Bea didn't know how long she sat there, body entangled with Allie's, so closely knit together it was almost impossible to tell where one's curves started….and the other's ended. Their quiet, slowed down pulses, seamlessly linked together was the only touch of sound occasionally filling the silent. It was all that mattered now. She couldn't be bothered to care about anything else, not even the two missed calls from Franky the blonde gently reminded her of…
Only when Allie nudged her twice did she react…
She took the phone from her hands and, with a dismissive head shake, laid back down against her shoulder, ignoring the interruption.
Because she had never known more calm and harmony than now.
Not even Doyle could take that away from her.
She finally understood how Allie must've felt then – so haunted, so scarred, battling gruesome nightmares yet somehow finding comfort in a stranger's arms, of all places…
Then again, she was never just a stranger to Allie…
Then again, she always meant more to Allie than she could have even imagined in her wildest dreams…
Now, Bea was allowing herself to feel it in return, what she felt then. It washed over her like a welcome slumber after a lifetime of insomnia. That similar brand of weakness she recognized from that same fateful night when Allie laid her head on her shoulder and her heart in her palm came back, too..
Even from that angle, despite the lack of motion from the warm body beside her, Bea felt her wide awake, listening to the silence and maybe hearing so much more than she ever could. Her senses were rapidly shutting down in the best possible way, only focusing on the sound of Allie's quiet breaths above her ear, almost selectively, as if it was the only noise that ever mattered…
She didn't check the time. For minutes on end.
Allie didn't, either.
It felt like it stopped.
And maybe the outside world was still following its frenzied, disorderly pace…but theirs no longer did. They were on an entirely different timeline now.
After all the running, it led Bea right where she was meant to be.
As always, she wasn't the only one.
But her earlier suspicions weren't that far off - Allie was more aware now, more observant. And as she felt her shift a little just to cast an all-knowing look around the office, Bea could picture the wheels turning in her head…
She wasn't wrong. Allie was figuring something out, alright…
Something she maybe knew all along.
"You know…" – the blonde murmured…"I was right, Bea."
"Hmm?"
A very drowsy, lazy whisper followed…
If only Bea could see the way she was being seen right now…
"Don't doze off on me…" – Allie traced the side of her jaw with her lips, right hand sliding from her shoulder down to her forearm, pulling her even closer. "Sleepy head…"
Still no response…
Second time around, the flower girl nudged her side, playfully. The brilliant light in her smile could have rivaled a sunrise in July. Bea mumbled something incoherently under her breath like the stubborn child she was, pretending she didn't hear a thing…
"I have a reputation to maintain, you know, this never happened to me before-"
"I am not, Cassanova…"- Bea grumbled…with actual words this time, partially muffled by Allie's frame. "You can relax, your street cred is intact. I was just thinking."
"Your thinking is too loud…" – Allie mocked her tone…"It's distracting."
"For the last time, Allie…that's not even how my voice sounds."
Another round of childish whining…and the redhead leaned back to see her better.
Mission accomplished - round one goes to Novak.
"What were you right about, again?"
"That you belong here, blend right in."
"With the flowers?"
"And me, clueless. " – Allie giggled like a schoolgirl. "That's when I fell in love with you."
"W-what?"
Bea shifted in her seat, still only half-awake, confusion plastered onto her every feature.
"That's when I…" – Allie added, lifting her head to see her better, too. "That's when I knew…"
Because up until that point, flowers were the epitome of beauty to her…because she had nothing to rival them, challenge them even..
Kinda look like you belong here, Bea. Blend right in.
Thank you…?
It's a compliment, I promise.
Until she saw Bea in that same space and it changed her entire definition. But flowers weren't just that to her, they were more than beauty, grace or even love…
They were also her preferred method of communication…masked communication, too.
And Bea was finally catching up.
"So t-the..the red rose—"
"…was me saying I'm falling for you in my own language without actually saying it? Bingo."
And maybe she had her suspicions before…but hearing it from Allie's lips was a whole new ball game. Because it was only the second time she walked in here….and only the first time she talked to the flower girl alone.
"So the beach, when w-we…the coffee…the art thing-"
"Was me saying I'm giving you my heart?"
Not only was she catching up, Bea was also realizing something else, something she couldn't believe she hasn't until now.
Allie had more than just one method of masked communication…
"Hold on…so that means t-the…when we were in your office, the pinkie thing-"
"Was me saying I don't want to lose you in my very dorky way, without words?"
If she didn't need to know so much more, Bea could have wiped that all-knowing, proud smirk off her face with her own two hands…or maybe lips, too, while she was at it.
"I did leave you a hint, though…" – Allie cleared her throat, visibly amused... "I distinctly remember telling you - Don't wander too far…"
A new epiphany struck Bea with the force of a lightning - because Allie wasn't lying, she did.
She said those words to her before she left her office…
Well then, say no more. I'll go get those prints for ya real quick, don't wander too far.
Because she didn't want the redhead to go away just yet, she couldn't let her go…
Just… don't wander too far, okay?
It's time for the toasts soon, so don't wander too far…again.
And two times on the beach…because even if Allie knew she was hurting, she walked away and left her alone with her thoughts…
But she ached to do the opposite…and she was trying to tell her.
All along, Allie wanted to stay.
All along, Allie had told her so much…and she thought she knew everything.
As it turned out, Bea still didn't know half of it.
"…A bunch of times. Y'know… don't swim too far away from me? Sea-horses? Analogies? Seriously, Bea, keep up."
By this point, Bea had already untangled herself from Allie's embrace and was staring at her like she suddenly grew two heads, five separate sets of limbs and a tail.
"B-but that was…that was only the second time we ever talked to each other…"
How could Allie have fallen in love with her…so early? How could she have…known?
"Well high-five yourself then, charmer—"
Charmer?
She was a pile of nerves and awkward that day and this drop-dead gorgeous woman (in all understandings of the phrase) chose her, fell in love with her...of all people. How was that even possible, by any laws of the universe? She still couldn't get used to the thought. And maybe she'll never understand why, either.
But as Allie looked at her once more, loving dark blue eyes twinkling with a teasing spark she only ever wore for her, there was nothing but pure fondness reflected in Bea. The blonde opened her mouth once or twice to speak again…but under the sheer weight of it, nothing came out…
Bea was seeing Allie in a whole new light now, perhaps even brighter than the previous one…
No one else would have gone through all that trouble to relate to her, in a spoken or unspoken manner. No one ever graced her with that kind of an effort before. And ever since the day they met, nothing Allie has done towards her has been unintentional or devoid of meaning…just like her.
