#kymaup

[fratboykate]

So what's the KYMAU reunion like when Yelena gets back from Russia? The first time Yelena sees Ri again? Awkward or easier than thought?

Can I just say…no one does drama or angst or heartache like you and I just love you for it. The suffering is real. How do Kate and Yelena ever find their way back to one another? Poor Ri, getting abandoned like that 😭 Yelena just peaced out without telling them. K&Y’s little email exchange breaks my heart.

---

Love how toms whole argument each time has been "we fucked". Also laughing at the idea of Kate and Tom sleeping together quite regularly and her dropping his petty ass as soon as yelena comes back into the picture. How does it go down when he realizes she's in New York again?

---

You do know how to bring the drama! I love it! So does Tom think he’s got a proper shot again now that yelena is out of the picture (for now...) what’s his reaction to when she comes back?!

///

This is another prompt mega-combo. Here's 7k of Yelena coming back from Russia and how that all goes down.

---

Yelena sits by the small oval window, her eyes fixed on the vast expanse of clouds stretching out across the horizon. Her mind is a whirlwind of thoughts as she reflects on the recent events that have upended her life. The people she met and the progress they made together to bring positive change to Russia and beyond fill her brain. Under Yelena's steadfast guidance, the legal department at EcoShield Russia evolved into an unstoppable force and their victories were becoming too prominent to ignore. They were suddenly at the forefront of successful Russian environmental advocacy, championing and winning battles for causes like protecting landowners' rights to grow forests on lands listed as agricultural. This once-illegal act, previously met with hefty fines and land seizures, was now allowed thanks to Yelena’s work. It had been an arduous battle, but her unyielding determination led them to triumph. Yelena repeatedly took the government to court and unexpectedly began amassing rare victories for environmentalism. However, her success came at a steep price.

Mere days after her last win, the authorities labeled Yelena a "foreign agent," accusing her of engaging in "subversive activities" aimed at "harming Russia." False charges of espionage loomed ominously over her, and the government sought to swiftly apprehend her. Thankfully, an ally within the police force alerted her organization, giving them precious time to arrange her escape. In a daring operation, they whisked Yelena away to the Russian-Finnish border, where she crossed over to safety, narrowly evading capture. It was a close call. That single phone call spared her from execution or, at the very least, many grueling years of imprisonment at a hard labor camp.

In Yelena's absence, the government held a hasty and unjust trial, stripping her of Russian citizenship. Fortunately, also being an American citizen spared her from statelessness, but this ruling meant she could never return to her motherland. The NGO she had devoted herself to, the organization that had become her life, was subsequently targeted in a brutal raid. EcoShield was labeled an "undesirable" and "extremist" entity, accused of “interfering with the legislative process”, and after severe government pressure, they were ultimately forced to dissolve. It was an unfair end to the work they fought so passionately for.

As Yelena gazes out at the billowing clouds, her thoughts are filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. She escaped the clutches of an oppressive regime, but what she lost in the process was immense. As a result of her hurried departure from Moscow, Yelena was unable to return to her apartment, leaving behind all she owned, every ounce of the life she built, and everything she cherished. Currently, her only possessions are what she had with her at the office that day — a wallet, a backpack containing her laptop and work necessities, her phone, and the clothes on her back. She spent uneasy days in Finland, waiting for the American Embassy to issue her a new passport. It was her lifeline, the document that would carry her back to the familiarity of the United States.

Yelena and Kate were...in a better place. A visit to New York was mentioned in passing several times, but no concrete plans had been made.

Yelena explicitly intended to honor her commitment to the organization and fulfill her two-year contract before contemplating her next move. The sacrifices she made when she left the city were driven by her dedication to EcoShield and the cause they championed. She had to see this through. Now, less than nine months later, Yelena finds herself on a plane back home. The circumstances surrounding her return may be far from ideal, but Yelena has faith in the promise of this new chapter.

"Ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. We are beginning our final descent into New York City. On behalf of the entire crew, I would like to welcome you to your destination. We hope you had a pleasant flight with us today. As we approach the…"

Yelena fixates on the skyline that emerges from behind the thick clouds. She closes her eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath.

Here we go.

---

Kate paces anxiously in the bustling "Arrivals" area of JFK, her eyes darting between the carousel where the luggage of Flight 847 arriving from Helsinki starts appearing and the door through which passengers emerge. While antsily chewing on her fingers, she unintentionally ruins the expensive manicure she got the previous night. Her sole focus now is spotting Yelena in the throng of people. Kate needs to make sure she doesn't miss the blonde because Yelena has no idea she should be looking for Kate.

While Kate and Yelena hadn't explicitly discussed Kate coming to the airport, Kate knew the exact time of Yelena's arrival. With a quick Google search, she found the flight Yelena was on.

At some point, while she tracks the eight-hour flight, Kate decides she needs to be there when Yelena lands. Anything else would feel wrong. But Kate reminds herself to remain composed, to stay strong. She's not going to become emotional. She's here solely to pick Yelena up from the airport. That's it. Nothing more.

As Kate's pacing intensifies, the tension becomes almost unbearable. Just as she feels on the verge of bursting…there she is. Kate hasn't seen Yelena in eight months, three weeks, and two days. And now...there she is. That’s Yelena, walking to the exit, wholly unaware she’s being watched. It takes a beat for Kate to snap out of her trance and realize she needs to move her feet if she has any shot of catching Yelena before she hops into a cab.

Clumsily dodging people through the crowd, Kate speedwalks in Yelena’s direction. Just as Yelena is about to reach the doors and disappear in the chaos of the sidewalk, Kate musters the courage to call out her name.

"Yelena."

Yelena could recognize that voice anywhere. She stops in her tracks and her head whips around. She doesn't know the source of the familiar pitch, so she looks in every direction.

"Yel."

Kate calls out once more. Confused, Yelena scans the area until she finally pinpoints that the sound is coming from her left. She turns, and...there she is. There's Kate, speedily approaching with a bright smile.

Kate promised herself she wouldn't become overwhelmed, but the way Yelena looks at her, as if she's the most precious thing she’s ever laid eyes on, breaks that resolve. A wide, borderline cartoonish smile spreads across Kate's face. This is already going nothing as planned. She realizes that since her intention to "keep cool" has gone awry, then she should at least keep it in check otherwise. Whatever you do...don't touch her.

Kate closes the distance and her arms instinctively wrap around Yelena's neck, pulling her into a tight hug. FUCK. There goes that plan too.

Yelena drops the small rucksack she carries with the bare essentials she bought to survive for a few days in Helsinki and embraces Kate in return, their bodies finding solace in each other's presence.

They stand there, anchored by the door for what feels like an infinity. This is a real coming home. Annoyed passengers and families navigate around them as they try to enter or exit the area. Eventually, Kate regains her senses and takes a step back, attempting to reclaim her composure and don a more stoic demeanor. She tries to pretend that the effusive outpouring didn't just happen. She must salvage some of her dignity.

"Welcome to New York. I hope your flight was enjoyable.” Kate manages to utter in her most professional, corporate-speak style.

Yelena chuckles softly.

"Thank you?...It was long but good."

"I...uhm...my car is...garage. Yeah. It's in the garage. Parked. There." Kate stumbles over her words, feeling flustered.

Yelena nods.

"Okay."

Kate starts walking and Yelena follows closely.

"You didn't have to come. Thank you...but you didn't have to." Yelena expresses with undeniable gratitude.

Kate stops abruptly and turns around so fast that Yelena nearly collides with her. Overwhelmed by the rush of emotions, Kate's need to embrace Yelena takes hold anew.

"You could've died. I could've never seen you again." Kate whispers into Yelena's ear, her emotions betraying her.

Yelena wraps her arms around Kate a second time.

"But I didn't. I'm here." Yelena leans back to look at Kate reassuringly. "I'm here...and I'm not going anywhere."

"Ever?" Kate asks with trepidation.

"Never." Yelena affirms, her gaze steady and unfaltering.

They stare at each other, their eyes conveying millions of unspoken things. After a long beat, Kate steps back, the intensity of the moment giving way to a mix of relief and anticipation.

"Traffic's going to be a nightmare if we don't go." Kate half mumbles, attempting to regain her composure and shift the focus back to practical matters.

"Yeah." Yelena agrees with a touch of humor.

Kate, still holding onto a tinge of vulnerability, doesn't step ahead of Yelena this time. Instead, they walk side by side toward the parking lot, and quiet settles between them. This is a testament to the unassailable bond that’s weathered the storm.

---

As they make their way back to the city, the atmosphere inside the car is heavy with a comfortable silence. The half-hour ride back is not awkward or tense. They're content to be together in the same place. It's just...silent. They're both lost in their thoughts, unsure of where to even begin.

"You want food?" Kate randomly poses the question as they drive down the freeway.

"I'm not starving, but I could eat. I could at least use something to drink."

Kate hastily crosses four lanes of traffic to catch the exit that is a few hundred feet in front of them, causing Yelena to reflexively grab the door handle tightly. Cars honk aggressively at them.

"We can't eat if you kill us first, Kate Bishop." Yelena facetiously chastises her. Kate grimaces, realizing what she’d done.

"Sorry." Kate looks at the road then nervously bites her lip. "It's been a while...since you said my full name...It's been a long time."

Kate glances at Yelena, who smiles at her and then looks away.

"I missed it."

Kate bites the inside of her cheek in an attempt to ensure her smile doesn't take over her entire face.

"I missed it too."

As they exit the freeway, Kate spots a mediocre chain restaurant and pulls into the parking lot. It's not the best option, but it'll do.

---

Minutes later, Kate and Yelena sit silently, staring at the menus in their hands. Kate abruptly closes hers and looks at Yelena.

"She doesn't know you're here." Yelena looks up, sees the seriousness in Kate's eyes and closes her menu too. Kate starts rambling. "I haven't told her. I didn't know how this would go, so I wasn't sure what to say anyway. I didn't want to get her hopes up and then have..."

Yelena's hand reaches out and lands atop Kate's.

"It's fine. You did the right thing."

"Yeah. Yeah. Okay."

"A week ago, I was halfway around the world. Now I'm here. It's a lot. I get it. I don't want to rush you or her into anything. We can take our time, figure it out, and then we can fill her in if there's anything she needs to know. There's no rush. Like I said, I'm here and not going anywhere."

"Only because they basically ran you out." Kate adds, slight bitterness in her delivery. She quickly catches herself. "Sorry. That was mean."

"I deserved that. And you're not wrong. I'd still be in Moscow if that hadn't happened...But I'm here now. Whatever the circumstances, I'm here now and that's not going to change."

"Promise?" Kate probes timidly and vulnerable.

"I promise."

Kate nods. The only way she can avoid Yelena's intense stare is to hurriedly turn back to her menu, pretending to read it to hide her emotions. Yelena smirks and follows suit, picking up her menu as well.

---

They eat quietly, the primary sound at their table being that of forks clinking on the plates. The bits of small talk they do make are trivial and forced, like they're avoiding the elephant in the room. "How was the weather in Helsinki?", "How's your mom?", "How was the food at the hotel?". These questions are irrelevant, merely placeholders for the actual conversations they want to be having. The weight of unstated words circles the air, and Kate can feel it pressing down on her. They both know what needs to be said, but neither dares to speak it aloud.

Yelena tells Kate over dinner that she’s booked a dingy hotel room for a couple of weeks. Yelena is now unemployed and technically homeless, so a middle-of-the-road traveler's motel is the best she can do. Kate feels a pang of hurt for some reason. She didn't expect Yelena to stay with her; they never discussed it. In theory, she knew they weren't there yet, but it still stung. Yelena is back but staying at some random place. They practically lived together for the last month Yelena was in New York. Even though the blonde still rented the AirBnB down the hallway, she never used it and slept in Kate's bed every night. Almost every night. Kate should have known something was off when Yelena said she would sleep at her place that one random day. When Kate showed up with Ereka at her door mid-morning, Yelena was gone. The assumption that Yelena would be sleeping next to her tonight or even this week was not something Kate had even considered, but suddenly, now that she knows it's NOT happening, it pains her a little. However, Kate can fully admit her feelings are irrational, and she's trying to swallow them. She has no reason to be upset. Yelena staying at a hotel until they figure out what's happening is logical. It’s the responsible, adult decision, and it makes perfect sense. But Kate, who is known to be anything but logical, is still lowkey salty about it.

Kate drives in silence, lost in her thoughts, as they make their way to the address Yelena gives her for her motel. Kate pulls into the parking lot and parks the car across from the small reception area. They sit in silence for an instant until Yelena breaks it.

"Thanks for the ride and the meal."

Kate shrugs.

"You don't have a job, so...only fair I paid."

Yelena chuckles.

"You drove to JFK for me. I would've spent more on a cab. That deserved at least me paying you back with lunch."

"You can get it next time." Kate's face falls when she realizes the implication that there will be a next time. She quickly checks herself. "Not that there...I mean...um...nevermind." Kate turns her attention to the door with the small neon sign above it that reads ‘Check-In Here’. "Do you...uhm...do you need me to come inside?"

"You don't have to." Yelena pauses for a bit. "But you can if you want. I don't want to keep you from anything."

"Nothing. No. Ri isn't out of school for a few more hours."

"Okay."

"Okay."

They stare at each other, immobile and silent, for some time prior to Yelena speaking anew.

"I should..." She trails off, pulling the door handle, and slightly opening it while undoing her seat belt.

"Right. Yeah. Totally." Kate expeditiously unbuckles herself and also steps out of the car.

Yelena retrieves her bag from the backseat before walking to the reception. Kate follows closely behind, lost in thought. Within a few steps, they disappear into the lobby.

---

The check-in process is smooth and painless. The only thing out of the ordinary was the fact that when Yelena reached into her pocket to pull out her wallet and provide her ID and credit card, her hand brushed against Kate's. It was such a small thing, but it seemed to electrify the space around them.

Yelena is in room 119. They now walk down the first-floor hallway that leads there. They pause when they reach the door, hovering in front of it.

"One nineteen. This is me." Yelena gestures to the door.

"This is you."

They both linger for a beat.

"Thank you. For the ride."

"You said that already."

"I did. But I mean it, so felt necessary to repeat."

"You're welcome then. It was nothing tho. It felt like the right thing to do." Yelena smiles but doesn't add anything. "I should..." Kate trails off and points behind her.

"Drive safe."

"You too." Kate catches her blunder and grimaces. Yelena chuckles. "I didn't...You..."

Kate scurries away, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Yelena watches her go while simultaneously putting the key in the door and pushing it open. Kate's steps slow down, and she walks about twenty feet until something comes over her and she turns on her heels. She marches back toward Yelena, her body trembling with keenness and nerves. Yelena looks confused at the intensity and speed at which Kate is coming at her.

"You..."

Yelena's question gets interrupted by Kate's lips on hers. The kiss is electric, charged with a sense of urgency. Yelena finds herself pulling Kate into the room, dropping her pack with a thud, and kicking it aside. They land on the bed instants later.

Kate frantically tugs at her shirt, desperate to feel the skin-on-skin contact she craves. In a moment of sober thought, Yelena's hands grip the brunette’s, stopping her from going any further. She surveys the younger woman’s blue eyes, reading the unvoiced desires and needs that lay beneath the surface.

"Are you sure?" Yelena half whispers, her cadence soft.

"No. It might be a terrible idea. But right now, I need you inside me more than I need to think.”

Without another word, Yelena leans in and kisses her deeply, the urgency of their zeal taking over. Within seconds, Kate is naked beneath her, their bodies entwined in ardent passion.

---

Two hours later, their bodies intertwined and breaths gradually steadying, Kate rests her head on Yelena's naked chest and her hand traces lazy figures on her toned stomach. Yelena's fingers caress Kate's back, creating a pacifying pattern. Yelena presses a tender kiss to Kate's head and then turns to look at the old digital clock on the bedside table.

"You probably need to go get Ri soon."

"Yeah." Kate agrees while her mind races. She turns and props herself up on her elbow, resting her head on her hand while looking down at Yelena. "Come home."

"What?" Confusion flickers in Yelena's eyes.

"You're not leaving again, right?"

"No." Yelena shakes her head, speaking barely above a whisper.

"Then come home. Why spend two weeks here? Why bother finding another place? If you promise you're not going anywhere, just...come home."

"What about Ri?"

"Having you home would make her even happier than me…She misses you. Hasn't been the same since you left."

Yelena averts her gaze, remorse evident in her expression.

"Maybe she needs time. She doesn't even know I'm here."

"If she hates it, I'll drive you back here myself...but I have a feeling she won’t. You can be with us, in my bed, instead of this shitty box spring that reeks of cigarettes."

"It does smell in here."

They stare at each other and laugh.

"I want to do right by her." Yelena's eyes scan Kate's face. "I promise that if you let me back into your life, her life, I won't ever do anything to hurt her again. I won't leave again. You'll have to kick me out if you want me gone."

Kate smiles.

"Promise?"

"I've never been more serious about anything in my life."

Kate's smile widens.

"Then come home. I don't want to stop doing...that...ever, but I'm getting old and there's only so much my back can take. This mattress is not back-friendly. My bed is much more conducive to you having your way with me...However you want."

"That's a sales pitch if I've ever heard one." Yelena chuckles.

"Should we go get our girl?"

Yelena nods as she lifts her head, meeting Kate's lips in a torrid kiss. In an instant, Kate is on her back once more. They indulge their lust for two more orgasms before finally leaving the room.

---

Kate stands near the school entrance, her heart pounding with uncertainty as the final bell reverberates through the buzzing corridors. Eager young voices fill the air, their excited utterances rising in crescendo. Among the lively group, Ereka emerges, her bright green eyes scanning the surroundings until they lock onto Kate's familiar figure. A radiant smile illuminates her face, and she hurtles toward her mother with a burst of youthful energy. She’s a force of nature in motion. Kate gracefully lowers herself into a squat to meet Ereka at eye level.

"Mommy, guess what? I got a sticker for my counting and numbers today!"

"That's amazing, baby! Congratulations. I'm so so proud of you."

Ereka's euphoria at her accomplishment becomes palpable.

"Can you make Mac and Cheese later? Only the best in class get a sticker, so I win a prize. Anything I want."

Kate chuckles.

“I’ll make you some Mac.” Ereka does a celebratory dance. “Hey...I have something I want to talk to you about." Kate speaks the words with slight trepidation as she adoringly glides her hands up and down Ri's arms.

"Okay. What is it?"

"You know the little bakery down the block?"

"Are we getting treats?!”

"We can." Kate’s smile grows at how Ereka lights up. “But here’s the thing…there's someone special waiting for us there right now."

"Is it Daddy?"

Kate hides her grimace.

"No. It's not your dad, baby.”

"Suzu?" Ereka ripostes immediately.

"Not Suzu either...I want you to know that if you don't want to see this person, we don't have to. Okay? You can tell me and we'll go home."

"Who is it, Mommy?”

Kate pauses, her gaze softening as she takes in Ereka's face. After a beat, she speaks.

"Yelena's back and she would really love to see you." Silence hangs in the air as Ereka ponders the revelation. "How do you feel about that?" A nonchalant shrug is Ereka's initial response. "Do you want to go home, then?” Kate offers, ready to respect Ereka's wishes. Ereka takes her time, clearly thinking. After a long beat, she shakes her head. "Do you want to go see her and then decide how you feel?” Another thoughtful pause ensues, Ereka carefully weighing her options. Eventually, she nods in agreement. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

It takes a lot to render Kate's kid speechless, but the fact that she's not really talking right now lets Kate know she's having some very big feelings. Kate recognizes the depth of Ereka's inner turmoil, acknowledging her child's need for processing time. With a delicate kiss on Ereka's cheek, she conveys both love and understanding.

"If you want to leave at any point, just tell me, okay? We don't have to stay if you don't want to."

Ereka offers a nearly imperceptible nod, a sign of acceptance. Kate understands that’s probably as much as she’s going to get right now. As their hands intertwine, she guides them away from the school grounds and on the short trek down the street.

---

Yelena anxiously taps her foot on the floor, a manifestation of the nerves coiling within her. She's more nervous than she can remember being in a long time. She's prepared for this to take a while, for Ereka not to warm up to her immediately. Frankly, it's what she deserves. She's ready to face the consequences of what she's done. She's also prepared to do whatever it takes to get that kid to love her afresh. It's become her number-one priority in life.

The door chimes, breaking the silence, and Yelena's gaze snaps to the entrance. It’s been nine long months since she last laid eyes on Ereka.

Sure, she's seen her in photos or stories Kate has posted on her Instagram, but she’s never been around whenever she’s Facetimed Kate since they started talking. Kate has been cautious and protective of Ereka this entire time, which only adds to Yelena's anxiety. And now, there she is, walking towards her. Yelena’s heart pounds in her chest, threatening to burst free. Yelena jumps to her feet and stands by the table, waiting for them to approach. Uncertain of what to do with her hands, she awkwardly stuffs them into her pockets.

Kate senses the palpable trepidation emanating from Yelena and offers an affable smile, attempting to ease the woman’s tension. Ereka's facial expression remains impassive, her face a mask devoid of emotion. As they approach the table, Kate mouths a soft "Hi", deftly sliding the straps of Ereka's backpack off her shoulders and setting the bag down on the floor. Squatting beside Ereka, Kate holds the girl’s hand in a heartening grip, a wordless show of support.

"You want to say 'hi'?" Kate whispers lovingly to the now six-year-old with warmth and affection.

Following Kate's lead, Yelena also squats across from Ereka. The young girl's gaze shifts between Kate and Yelena, holding their eyes briefly then she speaks, her words laced with an accusatory tone.

"You missed my birthday."

Kate bites her lip, stifling a chuckle.

"I did. I'm sorry." Yelena offers a sincere apology.

Ereka's glaring at Yelena intensifies.

"You made my mommy cry. A lot. She drank a lot of wine too. They weren't big days and it didn't even make her happy. Wine always used to make her happy."

Her words hold weight beyond her years. Yelena and Kate's eyes lock. Yelena's expression shifts to one of regret, while Kate feels exposed.

"I won't ever make your mommy cry. Not if I can help it." Yelena pledges, sincere and remorseful.

"Do you still have your job far away?" Ereka's curiosity lingers as she inquires further.

"No." Yelena shakes her head. "I'm back in the city for good."

Ereka's attention turns back to Kate, seeking affirmation. Kate offers a tender smile, assuring her everything is okay. The little girl then redirects her attention to Yelena, her question brimming with hopeful excitement.

"Will you wash my hair and do bedtime again?"

"Whenever you want me to."

Ereka pauses once more, thinking.

“You missed my birthday, but you still have to get me a birthday gift. Maybe two because you weren't at my party."

"Ereka..." Kate interjects, gently reproaching her daughter.

"I will. I'll get you anything you want." Yelena promptly pronounces, determined to make amends.

Ereka's face lights up with an idea.

"A little sister?"

"Almost anything."

"A dog." The young girl's glee wanes slightly as she suggests an alternative.

"That's more doab..." Yelena starts to say, but Kate shoots her a fierce look which prompts Yelena to pivot at breakneck speed. "How about I get you any toy you want?"

"I want a sister then a dog."

"I don't think I can get you either of those. But I'll get you ANYTHING else you want."

Ereka ponders for a short time, weighing her options.

"Nope. Those are the only two things. I got everything else on my list at my party."

"Come up with a new list then." Kate sweetly scolds. "And it can't be anything that requires me taking care of it."

"I can take care of a little sister."

"That's not how newborns work."

Kate explains patiently, rising from her squat to relieve her burning thighs. She settles into the chair behind her. Ereka and Yelena remain at eye level, creating an intimate space for their conversation to continue.

"Are you going to leave?" Ereka poses timidly. Less sure.

"No. Not unless you or your mommy ask me to." Yelena reassures her, gentle yet resolute.

"So you'll go back to being our neighbor?" Ereka's inquisitiveness blends with a hint of enthusiasm.

Yelena steals a glance at Kate, seeking permission to share their plan with Ereka. Kate silently nods, giving her consent.

"Well...I don't really have an apartment right now, so I'd have to look for one and..."

"Come live with us. You can sleep in Mommy's bed like before. Or mine. We can share." Ereka suggests eagerly.

Yelena’s smile lights up her face, touched by Ereka’s invitation.

"Would you be okay with that? You wouldn't mind it if I went back to sleeping in your Mommy's bed?"

"No." Ereka retorts without hesitation. "She told Suzu her bed felt too big."

"Ereka...You're not supposed to be eavesdropping when Suzu comes over..."

"Maybe you were talking too loud." Ereka tells her defensively.

"We weren't. We'll talk about this little snooping habit of yours later."

Ereka turns to Yelena.

"Are you going to sleep on Mommy's bed?"

"I think so, yeah."

"Good." Ereka responds, her elation evident. She shifts her gaze to the display cases at the front of the café. "Can we get treats now?"

"Sure. Whatever you want." Yelena remarks, ready to indulge Ereka in whatever she desires.

"ONE, Ereka." Kate declares as Ereka eagerly dashes off to admire the delectable sweets and baked goods behind the glass.

Yelena locks her eyes with Kate’s as she stands. Kate extends her hand and weakly squeezes Yelena's fingers encouragingly.

"That was great."

"Was it?" A tinge of doubt colors Yelena’s words.

"She loves you……We both do."

Yelena can't help but smile, a mix of joy and relief illuminating her features.

"Feeling's mutual all around."

It's Kate's turn to beam.

"Yelena, can I have this one? And this one? And that one?" Ereka rattles on as she points excitedly to the pastries on display.

"I'll be right there."

Yelena moves to the counter, ready to place their order, but Kate firmly tugs her hand, halting her progress. With a mischievous glimmer in her eyes, she beckons Yelena down to her level, urging her to come closer. Yelena does as told and leans in, bringing their faces mere centimeters apart.

"ONE...You better not come back here with more than one." Kate whispers, offering an affectionate warning.

Yelena nods as her heart races in response, her breath catching in her throat while she gazes into Kate's eyes. Unable to resist, she leans in, their lips coming into contact in a tender, stolen kiss.

"One." Yelena murmurs then reluctantly walks away.

Kate absentmindedly taps her phone screen to check the time and instantly gets distracted by the dozens of notifications she's amassed throughout the day. She begins to address them and her attention shifts entirely to her screen.

---

Ten minutes later, the pair of blondes approach the table with a box full of a dozen different pastries in tow. Ereka hops over, excited at their haul and Yelena offers a 'please don't kill me' smile.

When Kate looks up from her phone, she tilts her head and squints, as she notices the oversized box.

"That's a VERY big box to hold one pastry."

"See...the thing is..." Yelena attempts to defend herself and breaks out her serious, attorney voice.

Kate grabs her purse from the table and the tiny purple bookbag that rests next to her then stands and heads for the door.

"I don't want to be mad at you before you even move back in, so please don't say another word." Kate warns, trying to hide her amusement. "You two together are trouble."

Yelena and Ereka exchange a look. Yelena playfully winks at the little girl and offers a reassuring smile.

"She won't be mad when she sees how pretty they are." Ereka tells Yelena almost convincingly.

"She won't." Yelena replies with affection.

Ereka casually reaches for Yelena's hand, their fingers intertwining effortlessly as they stride forward together.

"Can you help me with my art homework?" Ereka looks up at Yelena as they try to keep pace with Kate, whose longer legs make it a challenge for their shorter ones to catch up.

"I’m not great at art, but I'll try my best."

"Good. Mommy's terrible at art."

"I'm sure she is." Yelena says with a smile.

Within thirty seconds, they reach Kate, who steals a fleeting glance at Yelena and offers a flash of a smile then promptly resumes her facade of annoyance as a result of the pastry debacle. Yelena's heart swells as Ereka enthusiastically shares stories from her day at school. She missed this. She missed her girls. And she's thrilled she'll never have to again for the rest of her life.

---

They make dinner as a family, with Ereka perched on the kitchen island while Kate and Yelena work together, joyfully preparing a celebratory Mac & Cheese dinner. The tantalizing scent of fresh pasta, mouthwatering cheese sauce, and sizzling steak fills the air.

Seated around the table, they relish in their meal together, sharing laughter and lighthearted banter. It's remarkable how fast they fall back into a routine, as if no time has passed at all.

After dinner, Kate and Yelena settle at either side of Ereka, snuggled up on the couch, ready for a cozy movie night leading up to Ereka's bedtime. They bask in the warmth of their togetherness, savoring every second.

Sometime around six-thirty, a sharp knock interrupts their tranquility.

"I'll get it." Yelena volunteers, rising from the couch. As she passes by, Kate cheekily taps Yelena's ass. "Behave." Yelena scolds her with a playful grin.

Yelena approaches the door and swings it open to reveal Tom standing on the other side.

"What the fuck?" Tom blurts out. "What the fuck are you doing here?!"

At the sound of Tom's voice, Kate hastily pauses the movie and stands.

"Daddy!" Ereka exclaims and perks up. "Can he watch the movie with us, Mommy?”

Kate lifts Ereka from the couch and gingerly nudges her to her room.

"No, baby. I need you to go to your room and start getting ready for bed."

"But it's early!" Ereka whines.

"Now." Kate asserts sternly, conveying there's no room for negotiation.

With a disgruntled huff, Ereka clomps away and down the hallway, grumbling under her breath. Kate rushes to the door to find Yelena and Tom already embroiled in an argument.

"...fuck out of my house!"

"Pretty sure you're not on the lease, so this isn't 'your' house." Yelena counters with defiance.

"You..." Tom's eyes narrow when he sees Kate approach. "KitKat...what's this bitch doing here?" He adds a malicious emphasis to the 'bitch'. "You need to get her away from Ri."

Kate lightly squeezes Yelena's forearm and Yelena turns to face her.

"Can you help her get ready for bed, please?" Yelena glares at her. "...Please."

Yelena shoots one final contemptuous glare at Tom before turning and stomping away.

"What THE FUCK is that?" Tom seethes with fury.

"You need to tone it down. Don't raise your voice at me." Kate warns firmly.

"Then tell me what that fucking dyke whore is doing here."

"Yeah, you're not gonna do that. You're not going to call her names. And you're NEVER going to say those words in front of Ri."

"SHE..."

"She lives here now. She's back and we are back. She moved in today. So...this..." Kate gestures between them, unwavering. "...no more. It’s over. You can't show up unannounced anymore. You can only come over if we’ve agreed this is where you’re picking up Ri.”

"My kid lives here. I can show up whenever I want."

"Not anymore. Things changed."

"I was fucking coming inside you last week. Then you stop answering my calls and now..." Kate apprehensively glances over her shoulder, pushing him away from the entrance and further down the hallway as she shuts the door behind her. Yelena doesn't know that. She doesn't need to know that. "...What the fuck is this shit?"

"I'm doing what's best for me. For Ri."

"Horseshit. BULLSHIT!"

"Keep your voice down." Kate warns firmly.

"What's best for her is her family together, not you fucking off and playing pretend dyke."

"If you say that word one more time, I'm walking back inside."

"Then what are you doing? Tell me." He grits through his teeth.

"Moving on. It's about time we both do that."

"No. No. You're my wife. I don't need to move on from you."

"I haven't been that in a long time."

"Then why was my fucking dick inside you on Thursday? HUH?!" Tom's anger flares up. Tom's hand clenches tightly around Kate's upper arm.

"I need you to let go." Tom glares at her, his grip tightening. "Thomas..." Kate's is stony, as if reprimanding a misbehaving child.

After a beat, Tom releases her. He punches the nearest wall in frustration then leans right into Kate’s face.

"You're gonna regret this. She's gonna fuck you over. I'm not gonna let her fuck my kid up. I'm not."

"Okay. I'm going inside now."

Kate turns away, refusing to engage any further. Tom's demeanor shifts. He becomes softer, almost frail. This is him trying to play the manipulation card.

"KitKat...I need you. I need our family back together. We were so close. We were happy."

Kate doesn't even look back at him.

"Maybe you were..."

"Fuck you." That stings Tom and the words slip out of his mouth.

"Go home. You're picking her up from school tomorrow and I'm getting her from your mom’s Sunday night."

"Fuck her. Fuck all of this."

Kate stands at the door, her expression stoic, wordlessly observing him seethe. He's standing there, face flushed, and breathing heavily. Just by looking at him, Kate can tell his blood pressure must be through the roof.

"Good night. Get home safe." Kate utters calmly while closing the door.

---

Kate enters Ereka's bedroom to find Yelena sitting on the small section of the mattress that's unoccupied. Yelena holds a book in her lap while Ereka wraps her arms around Yelena's waist, leaning on her while she watches the pages as Yelena reads them aloud.

Kate lingers by the door, giving them their moment. Ereka senses her presence and turns to her.

"Where's daddy?"

"He had to go help grandma."

"He didn't say good night?" Ereka inquires, evidently disappointed.

"No, baby." Kate approaches. "Grandma really needed him, so he had to leave. But he sends you kisses and told me to tell you that he loves you very, very much."

"He could've come say 'hi'. Grandma could've waited two minutes."

Kate and Yelena's eyes meet. Kate can sense the disapproval in Yelena's eyes.

"You'll see him tomorrow. He's picking you up from school and then you’ll go stay with him and grandma until Sunday."

"But Yelena's back..."

"And she'll still be here on Sunday. Your dad gets you this weekend."

"But..."

"No 'buts’. It’s time for sleep."

Ereka frowns and huffs, dissatisfied. Yelena resumes reading, trying to distract the girl.

"With steady aim, she drew back the string in her bow, feeling the suspense build. As she released the arrow, it soared through the air, finding its mark with precision. The crowd erupted in cheers…”

Kate presses a kiss to Ereka's forehead and tenderly strokes her leg, soothing her into sleep.

The three of them stay there until well after Ereka falls asleep.

