ANOTHER FLUFFY FILLER BEFORE SHIT HITS THE FAN. CHAPTER EIGHT IS IN PROGRESS AND SHOULD GO UP SOMETIME THIS WEEKEND.

Chapter 7

It was late when Beca made it home from work. Her team ended up being short on staff, so she got roped into staying a few more hours to help out. Beca actually didn't mind. She was paid by the hour and knew she and Chloe could use the money right now. She just hoped they would still get a chance to talk before retiring for the night.

Beca shut the front door behind her and started for the kitchen, noticing the light was still on. When she saw the room was empty, she set her keys down on the counter and continued on to the living room, following the sound of the television.

Beca smiled once she discovered her wife on the couch, barely awake and eating some leftover lasagna she practically begged Beca's mother to bring over earlier in the week. Anne Mitchell didn't cook often, but when she did it was glorious and Chloe always made sure to tell her. So, when Chloe got a craving for some of Anne's lasagna and called her up, she was happy to oblige (though she found it a little odd that her daughter-in-law had a craving for that particular meal, especially at 2'o clock in the morning…but who was she to deny the number one fan of her cooking?)

"You're still up," Beca spoke, relieved as she stepped further into the living room.

Chloe nodded, her eyes half closed and her mouth half full as she turned to smile at the brunette. After finishing her mouthful, Chloe spoke, "You said you wanted to talk…and I didn't get a chance to see you today. I guess I MIGHT have missed you a little." She teased, pausing the television. She seemed to be watching Parks and Recreation again. The girl really did love her "Netflix and leftovers".

Beca smiled even brighter as she registered what Chloe meant. She waited up for Beca.

Beca moved towards the couch, lifting Chloe's outstretched legs long enough for her to take a seat. Chloe adjusted her feet in Beca's lap, getting comfortable as she waited for Beca to tell her the good news.

"So," Beca started, her excitement evident. "I invested in a therapist. I started seeing a guy about my anxiety and the dreams I've been having. I've been going on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the past two weeks and I really think it's helping. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again."

Chloe's eyebrows raised as she found herself smiling. She hadn't been expecting that, but she could definitely see the change once she thought about it. She could feel the change too. The air had been much lighter in the Mitchell-Beale household.

"I've been following Dr. Applebaum's advice and he hasn't failed me yet, so I'm going to start a sleep journal tonight, like he suggested. He says it should help with expressing some of the things I haven't been comfortable talking about."

Chloe nodded, understanding the reasoning. If she was being completely honest, Chloe would say it stung a little. Chloe would say she remembered a time when SHE was Beca's sleep journal… but the redhead was just glad Beca was getting better. She smiled supportively, leaning across the couch to plant a kiss on her wife's lips. "I'm proud of you." She whispered with a lazy smile, turning to curl into Beca's side.

"Thanks, Chlo," Beca blushed slightly, forgetting just how important that was to her until she heard it. Making Chloe proud was always one of the most important things to Beca. The two of them sat for a moment, just enjoying each other's presence and the comfort of the silence. Beca rested her head against the back of the couch, feeling her eyes start to droop. Then she remembered the end of her phone call with Chloe earlier.

"Wasn't there something else you wanted to talk about?" Beca asked, waiting for Chloe to start. When there was no response she tilted her head to get a better look at her wife's face. Her eyes were closed and she looked content.

The corner of Beca's mouth quirked as she realized Chloe had fallen asleep.

She must have had a long day. Teaching arts and crafts to 5 classes of 20 kids…standing up for almost all of it…fighting sleep for 4 hours after she'd gotten home just to see Beca…

Beca leaned down to kiss a freckled temple before maneuvering to scoop her wife up in her arms. Beca eventually made it down the hall to their bedroom, with much more effort than usual…Beca assumed it was the cost of not working out as regularly as she did when she was enlisted. She decided she would get back on that this weekend.

Beca carefully removed Chloe's sweatshirt and sweatpants before tucking her in, knowing she liked to sleep in her undergarments. Beca would never forget this.

She chuckled as she thought back to how torturous sleepovers used to be before she knew how Chloe felt about her.

Absolutely. Torturous.

Beca shook her head in amusement as she started towards the bathroom to get washed up for bed.

When Chloe woke up that night, she noticed she was in bed. She frowned, realizing that must have meant she'd passed out on the couch again. She was really hoping to tell Beca about the baby, but now she'd have to wait until tomorrow… Rolling over to face Beca, Chloe saw that Beca was sitting up and writing something into her notebook.

It must have been the sleep journal she was talking about earlier.

Noticing Chloe was awake, Beca quickly scribbled the rest of her thought and closed the notebook before tossing it onto the nightstand. Beca turned towards Chloe. "Hey, sleepy head…"

"Hey, you," Chloe smiled sleepily. "What were you writing?"

Beca sighed, "You know I can't tell you that, now."

Chloe's face fell and Beca rushed to soften the blow. "But I will soon…just give me some time, okay?"

Chloe nodded, throwing an arm across Beca's body as she cut off the lamp and slid back under the covers.

"Let's get some sleep," Beca smiled, scooting closer to the redhead.