"S-so all this time you were…" – Bea choked, unshed tears welled up in her eyes. "Talking to me?"
It was all Allie did…because you don't always need words to speak.
Not then…and definitely not now.
"Waiting for me?" - she grabbed her hand, unaware of the tremble in hers.
To catch up to you?
"I'll always wait for you." – Allie nodded solemnly, laying a kiss atop of their joined hands, punctuating her promise.
Forever if I had to.
Bea thought they waited long enough…
"But that's not why I did all of these things…so you'll feel like you had to come to me. "
It felt like an important distinction…for her.
"I just wanted you to know you had someone to come to if you ever…needed to..y'know..?"
And Bea finally understood why – Allie wanted her to read between the lines, to hear her…on her own terms. And even if Bea never did, that would have been okay, too…
"That I wanted to be that someone for you. But only if you did, too."
Allie would have still loved her even if she didn't…
Bea swallowed hard, throat closing in like sandpaper against any words she thought she had lingering there. One by one, they were vanishing into nothing. And soon enough, that painful echo of regret, one she was so accustomed to called back, casting an ever-lasting shadow on her memories…
She wished she could have caught on sooner. She had to wonder then just how much she hurt Allie…what if it was a lot more than she thought?
"And I messed up so much today…I'm sorry I snapped at you, Bea, that was so childish-"
And yet….she was apologizing.
When it should be the other way around.
"No. " – Bea shook her head in disapproval. "You were hurt, I hurt you-"
"It wasn't because I thought you didn't want me back, I'm not that needy…I just…" – Allie's teeth sunk into her bottom lip, anxiously. "I just thought you didn't want me in your life at all anymore…"
And I still wanted you in mine.
"I would…I would never want you out of my life, you have to know that—"
Don't you…?
"It's fine, Bea, water under the bridge now, don't worry-"
"No." – Bea brought her close, circling her hands around Allie's shoulders with a grip so tight she feared she'd break her…but she'd die before she'd let her go.
Little did she know - it was the opposite.
Bea was putting her back together.
"No, listen to me…"– the redhead pulled away just to kiss her on the forehead, cheeks and every little crease in between that her lips could touch in frenzied devotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you. I can't imagine my life without you in it."
Mouth parted in a soft gasp, every frantic gesture of Bea's stole every word Allie thought she had on the tip of her tongue, too…
She was wrong. She had nothing now.
"And I don't want to."
Because it was Bea's way of saying she saw a future with her…
Allie melted…
"D-do you mean that? Because it's been a crazy day, I can understand if you—"
"Of course I do…"
She did - the blonde could see it so vividly…and that turned on the floodgates for her, too...
And when Bea reached out and wordlessly wiped her tears, only more came…
"I do…?"
But she couldn't miss that golden opportunity, either…
Bea rolled her eyes...
"You won't let that go, will you… Ms. Novak?"
"Ask me again in 3-5 business days-"
"You really need to get your own words, Allie…"
A cheeky smirk rose to Allie's lips…
She wasn't planning on it…
"And a vocal coach…" – Bea added, sternly, prompting the blonde's smirk to stretch even wider. "Because that is not how my voice sounds.."
"Mmm…" - Allie nuzzled into her hair, then sucked on her pulse point, gently…"Maybe you should give me some private lessons then…"
"Y-you wish…"
"I actually do, I just said it, keep up, Bea."
Bea fixed her collar, nervously.
"You know, I… I couldn't get you out of my head since the day we met."
"S-so when you said you remembered…"
"I also remember you?" what I really meant was…."I couldn't stop thinking about you"? Bingo…again. You're getting good at this."
"God, Allie …" – Bea sighed, nibbling on her bottom lip with something akin to shame. "I had no idea you…I'm so sorry, I…"
"You still don't see it…" – Allie asked, rhetorically. "Do you…?"
"See what?"
"How amazing you are."
With a self-conscious tilt of her head, Bea shifted in her seat then looked down to the floor. She still had to work on taking a compliment…luckily for her, Allie was dead-set on teaching her.
She already taught her more than anyone else.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was not to kiss you then?"
Bea didn't know half of it, alright, judging by the way her head just jerked up again in disbelief…
"Y-you wanted to?"
"Like I never wanted anything else..."
Allie watched her, solemnly...
All the while, more shades of confusion blossomed on Bea's face, each brighter than the previous one. A fake-cough from a certain beaming blonde came like clockwork, followed by an honest, affectionate…
"…idiot."
Because Allie had seasonal allergies and all.
"H-hey—"
"You're my idiot, too, though, aren't ya?"
"I'm no one's idiot."
"Yeah, you are…" – the flower girl pinched her cheek, playfully. "You're mine."
Bea wouldn't argue against that in a million years…
"You were so cute and nervous…" – Allie gushed on, resounding nostalgia slipping into her voice. "I don't know how I even had a conversation with you. It was all I could think about."
Then again, kissing Bea was all she thought about for half the time they've known each other…
"R-really?"
So she wasted no time, she did just that. She pressed her lips onto hers long, hard and messy…now that she was allowed, she didn't want to stop…
"Yeah…"
Bea was still not used to this side of Allie, the one that takes charge when she's usually so sweet and mellow. She didn't mind it, perhaps even welcomed it…because her body only ever reacted to Allie and Allie only the way it did now…
It didn't scare her. Maybe it was the opposite.
Maybe it was exciting in all the ways a first love was supposed to be…all the ways books and movies and songs talked about...all the ways she thought were straight-up bullshit….until now.
Everything was new with her. And new with Allie couldn't be frightening…not when you don't fear the unknown.
And something about the blonde's endearing forwardness encouraged her to return the favor…
"Well y-you….you made me nervous."
"I did…?"
"Y-yeah…"
Still recovering from that mind-blowing kiss, Bea shook her head then fidgeted with her sleeves on her lap. And when her gaze shifted to Allie's desk, a half-smile made its way onto her lips. She saw herself down to the last detail, from where she sat, to what she wore…
She remembered it like it happened yesterday…
"Because y-you….you said you looked exhausted…"
So was Allie.
Much like then, Bea was going….somewhere again. And this time, Allie knew exactly where. Because she was right there with her. Wordlessly, the flower girl took hold of her hand…the same way she did then…
Pinkie promise…so you know I mean business.
