A/N: Again, thank you guys so much for your amazing reviews! I'm so glad that everyone is enjoying this zany story and I hope that you continue to do so! The title for this chapter comes from the song "To Build a Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra and certain characters, ideas and dialogue featured in this chapter come directly from Another Earth. Let me know what you think!
"This is a Place Where I Don't Feel Alone. This is a Place Where I Feel At Home."
The headlines the following morning are all the same. No one can talk about anything else, regardless of what other horrors might be going on in the world. There is only one topic of discussion. Another Earth, Another You.
The news stations are constantly replaying the footage from last night's contact attempt. Dr Ivy Clayton, a woman pushing mid-sixties who has been working for NASA since she was just an intern, was the one all the cameras and microphones were focused on last night as she attempted to make contact with Earth Two.
Even though there were hundreds of people spread out across Piedmont Park that night, not a sound was heard when Dr. Clayton received a crackle of static to her inquiry as to whether there was anyone on the other end of the signal. Chloe had grabbed Aubrey's hand so tightly that the blonde had jerked her fingers free on reflex. Aubrey hadn't bothered to point out the fact that static was hardly synonymous with actual contact because there wouldn't have been any point. Everyone in that park (and, if she had to guess, around the world) took that static to mean there was someone else there.
And, much to Aubrey's surprise, there had been someone else there after all. The signal had been garbled after first but it had been obvious that there was someone else trying to speak. Then NASA had finally managed to fine-tune the connection and the voice of the woman making contact from Earth Two had been as clear as a bell. Her name was Dr. Ivy Clayton and has she worked with NASA since she'd started out as an intern in the early days of the space program.
As the conversation had continued, the atmosphere in the park had turned from excited to nervous and confused. Because it had quickly become clear that Dr. Ivy Clayton was talking to herself up there on Earth Two. Their memories were identical; their voices were identical; even their reactions to discovering one another were identical.
When other NASA employees got on the radio to test this theory, the results were the same. The NASA employees on Earth Two did the same thing and shared the same identical memories and expressions of confusion as their Earth counterparts.
Aubrey couldn't help but look up at Earth Two as she listened to the chaos unfolding through dozens of radio speakers all around the park. It looked totally different now, now that she knew that it was actually inhabited and not just a rock floating up there in space. And not only was it inhabited but it was populated by the same people that were staring up at the sky in wonder.
And Aubrey knows that there's no guarantee that everyone on Earth is also up there on Earth Two but she knows that most people aren't going to believe that idea. Because why would there be a few scientists up there but not everyone? NASA is going to begin running tests to see how many of Earth's residents have….what? clones, twins? up there on Earth Two but it doesn't matter what they find. Because Aubrey already knows that everyone thinks there's another them up there and there's nothing that anyone can do to change that.
Even Chloe has become consumed by the idea. She spent the night at Aubrey's place after leaving Piedmont Park and spent her time philosophizing about the Chloe Beale from Earth Two and whether that Chloe was cuddling with another Aubrey and wondering the same thing. "It's enough to make my head hurt." Chloe confessed, burying her face against Aubrey's shoulder. "I'm up there. You're up there."
That seems to be everyone's refrain. I'm up there, there's another me. That's what Aubrey hears as she's waiting in line to get coffee and breakfast to bring back to Chloe, who is still snoozing in her apartment. Another me. Aubrey doesn't like the idea of there being another Aubrey Posen up there. One is enough. And it's weird because she feels great sympathy for her other self, who may or may not be ordering coffee and breakfast for her beautiful girlfriend and thinking about the Aubrey on Earth One and feeling sorry that she had to go through the past three years.
"Isn't it strange?" The woman in line behind Aubrey hasn't stopped talking to her friend since they stepped into the shop and Aubrey is sick of hearing their conversation. "You could like…talk to yourself. Go out to dinner with yourself. It's weird."
"What would you even say?" The friend questions with a little laugh.
