Nowish

by Psy456

Post Worlds. Bechloe. Staubrey. Bellas Squared/Stechlobree. A story in which I created a life I fell in love with and convinced myself by accident that this could work. Let me try and convince you too. Story 3 (for now) of my A Shared Lifetime series.

10. Need

~A~

Aubrey threw away the last of the napkins and turned around to lean against the counter. "We should go in the hot tub."

"Oooh, it has been a while." Chloe closed the fridge where she'd been putting away the pizza leftovers.

Stacie turned toward the back door. "I'll go get it ready."

"Wait!" Beca's Captain voice stopped them all. "You can't go out naked, Stace. It's still light out for a few hours."

Aubrey took a moment to eye Stacie's back. "She's right; plus they'll call animal control because there's a leopard loose." She looked over in time to see Beca flush.

"Uh…" Beca blinked. "Uhhhh-" It was higher and Aubrey could hear the echoes of Amy in it and it made her smile.

"No, B, don't you dare apologize." Stacie grinned. "I really liked getting them." Beca's blush spread to the tops of her breasts as Chloe chuckled.

Aubrey walked over to her. "It's okay, Becs." She cupped Beca's cheek. "I like looking at them. There is a certain artistry to it. Did you have any specific pattern in mind?" Her lips twitched as she tried to keep them still.

Beca stepped forward, still blushing furiously but her eyes were serious. "Need." She pulled Aubrey in for a kiss. Aubrey leaned into her, all smooth skin and heat, as their lips slid together, not needing anything deeper than the contact. Then she jumped as Beca pinched her ass. "Now let's get upstairs so Chlo and I can put on bikinis and you guys can grab enough clothes to make a not-completely-naked dash through the backyard."

Aubrey laughed and pushed her away. "Bossy!"

Chloe started herding them toward the stairs. "Kettle." Aubrey laughed again but went upstairs willingly as Beca scooped her clothes off the floor, detouring to toss them in the laundry room.

But instead of going for her clothes in the pile on the floor, Aubrey burrowed her way into the closet.

"Bree?" Beca followed. "Whatcha doin'?" She ran her hand across Aubrey's back. Aubrey smiled to herself at the casualness of it and didn't think Beca even realized she'd done it.

"Getting something to wear." Aubrey sorted through various items before she pulled out what she was looking for.

"That's… I mean those are…" Beca trailed off as she watched Aubrey get dressed. Her voice turned soft. "Okay."

Aubrey stepped into the pair of Chloe's shorts that she'd selected. She looked up at Beca and saw her eyes were as soft as her voice had been; she understood. Aubrey was taking pieces of them with her and they were not getting these back for a while. She pulled one of Beca's numerous oversized hoodies over her head, this one a blue that tried (and failed) to match Chloe's eyes. It felt soft, and probably too warm for July in California, but she wasn't going to wear it for that long and it warmed far more than just her skin.

"Aw." Chloe had pulled out a green bikini and was watching them. "That's… If I wasn't stuffed on pizza and sex that would make me cry." But her eyes held a hint of moisture.

"You're stuffed on sex? You're like, full?" Stacie was skeptical. "I dunno, I feel like that's something I should challenge."

Chloe laughed. "I'd let you, if the thought of getting in your hot tub first didn't sound heavenly." She wiggled into her suit and Aubrey saw both Beca and Stacie's heads tilt to the side as they watched. Chloe ran a brush through her hair, pulling it back into a pony tail.

"She said 'first', love." Aubrey nudged Stacie. "Get dressed so we can head over." She went to take the brush from Chloe, but she just smiled at Aubrey and told her to turn around. Delighted, Aubrey faced away from Chloe and let her brush out the tangles they'd caused rolling around in bed all afternoon. Her eyes closed at the simple pleasure it brought her to be wrapped in Beca's hoodie while letting Chloe care for her.

"Right." Stacie shook herself. "Clothes." She turned but Beca was already handing her the items she'd worn over earlier. "Thanks, B."

"It's not that I don't admire all the view," she eyed Stacie slowly from head to toe. "But sometimes I think the other neighbors are nosy and I'd rather not give 'em a show." Beca headed for her dresser. "At least not too much of one." She pulled out a very skimpy black bikini and began to pull it on.

Stacie just put on her shirt and shorts, holding her bra and underwear in one hand. "No use in getting all this on if I'm just going to put on my suit." She considered. "Though, you know. Since we each have a drawer here and all, why have we never put suits in it? It's all boring sleep clothes and daily wear."

"You guys can put anything you want in your drawers." Chloe paused mid-stroke through Aubrey's hair. "There's probably a sex joke in that begging to be made." Aubrey opened her eyes to meet Stacie's, fully expecting her to supply one.

"Especially if it's us you want to put in your drawers." Beca supplied, having sat on the edge of the bed while they got ready. "And, you know, non-boring sleep clothes." Beca shrugged. "Just a thought." She paused and Aubrey just knew Beca was picturing them in sexy lingerie when she began to grin. It caused a wave of heat to pass through her before she filed the thought away.

"See? I knew there was one!" Chloe ran the brush down once more before tossing it to Beca who squawked as she barely caught it before it hit her in the face. "Almost done." Her fingers ran through Aubrey's hair, slowly caressing her scalp. Aubrey hummed in quiet contentment as it was repeated several times.

Stacie shrugged, combing the worst of her tangles out with her fingers. "It's not like we're in any rush. Work isn't till Tuesday." She moved over to stand in front of Aubrey and ran her hand down her wife's arms. "Plenty of time."

Aubrey pulled her down for a kiss. "Plenty." When Chloe patted her shoulder Aubrey leaned down and grabbed her clothes from the floor and folded them neatly.

After a few quick passes with it, Beca put the brush down on the dresser. "Think we're all decent enough to not scandalize anyone anymore." She turned and headed out the door.

"Holy shit, DJ. Where's the rest of your bottoms?" Stacie let out a wolf whistle. "All I see is… your actual bottom."

Aubrey had to admit, the view they were presented with left nothing to the imagination thanks to the thong they'd somehow missed Beca putting on. "I thought you said you weren't going to scandalize anyone?"

"Why haven't I seen this before?" Chloe stepped close and ran one hand down Beca's back and over the swell of her ass.

"It may in fact be new." Beca's smile was mischievous as she looked over her shoulder. "I may have picked it up a few weeks ago." She headed downstairs as the rest followed.

"Any particular reason?" Aubrey asked idly, unable to keep her eyes off the swaying in front of her. Apparently neither could Stacie as she missed the first step and had to grab the bannister to keep from falling. She turned to look at her wife, filled with affection and amusement, one eyebrow arching. Stacie shrugged helplessly at being caught staring and gestured at Beca as if to say 'can you blame me?' Well, more accurately, towards Beca's ass. Aubrey blew her a kiss as they reached the bottom of the stairs without incident. No, no she could not. She wasn't sure why the suit was affecting them both this way considering they'd all literally been naked mere minutes ago, and making love an hour before that.

"Three of them, actually. Three very important ones." Beca continued through the kitchen and out the back door. Chloe stepped up beside her, lacing their fingers together as they shared an affectionate look that still somehow managed to include Aubrey and Stacie in its radius. Aubrey linked her fingers with Stacie and brought her hand up to kiss her knuckles.

Aubrey smiled to herself as she followed through the yard, thankful the sun had shifted and the hot tub was in shade. It was an in ground spa that fit seven comfortably. It had a short series of stairs leading down in the 'front' right corner, leaving the rest of the sides for seating, which included a full lounge seat along the left side toward the back and various bench seating around the rest.

"You guys go get into your suits, Beca and I can get the cover off." Chloe pushed them toward their door.

"Now who's bossy?" Stacie laughed and she opened the door for Aubrey. "Back down in a jiffy."

Aubrey hummed under her breath as they went upstairs. She put the clothes from earlier in the hamper and pulled Beca's hoodie off. She buried her nose in it, inhaling deeply, happy that it smelled like Beca and not just detergent.

Stacie came up behind her, already naked again. "Lemme." Aubrey obligingly held it up for Stacie to lean over and sniff. "Yeah. That's…" She sighed. "Gonna be nice to snuggle up with you on the couch while you're wearing it." She wrapped her arms around Aubrey. "You still good?"

Tossing the hoodie gently on the bed, Aubrey leaned back, her hands coming up to hold Stacie's forearm. "I feel silly for worrying so much before." Stacie tightened her grip a little in agreement. "Nothing feels different."

"Nothing at all." Stacie kissed the side of her head. "Well. Almost. It feels-" She hesitated.

"More?" When she felt Stacie nod she asked, cautiously, "Is that bad?"

"I don't… I don't want to really answer that now?" She must have felt Aubrey tense because she continued quickly. "That's a longer discussion, much longer, I think, than we can have while they're downstairs. Not that they'd mind waiting, but..." She turned Aubrey gently to meet her eyes. "But I will say that I don't think it is. Bad, I mean, it's not… There's a lot going on in all of us right now. Things we need to think about when we're not all-" She waved her hand.

"Sex crazed?" Aubrey smiled. She understood what Stacie was saying. They should just enjoy the now, before thinking of tomorrow. Tomorrow, eventually, was soon enough to return to reality and fit this into their lives, however it landed. Though she had a feeling that her definition of reality was going to change.

"Psh, no. I'm sex crazed all the time." Stacie smirked before she turned to their dresser. Aubrey tugged her back around and tucked herself under Stacie's chin, simply enjoying the soft skin and heartbeat she could feel against her own. Stacie cradled her gently, understanding that she wanted to take a moment for just them. After a few minutes she continued her train of thought, her hands wandering across Aubrey's back. "I'm married to you. I'm turned on like 24/7."

