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quarterfromcanon · 5 years

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Evading

Heather & Valencia - Femslash February - Day 27 - Quiet [2,207 words]

Valencia sank onto the outdoor lounge chair with a weary sigh that seemed to rise from the depths of her soul. She shut her eyes and tried to let the pleasant evening temperature mute her thoughts. The glaring sunlit afternoon gave way to a moderate nightfall around her. Splashes of warm colors seeped across the faded blue sky.

A sliver of tentative optimism, or at least the willingness to fight for a brighter outlook, had at last been restored inside the house. Their friend had accepted her recent diagnosis and was prepared to seek treatment. It was the most hope they’d had since before Rebecca disappeared, but such a potentially fragile thread did not provide the type of irrefutable comfort Valencia craved.

She reached for one of the throw pillows and clutched it near her chest. Even though she had finally allowed herself to cry, Valencia’s throat ached from the countless times she’d suppressed sobs over the past six days. She hid her face behind the fabric of the cushion and curled onto her side.

“Hey.”

Valencia tensed. She sat upright to turn toward the sound. Heather leaned against a nearby pillar with her arms folded over her stomach.

“Hi,” Valencia replied softly.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

Valencia tilted her chin at the vacant lounger. Heather shucked her jacket and swung it across the chair. She reclined to observe the lingering clouds. They were stretched thin and etched in purples and grays like the passage of hours had left them ashen and bruised. Valencia studied them too, but doing so left her feeling small and overwhelmed all over again.

“God, this has been the longest week of my entire life.”

A humorless laugh puffed out of Heather’s chest on an exhale. “Same.”

The two shared space without talking while the gradient above deepened its hues -- carmine becoming vermilion yet somehow blending seamlessly with saffron and amber.

“V?”

“Mm?”

“Are we okay?”

Valencia smoothed the ruffles on her shirt. “I don’t know,” she admitted, “... but I want to be.”

“Me, too.” Heather pushed stray curls aside and grimaced. “The past one hundred and forty-nine hours have really driven home how everything can go from fine to fucked up with no break in between.”

“You counted?”

“I’ve had a lot of spare time on my hands once it gets dark. You weren’t wrong about that... during our fight last night... I haven’t been sleeping. Like, almost at all.”

Valencia craned to look at Heather, although her view was limited given the angle of their chairs. “Yeah, well, I can’t take too much credit for riddling that one out. The shadows under your eyelids gave it away.”

Heather rolled over and propped her chin on both hands. “I’m surprised you didn’t throw some new concealer at me from one of your swag bags.”

Genuine giggles felt impossible to muster, but they offered each other feeble smiles.

“I really spiraled, didn’t I?” Valencia tucked her lower lip into her mouth.

Heather brushed Valencia’s forearm with her fingertips but did not allow the caress to linger. “We both did. Yours was just on a broader scale.”

“Global.”

Heather inclined her head in recognition. “Even when you’re avoiding your problems, you don’t do anything half-assed.”

“No. That wouldn’t be on-brand.” Valencia’s expression was self-deprecating.

Heather put a pillow under her face to take the pressure off her palms. She wrapped both arms around the cushion and stared into the middle distance. “I shouldn’t have brought Hector to the hospital,” she declared without preamble. “He was a distraction, like you said. I needed to be there physically but not mentally, and he was the only person removed enough from the situation that I could do that. I was able to talk about something else - anything else - and I couldn’t pass it up because that little waiting room made me so antsy. The thing is, I already wasn’t alone before he tagged along. I had you. But once Hector came to keep me company, you didn’t have me. And that wasn’t fair. Paula was keeping watch; I was checking out, and there you were, dealing with a lot of this by yourself. I should’ve realized that before, but it didn’t register until after everything. I’m sorry.”

Valencia blinked and inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry, too. I took it all too far. The vlogs, the way I’ve been acting around Hector, how I’ve treated you -- everything.”

Their eyes met. For a moment, the events prior to the crisis hung in the air between them and they paused, motionless. Valencia fought to avoid the memory of their kiss, but she felt the contact as vividly as if it were happening again in the present.

Heather gulped. Her response was so faint that Valencia read her lips to verify the words. “It’s okay. I forgive you. Do you forgive me?”

Valencia’s eyes burned but she held Heather’s gaze. She nodded as her vision swam.

“Good.” Heather turned to the side, concealing her features from scrutiny.

Their conversation tapered off once more. The night descended in earnest, leaving their surroundings shrouded, and Heather briefly departed to turn on the courtyard lights. When she returned, she pulled the jacket onto her shoulders and rubbed the sleeves.

“It feels weird. This is the first time since it happened that the silence hasn’t made my skin crawl. Living with Rebecca, there’s kinda always a lot of racket, y’know? She’s making a reference, cooking up some scheme, going on a rant, or nagging me to try something new. It never stops. So, when it did, when the house was actually quiet...” Heather shuddered.

“It was a constant reminder that she wasn’t around,” Valencia supplied, “like her absence left a void of white noise and emptiness.”

“Yeah.” Heather jammed both fists into the pockets of her shorts.

Valencia drew her knees up to her torso. “I kept wanting to go outside, thinking it would help me breathe, but for some reason it only pissed me off.”

