Sunlight creeping in through a small gap in the curtains the next morning woke Bea from a very pleasant dream, and despite only getting a few hours' sleep, she felt surprisingly well rested. Stretching out, she felt a slight aching in her muscles, smiling as her thoughts drifted to the previous night. Turning onto her side, she gazed at the still sleeping blonde. Her hair was tousled, and her cheeks a little pink, but to Bea she had never looked more perfect. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think someone like Allie would exist in the world, someone so kind, so loving…so giving. But not only did she exist, she was lying beside her, a thin cotton sheet the only thing separating her beautiful body from the redhead.
Allie had taken her to places she never knew existed the previous night, and she wished she hadn't waited so long to take the next step with the beautiful blonde sleeping soundly beside her. Bea had expected her nerves to be running wild when it came to being intimate with her girlfriend, especially after laying herself bare for the younger woman, both literally and figuratively. But Allie had been so gentle, had taken such good care of her, and the redhead had never felt so connected to another person. She was hopelessly in love with her, and despite being out of her comfort zone, had been determined to show her how special she is. She had taken her time, fascinated by the way her girlfriend responded to her touch. Every sigh, every moan, not only giving her confidence, but also chasing away any trace of doubt that lingered. She wanted Allie, that much was certain, but she was so inexperienced, and was worried that she wouldn't be able to please the younger woman. Her ex-husband's words, although a lot quieter these days, were still there, somewhere at the back of her mind, taunting her.
Harry loved to tell her how useless she was in everything she did, but when it came to the bedroom, he was so much worse. As if it wasn't humiliating enough that he just took what he wanted, he had to take it to the next level and tell her over and over that she was worthless and ugly. But the worst thing he had ever said as he forced himself on her, was that she should be grateful that he was willing to drop his standards so low, and fuck her in the first place. Bea heard it so often that she believed it, why else would he say such a thing. But that was then, and so much had changed, she had changed.
Franky had been her rock over the past few years, and she knew she wouldn't be here without the love and support of her best friend, without any of her friends really. Each and every one of them had helped her in a different way, and she was so thankful for her extended family. But even with such a strong support network around her, Bea still struggled with certain aspects of her life. The main one being a fear of relationships and intimacy. And then Allie came along. The redhead had heard people talk about being swept off their feet, but had always thought it was a ridiculous notion. But the blonde had done just that, and Bea had never been so happy to be proven wrong in her life. Although what surprised her the most was how comfortable she felt the previous night, after finally allowing herself to let go and live in the moment.
Being with her girlfriend like that felt so right, and despite her lack of knowledge when it came to sex, she found that touching Allie had come naturally to her. Where Harry was critical and cruel, the blonde was encouraging and supportive, guiding her through on the couple of occasions when her nerves started to get the better of her. The first time she allowed herself to get into her own head, freaking herself out a little in the process. And the second, she thought she had hurt her girlfriend.
Being inside of Allie was like nothing she had ever felt before, and the connection with the blonde had never felt so strong. She had been apprehensive at first, not wanting to disappoint the younger woman. So, when she moved her fingers slightly and her girlfriend pretty much leapt off the bed, a high-pitched scream falling from her lips, Bea thought she was in pain. that she had hurt her in some way. Stilling her movement, she gazed down at the woman below her before apologising. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry Allie...I…"
It took Allie a few seconds to realise what was going on, and that the older woman had mistaken her cries of pleasure, for pain. "You have nothing to be sorry for, my beautiful Bea"
"I…I hurt you"
"Oh babe…you didn't hurt me, I promise" the blonde replied, brushing her thumb over her girlfriend's bottom lip before leaning in and kissing her. Allie knew the redhead was worried about her inexperience, but she found it adorable. And the fact that she had stopped the second she thought she had hurt her, made Allie fall deeper in love with her. Bea was the first person to actually consider her feelings, make sure she was comfortable and happy with what was happening between them. But that shouldn't surprise her, Allie knew that no one had ever loved her the way the redhead did, something she hoped would never change.
