#berena

Prompt: Pattern

Set after Bernie is declared MIA

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Serena lay in bed, watching the patterns of light cast by passing cars through the curtains, which fluttered in the gentle breeze. She lay awake, thinking about Bernie and missing her with an ache so profound that she knew it would never go away.

Missing in action.

Presumed dead.

That couldn’t be true. She’d feel it if Bernie was dead. Wouldn’t she? No, Bernie would be found and would come back, even if it wasn’t to her. Serena would be happy about that and still rue the day she’d sent Bernie away, never expecting that it would be for forever.

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Prompt: Embarrassment

Set after The Kill List aka Bernie’s return from Ukraine

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Serena decided not to tell Bernie about the embarrassment she’s had to endure while Bernie was in Ukraine … but naturally, Jason tells Bernie everything anyway.

“Would you have told me?” Bernie asks later. “What you’ve been through because of me?”

“It wasn’t because of you,” Serena mutters against Bernie’s collarbone.

“It was and I’ll try to make it up to you.”

“You know what they say: For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?”

“Shakespeare?”

Serena looks up, sees Bernie trying not to grin. “Austen, and you know it.”

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Prompt: Struggle

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When Bernie returns home, she hears Serena grunting and swearing. Following the sounds, Bernie finds her in the kitchen, struggling to open a jar.

“Would you like some help?”

“No,” Serena grunts. “I’m fine.”

“I‘d be hap—“

“I can do this! Just because you’re— … Ouch!” Serena clenches her hand. “Cramp.”

“Allow me.” Bernie takes the jar and opens it with a firm twist.

“I’ve already loosened the lid for you.”

“You definitely have.”

“Bernie?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for not saying ‘I told you so’.”

“I thought about it.”

“I know.”

Bernie grins and then they’re laughing in each other’s arms.

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Prompt: Beach

Set in Spain towards the end of their time there

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Serena has a hard time remembering a time where she’s been this happy in her life, a time where she felt nothing but this unrestrained joy at being alive, at being in love and loved in return.

They’re walking hand in hand along the beach after a lovely dinner in this small Spanish coastal town they’ve escaped to for the weekend. The setting sun is making Bernie glow beside her, and when she looks at her, she’s unsurprised to see her looking back.

Bernie tugs her to a stop and wraps her arms around her. “You look happy.”

“I am.”

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Prompt: Guess

Set in Spain, shortly after Bernie’s arrival there. Bernie makes another phone call (refers back to these drabbles from Spotlights VI: Drabble 25, Drabble 26)

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The first time Bernie calls Charlotte, Serena by her side, is the day after talking to Marcus, hoping Charlotte’s had enough time to digest the news.

“Hello, Lottie.”

“Mum,” Charlotte sobs. “I was hoping you’d call.”

Bernie laughs wetly. “Well, that’s new.”

“I’ve missed you ...”

They’ve been speaking for ten minutes when Cameron’s name comes up.

“What happened?” Bernie asks.

“I guess you’ve heard then? He’s … he’s changed a lot. I hardly recognise him anymore.”

“Did he really …?

“Kill someone?” Charlotte sighs. “I honestly don’t know, Mum. I don’t want to believe it but …”

“Yeah.” Bernie looks at Serena. “But …”

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Prompt: Fool

Follows after the three Nairobi drabbles at the beginning of this month. Serena is having some words with herself …

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Serena was tired on the flight home but she couldn’t sleep, her mind too busy rehashing the conversation with Bernie over and over again.

“You’ve been such a fool, Campbell,” she muttered, looking out the window at Nairobi getting smaller by the second. “A fool and a bloody coward.”

She closed her eyes. Why hadn’t she asked Bernie to come with her? To Harvard? Or anywhere else? The sabbatical would have been a great chance to enjoy life together. But no, she’d kept her mouth shut, hadn’t even considered the options, and now they were stuck on two different continents …

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Prompt: Suspect

They’re trying to be naughty (again) but …

Makes a slight reference to an earlier drabble but you don’t have to read that

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“It’s a little suspect when both of us disappear,” Serena hisses even as she follows Bernie willingly.

“Possibly … so we have to be quick.” Bernie opens the door to the room Dom’s shown her weeks before. “After you, love.”

Serena enters the room, a tiny thrill of anticipation running through her body despite everything, a warm tingle settling in her lower belly.

Bernie pulls Serena into her arms. “I haven’t kissed you in far too long.”

Serena moans into the kiss. “At least four ho—“

Suddenly, their pagers start bleeping simultaneously and they both groan for an entirely different reason.

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Prompt: Service

Could be set at any point in their relationship

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Bernie’s been mapping Serena’s body with her hands and mouth for hours. Serena’s been on edge all night, close to coming time and again, but every time she thinks this is it, Bernie pulls her back from the edge, before building her up again.

And then Bernie grins at her from between her thighs as she dives back in, and this time she doesn’t stop until Serena is hurtling off the edge and into an epic orgasm.

Afterwards, once her heartrate has come down, Serena turns her head and smiles tiredly. “Thank you for your service.”

Bernie laughs out loud.

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