Secrets And Sins Part 3: Happy ever after

Chapter 82

***Only one more chapter to go.... I can't believe we're nearly there.***

~Beatrice~

She lost track of how long they had been here. Her only real progression of time was the increasingly sharp throb of her knees where the cracked cobblestones bit into her skin. Nobody had spoken, not for a while now, but she knew the OCS were still gathered around the courtyard. She could feel their collective gaze burning into her back though they were absolutely silent. All that could be heard was Ava softly crying into her shoulder.

Beatrice was beyond tired, her freshly healed chest was sore, and she was on the verge of losing control of her own despair. She kept it together only for the woman in her arms, her wife of but a few hours. How could this happen on their fucking wedding day?

"Hey, Bea?" Mary's voice croaked from behind her, the first words she could remember hearing for what felt like an hour.

It annoyed her, being interrupted like that, in her, their, grief, but as soon as the emotion prickled at her skin, she immediately chastised herself. This was her friend, her family, and she was probably terrified for both of them after what had just happened.

Beatrice lifted her head slowly, indicating she was listening while continuing to cradle the distraught Ava close to her chest.

"We should, ah, get her inside," Mary said, a little closer now but still keeping a respectful distance. "Get her checked out, yeah?"

There was a nervousness behind the question. No one knew what it meant for Ava now Halo was gone.

It's fine, she will be fine...

...but, what if she's not...?

Pushing that dark thought away, Beatrice took a deep, calming breath and leaned down to trail a line of gentle kisses from Ava's cheek to her ear. "Ava, my love?" She waited for the slight hitch in Ava's breathing before continuing. "We need to get up now." After a moment of Ava making no attempt to move, Beatrice continued, "our friends are getting worried, darling. They want to make sure you're okay. They love you."

That seemed to break through, and Ava shifted, leaning back with a shuddering breath. Beatrice searched her face carefully, taking in the paleness in Ava's cheeks and the redness staining her eyes. She looked unwell and quite frankly exhausted.

"Can you walk?" Beatrice asked, bringing her hand up to Ava's cheekbone, brushing away the steady trickle of tears.

"I don't know." Ava rasped painfully, her voice hoarse from screaming.

Beatrice's heart climbed into her throat; she swallowed hard and tried to put on a reassuring smile. "That's okay, I'll help you."

Leaning heavily on Beatrice, Ava managed to walk back to the Cradle and into the medical wing. It was a long walk, for which Ava's head stayed low, her eyes fixed on the ground as she focused completely on putting one foot in front of the other. Beatrice understood her reluctance; their entire path was littered with reminders of what had just occurred. From the hole in the Cradle's cafeteria wall, to the sympathetic expressions of everyone they passed, eventually Beatrice followed Ava's example and turned her eyes forward until they stepped into a private examination room. She watched with a critical gaze as the OSC's finest surgeons checked Ava's battered body over. Thankfully, she was only bruised, nothing broken, a parting gift from Halo, and they were released under strict orders to rest.

~

Beatrice pulled the door shut and clicked the lock. Finally, they were alone, back in the Warrior nun's quarters, and Ava stumbled away from her towards the small ensuite bathroom. She didn't close the door, which Beatrice appreciated. She didn't think she could cope with her being out of sight right now.