Ripple Effect

-24-

Ava drops a load of laundry on the bed, where Lexa is busy typing away on her laptop. 

"Whatcha doing?" 

"Just responding to some of the comments and messages that people have sent and thanking them for their prayers and support." 

Ava smiles, "Can I pull you away from the screen long enough to help me sort out this mess of clothes? I'm pretty sure that someone threw their clothes in with ours." 

Lexa chuckles, "It was Wren; I told her to go ahead and do it. She apparently doesn't know how to use the machines." 

"Makes sense. They have a person to do everything in that household." 

Lexa nods, "Last night when I couldn't sleep, and went to make myself a tea, I found Wren crying in the living room. She's hurting, Babe, just as much, if not more than we are. Gabby is the first person she fell heads over heels in love with and she's heartbroken. You remember everything that we had to overcome in order to be and stay together, right?" 

Ava nods, "I remember getting yelled at for spending every waking moment either on the phone or messaging with you and the many flights back and forth between Boston and Atlanta." 

Lexa nods, "You're my world, A and I think everyone around us knew from the very start that we were destined to be together, perhaps, it's the same with Wren and Gabby." 

"Now, who's the softie?" 

"Still you, but, that's part of the reason that I love you; you're a badass on the pitch and mush off of it." 

"Oh really?" Ava cocks her eyebrow at Lexa and they both burst out laughing. 

"That's a nice sound to hear." 

Ava and Lexa turn towards the door and smile. "Hey Momma; how was your walk?" 

"Have to say this is one boring ass place! I don't think I could ever live in North Carolina full time." 

"You do know that you're free to leave at anytime, right? You don't need to stay here if you'd rather be working with the Reign keepers." 

Hope smiles, "I've been keeping in contact with the team and players and they understand that right now my place isn't to be with them, it's to be with you. Not, to mention there's only so much I can do for a team that can't find the net at one end and forgets how to defend at the other." 

Lexa smiles, "True, that backline has more holes than swiss cheese." 

Hope looks at her daughter in law and Lexa shrugs. "How about I go and check on what Kelley's up to and the two of you can chat." 

"Don't think that gets you out of sorting laundry, Lex." 

"I would never!" Lexa makes her way over to Ava and kisses her, "Be back." 

"How are you doing, Ava?" 

"I wish everyone would just stop asking that question." 

Hope wraps her arm around her daughter and squeezes her. "I have an idea, get changed and I'm going to find Mia. We're going to find a range and shoot some targets." 

"Mom doesn't like guns, nor does Lex." 

"Then we don't tell them where we're going. Get ready and meet me downstairs." 

Hope leaves the room and even though Ava isn't really convinced shooting at some paper targets is going to help, she goes along with the idea and after giving the rest a lame excuse, the three set off to find a place to go.