Tina observed her friends in amusement, then she looked down to the girl in her arms, who eagerly searched for lunch at her mother’s chest and latched on one breast happily. When the baby had consumed quite a lot, she kept on sucking at her mother. It caused Tina a bit discomfort, her breast was sore, and her nipple ached from the relentless effort.

Bette was perceptive to the slightest change of expression, she came around and massaged the blonde hair, “you ok, babe?”

“Um, yeah, could you get the bottle? It’s starting to hurt a little.” Tina whispered.

A small wrinkle in between her brows was enough indicator of how much it worried her. If they could have done it all over again, Bette would never let Tina convince her to carry their first child. She would do anything to spare her all the pain.

When the rubber nipple was brought to her mouth, the stubborn little girl refused to eat.

“Alright, you little pirate, buffet’s closed for business,” with a gentle sweep, Bette held her daughter up in her arms. She moved her hand up and down the girl’s back repeatedly to help her burp. Her voice was a bit berating, but her hands were careful. “Don’t hurt your mama, hmm? We love you so much, don’t hurt her, k?” She kissed the girl’s ear, and cooed her pleas. Her daughter babbled and gave her a big yawn in return. “Shhhhh… everybody,” she gestured the ladies to quiet down, “sleepyhead is getting drowsy.”

The bunch instantly abandoned their debate, circled around the couple to watch the baby curl in the safe haven of her mother’s arms and fall asleep. “You really got to give her a name instead of calling her pirate and sleepyhead.” Helena whispered beside the couple again.

Tina just grinned, and placed a light kiss on her daughter’s small curls. She noticed Jenny had been hesitant to approach the infant, as if the little baby had a self-destruct button hidden somewhere and would explode any given second.

A sleeping baby looked less intimidating than a hungry, crying one. Jenny mustered up her courage and put one finger on the chubby little hand. She awed in wonderment when the girl opened her big Bambi eyes again to look at her, grabbed on her finger, and stuffed it into her slobbery little mouth. “She is an angel.”

The women went quiet at the comment. There was no doubt about that. An angel from the purest land, a holy spirit, innocent, untainted, free. A rush of tingles invaded her eyes, Bette suddenly couldn’t believe this new life she held in her arms, so fragile, yet so strong, undoubting and trusting as she slumbered. The dark haired mother locked eyes with her wife, “Angelica.”

A similar smile rippled on the blonde woman’s face, she nodded, “Angelica. It’s perfect.”

Streaks of afternoon sunlight dribbled in from the gaps between curtains. They came from behind the two mothers, added a fairer color on their hair. Bette and Tina’s silhouette hovered protectively over their daughter, like shadow of wings. Helena blinked several times to absorb the picture. Dana sniffled a little. Alice leaned her back against Tasha who reciprocated the intimacy with silent promises. Shane couldn’t help but held Carmen’s gaze. Jenny, her finger still claimed by Angelica, understood something.

The past was not forgotten, Tina and Bette had been, always would be haunted by it, their struggles evident in scars and revisiting nightmares. But even once fallen, they would do anything to protect their little girl. Arms marked by battles and wars, and their own demons, became wings, to shield Angelica from whatever evil in this world. All of their friends, also would nurture, protect and take care of this much needed miracle.

Angelica might never know what her mothers had gone through, but that was not important anymore. What’s important, was that she would grow up knowing she had angels on her side.

The end