“Why?”

“I hated that nothing was different. The weather was good. The people passing by were busy with their own business. The planet just kept spinning the same way it always does. For all of them, existence was the same, but for me, everything was a single sentence away from falling apart. It made me want to scream.”

Heather joined Valencia on the second lounger. “I don’t think any of us would’ve blamed you if you had.”

“I was just afraid that, once I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop.” Valencia watched as a few stars winked into visibility beyond the glow from the city. “The only thing I wanted, all this time, was for my life to go back to how it was. But now that our routines are picking up where they left off, and we have to go back to work, I don’t know if anything will ever be truly normal.”

Heather mirrored Valencia’s seated position and draped her elbows over her kneecaps. “I think what we consider ‘normal’ changes with us. There’s not a set standard. I mean, think about the years before Rebecca. Would literally anything that’s happened since have been ‘normal’ to you back then?”

Valencia’s mouth twitched. “Not at all.”

“Exactly.”

They adjusted by degrees until they were angled toward one another, almost facing directly but not quite.

“Heather?”

“Yeah?”

“I really need a hug.”

Heather glanced up to see Valencia looking so weary and forlorn that she couldn’t help but give her a sympathetic pout. “Fine. The sad Tweety Bird eyes are wearing me down. Scoot over here.”

Valencia gratefully did so, and Heather draped an arm across both her shoulders. Heather’s cheek rested atop Valencia’s hair. Though Valencia attempted to keep her voice steady, fresh tears spilled along her cheekbones. “This friend group... what we have... it’s what matters most to me. I can’t lose that now. I just can’t.”

Heather tightened their embrace while the bridge of Valencia’s nose pressed against her neck. “I know,” she whispered. “Neither can I.”

Valencia succumbed to helpless weeping for the second time that day. The warm droplets fell onto the skin pressed flush with her own. Heather’s breathing became uneven yet she somehow maintained her stoicism. Her knuckles rubbed Valencia’s shoulder blade in absentminded ellipses.

The curtain over one of the double doors folded away and Paula appeared on the other side of the glass. Heather awkwardly raised her free hand in greeting.

Paula jerked a thumb in the direction of Rebecca’s bedroom then lifted folded hands beside her cheek, pantomiming sleep. Heather nodded in response. She pointed to Valencia and dragged a fingertip down her own jaw to indicate crying. Paula moved her index fingers back and forth in a gesture that clearly said, ‘Should Mama Paula step in?’ Heather subtly shook her head and rested a palm over her chest. ‘I’ve got this.’ Paula gave an encouraging salute. She held her fists at ten and two while mouthing, ‘I’m going home.’ Heather waved. Paula blew them both a kiss even though Valencia wouldn’t see and then departed.

“Is she heading back to her house?” Valencia mumbled.

“Who?”

“Paula.”

“How--”

“I could feel you moving,” Valencia explained. “Also, Rebecca would’ve come outside if she knew Heather hugs were available for a limited time only.”

“She does appreciate a good cuddle,” Heather acknowledged.

“We’ll offer her a rain check for tomorrow since she missed this one.”

“Deal.”

They let the tension leave their muscles while the sounds of distant cars and a neighbor’s muffled music drifted through the night. Valencia leaned away just as Heather looked down at her. She noticed how Heather’s gaze drifted to her lips and found herself similarly distracted. Her pulse quickened and Valencia shivered with fear and longing. Heather’s expression changed in a way that brought about a stomach twist of guilt, a frown-forced-into-a-smile that Valencia had learned to recognize as the instant personal feelings were put on the back burner in favor of sympathy.

“We should probably go back.” Heather let her arm fall to her side and stood.

Valencia worked to ignore the tingling left behind by Heather’s touch. “Okay.”

They went inside but only took a few steps before their movement stilled again. Heather glanced in the direction of the bedrooms while Valencia reluctantly peered through the darkness at the front door.

“Does it make me a coward if I really want to put off going to my apartment for one more night?”

Heather hooked her thumbs in her pockets. “Is it pathetic that I’m so tired my vision keeps going out of focus but I don’t think I can sleep in my bed?”

They answered one another in unison: “No.”

Heather walked backward and held up a hand. “Wait here.”

She returned a minute later with two pillows from her room, a sheet, and a quilt. Heather dropped a pillow on the right side of the couch and, after brief hesitation, let the sheet pool beside it. She put the second pillow and quilt on the chaise.

Valencia accepted the unspoken invitation and stretched along the sofa. “Thank you.”

Heather shrugged. “We can navigate the revised definition of normal tomorrow, right?”

Valencia gave an affirmative nod as she slid under the sheet. “The world can wait just a little longer.”

Heather spread the quilt across her legs and gripped a corner of the cloth in her fist. “Cool.”

Valencia situated herself more comfortably. A familiar blend of outdoor smells rose from the satin case when she nestled against it. She circled her arms around the pillow and relaxed. Valencia crossed the line between waking and dreaming without marked delineation, but her return to full awareness was easy to pinpoint due to its catalyst.

Heather was stuck in a nightmare.

