A/N: So it might seem weird, to some that Chloe is the one who is going to be the angry one, as briefly seen in the last chapter, but I thought it was pretty believable. That, and I can work off how Chloe and Beca interacted in PP2. She was angry a lot. So yeah. Sorry for the delay in updating. I got to spend 8 amazing days with my girlfriend, and now we are planning our not so distant future together 3 so there, have a little love fluff. Cause you aren't getting any in Bella Squared right now. Okay. Ill shut up. HERE YOU GO.

Aubrey, Chloe and Stacie sat in the living room a few hours later. Stacie laying back on the couch, her face slightly pale while Chloe ran her fingers through her hair. She had thrown up three times since breakfast, and was beginning to feel better, though she didn't dare move.

Chloe's fingers brushing softly through her hair was relaxing, and she cursed this morning sickness that never seemed to stay in the designated hours, that were considered the morning.

Aubrey sat at the other end of the couch, with Stacie's feet in her lap. Her face stoic, as she tried to wrap her head around the events of that morning and apparently what happened the night before. Beca had taken Emily to the airport, and Alex went with them. Beca didn't say much other than she needed to speak with Alex and they would be back before dinner.

"This can't be happening again." Stacie said and Aubrey looked over at her.

"Do you feel sick again?" She asked, already preparing to stand up so Stacie could go into the bathroom. She stopped when Stacie shook her head.

"No, I mean this cluster fuck with James. It can't be happening. I think, it's all just being blown out of proportion, because she didn't tell us right away."

"That's the thing though. We don't know how serious it is, because she didn't tell us." Chloe said exasperatedly. Her eyes fixed in a hard gaze. She was still very upset with the whole situation. While Aubrey and Stacie could see why she would be upset, they weren't sure why she seemed to be angry with Beca, to the degree that she was. If what Alex saw was correct, she had been attacked the night before. Could they be angry at her for that?

"Maybe she was waiting? Until Emily was gone." Stacie suggested. "Maybe she didn't want to bring it up in front of her, or Alex. Since she didn't know Alex even saw it." She reached her hand back and linked it with Chloe's give it a soft squeeze.

Chloe squeezed back and looked down at her. It made sense, but she couldn't seem to let go of the grudge she was holding. "She had an opportunity to tell us. Last night, in bed. Early this morning before anyone got up and she was sick. I was out here with her, on the couch. She could have said something then. She chose not to. She was hiding it."

Aubrey looked over at her. "We can't accuse her of that, Chlo. We don't know her reasoning yet, we didn't give her the chance to explain."

Chloe met her gaze, letting out a breath through her nose and pursing her lips in thought. "Did you see her face?" she asked. Aubrey looked at her in question and shook her head.

"When?"

"In the kitchen. When I told her that Alex was awake. She gave that same damn look. The one she used to get, when it was about Jesse. Now it's about James, and she was hiding it. She had been caught, and she knew it. I understand, she was probably scared. I get that." She said and looked away, taking a calming breath.

"We have been doing this...for what? Nearly seven years? There is no reason. No Excuse. She should have told us immediately. She was assaulted in our home. And our daughter saw it. Again." She said. "Who knows what this has done to Alex's recovery. She bounced back, once we moved here, but she is only a kid, and she went through something terrible. She was so angry at Beca this morning. She isn't okay. Neither of them are." She said trailing off and looking away from the worried green eyes that were looking at her.

Stacie slowly sat up so she was sitting between them. "I see your point, love. I really do. And I wasn't there, for a long time. I'm still new to what you have had for so long. I don't know everything that happened during those years you were in Maine. I came at the end, the bad part. You left Barden, and we had no Idea where you went. The last thing I did was help Beca come out of that catatonic state she was in. She was so traumatized. Then, nothing. For five years. When we came here, I saw you all so happy. Healing, with a beautiful little girl and before we knew it, the nightmare started all over again."

Aubrey reached over and took her hand. "It's bad, I know. But, when I look at Beca, I'm so used to seeing her in that state of fear. I'm used to Beca the victim. Not the Beca the survivor. So now, with this whole thing with James. I can't be mad that she didn't say anything, because I wasn't there. I didn't see her recovery. I've seen pain, and fear, and trauma. We have only been in the clear for such a short time. You can be mad at her for not telling us." She said looking at Chloe and the older girl looked back at her, with teary eyes.

"But, I can't. And while I see your point from your side and Aubrey's. I understand why she didn't say anything. Because as bad as it may be. I still see her, scared and lost and unable to speak. I don't believe she was hiding this. I don't. Because I do see the progress when it comes to her being open and honest. I don't know why she didn't say anything right away, but I don't find that to be a reason to be angry with her." She said looking at Chloe and then Aubrey. She let out a breath as she received the smallest smile from Aubrey.

