Chapter Text
From the moment they landed in London, Beatrice felt uncomfortable.
Even if it wasn't one of the most heavily surveilled cities in the world, the fact that she was once again in the same city as her family left a sickness in her stomach that she wasn't ready to deal with.
It wasn't until they got out of the city that the anxiety began to settle, the long stretches of time on the motorways eventually gave way to single lane country roads.
The clouds hung heavy in the sky, the threat of snow seemed ever looming.
They passed through villages and small towns, the entire time Ava's face was pressed close to the glass, eyes bright with wonder.
Christmas lights hung from the buildings, illuminating the streets as people hurried by, finishing the last of their shopping.
It was the 23rd of December and with everything they had been through the realisation that it was practically Christmas seemed to finally begin to dawn on them all.
Ava more so than anyone else.
"Oh my God, look at these places." She murmured in awe. "Are we staying here?"
"Not quite." Lilith spoke up. "We've got probably another hour to go."
The further North they went the better, they were heading to a market town in Shropshire. Lilith's family had a cottage nearby and she had it on very good authority that nobody would be there.
("It's too… Cosy. I believe it was an impulse buy as part of a whole 'disconnect from the world’ thing my father wanted to try.")
If all went to plan, it would be just out of the way enough for them to lay low for a few weeks, to evaluate their next steps for the future ahead.
"An hour?" Mary groaned. "It's barely afternoon and it already feels like it’s getting dark."
If Beatrice was right, it'd be virtually night time by four, and while she had never been to the county that they were heading to, she knew that their winters were worse than what she experienced back in London.
She didn't fancy the idea of navigating country lanes in the dark as it was, throw in the added prospect of icy roads and it just made Beatrice want to get to their destination as soon as possible.
--
Ava gasped as they stood before the gates of the cottage, eyes wide and any notion of helping with their bags totally forgotten.
As Beatrice reached her side, Ava reached out blindly, patting Beatrice's arm until she finally grasped Beatrice's hand.
"Oh my God it's like I'm in the fucking Holiday!"
Despite the biting cold already numbing her fingers, Beatrice's blood sang with the warmth of the touch.
Still, she couldn't help the confusion that made its way to her face.
"The Holiday? Also, language."
Ava tore her gaze away to look at Beatrice. "Kate Winslet? Good old Cameron D?? Jack Black?!"
Beatrice blinked at her.
"Oh my God you need to watch it, Cameron and Kate do a house swap because apparently that's a healthy way to deal with your problems and Cameron ends up in a cottage just like this!"
She seemed more excited than usual as she took in the small cottage amongst sprawling fields dusted in white.
Beatrice wondered if Ava had ever seen snow in her life.
Before she could ask, Lilith breezed past them, breaking the moment.
"You could help, you know." She directed this at Ava as she made her way towards the door.
Ava dropped Beatrice's hand and sighed heavily.
"Fine. Fine." She flashed Beatrice another smile and darted back towards their van.
Beatrice watched her go before she followed Lilith into the cottage.
The cottage was dark and there was definitely a layer of dust that seemed to cling to every surface.
"It seems colder in here than it does outside." Beatrice commented idly.
"I can't imagine that anybody has been in here for a year at the very least." Lilith called from the living room.
Beatrice followed her voice into the room and took in the furniture.
There were no traces of Lilith or her family that she could see. No photographs on the walls or hints of personality.
It felt more like Beatrice had walked onto a movie set.
Lilith busied herself with checking the chimney, muttering quietly under her breath.
"Is there heating?" Beatrice asked.
"Yes. But I wasn't kidding when I said it was rustic. We will need the fire too. Let me and Mary worry about getting that sorted." Lilith rose to her feet. "There are three bedrooms, one has a queen, the other is a king… The third is more of a child's room."
"I'll take the sofa or floor." Beatrice said. "I'll leave the bedrooms to you and the others."
It was easier to remove herself from the equation, from the living room she had a relatively clear view of the front door and the huge windows gave a great visual of anything going on outside.
Currently she could see Ava and the others making their way inside.
"Seriously, watch The Holiday, this place is a dead ringer for it." Ava's voice trailed through the cottage.
