A/N: So yeah. Here we go.
It's a little Aubrey/Cody centered, but I hope you still stick around.
Also, sorry for the wait, went back home for the Thanksgiving holiday for the first time since the big move and it was swamped with friends, family, people I haven't seen since middle school... yeah and before that school was (still is) kicking my ass.
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-One: Changes For The Better
[Aubrey, March 15th, 5:54pm]: I filed for your adoption today. We should hear back within the next couple of days about your adoption hearing. Wanna celebrate it when you come over tonight? I'll pick up dinner from that Thai place we both like.
Cody was sitting in Micah's arms when he read the text, his eyes widened. He had been spending weekends with Aubrey for the better part of a month. They've been getting to know each other. He knew this moment would come, it just came to him as a little bit of a surprise.
"You okay?" Micah asked groggily.
"Aubrey filed for my adoption." Cody said.
"Wow, really?" Micah asked, a little more alert.
"Yeah," Cody said. "It's official."
"Please tell me underneath your skepticism, you're excited. This is something you've always wanted." Micah said, kissing his head.
"Oh I am," Cody said. "I just am afraid that I'm going to fuck it all up somehow."
"You won't." Micah said.
"How do you know?" Cody asked.
"I felt the same way when my moms were about to adopt me, but they reassure me all the time that it's not the case." Micah said. "Text Aubrey back and tonight start talking moving plans. I want to properly pick you up for a date before senior year ends."
"You're okay with this?" Cody asked.
"Yeah, it's what you want and besides we got ourselves the gay version of what Taylor and Parker have going on and I kinda like that. Those two have been my relationship goals since the moment I stepped into this house as a foster kid." Micah said.
"You're so weird." Cody said before typing out a response to his future mother.
[Cody, March 15th, 5:58pm]: I can't wait to be a Posen! :) And yes, can't wait!
Beca was working on paperwork in the office when Parker came running into her office. He was in town for Benji's wedding and he actually was worried about his mother.
"Hey Parker." Beca said softly. "What's up buddy?"
"Where's my mom?" He asked.
"In a session with Brandon Leaf." She said. "Why?"
"She hasn't been returning my calls, I just want to make sure she's okay."
"She's been taking it hard," Beca said taking her reading glasses off. "But, she's okay other than that. Are you okay?"
Parker was shaking, "No. No, I'm not."
Beca got up and moved to the couch and gestured for the boy to take a seat, "What's wrong honey?" She asked softly.
"My dad's getting married to someone who isn't my mother." Parker said. "And why this surprises me, I don't know, but I just sat through an entire rehearsal dinner realizing that not only am I becoming someone's half brother when Liza gives birth, but I'm becoming someone's stepson, and three someone's stepbrother, and I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that and god damn it, I want my mommy."
"Okay, okay. I'll get her." Beca said. "I need you to calm down, alright?"
Parker steadies his breathing before Beca calls Emily's assistant to send her into her office.
Five minutes of Parker trying to even out his breathing happens before Emily walks through Beca's office door.
"Baby?" Emily says to Parker, "What's wrong?" Parker all, but threw himself to his mother. "Oh honey, I got you. I got you." Emily held him for a few minutes as Beca backed away, once he calmed down, the younger music producer asked again, "What's wrong baby?"
"It should've been you, it should've been us." He said.
"What should've been? Your dad?" He nodded. "Things don't happen like that baby," Emily said.
"He's hurt me too," Parker said. "Watching him with Liza. It hurts."
"Baby," Emily said.
"Just hold me please." Parker said.
"Okay, okay. I got you." She said pressing a kiss to his head.
Emily held the boy close and made eye contact with Beca who provided her a soft smile, "You're a good mom." The older music producer mouthed.
"Thanks," Emily mouthed back.
Emily held the boy close and rocked him back and forth. He had been so strong for her sake, holding back information about Benji because he didn't want her to be jealous, but while he was doing that, he was pushing his feelings and emotions aside. Now those emotions needed tending to, but this time Emily needed to put whatever she was feeling aside for the sake of her son.
