Jeanine smiled and stood aside to let Beca in. As Beca started past her, Jeanine grabbed her into a hug.
"I knew you'd come," Jenine said with a big smile on her face. "I knew you still loved me."
"Jeanine," Beca said pulling out of the hug and stepping back from Jeanine. "I'm sorry, but I'm not here to take you back."
"Then why are you here?," Jeanine asked.
"I'm here to give us both closure," Beca said. "To let bygones be bygones and move on."
"Closure," Jeanine scoffed. "Closure from what? You still love me. I could tell by the way you kissed me."
"I do love you," Beca said. "Probably always will. You were my first love and you are the mother of my children. So, yes, I do love you. But, not the way you want me to. Not the way I did. I am in love with Chloe and I'm going to do everything I can to keep her in my life. But, even if she doesn't stay with me, I still wouldn't, couldn't, be with you."
"I'll fight you for the kids," Jeanine said with a flash of anger.
"You won't win," Beca said softly. "I don't want to be harsh, but they don't want to see you. Sophie doesn't really remember you, Billy is afraid of you, and Dylan. Dylan remembers everything that you did and absolutely refuses to see you. And, I'm not going to force them to."
"I'm better now, Beca," Jeanine said. "I deserve to see my kids."
"You abandoned them, Jeanine" Beca said and then sighed. "The kids were devastated when you left. Earlier, when I told Dylan about your depression, he asked me why you didn't stay here and see a doctor. I didn't know how to answer him. Can you? Can you tell us why you didn't stay here and get help? I would have been there with you every step of the way."
"I really didn't know there was anything wrong with me," Jeanine said. "I felt so lonely even when I was with you. I didn't know who I really was. I was Dylan's mom, or Billy's mom, or Sophie's mom. I was Beca Mitchell's wife. I was Jack and Marjorie Taylor's daughter. I didn't feel like I had my own identity. I felt like I had no control over anything. That I was useless. So, when my dad told me I could come back to work with the company again, I jumped at the chance. I thought we would all move to London where no one knew us, knew me. I could start fresh and be Jeanine Taylor Mitchell, business woman. On the fast track to upper management. But, my dad said the job was mine only if I left you and the kids. My parents convinced me that you and the kids were holding me back. So, I did what they told me to do. I did what they said was best for me."
"I'm sorry," Beca said. "That you lost yourself. That your depression made you feel so helpless. But, I won't have the kids hurt again. I can't put them through that."
"Then I guess I'll see you in court," Jeanine said.
Beca pulled Jesse's business card from her purse.
"This is my lawyer's card," Beca said handing it to Jeanine. "Have your lawyer call him."
Jeanine took the card and looked at it. She then looked at Beca.
"I need to go," Beca said.
Beca turned to leave. Jeanine stood there. Before Beca made it through the door, she stopped and faced Jeanine one last time.
"For what it's worth," Beca said. "I don't regret any part of our life together. I do, however, regret how it ended."
Beca left Jeanine standing in the doorway and got in her car. She pulled out her phone to check the time. It was much later than she thought. She wanted to see Chloe but thought it best to wait until the next day. She wanted to be well rested when she went groveling to her fiance, begging her forgiveness.
Beca got the kids up and ready for the day. Mrs. Davis had stayed the night before since it was so late when Beca returned from talking to Jeanine. Beca and the kids came down to find a breakfast of pancakes and bacon waiting for them.
"Wow," Beca said. "This all looks great, Mrs. Davis."
"They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Mrs. Davis said.
"Mama," Dylan says. "Is mommy coming back to live here? In our house."
"No," Beca said.
"Is mom coming back?," Dylan asked.
"I certainly hope so," Beca said. "I'm going to talk to her today."
"Give her flowers," Billy said. "In the movies when you mess up, you give flowers."
Mrs. Davis and Beca both smiled.
"I may just do that," Beca said.
"And, tell her you're really sorry," Dylan said. "And you won't do it again."
"That's the plan," Beca said. "Any other ideas to make mom come back home?"
"Take Sophie with you," Dylan said with a grin. "Mom can't resist it when she pouts and does that thing with her eyes."
Beca laughed, really laughed, for the first time in hours. She went over and grabbed Dylan in a big hug.
"That's probably the best idea I've ever heard," Beca said.
After getting Dylan on the bus and taking Billy to school, Beca made her way to the studio. She was getting ready for her Monday morning staff meeting when CR walked into her office.
"Hey," CR said.
"Hey," Beca said.
"Did you fix things?," CR asked. "Am I going to hate you?"
"I talked to Jeanine," Beca said with a chuckle. "Told her that we wouldn't be getting back together. That I didn't want to be with her. That Chloe was my future."
"So, you chose Chloe?," CR asked. "Excellent choice. So, have you talked to her? What did she say?"
"Not yet," Beca said. "I'm going to talk to her today. I just hope she'll forgive me."
"Just be honest," CR said. "Chloe will understand if you are honest about everything."