"B-but all I could think was..."
With glistening eyes, Bea moved, loving gaze shifting past joined hands just to find Allie again…
"She is so beautiful."
Maybe Allie didn't know half of it either…
Because she was right there with her that day….but she never knew that crossed her mind, never knew how she was seen all along, too…
"I couldn't say it. I wanted to, I…"
"It's alright." – Allie reassured with a soft kiss to her temple. "You still talked to me, even when you didn't say anything."
"I did…?"
"More than you know."
A long moment of silence ensued…one of the many that didn't feel charged with anything but connection, comfort and maybe a touch of nostalgia. Bea was rapidly realizing she only ever enjoyed silence with a handful of people before – Maxine, her daughter and Franky, on the odd occasions she shut up for longer than 0.02 seconds…
It was nice.
Surprisingly, she was the one to break it this time around, without meaning to, not entirely. But she couldn't help herself. Sooner rather than later, a giddy smile spread all over Bea's face, one that seemed incredibly out of place on her.
"What's up with you, smiley?"
"Nothing…"
Despite her best efforts to suppress her laugh, Bea was failing spectacularly…
Allie scanned her like a hawk, suspiciously…
"Allow me to rehash - what's going on with you….smiley?"
"Seriously, stealing my nicknames now, too?"
Bea didn't mind…because, from this point on, whatever was hers.. was Allie's, too.
She wanted to share everything with her.
"Come on, spit it out, what's up with that smile—"
Maybe it was just Allie making her happy.
"Nothing."
"I can feel it mocking me."
And something else. Definitely something else.
With every passing second, Bea's grin stretched wider…
This time, she had to physically bite her lip not to laugh.
"Oh, I see what you're thinking." – Allie rolled her sleeves, rising up to the unspoken challenge. "Alright, Bea, hit me with your best shot-"
"You sure you want that?"
"I can take it."
"Alright…" – Bea cleared her throat. "God, Allie…I can't believe you were talking to me in…code."
"Is that all you got?"– Allie mock whispered, then shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Pfft, so weak. Told you I'm not good with words. I wasn't lying—"
But Bea had another ace up her sleeve…
"…. like the world's biggest….and I mean biggest nerd."
Check and mate.
Allie was still trying to glare. Though, by now, she was starting to suspect that was an impossible feat around her current company. Attempt #7325? Failed.
"Still not offended, Bea." – Allie dodged that scorching non-insult with an index finger in the air, defending her title. "Need I remind you nerds created the best things in the world…including The Netflix?"
"For…other nerds to enjoy…"
"I am so pushing you off the couch…"
"And rave about…to their nerd friends…"
"I'm doing it, Bea—"
The redhead was not in the least threatened…and maybe she had a speech to finish, too.
"Wait, do nerds even have friends or did you make them all up?"
"Why did I give her red roses?"
"… Fletch, Ruby, they're not real people, are they?"
"…oh no, even your imaginary friends are nerds…aren't they?"
With an annoyed (and affectionate) eye-roll, Allie grabbed her by the collar smoothly and kissed her on the lips.
"Shut up…"
If Bea had one ace up her sleeve, on a regular day, Allie had at least 12…which was why her mouth shifted away, ghosting over Bea's earlobe deliberately slow, stealing just enough of her breath to keep her witty comebacks at bay…
"You will watch Netflix with me even if I have to cuff you.."
(Still not helping yourself, 50 shades of Novak)
"Unless you're into that and this isn't a threat, in which case I take it back—"
Bea smacked her on the arm…
"Ouch…hit a nerve again?"
When Bea tried to strike her again, Allie stopped her merciless assault on her noodle arm with a soft, chaste kiss to her hand, melting her instantly…
The redhead (reluctantly) reconsidered…
"So uh…now that I was embarrassingly honest….what about you?"
"What about me?"
"When were you…" - Allie trailed off, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. "Novak-ed…?"
If there was a pillow in here, Bea would have used this precise moment to throw it at her face…
Or maybe cover her own.
"Jesus, Franky Doyle…"
A few blocks away from here, the newly-wed evoked got struck by a hiccup, followed by a coughing fit. Seasonal allergies and all…
"Aww, she's getting shy on me again…"– Allie squished her reddening cheeks like you'd do with a baby. "You're so cute right now."
"Shut up or no flowers once you're dead."
Correction - a very threatening baby.
"My lips are sealed."
With a faraway, gentle sigh, Bea stared out the window, searching for answers she wasn't sure she had, picking apart thought after thought until seconds stretched into minutes..
And she still had…nothing.
If the blonde was taking her prolonged silence as a bad sign, she wasn't saying anything. If Allie could pinpoint the exact moment she fell in love with her, right here in this office, right when she saw her next to the flowers, Bea couldn't.
Unlike the blonde, she had no idea when and how it started, all she had were bits and pieces, fractured memories that kept her lying awake…or maybe awoke her altogether…
One more thing…for you.
Hi…are you sure you're alright?
Don't go..stay with me, please.
Thank you…again.
By the way….you look beautiful tonight.
Culminating with moments it became impossible to dismiss..even for her.
Do you trust me? Not a trick question…I promise.
It's spending half of your life surrounded by flowers and then…seeing someone walk in and realizing they're more beautiful than every single one of them.
I just want you to know you didn't deserve it. Any of it.
I'm in love with you.
But it might as well have been the first day she walked in here. Guess it was another thing she'll never know. But maybe Bea was fine with that after all.
Because whatever that moment was, it brought her here, now.
It was all that mattered.
"Hey…" – Allie's whisper and gentle tug on her arm pulled her out of her trance. "Are you okay…?"
Still only barely jolted awake, Bea shook her head in nonverbal reassurance…
"Where'd you go just now?"
She hadn't even realized how long she's been pondering upon her answer…
"Daydreaming about someone…?"
Nor did she notice her enthralled look and that revealing smile gracing her features…
But Allie did and she was pretty sure a part of her fell in love all over again.
"Me, maybe…?"
That…and her ego couldn't fit through the world's largest door right now.
"You are Novak-ed, right? Just checking, y'know, cause this would be really awkward for me if you weren't-"
"Shut up."
With a low mutter, Bea dipped her head in a hopeless attempt to hide her blush…
It wasn't working…not by a long-shot.
"You don't have to answer that, you know. I was just messing with you—"
"No I…I want to, I just…" – Bea trailed her fingers across Allie's arm, noting every mellow sigh she made in response, burning it into memory. "I don't know.."