Lilith rolled her eyes and kept her focus on Beatrice. "There should be spare blankets upstairs. Any luck the heating should be fine once we've left it running for a while but until then hot water may be a no go."
"I'm guessing it'll be too optimistic to assume there will be any food here?" Mary asked.
"Naturally."
Mary sighed. "Fine, how far from that village are we?"
"Ludlow? Twenty minutes give or take. There's a supermarket there too."
"Alright, give me ten minutes to stretch my legs and I'll head out. Who's coming with?"
"I'll come." Camila offered.
"I suppose I should too. Knowing you, you'll get lost trying to get back." Lilith added.
Mary glared at her but didn't rise to the jab, turning away to explore the cottage.
Ava threw her jacket onto the armchair as she dropped onto the sofa and began to tug her boots off, pausing to look at Lilith and Beatrice. "Genuine question, will my feet be freezing if I take these off?"
Beatrice nodded. "Very much so. I'd wait until we get the fire going."
"Got it. TV?"
It was a small, old model that seemed to be there more as an afterthought than anything else.
"No channels, there's a dvd player and some movies upstairs though." Lilith explained.
Before Ava could jump on that, Beatrice interrupted her.
"I know it's easy to forget, but we are still on the run. This place will buy us enough time to regroup and recover but you still need to focus on your training."
The way Ava's face fell was surprisingly disheartening to Beatrice. Ava's shoulders dropped and she cast a long look towards the space in front of the windows.
"Yeah." She agreed quietly. "No rest for the wicked, right?"
Mary and Camila both looked over to Beatrice at Ava's words, even Lilith looked a little more put off than Beatrice would have expected by Ava's tone.
A few seconds passed and Ava jumped back to her feet, grinning in a way that could only be forced as she glanced at each of them in turn.
"I'm gonna check out the backyard." She announced and drifted past them before anyone could say otherwise.
Beatrice watched her go.
"What the fuck just happened?" Mary asked.
"Language." Beatrice and Lilith replied absentmindedly.
"Whatever. We're going to go before it gets any darker and you…" Mary looked to Beatrice and gestured to the direction Ava had gone. "Deal with that."
"Deal with it?" Beatrice asked.
"You're the Ava expert." Mary shrugged. "She listens to you."
"I wouldn't say that…"
"Oh, I would." Lilith interrupted. "You two have a whole… Vibe."
Mary snorted. "Yeah that's one way to put it. We'll be back in a bit, good luck."
Beatrice was soon left alone in the cottage. She entertained the idea of trying to get the fire going but pushed the idea aside in favour of something more important.
Namely, Ava was still outside.
In what was definitely freezing temperatures without her jacket.
Beatrice grabbed the still warm leather and made her way into the kitchen.
The backdoor was thrown open and Ava was leaning against the wall just beside it, her arms were folded loosely across her chest as she stared up at the sky, her hood pulled up over her head.
"Hi."
Ava smiled, but didn't look away from the sky. "Hey."
It felt painfully awkward and Beatrice couldn't explain why.
"Here." Beatrice held out Ava's jacket. "I honestly don't know how you're not freezing right now."
This time Ava did look at her and when she smiled it reached her eyes.
"Oh, I fully can't feel my body right now." She tugged the jacket on and shoved her hands into her pockets.
"What are you actually doing out here?" Beatrice asked.
Ava shivered, though she tried to disguise it as a shrug. "Thought it might start snowing."
Beatrice stepped outside and joined Ava by the wall. "Is that really it?"
"Pretty much."
Beatrice couldn't help but feel that there was more to it than that. That her comment about them still being on the run was responsible for Ava's shift in mood.
"We won't just be training, Ava." Beatrice said softly. "We'll have time to relax properly."
Ava hummed. "Merry Christmas, right?"
"Indeed."
"Well, I'd still choose being on the run with you guys than being back in Saint Michael's so…" Ava shrugged again. "It's whatever."
Beatrice felt like a bit of an idiot for not making the connection sooner.
It was Ava's first Christmas since she'd received the halo, and based on what she had shared about her years in the orphanage, Beatrice couldn't imagine that the Christmases there were anything special.
