(Notes)
Towards the end i've added a song and chose not to translate it for reasons mentioned in the end notes. If you wish to experience the song the way Carol and Therese do listen to it here: watch?v=afhnAvaJ2Ec (It has English subtitles.) The song is by Marinella (1976) and it's called Σ'αγαπώ meaning I Love You.
Therese found her gate and sat down at the far end of the row of chairs, close to the windows. Even though she traveled regularly for work she hadn't quite gotten used to the noises and crowds at an airport. Her job as a photographer presented her with many opportunities to travel across America but this was the first time she'd be flying to Europe; Cyprus in particular. Richard had tried to stop her at first, said it was too far away and too dangerous. But when Therese told him she'd be going with a colleague he was reassured. She had lied, and it wasn't the first time either.
From what she'd discovered online and through her fellow photographers who'd been there, it sounded heavenly. It is a tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea rich with history and beautiful beaches but also breathtaking mountains; and according to Dannie, incredible food. She had tried to find a course online to learn some Greek but all she could remember was Καλημέρα and Καληνύχτα (Kalimera and Kalinixta) which meant good morning and good night. It would have to do. She pulled out her book and tried to ignore the hustle and bustle that was going on around her.
The stewardess called her section so she gathered her stuff and walked towards what seemed like an endless queue. She dreamily gazed out of the high windows watching a plane being filled with suitcases and small people waving around crazily, probably trying to communicate with the pilot. Suddenly she felt a touch on her shoulder and turned around to meet the most magnetizing grey eyes she'd ever seen in her life. The woman had blonde hair that, under the rays of sun that peeked through the window, seemed gold. She was shaken back to reality when the woman spoke, a bit irritated.
"Excuse me, the queue is moving."
Therese apologized and moved closer to the last people in the queue. She popped her bag into the overhead bin and found her place; middle row. She had cursed when the random generator had shown the result as she preferred the window seat; she hated having to stand up every two hours because someone needed to use the restroom. When the blonde woman stopped to put her luggage into the same overhead bin as Therese's, her breath suddenly quickened and she had no idea why. For some reason she wished the woman would notice.
"Excuse me again, would you…would you mind sitting by the window? I'm kind of terrified of heights and this is my first time flying." The woman trailed off.
Therese thanked her lucky stars.
"Oh sure." She moved into the next seat and watched as the woman gracefully descended into hers. She caught a whiff of the woman's perfume; it smelled like flowers.
"I'm Carol, by the way." She extended her hand and Therese was caught off guard by the formality. Why had she expected the woman would lean in and kiss her on the cheeks? She stared longingly into the abyss that was Carol's eyes.
"May I know your name?" Carol continued when the girl didn't reply.
"I'm sorry" she smiled sheepishly. "Therese, my name is Therese."
Therese stared at the woman's hands that had pulled out the safety leaflet. She'd stopped reading those after her 2nd time flying.
Once the engines of the plane started running Therese noticed that Carol had started fidgeting with her hands; turning the ring on her finger. Of course, she thought. Of course she's married. But why did that bother her?
"Ma'am you have to fasten your seat belt." A stewardess pointed to Carol's belt that was hanging next to her chair.
"We haven't even moved yet." Carol replied.
What the stewardess might have interpreted as annoyance Therese knew was just nerves. Nevertheless, Carol grabbed the belt, locked it in place and shot an angry glare towards the stewardess. All Therese could do was occasionally looking up from her book and stealing glances of the woman's side profile.
Carol was paying the uttermost attention to the steward who was demonstrating how to put on a life vest. Therese knew the rituals. First put your own mask on, and then help your spouse or child. She also knew, come hell or high water she'd help Carol put on her mask first. She watched out the window as the plane started moving; watched the earth falling away right before her eyes as the plane ascended and suddenly her heart skipped a beat. Carol's hand had grabbed hers and squeezed tightly. Therese turned to her right to see the woman's chest violently going up and down. She squeezed back softly.
"Carol, hey it's okay it's normal. The plane will level off in a bit." Carol shot her a glance and Therese knew this wasn't helping. She continued, while she still held onto Carol's hand although she wasn't sure it was because she wanted to or because Carol wouldn't let go.
"Okay, talk to me. Tell me, what are you going to do in Cyprus?" Therese watched Carol thinking.
"I…I'm…I'm going to go to the beach and…and I'm going to visit the old Castle in Paphos and…" she squeezed Therese's hand tighter as the plane turned slightly to the left.
"That sounds lovely, and is… is someone waiting for you?" Carol let out a small breath and Therese could swear a smile appeared on her lips but it was gone so soon that if she hadn't been looking at them she would have missed it.
"No. Thankfully. I'm trying to get away for a while." Her breathing started to calm down and as it did she yanked her hand out of Therese's. "I'm sorry," she said embarrassed.
"No need to apologize. You should have seen me on my first flight." Therese gave her a small smile.
"Why are you going? To Cyprus I mean." Carol asked while shifting in her seat. She noticed the sparkle in the girl's eyes as she replied.
"I'm going for work, although it doesn't really feel like it. I'm a photographer; I'm planning on taking pictures of some historical sites for the magazine I work for." Therese blushed, never really having liked talking about herself.
"And are you meeting someone?" Carol asked hesitantly.
"Oh no, not at all." Therese let out a laugh. "Although Richard would have loved to come."
Carol's smile fades away.
"Richard is your boyfriend?"
Well technically yes, she thinks. But things have been rough between them the past couple of months, and truthfully Therese had been wanting to break up with him for a while now. She didn't know why she hadn't already.
"I'm not really sure." Therese replied not wanting to lie or tell the truth. Carol seemed pleased though. Was that a smile?
