Getting a tiny bit disappointed with reviews… lack of interest in the story now? However, can't miss the fact that 120 REVIEWS! Thank you!
This chapter is cheesy, corky, fluffy, had the longest dialogues (like any wedding I've written) and well had to be cheesy with Chloe Beale in there.
So this week's shout (forgot to say it in Lost and Found ;) out goes to my Macedonian buddy, for being an amazing friend with great advices and a lot of funny things to cheer me up when needed, and when not too, wishing you the best of weekends, girl!, to Jake, for being just awesome buddy, although don't you if you're reading man but if not I'll give a call I guess hahahaha, for Simon, not a reader but I know he'll hear about this and man, you're simply amazing… and for the woman who owns my ovaries, for kicking the butt of my natural loneliness ;)
Chapter 21: A snowy little wedding.
December 10th came before expected. That night, Chloe had gone to sleep to Gwen's house, to maintain the tradition of not sleeping together until they were married, without minding that none of them was a virgin anymore, of course. Noah was staying with his grandparents like his cousins, and the Swanson kinds, so that way the groomsman, best man and the bridesmaids didn't have to worry about anything else but the brides. Beca couldn't sleep that night, not because she was too nervous, she was excited only, but because that was also the morning her father had died. He had died around two in the morning, and Beca had gotten the news around noon, as she was leaving Barden for the day and saw a soldier, friend of her father, staring at her from the end of a corridor. She remembered how her heart had flinched at seeing him, knowing what happened because at the hour her father died, she had felt an intense stomach ache that kept her awake until exhaustion overcame her, only to be woken up crying and awakening the whole Bella's house up because she was hysterical and with her asthma, worse. She had dreamed something happened to him.
Beca finally woke up and opened one of the drawers in her bedside table. There was a folder there, that she kept with things that were more private. She pulled out a small envelope that was old and brown, but in her father's handwriting, it could be read Rebeca Anne Mitchell. Her father always tried to have enough envelopes –many times he carried paper and envelopes from home- to write to each of them individually.
Beca opened the letter, the last one she ever got from her father, with trembling hands, sitting up in her bed. It was dated November 30th, 1997, although it didn't arrive until the day of his funeral:
My dearest girl:
How are you doing? How is everything in Georgia? Did you get yourself a girlfriend? How are the Bellas' going? And Chloe? And your studies? And your asthma, is it bothering you too much lately?
I bet you're just as beautiful as the last time I saw you, aren't you? I can't believe it's been eighteen months already. I miss you so much. I miss Scottie, mom and home too, but I bet I'll be going back home before you know it. It can't be too long now, most things are done. Anyway, I'm not going to complain, you're the ones at home waiting not to be told bad news, and my experience tells me that waiting is always worse than being here. I love you so much Beca, I wish you knew, my sweet angel, how much I would give anything to be there with you, to see you grow and knowing I'm missing so much sadness me incredibly much. I'm so proud of you and everything you've been doing, the woman you're becoming, I couldn't be prouder. You made the best decision going to college and doing things you love, like music. I love how you talk about Chloe, is she someone special? I think you'd wish she was, but be patient, the best things in life take time and a lot of work and patience to happen, but at the end, they're the most worth waiting for, and the most perfect things you'll have.
I received your last letter a few days ago, but I didn't have a chance to write you back until know, because we were moving to another emplacement, although it made me so happy seeing you wrote! Things aren't too bad here, the enemy seems calm and our most dangerous missions are over now. There's a guy here that is just like your teacher Doctor Fittsberger, an asshole. But he's someone I can't really talk bad about, what if he reads? Hahahah, just kidding. Congrats for your marks, by the way! Mom's been telling me all about your success in her letters, and Scott. They're so proud too, you know? Now that I remember, you have a Bellas' performance the 2nd, don't you? Well, good luck my angel, although I already know you'll win that thing. Your voice is completely magical. Maybe I'll be back by then, I'll pray for that, I hate missing your stuff! But I promise one day I will be with you forever and I will never leave you again baby.
