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writerspirit · 10 days ago

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A Love Unexpected

Pairing(s): Ava Coleman x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: An unexpected surprise shocks you and Ava.

Themes/Warnings: angst, fluff, protective work wives

A/N: I know the poll results came out first for Chapter 1 of A Teenager in Love… but I finished this one first. I’m sorry. I swear it’s coming together. Based on Season 2 Episode 9 - Sick Day, but like… pretend it’s set in season 3-4 ish. Gif from @forbescaroline. Enjoy!

WC: ~ 4.9k

Taglist: @schemmentigfs @fandominstability

Your stride walking into Abbott Elementary was one unknown to your usual confident flow. The morning’s obstacles beat you to breakfast. The tosses and turns of your body throughout the night, not giving you a satisfying amount of sleep. The nausea that took you out of bed before your alarm clock went off from your bedside table. The stress that left you unable to eat before leaving your house.

The teachers lounge may as well be empty by your stampeding the room. “Tea,” you grumble, already reaching for a top cabinet, leaving no room for your usual morning pleasantries.

Melissa catches sight of your disheveled face, quietly noting to herself that the morning hasn’t treated you in fairness. She clears her throat, hoping you’d spare her a passing glance at best. However, to her dismay, you continue to stifle through the cabinet, searching for an alternative to the rich caffeinated liquid you drink every morning.

“Morning,” she says, her eyes focused on yours. “Rough one?”

You scoff, slamming the box of tea you found at the back of the cabinet down onto the countertop. “Why is tea caffeinated? I thought that’s what coffee was for!”

“Not drinking coffee today?” She asks the question in a quiet curiosity, as Melissa often does when observing something new. Her usual mysterious air swirling around you like a heavy fog.

“I— nevermind.” You go to the fridge, looking for a spot to put your lunch. You place it on the shelf next to Gregory’s simple yet charming salad, which consists of iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and hope. He is the only person of the group who never questions you for whatever concoction you decide to bring in.

Melissa, after receiving a few curious glances from Barbara, gets on you for not bringing enough to sustain you for the rest of the day. Jacob tries to give as many “fun facts” he can muster about any and every aspect of your meals. “I read an article that said that radishes are actually…” Janine tries to make small talk about your meals, as if the vending machine granola bar and half a plum you quickly grabbed from your fridge tells your childhood story.

In walks Barbara, genuine confidence exuding from her, a smile that could dim the sun plastered her face. She makes a round of the room and the people in it, sending her usual morning greetings to everyone. When her eyes meet your face, her smile softens. “Morning, sweetheart.”

When you neglect to reply—in fear of spreading your already crappy mood over her cheerful one—she looks to Melissa, who only gives her an almost unnoticeable small shake of her head and a mouthed ‘in a mood’. Barbara carefully puts her hand on your shoulder, tension palpable under her palm. You try to relax, the older woman’s warmth momentarily pushing your nerves aside. However, her touch only makes it harder for you to hold onto the few stitches of hope for a good day in the already loosening thread of tears that have threatened to break free. “I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. And I can’t—” you brace before the words stumble out of your mouth. “I don’t need coffee. I just need… something to soothe my stomach.”

Daryl walks to the counter, passing by you. The scent of whatever he is drinking squeezes at your insides. He sends a smile, saying his pleasantries. “If you’re looking for non-caffeinated tea, I snagged this mix from a Facebook page I follow.” He takes a sip, humming as the taste hits his tongue. “You’re welcome to take some for yourself. I’ve got a lot of the mix left right about…” he starts to rummage through the cabinet above the counter. As his arm reaches out to you, he offers a small Tupperware container containing the mix.

At your hesitance in grabbing it, he places his mug down on the counter. He turns back, facing you again, grabbing the lid and plucking it off the container. “Just need to grab the strainer and you’re all set.” Your words get caught when the smell hits you harder this time. Like a truck hitting your senses, making it impossible to hide your disgust. You feel heat reach your cheeks, and the pull at your stomach churns again. In fear of you making a mess for Mr. Johnson to clean, you rush out of the lounge and towards your classroom.