"Yeah," Beca said. "Ready for the staff meeting?"
"Yep," CR said. "Let's do this."
"I'll meet you in there," Beca said. "I just need to make a quick phone call."
CR said okay and left Beca's office. Beca pulled out her phone and made a call.
Chloe was at the clinic with Stacie and Aubrey. She was anxious and a little worried because she hadn't heard anything from Beca since she ran off yesterday. When she turned her phone back on she had expected (hoped) to find messages from her, but the only messages were from Stacie and Aubrey. She was standing in the doorway of Aubrey's office, biting on her thumb nail.
"Do you think Beca hasn't called or texted because she's with Jeanine?," Chloe asked.
"She'd better not be," Stacie muttered.
"Chloe," Aubrey said. "What happened to the confident woman who stood in our kitchen and said she was going to fight for her family?"
"I'm still here," Chloe said. "Just maybe not as confident. It's a new day and I'm worried that I will lose everything if I go up against Jeanine."
"Give Beca some time," Aubrey said. "I think she got caught up in something that she wasn't expecting."
"What do you mean?," Chloe asked.
"Jeanine was a big part of Beca's life for almost 20 years," Aubrey said. "She wasn't around so it was easy for Beca to say 'I'll never take her back' or 'I'm over her'. But, reality hit when Jeanine was standing right in front of her. I think that Beca was just confused and overwhelmed by Jeanine's sudden appearance. She just got caught up in the emotional side of it."
"Maybe you're right," Chloe said. "I should call Beca."
"No," Stacie said. "Let her come to you. If she really is confused, pushing her before she's ready may just push her into Jeanine's arms."
"God," Chloe said rubbing her temples. "This is driving me crazy."
"Go take care of your patients," Aubrey said. "They'll take your mind off of things for a while."
"You're right," Chloe said. "I'll see you guys later."
Jeanine was having breakfast with her parents.
"Beca came to see me last night," Jeanine told them.
"Did you sign those papers she had sent to you?," Marjorie asked.
"No," Jeanine said. "I told you, I want Beca and my kids back. They are my family."
"Don't be so foolish," Jack said. "Look how well you've done without them. They will only hold you back. You have Jason now. He's your future and he is good for you."
"I love Beca and my kids," Jeanine said. "And I really miss them."
"You love Beca," Jack scoffed. "What about Jason? He's ready to marry you. You could have a proper marriage. You're still young, you can have more kids."
"Why do you insist on trying to run my life?," Jeanine says.
"Because you obviously don't now how to run it yourself," Jack said. "You're gay. You're depressed. All that happened while you were with Beca. We had to get you away from her influence and look at how well you're doing. All because we intervened and got you on the right path."
Jeanine kept quiet. She knew it was pointless to argue with either of her parents. She tuned them out and started thinking about how she was going to get her kids back in her life. She'd call her lawyer after her father left for work and her mother went off to wherever she goes off to every day.
It was close to 11:30 when Beca finally got out of the staff meeting. She hurried back to her office and gave Lily a list and asked her to call in a pick-up order at the nearby deli. She closed her office door and made a phone call.
"Hi, Ashley," Beca said. "It's Beca Mitchell. Is Chloe still free at noon?"
"Yep," Ashley says through the phone. "She's just went into an appointment and doesn't have another until 2:00 this afternoon. Are we getting lunch again?"
"That's the plan," Beca said. "I'll see you in a bit. Thanks, Ashley."
"You're welcome," Ashley said and hug up the phone.
Beca bit her lip. She hopes Ashley doesn't get into trouble for giving her Chloe's schedule. Obviously, Ashley doesn't know what happened the day before or else she would have hung up on Beca the first time she called.
Beca grabbed her purse and stopped at Lily's desk to make sure the order had been placed and would be ready when she got there. Lily assured her everything was a go.
"I'm going to lunch," Beca said. "I'll see you when I see you."
Beca hurried off and picked up the food order from the deli. She got the clinic a few minutes before noon and went to Ashley's desk.
"Hey, Beca," Ashley said.
"Hey, Ashley," Beca said as she pulled a carry out container and handed it to Ashley. "One pastrami reuben with a side of fries."
"You're the best," Ashley said. "Go on back. Chloe's last patient of the morning left a few minutes ago. She should be in her office."
"Thanks again, Ashley," Beca said.
Beca took a deep breath and let it out. She walked back toward the offices, going over in her head what she wanted to say to Chloe. She was stopped short by a voice.
"Where do you think you're going?," she heard Stacie ask.
Beca turned to face Stacie. Stacie was standing there with her arms folded over her chest.
"Um," Beca said. "To talk to Chloe?"
"Are you asking me," Stacie said. "Or telling me."
"I brought everyone lunch," Beca said holding up the take-out bags.
"Fine," Stacie said looking at her with narrowed eyes. "Follow me."
Stacie walked past Beca and Beca swallowed hard and followed. Stacie stopped at Chloe's office door, knocked, and went in.
"Lunch is here," Stacie said and turned to look at Beca.
