Chapter 25
A/N: Here's Part 2 of Meet the Beale's/Christmas/New Year's Eve!
To my Usual Guest: These two chapters about Chloe's family (and now Beca's family) were so much fun to write! They might not have originally been in the plan, but now I can't picture the story without it. So you better take all the credit and blame I throw your way ;-).
Music:
Lift Me Up – Kate Voegele
Chloe sleepily opened her eyes at the prodding of a finger into her shoulder, taking in the eager face and big blue eyes of her nephew. Glancing quickly at the clock, she bit back a groan at how early it was. Despite being a teacher and having grown accustomed to early mornings, waking up before six was strictly forbidden in her world.
"Aunt Chloe!" Eddie whispered excitedly, grabbing a hold of the blankets and pulling himself up onto the bed. "Santa came!" he said, his voice still hushed.
Chloe smiled at him, wrapping her arms around his little body in a tight hug. "Really?" she asked, leaning back to watch him nod, his smile growing wider.
"Yeah," he said confidently, a flare of mischief appearing in his eyes. "I sneaked downstairs to see the presents before mommy and daddy woke up, and Santa brought tons!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms out wide.
"Eddie!" CJ's head poked through the doorway, sighing as he saw his son sitting happily on Chloe's bed. "Sorry Chlo," he said sheepishly, quickly grabbing the boy off the bed and throwing him over his shoulder.
Chloe couldn't help but chuckle as Eddie let out a squeal of laughter, his little fists beating harmlessly against CJ's back as he shouted, "Come on, Aunt Chloe! It's time for presents!"
Chloe shook her head as CJ tried to quiet him down, grinning as the next sound was Eddie's quick footsteps as he sprinted downstairs to where the presents awaited him. Crawling out of bed, she decided against changing out of her pajama pants, throwing on an over-sized Barden hoodie before making her way downstairs. As she entered the kitchen, she realized she must have been last on Eddie's list of people to wake up. The three remaining brothers were sitting drowsily at the table with their dad, all four men clutching coffee cups and staring off into space in random directions.
"Well, don't you guys look full of Christmas cheer," Chloe teased, messing up Evan's hair as she made her way towards the coffee pot.
Evan ducked his head at her touch, shooting a glare at her over his mug. "It's fucki..."
"Language!" Grace admonished, appearing out of nowhere to swat the back of her son's head with a rolled up newspaper.
Chloe snickered and grabbed her favorite mug out of the cupboard, the one with a picture of a ladybug beneath the word 'love.' It was part of a set, each white mug containing a picture and a word that created a common phrase. Each of them had one growing up, and it was one of the reasons behind the small ladybug tattooed on her wrist. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she ventured into the living room to find Eddie sitting anxiously in front of the tree, his head swiveling between the presents and the warning looks CJ and Nora were sending his way from the loveseat.
Chloe sat down on the couch and spread a blanket over her legs. Blowing gently at the steam rising from the mug, she was soon joined by her brothers, sliding over to make room for all three of them to squeeze in next to her. Christian followed them into the family room and sat down in the armchair by the tree, a smile crossing his face as he looked around the room.
"Honey, are you ready? I think Eddie's going to burst if he doesn't get to open a present soon," he called, winking at the little boy.
Eddie turned halfway around and yelled happily, "Yeah, Nana...hurry! Santa came!"
Chloe laughed at the exasperated expression on her oldest brother's face as he said, "Eddie, be patient,"
There was no calming him down though, as he got up and raced around the room, ending up squirming onto the loveseat to sit between his parents. Chloe glanced down the couch at her brothers, her smile fading into an eye roll at their stoic faces.
"You guys look like the ghosts of Christmas future...like straight death," she said, poking Ollie in the cheek, as he'd been the unfortunate one to sit beside her. "Where's your Christmas spirit, Ollie?"
"In bed, asleep, where I should be right now," he mumbled, taking a deep breath as Evan and Will hummed their agreement. "For Christ's sake, it's not even six..." he trailed off as Grace swept into the room, placing Santa hats on all their heads.
"Okay!" Grace said, clapping her hands with a bright smile on her face. She looked at Eddie and asked, "Eddie, are you ready to see what Santa brought you?!"
Chloe smiled as the little boy jammed his Santa hat tighter onto his head and scrambled to his feet, shouting, "YES!"
Grace hugged him before directing him to the tree, saying, "Now, if you're going to be our Christmas elf, you've got to make sure everyone has presents to open, okay? This is a very important job...can you do it?"
Eddie's face turned serious as he nodded, carefully selecting packages and moving them into a small pile to distribute. Grace smiled and went to sit on the arm of Christian's chair, his arm automatically sliding around her waist.
As Chloe watched her parents interact again, her thoughts turned instantly to Beca, wishing that the brunette was here with her. It was amazing getting to spend the holiday with her whole family, but she could sense that something...or someone...was missing. It hit her all at once, the realization that she wanted it all with Beca, not just the little things like quiet evenings at home or sleepy mornings in bed, but holidays and Christmases and birthdays. The feelings overwhelmed her, and made it all the more apparent that she hadn't heard the brunette's voice in almost a week.
Now that her family knew, she had no reason to worry about excusing herself for a moment, heading into the kitchen and waiting nervously as the phone rang. She was about to hang up after the third ring, when Beca sleepily mumbled a greeting through the speaker.
"Hey baby," Chloe said softly, wondering how just hearing Beca's voice could flood her entire body with warmth.
Beca yawned on the other end of the phone before saying in a deceptively calm tone, "You better have something a lot more pressing to tell me than 'Hey baby' if you're gonna wake me up at three am."
Chloe clapped a hand over her mouth, completely forgetting about the time difference. "Shit, Becs, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot you're three hours behind me."
