When Jesse woke up on Sunday morning, Beca was still asleep. As she lay there with one hand on the swell of her belly, Jesse couldn't help but admire her. She was the stronest woman he knew and while she gave everyone the impression that she was tough as nails, she really wasn't. She was one of the sweetest, most generous people he knew. Her heart was made of pure gold. She had been through so much in her life and yet as she slept she didn't seem to have a care in the world.
He decided to get up and make breakfast for himself before finishing the baby's room. He'd let Beca wake on her own today, she needed the rest. As he sat on the patio eating breakfast, he started going through the mail from the day before. There was a package from Chloe, Josh and Nick; that he was pretty sure was books for the baby. He wanted to open it but decided to wait for Beca. The rest was bills. He called Laney and went back inside. He placed the package on the island and took the bills in the studio. As he sat down at his computer, he noticed two presents from Beca. The note attached read:
"Jesse,
Seven years ago today, I won your heart with a song. I won your love with a kiss and I won a life that I thought only lived in fairy tales.
You are my husband, my soul mate, my best friend, my lover (yes, I said lover...insert eye roll here...LOL) and my rock. You are my fairy tale and my dream come true.
I love you with all my heart and soul and I learn to love you more with every breath I take. Thank you for the life we have.
I Will Love You Always because "Forever may not be long enough for this love."
XOXO"
Beca
Inside the box was a autographed Collector's Edition DVD and Soundtrack of 'The Breakfast Club'. In the second, larger box was a full-sized framed autographed Collector's Edition movie poster of 'The Breakfast Club'. At the bottom of the frame, was an engraved tag that read "Don't You Forget About Me".
He was in awe. He had the most amazing wife ever. He won the lottery when he found her. He hung the poster above his desk in the studio then stood back to look at it. She must have measured the spot because it was absolutely perfect. He wasn't sure if she was awake yet but he was going to find out.
He approached their bedroom quietly, if she wasn't awake yet, he really didn't want to wake her. He opened the bedroom door as quietly as he could. She was still in bed, though she had changed positions. He laid next to her so that their noses were touching. She brought her hand to his face and smiled, "Good morning handsome."
"Good morning my love. Did you sleep well?"
"I did until you left the bed." she said still smiling.
"I'm sorry...can I get you some breakfast?"
"No...stay here with me."
"Ok." He said, "I found presents in the studio."
"You did?" se said coyly
"Yes, and you know what?"
"What?" she asked.
"I have the most amazing wife...EVER!"
"So, you like them?"
"Like them? I love them!" he said as he kissed her and rubbed her belly. As he did the baby kicked.
She smiled, "I'm so glad you do."
"How on Earth did you get them autographed?"
"Rod owed me a favor."
He chuckled, "You find new ways to amaze me everyday. I love you."
"Love you too." she said sleepily, her eyes still closed. "Have I ever told you why 'The Breakfast Club' means so much to me?
"No, but I think I can guess."
"No, I don't think you can." she said.
"Then tell me."
"During Spring Break freshman year, you were gone and I moped around campus wishing you were there. I missed seeing you at the station, I missed my movication, I missed juice pouches and I missed you terribly. One night while I was on shift at the radio station, I came across 'The Breakfast Club' soundtrack. I downloaded it to my computer and my ipod and listened to it on repeat for days. Then, I gave in and watched the movie start to finish at least seven times, crying each and everytime I watched. It was then that I realized the significance of the movie. So, when I knew you were back from break, I tried to apologize to you but when I did, you closed the door in my face."
"Beca..." he tried to go on but she put her finger on his lips. "Let me finish." He nodded his head not knowing where she was going with what she was saying.
"Jess, I was heartbroken. I stood staring at your door hoping you would realize I was being sincere and open it, but you never did. What you don't know is that I left your dorm and went straight to my dad for advice. He is the only other person in this world that my heart broke for and I knew he would know what to do. He told me that if I wanted a real chance with you, if I wanted to fix what I had done, then I needed to open up. I needed to let you in and show you that I wasn't always 'Beca bad-ass'... his words not mine. I needed to show you that I was vulnerable and most importantly, I needed to let my guard down." She said as she took a deep breath, "What I realized in those moments was that to do that I also needed to apologize to Aubrey and the Bellas. When I went to apologize they were all literally at each others throats. At some point, before I arrived, Aubrey puked all over the damn place...it smelled awful. Aubrey, Chloe and Amy were rolling on the floor, very close to the puke, fighting for the pitch pipe. Somehow or another (I later found out that Amy pushed her) Lily ended up in the puke and decided to make puke angels. Jessica and Ashley were in the tears while Stacie was blowing her Barden Rape Whistle and trying to beat Cynthia Rose off "the goodies" and Denise was just standing there not know what if anything to do.
By now, Jesse was laughing at he visual that Beca had just painted. What he wouldn't have given to see it in real life.
She smacked him lightly on the chest and said, "Jess, The Bellas were the real life Breakfast Club. We were a group of people hanging out together and no one knew anything about anyone else. It was sad really. We had spent so much time together yet we had no idea who we were spending time with."
"I can see that." Jesse agreed
"Aubrey didn't accept my apology right away, in fact, I was dragging my chair out of the rehearsal hall when she finally stopped me. Then after some pretty graphic and disturbing confessions, Aubrey asked me for help. She actually gave me the pitch pipe that she had fought so hard for."
"I wondered how you ended up with the pitch pipe." Jesse said.
"Anyway...we went out to the pool and for the first time I took the lead. We sang just like we did in the riff off. We were actually listening to each other and a capella was suddenly made sense to all of us. After proving myself worthy, Aubrey asked me to come up with a set list. When I presented the set list, the Bellas repeatedly asked my why I chose 'Don't You'. I gave them a lame excuse about how we were going out there to make a statement and that we were going to perform something so amazing that no one would ever forget The Barden Bellas. Lucky for me they bought it. I knew if I told them why I really chose it, Aubrey would have puked again and I'd have to rework the mix or worse yet, have to sing a set list from Mariah Carey's greatest hits."
