Raising two young kids on her own was not how Chloe Mitchell imagined her life going, but when she thought of why she had to do it alone, an instantaneous swelling of pride took hold.
You see Chloe wasn't a widow or a single parent, she was an army wife. Forced to endure her daily life without her partner by her side, because of a war ignited by the ego of two power hungry deviants, hellbent on being top dog.
But those were the cards they had been dealt and so she went about her day hoping and praying that her wife would return to her safe and sound. Just thinking of the sacrifice Beca was making for her country, so others didn't have to, she couldn't help but be awed by the woman she had chosen to spend her life with.
However, there was also the other side of the coin, the fear and the longing that came with being separated by war. Because no matter how skilled Beca was, how careful she was, war was brutal and unpredictable and that was something no amount of training could overcome.
That terrified Chloe, because the thought of someone knocking on her door, of being handed a folded up flag, those were nightmares she lived with that she hoped would never become her reality. All they had to do, all they could do, was wait it out and hope that they were one of the lucky ones.
Beca's decision to enlist in the army came about during her sophomore year in Barden. With the rise in terrorist attacks across the globe, war zones in the Middle East had become hot spots again and soldiers were being sent to the frontlines to bring a halt to any possible ISIS led uprisings.
Having been brought up an army brat, the urge to serve and protect had always been strong within her, the only thing that had almost kept her from leaving, was Chloe.
She had fallen hard for the redhead and Chloe had been incredibly hesitant to support her due to her disapproval of war. But Beca had explained quite clearly, she wasn't enlisting to participate in a war, no, Beca's intentions were much broader.
She wanted to enlist so that she could protect peoples freedom. Their religious freedom, political freedom, the freedom to love without restriction, the freedom to identify in whatever way a person feels best identifies who they are underneath the exterior they were given. The freedom to live freely without discrimination based on gender, race or nationality.
Beca wanted to help shape a country that was inclusive to all, not just the people who looked a certain way. Beca's desire to enlist wasn't born from a military state of mind but rather of a need to protect her country's democracy and its ability to build bridges not walls.
She didn't want to exist in a world run by people who believed they had the right to dictate how we should live or what lines we should fall into. Beca was aware of the fact that at that particular time, that very democracy was under threat and she wanted to be part of the solution.
So, with a reluctant heart, Chloe had supported her decision, because she couldn't have been more proud of the reasons why the love of her life was choosing to risk her own life to create a better world for everyone. It hurt to see Beca enlist, it hurt to be separated by training and the tiny brunette being shipped overseas, but even with all that distance and limited communication, their love for one another not only survived but thrived.
After Beca's first tour, they had become engaged and married shortly after, Chloe even completed her teacher training and secured a job at Columbus High School as an English teacher, meaning she and Beca were able to be close to base and be together.
They had been able to enjoy a few months together as a newly married couple before Beca had been shipped out again, enduring many more months apart.
Chloe hated the feeling of being separated from her wife, the mixed expressions of the people she talked to who found out her partner was serving overseas in the military, the look of gratitude for Beca's service to her country, and the look sympathy that they were apart because of such volatile circumstances.
But through it all, Beca always pulled through. The conflict in the Middle East had waned and US soldiers were being pulled out and brought home. Chloe could still remember that call. The relief and happiness that flooded her system as she thought of all the plans they had made and how they were going to finally get to put them into action.
And they did, the second Beca stepped foot off the plane. They spent time with family and friends, travelled around the country and for the first time, they settled into life as the Mitchell Family.
Within four months of Beca arriving home, they successfully managed to conceive a child, Chloe being the one to carry. Nine months later, along came their first bundle of joy, Riley Elise Mitchell. The young tot was the image of Chloe, instantly capturing Beca's heart.
Two years later, Beca made it known to her wife that she wanted to have another child, and that she wanted to carry, fearing that if she didn't do so at that time there would never be another window. It had taken a couple of tries but they eventually conceived their second child.
Beca's pregnancy hadn't been as smooth as Chloe's, with the brunette suffering sickness for a quite a long stretch of her pregnancy, but it had all been worth it when they welcomed the arrival of their second daughter Charlie Elizabeth Mitchell.
Charlie was every inch Beca Mitchell's twin, Chloe was besotted and beyond ecstatic that they had been blessed with miniature versions of themselves. Their family was complete and they couldn't wait to begin the next chapter of their lives.
