Title: Thanksgiving
Author: slacker_d
Pairing/Characters: Aubrey/Beca/Chloe, Dr. Mitchell, Sheila
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Beca is nervous. Thanksgiving is going to be spent with her dad, the step mother, and her girls.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Word Count: ~2,095
A/N: requested by Shatteredsand. Takes place 4 months after Getting There

Beca is nervous. Thanksgiving is going to be spent with her dad, the step mother, and her girls. Bree doesn't see her family on Thanksgiving and Jane made Chloe swear that they'd all be there for Christmas. It's a reasonable request because Beca and her dad are used to spending Christmas apart and her mom is still not talking to her. Meanwhile, Aubrey will be visiting her family on New Year's because everyone is used to Aubrey spending Christmas with the Beales.

The more Beca learns about Aubrey's parents, the less likely it seems that she'll like them. Beca's suddenly glad that she had her mom growing up; even if they're estranged now, Beca always felt loved and supported. Aubrey never really did.

But it's been years since she's spent a pleasant holiday with her dad, she visited him only sporadically. Logically she knows that she has nothing to worry about. Everyone's going to be walking on egg shells, so it won't be relaxing, but it is necessary; which Beca can only admit to herself. She kept quiet when Aubrey brought it up, which in lieu of an argument usually means her acceptance.

It may be immature, but Beca is so unsure that she'll take any small comfort.

...

"What are you doing?"

Beca looks up from her homework. "Studying."

"Seriously?" Chloe asks. "It's the day before Thanksgiving and you're studying?"

"And drinking," Beca says, holding up the beer.

"That seems counterproductive," Chloe says.

"Well I have to celebrate the holiday somehow," Beca replies.

"You couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Chloe questions.

"I meant tonight," Beca tells her.

Chloe looks confused. "What holiday is tonight?"

"It's Thanksgiving Eve," Aubrey says, plopping down on the couch next to Beca. "Though I don't approve of studying and drinking."

"Is that like Christmas Eve?" Chloe asks.

"Kinda," Beca replies.

Chloe looks at Beca and then to Aubrey and then back to Beca, trying to figure out what she's missing.

"Are you guys just messing with me?" she asks, finally. "Because that's not fair."

"Oh, like you play fair, Beale," Beca retorts.

"It was just that one time."

"Uh, would you like a list?" Beca asks. "Because I could do that. One, meeting my dad. Two, when we visited your parents. Three, last week with the last piece of pizza. Four, six months ago when we were looking for apartments. Five—"

"Fine," Chloe huffs, falling onto the couch, next to Aubrey. "Don't tell me. I don't care."

"Okay," Beca says before turning to Aubrey. "You still want me to open the wine?"

Aubrey nods and Beca stands, leaving her textbook on the couch, but brings her beer with.

Chloe tries not to watch, but her curiosity gets the better of her. But all Beca does is open a bottle of wine, pour two glasses and return with them and another beer for herself. She hands one wine glass to Aubrey and one to Chloe and then sits next to Aubrey again.

"So what are we doing tonight?" Chloe asks. "To celebrate this so called holiday."

"This," Beca replies.

"Seriously, guys, you're just screwing with me, right?"

"According to studies," Aubrey says. "Tonight is the biggest drinking night of the year."

"No way," Chloe replies. "What about New Year's? Or Christmas?"

"Apparently ringing in the new year isn't as daunting as being thankful with your family," Aubrey replies.

"And at least at Christmas there's presents," Beca adds.

"You guys are so making that up," Chloe tells them.

"Have you met me?" Aubrey questions.

"Well you are drinking," Chloe points out.

"I just started," Aubrey replies.

"So?" Chloe asks.

"It was my idea," Beca pipes up.

"What?"

"Aubrey shared that lovely fact with me last week for some odd reason," Beca continues.

"Because you were nervous about spending Thanksgiving with your dad and step mom," Aubrey says. "And I thought that information might make you feel less alone."