"Flattery will get you everywhere." Aubrey laughed and reached past her to pull out the red bikini from the cruise.

Stacie grabbed a blue bikini as skimpy as Beca's. "That's the plan, babe, that's the plan."

As they got dressed, Aubrey let her worries fade. It may be illogical, which was something she disliked, but something was telling her they'd be okay. They'd all be okay. And it'd all just be… more.

~B~

"Hey, B?" Stacie pushed her way out the door with a handful of towels. "Bree wants some help making up a tray of tasty snacks and wine." She paused by the hot tub and watched as Chloe finished securing the cover. "Can you go help and gimme some more quality time with your wife?" She set the towels beside the tub before pulling off the black hoodie she'd come down in and tossing it on one of the chairs.

"When did this become slave labor?" Beca asked, but her eyes were on Stacie as the latter tinkered with the controls and the jets in the tub all sprang to life.

"Oh, I'm sure we can figure out some form of payment, don't worry." Aubrey's teasing voice pulled Beca's attention back to the door.

"Red looks so good on you, Bree." Chloe said as she passed Beca on the way to the stairs down into the spa. She gave Aubrey a thorough once over and whistled. "Good thing I'm not drinking anything or I'd be choking on ice again." She stepped into the water and sighed blissfully.

Beca watched as Aubrey shook her head, the smile she wore was pleased but clearly indicated that she thought Chloe had just said something silly. Beca felt echoes of their talk earlier and knew that Aubrey still wasn't fully able to believe they would want her as they did. She followed as Aubrey turned around and went into the kitchen. "She's right, Bree." She stepped up behind Aubrey as she went to the counter. "That's one hell of a suit." She ran her hand down Aubrey's back and around her hip, pressing firmly, trying to both ground her and show that Beca meant what she was saying. Beca felt Aubrey shiver as she placed a single kiss between her shoulder blades then stepped back to the center island. "Okay, put me to work."

Taking a moment to gather herself, shivers still visible in the rippling muscles of her back, Aubrey looked over her shoulder. "Music?" She stepped over to pull several containers out of the fridge.

"Sure." Beca had helped them set up their player, having provided most of the music over the years. Soon something mellow was playing softly through the speakers outside, the volume considerably lower than the party yesterday, but would still be audible over the sounds of the tub. "Anything else?" She turned around and whistled. "You're like a magician. Like Stacie, except yours doesn't involve getting naked, it's preparing food." She stepped back to the counter where Aubrey was setting down dishes in a tray. "Both are equally awesome and I may be a little jealous that I don't have a superpower."

"Most of it was backups for the party." Aubrey shrugged. "I wanted to be ready after last year. And, I know we just had pizza, but I'm still feeling peckish." Beca squinted, wondering if she really heard something under Aubrey's words or if she was still in the gutter. Probably both. Aubrey turned to look at her affectionately. "Oh, and your superpower is your snark. It's almost legendary."

Beca's eyebrows went up. "What do you mean 'almost'?"

"This way you still have something to work toward, so you don't just sit back and rest on your snarky laurels." She got another dish from the fridge.

"Keep me from getting lazy?" Beca grinned at her. "Because I think we both know that's a lost cause."

Aubrey let out a faux long suffering sigh. "I know. But that gives me something to work toward." Her voice took on her Lodge-lecturer tone. "Getting you to run with me will be my goal."

"Oh Bree." Beca shook her head sadly. "Don't set yourself up for failure like that."

"We'll see." Aubrey smiled sweetly, her tone so certain, and Beca looked at her narrowly. "If you give me a sec, I'll go get a bottle of wine from the pantry." At Beca's somewhat untrusting nod, she stepped out.

Beca looked down at the tray and smiled. Only Aubrey would have a fully prepped tray of finger food ready to go at a moment's notice. Carrots, tomatoes, and celery surrounded a small dish of ranch on one platter. Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries filled another. There was even a smaller dish of what appeared to be summer sausage and aged white cheddar cheese, which Beca had become addicted to this summer thanks to snacks like this. Aubrey really was a wizard with food.

Aubrey stepped back into the room with two bottles. She set one on the counter and opened the other. She saw Beca's face and shrugged. "I can't help it. I host."

"You're the best host, Bree." Beca stepped over and kissed her shoulder. "You take care of us perfectly." She looked around. "I would offer to get the glasses, but you people are taller than me and I don't want to climb on the counter in this suit."

Aubrey laughed and set the wine down on another tray. "I got it."

After Aubrey had retrieved them and arranged the bottles and glasses to her liking, Beca opened the door for her before going back for the food. Once she was out, she hip checked the door closed.

Stacie was reclining in the lounger seat in the spa, facing away from the stairs, Chloe sitting along the back so they could face each other and talk. Aubrey had already deposited her tray by Stacie and was making her way down the stairs. She reached the others and kissed both of them before she sank down next to Chloe with a sigh.

Beca set down her tray and Stacie immediately snagged a carrot and dunked it into the ranch. Beca asked, "You trying to drown that? What'd it do to you?" She briefly contemplated cannonballing into the hot tub, but while it would amuse her - greatly - it would also swamp the food and that seemed like a waste. And Aubrey could possibly kill her for it. She sat down on the edge and eased herself in until she was between Chloe and Stacie's legs, the heat immediately relaxing her.

"Looked delicious." Stacie's teeth flashed as she bit it in half. "So you three better watch out."

"I think we'll take the risk." Chloe leaned her head back and sighed again. "This was such a good idea." She rested her hand on Beca's leg.

Beca frowned as she settled fully on the bench. "I'm always afraid I'm going to drown in here."

"You don't drown in the pool where you can't even sit." Aubrey pointed out.

"Yeah, but…" Beca sat up straighter. "I'm afraid I'll relax too much and sink down and it's already almost covering my head." She whined. "I'm small."

"Becs," Chloe was trying not to laugh. "We're not going to let you drown in Staubrey's hot tub. And it's not covering your head; it's still inches from your chin."

"Meh." Beca rested her head against the edge and sighed. "Feels good though, so it could be worth dying for."

"I have an idea." Beca looked over at Stacie. "You could just lay on me."

"You'd let me do that?" Beca considered. "I mean, your boobs are like floatation devices."

"If that's the criteria we're using, your own will never let you drown, Becs." Aubrey offered.

"Stacie's are like, extra security then." Beca stood up and took the step necessary to bring her alongside Stacie's seat. "Since you offered and all." Beca pulled her legs up and floated briefly as she was tugged into place on Stacie's lap, Beca's legs sliding down between her taller friends. She rested her head on Stacie's right shoulder. "So much better than worrying about drowning." The soft feel of Stacie's skin against her own, the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed… Beca sighed in contentment.

"I think you just wanted to lie on Stacie again." Chloe looked at her narrowly. "I think I'm going to have to kick you out of that spot in a bit and try it out for myself."

Before Beca could reply, Aubrey interrupted. "You should. It's amazing." She pushed herself up and approached the spooning women. "Excuse me." She leaned forward, intentionally brushing her stomach and chest against both of them as she leaned over to pour out some wine. Beca was unable to stop her hand from grazing over smooth skin made to feel even more like silk in the warm water. "Anyone else?" Once all four of them had wine, Aubrey settled back down, but she sat sideways, her legs over Chloe's lap and Beca saw Chloe's free hand wrap around them.

The four of them spent a while talking about nothing in particular, certainly not about what had happened earlier that day. And, Beca wasn't ashamed to admit, what she kind of hoped would happen again that night. She already planned on asking Chloe if it was okay to invite them to stay over. She kind of wanted to know what it was like to have the four of them sleeping together but not be so drunk she didn't remember it this time. She didn't think Chloe would argue too much.

Stacie was talking about the Vegas trip, asking if anyone knew if Legacy had a particular hotel in mind yet, when Beca felt fingers that had been resting on her stomach begin to crawl their way up and over her bikini top. She didn't react, merely sipping her wine, waiting to see where it was going to go. Long, talented fingers alternated cupping and squeezing Beca's breasts and it took everything to not arch into Stacie's palms. Then, in a move fairly obvious to the other women in the tub, Stacie's left hand slid down and back under one cup, her fingers already rolling over Beca's nipple.

Chloe got up and made her way to them, reaching over to grab one of the few remaining strawberries off the tray. She popped it in her mouth as she looked down, her face betraying nothing as she chewed and swallowed. But her eyes glittered with amusement and something darker. Beca's back arched as Stacie's fingers pinched suddenly, bringing her chest fully above water. In an instant, Stacie had pulled the right cup of her bikini down as Chloe ducked her head, taking Beca's other nipple in her mouth.

Beca hissed out a breath. "Neighbors…" But she was losing the power of speech and it was made worse when Aubrey's hand slid up her leg at the same time Stacie's lips brushed against her neck. She shakily put her wine glass down on the concrete outside the spa.

"What's the matter, B." Stacie's voice was low and directly against her left ear. "Don't want to give them a live sex show?" She dipped her head, mouth locking to Beca's throat.

"Or is watching them more your thing?" Aubrey's voice was husky.

Chloe's teeth nipped as Aubrey's hand brushed against the fabric between her legs. Beca moaned, unable to stop it. "I don't…" She broke off as Aubrey's fingertip eased between her and the fabric. "I don't want to give Old Man Smithers a heart attack?" She hadn't even seen Aubrey move close enough for that.

