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Ever since Ava’s return to this realm, things have been rather peaceful. Beatrice and Ava were living in a small apartment a few minutes away from the Cat’s Cradle (though they would still show up daily), Yasmine was now a sister warrior in training (officially), and Lilith had even come back, seeking that familial relationship she once had with the OCS (they had accepted her with open arms after Ava explained what happened in the cathedral). So things have been happy and peaceful, or at least as peaceful as possible with Ava in existence.
It was around 6 pm at the Cat’s Cradle, Mother Superion was observing Ava while she sparred with Camila. Ava had just expertly dodged a kick without phasing and was about to land a blow to Camila’s shoulder when she had her leg swept under her and was subsequently pinned to the mat.
“Oof” Ava exclaimed, the wind knocked out of her lungs. "You okay?" Camila chuckled and offered Ava her hand to get up, “I think," Ava began "I think I’ll just lay here a while.” Ava said, closing her eyes as if to take a nap. “Camila, you can go. You did well.” Mother Superion stepped onto the mat as Camila nodded her thanks and then slowly walked to the nearby bench.
Mother Superion nudged Ava’s (whose eyes were still closed) leg with her cane. “Get up.” Ava groaned and rolled onto her side sitting up, then slowly staggering to her feet. “I know, I know, my tells are still too obvious, Bea tells me that all the time. I mean, if you think that was bad, I remember this one time whe-” “You did well today,” Mother Superion cut her off, “You’ve drastically improved from last week alone, I’m proud.” She gave Ava one of her rare half-smiles. Ava perked up at the praise, a grin on her face. “Thanks, Mom, I’ve really been working hard and trying my best to improve. Bea is a great teacher but sometimes she’s a little too soft on me so it’s nice to be able to spar with Camila and get your expertise on it. I don’t think I’d even be half the warrior nun I am today if not for you, I mean, you remember when I first showed up here and couldn't even phase through a wall that wasn’t even a meter thick”
As Ava rambled, she didn’t notice that the entire convent had gone dead silent. Camila stared at her from the bench while Bea had looked up from the tome she had been translating and now had a perplexed look painted across her face. The only sound was Lilith sniggering in the corner while looking at Yasmine, who was in utter shock. Even sister Dora and the nuns Ava had never bothered to learn the names of were staring at her. It wasn’t until she met Mother Superion's eyes, which were even wider than that time when she had overheard Ava calling Jillian a MILF, that she realized she must have said something wrong.
“What?” Ava asked innocently. Nobody dared speak. Ava was confused "What did I say?" It seemed that Mother Superion was too stunned to form words, so Lilith piped up. “You called her Mom!” She half-yelled from the corner while laughing her ass off.
Ava's face immediately flared a firetruck red as she thought back to what she had said. “Oh my god,” she muttered, covering her face with her hands. “I didn’t mean to, oh my god...”
Mother Superion closed her eyes and took a deep breath, regaining her composition. "Ava." She reached out and placed her hand that wasn't occupied by her cane on Ava's arm. Ava peeked through the small spaces between her fingers, seeing (for the second time ever) a soft expression on Mother Superion's face. "I'm sorry," Ava said meekly. "It's okay my child," Mother Superion said, moving to embrace Ava in a hug.
Ava was surprised that Mother Superion initiated the hug, it was usually- no, always- Ava who would start it and Mother Superion who would return it unwillingly. It was a few more seconds before anyone spoke again. "I think," Mother Superion took a shuddering breath, "that we have long since crossed that line and we have simply neglected to acknowledge it."
Ava let out a breathy laugh, wrapping her arms around Mother Superion’s torso.
Things are peaceful.
–
It was a late night about a week after the Mom incident, Ava and Bea were crashing at the Cat’s Cradle since it was long since dark and it was far easier to sleep there than have to walk back. Plus, Beatrice was still in the library doing what Ava so eloquently described as ‘cute nerd things’.
Ava was in Beatrice’s old room, preparing the bed to sleep in when she heard a soft knock on the door. “Come on in!” she yelled, her hands busy fixing a pillow.
Mother Superion walked into the small room and paused as Ava finished fixing (punching) the pillow. She cleared her throat, getting Ava’s attention. “Ava, I’d like to discuss something with you.” Ava turned and gave the nun her full attention. “You got it, what’s up?” Mother Superion motioned to the bed. “Could we sit?” Ava nodded enthusiastically before vaulting over the bed. Mother Superion waited for Ava to settle down before taking a seat to the right of her.
“What happened a week ago,” Ava slightly frowned, she had been teased mercilessly by Lilith since, though Camila thought the whole thing was adorable. “The mom thing?” Ava asked. “Yes, that. I’ve been thinking lately. I know you’re not a nun, and I have to admit, I’m not fond of you not having any real attachment to us anymore,” Mother Superion began, “And I know of your past, before us and I know you’ve aged out but you see I was wondering, because-” “Hey wait, rambling is my thing.” Ava smiled, allowing Mother Superion a moment to gather herself.