But the next chapter had been halted by the election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency and his dangerous mind games with Kim Jong-un. Apparently when two power hungry looney tunes piss one another off, all hell can and will break loose.
And when that day came, Beca was hauled off back into war, giving her just enough time to say goodbye to her young daughters and wife before she was put on a plane straight for combat.
Riley was still too young to understand what war was and why her Mama had to leave her family, all she knew was that she didn't like it and she made that known as she clung to Beca, refusing to let her go.
Charlie wasn't even a year old yet and even though she couldn't understand anything that was going on, she could sense the unease that was around her and it was enough to cause upset.
And Chloe, well, to say she was pissed was beyond an understatement. But she wasn't angry with Beca, she was angry with the world around her. Angry that her family was being torn apart by some senseless war that had no business being ignited.
Angry that everywhere she looked she saw nothing but hostility and division. Every single day people arguing about who was right and who was wrong. Arguing over being on the left or being on the right. Arguing over the constitution and whose interpretation was to be of greater truth. Arguing over guns, politics, race, religion, gender. Every day just conflict, after conflict.
Senseless acts of violence piling up with no one taking responsibility, but everybody prepared to point the finger. The media accusing the government of lying and deceiving, the government accusing the media of spreading fake news.
Anger everywhere and all anyone could see were the differences that separated them. There was no common ground and while all of this was going on, Chloe's wife was overseas fighting for the right for the people in her country to live peacefully.
So yes, Chloe was angry. But she never let it show. No, instead she masked it behind her radiant smile, projecting happiness for anyone to see, her students, her friends, her family, strangers on the street, but more importantly, her daughters. Because she never wanted them to see that pain or anger.
However, on this particular day, a day that was supposed to be just like any other, Chloe found that sometimes bottling her shit up wasn't healthy, and that sometimes, ignorant people cannot be ignored, no matter how hard she tried.
Browsing through the supermarket, Chloe carefully studied the diaper section, making sure she picked up the right size this time. The day before, after the week from hell she had somehow managed to end up with toddler diapers for a baby who wasn't even a year old yet. Needless to say the previous night had been messy to say the least.
Aubrey pushed the cart alongside her, reading from a magazine balanced on the handle bar, rambling on a mile a minute about the latest going's on from inside the White House. Chloe for her part, wasn't really paying attention, simply nodding at various intervals to make it seem like she was. She had no interest in the White House, or its current resident. All she cared about was when her wife would be home.
"Chlo, are you sure Riley should be eating this kind of cereal, it's full of sugar," Aubrey asked, looking at the box of Coco Puffs that was now in her hand. Chloe turned and grabbed the box, dumping it back in the cart.
"Bree, she eats her fruit and veggies every day, drinks all natural juices and only gets candy on special occasions, I'm pretty sure a small bowl of cereal every now and again isn't going to set her on a path of self-destruction."
Aubrey furrowed her brows, sensing her best friend was more wound up than usual, she chose not to continue on with the subject. Turning and folding her arms, she watched as Chloe tossed the diapers into the cart and repositioned everything so that at checkout, everything could be packed in accordance to where it would be stored away at home.
"Chlo are you okay?" Aubrey asked and the redhead sighed, her shoulders sagging in defeat as she rubbed her hand over her face. She looked up at her best friend and nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, I just, you saw the news last night…," she trailed off not really wanting to go into detail but she didn't need to, Aubrey knew exactly what she had been talking about. A US army truck had been overturned and shot up, leaving multiple casualties and bodies in its wake. One of several in recent times.
Chloe hadn't heard anything from Beca in a few weeks and her nerves were shot to hell not knowing if she was okay. Aubrey and Stacie had assured her that if anything had happened she would've heard by now. It was enough to sate Chloe for a brief period but the more news reports that filtered through her tv screen the more uncertain she became.
Aubrey uncrossed her arms and reached out, pulling Chloe into a hug, stroking her back. The redhead just sank into her arms, grateful for the intimacy from something as simple as having someone hold her, even just for a minute.
But that didn't stop her from remembering that it wasn't Beca, and until her wife returned it never would be. Instead she would just have to settle for the comfort of cuddles with her daughters, and the sympathetic embraces of her family and friends.
"Beca is fine Chlo, you know how stubborn she is. She's not going anywhere except home to you and the girls," Aubrey sighed, pulling back to look her best friend in the eyes. Chloe smiled gratefully as they continued on with their shopping, turning the corner and down another aisle.