"It that terrible? That I still see her that way?" She asked.

Aubrey let out her own breath. "Well, while we didn't know you saw her like that. It makes sense. You are right. The majority of the time you have been with her. It was during the worst parts of our lives. I get why you sympathize with that. I don't agree that she is a victim anymore. She has grown, she has recovered, and she is a survivor. We all are. We don't know the details of what happened last night. We don't know the reasoning behind her staying quiet. You both make valid points. I see why Chloe is angry, I see why you aren't." She said. "Now, I want to hear Becas side."

Stacie nodded slowly and looked at Chloe who was swiping her hands across her cheeks, wiping away the tears. "I'm sorry," She said. "I don't know why I am so angry."

Stacie smiled and leaned over rubbing her hand over Chloe's back and leaning her head on her shoulder. Chloe sniffled and rested her head on Stacie's.

"I'm going to make some lunch and text Beca, see when she plans to come home and if I should make lunch for them. I love you weirdos." She said standing up and kissing them both on the head.

"Love you too," Stacie called after her.

"Love you Bree." Chloe said lifting her head.

Aubrey disappeared into the kitchen and Stacie groaned placing her hand on her belly. "Sick?" Chloe asked standing up and holding out her hand.

Stacie took it and was pulled to her feet. "This kid hates me." She whined as she shuffled toward the bathroom.

Chloe smirked after her, before looking around their living room in thought. She let out a breath and walked over to the mantle and looked at the pictures they had set out. Her eyes landing on the picture that was taken at Alex's 5th birthday party. The three of them standing behind her. Her face happy, bright. Untainted. A cake in front of her, with lit candles, waiting to be wished upon and blown out.

She smiled softly. Her birthday was coming up. So much had happened in one short year. Their lives were completely changed. Turned around. So much had changed, for the good and bad. She wanted her 6th birthday to be a fresh start. A new life, a new home. A family that was happy and healthy. That's what she deserved. She walked away from the mantle, already planning what she wanted to do for their daughters coming birthday.

XXXXXX

Beca watched with soft eyes as Alex sat across from her in the wooden booth. She had a milkshake in front of her and she was pulling the straw out and letting the melted ice cream pour into her mouth before doing it again.

"So I was thinking, maybe we could talk, about what you saw last night?" She asked gently. Alex looked at her and put the straw into the glass.

"Why?" She asked, her voice curious.

Beca smiled. "Well, I just thought, I should apologize. I didn't mean for it to happen, and I'm sorry if it scared you. I'm sorry if it made it seem like I was lying to you."

Alex looked at her thoughtfully. "I was scared." She said, and Beca leaned forward, resting her folded arms under her on the table.

"Is he going to hurt us, like Jesse did?" She asked.

Beca felt her heart drop into her stomach. Never in a million years, would she have thought her daughter would know the horrible things that were caused by Jesse. Let alone, have been directly affected by it.

"No, Alex, he isn't." She said softly. "No one will ever hurt us like Jesse did. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again."

Alex dropped her hands into her lap and looked down at them. "Will he take me away? What if he comes back? You weren't there when Jesse took me away. How could you stop him?" She asked and her face was scrunched in worry. It took every bit of strength Beca had not to break down at the scared look she could clearly see in her child's eyes.

She sat back, scooting out of her seat and moving over to sit beside her daughter. She wrapped her arm around her and Alex leaned into her side.

"Alex, I am so sorry for everything that happened. I never meant for you to get hurt, and I don't like you being scared." She said holding her close. She kissed the top of her head before moving back and taking her small face in her hands.

"But, I promise. I will never let anyone hurt you, or me or your Moms ever again, okay?" She asked keeping her eyes locked on Alex's. She could see the small crease between Alex's eyes relax and she nodded.

"Okay, Mama." She said and Beca pulled her back into a tight hug.

"What about the baby?" She asked and Beca smiled.

"The baby too." She promised kissing her head again as her phone chimed in her pocket. She pulled it out and opened the text. With a smile she read the message and then looked at Alex.

"Mom is making lunch at home. This milkshake," She pointed to the glass in front of them and Alex looked at it, then back at her. "Never happened." She said with raised eyebrows and Alex smiled picking up the straw and bringing it up Becas mouth. She laughed as she was fed the sugary treat.

"Deal?" She asked as she replied to the text.

Alex nodded pouring some into her own mouth. "Deal."

A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!