I'm so sorry I have to keep coming back here, I don't want to either, but you have to understand that sometimes things don't go like one would like. Being an adult don't always mean you can do whatever you want, sometimes you make stupid decisions, get yourself into oaths and serious stuff with your country, and then you can't leave. Fool of me when I entered the Air Force! But I'm working hard to be able to leave, and one day I will, I promise you Beca. In the meantime, I hope you don't grow too much, and that you keep being happy. I love your smiles, those are the prettiest ones I've ever seen. One day, you'll understand… you'd like some stuff from here though, like the sunsets and the people of some places. Although Afghanistan is not the prettiest place right now, our sweet Portland is better. How happy it makes me think that one day all of this will be a faint memory, and I'll see you maybe get married, maybe I'll get to walk you down the aisle if you want a marriage, and I'll get to hold my grandchildren in my arms, and you too. Positive thoughts give me great strength.
I gotta go now, Bec. Remember I love you, I hold you close in my heart, and I wish you all the best. I know you'll be okay because now you have our lucky charm, don't you? That helps me sleep at night. Be strong Beca, you've always been the strongest, stronger than me even. I'm a proud dada. Enjoy for the two of us. I'll be back home, and then, I will never leave you, no matter what. Take care and remember daddy is fighting for our freedom and our future. Whenever you miss me, look at the stars or at the sun above you, and think that somewhere else, I'm looking at it too, thinking of you. I love you, always,
Daddy.
(Ben)
Beca drowned a sob and put the letter again into the envelope and into the drawer. Cleaning the tears of her cheeks, that wouldn't stop falling, she sat on the desk, leaning her head against the window, and contemplated the stars hugging her knees, and sobbing quietly, trying not to wake Scott up, until she fell asleep.
In the morning, she was awoken by Scott. She was on her bed again, and supposed her brother had carried her there at some point during the night. The wedding was at almost noon, and it was now eight in the morning, three hours before the wedding. Tiredly, she followed Scott, who taking her by the hand took her to the kitchen, where he made breakfast for the both of them. He also seemed, like her, to be pulling through an enormous weight.
"How are you?" Beca asked in a raspy whisper contemplating him eat. He stared at her for a second.
"I'm doing the best I can sis. It's hard and I'm sad, but I'm also really happy for you, and I know the day will improve as hours pass by. How are you?" Beca shrugged.
"I'm excited and happy and at the same time, is like I feel this emptiness inside." Beca whispered "I wish they were here. At least last time mom was."
"I know…" Scott nodded "I'm here for you, alright?"
"Yeah." Beca nodded "Me too."
Chloe called an hour later, as Beca sat on the sofa while a hair dresser made her hair. Helen and Amy sat close by making sure Beca's boots were clean.
"Happy wedding day!" Beca greeted Chloe happily, and heard her giggle "How are you?"
"I'm fine, excited, pretty calm. You?" Chloe replied.
"I'm okay." Beca replied.
"Did you sleep anything at all?"
"Well, I took a long nap yesterday and tonight I slept maybe six hours. But I'll be okay, I'll take a quick nap while everybody's partying after the wedding if I need to." Beca replied "Don't worry for me."
"I can't help it. I love you, I'm gonna kiss you so hard in that I do." Beca smiled.
"You better!" Beca said "How's your wound?"
"Cured, it hasn't bothered me one bit in over a week, Becs. The scar is practically gone." Chloe added.
"Good." Beca smiled.
"I gotta leave, Aubrey wants me to collaborate in doing my hair." Chloe laughed.
"Alright. See you soon fiancée."
"Until later love!" Chloe grinned and hung up.
'Liberty Warehouse' as a big bricks building with a series of big rooms, including the meals one, a couple private rooms for the wives, and the bathrooms. The reception and the party was going to be at the hotel Plaza Athenee there in New York City, because Chloe's parents had offered to pay for it and Beca thought it was un polite to decline. Bullshit, she just wanted a princess wedding for Chloe and that seemed more like it.