The first woman laughs too. "Wow, you look awesome. Great highlights." The women dissolve into laughter.
Aubrey rolls her eyes as she steps up at the counter. That's what they would say to their other selves? But she's not sure she'd have anything more profound to say to Earth Two Aubrey Posen. Better luck next time. That sounds about right.
During the walk back to the apartment, pretty much everyone Aubrey passes has their gaze turned upward, staring at Earth Two, always visible up there in the sky. The expressions on the faces she sees range from amazed to afraid and she can't blame them. It's almost too much to wrap your head around.
Back the apartment, Chloe is still sprawled out in bed but her eyes flutter open when Aubrey walks into the bedroom and she offers the blonde a sleepy smile. She crooks her finger at Aubrey and Aubrey feels her heart melt and her knees go weak. At the moment, she really doesn't care how many other Aubrey Posens there are out there in the world. Because none of them can be as lucky as she is.
Aubrey climbs back into bed beside Chloe and Chloe quickly snuggles against her. "I brought you coffee." Aubrey tells her, resting her chin against the top of Chloe's head. "And bagels."
Chloe sighs happily but doesn't make a move to retrieve the aforementioned items. "Can we just stay in bed all day?"
"I thought you wanted to go to the High Museum." Aubrey says, even though she really doesn't have a problem with Chloe wanting to hang around the apartment all day. She's never opposed to spending time with Chloe and she also doesn't hate the idea of not being out there with everyone else and all their Earth Two mania. Here, it's easy to forget about everything else.
Chloe shrugs. "This is better. We can do that tomorrow." She kisses the spot below Aubrey's ear that always causes the blonde to shiver and Chloe knows there's going to be very little protest about leaving the bedroom.
She's right.
Later, when they finally get around to eating the breakfast that Aubrey picked up (the coffee is pretty useless), Chloe brings up Earth Two. "So you really think there's another Chloe up there?" She questions as she spreads strawberry cream cheese across her bagel. "What do you think she's doing?"
Aubrey shrugs. "If there is another Chloe." She says skeptically.
Chloe rolls her eyes. "Don't be a cynic. There's another me up there. And another you."
"Just because she might look like me doesn't mean there's another me." Aubrey mutters.
"But you heard the report last night." Chloe protests. "They had all the same memories, all the same experiences. There's another you." Chloe points the butter knife at her. "So what do you think she's doing."
Now it's Aubrey's turn to roll her eyes. "Well, you seem to know everything, don't you." She teases. "If we are the same then the other Aubrey is up there talking to the other Chloe about how there's not another Aubrey down on Earth One." She sticks her tongue out at Chloe.
Chloe tosses a piece of her bagel at Aubrey and just shakes her head. "Fine. I guess you're right though." She takes a bite of her food and there's a thoughtful look on her face as she chews. "Do you think they call us Earth One?"
Aubrey opens her mouth and then shuts it again. She hasn't thought about that. She just shakes her head. "Why would they call us Earth One and themselves Earth Two?" She mutters. "If it's really true, if they are all identical copies or whatever of us then they've been living their lives long before they saw us." She shuts her eyes as she thinks about the night Earth Two first appeared in the sky. She tries to push the memory away. It's getting easier but not always.
Aubrey opens her eyes again when she feels Chloe's hand rest on top of her own. Chloe gives her a soft smile but doesn't say anything, she just continues eating her bagel. She's learned by now that Aubrey will talk when she's ready but only she can decide when that moment will be and Aubrey can't explain how grateful she is that Chloe knows that about her. She's also grateful that Chloe seems to know exactly what was going through her mind just then.
They don't say anything more about Earth Two for the majority of the day. If they talk at all, it's about the upcoming holidays and Chloe's excitement about the start of the fall and winter months and what she hopes the next year will bring. She's about three months early when it comes to hypothesizing about the new year but apparently Chloe's enthusiasm knows no bounds. Aubrey would never admit it out loud, but she kinda likes talking about the future with Chloe because that means that Chloe is thinking about the upcoming months and year and including her in her thoughts. Aubrey's been trying not to do that very thing, just so she won't get her hopes up when Chloe inevitably moves onto something better but it's hard to remain pessimistic as she listens to Chloe.
