and utterly begging to be sucked and kissed and everything Beatrice has ever wanted.

“We’ll take it slow. I won’t rest my weight on you.” She cups Ava’s breasts.

Ava gasps. “Yes, baby. Pleaseee.” Ava whines, and Beatrice slowly and steadily leans down. With eyes on Ava.

The first touch of Ava’s breast is one of the most jolting, arousing sensations Beatrice has ever felt. Just like their first night together but so amplified. She covers Ava’s breast with her mouth.

Ava’s fingers run up into Beatrice’s hair. Ava looks so hot like this. So taken. So desperate. Slow and steady. Beatrice is going to show Ava so much more than she’s experienced in an unsafe way with people who didn’t care about her. She’ll show her.

She begins. As she licks Ava’s nipple.

“Baby. You’re actually sucking on my breast right now. Fuck.” Ava laughs a breathless laugh. Disbelieving too.

Beatrice hums in pleasure. Not resting her weight on Ava. Being utterly delicate to not put little to any pressure on Ava’s hip.

She loves it. She loves Ava’s breasts. She loves her nipple. She loves Ava.

She travels to Ava’s other breast, wanting to taste that one too. Ava’s eyes follow, with a whimper to match from her lips. “My girl.” She says what Ava loves, and Ava whimpers again. So quiet and slight but so there and sweet to Beatrice’s ears.

“I need you.” Ava pleads as Beatrice licks around Ava’s nipple, so erect for her bestie.

Beatrice won’t let Ava wait. She deserves exactly what she desires. Beatrice desires it too.

Beatrice places a kiss in between Ava’s suppleness. She's delicate and kisses with love with every touch. She kisses Ava’s tummy over her silk dress. So perfect and smelling so good to Beatrice’s nose. The tip of Beatrice’s nose poking the silk.

Ava’s fingers stay in Beatrice’s hair. clinging. Needing. Wanting.

Beatrice kisses and kisses down Ava. Watching Ava. Seeing the heaving chest of her. Ava’s glorious tits rise and fall. Ava’s lips parted and needy.

Beatrice softly slips her fingertips under the fabric of Ava’s dress on her thighs and pinches it. She helps Ava’s legs to be parted for her.

“Fuck, Bea you’re so hot like this.” Ava moans.

Beatrice grins as she kisses just above Ava’s clit. The silk of her dress needed hiking up. “You’re hot and sexy and so fucking perfect.” Beatrice kisses and lets slip through her lips as she slowly hikes.

Up Ava’s hips. Up her side. Beatrice rests her front on the bed. Ava’s dress is impeding the view of just about Ava’s pussy. “I always keep my promises, love. Always to you. Always.” She warns with desire in every crevice of her being.

Ava’s fingers fist in Beatrice’s hair. “Show me.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice.” Beatrice pushes the delicate dress up above Ava’s clit. And there Ava is. Wet and Beatrice’s. All hers. After so many years of burying her yearning. This is hers and only hers. “So beautiful. Mine.”

“Yours.” Ava rasps.

Beatrice sneaks her fingertips under Ava’s dress and lays her palms gently flat on her. She leans in. Ava trembles. Beatrice inflames. She feels her nose touch Ava’s curls.

She licks. Ava’s folds. The Ava’s folds she licks. She tastes.

“Mm.” Ava whimpers and shudders to the lick.

“Want to hold my hand?” She asks with a teasing grin.

Ava nods hurriedly and fidgety and hurriedly locks her fingers in between Beatrice’s. She holds their hands together as one. This is more than anything Beatrice has or will ever do. This right here is everything. Nothing else matters more to her. Nothing at all.

She lunges in. She plants her lips on Ava’s folds. Ava cries out, and it's music. It’s sweet music as Ava throws her head back. On the list of sexiest things Beatrice has laid witness to. Such an honour to view in this way. Ava’s pussy is perfect. Her folds feel utterly right against her lips. Beatrice’s tongue feels utterly at home in between them as she licks her home. She tastes her home. She focuses utterly on Ava’s centre. Showing more attention to it than she ever has to any other. It looks so right up close. It feels so right. It is so right, and when she makes Ava cum into her mouth, the heat of Ava’s cum tastes and feels righter. She unravels Ava. She makes her orgasm. Utterly insatiable for her.

