A/N: ***Trigger warning: This chapter contains dub-con and sexual assault***
Chapter 14
"Ruby, can I ask you a question?" Eleanore asked. They were standing at the counter of Granny's, preparing things for the next day.
"Of course, Boo, what's up?"
"Would you still love me if I were gay?" Eleanore asked.
"What?" Ruby asked, putting down the container of salt she was using to fill the salt shakers.
"I…I think I might be gay…" Eleanore said, her voice shaking as she wrapped a piece of paper around the bundle of silverware she was preparing.
"Elle, you told me months ago that you were seeing another woman. In fact, I've been covering for you while you are out galavanting with said woman." Ruby laughed.
"But, like, you're not grossed out by it?" Eleanore asked.
"Not even in the slightest. My best friend is married to another woman. In fact, I've been known to spend quality time with ladies as well." Ruby winked. "Where did this sexual awakening come from?"
"Gina…" Eleanore said, blushing and smiling at just the sound of Gina's name.
"I should have known. You've got it hard for her, don't you," Ruby said, not even asking a question.
"I do, Ruby…I really do! I think…" Eleanore paused to gather the courage to keep talking. "I think I might be…falling…in love with her…" she said, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest.
"Yeah, I can tell! So, when do I get to meet this magical woman who has stolen my friend's heart?" Ruby asked, bumping Eleanore in the hip.
"Yeah…about that…we kinda only spend time on the beach. Because…ummm…" Eleanore said, suddenly regretting even starting the sentence.
"I get it. The beach is deserted at night. No one there to tell Killian of your 'extracurricular activities.' " Ruby winked.
"Yeah…that…"
"It's cool. I'm willing to meet her on the beach if I need to," Ruby said.
"We'll see." Eleanore smiled.
"I better meet this woman before the wedding, that's all I'm going to say." Ruby laughed, returning to her task of refilling salt shakers.
"Yes, ma'am." Eleanore laughed, continuing to roll silverware for the next day.
"Okay, I'm going to ask again, and don't hate me, okay…" Ruby said.
"What?" Eleanore said, a little scared.
"What are you going to do about Killian?" Ruby asked, causing a deep sigh from Eleanore.
"I don't know. I don't love him. But I…I can't afford it on my own, you know. That's why I'm working so much. I'm trying to save for my own place. And maybe even a boat of my own as well. If I can move out and get my own boat, I can fish freelance and probably make way more money," Eleanore explained.
"I feel you."
"But I can't do any of that with what I make now."
"Listen, let me talk to Granny. Maybe we can arrange a raise or something. Maybe we can find some administrative work for you as well. That way, we can pay you more than the server salary," Ruby said.
"I'd really appreciate that, actually."
"I got your back, girl. We'll get you away from that creep as soon as we can. And if there's anything I can do, please let me know. I would offer for you to stay with Granny and I, but she's kinda crazy sometimes." Ruby laughed.
"Thanks, Ruby. I can deal with Killian for now. As long as he doesn't find out about Gina, we should be fine."
"Then we need to make extra sure he never finds out." Ruby laughed. They worked in silence for a few more minutes, until Eleanore broke the silence once again.
"Hey, Ruby…"
"Hmm…" Ruby answered, concentrating on her task.
"Thanks…for everything…" Eleanore said.
"Don't you dare ever thank me, Kid. Seeing you happy is thanks enough for me," Ruby said, pulling Eleanore into a strong hug.
They closed up the diner an hour later, and Eleanore bid Ruby farewell at the door before Ruby disappeared to her apartment upstairs that she shared with her grandmother. She walked home slowly, enjoying the first warm night of the year. She contemplated stopping at the beach on her way home, but she was so tired, and all she wanted to do was take a shower and go to sleep. She was on the schedule for the lunch shift the next day, giving her plenty of time tomorrow to sit at the beach before work. "It'll give me something to look forward to," she said out loud as she passed the entrance to the beach.
The house was quiet by the time she got home, which suggested that Killian was likely already asleep. She was relieved to find him passed out in bed, which meant she wouldn't have to deal with him until the next morning. She showered and went to bed, falling asleep quickly, visions of swimming in the ocean with her Nenriel flowing through her mind. She woke up a few hours later to the feeling of an arm wrapping around her from behind. She smiled when she felt it, thinking it was Gina's arm around her. It only took her a moment to realize it wasn't Gina, but Killian spooning with her. She tried to push his arm off, but it only worked against her.
"You're awake, Swan," Killian whispered into her ear, his breath still heavy with rum.
"That's because you woke my ass up," she snapped, trying to push him away. She had a feeling she knew what he wanted, and it wasn't to chat.
