Beca woke the next morning to find Chloe still sleeping soundly. The redhead was half on top of her, and half beside her on the large couch. Neither one of them had redressed the night before and she could feel the soft skin of Chloe's bare back beneath her fingertips. The room had no windows, so it was extremely dark aside from the red and green lights on her mixing board and the light coming in from underneath the door. It was the sound of Billie and Alex's feet on the hardwood flooring above them, that told her it was morning.
She sighed happily and began to run her fingers lightly over Chloe's back as she thought about the day before. Seeing their friends, giving Stacie such a special baby shower. She had been planning one herself, but their friends beat her to it, and for that she was glad because having them there made it a thousand times better than it would have been. They had gone two days before to get her cast taken off and for that she was happy. They had dealt with what had happened, and she was happy their friends hadn't seen the cast. She forgave Chloe, and she knew that if they had to explain what happened, it would only upset Chloe, and in the end, most likely lead to another fight. It didn't happen that often anymore, but Chloe was still sensitive when it came to her knew diagnoses and it wouldn't have gone over well at all.
She was happy to be out of the cast, it did nothing but get in her way and made it nearly impossible to work her sound board properly.
She was pulled away from her thoughts as a shiver ran through Chloe's body and she began to stir.
"Mm, Beca?" She grumbled as she moved a little and tucked her face under Becas chin.
"Yes?" She asked softly, her hand falling still.
"Why does Alex insist on running through the house like a crazy person as soon as the sun rises?"
"She runs, Billie chases her. Billie runs, Alex chases Billie." She said tiredly and Beca smiled.
"We gave an energetic child a puppy and she isn't allowed outside until we are all awake and someone is able to watch them. Its technically our fault." She laughed lightly.
Chloe took in a breath released it slowly. "Yeah I guess so. I think Billie is good for her though, we have all been so busy and with the new baby coming, she has had a friend to keep her company. She does so well with her, too."
Beca nodded as she began to play with Chloe's hair. "I agree."
They lay there in comfortable silence for a minute before Chloe spoke again.
"Last night," She started and felt Beca tense just slightly. "Was amazing." She finished.
She lifted her head to look at the brunette under her and smiled softly. "I really missed you, Beca."
Beca relaxed and smiled. "I missed you too, Chloe, I miss all of you."
Chloe sighed and rested her chin on Becas chest. "I'm sorry, about…" She paused for a few seconds, and Beca could see she was trying to figure out what to say. She finally let her eyes fall and Beca felt her body slump. "Me."
"Don't be." She said. "Never be sorry, for something you have absolutely no control over." She said.
"You were sorry." Chloe said looking back up at her. "When we first moved to Maine. For the first two years of Alex's life, you would apologize, over and over." She said and Beca bit her lower lip, not particularly sure about how she felt about Chloe's words. Or rather, the truth in them.
"You apologized for who you are, you apologized for 'stealing' our lives from us. You apologized for having panic attacks, for not leaving the house." She continued and I never understood how could possibly think any of that was your fault. I never knew why you thought you had to apologize. You never did have to apologize and deep down, I guess I know that I don't either, but I can't help it. I know I put you through a lot, I treated you like shit and I caused a lot of problems. Not intentionally maybe, but I still did. And for that, I am sorry."
Beca nodded. "I get it Chlo. But, you are doing so much better, and while I know how you are feeling to an extent, just know that you never have to apologize to me, or any of us. You didn't do anything wrong, and you have nothing to be sorry about."
Chloe looked down and nodded again. This conversation wasn't a new one. And she had already had it with Stacie and Aubrey on more than one occasion.
Chloe looked at her, a small grateful smile appearing. "I'm lucky to have such amazing women in my life." She said. "Thank you, Beca," She leaned in, and Beca smiled into the kiss she received.
When Chloe pulled back she let out a satisfied sigh. "Shall we go upstairs?" She asked and Beca dropped her head back.
"I suppose so." She said as Chloe sat up and picked up the clothes from the floor.
XXXXXX
Aubrey looked up from her coffee and something she was reading when the door to the basement opened and Beca and Chloe walked in, hand in hand.
"Well, hello you two. Did you sleep in the studio?" She asked confusedly as she motioned over to the coffee pot with her own cup to let them know the coffee was fresh.
Beca chuckled as she headed over to it and Chloe let her hand go so she could give Aubrey a good morning kiss.
"Well, I couldn't sleep, so I went down to work a little." Beca said grabbing two cups from the cupboard.
"And I woke up and found she was gone. I knew she would be down there, so I went to see if she wanted to come back to bed and we ended up," She trailed off and Beca looked over with a smile as she poured the coffee. Aubrey looked between them.
