Beth: SoccerCop: So I got a cute little review asking for some soccercop fluff so here we go. Date night.
It's that sigh she hears so clear through the phone that cracks Beth's exterior and soon, she's smiling like a complete fool at her desk. Really, she'd expected Alison to be irritated when she told her that she was going to be a little late in picking her up but the fact that she can picture the exact face the other woman is making at that moment just makes it all the better.
"I'm sorry, Ali. Art needs me to help him with a little last minute paperwork and it's looking like it's going to take a little while."
Another sigh has Beth chuckling into the phone, this one so exaggerated she just knows it's Alison trying to hide her own smile. It's a smile she can never really lose when talking to Beth.
"Fine, okay. It's fine. Just don't be too late, I have the kids at my parents for the night just so I can spend it with you. Don't cut that time too short." Alison's words are clipped, to the point as usual but also holding a gentle longing she can't quite cover. It had been a few weeks since their last date, having to keep it hidden from their previous worlds was not exactly an easy task.
"Okay how about this. I will text you as I'm leaving the building so you know exactly how much time you have to finish getting ready before meeting me on the curb, alright? Then you don't have to sit around waiting for me after getting ready and we'll be set to go even faster." Appealing to Alison's want of order and ease in her actions was always a good way to soothe her irritation.
This time a gentle hum traveled through the phone before a noise of confirmation. "Fine, just don't forget. As soon as you step out of that building, you text me."
Beth couldn't stop the slightly cheeky grin on her face even though Alison couldn't see it. "Yes, ma'am. Scouts honor." She probably heard it just the same.
Another three hours, two cups of coffee, and a smack to the back of Art's head when he teased her abound practically bouncing away from her desk later, Beth was able to text Alison that she'd be there soon. The response of it's about time, i'll be waiting on the curb had her rolling her eyes, that dopey grin back on her face.
Their whole situation was fucked up, truthfully. Beth's world was spinning out of control but Alison helped her center her head. With everything going on in the big picture, a relationship with your own clone didn't seem all that big or strange to her. Every single thing was just so fucked up in her world nowadays that she couldn't really bring herself to care about how strange their relationship would seem to the people around them. So Alison had simply looked at her one day, eyes clear as day even through the glasses of wine she'd downed, and suggested that they just try it out. Really, Beth had been so surprised she almost didn't reply but then she noticed the fear on Alison's face. It seemed that Alison was just as terrified as Beth was and that look shot a spike right through her heart.
No matter what, she'd do what she could to keep that look from appearing on Alison's face again.
Driving up to Alison's curb, Beth couldn't stop the gentle affectionate smile that teased her lips. The woman in front of her was tapping her foot on the ground, half annoyed and half excited, while she straightened the black jacket that hung slightly loose on her shoulders. It was a jacket Beth had given her a few weeks prior and the sight of her had a shot of warmth hitting her heart.
When she slowed enough for Alison to jump into the car, she leaned over immediately to kiss her, the action a mix of gentle and needy. "Hey pretty lady, come here often?"
Scoffing at the words through the pink that dusted her cheeks, Alison smoothed her palms against her thighs. "Really, Beth? That's the best you can do?" A light smile tweaked the corner of Alison's mouth and Beth couldn't resist kissing her until it widened as she drove away. "So where are we going exactly?"
"You'll see." The immediate reaction smack to her arm had Beth chuckling under her breath. "We're going to get some ice cream by the park before going for a stroll through said park. Then I'm going to take you home for some wine around a nice comfy fire." Glancing to the side, Beth's heart quickened in her chest a bit at the look on Alison's face.
"That sounds.. perfect." The words were whispered, breathy and soft. The opposite of Alison's usual demeanor. Then again, Beth tended to bring out a side of Alison that not even she was aware of.
Beth slid her hand over to Alison, letting it rest easily on her thigh as she drove. Once again it hit her how strangely natural this all felt to her. How easily Alison fit into her life, her heart. The way her skin felt so deliciously warm under her fingertips and how each felt kiss so right.
It kept hitting her all evening. From the look Alison gave her when she slid a solid arm around her waist and led her into the ice cream shop. The way she laughed when Beth got her treat on her chin and the resulting kiss as Alison licked it off for her. When tingles shot up her arm the second Alison intertwined their fingers as they walked and the soft warmth from the way her head settled so easily on her shoulder.
The return trip to Alison's house was filled with a quiet serenity. As they made their way to their usual spot on the downstairs sofa, Alison slipped out of her jacket as Beth easily found the wine and glasses. It was fluid, the way they moved about each other, and so intensely domestic if it were with anyone else it may have frightened Beth a little. Alison just made everything seem a little better.
As they curled up together, Beth's cheeky smile after she set up an Ipad to play a video of a fire sitting on the table in front of them slipping into a more affectionate one when Alison let out a content little sigh. She kissed the top of her head and settled in for the night, never wanting to move from that spot.
Date night, as always, was an amazing success.