Because spending Christmas with Chloe won't be so bad. And spending New Year's with her wouldn't be horrible either. And then maybe even the following Thanksgiving. And Christmas. And New Year's. And the one after that. Yeah, Chloe's pretty infectious that way.
It was honestly only a matter of time. At least, that's what Aubrey thinks. When Chloe tells her a few days later that she heard on the news that morning that some rich billionaire is trying to put together a voyage to go to Earth Two, Aubrey's not at all surprised. It was really only a matter of time. She figured that NASA would be the first people to suit up and head into space but it somehow makes more sense that it would be someone with too much money that would actually make something happen. Apparently the guy is selling tickets on his mysterious space vessel for outrageous amounts of money and already there are people clamoring to buy the spots.
Aubrey just rolls her eyes as she listens to Chloe relay the news. She really wishes that her schedule was different so that she could be with Chloe in person and listen to her tell this story instead of listening to her girlfriend chatter away over the phone but there's really little demand for daytime bakers so they just have to live with the craziness. These nightly phone calls are another one of their routines that Aubrey doesn't think she could live without and talking to Chloe before the redhead gets ready to go to bed always makes her feel less lonely as she sets up everything in the bakery.
"I think it's a little crazy." Chloe tells Aubrey as she wraps up her story. "I mean I know that we know what's actually on Earth Two now but it still seems crazy to me. Meeting your other self and stuff. Weird."
Aubrey carries a stack of mixing bowls to the counter and sets them down. "Well, aren't things supposed to be exactly the same thing up there? So your other self isn't going to be there because they'll be taking a trip to Earth One…or whatever." She says absently as she looks at the baking sheet for the night.
"Would you go?" Chloe questions.
For some reason that question catches Aubrey by surprise. She never even entertained the possibility of visiting Earth Two so why doesn't she say no right away? But that's eventually the answer that she gives Chloe. "Would you?"
"I don't think so." Chloe replies. "Traveling through space just seems so…scary. And lonely."
Aubrey nods even though Chloe can't see her. "I know what you mean. Not that it matters anyone because neither of us have millions of dollars to spend on a ticket." She laughs slightly.
They talk for a little while longer before Chloe hangs up to go to bed and Aubrey gets started baking. She wishes that she were tucked into bed with Chloe instead of making loaves of bread and mixing batter for cupcakes. She still loves baking but now instead of allowing her to escape from something, it's keeping her from somewhere that she actually wants to be. Aubrey definitely never saw that happening when she first started working for Gail. She wonders what Gail would think about her splitting the shifts more evenly with Beca…even though Beca really isn't the baker that she is…Aubrey is definitely a believer in the phrase if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Still…it might be worth it to spend nights with Chloe instead of all alone in a kitchen. Aubrey makes things much harder on herself when she thinks about what she could be doing with Chloe right now and…it's going to be a long night.
Aubrey lingers at the Sunrise Bakery now instead of heading straight home because Chloe has turned her bi-weekly stops to the bakery into a daily thing. "You're going to make me fat," Chloe has said on more than one occasion because apparently she can't walk into the bakery, even if it's just to meet Aubrey, without getting a bagel or pastry of some kind. Aubrey has teased her about this each time but she thinks Chloe probably doesn't mind as much as she lets on.
"So," Gail sidles up beside Aubrey before the blonde even realizes that she's there, "you still seem to be spending a lot of time with Chloe…" She trails off, obviously waiting for Aubrey to fill in the gaps.