Gazing into the cerulean blue eyes of the woman who had stolen her heart and turned her life upside down in the best possible way, Bea felt the nerves wash away. The redhead had been quick to learn that the more vocal her girlfriend was, the more she was enjoying herself. Making the most of this newfound knowledge, Bea had made it her mission to find out what other delectable sounds she could draw from the blonde's lips. She was just glad there were no other cabins nearby, otherwise she was sure there would be complaints.
Despite not wanting to disturb the younger woman, Bea couldn't stop her hand from reaching out and brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Allowing her fingers to linger a little longer than necessary, she lost herself in the memories of the previous night again. So when Allie started to stir, stretching out like a cat waking from a mid-afternoon nap, it startled her. Pulling back, she tried to stay as still as possible, her heart rate accelerating at the speed of light when she noticed the sheet had moved, offering her an unrestricted view of her girlfriends left breast.
"You're staring" Allie said, after opening her eyes and finding her favourite mocha orbs fixed on her, startling the redhead again.
Bea knew she was blushing, her mind so full of thoughts of her girlfriend that she didn't realise she'd been caught staring. And to make matters worse, she hadn't been looking at her face. "I…I…I didn't…sorry"
"Don't be, I love your eyes on me…love your hands and lips on me too" the blonde replied, leaning forward so she was straddling the older woman, before kissing her softly. A loud giggle falling from her lips when Bea took her by surprise, flipping them over and reversing their position. Her embarrassment at being caught staring long forgotten as they lost themselves in one another.
After having a late breakfast, they decided to take a walk and explore the area. Allie would have happily stayed in bed all day, but was aware that this was all new to her girlfriend, so didn't want her to think that it was all about sex. While she loved the intimacy that they had shared the previous night, and again earlier that morning, spending time with her and doing even the most mundane things was just as meaningful. Bea had blown her mind the previous night, several times, and the blonde had never felt so loved and wanted. She was so proud of the older woman, she had overcome so much, and Allie wasn't sure if she would have been brave enough, had the tables been turned. While she didn't have the best history when it came to relationships, it was nothing compared to what her girlfriend had suffered.
Bea letting her in, and allowing her to get so close meant the world to the younger woman. While the redhead was close with Franky, Liz and Maxine, Allie knew there was so much of herself that she still kept hidden from them. But not with her. Bea had been so open and honest with her, and the blonde knew how privileged she was. She had always been the short-term option, a quick fix for so many people, that she never felt worthy of love. But by choosing her to be the person she shared everything with, Bea has changed all that, and she was so thankful that Kaz had dragged her down to the beach that day.
Bea had made them a picnic, knowing that despite the late breakfast, her girlfriend would be hungry again soon. She was so much like Debbie when it came to food, although when the redhead thought about it, they were alike in many other ways. Her daughter was nothing like Harry, in looks or personality, something that the redhead was thankful for. While she would always love her little girl, no matter what, having a miniature Harry around would have been difficult. She was just glad her genes had been the stronger ones. With Allie it was the complete opposite though, and while the two of them looked nothing alike, her daughter and her girlfriend shared many of the same traits. She knew that Debbie could have picked up some mannerisms from the blonde, but certain things had stood out right from the start, and Bea couldn't help but wonder if it had been a sign.
After packing a bag for the day, they changed into comfortable clothes, and were just about to head out when Bea's phone started to ring, indicating she had a video call from Franky. Answering the call, she sat down on the edge of the bed, her daughter's face appearing on the screen a second or two later. She wasn't in the slightest bit surprised to see the big sign for the entrance to the Luna Park in the background. Deb had Franky wrapped around her little finger, despite the protests from the tattooed brunette every time Bea teased her about it. Raising her daughter alone had been difficult at times, and even when Harry was around, he did very little parenting. Why should he give up spending time with his mates, drinking and watching the footy when he had a wife? She was the one that wanted to keep the brat, so she should be the one to look after her. And on the odd occasion that she dared to challenge him, he knew that he could persuade her to see things from his point of view. Or at least his fists could.