Beca got home to Chloe in the kitchen making herself tea, the music producer came behind the vice principal and kissed up her neck, "Hi." She murmured. "Sorry I missed dinner."
"It's okay, we ordered pizza, it's in the refrigerator." Chloe said turning into her wife's arms. "Hi." she then whispered before kissing Beca's lips. "I missed you today."
"I missed you too." Beca said resting her forehead on Chloe's. "Where is everybody?"
"Dani is in her room, Micah is out with some friends, and Cody is with Aubrey for the weekend." Chloe said. "Bree filed for his adoption today. I think they are talking about redesigning his room this weekend."
Beca's face lit up, "So cool." She said.
"Yeah," Chloe said. "I was thinking maybe we could spend the night cuddling and stuff."
"Of course my love." Beca said kissing her again.
Beca led them to the couch and turned on the tv and pulled her wife close whispering how much she loved her in her ear before the settled in for the night.
"So we could paint the walls if you want," Aubrey said.
"I like them white," Cody said. "Maybe we can get some posters and stuff and put them on the walls."
"I like the sound of that," she said. "I'll get you a laptop and a computer. You a Mac or a PC user?"
"Micah had a Mac and iMac. It's the only thing I really know how to use." Cody said scratching his neck. "We have them at school too, some big shot company took pity on us and donated some."
"Cool," Aubrey said. "We can go out tomorrow and get it. Do you like where the desk and bed are?"
"I do." He said. "I like that if I'm lying in bed or sitting at my desk I can see the city."
"I do like this view," Aubrey said.
"Did you get the parking situation figured out?" He asked.
"Yup, you can have the parking space next to mine starting tomorrow." She said.
"Okay sounds good." Cody said.
"May I ask one more thing?" Aubrey asked.
"Sure," Cody said unpacking some of his clothes.
"Will you allow me to take full financial responsibility of you?" She asked.
"Are you asking me to quit my job?" Cody asked.
"Yes, I want to be able to take care of you in every aspect, I know you're used to taking care of yourself, but hear me out-" She tried.
"Okay, I'll do it." Cody said.
"What?" Aubrey asked, confused.
"I mean, I have enough saved away anyway. Beca and Chloe transferred the money I gave them back and I didn't usually spend money on myself." He said. "And you're gonna be my mom, so I'll put in my two weeks notice with Chris tomorrow."
Aubrey made her way to him and gathered him in her arms, "That's all I've wanted to hear." She said leaving a lingering kiss to his forehead.
Yeah, she could get used to this mothering thing.
Chloe was cuddled into Beca when Micah came in. He came in a fell on the ground, dramatically in front of the couch making the moms chuckle.
"What's wrong, bubba?" Chloe asked.
"My group project group is going to kill me," he said into the carpet.
"I thought you were out with friends," the redhead said getting up to rub his back. A ritual which she started when he came home from the group project tenser than they'd like to see him.
"No, we had to plan that thing or something or another." He said relaxing as Chloe's thumbs preformed magic on his back. "I dunno, wasn't paying much attention." Chloe applied a little more pressure to his shoulder blade. "I know Ma, I know, I just can't handle their bull shit anymore. I just want to graduate."
"You know I'm in charge of whether or not you do?" Chloe said. "And hearing that-"
"Can't I tell you things as my mom and not my vice principal?" He whined, getting up. "I just want to forget about all of it for awhile. Forget about graduation, forget about how I'll never amount to anything good in life-"
"Not true," Beca said from her place on the couch. "You know that's not true."
Micah stared directly into Chloe's eyes, "You're my vice principal, I get it, but right now, I need my mom not my vice principal."
"Okay," Chloe said. "I get it."
Chloe walked forward and embraced him in her arms, "I love you bubba." She whispered.
"I love you too," he mumbled in her arms.
Aubrey and Cody were cuddling on the couch like they normally do after dinner when he sprung up a conversation, "So I've been told that your birthday is coming up."
Aubrey let out a low chuckle, "Who told you?" She asked.
Her birthday wasn't a big to her, but being friends with Chloe was making it hard to avoid her birthday.