"I'm pretty sure his name is Mr. Jackson." Aubrey said casually as she delicately stroked the crease between Beca's hip and thigh. "Isn't Old Man Smithers from Scooby-Doo?" She reached back with her other hand to pick up her wine and took a drink.

"It's not like I can think right now, Bree?" Beca's body was starting to spiral as her voice got higher. "He's just the old guy who helped you pick out your flowers that one day and oh my god if we don't stop right now I'm going to jail for murder because I will do every single one of you in this hot tub before the night is done."

Stacie's lips broke suction with a pop. "That's not exactly reason to stop, Becs."

"It feels greedy?" Despite her words, her legs widened a little. "I mean… isn't it like… Stacie's turn? Or Chlo's?" Chloe didn't even lift her head from her chest but her hand slid across Beca's waist and gripped her hip.

"Are you being 'gentlemanly' again, DJ?" Stacie's voice was threaded with amusement and arousal.

Aubrey dropped her voice and Beca's body contracted because it was that voice. "Stacie's a giver."

"God, at this point you're all givers." Beca stopped worrying about it. "Who am I to argue?" She felt Chloe's left hand slip between Beca and Stacie, plucking at the strings holding her top on. Two quick tugs and it floated upward before Chloe grabbed it with her other hand and tossed it aside. At some point, Aubrey had set down her wine because she was suddenly using two hands to slide Beca's bikini bottom off and set it outside the tub. Beca was beginning to see the benefits of being naked in an instant, especially if one had help. Chloe finally released her and Beca collapsed back into Stacie, shuddering as Chloe's hand replaced her mouth. Stacie's right arm circled Beca's waist, holding her gently.

Aubrey's fingers resumed their slow touch; first along the crease between leg and hip, then up and over her stomach, curling briefly over Stacie's arm and finally back down to brush lightly over the marks she and Stacie had left earlier in the day. Beca's breath hitched for a second at the slight sting of the bruises but more so because of the reminder that she was claimed by the three women touching her. Her heart skipped as the thought that she belonged to them, and they to her, settled over her, regardless of what form it took after tomorrow.

Beca swallowed and opened her eyes, finding Aubrey's. It was almost like she'd been waiting, because the second they locked, Aubrey slid slowly inside her. She withdrew just as slowly, and pushed back in again, twisting as she did so. Beca was no longer worried about the fact that she was bare and open save for the cover of growing darkness and the white water from the jets; she just wanted this to never end.

Aubrey reached for her wine once more, never breaking Beca's gaze, never stilling her hand though it remained slow and torturous, each withdraw a curl that caressed that sensitive spot inside. Chloe and Stacie resumed talking about Vegas, places they'd been, and just listening to them, you'd never know that they were still playing with her breasts. Beca moaned as Aubrey gave a harder push, and found her legs widening without realizing she'd done it, her right rising to hook over Stacie's. It took her a second to realize Aubrey had stopped and several more to realize why. Aubrey arched one delicate eyebrow and Beca bit her lip. Message received. She was going to have to be quiet. Somehow.

Beca could see in Aubrey's eyes that she liked having this kind of control and it caused her body to clench at the realization. It shouldn't have surprised her in the least, and probably wouldn't have if she could simply focus her thoughts, but way they were all touching her was melting her brain. What shocked her most, tightening her body that extra notch, was that Beca liked that Aubrey liked having this kind of power over her. She didn't think it was because of Aubrey's apparent ability to keep Beca silent with nothing more than a look – though maybe – but it was more that Aubrey wanted Beca and wasn't holding back in taking her on her terms, not Beca's.

Joining the conversation still taking place as if what was happening hadn't gone well past inappropriate to full on indecent, Aubrey resumed her slow pace, building her up slowly, and stopping every time Beca let out anything louder than a gasp. Somewhere in the middle, Stacie's hips had started to rise, lifting her up to meet each thrust. The first time, Aubrey's voice faltered for a moment, realizing what was going on, before she continued as if nothing had ever happened. But it made the angle of her curl sharper and Beca was afraid she'd lose the battle on being silent. Her body was full of fire and heat, her toes curling unseen below the surface.

"Bree?" Beca looked up at Chloe's voice, her body still gently rolling against Stacie and Aubrey. Chloe licked her lips, her hand sliding from Beca's breast. "Switch places with me?" She stepped back, sipping her wine. Aubrey moved in front of her, hand never stopping, and Chloe took her place on the bench by Stacie's feet. Beca watched her, brow knitting as she tried to pull enough brain cells together to figure out what was going on.

After a bit of shuffling, including a brief relocation of Beca's legs during which Aubrey just curled gently inside, Stacie's bikini bottoms were pulled free and flung outside the hot tub. Beca felt her right leg placed over Stacie's again, which was then pushed wide, opening them both to whatever was going to happen next. Beca felt Chloe's hand briefly touch her thigh before Stacie arced beneath her, breath hitching as Beca imagined Chloe's fingers slipping into her.

"Chloe," Aubrey's voice was as casual as any lunch date. "Whatever happened to our table anyway? I haven't seen it since the condo." She gave several sharp curls of her fingers, smirking as Beca barely refrained from crying out.

"Oh, it's in my office at work." Chloe's voice matched her for nonchalance.

"Chloe!" Aubrey laughed, shocked, as she finally looked away from Beca.

"What? It's not like it wasn't washed after…" Chlo's voice trailed off and Beca looked over to see her tilting her head as she searched for the right word, her shoulder and arm flexing as she continued to make love to Stacie.

"Use?" Beca supplied, her voice breaking on even that short word, her left hand closing around Stacie's forearm still wrapped around her stomach. Stacie's fingers were flexing rhythmically against Beca's skin as she whimpered so softly it was barely audible over the jets.

"Exactly." Chloe beamed at her and Aubrey leaned down to reward Beca with a kiss. Beca moaned into it, relieved when Aubrey didn't stop this time. "I mean, we still ate off it at the house."

"I'll bet you did," Stacie laughed then whined. "Chlo, why did you stop? I didn't moan like Beca!"

Aubrey smirked. "Probably because you're a dirty bird, love."

Beca was watching Aubrey as she said it and the look on her face combined with her tone of voice struck a chord in Beca. When Beca or Chloe used 'love' like that, it was more than simply a term of endearment. It meant 'I love you' with a wealth of other sappy but deeply felt and binding emotions they – mostly Beca as Chloe was usually better with feelings – didn't have words for. She'd heard Aubrey and Stacie use it, of course, but until that moment it didn't really register in the same way. Obviously she knew they felt the same about each other as she and Chloe did. But now it was like there was this new personal layer of nuance that was open to them that hadn't been before. Beca realized that she and Chloe were now part of something special and she found herself hoping Aubrey and Stacie felt the same way.

Aubrey lifted her head and moved over to kiss Stacie briefly, reaffirming Beca's thoughts that that term of endearment was an all-encompassing statement of adoration and love. "Just one of the many things we love about you." She dipped down, her hair falling to curtain the three of them as she kissed Stacie again. This meant she remained hovering over Beca, who couldn't resist anymore. She skimmed her lips and teeth over Aubrey's jaw and down until she reached her pulse point. She sucked lightly, suddenly part of a three-way moan that started with Aubrey, passed through to Stacie and back to Beca as Stacie's hand squeezed Beca's breast. Aubrey pulled away, laughing. "Stop using me to break the rules."

Chloe watched them affectionately for a moment before she resumed where she'd left off, both with her hand and her train of thought. "It actually holds our trophies."

Beca watched Chloe's arm flex rapidly several times and felt Stacie stiffen underneath her, trying not to cry out. Then Stacie buried her face in Beca's hair, her mouth and breath hot against Beca's ear, and let out a high whimper before clamping her lips around Beca's earlobe. 'Okay, this is just fucking unfair. But holy fuck does it feel good.' Beca writhed at the extra stimulation, pushing herself down into Stacie's hips and up into Aubrey's hand.

"Okay, that's acceptable." Aubrey fell silent a moment, her hand stilling to merely flutter her fingers inside Beca, who barely held back the groan at the softer caress. "Though now when I walk into your office next, I'm going to be picturing the day you broke it."

"What, and that's bad?" Chloe grinned.

"Only if your kids are present." Aubrey laughed. "I'm not sure what my reaction would be."

Chloe winked. "We totes are going to have to plan a group trip when the place is empty."

Beca's body was tightening as they talked, Aubrey's hand never stilling, though her pace had picked up slightly. Stacie writhed underneath her, an almost continuous stream of barely audible gasps, whimpering and soft grunts directly in her ear. She suspected Stacie was cheating and using Beca's hair as a way to muffle the sounds they weren't allowed to make. Hearing her, knowing it was because of Chloe's touch, pushed Beca closer to the edge. She was afraid she was going to start screaming any minute.

She opened her eyes. Aubrey was looking over at Chloe until Beca's whisper brought her gaze back down. "Bree." Beca swallowed thickly. "I'm about to break all your rules."

"Guess we better do something about that." Aubrey leaned down and Beca thought for sure she was going to stop, leaving Beca trembling on the edge until they could move inside. She was already feeling the loss of her touch when Aubrey's lips captured her own briefly before pulling back. "We've got you." She kissed Beca again, her hand suddenly fast and sure, pushing deep as the heel pressed directly over Beca's clit. Chloe's free hand gripped Beca's right thigh, thumb stroking across her skin as Stacie's right hand slid down and cupped Beca as best she could, her fingers split on either side of Aubrey's hand. Stacie continued to whimper against her ear, her breath faster as Beca ground down into her.