Aubrey doesn't say anything right away. She keeps her personal life pretty private, even from Gail. Gail obviously sees her and Chloe together almost every day but doesn't know much more about their relationship past that. Aubrey is never sure how to put into words this thing that she has going on with Chloe. It's been months since they first kissed and fell into bed together and calling Chloe her girlfriend just seems so simple and juvenile. So she often doesn't define it in any way at all; she usually doesn't have to.
But the blush that spreads across her face gives her away. Aubrey isn't even aware of the flush in her cheeks until Gail grins at her. "Hmm, I thought so." The older woman says with a pleased and knowing smile. "I'd kinda had the feeling that you were seeing her outside of the bakery."
Aubrey isn't really sure how to respond to this line of questioning so she just shrugs and wishes that Chloe would just hurry up. She's never had to answer questions about her relationships before. Even before the accident, Aubrey never had much of a love life to gossip about and even if she did, her parents weren't the type of question her about details. But, Gail has always been a little more like a normal mother than her own mother ever was.
Gail smirks as she notices Aubrey's discomfort. "I'm not going to start grilling you, so just relax." She assures the blonde and Aubrey just rolls her eyes. "I just think it's cute."
"Cute." Aubrey repeats with another eye roll. "You make it sound like it's just an infatuation."
Gail arches an eyebrow. "So it's not?"
"We've been seeing each other for months and I really-" Gail smirks and Aubrey realizes that she's been tricked into divulging details of the relationship in spite of herself. "I'm not going to sit here and gossip with you." She informs Gail haughtily, crossing her arms over her chest. She's not a teenager, she doesn't need to discuss her relationship at every opportunity.
Gail puts her hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Okay, fine. I just thought you might want to chat while you were waiting for someone. A special someone…"
Aubrey just smirks and shakes her head. But Gail doesn't wander off to attend to something more pressing and Aubrey doesn't mind her presence, especially since they're standing in companionable silence now. Though she wonders if now might not be the perfect time to broach the subject of splitting her shifts with Beca, an idea that hasn't left her alone since she first considered it several days before. Aubrey tentatively makes the suggestion to Gail and quickly wishes that she had let some time pass between their conversation about Chloe because the look on Gail's face lets Aubrey know that she doesn't have any trouble putting two and two together.
"So you must really like her, huh?" Gail remarks. "I remember I tried to suggest the same thing to you when we first hired Beca and you acted like it was the end of the world."
"I…" Aubrey remembers that conversation, how horrified she'd been at the idea of Beca working more than just the weekends. She'd protested that it was because of Beca's poor baking skills (which have since improved marginally) but really she'd been terrified at the idea of having all that empty time to fill. What was she supposed to do if she didn't have baking to focus on? Now that's much less of a concern. "It's just hard to balance everything. Her schedule is so different from mine and…" The weekends aren't enough anymore Aubrey wants to say but thinks it might be best to keep those thoughts to herself. I want to see her all the time and it kills me when we aren't together. Because Aubrey never thought that she would be one of those people: the type of person who let herself fall so madly in love that she let it start to consume her. She thought that type of love was dangerous and unpredictable and she doesn't like unpredictable. But now…she just likes Chloe and whatever that entails.
Gail smirks at her. "I didn't mean to throw you for a loop there, Aubrey." She teases and Aubrey realizes that she's just let the statement hang between them for who knows how long. "I'll talk to Beca about changing the schedule but I'm sure it won't be a problem."
Aubrey smiles at her gratefully. "Thank you, Gail. For everything." There's so much that she's never been able to really say to this woman because voicing her feelings have never been her strong suit. It was never exactly encouraged growing up and she never had much need to learn how to explain herself after the accident. But now she has plenty of reasons to struggle to put her feelings into words.
Gail smiles and reaches out to give her hand a squeeze. They're still sharing a companionable silence when Chloe finally walks into the bakery, late as usual and looking every bit as flustered as she did the very first time that Aubrey ever saw her. "So, totally turned my alarm off this morning instead of hitting snooze." Chloe explains as she hurries over to the counter. "I only woke up because my roommate started fighting with her boyfriend because he burned the eggs."
