Hospitals are never a pleasant place, even when you're there for what should be a pleasant occasion. They'd been excited when they arrived, even as the sharp scents of disinfectant hit them they'd been glad to finally be here. They'd waited long enough, now it was time to reward that patience, and all three of them had been more than willing to put up with the harsh scents and bright lights.

That had been hours ago. That was before two of them had been pushed from the room, before monitors were beeping and doctors were yelling. Before the artificial silence of the waiting room, the air chilly and uncomfortable as the two women cling to each other, the only source of comfort available in the sterile environment.

They've gotten a few rushed status updates, but the nurses have been too rushed to offer much reassurance, just a few clipped words about bleeding sources and oxygen levels that make no sense to the worried pair. Neither of them has much of a medical background, not even after all the appointments they've attended over the past year. They're still wildly out of their depths, both wishing someone could take the time to tell them simply what's going on, whether their soulmate is okay.

The constant wondering is almost worse than knowing any potential bad news would be, the silence leaving both women alone with their own thoughts, nothing available to distract them from imagining the worst. Though neither says anything, they both know the other is doing the same thing they are, watching the various colored landscapes dotting the walls, taking comfort in the fact they're still vibrantly hued, and dreading any change.

"It should have been me" Aubrey hears Beca say, after what seems like hours of silence since their last update. Aubrey hadn't known she could hurt more than she already did, but the matching pain in Beca's voice seems to double her own.

"And what, then Chloe and I would be standing here instead? We all agreed when the doctors told us Chloe had the best odds to carry a healthy baby that they knew best. If this happened with our best odds, what do you think would have happened if it had been you? Do you think this would be any easier if you were the one in there, if it were Chloe and I waiting for news about you?" She isn't trying to snap at her soulmate, but the stress of the past few hours has gotten to her, settling into a familiar roiling in her stomach that she's barely keeping down. She can't manage to split any more of her focus from holding in back and worrying about Chloe to soften her voice, even if she feels guilty when Beca winces.

"No, that's not what I'm saying." Beca says, running a hand through her hair as she paces, a gesture that's as familiar to Aubrey as the rolling in her gut. "I just hate knowing that she's in there, that she's going through this. And I don't know what I'd do if I lost either of you, but now there's a chance we're losing her, and I can't imagine it." She settles into one of the uncomfortable chairs as she finishes, obviously not steady on her feet as the emotions that thought brings up hit her.

"It wouldn't be any easier if it were you in there, you know that right?" Aubrey asks as she crosses the room to sit next to her soulmate, reaching out for her hand and the needed comfort the contact offers.

"I'm not saying it would be easy" Beca answers, gripping Aubrey's hand tightly. "But you two have been together without me before. I've never had to be without either of you, not once we started dating. You two know how to be together without me, but I can't imagine not waking up to both of you next to me. You two have that history that I don't, if you lost me then you'd already have that part figured out, you know?"

Aubrey knows their worry about Chloe has them both less than fully coherent and able to express what they're feeling, but even rambling and disjointed, there's something in Beca's words that hurt the blonde. "I didn't know you felt like that" she says when the words finally sink in. "Beca, that was years ago! We don't know how to be together without you anymore, and the thought of losing you hurts just as much as the thought of losing Chloe." If there was a way to be any closer to her soulmate Aubrey would take it in a heartbeat, she's cursing the armrest keeping them in separate chairs right now.

"I usually don't" Beca says quietly, leaning over the armrest to lay her head on Aubrey's shoulder. "I know you two love me, and I love both of you. It's just that being here, sitting and waiting for news, watching how worried you are, I can't help thinking that Chloe would be better at comforting you."

"Well that's just because Chloe has a superhuman sense of how to comfort someone" Aubrey manages to joke with a small smile. It's a weak attempt at humor, but it's enough to lift a bit of the dark mood that Beca's insecurities have brought on.

"She'll be okay" Aubrey whispers into Beca's hair after a few minutes have passed in silence, arm around her soulmate's shoulders holding her close, trying to comfort them both with the contact.

"What if she isn't" comes the even quieter response, as if saying it any louder might tempt fate. And Aubrey doesn't want to even consider the possibility, but she owes it to both of them to be rational about the situation.

"She will be, but if she isn't, then we figure it out. We can get through it together, even if I have no idea how. But she never let us run before, and neither of us is going to start now." Aubrey can tell that Beca is close to tears next to her, and knows her own had started falling long minutes ago. "You know, Chloe and I once talked about what we'd do if we'd lost you" she says, not sure why the memory is coming to her right now, but needing to share it with Beca. "I thought I'd pushed you away for good, before we got together, and I asked if we could be okay without you. She told me no, that losing you would be like losing music. But that even with that gap in our lies, we could get through. She never stopped believing in us, in all three of us. She still hasn't stopped, so we won't either, right?"