"Since you're awake, we could…you know…put this time to good use," he said, moving his groin closer to Eleanore's ass. She could feel his erection poking her already.
"Not now, Killian. I'm so tired."
"Come on, Swan. You know you want to," Killian said, grinding himself into Eleanore's backside.
"No, Killian, I'm exhausted. I worked all day. Just let me go back to sleep."
"You can sleep late tomorrow," Killian said, running his hand under Eleanore's shirt, grabbing her left breast forcefully.
"Killian, just let me sleep, please."
"SWAN! I want sex,." he said, squeezing her breast extra hard. "Don't make me force you."
"Okay fine, calm down," she said, stretching slightly and rolling to her back. "Just make it quick, I'm exhausted."
"That's a good girl." Killian laughed. "Since you're being a bitch, I want to fuck you like one, on all fours," he ordered. Eleanore rolled her eyes but did as she was ordered, hoping the sooner they got started, the sooner she could go back to sleep and back to thinking about Gina.
She assumed the position and waited for Killian to get ready. She could feel him moving beside her, pulling down his boxers and kneeling behind her. He pulled her pants down, bringing her panties down with them, letting them pool around her knees.
"Yes, I love that sweet ass of yours, Swan," his voice slurred, slapping her ass hard enough to leave a red mark, causing Eleanore to shudder at the feeling. For some reason, Killian loved to slap her butt when he took her from behind. She assumed it was some sort of a power trip.
At least it'll be over soon, she thought, knowing Killian could never last that long when he's been drinking. She felt the tip of his penis enter her slightly and something felt very wrong.
"Killian, put on a condom," she said, trying to sit up.
"Nah, I'm good," Killian said, pushing her back down.
"No! Killian! Put on a condom!" Eleanore repeated, her voice louder.
"Not going to happen, Swan," he said, repositioning himself against her opening.
"KILLIAN! Put on a fucking condom!" Eleanore screamed, trying to pull away from him. Killian grabbed her by her long braid and pulled her up to him, holding her against his chest with one hand wrapped loosely around her throat. He tugged on her braid one more time, causing her head to tilt up slightly, holding her firmly in place.
"I said I'm not putting on a fucking condom, Swan. You better learn your place in this house and in this bed, before I MAKE you learn it. Is that clear?" he said calmly into her ear, his hot breath still heavy with the rum he drank hours ago. Eleanore nodded, knowing that if she spoke she would begin to cry, and she didn't want to give Killian the satisfaction of knowing he was scaring her.
"You've been running your mouth too much lately, Swan. You're going to learn to keep your mouth shut, or I'll have to shut it for you, is that clear as well?" Eleanore nodded her head again, suppressing a cry. Killian was slurring his words, indicating he was still wasted, which gave her more hope that it wouldn't last too long. "Take your shirt off Swan. I want to see those titties of yours." Killian said, his breath hot against her skin as Killian licked the back of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine as she pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it onto the floor.
Killian removed the hand from her throat and moved it to her chest, grabbing her breasts roughly, pinching her nipples hard. His other hand let go of her braid and moved toward her crotch, forcefully rubbing her nether lips quickly, clearly trying to stimulate her clit, missing completely every time. Gina never misses. She always knows exactly where to touch me to make me feel amazing, she thought as she struggled to hold back her tears.
"Bend over, bitch," Killian said, pushing her back down, grabbing her hips roughly. Eleanore grabbed the sheets and braced for what was coming next.
A moment later she felt Killian enter her, slamming his hips against her ass. She suppressed a yelp as Killian began to thrust into her, hammering his hips roughly into her with each thrust. Eleanore never enjoyed sex with Killian, but this was, by far, the worst yet. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine it was Gina with her instead of Killian, but each time she tried, her mind told her there was no way this could ever be Gina. Because Gina would never be this rough and hard. Gina was always gentle and loving. Even their roughest sex was no where near this. A few minutes later, she felt the warm substance enter her, filling her in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable way.
Killian had come inside her.
Tears rolled down her face when she realized what that meant.
"Now no one will ever want you." Killian slapped her ass once more before pushing her over onto the bed. "Go clean yourself up, bitch. I'm done with you for tonight," he said, pulling up his boxers and flopping back onto the bed. Eleanore laid there for a few minutes, curled up in a ball, struggling to hold back the tears. She knew she needed to get up, but she couldn't bring herself to move just yet.
