#bevcherrymarcia

it had seemed innocent enough when they were all still young, piled into one of their beds, a tangle of arms and legs scattered over a large assortment of pillows and blankets. as they got older, their feelings changed, as well as the very fabric of their relationship, but they still treasured the hours they all spent curled up in bed together. the bedroom door would open eventually, and the shudders would be drawn back, and they would go right back to what the world expected of them, but to be together for just a little while was everything.

but bev wasn't worried about any of that as she sat up in bed, the early morning light stretching over her bedroom, marcia curled into cherry's side and bev propped up in bed on marcia's other side, her hand gently running up and down her back. she watched with reverence as marcia's curls cascaded down the canyons of her bare shoulder blades, the blankets and sheets the only thing protecting any of their modesty.

they didn't fit into the bed half as well as they used to, but it was amazing how little any of them minded when it was so rare to get just a few moments of unchallenged tranquility, when they could just exist with each other.

bev slowly and carefully pushed the covers off of her legs, careful not to shuffle the blankets around marcia. she toed on her slippers and slipped into her discarded nightgown, quietly pushing the door open and glancing back to look at both of her girlfriends snuggled up in her bed.

it was still barely light outside, and although it seemed like her siblings and mama were all still asleep, her father was still sitting at the kitchen table, the newspaper open next to him and his travel bag set next to the door.

"you leavin' again, daddy?" she asked quietly, something sad in her voice.

he looked up, apparently shocked to see her, "well, good mornin' to you, too, princess. sorry, i meant to tell you last night, but your friends were here, another partner had to drop out of a conference in miami. i only found out yesterday afternoon."

bev nodded, padding over and wrapping her arms around her father's shoulders, her eyes skimming the paper in front of him.

"we'll miss you," she whispered. "did you tell everyone else you were going?"

"i told mama, and i'm sure she told everyone," he shrugged her off. she took a few steps back, her arms crossing protectively over the front of her nightgown.

she busied herself getting out the bread and starting to make some toast for cherry and marcia. after a while, daddy stood up and folded the paper, sticking it in its usual spot next to the napkins on the table and slipped on the jacket hanging over the back of his chair.

he looked up at her and held out his arms, "how do i look?"

"like a million bucks," bev forced a smile, just like she had taught herself to. she hurried over and wrapped her father in a hug. "have a safe flight, call us when you land."

"i will, princess," he kissed the top of her head gently, squirming out of the hug before she was ready to let go. he picked up his bag and left without another word.

the words 'i love you' died on her tongue.

it was hardly out of the ordinary, daddy had to travel for work all the time, it was nothing she couldn't handle, but something in her felt chastened as the toast popped up and she went back to start buttering it.

she was halfway through cooking a few eggs when she heard someone else push the kitchen door open. assuming it was one of her siblings just getting a glass of water or a quick snack, she didn't turn around. it wasn't until two arms had circled around her waist and a face had nestled into her neck that she took note of the brown curls and perfectly manicured nails.

"mornin' sweet thing," she whispered over her shoulder to marcia.

marcia gave a soft hum before answering, her voice still sleepy and soft, "you weren't in bed..."

"just wanted to get some food for you two. figured you'd be hungry after last night," bev grinned, leaning her head against marcia's.

marcia pressed her face into bev’s shoulder, "mmm… your fault."

bev smiled, “how did it become my fault?”

“because you were the one who kept us up all night…”

"alright, alright," bev swivelled around, her arms looped around marcia's waist. "i do believe our girlfriend is still sleeping upstairs."

marcia looked around bev and her eyes landed on the plate of breakfast food bev had assembeled for them, "she was starting to wake up when i came down, you wanna bring this up for her?"

bev pressed a quick kiss to marcia's lips and grabbed the plate with one hand, the other laced with marcia's as they hurried back upstairs. cherry was sitting up in bed, sipping from her glass of water on the bedside table, having found a sweatshirt from... somewhere in the mess of clothes in bev's closet.

"you left me to fend for myself," cherry frowned, setting down the water and feigning anguish.

"i think you managed alright," marcia let go of bev's hand and climbed back into bed next to cherry.

"here," bev offered the plate to cherry, who happily took it. "eat, you need it."

"i seem to remember you being the reason we need it," cherry teased, happily accepting the kiss bev pressed to her forehead as she crawled over marcia and slotted herself back into place.

marcia curled into bev’s side as she stole a few pieces of fruit off the plate, popping a blueberry into her mouth and handing a raspberry to bev.

“so, what do you think about the drive-in tonight?" bev asked calmly, pressing a kiss to marcia's forehead and glancing over at cherry. "that new doris day movie is showing..."

cherry smirked, "what makes you think doris day will win me over?"

marcia giggled, "because she knows i'm the one who wants to see audrey hepburn."

"that's because you have breakfast at tiffany's memorized by now!" bev laughed, squeezing marcia's sides and earning another giggle.

"you drive a hard bargain, honeybee," cherry rolled her eyes and after passing marcia a piece of toast, she nodded.

satisfaction settled in bev's stomach, and she snuggled down next to marcia, both of them inching closer to cherry. generally, marcia was the clingiest of the three of them, but they were always hanging off each other anyways. some morning snuggles felt necessary as the morning light cast golden shadows over bev's bedroom, bathing cherry's perfect green eyes in sunlight. they couldn't help but stare as she gazed lovingly down at them.

"you wanna tell her or should i?" marcia asked. "you know, that she's the prettiest girl in tulsa?"

"you can tell her this time," bev smiled, pressing her cheek to marcia's. "i'll tell her at the drive-in later, you know, when she's lookin' up at the stars and looks all perfect."

a deep blush ran across cherry's cheeks. she set the plate carefully on the nightstand and dove over, pulling both of her girls into her arms. in a few moments, they were back where they started: a tangle of mismatched hair and soft giggles, bodies warm in the pool of sunlight cascading over the bed.

"i love you," cherry whispered, her forehead pressed to bev's as she beamed.

marcia leaned up and kissed her cheek quickly, "we love you more."