In the lounge, Daryl looks at Melissa, eyebrows quirked as he looks for any amount of confusion in the redhead. She just shrugs it off, as though it’s something normal in the everyday Abbott chaos. “Probably forgot to print somethin’ for the kids. Happened to me yesterday.”

Being stuck in your classroom for the morning, teaching your class has been nothing short of exhausting. As if the universe is personally targeting you, half of your students are out with a stomach bug, throwing your plans for today totally out of whack. So, while you’ve been racking your brain about the morning’s personal shortcomings, your students are relentlessly asking you what the new plan is for the day. Meeting their questions with a low smile and “let’s sidetrack” every chance you get, you can’t help but yearn for a much needed break.

At the lunch bell, your class gathers their lunches. They giggle and cheer for their second favorite part of the day—recess being their first—until Mr. Johnson knocks on your door. The kids always love when Mr. J walks with them down to the cafeteria. Mostly because of whatever hard to believe story he tells them. It has become a weekly ritual—one day a week, he’ll show up at the classroom door, getting the kids pumped up for whatever the rest of the week may offer. Whether that be a quiz at the end of the week, which your students would otherwise fuss about, or a Friday movie day, he always gets the kids excited.

“Mr. Johnson, you already took them yesterday.”

“I heard you didn’t have a good morning, and wanted to give you a little break. Plus, I’ll get to finish telling them about the year I spent studying culinary arts in France with Puck.”

“Puck?”

“Wolfgang. Pay attention, girl.”

You smile, trying not to break right there. A sigh breaks from your lips. “Thank you.”

He smiles back, similar in gentility to Barbara’s. “Now go eat something, before Melissa tracks you down.” He’s out the door with your class following his lead.

Your phone buzzes on your desk. The message reads Reminder: Appt for Y/n Y/l/n scheduled for Fri. June 14th, 2025 at 4:30 PM at OBG/YN in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please call in advance if a cancellation or reschedule is requested.

You sigh, pulling a notepad and pen out from your top desk drawer. You’re quick to write down the details of the appointment, sure to be reminded by it when forgetfulness inevitably comes later. It may also help process all this writing down your fate.

Ava meets you outside of Janine’s classroom. This being the first time seeing her today, you hadn’t an idea what glamorous outfit she’d be wearing from her colorful closet. At the sight of her, your throat tightens. The blue dress hugging her curves in all the right places, along with the bold eye that highlights her brown orbs. Thoughts of your usual… extracurricular activities run rampant through your mind.

Her smile quickly fades when she sees you, a look of worry replacing it. “Oh, baby, you look—”

“—like hell?”

“You know I wouldn’t say that… to your face.” You chuckle. “I told you I should’ve come over after the club last night.”

“No, you shouldn’t have. If I said yes, you know you would’ve ditched your girls with some half-assed excuse and then I’d look like the bad girlfriend who’s taking your time from them.”

“Those aren’t my girls. I got a girl.” She smiles. Her eyes soften as they look you over. “They’re my crew. And if I wanna leave them early to go see my girl, they shouldn’t have a problem with that.”

You scoff, and run a cool hand through your hair. “Well, you’re coming over tonight, so that’ll make up for it.”

Her smile brightens at the thought. “Wouldn’t miss it. You know I gotta see Love & Hip-Hop with you. I don’t need another argument over watchin’ without you.”

You roll your eyes. “Nobody told you to betray me like that.” You watch as she bites back a comment, more than likely one that would’ve turned into another argument.

A giggle slips past your lips, easing your tension for a moment. “I appreciate the self-control. How is teaching for a day?”

She scoffs. “Awful. I am never having kids.”

The sentence knocks you for a loop, the tension returning in your shoulders and your chest tightening up in what feels like a square knot.

“These kids are workin’ my last nerves. They’ve been around Janine too long. Do you know she puts the date on the board every day? I don’t even know what day of the week it is. These kids want me to just know it by heart?”

“I put the date on the board every day too.”

“For what? These kids got meetings they need to go to?”

You chuckle, masking the nerves that just shot through you. “You just gotta hold down the fort for a few more hours. Just think of it as a little rest stop on your world tour.”

“Like a charity concert.” She takes a second to ponder the idea. “Okay, I’m down. But don’t expect a miracle.”