Everything was white. There was snow everywhere. The wedding was at a terrace in the warehouse that was outdoors, and surrounded by Upper Bay. The aisle had been formed by tons of chairs collocated at both sides, and the altar had a big arch of flowers. The aisle and the altar had been cleared from snow, so had been the ground around the chairs, and they would be saying I do between a bunch of flowers and with the sea behind them. It was also quite a cold day that promised more snow to come, but Beca didn't care. She couldn't wait anymore, she loved snow, she loved New York, and damn, she loved Chloe so much.
All the guests were sitting already, it was almost eleven in the morning, and the sun was shining. Beca was ready to walk down the aisle, her flowers in hand and her other hand gripping her handsome brother's arm. He grinned at her as they watched for afar Chloe and her dad make their way to the aisle. He was wearing a gray tuxedo with a dark blue tie and white flowers on the lapel. Jesse, Noah, and Charles dressed just the same.
They had rented some drums that one of the Trebles was playing, Chloe's mother was playing a keyboard, and some of the Trebles and the Bellas were singing. The first piano notes of Road to you by 'Five for Fighting' started sounding as Chloe made her way out of the building and started walking slowly with a huge grin on her face beside her father. Her hair was free with a couple big white flowers next to her side bangs, and she was wearing her hood. Snowflakes had started to fall but it just added magic to the scene.
I can't believe how I love you I hear a song on the radio
You'll be the last
You'll be the last turn I take
All of the signs are in color
Baby, I'm on my way
And it sounds like something I miss
But, I don't need those old melodies
With you on my lips
Chloe and Charles, both smiley, reached the start of the aisle and stopped for a moment. Noah presided the procession with the rings, beside him was Kathleen Swanson, with her pretty white dress and the wedding coins. The only one in front of them was Daniel, throwing flowers to the aisle. Behind them, were Chloe and Charles, followed by Aubrey and Gwen. Chloe started walking towards the altar, where the officiator and Jesse waited smiling.
I was born a fool on the run Watching you walk down the aisle
I've broken hearts and lost at love
There's not one thing I would change or undo
Cause all my life's been a road to you
Every step, every step takes a year
Baby, you can count on the man
That's standing right here
That's when the group reached the altar. Chloe and Charles stood in front of the officiator, Aubrey and Gwen went to both sides of Jesse, the children went to their family members in the chairs, and Noah stood beside his godmother. The guests sat for a moment, during a few seconds, and then stood again when another group, with Sophie and Matt at the front throwing more flowers, Beca and her brother Scott behind them, and Helen Vargas with Amy behind, made their apparition, walking behind all the chairs towards the beginning of the aisle. The song was sung by their a-cappella buddies, and the choruses by everybody who wanted to sing, and very strongly, powerfully, happily and enthusiastically.
Today is the way to forever I was born a fool on the run
I made a map to find you when you're alone
Wherever we've been don't matter
We're this close to home
I've broken hearts and lost at love
There's not one thing I would change or undo
Cause all my life's been a road to you
By then, Beca reached the beginning of the aisle, and like Chloe, stopped for a moment. Chloe and Charles turned around and all eyes focused on Beca, who grinned with glassy eyes, and gripped Scott's arm strongly. Chloe's eyes immediately filled with tears as a smile appeared on her face. Everybody was grinning and surprising laughs, Noah was incredibly happy chuckling at his mothers. Beca also had her hair free and with some flowers, perfectly defined curls falling adorned by white snowflakes. Her nose was slightly rosy, and she had removed her elegant jacket, that Helen was holding carefully. Beca breathed deeply, and gave a step forward, in sync with the music, the whole place singing.