When Harry was sentenced Frank had stepped in, offering Bea the support she didn't even realise that she needed. And her new friend had been so good with Debbie, despite her self-confessed lack of knowledge when it came to kids. Liz had been fantastic as well, helping the redhead out in any way she could. But Bea had been embarrassed, ashamed that the woman she saw as a second mother now knew Harry had done to her, what she had allowed him to do to her. She had tried to pull back a little, distance herself from the older blonde. But of course, Liz saw straight through her actions, sitting her down one night after she had put Debbie to bed and telling Bea over and over again that none of this was her fault. That she loved her, and was proud of her. Things had been a little easier after that, although the redhead still didn't like to rely on her friends too much. Debbie was her child, her responsibility, and while she knew they were happy to help, Harry's words still played on her mind. "You're fucking useless", "you're a shit mother and an even worse wife", "that kid has got no chance in life with you as a mother". Franky had been the first to not only pick up on Bea's reluctance, but also work out the reason behind it. But given she had been subjected to her own form of verbal abuse as a kid, it was no wonder really. Things had started to get a little easier once Bea accepted that she didn't have to do everything alone, and allowed her friends to help out. But Allie coming into her life was the real turning point, and for the first time ever, she got a glimpse of what it might be like to be a part of a real family.
Her daughter's chatter bringing her back to the present, Bea felt a flutter in her chest when the young girl asked where the blonde was, a bright smile spreading across her face when Allie appeared beside the redhead. She had wanted to give Bea a bit of privacy to chat with her daughter, but had barely taken two steps before feeling a hand on her arm, stopping her from moving any further away. After what they had shared the over the past few hours Allie was craving closeness, but didn't want to risk scaring the older woman off by being too needy. Although if the way the redhead was clinging to her arm was anything to go by, then she might not be the only one feeling this way. Climbing onto the bed, Allie sat behind the older woman, slipping an arm around her before joining in on the conversation.
Debbie chatted away excitedly for about ten minutes, before the pull of the Luna Park became too strong, and she handed the phone back to Franky. While her daughter's excitement came as no surprise, she was a little shocked when she heard another young voice, followed by the image of Deb and Shayne jumping around impatiently as they waited for the adults to hurry up. While Bea had spoken to her friend about trying to set up play dates for Deb and Shayne, and had asked Franky if she would mind helping out, she hadn't expected her to jump in feet first. But it wouldn't be the first time that the tattooed brunette had done something impulsive. Waiting until her friend appeared back on screen, Bea shot her what she hoped was a questioning look.
Picking up on the look the redhead was giving her, Franky knew she had some explaining to do. Not with little ears in the vicinity though, it wasn't the right time. "I'll explain later, now go and enjoy the rest of your dirty weekend away" she joked, noticing the change in Bea the second she saw her face on the screen.
"There's nothing dirty about it" Bea bit back, defensively. Despite knowing Franky was only trying to get a rise out of her, hearing her use that word made their time away together sound like some seedy affair. What she had with Allie, what they had shared, was beautiful, and she hated that word being used to describe what she had experienced with the woman who held her heart.
"Then you're doing it wrong…" the tattooed brunette threw back, loving how protective Red was of both her girlfriend and their relationship.
"Believe me…she's doing everything right" Allie jumped in, winking at the tattooed brunette before kissing her girlfriend on her now reddened cheek.
While Franky wanted to spend more time getting to know Shayne, she hadn't expected it to be so soon, and without Bea there to guide her. Although she'd lost count of the number of times Gidge had told her she'd got this. Picking Debbie up from school was something she had done so often that she was sure she could do it with her eyes closed, although what happened Friday afternoon had been a first. She had been about ten minutes late due to an accident on a nearby street, so found Deb playing in the school yard with the other kids waiting to be collected. As expected, Shayne was with her, and Franky wondered if he was often left waiting around long after the school day had finished. Neither of them had spotted her, both too engrossed in the latest game they had invented. She was glad they had each other, mini-Bea hadn't had the easiest start to life, and it was clear that Shayne was dealing with a lot more than he had let on during their conversation the previous week. She felt protective of him in a way, and wondered if it was a result of the hardships in her past.