Aubrey reaches out to help Chloe with everything that she's trying to balance in her hands and busies herself with stacking up the folders of sheet music and stickers and other thing necessary to teach elementary school children music. Gail gets Chloe's coffee and bagel (on the house of course, because there are perks to dating the baker) and bids the younger women goodbye, that knowing smile still on her face.
Most mornings, Aubrey walks with Chloe to her school before heading back to her apartment to sleep for the next several hours. It's definitely convenient to have everything within walking distance because even if their schedules are painfully opposite of each other, at least they can spend time together like this. It's steadily growing colder every day and Chloe walks closer to Aubrey, holding onto her hand tightly. Most people they pass still have their eyes trained skyward, studying the ever present form of Earth Two, but Aubrey has eyes only for Chloe.
Chloe gives her a kiss before she takes her folders back from the blonde and disappears into the school building. Aubrey has a hint of a smile playing across her lips as she walks back toward her apartment. She can't help but glance upward now, studying Earth Two. She wonders if the other Aubrey is smiling and doing the same thing. It's almost too strange to consider.
At home, Aubrey turns on the radio before stepping into the shower to wash off the flour and batter from the night before. She hums along to some new pop song on the radio as she shampoos her hair, that little smile still on her lips.
The song ends and the DJ's voice takes over the air waves. "Have you been dying to go to Earth Two?" She questions, overly chipper and familiar, as though she personally knows all of her listeners personally. "I know I have. Well you might get your chance. Bumper Allen, the billionaire funding the trip to Earth Two is giving away a coveted spot on his shuttle. That's right, you don't have to pay the millions of dollars that he's asking for a ticket if you can win the essay contest explaining why you deserve the spot. You better enter quick because I have a feeling that everybody's going to be dying to get that seat. A free trip to Earth Two, come on! I know I'm going to enter. You can find all the details on our website."
Aubrey tunes her out when she introduces the next song, but she's still thinking about the DJ's story about the contest to get to Earth Two. She wonders what type of essay gets you a spot on the shuttle to Earth Two.
Beca takes over more of the shifts at the bakery and Chloe couldn't be happier with the change in Aubrey's schedule. And, to be honest, neither can Aubrey. Nothing beats being able to go out to dinner with her girlfriend or just hang around the apartment and watch horrible television and order take out and fall asleep together and wake up in the morning with Chloe in her arms. Sometimes Aubrey regrets turning the bakery over to Beca but those times are few and far between. Especially because she's starting to think that there's nothing more beautiful than Chloe first thing in the morning, when she's still sleepy-eyed with her hair tangled and wild. She loves the idea that she's the only one who ever sees Chloe in these private moments; even though there are parts of Chloe that Aubrey has to share with the rest of the world, this isn't one of them.
Thanksgiving is suddenly upon them and Chloe doesn't ask Aubrey to come to her parents for dinner, she tells her and Aubrey knows that there's no arguing with the redhead. So Aubrey finds herself fretting over what to wear and her makeup and actually meeting Chloe's family members and what to say.
Chloe comes up behind her when she's standing in front of the mirror, trying to figure out the best way to wear her hair (and how best to conceal her scar) and Aubrey smiles when Chloe presses a kiss against the curve of her neck. "I like it when you wear your hair up." She whispers against Aubrey's skin. "You should just pull it back."
Aubrey purses her lips into a thin line. "I don't think so." She mumbles. She lets her hair fall across her face, nearly hiding her scar completely from view.
Chloe just brushes her hair aside and presses her lips against Aubrey's scar and down her cheek and finally to her lips. Aubrey sighs into her mouth, pulling Chloe close against her even though she knows that they need to be walking out the door in less than ten minutes in order to get to Chloe's parents on time. They manage to pull away before they really start to wrinkle their dresses.