"So you called me for the first time since you've been away, in the middle of the night, just to chat?"
Chloe paused at the hint of irritation now present in her girlfriend's voice. She decided to leave the kitchen, making her way upstairs to her bedroom. "I know...definitely not my best moment. I just...I really miss you, Becs," she said, sitting down on the bed and pulling a blanket around her.
She heard Beca take a deep breath on the other end, and was relieved that her tone now held none of its previous annoyance. "I miss you too...a completely insane amount. When are you coming home?"
Chloe paused at the question, another realization hitting her. 'Home,' she thought, knowing that this place wasn't her real home anymore. Home was in California, with Beca, and she wanted nothing more than to be there right now.
"I'm flying back on the thirtieth," she answered. "I was hoping we could spend New Year's Eve together at my place."
"Shit, I didn't know you were coming back for New Year's. Fat Amy's throwing a huge party..." she trailed off, and Chloe's heart sank at her words.
It was so difficult sometimes for her to get a read on where she stood with Beca, the brunette keeping a tight lid on her emotions most of the time. Sure, Beca opened up to her at times, but more often than not Chloe was left guessing where she really stood. It was one of the reasons why she was so hesitant to push their relationship to the next level, unsure if Beca was ready for something so serious. Beca's voice broke through her thoughts, and Chloe blinked back tears she didn't realize had pooled in her eyes.
"I'll just bail on the party. I'd rather spend New Year's with you anyways, babe."
Chloe sighed, replying, "It's okay, Becs. I know you'd rather ring in the new year celebrating with your friends. Go to the party."
"Don't tell me what I want. I'm capable of making a decision," Beca teased, and Chloe could picture the fake annoyed look on her face, the corners of her mouth creeping up into a smile. "I'd have to be crazy to pass up spending New Year's Eve with my amazing girlfriend. You know, they say you're supposed to kiss someone you love into the new year..."
Chloe felt her breath hitch at the words, her eyes going wide. Beca continued on before she could respond, saying, "So I guess Stacie will just have to get over it."
Chloe could hear the laughter in her girlfriend's voice and frowned at her words, wishing they were together so she could smack Beca for that one. "You're the worst," she said, rolling her eyes.
Beca chuckled on the other end, retorting, "Says the one who woke up her girlfriend at three am on Christmas morning and didn't even bother to sing that cliché Matchbox 20 song." Her voice turned a little curious as she asked, "Were you lonely?"
Chloe sighed, wondering for a moment how she was possibly in love with this girl. "If you must know, Eddie woke us all up at the crack of dawn to open presents and..." she paused, wondering if she should tell Beca exactly what thoughts had run through her head. "And I just missed you in that moment, and wanted to hear your voice," she finished, mentally kicking herself.
Beca was quiet for a few moments, and her voice was soft when she finally spoke. "I can't wait until I graduate, and we don't have to hide anymore. I know we haven't talked much since you've been home, but I wanted to give you space to be with your family...I know how much you've missed them. I guess...I love Christmas, you know? We have all these family traditions and Sheila's parents come out to visit and it's great. But it hasn't felt the same this year, like something's missing..." Beca trailed off again, as if hesitating. "You're missing, Chlo."
Chloe felt her heart tighten at her words, wondering how it was possible that Beca felt exactly the same way she did. It only solidified her resolve that what was between them was far from ordinary, that their connection ran much deeper than your average relationship.
"I know what you mean," Chloe responded, her voice wavering slightly. "It's the same for me."
Neither said anything after that, letting the silence between them speak volumes. Chloe listened to Beca's steady breathing, closing her eyes and picturing her girlfriend lying beside her. Her heart was bursting with all the feelings, and she knew that if Beca had actually been there, she would have said the words. It was nearly impossible to hold back anymore, and Chloe found she didn't want to. She let herself be honest, and knew she wanted it all with Beca. And maybe it wouldn't work out, but she knew she had to give it everything or she'd regret it.
Chloe shot straight up as her bedroom door slammed open, a tiny whirlwind jumping onto the bed with her shouting, "Aunt Chloe! You're missing Christmas!"
"What the fuck?" Beca groaned into her ear before she opened her arms to catch the bouncing boy.
"I'm sorry, Eddie. I'll be right down, promise," she said, laughing as he left the room as quickly as he arrived. Putting the phone back up to her ear, she apologized, "Sorry, baby, I gotta go."
Beca responded dryly, "No worries...I think I'm deaf in one ear though."
Chloe rolled her eyes, retorting, "I think you'll survive."
"Only if you come nurse me back to health," Beca said suggestively. "See you in a few days?"
Chloe smiled, slowly getting to her feet. "Yep, can't wait! Merry Christmas, baby."
"Merry Christmas, Chlo."
She hung up, slipping her phone into the large front pocket of her hoodie and made her way back downstairs. Her mother looked questioningly at her as she re-entered the room, but she gave her a reassuring smile and sat back down on the couch with her brothers in time for Eddie to dump a few presents into her lap.
Glancing around the room, she wasn't surprised to see that her parents had gone overboard as usual. Her mother couldn't help herself around the holidays, loving nothing more than to spoil them with gifts. To her left, the twins were excitedly comparing matching Apple iWatches, while Will was practically drooling over a brand new PS4 box that had a scene from Star Wars on it. Grace was beaming happily at Christian, holding a card in one hand and a few pieces of paper in the other. Chloe wondered what he'd gotten her for a split second, before a happy squeal from Eddie drew everyone's attention.
She looked at the little boy on the floor in front of a box as big as he was, a bright red bow on top. Chloe noticed immediately that the box was sort of moving, and that it had some rips in the wrapping paper along the top. Her jaw dropped as she looking over at CJ, grinning at his son's excitement.