---

Hours later, Kate and Yelena lay in bed spent. Their naked bodies are intertwined and glistening with sweat. Exhausted, Kate drifts to the cusp of slumber while Yelena is wide awake...her mind going a million miles an hour, overflowing with thoughts and worries.

"If we don't check him, he'll be a problem." Yelena murmurs, her words tinged with concern.

Kate amorously kisses Yelena's collarbone, trying to comfort her.

"I can handle him. He's fine."

"Kate..."

"He just needs some time to adjust. We'll be okay. Sleep." Kate looks up and places her hand on Yelena's chin, pulling on it to turn Yelena's face, forcing their eyes to meet. "Thank you for coming back."

"Thank you for taking me back."

"Easy choice." Kate leans in, her lips meeting Yelena's in a soft kiss. "I love you. So much."

"I love you too."

"I know." Kate nods, a serene expression on her face. "Sleep."

"Yeah."

Yelena, unwilling to argue tonight, sets aside her nagging feeling about how much of a nuisance Tom will be in their lives. However, the tight knot in her stomach serves as a warning, urging her to brace. Yelena has learned to trust her gut instincts, knowing they rarely lead her astray. But that’s a problem for tomorrow…

"Night." Kate whispers, peppering Yelena's skin with soft kisses.

"Good night."

Before long, they're sound asleep in each other's arms, officially starting their journey as life partners.

#bishova #bishlova #katelena #kate bishop #yelena belova #kate x yelena #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers #myposts

[fratboykate]

Just a desperate anon, politely asking if this was ever posted 👀👀👀 or if it could be added to the potential writer-strike queue if it wasn’t. I am crossing my fingers it wasn’t eaten by tumblr or notes…

https://www.tumblr.com/fratboykate/711128923636908032/papi-we-need-the-stepmom-angst-its-a-matter-of

You must've crossed those fingers really hard because you sent this two weeks ago and are now getting it three whole days before the strike lol. Here's almost 10k of...them. Mom!AU is officially back from the war too.

///

"Do NOT bring those boots into the apartment, Ri. Off by the door. I mean it. You're cleaning it if you track all that dirty slush around."

Kate abruptly halts her twelve-year-old daughter’s hasty rush toward the entrance with a firm yank on the hood of her brightly colored parka and deftly transfers the stroller she’s pushing to Ereka. In the same single, graceful, and fluid motion, Kate skillfully juggles the diaper bag, empty coffee tumbler, and cell phone freeing her dominant hand to dig through her purse for her keys. A palpable imperativeness hangs in the air as they make their way down the hallway because Russell, who currently tries to squirm his way out of the stroller straps, is on the brink of a meltdown. With each passing second, his patience wears thinner, and Kate endeavors to avoid him going nuclear in public.

"And take your brother's boots off too, please. You know where the stroller goes. Don't just leave it blocking the door. Did momma text you back about dinner?"

"No...Any day now would be great, mom."

Kate's eyes narrow with stony intensity as she shoots Ereka a dirty look.

"I’ll leave you out here. Don’t try me."

"Top-notch parenting. I'll be sure to add that to the CPS file I'm compiling."

"Mommy, druck!"

Two-and-a-half-year-old Russell unleashes a series of frustrated hollers from within his rolling prison. His annoyance is palpable.

The boy is an undeniable carbon copy of his mother, a living reflection of Yelena. Kate has never once laid eyes on her son and seen anything other than an unmistakable resemblance to her wife. This moment isn’t an exception. Kate can't help but notice the striking parallels between them. Every feature screams Yelena, from how his nose scrunches when he smiles to his green eyes to his vibrant blonde hair to his Short King status. Even his breathing issues, which lend a raspy voice and a crackling laugh, serve as a constant reminder of the deep link that those two share. Kate could complain about the fact that he also inherited her rotten temper, but instead, she finds herself captivated by this portable embodiment of her darling wife.

"Yes, baby. Riri will get you another truck as soon as we're inside."

"I WANT RED DRUCK NOW! RED DRUCK!"

"Okay, woh. Tone, sir. You're the one who threw it out the car window. You're gonna wait until we get inside and give zero attitude because this is a problem of your own doing."

Russell furrows his brow, a visible display of his discontent, followed by an exasperated huff. The air between them hangs momentarily. This could be the moment when he finally loses his cool. Then…after a beat…

"A druck is a wectangle, mommy."

"It is. What shape is this?"

Kate holds up the face powder she's holding.

"Circle! Cuz it wound. Like this..."

The little boy traces a circle in the air with his plump toddler fingers.

"Good job!"

"Oh my god. Do we live in the hallway now? Open the door."

Kate continues digging through her purse while simultaneously turning to Ereka and contorting her face into a humorous expression. Ereka quickly mirrors her mother's mischievous look, sparking a shared moment of amusement between the two. Laughter escapes their lips, affording them a moment of levity amid the chaotic scene. As their chuckles subside, a triumphant glimmer sails through Kate's eyes — she’s finally found the keys!

"There's no reason this thing should be able to swallow my keys into another dimension. It's not that big."

Kate swings the door wide open with a determined push. Without missing a beat, she dumps the bags that dangle from her shoulders onto the table by the entrance while slipping her waterproof boots off. Once her hands, arms, and feet are free, she heads to the jacket closet to begin taking layers off.

"Ri! Come on! You're smarter than that. Take your boots off first, THEN his. Moving around and look at the mess you're making."

Kate is too busy chastising her daughter to notice Yelena's coat is already hanging in the closet.

"You said to take his off too. I'm doing that and you get mad."

"I didn't think I needed to give you a detailed step-by-step on how to do it right, but I'll be sure to next time."

"Next time, I just won't do it if you're going to scream at me either way."

"There was no screaming. Just pointing out the obvious."

"...while you screamed."

Kate offers a vexed eye roll then strides into the apartment, leaving Ereka to wrestle with the challenge of removing Russell's stubborn boots in the foyer. Kate moves with purpose, her footsteps echoing as she navigates through the familiar space. Once Ereka successfully frees her brother’s tiny feet from the damp shoes, she proceeds to unstrap him from the stroller.

"Riri, druck!"

"I will get you your dumb truck, but I need to take this off you so mom doesn't flip a lid." Ereka tells her brother while deftly unzipping the small, purple coat.

"DRUCK NOW, RIRI!"

The little boy squirms as Ereka wrestles with his jacket.

"I will hide all your trucks if you scream at me again."

A deep frown creases Russell’s face, his features contorting into an expression of displeasure and frustration.

"No! Druck Wuss!"

"Yeah, they're your trucks, but I can also put them on the top shelf where you can't reach them if you don't stop being a brat." Ereka slides his gloves off, stands, and heads for the door a few feet away. Ereka opens the closet and immediately catches Yelena's coat. She hastily hangs her brother's tiny parka, throws the gloves into the corresponding cubby, and stares at Yelena's jacket once more before turning to Russell. "Don't move." Ereka darts to the back of the apartment, disappearing momentarily from Russell’s sight. She returns to the hallway that connects the foyer to the rest of the apartment a few seconds later. "Mama's home."

From her position by the kitchen island, Kate gazes at her daughter with confusion etched across her face.

"What?"

"Her coat's in here, so I went and checked and she's in the room. I think she's sleeping though, because all the lights are off."

Kate turns to glance at the clock on the microwave. 5:28 PM. Yelena is never home before them, let alone before 5:00 PM. At least not unless she's feeling unwell. Kate closes the cookbook she perused for dinner ideas and heads for the bedroom.

"Please keep an eye on him and get him one of the trucks from his chest. Thank you."

Kate tells Ereka as she kisses the top of her head in passing.

"Come on, Russellsprout. Let's get you a truck."

Kate suppresses a smile and instinctively rolls her eyes, a reflexive response to Ereka’s talent for assigning people terrible (and often food-related) nicknames. This might be one of the most annoying traits Ereka inherited from her father and Kate can’t help but find it both amusing and exasperating.

---

Kate enters the pitch-black room, stepping closer to the bed as her eyes gradually adjust to the darkness. The air is nice and toasty, meaning the older woman must be running the small space heater she’s permanently moved to her nightstand. As Kate approaches, she can see Yelena is, in fact, in bed. Her back is turned to the door and her shoulders rise and fall in a slow, steady rhythm. A wave of concern washes over the brunette as she realizes that her wife must be feeling truly awful to be in bed this early.

"Baby...Yel..."

Kate whispers but gets no answer. She debates letting Yelena sleep but can't resist the urge to be close to her wife, even if it's just for a moment. Kate crawls into bed and nestles herself against Yelena’s warm form. Yelena instinctively responds, her body pushing back into Kate’s.

Kate's lips find Yelena's neck, leaving a trail of soft, affectionate kisses. Her arm delicately snakes around Yelena's overgrown midriff, cradling the ever-growing twenty-two-week pregnant belly.

"You okay?"

Kate whispers into Yelena's ear and places a gentle kiss on her earlobe. Yelena softly shakes her head, indicating her disinterest in engaging in conversation at the moment.

The most accurate way to describe Yelena's pregnancy thus far is: miserable. The first trimester was a nightmare, marked by persistent malaise and bouts of morning sickness that had her bent over a toilet for hours on end, leaving her feeling drained and weak. And those were the good days. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. Yelena’s body is rebelling at every turn. Run down any list of pregnancy symptoms (and add a few more most people had never even heard of), and Yelena went through all of them. Her body seems determined to manifest every ailment imaginable and magnify its intensity. The dizziness has become a constant companion. Exhaustion has settled in her bones, claiming all of her energy. Frequent nosebleeds interrupt her daily routine, keeping her perpetually on edge. There’s also the hormonal mood swings that leave Yelena feeling like a stranger in her own body. Crippling headaches punctuate her days with throbbing pangs, constantly forcing her to seek solace in the darkness…like now.

Throughout the madness of this pregnancy, Kate has risen to the occasion, stepping up as a pillar of emotional support and embracing the role of caregiving, devoted partner with unwavering dedication. Day in and day out, Kate has done everything she can to make Yelena's life easier, including taking on the lion’s share of household chores and errands. Additionally, Kate has done everything in her power to anticipate Yelena's needs. She cooks meals to soothe Yelena's queasy stomach, researches remedies and alternative therapies to alleviate symptoms, offers calming teas and massages to ease aches, ensures Yelena stays hydrated and gets enough rest, or is simply around to provide a comforting touch along with words of consolation when Yelena is feeling down about the toll that pregnancy is taking on her body. Kate has become a constant presence by her wife’s side, ensuring Yelena feels loved and cherished throughout this challenging period. Overall, Kate has made it her mission to turn Yelena's difficult pregnancy into a somewhat manageable experience.

With tender affection, Kate runs her palm over Yelena's growing belly.

"I thought we had a deal that you were going to be nice to momma, baby girl. What's going on in there, huh?"

"Your stupid genes...trying to kill me." Kate chuckles, a jovial response to their now recurring conversation. Since Yelena is carrying a baby conceived with Kate's egg and the donor's sperm, Yelena has started to (halfway?) joke that Kate’s genes must be “toxic” to her and that they’re the root cause of Yelena's endless pregnancy woes. "You drive me crazy every day. Why did I think putting a literal piece of you inside me would go any better?"

"I'm sorry. So evil of me. Bad, BAD genes. I'll have a talk with them later." Kate's lips graze Yelena's shoulder, leaving behind a trail of soft kisses. In an instant, Yelena's body surrenders to her touch and loosens up as a result. "What are you feeling for dinner?"

"The last thing I want near me right now is food."

"You need to eat, Yel."

"I need this baby out of me. That's what I need."

Yelena lets out a discontented grumble and Kate's smile blossoms against her skin.

"Three more months. You just have to cook the nugget for three more months and you're done."

"That sounds like forever. Don't like it."

"How about some Mac and Cheese? Would that make it somewhat better?"

"Kate Bishop...are you trying to bribe me out of bed?"

"Maybe. I think there's lobster in the fridge. I think I got some when I went on Monday. If not, I can have some delivered. Lobster Mac. Super ooey and gooey and cheesy and yum."

"Why are you trying to sell it to me like I'm two?"

"It's how I convince your son to eat. Figured it might work on you since you're both grumpy little gremlins." Restless and dissatisfied, Yelena grunts in discomfort and shifts in bed, struggling to find an agreeable position to no avail. Eventually, she ends up half-facing Kate, seeking some semblance of relief in the brunette’s proximity. Kate offers her a warm smile. "That's the face of someone who could do with some ooey gooey cheesy yum in their life."

Yelena's lips curl into a merry smile and she indulges in a slight eye roll.

"I hate that it's actually working."

"My job is to sell things for a living and..." Kate plants a delicate kiss on Yelena's lips. "...I'm good at what I do."

"You..."

The door bursts open, unleashing a flood of light that fills the room. The little blonde toddler charges inside with a whirlwind of energy while proudly showcasing the truck his sister procured for him.

"MOMMA, LOOK! RIRI GOT RED DRUCK!"

Russell hops onto the bed, forcefully wedging himself with determined enthusiasm into the nonexistent space between his mothers.

"Your son...he had the genius idea to hurl his truck out the moving car window on our way here. Blue truck no more."

"Russ...that's dangerous. We don't do that."

"Blue druck went...FRUMMMMMMM"

The little boy offers Yelena an animated demonstration of the flight his toy truck embarked on with uncontainable excitement.

"RUSSPBERRY!"

"He's in here!"

Kate shouts at her daughter, who promptly appears at the door seconds later.

"Sorry. I went to the bathroom and I told him to stay."

"It's okay."

"Did he wake momma up?"

"Your mom woke me up."

"WITH KISSES. It was the most gentle wake-up ever."

"Still woke me up."

Kate shakes her head, purporting to be piqued.

"Come here. There's room."

Ereka's face lights up with a broad smile as she dashes to the bed and jumps onto it, somehow also forcing herself between Kate and Yelena.

"Easy. Momma's not feeling great."

"Sorry. Hi."

Ereka settles herself snugly, resting her chin on Yelena's hip and tenderly placing her hand on the gentle curve of her mother’s stomach.

"Hi. How was school?" Yelena asks with genuine curiosity.

Ereka shrugs nonchalantly, a hint of facetious defiance in her expression.

"Same as every other time you ask."

Kate and Yelena exchange amused glances before bursting into laughter. Yelena leans closer to Ereka, a warm grin on her face.

"Humor me."

Ereka huffs dramatically, her eyes rolling with jocose petulance. A small, roguish grin tugs at the corners of her lips, giving away her underlying amusement.

"Classes are boring. Everyone is stupid. The rules don't make sense. It's always going to be the same thing. So…fine, I guess. Tolerable.”

"Oh, you're going to be a FUN teenager." Yelena responds, her tone lighthearted and teasing.

"If I'm as precocious as everyone says I am, then technically, you could assume I've been a teenager for a while now."

"Yeah, that's it. The moment you hit thirteen, I'm packing your bags and finding you a new place to live, or I'll start graying early.” Kate playfully warns while simulating seriousness.

"Wow. Threatening to rescind my housing for exercising my right to free speech? I'm sure some case worker out there is salivating at the thought of it."

Kate rolls her eyes.

"Mommy, hungwy. I has milk?"

"Have, baby. Can I have milk?"

"Yeah. Can I haves it?” The little boy insists eagerly and with a hint of distress.

Kate chuckles.

"Close enough. But we're having dinner in a little bit, so no milk right now." Kate places a final peck on Yelena's lips and starts to stand. "Mac and cheese for dinner."  

"Yesssss. Can you put bacon in it?" Ereka inquires excitedly.

"If you guys haven't gone through it already, then sure. Last I checked, there were like two pieces left, so not making any promises."

"Tell Lila to make less bacon for breakfast then."

"OR...you could do what I ask and write it on the list when you see we're running low. She already has enough on her plate with you two. You could help out more."

A few times a week, a dedicated housekeeper arrives early in the morning to help with the kids and the upkeep of the house. She quickly becomes a lifeline for the family, offering an extra pair of capable hands and a much-needed boost of organization and support. This arrangement means Kate and Yelena have less to juggle and can focus more of their time on the children.

"You also saw we were running low and didn't put it on the list, so..."

"I did put it on the list when I realized I just haven't gone shopping again. But it wasn't on my last list because YOU, the bacon fiend in this house, didn't put it there."

"Whatever." Ereka grumbles, feigning annoyance.

"Keep her busy...but don't drive her crazy. It's a delicate balance. I'll scream when it's ready. And...I might need you at some point, so don't pretend like you don't hear me calling you when I do."

Kate punctuates her words by tapping Ereka on the shoulder as she stands and walks away.

"I have bad ears." Ereka tries to play it off, but Kate doesn't let her off the hook.

"Not according to the doctor, you don't."

Ereka has gotten so proficient at selective hearing that Kate took her to the otolaryngologist to get her checked, only to prove a point.

Ereka repositions herself to lie on Kate's pillow, her face ending next to Yelena’s. She lovingly presses her head against the blonde’s.

"I like it when you're home early."

Yelena offers a faint smile while keeping her eyes closed.

"Me too."

"WUSS LIKES, MOMMA." Russell exclaims. He has an adorable habit of referring to himself in the third person, which always makes the outlandish things he says objectively funnier.

The little boy clambers up Yelena's body, unknowingly jabbing her sides with the hard plastic of his toy truck. Yelena winces and hisses in pain, prompting her to extend her arms and lift him off.

"Why are all your toys deadly weapons?" Yelena gripes, readjusting Russell so he's lying against her chest and carefully removing the toy from his hand. He immediately snuggles his cheek against hers and allows his entire body weight rest on her. Yelena lets out a groan, a mixture of mischief and genuine fatigue. "You guys are so clingy. Where are we even going to fit a third?"

Yelena fake complains, although deep down, she loves every second of it.

"She can go right here."

Ereke facetiously places her open hand over Yelena's face, covering most of it. Yelena chuckles.

"Yeah. Perfect place to sit a dirty diaper on."

Ereka's chuckles echo around the room as Yelena tries to shake her palm off her face. With a bit of effort, Yelena succeeds in removing Ereka's hand and turns to face her, offering a weak but earnest smile.

"I'm sorry you're not feeling good."

"It's okay. I'll suck it up...but I'm going to complain the entire time."

Ereka snickers and slides impossibly closer to Yelena, their bond evident in their proximity.

"Thank you for a little sister."

Yelena presses a loving kiss to Ereka's temple.

"Are you happy about it?"

"SO MUCH!" Ereka’s genuine excitement and gratitude shine through her words. "...Unless you're lying to me again and it's actually another one of these..." Ereka pokes her fingers all around Russell's body and the toddler giggles uncontrollably. "...in there."

Yelena guffaws.

"Promise it's a girl. For real this time. And she's a very lucky girl to have you as a big sister."

"I think so too."

"We have to work on your modesty." Yelena teases her daughter with a smile.

"I'm the right amount of confident. I know I'm a good big sister. Right, Russpaghetti?"

Ereka looks at her little brother for validation. The boy eagerly nods his head as he pats his tiny hands all over Yelena's face.

"Mama, milk pwease."

"Mommy is working on dinner. No milk right now. Milk later."

"Milk pwease." Russell persists, his fussiness escalating.

"No milk right now, Russ."

The boy begins to fuss and instantly works himself up to the brink of a tantrum.

"MILK, MAMA!” Russell insists, his volume rising.

"No no. Shhhhh...let's all just...Shhh...quiet time until dinner is ready. How about that? That sounds so much more fun and better for my head."

"NO!"

Ereka rolls her eyes at his protest and rises from the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"To get him milk. He's not going to stop until someone does and it'll make your headache worse if he doesn't. Just a little and he'll chill."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah."

Ereka disappears out the door.

"Milk."

"Ri, went to get you some."

“Milk. Okay." Russell acknowledges, reassured that his request is being taken care of.

"So stubborn. Definitely get that from your other mom, not me. Definitely not me."

Yelena pulls the boy close and covers his body in kisses. His sour mood instantly shifts and he devolves into a fit of giggles.

---

An hour later, the foursome sits around the table, settled into their usual seats. Russell is perched in his high chair next to Kate, who patiently feeds him his meal. Ereka is to the other side of Kate, absentmindedly moving the food around her plate, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Yelena, determined to fend off her nausea, takes slow, deliberate bites, willing herself to keep the food down.

"Can I ask you something? And you'll promise you'll at least think about it before you say no?"

"Uh oh," Kate utters.

"I'm serious, mom."

"Me too. I can't possibly see how this is good, so I was bracing."

"Momma, promise you'll at least think about it."

Ereka turns towards Yelena, her expression brimming with seriousness and sincerity. Yelena meets her daughter's gaze, responding with a warm smile that conveys her openness to listen and engage wholeheartedly in anything Ereka is about to share.

"Whatever it is, mom and I will think about it and have a fair discussion before we get back to you.”

Following Yelena’s reassurance, a brief silence fills the room as Ereka gathers her thoughts. Kate and Yelena maintain their focus on her.

"I don't want to go stay at dad's anymore...ever."

Ereka declares confidently. Kate and Yelena instantly exchange worried glances.

"Did something happen?"

"No. Yes. No. I just...it's not that I don't want to see him. I just don't want to sleep over. Or be gone for days. Whenever I'm there, I'm missing here and Russtachio and you guys. And baby sister is coming soon and I'll miss her too. You always end up doing something fun without me and I hate it. Nothing I'm doing there is better than being here."

"Ri, we can't take days away from your dad."

"Why not?"

"It would...be a problem."

"What problem?! Just tell him I can…I don’t know…come hang out during the day for a few hours and then he has to bring me back."

"It doesn't work that way."

"Why not?!"

"Because we have a court-ordered agreement that we need to stick by. He gets you 30% of the time. That's how it works."

"Fuck court."

"Ereka!" Kate and Yelena exclaim simultaneously.

Ereka responds with a nonchalant shrug, seemingly unfazed by their reaction.

"See? That's what happens when you send me over to dad's house. I learn curse words. Bad influence."

"Honey, your dad loves you. You're the light of his life and he loves spending time with you." Kate tells Ereka matter-of-factly, her tone filled with unwavering certainty.

"All they do over there is be angry, argue with each other, and drink until they make up more reasons to keep arguing. Then it usually goes to fighting and breaking things. I hate it."

"How long has this been going on?" Yelena inquires, her voice laced with worry.

"Since I was little. That's what grandma's house has always been like."

"Who argues and breaks things?"

"Everyone. Everyone is always over for dinner and definitely on weekends. Dad and Uncle Billy get into it every time they start drinking. Aunt Viv drinks even more now that she's getting divorced. Her and dad argue all the time too. And then Aunt...it's a lot of people and I don't want to sleep over anymore."

"Ereka, did something else happen that you're not telling us? Something bad?" Yelena doubles down on her line of questions.

"No. I just want to come back home every night. I want to sleep here. Always."

"You can tell us anything. You know that, right?"

"I'm telling you right now!"

"Okay...hey...let's take a breather." Kate interjects, attempting to calm her.

"Ri, look at me," Yelena asks firmly. "Did anything inappropriate happen over there and you're scared to go back? Because if something did, we will..."

"Oh my god! No one like...touched me or did anything weird! Ew. Don't go there. I just don't like them. That's it. Nothing illegal. I mean, I have seen illegal things, but...nothing illegal involving me. I swear. Truly...that's not it."

"Promise?"

"Promise. It's not that. Really."

Yelena nods, her gaze shifting between Kate and Ereka, silently acknowledging the weight of the situation.

"We'll talk about it and get back to you.“

"There's nothing to talk about. We can't do that."

"We'll talk." Yelena insists, her voice firm yet gentle. "Give us some time, okay?"

Ereka nods and Yelena reaches across the table, placing a heartening hand on Ereka's.

"Thank you."

The girl whispers and finally takes her first bite of food, her appetite slowly returning. The table falls into a solemn silence as they continue their meal, each of them deep in their minds.

---

Yelena lies in bed, her hands absentmindedly caressing her stomach. Her eyes remain fixed on Kate, who moves around the bathroom finishing the last few steps of her nightly routine.

"Yel, we can't take this on,” Kate asserts firmly.

"Why not?"

Kate walks to the doorway, rests her shoulder against the jamb, and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Because we went to court for almost TWO YEARS to get the agreement we have now. How do you think it's gonna go over if I call him tomorrow and tell him we're breaking it? Do you really wanna go through whatever that brings up? Now? In the middle of this?"

Kate's hand gestures to Yelena's stomach, emphasizing their current situation.

"My feelings aren't more important than hers. If she doesn't want to go back, we shouldn't force her."

"Yes. You're correct. Absolutely. We should always take her feelings into consideration. But think about it like this, what she's asking is for us to get full custody and he gets SOME visitation rights. Under nebulous circumstances. What is she actually asking for? She gets to see him for two hours every other weekend and then comes home? We don't know what she wants, but whatever it is, I know that we don't have legal grounds to take her away from him. He's gonna fight it."

"And we can fight him."

Kate lets out a tired groan as she switches off the bathroom light. She moves to the bed, slipping under the covers, sitting up, and leaning her back against the bed frame. Her eyes are glued on the darkened TV screen across from her, her mind seemingly lost in serious contemplation.

"You two would fight all day if it were up to you, but *me*...I'm over it. This isn't something that's realistic and as much as I hate making her do something she doesn't want to, no judge is going to take his partial custody away. We don't even have any reason to take him back to court. Nothing's changed."

"She said she's seen illegal things...We should ask what that is."

"Yelena..." Kate turns to face her wife, her expression showing both fatigue and vulnerability. "...I don't have another two years of court in me. I don't have even another second of his tantrums and his shit in my body. I can't do it. Especially knowing we're not going to win. He's been...better???"

"That's a stretch."

Yelena reaches out and takes Kate's hand in hers, intertwining their fingers, and grounding her. Grounding each other.

"It has been better. You can't deny it hasn't. Why do we want to poke the bear?"

"For her. I would poke the bear for her."

Kate's shoulders slump as she exhales a heavy sigh, the weight of their situation bearing down on her. Yelena squeezes her wife’s hand gently.

"What happens when we go through a long, miserable custody battle over this, then she's suddenly sixteen and wants to go sleep at her dad's because we did something to piss her off?”

"Nothing. She goes to sleep at her dad's. Because that's her choice. As long as it's her choice, it's fine. But we shouldn't force her into a situation that makes her clearly unhappy." Yelena takes a beat, thinking. "What if we don't have to go to court? What if we all sit down and talk about it?"

Kate lets out a bitter laugh.

"Yel, please."

"It could work."

"When have you two ever been in a room where the situation doesn't end with me stopping you from killing each other?"

"I can't exactly kick his ass right now, so...different circumstances. I mean, I probably still could, but unless I had to, I wouldn't."

"I love her and I love you, but I'm not doing it. I'm not going to detonate a bomb we don't even need to touch."

---

The next morning. Yelena finds herself perched on a booth in a bustling café, the air filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the animated chatter of the early lunchtime crowd. She grimaces and shifts restlessly, her hand instinctively soothing the spot where her daughter just delivered a formidable fighter-style kick.

"You need to cut it with that."

Yelena mutters, chastising the baby before taking a cautious sip of her decaf concoction. Her eyes remain glued on the café entrance as she anxiously awaits the arrival of the person she's meeting.

Thankfully, Yelena's anticipation is short-lived. The jingling bell above the door heralds the arrival of Tom, who enters the busy room and immediately starts scanning the patrons. Spotting Yelena, he makes his way to her booth. Their eyes meet and they exchange perfunctory nods before muffled, forced greetings escape their lips. Tom drapes his coat over the back of his chair and slides into the padded bench. Yelena's gaze remains fixed on the table, trying to conceal her agitation.

This close to him, Yelena can smell the alcohol on his breath. He doesn't appear visibly intoxicated, yet the unmistakable odor of Vodka taints the air around them, lingering like a cloud and a troubling reminder of his choices. It's barely 11:30 AM. This meeting is already off to a bad start.

"Hi. Thank you for meeting me."

"What's this about?"

"Look, I know things haven't always been easy between us." Tom remains silent and stoic, his expression guarded as he waits to see where this will go. Yelena’s attempts to conceal her unease only amplifies it. She's never been good at masking her genuine emotions or engaging in fake pleasantries, especially in situations like this. "All we've both ever wanted is the best thing for our daughter."

"MY daughter. She's nothing of yours. Ereka is MY daughter."

Yelena bites back her tongue and fights the urge to respond to Tom’s provocatory dig. If they start getting into it less than ten sentences into the conversation, this isn't going to go anywhere.

"All we want is the best for Ereka."

"I know that's what *I* want, yeah."

Yelena's phone screen illuminates, signaling an incoming text. She glances at it briefly. It's from Kate. Aware that her wife is oblivious to the current situation she finds herself in, Yelena decides to ignore the message for the time being, already anticipating Kate's displeasure when she eventually finds out.

Tom's eyes fly to the screen. His expression hardens and he locks his jaw as his eyes zero in on the background image. It's a photograph taken during the pregnancy announcement shoot Kate insisted on having. The still captures Kate, Ereka, Russell, and a pregnant Yelena standing in a vibrant field of fall-colored trees, radiating pure joy. It undoubtedly gets under Tom’s skin.

"What do you want? Why did you call me here?" Tom presses.

"We had a conversation with Ereka last night. More like she had a conversation with us where she made a request. We...I....*I* thought maybe you and I could talk like adults about it and deal with the situation. Parent to parent."

"You're not her parent, so...if there's anything going on with my kid, Kate can talk to me about it."

"Whether you like it or not, the judge granted me legal guardianship too."

"That fucking bitch judge fucked me over. I deserved full custody."

"Tom, I don't want to fight about that. That's not why I'm here."

"Then why are we here? Why is Kate not here?"

"I told you. Because I thought you and I could have a grownup chat."

"The fuck is going on with my kid?"

"I need you to listen to me. Before you respond or do anything, I need you to listen to me. That's all I'm asking for."

"If you don't tell me right now, I'm calling Kate. She'll tell me."

"Ereka wants to modify the custody agreement."

"What?"

"Ereka doesn't want to have overnight visits anymore. She doesn't feel comfortable being in your home, witnessing your family's behavior, and also just being away from us and her siblings. She made that very clear."

"My baby's twelve. She can't want or have a say in anything." Tom pounds his fist on the table violently, rocking everything and forcing all eyes in the room to turn to them for a split second. "If I find out you've been filling my kid's head with crap...I swear to fucking god I will end you."

"Ereka's happiness and well-being should be our priority."

"YOU…" Tom’s pointer finger comes within an inch of Yelena’s face. She musters every bit of self-control in order to not grab it and break it clean. "…don't get to tell me what my priority with my daughter is. She's MY kid and she comes home to me."

"That's not going to happen anymore."

“What? What’s not gonna happen?”

"I'm not forcing Ereka to do something she doesn't want to do."

"Try to take my kid away from me...see how that goes. You already stole my wife. You try to take my kid too and that's the last thing you ever do."

Yelena's demeanor takes on a sharper edge, her expression a mix of fury and defiance. Tom sneers, his eyes narrowing as he fiercely locks his eyes with Yelena.

"Are you threatening me?" Yelena asks, her tone challenging.

Tom leans forward, his voice dripping with venomous assurance.

"I'm telling you what's going to happen if Ereka isn't at my house this weekend. ALL weekend. Just a very clear warning."

"If she doesn't want to go, she's not going to go."

Yelena holds firm, unwavering. Tom's face contorts with rage, his entire body giving off menacing energy.

"If you come between me and my kid, I will fucking end you. I'll fucking kill you."

The remark hangs heavy in the air.

"That's a threat.” Yelena retorts, her voice calm and steady.

"Take that however you fucking want, but Ereka better be at my house at 10 AM on Saturday."

Tom abruptly stands, frenziedly ripping his coat off the back of the chair, and storms out of the café.

---

Kate's fingers fly across the keyboard and the rapid clacking of keys punctuate the silence of her office. She’s fully immersed, pouring her focus into crafting this proposal.

A firm knock on the door jolts Kate out of her flow. She recognizes the cadence of the thumping instantly - it’s her assistant. Annoyance flickers across her face, knowing this interruption will disrupt her momentum.

"What's up, Ash?"

Her assistant pops her head in while offering a courteous grin.

"Your wife is here."

Kate looks at her confused, with her brows furrowed in surprise.

"What?"

"Lobby just called. I told them to let her up so she's on her way. Should I let her in?"

"Yeah. Of course. Yeah. Thank you."

---

A few minutes later, a second knock reverberates through the office. Kate also recognizes this rapping without reticence - it unmistakably belongs to Yelena. The corners of Kate’s lips curl and her face lights up as she watches the door swing open, revealing her visibly pregnant wife standing there.

Their eyes meet and the mere sight of Yelena erases any trace of the stress and preoccupation Kate felt moments ago. She promptly pushes her chair back, eager to greet her wife.

"This is a nice surprise." As soon as the door closes behind her, Kate presses her lips against Yelena's in a tender, affectionate kiss while her hands instinctively come to rest on either side of Yelena's stomach. Kate steals a second kiss. "Hi."

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

"I did something...and I could've waited until tonight, but I also didn't know if you were going to get a call or text before that, so I figured it might be best to talk in person."

Kate's smile fades as she reads the somber expression on Yelena's face. Concern fills her eyes as she responds.

"What happened?"

"Can we sit? My back is killing me."

"Yeah. Yeah. Of course."

Kate places an allaying hand on the small of Yelena’s back, guiding her towards the two-person couch opposite her desk. They settle on the sofa and Yelena shifts her body slightly, opening herself up to face Kate directly.

"Not going to lie, I'm kind of very nervous right now. You never just show up at my office, especially not being cryptic."

A touch of humor paints Kate’s voice as she tries to ease the tension. She surveys her wife’s face, searching for answers.