Aubrey lets Chloe style her hair even though Chloe uses a clip to keep the tresses off her face. Aubrey tries not to feel self-conscious but her own eyes are drawn to the scar and to the reminder of the accident all those years ago. How can she expect everyone else to ignore it? So much for making a good impression.
The Beales are apparently hosting Thanksgiving for the entire extended Beale clan (or, at least the family members that live in the Southern states) and there are so many people crammed into the two story house that Aubrey can't even begin to keep track of everyone that Chloe tries to introduce her to. Plus, the Beales are all huggers and Aubrey is pretty sure that her ribs are going to be bruised by the end of the night. But no one seems particularly interested in her scar or how she got it, instead focusing on the fact that Chloe introduces Aubrey as her girlfriend, which apparently gives them to right to grill her about her relationship with their daughter/niece/cousin/sister whatever. The only person that seems to even notice the scar is Chloe's eight year old brother Will, who stares at Aubrey's face with the unabashed nature that only kids can display until Chloe's other brother JJ swats him on the back of the head and Will starts howling for their mother.
It's hard to keep up with all the dinner table conversation and Aubrey just sits back and tries to absorb it all instead of participating. The only family members she really manages to keep straight are Chloe's immediate family, like her older sister Justine and Justine's husband and Chloe's parents, who welcome her into the family like they've known her their entire lives. No one asks Aubrey anything personal outside of her job and interests and she can't help but wonder if maybe Chloe prepped them ahead of time so they made sure not to bring up her father or why she wasn't with her own family on Thanksgiving. Or why she hasn't spent a Thanksgiving with her family in three years.
The desserts that Aubrey prepared (with little help from Chloe) prove to be a huge success and end up being the only course not have leftovers. Aubrey can't help but beam with pride as she fields all the compliments about her baking and she promises to give about twenty Beales the recipes that she used.
After lunch, Aubrey volunteers to help Samantha Beale and two other relatives that she can't remember clear off the table and start the process of washing dishes and boxing up leftovers. Chloe gets up to help but gets distracted talking to Justine before she even carries the first plate into the kitchen. Instead of things being awkward without Chloe there as a buffer, Aubrey finds that the atmosphere in the kitchen is comfortable and relaxed, like she's known these people her whole life.
"Chloe talks about you a lot." Samantha remarks as she hands a casserole dish over to Aubrey to dry. "I feel like I know so much about you just from our phone conversations."
Aubrey isn't quite sure what to say to this. She wonders exactly what Chloe has told her mother. "Oh. Sorry." No one should be forced to listen to her depressing family history.
But Samantha just laughs. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm not complaining." She assures Aubrey. "Chloe has never talked about anyone else the way that she does about you. She's never brought anyone over for Thanksgiving either." She informs Aubrey frankly. "I've never seen her this happy with anyone else she's dated."
Aubrey smiles at Samantha and busies herself with drying off the dishes, mainly so she can give herself a chance to process the woman's words. Chloe's past relationships are never really a source of conversation, though when it does come up, Chloe gets that sad and faraway look in her eyes. The one that Aubrey sees in her own eyes sometimes; the one that says that she's not yet healed. "Everyone always leaves," is all Chloe will ever say about it. Aubrey always wants to promise to stay, to be the one who doesn't leave but she can never say the words and she hopes that Chloe knows anyway.
After everything is cleaned up and put away, everyone heads into the family room to watch football and gossip and Chloe falls asleep with her head against Aubrey's shoulder and Aubrey's arm around her waist. Aubrey tries to move as little as possible as she talks to Chloe's mom and sister so that she doesn't wake Chloe up. It's loud and chaotic and there's so much going on but Aubrey feels happy and content, like she's supposed to be here after all.
Chloe isn't the only one who falls asleep; Will passes out on the floor among all the comic books that he's been reading and most of the family members who gravitated into the living room to watch football end up falling asleep before the game is even over. But no one bothers to turn off the television or even switch it to a different channel and the game eventually comes to a close and the evening news takes its place.