"You knew back then that you both loved me that much?" Beca asks, apparently not registering Aubrey's question. There's something in her voice that Aubrey can't put a name to, but she's instinctively pulling her soulmate closer to comfort her as she hears it.

"We did. And now we've all been together for seven years, and I love both of you more than I ever thought possible." Aubrey can feel Beca's tears now, feel her shoulders shaking as she quietly sobs. Normally she'd tease the younger woman about the tears, her soulmate still insisting she doesn't cry, but she can't bring herself to say anything. Because there's so much worry in the air right now, so many swirling emotions that Aubrey realizes should have been talked about years ago, that even as a joke the words will fall flat.

So instead she just holds Beca as they cry, clinging to each other as if the other's presence can ward off the worst. Eventually they cry themselves out, each settling into a numb sort of trance, staring at the wall across from them without really seeing it, neither even really thinking anymore, each just waiting for news. It's impossible to tell how long they sit there like that, each only really aware of the other.

It's subtle when it starts, taking Aubrey a minute to realize what's happening. But as the vibrant colors of the painting in front of them slowly fade, she sits up straight with a gasp, feeling her heart slowly crumble in time with the fading colors. It's a physical pain in her chest, a pain so strong she barely registers the one in her hand from where Beca is clutching it tightly, and she knows she's gripping back just as firmly.

For all her talk about making it through if the worst happens, now that she's faced with the reality of it happening she can't seem to breath, can feel herself edging towards unconsciousness as her vision continues to dull. "Oh god, Aubrey, this can't be happening" she hears Beca whisper next to her, the pain and need in her soulmate's voice anchoring her to the present. She can't think of anything to say, all of the comforting words that occur to her fall flat in her own mind, so she knows they won't be of any help to her soulmate either.

The urge to shut her eyes and avoid seeing the colors continue fading is almost overwhelming, but actually doing so feels like she's betraying Chloe by taking the easy way out, so she turns to look into Beca's eyes, furiously blinking away tears to maintain the eye contact.

If she's going to lose color, going to lose a piece of her soul, then she's going to hold on to the connection she still has until she physically can't any more. Beca seems to have the same idea, turning at the same moment, hands clasped firmly together as they silently wait.

With the colors continuing to fade towards the bland range of colors Aubrey barely remembers from before Beca, she swears to herself that she won't let the two of them fall apart. Chloe may have been the push behind both of the entering the relationship, but she wasn't the only thing that kept them together, not even close. And after hearing Beca's insecurities earlier, Aubrey is determined to prove to Beca that ever since the three of them had gotten together, everything was equal between them.

She loved Beca and Chloe equally, and they would miss Chloe equally. There would be no wishing it had been Beca, no blaming her for what had happened. She knows she'll blame herself, wish that she could have changed the outcome, somehow seen this coming and been able to prevent it.

But at the same time, the past months looking forward to having a child of their own had been perfect, all three of them happier than they'd ever been. So she wouldn't change that for anything, knowing that having a child was important to all of them, even if she and Beca had needed to work through various family issues before they'd been wholly on board with the idea. But once Chloe had gotten pregnant, everything had seemed to fall into place, leaving each of them waiting impatiently for the day their child was born

Just as Aubrey thinks the colors have finished fading, they seem to flicker, and she holds her breath as they seem to come back, convinced that she's just imagining things, that she's hoping so hard her brain is playing tricks on her. But Beca's eyes are widening as well, her soulmate gasping in surprise as her hands jerk, hope suddenly back in her eyes, and Aubrey knows that it can't be a trick. Not unless both of their brains are somehow in on it together.

But no, the colors are coming back much faster than they'd faded, and Aubrey can feel herself crying again, this time in relief. It isn't long before everything is back to full color, and Aubrey stands, pulling Beca into a tight embrace, tired of the armrest in between them. She only pulls back from the hug when she hears someone enter the room, turning to see who it is without fully letting go of her soulmate.

This time it's the doctor, not just a nurse, and Aubrey knows they're finally going to get some solid answers, not rushed updates that mean nothing to them. But even with the colors around them offering proof that Chloe is alive, Aubrey can't help feeling nervous as she waits for the doctor to speak, not knowing what had happened, whether Chloe is okay or just still holding on. She also wants to know how the baby is, knows that even if Chloe is okay, losing their child will devastate them all. Still, the kind look on the doctor's face while serious, isn't full of pity or condolence, which is a good sign.

"Well, you two are obviously aware that we had some complications with the delivery, but we did pull them both through, and both are stable." The doctor starts, smiling a little as both women sigh in relief. "They'll both need to stay at least for a few days so we can keep an eye on things, but the way things are looking now they'll both be good to go home together."

