#marier

Yours

Maria looked across the table. She couldn’t help but notice that Olivier was quieter and more sullen than usual.

She leaned forward and reached for Olivier’s hand. “What’s wrong?”

“There is nothing wrong.” Olivier squeezed Maria’s hand and pulled away. “Make sure you’re packed by this evening! We have to leave first thing tomorrow.”

Maria’s eyes widened. “What?”

“We have to go to the annual Armstrong charity ball.”

“Oh, you want me to come with.”

The look Olivier gave her was withering. “Of course, you’re coming, because I need to speak to someone who isn’t a member of my intolerable family.”

Maria’s face lit up. “Really?”

Olivier arched an eyebrow. “I’ll see you tonight. Make sure to bring a ball gown. We’re leaving first thing.”

Olivier let the door slam behind her as she exited the room.

Maria took a deep breath. “Wow.”

She was simultaneously terrified and delighted. Meeting the Armstrong family meant this was serious.

What if they hate me?

At least, she would know the Major. As terrifying as he could be, he was a teddy bear. Although knowing Olivier like she did, she knew there was a teddy bear deep inside the General too. A teddy bear with claws and sharp teeth.

********

Olivier had booked them into a hotel suite rather than staying at the Armstrong mansion.

“There’s not much that’s private in the mansion,” she had explained. “Once we’ve done our duty, I want to have you all to myself.”

After washing off all the dirt and sweat after their journey south to Central, Maria felt refreshed. She walked into the bedroom and did a double take when her eyes landed on her girlfriend. Olivier looked stunning. Maria almost forgot to breathe as she drank in the sight of her in the black and white gown.

“Wow! You look-” Maria shook her head. She closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around her. “Can we stay here instead?”

Olivier laughed. It always warmed her to hear that laugh. That laugh that was reserved for her alone.

“I wish - but I have responsibilities.” She kissed Maria on the forehead. “Get out of that towel and hurry up and get that beautiful dress on.”

Maria stuck out her lower lip. “You’re no fun.”

**********

Maria stood close to Olivier, their arms brushing as they walked into the ballroom. Heads turned in the room as they walked. Maria knew she looked good. Her blue dress hugged her curves in just the right places. She was sure, however, that everyone was gossiping about Olivier bringing a date, especially a woman.

Maria took a deep breath, steeling herself.

Olivier leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Do you see the man and woman at the head table, standing next to my brother?”

“Your parents?”

Olivier nodded. “Prepare yourself for being interrogated!”

“Interrogated?” Maria’s hands shook.

“They have asked me a lot about you.”

“What am I supposed to say?”

Olivier looked at her quizzically. “The truth.”

As they go closer to the family, Major Armstrong caught sight of them.

“Lieutenant Ross!” His voice carried across the ballroom.

Maria felt the blood rush to her face.

“T-chah.” Olivier put her hand on the small of Maria’s back and pushed her forward. “Let’s get this over and done with.”

Maria looked over at Olivier. At the vein bulging in her forehead, the tightening of her jaw and the clipped tone of her voice.

Maria put her hand on the blonde’s arm. Olivier’s face softened for a moment before her mask returned. Still Maria knew she had gotten through to her,

When they reached the table, the Major embraced Maria before Olivier could even introduce her.

“It’s so good to see you, Lieutenant.”

Maria struggled in his arms; it was getting hard to breathe.

“Let her go, Alex,” Olivier said, “before you suffocate her.”

“My apologies, Lieutenant.” The Major let Maria go. “I forget my strength sometimes.”

“It’s okay,” Maria said automatically, although she was unsteady on her feet.

Olivier steadied her by putting a hand on her shoulder. “Mother. Father. This is Lieutenant Maria Ross.”

Maria frowned at the description. Surely they were more than colleagues? After all, this was what bringing her to the family ball was about.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” she said with a bow of her head.

Mrs Armstrong took her hand and shook it vigorously. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last. Alex has told us a lot about you.”

Maria blinked. The Major had been talking about her.

Mrs Armstrong smiled and let go of her hand.

Stepping forward, Mr Armstrong took Maria’s hand and pressed it to his lips. “Yes - our Olly has always been a dark horse. But she’s never brought someone home before.”

Olivier stiffened beside her. “Maria, let’s go get a drink before my sisters arrive.”

Maria smiled. “It’s a honour to be invited into your home.”

She turned and followed Olivier to the makeshift bar in the corner.

“I’m sorry about my family. There are certainly-” She paused. Maria supposed she was searching for the right word. “They’re overbearing.”

“Families are always asking uncomfortable questions,” Maria replied. “Don’t worry. If your demeanor couldn’t drive me away, then I doubt your family can.”

“Oh great,” Olivier said darkly. “Are you going to tease me all night too?”

*******

Dinner passed by with a barrage of questions. Maria was introduced to all of Olivier’s sisters. Maria couldn’t help but think about how different they all were to her Olivier. They were loud. So loud. Did they have to talk so loudly? It seemed like there were so many personalities in the Armstrong household; they must have had to fight to be heard.

Olivier’s complexion was ruddy. Maria had never seen Olivier drink so much. She wasn’t sure if Olivier was simply letting her hair down, or if she was drinking to get through the night.

Still, Maria couldn’t complain. It started with little touches, brushing her arm or squeezing her hand. Maria decided she liked drunk Olivier.

“Another glass, Mistress Olivier.”

Maria bit back a smirk. The staff were fawning over her. She was clearly a favourite among them.

Olivier took yet another glass. “Thank you.”

Maria caught Olivier’s eye and raised an eyebrow.

Olivier waved her hand at the man. “Larry, one for my Maria too.”

Her Maria. She liked that. Olivier had definitely had too much to drink.

She leaned in closer to her. “Your Maria, huh?”

“Yes. Well! You’re my girl.”

“Yes - I am.”

“Good!”

Maria smiled, “You should get drunk more often.”

“Mmmm.” Olivier leaned her head on Maria’s shoulder. “Thank you for coming here.”

People was starting to gawp at the usually reserved General draped over her girlfriend Maria’s heart sank as she realised Olivier would never forgive her for letting her embarrass herself.

“Think we should get out of here, Liv. I want you all to myself. I don’t much like sharing you.”

Olivier stared into her eyes and pulled her close. “Yours!”

“I am cold.”

“The ice queen of Briggs is cold?”

There was a muffled, “yes” as Olivier buried herself deeperinto her pile of blankets followed by the most delicate sneeze Maria had everheard.

“Do you… have acold?”

There was another tiny sneeze followed by, “no.”

“Livia, I can hear you sneezing.”

“No, you didn’t.”  Butthe claims of Olivier were ruined by the barrage of sneezes that came fromunder the covers.

One of Maria’s arms found its way under the covers, and overOlivier’s chest.

“And those sneezes were just my imagination, then?”

Another sneeze, “Yes.”

“I’m cold, Livia.  It’smaking me imagine sneezing.  That’s howcold I am.”

There was a very muffled laugh from Olivier, then a shuffling,as she shifted the blankets so they were covering the both of them.

Maria wrapped her arms around Olivier, holding herclose.  The feel of the other woman’sblond hair tickled her nose, and made her sneeze.

“Got me doing it now,” she muttered.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Just don’t give me your cold.”