A beat. Ava’s Apple Watch rings, showing her alarm for her daily notice she needs to go over. “Workin’ never stops, babygirl. Catch you later?”

“Yeah,” you mumble. “Gotta go to lunch.”

She peers down the hallway, making sure there are no students watching. At the clarity of nobody else’s eyes on both of you, she leans in gently kissing your forehead, as to not leave any remnants of her lipstick. Her voice comes out a low tone. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

Your smile grows a moment. “Thank you.”

The teachers lounge rumbles with the usual conversations. Talk about what the students are up to, teachers’ family drama, and more spin around the four walls of the room. Jacob is the first to notice your presence. He walks up to you with the usual pep in his step, one of his cookies in hand. “Want one? They’re freshly made from last night. Melissa only lets me bake them when she isn’t in the house.”

She scoffs, coming up beside him, tumbler in hand. “I don’t need to be there when my kitchen smells like grapeseed oil and regret.” She chuckles, a snort following. “And not the good kind.”

The pair look quizzically at you. Normally, one of Melissa’s dry quips would elicit a chuckle from you. Sometimes even a genuine hearty laugh that would leave you in fits for the rest of the day. Even Jacob notices you’re shaken up, which sets him in a worried state. His throat bobs as he gulps down his panic.“What’s wrong? That was a classic Melissa and Y/n joking banter opportunity.”

“Hmm. Just not feelin’ it today,” you mumble.

“Well, let me know if there’s something I can do,” he says before sitting down at his usual spot at the table.

Melissa lingers, walking up to the open spot next to you, filling her tumbler with coffee. Her voice is low. Quiet as lingering ears may be close enough to hear her. “So… how long?”

“What?”

“How long have you been p—”

“—okay,” you interrupt. An involuntary sigh you didn’t know was coming releases from your lips. “You know.”

“You’re sweating bullets and avoiding as much conversation as possible. You turned stark white this morning when Daryl walked in with his homemade tea mix, and you can’t even look at Jacob’s carrot cookies to make fun of ‘em with me.”

“I found out yesterday. I have my first appointment on Friday.”

She nods her head. Her arms cross as she studies you. “Okay. Does Ava…”

You shake your head. “She doesn’t know.”

“Are you gonna tell her? Because if you aren’t, my lips are sealed tighter than a Ziplock bag. Whatever you need.”

It takes you a minute to process the redhead’s words. “Yeah, I’m gonna tell her. I just… don’t know—”

Melissa gently nudges your shoulder with her own. Her eyes lock towards the door, as Ava walks in.

“These kids, y’all! Not only am I gracing Janine’s second graders with my presence. It seems like now that the principal is outta her office, the kids wanna act all the way up today. Like if I don’t already have enough on my plate.”

Melissa sends you a look before making way to her seat. During Ava’s rant, you look back at her. The redhead makes a point to remind you to take a deep breath, motioning the action, so you can follow her lead.

Ava checks the fridge, looking for something. “Ugh, Venus said she left a pack of eye masks back here in case of emergency. That girl is so fired after this.”

“Ava, it can’t be that bad,” you say.

She sighs. “Oh, it is. I told you I am never having kids.”

Melissa clears her throat, hoping Ava would take the hint. A slick of sweat forms across your skin. Goosebumps rise across your arms. “What happened?”

“These kids are so needy and like, trained to be little Janines. Everything gotta be perfect. The date on the board. Asking about the time whenever they can. I didn’t know second graders were so punctual. It’s like a nightmare come to life, only I can’t wake up until the school bell rings at the end of the day.”

Ava huffs as she shuts the refrigerator door. “I told that girl to leave at least two of the eye mask boxes in here. Damn!” She heads out of the lounge in a hurry.

You go to grab your lunch from the refrigerator. Barbara’s the first to pick up the conversation. “Sweetheart, why don’t you sit with us for lunch?”

You look at Melissa, who is clearing her grading papers from the area of the table that you’d be sitting at. She nods, extending an arm towards the space. “Yeah, come on and sit with us. It’ll do ya good to take off my plate, so you don’t have to eat whatever catastrophe you brought for a meal.”

