Chapter 4
Beatrice was used to waking up before dawn. It was a part of her routine.
What she didn’t expect, was the soft light glowing from the kitchen. She walked down the hallway with a cautious step. Throwing knife in hand. She peered into the kitchen and sighed with relief. Inside, was Ava and Hanna, sitting on the kitchen bench. The gentle glow of the Halo illuminating the excited pair. She smiled. She stored away her knife, then proceeded into the kitchen.
“You like that do you” Ava giggled, bouncing the baby in her lap. “You are a night owl like me, aren’t you little one” the baby cooed. “What do you say about turning in?” the baby cooed again, her tone much sadder. Ava chuckled, holding the girl close against her. “Okay fine, food then rest”
“Do you need a hand with that?” Beatrice interrupted.
Ava jumped from her seat, holding the baby upright in the air. “Bea” she spoke surprised. The little girl giggled in excitement. “I uh-“ she stumbled nervously, with a bright excited grin. “I uh didn’t hear you come in”
“I just arrived, hope I'm not interrupting your meeting”
“Oh no I think we came upon agreement, food, then food coma and sleep”
“All in that order?” Bea laughed.
“Yes”
“Is there anything I could do?” Beatrice asked, she walked a step closer with a gentle smile.
“Actually yes, while I am preoccupied with miss cutie over here, do you mind heating up some milk. I got some stored in her bottles in the fridge”
The warrior nodded, then moved to the fridge. Using the microwave to heat the milk. As the time ticked away, she turned her back to the machine. Resting her back against the bench while focusing on Ava with a curious gaze. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine” Ava dismissed quickly.
Beatrice raised her left eyebrow at her.
Ava cleared her throat. Readjusting the baby in her arms, carrying her on her hip. “I’m sorry about disappearing on you, I was too focused on the baby and her safety, making sure the wraiths hunting us weren't going to track us here to my family….I’m not using her as an excuse. Its just…” she trailed off, tipping backwards and leaning against the bench. “She needed me….I couldn’t just. Stand by and let her be taken to an orphanage or die from the wraiths….maybe…maybe I can help Hanna have a good life…even if her mother isn’t here. She will remember her” Ava reached into her pocket and pulled out a pendant. Opening the capsule in one hand, to reveal the face of a woman inside. Black haired long and thick, a small gentle smile, brown eyes full of life.
The Microwave beeped. Beatrice picked up the bottle and carried it over. She left the bottle beside Ava, then captured Ava’s hand with her own. She smiled, looking down at the picture. “She was a beautiful woman”
“Yeah she reminds me of someone” Ava spoke, looking up at Beatrice.
Beatrice looked back down at her confused. “Who?”
“You”
Beatrice’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of rose pink. Her eyes widen under Ava’s smirk. Her breath caught in her throat when Ava wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. “My love, we are in a kitchen”
“I don’t care Bea” Ava whispered husky as she leaned up. Beatrice's mind lost the fight as her body leaned down to meet her lover.
Lights flicked on and the warriors jumped, squinting at the sudden light blinding them.
“Oh I’m sorry I didn’t realise anyone was here” a young voice spoke.
The girls squinted their eyes and focused on the doorway to find a young nun standing in the way. Hand still resting on the light switch. The woman was younger then them, fresh face neither girl seen in the cradle before.
“Its fine, just making sure this little monster is fed” Ava laughed. Gesturing to the child in hand.
The young nun giggled “oh good, sorry its my first day”
“Its fine” Beatrice said. She dropped her eyes downward and noticed how she was pressed against Ava. Standing between her lover's legs, with her own hands gripping each side of her lover's hips. A level of intimacy that she worked hard not to display in the convent's kitchen, yet that reason wasn't enough to pull her away. She looked to the blonde for reaction and found her completely distracted. So she turned to the young nun and hoped she didn’t notice.
The young nun turned to the baby and cooed excitedly “who is this cutie?”
“This is Hanna” Ava introduced, “Hanna, this one is…uh”
“Sister Cara”
“Hanna meet Sister Cara, come on over here and say hello”
Sister Cara skipped over, then stopped right beside Beatrice. She waved and giggled at Hanna, who grinned brightly at the young sister. “Hi, you are just the cutest baby I ever seen”
Hanna giggled appreciated at the comment and judging from the sudden widening of her smile, she recognised the compliment.
“Think she likes you”
“Who’s her mother?”
“Well actually” Ava sighed, shaking her head lightly. “She’s mine”
The young sister turned to Ava shocked “what? Yours?”
Ava nodded “yeah”
“Who’s the father? If you don't mind me asking”
“No idea, I don’t think there is one, at least not in the picture”
Sister Cara signed the cross on her chest with an excited smile “no father”
Beatrice’s gaze widen, she turned to Ava and whispered “Ava-“
“Would you like to hold her?” Ava asked the young nun.
“May I?” Cara spoke surprised. “Oh I’m not privilege to do such a thing, I am not worthy”
“Darling!-“ Beatrice tried to speak again, but no one was listening.
“Bea its fine, come here Sister Cara” Ava stated, holding Hanna out.
Nervous, she reached up and took Hanna into her arms. The baby cooed in Cara’s grip. The young nun started to cry happy tears. “the lord said you would return” she whispered.
“Cara its not what it looks like-“ Beatrice tried to explain.
Cara quickly handed little Hanna back to Ava with a smile ear to ear. “Thank you and god bless you, both of you” she turned and sprinted out the door, disappearing in a flash.
“She’s nice” Ava comment. She picked up the baby bottle and started to feed Hanna before the milk became too cold. Humming as she watched her daughter feed.
“Darling do you realise what just happened?”
“Uh she congratulated us?” Ava spoke confused, turning to Beatrice.
“Darling you told her Hanna has no father”
“No I said I don’t know”
“Well she took the later, she thinks Hanna has no father and you, the Halo Bearer, a sister warrior nun, her mother”
Ava watched her lover confused for a few moments. Taking in the words carefully, but still, very confused by the clear panic Bea wore. “And?”
“Ava, we are in a nunnery and you just told a nun that Hanna is your daughter and she doesn’t have a father”
“But that’s-“ She stopped, finally catching the hint. She almost fell over backwards as she stated “Holy shit”