"That's okay—"
"But maybe…your not-at-all stupid speech had something to do with it?"
"Aww…so you are a romantic. " – Allie grinned almost…triumphantly. "This is Christmas Eve for me all over again—"
Maybe a new version of Christmas Eve to make up for the million other, disastrous ones.
The flower girl was already warming up to it.
"Shut up."
"She still thinks she can tell me what to do…"– Allie tapped her nose twice, asserting…dominance. "That's cute. "
"Shut up—"
"Still not the boss of me, Bea-" – the blonde added in a sing-song voice…
"Seriously, Allie, shut up."
"What are you gonna do….make me?"
She didn't know if it was Allie's daring voice and mocking laugh rattling her on purpose, everything she just relieved still swirling in her brain and heart, asking for release, whatever touch of adrenaline she still had from her earlier momentum or even…that outfit again...
Before she even knew what she was doing, she was already pinning Allie down to the couch…
And maybe it was that quiet gasp that just slipped out of her lips when she touched both of her wrists, then lifted her hands above her head or seeing Allie flush underneath her but something changed… and it came rushing over her hard, something she couldn't fight.
Before she even knew what she was doing, she was straddling her then kissing every inch of her plump lips and neck with a hunger she never knew she had, raw and instinctual, like Allie was desert rain and she's been wandering in scorching heat for days…
She couldn't stop, didn't stop, not until a low, throaty moan fought her way out of Allie in return and a set of nails sunk into her leather jacket…
And when the sound passed onto her, she didn't just hear it this time, she felt it…
"Does that…" – Bea tucked a loose strand of hair behind Allie's ear, making her shudder. "Does that answer your question?"
"Y-yeah.."
Still panting, the redhead pulled away just to get a better glimpse of her face…
The blonde's expression seemed almost…pained.
"I'm sorry I…I don't know…w-what.."
Came over me…
"What just happened?" – Allie asked in between heavy breaths, reaching out to fix her hair, too.
To me.
Bea looked down…
"Y-yeah…am I…am I hurting you?"
Only now did she notice her right leg pressed firmly against Allie's core…who was now biting down hard on her bottom lip.
Bea leaned back clumsily like someone just tazered her…
"S-sorry.."
All-knowing and all-wise as always, the blonde caught both of her shoulders, smiling just a little, before lifting herself up so they were on eye-level now…
"You…" – Allie kissed her on the neck… "Could..." – then on the lips… "Never." – ending with her forehead.
"You sure about that?"
It was etched in double meaning.
And no matter how much she kept fumbling with that jacket or how quiet she said it, that hint of guilt still leaked into her voice.
Allie heard.
Allie knew.
Which was why she had to make her point in a different way, one that would hopefully convey what Bea needed to hear…and feel. Wordlessly, the flower girl inched closer, one hand linking around her waist as she straddled her in return, mimicking her move with a lot less fire than she just did…
"Did I hurt you just now?"
"N-no.."
"So do you believe me now?"
"I guess…"
"Bea…" – Allie let out a concerned whisper, threading a hand through her hair…"You still don't believe me, do you?"
By now, the redhead was fidgeting with her jacket's zipper, a myriad of thoughts poking at her brain, asking for attention all at once. She was finding it so hard to articulate what she meant.
Then again, words weren't her strong suit, either…
"Are you sure? Because I want you to tell me if I'm hurting you."
"It would be a privilege to be wounded by you, m'lady."
Predictably so, the blonde just had to use her Victorian Era voice just for the occasion. Because she was not capable of being serious for longer than 0.0002 seconds. Bea was only halfway amused – this time around, it wasn't a mask. Her humor was genuine – awfully timed but genuine.
"I'm serious, I won't…get mad or anything. It's just…I don't want to hurt you again."
Like everyone else did…
At last, a light bulb turned on in Allie's head…
"Hey…come here." – the blonde pulled her into a loving hug. "You didn't do anything wrong, you know."
"Course I did—"
"No, you didn't. "
Bea opened her mouth to protest…
Allie's stern look made her reconsider…
"How about this…how about we make a pact?" – the flower girl proposed, sweetly. "Try not to hurt each other…least not on purpose?"
All Bea could give was a shaky nod in response…
From this point on, she would never…
"And if we do it without meaning to…we tell the other? No matter how hard it is?"
She'd have to work on that..
But she would try.
"Pinkie promise….?" – Allie laced her pinkie finger with hers, not without making a dramatic spectacle out of it first, of course…"So we mean business?"
"Alright…"
"You sure, Bea?"
"Do you see me pulling my hand away?"
"There's no take-backs on pinkie promises, y'know—"
"So I'm not taking it back, then…pinkie promise."
Now they were linked together…
"For the record….you didn't hurt me just now, silly. I mean if that's what you think it is, please never stop hurting me—"
Despite Allie's heartfelt chuckle and that touch of childish mischief glowing in her eyes, Bea didn't seem convinced. Concern was still embedded onto every switch in her expression, dancing under every crease…
"You were….w-well, you know.."
Turning me on so much I need a cold shower right now?
Bea was also confused…
Very confused.
"What?"
"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
Apparently, yeah…
"You were turning me on…" – Allie stifled a laugh, then laid a soft kiss on her lips. "Doofus."
So, that's a first.
Bea was staring into a neutral point in the distance, wheels turning in her head, still yet to put two and two together…
"O-oh…"
She's never looked more adorable.
"What, didn't think you could? Do you even own a mirror? When's your birthday? I'm getting you one-"
As always, Allie read her mind…and her insecurities…and everything in between.
"Uh…it's kinda what you've been doing since the day we met."
And every night ever since.
With an awkward pause, the flower girl rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, her confession coming out oddly…earnest even if she probably aimed for sexy. The nuance was completely lost on a certain redhead who was still scanning her like she just landed on planet Earth…
"B-but…"
How?
"I wasn't like…trying to do anything to-"
"You don't have to."
Everything Bea did turned her on…including this.
And this self-conscious, adorable puddle of oblivious still didn't know…
"R-really?"
"Seriously, Bea, I could not have made it anymore obvious."
This time, Allie said it in a comically aggravated tone, crossing her arms…
Maybe she needed to work on her signals…some fireworks might help.
"Franky called me thirsty…remember? She wasn't talking about water, y'know."