"I talked to Tom."

"You did…what?" Kate asks, aghast at the mere idea.

"I called him and asked him to meet me at a coffee shop earlier. We talked about the custody situation because I don't think..."

"Why would you do that?!"

"Because I don't think she should go back if she doesn't want to."

Kate's voice rises with frustration and disbelief.

"No, no. What you want, what you REALLY want is to 'beat' him. That's what you want...You should've stayed out of my kid's custody business."

"YOUR kid?" Yelena scoffs bitterly. "Are you taking talking points from him now?"

"It was NOT your place to do that." Kate's eyes narrow as she retorts, her tone sharp and accusatory.

"He threatened to kill me."

"Yeah, I'd do the same if someone showed up talking about taking my daughter away from me. What would you do?"

"If I were an incompetent, insane drunk, I would want what's best for my children."

Kate's vexation intensifies, and she stands up, putting distance between them. She walks to her desk and starts to pace in front of it. The room feels tense, the air heavy with unspoken indignation from both sides.

"I asked you to leave it. I told you to leave it alone."

"She shouldn't..."

"You can make unilateral decisions about what kind of jelly you pick up at the store. You don't get to make unilateral decisions about custody shit, Yelena. I can't believe I'm having to even say this to you."

"I was doing what's best for her."

"No. NO, this was your chance to have another pissing contest with him and use her as an excuse. She's not a thing you use to get back at him."

"That's not what happened."

"That's EXACTLY what happened. She's my daughter and you are WAY out of line. Neither of you has claim over her."

Yelena's expression becomes steely.

"I only wanted to fill you in before I went to the police."

Kate's eyes shoot up and widen as she stares Yelena down.

"What are you talking about?"

"He made pointed threats against our family, so I'm filing a police report and requesting an emergency restraining order against him. For all of us. I already called the school and let them know he's not allowed to see her until further notice."

"If you don't wanna be signing divorce papers too, you leave this alone. I'll talk to him and this'll be done. We'll pretend it didn't happen."

"I can't do that, Kate.” Yelena’s resolve strengthens and her voice is firm.

"Yelena, I'm being so beyond serious right now. Drop it."

"I'm sorry, Kate, but I can't in good conscience leave it open for him to harm our family."

Kate's frustration boils over, and she strikes her hand down on the desk.

"WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF YOU HADN'T PULLED THIS SHIT! I told you...I asked you not to touch it. And what did you do? Go behind my back and blow our entire lives up. For what? FOR WHAT?!"

"For Ereka."

"Don't. Do not use her as an excuse. This is all on you."

Kate reaches for her phone, her fingers negligibly trembling as she taps on the screen. She brings the device to her ear, determined to undo whatever Yelena just set in motion.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling him. Controlling the situation before this gets out of hand."

"Kate, that's..."

Kate interrupts her curtly, her words teeming with aggravation.

"Don't talk to me right now."

The call goes to voicemail. Kate's impatience grows, but she tries once more.

"Katherine."

The utterance of her full name makes Kate glare at her wife, her eyes flashing warning signs that Yelena is willingly ignoring.

When the call goes to voicemail once more, Kate jumps into action. She reaches for her purse and heads to the door, her movements swift and purposeful.

"Where are you going?"

"To find him. And Yelena...if you file that report or a restraining order, you might as well also start looking for a divorce attorney because I'm not playing this game with you. I won’t. We are OVER if you do."

Without uttering another word, Kate stomps out of the office, leaving Yelena alone. The weight of their strained relationship hangs heavily in the air, thickening it with unresolved tension.

---

A few hours later. The front door to the apartment swings open with a burst of energy, and Kate ushers her lively children inside. Laughter and the pitter-patter of tiny feet fill the air, infusing the space with a tangible joy and warmth. Like a conductor orchestrating the symphony of their homecoming, Kate deftly navigates the chaos and issues detailed instructions, guiding Ereka and Russell through their tasks for the evening. As the children settle into their respective activities, Kate makes her way to the bedroom to change into more cozy clothes.

Kate turns the doorknob and freezes in her tracks. Not only is her wife already home, but she’s immersed in an intense flurry of activity. Once a sanctuary of peace, the room is now a battlefield of chaos. Clothes and shoes are strewn haphazardly across the floor, like casualties of a tempestuous storm. Before a symbol of order and serenity, the walk-in closet now stands open, its contents spilling out in disarray, mirroring the turmoil that has taken hold of their lives. The atmosphere crackles with an electric tension, as if the very walls hold their breath, knowing they’re about to witness the unfolding drama.

There, in the thick of the chaos she created, stands Yelena. Her movements are frenetic, driven by an urgency that cannot be ignored. She hastily stuffs clothes into a suitcase, the rustling fabric punctuating the charged silence that fills the room. As their eyes meet, a kaleidoscope of emotions dance across their faces. Upon seeing Kate, Yelena's hands momentarily freeze before she resumes her frantic packing. With firm resolve, the rhythmic zip of the luggage bag serves as an intransigent punctuation mark, echoing with profound finality that pulsates throughout the living quarters.

"What are you doing?"

"When it actually came down to me and him, you picked him." Yelena utters, cold and distant.

Kate explosively thrusts their bedroom door shut and charges over to Yelena, feeling a wave of anger detonate within her.

"I didn't pick ANYONE. I picked sanity and peace. For them. They will always be my priority." Kate crosses her arms over her chest and stares at the floor, mind racing. A long beat and a million thoughts later, she scoffs. "After everything...'you picked him.' If *this*..." Kate spiritedly points around their room. "If THIS is what 'picking him' looks like Yelena, then I'm curious what you think 'picking you' would entail. Because fuck...WOW."

Yelena crams one last pair of pants into the already overstuffed duffle bag that sits next to the hefty suitcase she just filled. Her tense body struggles to force the zipper halves to meet; its bulging shape evidence of her lack of thoughtfulness while packing. The fabric strains against the zipper, resisting her efforts to contain its contents. After a few firm yanks, the metallic teeth reluctantly interlock, sealing her belongings within. Yelena grabs the handle of the large rolling bag before slinging the strap of her duffle over her shoulder, and a sudden surge of adrenaline propels her forward in the direction of the door.

Before she can make her escape, Kate's hand shoots out as Yelena storms past her. Her fingers find their mark, latching on to Yelena's forearm, their grip like a vice, anchoring her in place. Their eyes lock in a fiery exchange, a tempest of emotions brewing within their depths and threatening to consume them both.

"Where are you going?"

Yelena points to the envelope resting atop the dresser. Kate retrieves it, her jittery fingers slowly tearing it open. Inside lies an emergency restraining order against Tom accompanied by a police report.

"I'm keeping them safe. At any cost." The women glare at each other. Kate takes a step back, willingly putting distance between them. Her heart pounds in her chest as she meets Yelena's gaze. They’re now locked in a battle of wills. "I'm taking him with me."

"You're not taking him anywhere."

"We're just going to the Ritz for a few nights. Until we can figure out what's happening next."

"Yelena, my son's not leaving this apartment."

A clash of emotions thunders through the room, their conflicting desires colliding into a torrent of raw feelings.

"If Ereka is YOUR daughter, then that's MY son. That's how it works, right?"

"You're being petty about this?"

"I'm being logical."

Yelena's words cut through the air, her tone shifting to cold and calculated. Each syllable carries a sharpness that slices through their relationship's already fraying threads, leaving an icy tension behind.

"You're not even in the same universe as logical right now."

"Must be pregnancy brain, I guess." Yelena bites back.

Kate’s patience officially reaches its breaking point. She truculently strides to where Yelena stands, her steps exuding steadfastness. In a display of unyielding and assertive belligerence, Kate snatches the duffle bag from Yelena's shoulder, ripping it away without hesitation. With a single speedy motion, Kate hurls the bag several feet away, the velocity causing the already tenuous hold the zipper had to give way. The contents spill out, scattering haphazardly across the floor.

"Sit." The word hangs in the air, pregnant with authority. What Kate uttered wasn’t a request; it was a command and one that left no room for negotiation. When Yelena doesn’t move, Kate's tone grows more forceful, compelling her to comply. "Sit down." Kate reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. She dials a number with exigency. "I'm calling Landers, see if he can squeeze us in as an emergency right now."

"I don't need a therapy session. I need to go lie down."

"Bed's right there. Help yourself." Kate snaps at Yelena with a venomous undertone. "Hi Janey. This is Kate Bishop-Belova. I have a bit of a serious situation and I'm wondering if there's any way Joy can see us tonight? It's an emergency...Uhum...Uhum...Yeah. Please. That would be so helpful...Yeah. This number is fine...You're incredible. Thank you...Okay. Talk soon." Kate hangs up. "She doesn't know if tonight will be possible, but she'll talk to Landers and see if maybe tomorrow morning might work."

Yelena scoffs dismissively, her irritation evident.

"This is stupid."

"Yeah, I agree. Everything you've done today is BEYOND stupid."

"I already made a reservation."

"I couldn't give two shits about your reservation. Sit down. You are not blowing up our lives tonight. I'm not letting it happen."

"You're the one who brought up divorce."

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S BEING INSANE!" Kate screams, her voice cracking with emotion. "I can't talk to you right now, or I might say some things that I don't actually mean."

"Then let me go to the hotel."

"You're not going anywhere." Kate's words carry the significance of an ultimatum as she makes for the door. "I need to figure out dinner. What do you want?" Kate asks in an attempt to shift the focus away from their escalating argument.

"Nothing." Yelena's response is curt and indifferent.

"Pizza it is."

With that final declaration, Kate exits the room and shuts the door with a bang.

---

The sound of rushing water fills the air. Kate stands at the kitchen sink, dangling Russell in front of the open tap as she diligently works to wash away the splatters of paint that have found their way onto his tiny hands. The colorful streaks mix with the swirling water, creating a mesmerizing spectacle and carrying away the colorful remnants of his artistic escapade. Lost in her task and the words of the babbling boy, Kate momentarily forgets the apprehension that saturates the apartment.

But then she hears adult footsteps approaching from behind, disrupting the tranquil rhythm of the moment. Kate turns, her eyes widening as she sees Yelena purposefully making her way to the entrance, her duffle bag slung over her shoulder and her suitcase clutched tightly in her hand. A surge of panic courses through Kate, pushing her to act without a moment's hesitation. She swiftly shuts off the water and sets Russell down, his little feet pattering on the tiled floor as he toddles away, overjoyed that his paint-streaked hands are forgotten for the moment. Filled with a sense of impending doom, Kate compels her bare feet to glide across the kitchen tiles as she chases after Yelena.

"Hey. Hey. Was I not clear?"

"I'm not your child, Kate."

"You're acting like it." Refusing to let Yelena slip away unchallenged, Kate corners her wife in the foyer and plants herself firmly mere inches away from her. "Go back to the room. Pizza's going to be here in forty minutes."

"I'm going to the hotel."

"No, you're not."

Kate’s voice hardens, drawing a line in the sand. They glare at each other.

"Are you going to back me up on this?"

"No. You're wrong, so I'm not. I'm still not letting you leave because you're being beyond unreasonable. I'm not letting this get worse than it already is."

Yelena tries to push to the door, but Kate stands her ground, blocking her path with her body.

"Katherine..."

"I'm trying to stop you from fucking up this marriage."

"What if I don't want you to?"

They lock eyes, each searching for answers in the depths of the other’s gaze.

"Now you're just trying to piss me off. I know you too well. Go lie down. I'll send one of them to get you when food is here." Yelena doesn't move. "Who do I call to get rid of that stupid restraining order?"

"You can't end a protective order I requested."

"Then do it. Take care of it."

"No."

Yelena is resolute. Kate takes a measured, deep breath, making a concerted effort to keep herself centered.

"Yelena…”

"We've done it your way for years. It's never worked. It's about time we try it my way."

"I'm not backing you up on this. Get rid of it."

"No." Yelena repeats, somehow even more unwavering.

"You know what...fine. You want to destroy our lives this bad...be my guest." Kate finally relents. She steps back, giving Yelena all the space she needs to open the door and leave. After a beat of stillness, Yelena opens the door and walks out. Kate stands by, flummoxed, her heart heavy with incredulity and heartbreak. "I want you to be so very clear that you're the one doing this. You're the one walking away. Again. You're leaving a second time." Kate's voice quivers with a mix of anger and hurt. That stops Yelena in her tracks. "You said you'd never do that again. You promised and I believed you, so what is this? You promised."

With a heavy sigh, Kate steps away from the entrance, retreating back into the apartment but leaving the door wide open.

---

As Kate attends to the remnants of Russell's mess, the faint sound of the front door closing reaches her ears, stirring her from her thoughts. She turns her head, her attention abruptly drawn to the entrance. Her heart withers at the conclusive thud that reverberates through the air. To her amazement, seconds later, Yelena emerges from the foyer. Their eyes briefly connect in a charged moment before Yelena clenches her jaw tightly and strides deeper into the apartment, vanishing down the hallway that leads to their shared bedroom. Not long after, a resounding boom fills the air as the door is violently slammed shut, further emphasizing the growing chasm between them.

Lost in a maelstrom of emotions that threaten to engulf her whole, Kate's eyes linger on that hallway. Russell takes advantage of her distraction, seizing the opportunity to indulge himself. In a sudden burst of movement, the boy leans forward with a rascally grin and his tiny hands break the water's surface. The cold liquid splashes in all directions, showering the immediate area, including a generous dousing directly onto Kate's face. The shock of the gelid liquid snaps Kate back to reality with a gasp, her senses jolted by the sudden and unexpected intrusion. The temperature forces her breath to catch in her throat while droplets cling to her skin and drip down her face. It is a moment of undeniable clarity, a gentle reminder that life persists even in the midst of turmoil.

At least there's still a way back. It's cracked but not shattered. There's still a way to fix it.

#listen...its fucking 6:10am if you find a typo no you didnt #if there's any mistake or anythign doesnt make sense...no you didnt and yes it does #I'll reread this shit when I wake up but my brain wouldnt let me go to sleep until it was done #ive been staring at this for like twelve hours straight or something #just take it #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

Hi again,

I’ve loved the angst of Kate and Yelena dealing with Tom’s temper tantrums. I am curious of Kate and Yelena’s early relationship though. Like if Kate didn’t know she was a lil fruity when was her first gay panic moment after her and Yelena first started being more than friendly? Was Kate like “shit…am I gay for this little Russian grinch” or was she just chill with it and like “okay… so apparently I like women now.” I guess I’m asking was she in an experimental phase that turned into not a phase or was it like she was low key always curious about dining at the Y. Like in my head cannon I can totally see Kate calling Suze or Greer and being like “help…I think I’m gay” after a long day of flirting with Yelena and a somewhat naughty dream starring Yelena shattering Kate’s back🤭

p.s. this is the same 2 barbie’s/ken scenario anon

---

Yelena’s such a grump! Honey you’ve got a big storm coming. I’m loving this early dynamic between them though! Would love to know who initiated/ finally made the moves on the other?

///

Here's 8.3k of what happens not too long after Yelena's birthday. I'd say within a few days. Mild sin included lol. This is this long and it's 90% dialogue. Imagine if I fully wrote this out like I did CFAU or even the AO3 KYAU chapters? It'd be like 20k 🤓

---

Yelena buzzes around the kitchen, gearing up to make herself a post-workout smoothie. Her skin is still damp and covered in a thin layer of semi-dry sweat, strands of her hair spill out of her messy braid, and she wears nothing but a sports bra and matching Jiu-Jitsu spats. 

Yelena pours almond milk into the blender when she’s interrupted by thumping on her door. For an instant, she considers ignoring it. That would mean pretending she’s not home, but that seems short-sighted when she’s seconds away from running a blender within earshot of the door. 

Yelena grunts and stomps to the entrance, knowing only one of two people could be on the other side. She swings the door open to predictably find an upbeat Kate resting her shoulder against the doorjamb with a silly grin on her face.

“Hi.”

“What do you want?”

“Sometimes a ‘hello’ goes a long way, you know that?” Yelena stares at her impassively, not giving Kate an inch, but Kate is not playing her game today. She’s going to force Yelena into small talk because she now knows for a fact that Yelena is perfectly capable of being pleasant. Kate takes in Yelena’s appearance - the disheveled look, the sweat, the fitted clothes - and decides to pursue that angle. “You were working out?”

“Just got back from the academy?” Kate looks stumped. “Jiu-Jitsu.”

“No clue what that is.”

“Martial arts thing. Doesn’t matter. What do you want, Kate?”

“Ohhh...she has hobbies! Is it like a fighting thing?”

“Yes. What. Do. You. Want? I’m closing this door in fifteen seconds if you don’t tell me.”

“You’re impossible...I have a big work thing. Fundraising gala for our national trade org. Fancy schmancy dinner. Open bar. Don’t worry about the expensive tickets. I already made my mom pay for those. It’s her charitable deduction for the month. Thing is…I have two of those tickets…”

“No.”

Kate presses forward.

“…I HAVE TWO TICKETS and my friend who was supposed to go with me just came down with strep. All my other friends have plans tonight. I already have a sitter and it would look REALLY bad to have an open seat at our table.”

“I don’t do…social things…people.”

“It’s for charity.”

“You said you already paid for the tickets. Charity was already made. Who cares if the seat is open?”

“Half of charity work is optics. Photographers are there. Photos go out to donors and press. They want to see overflowing events so that more people want to go to their next events. Vicious cycle.”

“No.”

“It’s free food and drinks…and I’d like to think not terrible company.”

“You’ve lived in New York your entire life. I’m sure you have other people you can call. Good night, Kate.”

Yelena shuts the door in Kate’s face.

—

Not five minutes later, another knock interrupts Yelena’s highly anticipated smoothie time. Yelena opens the door halfway through an eye roll seeing as she's fully expecting Kate again, but, to her surprise, it's the little one.

“Mommy’s on the phone with Suzu and she says she asked you to come to a party with her and you said no. Why did you tell my mommy no?”

“Ereka, that’s none of your business. Go home.”

“Why did you say no?”

“Who’s Suzu anyway?”

“My mommy’s big sister. Like I'll be when I get a little sister.”

“Why is she telling her sister that she asked me to come to this party?”

“She was asking my Suzu too, but she can’t come to the party. Why can’t you come?”

“Because I’m busy.”

“With what?”

“Things.”

“What things?”

“You said your mom was on the phone. Does she know you’re out here?”

“No.”

“Go back. Go. I’ll watch you and make sure you close the door.”

“Not until you say yes to go with my mommy.”

“I’m busy!”

“I think you’re lying and mommy says lying is bad.”

“Ereka. Go. Home.”

“I go home if you say yes.”

“Why is a five-year-old trying to blackmail me?”

"What does blackmail mean?"

"What you're trying to do right now."

They scowl at each other in silence for a beat, sizing the other up.

“Can we make a deal?”

“I’m not making deals with preschoolers.”

“You have to go with my mommy.”

“Why are you so intent on me going to this party?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Depends.”

“I can’t tell you if you won’t keep it.”

“I won’t keep it if it’s illegal or dangerous to keep it.”

Ereka huffs.

“Miss Mary falls asleep on the couch almost right as my mommy leaves. If I move the breakfast chair in front of the fridge really quiet, I can climb it and get to the cookies mommy hides up there. I’ve been wanting cookies all day. If you don’t go with my mommy, then she’s going to stay home and I won’t get cookies, so I need you to go with her.”

Yelena makes a concerted effort to remain stoic, but after about ten seconds, she cracks and smiles.

“You want me to say yes to going to a party only so you can Oceans Eleven yourself some cookies while your babysitter sleeps? I will get you cookies myself if I don’t have to go to this thing.”

“My mommy won’t let you. You have to go…I’ll save you some. As payment.”

“EREKA!” Kate scrambles out the door, panicked, the phone still glued to her ear, to find the two blondes chatting at Yelena’s door. “How the hell did you get out?! Get back here right now! What is wrong with you?!”

Before Ereka can incriminate herself, Yelena perplexingly steps in to defend her.

“She didn’t. Get out, I mean.”

“What?…Suze, I’ll call you back.”

“I knocked. To…” Yelena glances down at the kid, already regretting the words about to leave her mouth. “…let you know I changed my mind. I’ll come tonight.”

“Yessssssssss.” Ereka quietly rejoices.

“She told me you were busy on the phone and would pass on the message, then offered to escort me back to my place.”

Kate squints her eyes, struggling to believe this whole scenario, but choosing to let it be.

“Right…We have to leave by six fifteen. Gala starts at seven. Ri, come on. I need to get ready.” Ereka runs off and past her mother into their apartment. Kate lingers. “Thank you.”

Yelena offers a single, firm nod before disappearing back into hers.

—

Fifteen minutes later, Ereka entertains herself in front of the bathroom mirror, messing about with Kate’s makeup while the older woman hums a tune in the shower. There’s a knock on Kate’s door.

“Someone’s knocking on the door, mommy.”

“Don’t open it! Ask who it is.” Ereka jumps off the counter and out of the bathroom. After a beat of silence, Ereka runs back into the bathroom. “It’s Yelena.”

“Are you sure?”

“She says it’s her and it sounded like her.”

Kate wavers for a moment while thinking.

“You can open the door. Ask her what she needs.”

Without hesitation, Ereka bolts toward the front of the apartment. After another long pause, Ereka returns to the bathroom.

“She says she needs to talk to you.”

“About what?”

Ereka runs off again and is back shortly.

“She says she has nothing to wear to a ’schwancy wancy’ thing.”

Kate chuckles. 

“Tell her I’ll be right out.”

“Okay!”

Ereka rushes out the door once more. 

—

Moments later, Kate steps out to the living room, dripping wet and wearing no more than a minuscule towel wrapped around her torso that barely covers the important bits. She finds Yelena and Ereka engrossed in one of the little girl’s didactic games. The scenario makes Kate involuntarily smile. 

“I hear you have a fashion emergency?”

Yelena looks up, ready to make a snarky quip, but her words get caught in her throat and her hands become clammy when she takes in the sight of Kate in the towel.

“Uhm…sorry…I…uh…forgot I already had most of my stuff shipped out. My formal clothes are in some container crossing the ocean right now. I don’t have anything to wear.”

Kate gives Yelena a thorough once-over. Her eyes study Yelena with such assiduous detail that it eventually makes Yelena squirm.

“I should have options for you.”

“Kate…you’re so much taller than me.”

“Lucky for you, I like short things.” The women internally wince when they realize those words come across much flirtier than they initially intended to. “They’ll look right on you.”

Kate glosses right past it and Yelena is thankful for it. 

“I…uhm…don’t typically…” Yelena searches for the right words. “I don’t think our styles overlap very much.”

“Oh, come on. You can pull off a dress. It’s one night.”

“I can wear them. I know how to. I simply prefer not to.”

“I think it’s not a matter of preferences tonight, is it?” Kate saunters into her bedroom. “Let’s see what we can find.”

Shortly afterward, when Yelena hasn't walked in behind her, Kate steps back into the living room.

"Are you like a vampire? Do I have to outright invite you into rooms before you walk inside?"

"I figured you needed to put clothes on..."

"If you prefer I put clothes on now, I can. I think it'd be more efficient if we find you something to wear and then you can go shower."

"Sure. If you're fine, I'm good. I'm good."

"You can come in." Kate makes a point of saying.

"For the record, if there wasn't a child in the immediate vicinity, I'd be flipping you off."

Kate chuckles.

"Good to know."

---

The pair make their way into Kate's sweeping walk-in closet. Ereka darts in after them.

"Oh..."

"Yeah, I have a bit of a problem." Kate turns to Ereka. "No. No no. Out. You're only going to get in the way and we're in a rush. Go read something. Out."

"A bit?"

Kate closes the closet door, leaving a pouting Ereka standing behind it.

"Stop. What's your cup size?" Yelena gapes at her. "Why are you looking at me like I'm some creep catcalling you from a corner? We're standing in my closet, trying to find you something to wear. This is 'need to know' info."

"B." Kate’s eyebrows shoot up, incredulous. Yelena rolls her eyes. "They can be! Depending on the bra. Shut up...You need me to go to this thing, remember?"

"I said nothing."

Kate scans the dozens upon dozens of pieces in her wardrobe.

"How tall?"

"Five foot five." Kate pivots to look at her with a cocked eyebrow. "What are you? A lie detector machine?"

"What are you? A man? I have eyes! Tell me for real!"

"Five foot three."

"We're getting somewhere. Shoe size?"

"Six."

"Okay. Can't help you there. I'm a ten. We'll figure it out."

"What were you thinking in terms of look?"

"What do you mean?"

"Make-up?"

"Zero?"

"What I heard was 'bit of a soft smokey eye in metal and a bold red lip'. Got it. Genius. I was thinking the exact same thing."

"Kate......"

"Shhh...I'm working here."

Kate begins pulling items from the racks and setting them down on the center island while Yelena watches on, increasingly horrified.

"No...No...Absolutely not...No...Never...Kate, no."

Kate lifts a gold sequin-covered gown with a plunging v-neckline and a risque thigh-high slit. She holds it up next to Yelena for a beat, then nods.

"This one."

"No! Look at the cleavage on that thing."

"It'll look great on you."

"I said no."

"I said yes...we need a tiebreaker." Kate declares as she heads for the closet door.

"No, we don't? That's not how this works?"

"Ri, I need you! Fast!"

Ereka speeds over and into the closet.

"What, mommy?"

Kate holds the dress up under Yelena’s neck to give Ereka the most accurate visual possible.

"What do you think?"

"OOOOOOOOOOOH, SO PRETTY AND SHINY! YOU LOOK LIKE A PRINCESS!"

"Is that a 'yes' to the dress from you?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"Two to one. Democracy in action." Kate tells Yelena nonchalantly while hanging the dress on a hook next to the full-body mirror. "You need to go shower right now. Don't put anything on your face and come back. I'll do your make-up."

"NO! No dress, no make-up."

"OOOOH, MAKE-UP PARTY! YES YES! WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MAKE-UP PARTY!" Ereka scuttles between the two excitedly.

"You already agreed to come."

"Maybe I'll change my mind."

"You can't do that!" Ereka tells the older blonde firmly. "You made a promise and breaking promises is bad."

"What she said." Kate backs her daughter up. Yelena stares at the women and then stomps off in a huff. "Be back here in no more than forty-five! Hair done! It'll look better up with that dress!"

Kate hears her door slam.

"I don't think she likes the dress too much, mommy."

"I don't know...I don't know.”

“She's very grumpy too."

"VERY GRUMPY, baby.”

“But I like her, mommy. Grumpy and all."

"Yeah. We like her. Grumpy and all...Are you gonna help me pick a dress too?!"

"YESSSSSSS!"

Kate commences selecting pieces from the racks for herself this time and Ereka offers detailed feedback on each along the way.

---

An hour and a half later, Kate and Ereka sit on Kate's bed, facing the closet with anticipation. Kate is dressed in a figure-hugging black gown and her hair is down, styled to look like an effortlessly slicked-back center part. Shimmery eyes and a bright red lip round out the outfit. 

"Coming out at some point before next year would be great. We have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to call the car."

"Kate, I hate this." Yelena gripes from inside the closet.

"I'm sure you look fine." Yelena doesn’t answer and there’s no sound of movement inside the closet. "Any day now. We should..."

Yelena testily swings the door open and Kate's words get caught in her throat there and then.

"WOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!! SO PRETTY!" Ereka exclaims as she hops off the bed and runs around Yelena to look at her from all angles. "YOU LOOK LIKE A REAL-LIFE SUPER PRINCESS!"

"Kate, I look ridiculous."

Kate shakes her head.

"No."

"I do."

"You look beautiful." Kate half mutters, marveling at the sight in front of her.

Yelena would love to prevent the rush of blood she feels forcing its way up to her face, but unfortunately for her, she's yet to learn how to master her body’s involuntary reactions. Her only alternative is to deflect. 

"Don't we have to leave?"

Yelena does her best to redirect, forcing Kate to snap out of her mild trance.

"Yeah...yeah. I'll call the car."

"Are you and mommy going to dance tonight?"

"I don't dance."

"Mommy likes to dance."

"Good for her."

"Mommy, you should ask Yelena to dance."

"Car will be here in two." Kate squats down to chat with her daughter at eye level. "I think we gotta take it easy on her. Dancing might be one step too far today." Kate smiles and steals a glance at Yelena before kissing Ereka's forehead. "I want you in bed right when Miss Mary tells you to. Not a minute after. I want to get zero complaints when I get back, okay?"

"What if I'm not tired? Can I wait for you if I'm not?"

"You better start tiring yourself out now then, because you're going to bed and your butt better be in bed when I get home."

"So unfair."

"UGH! Worst mom ever. How dare she not let you stay up until all hours?” Kate smiles at her daughter, who rolls her eyes. “I have to go. Be good, please. I love you."

Kate forces an over-the-top smooch onto Ereka’s cheek. The little girl “yucks” and wipes her skin with her open palm.

"I love you too. Even when you lick me and try to control me."

Kate chuckles.

"Licking and controlling are the two most important tasks parents have, Ri." Kate looks at her phone then turns to Yelena. "One minute. We should start heading down."

Yelena nods.

"Hey," Ereka whispers and beckons Yelena down to her height with her index finger. She brings her tiny hand to cup Yelena's ear in an attempt to speak to her in secret. "I'll save you two cookies. An extra one because you look really, really pretty."

Yelena can't help but smile.

"No need."

"I will. I'll give them to you tomorrow."

"What are you two whispering about?"

"Mommies don't need to know everything friends talk about."

"Kid has a point. I’m invoking our attorney-client privilege." Yelena backs her up.

"You two are trouble. Car's here. Your plotting will have to wait for another time."

Ereka wraps her arms around Yelena's neck, giving her a warm hug. Yelena reciprocates.

"Have fun. Don't forget my mommy likes to dance."

"Good night, kid."

Kate rushes into the room and yanks Yelena by the hand.

"So slow!"

"I was coming!"

"Not fast enough. Night, Mary. We'll be home by one."

"Ten." Yelena refutes.

"One," Kate confirms as she yanks Yelena out the door.

Ereka chases them to the door.

"I love you the most!" Ereka screams at her mother as the elevator door closes.

"I love you the mostest!" Kate yells back.

(NOTE: For reference, Kate is wearing that black dress/overall look from the “Capital Letters” music video. And Yelena’s look is the 2020 Vanity Fair After Party look. Pics below.)

---

The gala is in full swing. Kate is deep in conversation with the person sitting next to her. On the other hand, Yelena has yet to speak to anyone except for uttering a handful of words to Kate and speaking her order to the bartender. She savors her drink and surveys the event space, making mental judgments of all the guests.

"Socializing is a vital part of the human experience, you know?"

Kate tells her in a hushed tone with a soft smile.

"I told you I didn't do parties."

"Well, you're at one, so...can't you just enjoy it?"

"No."

Kate laughs.

"You're a hard nut to crack."

"Have you considered that maybe I don't want cracking?"

"I think you certainly tell yourself that."

Yelena glares icily at her, pushes her chair back, then stands.

"I'm getting another drink."

---

Yelena sulks at the bar while waiting for the bartender to approach her.

"I'm not trying to annoy you."

Yelena looks over her shoulder to find Kate standing behind her.

"Could've fooled me."

"Is the only way to get you to be nice to call you out when you're being a dick then feed you mac and cheese? Because one: you're being a dick. And two: I will talk to a waiter and see if we can score you some if I need to...I had a good time the other night. I know you're capable of smiling and laughing. I've seen it with my own eyes."

"Kate, what do you want from me?"

"Right now? For you to relax."

"I am relaxed."

Yelena grits through her teeth and scowls, then turns back to the bar, desperately trying to get the bartender's attention. Kate chuckles.

"Oh yeah, chillest person in this room." Kate steps forward, stands next to Yelena at the counter, brings her index finger to the older woman’s chin and pulls it, turning Yelena's head and making their eyes meet. "Give me an hour to prove you could be having fun. Say 'yes' to everything I say for an hour."

"No."

"Failing the exercise already."

"I'm not doing that."

"Are you allergic to fun? What did you and your sister do together? I'm sure you guys had fun."

"Keep my sister out of this. I'm plenty fun."

"Life of the party...An hour." Kate extends her hand, waiting for Yelena to shake it. "Are you this much of a baby that you won't leave your comfort zone for an hour?" 

Yelena lours at Kate. She is certain Kate is purposefully trying to push her buttons now...yet, for some reason, she acquiesces.

"An hour. Within reason. Nothing illegal or too crazy."

"What if we have different definitions of illegal?" Kate fires back with a smirk.

"There's only one definition. Take it or leave it."

Kate extends her hand again for Yelena to shake. Yelena looks at the hand, then at Kate and after a beat, she takes firm hold of it and shakes it. When they do, Kate hits the lock screen on her phone to look at the time.

"You're mine to do as I please until 8:52 PM."

They tense up when they realize the potential for misconstruing the statement as innuendo...but before they can dwell, the bartender approaches.

"What can I get you, ladies?"

"Four shots of tequila, please." Kate rushes to say before Yelena can speak. As Yelena is about to start protesting, Kate lifts her finger and stops her in her tracks. "Ahhhh…can't say no. We just made a deal."

Yelena grunts.

"That's not illegal, but it's certainly irresponsible."

"Live a little."

Moments later, the bartender returns with the shots as well as limes and salt on a tea plate and places them across from the two women.

"Bottoms up, council." Kate urges Yelena as she downs her first shot. Yelena gawks at her. "Come on! You're on my clock here. Move it." Defiant, Yelena slams back the first shot and immediately takes the second. She grimaces. "That's more like it!" Kate kills her remaining shot, interlocks her arm with Yelena's and drags her away from the bar. "We'll be back for more in a second."

