Beca walked across the stage with her guitar slung over her shoulder. When the lights came up, she stepped up to the mic and began to sing. She was nervous as hell, but as soon as the music started, all that faded away. The trepidation in her stomach turned to comfort and warmth as she began her song.
I wake up feeling, in my soul I'm/Living someone else's life/I'm turning into concrete, harder than these city streets/Where no one even cares if I'm alive/ I gotta get it right/Get it right, mmm mmm
Behind her the massive screens flashed scenes from the busy streets of Los Angeles. Traffic along the roads and people walking along the sidewalks were all sped up to represent the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.
There's a place that I know where they all know me/I gotta get back now to the ones who love me/Wrap myself around you, never let you go/There's nothing in the world that feels like/The place that I know where they all know me/
The screen now flashed different small video clips and stills. One was of Stacie's special operations unit standing in formation, all decked out in gear with their arms crossed and shades on their eyes looking up at a camera. Another was a candid video of Chloe, Beca, Stacie, and Aubrey walking down the street eating ice cream cones and laughing as well as pictures of Beca, her fiancé and friends.
I've gotta get back now to the ones who love me/Wrap myself around you, never let you go/There's nothin' in the world that feels like
A silhouette of Beca facing the back of another woman framed by next words on the screen. The pictures and videos were flashing rather quickly, hard for someone not intimately familiar with Beca's life to understand but, the images matched the words to the song perfectly.
Coming home, home, home, mmm/Coming home
My mind's heavy and I can't sleep, not even a memory/Is good enough to get me through the night, mmm/I'm longing for the real thing, people who know the real me/And all the ways to love me back to life
The screen split with images from a drone flying over a building under constructing, zooming in to the words Atlanta Feed and Seed on the tall brick building. The other side was an eagle's look time-delay image of the beginnings of Beca and Chloe's house being built.
Mmm, I gotta get it right, ooh, yeah/Get it right, ooh, yeah
Next up was a longer instrumental portion with Beca strumming long notes on her guitar. The earlier silhouette lightened to reveal Chloe dancing with the wind blowing in her scarlet hair, gazing into the camera as if she could only see Beca through the lens.
There's nothin' in the world that feels like/Coming home/
I'm feeling lost in all the madness/I need somewhere to ease my mind/Coming home
These sidewalks filled with different faces/So many place but there's none like mine/Coming home
As the music notes faded and the stage lights dropped to black, the audience went wild. The lights came back up, and Ellen ran out to greet her. "Singing her new single Coming Home for the first time live, Beca Mitchell everyone. See you after the break."
Beca quickly ditched her guitar and ran off stage to change her shirt. "God I'm gross Theo. I'm not sure whether I sweated more because of nerves or the lights."
"You did good Beca. Now get out there and slay this interview."
"Ms. Mitchell, we are back live in 5-4-3…" the producer held up her fingers, two, one.
Ellen's voice came from the stage. "Wasn't that a treat everyone? I'll have you know that this little woman is in high demand. If you know anything about her at all, you know she doesn't give interviews or do performances. She just works her butt off and wins Grammys. Please give a warm welcome to two-time Grammy winner song writer and producer, Beca Mitchell."
The crowd went crazy, standing up and clapping before Beca even hit the stage. Beca came out and couldn't escape the traditional Ellen hug, but at least Chloe had made sure she was prepared for it. "Thanks Ellen. I'm honored to be here." She awkwardly waved at the crowd before sitting down.
"Kind of a big thing today. First live performance, first interview, lots of firsts. Why now?"
Beca gave a sheepish grin. "I suppose you could say that today is pretty monumental, Yeah. I have a lot going on in my life, and I figured now is as good of time as any."
"I have to say that the song you sang is fantastic. Wow!"
"Thank you. Dropped today matter of fact." Beca nodded. She had since tuned out the audience and focused only on her conversation with the hostess.
"The video seemed to tell a whole story. Can you give us a little bit of background?"
Beca grinned. "We put together the montage to tell a little about my life and why I wrote this song. I've spent a lot of time in Los Angeles lately, and everything is so sprawled out – dirty and impersonal. Most of the time when I'm here, all I can do is think of going home where things are more normal for me. You saw a few shots of the Atlanta Police Department." The audience clapped. "Thank you," she acknowledged the applause. "I used to work for the PD there. There were some clips of Stacie and Aubrey, our best friends. And you also saw part of the construction of the new studio my partner and I are building, and our new house."