"Awww," Chloe says. "That is so sweet Bree. Comforting her with statistics."

Aubrey rolls her eyes.

"It did help," Beca adds.

"So that's why we're drinking?" Chloe asks. "Because Beca's nervous about tomorrow?"

"Basically," Beca says.

"Okay," Chloe says, taking a sip of her wine. "Sounds good to me."

...

Beca's nerves have her up first and Aubrey's surprised when she wakes up to the smell of coffee and empty space behind her. Aubrey watches Chloe, still asleep and curled into the blonde and Aubrey wonders how she ended up being the one that's usually in the middle. She's not complaining, she just finds it interesting.

Aubrey slides out of bed, careful not to wake Chloe and smiling when the red head finds Aubrey's pillow and hugs it in her absence.

Aubrey finds Beca on the couch, music blasting through her headphones. There's coffee, though only half a pot, making Aubrey wonder how long Beca's been up; the sun is barely visible and it seems like Beca's been awake for hours. Part of the reason Aubrey had agreed to last night's slightly excessive drinking was that she hope it would help calm Beca's nerves.

Coffee in hand, Aubrey grabs the remote and sits next to Beca. There's nothing really on this early and so after stopping on the least annoying infomercial, Aubrey turns to Beca and gently removes her headphones.

"Morning."

"How long have you been awake?"

Beca shrugs.

"Beca..."

"I don't know, maybe five?"

So only a couple hours; not as bad as Aubrey expected.

"I hate to say this Beca," Aubrey starts. "But do you think maybe you're working yourself up unnecessarily?"

Beca doesn't answer right away and Aubrey worries that she's killed the conversation before it can even begin.

"After my parents got divorced," Beca says, eventually. "It was just me and my mom. And I had to be okay with that. When I got to Barden, I thought I was. But now my dad and I are getting along while my mom hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," Aubrey says. "She's just... concerned."

"Well she's not talking to me, either way," Beca replies.

"Holidays are always tough," Aubrey agrees.

"I just hate that I care so much," Beca says. "I have you and Chloe and I honestly never thought I'd be this happy. I'm twenty years old, why do I care so much if my parents approve or not? I should still be in my post teen angst mode."

"I don't know."

"Because now I worry about losing my dad's approval too," Beca continues. "Even if he's already given it, it can be ripped away, just as quickly."

Aubrey just wraps her arms around Beca and pulls her into her lap.

"He wants to be a part of your life," Beca," Aubrey says. "I don't think he's going to do anything to jeopardize that."

"I guess."

"Why don't you want to want him in your life?" Aubrey asks. "It's perfectly natural."

"You don't want your parents in your life," Beca points out.

"They've never really been involved," Aubrey replies. "If they suddenly got involved after all these years, I'd be suspicious."

"True."

Aubrey waits, knowing Beca will answer the question eventually.

"If you don't need someone, then it doesn't hurt as much when they reject you." Beca sips her coffee. "And he's already done it once."

"I'm not sure you have to worry about that with your dad," Aubrey says. "Things are different now."

"Really? Because that's what I thought about my mom."

Aubrey sighs. "Family's tough."

"Which is why," Chloe says, joining them on the couch. "It's so great that we're each other's family now." She hugs them both. "Right?"

"Right," Beca says, trying to discretely wipe away her tears.

"It's too early to be so contemplative," Chloe says. "Why are you guys up?"

"Why are you?" Beca counters.

"I got lonely," Chloe replies.

"Maybe we should all go back to bed," Aubrey suggests. "We're not expected for at least four hours."

"I don't know if I can sleep, Bree," Beca replies. "I've had a lot of coffee."

"Who said I was talking about sleep?"

...

Four hours later they're pulling up in front of the house and knocking on the door. Beca's dad answers and gratefully accepts the two bottles of wine that Aubrey picked out.

They end up in the kitchen because even though her dad claims they don't need help, there are still plenty of things that need doing.