Road to you I was born a fool on the run I was born a fool on the run
Road to you
I've broken hearts and lost at love
There's not one thing I would change or undo
Cause all my life's been a road to you
I've broken hearts and lost at love
There's not one thing I would change or undo
Cause all my life's been a road to you
When Beca was about to reach the aisle, Chloe went to get her girl, intertwining a hand with Beca. Both girls kissed Scott's cheeks before he went to stand beside his sister as the couple arrived the altar. The song slowly stopped, everyone sat, and the musicians sat too. Noah went to sit in the first row with his grandparents and his uncle Finn, his cousins, the Swanson kids, and Jesse's parents, who were also there.
"I'm Ella Galbraith, and I will officiate this wedding." The officiator said with a polite smile. Snowflakes fell softly, and Helen put Beca's jacket back on the bride. The two brides smiled at each other with one of their hands intertwined, as they mouthed some complements to each other from time to time "Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the wedding of miss Chloe Elizabeth Beale and miss Rebeca Anne Mitchell, and in their name and mine, I thank you all for your assistance to this very important day for this couple, that chooses to follow their hearts and get married again, knowing that that's all they could possibly want. May your marriage be the most loving, the happiest and the fullest you'll ever had, I wish you all the best. Firstly, the best man Scott Benjamin Mitchell will say some words in your honor."
Scott walked forward to take the mic and pulled a paper out of his pocket. He smiled at the brides, who smiled back.
"For reasons that aren't be talked about today, I've missed two much about the both of you, Chloe and Beca. Chloe, the first time I met you was just a few months ago and at the first glance I thought 'wow, this is beauty'" some giggled "then you looked at me, a man you had never seen standing by your doorstep at dinner time, with so much kindness and compassion it softened me inside and encouraged me to come inside. You spoke with a voice so tender it commoved me and you told me you were my sister's fiancée, and I thought, 'my sister is the luckiest woman alive'. Now, after months getting to know you better, I can tell that my nephew Noah has the best mothers in the world and I'm happy and calm today because I know my sister has a faithful, devoted woman, who loves her more than anything and will take care of her like any brother would want their family to be taken care of. I've never told you anything like 'if you hurt my sister I'll kill you'" more giggles "because I've gotten to see that hurting her kills you inside. And I'm deeply thankful you appeared in her life to stay, because I know she's now even more of a difficult human being than she already was when we were teenagers, and you are the most comprehensive and loving soul in this soul, I know you two are soul mates, and soul mates should never stop fighting to be together, despite all the bumps in the road. Beca" Scott and her exchanged smiles "I've known you for so long, and yet there are times when I don't think I really know you. I've never seen you look at anybody the way you look at Noah or Beca, that makes me feel like I'm interrupting something important. I've never heard a couple giggle and laugh so much at night, and it fills my chest of happiness every time I go for a glass of water at night, and I heard you two giggle, every time Chloe comes back from work and you massage her back, listen to her day and Noah's, and of course, when I go in the mornings to see if any of you is awake, and I've found a bunch of different cute scenarios. There is the one when you two are sleeping, always spooning" Beca and Chloe blushed and smiled at each other "or touching one way or another. There is the one when you two are awake and cuddling, talking in whispers and smiling at each other. And there is the one when one of you is awake, and if it's not in the kitchen making breakfast for everyone and of course a tray so the other one can have it in the bed, it's still in bed, watching the other sleep like if it was the most beautiful creature in the world, and immediately making sure I don't make a noise to wake her up. And if any of you has had a bad night or a bad few days, there is always extra overprotection and extra tenderness. I know you love her, Beca, because I don't need my reading glasses to see that. I knew it since you were eighteen and just met her, and spent half our phone calls talking about that redhead from New York that was in your University, but you didn't know then, although our parents knew too. You've done for her more crazy stuff than I've seen nobody do for anybody, and after mom and dad got divorced, I thought soul mates were bullshit, and those perfect love stories unreal too, but then I walked into your house, and everyday I've seen you two together, even when you were arguing, I knew that is how soul mates look like. Our parents would be incredibly happy of seeing you got this lucky, and incredibly proud" Beca bit her lip, a tear running down her cheek "So Beca, don't lose her twice. Don't stop fighting for her. Today is not the day you finally and after all the crap get each other. Today is the day you swear in front of all of us that you'll never stop fighting for each other, loving each other, and taking care of each other even when you're mad at each other. Today is the first day of your forever."