The sharp gasp roused Valencia first, followed by a nearly imperceptible whine. She twisted to squint through the gloom. Heather’s body twitched and her fingers clenched by her sides. Her face angled into the moonlight, and Valencia thought for a second that she saw moisture glistening on the ends of her eyelashes.

Valencia’s mouth formed her name without sound. ‘Heathe...’

She untangled herself from the sheet and knelt on the floor. Her hands flitted through the air with uncertainty. The simple act of drifting off had been so difficult for Heather lately that Valencia hesitated to wake her, but leaving her tormented by a troubled mind was out of the question. Valencia tucked the quilt more securely around Heather’s restless form, cocooning her, and ran a soothing palm over her furrowed brow.

“Everyone’s all right. Just rest. It’s all right. We’re all here.”

Heather’s features smoothed and her breathing slowed to a steady pattern. Valencia sighed with relief. She waited on the ground a while longer, just to make sure no further distress arose. Heather remained serene, mercifully restful after an exhausting ordeal.

“Why do I get the sense you’d be angry your subconscious made you vulnerable?” Valencia joked in a gentle murmur. She shook her head and returned to her spot on the couch. “Well, for what it’s worth considering you’re too fast asleep to hear this right now, I’ll keep your secret safe.”

#H+V FF #CEG Writing by Me #Helencia #Heather x Valencia #One more to go!

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quarterfromcanon · 5 years

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Verity

Heather & Valencia - Femslash February - Day 28 - Advice [3,834 words]

Heather’s eyebrows lifted but she held still when Valencia brushed back her curls and attached the earpiece. “Surveillance headsets again, huh? Doesn’t really say ‘small, intimate affair,’ does it?”

“Just because this is a vow renewal and not a wedding doesn’t mean I’m willing to stop being efficient and detail-oriented,” Valencia replied while pushing her corresponding receiver into place. “I have a reputation to uphold, even when the event is for someone I know. Especially then, so prospective clients will see that I maintain my standards at all times. Besides, Paula is one of our closest friends. I want this to be perfect for her.”

“Totally. She deserves it,” Heather concurred. “I’m down for pulling out all the stops. I just wanna check that you’re not making more stress for yourself when you don’t have to.”

“I think Paula and I have established a balanced arrangement.” Valencia nodded toward the mauve binder on the table. “Elegant but not elaborate. A touch of class, but still cute and fun.”

“Okay, if you say so. I know you’ve both put a lot of hours into brainstorming.”

“Yes, we have.” Valencia plucked up the mic with one hand. She caught the neckline of Heather’s shirt between the thumb and forefinger of the other.

“You know, the last time I helped you with one of these, you let me put the headset on myself,” Heather commented as Valencia made adjustments.

Valencia secured the speaker near Heather’s heart. “Last time, I wasn’t revisiting a familiar activity.” She lightly grazed one fingernail over the sensitive skin below the fabric before withdrawing both hands from Heather’s chest.

Heather held her gaze and smirked. “It’s a nice change, but I’m glad that suit has stayed the same.”

Valencia angled so the fitted pants could be admired in profile. She winked. “I thought you might like to see it again.”

“Solid guess.” Heather clipped Valencia’s microphone for her and smoothed the cloth around it.

“I haven’t used these in a while.” Valencia regarded the equipment with concern. “We’ll need to try them out.”

Heather rested her forehead against the hollow of Valencia’s throat and spoke in a hushed tone while she activated the nearby speaker. “Assistant Coordinator to Head Coordinator. Test -- one, two, three.”

Valencia rolled her eyes even as her fists disappeared in Heather’s hair. “You are the worst. I meant checking over distance. March it outside, wise-ass.”

Heather kissed Valencia’s nose before following orders. “I’m on it.”

She left through the back door and strode parallel to the house until she reached the edge of the property.

Valencia’s voice traveled over the comm. “Okay, that’s probably far enough. Can you hear me?”

Heather turned to peer into the distant window at Valencia, who was standing on tiptoe as she strained to keep sight of her girlfriend. “All clear,” Heather verified, “but there’s a tiny woman in black watching me from my kitchen. She’s either a lost stagehand or an easily distracted robber. I think I’m gonna have to investigate.”

Valencia’s tongue tucked into her cheek and her eyebrow arched. “Are you going to be like this all day?”

Heather tried to appear contrite, but she knew Valencia could detect the poorly-suppressed grin when she spoke. “Sorry. Serious now.”

“Mm-hmm.” Valencia crossed her arms, unconvinced. “I’m going to need your word of honor.”

Heather strolled back across the lawn. “Have you and Rebecca been watching period pieces again? Nobody in this era talks like that.”

“Somebody does now.” Their eyes met when Heather drew closer to the glass, and the slight edge in Valencia’s tone softened. “It’s just really important to me for everything to flow smoothly.”

Heather came back inside and crossed the floor. She wove her fingers between Valencia’s and clasped. “Like you said, everything’s under control. Plus I’ll help with whatever you need from me. Best behavior. I promise.”

Valencia freed one hand to access her mic. “Head Coordinator to Assistant Coordinator?”

Heather played along and did the same. “Yeah?”

“I'm thankful you agreed to be part of this. I know I get tightly-wound when I’m working.”