Carol sat back straight in her seat and closed her eyes. Therese thought if the plane were to fall from the sky she wouldn't even mind. As long as her body was found next to Carol's she wouldn't mind.
A stewardess came by with a trolley a couple hours later offering coffee or tea. Carol had ordered a coffee and looked back to see if Therese wanted anything but the girl had fallen asleep in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. Carol asked the stewardess to bring her one of those cushions. When the stewardess came back she watched as Carol softly pressed the cushion under the younger woman's neck and sheepishly said.
"You're a lovely couple."
"Oh, we're not a…" Carol started but stopped before she could finish her sentence and simply smiled.
When Therese awoke from her nap she felt the cushion under her neck and turned her head to look at Carol who was enjoying a cup of coffee.
"Did you…"
"Yeah, you looked a bit uncomfortable." Carol smiled.
"Thank you, but you really didn't have to. I'll pay you back." Therese picked up her bag and started rummaging through her stuff.
"Oh don't be silly" Carol tried to push Therese's bag away but instead their hands brushed briefly and she could feel her heart flutter in her chest.
Therese selfishly wished for turbulence in hopes that Carol would grab her hand again like she had during takeoff but the clouds where smooth and the winds where calm. Up until they flew over Britain that is. Therese had her eyes shut but wasn't sleeping when suddenly she felt the shaking underneath her feet. She waited for the hand to grab hers but when nothing happened she opened her eyes to find the seat next to her completely empty.
Anxiety took over. Where the hell is she? Where did she go? Oh gosh will she be scared? She needs me.
Therese stood up from her seat and walked toward the end of the plane but when a stewardess saw her she immediately tried to send her back to her seat.
"My…the passenger next to me disappeared I don't know where she is." Her voice was shaking. Therese weren't many places she could have gone; they were 20,000 feet in the air for Christ's sake. She must have gone to the bathroom and she must be terrified. Therese pushed past the stewardess and put her hand on the bathroom door.
"Carol?" she whispered.
"Therese? Therese I… I can't open the door." Carol's hands were shaking as she tried to unlock the door but they weren't steady enough.
One of the stewards came with a special key that unlocks the door from the outside and unlocked the door to reveal a shaking Carol. The steward angrily told them to get to their seats and put their seat belts on until the turbulence passed. While they walked in between the aisles back to their seats a small air gap made the plane shake and Carol immediately reached out to grab Therese's hand. Finally.
"I'm such a baby, I'm so sorry." A tear appeared on Carol's cheek and Therese wanted to reach out and kiss it away but all she could muster the courage to do was wipe it away with her thumb instead.
"Hey, I'm pretty sure that's not the first time they've had to use that key." They both fell in a fit of laughter.
The plane slowly started it's descend back to the ground. Therese wished she could have flown over the entire world if it meant being in Carol's company for longer. She opened the window blind for the first time during the entire flight; she'd closed it per Carol's request during takeoff. It looked as if they were floating over eternal blue seas. She took Carol's arm and pulled her towards the window.
"You have to see this, Carol."
Trusting the girl Carol leaned closer to the window but all she could concentrate on was how close she now was to Therese. The girl's short brown hair smelled of vanilla shampoo and she wished she could brush her hands through it and press a kiss on her bare neck.
"Isn't it breathtaking?" Therese said still gazing out of the window.
"It is." Carol said looking at the girl.
They waited for their luggage at the luggage claim together. The airport was practically empty. Therese found it kind of comforting. She had no idea there could be places that weren't packed with people and screaming infants. It didn't take too long for their bags to come through as they were the only plane that had landed at that time. It was around 12 am, which was 5pm New York time.
They walked out the gates together and watched as people reunited with their loved ones. Loved ones who they probably hadn't seen for a while since they came from the other side of the world. Two women embraced outside of the airport and kissed on the lips. Therese's whole body went stiff and she turned to look at Carol who was oblivious to what was happening next to them.
Carol hailed a taxi and thanked Therese for being such a patient co passenger on the plane. She was about to step in when she turned back to Therese, who was hailing a taxi now too, and said.
"What a nitwit I am, I completely forgot to ask where you're staying."
"Something called Coral Beach Hotel?" Therese replied.
"That's where I'm staying!" Carol's smile reached her eyes. "Come on, we'll share the taxi!"
Therese excused herself from the taxi driver she was talking to and headed towards Carol. They put their luggage in the trunk of the taxi and walked around it to get in. The warmth that radiated from Carol's smile made her feel dizzy.
The taxi driver turned on the radio as he drove off. The sound that came out of the radio hypnotized them both.
Σ' αγαπώ όπως η άβυσσος το φως,
όπως τα όνειρα ο φτωχός,
κι' ο κουρασμένος στρατιώτης την ειρήνη.
Δεν έχω τίποτ' άλλο, είμαι μια φωνή,
είμαι δυο χέρια αδειανά που σε τυλίγουν.
Μα σ' αγαπώ και κοίτα, ανοίγουν οι ουρανοί,
οι ουρανοί που τόσο δύσκολα ανοίγουν!
Even though they could not understand what was being sung they could feel. And it felt like love.
(Notes)
I have chosen not to translate the text of the song as Therese and Carol wouldn't have known what it meant either. But i suggest you listen to the song which i have put in the notes above, you won't regret it. So, this AU popped into my head and this is the result. I'm planning on delving into their week in Cyprus in later chapters. I'm living in Cyprus so i might be biased but this place is beautiful and if you want to experience it you can always google images of places i will mention in the fic. I hope you enjoy reading this, and let me know if you like it! I love reading your comments:) As usual you can find me at thereseswan tumblr com.
ps: I'm planning on adding another finishing chapter to Be my love in the rain soon so keep an eye out.