As her dad and step mom cook, Beca opens one of the bottles of wine they brought and pours her girls each a glass. Her dad declines, but Shelia gratefully accepts a glass as well. Recorking the bottle, Beca gets herself a bottle of water.

Her dad raises an eyebrow, but Beca just shrugs. She really doesn't feel like drinking; she did plenty the night before. Plus, one of them has to be able to drive home and Beca figures it might as well be her since she's still under age for a bit longer.

They chat about the classes Beca is taking, the ones that her dad is teaching, how work is going for Shelia, as well as how Aubrey's second year of law school is going and how Chloe is enjoying earning her Master's. Her dad brings up the Bellas and Beca reluctantly reports on their progress. They'd only gotten second place the year before and Beca is determined to get the Bellas another victory. Chloe likes to tease Beca about being just as intense of a captain as Aubrey was.

Beca likes to argue that it's more about putting the Trebles in their place; since Jesse was made captain, the rivalry has become a bit friendlier but has stayed just as fierce.

A comfortable silence lapses over them. Feeling awkward, Beca offers to help again.

"We're fine, Beca," her dad says. "Stop trying to show off for your girlfriends."

"Really dad?" Beca groans.

Aubrey chuckles as Chloe pats Beca on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Becs," Chloe says. "We're already impressed with your culinary skills."

"Yeah babe," Aubrey adds. "Just relax."

"Sorry for trying to be helpful," Beca pouts.

...

When they sit down to eat a few hours later, there's a bit less tension. Both Beca and her dad have relaxed a bit and in turn, Shelia, Aubrey and Chloe have relaxed as well.

"This is all amazing," Aubrey says.

"Yeah dad. Shelia," Beca adds. "Not bad."

John fondly rolls his eyes at her. "Thanks Beca."

"Maybe next year we can cook for you," Chloe suggests. "Beca is an incredible cook."

"She is?"

Beca keeps her eyes on her food.

"She is," Chloe nods.

"I admit that we were quite surprised as well," Aubrey adds.

"I think I've just been insulted," Beca mutters.

"Whatever you say, Ms. Bad Ass," Aubrey retorts.

Beca sticks her tongue out at Aubrey.

"Real mature, Mitchell."

Chloe rolls her eyes at them both.

"So do you girls have any big plans for the rest of the weekend?" John asks.

"Besides getting Aubrey to relax?" Chloe replies. "Nothing specific."

"Just because we have a holiday weekend, doesn't mean it's time to slack off," Aubrey says.

"Of course not, Bree," Chloe replies. "But there's also no reason why you can't relax for one day."

"Yeah," Beca adds. "You work hard. You deserve a break."

"You two are both ridiculous," Aubrey retorts.

"You should take advantage of this opportunity," Shelia says. "Next year is going to be even crazier."

Shelia's a tax attorney, so Beca figures she probably knows what she's talking about.

Aubrey sighs. "Fine. I will consider it."

"Excellent," Chloe grins.

...

"So it seems that I stressed myself out for nothing," Beca says.

It's later that evening and the three of them are tangled together on the couch with the TV blasting in the background.

"Well then next year will be no big deal," Chloe says.

"But we can still drink the night before, right?" Beca questions.

"You could drink right now," Aubrey retorts.

"It's not the same."

"All you drank today was water," Chloe points out.

"Yeah. And?"

"Why do you need to drink next year, then?" Aubrey asks.

"I don't know," Beca shrugs. "But we need traditions, right? Why not have that be one?"

Aubrey rolls her eyes. "So we're going to have alcoholic traditions?"

"It was just a suggestion," Beca retorts. "And no."

"Because I'm not sure that's a tradition we can keep up," Aubrey replies.

"You never like any of my suggestions," Beca complains.

"Because most of them are terrible."

"Hey."

"Bree, be nice."

"I didn't say all of them were bad."

A/N: Yes, I will eventually be writing Christmas with the Beales.