Barbara glances from Melissa to you, a smile plastered on her lips. She nods, pulling the chair out for you. You smile back, taking a seat. Melissa quirks a brow at you, waiting for you to take out what is in your lunchbox. Carefully, you pull out the golf ball sized mandarin orange and a half of a sandwich and place it on the table. Melissa contorts her face, squirming at the contents displayed in front of her. She shakes her head. “Just put it away, hon. You’re lucky I brought extra.”

Words try to come out, but the panic in your voice makes you stop yourself. Barbara takes a gentle hand to yours, squeezing before she digs into her food. You just smile, and get into the pasta Melissa has offered with the extra fork she brought.

By the time lunch comes to an end, you feel lighter than you did in the morning. Your classroom is now well organized, as opposed to the mess your third graders left for you from working on their science posters. Different projects about the planets, stars, and astronomers are set up for their presentations later in the week. Some almost done, and others not so much.

Thankfully, your classroom will be clean for at least another hour, since your students are now with their art teacher. The bell signaling the block’s start rings through the speakers. When you get to your desk, the notepad sits on your laptop. At the sound of familiar footsteps, you quickly put the pad in your top drawer. The steps stop at your door, where Barbara stands.

“Hey Barb. What can I do for you?”

“Just wanted to stop by and see how you’re feeling after lunch.” Her smile, ever so infectious, gleams with a warm expression.

“Melissa told you.”

“Actually, you told me. In the lounge. The way your breath hitched and your shoulders tensed up at the mention of Ava never having kids. That along with your abnormal gloom this morning, I connected the dots.”

“Oh.”

“Sweetheart,” Barbara says. “How about we start from the beginning?”

For the first time today, your shoulders relax. You take a deep breath, like Melissa showed you to do. “We weren’t trying. This… it’s a surprise. I’m just not sure whether it’s a good one or a bad one.”

“How does Ava feel?”

Silence like a wave crashes over you.

“Does Ava know about your circumstances?”

You shake your head.

“Oh my, well…” she looks you over to calculate how she wants to continue. When you don’t respond, she decides to push the conversation a little further. “What about you? How have you been since finding out?”

“Worried. I knew the conversation about kids was bound to come up. I just didn’t think it would be now.”

“Well, now you’re in a position where you can either run and avoid possibly growing your relationship, or you can stand up like the strong woman you are and do what you can with what you have.”

Your voice is soft. Low. Almost a whisper. The words coming out like a confession. And maybe it was. “But… what if she runs?”

“Ava has been someone who has proven herself untrustworthy to the staff,” she sighs. “But she has also proven to put in the work necessary to make Abbott a luxury with underwhelming assists from the district. She has grown, sweetheart.” She hands you a tissue from the box that sits in the corner of your desk. “Give her a chance. Talk it over. If things work out, that’s fantastic.”

“And if they don’t?”

“You have my number. You have Melissa’s number. You have people here for you. Work or not, we are family.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.” She looks at the clock on the wall. “Well, it looks like I have to get back to prepare for my students’ arrival from music class. They’re learning how to play the national anthem on their little recorders.”

You smile.

“If I don’t get to see you before dismissal, I will see you tomorrow.”

“Right.”

She exits.

Your phone buzzes against your desk. Hoping it’s Ava, you grab it. The notification reads Melissa’s name.

Melissa: Heard Barb walking out of your class. Everything alright?

You: Yeah. Just a Barbara talk.

Melissa: Let me know if ya need anything.

Melissa: Anything at all.

You: When did you get all soft?

Melissa: Shut up.

You: Thank you, Melissa.

Melissa: You’re family, kid. Anytime.

The afternoon classes shoot by, leaving dismissal in their wake. The bell rings, signaling the end of the day. Once again, your phone buzzes next to you. When you open your phone, you see it’s Ava.

Ava: staying late for paperwork. i’ll be over after for love & hip-hop.

You: K. Text me when you’re on your way.

You gather your belongings, heading down the hall for the doors. Somewhere behind you, you hear your name being called. Turning, you see Barbara and Melissa walking side-by-side in your direction.

“I notice Ava isn’t leaving with you,” Barbara’s voice is soft. Careful as to not trigger any panic.

Melissa pipes up. “What happened? Do I need to get Edith?”