"Beca said something and then Chloe confirmed it." Cody said. "Do you have anything in particular that you want?"
"To be your mom," she said softly.
Cody pulled away from her embrace and asked, "Why?" Making Aubrey confused, he quickly clarified, "I know why, but why do you want that as a birthday gift?"
"You're the only man that has made me ever consider the future." She said now making him confused. "Not in a romantic way, weirdo. Just that now I have someone relying on me, I've never really had that before."
"You haven't dated since-"
"Not since that bad relationship, no. It kind of tainted my whole view of dating." She said honestly. "You made me realize that I could love someone whether it be in a romantic way or in a motherly way. I've always wanted kids, I didn't think I could do that without a partner, sure this is extremely unconventional, but all I want for my birthday is to be your mom."
He cuddled into her, "Well then, let's make it happen." He answered. "Maybe we can share the day, so that it's not all on you and that way, my adoption birthday can also be your birthday. And every year, when we celebrate your birth, we also celebrate my adoption."
Aubrey smiled and kissed his head, "That sounds perfect baby." She said.
It took a few weeks, but Cody made Aubrey's birthday wish come true, on Aubrey's birthday, he became a Posen.
The two stood in a courtroom, one that Cody would find out later was the same one Micah's adoption was finalized in a little under a year and a half before. Aubrey stood in front of the same judge that finalized her goddaughters' brother's adoption. The Mitchell-Beale family of four and Emily sat in the back of the room - Taylor and Parker couldn't make it out on such short notice, but were going to be celebrating it when they came home after the semester along with Micah and Cody's graduation ceremony.
Aubrey has never felt more happy in her entire life, she stood with Cody's arm lazily thrown around her shoulders - both with big smiles on their faces - waiting for the judge to finalize the paperwork for Cody Adams to become Cody Posen.
"I have seen my fair share of adoption cases," the judge began. "Many that Ms. Aubrey Posen has helped finalize herself, but for some reason this name pops out at me more. I knew both of your fathers very well," he said to Cody, "and I was in a lot of grief when I heard about both their passings and I only hoped that their pride and joy - their only child - would eventually find home. I'm sorry it took you this long, but I'm pleased to find that you've found home. Congratulations Cody Adams Posen - you've got one hell of a mom now."
The gavel came down and that's when the tears in Cody's eyes fell down his face, he looked down where Aubrey was and her face held the same.
"Happy birthday, Mom." He said softly making her eyes light up with the smile on her face.
"Happy adoption day, Cody Posen." She said with a bigger smile on the boy's face.
Beca and Chloe were the first to come and hug Aubrey and Cody followed by Emily and Dani. Micah took his time and when his eyes finally met his boyfriend's they shared their first really public kiss in front of their families. Micah rested his forehead on Cody's and whispered, "You're no longer a wanderer. You've found home. I love you, Cody Posen."
Cody smiled and whispered back, "I love you too, Micah Mitchell-Beale."
It took them awhile to finally get out of the courthouse, but when they did and were on their way back to the Mitchell-Beale house to celebrate, Dani decided to make a joke, "Y'know with you taking Adams as your middle name now, you know what you're initials are, right?"
"C A P." Cody said looking at his boyfriend's younger sister not quite understanding where she was taking this.
"Yeah, like cap." Dani said. "That's what I'm calling you from now on, you okay with that?"
"Sure," Cody said. "You're sister is weird," he said to his boyfriend as she walked away.
"I'm just glad to have somewhat of a version on the Dani I first met back." He said. "You gonna ride solo with your mom? I can take your truck back to our place."
Cody looked over his shoulder and saw her talking with Emily about something, "Sure. Thanks babe."
Micah kissed his cheek, "Anytime love." He said as the newly adopted boy handed his keys over as Aubrey came behind him.
"You ready honey?" She asked.
"Mhm, I'm gonna ride with you to the Mitchell-Beale's, Micah is taking my truck over there." He said then Aubrey threw him her keys.
"Well then, drive us, son." Aubrey said with a big smile as he threw his arm around her shoulders again.
