Chapter 5
News spread like wildfire.
By breakfast time, the entire congregation was gathered around Ava and Hanna, who was currently sleeping in a basket beside her mother. Praising the two, providing plates of food and drink. Bestowing their comments on the sleeping child and her mother.
Mary, Camila, Lilith and Beatrice sat several tables away, watching the strange event right before their eyes.
“Explain to me how this happen” Lilith asked, disbelief in her tone.
Beatrice dropped her head to her arms. “Sister Cara thinks Ava is the new virgin Mary and Hanna is baby Jesus” Mary and Lilith both snorted amused and Camila had to hold her fist in her mouth to stop her from laughing too hard. Beatrice pulled her head up, glaring at her sisters with disbelief. “Girls this is serious!” Beatrice hissed.
“You’re right” Camila spoke, her attempts to console her friend quickly ended with a sharp snort. “like mother like daughter” she cackled. The couple beside her loosing their composure entirely.
Beatrice rolled her eyes and flopped onto the table again, groaning in her crossed arms.
Out of the three of them, it was Mary who attempted to stop her fits of laughter to focus on the matter at hand. “So” she managed to say before clearing her throat loudly, turning to Beatrice. “Excuse me, but I can’t believe this happened, how?”
“believe it, its just one big miscommunication” she could hear the three laughing at her expense. She groaned louder. She pulled her head up and focused on them with a defeated look. “I have to stop this” she groaned.
“Not sure you can” Mary laughed.
“The only thing that will distract those women now is a Demon attack” Lilith informed.
“Baby girl can you call up some of your friends?” Mary asked with a cheeky grin.
Lilith slowly turned to her and then nudge her away. “very funny” she grumbled.
“Actually, you don’t have to do that Lil” Camila advised, turning to her friend. “Your reputation is still circling around the recruits. Just walk over and they will be sent running”
Lilith hummed amused. “I’m glad some things haven’t changed” she declared, getting up from her seat.
“Just don’t scare them too badly” Camila advised worriedly.
Lilith laughed, which sent Camila’s worries into overdrive. The three women watched as Lilith approached the gathered group.
“What’s going on here!” Lilith growled suddenly.
The nuns jumped, turned to her and fearfully ran away. Camila sighed, disappointed, but pleased Lilith didn't go too far terrifying them.
Ava watched them leave laughing. “Oh hey Lil” she laughed. “Still got it”
“Never lost it”
Ava jumped off the table, picked up the basket with Hanna inside and walked over to join her friends. With Lilith following up behind. Ava placed the basket on the table, then sat down sideways on the edge of the bench beside Beatrice. Wrapping her arms and leg around Beatrice's body. Pressing a greeting kiss to Bea's exposed neck, lips smirked at Beatrice's quick smile sent her way and the way her lover leaned into her embrace.
Lilith sauntered to her side next to Mary. “How did I do Honey?” Lilith asked. Lips curled wide with a triumph grin.
“Perfect” Mary leaned up and kissed Lilith’s lips briefly, then turned to Ava with a serious expression. Her lover, matching the intensity, sending a knowing smirk Ava's way. “Now Angel wings, since you kidnapped the child, its your duty to look after her, but she is not your excuse to miss training”
Ava groaned. “Oh come on”
“Starting now, you got training with me!” Lilith declared.
“Until when?"
“Until I see fit!”
Ava groaned dramatically. “Well this is it for me” she moved Hanna to the middle of the table, then turned to Beatrice, wrapping her arms around the woman. “My love, don’t forget about me. I will miss you”
Beatrice rolled her eyes “I will miss you too my love”
Ava leaned down and kissed Beatrice, pulling her down hovering above the bench, causing the girls around them to groan mockingly at the women.
“Come on get a move on!” Lilith declared, she swung herself around and off the bench. Standing up and marching to Ava. Taking hold of the woman by the back of the shirt and dragging her backwards.
“I SHALL RETURN!” Ava shouted.
“SHUT UP!” Lilith groaned.
The ladies laughed as they watched Lilith drag Ava through the dining hall to the courtyard.
