(To Infinity and beyond)
But Ashlee was not everyone else and Ava was not a momentary pleasure. For Ashlee Ava was a lifetime pursuit so if Ashlee had to reassure Ava she would spend a millennium doing so.
The thick drapes were keeping most of the light out but Ashlee could still see scattered rays peeking through. She didn't need a clock to tell her that it was a little past 730 in the morning. She was a true morning person and never needed a few minutes to gather herself upon waking unless she'd been drinking the night before. Ava on the other hand had to be primed and cajoled into consciousness especially on the weekends. Last week had been extremely busy as had all their weekends since leaving California three years ago. None of her friends could believe that their relationship could last the constant pressures for so long but they didn't know how determined both Ava and Ashlee could be. Although they lived together they rarely saw each other outside occasional meetings in the bedroom. Ava was still working hard to make the Chicago branch of the Beacon a success and that pursuit kept her at airports and meeting Monday through Friday. Ashlee was still an undergraduate at Northwestern working on a double major in English and Education. Neither gave less than one hundred percent to their efforts. Yet somehow their relationship did not suffer. As far as Ashlee was concerned it had never been stronger.
Usually she spent the hours before Ava woke working on endless papers and projects but today Ashlee just lay in bed watching the love of her life sleeping. Ava was curled up on her side of the bed facing away from Ashlee with the covers around her waist and the top half of her pajamas off. Ashlee used to joke that Ava was taking the 'male' role a bit far but honestly she enjoyed the feel of Ava's bare skin against her. It started years ago when Ashlee woke up sick from the flu and Ava took her top off to make her more comfortable. It used to be a point of contention between them that Ava insisted on dressing after they made love but now Ashlee loved the subtle tease of Ava's half covered body. She could watch Ava's breast rise and fall with each intake of breath and nipples becoming more turgid in the cooled air of the hotel for hours. She would rather feel those dusky projections tighten as her tongue pulled slightly on them but Ava did not like to be woken by anything, not even sex. After a day or two of a grouchy and irritated girlfriend Ashlee slowly contented herself that morning romps could only be safely initiated by the older woman. So watching was the best she'd get.
"I can feel you staring at me." Ava said with a gravelly voice without turning around.
Surprised Ashlee raised her head and responded with "I always look at you" and cocked her head to the side and waited. Sometimes Ava made random comments as she moved between sleep and consciousness but it did not mean that she was ready to give up her slumber. When Ava fell mute again for several moments Ashlee lay back on her pillow to watch. Just before she forced herself out of bed Ava did a few stretches that many would have paid lots very good money to watch. Ashlee was of the opinion that Ava's body was a work of art and had seen many men stumble over themselves to get near it. Her skin was flawless and her abs were slightly chiseled but it was the breasts that kept Ashlee enthralled. Ava was convinced that Ashlee only doted on them to improve her body image after she made a passing comment about breast enhancements. Ashlee flatly and loudly vetoed the surgery and became more appreciative but the truth was she'd always found Ava's breast enticing but didn't want to seem over eager. Now she was simply gave in to her baser needs.
"What are we going to do today?" Ava said with a groan.
It would not do to pile on too much in Ava's first moments or the woman would burrow even deeper into the covers. "Not too much. Maybe walk around the park after breakfast and do some shopping." Always throw in some incentives. Ava only response was another sigh followed by a yawn. "I had a weird dream."
"Did a pink Easter bunny attack you again?" Ava asked with a soft chuckle.
"That's not funny. It was scary." Ashlee said shuttering still from the memory. "No I dreamed about our wedding."
Ava sounded a bit more intrigued as she asked "Why was that weird?"
"It wasn't weird in a bad way it was weird because it was so vivid. It felt as if it were actually happening." Ava finally turned around and pulled the covers over her to silently listen. "I was walking towards you in a long white dress and we were in this huge church. All of our friends and family were there but all I could concentrate on was getting closer to you."
"How do you feel about that? Getting married to me." Ava asked after a few beats.
"I can't wait. I always knew it would happen since the day Jake interrupted us at your apartment but that isn't what was so great. It was you." Ashlee announced and decided that it was safe to pull Ava closer. "You were standing there in a black tuxedo."
At that Ava's eyes stretched wide before she shook her head softly laughing. "I was wearing a tux?" She wasn't adverse to wearing pants but for all her joking had never seen herself as the male in the relationship.
"You weren't only wearing a tux you were wearing tails and a top hat."
"In the church?"
"It was a dream." Ashlee defended as she slapped Ava's arm. "I've decided that regardless of what we do for our wedding…"
"That I'm wearing a tux." Ava finished with a grin. "With tails and top hat." And watched Ashlee nod her head with glee. "Okay glad that's cleared up. It's one less thing for me to worry about when the time comes."
"Do you mind if we get married in a church?"
"No I don't care where it happens. I've had the huge affair when I married Bill so whatever you want is alright with me. I just want you to be happy."
