(A little spice at the beginning!)

"I don't think I've ever... done that before," Sloane chuckled, her hand clutching the bedsheets. "See? I told you all you had to do was trust me," Astrid's hand caressed her toned stomach, snuggling her head into Sloane's shoulder. The gravity girl kissed her forehead before looking up at the ceiling, her heart still racing a thousand miles an hour. What should've been one of the quiet and comforting moments following this moment was soon met with immediate fear. Not just for herself, but for both of them. 

"Are you okay?" Astrid asked, lifting her head as her girlfriend's expression turned from an out-of-breath but happy expression into one of worry. "Do you think we were..." She paused, looking at the wall that separated her and Fei's rooms. "Too loud?" She whispered. "I don't think so. If anything, you're better at being quiet than my clumsy ass," Astrid replied with a chuckle at the end of her sentence.

While that response did settle some of Sloane's nerves, it wasn't enough for the fear of being caught to leave her head. But the more she felt Astrid snuggle into her, all she could was hope it was just her paranoia. She looked back at her blonde angel, smiling as Astrid gently cupped her face. "We'll worry about it, later," she whispered, kissing her nose.

Sloane giggled before grabbing the comforter and pulling it over them as they snuggled closer. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" Astrid asked. "According to my calculations, you've told me two dozen times," Sloane grinned. "And I'll say it a hundred more times. I love you, and I don't care what the world thinks about us," Sloane leaned forward and pecked Astrid's lips, resting her forehead against hers and feeling their warm breath combine and caress their faces.

The two women soon passed out from exhaustion, still wrapped in each other's arms as the pale moonlight shone into the bedroom. Maybe once or twice, Astrid or Sloane would switch sides and turn over, but even in their unconsciousness, their hands wrapped around each other again. Sloane awoke the next morning to the sun in her eyes, and as she turned to see the still-sleeping Astrid, a smile spread on her face.

She felt the rustling of the bedsheets as Astrid tiredly stretched her arms out and met her girlfriend's gaze. "Morning, beautiful," Sloane whispered. "Good morning, Slo," Astrid smiled, her hand inching closer to Sloane's cheek. The Shadow Girl's eyes slowly fluttered open and closed, trying to adjust to light peering into the room. But just gazing into the eyes of her lover awakened her senses. "You up for a little breakfast in bed?" Sloane asked. "Of course!" Astrid replied, nodding her head.

The gravity girl slipped on her nightgown and wrapped a robe around herself before telling Astrid she'd be right back. Usually, she'd be one the first Sparrows to get up in the morning, which meant she got to call first dibs. As she grabbed nut butter and jelly, she noticed the foil-wrapped pizza slices that Jayme and Alphonso never finished. Just looking at them made her feel of pang of sorrow.

Using her powers to lift the small bowls and other food back to her bedroom, Sloane quietly crept back down the hall, looking in every direction for Fei, Christopher, and Ben, just feeling like at any moment, she would be caught. But to her surprise, she could still hear their snoring and returned to her bed and her awaiting girlfriend. "You remembered the nut butter!" Astrid smiled as Sloane quietly shut the door behind her. 

Astrid took the bowls and jars from Sloane until her powers faded with the last object. "Did anyone see you?" Number Eight questioned as she spread some of the butter on her bread. "No, but I don't think I can keep you hidden here forever," Sloane shook her head. Astrid sighed at the thought of going back to the hotel, back to Allison. She was too embarrassed to go back there. And her gut turned on itself as she feared Allison rumoring her again and Luther not being able to protect her a second time.

"Slo, I can't go back," Astrid shuddered. "I know, but your family will worry about you if you stay," Sloane reasoned. The Umbrella could feel her heart pounding faster at the thought, and she started stuffing her slices of bread into her mouth and nearly choking herself with big bites. "Triddy, your stress eating," Sloane noticed as she took a bite of her granola bowl. Astrid looked up at her, and through a mouthful of the carbs, she denied doing that.

Sloane gently pried the food out of Astrid's hand and set it down. In the Gravity Girl's mind, something more was going on. And although she couldn't get it out of Astrid the previous night, she wanted to do everything to comfort her through the added trauma. "Astrid, you know you can tell me what's going on, right?" She assured. Astrid hesitated telling her the extension of what her sister did. But if there was anything she learned from an old therapist friend, it was never a good idea to bottle up your trauma. Otherwise, it'll keep piling up until the glass finally shatters at the wrong moment.

"Remember what I said about that fight I had with Allison? There was more to that fight than what I told you," Astrid admitted. Sloane scooted closer and grabbed her hand. "Tell me," She nodded. Already, Astrid could feel a lump form in her throat at the description of the events. But even through that struggle, she continued explaining herself.

"I don't understand her. We weren't the best friends growing up, but we weren't enemies either. Now suddenly, she treats us like trash after losing her daughter. I get she has her own set of emotions going on, but hurting the people trying to help isn't going to get her through it. All she's going to do is make people resent her," Astrid sighed.

Sloane listened intently with every word, waiting till the end of Astrid's thought before she spoke her mind. "You remember when I said my family is all I have left?" Astrid recalled. "Yes," Sloane nodded. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm losing them. I don't know how some of them feel about people like us. Luther's had my back since I told him I'm bi, and Viktor he's one of the closest people I have in the community. Everyone else, I feel is silently judging me,"

The gravity girl leaned forward, cupping Astrid's face in her hands. "I'm so sorry," Sloane whispered. "It's fine," Astrid shrugged. "No, it's not. Allison shouldn't be treating you that way. You're your own person with feelings and decisions. She can't force you to do something you don't want to do against your wishes," Sloane shook her head. As she tilted her head at the ceiling to avoid the running tears, Astrid looked back to her girlfriend, wondering what she did to deserve to be with someone like her.