"It's fine." Ava dismissed before Beatrice could ask a follow up question. "We should head inside right? Try and get that place warm enough that we won't freeze to death in our sleep."
It was a deflection, one that Beatrice was willing to allow for a while.
"Yes, we should also see if the beds are made too."
Ava followed Beatrice back into the house, closing the door behind her.
"How many beds are there?"
"Three, I've already offered to take the sofa so you'll need to decide amongst yourselves who will have them."
Ava hummed thoughtfully but otherwise remained quiet.
--
"Hey Lilith?" Camila asked as they wandered down an aisle. "What did you mean by Ava and Bea having a vibe?"
Mary tried to hide her laugh behind a cough as she trailed beside her with a basket.
Lilith offered a weak shrug. "Just that they have a whole… Energy? You two have noticed it right?"
"You mean how sometimes they're staring at each other so hard it looks like they're about to kiss?" Mary offered.
"Oh my gosh, you guys see that too?" Camila exclaimed. "I thought it was just me."
"Most of our time has been spent together in a van." Lilith said. "I think that the only people who haven't noticed are Ava and Beatrice."
Mary did laugh then, thinking back to all of the times she had been driving through the night and glanced in the rear view mirror to see the pair asleep, Ava using Beatrice's shoulder as a pillow.
The two seemed to share so many quiet moments and it had been clear, to her at least, that something was building between the pair.
It was reassuring to know that Mary hadn't been the only one to notice either.
"I've seen them hold hands a few times." Camila admitted.
"In the middle of the night, right?" Lilith asked. She paused to throw some food into the basket. "I've woken up and seen it too."
"Do you think they would do anything about it?" Camila asked.
"I know Beatrice is a genius and everything but I genuinely don't think she'd do anything unless she knew Ava felt the same." Mary explained.
"And Ava is most definitely not a genius." Lilith sighed. “She’s oblivious.”
"They'll work it out." Camila said.
"And if they don't, we lock them in a room together." Lilith shrugged.
"Extreme, but we'll keep it in mind." Mary said.
As far as Mary was concerned, they had the next few weeks here. There'd be plenty of time for the pair to have time alone together.
Plus, it was Christmas.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but there's a movie section here right?" Mary asked.
"Yes, why?"
"Just… Just take me there."
--
It was strange to think of this cottage as belonging to Lilith's family. Even from what little information Ava had about Lilith's family, the building just didn't seem to fit with what she had pictured.
Beatrice had pretty much left Ava to her own devices while she worked on getting the fire going.
The pipes in the walls groaned, which with only her and Beatrice in the place was more than a little unsettling.
But beyond the creepy noises and the cold, it was a beautiful cottage.
"You found the blankets then." Beatrice noted as Ava made her way back into the living room.
"And you got the fire going, good job."
Ava dropped the blankets onto the floor and knelt down beside them. Beatrice was nearby, still by the fire.
Beatrice smiled. "It wasn't as bad as I thought."
Ava smiled back and set about splitting the blankets up. There was already one on the back of the sofa that Beatrice could use and Ava had found some spare pillows so that the floor wouldn't ruin her own back.
"The others can have the beds." Ava said. "You all deserve to have a proper rest. I can take the floor."
Beatrice's smile faded quickly as she shook her head. "No, you take the sofa Ava -"
Ava cut her off with a soft laugh. "We both know we can argue about this all night. How about we alternate?"
Beatrice closed her mouth and nodded. "Fine."
Ava pulled off her boots and shifted closer to Beatrice so that she could stretch out in front of the fire.
"I like this place." Ava decided. "It's cold and it's probably going to feel super cramped when the others are back but… It's cosy."
"I can tell." Beatrice replied. "Is it just because it makes you think of that movie?"
"A little." Ava said. "You're going to think I'm stupid."
Not that it's ever stopped Ava from speaking every thought that flashed through her brain before.
"Try me." Beatrice replied softly.
They shifted in their positions slightly, enough that they were almost facing each other.
"So, St Michael's, watched a whole lot of TV there, you already know that. Have you ever seen the shitty, sorry, crappy Christmas movies they show?"