Heather’s eyes flicked appreciatively over Valencia’s pantsuit. “You can growl commands in my ear any day.”

Valencia blushed in spite of herself. She gave Heather a peck on the cheek. “Good to know.”

___

Valencia carefully slid the curler free from the cluster of auburn locks. She stood back to let Paula get a proper view of herself in the mirror. “There. All set.”

“You girls are gonna spoil me,” Paula declared while she turned her head from side to side. “I can’t remember the last time styling my hair didn’t involve trying to brush my teeth and yell to Tommy down the hall at the same time.”

Valencia conducted a final scan of her friend’s pale pink dress. “Well, today you won’t have to handle a thing except carrying that bouquet and reading your vows. Rebecca has your index cards.”

Paula caught Valencia’s palm as she smoothed her sleeve. “Thanks again for helping me make it all happen. I’ve actually had a lot of fun cooking up plans with you.”

Valencia beamed. “Me, too.”

Paula extended her other hand to reach for Heather. “And thank you for helping me do my makeup. You saved me from a dangerous combination of jitters and mascara.”

Heather ran her thumb over Paula’s knuckles with a small smile. “Anytime.”

“All right, come here. We’re doing a group hug.” Paula tugged them both toward her.

Heather’s and Valencia’s arms overlapped when they leaned into the embrace.

Valencia rested her chin on Paula’s shoulder. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

Paula tightened her grip affectionately. “Back at ya, honey.”

The door flew open and Rebecca bustled into the room. “Okay, Father Brah’s waiting in Hall A. Josh has the tech rigged and ready. I think we’ve g-- Ah! Perfect timing. Hold it right there. I’m coming in.”

The girls giggled and maintained the pose so Rebecca could throw her arms wide to envelop them all.

Valencia disengaged with obvious reluctance. She gave the hem of Heather’s blouse a tug to get her attention. “We’ve got a few last-minute concerns to take care of, but we’ll see you in there. Rebecca, you’ll hold down the fort?”

Rebecca saluted and replied in a voice that sounded like several British regions blended into one. “I won’t let you down, ma’am.”

Heather and Valencia stepped into the hallway and shut the door behind them. Valencia blinked rapidly as her mid-event agitation kicked back into gear. “She’s doing accents now.”

Heather’s lips turned up at the corner. “And you were worried about keeping me in line.”

They veered to the right and spotted Brendan with Tommy waiting outside the bathroom for Scott. Brendan fished something metallic out of his inside pocket. He turned it over between his fingers.

Valencia changed course and zipped past him, snatching the item out of his possession without breaking stride. Brendan jumped but did not fight the confiscation. The blazing look he received was enough to stop him in his tracks.

“Not on your mom’s special day,” Valencia snarled through gritted teeth.

“It’s a Swiss Army knife!” Brendan protested with his hands lifted in surrender. “I just needed the toothpick!”

Valencia shot him a parting skeptical glare and turned on her heel. “Tell it to the hand, Silas Botwin!” she called when she swept away.

Tommy offered a belated greeting. “Hi, Heather. Haven’t seen you since RenFaire. Cool necklace.”

Heather gave them a jokingly formal nod. “The Brothers Proctor. Yeah, um, thanks. I’ve gotta go before she finds out Brah’s going to rap about Jesus or something.”

Heather jogged to catch up with Valencia.

Brendan waited until she was out of earshot before he nudged Tommy. He mimicked his brother’s voice. “‘Cool necklace.’ Good going, Buttface. Real suave.”

Tommy narrowed his eyes. “Heh heh heh. That’s funny. You know what else would be funny? If I told Valencia about that Scottish knife in your sock.”

“It’s a sgian-dubh and it’s ceremonial - you know that - but fine, all right, point taken.”

The final preparations were made without further incident. Invitees from the law firm and warehouse settled in foldable chairs while Josh piped instrumentals through a strategically hidden sound system. Valencia’s attention was divided in at least half a dozen directions as the start time approached, verifying that all participants were following their cues, but Heather managed to guide her to a spot in one of the front two rows.

The next classical selection played. Entrances at either side of the hall swung wide. Darryl and Mrs. Hernandez held the doors to the left so Paula could step through them. Hank and Sal from the barbershop quartet cleared the way for Scott on the right. Brendan moved forward to extend an arm to his mother and Tommy escorted his dad. The spouses met in the middle of the room and their sons took seats nearby.

Valencia calmed somewhat now that the first phase was well underway. Her hand found Heather’s and rested on her knee. Father Brah said a few words about Paula and Scott, touching briefly on their history as parishioners and his increased familiarity with them through counseling. He led a short prayer - devoid of improvisation, much to Valencia’s and Heather’s relief - and then introduced the guest speaker: Rebecca.

She rose from her chair beside Valencia to stand before the temporary podium. Heather could see her hands trembling when she adjusted the microphone. Rebecca unfolded a piece of paper and smoothed it flat.

“Um, hi, everyone. I thought a lot about what I would say today. As all the people in this room already know, I’m Rebecca Bunch. But, to Paula, I’m Cookie. I call her Mama. Brendan and Tommy have actually been really cool about that, so, thank you both for letting me be an honorary member of your family.”

