Chapter 7


"I know it's a little extra pain and time but this tattoo looks amazing." Ava said to Alisha who was currently laying on the table as Ava worked on the tattoo.

It was a loving piece of art memorialising Alisha's love for Sarah a woman who was her first love that Alisha had planned to propose to but had sadly died from the virus before any of that could happen. It was of a woman's face looking out to the horizon with her hair flowing around her face like the wind was playing through it before it blended into a pattern of flowers and mandala lace designs framing the back part of her head and cascaded downwards. The tattoo started from the side of her rib cage just below her bra line and curved along her hip in a sensual manner before it curled to a faded stop on the right side of her hip.

Alisha had come in wanting a tattoo but knowing what she wanted on her. It had taken them a week of working together before Alisha was satisfied. Some artists would be pissed off by a customer trying to tell them what to do but Ava like the creative process and the challenge that it gave her. She had been reticent about what Alisha had been asking for, not that Ava wasn't against memorialising one's loved ones, she just felt that perhaps it wouldn't help Alisha to carry it with her forever on her skin. But Alisha explained that the tattoo wasn't just about Sarah, yes she was the inspiration behind it but the personal reasons and the basic art Alisha came in with to build her tattoo on held more significance and meaning that Ava could get behind.

She also saw a change through Alisha in the hours they spent together working, that her grief over the loss of Sarah was slowly being processed. The process of this artwork was cathartic for Alisha in helping her in grief but also imbuing her with a sense of acceptance and contentment that hadn't been there in the earlier days.

"I bet you say that to all your clients." Alisha said with a chuckle as they had become good friends given all the time they spent together.

"Only the really gorgeous ones." Ava told her, Alisha chuckled as she didn't believe Ava given how reclusive she was. "What do you think so far?" Ava asked her as she gently wiped away the excess ink from Alisha's skin and reloaded her tattoo gun with more ink.

"I'm in love with it. It's better than I expected. Usually white or light coloured tattoos look shit but the layering work you've done so far is brilliant work." Alisha gushed to her. Ava smiled as she liked meeting people who could appreciate her work and Alisha seemed to be rather savvy on the nature of her work but then this wasn't Alisha's first tattoo.

"I mix my own inks, so you'll find the colour will fade a little over time but it will look like it's supposed to that giving it a more shadowed feel than contrasting as it is now." Ava explained to her so Alisha knew why her tattoo was changing.

"Got it though I don't mind it now. But I can't wait to see the final result when it's all settled down." Alisha said not bothered in the least.

"So what does your new girlfriend think of the ink?" Ava asked as she continued her work. She was nearly at a point where she was satisfied to call it quits and because she could see Alisha was at her limit for the day. During their time designing the piece, Ava and Alisha had fallen into an easy friendship. It was hard not too given how warm and friendly Alisha was.

"She hasn't seen me naked yet and we've only been going out for a month." Alisha explained, the last time they had spoken Alisha had been in two minds in just dating the woman. Ava didn't really offer any advice as the last time she had been on a date was so long ago it didn't count. So she just listened, plus she was happy that Alisha was in a good place to move on from Sarah.

"Taking it slow?" Ava asked her, casually keeping the conversation going. Alisha gave a nod.

"Yeah, I want to know for sure that it's serious before I take the final leap and tell my friends." Alisha confessed to her, she hadn't told anyone in the group that she'd been seeing Val in a more personal fashion. She knew they'd be confused and somewhat angry after what happened at the oil rig but Alisha couldn't explain her attraction to her.

She was worried they'd judge her for moving on so quickly after Sarah but she didn't see being with Val as forgetting Sarah. She knew she'd always grieve for Sarah and it was conflicting to be attracted to another woman and want to engage in a new relationship so quickly but life was fleeting.

Val wasn't like any woman she'd met before, she infuriated one moment and intoxicating the next. Sarah had been so calm and gentle, the perfect woman to counter the masculine energy Alisha felt she carried from being in the Military. Sometimes she felt was just a little too coarse for her, like she had to spit shine and polish herself every time she was with her. But Val was different, she didn't push Alisha to conform, in fact she liked how Alisha was different, she accepted her opinions even if she wanted to argue them to death when she didn't agree with her.

"What should your friends have to say about it?" Ava asked confused.

"Ah it's complicated." Alisha said with a sigh, she wasn't in the mood to get into it which Ava seemed to pick up on as she didn't push it.

"Isn't it always." Ava said with a smile.

"So how have you been sleeping?" Alisha asked her changing the topic, a smile gracing her lips as she knew Ava lived across the hall from Miller, Cruz, Wolf and now Baby Clara.

"Do I look that bad?" Ava asked her.

"No, just really tired. I'd think that you were the one with a baby." Alisha teased with a chuckle as she didn't miss the light blush gracing Ava's cheeks. The woman was fairly shameless, which was why Alisha was surprised to see her embarrassed.