Bea's glance shifted between Allie's features quizzically again and again…until realization dawned on her like a sledgehammer. So that's why Allie looked so flushed then. And like the bright one she was, she assumed she was sick or something. Bea didn't remember doing anything…special to bring it on.
And maybe that was the puzzling part she couldn't quite reconcile, the fact that she could do that to someone…without even trying? Someone found her attractive…in that way? Someone like Allie nonetheless. It still didn't feel real.
The fact that they were both relieving that particular day now wasn't helping Allie's…present situation in the slightest. Neither was Bea's angry show currently playing in her mind again.
Unlike last time, the blonde's head wasn't even in the gutter anymore…it just became the gutter.
"You should really get those eyes checked out, I know a guy—"
"Oh shut your mouth already."
"What are you gonna do….?" - Allie licked her lips…innocently, of course. "Make me again?"
"For crying out loud—"
"I happen to appreciate that method of persuasion, y'know, just sayin—"
"What's a girl gotta do to be persuaded some more around here?"
That taunting, contagious smile…
Bea could really, really use a pillow to throw at Allie's face right about now…
"I swear to God, Allie-"
"Okay, okay, that was the last one."
It wasn't.
However, on Allie's seemingly endless list of skills, acting landed on top. The blonde could play the part for a little while longer and quite well at that. She put her hands up in surrender, her way of calling a limited truce, allowing a moment of silence to pass between them again, perhaps even settle…until she couldn't hold it in anymore.
Now Allie seemed to grin wildly for no reason whatsoever, showing off her pearly whites like a cartoon character…
Bea pondered upon maybe kicking her out of her own office, after all…
With that plan in motion and the right angle to attack, she was just about to make a move when her beaming companion broke the quiet again…
"Hey…" – Allie slid her hand up and down Bea's arm in circular motions, batting her eyelashes…angelically…."Honey?"
"What now…" - Bea bit back, sarcastically. "Darling?"
"Could you maybe boss me around like that sometime?"
"Y-you are so weird, I swear-"
Bea hid her face in her hands, self-consciously, finding it a lot warmer than it should be against her own touch…maybe she was just …running a fever.
"Make sure you use the voice, right…because that was…"
Whatever fever that was…it seemed to be spreading…
"Damn…"
Because the blonde was now pretending to cool herself down with an imaginary fan…
Sadly for her, she still couldn't whistle.
"You can threaten me too as long as you make it sound sexy and you don't set me on fire.."
By this point, Bea was blushing furiously…
"I mean, not…literally. I have a business to run, Bea. But I'm sure you can find other ways to bring the heat—"
"Why do I love you, again?"
With a rhetorical, barely audible mumble, her attention shifted to the floor…
"Mmmm…you were so hot that day, I swear."
Until Allie purred in her ear, huskily…
Question answered.
"You're always hot to me, by the way."
Second time around, Allie said it a lot softer and so much more tender-hearted and Bea did a double take on sight. Because she had to do wonder…how did she go from that….to this in under two seconds?
Never mind - she was into both.
"Ready to go…?"
"Y-yeah, sure. If we stayed any longer we might as well move here…"
Allie wouldn't mind…
In all honesty, by their second encounter, she already picked Bea's side of the bed…
"Well in that case…might have to charge you rent.."
"Oh, really?"
"Well…I did mention I can be persuaded. There are other payment options I'm open to discuss-"
"God, you're a pervert."
"No, idiot, we could join businesses, I sell them flowers, you make 'em pretty, they torture us both at the same time, win-win—"
Come to think of it, even if she said it as a joke…it wasn't a half-way bad proposition.
Bea wouldn't mind being her business partner, either…
"You can't make a bridezilla look pretty, Allie…it's a myth."
If you asked her, it was like putting make-up on the Loch Ness monster…she made a living out of it, sure, but still…
"You can make 'em think that, babe."
Allie was a wise sage, alright…
And that small pet name that just passed her lips wasn't lost on a particular flustered someone..
"Come on…help a girl out, will ya?" – the blonde blew a stubborn strand of hair from her eyes, then extended her arm in a fake-exhausted move, urging Bea to pull her up. "I can't feel my legs…you know, we should have a rule, no falling asleep on Allie—"
"Are you calling me fat?"
Hand hovering over the door handle, just about to walk out first, Allie swiftly turned around at the sound of her voice.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Are you?"
Devilish smirk tugging at her mouth, Allie latched onto Bea's wrist, holding her in place, before pining her against the wooden surface, instead. Her mouth opened in protest to no avail…because whatever she was about to say got cut off when the blonde took both of her hands and lifted them above her head.
Because Allie was not a competitive child at all.
That…and she had yet to acquire her own moves…
In her defense, she just thought Bea's were better.
"I would never… not to your face at least—"
"God, you're such a-"
Bea rolled her eyes, not making a single attempt to break free, as Allie's lips came crashing down onto hers, in one breath firm and unyielding, pushing and pulling, at times lazily sliding over hers because she couldn't focus…because she was smiling too much.
"Sorry I um…sorry."
"W-what was that for?"
"It's the jacket, I swear, sorry, just couldn't help it. "
So take it off then.
"Least these skinny arms still got it, eh-"
It's not the jacket, it's you.
"Pretty sure I let you do that."
Do it again.
"So you let me even the score on purpose? Oh wow, Bea if I didn't know any better, I'd think you like me-"
"So what, this a competition to you?"
"Mmm…depends on what the prize is…" – Allie scratched her chin, feigning a thoughtful pose… "If it's you, I plan on winning."
As if you'd even have to try.
"O-okay, okay…"
In between labored breaths, Bea snuck out from under the blonde's grasp, biting her bottom lip to stifle a moan when Allie's mouth pressed on that particular sensitive spot on her neck, knowing exactly what it did to her…
"You won…"
With superhuman efforts, she pulled herself from Allie altogether, walking ahead of her, that slight tremble in her knees making every step feel heavy…
"Put that in your stupid diary, now get off."
I probably did.
Same Allie who had to bite her lip, cheeks and tongue not to say that out loud.
"You know what? I won't even apologize, you started this, missy.." - the cheeky blonde motioned between them, as Bea blankly stared back over the shoulder.
"Oh, really, started what exactly?"
"I was just minding my business… working on a weekend like the model citizen I am.." – Allie trailed off smugly, walking closer to her again purposefully slow. "When this rude redhead broke down my door and kissed the hell out of me. You owe me a new door, by the way. So really…it's your fault. I think you should apologize to me."
