A/N: Okay, I'm going to go on a little tiny rant so bare with me for a second... I have received very little feedback be it favorites, follows, or reviews (good or bad) for this story in a very long time, leading me to believe no one is reading or enjoying it. That said, I'm questioning whether or not I should continue. I love writing, but I want people to enjoy it and tell me if they do or want me to change anything. So, thank you to the few people who have reviewed and followed or favorited the story. But I my be ending it soon provided that people continue to not give any feedback at all. Thanks...
"Chlo! They're over there!" Beca said, pulling an energetic Chloe towards their friends seated in the crowd.
"I see them!" She replied as they made their way through the crowd to their friends. It was the day Jordan, Katie, Dayton, Hayden, and Mark were graduating from high school and all of their family and friends had arrived at the outdoor amphitheater to celebrate the occasion. Chloe, Beca, and Benton made it to where all of the parents and the rest of the kids were sitting. Once they sat down, Renee and Rachel ran through the sea of legs to climb up on Beca and Chloe's laps. They were very excited to see their favorite aunts since they didn't get to see them as often as the bigger kids.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this year's graduation class of Woodgrove Academy!" The principle said excitedly into the microphone. She waited a few minutes for the crowd to settle down before she continued. "We have over three hundred students graduating from our private school today and we are very excited that you are all here to share this momentous occasion with us! Without further ado, the graduating class of 2030!" She announced as the class made their way from back stage to the seats directly in front of the stage where they would wait to hear their name called and receive their diploma.
"Do you see them?" Beca questioned excitedly.
"There's Dayton!" Stacie almost yelled while Benji and Jesse stood up and whooped and hollered, much to Aubrey's dismay.
"I see Katie and Jordan! Right behind Hayden!" Chloe said cheerfully as she took pictures with her ginormous camera. Beca had always insisted their phones had the best camera and they were easier to use but Chloe never went to a special occasion like this one without her digital camera.
"And Mark towards the back!" Aubrey added.
"Our babies are all grown up!" Emily exclaimed.
They soon quieted down after the students started getting called up individually, mostly because Aubrey (and Beca to some degree) were embarrassed of the commotion being caused by the row of friends that would not stop yelling and squealing.
"Hayden Applebaum." She walked up the stairs and across the stage, pausing for Emily to take a picture when she heard her name called.
After about ten other students, Jordan was called, followed by Katie. The section of Beale-Mitchel's and friends went wild, just as they had for Hayden, and did again for Dayton. And celebrated again after Mark's name had been called. When the long ceremony was over, the group walked around to the side of the stage to meet the graduates. As they made their appearance, they once again yelled and cheered and rushed to hug all of them as Emily, Chloe, and Aubrey tried to take as many pictures as possible. "We are so unbelievably proud of you kiddos and we are feeling very bitter-sweet that you are all grown up and ready to go to college." Jesse said.
"Now, we know you all want to go celebrate with you friends, so go out and have fun. We will all be meeting up at The Meatball for dinner at six and then you munchkins must report to the Beale-Mitchel home for more hugs and embarrassing picture slideshows." Beca added.
"We love you have fun!" Stacie yelled as they kids moved to hug their parents and head off to their cars to party with their friends.
"So, we'll meet you guys at the restaurant at 5:30. I reserved their backroom, we'll get their presents set up before they arrive. Beca, Stacie, and I will be setting up for the party all afternoon. Feel free to drop by to hang out or help during the day. And remember not to mention anything about relatives and other surprises we have planned!" Chloe announced to the remaining adults. Once everyone was clear on the plan, they split up to head to their destinations. Beca and Chloe had decided to take Renee, Rachel, Cassie, and Brad with them and Stacie to give the parents some time without little kids and because they missed having younger kids in the house.
"Okay, kidds, follow Aunt Beca to the backyard so you can help her set up the decorations while Aunt Chloe and I get food ready!" Stacie instructed.
"I can't believe their all so grown up, it was like just yesterday we all had infants and were trying to figure out what to do with them. And now, we have teenagers, most of whom are about to move out!" Chloe sighed as she and Stacie made their way to the kitchen.