She finally shifted a few minutes later when she heard Killian snoring behind her. She slid off the bed slowly to avoid disturbing him, pulling up her shorts as soon as her feet hit the floor, grabbing her shirt and wrenching the fabric over her head, not caring that it was inside out and possibly backward. All she cared about was covering her body. She walked out of the room and into the bathroom, her head hanging low.
She finally broke down when she made it to the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. She leaned her back against the door and slid to the floor, buried her face in her hands as her tears trailed down her arms. Killian had never been that rough during sex. Sure, he wasn't as gentle and loving as Gina was, but he had never hurt her like that. She pulled herself together long enough to turn on the shower and removed her clothes while she waited for the water to heat up. She saw the faint outline of a bruise on her left breast from the way Killian had squeezed it. Her vagina was sore as she walked and she didn't need to look in the mirror to know that she had a large red mark on her right butt cheek from the multiple times Killian slapped her.
She climbed into the shower and instantly began crying again. But she wasn't crying because Killian hurt her. That part she wasn't entirely surprised about. She cried because she missed Gina so much. Gina would never hurt her like Killian had. She missed her Nenriel. She pulled the showerhead off the wall and swiftly pointed the water between her legs, spraying her sore crotch with the warm water, frantically trying to wash Killian out of her, although she knew the damage was already done.
Once the water had turned cold again, she dried herself off and made her way back into the bedroom, changing her clothes and crawling back into bed, curling into a ball, attempting to put the most distance between her and Killian. She knew he would be different in the morning. She closed her eyes and pictured Gina in all her Nenriel glory, her beautiful hair floating in the water above her head, her purple fin sparkling in the light of the full moon. She missed Gina, more than she's ever missed her before.
"Okay, seriously, what's up with you?" Ruby asked.
"What? Nothing, I'm fine," Eleanore answered, snapping out of her deep thoughts.
"Lies. All lies," Ruby said, pulling Eleanore aside. "What's up with you? You haven't been yourself for a few weeks now. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. I just haven't been sleeping well, that's all," Eleanore answered, only lying slightly. She hadn't been sleeping well ever since that night with Killian.
"It's a Gina night tonight, right?" Ruby asked, her voice sounding very soft.
"Yeah," Eleanore answered, clearly still distracted.
"Why do I feel like you're not happy about this? Did something happen between you two? Did she leave you? Do I need to kick her ass?" Ruby asked, very protective of her friend's heart.
"No, no god no, nothing like that! God no! Everything is still amazing with us. I'm just tired, that's all," Eleanore said, snapping out of it again.
"Okay, fine. I'm not entirely convinced there isn't something going on, but I'm not going to press the topic anymore. Just know, if you need anything, I'm always here. And I mean it, anything! You let me know!" Ruby said, grabbing Eleanore's shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze.
"Thanks, Ruby. I really appreciate it. I hope you know that."
"Of course I do! What would you do without me?" Ruby asked, chuckling.
"Clearly, I wouldn't even be able to tie my shoes without you!" Eleanore laughed, playfully punching Ruby in the shoulder.
"Okay, smartass. Get the hell out of here. Go spend a bliss filled night with your mysterious lady. I'll see you tomorrow," Ruby said, snatching the rag out of Eleanore's hand, pushing her toward the door.
She walked out of the diner but didn't go straight to the beach, instead making one stop before heading toward the water. Ruby was right, something was bothering her. But she wasn't going to tell anyone anything until she spoke to Gina. And to be honest, Gina was the only person she wanted to see at that moment.
Once she finally made it to the cave, she quickly went through the motions, getting everything set up while she waited for the sun to set. She laid down on the pile of blankets, pulling one over her, curling up under it, trying to block out the world for just a little longer. Even though she knew Gina would be there any minute, she couldn't get excited, her thoughts destroying her. Now that she was alone for more than a few minutes in weeks, she began to weep, her body shaking as she cried so hard. She cried until she eventually fell asleep, the fact that the blanket still faintly smelled like Gina was the only comfort she had in that moment.
"Eleanore?" Gina asked a little while later, peeking her head into the dark cave.
"Shit. I'm here." Eleanore shifted under the blanket. "I fell asleep, I'm sorry," she said, her voice sounding sad.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it," Gina said cheerfully, grabbing the towel Eleanore left out for her. Eleanore tried to light the grill lighter to start the fire, but the device wouldn't light.
"Fuck!" Eleanore shouted, throwing the uncooperative lighter across the cave.
"Eleanore, are you okay?" Gina asked, picking up the lighter.
"Yeah, I'm fine. The stupid lighter wouldn't work, that's all," she said.
