Chapter 9
Weeks gone by without no incident and soon, pay day for the ex nuns had come.
Ava found the rest of the crew training outside with batons, fighting each other. She walked over to them with Hanna bouncing away in her little baby carrier attached to her chest. “Finally, only two hours to go” Ava sighed as she approached.
Mary stopped mid fight, turning to Ava. “And now its finally your turn” she cheered. “Hand over the Captain!”
“Geez fine, have fun babysitting” Ava laughed, handing over the carrier and baby.
“Have fun training”
“At least its with Camila”
“We can easily swap!” Lilith called out.
Ava suddenly looked to Lilith as she answered “Oh no you have been training with me all week, its time to share around your amazing skills”
“Flattery will get you everywhere” Lilith laughed. She ducked under Beatrice’s attack, then teleported, appearing behind Bea. “But not today”
“Fine” Ava groaned. “Could you at least make it fun today” she whined as she swapped her child sling for the baton.
“Training isn’t suppose to be fun” Lilith grunted as she fought Beatrice. “Its for learning and enhancing one’s skill”
“Bea makes it fun”
“I’m not Beatrice”
Ava went to stick her tongue out at Lilith, but quickly yelped and ducked under a swinging baton. "Bloody hell CAM!"
“Pay Attention!” Camila warned playfully.
“fine” Ava sighed, she turned and took the challenge seriously. Blocking Camila’s advances, counting the woman’s counter attacks just like they taught her. It took her a moment to learn Camila’s attacks came in short five burst and on the firth burst, she phased through the attack. Knocked the baton out of her hand, then struck her leg out. Knocking the girl on her ass and before the woman could move, she held her baton to her head. “Yield?”
Camila looked up at her and smiled “Good work, yield”
Ava pulled the baton away and helped Camila up. “Round two?”
“Sure”
Mary kicked the baton over for Camila. Camila picked up the weapon, swung it in hand, then held it in front of her. Just as she advanced forward, Ava beat her too it, forcing Camila to switch from offense to defense. The sounds of their batons clapping field the courtyard. Hanna watched enthralled with the women fighting before her.
“You like that Captain?” Mary asked.
The baby giggled.
“One day, when you are older we will teach you” Mary promised. “And after that, I will teach you how to ride a motorbike”
“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Bea yelled. She turned away for a moment to glare daggers at Beatrice. She just noticed Lilith advance from the corner of her eye and swing her baton a second later. She narrowly ducked and rolled under the attack. Directly under Lilith, before she swung her legs up and contorted them around Lilith. Performing a perfect corkscrew lock with her legs, bringing the woman down on her side. Bea rolled her eyes and turned back to Mary, still with Lilith in her grasp.
“You are not teaching a kid to ride motorcycles Mary!”
“Fine, how about when she’s a teenager!”
“How is that-“
Lilith suddenly teleported out of Beatrice’s grip. Picking up her baton and standing on her feet again. Bea twisted her head back to Lilith, then flipped herself onto her feet. Holding her palms out and ready.
“Fine, I won’t teach her to ride motorbikes” Mary promised as she watched them fight.
“Thank you” Beatrice grunted as she fought.
Mary huffed, then turned down to face Hanna and gave her a reassuring wink.
“Hey Mary can you teach me to ride a bike?” Ava called out to her.
“No”
“ugh rude!”
“Suffer!” Mary laughed.
“So Ava what are you going to spend your money on?” Camila asked curiously mid swing. “Have you got Hanna’s college fund setup yet?”
“Not yet, but I got several ideas for it”
“Really?” Camila gasped surprised.
“Yeah! I even got a few of the local schools brochures and stuff! The one down the road is seven minutes walking and has a good route to the beach for afternoon ice creams and stuff. The next one is twelve minutes down the road and they have cool playground for the kids. Both have done well with educating their students, but the first has a cooler science lab and if she's not interested in science so much, the second one has a good sports program and library”
The sparring stopped with both couples, all faces turning to Ava surprised.
She looked back at them weirdly “what? Can’t a girl get ahead in school education”
“Yes, but it seems unnatural for you to be the first in line” Lilith quipped.
