The wedding ceremony ran smoothly, and to both Beca and Chloe's relief Fat Amy ended up being on her best behaviour throughout it. In fact, the only 'disruption' had come when there had been a low wave of surprised mumbles between the guests when the registrar conducting the ceremony revealed that Beca's full name wasn't Rebecca like everyone had presumed. Beca had actually been named 'Beca' at birth. The newlyweds and their guests were now sat within a large, light room in an outhouse that was a part of the hotel, but along one wall was bifold windows that had been opened up to allow the ocean breeze to drift into the room. And just outside those 'windows' stood a beautiful white sandy beach.

Beca returned to the large room, having just excused herself to go to the bathroom, and took a moment to look around, a calm expression on her face while she looked at each table. Sure, she didn't exactly recognise half of the people chatting and laughing away in the room right now. But she knew they were all Chloe's family. And Chloe's family was now her family.

The people she did know, however, all looked to be having a good time. Twelve year old Eva, Chloe's eldest niece, sat with Emily – the youngest Bella - chatting away to the brunette in her bright Beale way. Emily was sat at 'The Bellas Table' with Cynthia-Rose, Flo and Lilly. Jessica and Ashley, meanwhile, had found their way over to the 'kids craft table' and were busy fashioning different origami models for ten year old Hunter and seven year old Noah – Eva's two brothers and two of Chloe's nephews. Samuel, one of Chloe's other nephews, had already found his place beside the large wedding cake that stood in the corner of the room, looking up at it longingly. Beca smirked as she told herself not to be too surprised if one or two of the iced music notes were missing by the time she and Chloe had to go up to cut the cake.

Johnny and Michael – two of Chloe's older brothers - were both stood by the table where some of Chloe's uncles and aunts were sat, chatting to a couple of Sue Beale's many older brothers. Ryan – Chloe's other older brother – was stood with his wife, trying to calm their eldest twin, six year old Oliver, who appeared to be crying crocodile tears over something. And Beca had a little scan around for his twin brother Jack-

"Wah!" Beca yelled slightly as she felt a little body tumble against her legs and cling to them. She grinned as she looked down at Jack, Chloe's youngest nephew (and Beca's secret favourite of the Beale nephews and nieces). The six year old looked up at her with big eyes and that signature Beale smile.

"Gotcha Auntie Beca!" he squeaked happily and Beca couldn't help the weird tug she felt in her heart whenever the kids called her 'Auntie Beca'.

"You haaave dude." Beca said fondly, giving his messy hair a little tustle. She kept her focus on him as his big eyes suddenly snapped to an approaching figure, and to Beca's confusion, she saw the little boy begin to cower slightly behind her. She looked up from Jack and over to the new arrival in her bubble, and her stomach flipped.

Her eyes caught a pair of startling sharp blue beady eyes that drank in her appearance closely for the first time. Those eyes belonged to a small elderly woman who resembled something like that of a shrivelled prune. Or one of those weird zombie mummies that were in that movie Jesse once made her watch back in college ('The Mummy' maybe?). Beca immediately felt nervous. Because this was the Grandmother Chloe (and the rest of The Beale's) had warned her about. This was Sue's mother. Chloe's Grandmother. Grandmother Richmond.

Sue Beale, stood with her husband, chatting happily with Aubrey and Stacie about the wedding so far.

"Honestly, Aubrey, I don't think I've ever seen Chloe look so relaxed at an event before." Jerry said honestly,

"Yes thank you both for doing such a great job putting all this together." Sue said with a nod in agreement and Aubrey and Stacie both looked at one another with soft smiles. Sue had to admit, the two women looked completely smitten by one another, and it surprised her that they hadn't been more 'together' whilst being here. Away from prying eyes and judgemental parents. This was a gay wedding after all. If ever there were a more comfortable environment for two women to be open about being blissfully in love with one another then here would be the place.

"Well Aubrey's the true mastermind," Stacie said brightly with a big beaming smile, daring to place her hand on the small of Aubrey's back, and Sue noticed the way the blonde's expression turned into an affectionate one while Stacie added, "I'm just her glamorous assistant."