The party at the Mitchell-Beale house was in full swing, it was just the Mitchell-Beale's, Emily, and the Posen's, but it was enough for Beca to awkwardly stand up halfway through dinner to make a toast.
"So, uh yeah," Beca stood their with a beer bottle and said, "we certainly have a Taylor-Parker 2.0 situation going on here. When you entered our lives the beginning of this school year, I didn't know what to expect. I knew that you've made our baby boy the happiest in the world and I'm glad to have you apart of this family." She said to Cody, who sat between Aubrey and Micah with a soft smile on his face. "We officially welcome you to the family, Cody."
Cody smiled and softly said, "Thank you Beca." She nodded and sat down.
"You okay?" Chloe asked Micah who looked like he was going to fall asleep at the table.
"Hm?" He said. "Oh yeah, fine. Just tired. This one," he gestured to Cody, "had me working on corrections for our partner project late last night."
"You seem tense," Aubrey noticed from the other side of her son. "You sure you're okay?"
"Never better." He said. All of the mothers at the table stared at him, "Seriously, I'm fine, don't worry. It's just stress."
Cody massaged the back of his neck a little as conversation went to a different topic.
"So, what's it like living with Aubrey?" Beca asked.
Cody chuckled, "You should know, she was your guys' roommate while she was in law school." He said.
"That's different," Beca said. "Is she a good mom?"
Cody, who was still rubbing Micah's neck, looked over at his mom with a huge smile, "The best." He answered.
Aubrey smiled and kissed his forehead, "I'm in a better place now. A much better place." She said looking over at her son who was taking care of a knot at the base of his boyfriend's neck.
Aubrey felt happy for the first time since should could remember and she could tell that Cody was too.
It was a few months later that Micah was trying to figure out how to ask Cody to prom that he realized how much of a good thing that it would be that he would be getting ready at his new forever home that it was a good thing that his boyfriend was adopted because he spent most of his time at home trying to figure it out and plan it.
The Mitchell-Beale boy set out on a mission to ask the Posen boy out to prom. The blonde boy didn't go to his junior prom because of his work schedule and the only reason he went to homecoming that year was because Micah had asked him to. It started as a scavenger hunt type thing that would lead him to where Micah wanted him. The first card read:
Where is the first place that we met? Find it and your next clue to find me will be there.
The blonde boy recognized the small, chicken scratch handwriting and smiled making his way to the counseling office where they had first met. When he got there he was met with a soft smile by the receptionist who handed him his next clue that read:
Where's the first place that you calmed me down from a panic attack whilst on campus?
Cody smiled, it was in the hallway that was usually deserted. He had calmed him down by bringing him into his lap and rocking him back and forth. When he went to the hallway, taped to the wall was his next clue that read:
She's the happiest person you know, she fed you for the better part of six months unless her wife barbecued. She's the reason why you and I have gotten this far. Yeah, I'm talking about my mother. Your next clue is in her office.
He chuckled, imagining his boyfriend having to explain to his mother whatever he was doing and seeing Chloe's bright smile complying to what her son wanted. He made it to her office to see that she was working on her laptop in front of her and he softly knocked on the door and held up the previous note.
"Here you go." Chloe said with a bright smile and a wink. "Enjoy the rest of your lunch, Mr. Posen."
He smiled and nodded taking the note out of her hand, it read:
Where was the first place where we made out after school on campus waiting for my mom to be done working?
He blushed, quickly said goodbye to Chloe and then walked to Micah's locker, where the final small note was sticking out of his locker.
Where is your favorite place on campus?
Cody smiled and thought about how he told the Mitchell-Beale boy that his favorite place on campus was the soccer field because it was like the football and baseball fields to Micah. He walked towards the field and saw a small group of people standing around. He looked confused until he saw his boyfriend standing with his teammates who held out a big sign that read:
I know the answer, but I thought I'd ask.
I'm not much of a dancer, but it'll one of our lasts.
Will you, Cody Adams Posen, but my date to our last South Los Angeles High dance?