"Did you two…" She started then gasped as she set her cup down. "Without me and Stacie?" She asked shocked though she smiled letting them know she was playing.
"Sorry, Bree." Chloe shrugged as Beca walked over handing her one of the cups as she took a seat next to the blonde and kiss her cheek.
"You were busy sleeping and well… you know." She winked playfully and Aubrey scoffed.
"I'm offended." She said throwing her hair back over her shoulder. "And here I though we all had a mutual agreement that celibacy was our only option."
She joked about it, though inside she was thrilled. She could see a lighter air about Beca and knew that the intimate time spent with Chloe had been good for her.
"Nah, just for you and Stace." Chloe said taking a generous gulp of her coffee.
Aubrey and Beca laughed before Beca nodded toward the pamphlet Aubrey was reading.
"Alright, what's that?" She asked.
"Another option for school." She said picking it up. "I really like this one. Read over it and tell me what you think."
Beca took it from her and looked it over. "We need to find one soon, it's not there are many options around here and with Kelly not coming out anymore, she needs to be in school."
Aubrey nodded. "I know, that's why I have been giving her pop quizzes a few times a day, keep her memory fresh." She said.
Beca looked at her. "I didn't know you were doing that."
Aubrey smiled and nodded proudly. "Of course I am. She can't be out of school and not getting her lessons for this long. If she is going to be in public school, she needs to be prepared for it. This is a nice little break for her, but I don't want it to have a negative effect."
"And how is she doing on these pop quizzes?" Beca asked.
"How do you think? She rocks them." She winked standing up and taking her cup over to the sink.
Beca shook her head in amusement. "Where is that little munchkin?" She asked, "I heard her running around up here."
"She is up helping Stacie put away all the things she got at the baby shower." She said. "She was bored and Stacie needed help, so I figured that would be another good way to get her excited about the baby. She is decorating with all the little toys and last I saw, making a fort out of all the boxes of diapers." She said holding out her phone to see the picture Stacie had sent her of Alex stacking the boxes, a big smile on her face.
"Oh my goodness." She said. "What it must be like, having her imagination." She laughed as she continued to look through the pamphlet. "This school is my favorite so far." She said closing it to see the name. "Where is it?"
"Morro Bay." Aubrey said. "Right near the dance studio, I thought that would be good on the days we couldn't get away to pick her up, she could walk to the studio and stay with Chloe or Stacie until they came home." She said.
Beca nodded. "That's not a bad idea." She said looking over at Chloe. "What do you think?"
"I think that's a great Idea, and it gave me an idea for the space upstairs." She said. "We can use part of it for the private lessons, and the other part, since it is so big for kids to come after school." She said. "Once there is money coming in, we could hire someone to work there and look after the kids until their parents could pick them up." She said.
"You would have to have another license for that." Beca said and She nodded. "I am going to look into it."
Aubrey smiled at the two, seeing them talking again so easily and without tension was nice. She loved Chloe's idea and as she thought more about it, she smiled. "Hey, what if I did it?"
They looked at her. "If you ran the daycare?" Chloe asked, her eyes brightening.
"Yeah, if kids are getting out of school at 3 in the afternoon, that gives me time to get there when I get off work and you could save money, because you wouldn't have to pay me. I am already CPR certified, I can do what I need to, to get a license."
Chloe smiled and walked over to her. "You are awesome." She said wrapping her arms around the blonde's neck and kissing her.
Beca smiled at the two as she finished her coffee. "I'm going to call this place and see what we have to do to get Alex in for the next year." She said standing up and putting her cup in the sink.
Aubrey and Chloe nodded as Chloe broke away from her and walked over to the fridge to find something for breakfast.
XXXXXX
Beca had just hung up the phone after speaking with the school when they heard Alex screaming for her. Beca looked up in shock at the tone and they were on their feet and headed for the stairs when the little girl appeared at the top.
"Mama hurry!" She yelled running down the stairs and Beca was quick to lift her up as she continued up the stairs. She could see the scared look on Alex's face and she felt her stomach drop. "Alex what's wrong?"
"Mommy Stacie! She fell!"
They were up the stairs, down the hall and bursting through the door in seconds. Beca put Alex down as they rushed to Stacie who was indeed on the floor, clutching her stomach. A thin sheet of sweat on her forehead.
"What happened, what's wrong?" Chloe rushed out as she gently tried to help her up.
"I-It hurts." She gasped. "My water, I think my water broke."
Becas eyes fell to Stacie's pants, and they were soaked through. "Fuck, no its not time yet!" Chloe panicked as she and Aubrey were able to help her to her feet.