"Not for several years, but yes."
"They're all the same really, girl who doesn't really care about Christmas ends up in a small town, meets a cute boy who shows her the magic of Christmas and they fall in love." Ava pulled her knees up to her chest. "But I kinda loved them, you know? Christmases at St Michael's weren't exactly great. There were never presents or anything like that."
It sounded dumb as she explained it, even dumber that they were in the middle of being on the run from all sorts of threats and yet here she was, gloomy over it being Christmas.
"This place is making me think of it more. It's dumb, but every time I look at that window I think about how good a tree would look there." Ava shrugged. "Not that I would know, I don't actually remember ever having a tree? We must have though… I just don't… I can't picture it anymore. I don’t remember."
Beatrice blinked several times as she registered Ava's words.
"You've never had a real Christmas."
"Damn." Ava forced herself to laugh. "When you say it like that it really sounds pathetic."
"No, Ava -" Beatrice shifted closer. "I didn't mean for it to sound that way."
"Mom tried, I know she did."
Beatrice's hand came to rest on her shoulder. "From what you've told me about her, I know that to be true."
Ava smiled at the touch and shook her head, pushing all thoughts of her own experiences to the side in favour of focusing on the girl beside her.
"What were your Christmases like?" Ava asked.
Beatrice glanced towards the flames, her face had shifted back to its carefully neutral expression. "Hollow."
Okay so not the only one lacking in fond Christmas memories apparently.
"It was different when I was a child, I wasn't aware of what was going on around me. But as I grew older I began to see it for how forced and emotionless it was. How my parents used it to show off their wealth or to showcase our 'perfect' family for my fathers potential voters."
Beatrice sighed and used her free hand to push the hair from her face.
"Not really a magical time, huh?" Ava asked.
The corners of Beatrice's lips quirked up slightly. "Not particularly, no."
"If we survive this whole thing… Do you think we could try the Christmas thing?" Ava asked. "I think we should have nice memories to look back on if we make it to old age."
Truthfully even thinking about the possibility of growing old seemed wrong to Ava.
Before she could spiral down that path, Beatrice turned to Ava fully and smiled, there was a smudge of soot along her cheekbone.
"I think I'd like that." Beatrice replied.
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
Ava grinned and her gaze dropped to that smudge once more, she saw Beatrice raise an eyebrow.
"What?"
Ava laughed. "You've got a little… Hang on."
She reached forward and pressed her thumb to Beatrice's cheek and wiped softly at the smudge.
Beatrice's eyes never left hers and sure, Ava might be being a little dramatic but she couldn't help but feel a little breathless at the way the embers from the fire reflected in Beatrice's eyes.
Okay, it was getting too hot in here now.
"You had a little soot…" Ava explained.
She flattened her palm against Beatrice's cheek and her thoughts immediately shot back to that day at ArqTech and how similar the moment felt.
Ava had forgotten how to breathe that day too.
Beatrice's hand came up to cover Ava's, instead of pulling her hand away, Beatrice pressed down and turned her cheek ever so slightly into Ava's touch.
Holy shit?
The front door slammed open.
Holy shit.
In between the mini heart attack that Ava suffered as a result of the sudden noise, she was vaguely aware of both her and Beatrice jumping to their feet and spinning to the source.
Mary, Lilith and Camila stood in the doorway, each with bags in their hands as all of their gazes met.
The silence was almost conical.
"Oh hey, you got the fire going!" Camila grinned.
Mary and Lilith looked between Ava and Beatrice, each of them looked suspiciously amused.
"Been busy?" Lilith asked.
"Not particularly." Beatrice replied. "Heating should be running and we have the fire."
Mary hummed and fished something out of a bag and tossed it towards Ava. "Don't say I never get you anything."
Ava scrambled to catch it, almost tripping into Beatrice's side in the process but managed to get a firm grip on the object.
"Oh my God-"
"Ava."
"Oh my dog." Ava corrected at Beatrice's warning. "Look Bea! It's The Holiday!"
She held up the dvd proudly.
Beatrice smiled indulgently. "Perhaps we can watch it after dinner."