“Ava, I was wondering if you’d be willing to let me adopt you. In ceremony only, since, well, I’m a nun and you’re 20 years old now, but if you’d let me I’d still like to do this for you.” She finished. She then turned her gaze from her hands to Ava's face, trying to gauge her reaction, only to be surprised by the sight of the biggest smile she'd ever seen on the girl's face. Ava grabbed Mother Superion's hands, "Absolutely, that is an offer I would never turn down." She said, a smile still present on her face.
Once more, Mother Superion initiated this hug, but both of them poured their entire soul into it.
"What does Camila think about this?" Ava asked, knowing damn well Mother Superion had conferred with her about this.
"She's completely on board."
--
It was decided (by Camila) for the ceremony to be a small gathering in the gardens at the Cat's Cradle. Camila planned the whole thing, which she found to be a bit challenging since there's not really a preset for getting adopted by a nun who has murdered several hundred people (in the name of God of course) at 20 years old, so Camila just went out and bought a cake.
As penance for the fun poked at Ava over the Mom incident, Lilith had to decorate. Plus she could fly so she can get places that are high up, as opposed to Yasmine who tried her hardest, but she's short.
While the other nuns decorated and planned, Camila put Beatrice on Ava duty. All Ava duty entailed was keeping Ava from accidentally injuring herself, spiraling, lighting things on fire, and the like, all of which commonly went hand in hand.
Ava lay in the garden with Beatrice staring up at the blue sky with its sparse accompanying clouds. Ava's head was resting on Bea's stomach as they both pointed out what shapes they thought the clouds best resembled.
"That one is a rhino," Ava said pointing to a cloud that bore no semblance of a rhinoceros. "I don't see it." Bea frowned. Ava shifted to lie next to Bea to see from her point of view. "Oh, you gotta turn your head."
Bea turned her head, her body staying relatively in place trying to see this rhino, she was about to say something when could see no possible rhinoceros in the sky when Ava pointed out another cloud.
Camilla glanced over at them, a satisfied smile on her face. Nothing was on fire and Ava was at peace so that was a win in her book. She was about to go back to her task when she heard someone calling her from the nearby outer building.
"Psst! Camilla!" Mother Superion whisper-yelled, motioning for Camilla to come to her. Camilla walked towards her inquisitively before being yanked into the building when she got close enough to Superion.
"Oof." Camilla let out. "What's going on?" she asked the older woman. "What if Ava doesn't really want this? I mean, she's always been a free spirit what if she doesn't want to have any commitment to the church- to me? Especially this way. And I treated her so horribly when we met."
Out of all the possibilities for today, Mother Superion spiraling was not, in fact, on Camilla's bingo card.
"Take a deep breath," Camilla said, breathing in and expectantly waiting for Mother Superion to do as well. It took a few seconds, but she breathed in and then out heavily. "Listen, if Ava didn't want to she wouldn't. She's more than proved that over the years. This is something mutual, both of you want this. I know it's scary and kind of an odd situation but that's all we do around here so I would expect nothing less."
Camilla held Mother Superion's shoulders as the older woman nodded, still breathing deeply.
Mother Superion glanced out to where Ava and Bea were talking about how a cloud looked like either a horse or a dog. Ava wasn't spiraling so neither should she.
Mother Superion nodded once more at Camilla. "Okay."
"Good, come on now, we're just about done setting up." Camilla offered Superion her hand and she took it.
--
The courtyard of the Cat's Cradle was decorated with Camilla's grand theme of pink and green giving a more 'flowery foresty vibe' as Camilla had explained when she talked to Lilith about the gathering in detail.
While it was a small gathering, nobody was short a smile as Camila stood in front of the two women and delivered a plaque with the words 'Mother Superion, mother of one Ava Silva.'
Lilith would never let anyone know but she smiled too.
Yasmin sobbed uncontrollably. Happy tears of course, but she just thought it was so beautiful and moving.
Ava and Mother Superion embraced in a long hug, both of them having tear stricken faces when they pulled away.
Everyone was incredibly happy for Ava, who had finally found the mother she claimed she was destined to have, and everyone was also incredibly happy for Mother Superion, though her devotion to the church was as strong as ever, Ava was the daughter she had always wanted.
Ava turned to Bea and Camila. "Can we eat cake now?" She asked tearily.
--
It took Ava several years to get comfortable referring to Mother Superion as her mom, though that was never something that was expected of her. Mother Superion was happy with it and even happier when Ava asked her to walk her down the aisle when her inevitable marriage to Bea took place 3 years after she came back from the other realm.
The walls of both the Cat's Cradle and Ava and Bea's home were full of photos of Ava and Mother Superion, tokens of the familial bond that had been years in the making.