"I'm just tired of the constant fighting. I mean, really the only thing we have in common is childhood trauma. And instead of using it to make us stronger and better human beings, we use it as a crutch. I'm sorry, I'm rambling," Astrid exhaled. "You don't have to apologize, it's okay!" Sloane assured. "But there's one in this life I'm certain about. Being with you is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time," The blonde smiled. Sloane started blushing, and as she leaned in to kiss the love of her life, a knock on the bedroom door made them both panic. 

Astrid hid behind the large dresser pressed against the wall, and Sloane rushed to the door, desperately painting on a face of calmness and slight surprise. As she opened the door, she was greeted by the cold sun-glassed gaze of Fei. "Hey, hi," Sloane smiled. "Ben needs a word," Fei said bluntly. "Great, I'll be down in ten," the light brunette nodded. "No, not with you," Fei started smirking, which immediately scared Sloane.

Without warning, Fei pushed the door open the rest of the way, revealing Astrid's location. "Her," She pointed. Slowly, Astrid looked towards the door and awkwardly smiled at the sun-glassed girl. "Uh... how did you know?" Sloane asked, slowly dying inside. "We share a wall, and your girlfriend's also not the quietest. You guys kept me up all night," Fei grumbled. She looked back to Astrid with a slight smirk before walking down the hall. And the moment Fei was out of sight, Sloane slammed the door shut, pacing back and forth hyperventilating.

"I told you someone probably heard us!" Sloane buried her face into her hands. "Hey, it could've been worse. She could've sicced her birds on me and poked my eyes out," Astrid pointed out. She laughed a bit, but seeing Sloane not even crack a smile made her feel guilty. "It's going to be okay!" The Shadow Girl rubbed her shoulder. "You don't know my brother, Ast! I'm scared of what he might do to you!" Sloane groaned.

Astrid knew her girlfriend had a point. She had no idea what this Ben was truly capable of. But if she didn't go down and see what he wanted, there might be severe consequences. If they had a somewhat civil conversation, then maybe he wouldn't do any harm to the both of them. "We have to at least know, Slo. I'll tell you what. You can listen from the shadows, if Ben does something, we can protect one another. Does that sound good?" Astrid compromised.

"Okay... but please be careful!" The gravity girl warned. "Trust me, I'm not gonna let Squid Boy take me down so easily," Astrid assured, pecking her lips before finally coming downstairs and walking into the living room, awaiting what would happen next. 

Ben emerged from the entrance of the living room and stared at her. Astrid just stared straight ahead to the bar, hoping to avoid his gaze momentarily. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Astrid said in a chipper tone, hoping to lighten up things. "What's your game?" Ben inquired. "Hmm, I don't know. Probably Monopoly?" Astrid tried lightening the mood, hoping he'd get the joke. But Sparrow Ben obviously did not have or at least had a decently sized sense of humor. "Never mind, our Ben would've laughed at that joke. But you're not him. You're a different version of him," The Shadow Girl rambled. 

Ben just shook his head as he sat on the coffee table, his hands gripping the sides of the table. "Okay lady, out with it! What is with your family's weird brother Ben fetish?" Ben questioned. Oh man, where do I begin with this? Astrid wondered. "You were the best of us. And you died so suddenly, so young. You had so much life to live, and it all ended in an instant. Our Academy wasn't the same after you died, and Five got trapped in the future," Astrid explained.

"I'm not him, you idiot," Ben scowled. "I know. Our Ben cared about people. He was selfless and kind," Astrid reflected. "Don't forget funny," Ben added. "Right, that too. Maybe there's a tiny bit of you in him. You are the same person, just a different personality and raised as a Sparrow," The Squid Boy stood from his place on the table and interrupted her. "Don't give me the whole nature vs. nurture argument. I've already had one big dumb sibling telling me what to do. I don't need another one,"

Ben silently took in a breath as he stared down at the floor. "But the team might," He snapped his fingers, calling out to Grace. The sound of heels clacked closer to the room, and she held a black clothing box with the Sparrow's logo on it. Instead of looking down at the box, all Astrid could do was notice that one of her eyes was missing. "Mom, are you okay?" Astrid whispered to her. "Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?" Grace replied, handing her the box.

The Shadow Girl opened it, surprised to see a familiar burgundy red and black leather suit the Sparrows wore during their attack at the Hotel Obsidian. Her mouth fell open with shock. Why was Ben suddenly recruiting her to join the Sparrows? Something sketchy has to be behind this. "I-I can't take this," She stuttered. Sloane stepped out of the shadows with a surprised look. "Oh my god! Are you serious, Ben?" She asked.

"Well, I'd rather have her with us than against us. Aren't you going to try it on, Astrid? You should be about Jayme's size. This is one of her older suits, but it's in good condition," Ben said, keeping his focus on the Shadow Girl as she continued staring at the box wide-eyed. Sloane noticed her girlfriend's look. "Hey, what's wrong?" She whispered. "I'm honored, so honored. But I'm still an Umbrella," Astrid blinked.

"Are you?" Sloane questioned. "I think you're so much more than that," "You can stay as long as you like, Astrid. Consider the offer," Ben spoke before exiting the room with Fei and Christopher trailing behind him.