Runner's Rest
Jesse Gartland's blonde hair fell around her face as she stopped not far
from the house Akari had told her about. When she had heard Akari tell
her about what happened Jesse hadn't believed it, but after some effort
she confirmed it was true. The tall, graceful athlete walked up the
driveway slowly, taking in the trees and the odd peacefulness of the
place, then walked up to the door, her blue eyes narrowed in
determination.
Jesse knocked on the door then waited, shifting back and forth in her
sweats. "Come in," the familiar voice called out, and Jesse opened the
door and went inside.
The cabin looked very homey, with a bed, a cradle and a stove, a fridge
off in the corner. It reminded one of a rustic home, even though you
knew the conveniences of big city life were only a call away. It was
almost the exact opposite Jesse would have expected of the person living
there, and she felt herself smiling wryly as she imagined the military
style home she had thought she was going to see.
"Congratulations," Ayla Roznovsky said with a slight smile, putting her
baby down in the cradle, "I understand you did well against the aliens."
"We all did pretty well," Jesse admitted, "but it was Akari who did it."
Ayla shook her head, a smile teasing the silver haired woman's lips.
"Having known Akari back then, I still find it hard to believe," she
said.
Jesse had to smile in agreement as she said, "She was a bit hopeless
when she started."
Ayla sat down on the bed, looking at Jesse thoughtfully. "So," she
finally asked in that soft Russian accent, "why are you here?"
"I...," Jesse started to open her mouth, then trailed off. Honestly she
didn't know what she was doing here.
Jesse found herself remembering all their races, all the competitions
they had. ON the track, on the water, out in the desert they'd fought
each other again and again, to the point that it grew comforting and
familiar having Ayla by her side. And then it stopped, and things never
felt quite so right again.
"Why did you go?" Jesse finally asked.
"You know why," Ayla gave her a look, "I was ordered to."
Jesse took a breath before saying, "Don't give me that. We both know you
could have fought it and won."
Ayla paused, meeting Jesse's gaze then nodded slightly, conceding the
point. "I could have," she admitted, "but I didn't."
"Then why...?" Jesse asked, feeling the frustration welling up in her.
When Ayla had dropped out of the triathlon, taking their final
confrontation away from her she had felt bereft... almost as if a member
of her family had died.
Ayla shrugged slightly, "Because once the race was over, it would have
to end."
Jesse blinked in surprise as she looked down at the other woman and
asked, "What do you mean, end?"
"Even if we tied again, somehow," Ayla looked up to meet her eyes, "we
couldn't have continued on much longer. One or the other would have made
it to the Satellite, and then it would be over." She sighed, "I just
ended it a bit sooner."
"No, we could have made it together...." Jesse sighed as she sat down
beside Ayla, taking her hands, "we could have done it."
Ayla gave her a searching look, then quietly said, "I'm sorry."
Jesse gave her a odd look, "I'm not used to you being this meek."
Ayla smiled suddenly, "Motherhood does things to you."
"I can imagine," Jesse admitted as she reluctantly looked away from Ayla
and over to the baby. It looked nice enough, as far as babies went. It
had the required fingers and toes and even better had Ayla's eyes, which
were staring up at her with interest.
Ayla gave her a impish look, "What do you think?"
Honestly Jesse replied, "She looks like you."
"Thank you," Ayla said as she picked up her now softly cooing child. As
the baby reached out curiously to Jesse she smiled and passed the baby
over, "Here."
"Eh?!" Jesse took the baby in her arms reflexedly, the little girl
looking up a her cheerfully. While part of her was scared stiff she'd
drop the child she found it oddly comfortable holding her, the little
one waving her hands cheerfully.
"Aglbt," the baby made a incoherent noise, seemingly fascinated by
Jesse's golden hair.
"Ouch," Jesse winced as the baby clutched her hair, grabbing at it with
one pudgy fist.
Ayla laughed softly as she said, "She inherited my grip, it seems."
Carefully she pried the little fingers free, the two women standing
close together.
"Ayla," Jesse murmured as she looked into her eyes, "that guy Akari said
you were with... is he really your husband?"
Ayla hesitated in carefully easing the golden hair from the clutching
fingers. "How did you know?" she asked softly.
"I didn't, but...." Jesse shrugged awkwardly, "I couldn't see you just
suddenly shaking up with a guy."
"He was the sperm donor," Ayla admitted as she finally eased the last of
the golden hair from the baby's grip.
"I'm glad," Jesse admitted as she carefully put the baby back in the
crib.
Ayla looked at her questioningly, "Why was that important?"
"Because if you were married," Jesse said as she pushed some of Ayla's
silver hair back, "I couldn't do this." With that she gently pressed her
lips to those of the slightly taller girl, feeling Ayla stiffen in
surprise then relax into the kiss.
Ayla gave Jesse a questioning look, "The rumors all said you didn't like
girls like that...."
Jesse blushed, "That girl who confessed to me?" As Ayla nodded Jesse
continued, "I know I didn't react well, but having a complete stranger
tell you they're in love with you is a bit startling...."
Ayla smiled, "I suppose so."
Jesse quietly asked, "So, you were interested?"
"Very," Ayla agreed as she kissed her again, lingeringly. "Another
reason I knew I had to go," she murmured to Jesse, "I thought I would
have to approach you eventually, and I was worried you'd say no."
"Not likely," Jesse laughed warmly, kissing her again.
"Aglblt," the baby noted cheerfully, waving her hands at the two women
kissing.
Ayla pulled back reluctantly, "Sorry, I need to check on her." Quickly
noting a full diaper she bundled the baby over to the table to be
changed as she sighed, "Sorry about this."
"I think I can get used to it," Jesse wryly noted.
Ayla efficiently changed the baby then set her down in the crib, then
turned to Jesse. "Does that mean," she smiled a bit nervously, "you'll
be sticking around?"
"You couldn't drag me away," Jesse smiled warmly.
End
Notes: While I enjoyed Battle Athletes Victory, I was very disappointed
with how the Ayla and Jesse plotline was resolved. In the first episodes
these friendly rivals seemed to simmer with tension as Akari's plotline
progressed, then suddenly Ayla was pulled out of the school. Her next
appearance, she's unexplainedly having a baby! WTF?! So, this is my
attempt to resolve that....
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