Eddie tore off the bow and wrapping paper, eyes widening as the box gave a small whine. CJ squatted down beside him and helped him carefully open the top, revealing a small black lab puppy with a matching red bow tied around its neck. Chloe was pretty sure it was the cutest little thing she'd ever seen, and guessed it couldn't be more than a few months old.
"A PUPPY!" Eddie shouted, immediately throwing himself into his dad's arms for a hug, before pulling away just as quickly and reaching inside the box to pet the dog. He laughed as the puppy licked all over his arm, reaching in to lift it out and set it on the floor. "Is it a boy or girl? Does it have a name?" he asked rapidly, looking excitedly at his dad.
CJ chuckled and reached over to grab the puppy, who'd started to chew at the wrapping paper. "It's a boy, and he doesn't have a name yet. It's your job to give him a name and take care of him," he explained patiently, as Eddie patted the puppy's head.
The little boy screwed his face up in concentration, before deciding, "His name is Shadow. 'Cause he's black and he'll follow me around like my shadow," he explained, looking around the room to make sure everyone understood.
Chloe bit her lip to keep from laughing. The whole scene was beyond adorable, and she nodded as CJ supported his decision. "Couldn't have chosen better myself, son. Why don't I hold onto Shadow here while you open the rest of your presents?"
Eddie nodded eagerly, and proceeded to open up a variety of things his puppy would need, including a collar, leash, bowls, and multiple toys.
Chloe turned her attention to the pile of packages in front of her, grabbing a smaller box from her parents and opening up a new iWatch of her own. Shaking her head, she smiled at her mom and said, "Mom, this is too much!"
Grace waved her words away, replying, "Nonsense! It's Christmas and I'll buy you all whatever I want."
Chloe sighed and continued opening up the rest of her gifts, particularly surprised at the new pair of sunglasses Will had gotten her. Raising her eyebrows at him after recognizing the expensive brand, he shrugged and said, "I've done some consulting work for dad recently. Besides, you need a good pair out there in sunny California."
None of the remaining gifts matched the excitement of the puppy, and it wasn't long before the sun came up and the whole family wandered outside to watch Eddie chase Shadow around the lawn. The puppy was still small enough that he couldn't escape Eddie, and Chloe quickly snapped a picture of the two rolling around on the grass together to send to Beca. She was surprised to get a response immediately, swiping it open to read it and chuckled as she quickly typed out a reply.
Trouble [7:38AM]: Adorable. Where's my puppy?
Chloe [7:39AM]: At the pound. Thought you'd be back asleep
Trouble [7:41AM]: Couldn't. Working on a new song instead. And your Christmas present
Chloe [7:42AM]: We said no presents!
Trouble [7:43AM]: We said no buying presents. I didn't buy you anything.
Chloe [7:45AM]: Cheater. What is it?
Trouble [7:46AM]: Come home and find out
Chloe [7:47AM]: Soon
Chloe sighed and tucked her phone back into the pocket of her sweatshirt, shivering in the cold morning air. CJ had grabbed Eddie in one arm and scooped the puppy up with the other, carrying both back inside. Chloe followed alongside Nora, raising an eyebrow at the older woman.
"A puppy, huh?" Chloe asked, shooting her sister-in-law a teasing smile. "Don't have enough on your plate as it is?"
Nora returned the smile and shrugged. "CJ thinks it'll be good for him. Teach him some responsibility, to have to care for something other than himself."
Chloe nodded, agreeing with the points. "True, but puppies are a lot of work and he's only six."
"Yeah, believe me, I know," Nora sighed. "But a few of his friends have dogs and he's been asking for one for two years now. We decided he was old enough to help take care of it."
Chloe opened the door for Nora, following her back inside and closed it firmly behind them, locking the cold winter air outside. Grace took up residence in the kitchen, whipping up a large batch of scrambled eggs and bacon while Evan put a new pot of coffee on. Chloe joined them, adding slices of bread to the toaster and mixed up some batter for pancakes. Before long, the whole family made their way to the dining room for breakfast, the table overflowing with food. They all sat as Christian stood at the head of the table, waiting patiently while the puppy settled down near Eddie's chair, happily chewing on a new bone.
Christian smiled at all of them before speaking. "I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful and loving family. This has been a special Christmas, having everyone home, and I know how much it meant to your mother, so thank you all for making the effort to be here. You've all grown into responsible, mature adults, despite my best intentions," he joked, winking at the twins.
At a look from his wife, he coughed and continued, "It's clearly due to your mother that you've all turned out so well, and I couldn't have asked for a better partner to tackle life's challenges with."
Evan coughed loudly, something that sounded a lot like 'suck up' coming through his fake hacking. Chloe smirked as Grace turned her glare on her son, who immediately shrunk back into his chair and looked innocently back at her, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Right, on that note," Christian finished, grinning around at the rest of them. "Merry Christmas everyone. Let's eat!"
Beca fell back onto her bed after Chloe hung up, letting her phone drop gently against her stomach. A quick glance at the clock told her it was almost half-past three in the morning. It was the first time they'd spoken since Chloe left, and now she was wide awake in the middle of the night, missing her girlfriend terribly. She'd managed to distract herself from Chloe's absence in a variety of ways, from working on her music to hanging out with Stacie and their small group of friends. Beca had admittedly been avoiding calling Chloe, torn between desperately wanting to hear her voice and knowing that it would probably only make her miss the redhead even more. Beca told herself that it was because she didn't want to interrupt Chloe's time with her family, but deep down she knew it was the fear of being vulnerable and missing Chloe too much.
Instead of dwelling on their separation, she had spent a good chunk of the break in front of her mixing board, trying to figure out which songs she wanted to record during her studio time. Beca wanted to narrow it down to only two or three, knowing that she'd be lucky to have two finished songs at the end of the sessions, which started in January. She was so happy that she wasn't even put off by the fact that they were on five consecutive weekends, allowing her back to back full days to work with. It was going to put a serious dent in the time she spent with Chloe, but the thought of getting her hands on a professional sound board made her giddy with excitement.