"Our? You and your business partner are building a studio and a house?" Knowing what the singer had meant, Ellen was teasing Beca whose face flushed red.
"No. I mean I love Theo and all. But the house is for Chloe and me."
"And Chloe is the redhead we saw dancing in the video, right."
Beca blushed and nodded as her smile widened. "My fiancé." The crowd clapped and cheered.
"How'd she like the new song?" Ellen asked. "It seems to have a great deal of personal meaning for the both of you."
"Ummmm she hasn't heard it. Well she has now, but not before all of you." Beca pointed at the audience. "Today was her first listen."
Ellen looked confused. "But she was dancing to it."
Beca chuckled. "No, she was just dancing. She does that a lot. I got her to a photo shoot on a wind stage here during her last visit to LA and just told her to dance and have fun. She has no idea. Well, had no idea. Hi honey." Beca sheepishly waved to the camera.
"As much as I hate to say this, our time is up. I think we have only scratched the surface of what's behind Beca Mitchell. Thanks for coming." Ellen got up to give Beca a goodbye hug. As the show went to commercial, the cameras panned Beca moving through the audience signing autographs and taking selfies with the fans.
Chloe had been anxious all day since she knew that Beca was taping Ellen that morning. She would still be at work when it aired in Atlanta, and that itself was killing her. She had tried to ask for a few days off-work to go to Los Angeles for the taping, but Beca wanted her to stay in school. Aubrey, Stacie, and Chloe all agreed on a media blackout until they could have their own viewing party at Aubrey and Stacie's house that evening when they were all off work.
The girls ordered take out and were eating in their comfy clothes. Chloe was nervous and excited all at the same time. "Have you heard the song she's singing?" Stacie scooped some noodles into her mouth with chopsticks.
"Nope. It's all been some mystery. I couldn't even get anything out of Theo, and I even bribed him with chocolate chip cookies!"
Once they were ready, Aubrey started the DVR. As soon as Beca stepped on stage, Stacie grabbed the remote and paused it. "Seriously? She's on national television and wearing that? Oh Beca." The tiny singer was wearing a typical outfit – black tank top under a purple plaid button down, opened and tight skinny jeans with holes across both knees tucked into black combat boots.
"I think she looks adorable," Chloe chirped. "She's being herself – comfortable. Leave my fiancé alone Stace." The redhead grabbed the remote and restarted the segment, putting the remote far away from Stacie's hands.
The three watched in complete silence. When the performance was over, Chloe sat there in shock. She grabbed the remote and replayed it. When the Atlanta Police portion came up, she paused it. Stacie moved close to the screen and named off everyone. Chloe paused it again when the videos and pictures of Stacie and Aubrey came up and the ones of the four of them together. "Did you guys see someone videoing us or taking these shots?" With each few seconds advanced, Aubrey named off where they were when the clip or picture was taken.
"And that's the new studio, and OMG, our house being built." When Chloe's segment came up, she began crying. As the video moved into her dancing, she was moving into shock.
"I thought you hadn't heard the song Chloe." Aubrey looked at her friend.
"The first time I heard it was today with you guys."
"But you are dancing to it." The blonde looked confused.
"No. I'm just dancing. Beca took me to a photo shoot and said she wanted me to just have some fun. So… she put on some random song, and we danced. She's off camera but I danced by myself with her in front of me."
The trio were in shock at what Beca had put together to emphasize the meaning of the song. They all wanted to watch the performance one more time before they got to the interview. By now, the enormity of the song was sinking in – the words, the video, the meanings, everything. Then Ellen's actual interview was just the icing on the cake.
Right after the interview was done, Aubrey's doorbell rang. Since Bree and Chloe were involved in an intense conversation, Stacie went to answer the door. "Chloe, it's for you."
Confused, Chloe trotted over to the door. There, standing against the door frame, was Beca. The redhead threw her arms around her fiancé and buried her head in Beca's hair. "Babe! What are you doing here?"
"Coming home Bug. Coming home."
Fortunately for him, the contractor was able to complete construction on the house in time for Chloe's interior designer to have plenty of time to decorate the house before they had to be concerned about the outdoor decorations for the wedding. Because of her schedule and work obligations, Beca had not been out to the new house during most of the construction, just cursory walk-throughs while the house was in various rough stages. Then once their home had gotten to a certain point, Chloe forbade her from visiting to keep everything a big surprise.