A man was standing by the newspaper rack slipping through one of the papers talking to another man, some other shoppers milling about. Chloe and Aubrey were picking up various different items and placing them in the cart, silently aware of the general shopping chatter going on around them. One man's voice seemed to stand out above the rest.
"It's about damn time somebody put a stop to it. The army is no place for women or queers. All it does is cause distraction and puts our men in danger." At that Chloe glanced up, looking around until her eyes landed on a man standing a few feet away. But she didn't say anything just listened for a moment, hoping that her ears had been deceiving her.
"Seriously the last thing my boy needs is to be dragging around a bunch of sissy's trying to prove a point. They never should've lifted the ban on women and homosexuals in combat."
Well that was it. Whatever grasp Chloe had on her emotions had completely dissipated and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she shoved whatever she had been holding back onto the shelf and turned on her heel to face the man.
"How dare you," She said, causing the man and his buddy to turn towards her, everyone within listening distance suddenly stopping their own conversations to watch.
"How dare you talk down anyone brave enough to serve their country," She snarled, her anger only growing as she approached the man.
"There are people dying overseas for your protection, for your right to speak freely and rather than celebrating their bravery you're standing here shitting all over them because you're too fucking ignorant to see past your own hate!"
The man in turn was turning red in anger at being called out in front of an audience and he slammed the paper down on the counter next to him pointing his finger in her face.
"How dare me? How dare you? You don't know shit about me or who I am! Who are you to call me ignorant? My son is overseas fighting in this damn war and all I see in the newspapers is more of this liberal bullshit that has pulled our country down. This agenda that has done nothing but leave everyone below the middle class behind!" he shouted back, but Chloe wasn't done.
"Yeah, well my WIFE, is overseas fighting the same bullshit war we never should've been in. Yeah that's right, I said my wife. Not only is she a woman but she's gay," she snarled at the man, his face paling slightly at what she had said but enough to seem remotely sorry for what he had said.
"She has been awarded medals for her service and worked her way up the ranks, without the need to be dragged around like a sissy," she spat, the tears welling up in her eyes as she continued to speak.
"Our daughters wake up every morning asking where their mom is and when she's coming home and every day, I look at them and I tell them that their mom is away fighting the bad guys, that she's making sure that we're safe."
Chloe wiped away the tear that had fallen down her cheek, now acutely aware that everyone in the store was now watching and listening, but she didn't care, she was done pretending everything was okay.
"My wife, enlisted in the army so that everyone in this country could live freely. And the thanks she gets for that, is a piece of shit like you diminishing her entire existence because it doesn't fit into your world of how things should be."
At that, Aubrey's jaw dropped and her eyebrows shot to her hairline having never heard Chloe refer to anyone in such a way. But she didn't dare intervene. Because Chloe's emotions had been triggered and the only thing to do, was stand by and let her run out of steam in the knowledge that a supportive presence was nearby.
"I am proud of my wife, and all the men AND women who serve this country. Because unlike you, they put their lives on the line daily so that we don't have to. They stand on that front line to protect people like you, so that you can have the freedom to speak your mind, even if what you say comes from a place of bigotry and ignorance. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna stand by and let you talk down anyone brave enough to serve. They might not be able to hear you but I can and like hell am I gonna let my wife's bravery be diminished by anyone especially you."
By the time Chloe was done speaking, the place had gone quiet, then slowly but surely people began to clap, some going as far as to praise her for what she had said, but like always, there were the ones who were on the other side of the conversation who neither acknowledged her or what had just happened and returned to their shopping.
"C'mon Chloe, let's go home," Aubrey suggested as she gently grabbed the redhead by the arm and led her towards the checkout. Chloe, having suddenly realised what had just happened looked at her best friend and pulled money from her purse.
"I uh, I need a minute. C-can you just, sort pay for this and I'll meet you back at the car," she asked as she shoved the money into Aubrey's hand and walked out of the store. She came to a stop just outside the exit and leaned back against the wall, inhaling a deep breath of air.
A few onlookers watched her in concern so she quickly pulled the car keys from her purse and strode across the car park, unlocking the door of her 2017 Ford Expedition and climbing into the driver seat.
It didn't take long for Aubrey to exit the store with the bags of groceries, wilfully popping them in the trunk before taking her seat in the passenger side next to Chloe. She regarded her friends profile for a moment, contemplating whether or not to speak when the ginger beat her to it.
