Beatrice and Aven were walking to Max’s house as the sun started to set. Beatrice and Fluffy helped her look her nicest and most passable for being a woman, with a nice dress and a great deal of makeup on. The dinner with Reginald’s friend’s family was happening tonight, and Aven was of course invited along with Beatrice.

“What about my voice?” Aven asked. “That’ll give me away for sure.”

“Just don’t talk.” Beatrice shrugged. “That’s what most men look for in a good woman nowadays anyway. They won’t notice.”

“I just still don’t know about-”

“Stop acting so paranoid.” Beatrice insisted. “Makes you look like you did something.”

“I do feel like I’m doing something.”

“Well stop it,” she said sternly. “Act like you own the place and they’ll be afraid.”

“I think it’s different when you can actually buy the place.”

They got to the doorstep and Beatrice gently knocked. The door opened and they were both greeted with open arms. The other family was already there, which consisted of a man, Jack, his wife, Vivian, and their two kids, John and Olivia, both age 14.

They sat around the table like before, but now with all the spots filled. As they dined, Jack and Reginald talked about work while Max talked about wife stuff with Vivian and Olivia. Beatrice and Aven both ate in peace, with Beatrice there to make sure Aven didn’t overeat like before. Though it was hard for Aven to concentrate when she could feel their son, John, staring holes into her head.

“Hey kid, look somewhere else.” Beatrice said callously. “Never seen a woman before?”

“Not one like that.” he said, pointing at Aven. Her little heart dropped in her chest at the comment.

“Are you a woman?” Beatrice asked the kid.

“No, I’m a man!” he said proudly.

“Then act like it.” she said smugly, leaning in to sip her soup.

“Oh Beatrice, be nice to the kid please.” Reginald sighed.

“Mommy, she doesn’t look like a woman.” Olivia said, tugging her mother’s sleeve and also pointing at Aven.

“Honey, don’t say that out loud-” Aven calmly got up from the table and walked away, going upstairs to their guest bedroom and closing it firmly.

“Watch your mouth, you little brat!” Beatrice fumed at the girl. “I don’t exactly see a pair of tits on you.” Olivia started to tear up and cry.

“Beatrice, watch your mouth or leave.” Reginald warned. “I won’t let this be like the last time you were over with friends.”

“Fine.” she growled, walking away. As she followed in Aven’s footsteps up the stairs, she could hear one of the kids behind her say something.

“Mommy, why does she look like a mop?” Olivia asked. Beatrice became all too aware of her thin body and white dreads in that moment to hold back.

“Come back in a few years when you’ve got hips bigger than a whale and you wish you could look like me you little fucking hellspawn!” she shouted, parading up the stairs and slamming a door behind her.

When she calmed down, she saw Aven sitting on the bed of the guest room, a familiar, but newly filled, bag in hand. Beatrice rushed forward and snatched the bag from her, holding it up and out of Aven’s reach.

“Give it back!” Aven whined, reaching for the bag of sweets. Beatrice kept it just out of her arm’s length.

“No!” she shouted angrily. “I’m not going to stand by and watch you eat yourself into misery again. It makes me upset and it makes Max upset and it makes my brother upset, so forgive me if I want to see you safe and healthy!”

Aven and Beatrice paused, letting Beatrice get away from Aven and taking the bag of food with her. Even Beatrice realized that the whole house had probably heard her, including everyone downstairs. Aven gave Beatrice a look of disbelief.

“You… really care about me?” she asked.

“Max, Reginald, and Angel seem to value you a lot.” she said, looking away. “So if they do, I shall as well.” Aven still didn’t look like she believed her. 

“Didn’t you… didn’t they want you to leave though?” she asked.

“Listen,” Beatrice said, sitting Aven and herself down. “I used to be like you. I didn’t have any self-control when I ate either; just like you in fact. And you know what? Something happened to make me realize that I couldn’t do that anymore… No one else needs to go through that, you hear me? At least not by themselves.”

“I- I-” Aven was trying to find words, but couldn’t.

“Here,” Beatrice said, taking a pastry out of the bag and splitting it in half. She took one half for herself and gave the other to Aven. “It’s been a hard night for us both.”

And so they sat in Aven’s room, sharing the bag of food and talking about what had happened. It continued like this all night until Reginald wished Jack’s family a good night and they got to leave as well. Beatrice didn’t like how she let herself eat those sweets, but it made her feel better inside for more than one reason.