Aubrey listens with half a ear to the local feel-good stories about soup kitchens and Thanksgiving generosity and there's even a story about a dog that rescued a mom cat and her three kittens from a restaurant fire. Aubrey makes a mental note to remember to tell that story to Chloe when she wakes up because she'll definitely enjoy it.
"Make sure you stay tuned for Nightly News with Brian Williams," the anchor says right before she signs off, "so you can catch his interview with Dr. Richard Berendzen, a noted astronomer who has some interesting theories about Earth Two. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone, good night."
The mention of Earth Two seems to draw the previously scattered family members back together. This doesn't surprise Aubrey, given Chloe's own fascination with Earth Two and she thinks about waking her girlfriend up so that she can watch the report as well. But there's no telling what type of interesting theories are going to be discussed so it might be better just to let Chloe sleep. After all, what more can be said about Earth Two by people who have never been there?
Nightly News with Brian Williams starts up and without much preamble, Brian Williams jumps right into his interview with Dr. Richard Berendzen. Berendzen has apparently been studying the mysteries of space for the past forty years and has been focusing primarily on Earth Two since it first appeared in the sky several years ago.
"Now, Dr. Berendzen, you have some pretty interesting new ideas on Earth Two." Williams begins, folding his hands in his lap and assuming the posture of a dignified news personality. "Ideas that vary considerably from what a lot of people believe about Earth Two."
Berendzen just nods and Aubrey likes the placid expression on his grizzled features. It's nice to see a scientist or TV personality not sensationalizing Earth Two just for ratings.
"It's called the Broken Mirror Theory." Williams continues. "Why don't you explain this remarkable theory to us."
Berendzen shifts in his seat and sits up a little straighter. "Well, you have to first accept the fact that an idea of another Earth isn't all that far-fetched." Aubrey scoffs to herself. "When you think about it, in the grand scheme of the universe, repetition is evitable. There are perfectly contained galaxies out there that we know nothing about. Who's to say there aren't a dozen more Earths out there."
Williams nods and even Aubrey has to admit that this idea makes a little bit of sense when you think about it. "But what about the fact that there's another you up there? And another me? And that they have the same memories and thoughts and experiences." Williams prompts.
"Well that's where the Broken Mirror Theory comes into play." Berendzen explains. "Because everyone considers the people of Earth Two to be exact replicas of us here on this Earth. But what if there's another way of looking at that world? Because you have to take into account that any small variation can occur and even those smallest things can make a difference. You look one way and they look the other. Then everything can be different and you can't help but wonder…what other things might be different? What choices did the other me make that I didn't? What direction did they go in?"
Aubrey sits up a little straighter, forgetting the fact that Chloe is sleeping peacefully on her shoulder. She feels her breath catch in her throat. The rest of the people gathered in the living room are equally silent, engrossed in this new theory about the people of Earth Two.
"And what makes you think these changes have started occurring?" Williams presses.
"When we came aware of each other, the mirror shattered." Berendzen continues. "In that moment, everything could have changed. We're no longer perfectly matched copies of one another. Now there's another you out there who is making different choices and doing different things. It's a real life example of the road not taken."
Aubrey doesn't hear anything else that is said during the interview, she's too busy focusing on what has already been said. No one has ever suggested that Earth Two might be following it's own path, that things aren't perfectly lined up with the events on Earth. And if Dr. Berendzen believes that this changed happened when the two Earths became aware of one another…Aubrey remembers that moment well. She doubts that she'll ever forget listening to her father berate her and looking up to see Earth Two shining in the sky. That could have been the moment that the synchronicity ended and everything became different. And moments later, the other driver, distracted by Earth Two, slammed into their car and changed Aubrey's life forever. But did it also change the life of the other Aubrey forever? Could their paths have changed so quickly?