"True." Jesse said nodding.
"The night before the ICCA's, I laid in bed worried sick. Truth is, I didn't know if I could make it work but I knew I needed to at least give it try. We rehearsed several times that day and each time we did, I got more and more sick with worry. Then I saw you backstage, I saw the look on your face and for the first time I couldn't read your emotions. I couldn't tell what you were thinking and it scared the hell out of me. And by the way, you totally boob checked me before you went on stage."
"I didn't." he said with a sneaky smirk.
"You totally did."
He laughed, "I so totally boob checked you. You have an amazing rack...how could I not?!"
"You perv!"
"Can't blame a guy for looking!"
"Back to the story...You went on stage and for the first time you weren't singing to me and it hurt, it cut so deep my heart ached. I wanted to run off and cry, but I knew I couldn't. Then, you told that trashy Treble-fangirl to 'call you' and that was it. That was all I needed to get on the stage and set my plan into motion. I had to let that little tramp know, you were mine and I was going to fight for you."
"So, you saw that huh?"
"Yeah..."
"Sorry babe."
"So, when it was our turn to go on stage, the first thing I did was to find you in the audience. In order for my plan to work, I had to sing directly to you, but even in those moments I wasn't sure I could get through to you. You wouldn't look at me...you looked through me before looking down into your lap. When I started singing 'Don't You', you looked up shocked at what you were hearing. After that, you never took you eyes off me. When you threw your fist in the air, I knew I succeeded. I knew I got through and touched your heart. In those moments, you looked at me with all the love and admiration I had been missing for weeks. The same love and admiration that I saw all year long and when I kissed you after our performance, I knew you were right, I knew we were inevitable."
"Thank you for telling me, but the truth is, I forgave you the minute I opened the door."
"If that was the case, why didn't you say something?"
"I regretted closing the door the minute I did it but I was being hardheaded and stupid about the whole thing. I was so determined that I wasn't going to be the one to fix things. If you wanted to be with me, you were going to have to fix it."
"Well...then in that case, I guess everything worked out for the best."
"Yeah...I'd say it did." He said rubbing her bump. "You gonna get up sometime today?"
"Ugh...Please tell me we don't have any plans today. I really don't want to get out of bed."
"No, we don't have any plans that I know of." Jesse said, "I'm just going to finish up in the baby's room."
"Good..." she said. "because I'm going to spend the entire day right here."
"Ok, are you hungry?"
"Yes. Would you get me a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a bowl of fruit?"
"Sure... want a smoothie?"
"Yes, please." she said as she kissed him.
"I'll be right back." he said, "Laney, keep an eye on Mommy while I'm gone."
Jesse went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Beca. When he returned to their room she in the same position she was in when he left her and she had gone back to sleep. He hated to wake her but it was almost lunchtime and she really needed to eat. He placed the breakfast tray on the dresser and snuggled in next to her. He sweetly brushed his fingers over her cheek as she started to stir he chuckled and without opening her eyes she said, "Swanson, if you're waking me up that must mean someone is dying or bleeding."
"No one is dying or bleeding, but you do need to sit up and eat." He said, "Come on...sit up."
"Ugh... do I have to? I'm so comfortable right here."
"Yes, come on...you and little man need to eat." he said bringing the tray to her side of the bed.
"Ok, but I can nap afterwards...right?"
"Yes, I'm gonna go finish up in little man's room." He said, "When I'm done do you want to come see it?"
"Of course I do." she said smiling as she ate her breakfast.
Jesse went back to painting while Beca napped. She was serious about staying in bed for the day. He had checked on her several times and each time she was sound asleep. The last time he checked on her though, she was laying down watching a movie on her laptop. She motioned him over and he was more than willing to lay down with her. They enjoyed the movie before he told her that he was finished painting the baby's room.
"I finished painting the baby's room." he said, "Obviously it's not complete because the furniture isn't in yet but it looks good."
"Really? Let's go see it!" She said excitedly
"Wait a minute." He said brandishing a blindfold.
"A blindfold? Really?" she asked
"Yes, because I want to see your face when you see it the first time."
"Ok...but you have to hold my hand so I don't fall." she said
"Of course I will. I'll even carry you if you want." he said laughing.
"Come on...let's go see our son's room." she said turning so he could put the blindfold on her.
He guided her up the stairs to their son's room, he opened the door. He stood in front of her and started the count down, "3...2...1...What do you think?"
She stood in awe for several minutes. He painted the room to look exactly like it did on the packaging for the bedding. She had only asked that the walls be painted, she didn't think he would actually make the room look like the picture...right down the to white beadboard and chair rail. He had even hung the curtains. He set up the reading nook she wanted and placed the books from his parents on the shelves.
"Oh Jess..." she said. "It's beautiful...I love it. The cherry furniture we chose is going to look amazing in here."
Letting out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding, he said, "I'm glad you like it. I know it isn't what we discussed, but you mentioned that you loved the way the room looked in the picture so I wanted to recreate it for you."
As she turned to embrace him, she said with a grin, "I'm so glad you did. I can't imagine this room any other way...even if you did take my decorating job."
"I'm sorry baby, but you were sleeping."
"I know... I love the room. I really do. Thank you." She said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, "You did a beautiful job."
"Thanks. I'm glad you like it"
She turned in his arms so that her back was pressed against his chest. He wrapped his arms around his wife and unborn son as they continued to stand admiring the room. Taking his hand, she gave him a look his recognized and led him downstairs to their bedroom.
