[A/N: So, these chapters, for the most part, are going to shift between Stacie & Aubrey, and Chloe & Beca. It's all going to be in third person- but will shift perspectives. Please tell me what you guys think!- Unholy Helbig]
A slight whimper wracked the girl's lungs as she pressed herself deeper into the passenger seat of the car. Her forehead was pressed heavily against the cold glass- the very glass that would vibrate and shift each time the blonde driving the vehicle would hit a pothole or the rumble strips.
This time, however, Stacie refused to stir, even with the near screams that got caught in her throat as the blanket she had draped over her was kicked off with discomfort. Even when the blonde slowly edged the car to a stop at the side of the road- feeling the speeding pull of other vehicles as the wind sucked between them into an endless voice.
She steadied herself, but her own car into park as she watched the moving van hiss by her, knowing now more than ever, that it would reach the house before they got a chance to. But that didn't matter- Stacie was more important. She didn't care about the schedule.
Instead, she grasped onto the chilled hand of her wife, pressing her thumb into the side of the woman's palm- the remembered the doctor saying she had to be calm- she had to keep her head about her and slowly lull the taller woman out of the memories that plagued her instead of jolting her awake.
Stacie whimpered once more, maybe at the stinging touch that Aubrey created when she ran her fingers over the half-moon shapes that leaked a rough crimson. The warmth coated her own skin as she struggled to ignore the pain that she had just induced.
"Stace," She whispered, using her free hand to unclip the uncomfortable belt that was strapped against her chest, it gave her a better grip on reality, on the edges that seemed to blur between dream and tangible life. "Baby, you have to wake up."
Another struggled hiss as Stacie bit the inside of her lip, it wasn't like the grumble of their two-year-old when he wanted to take five more minutes to cuddle up into his comforter. Owen was still fast asleep in the car seat behind the two young women- Aubrey having averted her juniper stare back to her son, a warmth quelling in her chest for a split second before she returned her attention back to the task at hand.
"You're okay," She whispered in a soothing tone "Just follow the sound of my voice, Stacie. You're going to be okay."
It was a mantra that she had memorized over time. She would switch up the phrases, but she had no intention of breaking something that was already fixed. It worked for the younger woman- it brought her back to the present day.
With a slight gasp for air, Stacie struggled to shoot up out of her seat- Aubrey, however, strapped her strong grip across the brunettes' chest, making sure her half-lucid state didn't cause her to slam into the dashboard with full unintentional force. Aubrey could feel the sweat that soaked through the rough fabric- smell the adrenaline as a sage stare bore into hers.
"Bree," She croaked out, the woman pulling back slightly as Stacie whipped around in her seat, shaking hands finding the edge of the car seat. Aubrey let her flounder for a split second, knowing Stacie needed reassurance that Owen was okay. "I-"
"It was a bad dream," Aubrey mollified, not letting her wife plunge back into the rifts in her memories. The nightmares came and went- mainly when something big was taking place in the girl's lives. Moving halfway across the country for a new surgical position at Mercy West was enough to lull her into the past one more.
She adjusted herself in the passenger seat, moving her hand to pull the wet fabric away from the small of her back, a look of relief pressed against her features as she swallowed down the anxieties that still wracked her body.
"I did it again," Stacie let out a disgruntled groan. "And now the moving truck is going to reach the house"
"Don't worry about it" Aubrey gave her a relaxed smile "They have my number, and the address. We'll be fine."
Stacie nodded, gulping down a mouthful of hair as she reached down to the side of the seat, adjusting the back until she was sitting straight up. Her deep eyes darted around; taking in the large hedge of trees to the right, a highway that smelled thickly of rubber on the left. She was white-knuckling the dashboard, once again flicking her gaze towards the rearview mirror.
Aubrey placed her hand on the gear shift, putting the car into drive as she waited for an opening among the traffic. Eventually, a kind soul slowed their vehicle down enough for Aubrey to give her a slight wave as she pulled into the flow of cars.
"Sweetie, it'll be okay" The blonde soothed, not taking her eyes off of the road "This is a fresh start. Willowdale has a good school district, a great one really."