After watching them race around for a couple of minutes she called out to Debbie, the young girl changing direction and racing straight over to her. Shayne followed, but at a much slower pace, and Franky could see the disappointment on his face at the realisation that his friend would be leaving. Her heart broke for him, and while she didn't know the full extent of the issues in his home life, no kid should ever have to feel like that. Deciding that it wouldn't hurt to stay a few more minutes, she told a white lie, saying that she needed to make a phone call so they could continue their game.
Sitting down on a nearby bench, she decided to call Gidge. Franky had been late home the previous night, so was still sleeping when the older woman left for work that morning. It was crazy how times had changed. After spending several years sneaking out of the bed of random hook-ups in the middle of the night, she now found she hated waking up alone. Opening up to Bridget and letting her see both her mental and physical scars had been one of the hardest things Franky had ever done, but also the most rewarding. She couldn't imagine her life without the blonde in it and hoped she would ever have to. Luckily, she managed to catch the older woman between patients, although they were only able to chat for a few minutes before she had to go. After hanging up, Franky watched the two grommets playing happily together, and decided to hang around to make sure someone came to pick Shayne up.
Twenty minutes later a frantic looking Jianna came racing into the school yard, stopping short of colliding with Franky, who had been roped into taking both Debbie and Shayne on in a game of footie. Stopping what she was doing, the tattooed brunette left the kids to continue with the game, moving away slightly so she could speak to Shayne's mother. It took a few minutes to decipher the other woman's rambles, but it soon became clear she was looking for Bea. She was clearly distressed, and her erratic behaviour was unsettling Shayne, who had abandoned the game in favour of greeting his mother. Glancing over at the young boy, Franky was happy to see that Deb was by his side, holding his hand as she tried to distract him from the conversation by suggesting they see who could climb highest on the frame in the yard.
While in that minute, the tattooed brunette was thankful that mini Bea was so intuitive, it also broke her heart. Seven-year olds should be oblivious to things like this, but Debbie wasn't your average seven-year-old. Franky knew it was a result of the difficulties in her home life, and that Debbie had seen and heard things no child should ever have to. Red had done an excellent job of shielding her from the worst of it, but even with her best friend's determination and bravery, it was inevitable that her daughter would be subjected to some of the nastiness that is Harry fucking Smith. But he wasn't an issue right now, and if he did ever set foot outside of the prison, Franky would make sure he was sent straight back again. Where he belonged. Pushing all thoughts of the prized cactus out of her mind, she focussed on the current situation, whatever it may turn out to be.
After suggesting they head outside so the little people could run around the yard, she listened to Jianna ramble on, giving her a half-baked story about how if she didn't work over the weekend, she would lose her job. The tattooed brunette knew she was lying, even without the training she had received on the job it was blindingly obvious. But now wasn't the time to question her, especially not at the school. Franky decided to step in and offer the solution she knew the other woman had set out to achieve, although not necessarily with her. They already had Debbie staying over for the weekend, so one more wouldn't make much difference. She just hoped Gidge would be ok with the change of plan, and Shayne staying with them. While Franky was angry that Jianna seemed more concerned with her fake job situation than her son, she was glad she at least had the decency to ask her a few questions. After exchanging numbers, they agreed that he may as well head home with Franky and Deb straight away, rather than them all being dragged out of bed early the following morning to meet up. The only downside was that Shayne didn't have any clothes with him. Franky suggested following Jianna home, so Shayne could grab what he needed for his overnight stay, but the other woman shot her down instantly, insisting she met them in a nearby park in half an hour. Not that the tattooed brunette was surprised. Whatever reason she had for abandoning her son for the next 24 hours, Franky knew it lie in that house. She just hoped whatever the problem was, it would be dealt with before Shayne headed back home the following evening.
Bridget's first client after lunch had been late, and as a result she spent the rest of the afternoon playing catch-up. To make matters worse, her last client of the day was also late, and turned up just as she was closing up for the evening, having already sent Vera home. Taking one look at the guy standing before her, she didn't have the heart to turn him away, so as a result had been over an hour late getting home. It had been a tough week all round, with back to back appointments, and being threatened by one of her clients. Not that she had told Franky. She knew how protective the tattooed brunette was and didn't want her doing anything that may get her into trouble at work. After locking up she jumped int her car, looking forward to having a relaxing evening with the brunette, a movie, and a bottle of wine. She was halfway home when she remembered they were on Debbie duty this weekend, so the relaxing evening she had mentally planned would have to wait. The slight disappointment she felt was quickly replaced by happiness, knowing that if anyone could take her mind off the week from hell, it was the curly haired little girl.
