Magnolias and Speyburn

by lespetitesmorts

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe's getting married and Beca's having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it's also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett. Also, "Happier" by Ed Sheeran.

1. Chapter 1

"Becs!" Chloe admonished, slapping Beca lightly on the arm. "It's 'love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous,' not 'lettuce!'"

Beca nodded emphatically and smiled, two teeth missing in the bottom of her mouth. "Right, Chlo, I'm sorry. I don't know why it keeps coming out as 'lettuce,'" Beca blushed at her mistake. She vowed to get it right this time. After all, she was only filling in for Chloe's grandfather who had to work today. She'd lost track of how many times Chloe'd stated that her grandaddy would preach her wedding service.

Beca didn't care. She was just glad to be there in an active role. Usually Chloe would have her stand behind or beside her grandfather while he officiated. It never made much sense to Beca, but whenever she'd ask Chloe, the bride-to-be would just smile and say that it was her wedding, and that's where she wanted Beca to stand. So that's where Beca stood.

Chloe gestured her head toward the teddy bear, Landon, standing in as Chloe's groom.

Grimacing only fractionally, Beca sighed and turned to the stuffed animal. "I'm sorry to you, too, Landon," Beca muttered, feeling ridiculous. Any embarrassment evaporated as soon as Chloe turned to her, clearly pleased, and beamed at Beca in mega-wattage style.

"Okay," Chloe said happily, tugging the bear towards her again. "Let's take it from the top!"

Chloe marched back to the beginning of the makeshift aisle. The girls had spent their morning decorating their favourite playground to look more matrimonial. Dutifully, Beca took up the bouquet of magnolias again from where Chloe had accidentally dropped them in her excitement to marry Landon. She followed Chloe and put them back into the redhead's arms. Then she sprinted back to her place as the officiant of the wedding and started humming the wedding march.

Slowly, Chloe walked toward Beca, and Beca could tell from the way Chloe's mouth crinkled around the edges of her tight-lipped smile that her best friend was using every ounce of willpower that she possessed not to break into a full, toothy grin.

In Beca's eyes, Chloe's never looked more beautiful or more perfect than when she was six years old and walking towards Beca with the promise of a loving future spilling out of the stars in her eyes.

Beca is six years old and in love with her best friend.