"I don't wanna talk about it Bree. I just wanna her home to the girls and forget this day ever happened." Aubrey simply nodded her head, reaching behind her for her seatbelt and securing it into place. Chloe put the car in drive and headed for home, more than eager to put the days events behind her.
Later that night, as Chloe finished up dinner with Aubrey and her husband Daniel, the phone rang. With her hands currently full with empty plates she politely asked her best friend to get the phone. As she set about washing the dishes, Aubrey appeared in the kitchen with the handsfree in her hand.
"Chloe, it's for you," She said, her face giving nothing away which made Chloe nervous as she dried her hands and reached out for the phone. With shaky hands she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Chloe Mitchell speaking," she said down the phone as Aubrey excused herself to give her privacy. An eternity seemed to pass as Chloe waited for what was on the other end of the call and then a voice spoke, and her heart stopped.
"Hey baby, it's me," came the voice of Beca Mitchell. Chloe instantly broke down into tears, her hand coming up to her mouth to try and drown out the sob that escaped her but it was useless. Hearing her wife's voice for the first in weeks had opened up a floodgate that couldn't be stopped.
"Oh baby don't cry," Beca pleaded, softly cooing down the phone, trying her best to console her wife and Chloe inhaled deep breaths to calm herself down, not wanting to waste whatever time she had on the phone with the brunette. Finally she found the power to speak.
"I m-miss you so much," She stuttered, her voice still shaking from the force of her emotions. She could practically hear Beca biting down on her lip to prevent herself from crying as the soldier replied.
"Baby I miss you too, so much. And the girls, God I can't wait to see them. I just want to hold them, and you. I want to be able to hold you all in my arms so I can never let you go."
Chloe cried again at that, because boy did that sound like a pretty sweet deal to her. Just then Beca spoke up and the words that left her mouth were enough to send Chloe's already unstable emotions into overdrive.
"I'm coming home Chlo. Tomorrow in fact. A bunch of us are being shipped out, I should be in Georgia by nightfall. I'm coming home to my girls."
And that was it, Chloe was in a heap on the floor. The woman she had been longing for, praying for, was coming home to her. Gripping the phone even tighter she pulled herself together and said,
"I love you so much Beca Mitchell."
The next day, Chloe had bundled her girls in the car, a convoy of family and friends behind her as she drove as quickly but as carefully as possible to the airport.
Riley kept asking a million questions, wondering if they were going on the plane, if they were going to Disneyland or if they could go visit the Trolls and hang out with Poppy and Branch. Chloe chuckled at this cause she was pretty sure where they were actually going was a million times better.
At the airport she spotted other families gathered around and quickly made the assumption that this was where Beca and the other soldiers would be arriving to. Chloe sat in an empty chair, more so cause her legs were quivering that much she thought she might collapse. Charlie perched in her lap sucking on her pacifier, gazing around at all of her surroundings.
Riley stood in front of her grandpa Beale yapping a mile a minute about the ins and outs of her day. It was tough being almost four years old, What with all that running around and day napping.
Before she knew it, rumblings of excitement started to echo around the arrivals lounge. When Chloe looked up she saw the first soldiers arriving through the double doors, family members instantly running up to meet them.
With shaky legs she stood up, tightening her grip on Charlie, her own mothers hand resting on her back keeping her steady, while Beca's own mother stood and kept watch for her daughter.
And then, just as she was beginning to grow light headed from holding her breath so long, she saw her, Beca, coming up the arrivals ramp with a fellow soldier next to her.
Chloe frowned when her wife came more into view, she was injured. Her arm was in a sling and she was walking with the aid of a crutch. There were little cuts and bruises on her face and it was then she noticed the other solider was carrying her duffle bag.
But the ache of seeing her wife hurt was suddenly replaced with the excitement of knowing her wife was home. Before she could say or do anything Riley caught sight of her mother and screamed out her delight.
"MAMA!" Came Riley's tiny voice as she ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. Upon hearing her daughters voice, Beca dropped her crutch and even with how difficult it was, dropped to her knee, pulling her arm free of the sling and caught the little lightening rocket shooting her way.
Riley's body shook with the force of her sobs, so happy to see her mother after being separated for so long. Beca held her tight, rubbing her back and running her fingers through her hair.
"I've missed you so much bug," Beca whimpered, inhaling the scent of innocence. Riley's arms were around her neck in a vice like grip but she someone how managed to pry them apart long enough to be able to grab a hold of her crutch and stand back up.
Once the she had the walking aid propped up she practically skipped towards Chloe in her haste to get to her, the redhead having relinquish her youngest daughter to her grandmother out of the fear of dropping her.