The hollow feeling that came with missing Chloe had settled firmly in her stomach, and Beca sat up, knowing she wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep. She yawned, pulling on a Vanderbilt hoodie she'd stolen from Chloe's apartment and padded downstairs to make coffee. Quickly sliding a K-cup into the Keurig, she put a mug in place and hit the button to start brewing. She grabbed the mug a minute later, breathing in the delicious scent, before turning and making her way back to her room.
Taking a seat in front of her mixing board, she fired up her laptop, making sure everything was plugged in and connected. Opening up her latest file, Beca grabbed her headphones and made sure they were snug over her ears. She sipped slowly from the mug as she listened to the steady bassline, only taking a moment before pausing it to add in the guitar she'd recorded a few days ago. Grinning happily, she added the piano next, feeling good about how the track sounded so far. Bringing the mug back to her lips she hit play again, almost doing a real-life spit take at the awful sound. Stopping the track immediately, Beca rummaged through the folders in one of the desk drawers, pulling out the corresponding sheet music for the song.
After a few minutes she spotted the problem, realizing she would have to record the whole part over again. Sighing, she opened up a different program and spent a few minutes rearranging her setup, moving her mixing board carefully to the side and replacing it with her keyboard. Plugging everything in, she cracked her knuckles, took another sip of coffee, and started over.
Hours later, Beca was frowning at her computer screen as she listened to the new piano melody. It was much more cohesive with the rest of the track, but something was still a little off. Before she could make another adjustment, her phone beeped with an incoming text. She opened it to find a picture of Chloe's nephew rolling around on the grass with a small black puppy. After exchanging a few texts with her girlfriend, she heard laughter coming from downstairs and decided to see who was awake.
She entered the kitchen to find Sheila's mom, Nancy, sitting at the kitchen table while her stepmom set a pan on the stove and turned on a burner, the Keurig already hard at work brewing a cup of coffee.
"I know you're not attempting to cook something, you know the rules," Beca said, grinning when Sheila jumped at her voice. She set her empty coffee mug in the sink and joined Nancy at the table.
Sheila's parents, Joe and Nancy Emmerson, had joined them for Christmas every year since she and Ben tied the knot. Beca discovered early on that Sheila had never married, never seriously dated, and had a less than zero desire for kids. Frankly, it stunned her that she'd gotten involved with her dad at all, considering Beca was twelve when they met and clearly not going anywhere for a while. Even more impressive was the fact that she and Sheila got along famously right away, not something you'd expect from someone who didn't want kids. Beca had asked her about it, and understood Sheila's response that she didn't want to have kids of her own, but that it didn't mean she hated all children. Beca also appreciated how Sheila didn't really try to parent her at first, needing a fair amount of time and encouragement from Ben to grow into the role. The slow introduction helped Beca adjust as well, coming to the quick realization that Sheila wasn't trying to replace her mother, but find her place in their new family.
Beca also found out quickly that Sheila's parents were beyond thrilled at the addition of their first "grandchild," overwhelmed at their first family Christmas at how forward Nancy was in voicing their happiness. As with everything surrounding their blended family, it took Beca a little while to adjust to having a set of grandparents who loved her unconditionally. Her mom's parents had passed away before she was born, and her dad didn't get along well with his mother. She vaguely remembered a holiday with Grandma Mitchell when she was much younger, but it wasn't something her dad liked to discuss. Beca knew that her grandmother wanted her father to become a doctor, and thought very little of his chosen career path.
At their first family Christmas, Nancy had insisted that she call her and Joe grandma and grandpa, and while it had felt awkward initially, the terms rolled off her tongue by the time they were hugging everyone goodbye. They weren't able to visit often, but Beca had grown to love them both the way she loved her stepmom, and genuinely looked forward to their visits. Nancy was about the sweetest woman she'd ever met, never having a bad thing to say about anyone while occasionally showing a bit of that fire her daughter possessed. Sheila clearly took after her father, inheriting his sarcastic sense of humor, rebellious nature, and eagerness go in search of a new adventure or experience.
"Don't eat anything she gives you," she warned Nancy under her breath, just loud enough for Sheila to hear.
Sheila pointed a finger at her, retorting, "Watch it, kid, or I won't make you any breakfast."
Beca smirked, looking over at her, replying, "You promise?"
Nancy raised her eyebrows at Beca, asking, "I thought Ben was teaching her to cook?"
Beca turned her gaze back to Sheila's mom, giving her a genuine smile. Nancy was a little shorter than Sheila, her blonde hair almost completely gray and cut in a short pixie style. She had a kind face and shared her daughter's green eyes, and possessed a smile that made you feel completely loved and accepted, warming your whole body down to the tips of your toes.
"I hope not," Beca replied. "If so, he's doing a terrible job. No unsupervised cooking," she recited, biting back a laugh at the amused expression on Nancy's face. "You can cook just fine though Grandma, so what the hell happened to her?"
"Language!" Sheila scolded, and Beca looked properly ashamed, forgetting that she needed to be more careful around her grandparents.
Before Nancy could answer, they all fell silent at the sound of footsteps on the stairs, the older woman rising to greet her husband when Joe ambled through the entryway. Beca got up too, giving them both a hug before hip-checking Sheila away from the stove and starting to crack eggs into a bowl.
Sheila joined her dad at the kitchen table while Nancy got a package of bacon out of the fridge and set it on the countertop beside Beca. After thanking her, Beca set another pan out and began cooking up scrambled eggs and bacon while Nancy chopped up some strawberries, bananas, and cantaloupe to make a fruit salad. It wasn't too much longer before Ben joined them, the family settling in around the table for breakfast. Afterwards, they left the dishes for later, transitioning into the family room to open gifts.