"The guys are doing their best." Ava said diplomatically as Alisha knew Ava lived across the hall from Miller, Cruz and Wolf. Alisha had joked that she would be stuck listening to Wolf and Cruz's sexcapades. It wasn't the case before the baby, the guys had had a couple parties but otherwise were pretty quiet neighbours. Now with Clara they were definitely noisier but it couldn't really be helped and frankly Ava would prefer to hear a baby crying than people having sex. It'd just remind her of what she was missing out on.

"Uhuh, I had breakfast with Wolf this morning. I've never seen him look so tired and vague in all the time I've known him. He could barely order his coffee and he only drinks Americanos." Alisha said with a chuckle.

"Clara's been restless. I want to hazard a guess and say that she's adjusting to life with three men. I bet wherever she was before was run by women." Ava said with a shrug, she wasn't trying to be sexist with her comment but she felt it was pretty rare to see men working in baby nurseries.

"Probably, either way Kara and I are going to babysit tomorrow night and let the boys go out for some adult time. If you're interested you could join us. Make a girls night in. Milkshakes and girl talk, watching Kara have a meltdown with Clara." Alisha said with glee.

"As long as the milkshakes aren't made with Baby formula then sure. Sounds like fun" Ava said with a smile as she wouldn't mind some girl time. "But why would we be watching your friend Kara have a meltdown?" Ava asked, Alisha looked over her shoulder and gave her an amused smile.

"She's 22 weeks pregnant, so Clara is like practise as she's got no experience with babies or babysitting in general. She's the one who suggested and as soon as we left the boys she reminded me of the time she house sat for a friend and nearly killed their cat. So yeah, she's going to freak and it will be fun." Alisha explained to her with a smile.

"Ah." Ava said in understanding.


Friday Evening,

"You sure about this?" Cruz asked Alisha and Kara. Burk was by the front door getting antsy as hell as he wanted to get to the bar and meet the guys. But Cruz was stalling.

"Yes, we'll be fine and Ava's coming over. She's our safety net for the night. So go." Alisha said shooing him out of the room but failing as he hadn't moved. He looked to Kara who was awkwardly holding Clara in her arms. He trusted them with his daughter but part of him was feeling separation anxiety at leaving her as it was the first night he wasn't going be home. He really wondered how a week and two days suddenly felt like a lifetime.

But part of him was relieved Ava was coming over even if he wished he was staying. He hadn't seen her since they had coffee, and not that he'd ever admit it but he was tempted to lurk in the hallways to see her and spend more time with her. But right now he needed to focus on Clara and her survival.

"Ok. Now you know where'll I'll be?" Cruz asked them. Alisha and Kara nodded in unison.

"Just down the road." Alisha answered in amusement.

"Geez cut the umbilical cord dude. It's dinner and a few drinks, we're not flying to another country. We're barely leaving the postcode area." Burk said with a laugh, Cruz didn't think it was funny at all. He had the same problem when leaving Clara with everybody. It wasn't a lack of trust but more of a what would he miss out on and honestly he had no desire to go out. If he had his way, he'd have stayed home and used Alisha and Kara's offer to get more than 3 hours sleep.

"Ok, but if anything happens?" Cruz prompted them.

"We'll call 911 if it's an emergency and if it's something cute, Alisha has a fully charged iPhone to capture the moment in real time and text you." Kara said in a cooing tone as she smiled down at Clara.

"Maybe you should have thought about getting radios or a long range baby monitor." Alisha offered.

"Do I need a baby monitor?" Cruz asked, every time someone told him he needed some piece of furniture or baby related item he asked why because all he saw was money leaving his bank account on something he probably didn't need. He wondered if he could buy that second hand.

"Only if you want a sex life in the near future." Burk told him. Cruz shot him an unimpressed look as he knew the man wanted to get going but didn't appreciate the quip since getting laid tonight was the last thing on his mind. But he did know Danny and the others were already at the bar waiting for them as Cruz was dragging his feet.

"We'll be fine. Cruz, go." Alisha said in a gentle but pushy manner. Cruz nodded and moved to Kara and smoothed a hand over Clara's soft hair.

"You be horrible to them, show Aunty Kara what's she's in store for with her own kid comes along." he told Clara, before he pressed a kiss to her forehead and straightened up. He looked to Alisha and Kara who weren't impressed with his orders for Clara. "What?" he asked them with a smile.


Ava stepped out of her apartment just as Cruz stepped out of his own, she couldn't help but appreciate the fine figure he cut in cargo pants and dress shirt with rolled up sleeves. His friend wasn't too bad looking either as he was in dress slacks and shirt. She really wished she hadn't developed a crush on Cruz, sleep deprivation and him being so incredibly self deprecating about his parenting skills really did her in especially given how well put together he seemed in the rest of his life. The muscles and great smile didn't hurt either. But it was a problem because now every time she saw him she felt a nervous flutter of excitement which she knew was a waste of time as he could have any woman he want. Definitely a better looking one than she was thanks to the marred up side of her face and creepy blind eye.