"Where are we going now?" Kate's face lights up with a devilish smile as she heads for the dance floor. "No. Nu-uh. Kate..."

"Those words are out of your vocabulary for the time being."

"Kate, I don't dance."

"You do tonight."

Kate forces her way past the crowd and drags Yelena to the center of the dance floor. Once there, Kate begins swaying to the music the DJ plays. Yelena stands stiffly. When Yelena doesn't move, Kate brings her hands to Yelena's hips, trying to coax them into rocking along to the beat. Their eyes meet. There are no reasons this should be as intimate when there are hundreds of people around, but it undeniably is. 

"Come on...I know you're not as much of a robot as you try to make it seem. Feel it."

The last two words slip out barely above a murmur. Kate's hands remain on Yelena's hips while she takes a step closer, making the distance between them damn near nonexistent. Something about Kate being this far into her space fogs up Yelena's mind and before she knows it, her hips follow Kate's lead.

"See? Not too bad." Kate encourages her.

The music transitions to an even more uptempo song and Kate ensures they match the beat to this as well. For a moment - more like three consecutive songs - it's only them in this room. Kate's hands on Yelena's hips, their eyes on each other, breaths on their skin, and bodies in sync. They could've stayed that way all night had they not been interrupted.

"Kate! I thought that was you!"

Kate and Yelena are snapped out of their trance by another woman on the dance floor. The intruder has a handful of friends with her and what was a private, lust-filled bubble for two becomes a wide circle of yappy, gyrating, drunk women. Kate senses Yelena tense up beside her and, without thought, she brings her hand to hold Yelena's. Their fingers intertwine while Kate has small talk with the woman who approaches her.

"The infamous Kate Bishop in the flesh. What are you up to?! Where have you been hiding?"

"It's been a crazy, busy year. I made VP and my accounts have pretty much tripled. I’m drowning half the time."

"Oh my god, congrats! I didn't hear about that."

"Yeah. Thank you! It wasn't too long ago. Happened at the top of the summer and..." Kate feels Yelena pull on her hand, trying to get away. Kate holds on tighter and runs her thumb over Yelena’s skin, soothing. "...I haven't exactly had time to celebrate. It was so nice to catch up, but we were on our way to the bar. Let's get drinks on the books. Have your assistant call mine."

"Of course, yeah! Have fun tonight."

Kate turns and pulls Yelena behind her towards the bar, hands still locked together.

"Sorry. I didn't..."

"It's fine." Yelena hurries to divert. "You probably know everyone here."

"I wouldn't say everyone...99%?" Kate looks over at the shorter woman and grins. "More tequila?"

"That's a terrible idea, Kate."

"Which is exactly why we should do it."

They land at the bar and Kate orders four more shots.

"Four is unreasonable."

"I think you can handle it." Kate hasn't let go of Yelena's hand and continues to run lazy circles over her skin with her thumb. Kate turns to face the crowd. "Who do you think is the hottest guy here? Who'd you get wasted and take home tonight for a crazy, sloppy one-night stand?"

Yelena chuckles.

"Are your observation and deduction skills that poor?"

"What do you mean? Ohhhh...you want me to guess who you think is hot?"

Yelena laughs harder.

"We'd be here all night."

"Why?"

"Because I don't think any of these men are hot, Kate."

"A picky girl! I like it. Okay. What's your type then? There HAS to be someone in here that comes at least close."

"My type is ‘not men’."

"What...oh...OH..." Kate takes a step back, studying Yelena. After a beat, she nods. "No, yeah. That makes sense. It's all clicking now."

Yelena hangs her head back, laughing.

"Glad we got that sorted."

"But like...never? Not even once?"

Yelena shakes her head.

"Have never seen a penis in real life."

"God, I'm actually a little jealous. They're...kinda just...there...flapping around...being an inconvenience."

"Yup. Every word is making me gayer."

Kate surveys Yelena's face and notices her eyes becoming glassy due to the alcohol.

"We need to get some food and water in you. Let's go back to the table. They're serving dinner soon anyway."

Kate pulls Yelena's hand and guides them back to their seats.

"That might be the only good idea you've had tonight."

---

Kate and Yelena talk and stuff themselves full of bread while waiting for their full-course dinner to be served. A waiter drops by to offer the table drinks immediately before dinner is catered and, never knowing when to say no, Kate orders them a round. Yelena is thankful it’s at least a pair of cocktails, not shots.

They continue conversing about nothing and everything throughout their meal. Kate brazenly ignores her coworkers the entire time.

Once dessert makes its way to the diners, the DJ shifts from the mellow playlist guests could have a conversation over back to danceable jams. Before long, Kate is squealing and declaring something "her song" and forcing Yelena back onto the dance floor.

On this occasion, with alcohol and hormones coursing even more freely through their veins, Yelena doesn't resist when Kate eventually presses her back to Yelena's front and starts grinding against her. Yelena's hands find a home on Kate's hips and they move together. As one. They do this for another song before Kate turns to face Yelena. Kate places her elbows on Yelena's shoulders and wraps her arms behind her neck. Yelena's hands move from Kate's hips to the small of her back, right on the curve of her derriere. They're pressing themselves against boundaries at full tilt.

Kate brings her lips to Yelena's ear and her lips graze against the skin of Yelena’s earlobe as she speaks.

"I have to pee like a fucking racehorse." Yelena bursts out laughing. "I'll be right back." Before she pulls away, Kate's lips travel a few inches below Yelena’s ear and press a soft kiss on the woman’s cheek. "Thank you for coming tonight."

Yelena offers a firm nod and Kate disappears into the crowd.

With Kate gone, the illusion breaks and the reality of tonight...of the last couple of hours (because this has gone well and beyond the "one hour" deal by now)...smashes into the forefront of Yelena’s mind like a stray cannonball. Whereas it felt as if it were only the two of them in a room before, now it's back to Yelena being alone in a sea of strangers she has no interest in becoming familiar with. The dance floor becomes speedily suffocating and, before she knows it, Yelena is rushing to the table to snatch the bag with her phone and keys in it and flees.

---

The line to the women’s bathroom stretches down a hallway and wraps around a corner. Kate’s leg bounces impatiently whilst she waits near the end of the queue. Kate brings her manicured thumb to her mouth and begins to chew on it. Now that they’re apart, the veil of the alcohol-induced, nirvana-like state she’s been immersed in has lifted and all Kate is left with is the feeling of an anvil weighing her stomach down. 

What the hell? That is the one query that continually loops in Kate’s mind. Kate racks her brain, striving to figure out when and how her truculent temporary neighbor got under her skin like this. Did it start tonight? Have these feelings been simmering and only boiled over in the last few hours? Kate has an endless stream of questions - questions that can mostly be summarized as “Fuck fuck fuck what the fuck?” - but none that she thinks she’ll have an answer to by the time she gets to a stall. Particularly not when her brain keeps wandering to those moments on the dance floor when her body was pressed against Yelena’s and the woman’s hands were all over her. Those mental images are distracting and certainly not conducive to critical thinking during a seemingly impromptu life crisis. 

For now, all Kate can do is stew in her feelings and hope the rest of the night will further assist in her quest to find explanations. That, and bite her nails to keep her mind off how urgently she needs to empty her bladder.

---

It takes Kate longer to return than she would've liked; therefore, she doesn’t consider it exceedingly strange when she can’t spot Yelena on the dance floor. The blonde must have returned to the table and is waiting for her there. Kate arrives at her company’s table, but Yelena isn't anywhere to be found there either. That’s when Kate notices Yelena's bag is also missing. Kate digs through her purse, collects her phone, and texts her.

Nothing.

---

Half an hour later.

Kate stares at her phone, glaring at the message that has ostensibly merited no response from Yelena. More than worried, Kate feels herself growing angry. She has a fairly solid inkling of what happened and by no means is she allowing their night to end on this wretched note. Kate snaps her handbag up and storms to the entrance while calling a car.

---

The longer the car took to make its way to her building, the more livid Kate felt herself growing. Thus, it is no surprise to her when she finds herself hammering her fists against Yelena's door. To Kate’s satisfaction, she doesn’t have to stand there for long before Yelena stares back at her. 

"People are sleeping, Kate."

It’s clear the older woman has been home for some time, seeing as her face is washed, her hair is braided, and she’s now clad in sweats and a t-shirt. 

Kate barges into the apartment, explosively hurling her bag on the couch the moment she’s inside. 

"Where the hell did you go?"

Yelena points around her, as if stating, ‘here?...where you found me?’.

"You make it a habit of vanishing and abandoning all your dates at parties?"

"That wasn't a date, Kate. That was a kidnapping."

Kate paces in furious silence.

"Maybe not at first."

"Maybe not at first what?"

"A date...maybe it wasn't a date at first."

"Don't," Yelena replies angrily.

"Don't what?"

"Don't do that...the whole ambiguous-and-maybe-even-curious-but-really-straight girl game. It's sad."

"You're such a fucking prick. We had a great night, you got scared, bailed, and now you're trying to shit all over me so I leave. You're not super enigmatic and frigid. What you are is a really predictable coward and THAT is what’s a little sad. A lot sad."

"Get out. Get the fuck out."

Yelena pushes past Kate on her way to open the door and kicks Kate out, but Kate grabs her arm, pulls Yelena towards her, and into a torrid kiss. Kate ends the kiss yet doesn’t pull away. She holds Yelena’s face, keeping her in place, and presses their foreheads together.

"I should have more self-respect than to do the whole 'crush on and chase the one who’s mean to me’ thing, but...here I am." Kate chuckles and presses another soft kiss to Yelena’s lips. "There's more to the grump. I know it. I've seen it."

"Kate, get out. I'm not going to be the person you experiment with. Been there, done that, didn't end well for me."

Kate takes a step back, aggravated.

"Yeah, you're right. I've never been with a woman. I'd have a lot to learn. Learning doesn't mean I'd be "experimenting", at least not in the negative way you're trying to imply."

Yelena takes advantage of the fact that Kate has put distance between them and marches to the door, swinging it open while pointing outside.

"Go home to your kid."

"Is it this hard to admit that someone might actually give a fuck? Ignore me for a second. She adores you. You know that, right? Talks about you all day long. Is constantly looking for excuses to come and see you. I have to stop her all the time, or she would've moved in here by now. People care about you. She cares. I care. You make it hard but not impossible."

"I'm leaving. In November. I'm leaving."

"That's November. This is now."

"Nope. No. I don't work that way. I like plans and order and control."

"Life is messier than that."

"Kate..."

Kate closes the distance between them, slides Yelena’s hand off the doorknob, and pushes the door closed.

"Ignore November. Ignore anything outside that door. Right now, what do you want?"

"What I want right now will lead to chaos in the morning."

"Are you clairvoyant?"

"I'm smart."

"But not psychic. What if what you want right now simply leads to morning sex instead of chaos?"

"Because that's not how life works...not mine anyway."

Kate presses her body against Yelena's. Yelena initially tries to recoil, but, much like she did on the dance floor, Kate holds the sides of Yelena's shirt, by her hips, and settles her.

"What do you want right now?" Yelena doesn't respond. Kate leans her face closer, making her lips hover above Yelena's. "What do you want?"

"To fuck you."

Kate nods, smirks, and a soft ‘hmmm’ escapes her mouth.

"I want you to do that too."

Kate ghosts her lips over Yelena's.

"You're drunk, Kate."

"I'm really not. Buzzed at best. But turned on?...Definitely. And I want you to do something about it." Yelena doesn’t move or speak. "You really gonna make me beg?"

Yelena’s eyes shoot up to meet Kate’s. Kate grins when she sees the desire burning in them. 

"Maybe," Yelena states with an undertone of cockiness Kate hasn’t seen all night. 

"Please," Kate adds with zero hesitation.

"What if you wake up and regret it tomorrow?"

"I thought we were ignoring anything except right now."

"Humor me."

"I don't think you'll give me any reason to...but even if you do...what's the worst that can happen? You leave in November, remember? If it goes TERRIBLY WRONG tonight, then worst-case scenario is we have to awkwardly cross each other for a few more months in the hallway and then, that's it. Never see each other ever again...No downsides."

Yelena’s forest eyes study the azure in Kate’s, attempting to spot any hint of vacillation in them.

"What about Ereka? You said she's always looking..."

"You're overthinking it...and trying to find excuses that don't exist. Right now. You. Take what you want. It's already yours."

After a brief delay, Yelena joins her lips with Kate's in a searing kiss. Within seconds they're stumbling back to the bedroom while clothes are flying off.

---

Kate’s arm swats around the mattress, searching for the body that should be there but come across nothing. Her eyes flutter open and Kate lets the dismaying fact that she woke up to an empty bed sink in. She buries her face in the pillow, trying to shield the blinding sun rays from her eyes, and sighs. Then it hits her...the sun is out. She isn't home and the sun is out. OH FUCK.

Kate gets dressed in a hurry and sprints over to her apartment.

"I'm sorry...I'm so..."

Instead of finding a disgruntled babysitter, what Kate comes across when she bursts in is Yelena and a cheerful Ereka making pancakes in the kitchen.

"What's going on?"

The sound of Kate’s voice makes Yelena look over her shoulder for a brief moment before turning her attention back to the pan.

"You slept in." Yelena casually responds.

"You left me. Alone." Kate admonishes her.

"I woke up after we...it was a little past one, so I ran over and relieved Mary. I figured you'd be up soon enough and crashed on the couch until you came. About an hour ago, I opened my eyes and her face was two inches from mine. I checked in. You were still asleep. Figured I'd let you sleep. She got hungry and I couldn't let her starve on my watch, so we're making food."

"We're making strawberry pancakes for you, mommy."

Kate softens up.

"I'm...I'm gonna brush my teeth and wash my face."

"Okay." Yelena turns to look at what Ereka is doing. "No! NO! Too many. That's waaay too many."

Yelena starts fishing out strawberries from the batter, now cooking on the hot pan.

"Yelena, can you come here, please?" Kate calls from her room.

"In the middle of something."

"I need you for a second."

Yelena turns off the burner and looks at Ereka seriously.

"DO NOT TOUCH IT. It's hot. You'll hurt yourself. You can't touch anything until I get back."

Yelena insists while heading towards Kate’s bedroom.

"I’m big! I can make pancakes on my own!"

"NO TOUCHING! I’ll be right back."

Ereka pouts and crosses her arms over her chest.

"FINE!"

---

Yelena enters Kate's room and finds the brunette waiting for her by the door. The moment Yelena steps in, Kate holds her face and kisses her.

"One: you should've woken me up." Kate kisses her again. "Two: Thank you for staying with her. It was...amazing. That has never happened before. I swear. I've never not come home when I say I will. I think your bed was so comfortable and it smelled like you and..."

Yelena kisses her to quiet her.

"You're a great mother, Kate Bishop. You deserved a late morning. It's fine. All I did was cross the hallway, freeze on your couch for a night, and make pancake batter this morning."

Kate laughs and pecks Yelena’s lips.

"There's blankets in the hallway closet."

"I didn't know that. How would I know that?"

"I could've told you if you would've woken me up." Kate kisses her again. "Thank you."

Yelena closes her eyes and inhales sharply.

"What are we doing?"

"I don't know about you, but I'm about to go try some of these pancakes."

"You know what I mean, Kate...I'm leaving."

"You're here now."

"Doesn't change what happens come November."

"We can worry about November later. Right now, I'm hungry and want pancakes. Do you have plans today?" Yelena shakes her head. "She's supposed to be with me this weekend, but one of her dad’s cousins is getting married. He’s picking her up at eleven and she's staying the night. I need to get her ready, pack her bag, and get her out the door. Then we have the place to ourselves until tomorrow at ten. I do believe I promised you some morning sex, so as long as he's on time and you have me naked in bed before noon, it'll technically count."

Yelena shakes her head while a smile creeps up on her.

"You're something else."

Kate kisses her.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Remains to be seen."

Yelena kisses her this time.

"CAN WE FINISH BREAKFAST, PLEASE?! I'M GOING TO DIE OF HUNGRY!"

A little voice pleads from the kitchen. Kate and Yelena are forced to separate and snicker.

"Yup! Coming! Helping your mom with a thing, but I'll be right there."

"You'll definitely be helping a lot more once she's gone for the day."

Kate smirks at Yelena before stealing one last kiss and heading to the door, dragging the older woman behind her.

"Alright, where are these pancakes I was promised?"

“HERE! We’re making them, mommy.”

---

Kate’s legs are draped over Yelena’s thighs, their interlocked fingers casually fiddling while they speak in hushed voices. Yelena leans in, intent on stealing a sneaky kiss when there’s a knock on the door. 

“Ri, your dad’s here!” Kate rudely screams millimeters away from Yelena’s mouth. Yelena flinches at the volume. 

“DADDY!” Ereka shrieks from her bedroom, followed by the rustling of last-minute stuffing of things into a backpack.

When she realizes what she did, Kate offers a bashful smile and plants a series of soft, rapid kisses on Yelena’s lips. 

“Sorry.” Kate mouths before stealing another kiss.

“Should I go to your room or something?” Yelena asks as Kate untangles herself from her. 

“No. No. I’ll make sure he’s in and out. It’s fine.”

There’s another, more impatient knock on the door. 

“I’m coming!”

Kate speeds up the pace and swings the door open to find Tom holding a bouquet of deep purple tulips on the other side. 

“Was walking by that little florist on 84th and 2nd and saw these. They reminded me of you, KitKat.”

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

Kate expresses genuinely before smelling the flowers. Tom smiles, proud of himself, and places a lingering kiss on Kate’s cheek before stepping inside. 

“I was thinking…maybe you can come to the wedding. With us…me and…” Tom’s train of thought gets derailed when he notices the stranger lackadaisically lounging on the couch in what seems like sleepwear. “Hey.”

“That’s Yelena.”

“DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!” 

Ereka rushes Tom, who swings her into the air and smothers her face with kisses.

“Hi, lovebug! You look gorgeous today. Mommy did a good job with those braids on your hair!”

“Mommy didn’t do them! Yelena did!”

With the little girl now attached to his hip, Tom takes a step toward the couch; his hand extended in a polite greeting mode.

“I guess you’re the neighbor.”

Yelena stands and shakes his hand.

“I’m the neighbor.”

“She doesn’t shut up about you.”

“She’s a great kid.”

“She is. Perfect kid. We made a perfect kid. I keep telling KitKat we should make more.” Tom laughs. “Isn’t that right, baby? I always tell you how we should give her that little sister she wants.” Kate forces an awkward smile. Tom turns to face Kate and holds her hand in his. “So, about you coming today. How do you feel about that? I talked to my aunt because of the RSVP and headcount thing. They said it’s perfectly fine. They’d love to have you there. They haven’t seen you in a bit.”

Tom runs his thumb over Kate’s cheek. Kate takes a step back, putting distance between them.

“I’m busy today. I think it’ll be great for you guys to have one-on-one time.”

“We have one-on-one time all the time, KitKat. You know what she hasn’t had in a while? Family time. The three of us. Together. Wouldn’t you want that, princess? The family at a family event.”

“YESSSS! You should come, mommy.”

“Tom…”

“I’m gonna go. You guys can figure that out.”

Yelena mumbles stiffly as she starts to head for the door. 

“See you, neighbor lady.”

Kate steps in Yelena’s way, using her body to block her path, and almost imperceptibly shakes her head while painting a massive fake smile on her face and addressing Tom. 

“Her dress and shoes are in the bag. She can probably keep the braids for the wedding if you don’t rile her up too much. They’ll look cute in pictures. If they get messed up, let them loose and brush her hair out. It should be fine. If you’re not sure if the braids still look good or not, don’t let her run around looking crazy. Ask your mom or your sister. They’ll tell you. I put a headband in there in case she needs to have it down.”

Tom zoned out after the first few words. As his ex talks, his eyes dart back and forth between Kate and Yelena. Their shoulders are pressed together and their hands are nearly overlapping.

“Hmmmmm…okay. So that’s a ‘no’ on coming with your husband and your daughter to the family wedding? Even though she clearly wants you to come.”

“It’s a no. I’m busy.” Tom scoffs. Kate takes a step forward and plants a kiss on the little girl’s forehead. “You and daddy have the most fun, okay? You’re staying with him and grandma tonight, but I’ll see you in the morning. I love you.”

“Why are you not coming, mommy?” Ereka pouts.

“Yeah, KitKat. Why are you not coming?” Tom asks, accusatory and eyeing Yelena surreptitiously.

Kate glares at Tom. 

“Because that was never the plan.”

“Our daughter wants you to come.”

“That wasn’t a thing she wanted until you brought it up. She’ll live. Alright. Isn’t the wedding in Connecticut? That’s a drive. You guys should get going because I don’t want you rushing on the interstate. Please let your mom or someone else drive tonight if you drink at the wedding.”

“Right.”

“I mean it, Thomas. I don’t want her in the car with you if you're drinking. I’ll pick her up if I need to. Just call me if it gets to that. I’ll come.”

“You could come with us now.”

Kate kisses the girl again, then bends over to grab the backpack she had discarded as she ran out and places it in Tom’s hand. 

“Everything she needs is in here.”

“Except for her mom being there with her and daddy.”

“BYE! Have fun!” Kate smiles and nudges him in the direction of the door. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you, mommy!”

“See you tomorrow!”

Kate closes the door on Tom, leaving him staring at Yelena from the door. 

“That was…interesting.” Yelena ponders for as long as it takes Kate to close the distance between them. “Did he call himself your husband...?”

“He does that sometimes.”

“But he’s…”

“Not. Definitely not. We got divorced when Ri was two. He’s still getting used to it.”

“That was…three years ago?”

“And we were together for almost seven. It’s taking him a bit.”

“That sounds messy.”

“I’m not with him. I have no interest in being with him.”

“Does he know that? Because he brought you flowers, wanted you to be his date to a wedding, and calls himself ‘your husband’.”

“Can we not talk about him? Please?” Kate steps even closer and intertwines their fingers. “Still very much into the idea of morning sex WITH YOU and noon is creeping up. We should get on that…” 

Kate’s lips fly to Yelena’s neck and start peppering kisses on the exposed skin.

“You have convincing ways, Kate Bishop.”

“I like to think so.” Kate kisses her way up to Yelena’s mouth. “Are you gonna keep spiraling about my ex, or are you gonna fuck me? One sounds A LOT more fun than the other.” Yelena studies her face. A mischievous grin appears on Kate’s face. “You like it when I beg you for it, don’t you?”

“You look good begging.” Yelena smirks confidently.

“Please,” Kate whispers against Yelena’s lips. “Please…I’m dying to be under you again…Please.”

Yelena smashes their lips together and taps the back of Kate’s thighs. Kate takes the hint and wraps her legs around Yelena’s waist and arms around her neck. Yelena brings her hands to Kate’s ass to hold her up while she starts guiding them toward the bedroom. As they’re getting to the door, Kate leans back.

“Stop. Hold on. Hold on.” Yelena quietly panics and puts Kate down. “Wait here.”

“What?”

Kate hastily pecks Yelena’s lips before vanishing into her room.

“Wait there.”

“Kate, we don’t have to if you don’t want to. If you changed your mind…”

“Shut up and wait before you freak out, will you?”

Moments later, Kate reappears on the threshold, clad in the skimpiest lingerie. She wears a black triangle bra with leavers lace and a matching lace thong. The outfit (or lack thereof) is capped with an untied purple silk robe lazily draped down the sides of her body. Yelena purses her lips and dramatically exhales. 

“You like?” Yelena nods and hums. “Then will you please come and fuck me before I ruin this underwear any more than I currently am? They’re La Perla. They’re expensive.” 

Kate offers a rascally smile before disappearing into the room anew. 

Yelena lingers at the threshold for a moment and softly bangs her forehead against the wall. There's no way this isn't going to be a disaster come November.

She was right.

#kate x yelena #yelena x kate #bishova #bishlova #kate bishop #yelena belova #kymaup #kymau #the way that...without fail...evey AU update starts getting progressively fucking longer never fails to amaze me #i swear im like 'this is SURELY only like 1k...and then the word counter laughs at me #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

Happy International Florence Pugh Day to those of us who observe! lol. Here’s how Kate and Yelena’s first birthday together in MAU goes down. All thanks to Ri being a snooping nightmare. You guys wanted early relationship? Here is 4.1k of pure early relationship domesticity/fluff.

///

Kate raps her knuckles thrice against the dark walnut door. She is speedily compelled to bite back a smile when she hears the over-the-top, disgruntled groan from somewhere on the other side.

“Knock again, mommy.”

“Pretty sure she heard us.”

Yelena swings the door open to find the now familiar sight. Since Yelena moved into this temporary rental, every time there’s been a knock on that door, one or both of the women currently standing across from her has been responsible. Yelena is even more dumbfounded than usual because the regular visitors have arrived with props…and treats. Ereka is wearing a party hat and holding a foil balloon with “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” written in bold, colorful letters and Kate is holding a single cupcake with a lit candle in the center.

“Happy Birthday, Yelena.”

Yelena furrows her brow.

“How do you know it’s my birthday?”

“You told Ereka.”

“I didn’t tell her anything.”

“You told me she told you.” Kate peeks down at Ereka, perplexed.

“Mommy taught me how to read her birthday on her driving card. It’s month. Then day. Then year. Yours said zero eight, then one six. August is month eight and today is day one six. It’s your birthday.”

Yelena is only further flabbergasted. 

“When did you see my driver’s license?”

“YOU FOUND OUT BECAUSE YOU SAW HER LICENSE?! HOW?!”

“It was on the thing.” Ereka points at the side table by the couch where Yelena’s wallet sits next to her keys. 

“You’re not supposed to be looking through people’s things!…She knows she’s not supposed to look through people’s things. I’m so sorry. She told me you told her.” Kate extends the cupcake. “You can still blow out your candle???”

“Make a wish! Make a wish! Make a wish!” Ereka chants, staring up at Yelena. Yelena tuts, begrudgingly leans forward, blows out the candle with contempt, and turns her back to them to step back into the apartment. “You forgot your cupcake!”

Yelena huffs, turns, extends her hand, snatches the cupcake from Kate’s hand, nods once as some sort of lame ‘thank you’, and moves to close the door yet again. Kate starts blurting out words to stop Yelena from doing so.

“Uhm…I don’t know if you know this, but grocery stores don’t really sell ONE cupcake. There’s five more where that came from, only two of us, and I need any excuse not to have my five-year-old eat more than one of them if I can avoid it. She won’t sleep if she has more than one.”

“Your daughter’s sugar consumption is not my responsibility, Kate.”

“They have sprinkles.” Ereka chimes in. When Yelena doesn’t immediately move, Ereka takes the initiative to step up, hold the woman’s hand, and pull on it. “Come on. I’ll tell mommy to open wine like she does when my aunts come over. They’re always happy after they drink wine. Mommy says adults only drink wine on big days and it’s your birthday. Can she have some wine with you, mommy?”

“I don’t need wine.”

Kate grins and laughs softly.

“You can have wine.”

“I’ll pass.”

“What are you doing that is so important that you can’t come over for a cupcake and a glass of wine?”

“I already have a cupcake…” Yelena lifts the one she’s holding. “…and I can buy my own wine.”

“What about the company? Can you buy that?” Kate fires back, peeved at Yelena’s animosity. “Sorry we bugged you.”

Yelena closes the door without adding a word. Kate and Ereka linger for a second, then step away and begin to head to their apartment.

“She’s not coming, mommy?”

“No, baby. Go grab one of those cupcakes. ONE! I’ll be right there.”

Ereka’s face lights up and she disappears into their place. Kate stomps back to Yelena’s door and pounds her fist on it.

“What?!”

“I’m not gonna beg or force you to hang out with my kid, but at least don’t be a fucking dick to her. Bare minimum.”

Kate storms off and slams her apartment door shut behind her while glaring directly at Yelena. Yelena slams hers in response.

—

Half an hour later, a knock. This time on Kate’s door. When Kate opens it, she finds Yelena looking borderline painfully contrite, awkwardly shifting her weight between her feet, and mumbling to herself.

“I wasn’t sure if there would be any cupcakes left, so I went to the bodega. They didn’t have cupcakes, but they had empanadas, so I said…close enough. And…” Yelena lifts the bottle she’s holding. “It’s bodega wine, so I’m sure it tastes like vinegar, but it’s the best I could do on short notice.” Kate doesn’t respond. “Look, I like the kid. I don’t know why but I like her. I didn’t mean to be a dick. Birthdays suck. I wasn’t in a good mood, but that’s not her fault. I get it if she’s asleep or she’s already had dinner or whatever, but…here…you can have these and…do whatever with them.”

Kate glares stoically for what feels like an eternity to Yelena.

“Hey, Ri...How many cupcakes do we have left?”

“Two!”

“I guess it’s a good thing we saved some, then.”

Yelena hears the pitter-patter of footsteps running to the door and within seconds, a head of blonde hair appears from behind Kate.

“YOU CAME!”

“Her bedtime was technically fifteen minutes ago, but she’s on a sugar high, so here we are.”

Kate takes a step back, welcoming Yelena inside for the first time.

“What did you bring?!”

“Nothing that you’re eating tonight. You already brushed your teeth.”

“And I can brush them again!”

“No, ma’am. You’re done for the night. Enough.”

“Do you see? She doesn’t feed me.”

“EREKA! I feed her just fine.”

Yelena surveys her surroundings keenly while Kate heads for the kitchen to get a wine opener and glasses and Ereka buzzes around the apartment, ranting at top speed and pointing at things.

Unlike Yelena’s rental, this apartment feels like a home. There are pictures of Kate and Ereka at all ages. There are silly children’s drawings on the fridge and toys on the floor. Yelena feels the warmth of family and love here. Yelena steps further into the living room and notices colorful multiplication and division flash card sets splayed out on the coffee table.

“Isn’t she five?”

“Yeah.”

“This is…”

“Second and third-grade level…yeah.”

“And she’s doing it for fun?”

Yelena thumbs through the cards as she falls back down on the couch.

“Uhum. Quiz her. She’ll love it.”

“I don’t want to…”

“It’s just asking her questions,” Kate urges her while pouring some of the bodega wine into a glass and sliding it over in her direction.

“Hey. Do you want to do some flashcards?”

“YEAH!” Ereka instantly dashes over to Yelena at the suggestion and settles on the floor across from her.

“Four times seven.”

After a few seconds of thought…

“Twenty-eight!”

“Eleven times two.”

“EASY! That’s one plus one twice. Twenty-two.”

Yelena glances over at Kate, who shrugs with a boastful smile.

“Twenty-four divided by three.”

Ereka seems to struggle somewhat with this one.

“You got it.” Kate cheers from the sidelines.

“You can do it. Twenty-four divided by three.”

“EIGHT!”

Yelena lifts her hand and Ereka high-fives it.

“Good job. Nice.”

“What’s in the bag?”

“Empanadas.”

“Can I have some?! Mommy, PLEASE?! PLEASE, MOMMY?!”

“Ri, you REALLY have to go to sleep. Look at the time. You’re going to be a nightmare in the morning.”

“One and then I’ll brush my teeth AGAIN and Yelena will read me a story and then I’ll go right to sleep.”

“Yelena doesn’t have to read you a story, Ri.”

“She’s a grown-up. Grown-ups can read. You can read, right?”

“I can.”

“Then she can read me my story, mommy.”

“What is with you tonight?” Kate scolds the girl forcing Yelena to smirk.

“If it’s okay with your mom and if you brush your teeth and promise to go to sleep right away and not be a nightmare in the morning…I will read you a story. How does that sound? Would that be okay, mom?”

Kate and Yelena lock eyes with each other for a beat too long. Kate nods.

“Yeah. Sure.”

Yelena hands one of the empanadas to Ereka, who instantly digs in.

“So good!”

She mumbles with her mouth full, making crumbs fall everywhere.

“Ri, honestly. Why are you behaving like I haven’t taught you manners? Mouth closed, no talking.”

“Sorry,” Ereka replies, doing the exact same thing again.

Yelena chuckles.

“She’s not usually this insane. It’s the sugar…Which could’ve been prevented had you come earlier.”

“I will trust you when you tell me she can’t have more than one cupcake next time.”

“Thank you.”

“OKAY. BRUSHING MY TEETH!”

Ereka stands and runs to the bathroom.

“How?” Yelena looks down at her empanada and she’s barely taken two bites. “She inhaled that?”

“She eats like her dad. One minute it’s there, then it isn’t. Between us, it’s kind of a little gross to watch them eat together. Reminds me of vacuums at full speed sucking food into their mouths.”

Yelena chuckles and Kate joins her.

“DONE! Ready for my story now!”

“Ereka Shepherd, you didn’t even run the water. Nice try. Brush your teeth!”

“UGH!…CAN YOU HEAR THE WATER NOW?!”

“I hear the water, but if I can also hear you talking, that means you’re not brushing, doesn’t it?” Yelena snickers. “Do you have nieces or nephews?” Yelena shakes her head. “Are you ever around kids?” Yelena shakes her head again. “Don’t take mine as the standard then. I promise they’re not all Mowgli over there. Some of them are normal, human kids.”

Yelena offers a half grin.

“Yours isn’t whiny and snotty and germy. I kind of like yours more than the rest I’ve seen.”

“HA! If I had a dollar for every time that kid has sneezed directly into my open mouth, up one of my nostrils, or into one of my eyeballs, I wouldn’t be a millionaire, but I could at least afford a lobster dinner for two. With wine. She’s plenty snotty and germy. And don’t get me started on the whiny.”

“Maybe I like her a little less then. I…don’t know what I would do if someone sneezed into my open mouth.”

“Catches you off guard the first time. You kinda roll with it after that. It’s all about…”

Ereka runs over, opens her mouth on Kate’s face, and then blows warm breath onto her. Kate is forced to turn her head away.

“Can you smell the clean?”