"No, that's not it. There's something else going on, I can feel it. What's the matter?" Gina asked, sitting next to Eleanore, pulling the blanket around them both, Gina's proximity making Eleanore feel instantly better. Eleanore sighed, leaning her head on Gina's shoulder as Gina wrapped her arm around her. "You can talk to me."
"Something…happened…a couple weeks ago…" Eleanore started to say.
"What happened?" Gina asked, suddenly very concerned.
"Killian…he…he…" Eleanore struggled to say.
"Did he force himself on you?" Gina asked, her body tensing at her own words.
"No…not really…I let him…" Eleanore said, suddenly realizing they had never spoken about her sexual relationship with Killian. "It wasn't my idea! I wanted to go to sleep, but he was drunk and horny, and he woke me up and…" Eleanore said, panicking.
"Shhh. It's okay. I understand," Gina said sweetly, rubbing Eleanore's back to comfort the blonde.
"I just…I don't want you to feel like I cheated on you. I mean…I guess maybe I did…fuck…" Eleanore said, suddenly panicking again, tears streaming down her face.
"Eleanore." Gina reached to lightly tilt Eleanore's chin toward her, gently wiping the tears from Eleanore's cheeks. "I don't think that at all. I never have. I know what we share is different than what you have with him. You don't have to explain. And you definitely don't have to feel bad for it. I completely understand," Gina said, causing a small smile to spread across Eleanore's face. She suddenly felt very relieved by Gina's words. "Tell me what happened with Killian."
"He…he refused to wear a condom…" Eleanore said, finally saying those words out loud for the first time.
"I…I don't understand what that means…Under a rock, remember." She laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
"A condom is something men wear on their…penis…when having sex…to prevent pregnancy," Eleanore explained.
"Oh…" Gina said.
"There's more…" Eleanore took a deep breath. "...I'm late…" she said, trying to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
"Late for what?" Gina asked.
"My period…my period is late…" Eleanore said, glancing up at Gina, seeing another confused look on her face. "Human women get what we call a period every month. But that only happens if we aren't pregnant. I didn't get mine when I was supposed to. Which means…" Eleanore started to say.
"…which means you might be pregnant…" Gina said, finishing Eleanore's sentence. Eleanore looked up at Gina, and nodded.
"How can you tell if you are?" Gina asked, trying to stay calm, her stomach already in knots.
"I can take a test to see if I'm pregnant. I bought one before I came here," Eleanore said, pointing to her bag in the corner.
"Did you already take the test?" Gina asked, her voice sounding scared.
"Not yet. I was too scared."
"It's okay. Do you want to take it now?" Gina asked, her voice calm and soothing.
"I guess. I have to pee on it though, so I need to go somewhere with a bathroom. I don't think we've reached the 'peeing in front of each other' phase of our relationship." Eleanore laughed. "I guess I can go to Granny's. I forgot to get dinner anyway."
"I don't care about dinner. All I care about is you," Gina said, grabbing Eleanore's hand and squeezing it tight. Eleanore smiled and squeezed her hand back.
"Okay…I'll go to Granny's. I should get some dinner regardless. I haven't been eating much the last few weeks."
"Yes, please. You need to eat," Gina said, concern in her voice again.
"Will you come with me? I brought extra clothes like always," Eleanore said, suddenly realizing that Gina was still naked.
"I can't…I can't leave the beach. I need to stay close to the water…it's a Nenriel thing," Gina said sadly.
"It's okay. I understand," Eleanore said, a half smile spreading across her face.
"I can walk you to the edge of the sand and wait for you there," Gina said.
"I'd like that," Eleanore said, smiling the first genuine smile in weeks as she stood and walked toward her discarded bag. She handed Gina the shorts and T-shirt she brought for her, checking once more that the pregnancy test was still tucked away in her bag.
As soon as Gina was ready, they left the cave, their hands finding each other immediately, lacing their fingers together as they walked toward the entrance to the beach, pulling apart as soon as they reached the edge of the sand.
"Good luck," Gina said, kissing Eleanore sweetly before watching her walk across the street and out of sight. Eleanore walked back to Granny's quickly, not because she was excited about what she needed to do, but because she was eager to get it over with and make it back to Gina.
She smiled at Ana when she walked into the diner and let her know she just needed to put in an order, and that she would take care of it so Ana didn't have to worry about it. After sliding her order to Louis in the kitchen, she walked into the public bathroom in the back of the restaurant. Her heart was pounding as she locked the door to the stall and sat down on the toilet, pulling out the box containing the pregnancy tests, reading the instructions quickly. She took a deep breath and prepared for her task.