“She’s right” Mary agreed surprised. “It’s weird seeing you being responsible, thought you would be spending your money on big dumbass gummy bear or something”
Ava broke into her iconic grin at the mere mention. “Well…”
“Oh you already found one of those things” Lilith groaned.
“I would but I spent all my mon-Wait hang on, back it up!” Ava stated, snapping her attention to Lilith. “How do you know about giant gummy bears?”
“they exist?” Bea whispered confused.
“apparently so” Camila responded happily.
Lilith sighed and rolled her eyes. “I saw it the other day, I saw that big dumb squishy pile of sugar and immediately thought of you. So I may or may not have it hidden somewhere for your birthday”
“Aw Lilli, that’s the sweetest thing you ever done for me”
“Don’t push your luck Ava! I will set it on fire the slightest inconvenience you cause me!” Lilith snapped, her eyes flashing white for a moment.
“Ah yep there she is” Ava laughed.
Lilith turned to Bea as she spoke “But you know, there is one birthday we should be discussing next”
Beatrice performed a double take Lilith’s way, then glared at her. “don’t” she warned. She turned fully to Lilith, swinging her baton several times in hand. “Lets just continue on, Suzanne wants us patrolling the city soon”
“In a few hours” Lilith dismissed. She pushing her hair back from her face.
“All the more to practice”
“That can wait!” Lilith stated. “How about we discuss how we are going to celebrate your birthday”
Beatrice groaned, dropping her baton to her side. “I rather not”
“Suffer we are doing it”
“You know she’s right” Ava agreed, walking towards her lover. Throwing her hands around her neck. “I know you hate birthdays, but can I propose we enjoy one night of celebration. We can party and dance the night away”
“Such a romantic” Bea sighed, shaking her head.
“you know I am babe”
“That I do my love" Beatrice looked up at her lover, meeting her gaze. The way they sparkled with mischief made it near impossible to deny her lover's request. She smiled small, wondering how on earth this woman can have so much influence on her life from a single look. Still, the request to celebrate a day she rather move on and forget was a hard idea to process. "but I just don’t see what’s the big deal is”
“I do cause you deserve one hell of a party where we, your family, get to show you just how much we care” she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “and I care for you very much”
Beatrice smiled at the love shown to her and embraced every last essence of it. “Fine okay”
“Okay?” Ava called excitedly, pulling back slightly.
Bea winced at the volume, but nodded “Yes okay, lets party”
“WAHOO!” Ava screamed. Picking Beatrice off her feet and swinging her around.
“AVA!” Bea shrieked.
“THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!” Ava shouted. She soon placed her shocked girlfriend down, then leaned up and kissed her. "Thank you, you won't regret it"
“Well are you least going to tell me what you got planned?”
“Fat chance, just be ready for fun and madness on my signal”
“And you are warning us before trouble, well you have grown up” Lilith laughed.
Ava turned to her and snickered, then focused back on Beatrice beaming proudly. “Just leave it all up to me. All you have to worry about is if to start the day with tea or coffee”
Bea smiled. “very well my love”
“As much as I don’t want to interrupt this tender moment” Camila stated, forcing the couples attention on her. “Ava, we have gun training in five minutes”
“Got it, see you later babe” Ava stated, kissing Beatrice’s cheek.
“see you later my love”
Ava grinned brighter as she turned and stride straight for her daughter. She captured her daughter’s face with both hands and kissed her temple. “Be a good captain, Captain!” she pulled back and started following Camila across the courtyard.
Bea watched her leave, then an idea occurred in her mind. She hummed with a small smile, then turned to Lilith. “Lets go, we had enough training for today”
“Given up already?” Lilith laughed.
“Hardly” Bea remarked. She walked over to Hanna and grasped the child’s hands, causing the child to turn up at her excitedly. “Be good to Aunt Mary” she leaned down and kissed her daughter’s temple. “I’ll be back soon” she let her go and walked off towards the gates.
“What the heck is she up to?” Mary spoke confused, watching her leave.