She found the boys in the front row and smiled. Tommy inclined his head. Brendan thumped a fist against his chest.

Rebecca laughed and continued. “In the time since she became my best friend, Paula has helped me learn so much about love. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of vampire romance novels and rom-coms from the last four decades, but the best way she has taught me true love is by example. Her heart is so full and so fierce that, when you have her in your corner, it's like no problem is truly insurmountable. I know Scott feels the same, and that’s a major part of what brings us here today. Scott and Paula got married a little shy of two decades ago, and they’ve experienced a ton of life events together -- good, bad, and everything in between. Some of the problems would have broken a weaker bond, but they are standing before us now stronger and more committed than ever. Their journey kind of rattled a revelation loose in my brain recently. This is the sort of thing that seems obvious in retrospect, but it’s hard to genuinely understand until you encounter it in real life. As much as I’ve always loved sweeping fictional romances, and I probably always will, love is a lot more than that first choice we see in stories. It’s the ongoing choices we make, day after day, to stick by each other through all the years that follow. Voluntarily Ever After. It’s saying, ‘I can get by on my own, but I will save room for you. When I face the highs and lows of this life, you’re who I want by my side.’ The new engraving on their wedding bands commemorates that lasting devotion. Paula, Scott, do you wanna tell everyone what’s written inside?”

Scott’s hands clutched Paula’s while he recited the first half of the inscription. “In any universe...”

Paula beamed tearfully and squeezed his palms. “... I’d pick you.”

Rebecca blinked to contain her emotions before turning back to the assembled guests. “To wrap this thing up, and in honor of a couple that is embracing something new built on an old foundation, I decided to share a traditional reading with a fresh twist. In keeping with my proclivity for fairy tales, this passage comes from one. My dearest friend deserves only the finest in the world, so I’ve chosen a quote from the most epic fairy tale of all time: the Bible. The beginning should ring a bell; after all, why veer from a classic? But I couldn’t resist making a few little personalized tweaks and, well, you’ll understand in just a sec.”

She flipped her paper and took a deep breath.

“‘Love is patient. Love is kind.’ It is being ready to do the work. It is passing through the Ring of Fire. It is heart-to-heart conversations over late night pie at your kitchen counter. It is somehow turning evening game shows and study sessions into couple bonding activities. Love is agreeing Thelma & Louise Brad Pitt is still the dreamiest Brad Pitt. It is making memories in moments big and small, whether it’s finally taking a vacation or playing board games around your dining room table at home. Love is finding your own path. When you travel that path, and find the one you love, you should hold on tight.”

Valencia’s fingertips curled against Heather’s hand. Heather returned the pressure and shifted across her seat until their sides touched. Though they kept their attention on Rebecca’s speech, both indulged in a private smile.

___

The ceremony was a vision of pastels and mood music, but the reception provided a burst of rich colors and myriad sounds. Rebecca tested pretzel flavors from her new shop in addition to the catered cuisine -- a table beside which Nathaniel lingered beyond plausible explanation given that he wasn’t even holding a plate. Darryl and Maya reenacted their viral dance from YouTube. Tim and Jim fenced with sword picks from the hors d'oeuvres platter.

Once everyone made their first trip through the buffet line, Josh turned down the current track from his set list for an announcement. “All right, party people, let’s make some noise for the West Brovinas!”

Paula stole a glance at each Gurl Group member in turn but politely set aside her cutlery to listen. The men assembled in front of her table to croon “Bright Was the Night.” Though being the center of attention was clearly not something Paula enjoyed, the visible displeasure faded over the course of the performance as she looked into Scott’s eyes. His sincerity was disarming. When the final note faded, he stepped forward with hat in hand. Scott bent low, lifted the boater to hide their faces, and spoke words only his wife could hear. Paula pulled him in for a kiss while onlookers clapped.

Heather witnessed the highlights of the evening, but following Valencia took up every spare second in between those moments. They made countless circuits around the rented space until she started to regret her choice of footwear. When cake was served, all that remained was general socializing and celebration. Heather used that opportunity to still Valencia’s frenetic pacing with a caress along the underside of her elbow.

“What is it? What’s wrong? Did I miss something?”

“Yeah, the part where you take a breath and have a good time with our friends.” Heather wrapped her arms around Valencia’s middle. “Babe, it’s almost the end of the night and you haven’t sat down once since we left the other hall. I don’t even know where our food is because we ate on-the-go and put it down somewhere.”

“If I don’t stay focused, nothing gets done,” Valencia said defensively. “That’s what being a party planner is. It’s like being a conductor or a director. I have to know how everything fits together and see it through from start to finish.”

“Which you’ve done, hella thoroughly, as always. There’s a gap in the schedule until cleanup. For the sake of our arches, can we just slide these shoes off and take an actual break?” Heather protruded her lower lip.

Valencia tried to glower, but it wouldn’t stick. “All right, but my shoes are staying on. I don’t think they mopped very well.”

Heather shook her head with a chuckle. “Close enough. So, are we gonna talk about the other reason your Boss Lady mode is cranked to eleven tonight?”

Valencia broke eye contact and stepped backward. “What do you mean?”

“This job is important because you care about the guests of honor, but you’ve also got something to prove.”