For once Aubrey can't focus on the details and specifics, but Beca somehow steps up and questions the doctor, hand rubbing soothing circles on the blonde's back the entire time. "When can we see them" Aubrey asks when the conversation slows, trying to sound confident rather than desperate, knowing that she isn't fooling anyone as she clings to Beca's side.

"It shouldn't be too much longer" the doctor says with a sympathetic smile. "They're both getting cleaned up and checked out, and of course Chloe is still coming off of the anesthetic we gave her, but it shouldn't be more than an hour at most, and probably significantly less."

They thank the woman then, who obviously realizes they need some time alone together to deal with the emotions that have hit them both over the hours of waiting. Neither of them speak for a long moment, returning to the tight embrace they'd been in before the news, this time with only relief prompting the closeness.

"We're never doing this again" Beca says when the embrace loosens, head still buried in Aubrey's shoulder.

""Definitely not" Aubrey agrees immediately. "I never want to think about losing either of you, ever again." Even saying it causes the blonde to shiver, and she knows she's probably in for weeks of nightmares after the close call. From the way Beca is still clinging to her, she doesn't think she'll be alone.

"Still, it all turned out okay, right? And we're mothers now, so even as much as it sucked, it's still a little worth it, isn't it?" Beca asks, sounding more like she's trying to convince herself than asking for confirmation.

"I think it will be, when everything has calmed down, and we know everything is going to be okay" Aubrey answers honestly, still feeling the effects of the adrenaline and emotions they've experienced since the first monitors started beeping their alerts. Even after hearing the doctor's reassurances, part of her still needs to see her soulmate and child before she'll be convinced everything is really okay.

But while they're waiting for the okay to head back to Chloe's room, there's something she needs to make sure Beca knows. "Everything I said earlier still stands, you know that right? It's not something I said just because of what was going on. You are every bit as important to me as Chloe is, and I know she feels the same way about both of us. There is no separation between us, and there never will be."

"I know" Beca says, pulling back a little to meet Aubrey's eyes. "I'm not even sure why it came up all of the sudden, earlier. It was just out of nowhere, like of course you should have Chloe by your side for this, of course you two should be the ones who come out of this together. And while you know I'd do anything to make sure you two are happy and safe, I do know I'm just as important to you as Chloe is."

Aubrey can tell Beca means it, but she's still a little worried that the insecurities are still there, deep down. She can understand if they are, it took years for her to believe she deserved the two amazing women in her life, and even after the years they've been together she's still aware of just how lucky she is to have them. "I'm still going to do everything I can to make sure you know that" Aubrey says seriously, glad to see her soulmate's face light up with familiar mischief.

"Does that mean you're going to take my nighttime feeding turns?" she asks, leaning back into the embrace to keep Aubrey from smacking her arm.

"No, I'm just going to let you take all of mine, give you some extra bonding time" Aubrey says with a small laugh, poking Beca's side where she knows the brunette is sensitive, earning a laugh from her soulmate in return.

"We can share them" Beca says finally, stepping back from Aubrey to wipe her eyes and run a hand through her hair.

"Deal" Aubrey says as she does the same, trying to make it less obvious that the past hours have been hell on their emotions.

They don't have to wait much longer to see Chloe, and Aubrey has to keep herself from rushing the nurse as they're led through the halls at what seems like a glacially slow pace. Once they reach the door to Chloe's room though, Aubrey stops in her tracks, somehow afraid to step inside. Beca seems to understand, placing a comforting hand on her arm, silently waiting for her soulmate to be ready.

It takes a second, but when a small cry comes from around the corner, she suddenly needs to be able to see her soulmate and child with an intensity that's nearly physical. Taking Beca's hand tightly in her own, Aubrey nods once to herself, and with a deep breath walks into the hospital room, gaze going immediately to where Chloe is resting, looking exhausted but definitely alive. There's no baby in her arms however, and Aubrey panics for a moment before realizing that there's a bassinet against the wall, and that after the stress of the surgery Chloe probably doesn't have enough strength to hold a baby.

"Hey" Chloe says softly when she sees them, raising her hands with visible effort to wave them closer. "One of you better bring my baby over here, or I'm going to go crazy" she says as she does, and Aubrey almost chuckles at how normal it all seems. It's as if the emotional events of the past few hours have faded away now that she can see her soulmate with her own eyes.

With a quick glance at Beca, Aubrey crosses to the bassinet as the other woman heads to Chloe's side, taking one of the redhead's hands in a gentle grip. She can hear the two talking, hear the tremor in Beca's voice as she tries to keep the conversation light. She can't focus on what they're saying though, most of her attention captured by the tiny bundle in front of her, the sleeping face the most peaceful thing Aubrey thinks she's ever seen.

And she has to admit that yes, now that she's here staring down at their child, what they've gone through seems worth it, knows that she wouldn't change anything if it meant giving this moment up.

