This is my second fic so please leave reviews and let me know what you think! Also, I had more to this story told from Chloe's perspective so let me know if you guys are interested in seeing more : )
As usual, I own nothing. It all belongs to other wonderful people in Pitch Perfect land.
Just a calm, normal Saturday at home. That's all she really wanted. Is that so much to ask? Apparently, in the Bella house, it is far too much to ask. Which is why Beca was currently in a stare-off with a tiny human. Well…tinier-than-her-human. Yes, a baby. Chloe's niece, to be more specific. "It will only take a minute," they said. "It will be so quick, you will barely even notice," they said. And now, 4 hours later, Beca is still stuck with this thing that is making inhuman noises and covered in not only baby food but god knows what bodily fluids and she doesn't even want to think about where these fluids came from. She shudders and calls out for Fat Amy to hurry as she continues to hold the little wiggly creature over the kitchen sink.
"What the hell is taking so long?" she shouts over her shoulder, never breaking eye contact with the child just in case it were to vanish or something else equally terrifying.
She can hear a few thumps and a crash and then Fat Amy hurrying down the stairs, her muffled voice calling out "I am coming Captain! I had to get the right gear."
"Okay, just hurry up 'cause some of this stuff is starting to dry and -" Beca stopped abruptly as Fat Amy came into her view wearing a full blown hazmat suit. "Jesus what the fu-"
"AH! Don't cuss in front of the lil tyke! You'll traumatize her" Fat Amy cut her off, holding up a giant blue rubbered hand.
"And you don't think seeing a stranger in a giant as-"
"Language, captain!" she was cut off again.
"Oh my God," sighed Beca, closing her eyes. What did she do to deserve this? Who in the cosmos did she piss off? Because she will write a letter of apology tonight if necessary, send chocolates, whatever it takes! So she tries this time, in a much calmer tone, "where in God's name did you get that? You know what, never mind, I don't care. Just help me get it cleaned off."
"You know Cap," started Amy as she turned on the kitchen faucet to warm up the water, "maybe you should not call the lil tyke 'it'?"
"Okay, put the stopper in the drain and put some of that soap in. No, the blue one. Yeah, that one. I saw them use that on ducks covered in oil on a commercial. They said it was safe or some kinda sh- stuff," she corrected herself mid-cuss with a glare from Amy. "And it is an it. It is a noun. I tiny gross little noun that doesn't know what we call it and doesn't know if we are cussing! Alright, now grab that hose sprayer and let's start getting some of this crap off of her."
For the next ten minutes they took turns trying to wash off all of the gunk that seemed to cling itself to the child's body and were so engrossed in this process that they hadn't noticed the two Bellas that had come to stand behind them in the kitchen. Only when they had finished rinsing the baby off and were looking around for a towel did Stacie speak up and give themselves away. "Here," she said trying to hold back her smile while handing the startled Beca a towel from the drawer by the stove.
"Thanks," said Beca taking the towel with a glare, "and where the hell have you been?" Fat Amy held up the baby while Beca gently started to dry her off, looking back at Stacie and Emily, eyebrow raised waiting for them to answer. "I don't suppose you guys are here to stay and are interested in watching this kid until Chloe and her sister get back?"
"We actually just got back from mani pedis and Stacie is taking me with her to get our hair done before my date with Benji tonight," chimed in Emily who was practically vibrating with excitement. Though Emily seemed to always be vibrating with excitement really. Beca paused momentarily in her drying off and glanced at Emily, a slight crease in her brow. She liked Benji, he was a very sweet kid but there was something so innocent about Emily that just brought out that protective streak in Beca. A protective streak she didn't even know she had until these silly Bellas came along. Not that she would admit to any human-like stirrings inside of what she liked to make people believe was only a hollow mold of a heart.
"You just make sure that he comes here to pick you up, and on time," she added with a pointed look at Emily and then to Stacie.
Stacie rolled her eyes and gave a wave of dismissal, "She knows, she knows. We've already had the talk about it. Also, Chloe said she tried to call you and couldn't reach you but that they ran into Aubrey and Jesse while they were out and were going to grab a bite with them before heading back so they will be a couple more hours."