"Springfield?" Ashlee asked.
"Of course our infernally interfering mother's would have a fit if their meddling was delayed by a two hour drive."
"I only want our close friends and family at the wedding but I don't care if we have a huge bash for the reception."
"That's good because I'm sure my mom will be tempted to use it to promote the Beacon. She won't mean to but it will be her daughter's wedding. A daughter who just happens to be her business partner and successor."
"And mine for her political career." Ashlee said with a frown before she purposefully dispelled the negative emotions. "What about the honeymoon?"
Ava offered "Hawaii"
"Can we be a little less clichéd? Everyone goes there."
"That's because it's flipping paradise." Seeing that her argument was not going to win Ava tried again. "What about Paris?"
"See above argument. Anyway the two times I've been to Paris they were striking. I don't want to worry about riots. I want to go somewhere romantic, interesting, and filled with history. What about Greece?"
"Striking as we speak. What about Russia?"
"You want to go to Russia for our honeymoon?" Ashlee asked in disbelief. "I would like to have some heat and sun even if it isn't Hawaii."
"It's different and it has history and is filled with intrigue. Fine Ireland then. I loved it there. The people are so friendly and once you see all the green hills and valleys you will fall in love with it. You can see where all those famous authors come from."
"I would love to see that but for our honeymoon I want to go somewhere completely new to both of us."
"Australia."
"New Zealand?" and at Ava's enthusiastic nod responded with "perfect. Now how many kids do you want?"
"Ten" Ava laughed at Ashlee's expression. "Just joking two. One from me and one from you. And none of that transferring eggs. Pregnancy is stressful enough without adding that complication."
"No dogs." Ashlee warned.
"Of course not. I don't even want a house. I'd be happy to live at the Beacon forever. We have everything we could ever want here and if the kids need a yard to play in they can go to the farm or your parents' house."
"Agreed. Who needs the worry of roofs and lawns?"
"Glad we have that all cleared up." Ava said as she leaned over attempting to kiss Ashlee but was rebuffed.
"Not quite. What about last names?"
With a slight shrug Ava easily dismissed the worry "That's easy you'll take mine."
"Excuse me?" Ashlee said pulling even further back.
"Whoever asks is the one that gets their name used."
"And you think you'll be the one asking?"
"I am the one standing in the tux." Ava reasoned.
"Compromise, Wolf-Peralta."
"Fine." Rolling her eyes Ava said "But I think Peralta is a fine name and you'd be lucky to have it. And why is your name first?"
"Just an example. Whoever asks first has their name first. Agreed?" At that Ava just narrowed her eyes and flopped over onto her back. That had been entirely too much work even before she was properly awake. She might need another nap to recover. "Oh no you don't. You woke up fair and square so turn on your lamp."
"But I'm still sleepy." Ava tried with a soft whine. Seeing that it was not swaying Ashlee in the least she huffed with indignation and leaned over to turn on the accursed light. "Now the light is on are you happy now?"
"I will be as soon as you look at it."
"I did look at it. I turned it on didn't I." Ava reasoned and then moved closer to smell Ashlee's person. "Did one of your friends give you another brownie? Some people can use marijuana but not you. I thought we agreed on that?"
"Look at the lamp."
"What? Fine. I'll look at the freaking light. What am I supposed to be looking at? I'm looking at the light like you insisted and I don't see jack except…"and then she fell silent for several seconds before turning towards Ashlee with amazement. "Ash what's that on the table?"
"I don't know what is it?" Ashlee asked softly.
"Ashlee?" Ava said again as she picked up the tiny velvet box and carefully opened it before turning towards her girlfriend once again.
"I love you Ava and I want everything that we talked about. I want the wedding, the honeymoon, the kids, and our parents meddling. I want that with you for the rest of my life." Ava's hand was shaking so badly that the box spilled out of her hands but the ring stayed nestled inside the cushioned box. Picking up the ring Ashlee took Ava's hand into her own and asked again more formally. "Ava Peralta will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes. Yes. Oh my God yes." Ava cried out and attacked Ashlee with kisses as soon as the ring was safely on her finger. Some hours later both lay wrapped around each other naked Ava tried to carefully ask the question that had been bothering her since opening to box. "I love this ring." She started "but how did you afford it?" In just the few years she'd been involved with the socialites of Springfield Ava could spot a genuine diamond from a simulated one. The solitaire held on a platinum band was no more than a karat but it was a lot more than the college student could afford. That was the primary reason that Ava assumed she'd be the one popping the question.
"Three years of tutoring, saving, and summer jobs."
"Ash"
"Spoil sport. Blake and my mom gave me a loan but I don't want to talk about it" turning over and taking Ava's chin in her hand Ashlee made a lasting impression with her closing statement. "and I do not want you paying it off. I proposed to you and I will pay for your engagement ring." Knowing that she was not going to win this discussion Ava just smiled and thought their future together.