Heather studied Valencia’s features while the latter fidgeted.

“No more than usual.” Valencia feigned interest in a centerpiece.

“Bullshit.” Heather’s assertion was gentle, her stare unwavering. “This is your first time running the show on your own since Beth.”

Valencia glanced in Heather’s direction but could not lift her gaze. “It’s fine. I don’t need her.”

“No, you don’t,” Heather agreed, “but it’s understandable if something feels off and you’re nervous about the transition. You were together for, like, nine months. As partners in more than one sense of the word. Nobody’s expecting you to just bounce right back from it. Sure, you’ve moved on relationship-wise, but other pieces are still settling into place. You and I both know there are a bunch of little recoveries that come with separating your existence from someone who was part of it for that long.”

“It sucks.” Valencia stamped her foot. “I understand it’s my fault for mixing personal and professional, but I don’t want what happened to cost new business if clients don’t trust me to juggle responsibilities. You wouldn’t believe the competition out there or how fast they can spread any gossip that gives them an advantage. All it takes is a single seed of doubt.”

Heather held Valencia’s face between her palms. “You were always really good at this. That was true before, and I think it’s even more so now. Look around. Everything in here was all you. People are having an amazing time. That photographer’s getting kick-ass photos for your website. No one is going to dispute that you’ve got the necessary skill set. The only one left who needs to believe that is you.”

“Easier said than done.” Valencia sighed. “You know how my mind works. Even if strangers don’t say bad stuff about me, some part of me is convinced they will.”

Heather shrugged. “Then prove them wrong. The real voices and the ones you imagine. Also, in the meantime, go easy on yourself. The two of you had a rhythm. You just need a chance to get your groove back.”

Valencia’s mouth twisted. “How you would you advise I do that?”

Heather removed Valencia’s earpiece and mic, then her own, and pocketed them all. Valencia reached for the comms instinctively but let the theft go uncontested. “Maybe,” Heather posited, “what you need is to get your groove on.”

Valencia raised her eyebrows. “That’s your solution? ‘The Cha Cha Slide’ will cure my insecurities?” Her expression shifted and her head tilted to the side. “Wait, are you asking me to dance?”

“That pretty much sums it up, yeah.” Heather rocked back and forth on her feet. “Do you want to, or...?”

Valencia did not reply aloud. She simply led Heather by the hand toward the dance floor as a slow song began.

“Okay, I’m reading that as a ‘yes.’” Heather grinned playfully.

Valencia’s lips twitched and her wrists crossed behind Heather’s neck. “Just shut up and hold my hips.”

Heather complied with a laugh. She nuzzled Valencia’s hair and closed her eyes.

“It’s funny,” Valencia remarked, “but when you, Josh, and Scott were working on the music, I was pretty sure I heard that you get a rash from ‘all the Ed Sheeran flavor of shamelessly sugary crap.’”

“Oh, I do,” Heather insisted without missing a beat. “I’ll be covered in hives within the hour, so, let that be on your conscience.”

Valencia snorted. “It’s very romantic of you to endure a ballad-based allergy for me.”

“I know.”

Valencia winced and groaned. “I might reconsider your earlier suggestion about the shoes. These heels hurt like hell.” She leaned against Heather’s shoulders. “What are the odds of you carrying me to your car when all this is over?”

“Considering my back problems continue to exist? They aren’t in your favor. If you’re hurting that much, I’ll try because I love you; just know we might not get very far.”

They stopped swaying. Heather gulped.

“Wow,” Valencia murmured. “You said it. We haven’t... That was the first time.”

“Yeah.” Heather's eyes widened and her jaw clenched. “Shit.”

Valencia pulled away enough to see her. “Did you not mean it like that?”

“I meant it,” Heather confirmed, “but no pressure at all. That was super early. I won’t be pissed if you’re not there. We were literally talking about everything you’re dealing with, like, two minutes ago. It was just... a fact.” She lifted her shoulders helplessly.

Valencia coaxed Heather forward until their foreheads touched. She traced her thumbs over Heather’s cheekbones and along her jaw. “If you’re too fast, then so am I, because I’m completely in love with you.” Valencia exhaled shakily. “I’d argue that ‘early’ depends where you’re counting from, because we’ve already been there for each other through a lot. Will other people think it’s quick? Does it retroactively call my past two relationships into question because this one is so natural by comparison? Honestly, I’ve realized that I don’t give a damn. I spent enough time pretending to feel things when I didn’t or not feel them when I did, and I’m done. This is the truth and I’m not apologizing for it.”

Heather enfolded Valencia in her arms. They kissed through the end of the ballad but took no notice. Midway through the next song, they resumed dancing. Valencia’s cheek rested on Heather’s biceps while she observed their friends and the circular lights that intersected on the floor. Heather saw Maya at a table watching them, both hands over her heart and mouth forming what looked suspiciously like the word ‘goals.’ Heather’s shoulders shook at the exaggerated reaction but that did not prevent a pleased flush of heat from spreading down her back. She cradled her girlfriend closer and breathed in the smell of her perfume.

“You were right,” Valencia mumbled against her skin. “Dancing actually did make things better.”