“No, I— I haven’t told her yet. She has work to get done. She’s coming over afterward to watch Love & Hip-Hop.”

“Oh, okay. Just… making sure I didn’t have any work to get done that I’d have to call my cousin to back me up for.”

“I’m going to tell her tonight. Figure I won’t be able to hide my nausea very long. Especially if Daryl plans on bringing that disgusting tea mix back.”

“Well, good luck, sweetheart.” Barbara’s hand grabs at your shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. “We’re here for you.”

“Yeah. Especially if things go south. Give me a call, and I’ll be on my way with the first ring.”

You smile and gently nod.

— — — —

The sound of Ava’s tires scratching against the pavement jolts you out of your daze. You open your phone, searching for a message notification. To your discontent, she hadn’t sent a message. She was supposed to text me.

The door swings open, showing Ava walking in her confidence that you’ve grown used to. Toothy smile and her cellphone in hand, she walks in like she owns the room. And in a way, she does. The whole house holds little aspects that have been influenced by your girlfriend. Little trinkets and knick knacks that Ava has either purposefully placed or hadn’t realized she left behind bring a liveliness to the home. “What’s up, baby boo? Ready for some good TV?”

“Yeah. Ready.”

She walks up to you, kissing you as she does every time she comes by. She hums against your lips. She backs up a tad, giving you furrowed brows before kissing you again. “Something’s wrong.”

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

“Hm, okay. Whatever you say, girl.” She slips her jacket off of her shoulders, slinging it over a coat rack that stands close to the front door. “What do you feel like for dinner? I was thinking Chinese. Pizza was so last week.”

“Chinese…” A wave of nausea hits you at the thought of the smells of the food. “What about—”

You turn to catch Ava already dialing the number of the restaurant. “Yeah, can I get an order of fried rice? I got a lot comin’, so ready up, Mr. Li.”

By the time Ava hangs up the phone, you’re taking down some water to help alleviate the nausea. “I’m gonna head to the shower. You wanna join me? I gotta get these kid germs off me. And I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to see you all naked and wet.”

You chuckle. “I’ll pass. Mr. Li’s been quick with our orders the last couple times. One of us should be ready to answer the door just in case.”

“Okay, but you owe me a shower.”

Another chuckle, this one more genuine than the last. “Okay.”

She makes a double-take, once again looking you over. “You sure nothing’s wrong?”

“Yeah.” Too fast.

She makes a point to look into your eyes, which haven’t been able to meet hers for long enough to seem believable. She decides to let it go until you’re ready to talk about whatever is bothering you. “Okay.”

When Ava is out of earshot, ideas of how she could react play themselves out in your mind. “Ava, I’m pregnant,” you whisper. “You don’t have to stay.”

A beat.

“You free on Friday? I’ve got an appointment at the OB/GYN. Wanna come?”

A beat.

“Hey, ya know how we were careful? Well, not careful enough ‘cause I’m pregnant.”

Just then, the doorbell rings. At the other side of the door stands Jimmy, the delivery man for the restaurant. He hands you the bag of food and you give him the twenty that’s owed. A wave of your hand and a smile send him on his way, leaving you with your thoughts once again.

At the closing of the door, the sound of the faucet being turned is heard from the bathroom. Similar to before the food arrived, the scent surrounds you of greasy chicken and overcooked rice, making your stomach churn. A rush of heat reaches your cheeks, and the pull at your stomach forces you to hold the contents trying to spill from you. You speed to the kitchen, placing the bag of food atop the counter and grab a cup to pour yourself more water, hoping that it will help the nausea subside.

Ava comes out of the bathroom, freshened up in an oversized Phillies jersey and black biker shorts. The ones that perfectly display her curves, leaving little to the imagination. She cheerfully smiles and shoots towards the counter. “You didn’t have to wait for me, babe. You could’ve opened the bag.”

“Oh, I must’ve spaced out.” You wipe away the water from your chin with the back of your hand. “You ready?”

“You know it!” She goes to the fridge and grabs for the half empty bottle of red. “Might as well finish it tonight.”

“You go ahead. I’m not in a wine mood tonight.” She peers at you through squinted eyes.