"Bree, I know she's gorgeous, but if you don't bring my baby over here so I can see her, I'm going to have Beca smack you for me" she hears Chloe say, the sweetness of her tone not covering the firmness beneath, and Aubrey realizes she's been staring at their daughter lost in thought for several minutes.

"Beca wouldn't smack me right now, we have an agreement" Aubrey jokes to cover her sudden nervousness at actually picking the sleeping child up. They've all practices, have all held friend's and family's babies over the years. They'd even been there with Jessica's baby was born, held her son when she was as small as their daughter is now. So it's not new to her, holding a newborn, but she's still slightly freaked at the thought of actually holding their baby.

Still, she's not about to disappoint Chloe, or risk her displeasure, so with only a slight hesitation Aubrey reaches down and carefully picks up their daughter, almost not even daring to breathe as she concentrates on not jostling her. Once she gets her up and settled into her arms, the nervousness disappears, replaced with an intense sense of wonder.

She can't believe this tiny bundle in her arms is really theirs, that they have a baby. "She's perfect" Aubrey whispers as she carefully walks to Chloe's side, barely able to take her eyes off the sleeping child long enough to make it safely across the room.

"Means she takes after her mother" Beca jokes, smiling across the bed at her soulmate and their daughter.

"She takes after all of her mothers, if you're going by that standard" Chloe says, reaching up to run a hand over their daughter's cap covered head.

"I see modesty is still one of your best features" Aubrey says, joining the joking in an attempt to keep from crying again, this time from pure joy and relief that they've made it to this point.

"Are you saying she's not perfect?" Beca responds before Chloe can, and Aubrey can tell by her tone that she's doing the same thing she is.

"Not even close. But if she takes my compliment, I'll have to find a new one." The banter is familiar, even if the usual eye contact is missing as they all stare at their sleeping daughter, and it helps keep Aubrey grounded after the wild ranges of emotions they've been through.

"Don't worry, I'll let you keep it" Chloe says, squeezing Aubrey's arm before returning her hand to their daughter's head. "But everything about this moment is perfect."

"Not quite" Beca says, wincing a little as both her soulmates look at her in surprise. "I mean it is, but we still haven't agreed on a name for her, and calling her 'the baby' kind of takes away from the moment" If Aubrey wasn't worried about startling their daughter with sudden noise and movement, she'd definitely be laughing at the look on Beca's face as she tries frantically to explain herself. Even after all the years they've been together, if never fails to amuse her when her self-proclaimed cool and confident soulmate gets so easily flustered.

"You have a point" Aubrey says, this time not able to hold back a small laugh at the look of relief on her soulmate's face. "This little one deserves a name." Beca holds out her arms for the baby, and with a little reluctance Aubrey passes her over, smiling at the sight of her love holding their child.

"Well now that she's here, I don't think my vote works anymore" Beca says as she stares down at their daughter. "She doesn't seem like a Hannah to me."

"Beca, she has two facial expressions and we don't know anything about her personality, how can she seem like anything yet?" Aubrey points out logically.

"No, I agree with Beca" Chloe says, earning a look from Aubrey and an eye roll from Beca.

"That's just because you think Hannah is an old lady name for some reason" Beca says as Chloe shrugs.

"I like Chloe's pick" Aubrey says as she looks at their daughter, running the name through her mind a few times and liking how it sounds.

"You aren't just saying that because I almost died, are you?" Chloe asks, far too comfortable with joking about it already. Apparently she realizes that, because she quickly apologizes with a wince. "Sorry, I know that was probably too much too soon. I just thought that maybe joking about it would help."

"I know you like to greet every challenge with a smile, Chloe, but I think Beca and I need a little time" Aubrey says softly as she squeezes Chloe's hand, trying to explain without words, not wanting to bring the mood down.

"Are we all okay?" Chloe asks, looking between her soulmates in concern.

"We are and we will be" Aubrey reassures her, moving her hand reassuringly to Chloe's shoulder.

"So, Brooke then?" Beca asks after a minute of all three looking at each other silently.

"Brooke Elizabeth" Chloe agrees, smiling at their daughter.

Based on a prompt from Tumblr: prompt for your soulmate universe. how about one of them gets hurt or sick and the other two have to contemplate the possibility of life as a twosome and what that might mean? (they pull through of course!)

I have several other prompts in various stages of completion that are a lot less angsty than this one was, but this caught my attention and wouldn't let it go, so it's the one that got finished first. There's a second, so far shorter, chapter I'm working on finishing up and getting typed that should be up tomorrow unless I get really motivated and finish it tonight. It deals with Chloe finding out about Beca's insecurities, but isn't near as angst filled as this one.

If you've already sent in a prompt, I am working on them! If you haven't, feel free to send me one. Doesn't need to be specific to this AU verse, or even this pairing.