People applauded, and Beca and Chloe made sure of giving Scott great kisses on his cheeks before paying attention to the officiator again.
"The Bride's parents, Colonel Benjamin Mitchell and Anne Williams, haven't been able to be here today in living presence to support their daughter in this important day, but they're here in spirit, after the father passed away a day just like today sixteen years ago during combat in Afghanistan, and the mother passed away last year in the summer after a long battle against lung cancer. In their honor, the Brides have asked to have a minute of silence now, that I'll ask you to hold, before Beca gives us a few words in their honor." The officiator said. After the minute, Beca did just like Scott a few moments earlier.
"Being the child of a soldier is never easy. You miss all too much, you argue all too much, and you give all too many lies to those at school or the neighborhood that wonder if your father was a bad man who left you and your family when you were little. But being the child of a soldier is being someone with the chest filled with pride, because that soldier becomes your hero, in my case, I true Superman. My father belonged, as many of you now, to the Air Force, and he used to tell me that every time I missed him, I just had to look up at the sky, because somewhere else, he would be under the same sun, the same stars, looking at the same sky, thinking of me. The last time I got married, the last time I got to read something in his honor at my wedding, I didn't know half the things I know now, because it turns out, you never really know somebody until their gone. Now I've read his traveling notebooks, his memories, and I've been at the same place he has been in war, serving in the exact same forces he served, and following very similar commands. If before I saw him as Superman, today that I understand him much better than I've ever done, I know without a doubt, and with plenty of proofs, he was a war hero. He is my hero, the man of my life, I see him in my eyes, in my brother's eyes, and mostly, in my son's eyes. When my son argues with me, I see the same fierceness, the same determination, and the same strength I saw so many times in my father's eyes. I know he was the greatest man I will ever meet, and as much as I'd love for him to be here today, I know he will be looking down from the sky, just like he always was." Beca gulped and breathed down, her eyes fixed on the paper. Most of the guests, including Chloe and Scott, were tearing up "My mother was the strongest woman I've ever known. She stood beside my father since they met as neighbors, when they were just children, until they divorced in 1995, after forty years dating, and twenty eight married. Two years later, my father died, and my mother still loved him. After having gone through my own divorce for pretty much the same reasons, I understood their whole relationship, and I grew closer with my mother than I've ever been. She was the rock that keep my family together, more than my father ever was. She wasn't able to be a mother for some time after losing the love of her life, but she taught me to be a good mother, and when she was back, she was better than ever. She took care of my family when I was away, she made sure my son knew well who the Mitchells were when I wasn't home to do so myself, and he took care of me when I didn't know what to do with myself. She believed I would be with Chloe again one day, and it's a shame she isn't here to see she was right, but she gave me the same ring my father proposed to her with, and told me to propose to Chloe with that one, and she wouldn't say no. She was right. If you'd allow me, I'll finish reading a poem I'm sure we all know, from Walt Whitman, called 'Oh, Captain, my Captain': O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, the ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won, the port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, while follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, where on the deck my Captain lies, fallen cold and dead. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills, for you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding, for you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head! It is some dream that on the deck, you've fallen cold and dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, my father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will, the ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, from fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; Exult O shores, and ring O bells! But I with mournful tread, walk the deck my Captain lies, fallen cold and dead." She nodded for herself mostly, and went to stand next to Chloe again, giving her a weak smile. Chloe smiled too, and kissed her on the cheek.
Then, the officiator proceeded to let the brides give their readings for the wedding. First, it was Chloe's turn, so Beca could have some rest.