"You're biased," She grumbled, crossing her hands over her chest. Her wife had grown up here, not giving much up about her past- but with a combination of memories about fairs, and Christmas pageants was enough to convince Stacie to meet with the head of Surgery. Doctor Mitchell- someone who had published a few papers, but never with a photo that most people in the medical field craved. The recognition.
"And you're going to love it," Aubrey said firmly, not glancing over as she held her hand out. Stacie didn't' need to be told twice, her own chilled grasp wrapping around the girl's hand. Even her touch was enough to feel the rapid heartbeat that pounded roughly against Stacie's wrist.
"You never talk much about Barden." She mused, biting the inside of her lip.
"It was a community college, babe." Aubrey lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. "It was filled with way too many stoners who just loved to party. So I left after a few years of messing around with a random major."
"Legal studies is not a random major," Stacie barked out a laugh, running her thumb lightly over her wife's. "You were good at it"
"Well, yeah, I'm good at everything." She joked "Besides, if I hadn't have quit that stupid school and joined the infantry, then I would have never met you. Things happen for a reason, just like this move."
Stacie groaned, knowing the woman would bring that up again. She had been dragging her feet through this whole entire process- but she knew Aubrey was right. The two of them couldn't stay in the little Seattle apartment. Owen was growing up fast, and life in the city wasn't suitable for the two. So they bought this place after a few long talks with a realtor, and a couple of whiskey straights.
Their conversation died off as the GPS cut through the car in that monotone voice that every single one shared. They pulled the car into a long road that was lined with identical houses, each with deep blue shutters and white picket fences. It was like if the contractor hit copy and paste- a few had a dog rushing around the green yard- or a basketball hoop that kids tried their best to use.
"Holy mother of suburbia," Stacie mumbled under her breath.
It made a soft smile move against Aubrey's lips. Your destination is ahead on the right.
"My right, or you're right?" The brunette asked.
"Your right, can't you tell by the moving trucks?"
"No, I genuinely cannot." She deadpanned, teasing as the moving company stood around the large white truck filled with boxes and a few large pieces of furniture. It made Aubrey laugh as she put the car back into park on the street in front of their new home.
"I'll grab Owen," the younger woman said, Aubrey's grip still running along the leather of the steering wheel. She placed a gentle touch pulling the blonde's lips up to hers- pecking her against the mouth before the two of them went into action.
Aubrey drew in a deep breath as she went to talk to the main mover, the man offering a warm smile as he held out his hand. She took it gratefully as Stacie struggled to gain feeling back in her legs. She stretched for a few seconds, feeling the satisfied pressure on her back before she pulled open the back door.
She was shocked to see Owen's bubbly smile and deep grey eyes blinking wildly at her. He had a bit of drool running past his lips as he let out the mix between a squawk and a squeal. "Hi, pretty boy!"
He writhed around in his seat with restless excitement as Stacie unhooked his belt, lifting him into her arms. He had been so good on the drive over, slowly becoming enticed by the new environment around him- his wide eyes darting around as she balanced the two-year-old on her hip. He was getting too heavy for this.
Sure, she could let him down, but the boy clung to the fabric of her shift with so much conviction that it would break her heart. She held him close, standing next to Aubrey as the man from the moving company gave her a dazzling smile, one meant for her and Owen.
Aubrey was leaning against the hood of the truck, signing a few documents as the other two guys started to pull open the back of the van. "Here you go," She smiled, handing the clipboard back. "Is there anything you guys need?"
"You marked all the boxes, right?" He asked with a voice much too deep to come from his tiny frame.
"Of course," Stacie responded, "Color-coded and everything."
"Then we should be good here." He said, "It'll take an hour or so to get all the stuff in there if you guys want to explore the town or something."
"Oh, I-"Aubrey started, an arm wrapped around her shoulder called her attention to her wife.
"We would love to," Stacie beamed, turning towards her wife "Come on, I'm starving."
"Food?" Owen said, his voice lisp filled as he tugged his spit covered fingers from his mouth, offering his slobbery hand out to Aubrey.
"No," She chuckled "You can keep that."
"See," The taller woman smirked, "Both of us are hungry."