As they sat down, Joe spoke up before Beca could start handing out presents. "Beca, Sheila tells us you've been writing your own songs."
Beca's eyes shot to her stepmom, before softening and looking over at Joe. "Yeah, Gramps, I've come up with a few."
Joe didn't waste any time, immediately asking, "Will you play us one?"
Beca hesitated, looking around at the encouraging smiles on her dad's and Sheila's faces, to the curious and hopeful expressions of her grandparents. Sighing, she nodded in agreement, taking a moment to think of the right song. Taking a deep breath, she moved to sit behind the piano, doing her best to ignore the surprised look on her parent's faces. 'Gotta get over it sometime, Becs...might as well be now,' she thought to herself, starting to play the opening chords.
This road is anything but simple
Twisted like a riddle
I've seen high and I've seen low
So loud, the voices of all my doubts
Telling me to give up
To pack up and leave town
But even so I had to believe
Impossible means nothing to me
Beca loved this song, and it was high up on the list of ones she might choose to record during her studio time. It made her feel encouraged and positive, like she could really make her dreams come true one day. She closed her eyes as she began to sing the chorus, letting all her nerves and discomfort fade away into the happiness that came from making music.
So can you lift me up?
And turn the ashes into flames
'Cause I have overcome more than words will ever say
And I've been given hope
That there's a light on up the hall
And that a day will come when the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Beca opened her eyes to see the variety of expressions beaming her way, from proud to amazed to the tears forming in her dad's eyes, but all shining with love and support. She moved straight into the second verse, knowing that he would understand this song more than the others, having gone through the nightmare with her.
Somewhere, everybody starts there
Counting on a small prayer
Lost in a nightmare
But I'm here and suddenly it's so clear
The struggle through the long years
It taught me to outrun my fears
And everything that's worth having
Comes with trials worth withstanding
Beca turned her gaze back to the keys as she sang the chorus one more time, deciding to cut the song short and finish with the slow chord progression. Looking up, she cursed inwardly at her family's now teary faces.
"Shit," she mumbled, quickly getting to her feet and moving away from the piano. "I maybe could have chosen a happier one," she said awkwardly, as her dad got up to hug her.
"That was incredible, Becs," he whispered, hugging her tightly. "I haven't seen you play like that in a long time."
Joe spoke up from somewhere behind her dad, a joking lilt to his voice as he said, "That was alright...from the way Sheila was going on about what she overheard in your room, I was expecting better."
Beca grinned, poking her head around to see the grin on Joe's face and then witness the smack Nancy delivered to his shoulder. "Thanks, gramps. I can always count on you to keep it real."
Nancy rolled her eyes, saying, "Don't pay him any attention, honey. That was a wonderful song, and very inspiring."
Joe rubbed his upper arm as he said, "In all seriousness, I'm not sure I've ever seen you happier than you were just now, up there playing that piano. Not even after your parents got you that car that we heard about for months. Nancy and I, we're proud of you for chasing your dreams."
Beca smiled and went over hug both of them, feeling tears hot behind her eyes as she quietly whispered, "Thanks."
It was still difficult for her to handle her emotions when it came to her music, one of the reasons why she was hesitant to really pursue performing. The last thing she wanted was to be up onstage and start bawling after one of her songs.
Sheila clapped her hands, gaining everyone's attention. "Okay people, time for presents. Don't you want to find out what Santa brought this year, kid?" she teased.
Beca snorted, looking over at her. "Sure, stepmonster. Though I didn't leave him any milk or cookies, so I'm guessing there's some coal in my stocking."
"That depends," Sheila said, rising and going to pull the stockings off their hooks. "Were you naughty or nice?"
"Naughty," Beca deadpanned, not a hint of regret in her voice. "Way more fun."
Beca took the stocking Sheila handed her, knowing exactly what to expect. She'd gotten packets of charcoal in her stocking for the past three years, ever since they moved in with Sheila. Joe and Nancy had been shocked the first year, but Beca had only laughed and nodded, assuring them she'd more than earned it. Besides, beneath the coal was always something worth keeping. Last year it had been a set of new flash drives and a guitar pick, which she quickly found out went with a brand new electric guitar.
Sure enough, Beca pulled out a bag of charcoal, rolling her eyes before chucking it in Sheila's direction. Digging through her stocking, she pulled out two more bags of coal before her fingers closed around something small and made of metal. Pulling it out, she realized it was a key.
Looking curiously at her parents, she said, "This is too small to be a car key. What does it unlock?"
Ben shrugged, setting aside the fluffy socks he'd gotten from Sheila and replied, "Must be one of your other presents. Better start playing elf so you can find out."
Every year it was Beca's job as the only child to hand out the presents. Ben claimed it was because she was still full of youthful energy and strength. Beca countered that they were all lazy and drunk on the power of being able to boss her around, though she secretly enjoyed the task. As much as she loved being spoiled by her parents, Beca loved giving gifts way more than receiving them.
She jammed the faded Santa hat on her head with a grin and quickly sorted the presents into small piles near their designated opener. When she was done, Beca sat down near the tree, discovering early on that if she stayed close it meant one less group of presents she had to relocate.
They all awaited Ben's nod of approval that everything was distributed before beginning to open presents. Beca's first few gifts were pretty standard ones from her parents, including fuzzy socks identical to the ones her dad pulled out of his stocking, more flash drives for her mixes, a new pair of black converse, and a gift certificate to get her car cleaned. Nothing with a lock though, she noticed, and opened up the gift from her grandparents to find a messenger bag with a compartment for her laptop. She loved it instantly, and got up to give them both hugs again.