A lifetime of want explodes in Beatrice. She’s careful with Ava, but it fucking explodes. She makes Ava orgasm again and again. Needing to. Desperate to. With fingers. With her tongue. She makes Ava fall apart, and when she’s done, she doesn’t let a drop of Ava’s sticky and sweet release go to spare. Licking it up like it’s the nectar of her existence. She heads to Ava’s lips. She kisses them deep and full and desperately.

Until she moves up and places her knees either side of Ava’s hair. She lowers herself. Down to Ava and as soon as Ava’s lips. Ava’s tongue touches her. She almost comes instantly after getting so worked up as she worked on Ava. She did once already as she did. Too turned on. Too much. Too good.

Ava’s eyes meet and stay on Beatrice’s as she sucks on her folds. Ava’s equally as desperate. Equally as hungry, and it makes Beatrice cry out in utter heaven of it. The look is too intense. So intense and arousing to take in and keep with Ava. Beatrice’s eyes roll into the back of her head in the utter bliss of it as Ava holds her breasts and squeezes. That sensation, along with everything else, is too much too. It’s incredible. It’s hot and everything. It’s Beatrice’s favourite time ever and one of the best nights of her life. The hottest, most electric night she’ll ever feel. And she's not for letting go of the person who makes her feel it. She'll never let Ava go. She can't. She won't. Ava is the home she wants and has always wanted.

“Turn around, baby, please. I want your ass on my face.” Ava lustfully and so hotly says against an undone Beatrice’s clit. Ava’s lips are covered in cum. Fuck, it’s hot. It’s hotter when Ava licks around her lips to have it all.

“Never…thought you’d say that.” Beatrice rasps a laugh as she clutches her chest, recovering from the best orgasm she’s ever experienced.

She does as Ava needs. She precisely and slowly turns around and sits on Ava’s face a little. Fuck, repeat that again. She, Beatrice, sits on Ava’s face. Dreams really do come true.

Ava’s hands quickly latch onto and squeeze Beatrice’s ass. “Mine.”

“Yours.” Beatrice, sweating and so boiling hot, grins at the ceiling. Her everything is a mess. “Did Mariana know this is what you were planning when she helped set up those flowers?” She breathily laughs.

“Mm, no chance. Fuck Bea. I’ve seen your arse before, but like this? Holy fuck, it’s perfect.” Ava spanks, and Beatrice moans at the stinging contact. Fuck, it’s good. It’s really good. Both of them lost in each other and this night. “I’m going to build a religion to this Bea. Your ass is my religion now.” Ava kisses a cheek. Beatrice laughs again at the ceiling. So alive. So utterly alive. “All hail my girl’s big butt.”

Beatrice bursts out in more laughter. She’s never laughed like this during sex before, Ava. Never. This is more than sex. So much more. Ava dives back into Beatrice’s folds, and the laugh is taken away suddenly with an incredible pleasured gasp. How did Ava ever convince her she wasn’t into women? She’s incredible. She knows exactly what she does and doesn’t waste a single movement. Not one lick or anything isn’t precise and perfectly done, and Beatrice spends the rest of the hot and sticky and sweaty night with Ava finding out just how good Ava is for herself.

Crimson and Rafael lost their marbles over Ava, and it’s easy to see why because, fuck, she’s incredible. She can only imagine, as she feels faint at the touch of Ava ravishing her with her lips and tongue again from behind and digging her soft fingertips into her ass cheeks like she never wants to let go – she loves them so much – what Ava will be like when she’s totally better.

Beatrice wants to do everything with Ava. Everything. She’s hooked, and she’ll never not be hooked. The drug of Ava has her hooked, and she writhes her neck in the heat and electricity and glorious feeling of it as she gasps for breath at how good Ava truly is. She orgasms more, and when she ends up next to Ava on the bed after Ava wrecks her, she falls asleep fast at the utterly amazingly overwhelming experience of Ava.