Arriving home Bridget was surprised to find the house tidy, and other than the tv playing in the background, relatively quiet. She'd lost count of the number of evenings she'd come home to utter carnage, not that she minded. After removing her jacket and shoes, she headed for the kitchen, the delicious smell wafting through the house letting her know where she would find Franky. As suspected, the brunette was busy making dinner. Crossing the room, Bridget approached her from behind, slipped her arms around the younger woman, her hand slipping under her shirt and resting on her stomach. "Something smells good" she said, brushing the younger woman's dark locks to the side before laying a soft kiss on her neck.
Turning around, Franky gazed into her girlfriend's eyes, feeling guilty about the bomb she was about to drop when she saw how tired she looked. "Rough day?"
"Rough week" Bridget replied, cuddling into the taller woman. No matter what shit got thrown at her, being close to Franky always made it better. "I was a little surprised to come home to such a quiet and tidy house, did you forget to pick Debbie up?" she joked, the young girl in question running through the door a few seconds later, and straight over to her. What Bridget wasn't expecting was for a second person to enter the room. After glancing at her girlfriend and receiving the "I'll explain later" look, she turned her attention back to Shayne, making sure to greet him in the same manner as she did Debbie. He had clearly taken to Franky, and she couldn't help but wonder if he knew she was a kindred spirit. But the older woman knew it would take a little time with her, and that was to be expected. Whatever he needed, they would be there, and she knew both Bea and Allie felt the same.
Dinner had gone well, Franky serving up spaghetti and meatballs at Debbie's request. Or spag-yeti as the young girl called it, much to Shayne's amusement. The couple were happy to see that he had a healthy appetite, despite struggling with the pasta. Franky had been about to step in and help him out, but her girlfriend beat her too it, showing him how to hold the fork against the plate, and twist.
"But I don't eat spag-yeti like that Auntie Gidge" Debbie mumbled around a mouthful of food.
"No, you just inhale it…" Franky threw back, after noticing the young brunette's plate was already half empty, while everyone else had only managed a couple of mouthfuls.
After everyone had finished eating, Debbie polishing off three helpings, Bridget got the two of them settled on the sofa with a movie before joining her girlfriend in the kitchen. She tried to help with the dishes but was handed a glass of wine and ordered to sit. It was little things like this that made her fall deeper in love with the tattooed brunette, and for someone who had been concerned about her lack of experience when it came to relationships, she was a very considerate and caring partner. Franky still doubted herself sometimes, and that was only natural given her upbringing. But these moments were happening less and less, and she couldn't be prouder of the younger woman. Waiting until her girlfriend was sitting opposite her with a beer, she reached over and took her hand. "Not that I mind an extra one, but what happened when you went to pick Debbie up?"
"I was a few minutes late getting there, and Deb and Shayne were playing in the yard. He looked so sad when he realised that she would be going home, and I didn't want to leave him alone. We waited a while, then his mother turned up…and she clearly needed help. She was distressed, and was looking for Red, wanted her to watch him tomorrow. I offered to watch him and figured since we had Deb he may as well stay overnight" the tattooed brunette replied, glancing at her girlfriend briefly before turning her attention to the label on her beer bottle. "I…I couldn't just leave him Gidge…sorry for not warning you"
Standing up, Bridget moved around the table, pulling the younger woman to her feet and wrapping her arms around her. She suspected Franky would have been thinking about her own childhood, and loved that despite everything, she had such a big heart. "I know baby, and you did the right thing, so no apologies needed. He's welcome here any time, and we'll to whatever we can to make sure he's happy and safe" she replied, her brain already kicking into overdrive as she thought of the best way to help the young boy.