"I know. We really have had some great times over the years. I remember we practically lived here at least the first year of our kids' lives so we could help each other out. You guys had twins, it was just me and Dayton, Benji was practically useless since he still couldn't get over the fact that he had Emily never mind a kid with her, and Aubrey was way to stressed mostly about how laid back Jesse was." Stacie laughed, looking back at the memories they had.
"We found some home videos of all of us. Beca put them together to show at the party." Chloe responded, getting the food out to start putting it together.
"I can't wait to see those! We all looked so young and energetic and tired at the same time." Stacie replied excitedly.
"Damn, we used to have some fun! Remember leaving a couple at home with all the kids to take turns going out and get hammered?" Chloe replied, laughing at the memory of usually leaving Benji and Jesse and sometimes Beca home while everyone else went out to party all night.
"You know, pretty soon we're going to be the ones watching the kids when our kids want a break from our grandkids." Stacie reminded her.
"It makes me feel so old, but I can't wait to spoil some grandkids. Our kids get annoyed when I try to spoil them too much!" Chloe replied.
Outside in the backyard, the kids were stringing lights through the trees and around the patio while Beca set up a projector and screen to show pictures and videos and a small DJ booth were she would play a playlist she has already preset. "Brad, when your done with the lights over there, would you go into the pool house and start bringing out the tables for Aunt Chloe and Stacie to put the food on?" She thanked him when he agreed.
After a few hours of decorating and preparing, Chloe walked outside to round everyone up. "Alright lovelies, it's time to come in and get ready for dinner. You kids can use the three guest bathrooms on the upstairs level and your clothes are all laid out on the bed in the room at the end of the hall, Beca you need to shower and I already put your dress out. Aunt Stacie and I will be downstairs if anyone needs any help getting ready. All of the girls need to have us brush and do your hair understood?" She instructed. This was certainly not her first time getting her wife and several kids ready to leave to go somewhere all at once, and in a timely fashion. They all filed inside to do what they were told. After an hour, everyone was ready to leave and The adults divided everyone up into the two cars and the group headed to the restaurant to meet up with everyone else.
"There's our graduates!" Jesse cried as the teenagers walked into the backroom of the Italian restaurant. The people already at the table stood to hug and congratulate them all over again.
"Can we eat? I'm starving. No one would let me eat all day since we were coming here!" Benton exclaimed, earning a light slap from his girlfriend and a laugh from everyone else.
"Yes! Come sit and we will order our food." Chloe directed the kids to their seats and the server showed up to take everyone's orders.
After about an hour of eating and reminiscing old times, Beca stood up to address everyone. "First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming today. Stacie, Emily, Benji, Jesse, Aubrey, and of course my beautiful wife Chloe, thank you all for having such amazing kids and allowing all of us to be a part of each other's lives. That is not a privilege many get and I am forever grateful. To Fat Amy, Bumper, Cynthia-Rose, Genevieve, Mallory, and Amanda, thank you for constantly being there whenever one of our kids needed anything, or a parent needed comfort because a child was driving us crazy. Thank you to Benton, Brad, Renee, Cassie and Rachel, you all have been remarkable siblings to all of these fine adults and have taught all of us so much over the years. I know you have been the ones to make your siblings or girlfriend laugh when they needed it or been that shoulder they needed to cry on. And as a mom, I am so grateful they could have people as amazing as all of you to spend time with when they either didn't want to or couldn't come to one of us. Lastly, thank you so very much to Dayton, Mark, Katie, Jordan, and Hayden for being you. You four were born so close to each other and we as a collective group had absolutely no idea what we were doing. Despite our failures and struggles, you four have turned into some pretty smarty, talented, and successful adults. You guys are our life and I am so thankful I get to know you all on such a personal level. We are all so proud of you." She raised her wine glass and the rest of the adults followed suit, yelling 'cheers' and 'congrats' to the four graduates.