"Alex, get in the car, quickly." Beca said and Alex gave Stacie one last almost horrified look before turning and bolting from the room.
"It's too early, he isn't ready to come out yet," Stacie gasped as she clutched her stomach, another contraction hitting her hard.
"Breathe baby, just breath. We will get you to the hospital." Aubrey said as they helped her to the stairs.
Beca went ahead of them and raced to the car. She started it and opened the doors, finding Alex already inside and buckled in.
"Is Mommy Stacie having the baby?" She asked worriedly and Beca nodded out of breath.
"I think so bunny, stay calm okay? Stacie needs us to be strong for her."
"Why is she hurting?" She asked as Chloe and Aubrey appeared, each of them holding her arms, keeping her up as they walked. "She is all wet, did she have an accident?"
Beca leaned into the car, making sure her car seat was buckled right. "Having a baby is painful sweetie. No she didn't wet herself, I will explain later okay?"
Alex nodded as Chloe helped her into the back seat and got in beside her. Aubrey got in the front and Beca drove. They made it to the hospital in record time, Beca pulling the car to a screeching halt outside the emergency room doors and running inside as Chloe and Aubrey got out.
"I need a wheel chair; my girlfriend is in labor!" She said as she entered the building and nurses were immediately running toward her.
Aubrey and Chloe had just got her out of the car when they met them and helped her into a wheel chair.
"Go to the front desk and check in, then they will bring you back, she is in good hands here." They said to Beca as the wheeled Stacie away.
"Chloe go with her." She said and Chloe nodded running to keep up with them as Aubrey got Alex out of the car.
"I'll park this; you go check in." The blonde said handing Alex over to her. She nodded and kissed Aubrey quickly, her eyes wide and filling with tears.
"it's not time yet Bree." She said.
Aubrey grabbed her, pulling her into a hug, Alex between them. "Have faith, Becs. Everything will be okay."
She nodded hastily wiping her tears as Aubrey got in the car and drove away to park it. She took Alex inside and went to the front desk, checking them in.
XXXXXX
By the time Aubrey got back inside, Beca was being led to where Stacie was.
When they entered the room she was in, she was dressed in a hospital gown and her hair was tied back. She was laying on her side, breathing rapidly.
"Hello, I am Doctor Keeling." The female doctor introduced herself as they walked in. "I was just introducing myself to Stacie and Chloe. I will be delivering your baby today." She smiled.
"She is early; the baby isn't due for over a month." Beca said.
She nodded. "He is premature, and we are going to take very good care of him and his mother." She promised. "So far, all is looking good."
"He will be okay? They both will be okay?" Beca asked.
"As of right now, everything is looking good, it's not uncommon for a mother to go into labor this close to the due date, and being she is six weeks early, our main concern would be repertory problems." She said. "But I can assure you, we have highly trained staff in our NICU if there are any problems. Lots of babies born six weeks premature come out small, but perfectly healthy. I have seen it numerous times. I have done my checkup already and everything seems to be okay, it shouldn't be long now." She smiled.
Beca nodded. "Thank you."
She smiled and reached out, squeezing her shoulder. "I will be right back," She said then looked at Alex. "Get ready cutie, your mom over there says you are going to be a big sister."
Alex looked over to Chloe who was beside Stacie, smiling at her.
They all walked over as the doctor left. "You okay love?" Beca asked pushing a few loose strands out of hair out of her eyes.
She nodded. 'I'm okay, she said everything looks normal, that he should be okay." She said.
Beca nodded. "He is just ready to come out and meet his Mommy." She said. Aubrey picked up Alex and walked up closer.
"Don't worry, mommy, he is going to be so lucky to have all of you, and me around." She said. "I hope you aren't hurting too much."
Stacie smiled lightly. "I'll be okay, thank you sweetie."
Alex nodded proudly and they all looked at Stacie.
"I can't believe it's happening." She said.
Chloe squeezed her hand. "We are here, love."
"And we can't wait to meet our son." Beca smiled leaning over and placing a kiss on her forehead.
A/N: So I have been in Georgia for 3 days and I fucking love it. All of it. Everything about it EXCEPT the giant hell bugs. I caught a frog and saw my first lightening bug, I can die happy now. SO THAT JUST HAPPENED. ARE YOU EXCITED TO MEET THE NEW BABY?! WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN? ANY IDEAS ON WHAT THEY WILL NAME HIM?! HMMMMMM. Anyway, please review, this story (and I) Aren't feeling the love… and in a review whore…soooo. Anyway thank you all for reading and being so patient with me!