When things were in place just right, Chloe decided she wanted to have a house-warming party with some of their local friends, particularly the ones who weren't going to be a part of the wedding. Because of the decision to add extended family to the wedding list, many of the friends and co-workers had to be trimmed because of space and logistics. But they were promised that the house-warming party would be much more fun than a stuffy wedding anyhow.
For the grand event, the redhead had a private chef lined up to cater from their kitchen inside the house. The roll-up door to the pool house was raised, and two bartenders set up shop on that side of the pool. Stacie insisted on manning the outdoor grills and made plans for Beca to be on the pizza oven once she finally got a chance to tour her own house.
Beca arrived right before the party was to begin, and Chloe met her by the garages in the basement. The redhead was so excited that she couldn't wait for Beca to get out of her truck. She flung open the door and offered her hand to her fiancé. "Welcome home Grasshopper."
Chloe was literally quivering with excitement. "I promise I won't show you everything right now – just the important stuff. Like this room for example." She dragged her through the open garage doors and tugged open the door to an expansive basement room which was decked out in recording equipment, Beca's personal instruments, and everything the songwriter/producer could dream of in a home office.
A shocked Beca stood there and walked around, touching each piece of equipment. "Wow Chlo. This is something else. This is … damn. It's too much. Thank you." She wrapped her arms around the redhead and gave her a long, sensual kiss.
Chloe giggled and pulled back. "Careful babe, we have a lot of people who will be here soon, and there's lots more to show you. Keep that up, and we won't make it out of the basement."
They held hands as they climbed the stairs to the main level. "We'll save the upstairs for later." Chloe whispered as she gave Beca a sexy wink. She proudly showed Beca the living and dining areas which led right into the massive kitchen. The chef Chloe had hired was seemingly utilizing every bit of counter space and every piece of restaurant grade equipment in her preparation of food for the guests.
The scene was almost overwhelming as Beca just took in everything that Chloe had designed. As they headed outside, something in the living room caught Beca's eye. She stopped, pulling on Chloe's hand, and pointed. "Is that…?" Beca knew it was but couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
"It's an early wedding present from Selena." Chloe was beaming at how surprised her fiancé was.
Beca released Chloe's hand and walked over to the instrument. She ran her fingers over the concert grand piano, slightly smudging the shiny surface. She looked back to Chloe. "Is this a Steinway?" Chloe nodded. Beca took a seat at the piano which must have been at least nine feet, lifted the lid, and began to play a beautiful piece. "I don't know what to say. Is she coming to the wedding?"
"Yes, babe. On the condition that you play an original song for her."
Beca grinned. She got up, closed the lid and went back to Chloe, so they could go outside and see their friends who were starting to arrive. The entire back of the house leading to the pool area was made up of either windows or oversized French doors. They stepped down the flagstone stairs and stood to admire the pool and hot tub.
Cocking her head sideways, Beca stared at the pool's edge, right above the water line. She meandered around the pool, eyes locked on the tiles and then circled back. She then hummed a few notes. "Babe?" Beca turned to look at Chloe who was patiently waiting for Beca to make the connection. "You put music notes around the pool?"
Chloe nodded. Beca looked at the notes and hummed again. Her eyes began to well up. "That's my song? That's the intro to Hurt Somebody!" As much as she tried, she couldn't keep the tears from falling. "I can't believe you thought to put the notes to my song around the edge of the pool like that."
"I put a lot of consideration into everything Becs. I love you. Nobody even really has to know the meaning behind the notes – but the musical ones of us will. And that will make it even more special." Chloe pulled Beca's face to hers with both hands and kissed her strongly. "Now enough of the house, for now. We have a party to join."
Beca trotted back up the short steps at the outdoor kitchen where Stacie was busy at the grills. "Fancy foods there sarge," Beca teased as the tall woman was keeping things simple by flipping burgers and hot dogs.
"Hey now! The professional chick inside is cooking more adult type foods. Lots of our friends are bringing their kids, so we figured this might be more to their liking."
Aubrey was making sure the grill fixings were ready, too, things like buns and rolls, condiments, and veggies. "Beca!" She greeted her short friend with a friendly hug. "Glad you are here. Now we can explain your part."