It was why she gave up hiding her flaws plus it was girls night. She didn't have to look pretty, she just needed to be comfortable which was why she had her hair tied up in a messy bun, dressed in navy leggings and lightweight oversized cream sweater layered over a grey tank top and stretchy sports bra.

"Figured you'd be gone by now leaving two tracks of fire and burnt rubber in your wake" Ava said greeting them as she carried a canvas shopping bag with some snacks and a couple bottles of dessert syrups for their milkshakes. she and Alisha had dibbied up who would bring what, Kara was in charge of dinner while she and Alisha provided drinks and snacks. They were definitely going to have too much food but at leas there would be a good amount of choices for milkshake flavours.

"You'd think but Cruz had to get past his mommy nerves." Cruz's friend said. "I'm Carlton by the way." he said holding out his hand.

"Ava, the neighbour." Ava said shaking his hand, she had seen him flinch slightly at her scars but let it go as everybody did. It was just nice that Cruz was smiling at her in welcome. She just had to remind herself that it wasn't interest but just him being friendly.

"Friend and saviour as well." Cruz added with a smile, just reiterating where she sat in his world. She didn't know why but it kind of made her feel depressed and happy at the time.

"Savior, I should put that on my resume." Ava joked which the men smiled at. "Though all I did was hold Clara one time." she added in a self effacing manner.

"You also opened the door for me, and she slept for four hours straight after you left. That's a record." Cruz informed her.

"Well, then maybe Clara prefers women like Alisha." Carlton offered with an amused but somewhat strained smile. He was the only one in the group who wasn't attached to Clara in fact he hadn't even held the baby. Cruz figured he was a baby person so didn't push it. Hell, Cruz hadn't been one either but a week with Clara changed that, though he only had eyes for Clara. Other babies did not interest him in the slightest.

"That's fine with me." Cruz told him with a shrug as he didn't care if what Clara preferred as long as she was happy and healthy and enjoyed her life. But even so he wasn't sure why Burk made the cheap shot at Alisha's sexual preferences given she had better taste in women than Burk. The only exception had been Ravit, but sadly that ended too briefly which turned Burk into a bit of a womanising jerk since they got to St Louis. But Cruz let it go as everyone grieved their own way and Burk would work through his issues and return to the guy they all loved.

"Well, we should get going." Burk said to them as he made motions for him and Cruz to go.

"Yeah, don't let me hold you up." Ava told them, she waited for them to leave and Burk started to move but Cruz was still standing at the door smiling at her. "You going to go?" she asked him, it seemed to snap him out of his stupor.

"Ah yeah, let me open the door for you first." Cruz said as he moved to the door and unlocked it, pushing it open for Ava.

"Thanks" Ava said before smiled and walked past him.

"No problem." Cruz told her.

"We're out of here." Burk said as he grabbed Cruz by the back of his collar and dragged him away. Ava looked to Kara and Alisha who were wearing strange expressions on their faces.

"I come bearing food and dessert syrups." Ava said holding up her bag of goodies.

"Come in." Alisha said, rushing to help her and close the door in the guys' wake. "So Ava, this is Kara. Kara, Ava." She said making the introductions. Ava looked to Kara, seeing the woman Alisha describe to a tee. Kara was a gorgeous brunette with beautiful hazel doe eyes, enviable straight frizz free silky hair, and a warm smile. She wore a plain white t-shirt that did nothing to hide the cute pregnancy bump along with a dark grey long line cardigans over soft, loose emerald green cotton pants that cinched at the ankles. Just gorgeous, it made Ava want to hate her just a little for being perfect but she just couldn't.

"Nice to finally meet you. Alisha talks non stop about her tattoo. She even showed me. It's amazing." Kara told her as she cradled Clara in her arms. The baby girl was awake and looking a little punch drunk which told Ava that she probably had a bottle not too long ago.

"I could put one on you too, your own version though. I prefer not to repeat works unless it's a marriage thing." Ava offered.

"Oh no, I'm staying clean skin for life. That way, I can't be a hypocrite when my kids want a Tattoo and I say 'No'." Kara assured her. Ava chuckled while Alisha shook her head.

"No worries, so Alisha told me you were expecting so tonight was like a dry run at the real thing." Ava said, deciding she wasn't going in head first and hope Kara liked her as she didn't want it to be a weird night of attempting to get along with one another as some people just didn't mesh.

"Sort of, I'm lacking in experience and well, I figure we help Cruz out he might return the favour for me and Danny later down the track." Kara said with a smile, as she really liked holding Clara in her arms. She was so small and light, her pudgy little cherub face was just making her even more excited at the prospect of her own baby's arrival even though it was months away from now.

"I'm sure that won't be a problem." Ava said to her.