“Case in point…You and I are going to have a really serious conversation about manners tomorrow.” Kate wraps her arms around Erika’s waist and flings her over her shoulder. “You…are going to bed. No ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ anymore.”

“YELENA HAS TO READ ME MY STORY!”

“You need to be in bed for that.” Kate retorts while hauling her daughter away. Yelena stays put while they disappear into the little girl’s bedroom. A few seconds later, Kate’s head pops out, staring at Yelena, baffled. “You sorta need to be in the room to read the story.”

“Sorry! I didn’t…I…Right.” Yelena takes another sip of her disgusting wine, leaves the glass behind, and double times to where Kate stands. She enters the bedroom, looks at Kate coyly, then half whispers. “I’ve never done this before?”

“Read?” Kate teases her.

Yelena grunts.

“This…bedtime thing. To a kid…I don’t know how it goes.”

“Alright. Bedtime for dummies: the crash course. That is the bed. That is the child that needs to go to sleep. This is the bookshelf. The child usually tells you what they’re in the mood for. Sometimes they let you pick. You can also give them choices. It’s all a very fluid situation. Once the book is picked, you read said book to the child until the child is asleep. Then your mission is to exit the room without waking the child. If you do all these things successfully every night, you reward yourself by having wine and snacks without the child asking you what you’re eating and if they can have some. That’s about it.”

“Okay.”

“Kid’s already in bed, so this is where you ask her what she wants you to read. We’re in progress with a few things because she sometimes decides to spice it up and start something new. This is the stack of things we’ve started and haven’t finished.”

“The Boxcar Children, The Complete Book Of The Flower Fairies, Harriet The Spy, The Tal…”

“Harriet the Spy!”

Yelena grabs the book from the stack and looks at Kate.

“Should be an earmarked page or bookmark in there somewhere.” Yelena finds the mark indicating where they left off but still looks up at Kate, stumped. “...Now you sit over there and read it to her.”

“On her bed?”

“That is usually what tends to happen during ‘bedtime’, yes.” Kate takes a beat. “Hey, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“No…I just…didn’t want to be weird.”

Kate hangs her head back laughing.

“I appreciate that, but I’m standing right here. You can sit at the foot of the bed if that feels better. It’s fine.”

“Is it cool if I sit over here?”

Yelena asks Ereka while pointing to the spot by her feet and the little girl nods enthusiastically. Yelena takes a seat and cracks the book as Kate walks over to the little girl and places a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Good night. I love you.”

“Night, Mommy. Night, Yelena.”

“Good night, kid.”

Kate retreats, leans against the bookshelf, and watches as Yelena begins to read.

—

About forty-five minutes later, Kate and Yelena sneak out of the room.

“She really made you work for that. She’s usually snoring her little heart out in ten minutes.”

“It must be the horrible, raspy voice. Stuff of nightmares. Kept the poor kid awake.”

Kate laughs.

“Solid running theory.”

“I should get going.”

“There’s still plenty of wine left. Can’t make me throw away top-shelf bodega wine. That would be criminal.”

Yelena studies Kate’s face, smiles, and nods wordlessly. They return to their old places on the couch and begin to eat the remaining empanadas in silence, albeit not an awkward silence. Once she’s done with her share, Kate washes them down with a big gulp of wine that ostensibly emboldens her to ask the question that’s been on her mind all night.

“Why do birthdays suck?”

Yelena shakes her head and takes a sip.

“Some people just hate birthdays.”

“And all those people have a reason for it, whether they want to admit it or not.”

“Why would I admit mine to you?”

“Because you have nothing to lose. I’m just a random stranger you met before moving to the other side of the world in a few months and never seeing me again.”

Yelena ponders for a long moment. Kate notices the exact instant Yelena decides to share because her entire body language changes. She stiffens up even more than usual.

“There was a woman…her name was Melina. She wasn’t my mom, but she was with my father since before I can remember. My real mom was never in the picture and Melina stepped up. She didn’t have to, but she did. She always made a big deal about my birthdays.” Yelena breaks out into a thick Russian accent. “‘You get to be more than princess; you get to be queen for day’, she would say. My word was law. Within reason. I once tried to ask if I could ride a zebra and that obviously didn’t happen. But most everything else did.”

Yelena sits in silence for a while and Kate doesn’t press her.

“She was just walking home. It’s so stupid. She was coming home with groceries and some monster wanted her. And he took her from us. I read the court transcript files a few years ago. When he was on the stand, the lead detectives said it was ‘one of the most horrid crime scenes’ he’d ever step into in his twenty-year career.”

Kate reaches out and places her hand atop Yelena’s.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I hope they caught that guy and he’s paying for what he did to you and your family.”

Yelena chuckles, not out of humor but irony. She locks eyes with Kate and, in the most casual manner says.

“He’s dead. My dad found him before the police did and killed him, then turned himself in. My parents brought me over from Russia and there was no one else, so…I went into the system. But I’m not some horror story. I didn’t get bounced around or abused. I lived with one foster family the entire time and they were great. They were fine, decent human beings. They had another foster. She was older and also Russian. We got close. Really close. Wouldn’t leave each other’s sides. I even followed her to school in California. We did our undergrads there. Natasha decided she wanted to stay on the West Coast so I applied to law schools there too and chose to go to Stanford. My second week there, I get a call. She was out riding her bike. Some guy’s breaks failed and he smashed his SUV into her at 125MPH. She probably didn’t even see it coming. I didn’t go home for the funeral. Haven’t really talked to the Rushmans ever since. Not much to say, I don’t think. But ending up with people like them was the one thing I can say was good about this entire situation.”

“Yelena, I’m…”

“I’m sure you’re stressing, trying to find ‘the right things to say’. You don’t have to. People have run the gamut and it always goes off the rails eventually, no matter how well-intentioned, so I’ll let you off the hook. You don’t have to say anything.”

“I’m really…”

“I’m telling you, leave it while you’re ahead. Trust me.”

“Okay.” After they sit in silence for a moment, Kate looks up at Yelena and asks. “Have you been queen yet today?”

“What?”

“Have you asked for anything yet? You get to be queen. What do you want? It’s your day and it’s not over yet.”

“No.”

“I don’t even know how old you’re turning.”

Yelena sighs.

“Thirty.”

“THIRTY!” Kate grimaces when she realizes she screamed a bit too loud. They freeze, but when no sound comes from Ereka’s room, they relax anew. Kate scream whispers. “THIRTY?! IT’S YOUR BIG DIRTY THIRTY AND YOU’RE SPENDING IT IN MY LIVING ROOM DRINKING BODEGA WINE?! WHY?!”

“Birthdays suck. We already went over this.”

“No. I can’t allow this. Not in good conscience. There are obvious limitations to what wishes I can grant, but…be queen. Go. Ask me for something I can do that won’t require abandoning my sleeping five year old and I will do it.”

“You are a weird woman, Kate Bishop.”

“That’s a statement, not a request.”

“I have no wishes or requests. I’m fresh out.”

“There has to be SOMETHING I can do for you that will make you even remotely happy.”

Yelena cocks her eyebrow.

“I don’t think that sounded right.”

Yelena laughs and sips her wine.

“You said it.”

“Think. I’m not letting you walk out of here without fulfilling your duties as birthday queen.”

Yelena grunts.

“You’re very pushy.”

“Indeed.”

Yelena leans back on the couch and scans the apartment, trying to find something, anything she can offer up to satisfy Kate. Making her way through the kitchen counters, she spots a box of pasta and a smile creeps up on her face.

“Mac and Cheese. It was my favorite thing when I was little. I used to ask for it all the time. Melina made the best. I haven’t had some in a long time…A long time.”

Kate springs to her feet and races to the kitchen while talking and opening cupboards.

“Well, you…birthday queen…are in luck because my kid is a mac and cheese FIEND and I only do the boxed shit in a pickle, so I happen to have everything I need to make all of your mac and cheese dreams come true. From scratch. Like the gods intended. Not the pasta. I’m not making you fresh pasta at…” Kate looks over her shoulder to the microwave. “...11:37pm. That’ll be next time. But the cheese sauce? That I can blow your mind with. And don’t think I won’t bake it to get a crunchy crust on it. You might leave this apartment at 3am, but it’s your birthday and I don’t care. You can nap while I work if you have to.”

Yelena laughs.

“Boxed will do just fine.”

“Aht-aht. You’re going to sit there and you’re going to wait until I give you your birthday wish…I do need you to do one thing for me.”

“What?”

“We’re going to need more wine.” Their eyes lock and they smirk. “Alcohol is on that top cabinet over there. Child lock is easier than it looks. They want kids to think it’s hard, so they give up before trying.”

“You childproof your top cabinets.”

“You wouldn’t believe the places I’ve found that kid after I’ve turned my back for five literal seconds. I have some vintage bottles in there. It’s more about protecting them from her than vice versa.”

Yelena smiles.

“What do you want?”

Kate stops to think.

“I should have a bottle of Chablis in there. Pull that down. We’ll drink that with the actual mac. It’ll pair well with the cheese. That’ll be the eating wine. For now, just grab any Pinot in there. They’re all good.”

“Two bottles?”

“You got anywhere else you need to be? Because this is gonna take a second.”

Yelena shakes her, brings down the second bottle of wine, then locks the cabinet again.

“Do you need anything?”

“I do, actually. I need you to sit down, open that wine, and drink.” Yelena nods, perches herself on one of the stools, and gets to work on the Pinot bottle. “So, you were born in Russia?”

“I was.”

They trade off asking each other questions about anything and everything and going off on tangents while Kate cooks.

—

Sometime well past 2AM, the pair sits at Kate’s dinner table, huffing out boiling pasta from their mouths as they eat directly from the sizzling ovenware because they couldn’t even be bothered with plates. They’re a little drunk on wine, high on exhaustion, and, whether they want to admit it or not…a little hooked on each other.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way because it is fucking delicious…but do you have hot sauce?”

Kate shakes her head with her mouth full.

“I’m very white. Can’t do spicy. You like spicy?”

“A lot. This would be kind of perfect with some hot sauce on it.”

“Noted…Ri loves spicy food too. She eats it with her dad all the time. His family orders Indian, Thai, and Chinese and it’s always super spicy. I couldn’t even be in the same room when they were all together and eating sometimes. Always asked them to bag my White Girl Bland food separately when we ordered take-out to keep it from getting contaminated with their toxic chili fumes.”

They both laugh.

“You don’t seem very ‘White Girl Bland’ to me.”

“Not in general…I’d like to think. Just when it comes to flames in my mouth. Love to avoid that feeling if at all possible.”

“Good to know…Do you need help washing up? It’s super late. I don’t want you to have to do dishes too.”

“No. No. My housekeeper is going to be here in…four hours.” They chuckle. “This apartment would look like a nuclear site if I didn’t have someone over three times a week to help with that. I can leave them.”

“I should go then.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

They sit there, silent and looking at each other while still sneaking bits of mac, for longer than they should’ve before Yelena finally musters up the will to stand. Kate follows her to the door.

“Happy Dirty Thirty.”

“As you can tell, I get super rowdy.”

“You’re a wild one. Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving.”

“Am I? All of those things?”

“At least two that I can count.”

“Which two?”

“You’re smart. I’ll let you lawyer that conclusion out.”

Kate tells Yelena before she smirks and closes the door on her, leaving a more than mildly smitten Russian standing on the other side.

#bishova #bishlova #kate x yelena #yelena x kate #kate bishop #yelena belova #i still cant believe i DISTINCTIVELY told myself 'something short and sweet'...and here we are 4k later lmao #kymau #kymaup

[fratboykate]

Stepmom AU wedding 👀 Pretty please 🤗

What are y'all going to do when you run out of weddings to ask for? lol. Here's 2.6k of the fluffiest of fluff.

///

Yelena paces restlessly in the elegant room reserved by the upscale venue for bridal parties to primp and prepare. Yelena studies the room, taking in the luxurious surroundings, but her thoughts remain focused on the significance of the day. The air is charged with a medley of excitement, anticipation, nerves, and a hint of trepidation. It's not fear of rejection that causes her unease; she's certain Kate's response will be a resounding "yes". Rather, it's the weight of the upcoming spectacle. In a few minutes, they will be thrust into the spotlight before 225 guests because Kate and her family apparently know everyone in New York, possess no self-control, and have zero regard for her sanity.

Only moments ago, Yelena tactfully cleared the room and sent a message to Kate's suite, requesting a private moment with Ereka. She’s been debating when to have this conversation with the girl for weeks but figured the best way to also keep it a surprise from Kate was to do it immediately before the wedding. Furthermore, Yelena figured it would be more special if this happened on the actual Big Day.

In a swift motion, the door swings open, revealing a high-strung Ereka dressed in her ivory white flower girl attire adorned with a delicate crown.

"Woooooow! You look very pretty, momma!" Yelena chuckles warmly as the almost seven-year-old exclaims, rushing towards her and wrapping her tiny arms around her legs.

"You look incredible yourself, love.”

"Mommy's definitely going to cry when she sees you. She's already been crying all day." Ereka reveals matter-of-factly as Yelena tilts her head back and laughs, the tension easing from her shoulders.

"Has she?"

Ereka nods emphatically.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaall. Day. Long."

"I don't think we should worry about that. I think they're happy tears."

"I know. I wasn't worried." Ereka responds with a confident smile.

Taking Ereka's tiny hand into her own, Yelena leads her to the couch situated in the corner of the room. They both settle down and Yelena positions the girl between her legs so that they are face to face. Their eyes lock in earnest.

"It's a big day today. Are you nervous about walking in front of everyone?" Yelena inquires, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"Nope! I've been practicing." Ereka eagerly demonstrates her imaginary act of tossing flower petals from an invisible basket. "I'm pretty good at it."

Yelena's eyes sparkle with pride.

"I can see that. You're going to be the best flower girl in all of history."

"Mommy does say I'm a precocious overachiever." Ereka retorts proudly.

"And she's not wrong." Yelena confirms with an affectionate smile. "There's something really important I want to talk to you about."

"It wasn't me who broke the remote. Lucky did it. I promise."

Yelena raises her eyebrow at Ereka’s unexpected confession.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but you're going to get a pass for today."

"Oh...nevermind then."

Ereka smirks, playing up her innocence. Yelena reaches out, holding both of the girl's hands in hers. She takes a deep breath before she speaks, her voice filled with warmth and affection.

"Your mommy and I are going to make some big promises to each other soon, but I also thought..." Yelena reaches into her suit jacket and retrieves a small ring box. "I thought I needed to make you some promises and ask some questions."

Yelena opens the box, revealing a smaller version of Kate’s engagement ring, perfectly sized for Ereka's delicate hand. Ereka's eyes widen with excitement as she gazes at the tiny bit of jewelry.

“Today, I’ll give your mommy a ring that means a lot. So I wanted to give you a ring too, because you mean just as much to me. And I want you to know that every promise and every word I say to your mom up there includes you too. I also wanted to ask you if you would give me permission to marry your mom and become a part of your family."

Ereka jumps with a beaming smile. Her enthusiasm bursts forth, unable to contain her words.

"YES! YES! Of course I want you to marry my mommy and be my momma for real!"

Yelena's heart swells with joy at Ereka's response.

"Good. Because I really want that too."

With great tenderness, Yelena takes the ring from the velvet box and reaches for Ereka's hand. Yelena looks into Ereka’s eyes and speaks, her voice brimming with love and sincerity.

"This ring is a symbol. It's a promise I'm making to you that I will always, always be there when you need me. I will be there for all the sad days and the good days, and the days when you're not feeling well. It's me promising that I will take care of you unconditionally. It's a promise that you can always come to me, no matter what's on your mind, and we can talk about it. I can't promise you'll always like what I have to say, but I can promise that I'll listen intently and openly. It's a promise that even if your mommy and I ever give you that little sister you want so badly, I won't love her any more than I love you. It's a promise that I will never ever see or treat you any differently because, as far as I'm concerned, you're my daughter. That doesn't come with any qualifiers. Not ‘step-daughter’. Daughter. Full stop.”

Ereka's eyes light up with happiness, and she nods energetically, understanding the depth of Yelena's devotion and commitment. Yelena's voice softens, carrying the weight of her emotions.

“This is also a promise that even though I'm sure I might mess it up with you or your mom sometimes, I always only have the best intentions because I love you both with my whole heart. Every bit of it. It's a promise that no matter what happens in the future between your mommy and me, you can and will always count on me. This is a promise that I will never take that for granted. This is a promise that you are now a part of me until I'm all old and wrinkly. I'm on your team forever, Miss Ereka Shepherd and one of the greatest honors of my life is that you, on your own, chose to call me 'mom’.”

Yelena's bottom lip quivers, but she manages to compose herself, determined not to let her tears flow. She smiles warmly at Ereka, her heart brimming.

"This ring is a promise of all those things and more, but I won't go over all of them because we would be here forever. I love you, kid, and every day I feel so very lucky that you let me into your and your mom's life."

Ereka stands silently, beaming at Yelena, her little brain obviously spinning a million miles per hour. After a long beat...

"See? I told Mommy you're not THAT grumpy."

Yelena cackles.

"I think you ladies just softened me up a bit."

Ereka giggles, her innocence lighting up the room.

"That’s good, because you were kind of mean at first sometimes."

"I'm glad you put up with that mean lady and kept knocking on my door."

"I always knew you were cool." Ereka tells her with confidence and Yelena playfully raises an eyebrow.

"Thank you for having faith in my non-existent cool factor...What do you say? Can I put this on you?"

"Duh!" Ereka nods eagerly.

Yelena gently slides the ring onto Ereka's little finger, their eyes locked in an instant of profound connection. Ereka gazes at the ring, its significance not lost on her, before lunging into Yelena's arms, wrapping them tightly around her neck.

"Thank you for being my momma." Ereka whispers into Yelena's ear, her voice filled with adoration. Yelena holds her tightly in return.

"Thank you for letting me be your momma." They part, and Yelena looks into Ereka's bright green eyes, her love shining through. She gives Ereka a gentle nudge, urging her to return to Kate. "You should go back to Mommy's room. We're probably starting soon."

Ereka nods, her excitement palpable.

"Okay! Can I show her and Suzu and grandma my ring?"

Yelena nods, her smile widening.

"Of course you can. And tell your mommy I'm excited to see her and make her my wife."

Ereka places a hasty kiss on Yelena's cheek before turning and dashing away.

"I will!" She screams as she races to the door. Ereka opens the door, but before she exits, she turns. "Hey, momma..."

"Yeah?"

"I'm excited for little sister to meet you. I think she's going to like you too."

Yelena beams with joy at Ereka's words.

"We just gotta get your mom on board the baby plan."

"We will! Okay...bye!"

And with that, Ereka closes the door behind her, the sound of her little feet running full speed down the hallway filling Yelena's room. Yelena smiles, her heart overflowing with happiness. She shakes her head in disbelief, never imagining that she could experience such profound elation.

---

Ten minutes later, Yelena is still alone in the room, pacing jitterily as she rehearses the vows she has memorized, hoping they sound as eloquent out loud as they do in her head. Suddenly, the door flies open, and Yelena turns to find Kate standing there, already in her wedding dress and with a tear-streaked face. It's unmistakable that Ereka has shared the details of their earlier conversation. A sobbing Kate rushes towards Yelena, unable to contain her emotions.

"You're not supposed to be here."

Yelena says through a chuckle, not being able to help but be amused at the sight of her teary-eyed fiancée.

"I don't care." Kate wraps her arms around Yelena's neck and leans in to kiss her. "I'm so stupidly in love with you. It's actually a little crazy and a lot scary how in love with you I am."

"Good. I was terrified you'd leave me standing down there." Yelena tells her in jest.

"Never. I wouldn't pass on the opportunity to lock you down for the rest of ever."

"I'm willing to get locked down."

"You better be." Kate starts sobbing again and rests her forehead on Yelena's. "That was so sweet."

"Felt like the right thing to do."

"Although she did say you promised her a little sister this year. Why would you tell her that?!"

"I absolutely and categorically did not say that." Yelena insists, laughter lacing her words. "She's in trouble for that one."

"She was very convincing. Said you told her we'd have a baby sister on the way by Christmas."

"Christmas did not come up in our conversation ONCE." Yelena laughs.

"That better be the truth."

"It is the truth!"

Kate squints, not thoroughly convinced.

"You two are trouble."

"Clearly SHE is trouble. I am entirely innocent in this scenario."

"I don't think you two have ever been in a room alone and had anything 'entirely innocent' happen. You're always up to something."

"WE MADE NO CHILDBEARING PLANS!" Yelena insists, unable to contain her laughter.

Kate eyes her skeptically, but her expression softens.

"I'm going to choose to believe that..."

"It's the truth!"

"Okay."

Yelena takes a moment to survey the streaks of tears that have smudged Kate's makeup, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Only you could look this beautiful while crying." Yelena remarks with genuine admiration.

"Shut up. You're just trying to make me forget you promised our kid she'd get a whole new human for Christmas."

"I DID NO SUCH THING!" Yelena insists, a mock-offended expression crossing her features.

"Sure." Kate replies with a teasing grin. Yelena laughs while shaking her head in disbelief.

"This is bad luck, Kate Bishop. You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding."

"I'm pretty sure you're also not supposed to have sex with the bride before the wedding or live with the bride before the wedding. We already broke those rules. But I think God will forgive us. She's cool now."

"Good to know." Yelena responds, glancing upwards at the ceiling. "Thank you, super progressive God, for looking past me defiling this woman and not dooming our marriage before it starts. Big up."

Kate bursts into laughter and leans in to press her lips against Yelena’s. The kiss starts innocently but quickly becomes more passionate and intimate. Sensing the growing heat between them, Yelena leans back, a rascally smile etched on her lips.

"If you don't leave now, I'm going to end up taking that dress off and I think there's only so many rules ‘Cool God’ will let us break in one day. We should save the sex for after the wedding." Yelena whispers against Kate's lips, their breath mingling. Kate chuckles.

"I should go fix my face anyway."

"Okay."

"Okay."

But neither of them moves. They stay there, foreheads pressed together, their eyes locked, dumb smiles on their faces, and sharing a silent moment. Their hearts are entirely entwined in the electric air between them.

"You should go, Kate." Yelena whispers.

"Uhum." Kate responds, but they still don't move. Their smiles grow, and the anticipation in the room becomes palpable.

"You're going to be my wife." Yelena murmurs again, her voice filled with awe and love.

"I am." They stay there for a while longer, reveling in the weight of their commitment and the love that surrounds them.

"But for that to happen, you need to finish getting ready." Yelena adds, breaking the spell.

"I do." Kate agrees, reluctantly untangling herself from Yelena's embrace.

"No. That line is supposed to come later, Kate. You're getting ahead of yourself." Yelena teases with a roguish smile.

"You're not as funny as you think you are." Kate retorts, rolling her eyes as she takes a step back.

"Ri says I'm funny."

"I thought we just established she's also a bit of a fibber?"

"People are multifaceted, babe."

Kate bursts into laughter, unable to resist Yelena's effortless charm.

"You two are going to be the death of me." Kate shakes her head.

"Imagine when there's another little person running around, annoying you."

A glimmer of anticipation becomes evident in Yelena’s eyes. Kate squints, pointing a finger sternly at Yelena.

"You DID tell her we’re giving her a baby for Christmas!"

"I didn't! But I'm hoping that there will be a baby at some point, and if they're anything like us, they'll be really good at driving you a bit insane. It seems like a sound, reasonable assumption." Yelena explains with a smirk.

"I'm leaving before you talk yourself out of a wedding." Kate declares, heading for the door.

"Would never want to do such a thing."

"By the way..." Kate turns and speaks while walking backward. "...those were very nice vows."

"You heard them?!" Kate shrugs, dialing up the coyness. "Eavesdropping is bad, Katherine!"

"I was going to hear them eventually. It was just a nice little preview."

Kate ripostes with a smile as she heads out.

"See you downstairs, Mrs. Bishop." Kate utters with a bright smile as she closes the door.

"You're missing half the name there! It's Bishop-Belova!"

Yelena can hear Kate's chuckle as she walks away, and she takes a moment to soak this all in. If this is how their life together starts, then Yelena has no complaints. She's found her home in Kate's arms, and their journey as wives and partners is only just beginning.

#bishova #kate x yelena #yelena x kate #kate bishop #yelena belova #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

*slides a brand new $20 in your direction* What's the thing that's going to come out that will bring Tiny Tom down? What's the secret? I got more where that $20 came from. I need him to get fucked so bad. Tell us, Papi.

It's Saturday morning and the quarrel that erupted two days ago has yet to be resolved. The tension in the apartment is palpable as Ereka, Kate, and Yelena all keep to themselves, living in individual little islands, and barely communicating. Ereka has been mostly holed up in her room, only leaving for school. Kate has busied herself in the kitchen since she woke up until a few minutes ago when she disappeared to the back of the apartment. Yelena, who is having a rare good morning, sits on the couch with Russell. He talks at her and Yelena listens intently while a children's educational show plays on the TV in the background.

"Mama..." Russell mumbles a long string of unintelligible toddler words, which end in. "...Mith Dawers. We go."

Yelena smiles.

"Ты видишь мисс Дэнверс только по будням, детка. Вы видите ее в... понедельник, среду, и пятницу. Сегодня суббота. Это выходные. нет школы сегодня." ["You only see Miss Danvers on the weekdays, baby. You see her on...Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It's Saturday today. It's the weekend. No school today."]

"Oooooh." Russell frowns, seemingly disappointed. "But we go Mith Dawers."

Yelena shakes her head.

"Не сегодня. Через два дня" ["Not today. In two days."] Yelena shows him the number two on her hands. "On Monday."

"Wuss. Old." Russell excitedly points at the two fingers Yelena holds up.

"Yes! Two. That's how old you are. Two and a half."

"Can you..."

A knock on the door interrupts her. Yelena looks over at the entrance, confused. She momentarily struggles to stand. Her now twenty-three-week pregnant belly has started to throw off her center of gravity, which means this couch effectively becomes a trap whenever she sits on it. Before she's forced to figure out how to get up from the sofa by herself, Kate jogs out of the hallway, rushing to the door.

"I got it. You're fine. I got it."

Yelena stops struggling and watches the foyer from where she sits, intrigued to see who could be at the door so early. Another impatient knock rings through the apartment.

"Coming!" Kate yells, a few steps away from the door. Kate's heart races as she swings open the door to find Tom standing in the hallway. She can feel her blood boiling at the sight of him.

“What are you doing here?” Kate snaps, her annoyance discernible.

“Getting my kid. It's my day.” Tom replies with a tone of entitlement and Kate’s irritation instantly grows.

“This isn’t how drop off goes? She’s not supposed to be with you until ten. It's barely eight.”

"You're not gonna bring her, so I came to get here." Tom barrels past Kate, forcing himself into the apartment. "Ri! Daddy's here! Let's go! Come on!"

Kate's eyes dart toward Yelena, who has now mustered all her strength to stand while holding Russell. She silently heads for the hallway, holding the baby close, away from the brewing conflict. Meanwhile, Tom continues to propel his way into the apartment, flouting Kate's objections.

"Hey!" Kate chases after Tom. "No, we're not doing this. I told you I would bring her and I will. I bring her to your house at ten, and she stays with you until Monday night. That's the deal."

"I'm here. You don't have to bring her anymore. RI! EREKA! Let's go!" Tom insists, propelling himself past Kate anew. Kate repositions herself in front of him once more, stopping him from proceeding any further into the apartment.

"Thomas, stop. I don't think she's even up yet."

"I'll wake her up then. Help her get ready." Tom barks.

"You're not allowed back there. Go home. I'll have her at your place by ten."

"My kid's back there. I can go back there." Tom argues, his voice growing louder and demeanor more belligerent.

Kate is at her wits' end.

"You have no idea the problems you've caused for me this week. Get out because I don't have the patience to deal with you today." Kate shoves him toward the door.

"I'm not leaving here without my kid!" Tom bellows.

After Kare doesn't budge, Tom erupts in a fit of drunken rage and shoves her back, sending her flying into the wall. Kate winces in pain when her body makes violent contact with the plaster. Ereka bursts into the living room just as Tom attacks Kate, her eyes widening in shock at the scene unfolding before her. Without a second thought, she charges at Tom and slugs him in the chest. Yelena steps out at the exact moment, Russell left behind in the nursery, unaware of the chaos erupting in the living room.

"Don't do that! Don't ever do that again!" Ereka shouts at Tom, breathing heavily, while she whacks him again.

Yelena looks like she's about to attack Tom, but Kate steps in front of her and intervenes.

"Don’t. Please. You can’t." Kate pleads with her before she turns back to Tom, who clutches Ereka by the arm and drags her to the door.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Kate screams as she approaches him.

"It's my fucking day today." Tom yanks the girl harder.

"Let me go!" Ereka protests, struggling to break free. Tom trips over his own feet as he drags her along, losing his grip on her. Ereka takes a step back and glares at him. "Are you this annoying to your other kids?" she asks, her tone laced with bitterness. "Oh, wait! You're not because you don't see them."

"Shut up." Tom threatens.

"Maybe if you spent time with them, you wouldn't be so obsessed with us."

"What other kids?" Kate's eyes fly back and forth between Tom and Ereka.

"She doesn't know what she's fucking talking about." Tom replies, his voice trembling.

"I don't?!" Ereka sneers. "Grandma and Aunt Viv have whole conversations about how you have to go to court because their mom is suing you for money you don't give them. They've been talking about it for months."

"SHUT UP! SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Tom marches up to his daughter, his face red with anger.

Yelena audibly scoffs and laughs acrimoniously in the background.

"What the fuck?" Kate mutters. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Tom punches a hole in the wall and dashes out the door, leaving the three women behind in the living room.

"Ereka..." Kate murmurs, her voice strained. She glares at her daughter, silently demanding answers.

Ereka hesitates for a moment, then takes a deep breath.

"I've only known since around Thanksgiving. Grandma and Aunt Viv say a lot of crazy things when they're drinking, so after the first time I overheard them, I went through his mail. He always has it all stacked up in a corner. There were some papers from family court. It had their names and ages on it. I have two little sisters...Molly is nine and Talia is seven. Their mom's name is Lisa."

Yelena snorts in derision, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Of course. OF COURSE he's a deadbeat. Of course."

"Yelena..."

"I *still* can't say anything about him?!" Yelena exclaims, frustration clear in her voice.

"We don't know if it's true." Kate retorts, trying to keep an open mind.

"Are you calling her a liar?! He practically ran out of here. He got caught and his charade is over."

"I'm not lying." Ereka tells Kate assertively before speeding off to her bedroom and slamming the door behind her.

Now it’s just Kate and Yelena. Kate can feel Yelena's eyes on her and she quickly looks away, staring at her feet.

"I told you." Yelena says bitterly. "I've told you before, but you never listened. It's never been about Ri. It's always been about you. He's obsessed with you, Kate. If it had been about Ereka, he'd be a good dad. Instead, he's a piece of shit who uses Ereka as an excuse to get to you and back at you." Kate remains silent, unsure of what to say."I swear, Katherine…If you keep defending him after this, I'm done. In every way. I'm done. He put his hands on both of you. If that isn't the thing that ends all of this, then nothing will."

"Yele..."

Yelena cuts her off.

"No. Think about what you're going to say next. Actually think about it and very carefully because…this is it. There's no in-between anymore. He's gotten physical with both of you now. You have to decide, so...think."

And with that, Yelena walks away, leaving Kate standing in silence, her mind reeling.

---

An hour later, Kate slowly pushes open the door to Russell's room and finds Yelena sitting on the rocking chair, with the sleeping toddler nuzzled into her neck. Their eyes meet briefly as Kate steps inside and closes the door gently. She paces the room a few times before walking over to the rocking chair, squatting beside it, and placing her hand on Russell's back, above Yelena's.

"I can’t say I’ve always made the best choices, but I've never picked him over you. I never would…Let’s go back to court."

#it's only 1.5k #this isnt as thorough or long as it shouldve been but ive had A SHITTTTTTTT day #and you guys kept asking so...take it for what it is lol #kymau #anonymous #answers #kymaup

[fratboykate]

KATE x YELENA AUs: SINGLE MOM (2/?)

Happy Mother's Day! Made some visuals for the MAU. Yesterday I got somewhat lazy with the AI work on the kids for the FBAU, but a friend told me today that MAU is their favorite out of all my ongoing Kate/Yelena AUs, so figured I'd bring out the big guns and actually put effort into it. Since we jump around in time every chapter, I gave you the kids at different ages that way you at least have a general reference no matter where we go.

The very first background image and all the images used for the kids are 100% AI generated by me. Just so there's no confusion. They're not perfect, but they're pretty damn close to how I see them in my head.

[NOTE: Click on the images to see the full res versions. Tumblr makes them look shitty and small if you don't.]

#bishova #bishlova #katelena #kate bishop #yelena belova #kate x yelena #me literally 24hrs ago: im not making any more of these #me to me right now: well that was proven to be A FUCKING LIE #kymau #kymaup #kyauv #long post #myposts

[fratboykate]

Just found your writing and I just want to say I am in, all in! While I see both Yelena's and Kate's sides I feel so bad for Yelena for about Kate saying RI wasn't her daughter. How is Erika gonna respond when she hears them yelling? Love your work and can't wait to read more!

Hello hello :) Welcome! A lot of people asked for a continuation of this bit of angst so...here's 3.4k of more.

///

Kate and Yelena find themselves sitting on opposite ends of their therapist's couch, faces displaying undeniable frustration and tension. The room feels heavy with unspoken words suffocating them both.

"I'm not doing it." Yelena asserts, tone laced with defiance.

"Can you please tell her she crossed every single boundary by talking to Tom without my permission yesterday?" Kate clenches her fists, a desperate plea evident in her voice.