Returning to her place on the floor, she grabbed the biggest box, which she'd saved for last. Upon opening it, she grinned to find a wooden box complete with a small padlock on the front. Raising her eyebrows at her dad, he only shrugged again and gestured for her to open it. Beca shook her head with a smile and slid the key into the lock, removing it and carefully placing it to the side. She opened the lid of the box, her jaw dropping as it slipped from her fingers to shut again. Quickly flipping it open, she took a long look at the brand new MacBook Pro that came into view.
"Holy shit," she gasped, reaching out a tentative hand to touch the box, as if trying to convince herself it was real. Her current laptop was at least six years old, but her parents had refused to update it under the reasoning that it was still perfectly functional.
"Language, kid," Sheila teased, and Beca looked over at the smug expressions on her parent's faces.
"You dirty liars!" she accused, unable to stop her grin from stretching ear to ear. "You said I couldn't have one! You said I'd have to save up for a new one once I started working!"
Ben nodded, looking pleased with himself. "And you couldn't. Because then we couldn't surprise you with one for Christmas. There's more," he added, gesturing back to the box.
Beca instantly looked down to see the other smaller items in the box, her eyes widening again. Tucked away next to the laptop was a new external hard drive, Apple's latest recording software, and several other useful accessories. She felt the emotions welling up inside her again, well aware that this was another demonstration of just how much her parents supported her dream.
Beca rose and joined her parents on the couch, squeezing in between them as they wrapped her in a hug. "Thanks," she said, her voice wavering slightly.
"You're welcome, kid," Sheila said affectionately, hugging her tighter.
Beca leaned back, returning to her seat on the floor before looking over at her parents and asking, "What'd you guys get each other this year?"
Ben grinned delightedly, holding up a few sheets of paper. "Sheila got us couple's cooking classes!" he said excitedly.
Beca's eyebrows rose as she swallowed the laughter threatening to burst out. "You're actually going to learn how to cook?" she asked incredulously.
Sheila narrowed her eyes and responded, "I'm going to try. And watch it, I can still return that laptop, you know."
Beca threw her body over the box, her eyes daring Sheila to make a move. "Nope, it's mine. No takebacks!"
Sheila laughed at her actions, rolling her eyes at the theatrics. "Anyways, Ben got us a trip for two to Napa Valley this summer, along with several vineyard tours and wine tastings. Are you trying to get me drunk?" she teased playfully.
Ben winked and gave her a quick kiss, deciding to remain silent.
Beca mumbled, "You guys are disgusting."
Nancy smiled at their interaction. "That sounds like a wonderful trip. I'd love to do that someday," she said pointedly at Joe, who looked up from the iPad he was unwrapping with a confused look on his face.
"Sure, we can do that," he agreed, clearly having no idea what she was talking about.
Ben added, "That's a great idea, actually. Why don't you both join us this summer?"
Beca chuckled at the look on her grandfather's face as Nancy immediately agreed and began to inform him what he'd just gotten himself into. She pulled out her phone to text Chloe about her Christmas presents, discovering she had several unopened messages.
Stacie [7:30AM]: Merry Christmas!
Stacie [7:32AM]: I can't wait until the twins learn to sleep in. It's too fucking early for presents
Fat Amy [8:45AM]: Merry Christmas Shawshank! Get your skinny ass up and eat some Christmas cookies
CR [9:04AM]: Merry Christmas Becs!
Her eyebrows rose as she smiled at the last message, not expecting it.
Smooth Criminal Nick [9:25AM]: Merry Christmas Beca!
She had actually gotten to know Nick after the karaoke night fiasco since they were the only two who'd gotten in actual trouble. While the rest of their friends had gotten off with a slap on the wrist, Nick's mom had been even less thrilled than her own parents, grounding him for a month and taking away his car keys. Beca, Benji, and Stacie had felt terrible for him, and had traded off giving him rides to and from school for the whole month.
Beca discovered that they actually had quite a few things in common, and genuinely enjoyed talking to him on their rides to and from school. He also occasionally joined her and Stacie to study or chat during the morning free period. Beca learned that Nick also lived in a single parent household, his dad having served in the Marines and passed away three years ago while on duty in Iraq.
Beca quickly sent out replies to all her friends, wishing them Merry Christmas, adding some extra condolences to Stacie for having to put up with her brothers. Looking around the room, she felt surrounded by love. The only thing missing was Chloe, and Beca found that as much as she wished the redhead was there with her, she was happy knowing that her girlfriend was spending much needed time with her own family.
Beca stood up and stretched, before cracking her knuckles and asking, "Who wants to help me do the dishes?"
Sheila joined her in the kitchen while her dad started cleaning up the wrapping paper and presents. Beca had just pushed up the sleeves of her hoodie when Sheila gave her a curious look.
"Who do you know that likes Vanderbilt?"
Beca froze, looking down at the front of her hoodie before quickly answering, "Uh, a guy at school let me borrow it the other day. It was freezing in History for some reason," she lied, praying that Sheila didn't ask any more questions.
Sheila studied her for a moment, before shrugging and asking, "You wash, and I'll dry?"
Beca nodded, replying, "Deal."
"Beca! Stacie's here!" Sheila called from downstairs, her voice filtering into Beca's room.
"Thanks! I'll be right there!" she shouted back, quickly finishing wrapping the small box in newspaper.
Beca grabbed her jacket, stuck the present in her pocket, and made her way downstairs to meet Stacie.
Sheila was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. "Your dad asked me to remind you not to drink and drive, and to have fun at the party."
Beca raised her eyebrows until her stepmom admitted, "Okay, maybe the part about having fun was from me."
Stacie laughed along with her as she replied, "Yeah, that's more like it. Don't worry, we're all crashing at Amy's house. No one will be driving anywhere."