Beca tightened around Aubrey as her climax shook her body, crying out into Aubrey's mouth as she writhed beneath them, Stacie's left hand still rolling over her breast. Slowly she settled, her body going limp even as she continued to exchange lazy, loving kisses with Aubrey. She didn't even move when she was gently lifted from Stacie and cradled in Aubrey's arms. As they settled on the bench at the back beside Chloe, Aubrey pulled Beca into her lap. Beca curled up against her, finally opening her eyes again.

~C~

Chloe stood and bent over Stacie, kissing her hungrily, swallowing all the sounds she couldn't hide without Beca as a buffer. "It's too bad." She slowed her thrusts as she pulled away. Stacie's lips chased her before she lay back and opened her eyes, confusion waring with arousal. "That you can't be quiet."

"I can be quiet." Even Stacie didn't sound so sure she meant what she was saying. "I can totally be quiet."

"Mmm." Chloe kissed her again. "Even if I get you on the side of this hot tub so I can go down on you?" She kept her tone deliberately light and innocent, the same as she'd use while asking 'would you like more lemonade?'

Stacie's eyes widened and she swallowed. "Uh…" Chloe smiled wickedly at her.

"It's not like you guys have heard us when we've had sex in the hot tub before, you know." Aubrey offered.

Chloe turned and looked at her, surprise popping her mouth open. "You guys have been having sex in the hot tub? And we could have been watching this whole time?" Unconsciously she slowed her movements until Stacie whined and rolled her hips.

Beca laughed. "I feel like I'm going to be retroactively sad about that for a while." She nuzzled under Aubrey's chin. "And that maybe we'll have to make up for it." Chloe saw a flash of teeth as Beca nipped her jaw.

"You've met Stacie, right?" Aubrey raised a brow. "You shouldn't be surprised at the places she convinces me to have sex." She shrugged. "Besides, look around. With the light off back here, you can't actually see much further than one side of the hot tub to the other now that the sun is down."

"I'm going to want to hear about those places later," Beca said breathlessly. "In detail."

Aubrey laughed and stroked her hand down Beca's back. "If you're good."

Beca kissed Aubrey's neck. "Baby, I'm always good." Chloe smiled to herself at Beca's smirk and tone. She loved when Beca's cocky streak came out, especially in this implied context because it was completely true: Beca was always good.

"Another thing I'm looking forward to learning more of." Aubrey sighed happily.

Chloe turned back to Stacie. "Yeah, I think I need you out of this water right now." She pulled her hand away and was struck by how it felt colder now that it was no longer warmed by Stacie's body. She leaned forward and grabbed a towel from the pile. As she turned to spread it out, Aubrey and Beca shifted from the back bench to the one on the right, Beca still curled into Aubrey's left side. She smiled. "You guys just want a show." Neither dignified that with a response as she spread the towel along the concrete.

Stacie was already moving, pausing to kiss both Aubrey and Beca. Chloe saw her shiver as their hands stroked jointly between her legs. Her own desire jacked up a notch, her mouth already anticipating the feel of Stacie against her lips. She stepped up beside them, Beca immediately turning her head to nip at Chloe's ribs. She ran her hand across Beca's back and up Aubrey's arm before trailing across her jaw as Stacie straightened up and turned toward the back of the hot tub. Aubrey captured Chloe's middle finger in her mouth and sucked lightly before letting her go again.

Chloe watched as Stacie faced her, pushing herself up and backwards until she sat on the towel. Her mouth worked as Stacie's left leg lifted and stretched along the edge, leaning back a bit to brace herself with her right arm, brows raised almost in challenge. "Oh my god-"

"I forgot she could do the splits." Beca finished, breathless and almost reverent.

Chloe drifted forward and knelt on the bench, skimming her left hand up Stacie's leg to her hip. She flexed her fingers, meeting Stacie's smirk before licking her lips in anticipation. Finally she lowered herself to lick slowly up through Stacie's center. She felt Stacie's hips jerk and a hand settled on the back of her head, holding her close as Stacie leaned back a little, tilting her hips to give Chloe a better angle.

Chloe took her time learning Stacie the way she had Aubrey. How she reacted to different touches, what pulled the air from her lungs. What made Stacie's fingers tighten in her hair or pull her closer, trying to urge her deeper. It was intoxicating, seeing how Stacie differed from Aubrey in her likes and reactions; in how they both were different than Beca. She loved that they all reacted differently to her touch though their responses were all equally strong and, she found, addicting.

With lips, teeth and tongue, she pushed Stacie closer to climax, her body rocking against Chloe, desperate for more friction. But she stayed silent, something that both thrilled and challenged Chloe. She brought her hand up, immediately sliding three fingers in Stacie. Moaning a little at the heat of her, she started a twisting curl that usually had Beca moaning in minutes. Not Stacie though. Chloe heard her draw in a breath and waited for the keen she was already addicted to. But Stacie only gasped, a quiet "oh fuck" escaping her lips as she leaned back further. Chloe looked up at her, each of them burning with arousal and need, and Stacie's hand on the back of her head pulled her closer.

Keeping their gazes locked, Chloe leaned forward and traced Stacie's clit with her tongue, once, twice and a third before pulling it between her lips and sucking hard. Stacie's head went back, her body heaving as she came undone. Stacie whimpered sharply but muffled behind her lips, keeping them rolled tightly together.

With soft nuzzles and licks, Chloe eased her through her climax until Stacie finally lowered herself to lie on her back as she let her leg slide off the edge and dangle back in the water.

"Holy fuck, Chlo." Stacie took a deep breath. "Did I scream? I felt like I was screaming."

"Nope." Chloe kissed the inside of her thigh.

"Woo!" Stacie let out a quiet cheer and high fived herself again. "Go me."

"I'm kind of impressed," Chloe said, laughing.

"Me too." Chloe turned to look at Beca and Aubrey as they answered in unison.

Where Beca still looked like she was feeling post-coital bliss, Aubrey's eyes glittered in the shadows. Chloe read the promise in them and shivered even as she smiled. "There's always next time."

"I'll take that challenge." Stacie raised one arm and then let it drop on her stomach. "But maybe not right now."

"The hot tub turned out to be a really good idea, Aubs." Beca sighed and stretched. "Even if I am naked for the world to see. It's kind of freeing, really."

Chloe eased back from the bench, pulling Stacie to an upright position. "Becs, I can barely see you and I'm right next to you."

"I can definitely feel her though." Aubrey said slyly and by the way Beca inhaled sharply through her nose, Chloe could easily imagine what was going on under the surface. "I think I may make a 'no clothes' rule going forward."

"It's not like anyone but Becs will argue." Chloe sat down beside them, sliding her arms around Beca's waist. She pressed close, feeling Aubrey's arm move from around Beca's back to slip around Chloe, holding them both.

"Besides," Stacie said as she looked around. "It'll save time from having to find your clothes from wherever the hell Chloe threw them." She stood up, unconcerned about being naked from the waist down. "Seriously, Chlo, where'd you toss them?"

Chloe shrugged. "They were in the way." She rested her chin on Beca's shoulder. "Oh, is that them?"

"No, those are Beca's. Bree set them politely outside the tub instead of tossing them like a discus." Stacie reached over and grabbed them from beside the tray. "Catch, DJ." She stepped up onto the concrete and searched the ground after lobbing them over.

Beca looked over in time to get one hand up before her bikini bottoms hit her in the face. "Thanks." She pushed up and floated toward the center of the hot tub. "Suppose I better get dressed." Chloe felt her lips form a pout when Beca looked over. "So we can continue this inside?" She wiggled into the bottom of her bikini while she looked around. "Okay, now... Where's the top?"

Stacie laughed suddenly. "Holy shit, Chlo. You tossed it halfway into Bree's flower garden." She went to retrieve it and Chloe, along with Aubrey and Beca, enjoyed the view as her hips swayed.

"Oops." Chloe shrugged and slid next to Aubrey. "Sorry Bree." She leaned in to kiss her cheek, but Aubrey turned her head and captured her lips instead. Chloe purred and parted her lips, inviting Aubrey in. This new facet of their friendship was something she didn't think she ever wanted to let go. To kiss, to touch. She let her hand drift over Aubrey's thigh as the blonde deepened the kiss, hungry but tender.

Stacie picked the bottoms up, shook them off and walked back to the tub. "Yeah, I'm not putting these back on even for a second. They're covered in dirt."

"Oh, so you'd be a real dirty bird?" Beca snickered at her own joke.

"Something like that." Stacie picked up the towel she'd been sitting on and wrapped it around her waist. "I don't see your top out here, Becs."

Beca looked around the tub. "Finding a black top in a dark hot tub with full jets on, at night? Sure, no problem." She put her hands on her hips. "Well, shit."

"We can always turn the lights on." Aubrey offered, pulling Chloe onto her lap and running her hands over Chloe's hips and up her back before dragging her nails back down. Chloe's back bowed, bringing her chest more fully out of the water where Aubrey immediately began to nuzzle her.

"No, no thanks. I'm good." Beca began to wave her hands through the water. "It should, like, float, right?"

Stacie walked over and turned off the jets. "This should help, DJ."

"Thanks, Bucky."

She could hear Beca move through the water, but Aubrey's lips bruising the swell of her breast was beginning to take over and Chloe knew if she didn't move this inside quickly, they would definitely scandalize the neighbors.

"Bree?" Chloe ran her fingers through Aubrey's hair. Aubrey's lips just pressed firmer as she sucked harder, pulling Chloe tighter to her. Chloe's breath hitched in her throat, her exhale a broken whimper.