Tears developed in his eyes as he looked at his boyfriend again he was standing there in his South Los Angeles High uniform and letterman jacket with two tickets in his hands and a hopeful smile on his face. Cody nodded his head and said, "I couldn't imagine my senior prom night any other way."
Micah's smile became the biggest one he's seen in a long while. "Cool." He said, coming towards him kissing him softly.
The two boys were getting ready at their own homes. Beca was tying Micah's tie like she always did. "Are you nervous?" The music producer asked.
"A little." He said. "I just want it to be nice for Cody, y'know?"
"I get it," she said helping him into his jacket. "You're a good boyfriend, bubba."
"Thanks Mama," he said. "He should be here any minute. You, Aunt Bree, and Aunt Em are hanging out tonight?"
"Yeah, we're hanging out with Dani. I'm barbecuing and the four of us are going to play some catch up. Your sister has been a little off, your mom and I wanna make sure she's okay without pressuring her. It's been exactly a year since the whole thing."
Micah nodded his head, "I get it." He said. "It's good. She seems to be in a good place. A little quieter than usual, but that's to be expected."
"I figured some time with me and the aunts would be good." Beca said making sure her son looked presentable.
He smiled, "Cody and I are coming back here with Mom after the dance. Our friends are doing other things and we kinda just thought we could hang as a family and stuff." He said.
Beca smiled, "I like the sound of that," she said. "I love you, bubba."
"I love you too, Mama." He said kissing her forehead.
"Aubrey and Cody are here!" Chloe called from the other room.
"We'll be down in a minute," Beca called back.
"Hurry up," Chloe said. "We need to get pictures of these two."
"Yeah Mama," Dani called back. "And I'm hungry, so hurry up."
Beca fixed his tie one more tie and kissed his cheek, "Come on, before Mom and sissy have a conniption fit."
"You go first." He said. "I need a minute."
"You okay?" Beca asked.
"Yeah, really fine. Just need a minute." He said.
"Okay, babe." She kissed his cheek and left the room.
He grabbed onto his dresser and looked into the mirror and took a deep breath, "I got this." He said before walking out of his room.
Coming down the stairs he saw Cody standing their in a freshly tailored suit that Aubrey must have gotten for him because Micah hadn't seen that one before. When Cody saw his boyfriend his eyes lit up, "Hi handsome," the Posen boy said.
"Hey love," the Mitchell-Beale boy said back softly.
He saw the cameras in the side of his eye, but he was focused on his boyfriend. His heart was beating so fast, he was so in love with the boy standing in front of him that it scared him.
They share a small kiss, hyper aware of their surroundings. They exchange corsages the sat on each other's jacket collars. They posed for a few pictures with each other and with their mothers before getting into Micah's jeep and going off to dinner with their friends before going to the dance. Chloe was to follow going straight to the school to chaperone.
"I better take off," Chloe said. "The three of us should be back a little after midnight."
"Sounds good," Beca said pulling her wife in for a kiss. "Everything okay with you?" She whispered.
Chloe nodded, her dad's health was declining and there was nothing that could save his life. Beca was always afraid that Chloe would get a phone call and not tell her wife.
"He's okay as of right now," Chloe whispered. "I promise not to withhold that information from you, okay?"
Beca nodded and kissed her wife again and then the redhead said goodbye to Dani hugging her a little tighter. She knew the girl was a little quieter because of things going on in her head and she wanted the girl to know that she was loved and that she was safe. Seeing that Dani sunk into her embrace, the girl knew. Chloe placed a kiss on her head before saying goodbye to Aubrey and Emily and heading out.
Beca and Chloe didn't know what their lives held for the future. What they did know is that they had three healthy children, four if you count Bailee, who were in love with their lives and they loved each other.
And what more could they ask for?
End of the chapter a/n: Meh. This seems rushed and rough, but it's something.
Final two chapters are in the works, dunno when they'll be up yet because of school and finals and my internship and life.
Next chapter, graduation for the boys. Chapter after that will have a seven year time jump to set up the sequel.
Alright, until next time.