"Very glamorous assistant I might add." Sue said kindly, "You both look beautiful today." Before leaning a little closer to them and whispering, "And so happy together."

"Well it's nice to finally get to spend more than twenty four hours together for once." Aubrey replied, letting out a light sigh while turning back to Chloe's parents. Sue had heard her daughter mention the long periods of time that Aubrey and Stacie had to go apart. Days, sometimes even weeks between visits. And Sue admired their patience. It was the sign of a strong relationship if two people could stay that true to one another despite rarely spending time together.

The four adults found their attentions on Chloe, the new bride stood beside Cal and Sheila Mitchell who were sat at the table they'd been allocated. The redhead was chatting away to her new in-laws, that signature bright Beale smile on her face as she said something that made Cal Mitchell laugh out loud.

"Well I never thought I'd see the day that Beca's father would finally seem comfortable around Chloe." Aubrey said conversationally and Jerry let out a light chuckle.

"Yeah well, we Beale's pride ourselves in battering down people's walls with our kindness and good nature." Mr Beale said with a shrug and Sue looked to her husband with a soft smile. Because what he said was true. The Beale's, as a family, had always been jolly and warm and welcoming. A far cry from The Richmond's, who seemed far stricter and less affectionate. Sue remembered how her mother had rolled her eyes back when she'd told her that 'Jeremy Beale' had asked her to the pictures on a date. Sue also remembered her mother's reaction to finding out that her only granddaughter, Chloe, was going to be marrying another woman.

Sue glanced to her right, at her husband who politely stuck his fork into the vegetables on his plate and uncharacteristically ate them quietly . They'd made the journey up to Connecticut to visit Sue's mother. Not just because Sue felt it important to keep in touch with her mother. But also because her brothers had insisted that she break the news to her sooner rather than later that Chloe would be getting married.

She wasn't sure how they'd managed it, but her daughter had managed to date Beca for almost a year and a half without ever having to introduce the poor girl to Grandmother Richmond – Sue's mother. It wasn't that Mrs Richmond wasn't a nice lady. But it was more the case that she was less than 'PC' when it came to keeping her own thoughts and feelings and ideals to herself. And none of The Beale's wanted to expose Beca to that.

"So, Mo m," Sue began casually, trying to sound as though what she was about to s ay was no big deal, " we've got some news about Chloe. "

The woman looked up nervously from her plate of food as her mother stopped chewing for a moment, raising her eyebrows as she normally did when she was awaiting the next part of one of her children's sentences. Sue took a deep breath. Chloe was her mother's only granddaughter. This was going to be a VERY big deal…

"She's getting married." Sue managed to eventually blurt out. And Alice Richmond's eyes lit up.

"My goodness!" The old woman said in surprise, "And here I was thinking she would have done something outrageous like returned to college to spend the rest of her twenties in education to avoid adult responsibilities." Sue turned to look awkwardly at her husband, but Jerry was busy pushing a carrot around his plate, wanting to avoid his mother-in-law's eyes. "So tell me, what is this young man like? Is he good and strong? Will he provide for her?"

Sue turned back to her mother who had now swallowed her mouthful and was leaning towards the two of them, awaiting more information. This was going to be a hell of a shock . "Um," Sue began, "well she's actually marrying Beca."

Alice furrowed her brow, and after a couple of moments sat back with a small shake of her head, rolling her eyes as she pushed her fork into a small potato on her plate, "Oh the youth of today. Giving their sons girl's names and their daughters boy's names."

Sue and Jerry Beale both looked at one another. The old woman assumed Beca was a man with a woman's name. Somehow this was making the situation worse.

"Actually Mom…" Sue began, turning back to her mother, "Beca is the woman Chloe's been living with in Brooklyn over the past few years . You remember? The one I told you about, who Chloe met in college?"

"The one who helped her with her singing group?"