"Aha!" Beca's voice behind her was accompanied by a splash. "Got it. Chlo, can you tie this for me?" But Chloe couldn't bring herself to move away as Aubrey's hand slid under the back of her bikini bottom and gripped her rear. She shifted her hips closer.

"Chl- oh." Beca's voice trailed off. "Um. Stace? We're losing them."

As Aubrey's other hand came around to tug at her top, Chloe felt the moan building. She knew she couldn't stop it if Aubrey got it down and her mouth moved those few inches to cover a nipple. The problem was that she was rapidly beginning to not care; the arousal that had been building for the last hour, ninety minutes - hell, for the last few months – was back, pulling and tugging, tangling with the deeper emotions that were finally rising to the surface. Maybe this had even been building for years since Chloe couldn't pinpoint when exactly her attraction had deepened this far.

Chloe reached up and covered Aubrey's hand just before she tugged one cup away. "Wait. Bree. We need…" she gasped as teeth nipped gently at the edge of her top. "Inside. We need to get inside."

Aubrey's voice was rich with amusement. "What do you think I'm trying to do, love?"

There was an instant of silence from all of them. Even the water faded to a gentle lapping against the sides. The air grew weighted, shifting with emotions as they all realized exactly what Aubrey was saying.

Aubrey pulled back and looked Chloe in the eyes, certainty and uncertainty warring together. She could tell that Aubrey had meant it as Chloe felt it. As real and honest as any time she'd heard it in reference to Stacie, though admittedly this was the first time she'd heard the personal layers in it; the same ones that were there when Chloe herself said it to Beca. So casual, so raw and everything, that it wasn't until after it was between them that Aubrey became uncertain if she was allowed.

Chloe smiled. She could feel it trembling at the edges as her heart filled at how right it felt. Aubrey's eyes darted over her shoulder to where Stacie stood and whatever she saw caused her brow to smooth. A second glance to Beca and the worry was falling away before it had even fully formed.

There was a soft sniffle behind her before Beca spoke with an almost forced casualness but Chloe had no difficulty hearing the delight underneath it. "Chlo can't always be quiet, Bree. So, um, I think she meant inside the house." Chloe heard the care in it, making sure that Aubrey didn't get tangled up in her own thoughts and think that Chloe had been rejecting her. Beca got Aubrey's uncertainty better than Chloe did sometimes; she was more aware of it in others because Beca's own stemmed from her fear of rejection after her father left.

Wrapped in the knowledge that Beca was okay with what had just been said, Chloe shrugged lightly. "Oops."

Aubrey sighed theatrically and Chloe could almost see her set aside her worry for later. "I suppose I can contain myself until we're back in your bedroom." But her eyes were shy as she met Chloe's.

Chloe didn't trust herself to speak without her voice shaking, much as she felt her world tremble as it settled into a new axis. Always better at physical reassurances, she leaned forward and took Aubrey's mouth in a kiss that was all soft strokes of her tongue and, hopefully, a promise that nothing had changed even though maybe everything had.

Reluctantly she slid herself backwards, her fingers trailing down Aubrey's arms until she could reach her hands and tug her upright. "Help Becs with her top? Or will you get distracted again?" She winked and, to her relief, Aubrey rolled her eyes.

Aubrey moved past her, one hand trailing across Chloe's stomach and she shivered as she looked over her shoulder at Beca. Her wife's eyes were large and dark, filled with the delight she'd heard and love as she stood there watching them, her top forgotten in her hands. A second look to Stacie showed much the same, a tiny smile on her lips.

As Aubrey helped Beca tie her top back on, Chloe took a moment to close her eyes and let herself feel. She was aware of the three of them behind her, their warm presences hovering at the back of her mind where normally there was only Beca. So she wasn't surprised when Stacie's voice came from in front of her despite having moved silently around the edge. Chloe had just known she was there.

"You okay, Chlo?"

Chloe took a deep breath and opened her eyes, unerringly meeting Stacie's where she crouched at the edge, all the other towels in her hands. "Yup." And she popped the "p" with a giddy laugh she couldn't have held back if she wanted. "I'd say I'm great." Her gaze dropped to where the towel had slid aside and showed a great deal of Stacie's thigh. Only the darkness and shadows hid where Chloe had so recently been mapping with lips and tongue. She looked up, biting her lip coyly, and saw Stacie shiver in response.

"Then let's lock up the house and head back over." Stacie stood slowly, throwing two of the towels over her shoulder, and followed as Chloe made her way to the stairs. When she'd taken the last step, Stacie wrapped a towel around her shoulders, rubbing them briefly. "I mean…" She paused, uncharacteristically hesitant. "If it's alright that we stay?"

Chloe reached out and traced Stacie's jaw, just the slight pressure enough to pull her down into a brief kiss. "Of course it is. We wouldn't want anything else." She smiled as she stepped away and began to pat her arms and legs down with the towel. She didn't even have to look at Beca; Chloe could almost feel her nodding behind her.

Beca and Aubrey followed, Stacie draping the towels over their shoulders and getting pulled into warm, lingering kisses in return. Aubrey's lingered a bit longer, and Chloe felt in it echoes of the way she and Beca reassured each other that they were fine.

Handing over their towels, Chloe and Beca put the cover back on while Stacie and Aubrey took the trays inside as they went to grab a change of clothes for tomorrow and make sure everything was closed and locked. It didn't take them long to spread it out to keep leaves out, and once she'd finally stopped streaming water from her suit, she grabbed the hoodie that Stacie been wearing and pulled it over her head. She knew Stacie had left it for her and it fell almost to her knees. She pictured many such clothing exchanges happening in their future as their scent faded and they needed a "recharge."

Beca stepped up behind her as Chloe looked up at the moon. "I love you." Beca's arms looped and tightened around her waist. She buried her nose in Chloe's shoulder and inhaled deeply before she huffed in contentment. "So much."

"Mmm." Chloe hummed and rocked them gently from side to side. "I love you too, Beca."

"You okay?"

"I am. You?" Chloe covered Beca's hands with her own. "You don't mind that I invited them to stay the night?"

"I'm good. And of course I don't. I was going to do the same until I got… distracted… earlier." Chloe heard the pause in her voice and waited. "But… I mean, okay. Aubrey said it. So she's gotta be okay with all… this. Right?" One hand eased free and waved a bit, trying to encompass everything they weren't really naming or talking about yet. "But are they? Really?" She paused. "Are we?"

"Okay?" She felt Beca nod against her shoulder. "We are more than okay." She squeezed Beca's hands firmly. "Them? I think so. I haven't felt anything off from them this entire day." She considered. "I mean, you know at some point we're all going to have to sit down and talk. All of us together, this time." She felt Beca nod again. "But, not tonight. Or probably even tomorrow. Plus, if I know Aubrey, she's likely already thinking of the talk with Stacie. And she's not wrong. You and I are going to need to sit down at some point before all of us do."

"That never sounds good." Beca tried to keep it light but there was an undercurrent of tension that passed through her body.

"Becs." Chloe turned in the circle of her arms. "Titanium." She kissed the corner of her mouth, feeling Beca smile. "Nothing - and I mean nothing - has changed that today. If anything, I feel like we're both gaining. And it's something that I don't think we will fully understand until we can process it together." She closed her eyes, hearing Aubrey calling her 'love' in an entirely different way than she'd said it in the past and let the warm happy feeling wash over her again. While this may have started out years ago as simply a joke or an idea of physical passion, it had clearly shot past that and into uncharted territory.

"So tonight, the plan is…?" Beca kissed both her eyelids, feather soft.

"No plan." Chloe lifted her shoulders and let them drop. "I think going with the flow has worked out beautifully so far." There would be plenty of time for them to worry and think later. While there were so many more layers to this than the physical, which admittedly had been amazing, Chloe just wasn't going to worry about them until she needed to; which was definitely not tonight.

"Me too." Beca kissed her chin. "You're as smart as you are pretty."

"I have my moments." Eyes still closed, Chloe captured Beca's lips unerringly, drawing her immediately into a deep kiss they both filled with reassurance and promises.

~A~

"I'll check the door, can you grab me some clothes?" Aubrey kissed Stacie lightly.

"Sure, Bree. Anything particular you want to wear tomorrow?" She tugged Aubrey back when she would have turned to head to the front door. "Want your new hoodie?" She smiled slyly.

"Don't be jealous because you're probably too tall to wear it." Aubrey laughed. "No. Actually... Yes. Please." She murmured against Stacie's lips. "Thanks, love." She felt a small jolt as she remembered using that term of endearment for Chloe.

"Mm." Stacie gave her one last quick smooch and headed upstairs.

Aubrey double checked that the front door was locked, the front windows they sometimes left open were closed and all security bolts were turned. She was on autopilot, thinking of earlier and where it fit inside her. Inside her relationship with her wife. Hell, even how it fit with Chloe and Beca individually and them as a couple. Throw in Stacie's relationship with them, and their own… Aubrey shook her head. There were so many potential roots to trip over in their intertwined lives.

But… she couldn't believe how natural it had felt. And she had meant it the same as she used it with Stacie, who had merely smiled at her, soft and warm, and given her a small encouraging nod. Beca… Aubrey grinned. Beca's face had been completely unguarded, lit with a quiet joy that was visible even in the shadows. It had helped ease the worry that had immediately wound around her that she may have gone too far.

She turned off all the lights save the one over the sink in the kitchen and made her way to the laundry room as she heard Stacie come back downstairs.

"Babe?"

"Laundry room." Aubrey wiggled out of her suit and tossed it in the hamper with the towels. She felt arousal still swimming through her veins and could still feel Chloe against her skin. The desire to continue where she left off was a constant wave beating in her pulse.