Dr. Landers leans forward, her gaze shifting between the two women, searching for a bridge to connect their conflicting perspectives.

"Have you tried telling her directly?" Dr. Landers asks Kate, her tone gentle yet probing.

"Yes, multiple times. She refuses to listen to me." Kate retorts, frustrated.

Dr. Landers turns her attention to Yelena, her demeanor encouraging.

"Yelena, could you help Kate understand your perspective? Why do you support Ereka's decision to cut off overnight visits with Tom?"

Yelena's eyes lock with Kate's, her voice filled with unwavering conviction.

"Because he's an alcoholic. He's unreliable, and it's not safe for Ereka to be around him. She doesn’t want to be around him anymore. She’s evidently scared of him.”

"Scared of him?!" Kate scoffs, her disbelief palpable. "Tom's not a monster. He's just…struggling."

“You've been saying that for eight goddamn years. He can struggle away from us. He has a family to help him. That’s not our responsibility.” Yelena insists, her frustration seeping into her words.

Dr. Landers intervenes, attempting to mediate the escalating tension.

“Remember, this is not about Tom. It’s about the two of you working together as a unit."

“I’m tired of ‘working’ with her. She never listens to me because she’s so sure she's the only one who knows how to deal with him.” Yelena snaps.

“Because I do!” Kate retorts, her voice rising.

Undeterred by the interruption, Yelena continues.

“This guy will show up at our door at 1 AM, blackout drunk, and she'll listen to him go on some endless diatribe about how she abandoned him and destroyed their family, but the moment I say 'enough,' then I'm being unreasonable. I'm done. No more. He's not coming near my family again."

"That's not your decision to make! We don't make unilateral decisions here."

"You've been making them for years, Katherine. Every time you let him get away with shit, you've decided for me. It's only fair I get a shot at being in the driver's seat for a change." Yelena exclaims, exasperation and anger consuming her words.

“He’s her father. Why wouldn’t she have a relationship with him?” Kate insists.

“Because he’s a danger to himself and others.” Yelena barks at her wife, filled with protective ferocity.

Dr. Landers interjects, her tone soothing as she attempts to calm the mounting agitation.

"Both of you have valid concerns, but we need to find a way to ensure Ereka's safety while also respecting her desire to have some sort of relationship with her father, if possible."

"We can't just cut him out of her life completely. He's still her dad.”

"He's a toxic presence.” Yelena argues, holding firm. “I’m protecting her. I won't let her be exposed to his insane self-destructive bullshit or be hurt anymore."

"Do you see what I'm dealing with?" Kate turns to Dr. Landers, horrified.

Dr. Landers pauses for a moment, assessing the situation.

"Would you say Yelena has a fair point?"

"No, she doesn't. She..."

Yelena's frustration reaches its breaking point. She abruptly stands up, her eyes burning with anger.

"I'm not listening to this. If you can't even give me the bare minimum amount of respect to not lie about basic facts, then I have no reason to be here.” Yelena declares, her voice tinged with irritation and dismay.

"Yel...Yel...Yelena!" Kate calls after her, growing more severe with each repetition of her name. But her wife puts on her coat and heads to the door with no reticence. Yelena exits without uttering another word, leaving Kate behind, her heart sinking.

"She's speedrunning us to divorce." Kate mutters, her defeated gaze fixed on the closed door. She leans back on the couch, crossing her arms over her chest, feeling the weight of the situation.

Dr. Landers sighs, recognizing the immense challenge that lies ahead.

"I know this is incredibly difficult, Kate. But it's crucial you both find a way to communicate and compromise. It's not just about what you want or what Yelena wants. It's about what's truly best for Ereka.” Dr. Landers says, her voice filled with empathy. "You also have two other children whose well-being is at stake."

Kate nods, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

"I know. I'm just not sure we can ever agree on this."

Dr. Landers reaches out, her tone compassionate.

"As long as you both continue to show up and put in the effort, we can work on it together. But it will take time and commitment from both of you.”

The weight of the situation settles heavily on Kate, but she clings to a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty. She knows the future of their relationship hangs in the balance, fraught with challenges. The path ahead won't be easy, but she's determined to fight for her family, even if it means confronting difficult decisions and engaging in uncomfortable conversations. Anything to find a way to bridge the divide.

---

An hour or so later, Kate walks into the apartment, her mind still reeling from the intense conversation with Yelena and the subsequent argument. She carries the weight of their disagreement, feeling a mixture of frustration, sadness, and uncertainty.

"Mommy!" Russell's shriek pierces through the heaviness, and he darts from the couch where Lila has been cuddling him while reading a story. His vivacious energy momentarily lifts Kate's spirits.

"Hi, my love. What book were you reading?"

"Perpillar."

"The Hungry Caterpillar. You really love that one, I know." Kate utters with warmth and genuine affection before kissing the crown of his blonde head. "Is Yelena home?"

Kate approaches Lila, the nanny with the thick Russian accent, and speaks in a hushed tone. ‘Lila’, short for ‘Ludmila’ due to Russell's pronunciation, was deliberately chosen by Kate and Yelena to expose their children to the Russian language and culture. Yelena had emphasized the importance of preserving her heritage, and Kate fully supported the decision. Lila's role was to exclusively communicate with the little ones in Russian while Ereka was at school or in other activities, aiming to make them as fluent as possible.

"Yes. She was here little while ago. But I do not think she feels too good. I think she is sick again. Ereka also home too. Hour ago she called. Said she is sick and want to come home. I go and get her. She does not look sick, but I bring her home anyway."

Kate hands off the squirming toddler back to the older woman. The added worry of both her wife and daughter’s physical health only compounds the strain she's already experiencing.

"Thank you."

"Mommy, come!" Russell demands, reaching out his tiny hands toward Kate.

"I'll be back, baby. I need to check in on momma and Ri.”

"No! Up Wuss! Up!" Russell insists, his little hands reaching for his mother.

"I'll be back to hold you. I promise. Lila will read to you some more, okay?"

Kate tries to reassure Russell while hurriedly retreating toward the hallway. She knows he’ll calm down and be distracted by Lila's soothing voice once she's out of sight.

---

Kate makes a pit stop in Ereka's room and pokes her head in.

"Hi."

"Hi." Ereka responds coldly, her demeanor distant.

"Lila said you called her to get picked up early?"

"Yup."

“Why didn’t you call me or momma? What's wrong?"

"Sick."

"Sick with..."

"I'm just sick, mom. Jesus." Ereka isn't the type of child to fake out of school or who makes a habit of asking to be picked up early, so for the sake of not kicking up more drama than she needs to in one day, Kate chooses to let it be for now.

"Okay, well, you're in a mood."

"Seems to be going around this house." Ereka mutters under her breath, her words barely audible.

"Have you seen momma? Is she okay?"

"She's YOUR wife. How would I know?"

"You not feeling well is one thing. You being rude and nasty is another and I'm not putting up with the latter."

"Whatever."

"Ereka...don't push my buttons today, please. Of all days, not today."

Ereka makes a whole spectacle out of taking her AirPods out of their case and putting them in her ear halfway through Kate's sentence. She cranks up the volume loud enough that Kate can hear the sound all the way at the door, confirming Ereka effectively silenced the last part of what she said. Vexed, Kate marches over, rips the earbuds out of the tween’s ears, and yanks the case from the bed.

"Lost these for a week. Next is your phone. Don't try me."

Ereka starts playing the music at maximum volume through her phone’s speakers, challenging Kate with a defiant stare. Without hesitation, Kate snatches the phone out of Ereka's hand.

"Ten days. Gone."

"This is a violation of my..."

"I'm SO not in the mood for this. You're just like your dad. Never know when to stop."

"At least one of us doesn't have to put up with you. He's lucky."

"Two weeks. No phone for two weeks." Kate calmly declares as she storms out of the room. Ereka is about to retort, but Kate swiftly adds without looking back. "One more word and it's three."

"KEEP IT FOR ALL I CARE!" Ereka's voice echoes down the hallway after her mother.

"A month it is." Kate tells her coolly, firm in her decision, from further down the hallway.

---

Kate saunters into the room, scanning the space but doesn't see Yelena. Just as she's about to head for the office, she catches a faint sound of grumbling coming from the bathroom. Kate doubles back, gently pushing the bathroom door open. There, she finds Yelena sitting on the edge of the tub, her head buried in her hands, the toilet seat open, while leaning forward enough to hover over it, indicating her ongoing battle with relentless nausea. Whoever said morning sickness 1) ended in the first trimester and 2) only happened in the morning was a cruel liar.

"Can we talk?" Kate tentatively asks.

Yelena lifts her head barely enough to glare at Kate, her eyes burning with newfound rage.

"What about this situation gave you the impression that I feel like talking?" Yelena grits through clenched teeth.

"I think we should. It's important."

"Kate, leave me alone." Yelena pleads.

"You said some things in therapy that..."

"I swear to God...not now."

"If not now, when?"

"WHENEVER I DON'T FEEL LIKE MY INSIDES ARE GOING TO SPILL OUT OF ME. That would be a great fucking time."

"You're always sick."

"Maybe that's not so bad after all. Perfect excuse not to hear whatever stupid, recycled conversation you plan to throw at me."

"You're a fucking asshole, you know that, right?"

"You knew that before you married me, so that's your fault."

Yelena’s response cuts deep, but Kate chooses to push past them.

"If what I have to say is going to annoy you anyway, then I might as well say it now."

"You don't ever listen, do you? The words that I say simply don't stick in your brain."

Though Yelena's point lingers in the air, Kate barrels forward regardless.

"Of course, it's annoying when he shows up drunk. Obviously, it is. But he's her dad, and he's going through a tough time. Least I could do is give him some respect."

Yelena shoots to her feet, pushing past Kate and into the bedroom. Her voice quivers with anger and she can’t help but raise her volume.

"Where's MY respect?! When do *I* get some of that?! When do OUR relationship and OUR family take precedence over his goddamn stupid fucking needs and feelings? Eight years, Katherine. Eight years we've been together and not fucking once have you ever put me above him."

"Please, that's absurd. If that were true, I'd be with him and not with you."

"Do you have any real concept of what these years have been like?! ANY AT ALL? Because..."

Ereka barges into the room, cutting Yelena’s words short.

"If you're gonna scream at each other all night again, then at least give me my stuff back so I can drown you out."

Ereka stomps to Kate's vanity, where her phone and headphones lie, and snatches them aggressively. Kate's voice rises.

"Put those back right now."

"Fuck that."

"Ereka!" Yelena and Kate shout in unison.

"Yeah, I'd rather you scream at me than get divorced over something so stupid."

"No one's getting divorced." Kate interjects, attempting to reassure her daughter, but Ereka ignores her and continues talking as if nothing was said.

"I'll go to dad's house. It was never that big of a deal."

Ereka keeps walking. Kate and Yelena chase her into the hallway. Ereka turns to face them, her anger softening but still present.

"I don't remember my parents being happy and together. I was too little. She doesn't deserve that. I'll just go to dad's house whenever I'm supposed to. Forget I said anything. It's not worth...this. Forget it."

"Ri..." Kate tries to call after her, but Ereka cuts her off.

"Pretend it never happened and go back to being normal."

Ereka storms into her room, shuts the door, and locks it behind her. Kate and Yelena stand in the hallway, stunned into silence. After a beat, Yelena rushes off. Seconds later, the sound of the blonde getting sick in the bathroom reaches Kate's ears. She runs her hands through her hair, a mix of emotions flooding her thoughts, and lets out a heavy sigh.

---

Kate sits next to Yelena on the edge of the tub. The blonde initially recoils, but Kate persists.  With one hand, Kate uses her fingers to hold back the loose bits of braid that now fall on Yelena's face, ensuring her comfort. With the other hand, Kate rubs soothing circles over her wife’s back.

After Yelena finishes retching, she groans miserably. Kate softly rests her chin on Yelena's shoulder.

"Water?" Kate whispers in the gentlest tone possible.

Yelena nods, and Kate stands to fill one of the cups by the sink. She returns to the tub, extending the cup to Yelena. Yelena takes it and swirls the water around her mouth several times, rinsing away the lingering taste of bile. She then spits the water into the toilet and flushes, sighing before burying her face into her shoulder.

"Tom..." Kate begins to say, but Yelena interrupts her, pleading softly.

"Katherine, for fuck's sake. That is the last word I want to hear right now."

"Can you please listen to me? For five minutes?" Kate implores earnestly.

"All you do is talk, Kate. All the time. I need quiet right now."

"Five minutes. Less than that. It's all I'll take."

"Do what you want. It's not like you're not going to anyway."

Kate sits next to Yelena again, this time wrapping her arms around her wife's pregnant midriff before resting her cheek on Yelena's shoulder. Kate pauses, trying to find the right words.

"My dad died when I was thirteen. I was only a few months older than Ri is now. Except for you and the kids, I would give anything to get another second with him. Anything......Tom...He's killing himself. He might not be putting a gun to his head and pulling a trigger, but we both know that's what he's doing. In a very slow and miserable way, yet the result will be the same. I don't want Ri to suddenly be my age and have the same regrets I do. At some point, I also thought I was too cool to hang out with my dad and if I could go back, I would kick myself. She can still spend time with him now. She should because once he's gone, then that's it...she doesn't get do-overs. If we take her away from him, he'll get worse and she'll lose him sooner. I know how much that hurts, baby. I know how it changes you and your world. I want to save her from that for as long as I can. That's all I've ever wanted."

Yelena's anger begins to ebb, but it’s still underlying. She searches Kate's eyes. The deep connection between them is still present, despite their current turmoil.

"She clearly doesn't enjoy being around him."

"What kid likes being around their parents?" Kate counters softly before pressing her lips to Yelena’s shoulder.

"She doesn't mind us. She wants to spend more time with us, which is why she doesn't want to be with him."

"He gets her nine days a month."

"Kate, you're going to send her back to him regardless of what either of us says, so fine. Whatever. Give Tom everything he wants in spite of everyone else, simply because his weird fucking obsession never let him get over you and now he has a death wish. Let's reward bad behavior."

"It's not about him. Never has been."

"I don't care anymore. Do what you want. She's YOUR daughter, isn’t she? You make any and all decisions involving her from now on. No need to consult me. Not like it mattered anyway."

Kate feels a lump form in her throat as Yelena's words sink in.

"Yel..."

Yelena shakes her head, cutting off any further protest.

"No. No. You do whatever you want with Tom from now on. I'm removing myself completely. She knows I'll still be there for her whenever she needs me. Nothing will change between me and her, but over the past few days, you've made it increasingly clear that my input as a parent doesn't matter when it comes to her. It never has. You have full control of YOUR daughter now. I'm done. I'll end the protective order. If you want to give him full custody tomorrow, that's up to you. I can't fight a brick wall anymore. I'm tired."

Kate's heart shatters with each word and tears well up in her eyes as her voice gets choked up with emotion.

"I tried explaining..."

"Kate, I'm going to bed. You can sleep here or in the guest room. Doesn't matter to me."

Yelena stands and walks from the ensuite to their king bed with a weariness that goes beyond physical exhaustion.

"This isn't what I want. Of course I want you involved. You're her mom."

Yelena scoffs bitterly.

"I'm not. It's okay, Katherine. She's your kid. I know my place now."

"Babe..."

Yelena tucks herself in, her back to Kate, shutting her out emotionally. Her voice softens, her tone weary but resolute.

"I don't want to keep talking about this. Ereka's right. This baby deserves better than to be born into fucking chaos. You drew a line in the sand and I'll respect it. Move past it."

"How do I move past you not wanting to be in her life anymore?" Kate speaks low, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't put words in my mouth because I never said that. Never implied it, either. I said Ereka is exclusively yours and Tom's responsibility from now on. Russ and baby are yours and mine. You two make decisions for her. We make decisions for the little ones. Simple. Clean. Uncomplicated."

"Yel, how..."

Kate attempts to continue, but her voice catches in her throat, rendering her silent.

"I'm going to sleep now. I'm done talking for today."

Kate bites the inside of her lip to stop herself from loudly sobbing. Unable to bear the ache in her chest, Kate turns and storms out of the bedroom. She turns the light off on her way out, leaving Yelena alone in the darkness.

#bishova #kate bishop #yelena belova #kate x yelena #yelena x kate #kymaup #kymau #answers #supercorpdanbeau

[fratboykate]

I'm feeling jipped here. I saw all the amazing graphics and social media posts, family trees, gifs, references, casting, and whatever else you made for your clexa fic. Where is the gorgeous Kate and Yelena content for your million AUs. Give us moodboards, give us what the kids and the OCs look like, give us references for their houses, give us anything!

listen...........CFAU was ONE thing. there are literally 11 (!!! - yes, i counted tonight) ongoing kate x yelena aus right now. but just so you don't say i never gave you anythingggggg here is the laziest-done-in-literal-five-minutes references of k + y for like...FIVE of them lol. i didnt even bother with any of the period aus because im just not going to find references for all of them. i could definitely do victorian, royal, and maybe viking, but no way in hell am i going to find anything for gladiator, versailles, or black plague. i also didnt do the kids or any of the supporting characters because...again...five minutes and there's truly like a dozen kids in this handful of aus alone. if you bug me about it enough i might get around to it.

anyway…here you go:

FBAU:

MAU:

BGAU:

PDAU:

KYAU [AO3]:

#bishova #i think even photoshop judged me for how shitty this is but like.......ELEVEN #the process for this was 'the first picture i remembered sorta fit and that i could find in the first 20 results in google' lol #i do think FBAU and MAU are the most generally accurate tho #idk how much better i could do for fbau #but like...y'all cant expect me to give each of them the cfau treatment lol #cfau also didnt flop lol it had consistent readers and racked up notes...im lucky if any of these chapters break 20 notes #so different level of 'effort -> reward' y'know #kyauv #kyfbau #kyfbaup #kymau #kymaup #kybgau #kybgaup #kypdau #kypdaup #kyau #kyaup #kypau #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

KYMAU: A little family snippet that finally includes Lina? Drama or fluff, your choice?

Literally told myself this was going to be like 5 lines of dialogue. 1.5k words and two hours later...here you go.

---

Kate and Yelena glide effortlessly around the kitchen, moving with natural ease and grace. They’re in sync. Each step timed perfectly with the other’s. The tantalizing scent of roasted fish mingles with the sweet fragrance of caramelizing vegetables, creating a heady aroma that fills the air. Their conversation flows smoothly, punctuated by the occasional laugh or teasing comment. As they chat and joke, the warmth and intimacy between them are evident, proof of their unbreakable bond.

Yelena deftly flips the salmon in the pan before sticking it in the oven. Meanwhile, Kate finishes up the sides of Miso Mashed Potatoes, Burrata Caprese with Balsamic Glaze, and Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Carrots. Kate walks past Yelena on her way to the fridge and her hand reaches out to give her a playful tap on the backside. It’s like a jolt of electricity passes through Yelena and a spark ignites between them. In one swift move, Yelena pulls Kate towards her and presses her against the counter, their eyes lock in a fiery gaze before leaning in and kissing tenderly.

They remain caught up in the moment until movement catches Kate's attention from the corner of her eye. She glances past Yelena's shoulder and sees five-year-old Lina staring at them, clutching a beat-up doll by the hair. Lina's dark brown hair and hazel eyes are traits they assume she has inherited from the donor. They're often reminded that Lina and Russell share genetic similarities that they themselves don't possess. Before her, they weren't entirely sure what things Russell had acquired from the man they've never met but with Lina around, they've started to pick up on the small details. There’s the slight crease on their right ear, the beauty mark below their left elbow, or their unusually long second toe. These details are minor but constant reminders that Lina and Russell are connected to someone they will never know.

"Hi, baby...what's wrong?"

"Mommy, we should get pizza for dinner."

"Mama and I are making dinner already. We can't get pizza tonight, but we could get pizza on Friday. How does that sound? We can have pizza night and maybe watch a movie?" Kate responds, trying to divert her daughter’s focus from the request.

"We should have pizza for dinner tonight, not the stinky fish." Lina persists.

"That's not happening, Linny." Yelena interjects firmly.

"My free will wants pizza and the Constitution said I could have it." Lina declares, causing Kate and Yelena to exchange amused glances.

Kate playfully rolls her eyes and steps closer to Lina.

"The Constitution, huh?"

"The forming fathers wrote it so we can have pizza whenever we want."

Kate swoops the girl into her arms and heads to the back of the apartment.

"I see...I wonder where you could've possibly heard that."

Kate carries Lina to Ereka's room. She opens the door to find her seventeen-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son staring expectantly at the entrance. Kate sets Lina down and nudges her into the space and towards her siblings. Ereka grumbles and rolls her eyes. BUSTED!

"Next time you send the little one to do your dirty work, make sure she doesn't mention the Constitution. Dead giveaway.”

Ereka groans while glaring at Lina.

"That was NOT part of it."

"You said we can have it because babies in America are free." Lina looks at Ereka, frowning with confusion.

"Food should be ready in twenty." Kate announces.

"I can order the pizza with my allowance.” Ereka proposes.

"That is SO NICE, Ri. I was just telling Lin we could have pizza night on Friday. Thank you for offering to pay. Isn't she the best sister?" Kate mocks in jest, looking at the younger ones. "She's getting you pizza on Friday!"

"Thanks, Ri." Russell looks at his sister with a genuine, innocent smile.

"That's not what I said..."

"If you were willing to pay it tonight, you can pay for it on Friday." Kate offers a sly grin.

"I don't want pizza on Friday. I want pizza now." Ereka grumbles.

"You have a brilliant mind. I'm sure you can imagine yourself eating whatever kind of slice you're craving while having the delicious dinner momma and I are making."

"I'm so looking forward to moving out."

Ereka's boundless curiosity and inquisitive nature have led her down an unexpected path. After years of questioning and probing the world around her, Ereka discovered a deep-rooted passion for humanity and its advancement. Channeling her unrelenting drive and determination into this area has led her to Princeton University, where she will double major in Political Sciences and Anthropology in the fall. Ereka wants to work with people, for the people. She wants to positively impact society and believes politics - whether taking center stage in it or shaping it behind the scenes - is the best way she can bring about meaningful change.

"You'll miss these dinners when all you have is dining hall food. I promise you that."

Ereka shakes her head, resolute.

"Doubt it. I’ll be able to have pizza whenever I want."

"Uhum. You talked them into pizza. You talk them out of it now because salmon is what we're having."

The three kids groan in unison. Kate turns to leave, but Ereka calls out after her.

"Just as a flame needs oxygen to burn, life needs liberty to thrive! REMEMBER THAT!" Ereka then turns to her younger siblings, eager to share her message of freedom and individual choice. "They’re tyrants. They're our oppressors and we have to fight them. We deserve a say in what we eat in this house. We're the majority. Why should our voices be silenced simply because they're 'the parents'? Having birthed us or being ‘older’ than us gives them no moral or intellectual superiority. Age is a very...abstract thing. We should absolutely be free to make our own choices. It's what this country was founded on and they’re infringing on that."

Ereka looks at Russell and Lina, trying to find a shred of understanding. They look back with blank stares.

"So, no pizza tonight?" Lina asks, looking dejected.

Ereka sighs and beckons her sister over to the bed where she and Russell sit.

"No pizza tonight, Linguini. The tyrants have won again."

"Can we at least get ice cream?" Lina suggests hopefully and Ereka's face lights up.

"That's a fair compromise. Those are good terms. We'll eat whatever gross thing they make for dinner, but we get ice cream afterward.” Ereka stands. "I'll go present our counteroffer. Wait here."

Russell and Lina watch her go, unsure what to make of her passionate ideals. After she disappears down the hallway, they turn to face each other.

"You wanna play trucks?"

"I guess." Lina shrugs.

"Cool! But I'm the blue truck." Russell advises.

Russell jumps off the bed and grabs his sister's hand, pulling her behind him as he rushes to his room.

"I WANT BLUE!" Lina protests, her voice rising in frustration.

"You can have the orange." Russell offers.

"NO, THE BLUE!" Lina insists, her tone becoming increasingly whiny.

The argument devolves to the point that Lina throws the orange plastic truck at Russell's head the moment he hands it to her. The toy makes contact with his skull with a resounding thud. Russell yelps in pain as he clutches his forehead, a small bump already forming. Tears spring to his eyes, and Lina, realizing what she's done, also starts to cry. The two siblings lunge at each other, tugging hair and scratching as they roll around on the ground.

Kate and Yelena rush into the room, their eyes quickly assessing the situation and pulling their two children apart before things escalate any further. Ereka, who never seems to know when to stop arguing, trails closely behind them, still fervently pushing for ice cream.

As they hold the siblings apart, Kate and Yelena exchange a knowing glance. Their family is a raucous, lively one, full of passion and energy, but it’s what makes them unique. The chaos they create is both their greatest challenge and their greatest joy. Despite the bumps and bruises that come with raising three spirited children, Kate and Yelena wouldn't have it any other way. They've learned to roll with the punches and have come to accept that their kids are a force. This is simply another day in their endlessly unpredictable but always colorful lives, and there is very little they would do to change any of it.

#listen it's 5:50am if this sucks take it up with god lol #i started this after finishing a movie cuz i was like 'this'll be super easy and shot'...2+ hours later....here i am looking stupid #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

Papicito, we need more of them being apart. The angst must be so juicy when Yelena is in Russia.

Idk if this is “juicy” but it’s...something. Have 3.1k I wrote in like half an hour because it’s been a while and you guys are blowing up my inbox asking for more haha.

///

Kate paces back and forth on the space between her couch and the coffee table. In an attempt to quell her restlessness, she reaches down and kills the half a glass of wine she set down next to her open computer. Once all the liquid is gone, she stares at the empty cup in her hand sullen, huffs, then antsily paces again.

Moments later, the notification of an incoming Facetime call pops up on her laptop screen, along with the accompanying series of melodic dings. Kate freezes and glares at the alert, transfixed by the weight of its meaning. She remains immobile long enough that the call fails. When that happens, Kate snaps out of her trance-like state.

She hastily rushes to the phone that charges atop one of the side tables flanking the couch and sends a two-word, concise text that reads: "Call again."

Soon afterward, another Facetime call alert pops up on the display. Kate initially remains fixed on the spot where she stands, but after a beat of lingering, she rushes to sit across from the computer and clicks the green button right as the call is about to fail again.

Yelena materializes on screen. Despite her hair being in a braid, Kate can tell her blonde locks are longer. The difference in length is significant enough for Kate to know the older woman hasn't had a haircut in the four months she's been gone. However, that’s not the most noticeable change in her appearance. Yelena’s face looks...older. Her features have, without question, aged more than they should have after only not seeing them for a handful of months. Kate surveys her ex-girlfriend intently. The woman staring back at her is indubitably Yelena, but she doesn't look like herself. Even when she was being a curmudgeon, Yelena had a spark. Her spirit was effervescent, but that ebullience Kate has become intimately familiar with is now gone. A piece of Yelena is missing.

After a long, sustained silence where neither makes a sound, Yelena faintly grunts, awkwardly clears her throat, and takes the initiative.

"Hello, Kate Bishop." Yelena utters with apprehension. Kate gapes at the screen, then, after a moment, she rushes to her feet and begins to pace anew, only coming in and out of view as she crosses the camera. "You're going to make one of us dizzy."

Kate bends at the waist, her stoic face ending up an inch away from the camera, effectively filling the entirety of Yelena's screen.

"Don't try to be funny. You don't get to be funny."

"Funny is not what I was going for."

"You left."

"I know."

"You abandoned me."

"I know."

"You abandoned HER. She cried. Every night. For weeks. She refused to sleep because you weren't here to do a story. You could've fucked me over any day and I could've maybe been okay with it, but you hurt her and I can't forgive that."

"I know."

"I can't fucking forgive you."

"That's okay, Kate. I wanted to do this, even if it was so you could scream at me. You deserved that much."

"What I deserved...what she deserved was for you not to bail. That's what we deserved."

"You're right."

Somehow those words exacerbate Kate’s irateness.

"Stop being so fucking agreeable! This isn't you!"

"Everything you're saying is right. There's nothing for me to disagree with."

"Fuck you."

Kate slams the computer shut with fervent spite. She plops onto the cushions, leans back on the couch, and buries her face into her hands. After mere seconds, she reopens her laptop and Facetimes Yelena back. Yelena answers almost immediately.

"You're a piece of shit."

"I am and I'm sorry."

"How long did you know? That you were leaving? How long were you lying to me?"

"I bought and canceled my plane tickets so many times during those months, Kate."

"HOW. LONG?!"

"The last time I bought them? Two weeks before I left."

"Did you ever tell them you weren't going to take the job? Did you ever give them any indication that you might stay?"

"No."

Kate isn’t certain if she should be pleased or upset at the fact that Yelena didn’t hesitate to offer that answer.

"So you didn't lie to them, but you lied to me." Kate scoffs bitterly. "I'm such a fucking idiot."

"You're not."

"I opened up my life to you. Ri's life."

"We knew it was a mistake, Kate. You said we'd cross that bridge when we got there, but we always knew I was leaving."

Kate’s vexation grows exponentially at how blasé Yelena comes across while making that statement.

"You didn't even give me a chance to cross the fucking bridge because you decided to light it on fucking fire!"

"You have every right to hate me."

If Kate were a balloon, all the air would've leaked out of her at the sound of those words. She tips back on the couch and crosses her arms over her chest.

"If I fucking hated you, it wouldn't hurt this much. I wish I hated you. Every day."

"I love you," Yelena remarks without a second thought. 

"Don't say that to me." Kate demands, unflinching. "You lost every right to say that to me."

"I know I did. It doesn't mean it's not true." Yelena takes a beat, then chuckles. "I called your sister. *I* called your sister. Do you have any idea how awkward that conversation was?"

"'Awkward' is not the worst thing you deserve."

"I know."

"Stop with the whole...‘nice’ bullshit. Just stop. It's driving me fucking crazy. Be an asshole. That I know how to deal with."

"I have no reason to be an asshole at the moment."

"That's never stopped you before."

Yelena cracks a smile, but it quickly fades.

"I'm sorry...for everything. I'm sorry, Kate."

"Too late."

"That's fair."

Kate groans, frustrated by Yelena’s newfound affable disposition. 

"I can't deal with this stupid version of you right now."

Kate slams the computer shut yet again, and an instant later, she’s curled up on a ball on the couch, mascara-laden tears staining her forearms and cushions.

---

Days go by. Neither of them attempts to make contact, but this doesn’t mean Yelena isn’t all Kate thinks about. Kate stands by her kitchen counter, absentmindedly staring at the open bottle of wine and the empty glass in front of her. Kate’s mind meanders to one of those mornings when Ereka was away with Tom and Yelena spent hours exploring her body all over this apartment. Kate is regretfully yanked away from the memories of the Russian’s lips roaming her most erogenous spots and back to the dreary present by large, rough hands. The arms snake around her waist and a prickly, bearded face presses against the back of her neck as it peppers her skin with lazy kisses. 

“All her worksheets are done. I triple-checked this time.”

Tom pulls Kate flush against his chest and Kate forces a smile. 

“Thank you.”

Despite her thoughts being elsewhere, Kate’s body betrays her and she instinctively opens up her neck, offering Tom more access to her nape. He gleefully welcomes the reciprocation of affection and leaves a trail of kisses from Kate’s clavicle to her earlobe.

“Dying to be inside you already.” Kate only offers a noncommittal ‘hmmm’ in response. “I love you so goddamn much, KitKat. You make me happy.”

“Did you tell her she needs to take a bath before bed tonight? Non-negotiable.”

Tom nods against Kate’s skin as he continues to press soft kisses behind her ear while he sways their bodies in place.

“She’s picking her pajamas right now. Said she would let me know when she’s ready then we can do bath time.”

“So I’m the only one she gives grief to when it comes to baths. I see.”

“I could do bath time every night if I moved back in.”

Kate forces her head forward, removing his lips from her neck, and endeavors to fill the glass of wine before taking a big gulp. 

“I have to send some emails. Put her hair in a bun and don’t let it get wet. It’s too late for her to have damp hair. I’ll wash it tomorrow.”

Kate tries to extract herself from the embrace, but Tom reels her back, keeping her in place. 

“It’s eight. Why would you need to send emails now?”

“I schedule them for the morning.”

“Or...you could stay right here and send them in the morning.” Kate sighs. Tom spins her around, forcing her to face him. He examines her features intently. “You’re so fucking hot...Hotter than a fajita plate coming out of a restaurant kitchen.”

A faint smile appears on Kate’s face as she rolls her eyes. 

“You’ve been saying that since we were eighteen. You need to find a new line.”

“If it’s not broken, don’t break it.”

Kate exhales and budges, leaning her forehead against his cheek. Tom draws her even closer, pulling her against his toned body before his hands come to rest on her ass.

“A little variety would be nice, tho.”

Tom chuckles and plants a kiss on Kate’s forehead.

“I’ll try to work on it.”

“DADDY! I DON’T KNOW IF I WANT RAINBOWS OR PANDAS!”

Ereka hollers from her room, with a twinge of frustration coating her voice. Tom looks down at Kate. 

“Which one does she like better?”

“Why is she even looking at the rainbows? She hates those pajamas. Thinks they’re itchy and takes them off in the middle of the night, then comes to my bed because she’s cold.”

“DADDY!”

“I’m thinking!” Tom smiles and places a tender peck on Kate’s lips. “Definitely don’t want her in our bed tonight, so...Wear the pandas, bunny bear. That one’s really pretty.”

“OKAY! WE CAN DO BATH NOW!”

“Things she’s never ever everrrrr said to me.” Kate grouses under her breath, making Tom cackle in response.

“I guess daddy has the magic touch because she’s never given me grief about it. I’m the bath time king.”