Her hand was shaking so much she wasn't sure if she would get enough pee on the stick to give an accurate reading. When she was finished, she put the cap back on and wrapped it back in the plastic package it came in, tucking it back inside the box hidden deep inside her bag. It would take fifteen minutes to get the results, and she knew if she didn't put it away she would give herself a heart attack while she awaited to find out her fate. She washed her hands and left the bathroom, grateful that her order was ready by the time she was finished, allowing her to get back to Gina sooner than she anticipated.
She hurried back to the beach to find Gina standing in the exact same spot she was when she left, pacing back and forth nervously until she saw Eleanore approaching the beach. She pulled Eleanore into a tight hug as soon as she could, holding her for a little longer than usual.
"Did you take the test?" Gina asked when they eventually pulled apart.
"Yeah. It takes a little time for the results. I don't think I'm ready to look at it though."
"That's okay. We can look whenever you're ready," Gina said, taking Eleanore's hand once more as they walked back to their cave. Eleanore started the fire as soon as they got back, warming the air almost immediately.
"I needed some comfort food tonight. Grilled cheese with fries and onion rings. Sorry…" Eleanore said, unpacking the food and handing Gina a container.
"Don't ever apologize. I love grilled cheese." Gina smiled, grabbing a fry. They ate in silence for a little while, the sound of the crackling fire echoing off the cave walls.
"Your hair is loose today," Gina said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah…" Eleanore ran her fingers through her long blonde hair. "Killian…he…he grabbed me by my braid and held me against him…" Eleanore said, her voice cracking slightly.
"He did WHAT?!" Gina yelled, causing Eleanore to jump slightly. She had never heard her raise her voice.
"Gina, it's alright."
"No, it's not! What else did he do, Eleanore?" Gina yelled.
"He…he grabbed me by my braid and pulled me up onto my knees and held me against his chest…he held me there by my braid, with one hand against my throat…" Eleanore explained. She hadn't planned on telling Gina all that, and yet the words continued to spill out of her mouth.
"I'll kill him," Gina said, an eerie calm in her voice as she jumped to her feet, nearly spilling their shared fries.
"Gina. No. It's okay!" Eleanore said, scrambling to her feet, stopping Gina before she left the cave.
"How can you say that? How can you stand there and say that what he did was okay?" Gina screamed, the fire reflecting in her eyes.
"Gina. He was drunk. He's never done anything like that before."
"He tried to hurt you, Eleanore," Gina said, tears falling from her eyes as she tried to calm down.
"He didn't hurt me. Scared me a little, but he didn't hurt me. I'm fine."
"You're not fine, you might be pregnant with that terrible man's child," Gina cried, her body shaking with anger.
"Yeah…" Eleanore said, pulling Gina back to their blanket bed.
"Eleanore…what happens to us if you are pregnant?" Gina asked, sadness in her voice.
"I don't know…" Eleanore whispered. They finished what was left of their dinner and after cleaning up and adding more wood to the fire, they ended up laying side by side, curled up under their usual blanket.
"I'm sorry. I ruined our night together. We only get one night a month with each other, and I ruined it completely," Eleanore said, a stray tear falling from her eye.
"You didn't ruin anything. I came here to be with you. Are we not together?" Gina asked, wiping the tear from Eleanore's face.
"Yeah…"
"I don't care if we lay here and hold each other all night, or if we had wild and crazy passionate sex until we pass out from exhaustion. All I care about is being with you," Gina said.
"All I care about is being with you. That's pretty much all I care about these days," Eleanore said. Gina didn't say another word, just pulled Eleanore in for a soft and loving kiss, causing both their hearts to skip a beat. "Will you touch me? Will you make love to me? I'm afraid that if I am pregnant I won't be able to see you again."
"You never, EVER have to ask me to make love to you, Eleanore. And if what you say is true, we will figure something out, I promise. This will not be the last time we see each other, even if I have to drag myself across the pavement on my hands and tail to get to you," Gina said, causing a slight chuckle from Eleanore.
"Don't do that. You'll destroy that beautiful tail of yours, and I can't bear to see that." Eleanore chuckled.
"I would cut off my tail if that's what it takes to be with you," Gina said, a seriousness in her voice that touched Elenore's heart.
"I would never let it get to that," Eleanore said. She pulled Gina in for another kiss, quickly becoming deep and passionate. Gina's hand was up her shirt instantly, gently cupping and massaging Eleanore's breast, causing Eleanore's breath to catch in her throat.
"Did I hurt you?" Gina asked, concern instantly in her voice.
"No, No! Never! You feel so perfect. You always feel perfect." Eleanore smiled another genuine smile.