Despite the competitive streak in her gestures, Allie still maintained an intense, fiery stare. Bea suspected that was her version of authoritative…a very poor one at that. She crossed her arms, steps reaching a screeching halt inches away from a very unimpressed Bea…
"Well? Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Who graciously ignored the deliberate seductiveness in her tone, too.
Now Allie was offended.
"Nothing, really?"
Instead, she silenced her with an index finger to her lips, unaware of how sensual she was being…then again, half the time she didn't even have to try.
"Shh…do you hear that, Allie?" – Bea asked, rhetorically, then gazed around the room, tracing an invisible fly…. "It's the sound of me ignoring you right now."
Allie tried to open her mouth…
Bea shushed her, placing her entire palm over it now.
"It's a beautiful sound, you know…" – she explained, matter-of-factly. "Just gotta stop and listen. By the way, this other blonde just asked me out and it's rude to show up late so…if you'll excuse me."
Turning on her heel, Bea removed her hand with a subtle wink and walked away…
"Is she better at floral arrangements? Tell me…" – the blonde caught her by the waist, inquiring almost…fearfully. "I can take it. I need to know, Bea, it's important-"
She was dead serious. It was a valid concern.
"Did she give you red roses? Because I will kill her."
With an affectionate eye-roll, Bea slipped from her grasp again, hiding her smile…
"Hey, don't walk away from me, since when are you into blondes? You have terrible taste, Bea-"
"Listen, she Aguilera? Cause that would really hurt. For her, I mean, I will break her face. I can sneak past security, I have ninja skills too—"
"Don't laugh, these hands can do it, hey, look at me, where are your manners, girlfriend?"
Bea froze..
What?
Faltering-ever-so-slightly, she turned around…
"Girlfriend..?"
"D-do you not watch any rap videos?" – Allie backpedaled, flashing her an awkward half-smile. "It's a way of addressing female friends. Y-you really need to turn on that TV of yours-"
The more she stumbled all over her words, the more Bea closed in on her until they were back in each other's space completely. Gaze softening, she watched her ramble like always, sensing her raging nerves and hesitation…
Adorable hesitation.
"You're not a friend of mine…"– Bea sighed tenderly, giving her hand a light squeeze, thumb grazing over every knuckle. "Least right now you're not."
Allie stared, dumbly, mouth parting into an unspoken question…
She really, really wasn't the brightest flower in the bouquet sometimes…
"And you don't even have to ask.." – the redhead added, sweetly, linking one hand around her neck. "Want to know why?"
"Because you're already Novak-ed so the answer to anything is yes by default..?"
Allie melted, flashing her a hopeful, toothy grin…still waiting…
"Because you suck at this."
When Bea motioned between them with one arm, withdrew from her and walked away.
"Stick to the flowers, Allie—"
"You're not as skilled as you think you are, you know—"
Check and mate.
"Oh, you don't know anything about my skills."
Allie had her fair share of talents, alright. And maybe she would never win a marathon in life…or be caught dead attending one…but she could out-banter any woman within a ten-mile radius with her eyes closed…including the smirking one calling out to her over her shoulder now.
She could also be very, very persuasive when she wanted to be…
Like now.
"C'mere."
One step, one click of heels against the floor and Allie turned her around smoothly, then backed her into the front desk, wiping that all-knowing smirk off her face. A surprised gasp escaped Bea's chest, as Allie's hands fisted in her jacket, lips hovering over hers teasingly, almost touching, but not quite…
The blonde dipped her head so their foreheads could touch, instead…
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
With a shuddering breath, Allie stepped back just enough to trace the contours of her lips with her fingers now, stealing her last one in return.
"Only if y-you want to…"
Her glance traveled from Bea down to the floor, feet shuffling against it with the mannerisms of a child once again…because Allie was starting to lose her nerve a little.
"F-feel free to say no.."
Bea thought she was adorable…
She was right before – shy and nervous were her favorite shades of Allie.
"Fair warning - it's gonna suck like everything else."
She also happened to disagree.
"….but I don't snore, I'll never forget to bring you flowers on your birthday and on every other day and we'll suffer together."
And together never sounded better.
"Sounds good to me…for the record, you do snore quite a bit." – Bea got up on her tip-toes to just to plant a quick kiss to Allie's cheek, then whispered in her ear. "But that's why ear-plugs were invented."
"W-wait, how do you know?"
"Because I stayed with you.."
And she planned on doing it forever.
"Y-you did? You mean when I…"
"Y-yeah.."
"H-how long?"
"How long it took…I just…I wanted to make sure you'd be okay, you know, I wasn't like…stalking you—"
"But you didn't….owe me anything…"
Allie was right – she didn't.
Then why did she feel like she did? Why did she stay?
"Why would you—"
Bea looked away…and suddenly she was back in that darkened room again, where, even in her most troubled and haunted hours, Allie herself was still the only trace of light…
"Y-you didn't…"– Allie stammered, openly scanning her earnest eyes, unaware of her own filling with tears.
Because they were both realizing something…at the same time.
"Did you…then?"
"I think maybe that's when I… " – Bea's gaze flickered between those same golden strands of hair she ached to tuck away that night and those parted lips she couldn't get out of her head for days on end, couldn't get out of her dreams, either…"But I didn't even know I did, does that make sense?"
Now…they were both hers.
She was, too.
"Oddly enough, it does."
"So…all I had to do was sleep and not say anything…" – Allie trailed off, putting two and two together like a mathematician. "And that's what got you to fall in love with me? That's not good news for me right now.."
"W-well I…"– Bea flashed her an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of her neck.. "I wouldn't exactly put it like that.."
Maybe it was true, what they said about couples – that they mimicked each other's gestures…
Bea had no idea how many quirks and tics of hers she already borrowed…
"It's exactly like that. Good thing you're sleeping with me tonight, huh?" – Allie stuck her tongue out, playfully. "Damn, now your diary is gonna have a field day, Bea—"
"Let's get out of here, cheery."
Muttering under her breath, nervous energy following her every move, Bea walked ahead of Allie again, fixing her collar like it decided to tighten out of nowhere.
Even from that angle, the blonde could see her blush – it only made her grin spread.
"Happy to oblige, m'lady—"
"N-not what I meant."
Bea was starting to catch on double meanings, alright…
And Allie had never been more of a proud momma.
"Ohhh what did you think I thought you meant just now…?"