Beca was in charge of the pizza oven. The ingredients were already prepped and separated into bowls. Each person would be able to make their own six-inch pizza and give it to Beca to put in the brick oven. She was responsible for keeping an eye on each pizza to ensure nobody's burned, pulling them out in time, and cutting them into four pieces before getting the flatbread to its rightful owner.
"You are going to be an incredible pizzaiolo Grasshopper." Chloe was all smiles as she complimented her girlfriend.
"Yeah? Exactly what is your job here Bug? The rest of us seem to be occupied." Beca looked at Chloe teasingly.
"Why I'm the drink runner baby. I'll make sure you guys aren't thirsty. What's your poison?" She did a good job of greeting the guests as well as keeping the amateur chef's drinks full. After a bit, Chloe actually rotated in with the others to give everyone a break.
Eventually most of the kids were full and busy playing in the pool or dancing to the blaring music. The four hostesses were freed from their cooking responsibilities to finally mingle with their guests. Once they made the rounds and greeted everyone, all four women went upstairs to change into their swimsuits and cover-ups.
When they came back down, Theo had arrived. "I know, I know, I'm late. But hey, you didn't tell me that your pool was going to be open. I didn't bring a suit."
Chloe hooked her arm into his and began to walk him to the pool house. "Luckily we have a solution for that. Head to the bedroom on the left. Men's suits should be in there."
The party lasted well into the night. The parents with small children were the first to start heading home. Many of the older kids were sacked out on the various lawn chairs scattered around the pool and hot tub. The heat and excitement had made for a long and tiring day. Chloe gave several small tours of the entire house, showing off the design and architectural features. She was rightfully proud of her hard work in make sure everything was perfect for Beca and herself in their forever home.
Eventually the only people left were Beca, Chloe, Aubrey and Stacie. The hired hands had taken responsibility for cleaning up the entire property. The leftover food had been packaged up and stored in the large refrigerator in the kitchen. Even the pool towels and borrowed suits were in the pool room washing machine.
The four friends were sitting in the living room, each partner enjoying the quiet with their fiancé. Beca pulled Chloe into her and kissed the top of her head. "You did good Bug. On the house AND the party."
Aubrey and Stacie were also both extremely complimentary of the redhead's efforts as well. They were particularly excited that she had thought enough of them to give them a permanent room in the house. "I noticed that it's allllll the way at the end, far, far away from your room." Stacie teased.
"You seem to forget I shared an apartment with you for years Stace. I know how loud you can get." Beca teased right back as Aubrey immediately blushed with her comments.
Ignoring both the brunettes, Chloe spoke to Aubrey. "Bree you two can make that room completely your own. I didn't do much decorating. Of course, you need to bring some clothes over, too." She was excited that she and Beca were able to provide a place for their friends to stay.
"Well for tonight, we brought a change of clothes in a suitcase." The blonde smiled at her friend. "That'll have to do."
"Long as you don't wander the hallways naked, it's all good." Beca wasn't going to stop teasing now that she had Aubrey embarrassed.
Stacie was the first to make a move. She stood and offered her hand to pull Aubrey up. "I don't mean to party then sleep, but I think it's time for Aubrey and me to head to bed. Love you two."
"Night!"
After their friends retreated up the staircase and were safely in their room, Beca pulled her fiancé into a loving embrace. "Oh Chloe. How can I ever thank you for everything? This house, the details, it's all overwhelming."
The redhead blushed as she tried to wave off the compliments, but inside she was pleased that Beca's initial reactions to the design was positive. She'd been terrified that a detail would go awry or be left out.
Beca reached around and gently grasped Chloe's chin to pull her head to face her. Closing her eyes, Beca pressed her lips against the redhead's – gentle at first before deepening the kiss, bringing things to a higher intensity. She stood, pulling Chloe with her as she placed both hands on either side of her fiancé's face. Slipping one arm behind the redhead's back, she pulled Chloe in tight as they got lost in the kiss. "Do I get to see upstairs now?" Beca murmured through the kiss.
About that time, the moment was abruptly broken as a pillow came flying from upstairs and hit Beca squarely in the back of the head. "Get a room you two!" Stacie scurried back into her room before her tiny friend could yell at her.
Coming Home: Keith Urban
The video montage was inspired by what he had playing on the screens during his Ellen performance. Of course, with creative changes made on my whims.