Heather smiled. “I surprised even myself with that one.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” Valencia teased. She slid her index finger up to the tattoo of Wilbur the Robot and traced a heart over his chest. “I’m talking about my outlook too, though. At least for the moment, I’m feeling less overwhelmed. Carrying on with planning by myself isn’t a defeat; it’s a comeback.”

Heather brushed her lips over Valencia’s forehead. “I’m glad we agree.”

Valencia relaxed and heaved a contented sigh. “Whatever else happens from here, I’ll be able to face it. I have everything I need.”

#H+V FF #CEG Writing by Me #Helencia #Heather x Valencia #BRB GONNA DO A VICTORY LAP AROUND THE HOUSE #Oh my gosh #I MADE IT #Thank goodness #I set a goal for myself that I wanted to finally finish this within a month after the end of Femslash February & I *just* made the deadline #I'm planning on making a post later to kinda get out all my happy celebratory feels but for now in these tags all I can say is #AAAAAAAAAH #I'm so pleased I can sit back and see all 28 together in one place - COMPLETED.#BEST FEELING

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quarterfromcanon · 5 years

Text

Warm Whispers

Heather & Valencia - Femslash February - Day 26 - Interruptions [1,683 words]

Heather woke to the sound of scratching at the bedroom door. She rolled over and buried her head beneath the pillow. "Somebody needs to explain Daylight Saving Time to these cats." The clawing persisted. "It's too early, Perry. Mom gets an extra hour." Esperanza responded with a series of meows, each louder and higher than the last as she tried to rouse one of her mothers from their bed.

Valencia stirred. She scattered a few kisses between the straps of Heather's tank top and pinched her hip under faded sleep pants. "It's okay. I'll take care of them. I need to water the plants anyway."

One of Heather's eyes opened and peered through the pale blue of the unlit room. She felt the springs rise when Valencia left the bed. Esperanza and Shadow mewed their impatience while circling every step Valencia made. They were called to the kitchen with drowsy coos and kissing noises.

Heather could hear the cascade of cat food falling into bowls. Shadow's recognizable corner-of-the-mouth crunch followed shortly thereafter. The sink faucet burst into life with the turn of a handle. A tumble from the tap echoed in the watering can.

Valencia hummed softly as she waited for the plastic container to fill. Heather listened to the tune and sighed. Her weary limbs seemed to grow heavier against the mattress, urging her to fall into a deep sleep once more, but that voice in the quiet morning air possessed a more alluring pull.

Heather swung her legs free from the sheets. She padded to the bathroom entrance and took her robe off the hook. Her feet located a pair of slippers near the wall before she departed for the space beyond the open threshold.

A few minutes later, Valencia entered the living room to find their couch occupied. She glanced at Heather -- cross-legged, disheveled, alert -- and arched an eyebrow. "What happened to that additional hour you needed?"

"I decided I could find a better use for it."

"Uh-huh," Valencia acknowledged with faux skepticism. She braced a hand against the wall to lean over one plant and tend to another. "Watching me do household chores is entertaining for you this early in the day? Doesn't seem eventful enough to warrant the effort."

"You don't have my vantage point."

Valencia smirked. She stooped under the pretense of checking the soil. Her oversize Class of 2006 t-shirt inched higher with the bend. Heather straightened her spine and gripped her ankles in white-knuckled fists.

"I can sense that, you know," Valencia remarked without turning from her work. "Your stare is burning the back of my neck."

"Funny, you're picking it up a lot farther north than you should be."

Valencia's laughter was low and throaty. "I can feel it there, too."

Only two small succulents remained, each on a wooden ledge fixed to the wall behind the sofa. Heather eyed them both then turned to observe Valencia's approach. Out of every possible technique that could have been utilized to complete the task, Heather did not predict the method Valencia elected to employ.

Each movement was languid and deliberate. She straddled Heather's lap and reached for the final plants. Valencia's t-shirt grazed her girlfriend’s face. Heather resisted the urge to burrow deep into the fabric but her fingertips sought purchase on the strong thighs that squeezed her own. Valencia held a plant and the watering can in front of herself, tending to the greenery with practiced indifference to their physical contact. Her facade of detachment did not even flicker when Heather's nails left pink lines from knees to pelvis.

Valencia restored the glass pots to their proper places. She overturned the spout above Heather's head. The can was already empty. "Hmm. Guess I finished it off." Her palm lowered and she allowed the container to slide to the floor. "But something tells me I didn't really need that to get you wet."

Heather tried to roll her eyes, although the dismissal lost its edge as she folded back Valencia's nightwear to access her stomach. "I wanna call foul for such an obvious line, but you're also not wrong so... well-played."

"The opportunity presented itself and I couldn't resist." Valencia's fingers plunged into Heather's curls and her muscles trembled under the trail of kisses winding over her abdomen.

"I can understand the temptation," Heather mumbled against Valencia's ribs.

She guided the material away inch by inch with no particular concern for brevity. When the shirt finally fell from view, Valencia's body was covered in nothing but shivering pinpricks and the soothing attention of Heather's hands.

Valencia pushed Heather's robe off her shoulders. They shifted as one to stretch along the couch, but then Heather froze. "Goddamnit."