Her hands tugged on Bea's waist from behind, lightly pulling her back against her frame. Sensing no resistance, Allie shifted closer, her affectionate voice dropping into a purposeful, sultry whisper in her ear…
"….honey?"
And maybe she said the pet name ironically…but it still warmed a specific someone's heart - because that was a first, too. No one ever used one, not even jokingly.
"I need to know so I can die happy, don't deny a woman's last wish—"
"If you are gonna die, it's gonna be cuz I killed you myself."
….with feelings?
Maybe Doyle wasn't wrong after all.
"Fair enough…" – Allie let go, reluctantly putting her hands up in surrender. "You know, you can be really scary when you want to be—"
"And you're just now realizing that?" – Bea raised an eyebrow, then crossed her arms like the defiant woman-child she could be, too, when she wanted. "Anyways, you interrupted me for the millionth time today so let me rehash what you didn't let me say. I have to meet up with Franky and you're gonna suffer with me."
"Happy to. I'd go anywhere with you."
It was at that moment she wondered how did she ever live without Allie in her life…because everything from before felt like a blur now, fractured and jagged…everything she was before nothing more than a shadow, a shell of who she was meant to be all along…
Only now did she understand what it meant to be…whole.
She'd go anywhere with her, too.
"Think we can swing by and get those earplugs after all?" – Bea barely had a chance to ask, when a sneaky blonde embraced her from behind again.
"Mmmm…" – Allie moaned in between kisses to the back of Bea's neck, one hand tracing her abs underneath her shirt, making her squirm. "For…the neighbors?"
"N-no, perv." – Bea shuddered, arching into her hand, feeling her smirk against her collarbone. "You'll need them with Doyle, trust me."
Talk about an instant mood killer…
The newly-wed was famous for raining on people's parades, after all…
"Why?"
With a heavy sigh, Bea turned around, her clouded, equally lustful eyes turning apologetic, overtaken by regret…and sympathy.
"You're about to get the best friend speech…I'm so sorry—"
"She still wants to chop off my legs, doesn't she?"
"Only if you hurt me…"
"She'd have to get in line, then. I'd chop 'em first."
Bea swooned….because only she could make that sound romantic.
Or maybe she was Novak-ed after all.
"For real, Bea, I'd do it Saw-style. God, I love that movie."
"You are so weird, Allie."
"So much blood…"
"Are you secretly a psycho? Did I just….did I just kiss a psycho?"
"And. You. Loved. It." – Allie huffed her chest proudly, drawing her back in with a small kiss to the corner of her mouth. "What did you think the flowers in my backyard were for? Aesthetics?"
"So you are hiding bodies there…hold on, is that why you asked me to come over?"
"Yes, you're next on my list and yes, of course I want to show them to you, girlfriend." – the blonde tapped her nose, then pinched her cheek, graciously ignoring Bea's glare. "But that's more of a fifth date thing, you're way ahead of yourself now, it's like asking for my hand in marriage. Whoa, back up a little—"
"What makes you think we'll even get there?" – Bea scoffed. "Awfully bold of you to assume I'd stand you that much—"
"The bodies or the marriage thing?"
Allie smirked…
Bea rolled her eyes.
"I will show you the bodies, Bea, stop begging. Just say please and we'll call it a day."
With a deliberate drop in tone, Bea leaned into her frame on one leg to bridge the height gap, both hands resting over her collar, before lightly pulling her forward by the tie…
"Please, Allie…"
"Mmm…" – Allie paused for dramatic effect, keeping her eyes closed on purpose, too. "What?"
"Please stop talking…" - Bea got up on her tip-toes and kissed her. "I'm begging you."
"Can I just say one more thing?"
"I have a feeling you will anyway…"
"I…I'm so in love with you…"
Allie sighed, dreamily, then proceeded to gesture theatrically with her arms, hiding her entire nerd face in her hands…
"It's embarrassing…"
Correction - blushing nerd face.
"Are you sure that's okay?"
Now she was speaking between her fingers, still only partially revealing her features..
She couldn't have looked more adorable even if she tried.
"Because I'll say it a lot…"
And Bea's heart thing couldn't have been louder, either.
Oddly enough, it didn't bother her now. She even welcomed it. Because it only did that for Allie...like it was meant to beat for her. And maybe it was.
Maybe all this time, it's been waiting for her.
"I'm a talker, I literally never shut up, case you haven't noticed-"
The rambling blonde was too busy punctuating her words with enthusiastic hand movements to see the way her own eyes flickered with lust and a touch of something else…uncertainty.
"I mean for someone who's not good with words, I sure have a lot of 'em, Bea—"
Thankfully, by now, Bea had not only learned how to shut her up…
She also learned how to reassure her…
"Gimme your hand."
"You wanna twist mine now? Cause that's a very and I mean very predictable way to go, Bea—"
"Pinkie promise…so you know I mean business. Because I…I feel the same."
"Aww… and she speaks my language now…" - Allie fixed her hair, lovingly, as Bea wrapped her arms around her waist in return, keeping her there…
Marry me.
"God, we are so cheesy, it's disgusting—"
Allie's cheese-o-meter probably broke.
She could count at least 25 cheese factories.
"I know, right? If we weren't us, I'd hate us—"
Us…
She liked the sound of that, too.
"You know, Bea…" – Allie added with a smug undertone. "There's another language I'd love to teach ya sometime, you could say I'm quite a master at it-"
With another blush creeping up her cheeks, Bea shifted so the blonde's head slid off her shoulder, comically.
"I meant Spanish…." – Allie grumbled, then readjusted herself, still attempting to straighten her crumpled shirt…and failing. "Seriously, get your cabeza out of the gutter already. That's Spanish for head… because that's the language I was referring to, just to be clear—"
"Shut up."
"Still not the boss of me, Bea—"
Bea grabbed her face, then looked at her quizzically, almost incredulously…
"I have no idea why I love you."
An enigma that had yet to be deciphered…
She then tilted her chin from side to side to see her from all angles, while Allie chewed on her lip..
"Mystery's driving you crazy, huh?"
And when the blonde nodded in mock understanding, Bea sighed…fondly and exasperatedly, all at once, before grabbing her by the collar..
"I am gonna push you through that window, I swear—"
"I guess you could say…" – Allie ran her tongue over her teeth…"It sucks to be you—"
Then surrendered altogether.