"If the old fairy-tale ending 'They lived happily ever after' is taken to mean 'They felt for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were married,' then it says what probably never was nor ever would be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? What would become of your work, your appetite, your sleep, your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be 'in love' need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense — love as distinct from 'being in love'— is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each would easily, if they allowed themselves, be 'in love' with someone else. 'Being in love' first moved them to promise fidelity: This quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it. C. S. Lewis." Chloe read "I find this explains why I never stopped loving you even when I hated you, Rebeca Mitchell." Chloe and Beca exchanged smiles "Our love started as an explosion, and just like stars keep shining long after they died, I never stopped loving you, even when I wanted to move on from you. I love you even when you hate you, I love you even when I don't understand you, and what started as an explosion becomes little explosions inside of me every time I wake up next to you. The day you faked your death I understood that life without you was filled with emptiness and coldness. You are my explosion, for good and for worse. And you are everything I will ever want, because with nobody else I could share this deep unity that I share with my soul mate." Chloe went with Beca and Beca smiled at her mouthing some thanks before going to talk herself.
"When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke — the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen - the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert. It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it's easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it's in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning. Paulo Coelho." Beca read from her paper "Chloe, when I first moved in with you, thirteen years ago, I was proud to have made a home with you, to get a place to call our home. But today as I look at you, I understand that our beautiful house has never been my home." Beca smiled at Chloe, amazed by her beauty, and Chloe raised her eyebrows in curiosity "My home is not a place. You are my home. Your eyes are always filled with all the love I need, your smile has all the warmest, between your arms, I feel safer than I've ever felt anywhere else. You are my home, my rest, recovering my breath after a long battle. I never sleep well when you aren't with me, but most of the time you sleep with me, I sleep like a happy baby sleeps in their mother's arms. I'm grateful I got another chance to be with you, because I always loved you, that I learnt your Universal Language, that I learned how big and important love is. But I'm surely grateful I got to come home again, and you opened your doors, your arms, to me." Beca went back to Chloe, who squeezed her hand and grinned.
The snow had stopped falling, and although what had been cleared from it now had a little bit still covering it, and it was a bit chilly, their dresses proved to be good enough. They exchanged the wedding coins, and then it was the moment of the rings. They took them from Noah, who looked happily at them. Chloe was, again, the first one. She grinned at Beca through the tears, breathing deeply. They were using the first rings of the first time and, beside their first date, they wrote Dec. 10-2016.
"You're my best friend, my soul mate and the love of my life. Rebeca Anne Mitchell, with this ring, I seal a thousand promises to you." Chloe smiled at Beca carefully sliding the ring on her finger. Beca had to admit it felt great to have it back "I promise to stand by you, to support you, to always try to understand you, to always love you even when I hate you, to be your home, to take care of you in sickness and health, to fight for you, and to confront with you anything our future has reserved for us, forever." Chloe concluded. They took each other's hands and smiled at each other for a moment before Beca took Chloe's ring and tenderly took her hand.
"Take this ring as a reminder of my love to you, my best friend, my soul mate, the love of my life, I swear to you now in front of our beloved ones, the skies, the sea and the sun, that everything I am is yours, that I'll spend every day of my life showing you how much I love you and that I won't let anything destroy this beautiful thing we have. I promise to take care of you, take you out of as many fires as strictly necessary, to cure and heal your wounds, to nurse you back to health when you're sick, to take care of our family without leaving all the work to you, to be your faithful partner, through fears, sadness and joy, and always try to make you laugh because you have the most beautiful laugh in the world. I love you Chloe Elizabeth Beale, and I will always love you." Beca said putting the ring on her finger. They smiled at each other. It was happening again, they were magnets and they were starting to isolate each other from the rest of the world, sinking in each other's eyes.
"For the power the State of New York has given me, I declare you wife and wife. You may kiss." The officiator said.
Beca smirked putting Chloe's hood down delicately, her ginger head so visible like a flame against the snow, and Chloe grinned, taking Beca's face between her hands, and kissing her tenderly, their eyes firstly open, and then closed, as Beca's arms hugged her and everybody applauded.