A minute later, Gina pulled Eleanore's shirt off, tossing it to the side as Eleanore pulled hers off, leaving them both topless. Eleanore pulled Gina close to her, wrapping both her arms and legs around the brunette, holding her impossibly tight.
"I'm going to have to ask you to remove your pants. They are simply getting in the way," Gina said a few minutes later.
"My sincerest apologies," Eleanore said, unbuttoning her pants and pulling them past her hips, allowing Gina to pull them off the rest of the way before pulling her own off as well.
"Much better." Gina smiled, her body pressed against Eleanore's, her hand already making contact with Eleanore's clit, rubbing slow circles around the sensitive spot.
"You never miss…" Eleanore said, her heart rate increasing from the pleasure. Gina smiled as her lips made contact with Eleanore's left breast as they laid side by side, Eleanore's back nearly on fire from the heat of the fire behind her.
"Gina…" Eleanore moaned, indicating to her lover she was ready for more. Gina slipped her fingers into Eleanore slowly, knowing exactly where they needed to be to make Eleanore's eyes roll to the back of her head. A moment later, Gina's face changed, concern and confusion on her face as her fingers suddenly stopped moving. "Gina? What's the matter?" Eleanore asked, staring at her lover.
"Somethings wrong. Something doesn't feel right," Gina said.
"What? What doesn't feel right?" Eleanore asked, looking around.
"Inside…" Gina said, slowly pulling her fingers out, inspecting them against the light of the fire. Her fingers were red with blood from inside Eleanore. "Eleanore! You're bleeding. Did I hurt you? Are you okay?" Gina said, tears welling in her eyes at the idea of having hurt Eleanore. Eleanore smiled as she looked at Gina's bloody fingers.
"Gina! This is amazing!" she exclaimed, tears filling her eyes, spilling onto the blanket beneath her.
"You're bleeding! How is that a good thing?"
"I got my period. That's period blood! Gina, I got my period!" Eleanore exclaimed, pulling Gina in for a deep kiss. "This means I'm not pregnant!" Eleanore added, her excitement radiating through the cave.
"You're not pregnant?" Gina asked, her face lighting up as well, sharing in Eleanore's excitement.
"I'm not pregnant!" Eleanore screamed, jumping up and rushing toward her bag, grabbing a tampon from the inside pocket. She handed Gina a napkin to wipe the blood off, tossing it into the fire when she was done. Gina watched with curiosity as Eleanore unwrapped the tampon and quickly inserted it, tossing the cardboard applicator and wrapper into the fire to burn them before laying back down next to Gina.
They were so caught up in each other that they didn't notice the large red wolf that was hovering just outside the cave, seemingly listening to their conversations. The wolf yipped softly when Eleanore declared that she wasn't pregnant and ran back toward the forest where it came from a few hours ago.
"Is that really what happens when you get your period?" Gina asked, still in shock.
"Yeah. Welcome to Womanhood." Eleanore chuckled. "I take it Nenriels don't get periods."
"No, we definitely do not."
"Lucky!" Eleanore laughed, pulling Gina closer, her lips automatically finding Gina's right nipple.
"Wait, can you have sex when you're bleeding…down there?" Gina asked, distracting Eleanore from her actions.
"No, not really. Well, I mean, yeah, technically I can, it won't hurt me or anything, it's just kinda gross. And I prefer not to," Eleanore explained.
"So, no sex tonight," Gina said, removing Eleanore's hand from her core.
"Just because I can't have sex, doesn't me you can't have sex," Eleanore said, moving her hand back to Gina's core.
"Yes, that is exactly what that means. If you can't, then I can't either," Gina said, moving Eleanore's hand once again. "Not without you."
"Are you sure?" Eleanore asked.
"Positive," Gina said, cupping Eleanore's face gently. "It's not about me, Eleanore. It's about us."
"Gina…" Eleanore said, tears falling from her eyes.
"Ni mel tye," Gina whispered as she wiped the tears from Eleanore's face.
"Will you tell me what that means now?" Eleanore asked, a warm smile on her face.
"Not yet." Gina smiled, running her fingers through Eleanore's long hair. "And, just for the record, I like your hair loose like this."
"Duly noted." Eleanore smiled, wincing slightly.
"Did I pull your hair?" Gina asked, slight concern in her voice.
"No, that feels good. I just have cramps now. Another joy of being a woman…a Human woman that is," Eleanore said, smiling slightly.
"What can I do?" Gina asked.
"Hold me?" Eleanore asked.