Sheila nodded and gave her a quick hug. "I mean it, have fun tonight, kid. Be safe, but it's your senior year….have fun!"
Beca nodded and promised, "I'll be safe. I promise."
With that, she followed Stacie out the door to her best friend's car. Once they were safely on the road, she sighed, leaning back against the seat.
"I hate lying to them," Beca admitted, feeling guilty.
Stacie shrugged, replying, "Becs, it's not like you can tell the truth. And you are going to be safe….just not at Amy's house."
It still didn't sit well with Beca, knowing that her parents put a lot of trust in her. Unfortunately, she had no choice if she wanted to spend New Year's Eve with her girlfriend. Chloe had returned from Tennessee yesterday, and she couldn't wait to see her. They hadn't spoken much after Christmas, mainly due to the fact that Beca had been glued to her new laptop and mixing program since Christmas morning.
Stacie looked at her and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the party for a little while? Everyone's going to ask where you are."
Beca shook her head, replying, "Then it'll be even more suspicious when I randomly disappear. Better to just not show up at all and say I was being lame and making mixes or something."
Stacie couldn't argue with her logic, and was soon pulling up to Chloe's apartment building. "I'd say have fun, but I don't think you've gotta worry about that," she said, smirking at the shorter brunette.
Beca winked at her, unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing out of the car. "Definitely not. Thanks for the ride, and for covering for me tonight," she said sincerely. "Happy New Year, Stace!"
"Happy New Year, Becs," Stacie replied with a smile, before pulling away from the building.
Beca waved as she drove away, before quickly walking the distance to Chloe's door. She knocked, not having to wait more than a few seconds before it flung open, revealing her girlfriend.
"Finally," Beca said, stepping up and kissing Chloe immediately. "Fuck, I missed you."
Chloe returned the kiss, before pulling her inside the apartment and locking the door. "I missed you too," she said, tugging Beca closer into a hug. "How was your Christmas?" Chloe asked, leading her over to the couch.
Beca followed slightly behind, shedding her jacket and draping it neatly over one of the chairs. She sat down on the couch next to Chloe, the redhead instantly scooting closer, adjusting Beca's legs over her own so that she was almost sitting in Chloe's lap. The TV was playing some New Year's Eve show, but Beca ignored it, snuggling up to her girlfriend and spreading a blanket over them.
"It was good. Sheila's parents were there and I actually like them a lot. It was our usual Christmas," Beca explained, not feeling like there was much to tell. "How was your trip home?"
"So good," Chloe answered, her smile somehow growing wider. "Eddie is getting so big! And he was too precious with that puppy."
Beca chuckled, shaking her head slightly when Chloe looked at her curiously. "Sorry, just…your accent is a lot more pronounced than when you left. Did your family rub off on you or something?"
Chloe's hand flew to cover her mouth. "Is it really bad?"
Beca smirked, replying, "I think it's fucking adorable." She leaned in and kissed Chloe again, feeling her girlfriend's hand slide over her stomach to her other hip.
It seemed like forever had passed since the last time Beca kissed Chloe, and she wasn't planning on wasting any time now that they were together again. As anxious as she was, Chloe seemed to feel the opposite, pulling back and just enjoying being close to her.
They chatted for a while, catching each other up on what happened over their respective breaks, before Chloe shot her a nervous look.
"Becs, I need to tell you something," Chloe started, looking at her tentatively.
Beca immediately sensed the shift, leaning back to look into Chloe's eyes. "What's up?" she asked, unable to keep the nerves out of her voice.
"I told my family about us," Chloe said, looking carefully at the brunette to gauge her reaction. "I just couldn't keep it to myself anymore, especially around my brothers. I needed to tell someone, and after that it only took about two minutes for everyone else to find out. Are….are you mad?"
Beca had frozen the second the words left Chloe's lips, her mind going a mile a minute. Shit, Chloe's family knew she was dating one of her students, one of her female students nonetheless. "Well…what'd they say?" she asked, avoiding Chloe's question as she tried to get a bearing on her own feelings.
"They were shocked at first, but eventually really supportive," Chloe admitted, the smile returning to her face. "They were happy for me, Becs. For us."
Beca felt herself calm down a little, knowing at least that Chloe's family didn't instantly hate her. "I'm not mad," she finally answered, looking back into Chloe's eyes. "You wouldn't have told them about me unless you thought we could…well, you thought this was big."
Chloe returned her stare, getting momentarily lost in Beca's dark blue gaze. "I think it's pretty big, Becs. I wish you could have come with me, and met them," she said, smiling at the thought.
Beca replied softly, "I'd love to meet them, Chlo. They all sound amazing."
She knew it was the right thing to say, as Chloe leaned in and kissed her. Beca never grew tired of the way Chloe kissed her, the way it felt when their lips connected. The feelings and emotions had only grown stronger since their first kiss in detention months ago, and for the first time, Beca was determined not to give in to her fears or insecurities.
Beca knew exactly how she felt about Chloe. It had been building for months, and she'd never felt this way about anyone before. But Chloe was different, and Beca could just feel it inside that what they had was special. As terrifying as it was, she knew she was ready to take that last leap and tell Chloe how she felt.
Before she could, Chloe pulled back and turned toward the television, exclaiming, "The countdown's started! Less than one minute!"
Beca glanced at the clock, with Ryan Seacrest counting off to the side as if the giant numbers on the screen weren't clueing everyone in. The picture was of Times Square in New York City, where people were probably…no, definitely freezing their asses off. As the ball descended, Beca felt the overwhelming urge to tell Chloe how she felt, as if she couldn't wait another minute.
She hesitated though, watching the numbers and stupid Ryan Seacrest count down, the ball drop lower, until suddenly it stopped. The screen exploded with fireworks and the words 'Happy New Year!' but Beca didn't see it, because Chloe turned her chin gently and was kissing her again.