Standing up to Beca, Chloe continued the speech. "Now, to show you all how proud we are of you and to give you a little something to take with you to college, us parents got you all a present. Before you open them I want to say this: You may never leave this area, or you may end up half way across the world. But you must remember this: In this room are sitting several adults that love you all very very much. If you need a laugh, a shoulder to cry on, someone to take you shopping, advice, or just someone to confide in, we are all either just a phone call away or a plane away or whatever it takes to get to you. It is your foundation of this family that has supported you through the beginning years of your lives, and it will be the same foundation to support you through the rest of your lives." She concluded and everyone raised their glasses once again.
Stacie, Chloe, Aubrey, and Emily got up and walked to the wall where the presents were leaning and brought them over to their respective children. The five graduates hurriedly opened their presents. Jordan received a brand new set of headphones and a laptop made specially for mixing and editing songs, along with a note from Beca saying she would always have a job at Legacy Records. Mark received the keys to his own Mustang after he had drooled over his dad's for years. Katie received two plane tickets and movie passes to see her favorite actor in a movie that was getting adapted from her all time favorite book in a couple of months in New York with Dayton, along with a note from Chloe and Beca telling her to have as much fun as possible, but not to do anything they wouldn't do. Dayton was excited to open his present and find season tickets to box seats for the Giants and a pass to be on the field. Lastly, Hayden found a receipt for a rental space that included art supplies so she would be able to pursue her love for art in a private loft.
"W-What… How… But like huh?" Jordan finally said, making everyone else laugh.
"Happy graduation!" Aubrey responded cheerfully.
"You guys deserve to do or have something that you will always remember, something uniquely special to you. We are grateful we can afford to do stuff like this and we want you to always have this memory." Benji added.
"Well thank you!" Jordan exclaimed finally, jumping up to hug her moms. The other four followed suit and pretty soon everyone was hugging all over again.
"We also have one more thing." Emily called once the group had settled. "You three girls are going on a spa day together while you boys are getting a personal tour of the NASCAR museum and getting driven around a race track with a driver. Then, we are treating you adorable couples to dinner and a movie. Just your bonus, 'hey congrats you earned a break' kind of gift." This was greeted by another round of 'thank yous' and hugs.
"Now let's go party!" Jesse said finally, ready to move on to the next activity planned. The parents paid for the meal and they all headed to the Beale-Mitchel home.
"Surprise!" Chloe's family yelled as the family walked into the house. Jordan and Katie stopped, in compete shock that their family would fly from Georgia all the way to LA to see them
"Grandma? Grandpa? Uncle Bryan and Aunt Claudia! Nick and Mallory!" Jordan exclaimed finally, running up to hug her grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins. Beca had never really gotten along with her family and they had a difficult time coming to terms with her and Chloe being together, causing Beca to break off communications when they moved to LA. The kids had met her mom a couple of times, but they didn't know anyone else from her side, so the whole family had gotten very close to the Beale's.
"There's our awesome grandkids! We are so proud of you two!" Their grandma, Heather cooed as she hugged her three grandchildren.
"So this is your last surprise. We wanted them to come for the ceremony, but it didn't work out, but they're here for the party!" Chloe exclaimed happily.
"This is awesome! I'm so glad to see all of you! It's been a while." Katie said.
After many greetings and hugs, everyone made it out to the backyard where all their friends were and the party began.
"Attention everyone! We would like to call these five beautiful children of ours up here for a sappy speech." Beca said on the microphone. They made it to where their parents were standing and waited for whatever is was they had to say as Chloe took the mic.
"We have prepared a short slideshow of these guys growing up before we send them off into the world. I just want to say, on the behalf of all of us, once again how proud we are of you and how much we love all of you." When she finished talking, Jesse hit 'play' on the video and it started showing baby pictures of the kids individually and together. Everyone laughed at the picture of Katie throwing birthday cake at Jordan's face and the next one of a seven year old Dayton tackling Hayden as they played football in the park. After the pictures, they showed a video of Chloe sitting on the floor in the kitchen, helping Katie learn to walk, then it changed to a video of Jesse showing all of the kids how to throw a football. The last video they showed was one of Jesse, Aubrey, Beca, Emily, Benji, Stacie, Benton, Katie, Jordan, Dayton, Hayden, and Mark (all about six month to a year and a half) sitting on the patio while Chloe walked around with the camera and recorded them all interacting as fairly new parents. When the video was over, Chloe, Beca, Emily, and Aubrey were besides themselves with tears, so Stacie took the mic to finish the speech. "Well, obviously we are all very emotional, but I think that pretty much sums up how much fun we've all had watching these crazy people grow up. Thank you all for coming."