"What're you doing in here?" Stacie stopped at the door and whistled appreciatively. "Never mind. You do whatever you want in here. I'll just watch."

Aubrey turned around and saw Stacie lean against the doorframe, holding a small bag presumably filled with clothes for tomorrow and Beca's hoodie draped over her shoulder. She also had her bikini in her other hand and tossed it in the hamper as well. The towel had been rearranged and was now wrapped around her chest, held in place with the loose ends firmly tucked under one arm.

Aubrey paced forward, stretching to try and release some of the slowly building tension in her body, and pulled the hoodie free. "Thanks, hon." She pulled it over her head and tugged it down. It barely covered the important bits and if her step was too long it would expose her ass. But it was good enough for a walk next door, even if the other backyard was still fully lit.

Stacie gave her the once over, a lopsided grin on her face. "Totally going to scandalize the neighbors." She playfully pulled the hem up. "I like it."

"Then I'm happy." Aubrey paused, the desire ebbing slightly under sudden uncertainty. "Um. About… what I said. Earlier?" Her right hand traced over her left wrist where she usually wore her watch. But when she opened her mouth again, Stacie pressed two fingers against it.

"It's okay." She let her hand drop and leaned their foreheads together. "Me too." She stroked softly down the sleeve of the hoodie. "But it can wait until we can talk. Really talk tomorrow." Stacie tilted Aubrey's head back just a bit, easily able to see the hesitation lingering in Aubrey. "Baby. It's okay. I swear. They're… it's so different now. They're still as important as anything in our lives." She paused and shook her head. "Okay, so they're likely more important now. That is… Than anything but you." She lowered her hand to cover where Aubrey's still fluttered nervously at her wrist and squeezed gently. "Because you're my only." Stacie lifted their hands, shifting until Aubrey's wrist was clear and pressed a kiss to it where the inscription on her watch would rest.

"Mon soleil." Aubrey whispered. Stacie always could see her worries or fears and knew exactly how to ease them. How to always, always, give the right touch when she reaffirmed the promises she'd made to Aubrey from the moment they first really talked at the Lodge.

Stacie gave a watery laugh. "And now that I've said that. And mean it with everything I am." She sniffled very slightly. "I kinda miss Bloe." She sighed. "And it's been, what, five minutes?" She laughed again, shaking her head. "That seems so stupid, saying it out loud."

Aubrey pulled her close. "Me too." She smiled as she used the same emphasis Stacie had. But she burrowed into Stacie's welcoming arms as she dropped the bag and towel to the floor. "Oops." She didn't even try to sound apologetic, just nuzzled her nose into Stacie's graceful neck, letting the security and warmth of her body calm her, before tangling her fingers in honey brown tresses and pulling her down into a kiss. Stacie's hands trailed over Aubrey's back before settling on the upper swell of her rear, pulling her even closer. Despite missing the others, she knew Stacie would stand there as long as Aubrey needed her to.

After several long minutes spent lost in the slow sweep of tongues, Aubrey pulled back. "Mm. That's nice." She skimmed her fingers down Stacie's ribs, enjoying the shiver it caused. "Do you think they're making out on top of one of the tables?"

"Probably." Stacie snorted. "It's Bloe. They've got hormones enough on their own." She tugged again at the hem of the hoodie. "Almost as much as we do." She winked as Aubrey took a step back to pick up Stacie's towel and slid it back into place. "It's just a question on which of them is naked."

Aubrey snickered. "Or both." And that fast, the desire was back, pooling from her core and spreading through her body. "Things go fast and before we know it, Chlo will be spread eagle and naked on the stairs."

"Oh… maybe we should wait then…" Stacie wavered in the doorway until Aubrey laughed and gently pushed her out of the way. She followed Stacie out of the room and back into the kitchen where they grabbed the spare set of keys from the drawer. When they got outside Aubrey saw they'd been partially right. Beca and Chloe were full on making out, but they were still clothed and upright.

Aubrey turned to lock the door and when she turned around, she saw Stacie had stepped up behind Beca but had been pulled down into a kiss by Chloe. She moved beside them, smiling at how Beca had already worked her way under Stacie's jaw, and stroked her hands down their arms.

Chloe pulled away slowly, her lips already slightly kiss swollen and her eyes hooded. Licking her lips she turned and looked at Aubrey. One blink, then two, her gaze sharpening with hunger and Chloe reached for her. Aubrey leaned in, her eyes closing until her lips met a palm, not the warm mouth she was expecting. She pulled back, brows knitting.

Stacie shook her head. "Nuh uh. I know that look. I let you guys lock lips right here and we're never making it inside." She'd clamped the edges of her towel under her arm. "And in like three seconds this towel will fall and I'm walking across the yard regardless." Her eyes were full of mischief and it made Aubrey smile.

She drew a deep breath, desire rocking like gentle waves, and took a step back. "She's right, again." Beca mock groaned. "Let's… yeah, let's go inside?" Aubrey held out her hand and Chloe slid hers into it, warm and reassuring.

Beca ran her fingers through her hair. "Sure. I could use a shower. Tame the hair a bit."

"Me too." Stacie kissed the side of her head and nudged her forward. "Plus more naked but this time with soap!"

Laughing, they made their way through the yards, Beca continually 'accidentally' bumping into Stacie in an effort to knock down her towel, both of them giggling like teenagers. Five feet from the door, Beca let out a very Chloe-like 'Oops' and pretended to trip, grabbing onto the towel and giving it a firm yank. Aubrey looked over her shoulder in time to see the decision in Stacie's eyes. So she wasn't surprised when she let Beca take the towel from her.

Beca let out a strangled and high pitched giggle. "I didn't think you'd let go!" Aubrey noted that she didn't sound worried about possibly being seen, but instead was amused and almost giddy at suddenly-naked-Stacie.

Stacie shrugged, completely unconcerned. "I'm not the one who refused to let me walk naked across the yard earlier."

Chloe laughed and opened the door, pulling Aubrey in after her. "She's got you there, Becs."

"Yeah, but…" Beca paused as Stacie followed them in. "I mean… Yeah… butt."

Aubrey laughed and turned, pulling Chloe to a brief halt. "You did not just…" She let it trail off and laughed helplessly as Beca tripped over the step into the house, her eyes firmly locked on Stacie's ass. "Nevermind." The number of ways that Beca and Stacie were a lot alike was steadily growing. She kind of loved it.

"You girls get to lock up the house, Bree and I will get the shower ready." Chloe tugged on her hand, leading her out and up the stairs. She pulled off Stacie's hoodie and called teasingly over her shoulder, "Don't be too long."

Aubrey let her eyes trail over Chloe as they walked, admiring the shift of muscles in her back, the way they flexed in her legs as she climbed the stairs. She'd known Chloe longer than the others, so it wasn't as if her body was new and unfamiliar to Aubrey. But she found that she was watching the way Chloe moved in a whole new light. Or allowing herself to in an old, never admitted light, maybe. One that was slowly bringing back the feeling – no, the need to have Chloe's skin against her own.

As they walked into the bedroom, Chloe set Stacie's hoodie on the dresser before moving into the bathroom. Aubrey pulled Beca's hoodie over her head and folded it, setting it gently beside Stacie's with a last, soft brush of the fabric. She followed Chloe into the bathroom where she was already opening the separate shower and turning on the spray.

"That should just take a few minutes." Chloe turned around and asked thoughtfully. "I'm trying to figure out what it says about us that we're going from water to water."

"That we're clean dirty birds?" Aubrey laughed when Chloe winked at her before turning around and testing the water again. Then she happened to look down and remember what she'd left in the bathtub earlier that afternoon. She'd really meant to clean up and put the underwear in the laundry, but they'd gotten distracted by pizza and then the hot tub. And now… Fire roared through her, leaving her almost shaking with the craving following in its wake. And it's not like she had a checklist she was doing. But now the thought was there and she couldn't get rid of it. The sudden visual of Chloe moving against her almost brought her to her knees.

She had on and off (mostly off, honestly) wondered what it would be like to watch Chloe come undone. And by watch she meant 'help', because she may have already heard Chloe over the years of living in the Bellas house. This was before even their make out session junior year, after which Aubrey had dismissed any hint of the possibility. Though, on reflection, she wondered how much of that was Alice's doing, with her disapproval and apparently repressed tendencies. If, without it, she'd maybe have taken that extra step. Aubrey mentally shook her head. That might not have led her to Stacie and nothing was worth that potential loss. Not even Chloe, though it pained her a little to think that.

Prior to that event, there had been a few sleepless nights spent with clenching thighs and short breath as she ignored the feelings stirring within her when Chloe's soft cries carried down the hall to Aubrey's room. She'd never told Chloe, telling herself it was because she knew Chloe would be a mix of mortified and amused. But Aubrey was starting to think her feelings for Chloe went a lot deeper than just 'She's my best friend in this hell.' Because that's what Alice made some days feel like despite the fact that Aubrey never stopped loving the Bellas. Chloe had made it fun and more than just existing. She'd been there to hold Aubrey after she threw up from stress at finals, and for every second of her senior year, good and bad. Before Stacie there had been Chloe. And after… Stacie was her sun and she felt like she had the world with all three of them at her side.

But she didn't have to avoid anything anymore. Chloe was literally stripping in front of her, waiting for the water to heat in the shower. And Aubrey knew she'd be more than willing to let Aubrey finally give in to her repressed yearnings that were buried so deep she hadn't even known they existed until recently.