"Great," Chloe said looking up from her computer. "I'm star-"
Chloe's eyes shot up in surprise. Beca stood next to Stacie looking pale and nervous.
"Beca," Chloe said. "What are you doing here?"
"She brought us lunch," Stacie said and proceeded to take the bags from Beca and sit down.
"Um," Beca said. "I was hoping we could talk."
"Go ahead," Stacie said taking the food out of the bags. "Don't mind me."
"Chloe, what are we doing for lunch?," Aubrey asked as she walked in. She stopped suddenly when she saw Beca standing there.
Aubrey looked at Chloe and then at Beca and then at Stacie and back at Chloe again.
"What's going on here?," Aubrey asked.
"Beca brought us lunch," Stacie said biting into a fry. "And she wants to talk."
"Stacie," Aubrey said. "Maybe we should give them some privacy."
"No," Beca said. "That's okay. You can stay if you want."
"Okay," Chloe said. "Let's sit down over here so we can talk."
Chloe leads Beca over to the small sofa on the other side of her office. Aubrey sits with Stacie at the table and gets her food. The couple watches Beca.
"Beca," Chloe said. "Sit down."
"Are you sure?," Beca asked. "Stacie looks like she's ready to kill me if I get too close."
"Stacie," Aubrey said. "Down girl."
"Fine," Stacie said. "Have a seat and talk to Chloe, Beca. You're safe. For now."
Beca furrowed her brow and looked at the three women.
"Why are you all so calm right now?," Beca asked. "I thought you'd all have me tied up and flogged before I said two words."
"They're being calm because I asked them to," Chloe said. "I want to hear what you have to say. If they don't like it, then you're on your own with them."
"Good to know," Beca said finally taking a seat near Chloe.
Chloe was facing Beca looking at her. Beca took a deep breath and let it out.
"I'm really sorry about everything," Beca said looking at Chloe. "That kiss should never have happened. It's just. When Jeanine. Um. Shit. I had this all planned out in my head but Stacie is scaring me and you're being so calm is making me really nervous."
Beca took a breath and looked over at Stacie and then back to Chloe. Chloe looked at her with a small smile.
"Why don't you tell me what you and Jeanine talked about," Chloe said.
"Okay," Beca said. "She told me that she suffers from depression. That she wasn't diagnosed until she was in London. She also said that her parents, especially her mother, filled her head with the idea that being in a gay marriage was the cause of all that was wrong in her life. When her father offered her the job in London it was on the condition that she divorce me and leave the kids."
"Aren't they lovely," Chloe says sarcastically.
"Yeah," Beca said.
Beca reached to take Chloe's hands in hers but immediately pulled her hands back when she heard Stacie clear her throat. Beca tried not to look at Stacie as she spoke.
"Chloe, look," Beca said. "I am in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I messed up when I didn't immediately push Jeanine away when she kissed me. It's just that when she did, I felt, I mean, it was. She had just told me that she was still in love with me and wanted to come back. To be a family again. I was so confused. I got hit with all these emotions and I didn't know what to do. So, when she kissed me, I, I kissed her back."
Beca looked at Chloe to see if there was any sign of understanding. She was met with tears falling down Chloe's face. Beca didn't know what those tears meant.
"My brain finally caught up with what was happening," Beca continued. "And, I knew that I didn't want what she wanted. I didn't want her. When I realized that you must have seen us kissing and I saw you driving away, my heart, my world shattered."
Beca stopped and took a breath before sayin, "I have to stop for a minute and ask if those tears are tears of understanding or tears because you want to break up with me?"
Chloe wiped tears from her face and gave Beca a smile.
"Beca," Chloe said. "It hurt when I saw you kissing Jeanine. I didn't know what it meant for me, for us. I understand how your emotions could get the best of you. I love you, too."
"But?," Beca said.
"No, buts," Chloe said. "I was ready to go home tonight and make dinner and spend time with the kids before I made you tell me what led to that kiss. Now I know."
"I do love you, Chloe," Beca said.
"I know that, too," Chloe said.
"So, just to be clear," Beca said. "I love you. You love me. We're still engaged and you're coming back home tonight?"
"Yes, yes, yes, and yes," Chloe said with a laugh.
She kissed Beca and Beca hugged her.
"Oh, thank God," Beca said. "I was afraid I was going to have to pull out the big guns."
"The big guns?," Aubrey asked.
"Yeah," Beca said. "A pair of big blue eyes and a pout that will get mom here to do anything."
"Sophie?," Chloe said. "You were going to use Sophie to get me to come back home?"
"Hey," Beca said with a smile. "It was Dylan's idea."
"I love you," Chloe said and pulled Beca into a kiss.
Beca kissed her back. She pulled back from the kiss and laid her forehead against Chloe's.
"I love you, too," Beca said. "Um, before we get too involved here. There's something else you need to know."
"What?," Chloe said. "What's wrong?"
"Jeanine is taking me to court to try and get the kids," Beca said.