“I don’t know, but it looks like I’m about to find out” Lilith groaned, walking over to her girlfriend. “Wish me luck” she sighed.
“Good luck” Mary wished, leaning up and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
“Thanks” Lilith pulled back and turned to Hanna with a smirk. “See you soon Captain trouble!”
Hanna giggled at the nickname.
Lilith turned and chased after Beatrice.
With both mothers going, Hanna looked left and right to the directions they went and started to cry. Her eyes shifting to vivid blue and crimson tears came flooding out.
“hey shh its okay, they’ll be back soon” Mary whispered, gently bouncing the child in her arms. She heard the retreating footsteps stop, then resume again at a more hurried pace. She turned down the left to find Beatrice quickly storming back her way. “SHE’S FINE!” Mary called out to her. Beatrice stopped in place, with a narrowed worried stare. “JUST GO, I GOT HER!”
It took a few more seconds of starring before Beatrice nodded, then resumed her stride for the gates.
Mary sighed, she unhooked the baby from her sling. Lifting the child up and turning to her. Wrapping her arms around the child, holding her close to her chest. “There we go, why don’t I get you a pair of ear muffs and you can watch Ava flap about” Hanna continued to cry. Mary sighed, pulling Hanna back from her chest. “I guess that’s a ye-“ she stopped and frowned at the tears trickling down the child’s face. “what the hell” she whispered. It was no tears of water she found splashed over the child’s cheeks, it was blood. “okay that’s odd” she comment, picking up the back of her sleeve and cleaning the blood off. “its okay, lets go find her okay. Lets go to mummy okay” the baby stopped, turning to Mary with a trembling lip. “Alright come on Captain, lets go find your mummy!” with that Mary set off tracking Ava down. Keeping a firm note in her mind to bring up the child’s abilities to change eye colour and cry blood.
Before long they watched Ava and Camila from afar. Both wearing cool black sunglasses and a pair of fluffy earmuffs on Hanna’s head. The tears were well and truly dried. Hanna’s eyes returned back to spectator silver at the sight of her mother.
Mother Superion found them moments later. Walking towards the pair and taking a stand by their side, surveying the gun training intensely. “Morning Mary”
“Morning Suzanne”
Superion turned her head to the baby and smiled “How is Hanna today?”
“She’s happy now, she can watch Ava flap about” she turned to Mother Superion with a cheeky grin. “Captain is very much a mummy’s girl, but a very adorable one at that”
“Is that so”
“Very much so. When they are gone, she will cry and when she's upset her eyes will change to blue and she will cry blood”
Superion raised her eyebrow at her. “Blood?” she queried.
“Very much so”
“And she can change her eye colour?”
“She can”
“Interesting” she hummed. “May I?”
“Of course” Mary removed Hanna from her sling and gave her to Suzanne’s waiting arms.
“Hello little one” Superion cheered, she cradled the child in her arms. Hanna looked up to her and smiled. Reaching out her hand and playing with Suzanne’s rosery, nibbling on her cross. Suzanne chuckled, starring down at her grinning. “Michelle did say you were unique, what else can you do?” She looked up and smiled at Mary and then to Ava and Camila in the distance. “Other then change our lives”
“Guess we will find out sooner or later”
“That indeed”
“So if I’m the Aunt, can Hanna officially call you grandma?”
Suzanne’s gaze slowly turned to her, wide eyed and gaping shock. “I am not THAT Old!” she stated offended.
“Nan?”
“No”
"Grandmother?"
"Absolutely not" Superion scoffed.
“Then what is she going to call you?"
“Suzanne is perfectly acceptable”
“Hmm you are going to have to convince Ava on that one”
Suzanne sighed, turning to the woman in question. “May the lord give me strength”
Meanwhile in the town.
“What on earth has gotten you to drag me across town?” Lilith sighed confused, she opened the door for Beatrice, then followed her into the shop. She stopped short of the doorway and gaze around with a suspicious gaze. “What?” she turned back down, following the quick flash of Beatrice’s jacket as the woman marched for a glass table full of rings. She waited for a moment, eyes darting around the room. Then widen as she raced over to her nervous friend. “are you?” she
whispered shocked.