Quietly she lifted the strap-on from the tub and slipped back into it, hoping that Chloe wouldn't turn around and ruin the surprise. She could feel it climbing as she adjusted the toy in place, the need that was clawing under her skin, racing through her body like prickling fire, until she had to let it loose or scream. She whimpered, grateful that it wasn't audible over the shower.

She dimly heard Stacie and Beca come into the master bath as Chloe opened the shower door wider. "Totes perfect temp." She stepped in and Aubrey followed close behind, letting the glass door close behind her as she pushed Chloe up against the wall and molded herself to her back. She knew the toy had come to rest in the swell of Chloe's rear and the sound she made when Aubrey pushed against her was raw and guttural, almost inhuman. It pulled at Aubrey, snapping the last tether and giving rein to something that had been sleeping for eight years.

The water beating against them from the right felt warm but not as hot as Chloe's body against her own. Aubrey found she was already grinding, hips rocking as she pushed Chloe's hair out of the way and planted open mouthed kisses across her shoulders. Her hands found their way between Chloe and the wall, the tile still chill against her skin, until she could cup both of Chloe's breasts and squeeze them. Aubrey whimpered, the sound muffled against Chloe's skin as she nipped at a shoulder.

Chloe pushed her back a little and turned in her embrace, her mouth finding Aubrey's before she even finished the motion and settled flush against her. The kiss was deep, full of nipping teeth and tangling tongues and Aubrey couldn't get enough of it. She broke free, licking and sucking her way down Chloe's throat, pausing to pull deeply at her pulse point. Chloe's hands tangled in her hair, clutched her shoulders, clawed down her back, her breath raspy against Aubrey's ear.

As Aubrey felt the familiar touch of Stacie's hand across the back of her neck, Chloe's voice growled out, "Soap."

Aubrey blinked, looking up in confusion at the word and found that Chloe was holding out her right hand to Stacie, who grabbed the bottle and, ignoring Chloe's hand, placed some in her own palm. Putting it away, she stepped forward and gripped the toy attached to Aubrey. Stacie met Aubrey's eyes, the heat and certainty in them, the utter love that bathed her only serving to ratchet up her desire.

Even now, Aubrey was stuck by how much she loved the way Stacie loved her. How utterly and completely, without hesitation. No one had ever looked at her like that. Not really. The other people she'd dated had loved things about her, certainly. Like her ambition or her social standing. But when they looked at her it was never like that… searching and accepting. They didn't really care about who Aubrey was. Stacie looked at her like she saw everything Aubrey was and loved every part, light and dark.

When Stacie looked at Aubrey in this way, it was the only time Aubrey fully believed that she was beautiful. Chloe had noticed that shortly after they moved. She'd brought over Aubrey's lunch one morning before a big test and Stacie was leaving for work. The look she'd given Aubrey was close to the one she had right now. When Stacie had left, Chloe had looked at Aubrey and said that love looked good on her. When she'd pressed Chloe for what she meant, she'd simply said "She shows you how the rest of us see you. And you're beginning to believe her."

Leaning forward to pull first Chloe then Aubrey into an incredibly deep kiss, Stacie began to stroke slowly, making sure each push jostled the insert against Aubrey. The moment held for several heartbeats as Stacie cleaned it thoroughly, the three of them alternating between looking at each other and down in fascination as Stacie's hand twisted and pulled. Then she was rinsing it off, and Aubrey was starting to wonder if the water would also wash away if she tried using Chloe's natural lubrication like she had with Beca.

But then the water was blocked and Beca was there, holding the small bottle of lube, already squirting some in her hand. Aubrey hadn't even felt her slip past and it's not like the shower was that big. Then Beca was the one gripping and coating it to ensure Chloe didn't feel any discomfort. Aubrey was once again overwhelmed by the trust all three were showing her. Allowing her to do this incredibly intimate act on her own terms. She could see the quick rise and fall of Beca's chest, matching her and Chloe in the desperate sound of it. Aubrey could feel her trembling where she brushed against them, Beca's hand reaching to gently slip between Chloe's legs. Aubrey watched as Chloe's eyes drifted closed, a small groan falling from her parted lips. She turned her gaze to Beca, feeling her heart skip a beat at the look of tenderness on her face as she watched Chloe's reaction to her touch. The feelings of understanding and trust between them washed over her again, and then included her as Beca's midnight gaze met her own.

Then Beca stepped back partially, one hand resting on each of their hips, Stacie matching on the other side. And now, faced with the moment, Aubrey found she wasn't sure of the logistics, which is not a word she wanted to think about in this moment. As Aubrey braced her hands on the wall on either side of Chloe's head, Chloe must have seen her uncertainty because she widened her legs as she bit her lip, whimpering slightly in eager anticipation.

"Drop your hips, baby." Stacie's voice was barely audible over the water, her hand sliding from Aubrey's waist to grip the toy at its base. Aubrey did as directed, her knees bent as she moved forward, trusting Stacie to guide her.

Instead, Aubrey stared into Chloe's eyes, entranced by the way her pupils were widening, the ring of color vanishing. Every change to her expression – the way she gasped at the first contact; the way her brow knitted as it slid along her; how her eyes remained locked on Aubrey, even when the head brushed her entrance and Stacie's hand slid away.

"Drop them a little more, love." Beca said in her ear before pressing a kiss to her shoulder, then Chloe's. "And you're home." It shouldn't still surprise her that Beca knew exactly what to say. Chloe had been telling Aubrey for years. But to have Beca call her love… meant everything. That she understood how Aubrey felt. That she knew Aubrey needed this in a way that she didn't even understand yet. Telling her everything was okay – because Beca loved her too. That she and Chloe were part of what Aubrey and Stacie could consider 'home' with all its comfort and safety; that they considered them as part of theirs.

Aubrey let her hand slide from the wall, along Chloe's arm and to her hip. She bent just that little bit more, her hand dipping under Chloe's already rising left thigh and helping her wrap it around Aubrey's waist.

Then she was pushing forward, feeling the slight resistance before the head popped inside and Chloe groaned deeply in satisfaction. Aubrey didn't still, didn't wait, but pushed until she was fully sheathed, pressed against Chloe, feeling every jolt, every twitch. Their joined moans filled the shower as she felt Chloe's breath against her face, their eyes still locked and searching, chests heaving as they paused for an eternal moment. This time she felt Beca slide behind her, her slick and heated skin almost overwhelming Aubrey with the additional sensation. Beca moved her hips against Aubrey, rhythmically pushing her against – into – her wife, teeth sinking into Aubrey's shoulder as she growled softly. Aubrey shivered as she felt it vibrate through her, the hunger in it running through her veins and pulling at her. Then Beca was gone and from the corner of her eye she saw Stacie pull her in and against her as Stacie leaned against the wall, their hands already wandering with need and purpose as they watched.

Experimentally Aubrey shifted her hips, jerking upward sharply and the high cry Chloe gave in response was like adding gasoline to a forest fire. Finding her footing and her balance, keeping Chloe's leg wrapped high, Aubrey began to thrust, slowly at first and then with more certainty.

Then Chloe moaned her name and it was all too much, she was too full of a swirl of emotions that would take days to unravel and she felt like she couldn't breathe from the need. Her hips moved faster, pushing upward, driving moan after moan from Chloe's throat. Desperate, she crashed her lips to Chloe's, her tongue finding the same rhythm as her hips. Chloe's hands wrapped around her, the left clawing its way across her back, the right digging into Aubrey's ass and pulling her tighter.

Both of them were striving and pushing, each gasp broken in the middle, and Aubrey's name stuttered across lips that were swollen and bruised from kisses and bites. Aubrey lost herself in making love to Chloe, which is exactly what it was even though it wasn't pretty and it wasn't gentle. But it was everything that she never knew she needed, hearing Chloe beg her to go faster, go harder.

She let her head drop against Chloe's shoulder, pushing their upper bodies together as her hips jerked upward, sharp and rapid, with no finesse or control; she lost that the second Chloe began to beg in her ear. She heard Chloe's breath leave her in a high keen, filling the shower with her moans. Aubrey whimpered with her, the sounds Chloe was making ran straight down her spine and to her core as Chloe's name spilled desperate and breathless from her lips.

Chloe's face pressed into her neck, her breath hot and fast, before planting open mouthed kisses up and down its length. Her hands almost spasmodically clutched and released to run all over Aubrey's back and shoulders, desperately pulling her closer with arms and the thigh wrapped around her hip. Aubrey cried out as Chloe's teeth closed on her shoulder, muffling the string of cries and curses that had been filling the air around them.

"Bree!" Chloe grunted in surprise as Aubrey pulled them away from the wall and slammed back into her before pinning her against it once more. "Oh fuck… please… I need…" She trailed off, mouth open but soundless as Aubrey pushed into her, grinding, needing to feel Chloe come undone around her.

Because of her. Not because of some frat guy or girl Chloe had occasionally spent time with while Aubrey lay in her own bed.

Because of them. She could hear Stacie and Beca whimpering beside them, their warmth adding to her fire, helping mark a claim she didn't realize she needed. She felt her hips jerk in response to their desire, pushing deeper, her body trying to be all of them – make Chloe feel all of them – at once.

"Bree… I'm gonna, oh god…" Chloe's leg tightened around her, the strength in her thigh surprising Aubrey with its grip. "Please… oh fuck."

Aubrey began to thrust again, hard and fast, her breath rasping in her throat, as Chloe began to jerk against her. Her head tossed from side to side, her face flushed and absolutely beautiful as Aubrey – Aubrey – lifted her higher and higher until her release washed over her. Aubrey moaned with her, her own smaller release rocking through her as they came together.