That night, Beca and Chloe were laying in each other's arms. "How did this all happen? Just yesterday you were standing in my shower trying to get me to sing your lady jam." Beca giggled at the memory.
"You wanna know something?" Chloe asked.
"What?" Beca asked, turning to face Chloe.
"I was totally checking you out." Chloe said, wearing a shit-eating grin.
"You weren't being stealth about it. It's not like I wasn't checking you out either." Beca replied.
"I love you. You are so amazing and still as hot as that day in the shower, if not hotter." Chloe said lovingly.
"Yeah, right!" Beca replied.
"Oh, come on you know you're still sexy." Chloe responded.
"Well it's hard to compete with your sexy ass." Beca replied, kissing Chloe.
"Kids! Breakfast!" Beca called up the stairs as she and Chloe finished plating the gourmet breakfast they had made.
"Morning sleepy heads! Ready for a fun family day?" Chloe asked cheerfully, walking around the counter to hug all of them.
"Why couldn't it have started three hours from now?" Benton asked groggily.
"Because this is our last day before your sisters move into college and we want to spend as much time together as we can." Beca replied.
"I can't believe my babies are leaving me!" Chloe said, starting to tear up.
Beca hugged her from the side. "It's okay, Chlo. At least we still have squirt here for another year.
"Technically, you have me for one more day. I'm not moving into my dorm until Monday." Jordan reminded them.
"So what are we doing today?" Katie wondered as she shoved pancakes in her mouth.
"We're going to go shopping in Beverly Hills so you girls can find some clothes to take with you, and we made reservations at One Pico, then we are going to have our photographer take some family photos of us and we are going to have a picnic on the beach while we watch the sun go down and eat dinner." Beca explained.
"And no one will complain about the pictures. I've already heard enough of that from your mom." Chloe warned.
"Sounds like fun." Jordan replied. They all hurried to finish up their food and get ready so they could drive to Hollywood.
"Okay guys you each get $100 to spend on clothes and if you want more from that, you're going to have to get Mom to get all girly and talk me into paying for something that 'just looks too cute to handle!'" Beca instructed, teasingly mocking Chloe as she gave them money. Of course, this earned her a light slap from her wife.
"And since this is a family day, we are staying together." Chloe reminded. With that, they were headed down Santa Monica Boulevard, going in and out of shops while the kids found clothes. Even though it was a family day and they were all together, Beca and Chloe still acted like they were in their own little world. If they weren't helping one of the kids find a different size or helping them try something on, they were holding hands and goofing around, trying on crazy hats and sneaking kisses. After shopping, they headed to Santa Monica to eat and have family pictures taken. Most of the pictures were goofy and involved them all chasing each other around, throwing sand and tackling each other, but they got a couple serious ones. After flipping through them on the photographer's camera, Chloe decided that she wanted all of them printed but the ones of them acting crazy were by far her favorites. (Beca didn't care what picture ended up above their fireplace, she was just happy to be with her kids and wife for another day.)
As they sat on the blanket, watching the sun set, and eating their food, Chloe leaned into Beca and sighed, a tear rolling down her cheek. "This is not the last day we're going to be able to do stuff like this, Babe. It's going to be okay." Beca reminded her.
"I know. I'm just sad our babies are so grown up it's like I blinked and it happened. I always thought the people warning me to enjoy the days where I was so exhausted I couldn't think straight and I had a teething baby, one with colic, and one that wouldn't sleep were crazy, but I would do anything to relive those days.
"I know, Babe. But getting to say goodbye to this chapter of our lives means saying hello to a new chapter." Beca said softly.
"You're right and I know it. I'm just a little sad." Chloe responded.