"The one who was IN her singing group, yes." Sue nodded in agreement. She really had no idea how much more information she needed to provide for her mother to try to encourage her to understand what was being said here. But Grandmother Richmond looked up from her food with a furrowed brow as she looked at her youngest child – her only daughter. And Sue realised she'd definitely have to spell it out for her. "Mom, Chloe's gay. She's marrying a woman. She's going to be marry ing Beca in April."

There was a stillness in the air around the dining room as Alice kept her beady eyes on her daughter and her son-in-law. Both Sue and Jerry swallowed loudly.

"She's marrying a woman."

"Yes." Sue and Jerry said in unison.

"They 're together?"

"Yes."

"Not just friends?"

"No."

"And you've allowed this to happen?" Alice asked with a tone that suggested she couldn't believe that the couple opposite her had been so careless.

"Actually, Alice, Beca 's very good for Chloe. She works hard and earns very good money and she makes Chloe very happy." Jerry tried to reason. But Alice immediately looked to her daughter, and Sue's cheeks flushed red.

"Susan! You are allowing your ONLY daughter to marry another woman?"

"Uh." Su e hesitated. She hated being told off. Even now she was in her late fifties. She had always been the golden child. Beloved by her mother and late-father. Their only girl. Their pride and joy, having given birth to their ONLY granddaughter out of seventeen grandchildren. "Listen, Mom. I know this isn't exactly traditional but…well, Chloe is very happy with Beca and has been for a long time now. And Jerry and I want to support her no matter what she does with her life and as th is is one of those life decisions that she's made then we'll support her in that."

The dining room fell silent again. All three adults looked at one another. Then suddenly Alice dropped her cutlery onto her plate with a loud 'CLANG', and she pushed her chair out.

" Mooom …" Sue began to whine, but Grandmother Richmond didn't even look at her daughter, and instead stood up from the table and made her way out of the room. Sue and Jerry let out sighs and looked at one another.

"Well," Jerry said with a light shrug, "that could've been worse?"

Beca swallowed loudly, her hands feeling a little clammy at the sudden presence of Chloe's Grandmother. It was no secret that the woman had been less than impressed with the idea that her only granddaughter was marrying another woman. But for some reason the elderly lady had insisted on coming along. And while both Beca and Chloe had initially panicked about this news, Sue Beale had assured them that her older brothers would keep an eye on her mother to ensure she didn't ruin their big day for them.

Well, I admit," Grandmother Richmond said to Beca in her slow elderly voice, her piercing blue eyes touching upon each of Beca's facial features, as though trying to size the brunette up, "I was bitterly disappointed when I found out that Chloe was marrying a woman." Beca hesitated, her heart racing with nerves, especially now little Jack had begun gripping her hand tightly, clearly more terrified of his great grandmother the longer they stood in her presence.

"She is my only granddaughter. The only daughter of my only daughter. Named after my own mother."

Beca wasn't overly sure where Grandmother Richmond was going with this, but she had a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to be good.

"She is very, very important to me. And the only thing I've ever wanted to see was for her to be happy."

Beca struggled to tear her eyes from the elderly woman's tight stare, and she swallowed loudly. This was the expression of a woman who really didn't like her.

"She can't ever be happy being in a partnership with a woman. She will be unhappy, and afraid. Society will dismiss her. And she will grow old, miserable and alone."

Beca's chest tightened, and she opened her mouth to attempt to object. Because Chloe would never be dismissed by society. Beca would make sure of that. Just as she would make sure that Chloe would never grow old, miserable and alone. But Grandmother Richmond raised an old knobbly index finger to stop Beca in her tracks.

"However, that was what I used to think. Before today."

Sue smiled softly as her youngest granddaughter, Ellie, scrambled over to Chloe. And her youngest daughter scooped the three year old up with a big grin while she still chatted to Beca's parents. Chloe's new in-laws. She loved how happy her daughter looked, and was thrilled that Chloe had finally found her place in life, married to someone who loved her, with a potentially blossoming career ahead of her.