"I'm doing it, Allie, don't push me or I'm pushing you right now—"
"Please not the window display, I worked hard on that.."
The flower girl groaned and whined like a child…whose sand castle just got erased by the waves. In her defense, her sand castles happened to be exquisite.
"It takes effort…and craft, Bea, don't take that away from me—"
"I'm in love with an idiot." – Bea stared at the ceiling, asking for salvation from the Lord, then back to Allie. "Unbelievable."
"Correction – an idiot and a nerd." – Allie clarified, proudly, like she was owning both labels. "I'm so glad you are. Listen, I would've died alone with no lady and 50 cats if you weren't…"
Despite still halfway fearing for her life, the blonde inched closer, resting her forehead against hers, as a joyous laughter rumbled in her chest…
Bea felt it resonate in her, making her own flare with butterflies…
And the more she listened, the more it made her realize something else….it was one of her favorite sounds in the world now.
"I even had names picked out for 'em, Bea."
Foreheads still pressed together, Allie gestured wildly with her arms, celebrating her major achievements in life…again.
"One of them was Allie, might know it as the greatest name ever invented—"
„So an AllieCat?"
„And she's witty, too..."
Gasping dramatically, Allie stepped back just to bow her way, like a gentleman, tipping an imaginary hat...
„Stop ticking all my wife boxes or I'm getting down on one knee right now."
And maybe the blonde was joking and winking playfully but for a moment there, Bea pictured a lifetime with Allie, forever with Allie...waking up next to her every morning...
„My bones are fragile, Bea, I'm gonna break something but I'd do it for ya-"
She didn't mind the picture.
„Did I freak ya out? Mission accomplished?"
The opposite...
„Still not too late to back out, overly attached, needy, talks too much, I'm not ticking any boxes right now-"
She was ticking all of them. Boxes Bea didn't even know she had. So she gave her a look that said - Keep trying, I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me.
Allie finally got the message...the right one.
She didn't mind the picture, either.
„But really now, what better name for a cat? Allie is great. I can't think of anything more perfect."
Bea happened to agree.
"God-"
"Well it is a Godly creation-"
"I still don't know what I see in you, I swear."
She did. She also knew what she planned on getting for Allie's birthday... once she found out when it was.
"Whatever it is, I'm so happy you do. Although…" – the flower girl bit her tongue to stop herself…"I still don't trust your eyesight, Bea—"
And failed again.
"No worries, though, blindy, still dig ya, visually-impaired and all—"
"I have good enough vision for both, you have the cool factor, we complete each other-"
It was at that precise moment Bea realized Allie wasn't just an idiot….she was the biggest idiot in all of Sydney, Australia and the world, combined.
"Hey, you like dogs, I could always get you one of those service dogs to guide you around town when I'm not there, make sure you don't fall on that beautiful face of yours, 'cause you have the good one, you seen what I gotta work with, it's depressing—"
Scratch that – the entire universe.
But she was also….her idiot.
"Come here."
She tilted her chin mid-speech, wiping that trademark, teasing grin off her face with a slow, languid kiss that may or may not have made Allie's toes curl..
"W-what was that for?"
When Bea pulled back, an involuntary stutter passed the blonde's lips…
Next thing she knew, she was shuffling her feet against the floor, shyly...
She got speechless for a moment…a very rare occurrence.
All that you are.
Bea didn't answer, instead slid her hands down her shoulders, bringing her to her level again, slowly..
"S-so I can do it again.."
She rolled her eyes, silencing Allie with another kiss, feeling her smile goofily in between.
"For the rest of my life."
Bea's heart could have stopped – she liked the sound of that, too.
"Just…feeling charitable today….honey…"
With one hand around Allie's neck and the other fumbling with her ridiculously bright tie again, Bea's glance shifted from her blinding accessory, then back to her…
It had nothing on the glow she wore now.
Allie's eyes lit up like the world's brightest show of fireworks.
"Mmm….well in that case…. never stop donating to my cause….darling." – Allie husked, wrapping her arms around her waist, smoothly. "Listen, I'm a woman in need—"
"Of a beating? Know what, how 'bout I put you through the door, instead? – Bea stared over her shoulder, squinting a little to focus on her target.
"Closer, too, got a good angle from here-"
"No, not that one, I'm begging you."
"Why, worked hard on that too, another one of your skills?"
"N-no…"
The blonde's expression fell, voice dropping into an earnest whisper, eyes instantly softening around the edges while she followed Bea's gaze. She looked to the door, then back to her, dripping blue skies writing and telling about a million different stories…
"It's…it's not that, it's…"
And when Allie opened her mouth again, her voice cracked but her words wouldn't…because they were honest, etched in nothing but that same brand of raw conviction she always held for her…
"You walked through that door. "
And she says she's not good with words.
That raw conviction Bea never once felt she deserved...hearing it again only made her eyes fill with tears all the same…it was all the communication she could muster and prayed that was enough.
She didn't mean it – she knew what she saw in Allie. She just didn't know what Allie saw in her. But something about the way she was looking at her now almost made her want to see herself through her eyes, learn how to do that little by little everyday…
Because that picture was beautiful.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
So was this one.
And maybe this door was about to close behind them…but a million others were only about to be opened. A twin set of keys leading them back to the same house...or maybe for the first time in a long time, a home. Fighting over cereal in aisle 7 and remote rights on Sunday evenings...only for one to cave and accept a horror movie just to make the other happy. A graduation. Getting a cat...or a dog...or maybe both because one would cave for the other again. Matching set of rings and a promise of forever.
With Bea nestled by Allie's side, one arm secured around her waist, they made their way towards the exit, this time, together. At first, it was a romantic, enthralled dance only they knew…until they laughed and bumped into each other like teenagers, like even getting to the door was a competition…
Hands still linked over their shoulders, twin chuckles followed their every move, so warm and tender-hearted, reminiscent of children playing under summertime skies, without a care in the world. Frames ever-so-slightly gravitating towards each other again…and Bea stopped.
Maybe to breathe, maybe to realize…
One inch away from the door, Bea let go of Allie's hand…
She cast one last look at the artwork behind them and an infinite more back to Allie…
Moving in her space again like there was nowhere else she ever belonged, she treaded her fingers through Allie's hair tenderly, then tilted her chin upwards, watching her with something similar to awe…
"Hey, Allie?"
"Hmm?"
"What's your favorite flower?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Allie's smile could light up the whole world.
It did that to hers.
The sun came up again.
FIN.