"You don't have to fake cramps for me to hold you." Gina laughed, wrapping her arms around Eleanore. They laid there for the rest of the night, Eleanore wrapped in Gina's arms, her fingers running through Eleanore's blonde hair until they were both sound asleep. With the weight of the past few weeks off Eleanore's shoulders, she was finally able to sleep.
Once again, she was awoken by Gina shaking her slightly a few hours later.
"No…" she whispered, wrapping her arm around Gina, holding her in place.
"…unfortunately…" Gina said, sadly.
"I don't want you to go," Eleanore said, her eyes fluttering open.
"I don't want to go either," Gina said sadly, not moving to sit up just yet.
"What would happen if you don't go back in the morning?"
"I don't know," Gina said, her fingers still laced in Eleanore's hair. "I don't think we should tempt fate though. For all I know, I could end up turning into a frog." Gina laughed.
"We wouldn't want that." Eleanore laughed. "Although, I bet you would make one sexy frog."
"Eleanore Swan, are you flirting with me?" Gina laughed.
"If it means you get to stay a few more minutes, then yes, I am flirting. Is it working?"
"Always." Gina smiled. "But I still have to go, unfortunately."
"I know," Eleanore said sadly. They stood up in silence and started walking toward the beach, Eleanore holding the blanket around their bodies for dear life in an attempt to keep Gina closer to her a little longer.
"Thank you again…for last night. For being so understanding and supportive of me. It can't be easy for you to hear about my sexual goings on with someone else," Eleanore said, her gaze falling to the sand below their feet.
"Hey," Gina said softly, reaching to gently pick up Eleanore's face to meet her gaze. "I will always be there for you, no matter what. No matter what happens, I will always be there. I understand what we have is complicated, and I understand that for now it includes him. And I also know how you feel about me. I can feel how you feel about me. Nothing that happens between you and him will ever change how I feel about you. Nothing!"
"What do we have? You and I, what do we have between us?" Eleanore asked. It had been a question that was burning a hole in her head for weeks now. What was going on between her and Gina. Were they together?
"What do you mean?" Gina asked, her voice still soft and quiet.
"You and I. Are we…together? Are we in a relationship?" Eleanore asked, her voice so shy it was almost as if she was afraid to say those words.
"Eleanore…" Gina encouraged Eleanore to look at her again. "We are, most certainly, without a shadow of a doubt, in a relationship," she whispered, as soon as her brown eyes met green. "As unconventional as it might be, we are most definitely together!" she added, causing Eleanore to smile from ear-to-ear.
"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that," Eleanore said, tears falling from her eyes again.
"Me too." Gina wiped the tears away, kissing Eleanore sweetly. "I do still have to go," she whispered as she pressed her forehead against Eleanore's.
"I know…" Eleanore said sadly as Gina pulled away. With one final kiss, Gina turned and walked into the water, stopping when it reached her waist. Floating on her back, she stuck her legs above the surface, allowing Eleanore to watch her legs change back. Without a second thought, Eleanore abandoned the blanket and ran into the water, scooping her Nenriel into her arms and kissing her once more.
"Please be careful, my love," Gina said, as she wrapped her arms around Eleanore's neck.
"I will. You too," Eleanore said, releasing Gina back into the water. "I'll see you soon."
"I'll see you soon," Gina repeated before diving under the water and swimming away. Eleanore stood in the water for a few more minutes, hoping to catch one final glimpse of Gina before she swam away for good. When she didn't resurface for a few minutes, she turned around and started to walk back to the cave. She quickly cleaned everything up and headed back to town, stopping at Granny's for a coffee and a quick breakfast before heading to work.
"Can I ask you guys something…personal?" Eleanore asked. It was Saturday night, and she was sitting in a booth at Granny's, sharing post work drinks with Ruby and Ana after an unexpectedly busy day. The door was locked and all the end of the day duties were completed, leaving the women free to sit and enjoy some quiet down time over a glass of wine (or three) before they went their separate ways for the night.
"Of course," Ana said, sipping her wine.
"Are there other ways to…prevent getting pregnant…that doesn't include wearing condoms?" Eleanore asked, so nervous she thought she was going to throw up.
"Are you being serious?" Ana asked. Eleanore suddenly felt so stupid, she wished the ground would swallow her up and put her out of her misery.
"Of course there are," Ruby answered, sensing Eleanore's embarrassment.
"Oh…what…ummm…what are they?" Eleanore asked, once again feeling really stupid. "I…uhhh…I never learned about this kind of stuff in school," she added, trying to make herself seem less stupid. The truth was, she couldn't remember if she ever learned about proper birth control. All she ever knew was what Killian told her.