"What? A couple more hours?" Beca nearly shouted before she remembered shouting and babies didn't go well together. She wasn't quite sure she would last another couple hours. Chloe was going to owe her big time for this. And she was damn sure going to take her up on those offers of a back rub. Hell, a whole body message might be necessary at this point! No sooner had the thought surfaced did she realize what she was thinking and could feel the blush creep up her neck. She really needed this day to be over. "I'm going to kill her when she gets back."
"No you won't," smiled Stacey knowingly as she trotted by Beca and patted her cheek, "see you tonight!" And with that the two bellas breezed out the front door leaving her and Fat Amy in the kitchen with a naked baby in their hands.
Amy took this moment to slowly start backing away and pointing over her shoulder, "Yes, well then, since it seems as though you have this now...I'm going to go... do something...else... Something that is not here."
"Wait, no no no no, I need you to stay here with me!" Beca started to panic at the idea of being left completely alone with the baby. At least if Fat Amy were upstairs she could call out of she needed help. Not that she felt Amy was much better than she at taking care of babies but at least she wouldn't be alone with the baby!
"Sorry Captain, duty calls," and with that Amy took off up the stairs leaving her quite alone with this tiny little creature. A creature that took that moment to giggle and gurgle at her with those crystal blue eyes that looked so much like Chloe's that she found herself momentarily relaxing into them and smiling. That is until the creature burped and it became very much not like Chloe and more like a dangerous little ball of responsibility.
It occurred to Beca that she should probably get some clothes on the child before she caught a cold or something, though she isn't quite sure that she could catch a cold in the warm house but well babies are mysterious creatures and it was better to err on the side of caution she thought. Trying to navigate through an unknown baby bag for various items while holding a baby who wants to grab anything and everything it can reach is a task that sounds much easier in theory. Why do babies have so many things? She was clearly getting nowhere trying to search a bag with only one hand while holding a squirming baby in the other arm. Come on Beca, think! She'd seen enough episodes of MacGuiver and had been in Girl Scouts for like a whole year when she was a kid, surely she can figure out a safe and easy way of making sure the kid was safe and close but also be hands free so she could function like a normal adult for a minute.
Then it struck her. She made her way to the kitchen cabinets, baby on her hip. Now if she could just find... "Ah ha!" Raising the tall silver pot above her head in triumph the child in her arms giggled. "You laugh, my little monster, but you are in the presence of a genius!" Placing the pot on the floor in the living room by the couch she lays the towel that has been wrapped around the baby into the pan, "we will just put this in here so your tiny butt doesn't freeze," placing the baby into the pot. "Tada!" Sitting back on her heels she admires her work and the baby starts bouncing in the pot. "Yes, yes I know. It is truly inspiring to be experiencing the wonderfulness that is me. Now, let's see if we can't find you some clothes so you're not just hanging around naked. Modesty is a virtue kid. One that your aunt Chloe does not have when it comes to being naked around strangers, if you must know." Rummaging through the bag she pulls out a little outfit and a diaper and then glances back to the child, "but don't tell her I said that."
Jesus. She has officially lost it. Having a conversation with a kid that doesn't even speak yet! A vacation. That's what she needs. Pulling the kid out of the pot and onto the blanket she laid out on the floor she pauses thinking she heard the front door close. "Chloe? Is that you?" But no answer. "Hey, did someone just come in?" calling out in hopes that anyone would answer and save her from her current predicament. "God, now I'm hearing things?"
Diaper? Check. That was easier than she thought. Now for this little outfit thingamabob. How the hell are you supposed to get all four limbs into these things? After about three attempts of starting with different body parts she finally manages to get it on her and buttoned up. Looking down at the child, she is quite proud of herself. "Now what, kid? Do you watch movies? Is that like a thing for your," waving a hand around the baby lying in front of her, "size?" What exactly does one do with a baby? Once you've fed it, cleaned it and clothed it what the hell do you do with it?
"I mean...do you like...wanna watch me mix music?" She half expected an answer but when none came and the baby just kicked and giggled she decided, "I'll take that as a yes. Okay, back in the pot! I'll sit right here next to you and you can silently judge me while I work. How does that sound?"
Pulling her laptop to her she brings up the programs she needs and puts on her headphones. It was only a few moments before the baby was grabbing the aux cord and putting it into her mouth. "Whoa there killer!" Quickly pulling the cord out of the offending slobber cave and unaware of how raised her voice is over the music in her ears she startles the baby, causing her to cry.