Beca couldn't think about anything except the way Chloe's lips were moving against her own, the way her tongue twisted and curled, the way her hand slid around behind her neck to tangle in her hair. Chloe's other hand tugged insistently at her shirt, until Beca fully slid onto her lap, straddling her hips.
Pulling back for air, Beca took a deep breath, gaining courage as she looked into Chloe's eyes, finding nothing but love. Resting her forehead against her girlfriend's, Beca kissed her softly, murmuring against her lips, "I love you, you know."
Chloe's eyes widened for a split second, before she gave Beca one of her beaming smiles and said, "I love you, too."
Beca stared at her, her heart beating a million times per minute, wondering if she heard her right. Breaking into a grin, she said, "Say it again."
Chloe laughed and repeated herself. "I love you, Beca Mitchell."
"I love you too, Chloe Beale," Beca returned, leaning down and kissing her again. "Fuck, I was terrified to say that."
Chloe kissed her again, mumbling, "Me too. I was about to tell you, but you beat me to it. Jerk."
Beca chuckled, returning the kiss. "Sorry, not sorry."
"Oh, I'm not sorry at all," Chloe said, leaning back into the couch and sliding her hands up from her hips, under her shirt.
Beca leaned forward, capturing her lips in a heated kiss as her hands rested on the back of the couch. Her hips pressed down, drawing a moan from her girlfriend as she pulled back again for air.
"God, you're gorgeous," Beca whispered, taking in Chloe's flushed cheeks and slightly swollen lips.
Chloe looked back at her, before pulling her down into another kiss, this one more heated than the last. Beca sensed the desire radiating from her girlfriend, while at the same time not feeling their usual urgency. The attraction between them was difficult to control at times, many of their encounters frantic with the need to feel each other. While the desire remained, Beca also felt relaxed and peaceful, like she wanted to make the most of every second they had together without rushing.
Chloe let out a frustrated whimper as she pulled back again, but Beca stood before she could hold her in place. "Let's go to bed," she said, offering Chloe her hand.
Beca lead them into the bedroom, spinning to wrap her arms around Chloe's neck, pulling her down into a kiss. She pulled back slightly, whispering, "Now isn't the time to rush. Tonight has been the best night of my life, and it's not even over yet. I want to make every minute count."
Chloe leaned back, looking into her eyes. Beca sucked in a deep breath as Chloe's hands slid under her shirt, slowly lifting it over her head and off. Chloe leaned in and pressed her lips to Beca's neck, and she felt heat spread through her. Chloe's lips were driving her crazy, sucking and nibbling at her neck, her hands roaming over Beca's sides and back, touching bare skin.
As her hands deftly dropped to the button on Beca's jeans, Chloe whispered in her ear, "Don't worry baby, we're just getting started….and I promise not to rush."
Beca woke up groggy, feeling like she barely slept at all. 'Maybe because you barely slept last night,' her brain reasoned, and she decided that was a fair point. With her eyes still closed, she stretched a tentative hand across the bed, searching for her girlfriend. Finding nothing but empty sheets, she cracked an eye open and looked around at the empty room.
Letting out a long sigh, Beca got out of bed, wrapping the sheet around her body and entered the main room. A quick look around told her Chloe was out on the porch, watching the sunrise. Well, that explained why she was so tired.
Beca quickly grabbed the present she'd brought the night before out of her jacket pocket and quietly stepped out on to the porch, keeping the sheet firmly wrapped around her shoulders.
"Morning, babe," Beca greeted, not wanting to startle her.
Chloe spun around, her lips forming the easy smile that Beca had become so familiar with. "Morning baby. Want some coffee?" she asked, extending the cup she was holding.
Beca shook her head no. "Not yet," she answered, stepping forward and holding out the small box. "Merry Christmas."
Chloe shook her head, setting the mug down on the railing and taking the box. "I'm mad at you, you know. We said no presents."
Beca rolled her eyes, replying, "Oh, just shut up and open it. You'll understand."
Chloe glanced at the newspaper wrapping paper, asking, "Do you wrap all your presents in newspaper?"
"Of course. It's tradition," Beca answered. "You don't have to say it….I already know you use some bright red Santa paper or something."
Chloe winked at her, staying silent as she ripped open the paper and eased the cover off the small box to find a single flash drive. "What's on it?" she asked curiously.
"Mixes," Beca shrugged. "Songs that I wrote about you, or songs that made me think of you that I mixed together. I figured that since I suck with words, maybe I could tell you how I feel with music. You know, for the times that I can't say it."
Beca swallowed as Chloe's eyes started to glisten with unshed tears. Before she knew it, the redhead had wrapped her in a tight hug, whispering, "I love you so much. This is amazing."
"You haven't even heard any of them yet," Beca mumbled. "What if you hate it?"
Chloe shook her head firmly, leaning back to look into Beca's stormy eyes. "I love it. It's the most thoughtful present I've ever gotten. And I love you."
Beca smiled, leaning in to kiss her girlfriend. "That's good, 'cause I kinda love you too."
Chloe pulled away and bounced excitedly inside, exclaiming, "I have to listen to it right now!"
Beca rolled her eyes playfully, grabbing the abandoned coffee cup and taking a sip as she followed Chloe back inside.
A/N: As always, a huge thank you to my beta, Ravenclawsome33, for proofing this chapter even though she really shouldn't have!
On that note, due to lawyer stuff and life stuff, I'll probably be beta-less for the rest of this story. So join me in sending good vibes her way as she handles all that!
Thanks to everyone who continues to Read and Review! You guys are seriously the best. I kinda wonder if I went back and looked over all these notes at the end, if I'd discover I say the exact same thing every time... #authorthoughts