Kate could refute that assertion by telling him Ereka would go as far as volunteering for baths if Yelena was in charge of the morning or bedtime routine, but she’s not cruel, so she won’t.

“Unreal.” Kate takes a step back and shoves Tom in the direction of the bedrooms. “Go. Go. Before she changes her mind...I need to shower too but I’ll come in for a story.”

Tom nods and steals one last kiss before begrudgingly tearing himself away from Kate and jogging to Ereka’s bedroom. By the giggling and shrieking that swiftly fills the apartment, Kate knows he starts tickling the little girl the moment he gets to her. 

Kate sighs and hangs her head. She’ll never complain about her daughter laughing; she merely wishes the person making her laugh was someone else. Alas, that is an impossibility because that someone is currently thousands of miles away. 

Kate wipes the corner of her eye, removing the stray tear that threatened to escape before it ever got a chance to. Once the tears start, it’s hard to make them stop and her night is not over. She can’t allow herself to go there. Not yet.

---

Tom hovers by the door while he slides his jacket on. His hair is disheveled, his lips are plump from kissing, and that mark on his neck might look faint now, but it'll be decidedly glaring come morning. Kate might have let her frustrations out a little TOO hard on that one.

Tom closes the distance and kisses Kate with abandon. She allows it and Tom seizes the opportunity, stretching the moment out while she doesn't pull herself away. Before long, the intensity starts to escalate. 

"I can come back inside. I want to. I want you." 

Tom mumbles between kisses, but Kate shakes her head then breaks the kiss.

"I have work to do."

Kate takes a firm step back. 

“If you let me stay until morning, I could take breakfast duty off your plate. She loves my pancakes.”

“I’m not having this conversation again.”

Tom tuts histrionically.

“I just don’t understand the rules for when I’m allowed to sleep over and when I’m not. And I don’t get how her waking up to me here is any more confusing than going to bed with me here?”

“If you’re going to do this every time, then bedtime privileges might go away. You can’t be here when she wakes up and that’s always going to be my final answer.”

Tom offers a forlorn sigh and leans to sneak in one last kiss while bringing his hands to his groin to readjust the newly formed erection he’s now forced to go home with.

"Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Sure. Yeah."

“I love you, KitKat.”

“Put your gloves on. It’s cold.”

Kate offers an empty smile and closes the door as soon as he’s an inch beyond the threshold.

---

Kate sits in bed with her computer on her lap. Miffed by the poor quality of the work, she selects and deletes everything she’s typed. From the corner of her eye, Kate peeks at the charging phone on her nightstand. She turns her attention to the clock on her computer. 12:47 AM. That means it's almost 9:00 AM in Russia. Yelena is doubtlessly awake.

Kate is unsure of what comes over her, but she pushes her computer away, reaches for the phone, and Facetimes Yelena.

Kate readjusts her hair and shirt multiple times, yet the call goes unanswered. Kate is markedly crestfallen and marginally piqued. She tosses the phone aside and grumbles under her breath. She doesn’t have to be peeved for long, seeing as not two minutes later, Yelena's face pops up on her phone. Kate swiftly answers the incoming call. The brunette is not able to get a word in and downplay her motives because Yelena is talking as soon as the call connects. 

"Hey. Are you okay? Is everything okay?"

Kate picks up on the genuine concern in Yelena's voice and how flustered she looks. It softens her on the spot.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Everything's fine. I'm...yeah...I don't know why I called. Sorry."

"No. No. It's okay."

"I'm sure I interrupted your morning."

"You didn't."

"Where are you? Why are you whispering?"

"Hiding in some cafe bathroom. I was walking to work but walking down the street having a loud conversation in American English right now is...uh...not smart. Especially for me. For many reasons. This was the closest private place I could find."

"So I did interrupt your morning."

Yelena snickers with a smile.

"Minor detour."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think that I might be putting you in danger."

"Don't apologize. Things are just...complicated."

"Are you safe?...Really?"

Yelena ponders for a beat, then nods. 

"I'm not in any immediate danger...That I know of."

Kate’s chest tightens at the idea of any harm coming to Yelena.

"That's not reassuring."

"There are many reasons why it's not entirely safe for me here, Kate."

"And yet you still left." The words come out exponentially more bitter than Kate intended.

"I knew that before I ever got on a plane. It's a choice I made because it's all bigger than me."

"Right. Sure."

Kate and Yelena sit silent for a long moment, neither knowing where to take the conversation from here.

"I have to go, Kate. But I'm glad I got to see you and hear your voice."

"Yeah. I'm sorry I bothered you. Have a good day."

Kate is about to hang up when...

"Kate...Kate...wait. Please. First, you didn't bother me. You're never a bother."

"If the you from a few months ago could hear you now."

They both laugh and for a split second, the heaviness dissipates.

"Okay, maybe 'never' is a stretch, but you definitely weren't a bother today." Kate nods in silence and Yelena dawdles, working up the courage to get to the next thing she wants to say. "I know I lost every right to ask and I'll understand if you don't answer, but...how is she? Is she okay?"

Yelena sees Kate harden, if only ever so slightly.

"She's fine."

That's all Kate offers.

"Okay. Good. She's a good kid."

"She is."

"I really have to go."

Kate hesitates but ultimately relents, allowing her concern to reveal itself for a fleeting second. 

"Please stay safe."

"I'll do my best."

Yelena flashes an honest grin before ending the call.

---

Some sixty hours pass and Kate has not managed to get a second of sleep. The idea of Yelena being in any danger has perturbed Kate to the point of insomnia. Regardless, the exhaustion she now carries down to her bones is not why she hasn’t heard a single word that’s been said in this meeting. The reason is that Yelena’s smile is seared in her mind’s eye since she saw it again a little over two days ago. It’s been impossible to think about anything except wanting, NO...needing, to see it once more. 

Kate is unable to control herself and picks up the phone that sits face down on the conference table to shoot a quick text.

TEXT: "Still alive?"

Kate’s heart rate accelerates when the three dots promptly appear in the app. She fidgets with her fingers as Yelena types whatever response she’s composing. 

Yelena fires back a photo of herself in boxers and a tank top in what must be her new apartment. Everything in the background is still mostly boxed up, but Kate recognizes a few things that aren't. Yelena sits on the floor, surrounded by open folders filled with papers in every direction.

TEXT: "My body? Yes. My mind and spirit? Not so much. Russian law is even more tedious than American. Also, I'm learning that my Russian was either not as good as I thought or way rustier than I want to admit because I waste hours translating things and they still don't make sense half the time."

Kate’s lips inadvertently curve upwards as she studies the image. The smile is still present when she begins to type her response.

TEXT: "Just needed to make sure you weren't dead and buried in some remote oil field."

TEXT: "Still kicking. No one’s going to be using my liquefied remains to power up their post-apocalyptic truck in a few thousand years."

Kate musters up a smidge of self-control and stops herself from replying. At least she's reassured that Yelena is safe and that knowledge alone is enough for the younger woman to feel some of the tension she’s been holding onto melt away from her body.

This exchange is the catalyst for the routine of Kate checking in every day to ensure Yelena is alive. This ostensibly innocuous interaction leads to them talking more and more, which in turn leads to the eventual rekindling of their relationship. 

#ive been fucking swamped with shit but ill see if I can come back and drop something else soon #keep sending the asks i have good stuff to come back to and answer i just need to find the time #kymaup #kymau #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

How does Tom handle Kate being pregnant because I figure the answer is, uhm, not well 🙃 Especially as she gets more and more pregnant and he can't deny it in his mind anymore

---

I can only imagine how much of his shit Tom loses when Kate announces she and Yelena are having a baby. I feel like he shows up piss poor drunk at there place. And of course he’s got some choice words for Yelena who’s just trynna be cool. Wonder if Kate ever heard him talking about his shit and she just casually slips in “Yeah, she’s the best I’ve ever had.” To get him to shut the fuck up

///

Okay so I got a lot of variations of these two asks. You guys are always asking for "Part 2" but this is...a prequel lol. This is two weeks before Ri's 9th birthday party which you got some time last week. I think it gives a little context for where everyone was at mentally at that party and what set some things in motion. Anyway...here is 5.1k of...“How A Bitter Ex Ruins A Baby Shower”...bookended with fluff because I’m my 2023 resolution is to be nicer to you lol It’s definitely like a 2:1 ration of fluff to angst because...again...look at me being nice.

---

Yelena feels Kate's lips gliding up her shoulder past her neck and land on her earlobe. When they reach their destination, Kate’s teeth barely graze the skin before she pulls with a soft, playful bite and whispers.

"Your alarm started ringing twelve minutes ago. It was really getting on my nerves, so I turned it off. Wake up. We have so much to do today. We NEED to be ready and out the door by 9:30." Yelena grins into her pillow but refuses to open her eyes. "I know you're awake...No? Shame because Ri is somehow still asleep and these hormones have my sex drive through the roof. Woke up drenched. But I guess no one’s around to help me take care of the problem." Kate flips onto her back. And she waits. "No one? Not one person around?" Yelena finally peeks over her shoulder and back at her wife with sleepy eyes and a devilish smile. "Took you long enough. I'm so horny and I think she has MAYBE fifteen more minutes of sleep left in her, so we gotta be quick." Yelena's smile grows, but she doesn't move. "What?! What are you looking at?! Since when does my wife turn down ANY opportunity for sex? I'm handing it willingly. Don't even have underwear on. Zero obstacles in your way."

Yelena cackles while rolling over and using her elbow to hover over her wife.

"I got my period last night."

"Yeah, well..." Kate throws the cover off herself, revealing her taut eight-month pregnant belly. "...I clearly didn't. You can do me. Besides, you know I don't care. Wouldn't be the first time we've been there, done that."

Yelena sleepily chuckles anew and bends down to dotingly kiss the brunette.

"I feel like shit, love. Truly like someone ran me over. Can I get a rain check? I can get you something from the closet. To...help with “the problem”. Can't have my wife walking around unsatisfied. More than happy to watch. Would make my morning, actually."

Kate pouts and pulls Yelena down to her, forcing the blonde to nuzzle into her neck.

"No. I wanted you. Boooooooo."

"I'm sorry."

"You definitely owe me."

"You can cash in anytime I don't feel like my insides are being torn with shears."

"Did you take anything?"

"Yeah. Cramps kept me up half the night. I took something like three hours ago but hasn’t really helped."

Kate lifts Yelena's head to survey her face.

"Why didn't you wake me up?!"

"What the hell would I do that for?"

"So I could keep you company? Rub your tummy?"

"I'm not eight, baby. That works on Ri, not me."

"You don't know that."

Yelena smiles and lies back on Kate's chest. In response, Kate envelops her in an intimate embrace, pulling her in as close and tight to her body as she can muster. Yelena rests her hand on Kate’s exposed belly and caresses it. The baby promptly responds to the touch, stretching out, leaving the little imprint of a limb poking through the strained skin. Yelena drags her fingers over and ghosts her digits over the same spot. 

"So close," Yelena mutters while Kate runs her fingertips through the slept-on, blonde braid trying to break it loose. 

"I know."

"Five weeks...Feels like forever but not enough at the same time...Are you as scared as I am?"

"Terrified." They both laugh. "You wanna know what makes me feel better?" Yelena 'hmmms' and tilts her head to make eye contact with Kate. "Getting to hold a tiny thing with your face." Kate traces the contour of Yelena's face with the tip of her index finger. "And your nose." Then the bridge of her nose. "And your lips." Then the outline of her lips. "And your eyes. I can't wait. Terrified but so excited."

They opted to use Yelena's egg for the pregnancy Kate is carrying. It's how they both get to be a part of the baby's gestation. If they ever decide to have a second child, Yelena will carry a baby conceived with Kate's egg and sperm from the same donor they used for this baby. That is their way of ensuring their children are blood-related. Not that it would have mattered to them at all if they were or not. But it was a small thing they thought made it extra special.

"But you have...Ri. You say we look the same all the time."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah."

A piercing clanking coming from the kitchen abruptly rumbles through the house. Eight-year-old Ereka is awake and on the prowl.

"Hurricane Ereka. Category 5. Alert!" Yelena jokes.

"One of us has to go make sure she isn't burning the place down."

"Uhum."

Neither of them moves.

"Yel..."

Yelena whines.

"I'm comfortable for the first time in hours! We invested in a top-of-the-line fire system for a reason. Something would be beeping or shrieking by now if she was setting something on fire."

"Is that what we're doing? Delegating childcare to AI or whatever that thing is?"

"It cost thirty grand! The least it could do is watch our kid for half an hour while I nap on your limited edition, extra comfy boobs for a bit."

The distinct crack of something large and fragile shattering and exploding into a million pieces in the distance forces an involuntary sigh out of Kate.

"THAT ONE DEFINITELY BROKE!"

They hear the almost nine-year-old Ereka holler from the kitchen, already tinting her voice with shades of ignorance as to what could have possibly happened. 

"DO NOT MOVE AN INCH! MOMMA'S COMING!"

Kate shouts in response while pushing Yelena off her and the bed.

"Why am I the mom on duty?!"

"Because you’re the mom with pants on. There’s glass everywhere, she can’t stay still for more than three seconds, and I’m now moving at the speed of molasses." Yelena grunts and begrudgingly heads for the door. "Oh, and babe, you should look into getting a refund on those thirty grand. That thing is a terrible nanny."

Yelena playfully flips her wife off on her way out the door.

"Ri, what the frick are you doing in the kitchen by yourself?!" Yelena admonishes the girl as she runs to her.

Kate can vividly envision the guiltless, ostensibly angelic face Ereka will be making when Yelena walks into the kitchen. Kate is also well aware that “wasn’t me” face will be Ereka's "get out of jail" card even though she is quite literally standing at the crime scene. Yelena is putty in that child’s hands, Ereka knows this, and sometimes takes advantage of that knowledge to walk away scot-free if Yelena is the one supposed to be dishing out consequences to actions.

---

Kate became fixated on the idea that she wanted her baby shower on a rooftop, by a pool, with a picturesque city skyline view. The three things individually? Perfectly doable. Together? IN NEW YORK CITY? IN LATE AUGUST?! Damn near impossible. Not happening. 

Thankfully for Kate, she has a filthy rich mother, an unwavering wife, and a Type A elite event planner for the stars hired by the aforementioned women. The event planner is there to make each and every one of Kate’s obstinate, affluent, hormonal girl fantasies come true. Truthfully, she’s also there so Yelena and Eleanor can survive this with their sanity intact and that doesn't have a price tag. The family has two large social events essentially back to back this month, and if they can get someone else to handle Kate and her needs related to those things, everyone will be better for it. So hire an event planner they did and off Kate went...

One of Eleanor's friends knows someone who knows someone who could make the call to give them the okay to shut down the hotel’s rooftop pool Kate fell in love with for a day. Eleanor wrote a blank check and threw caution to the wind. Susan has made it clear she is never having children and Kate has been exceedingly vocal that this was it for her, so if Eleanor is only paying for one baby shower in her life, it will be a grand ol' time.

The theme Kate went with for the event is a “classy summer tea party”. The tables are set with authentic vintage British china and silverware. A tea sommelier makes personal recommendations on which tea to choose from the endless assortment of top-shelf global teas and then brews cups for each guest. Silver cake stands overflow with scones, sandwiches, mini cakes, patisseries, and jams from the best pastry chefs in the city. The kaleidoscopic flower and balloon arrangements put most weddings to shame. The women are expected to wear floral dresses and fancy hats to match the theme. 

While the official baby shower only runs from 11-2PM, they've closed down the entire rooftop and pool area until 8PM. Whoever wants to stay and hang out, swim, have drinks, or watch the sunset over dinner is more than welcome to do so. Male friends and partners are also invited to swing by in the afternoon. 

Unlike most traditional showers, this venue has no pink or blue in sight. Kate and Yelena decided not to find out the gender of the baby. At least, that's what they’ve told everyone. No one, not a soul, knows that they know. It’s been easier that way. 

Since Ereka could form sentences, she's been asking for a little sister. It's been incessant, well beyond the point of evolving into a full-fledged nuisance. When they decided to start trying, they kept it from the little girl. IVF can be a long, arduous process and adding her to the mix was merely going to complicate an already physically and emotionally draining circumstance further. It’s why they decided to keep her in the dark. Kate and Yelena went through a few failed rounds, then...success. When Kate is far enough along that they feel it prudent to share the big news, when they tell Ereka she’s finally going to be a big sister, Kate and Yelena don't think they've ever seen that child any happier. She hasn't come down from cloud eleven since. Ereka talks about her little sister to anyone who will listen. Problem is...Ereka's “little sister” is actually...a little brother. The ultrasound tech saw that penis clear as day on Kate's fourteen-week ultrasound and they've triple-checked on every appointment ever since. At this point, it'd be an act of god if that baby wasn't born with a penis because they've looked at it from every angle at Kate and Yelena's behest and it’s always there. 

Kate and Yelena have more or less been living in modest denial and trying to will the willy away, as they strongly feel that extra and unexpected bit of anatomy will not go down well with their daughter. It's more than a strong feeling. They know that with certainty and are endeavoring to put off sharing the information for as long as possible. None of this means they're being irresponsible about their approach. As the birth becomes imminent and the truth harder to conceal, they've begun consulting a family therapist to gradually help them lay the groundwork for when the baby comes and they ultimately have to detonate this bomb on the unsuspecting and eager eight-year-old.

---

The Bishop-Belova trio exit the elevator on the top floor of the ostentatious five-star Brooklyn hotel negligibly late at 11:13AM. Depending on which of them you ask, they'll each blame someone different for the tardiness. 

Kate wears a yellow fitted dress with thin straps, a crossover cutout detail that gives a baby bump peek, and a v-neckline that Yelena is quite fond of. This outfit is not at all a “classy tea party” look, but at the very last minute, Kate isn’t feeling the dress she bought for the party and decides she needs to change. If you ask Yelena, this is the reason why they’re late. 

When Kate tells Yelena she has to choose a yellow statement piece since that's what she and Ereka are doing, Yelena agrees. Easy enough. Yelena initially wears a light yellow button-down with a navy suit and yellow pocket square. Yelena likes the look. It’s a solid look. She thinks she might even look rather attractive in it. Kate, not so much. Kate flips and makes her wife change the suit because "Blue is for boy. You're being too obvious." and Yelena has to change. That's how Yelena lands on her current very bland and gender-neutral combination of: yellow shirt, a tan blazer, and khakis. If you ask Kate, Yelena having to change is the reason why they’re late.

Before they step into the madness of greeting, mixing, and mingling, Kate knows she needs a quiet moment with Yelena. She taps Ereka’s shoulder blade and jostles her towards the doors that lead to the roof and pool. 

“Go find grandma and Suzu. We’ll be right there.”

They watch her go and once the girl has disappeared past the glass doors, Kate pulls her wife into one of the indoor private cabanas behind them and quickly pecks her lips, then runs her thumb over them to wipe her lipstick off.

"The main thing is only three hours, then most people you have murderous fantasies about are going to leave and the people you can somewhat tolerate will stay. You like Greer.” 

“Greer’s fine. She’s funny. Sometimes.”

“Exactly. So I made sure you’re sitting next to her. It’s a few silly games, pictures, jokes, ha ha ha, people, joy. All so unfamiliar and very terrible. I know. But you're not going to die. You'll make it. I promise. I love you more than life. Just roll with it. They're not laughing at you; they're laughing with you."

"I'm only here for you."

Kate kisses Yelena once more and speaks against her lips.

"I know."

"No, I'm not saying it to guilt trip you or something. I'm just saying I wouldn't do this shit for anyone else. That's how much I love you."

"I know. I know. You're a grouch, but you're my grouch." Yelena grunts and rolls her eyes. "I truly do love that you’re a ‘get off my lawn’ eighty-year-old man trapped in this young body." Kate cops a feel of Yelena’s ass and squeezes it. "Big fan of the сексуальный русский [sexy Russian] body."

"I should’ve never taught you how to say that."

"I did insist.”

"You did...And I’m not THAT big of a grouchy old man."

"Baby...you LITERALLY chased kids off our lawn the other day. Literally."

"That thing they were playing with was ripping the grass out! I still have to talk to Javier and see if it’s okay or if we’re going to have to mow the whole thing down and wait for it to regrow evenly.”

"Okay, Grandpa Cyrus. I think it’s time for your meds."

"Weren’t you just trying to grope Grandpa Cyrus?"

"Listen, Grandpa, you’re very hot and I’m very horny. You have no idea. I don’t know how you have clothes on right now. I could be tearing them off with my teeth."

Yelena hangs her head back laughing.

"That’s not tea party behavior, love."

"I’m well aware. Part of the reason why you’re not naked right now.”

"Let's get it over with then. Sooner you get me home, sooner you can take my clothes off."

Yelena places her hand on the small of Kate's back, and gently nudges her, guiding her to the door.

"That's the spirit! We'll get you a drink first because I'm a good wife. I'd never make you do this sober. I know who I married."

Guests are already milling about and cheer for them when they make their grand, if ever so slightly shameful, delayed entrance.

---

About an hour and a half later, the function is in full swing. So far, they've managed to play the infamous blind diaper changing game, “Songs With Baby In The Title”, and "How Old Was She?" featuring the most embarrassing photos of Kate and Yelena that Eleanor and Alexei could dredge up.

They're currently in the midst of "You're Craving WHAT?!". Kate's cravings have been LUDICROUS this pregnancy. Yelena figured that if she has had to put up with them, it is only fair for everyone else to do so too. Guests get blindfolded and sample some of the things Kate's been willingly putting in her mouth, then try to guess what's in them. This is the only game that didn't make Yelena’s body fill with dread when she thought about this day the last few weeks, perhaps because she came up with it. She may be a baby shower game genius because, unlike the previous ones, this one hasn't brought her to the edge of suicide even once in the last fifteen minutes. Hard to admit, but...she could conceivably be having a good time.

"KATE, WHAT IS THIS?!" Kate’s blindfolded friend inquires while toiling to chew the sickening blend currently destroying her taste buds. 

"Cottage cheese, clementines, spicy ahi tuna, and chocolate milk," Yelena reveals with a delighted grin.

Kate's work friend gags violently and spits the mush onto a napkin.

"My mouth is watering. Hand it over. So good." Kate extends her hand and the cup with the foul concoction starts to make its way down to her.

"That baby is coming out and first thing it's going to do is ask you to say sorry, Kate. The hell...I'm finding out things about you I didn't want to know. What do you mean you've been making my niece eat pulled pork with frosting and alfredo sauce?! That's jail time!" Greer chimes in and the table roars with laughter.

"KitKat, you look so beautiful."

"DADDY!"

The guests turn to find the source of the voice coming from behind them. Before Kate can hold her, Yelena is already on her feet and stamping toward a visibly intoxicated Tom.

Kate exchanges a furtive glance with Susan, who understands and takes firm hold of Ereka, preventing the girl from going after them.

"Dude..."

The distance between where Yelena sat and Tom stands isn’t inconsiderable, yet she reaches him in what seems like a blink. Once she’s in front of him, she continuously rams her open palms across his chest until she’s thrust his body inside, away from everyone.

"Do you have mental problems? Is that the issue here? Do we need to have you committed?"

Kate finally reaches them and jerks Yelena away from Tom. Kate glares at Tom and points at the side door that leads to a small adjacent room filled with a few tables and loungers. 

"Go over there." When he starts walking, Kate turns her attention back to her wife. “Let me handle it.”

“You always ‘handle it’ and we still have the issue.”

“I’ll handle it.”

After a beat, Yelena attempts to force herself past Kate. Kate drives her back. 

“I’m going over there.”

“If you go over there, I’m afraid you’ll kill him.”

“Exactly. Problem solved forever.”

Kate doesn't even dignify that with a response. She simply steps away and walks to where Tom waits, leaving the door ajar.

“No.”

“KitKat.”

“No.”

“CupKate.”

“No. We’re not doing this today.”

“KaterTot.”

“I probably always hated that one the most. You have to go home.”

“I don’t even care that it’s another man’s baby...”

That incenses Kate.

“It’s not ‘some other man’s baby’! It’s Yelena’s baby!”

“...I’ll raise it...Oh come on! We both know that’s not true!”

“There’s more to being a parent than DNA.”

“Spare me the gay agenda bullshit. There’s a mom and there’s a dad. That’s how babies are made. THAT is some random guy’s baby...” Tom softens up again. “...and I’m totally fine raising it. I want to! I don’t even care! It can be the four of us.”

“I’ve fucking had it with you. I’ve had it. How did you even find out where we were?...Did you text Ri?!...Leave her out of this. Leave her out of it. There’s no reason she should be mixed up in this.”

“I think she should have a say in whether she wants mommy and daddy to be together.”

Kate closes her eyes and takes a centering breath. She refuses to allow herself to lose her cool on this man. Not for his sake, but because she knows if she does, she’s going to go ballistic and it wouldn’t be healthy for her baby.

“Kids don’t get a say in adult matters. Especially not on ones that aren’t a fucking possibility, Thomas.”

Kate expresses with as much composure as she can summon.

“They could be IF YOU STOPPED BEING SO FUCKING STUBBORN AND STUPID!”

Tom leans in to scream in Kate’s face. Yelena's been watching through the door crack and he got much too close to Kate for Yelena's comfort. She’s done waiting. Yelena stomps over, bursts through with such force that the door ricochets off the wall, and grabs Tom by the arm without saying a word, dragging him behind her.

“Yel...Yelena.”

“Let me fucking go.”

Tom fights back, but Yelena’s grip on his arm is iron tight. She continues to wordlessly drag him to the elevator with Kate hot on their tail.

“Yelena, I was handling it.”

Tom aggressively shoves Yelena trying to get her to loosen her grip and that’s her tipping point. That’s her last straw. Her martial arts training kicks in and she swipes his legs, sending him to the floor with a thud. He whines pathetically on impact. 

“Give me one good reason for why I shouldn’t beat your ass right now. Just one. Because I can come up with plenty for why I should.”

Kate pulls Yelena back away from him and glares at her.

“Stop! Stop it.” Kate turns to Tom. "Please leave. Please. Please. PLEASE. I don't want you here. We can talk some other day. Please. We’ll talk. Just go."

"Okay, KitKat." Tom gets on his feet and walks over to Kate. Yelena steps between them and they have a staredown but being much taller allows him to lean above her and place a wet kiss on Kate's cheek regardless. "We can talk another day."

He calmly heads for the elevator and his eyes don't leave Kate and her body until the elevator arrives and he steps on it.

"'We can talk some other day'?! THAT'S THE SHIT THAT FUCKING FEEDS HIS DELUSION, KATE? WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"Is he gone or not?"

Kate flings back coldly. 

"Until you let me and him beat the shit out of each other, I feel like we'll have a problem. I'm a jiu-jitsu brown belt. Why do you think I can't take him?"

Kate steps up to Yelena, directly to her face. At least as close as her pregnant stomach will allow her to get.

"I don't give A FUCK if you can give him a black eye or break his arm or not. I'm sure you could. That's irrelevant. You are a licensed attorney. You catch a charge, we have a problem. A big problem. You think he doesn't know that? You think he wouldn't LOVE that? He works with his family. He can be angry, and obsessed, and delusional, and slowly become an alcoholic all he wants. He's never getting fired. His last name is on the business cards, on the trucks, on the warehouses. What are you not getting?"

"Then let me talk to my dad. He'll make some calls. It'll actually be handled."

Yelena shrugs, nonplussed. Kate backs away, head shaking with incredulity. 

"For the sake of our marriage, I'm gonna pretend you didn't just threaten to have Alexei’s crazy Russian mafia buddies kill my daughter's father."

"I didn't say kill. Never said kill."

"Please stop talking."

Kate bites back curtly. Yelena becomes irate.

"Then what do you want me to fucking do?! What do you want me to do? Because I can't keep standing by while he treats you like shit, treats her like shit, and makes our lives fucking miserable. You ask me to let you ‘handle it’, but nothing ever changes. You won't let me beat the shit out of him and you won't let me get guys who will, so what do you want me to do? Tell me because I don't fucking know what to do anymore, Kate." Yelena's shoulders sag and in an instant, she shifts from livid to defeated. "I don't know what to do, but I can't keep living like this. I don't want to...I don't want him to have to."

Kate approaches, holds Yelena's hand, and places it on her belly.

"I don't want that either...but..."

"Fuck, Kate. What? What is it? What excuse is it now?"

"The next few weeks are gonna be so crazy. Baby's coming soon. I want this to be about us. I don't wanna do anything that's going to send Tom into a spiral or do something crazy. Her party is in two weeks..."

Yelena cuts her off.

"Has he told you if he's coming or not?"

"No. And if he does..."

"I don't want him there."

"...IF HE DOES...I need you to be the bigger person. For her. That's her day. Not a day for you two to have a pissing contest."

"Why can’t you tell him not to come?"

"He's her dad and it's her birthday, Yel."

"So what?! If he makes our lives fucking hell...so what? When does it stop? When do we say enough?!"

"He's never gonna hurt anyone. He's...sad. That’s it."

"It's been YEARS. What the hell does he still have to be sad about? Go to fucking therapy and stop making it our problem...I can't listen to this again."

Yelena walks out.

"Yelena."

---

Kate steps out from the room to find Yelena hovering by the elevators, pressing the buttons furiously as if that'll make them go faster.

"What are you doing?"

"I feel awful, Kate. Cramps are fucking killing me. I just want to curl up and lie down."

"Please don't make me go back out there by myself."

"I feel like actual dirt and I would very much like to go home." Kate stares at her, silently pleading. "You know I won't be able to say 'no' if you ask me again. Please don't ask me because I want to leave."

DING! The elevator arrived.

"I won't ask, but I don't want you to go."

Kate utters shakily, barely above a whisper, tears threatening to fall. Yelena closes her eyes and locks her jaw. She grunts as the elevator doors start to move toward each other and rests her head against the cold metal of the door jamb once it’s fully closed and on its way back down.

"I feel like shit."

"I'm sorry. You can go. My mom and Suze are here. All my friends are here. It’s fine. Call it back up. You don’t have to stay."

Kate walks to her wife and hugs her sideways, pressing a kiss to her temple, and whispering into her ear.

"Go home. I love you."

Yelena shakes her head.

"It's fine. It's your day. It's baby boy's day. I can suck it up."

"Not true. It's your day too. We're a team."

"Doesn't feel like it sometimes."

Kate holds Yelena tighter.

"I meant it when I said ‘not right now’. It doesn't mean forever. Baby could come tomorrow or six weeks from now and I don't want chaos in the background whenever it happens. But..." Kate leans back to look at Yelena. "...as soon as we settle once he's here, let's get a lawyer. Tom loves to threaten with them all the time. Let's finally do it. We have witnesses. We have proof. We have nothing to lose. But I need you to give me a few months. I need these weeks to be about the three of us. Shut Tom out. He doesn't matter. We matter. Baby Russ matters. Okay? Give me thirty more minutes and then we can go home. Yeah? Deal?"

"Kate, you had them shut down this whole thing until eight. You can't go home at..." Yelena looks at her watch. "...one thirty. That's insane. It probably cost your mom like ten years worth of college tuition funds to do this."

Kate chuckles. 

"She refuses to tell me."

"We're not going home. It's fine. I'll live."

"If you wanna leave, I won't stop you. But please don’t sneak out. At least tell me beforehand this time. I hate when you do that."

"Sure. Whatever. I'm fineeeee. Let's go." Yelena nudges Kate and they start walking, arm in arm, back to the outdoor area while talking. "It's our party. I don’t need to sneak out of my own party. I just need a drink. By now, people either think we died or are having the craziest sex somewhere."

"I'm not opposed to..."

"Not happening, Kate Bishop."

"That's me getting shut down for sex three times in one day. In case you're keeping track of the ones you owe me."

"I always pay my debts."

"I'm expecting you to."

The party faces are back on when they become visible to the guests through the glass doors. Isn’t all of life a performance anyway?

#I sandwiched our man Tom between fluff so you cant even complain #im being too nice to you lately #you once again walk away with a pain free ending #who am i becoming #what has 2023 done to me #who is this person #i dont like it #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

Yelena babe stop running away from everything. God I love the drama 👌 also out of curiosity who proposed to who?

Six-year-old Ereka is perched on Yelena’s shoulders as they prance around the Whitney Museum Of Art, fleeing from the sweltering New York summer heat. Ereka anchors herself by wrapping her arms around Yelena's head and planting her small hands firmly on the woman’s forehead. When Yelena isn't using her right hand to point at artwork around the room, she instinctively brings it to Ereka's back to add an extra layer of protection. Yelena's other hand holds Kate's. Kate lazily walks next to the spirited duo in silence, an exuberant smile painting her face as she processes their interaction.

The trio transitions from one of the museum’s rooms to the next.

“Painting, photograph, or drawing?”

For the past ten minutes, Yelena has been quizzing Ereka on the type of art they've come across. This time she points to a prismatic, new-age modernist portrait on the wall. 

“These are too easy. I’m not five. That’s a painting.”

“What do you like about it then?”

“I think the artist did a good job bringing out the realism of the man’s face and I like how it contrasts with the colors of the background too. It looks nice.”

Kate and Yelena trade glances. No way this kid is real.

One of the ushers in this showroom speed walks over to them.

“Excuse me, ma’am. You can’t have the child on your shoulders. You’re going to have to put her down.”

“Sure. Sorry about that.”

Yelena promptly swings Ereka off her shoulders and gently places the girl on the floor. Ereka looks up at Yelena and protests.

“No, mommy! I liked being there! I got to see the paintings better.”

Kate and Yelena swing their heads in unison to gawk at each other, aghast. Ereka has never called Yelena ‘mom’ before. It has never even been something that has been discussed, yet it just rolled right off her tongue. Like it was nothing. Like she’s been saying it her whole life. They come to a speedy, unspoken consensus not to address it now. Or...ever?

