Chapter 5
Fifteen years had passed since Beatrice first agreed to help Ava with that physics homework. Fifteen years since the accidental, awkward start of something that would become the defining relationship of their lives. And now, sitting in the quiet comfort of their home, a place that had become a sanctuary for both of them, Beatrice couldn’t help but think about how much had changed—and how much, in some ways, had stayed exactly the same.
The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows of their living room. Outside, the city buzzed with the usual evening noise, but inside, the only sound was the soft hum of a record playing in the background and the occasional clink of a coffee mug.
Ava walked into the room, her signature confident stride softened by years of familiarity and comfort with her wife. She was as beautiful and brilliant as ever, but there was a softness to her now—a gentleness that had come with years of shared challenges, successes, and quiet moments.
“Bea,” Ava called, her voice warm and affectionate. “Are you daydreaming again?”
Beatrice looked up from the book in her hands, a rare smile tugging at her lips. “Maybe. Just thinking about how lucky we are.”
Ava raised an eyebrow, crossing the room to sit next to her, leaning in to rest her head on Beatrice’s shoulder. “Lucky? You don’t think we worked for this?”
Beatrice chuckled, shaking her head. “Of course we worked for it. But sometimes it feels like we fell into this... this life. And I just want to appreciate it.”
Ava’s fingers brushed against Beatrice’s hand, a touch that felt as familiar as breathing. They had always been a team, from the very beginning when Beatrice had been the quiet observer, the one who sat on the sidelines of their class debates, keeping to herself, while Ava had been the charming, talkative one everyone adored. The years had only deepened their connection—Ava’s brilliance had drawn Beatrice in, and Beatrice’s quiet strength had grounded Ava. Neither of them had expected their relationship to evolve the way it had, but it was undeniable.
“You’re right,” Ava said with a grin. “We did work for this. And we’ve come a long way from the awkward girl who couldn’t stand me interrupting her thoughts.”
Beatrice rolled her eyes playfully. “I didn’t mind you interrupting my thoughts... I just didn’t like the noise that came with it.”
Ava laughed, the sound filling the room. “True. But hey, if I didn’t make noise, you probably would’ve stayed in your little world forever.”
Beatrice didn’t respond immediately, her eyes drifting to the window again, her thoughts momentarily lost in the past. She remembered how different things had been back then—how she had stayed in the background, never wanting to stand out, while Ava thrived in the spotlight. Ava had made her laugh, challenged her, made her see the world in a way that was completely new. It was hard to believe that all of it had started with a study session and some ill-timed jokes.
“You know,” Beatrice said, looking down at the book in her hands, “I always thought I’d be the one to do something huge, something world-changing. But then I look at everything we’ve done together, and I realize we’ve already made our mark.”
Ava’s eyes softened. “What do you mean?”
Beatrice smiled, her fingers tracing the edge of the book. “We’ve built something real. We’ve made a life together that’s ours. You’ve revolutionized the tech world with your company, and I’ve... well, I’ve made my own way in the academic world. We’ve got our books, our research, our careers. But most importantly, we’ve got each other.”
Ava reached over, her hand resting on Beatrice’s. “We’ve always had each other. Even when we were figuring out what we wanted, we were always a team.”
Beatrice squeezed her hand, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her temple. “That’s what makes us so damn good together.”
Ava grinned. “It’s not just our brains, is it?”
Beatrice laughed, the sound light and easy. “No. It’s the way we balance each other. I keep you grounded, and you pull me out of my shell.”
They both sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, letting the quiet of the room wash over them. The weight of fifteen years of memories, struggles, achievements, and laughter hung between them, and in that moment, Beatrice realized how much she had changed—not just because of what they had accomplished together, but because of how she had evolved alongside Ava.
The sound of a door opening interrupted their peace. A small, scruffy-haired child ran into the room, a wide grin on his face. “Moms! I need help with my math homework!”
Beatrice and Ava exchanged amused glances before Ava stood up, taking the child’s hand. “Alright, buddy. I think your other mom is the one who can help you with that. I’m just here for moral support.”
Beatrice stood up, smiling as their child tugged her towards the kitchen table. She followed willingly, though her gaze lingered on Ava for a moment longer, still struck by the beauty of everything they had built.
“Ava,” Beatrice said softly, turning to face her wife. “I still can’t believe how far we’ve come.”
Ava smiled, walking over to wrap her arms around Beatrice. “Believe it, Bea. We’re just getting started.”
As Beatrice settled down at the table to help their son with the math problems—problems that didn’t seem so difficult after years of tackling equations with Ava—she realized that everything she had wanted when she was younger had been right in front of her all along. Not the world-changing moments, not the grand accolades, but the quiet, ordinary moments with the person who understood her better than anyone else.
And as Ava sat beside her, the two of them falling into the rhythm of their shared life, Beatrice couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, they had changed the world in their own way. Together.
And it had all started with a pizza, some bad jokes, and the quiet connection they had built over years of laughter, love, and mutual respect.