"Shit," she winced. "Damnit, I mean shoot! Ugh oh my God never mind. Look just," she looks frantically around for some magical baby soother to appear, placing her laptop and headphones aside and safely out of reach. Panic was starting to rise, she could feel it. Ok, come on, she knows she has seen this on tv, pre-teens do this babysitting thing all the time so surely she can do it, right? Right. "Ok, hey kid we had a real good thing going there for a minute. Why don't we go back to the quiet, almost cute, baby thing? I can see this isn't working. Alright, fine. Let's try the holding thing again, that worked last time."
Picking the baby up, a slightly terrified look on her face, she holds it against her and starts bouncing it a little. This should work. This always works on tv. Looking down at the child she sees the tears and snot and before she can even react, the baby pressed her face into her shoulder. Beca stopped bouncing. "Son of a –…I love this shirt!" She could see this was not going to end anytime soon and god-forbid she put on another shirt because that will just get ruined too. How do people with babies even have nice things? She makes her way to the kitchen to get a paper towel and start wiping the child's face as well as her shirt. "This is not going to work. Here, don't move" she puts the baby down in the sink and quickly pulls off her shirt, tossing it into the adjoining laundry room. That's when she sees Chloe's "Kiss the Cook" apron hanging on the hook next to the stove and snatches it up, tossing it over her head and tying it behind her. "Your aunt is the reason I am in this mess, it is only fair that she provide the protective gear huh, squirt?"
Picking the child up again she tosses the towel she had been using earlier over her shoulder to keep her bare skin slobber-free. Bouncing her gently she makes her way back into the living room when she notices it. Silence. She pauses, looking down at the child who had lain her head on Beca's shoulder. Just then her head pops up and starts to cry again. "Dude! What just happened?" Okay, so what was she doing when the kid was quiet? Bouncing, walking and talking.
"So you like it when I talk to you, huh squirt?" she asked, starting to bounce softly and walk slowly around the living room. The child's cries started to die down and turn into a quiet whimper as she placed her thumb in her mouth and laid her head back down on Beca's shoulder. "I will take that as a yes. Well who can blame you, really? I mean, who doesn't like when I talk to them? 'Cause I am aca-mazing!" Jesus, did she really just say that? Whatever, no one will ever know, she will never speak of this to anyone. Ever.
"Hmm, as much as I would like to think that I am extremely interesting, I am finding I have absolutely nothing to say to you," she coos in a baby voice. Sweet mother of God. What. Is. Happening. "Ok, so really I have no idea what I could talk about so I am just going to sing, how's that?" The child took that moment to gaze up at her with a slight smile and those bright blue eyes slightly watery from the previous tears and then it happened. She melted. Internally of course, but melted none the less. It was as though she was looking into the face of Chloe's child and she felt her heart and stomach explode with warmth and butterflies.
She knew she had been falling in love with her best friend for a couple years now but she had never really thought about the idea of life outside of the Bellas. Life with a family. However, with this tiny child in her arms looking up at her with those familiar blue eyes, something inside of her ignited. A desire to have a family of her own. A family with Chloe.
Jerking herself out of the momentary lapse in reality she remembered she had a mission. The mission of keeping the child happy and quiet. Racking her brain for an appropriate song to sing, she smiles to herself and decides to sing that song Chloe sang back to her at the camp fire not too long ago.
I got my ticket for the long way 'round…
And so she sang and rocked the child to sleep while pacing the living room. It wasn't long before she looked down and found that she was out cold and thought this might be a good time to try and lay down on the couch with her since her arms and back were screaming. Making her way over to the couch she lowers herself slowly, holding the baby like it might explode at any moment. Which isn't exactly too far off from possible. She pauses to make sure that she hasn't woken the child with the lack of bouncing and singing and finds her content so she decides to try and risk laying down with her this time. Laying on her side with her back to the couch she tries to let the child lay next to her and free her arm but she girl chose that moment to stir awake. Beca froze, just waiting for the explosion of cries. But they never came. Instead, the child let out a whimper and pulled herself closer to Beca's chest, burying her face into the crook of her neck.
In just a few minutes both tiny baby and tiny adult drifted off into dream land.