After ending the call with Franky, they left their cabin, making the short walk to the reception building where they could pick up a shuttle bus to different areas of the forest. Before booking, Bea had done a little research int the surrounding area and the different activities that were available. She knew that her girlfriend wasn't the most active of people, so had tried to plan routes that weren't too intense. While she would have loved to tackle some of the tougher terrain, she would rather do something that they both could enjoy. In all honesty she didn't really care what they did, as long as they were together. Having a young child made it more difficult to get time alone together, not that Allie had ever complained. It was yet another way that her girlfriend was different from her ex-husband. Harry did nothing but complain, everything she did was wrong, whereas Allie seemed to love even the most mundane things as long as Bea was by her side.
The journey to Katoomba Falls didn't take long, and while the redhead had been admiring the view through the window of the shuttle bus, Allie had been admiring her. Something had changed between them, and the blonde couldn't tear her eyes away from her girlfriend. She didn't think it was possible, but after witnessing Bea open up to her the previous night, give herself completely to her, Allie fell even deeper in love with her. Reaching out she tucked a stray curl behind her girlfriend's ear, losing herself in the redhead's chocolate orbs after she turned to face the younger woman. There was so much Allie wanted to say, but somehow everything that entered her mind seemed insignificant in comparison to the intensity of her feelings for the older woman. As they gazed lovingly at one another, it became clear that on this occasion, words were not needed. Bea's eyes told her everything she needed to know; she was in as deep as Allie was.
They spent a few hours walking around, taking in both the incredible scenery, and the quiet that surrounded them. They had stopped at various points along the trail, sometimes to admire the view of the falls, and on other occasions so Allie could rest for a few minutes. After reaching a particularly picturesque spot, Bea decided it would be the perfect place for their picnic. She knew the terrain on the next section of the trail was the steepest, and suspected her girlfriend would have a better chance of making it if she refuelled. Plus, they didn't have any kind of schedule to stick to, and she wanted the blonde to enjoy their time away together.
After eating lunch they continued along the trail, and while it wasn't the most difficult route in the area, parts of it were quite steep, and Bea couldn't help but feel guilty, especially when the blonde started to struggle a little. But the bright smile never left Allie's face, and when questioned, she simply replied that she knew she was safe with Bea, and if she got scared would find comfort in her arms. Her words brought a tear to the older woman's eye, and she had never felt so loved before. Slipping her arm around the younger woman's waist, she stepped in closer, her lips ghosting over her girlfriend's ear as she spoke. I'll protect you, no matter what. I love you Alliecat…so much"
"I love you too, my beautiful Bea" Allie replied, before leaning in for a kiss. What started out soft and gentle, quickly became hot and heavy, leaving both women wishing they were somewhere more private. "How long until we get back to the cabin?" the blonde asked, pulling back slightly so she could get her words out, before capturing her girlfriend's lips again.
"Two hours…two and…a half…maybe" Bea managed to say between kisses.
"Too long" Allie groaned, desperate to be alone with the older woman. While she had enjoyed exploring the area, time alone together was always hard to come by, so she wanted to make the most of having Bea's undivided attention. Glancing to the side, an idea popped into her head. "What about that thing…" the blonde said, pointing up to the contraption that was passing overhead. "…will that get us back any faster?"
When Bea had first looked into their trip, the scenic skyway had definitely appealed to her. It was a glass floored cable car that travelled across the ravines and was suspended 270 metres in the air. While it sounded fun to her, she knew Allie wasn't a fan of heights. Plus, with the waterfalls below, she was worried it would trigger a bad memory for the blonde. And while her girlfriend was growing more and more confident around water, the last thing she wanted to do was set her back. But Allie had asked the question, and she wasn't about to lie to her. "A lot faster, especially if we jump on this as well" she replied, indicating to the inclined railway up ahead. "It's pretty high up there, and it passes over the waterfalls, will you be ok?"
"I should be. But if I get scared, I know you'll keep me safe"
"Always" Bea replied, before taking her girlfriend's hand and leading her over to the railway. She would love to come back here again and explore the incredible scenery more, but right now all she wanted was to be close to Allie.