Her hips didn't slow as she ran her tongue down Chloe's neck, feeling the tendons standing out as she gasped, her body still rolling against Aubrey's. Just before she reached Chloe's pulse point, Aubrey pulled her lips away, her voice like gravel from the strain, "Ours." She dipped her head back down and let her teeth and lips bruise the skin of Chloe's neck, feeling her wildly beating heart pound even faster as a second climax ripped through her.

Chloe's hands raked across Aubrey's back, stinging this time, as Aubrey gave one more hard thrust before her hips settled into a slow rhythm. She wasn't ready to pull away yet, to stop feeling their bodies move together this way, but she could feel Chloe tighten around her, making it difficult to slide inside. She soothed her tongue over the mark she had made as she finally stilled, Chloe's leg sliding off her hip. She moved up and captured Chloe's lips, this kiss as gentle as everything else had not been. Chloe's hands framed her face, fingertips tracing along Aubrey's jaw.

They stood there, shaking from more than the exertion, as Beca and Stacie reached out to stroke them gently. She knew their touch by now, knew that Beca was stroking her hair from her eyes before doing the same for Chloe. She knew that Stacie was running her fingertips down Aubrey's arm and back up, soothing and calming. Reluctantly Aubrey dropped her hips and stepped back, easing clear.

Chloe sighed at the loss, her eyes finally opening and meeting Aubrey's. She was panting but the smile on her face was deeply smug and satisfied. "I always wondered what that would be like."

Aubrey was surprised into a laugh. "Always?"

"Well, on and off, I suppose." Chloe stretched against her. "More so on, lately." She wobbled a little, three pairs of hands reaching to steady her. "Woo. My legs aren't working."

Aubrey swallowed and nodded. "I know the feeling." All the muscles in her body were twitching and she knew it wasn't just from the new workout she'd given them. Her body was still in a high state of arousal and she wasn't sure yet what she wanted to do about it.

Stacie's long arms reached out and tugged Chloe to her. "I got you, Red." She wrapped her arms around Chloe as she leaned against Stacie's taller body.

Aubrey braced both hands on the wall, her head hanging down as she tried not to shiver though the water was as warm as ever, the shower stall still full of steam. Then hands were on her hips, pulling the underwear down and Aubrey cried out as the insert rubbed against her for the last time. She saw Beca's hands set it down in the corner to her right to be dealt with later.

"B." Stacie's voice was soft but Beca was already on her knees, turning Aubrey around and pushing her against the wall. Her eyes were so dark, so warm; it took Aubrey's breath away. They both understood the almost painful state she was in, still keyed up and unable to think.

Beca leaned forward, her tongue gentle as it parted Aubrey's folds and gently touched her clit. With a sob, Aubrey put both hands on Beca's head and pulled her closer, silently demanding more than gentle with the tightening of her fingers. Beca's lips firmed, her tongue flat and strong as she grabbed Aubrey's left leg and lifted it to her shoulder. When Aubrey was steady with the new balance, Beca brought her left hand up and smoothly entered her. Her head turned and she licked once at the inside of Aubrey's thigh before pulling it between her lips and sucking hard. Aubrey keened, her body on overdrive and the thought of Beca marking her – that Beca wanted to mark her – in this way pushed her that much closer to the edge. She bit her lip and her right hand went out instinctively and it was pulled between Chloe and Stacie, her palm resting over Stacie's heart. Chloe's lips brushed her arm and Aubrey stifled another sob.

"It's okay to let go." Stacie's voice slid over her. "It's okay, my only." Having Stacie here in this moment with her, telling her it was okay to want, to need this – them – it set her free in a way she didn't fully understand.

But she let go. "Becs, please." She wasn't even aware that she was going to speak, didn't have enough brain power to put together thoughts. But apparently begging tripped easily off her tongue as once she started she couldn't stop. "Fuck, I need... oh Beca… more…" Her breath came in fits and starts, her words broken with emotion and need.

Beca gave one last kiss to the new bruise on Aubrey's thigh and turned her attention back to Aubrey's center, fingers unerringly finding that slightly ridged spot inside and rubbing, matching the new, faster, rhythm of her tongue. In what felt like no time at all, Aubrey was filling the shower with the sounds of her climax. Beca stood slowly, her whole body sliding against Aubrey's and kissed her gently, urging her sideways and into Chloe's arms, who pulled her in, back to front.

As the four of them shared soft touches and comforting kisses, Aubrey stopped wondering if the water on her face was from the shower, sweat or tears. It didn't matter in the long run. Not with them.

"I thought we came in here to shower?" Chloe teased, still slightly breathless.

"Oh, well. I mean. Eventually. Coming for other reasons apparently took precedence." Stacie replied as Chloe groaned at the pun. "Though, we've got to be hitting the limit on even our super heaters."

"Suppose that means I've got to move." Beca mumbled from where she'd been lazily nipping Aubrey's collarbone.

"Well, faster we shower, the faster we can dog pile in The Expanse?" Aubrey offered, though she was also reluctant to move from this cozy space between them, she really thought lying down sounded heavenly. Her legs still trembled coltishly.

"Sold." Beca reluctantly stepped back to give them room, stretching.

The next ten minutes were spent slowly washing each other, fingers tracing and learning curves in a new way, somehow even more intimate in their almost shy explorations. Stacie insisted on washing everyone's hair, and then when it was her turn, Beca made her kneel to do it.

"You just want me on my knees." Stacie joked, her eyes closed both in pleasure and to keep them shampoo free.

"Yeah, but not on this hard floor." Beca answered casually. "I'd like you to be comfy." She leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "So you can be on them for a while." Stacie only hummed in agreement, a pleased smile on her face.

Chloe laughed. "That's my girl. Always so considerate of others." When Aubrey looked at her in askance, Chloe smirked. "The first time we used that," she waved at the corner where the strap-on sat. "She put a 'thoughtful pillow' on the floor for me."

Beca shrugged and rolled her eyes. "That floor was basically like concrete. It's not like you were complaining when you used it."

Aubrey raised a brow, questions on the tip of her tongue, but instead made a mental note to see if they'd be willing to share the full details of that. She wasn't sure if she should feel guilty in being so intrigued at something so private, but she figured there couldn't be any harm in asking. She already knew there were things that it wouldn't bother her to share of her and Stacie's own escapades, once she'd checked with her wife. But she was pretty sure Stacie wouldn't care, she usually stayed silent for Aubrey's sake more than her own modesty. Plus, Beca had already said she wanted to hear about some of the places Stacie had rid her of her inhibitions. Maybe there would be a drunken story night in their future.

Stacie laughed. "So DJ has always been gentlemanly. That's so cute." She squawked as Beca dunked her under the spray to rinse out the shampoo.

Beca's voice was sickly sweet. "Oops, forgot to warn you. Sorry, Bucky."

Once they were all clean, conditioned and rinsed, they filed out, Beca passing out towels from the cabinet on the wall. They gently toweled each other dry, rubbing the extra moisture from their hair. Since they were already in there, they also brushed their teeth on the off chance they all passed out in the next few minutes, which Aubrey thought might actually happen.

Chloe led Stacie to the bed and had her sit down at the foot while Chloe knelt behind her and gently worked a comb through the wet strands. Aubrey grabbed Beca's hand and did the same, the simple pleasure of the act just as strong as when Chloe had done it for her that afternoon. By the time they'd traded places and finished, they were all yawning. Beca turned out the light, leaving only the nightlight in the bathroom, and the four of them crawled under the covers and collapsed in the middle of the bed.

Chloe had collapsed on the right side of the bed, if you were in it, and Beca immediately wiggled into place as the little spoon. Aubrey and Stacie took the other side, Stacie playing big spoon. Aubrey and Beca were only a few inches apart and laced their fingers together.

Beca yawned again and Aubrey thought it was adorable the way her eyes blinked slowly. "Are you guys going to make fun of me and call me an old lady if I say I need a nap?"

"Absolutely, DJ." Stacie wiggled closer to Aubrey and her hand stretched out to brush a few strands of hair away from Beca's eyes. "Right after I wake up from mine." She slid her hand down Chloe's arm until she was able to link their fingers and bring it to rest over the other two.

"Wait." Chloe pushed up. "I can't go to sleep without a goodnight kiss."

"Well, then get over here." Stacie rumbled from behind Aubrey.

Beca rolled to her stomach and Chloe slid partly over her back until she was over Aubrey. "Why, hello there, Chlo." Aubrey laughed as Chloe placed several kisses all over her face then sighed when soft lips captured her own. Chloe pulled back with a soft tug of Aubrey's lower lip and smiled at her. Chloe wiggled a little further over to kiss Stacie and while Aubrey greatly appreciated the view of their lips against each other, she was too tired to do anything about it. For now. Chloe pushed herself back and turned Beca on her side to kiss her just as thoroughly before wiggling back down under the covers with a happy sigh.

As Beca looked back over, Stacie reached out to tug her closer with Aubrey's help. "C'mere, DJ." More kisses were exchanged and Stacie looked down at Aubrey as Beca returned to her place in front of Chloe. Aubrey gently threaded her fingers through Stacie's hair, still slightly damp, and tugged her down into a warm kiss.

They settled back down, big and little spoons, all their hands joined in the middle. Aubrey knew that they'd likely part throughout the evening, but for now… Aubrey felt she could become too used to this. It was a thought that maybe should terrify her, but it didn't. She wasn't sure if that was because she was too tired to let it, or because she couldn't feel anything but satisfied and loved – and safe – with them surrounding her. Letting the worry fade, she sighed in contentment, the warmth from all four of their hands matching the warmth in her heart as she dropped off to sleep.