Beatrice nodded hastily. “I think so” she spoke rushed, her eyes darting quickly to Lilith for a moment. Then back to the engagement rings below her. “yes”
“Really!” Lilith screeched.
“Shh don’t be so loud!” Beatrice warned. “I need your advise”
“Have you gone blind? You should be taking it from Camila or Mary, not me!”
“You are my best and oldest friend, I need your help. Besides you are close enough hand size to Ava, I need to make sure it fits”
“So I’m a tool, fine I can be that” Lilith huffed. “Just this once!”
“Good, thank you” she turned back to the table confused. “There’s so many of them, how does one choose?”
Lilith looked over her shoulder, affectionately rolling her eyes. “Guess just choose the one that seems right. You could propose with a knife”
“A knife? That sounds like something she will do for me or Mary would do for you”
“True, however I’m not interest in marriage and neither is she”
Beatrice hummed, turning back to the rings. She studied them carefully. The rows of silver bands and diamond jewels looked all too similar to each other. She frowned at the prospect of choosing such a piece of jewellery. As none she saw seemed like something Ava will proudly wear. “what if she doesn’t say yes” she whispered sadly.
“Beatrice!”
Bea snapped her attention to Lilith with a worried gaze.
Lilith reached over and grabbed her friend’s shoulder. “She will not say no. That girl loves you and that will never change regardless of any circumstances. Becoming your wife will just give her excuse to make marriage related puns”
Bea laughed. “I guess your right”
“Of course I am”
“May I help you two?” a man’s voice spoke up. The two snapped their attentions to the clerk. A well dressed gentleman in suit and black bow tie. “Would you like to try one of these rings on? They are top of the range and I can make you two a great deal”
“That would be great thank you” Bea thanked. “Let’s start with those three”
“As you wish” he replied. He unlocked the door, squatting low to bring up the rings in question. He placed three engagement rings by the edge of his side of the table. One crystal blue diamond with a gold band, one white diamond with silver band and the other, a mid sized yellow diamond ring with gold outline casing and thick silver woven band outlined in gold. Closing the door behind his knees. Placing his hands on either side of the table. He studied the women before him with a warming smile. “So how long have you two been together?”
“Actually-“
“Many years” Lilith answered. She grinned, wrapping her arm around Beatrice’s shoulders and pulling her pressed against her side. “It is not often you find the love of your life, isn’t it sweetie”
“uh-Yes. Yes it’s very rare” Beatrice answered, trying to sound more confident then she looked. “Just had to get my girl a ring”
“Of course and a fine day to do it, we just got a new shipment of this years top notch designs” He picked up the blue one and held it out to Lilith. “May I?” he asked. She gave him a sharp approving nod. He slipped the ring effortlessly on her finger. The fit slightly too big for her finger.
Lilith titled the hand to Beatrice with a quizzical gaze. Inspecting the ring, she glanced at Beatrice’s frown, before she shook her head. “Nope not the one”
“Very well” he removed the ring. “How about this one?” he offered. Taking the ring back and replacing it with the classic silver band diamond ring. Again, Beatrice wasn’t too convinced and Lilith quickly shook her head. “Very well ladies, how about this one. I do have more below that are of excellent design”
“I’m sure” Lilith answered, “we just need to find the right one”
“I got the feeling this one will be a winner” he removed the ring and replaced it with the last yellow ring.
Beatrice starred at the ring and immediately thought of Ava. The yellow diamond shone as bright as Ava’s smile. The Silver was paler then the others, reminding her of Ava's Tarask eyes. The decorative gold reminded her of the Halo's glow. “That one”
Lilith eyed off her friend, then turned to the ring and smiled. “of course” she whispered. She turned back to the clerk. “This one”
“Perfect” he replied. He took off the ring, stored the others away, then rose up with a warm smile “I will have it wrapped for you” with that he walked away, with the ring held delicately in his hand.
Beatrice watched him leave, still smiling giddy. “It’s perfect”
“Glad you enjoy, now how are you going to propose to her?”
Beatrice turned back to Lilith worried. “Uhmn…”