The mother's eyes drifted across the room, trying to find her new daughter-in-law. Chloe's wife. But suddenly her heart lurched when her eyes caught sight of her mother pointing a finger at Beca.

"Oh God." Sue said, immediately reaching out for her husband's arm, "Jerry!"

Jerry Beale, who had been chatting away to Aubrey and Stacie, looked at his wife, somewhat perplexed, "Wh-what? What's going on?"

"Mom!" was all Sue said, pointing over at her mother across the other side of the room, who was still pointing a finger at Beca.

"Oh shhhit…" Jerry muttered under his breath, immediately following his wife who had begun to quickly make her way over to Grandmother Richmond, who was likely to be trash-talking Beca at that very moment in time.

Aubrey and Stacie both watched in amusement as The Beale's darted away from them, and the brunette took this opportunity to mutter into her girlfriend's ear, "I need to go and change my shoes."

Aubrey furrowed her brow, turning slightly to look at Stacie, "Into what? Do you want to look like a midget next to me or something?" but then she noticed the way Stacie was grinning seductively at her and she realised what her girlfriend with insinuating.

"Ohhh…" she said quietly, a light grin on her face, "I get you now."

"You get me?" Stacie said in an amused tone, shooting Aubrey a wink and Aubrey couldn't help the low giggle that left her mouth.

"Oh I'll get you alright." She responded daringly, loving the way Stacie's eye lit up.

"See you at my hut in five minutes."

Aubrey grinned as she watched Stacie slowly walk out of the room, the model looking over her shoulder at the blonde before walking through the door. Aubrey swallowed loudly. She wasn't sure if it was just being at a wedding – specifically a gay wedding – or because she and Stacie had just spent six full days together both in LA and here in Hawaii. But Aubrey was head over heels for the woman. And she had to admit, if they were both drinking this evening – which it was highly likely they would be – then they might get to a stage when they didn't care who saw them together. She just knew she wanted to spend a good portion of time with her arms around that woman. Her girlfriend.

"Hey, Aubrey?"

Aubrey jumped as she heard someone talk to her and she turned to see Fat Amy arrive by her side. She tried her hardest not to sigh in disappointment. Because Amy was one hell of a talker once she got started, and Aubrey really needed to get over to Stacie's hut soon.

"So you helped organise this whole thing, right?"

"Um..yeah?" Aubrey said tentatively. She knew what was coming. Beca and Stacie had both pre-warned her that Amy was trying to find out who the secret band was performing the 'first dance' song tonight..

"So who's performing Beca & Chloe's 'first dance'?"

"You know full well I'm not at liberty to tell you that, Amy." Aubrey said, becoming more distracted by the second, desperately wanting to leave to find her girlfriend.

"Oh come on Aubrey! I won't tell Chloe! Honest!"

All that most of The Bellas knew was Beca had managed to enlist the talents of a band she had been working with over the past few months in LA. Helping them to produce an entire record in exchange for them performing a song at her wedding. Chloe had no idea who it was singing or what the song was. And nor did any of other The Bellas except Beca, and Aubrey and Stacie, who had been in charge of ensuring the hotel knew what to do with them once they arrived at the resort. Which they had done earlier that day while the entire wedding party had been down at the beach for the ceremony.

"Amy you literally have two hours until they play. You've gone this long. It's just two hours left to go." Aubrey said seriously. And Amy let out a giant puff of air in frustration.

"Seeing how happy Chloe is with you has made me realise that it doesn't matter what I used to think." Grandmother Richmond continued, and Beca couldn't help her mouth dropping open slightly in shock. Was…was this woman okay with her only granddaughter being gay?! "Because she looks really very happy and contented." Beca turned to look at her wife and couldn't help the soft smile that spread on her face. Chloe was currently stood, chatting animatedly with Beca's parents. And Beca was thrilled to see that her father and step-mother were looking up at Chloe with big genuine beaming smiles on their faces, hanging onto her every word. She loved the way Ellie was currently balanced on her wife's hip, twirling a lock of her Aunt's long red hair in her little fingers. And Beca felt her heart swell, a weird maternal longing taking over her body for a moment. Because she loved seeing Chloe with her nieces and nephews. And she looked forward to the day when they'd start a family of their own.