"We'll see." Mary said. "I'm tired as fuck man and I really just want to eat, shower and sleep."
"Tomorrow is good." Ava agreed. "It's like a two hour movie anyway."
"Right, we're going to put this all away, figure out what we're going to cook. Mary, you can go shower first." Lilith said.
As Camila and Lilith walked towards the kitchen, Camila threw another look in their direction.
"Bea, you've got soot on your cheek."
--
When Beatrice woke up in the middle of the night, it was to whispers and flashing lights in the previously dark room.
She shifted as quietly as possible onto her side and was greeted with Cameron Diaz on the TV, wrapped up in winter clothes and trying to navigate a snowy country lane with suitcases in tow.
The volume was turned down low and subtitles flashed across the screen.
Only a few inches in front of her, sat Ava, knees drawn up to her chest and draped in blankets as she watched the TV.
Beatrice had never seen her so focused.
She thought about saying something, even reaching out to touch the girl but ultimately decided against it and rolled onto her back to stare up at the ceiling.
"I think we deserve to have nice memories to look back on if we make it to old age."
Ava’s words had rarely left Beatrice’s thoughts since she had spoken them. She was right after all.
They did deserve to have nice memories. There was more to them than their responsibilities as Sister Warriors. Plus, the future was nothing if not uncertain, what if they didn’t make it to old age?
Ava had already died once.
Beatrice closed her eyes. The answer was painfully clear.
--
When Mary was dragged from her sleep by the sound of the door to her bedroom opening, she instinctively reached for one of her shotguns, only to falter when she saw Beatrice entering with a confused Lilith and Camila in tow.
A quick glance at the clock on the bedside table almost had Mary reaching for the shotgun again.
“I swear to God someone better be dying. It’s four in the morning.”
Camila dropped face down onto the bed while Lilith folded her arm across her chest to glare at Beatrice.
“We need to celebrate Christmas.” Beatrice said.
“That’s what you woke us up for?” Lilith asked incredulously. “I’m not above strangling you, you know.”
Beatrice, more than used to Lilith’s threats, merely continued. “Ava hasn’t had a proper Christmas before and I think that she- we, deserve to actually enjoy ourselves for once.”
Lilith and Mary shared a look while Camila curled up next to Mary, apparently torn between going back to sleep or contributing to the conversation.
They should have figured that this would be to do with Ava.
“Okay.” Mary yawned into her hand. “Sure, whatever. We’ll do Christmas.”
“We can do gifts.” Camila said.
“Or mistletoe.” Lilith added under her breath.
Beatrice cleared her throat and glanced towards the window. “I would like to surprise her with it, if possible.”
“Hence the emergency meeting at, may I repeat, four in the morning.” Mary said.
Lilith walked around to sit on the edge of the bed. “How do you propose we get her out of the cottage long enough to do anything? Please keep in mind it’s Christmas Eve and everything will be closing early.”
“We can say we’ll do a secret Santa? Each draw names from a hat and then while we take care of getting a tree and everything we can send Ava into town with someone.” Camila suggested in between several yawns.
“That… Could work.” Beatrice agreed.
“Wonderful.” Lilith clapped her hands together. “Now can we please talk about this when it’s morning?”
Mary laughed under her breath, Lilith was grumpy when she hadn’t slept and it was endlessly entertaining.
“Right. Of course, sorry.” Beatrice offered a small smile. “Thank you.”
None of them moved as Beatrice left the room. Each of them listened to the quiet footsteps fade away and only when they disappeared entirely did Lilith let herself fall back against the mattress.
“We’re going to rig the secret Santa so that they get each other, right?” Camila asked.
Lilith scoffed. “Well obviously. ”
--
As Beatrice made her way back into the living room, the only source of light she had was from the dying embers of the fire and the barely there pulse of the halo to guide her.
Ava was fast asleep on her stomach, blankets piled around her.
Beatrice hesitated by the sofa before she crouched down and carefully pulled the blankets over Ava's body.
As she settled back down and drew the covers over herself, Beatrice looked up towards the ceiling.
It probably wasn't going to be much, but one way or another, she was going to give Ava a Christmas to remember.