"What's wrong?" Valencia followed her line of sight and giggled. "Hola, Za-Za."

"Really?" Heather demanded with a half-hearted scowl at their indifferent feline. "This is the place you choose for your post-breakfast nap?"

Valencia traced Heather's clavicle. "She wants to be near our mutual favorite person, so I can't say I blame her."

"Yeah, well, I would really appreciate it if she expressed that love by letting me enjoy unaccompanied quality time with her Mamá." Heather widened her eyes meaningfully, but the cat neither acknowledged the non-verbal signal nor showed any inclination to obey it.

Valencia's teeth found Heather's jawline and nipped lightly. "Why don't we go try the bedroom instead?" She climbed off Heather's lap then held out her arm.

Heather accepted the offered assistance with a parting head shake at willfully oblivious Esperanza. Valencia stole Heather's robe to wear on the walk and hugged her middle from behind. She dragged her mouth across any skin she could reach while they shuffled in a two-part train formation toward the room they had vacated a short while ago.

When they reached the doorway, Heather stopped mid-stride. "Nooo..."

Valencia peeked over Heather's shoulder. Shadow was curled atop the groove in the sheets on Valencia's side of the mattress.

"This is starting to feel like a deliberate takedown," Heather groused. "It’s lucky for them that they're both so cute."

"Mmm, very." Valencia rested her forehead against Heather's back. "You know, maybe our problem is that we're searching for a horizontal flat surface. There's no rule saying we need one."

Heather twisted toward Valencia, careful not to disrupt their established embrace, and slipped both arms inside the open robe. "Interesting proposition. What's the support?"

Valencia's upturned lips brushed the curve of Heather's neck. She sidestepped while maintaining her grip and slammed them both against the wall.

"Neither of them can see us here," Valencia declared while her fingers crawled down Heather's torso.

"How're you so sure?"

"Baby, I used to live on social media. I know how to work my angles." Her urgent touch bypassed the waistband of the pajama pants.

Heather's breath hitched. "In more ways than one," she joked.

Valencia winked.

They melded together with open-mouthed kisses and wandering caresses. Much to Heather's relief, there was no further interference from the other occupants of the house. She rolled her hips against Valencia's forearm. Heather moaned when sharp teeth ghosted along her pulse point. Her knee bent involuntarily and Valencia bore down on her thigh.

Unseen by the lovers in the hallway, Shadow's and Esperanza's ears flicked at the escalating noises that cut through the silence but the intermittent cries and passionate murmurs did little to disturb their slumber.

Valencia adjusted her weight for support as Heather slumped forward. Heather nuzzled her hair until they both caught their breath. Too exhausted to remain where they were, the couple returned to the bedroom hand-in-hand. Shadow was still occupying the same spot, enjoying the rays of the rising sun. Heather gently attempted to nudge her aside and make room but Valencia caught her elbow.

“She can stay.”

Her palms eased Heather onto the mattress in a reclined position. Heather obeyed the subtle pressure against her shoulders and smiled when Valencia settled on top of her. Valencia’s cheek rested over Heather’s heart. Her arms wound around her waist, and Heather mirrored the hold while rubbing circles at the base of Valencia’s spine. The robe loosely fell over them both. It made a suitable replacement blanket in lieu of the covers their cat monopolized.

Heather crooked a finger under Valencia’s chin. She tilted her into a lingering kiss. When Heather’s mouth moved to the sensitive skin behind her ear, Valencia checked the time on her charging cell phone. “We’ve still got about… seven-and-a-half hours before the service starts at Sacred Heart, which means six-and-a-half before actually needing to be out the door to get a pew with my family on time, and five-and-a-half before I’d have to start getting dressed and ready…”

“Do you wanna tell me why you’re doing clock math right now?” Heather’s teeth tugged on Valencia’s earlobe.

“I think you know.”

Heather’s laugh breezed over Valencia’s cheek. “What about your sun salutation?”

Valencia cupped Heather’s neck to bring her closer. “Well, I’m already running a little late to start at dawn.”

“Oops.”

“Yeah.” Valencia closed her eyes with a sigh. “But I’m sure I can still fit it into the schedule between now and the lunch hour. Meanwhile, I’m finding this pretty restorative on its own.”

“Wait a minute.” Heather pulled away enough to look her in the eye. “You’re gonna let me disrupt your Sunday routine to stay in bed and fool around for the rest of the morning?”

Valencia lifted her eyebrows. “Thanks for joining us, Professor.”

“And now you’re ‘no shit, Sherlock’-ing me about it.” Heather leaned forward until their foreheads touched. “What’s gotten into you?”

“There’s a pretty easy answer to that question, but I’ve already exceeded my quota for obvious lines.” Valencia coaxed Heather’s hand between her thighs. “What do you say, Miss Self-Proclaimed Badass? Do you want to break a few rules with me?”

Heather’s expression brightened when Shadow hopped off the bed and departed for the living room. A mischievous grin spread across her face. She flipped Valencia onto her back in the vacated space and hooked a leg over her hip. “C’mere, rebel.”

#H+V FF #CEG Writing by Me #Helencia #Heather x Valencia #GUESS WHO IS FINALLY BACK?#(Me.)#I'm so relieved!!!

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