"Sorry, Ri. But it's museum rules. If there's anything you need to look at closely, I can hold you up and then put you back down, okay?"

"No. I liked where I was."

"That's unfortunate because you can't be where you were."

Yelena holds the little girl's hand and scurries off, too afraid that if she allows even a second of lingering, a conversation will need to happen. 

Emotional conversations are one of Yelena’s least favorite things. Emotional conversations in public are even higher on her list of disliked things; therefore, if she can avoid both, Yelena will consider this outing a success.

---

Post museum, the triumvirate sits at another prime spot to hide from the heatwave: a pretentious artisanal ice cream shop inside the Chelsea Market.

"...but I think the one I liked the most was Katherine Shimi."

Yelena cracks up with a mouth full of ice cream and spits half of it on the table. Kate shakes her head and wipes the mess down with the napkins she holds to clean Ereka's face continuously.

"Sorry." Yelena turns to Ereka. "Schmidt. Not Shimi, Ri. Schmidt."

"Right. That."

"Say it. Repetition is good for memory. That way, you know next time." Yelena caringly nudges.

"Katherine Schmidt. I really liked her work."

"There you go."

Ereka smiles at Yelena then turns to Kate.

"Can I have another one, mommy? Pwetty pweasssseeeeeeeee. Choccy chips with fudge?"

Ereka calculatingly turns on the baby accent and the puppy dog charm. It is often hard to remember that Ereka is just that, a six-year-old, but it becomes undeniable when she can so quickly flip the switch as she has just done.

"You talked me into a double scoop sundae. You won't eat a third. You're gonna take two bites and I'm gonna have to end up eating the rest. Besides, you already had enough sugar to power ten kids. We don't need more." Ereka is getting ready to pivot toward Yelena and smooth talk her into it, but Kate gets ahead of her. "And don't even try to ask her because the answer will be the same."

"Will it? I'm much more pliable and susceptible to her methods."

Yelena retorts, only half joking. Kate chuckles.

"It will."

"Sorry, kiddo. I tried."

"I can't live in these inhumane conditions. I'm going to emancipate myself one of these days. You'll see."

"Good luck getting a lease at six."

"I'll manage."

"I'm sure you will." Kate leans in and kisses Ereka's forehead. "Finish your ice cream, Lincoln. It's melting because you two talk too much."

"We don't talk too much." Ereka retorts.

"Hardly talk at all." Yelena agrees and they kick off into one of their usual back-and-forth banters.

"Just the right amount."

"Only enough."

"BARELY enough."

"The day I move out, you two are gonna miss me." Kate interrupts.

"She would never." Yelena looks at Ereka and tells her with conviction.

"You would never, mommy."

"Oh, so you're allowed to leave, but I'm not?"

Ereka takes a mouthful of ice cream, nods vigorously, and speaks with her mouth full.

"Yeah. Pretty much."

"You know you should be on my team, right?" Kate asks, playfully irked.

Ereka takes another bite and shrugs.

"My loyalty can't be bought."

"Not bought. Literally birthed you...speaking of..."

Kate looks surreptitiously at Yelena.

"Kate..."

"...You said something earlier..."

"...Don't..."

"...And we'd love to talk to you about it..."

"...No, we wouldn't." Yelena retorts, initially looking directly at Kate, then turning to look at Ereka, more pleading this time. "We wouldn't. It's all good."

"We would. Because it's important."

"It's really not. Casual slip of the tongue. We don't need to make it a big deal."

"You called Yelena 'mom' when we were at the museum."

Yelena grunts under her breath and her head hangs in defeat. It seems like they are having this conversation after all. In public. Fantastic.

"Yeah."

Ereka responds nonchalantly, looking back and forth between the two women.

"Is that...is that something you want to do?" Kate presses further.

"Sure."

"You don't have to. I don't want to force you." Yelena attempts to placate a child that shows zero signs of needing to be coddled. 

"You're not forcing me. I don't feel forced. I can do it if you don't mind, but if it makes one of you uncomfortable, I can stop. Miss Johnson says acknowledging people's feelings when addressing them as something is important."

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable." Yelena coyly responds.

"Me neither," Kate adds with a genuine smile.

"Cool...So is that a definite no on another scoop with fudge or..."

Kate chortles, digs into her purse, and hands the kid a loose twenty-dollar bill.

"ONE SCOOP EREKA SHEPHERD. I mean it." Ereka instantly runs off to the stand a few feet away. "If you come back with any more than that, we're eating it."

Yelena looks at Kate blankly for a moment, then...

"Does that mean she's going to call me 'mom' from now on?"

Kate cracks up and leans in.

"I have no idea."

Their lips meet for a quick peck.

"I don’t know either. That conversation had no clear conclusion.”

“But you look weirdly sexy when you're deeply uncomfortable."

Yelena rolls her eyes but steals a kiss regardless.

"You're unbearable."

"Am I?" Yelena nods and Kate kisses her. "You still kissed me back tho."

"Being unbearable doesn't mean you're not REALLY hot. It's a shitty combination. It makes you dangerous."

"Uhm...so..."

Kate and Yelena separate to find Ereka holding a three-scoop banana split.

"Are you kidding me right now?!"

Kate scowls and Ereka flashes her toothy grin, the one missing a single front tooth, back at her disgruntled mother.

"See, the thing is, the guy said this is the best deal they have, so when you think about it, I got the best bang for your buck."

"She's a businesswoman making business moves, Kate."

"Sit your little booty down." Kate grits through her teeth.

"Three scoops, three spoons."

Ereka states with pride as she distributes spoons around the table.

"You're so grounded. No iPad tonight."

"That seems hardly fair. Right, momma?"

Ereka looks at Yelena.

"Nu-uh. You're not about to weaponize that. Nope. Keep me out of it."

Ereka shoves a spoonful into her mouth, staring directly at Yelena.

"Traitor."

"You interested in making it two nights?" Kate threatens.

"There has to be something about this in the constitution. I'm going to check which amendment you're violating when I get my iPad back."

"Yeah, I'm certain the founding fathers were very concerned with your screen time."

Ereka takes a second bite of the barely touched banana split, sits back on her chair, and runs her hands over her distended stomach.

"I'm full, ma."

"Oh...SHOCKER! Who could've ever seen this coming?!" Kate utters, playing up her fake vexation. "Eat up, champ. You supported this 'business move', you help me finish it."

"I'm kinda full to..."

Yelena starts to admit with a guilty grin.

"EAT."

"Yes, boss."

---

After deciding to skip the train and taking the long way home to walk off the insane amounts of cream, sugar, and chocolate they consumed, Ereka arrives home fatigued. Following a quick shower, an early bedtime is a no-brainer.

The little girl lies sideways in bed between Kate and Yelena. Her face is nuzzled into Yelena’s chest while Kate caresses her back.

"What book are you in the mood for tonight?"

Yelena inquires before kissing the top of the little girl's head and starts running her fingers through her still-damp hair.

"No book. Tired. Won't remember."

"Okay. What do you want to do then?"

"Nothing, momma. Just be here with you and mommy."

Kate slides further down the bed, cuddling tighter into her daughter.

"We can do that," Kate replies.

"When do I get my little sister, momma?"

Kate sighs.

"We've had this conversation a million times, Ri."

"I don't like the answer."

"The answer hasn't changed."

"When will it change?"

"The answer to that hasn't changed either."

"I don't like it."

"You've made that clear and your complaints have been taken up directly to management."

"The management here sucks." Ereka quips without missing a beat and Yelena snickers.

"You need to go to sleep." Kate nudges the tiny blonde while kissing the back of her head.

"I need a sister. That's what I need."

"If you go to sleep, maybe you'll wake up with one." Kate attempts to bargain.

"I won't."

"But you could. Anything is possible." Ereka lets out a tiny, peeved grunt. "Unreal. You two are the same person."

"No, we're not." Ereka and Yelena argue simultaneously.

"Right."

"She packs a lot more stubbornness in a way smaller body. You should be concerned. Imagine when she's my size. Trouble."

"Okay. Bye. Shhhhh. Night."

"Are you kicking us out of your room?" Kate stares at her daughter, perplexed.

"It's supposed to be bedtime and you're talking."

"For someone who loooooves to talk about dictators, you sure act like a pint-sized one."

"You can stay if you're quiet."

"You're being very rude right now, Ereka." Kate admonished her. The little girl doesn't respond.

The room falls into perfect stillness for a while until, without warning, Ereka swiftly flips in bed to face Kate. The girl cups her mother’s face with her tiny hands and kisses her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. That was a little mean. I didn't mean to be. I love you and I like you being here for bedtime with me a lot, mommy. You can talk if you want to. It's okay."

Just as hastily as she turns to Kate, Ereka pivots to the opposite side to face Yelena. She also cups Yelena's face with her hands and kisses her cheek.

"I didn't want to be rude. I was upset for a little bit and got frustrated and didn't know how to say it, so I was mean." She quickly throws a glance at Kate over her shoulder. "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, mommy..." Then turns back to Yelena. "...but bedtime with you is my favorite because you always pick the best books and do the best story times, momma. So I'm happy you're here and if you want to talk with mommy, it's okay. I won't be frustrated. I'm really sorry I was rude about it before."

Yelena surveys Ereka's face and is pummeled by the earnestness and vulnerability staring back at her. She's overcome by the need to wrap her arms around the little girl, so she does. They embrace tightly. 

"Apology accepted...Thank you."

"You're welcome, momma."

Ereka feels safe and cozy being held by Yelena. As a direct result, she rapidly starts to fade. Ereka yawns into Yelena’s neck and her eyes close.

"You're so tired, Ri."

Kate whispers behind them while bringing her hand to rub soothing circles on Ereka's back. Ereka nods and slowly lies on the mattress, facing Kate this time. She buries her face into Kate's neck while Yelena sits on the opposite edge of the bed, beholding what she is now certain are the two loves of her life.

Within seconds Ereka is sound asleep. Not long after, Kate and Yelena manage to tiptoe out.

---

Kate and Yelena go through their own bedtime routine without much fanfare. Teeth are brushed, faces are cleansed, and hair is braided. There is nothing special about this night or the t-shirt and shorts combinations they decided to wear, nothing that triggered an unusual reaction in Yelena. But as Kate is slipping into bed, holding whatever random book she pulled from the perennially growing stack on her nightstand, Yelena blurts out words from where she stood, unceremoniously digging through her sock drawer, picking socks for the following day.

“Marry me.”

Yelena turns, still holding green socks with pizza slices on them.

“What?”

"I want you to marry me."

"Uh..."

Kate is nonplussed, not because she's hesitant but perplexed by the entire visual she's looking at. Her girlfriend is in a braid, wearing striped boxers that are so oversized it's a miracle they stay on Yelena's body half the time, a lobster t-shirt from Yelena's old college job at a lobster shack, holding pizza socks that have a hole on the heel but that Yelena refuses to throw away because an old friend gifted them to her, and asking Kate to marry her.

“She called me mom. I don’t ever want to let that kid down again. I already did once and I hate myself every time I remember...I don’t have a ring, which might be better because you’re picky and I’d be able to tell if you hated the one I got. As far as poker faces go, you have the worst one. I’m not going anywhere. Not again. Not unless you want me to. So marry me. I want her to know her calling me that means something.”

“So you’re only asking because of Ri?”

“No...NO...I...” That’s when Kate cracks a smile. “You’re an asshole.”

Kate closes the distance from the bed to their dresser and wraps her arms around Yelena's neck, pinning the shorter woman against the piece of furniture.

“It means more that she’s the reason you’re doing it.”

“She’s not. You are. I mean...she’s part of the reason, but I want to marry YOU. I do get that it’s a package deal. I’ll happily take the combo meal. Supersize it.”

"I love how much you love her. Makes me love you even more."

"I do love her. I wish she was my kid all the time. She deserves a better dad anyway."

"Shhh...let's not talk about him right now."

"You're right. Sorry. Maybe we can give her that little sister she wants...we can start trying right now."

Yelena inverts their positions, pinning Kate against the dresser, then lifting her and setting her on it.

"I don't think you got the birds and bees conversation right, love. We got two queen bees here. We're kinda missing the bird bit."

"Maybe if we try really, REALLY hard. I like hard."

"I know you do...I'm not ready. For a baby. Not yet."

"Okay. We can wait."

"Okay."

"But you are ready to be Kate Belova then?"

Yelena detects the shift in Kate's face.

"What? What did I say?"

"I felt like I lost a piece of myself when I changed my last name to Tom's. I don't think I fully realized it while we were married, but I noticed it when I got my name back. It sounds silly, but I love being Kate Bishop."

"I shouldn’t have assumed. That was arrogant and shitty of me. I’m really sorry."

"Stop...I do want everyone to know I locked down the hottest, sexiest, smartest lawyer in New York. How do you feel about hyphenating?"

"I love a good hyphen."

"Bishop-Belova. The B-B fam. Kind of epic."

"You've been thinking about this for a while, haven't you? You know exactly what ring you want and you have pictures somewhere. I just know it."

"No. No. Noooo...A lot. All the time. Been dying to be your wife since about week three. The ring is bookmarked under 'full birth chart breakdown'. It's the one thing I knew you'd never click."

"Woooow. I'm THAT charming. Okay, Mrs. Bishop-Belova."

"Don't let it go to your head. It's big enough as it is."

"It's as big as it needs to be."

They close the distance and kiss. The intensity grows almost instantly. Yelena pulls back unexpectedly.

"You haven't said 'yes'."

"Huh?"

"You never said you'll marry me."

"I think it was more than implied."

"You have to say yes."

Kate sighs and rolls her eyes.

"You're such a pain in my ass. Ask me again. Which...if I remember correctly...you didn't even ask to begin with. You made a statement, so...present it as a question I can actually answer this time."

"And I'm the pain in the ass?"

They exchange smiles.

"Katherine Elizabeth Bishop, will you make me the happiest person alive right this second and marry me?"

"Naaaah, I don't think so. I'm flattered tho." Yelena grunts, miffed. Kate yanks her in for a searing kiss. "Of course, I will. And before you complain, try to lawyer me, or do one of your adorable, non-verbal, cavewoman grunt things at me...yes. That is a resounding, indisputable, nonrefundable yes to being your wife from me."

"Good."

Their lips meet and they get lost in each other's mouths and bodies for longer than they'd like to admit. As clothes start flying off, Kate interrupts with a vital question.

"So when are you buying me this ring again?"

Yelena chuckles into her fiancee's mouth, refusing to let words derail their current situation.

"First thing Monday."

"Right answer."

Seconds later, Kate is under Yelena, her face pressed by the blonde's hands into the duvet, ensuring the brunette's moans are muffled, so their daughter sleeps peacefully through the night.

#my new year's gift #cant say i never gave y'all anything lol #3.2k words #of pure fucking fluff #did even hurt you one bit at the end #AND YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS FOR ME CUZ I ALWAYS SNEAK IT IN #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

He bitter and I love it! I’m just thinking of all his reactions to everything else that happens between Kate and yelena. Like when yelena comes back and him finding out they’re back together, or when he finds out they’re getting married/ getting pregnant! so many papi!

---

Tiny Tom really is a petty bitch, isn’t he?

---

You do know how to bring the drama! I love it! So does Tom think he’s got a proper shot again now that yelena is out of the picture (for now...) what’s his reaction to when she comes back?!

///

Tom stares at the calendar on his phone then counts weeks on the screen with his index finger.

“That’s my weekend.”

“It’s my wedding. You could be a little flexible here. I can give you one of my weekends and you can get two weekends in a row. We’ve done it before when you have something you want her to do.”

“I said no and it’s no.”

Kate runs her hands through her hair and takes a lap around the room.

“We already put a deposit on the venue down. Are you really going to make me shuffle my entire wedding so my daughter can be there?”

“I don’t want her there at all.”

Kate scoffs then chuckles.

“You can’t ban my daughter from coming to my wedding.”

“I just did.”

Kate inhales and exhales deeply.

“If you’re trying to push my buttons, you’re doing a fantastic job. She’s coming. This isn’t even a thing I’m entertaining or discussing with you.”

“I’ll get a lawyer.”

Kate can’t help but laugh.

“For what?! A judge would laugh you out of court. I’m not doing this with you. She’s gonna be there. And I’m not changing the date.”

“She’s not.”

“Get a lawyer. Get five lawyers if you want.”

Kate storms out.

“She’s not going to your stupid fake wedding!”

—

A piss-drunk Tom pounds on the apartment door until it swings open.

“What the hell?”

“Stay the fuck away from my wife.”

“From your what?”

“You heard me.”

“Dude, you got divorced what…five years ago?”

“I’ll fuck your shit up. Stay away from her. If I hear any more of this marrying shit…”

Tom grunts, anger bubbling up, and his face goes bright red.

“You need to leave.”

“Pack your shit and get out of here.”

“Okay, you’re done.”

Yelena starts to close the door, but Tom kicks it in with enough force to crack the edge of it.

“Ri is sleeping, you prick. I don’t want to have to call the cops on you so go.”

Just then, Kate comes up the stairs holding the bags of takeout she had walked to pick up for her and Yelena.

“What’s going on?”

“KitKat, you have to tell her to leave. You have to tell her to get out of here. It’s you and me and Ereka. It’s us, baby.”

Kate sighs, walks to the door, hands Yelena the bags with food, and whispers to her.

“Let me talk to him.”

“Kate, I don’t want you alone with him.”

“He’s not gonna do anything. It’s fine. I’ll handle it. I’ll be inside in a second.”

Kate gently pushes Yelena into the apartment and closes the door, staying in the hallway with Tom, who looks at her, pleading.

“It’s us, KitKat.”

“You have to give it up. I can’t keep doing this.”

Tom rests his forehead against Kate’s and cups her face with his hands.

“You can’t take her away from me. You can’t replace me.”

“I never have and never will.”

“But you’re marrying someone else. You’re replacing me.”

“You’re still her dad. Me getting married doesn’t change that. Nothing changes that.”

Tom leans in and tries to kiss Kate. Kate instantly steps back.

“Stop. Don’t do that.”

“It’s you and me.”

“It hasn’t been ‘you and me’ for a long time.”

“Then you ARE replacing me.”

“Not in her life. But you stopped being a part of mine a while ago and I’m begging you to get it.”

“I’m not letting you marry her.”

“That’s not something you get to dictate.”

“It is when it can affect my kid.”

“How does it affect her?”

“I’m sure the court will love to know you’re marrying someone who disappears to the other side of the world in the middle of the night without as much as a note and my daughter cries for months because of it. That sounds like it’s in her best interest and like a super stable environment for her.”

“Yelena had a contract she couldn’t break.”

“Fucking bullshit. You told me everything when I was literally balls deep inside you…”

Tom and Kate talk over each other.

“I need you to keep your voice down.”

“…Or did you forget the part where you let me fuck you the entire time she abandoned you? That I was here when she wasn’t? You don’t remember that? That I sat at that table and ate dinner with you? That we were a family? And then you threw me away like trash the moment she decided to show her face again? Because I do! Clear as fucking day, Kate! Fucking clearly!”

“Lower your fucking voice. I have neighbors and Ri is sleeping.”

“You have a short memory, huh? You do. I don’t. I don’t.”

“Tom... ”

“Why do you like to string me along? Why do you like to make me suffer?”

“You string yourself along. I don’t know how to make that any clearer. Go home and have water before you go to sleep, or you’re going to be miserable tomorrow.”

“THERE! There it is. There you are with the mixed signals.”

“Oh my god, I’m being a decent human being. I don’t hate you. I loved you for so many years, you’re my daughter’s dad. Me telling you to drink water when you’re drunk doesn’t mean I’m in love with you. All it means is I don’t want you to have a terrible day because I care about you and I want you to be okay. For her. And in general. I’d like to think we could at least be friendly. You were a huge part of my life for a really long time. You could still be to a certain extent if you start behaving like a normal person…I don’t hate you but I want the old Tom back. He was my best friend once. I miss him. A lot. Can we try to get him to make an appearance? At least every once in a while? I’m sure he’s hiding in there somewhere. Deep, deep, DEEP down.” Tom laughs and nods. “I have to go inside. Drink water when you get home…There’s no double, hidden meaning to that.”

Tom smiles faintly.

“I got it.”

They pivot and walk in opposite directions. Tom presses the elevator button, and speaks just before Kate closes the door completely.

“KitKat.”

Kate cracks the door wider and pokes her head out.

“She can go.” Kate stares at him bewildered. “To the wedding…she can go. I’ll take the back-to-back weekends.”

“Thank you. Goodnight.”

“Night.”

Kate smiles at him and closes the door.

—

Kate enters and comes across Yelena slowly pacing a few feet by the door.

“He came over for dinner?”

“What?”

“I heard him.”

Kate stands in silence, contemplating how to phrase her answer.

“He was supposed to be gone before she came home from piano, but we kinda lost track of time and...he wasn’t…and she saw him…and…she asked him to stay for dinner. Then it…it became…a thing. He started picking her up from piano and would stay over for dinner and then sleep over.”

“What the fuck? What the actual fuck, Kate? How long did this go on for?”

“A few months. But we started talking again and things got better and it seemed like we were back on track, like we were gonna be okay. Then you came back and it immediately stopped. Mrs. Dutton drops her off again now.”

“You lied to me.”

“I didn’t? You know full well that I slept with him while you were gone.”

“Having sex and being in a relationship with him are two very different things.”

“I was NOT in a relationship with Tom.”

“Really sounds like you were.”

Kate takes a step towards Yelena.

“That’s not what that was.”

Yelena takes a step back, keeping the distance between them. After a moment of stillness, Yelena heads for the bedroom. Seconds later, she emerges holding her keys and wallet and beelines for the front door.

“Where are you going?”

“Hotel. I can’t be here tonight.”

“Babe.” Yelena doesn’t stop. “Yel…Yelena, please. Let’s talk this..out.”

Before Kate can finish the sentence Yelena is gone.

#sorta kinda maybe...answers these three #its 11am i havent gone to sleep i wrote this in truly like 15 minutes and im LEGITIMATELY half asleep and writing with half my eyes open #so i doubt this is any good lol #but y'all have let all the last ones flop so who cares right lololol #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

Does baby daddy in stepmom AU ever get cool with Yelena, or at least tolerate her for the sake of Ri and Kate? Or does he just grow to despise her more after she marries Kate and they have two more kids? Also how long are they dating before they tie the knot

Children's laughter echoes and bounces off the walls of the cheery events space. There are slides, ball pits, swings, monkey bars, and bouncy castles. The expansive back wall is covered with a decal of a cartography map and at the center of it, there's a table with goodie boxes, a sensational tiered cake decorated with flags from across the planet, and a world globe crowned with the number “9” as a topper. Above the cake table lives an elegant balloon arch that forms Ereka’s name with balloons printed with flags and world maps.

Ereka has become weirdly obsessed with geography as of late and decided she wanted a “global-themed” birthday party. It was a head-scratcher, but the party planner made it happen. Ultimately they decide that the decoration and the food should take you on a worldwide trip. This is a no-expenses-spared birthday party and it looks and feels as such. 

Upon returning to New York, Yelena switched her focus to Environmental Law. Having worked for the oil industry for years, she has insider knowledge that makes her an invaluable asset to her firm. This means Yelena moved up the ranks at breakneck speed and earns almost five times as much money as she did when she met Kate, which was already six figures. They are financially comfortable to the point that on more than one occasion, Yelena tells Kate she can quit her job if she wants to stay home with the kids.

A heavily pregnant Kate buzzes around the room, making conversation with hoity-toity moms while Yelena sits at the head family table nursing a gin and tonic. Yelena would rather have an ear chopped clean off than be forced to make small talk with any of the adults in attendance. Especially the pretentious parents from the elite private school Yelena can now afford to enroll Ereka in. Kate knows that, so as soon as guests begin pouring in, she procures her wife a drink, plants her on a seat, kisses her, instructs her to be good, and disappears. Kate would drop by every half hour or so to bring the older woman a fresh drink and ensure she hasn’t hung herself from the scaffolding yet, but besides that, Yelena hasn’t interacted with anyone.

Kate runs her hands over her eight-month belly, glances over to the head table mid-conversation, and offers Yelena a smile. Yelena returns the sign of affection with earnest warmth. Kate notices Yelena’s drink is almost empty and mouths “another one?”. Before Yelena can nod in response, she catches something in her peripheral vision and her face sours. Tom has walked in. Kate turns to see what upset the blonde. She excuses herself from the group and walks towards her ex-husband. After a brief exchange, she takes the sizable gift the man is holding and points him to where Yelena sits. It’s the family table, after all. Kate walks in the opposite direction and heads to the gift table.

Instead of immediately approaching Yelena, Tom makes a pit stop at the open bar. After a few minutes, he’s en route to Yelena and sits at the opposite end of the table, as far from her as possible. Everyone else is mingling or eating off the snacks and desserts table, so it’s just the two of them. No one to play interference.

“You’re late.”

“Train was late.”

“Three hours?”

“I don’t need to explain myself to you. I’m here.”

They exist in silence, sipping their drinks, doing their best to ignore the other’s presence. Yelena peeks over to find Tom shamefully devouring Kate with his eyes. In his mind, one can hardly blame him seeing as it cannot be denied that Kate looks remarkably astonishing today. Something about being pregnant suits her.

"Can you stop leering at my wife? It's creepy."

"She was my wife first."

"'Was' being the key word in that sentence."

"You know she let me fuck her while you were in Russia, right? A lot. All the time."

Yelena grips the clear plastic cup in her hand with such force she's surprised it doesn't crack.

"And I had to fly all the way back so she could start coming again."

Tom scoffs and takes a swig of his beer.

"What? With a little plastic fake dick?"

“You’re such an insecure manbaby. My god. You haven’t been together for years. You were a sentient vibrator to her. Get over it. She moved on. She’s happy. Let it go.”

“Yeah, well…at least that one is actually my kid. Your "wife" got knocked up by some random dude who jizzed into a cup and then she got the thing turkey basted into her.”

“At least that one wasn’t an accident. We wanted it. You just don’t know how to put a fucking condom on. There’s only one way to do it. How do you fuck that up? Shows how much of a moron you are.”

Tom slams his beer bottle on the floor, forcing it to shatter instantly. He jumps to his feet, kicks his chair back, sending it flying, and rushes to Yelena. Yelena stands and closes the distance, meeting him halfway. The entire party comes to a grinding halt.

Eerie silence.

Everyone stares at them.

Yelena and Tom are millimeters away, shallowly breathing their hot breaths onto the other's skin, merely waiting to see who will take the first swing. Begging for the other to do it, to finally have an excuse to let out four years of pent-up frustration.

Kate double-times over and pushes them apart, speaking low but firmly, trying not to make this a bigger deal than it already is. She grits her words through her teeth.

"Hey. Hey! I don't know what's going on, and frankly, I don't wanna know. You, back over there. You, over there. Now." Neither of them moves. Kate turns to her wife and glares at her with penetrating fury. "Go."

Yelena backs down, pivots, and plops onto her chair. Tom also walks away. When they do, it's as if someone pressed "play" on the party again and everything resumes as it was before. 

Tom picks up his chair from the floor, slams it on the ground, and sits. Kate stands, arms crossed over her stomach, shaking her head, heated. After an extended and tense period of silence between them, Kate speaks.

"You couldn't put your ego aside for a few hours for the sake of your daughter and that's embarrassing. Not for her or me but for the two of you. You should be ashamed." Kate stands in silence for another prolonged moment. "Go home."

Yelena whips her head to look at her wife.

"What?"

"I don't want either of you here. I need you to leave."

"Kate, that's crazy. We haven't sung happy birthday. We haven't done pictures yet." Yelena argues.

"And you don't deserve to be in those after what you just did."

"Fuck that. I'm not leaving my baby's birthday." Tom fights back.

"You either leave willingly, or I have you escorted out. You choose."

"Babe, you can't be serious."

"Yelena, go home. I'll see you tonight. I'm not asking again."

After a drawn-out wordless beat, Yelena stands and makes the extensive walk to the venue door. Kate now turns her attention to Tom.

"I'm not leaving. You can bitch her around, but not me. It's my kid's birthday. I'm not going anywhere."

Kate sits on the chair next to Tom's, rests one hand on her overgrown stomach, the other elbow on the table, and her head on that hand. She may look calm, but there's red-hot zeal raging inside her.

"I need to get some things off my chest. You’re gonna sit there quietly, listen to them, and once I’m done, you’re gonna get up and walk out the door without making a fuss. You text me a week ago telling me you put together a pizza birthday party for Ri today with all her cousins and your family when I mailed you an invitation a month ago and wrote a note making it clear they were all invited. You never RSVP’d. Then I find out you told Ri about it before you even texted me. She cried all morning when I let her know it was impossible for her to make it to both and couldn’t see her cousins because your sisters and your brother won’t bring them here since *I* “didn’t let Ri go” to this other party. When did you become such an asshole? The guy I fell in love with...You weren’t like this."

"You..."

"I told you not to talk...This new school she's at, it's so good it's nationally ranked. Ivy Leagues and top international universities recruit there. We're building something for her and don't think I haven't noticed you actively trying to sabotage it. Yeah, we were great. We were more than great for a while. That’s true. But then we weren't. If you can't accept that, leave her out of it because I can put up with whatever bullshit you want to dish out at me, but I won't let you bring her into it. That's where I draw the line...You didn’t put a dime into this. We planned and paid for it, so we have full control of the guest list and as of about five minutes ago, you got yourself uninvited. She didn't notice you were late. She hasn't even noticed you're here. I’ll tell her you got tied up taking care of grandma, couldn't make it, and that you’ll pick her up for pizza tomorrow." Kate stands, carefully slides the chair back under the table, and starts to walk away while Tom's eyes are glued to the cloth. "Leave."

"Hey, KitKat." Kate turns to look at him. He looks up and directly at her with venom in his gaze. "Come Monday, I'm getting a lawyer and filing for full custody."

"Let's see how well that goes for you."

Kate turns her back to him, keeps walking, and returns to casually entertaining guests in an instant.

#how do y'all make me fall for this shit every time lmao #'im not gonna write it' #*randomly writes 2k words to answer an ask without meaning to* #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers

[fratboykate]

LMAO Kate has nobody to blame but herself for Ri’s attitude and quick wit. I was dying with her line about a dictatorship and violation of her human rights 😂 Does talking with Yelena help her arguments at all? Or is that who gave her some idea of her rights and types of government at 5 years old? What types of things did Ri and Yelena talk about? Like what was their “thing” they loved doing together?

Kate walks into the dimly lit apartment, drops her keys in the marble bowl, sets her bag down on the console table by the door, then undoes her coat and hangs it on a hook.

She follows Yelena's voice to Ereka's room and watches the scene through the crack in the door. Yelena tenderly reads to the now sleeping girl while running her free hand through the five-year-old's dirty blonde hair. Their resemblance is almost eerie to Kate, like it was meant to be. It's so uncanny that more than once, Yelena has gotten compliments on how cute her daughter is when it’s just the two of them.

Kate shifts her weight and a floorboard cracks underneath her forcing Yelena to look up. She smiles and mouths a "Hi". Kate mouths one in return as she steps inside and heads for the bed. Yelena closes the book and places it on her lap, freeing her hand to wrap it around Kate's waist. Kate bends to greet her girlfriend with a kiss before leaning further and placing one on Ereka's forehead.

Kate's hand strokes Yelena's hair, moves to the back of her head, down to her neck, and the arm wrapped around her waist to land on her hand, where she intertwines their fingers and guides Yelena to stand. As she does, Yelena kisses the little girl on the same spot Kate had done moments before and follows her girlfriend to the door. They click the light off on their way out.

---

Kate guides them to the kitchen, where she begins to scavenge for food and wine in between stealing kisses.

"Thank you for taking bedtime. Today was a nightmare. This campaign is going to age me ten years."

"I thought you were letting Greer take over."

"She got pulled to something else."

"I'm sorry, babe. No one else can help you?"

"No one else that I trust with this client. The account execs are really...particular. That’s me being nice. Let's go away after my deadline on the thirteenth. You and me. Tom can take Ri. The lake...no work...just us...lots and lots of sex..."

Yelena smiles and kisses Kate avoiding giving a direct answer. Kate notices the book that now sits on the kitchen counter, the one Yelena was reading to Ereka.

"Big Thinkers And Big Ideas: An Introduction Of Eastern And Western Philosophy For Kids."

Kate glances over at Yelena with a baffled smirk.

"Stanford has a whole department that advocates for children being taught philosophy. They outright conclude that children can philosophize. In the 30s Jean Piaget said that kids couldn't, but decades later Gareth Matthews proved that Piaget's own study shows kids are perfectly capable of philosophical thinking. Obviously not all of them. Some kids eat crayons and mud but her...Kate that kid is brilliant. And we need to nurture that." Kate's face beams. "I put together a list of books based on what Stanford and the Center for Philosophy For Children recommend for her age, ordered them, and...what?"

Yelena notices that Kate's eyes are boring into her. Kate wraps her arms around Yelena's neck and leans in to press her forehead against hers before whispering.

"You said 'we'. 'We need to nurture that.'"

Yelena cracks a smile.

"I did."

"I like the sound of that."

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

Yelena feels a pang of almost unbearable guilt in her gut after that slip up because she knows she bought a one-way ticket to the Domodedovo International Airport just two days ago.

#i repeat: yelena you dumb bitch #me: i need to watch five movies a day for the next three days to hit my 200 movies this year goal #me today at 9:16pm: has watched 0 movies yet #and i still need to go and eat because i havent even had food or water today lol #ITS GOING GREAT LADIES AND GENTS #kymau #kymaup #anonymous #answers