DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. All rights to the Pitch Perfect creators.
Chapter 25
Artificial Breathing
| April 12th, 2017 |
"Isn't she perfect?" Chloe asked her wife in a whisper, her whole face in awe at she stared down at the bundle nestled in Beca's arm. The two were on the hospital bed enjoying the sight of their little girl.
"She's got a perfect button nose," Beca said, lightly running a finger over the stub, which made Rory sneeze as a reaction.
Both of the mothers laughed, doing everything in their power to remember their daughter's first sneeze.
"Bless you, monkey," Chloe said softly, petting back the blonde hair of the infant.
"I'm so in love with her," Beca admitted, tears welling in her eyes for the billionth time that day. Chloe looked to her wife's face and couldn't help the grin that consumed her. She'd seen Beca this vulnerable only a handful of times during their relationship. The most memorable was when she stammered through the first 'I love you' they shared back in Barden.
The brunette was sitting across from Chloe, studying something for her Philosophy II class when she looked up and started talking about how life is so vast, and there's too much open space ahead that she was nervous about leaving empty. Then she continued on and on about how she wanted something real, and that Chloe was very real, and that god damn it she loved her and wanted to get that out because in the vast expanse of her mind there was too much empty but there was also too much Chloe and she liked the latter far more than the former.
Now here Chloe sat, seeing her wife with this look that showed her maybe, just maybe, the Number One Vulnerable Beca Mitchell Moment has been changed because this moment was far too pure and real to compete. Her eyes expressed that this little human, this merely six-hour-old infant, has stolen her heart and her whole soul. She was everything to Beca and Chloe didn't mind, because she admittedly found herself thinking that Rory was her everything and more as well.
| March 15th, 2019 |
"Look at all of the pretty shells, Rory," Chloe said, crouching in front of her two-year-old and presenting a handful of shells that were once in the sand. A chubby hand reached forward, sand crumbling off of the fist as she grabbed a shell and held it herself.
"For mommy?" Rory asked, looking at Chloe past squinting eyes as the sun beamed down on them and made the blue stand out.
"Yeah, let's go give it to mommy," Chloe agreed, putting the shells into the small pink pail of her daughter before offering a hand. Rory giddily took it and began to walk in the direction of their beach blanket, laughing every time the sand tickled between her toes.
"Mommy!" Rory called, wobbling slightly, which earned a small laugh from the people watching her go by.
"Hey there, loves. Your lunch is ready," Beca said, opening her arms for Rory to charge into, as per usual.
"Mama pre-ent," Rory said, pulling back from the embrace slightly to show her closed fist.
"Does she?" Beca asked, smiling to her wife before opening her palm.
"Here," Rory said, dropping the shell into her mommy's hand.
"Well, this is a beautiful shell, monkey," Beca said, pressing a kiss to Rory's nose.
"It purple," Rory said, pointing to the shell.
"Do you like purple?" Chloe asked, sitting next to her wife and leaning into the woman's shoulder.
"Mmh-hmm," Rory nodded her head. "I hungry. Food, please?" Rory asked, earning laughs from her moms.
"Your peanut butter sandwich is right there, baby," Beca pointed to the sandwich on the center of the blanket, taking a moment to put the shell on her leg as she grabbed the baby wipes beside her and wiped off Rory's sandy hands. "You're free to go."
"Is it me or is her hair getting lighter?" Chloe asked, adjusting herself so Beca was between her legs and she could rest her chin on the woman's shoulder.
"She's turning into a redhead like her mama," Beca said, tugging a red ringlet that fell over her shoulder.
"I wish we could stay here forever," Chloe whispered, giggling when Rory gave them her best smile, her little teeth coated in sticky bread and peanut butter.
"We could always come back," Beca promised, her fingers drawing over the thighs that were on either side of her.
"How about Rory's 4th birthday?" The redhead suggested.
Beca turned her head and smiled at her wife. "That sounds perfect," she agreed, kissing her wife.
Chloe smiled into the kiss, her ears enjoying the sound of water lapping against the shore as the Hawaiian breeze kissed her tanned skin.
| April 12th, 2021 |
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday little Rory,
Happy Birthday to you," Beca softly sang, her fingers drawing over the forehead of her sleeping child.
Chloe sniffled and rested her head on her wife's shoulder, wiping at her cheeks as the machine forcing air down Rory's throat hissed and groaned, repeating the sound with each artificial breath.
"When you turn four you'll be stronger," Chloe whispered, trying to stop herself from crying again. "You've got to get stronger now, Rory."
"We're here, monkey. You can wake up whenever you're ready," Beca promised, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"I thought she was getting better," Chloe said pitifully.
"She was. This is just a setback. The doctors said she needs time."
"Three days, Bec. She's been out cold for three days."
"Well, we're three days closer to her waking up then," Beca said, determined to stay positive about her daughter's health.
"Please, Rory. Don't leave us," Chloe begged.
The machine next to Rory hissed and groaned, repeating the sound with each artificial breath. The silence continued to hold over the family of three.
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