"And I can tell that she makes you very happy and content too." Grandmother Richmond added wisely, smiling kindly at Beca when the young woman turned to look back at her, "I've never seen anybody look at my Granddaughter the way you do. And that's how I know that your love for her is genuine."

"I really do love her Mrs Richmond." Beca said honestly, raising her eyebrows to emphasise her point, and the elderly woman before her let out a hum of approval, before leaning a little closer to Beca and adding gently, "You can call me Grandmother if you like."

Beca's shoulders relaxed and she released a breath of air she hadn't realised she'd been holding in. Well, if the matriarch of one side of Chloe's family was giving her the 'all clear' then she must be doing all the right things.

Suddenly, Sue and Jerry Beale appeared by their sides, looking somewhat flustered, "Beca!" Sue exclaimed, slightly out of breath from the adrenaline and the light dash they'd taken to get over to Beca's aid, "E-Everything okay? Are you okay?"

Beca had a feeling she knew why they were worried, but they needn't be. Things were going far better with Grandmother Richmond than Beca could've ever expected. And as a result she turned to her parents-in-law and shrugged, "Uh, yeah, great thanks. Um…Grandmother, here, was just…um…"

"Sending her good wishes for her and Chloe's future together!" Alice Richmond said firmly to her daughter, causing Sue and Jerry Beale's eyebrows to raise.

"Wow, uh…nice one Mom." Was all Sue managed to muster, watching in shock as her mother looked back at her daughter's new wife and smiled.

"Are their bodies 'too bootilicious'?"

Aubrey sat at the table, her legs crossed, her head resting on the palm of her hand as she mumbled in a bored voice, "No."

Fat Amy sat close to her, looking at her facial expressions intently, waiting for the woman to crack. She'd been trying to work out what band was singing Beca & Chloe's first dance song for almost twenty minutes now.

"Would everybody 'rock their body now'?"

Aubrey let out a sigh, scrunching her face up slightly, "Wh-? Queen aren't performing."

"Huh?"

"We will rock you?"

Amy rolled her eyes, "You don't know the lyrics to 'Everybody' by Backstreet Boys?"

"Beca has not been working with the Backstreet Boys on their next record!" Aubrey let out a small groan while Amy's eyes lit up.

"Ooh, but am I close with the number of band members? Is there five of them?"

"Stooooop…" Aubrey whined, closing her eyes.

"Stop…" Amy mumbled thoughtfully, then she let out a gasp, "The Spice Girls?!"

"Oh my God, Amy!" Aubrey snapped, getting to her feet. But Fat Amy joined her, a victorious grin on her face.

"I'm right, aren't I? It's the Spice Girls!"

Aubrey looked over at the door of the large room to see that Stacie had already walked through it, her brow furrowed, clearly wondering why Aubrey hadn't made it over to her hut when she'd agreed that she would. But that frown unknitted as she arrived at the table Aubrey had been sat at, just as Amy said joyfully, "Oh my God, I can't believe the Spice Girls are performing."

Aubrey looked at Stacie apologetically, raising her eyebrows as an answer to her girlfriend's questioning expression, and Stacie just grinned, because she'd gone through Amy's interrogation yesterday afternoon. And it had been exhausting.

"Are they gonna perform '2 Become 1'? Because I love that song!" Amy said with a grin, before pausing for a moment, "Except…" her smile faded to a more awkward expression, "…that song's about sex which…probably isn't appropriate considering there are kids at this wedding. And Grandparents."

Aubrey and Stacie watched as Amy looked back up at them with a grin, "I'm gonna go tell Cynthia-Rose and Flo!" And the Australian waddled off happily. Aubrey and Stacie let out light chuckles then shook their heads gently.

"She's so far off the mark." Stacie said in an amused tone.

"So far off the mark." Aubrey agreed.