"There are a few different options. Some of which are so discrete, that no one will even know they are there, unless you tell them," Ruby explained, sensing she knew the reason behind the question. "We'll make an appointment with my gynecologist and we can talk with her and determine which method works best for you. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great. Thanks, Ruby," Eleanore said, tears welling in her eyes. It didn't take a mind reader to know there was something else going on.
"Elle…did something happen?" Ruby asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Ummm…" Eleanore said, not sure if she should tell them what happened.
"Elle. You can tell us. It's okay. We're your friends," Ana said, reaching across the table to grab Eleanore's hand.
"We have your back, no matter what," Ruby added, placing her hand on top of Ana's.
"Yeah…" Eleanore said eventually. "…something did happen…kinda…"
"What happened?" Ruby whispered, her voice soft and soothing.
"A couple of weeks ago…Killian woke me up because he was drunk and horny…" Eleanore started to say.
"Eleanore. Did Killian…did he…?" Ruby asked. She could tell that Ana was already speechless.
"Did he force me? No. I let him. But he…he refused to wear a condom. I told him to put one on three times and each time he refused."
"Did he…inside you?" Ruby asked, not able to get all the words out. Eleanore nodded. She decided at that moment to keep the rest to herself. She didn't need her friends worrying about her even more.
"I got my period a couple days ago, so I'm not pregnant."
"Oh thank god!" Ana blurted out, as if the words were fermenting in her mouth the whole time.
"I second that! Lord knows the world doesn't need any little Killians running around." Ruby laughed, lightening the tense mood suddenly. "Besides, if Elle wanted to have a baby, I'm fairly certain she would want it to be with someone else. A certain someone else," Ruby added, winking at Eleanore not so discreetly, receiving a kick in the shin under the table.
"Okay, what am I missing here? Whose baby does Elle want to have?"
"Elle's been shacking up with a sexy mysterious lady!" Ruby exclaimed, receiving an even harder kick in the shin from Eleanore.
"RUBY!" she screamed, her face filling with anger.
"What, Ana is cool. Plus, you're going to need more people to help cover for you. Killian isn't going to believe you and I hang out on the same night every month forever. You need allies," Ruby said, rubbing her shin under the table.
"Okay…you might have a point there," Eleanore said.
"Oh, I am so in!" Ana filled each of their wine glasses with more wine. "Tell me EVERYTHING! Starting with, you're definitely gay now?" Ana asked, causing the three of them to laugh at her excitement.
"I think I've always been gay, I just didn't know it." Eleanore said shyly.
"I told you!" Ruby exclaimed, nudging Ana in the ribs.
"Yeah yeah yeah." Ana ignored the shit-eating grin on Ruby's face. "That's great. But get to the good stuff, tell me about your lady!" Ana said, sipping her wine and giving Eleanore her undivided attention.
"Her name is Gina…and she's the most amazing person I have ever met," Eleanore said, her face turning completely red at the sound of Gina's name.
Ruby laughed. "Our little Elle has it bad for this woman."
"Yeah…I definitely do. I think…I think I might be falling…in love….with her…" Eleanore said, her face turning a deeper shade of red.
"That is literally all I need to know about this woman. If she has your heart like this, she must be someone special," Ana said.
"Yeah, she definitely has my heart alright," Eleanore said, idly playing with the string that held her shell around her neck. Although her hand went to the shell, the one that represented the only thing she had of the woman that had proposed to her once upon a time, her mind was far from thinking of that woman. She was only thinking of Gina.
"Okay, can I address the elephant in the room? What about Killian? I'm far from defending that man. I know first hand just how sleezy he can be, that's for sure. But I have to ask. Why are you still with him, if you're head over heels for someone else?" Ana asked.
"Things are…complicated," Eleanore explained. "I don't have the money to get my own place. And there's a part of me that feels like I owe him..." Eleanore explained, deciding to not tell Ana everything about her past, or more specifically, her lack thereof. "I'm trying to save for a place and maybe one day my own boat, but it's taking a while."
"And Gina can't help?" Ana asked.
"No. Unfortunately."
"Well listen, you're welcome to crash on my couch whenever you need. And you know, if I had an extra room, it would totally be yours!" Ana said.
"Ditto. On everything," Ruby said.
"Thanks, guys. For everything," Eleanore said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.
"Here's to Elle and Gina. May they find the happiness they deserve, together!" Ruby said, holding her nearly empty glass of wine in the air.
"To Elle and Gina," Ana added as the three of them clinked glasses, drinking the rest of their wine.
A/N: Ruby's best friend is married to another woman? She, herself being known to spend quality time with ladies? Sounds suspiciously like Ruby from The Last Alpha. Could it be her?