"So am I. We have each other for that." Beca replied.
"I love you." Chloe leaned over to kiss Beca.
"I love you too, so so much." Beca kissed her back.
Katie woke up to the soft knocking on her door. She turned to look at the clock to see in was two o'clock in the morning. "What?" She asked groggily. A shadow appeared in the doorway and made its way over to the bed. She recognized the petite figure as her sister's.
"I can't sleep. Tomorrow you leave for college and I leave the next day, and then it's just life." Jordan whispered.
Katie sat up and made room for Jordan so they could sit next to each other. "I know what you mean. I can't believe we are about to move out. And leave poor Benton behind with moms." She replied, laughing at the thought of him all alone with their crazy mothers.
"So you remember that day when we were five and Mama took us out of school and got Benton from preschool and took us to the park without Mom knowing? We played catch and Mama got in the sandbox with us and pushed us on the swings." Jordan reminisced.
"And then we got home and Mom was waiting for us." Katie added, laughing at the memory. "She was so pissed and Mama being Mama, she tried to be a bad ass about it and explain no one could keep her from taking her kids out of school."
"But Mom gave her that look and Mama crumbled. That was one of the best memories I have. I mean, Mama probably thought nothing of it. She just came and got us and took us to the park to play, but it was so fun knowing we were doing something we shouldn't and getting to spend that extra time with her." Jordan replied.
"And eventually Mom caved and they made it a tradition to randomly pull us out of school one day every year to got do something like shop, or see a movie, or go to the beach." Katie continued.
"I'm glad you and I are close. I like having a twin, even though we really don't look that much alike." Jordan said, gesturing to her brunette hair and short body and Katie's red hair and long, skinny body.
"I don't know how its possible, but you do look a lot like Mama and I look a lot like Mom." Katie agreed. At that, they saw another shadow appear in the doorway and watched a very sleepy Benton make his way across the room.
"What are you guys doing?" He asked.
"I couldn't sleep so I came in here and we were just talking about old memories." Jordan replied.
"We are never at a shortage of crazy memories when we have moms like ours." He agreed.
Jordan giggled. "Remember the time Mama brought Bailey home as a Valentine's Day present for Mom?" she asked.
"How could I forget that day? Katie was sick with the flu, you would not stop crying about something, and I was bouncing off the walls because my birthday was in two days and Mama had left Mom alone with the three of us all day while she was at work. Mama had been up the night before between Katie throwing up and my nightmares and for whatever reason she let Mama sleep. So at the end of the day, Mama walks in with a puppy and Mom lost it." He laughed.
"Mama walked in all happy saying surprise and happy valentine's day! And all she saw was the three of us driving each other crazy and Mom standing in the kitchen crying and screaming a puppy is the very last thing she needs in her life." Benton replied.
"I've never seen Mama go into good-wife mode so fast before." Katie giggles.
"Nothing will ever beat the time when Mom and Mama totally ruined your eighth birthday party though, Benton." Jordan suddenly recalled.
"Oh, don't even get me started on that day. Everything went great until someone told them I had a crush on Rosie Valery from my class and they started running around trying to get us to dance together. Pretty soon, everyone was saying I had cooties and I'm pretty sure the only ones that ended up on the dance floor were moms." Benton replied.
"That was priceless." Katie agreed.
"I'm gonna miss this. Our late night talks, our covering for each other when we sneak out. These are good times and it's all gonna be different now." Jordan said sadly.
"At least we did get to have the experiences we did. I mean we are the only three people on the planet that know what it's like to have our moms as moms and as crazy as they are, that's pretty awesome." Benton replied.
"You're right, little bro. It's pretty awesome." Katie agreed. After talking and reminiscing a little more, they all eventually feel asleep on Katie's queen sized bed.
Chloe found them all sleeping on the bed the next morning and ran to get Beca to show her. "Look at them. So close and loving. We did good." She said, holding Beca in her arms.
"We sure did." Beca agreed.
A/N: Please, guys let me know what you are thinking. I have a lot planned and would like to share it with you, but I'm going to need some feedback (good or bad!)