Just as they disappeared from sight, Serita walked in, watching the girls leave before continuing straight for the table. “Morning ladies” she greeted. She hopped onto the table, leaned over and gave Camila a quick kiss. “Morning sweetie”
“Morning”
Serita pulled back and performed a double take at the basket beside her. “Ladies we have an extra? Who’s this belong to?”
“Well-“ Beatrice began.
“-It’s Ava and Beatrice’s baby, her name is Hanna. Ava adopted her last night” Camila explained cheerfully.
Beatrice paled at the suggestion, turning away from the girls. Her composure lost for a moment. She took a deep slient breath, regaining her normal stoic composure.
Serita noticed the sudden change and hummed. “Interesting” she elected to ignore Beatrice’s reaction for now. Focusing on the Baby. She smiled down at Hanna excitedly and called softly “Well hello Hanna pleasure to meet you little one”. It took a moment for Hanna's eyes to drift open. Then another to look up at Serita and beam at the woman above her.
“She’s cute isn’t she”
“Very adorable” Serita sighed as she swung herself off the table. “As much as I would like to care for you all day. I gotta report to Superion”
“See you for lunch?”
“You bet” Serita smiled, then wondered off out of the hall.
“Well I better go help keep Superion distracted” Mary stated, standing up to her feet. “But just before I go” she spoke while reaching into her pocket and pulling out a dusty grey and red stitched rabbit with shirt buttons for eyes. “This is for you Captain” Mary stated, handing over the rabbit.
“Captain?” the ladies questioned.
“A fitting title” Mary stated proudly. She turned back to the child in question and smiled “So what do you think of your new shipmate?” Using the rabbit to pock the child in the nose, then dropped the item onto the baby’s lap. Watching her stare wide eyed at the object before her. Hanna laughed excitedly, her new top bouncing in her lap. Her hands reached out and she began to prod the item with interest.
“Well then see you all later, ladies” Mary spoke, then turned back to the child and saluted “Captain”. She picked up her coffee, taking one last gulp before marching after Serita.
Camila turned to Beatrice and stated “Well I better head to the Library, I have to train the new recruits” she paused, noticing Beatrice’s hesitation of being alone with the baby. “Why don’t you and Hanna come with me” she suggested.
“That would be great thank you” Beatrice answered smiling.
“Then lets get a move on” Camila reached over and grabbed Hanna’s basket, picking the girl up and started moving for the door with Beatrice following after. She stopped and turned to Bea with a curious gaze “Did Ava tell her mum yet?”
“Don’t think so”
“Oh okay” Cam answered, eyes widening surprised. She giggled as she focused ahead “That’s going to be interesting” she turned back over her shoulder. “Not as interesting as when Superion finds out”
“Oh no” Beatrice groaned.
“Hey its going to be okay”
“Cam I don’t…I don’t know anything about babies or how to take care of them”
“Well lucky we are heading to the Library” she bumped into Beatrice’s side, causing the woman to smile for a moment. “Don’t worry Bea, none of us are experts in this field”
“Ava seems to be” Beatrice sighed, smiling softly. “You should have seen her last night, the way she took care of Hanna was so sweet”
“Aw”
Beatrice frowned, lowering her head to the floor as they walked. “I just don’t want to fuck it up”
Camila stopped suddenly, taking hold of Beatrice’s arm. “Bea” she whispered, causing Beatrice to look down at her. “It’s okay, its going to be fine and we will all learn how to take care of Hanna together. We will research this in the library and we could always go to Jillian for advice. Ava she. She isn’t going to be angry or upset with you if you tell her the truth”
“I know I just…” she trailed off, turning to Hanna. “There’s something special about this one”
“Glad I’m not the only one who thinks so”
“are you sure there’s books on this stuff?”
“Sure”
Bea turned back to Camila with a questioning frown “At a Convent?”
“I mean we have swords, guns and bombs here” Camila shrugged. "Along with studies on torture methods and demonology"
Beatrice’s eyes widen for a moment as she realised “We have to baby proof the armoury as soon as possible”
“Oh yeah” Camila comment surprised. “Yeah we do, well lets see what else we gotta do to keep this cutie safe”
At that the two continued their way to the Library. Hoping to their God above, the answers they seek lay in reach.