Chloe seeing Beca coming towards her from the short distance, and much like Riley fell into her wife's arms, peppering her face with kisses before burying herself in the safety of the brunettes neck.
"I love you so much," Chloe cried as she clung tighter to Beca, afraid that if she let go she would disappear, but Beca simply tightened her grip as best she could and held Chloe the way she'd been longing to hold her for months.
"I love you too, more than you'll ever know," Beca whispered back. Eventually when they pulled back, Beca leaned in and kissed Chloe with all the love and passion she could, and she could feel her wife doing the same. It felt so good to be home.
Finally they separated themselves and the rest of her family and friends welcomed her home but not before Beca was able to grab a hold of her youngest daughter, shocked at how much she had grown since she had been away.
Beca would be lying if she said she hadn't been apprehensive about seeing Charlie again because she was afraid that her daughter wouldn't recognise her. Sure Beca had Skyped home when possible but that was no way to guarantee that her infant daughter would recognise her or remember her.
And for a moment she thought her assumptions had been right as Charlie spent a moment observing her from her place in her Mama's arms. Chloe watched with baited breath, hoping that her youngest child would be able to connect the dots.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Charlie emitted a smile and a noise of recognition before burying her face into her Mama's neck, Beca allowing a tear of relief slip from her eye, quickly wiping it away.
After another brief moment, she reluctantly handed Charlie back to her grandma, the ache in her arm and leg making her feel unsteady. Slipping her arm back in the sling and the crutch back under her arm, she tipped her head at Chloe in a gesture for her to get close.
The redhead instantly slipped her arms around her wife's waist and leaned down to kiss her and Beca released a hum of appreciation. Their family and friends began to talk amongst themselves and it was then Chloe had to ask the question.
"Baby what happened?" She asked, one of her hands gently caressing Beca's torso, afraid to cause her harm. Beca clenched her jaw and released a deep sigh as she thought about the past couple of weeks.
"Our um, our truck came under fire, there was a shootout and before we knew it the truck exploded, they had shot at the gas tank to blow it up. We were lucky to escape," Beca said her tone low indicating that it was tough to talk about. Tears had escaped Chloe once she realised how close she came to losing her wife.
"Oh my God Bec's," she whimpered as she pulled her wife closer, pressing a kiss to her pulse point. Beca sighed as she sagged into her wife, this was what she had been missing for all those weeks.
"That's why I haven't been in contact the last couple of weeks. We were shipped out to a military hospital and with the language barrier…" she trailed off but Chloe was already shushing her.
"I don't care about all of that, all I care about, is that you're home and that you're okay. You are okay right?" she said, cupping Beca's face in her hands and gazing into her eyes and the shorter woman thought about her injuries.
"GSW to the right arm and left leg, but straight through clean shots with no long term problems expected to follow except for an aching reminder. I'll have a couple of weeks of physio to get back on my feet. They um, they also had to remove my spleen, it ruptured in the explosion but aside from being on medication for a couple of months I should be fine. We just uh, we have to be gentle for a while," Beca said eyeing Chloe who instantly caught on.
If all Chloe had to worry about was being gentle during sex she would take it, because Beca was home and that was all she cared about. But she couldn't help but wonder how long for and her wife must have sensed this because before she could wonder any longer Beca answered the question for her.
"I'm home Chloe, for good. I've been honourably discharged. I'm not going back."
And that was all Chloe needed to hear as she broke down, again, and wrapped Beca up in her arms, mindful of her aching body. Their moment was broken however by the arrival of a soldier, a tall man with a gentle smile on his face.
Beca looked up at him and smiled as she pulled back from Chloe's embrace but stayed close by. The man stuck out his hand to Chloe for her to shake as she introduced himself.
"First Lieutenant Chicago Walp, it's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Mitchell," he said, tucking his cap under his arm.
"I just wanted to introduce my family to the person that saved my life," he said and Chloe beamed with pride at her wife who was looking down bashfully. Beca didn't consider herself a hero in the slightest, she was just doing her duty.
"Dad, this is Captain Mitchell," he said as an older man approached from behind. The grateful smile on the mans face fell when he saw who his son was standing in front of. Chloe glanced up from gazing at her wife just in time to see the man she had argued with at the grocery store. Her blood running cold as she wrapped a protective arm around her wife. Lieutenant Walp and Beca oblivious to the animosity around them.