You settle on the couch. Ava starts digging into the bag, pulling the containers of food out one by one until the coffee table is scattered with the meal. “Mr. Li did his thing with this! Yeah, we’re his favorite customers.”

“For sure.”

Cuddled up on the couch, you’re rested up against Ava’s chest, back to front, watching the show. One of her hands lightly smooths over your arm, while the other holds her glass of the smooth red. A few laughs and offhand comments to the obviously-staged arguments take up the principal’s mind. “Oh, that’s cold!”

She looks down at you, curious as to why you’ve been quiet the whole episode. When one of the cast members gives the cameras a shot that even Barbara would laugh at, she decides she’s had enough. She reaches for the remote, pausing the episode. “What the hell is goin’ on? You’re more quiet than Barbara is when she’s typing out an email.”

“Nothing.”

She sucks her teeth. “Lyin’ again. Look, if you got something to say, then say it. If you didn’t want me to be here, I can—”

“—I’m pregnant.” The words stumble out before your mind can stop you.

She looks at you, eyes wide and focused on your soft ones, now heavy with guilt. She gently places the glass down onto the table, thinking not of the water ring that is bound to make a stain against the fine wood. Her voice shakes, despite the focus she had to keep steady. “What?”

“I’m…” you start, but aren’t able to bring yourself to repeat it, afraid to scare her away.

“Pregnant,” she says. This time with a steady voice. The one she uses when she needs to uncomfortably reprimand a student. Or when Gregory says something that gives her an ick.

“Yeah,” your voice cracks under the tightness of your throat. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you sure? I mean… Did you take a test?”

“I took two yesterday. Both turned out positive.”

Ava’s voice comes out an echo of your own. “You found out yesterday.”

“I waited to tell you because… I didn’t know how to… uh… I couldn’t…”

“Pregnant,” she reiterates.

A beat.

“Ava, you can go. This… this is…” you start to weep. Ava gets caught out of her own daze with your cries. Her hand instantly goes to your back, rubbing small circles in hopes that she can soothe your worries.

“It is… a lot. But we’ll figure it out.”

For the first time since meeting at school, your eyes meet hers with precision. Focus. “Will we? We didn’t plan this, Ava.”

“No, but… hey we’ll talk, and we’ll do what we need to.”

Nod. “Okay.”

She clears her throat. “What do you want to do?”

“You mean…?”

“Do you want to keep it?”

A few minutes pass in an unbearable silence.The kind that says everything with the fear of saying anything at all will risk it all.

“I love you. I want to be with you.”

“I’m feelin’ a ‘but’ coming’ and I’m not likin’ it.”

“We’ve never even talked about this. Kids?! The future?!”

Ava contemplates how she wants to continue. “This afternoon, one of the students was having trouble spelling out a word during the spelling test. I could tell before she asked because she had that determined look in her eyes, and her pencil was gripped tight in her hand.” Ava looks at you for a moment before continuing. “When I got to her, she took a deep breath and told me what was goin’ on.” You choke on a sob. “And when we sounded the word out together, and she got it…” Ava’s face lights up. “She was so proud of herself. And I was proud of her for being proud of herself.”

“That’s sweet. You helped her out.”

She takes your face in her hands. “If you want this, I’m here. I’m not runnin’. If you don’t want this, I’m here. I’m not runnin’. I love you too.”

Your voice comes out weak, barely audible. “I want this.” Your voice comes out forced. “But I’m scared.”

“Then we can be scared together. We can talk about what to do, and doctor’s appointments, and vitamins and other stuff.” She uses her thumbs to wipe away the fallen tears from your eyes.

“My first appointment is Friday. It’s a check in to see what I— we want to do, and what we should do moving forward.”

She whips out her phone, pulling out the Calendar app. “What time?”

“Four-thirty. Figured I could rush there after work.”

“Okay, set. First appointment.” Ava kisses your temple. She smiles and looks down at your stomach. “Can I?”

You nod. “Yeah.”

She places a hand on your stomach, rubbing small circles over it. “We’re gonna be okay.”

#fanfiction #imagines #fem reader #abbott elementary #janelle james #ava coleman #ava coleman x reader #ava coleman x female reader #abbott elementary fanfic

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