With a sigh, Aubrey leans against the back of the couch once more, trying to relax her ramrod straight posture in spite of the tension she feels. The movement causes Chloe to stir and her eyes flutter open and it takes her a minute to figure out where she is and why she's been sleeping against her girlfriend's shoulder.
"What's going on?" Chloe questions, sitting up straighter and brushing her hair away from her face. "Have I been asleep for long?"
Aubrey glances toward Chloe but her mind is still on the telecast. "Uh…an hour maybe." She replies, distracted.
Chloe looks at her carefully. "What's the matter, Bree?"
Before Aubrey can answer, Will is climbing all over his sister like she's a jungle gym, his comics and nap forgotten. "They were talking about Earth Two on the TV." He informs Chloe, apparently just as enthralled by the mystery planet as the rest of his family. "The man on the TV said that maybe the other Will isn't the same as me after all."
"What are you talking about Will?" Chloe figures that she might have an easier time following this information if she hadn't just woken up from a nap.
Chloe's uncle or cousin or someone fills her in on the news report and Chloe glances over at Aubrey once more, her expression more understanding now and Aubrey feels like Chloe knows exactly what she's thinking.
They don't get a chance to discuss the Broken Mirror Theory until they're driving back toward Aubrey's apartment and even in the privacy of the car, Aubrey still isn't sure how to give voice to the thoughts in her head.
"Things might be completely different." Aubrey mutters, absently reaching for Chloe's hand and twining their fingers together.
Chloe nods once. "Or maybe not." She says softly. "It might all be the same."
Aubrey both hates and loves right now that Chloe knows exactly what she's thinking, that Chloe knows without a doubt that she's thinking about the night of the accident and how on Earth Two maybe things went differently. Maybe there was no accident. Maybe her father survived. Maybe the other Aubrey was a better daughter and wasn't distracting him from the road and the other drivers. Maybe…maybe…
But maybe Chloe is right. Maybe things played out exactly the same way on Earth Two as they did in Aubrey's reality. Maybe the other Aubrey has made all the same choices that she has. Maybe she's getting hung up on this theory for no reason. Maybe…maybe…
Aubrey tries to push the thoughts from her mind when they get back to her apartment and it becomes remarkably easy when Chloe pulls her to her and kisses her with one hand snaking through her blonde locks and the other slipping underneath her dress. And later, when they're laying on top of the tangled covers and Aubrey's lips are bruised and her skin is flushed and raw, Aubrey's thoughts still don't shift back to Earth Two or the Broken Mirror Theory or anything. All she can think about is Chloe and that's totally fine with her.
"My family really loved you." Chloe says sleepily, her head resting on Aubrey's chest and her fingers lazily skimming across Aubrey's ribs. "My mom kept talking about you. I'm really glad you were there."
Aubrey kisses her forehead and smiles. "Thank you for inviting me." She says. "I had a great time." She presses her lips against Chloe's skin again. "I…" love you. But the words freeze in her throat and even seven months of being with Chloe can't shake them lose.
But it doesn't seem to matter because Chloe drifts off to sleep before further conversation or clarification becomes necessary. Aubrey tries to let herself slip into sleep as well, lulled by Chloe's body heat and rhythmic breathing. But it's just not possible. Because without Chloe to provide a welcome distraction, she's thinking about what Dr. Berendzen said earlier and how there might even be the slightest possibility that on Earth Two there's a Marc Posen and a family that might still love her. And that minute possibility is impossible to toss aside.
Aubrey slips out of bed after she's certain that Chloe is asleep and retrieves her laptop from the living room. It doesn't take her long to find Bumper Allen's "Win a Trip to Earth Two" website and she stares at the box where she's supposed to type in her essay explaining in five hundred words why she deserves the free spot to Earth Two. In the end, Aubrey decides to stop thinking so much and just tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help her God and Bumper Allen. Aubrey submits the entry before she can talk herself out of it and then she's finally able to fall asleep curled up around Chloe.
tbc.