"Dad, this is the soldier that saved my life. If she hadn't pulled me from that truck when she did, I wouldn't be here right now."
The man didn't know what to do and Lieutenant Walp seemed confused at first before his father shook himself out of his daze and plastered the fakest smile on his face.
"Thank you so very much for saving my boy," he said as he stuck his hand out for Beca to shake. From behind them, Chloe exchanged a glance with Aubrey who had also recognised the man and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Beca meanwhile remained oblivious.
"Really it was nothing. No soldier left behind right," she said winking at her fellow soldier who smiled at her before realising he still had her duffle.
"Oh your bag. You need any help carrying it out to the car?" He asked and Beca gazed around at all the people behind her.
"I think I'm covered but thanks," she said and Chicago passed the bag off to Jesse who had been standing nearby. Then Chicago's face turned serious as he regarded Beca.
"I meant what I said, I owe you my life. You need anything you call me," he said and Beca smiled up at him, shaking his hand. As they continued to talk Chicago's dad turned to Chloe.
"I'm sorry okay," he said, though it sounded like the words leaving his mouth were causing him pain. Chloe tutted and scowled at him. Chicago might seem like a decent guy, but his dad was still a dick.
"Don't apologise to me. I'm not the one you shit all over. But remember this, in times of crisis, no one ever stops to consider gender, race or sexuality when their lives are in danger. All they see is the helping hand reaching out to save them. Remember that next time you wanna condemn someone for not fitting your outdated stereotypes."
With that Chloe stepped away from him and focused her attention back on her wife. Sliding up beside her she wrapped her arm around her waist and kissed her on the temple.
"You ready to go home?" She asked, giggling at the huge sigh of relief that escaped Beca as the brunette turned back to her family.
"God yes. I need a shower and snuggle time with my girls," she said and Riley cheered at the thought of cuddle time. Chloe smiled at her family as she grabbed Beca by the chin and pressed a sweet kiss to her lips.
"Sounds good to me," she replied as they made their way out of the airport. Various people stopped them along the way to thank Beca for her service, and she briefly engaged with them but for the most part kept moving. All she wanted to do was get home.
When they finally made it back to the Mitchell household, everyone else had taken their time to welcome Beca home, before leaving the family alone in peace. Beca was currently soaking in a hot shower, washing the long flight out of her system.
Chloe walked around the bedroom, picking up Beca's discarded army cammies from off the floor. She glanced at the patches on the shoulder, the pride she felt at what Beca had achieved outweighed by the fact that she was eternally grateful that her wife had been one of the lucky ones. That she had made it home.
As Beca walked out of the ensuite, Chloe smiled before reaching for the clothes on the bed and handing them to Beca so that she could change. Chloe gave her a hand, helping her slip her injured arm and leg through the arm and leg of Beca's t-shirt and sweats.
As Beca slipped the sling back on Chloe reached into her bedside cabinet and pulled out a small box, removing the contents inside. Walking back over to Beca who was seated on the bed, she stood between her legs and held up the item between her fingers.
Beca grinned as her wedding ring glistened in the light. She lifted her hand and removed the dud ring she had been wearing for months. Beca never wore her ring overseas for fear of losing or damaging it, so she wore a dud, leaving her treasured wedding band with Chloe.
The redhead grabbed a hold of her wife's hand and slipped the ring back into place, pressing a kiss to it and then reaching up and combing her hands through Beca's hair.
"I love you Beca Mitchell," She said leaning her head down towards Beca's lips. The brunette grinned up at her, wrapping her arm around her wife.
"I love you more Chloe Mitchell," she replied and then connected their lips in a sweet kiss. They carried on for another few moments before Chloe broke the kiss helping her wife to stand.
"C'mon, you promised cuddles and me and and the girls are cashing in on that promise right now," Chloe stated as Beca chuckled, wrapping her arms around her wife's neck and using her as a crutch as they descended the stairs.
Once Beca was settled in a comfortable position on the couch and Chloe had gathered up all the treats for their movie night, the redhead pulled up Trolls on the tv as per Riley's request and then grabbed Charlie from her play pen, or prison as Beca called it,
Riley cuddled up into Beca's side having been warmed by Chloe not to sit in her lap cause she was sore, but Bec wasn't satisfied with that and coaxed her daughter into her lap, making sure she was sitting with most of her weight on her right leg.
Then, lifting her arm, she pulled Chloe into her side, Charlie resting comfortably between the two of them, mostly on Chloe's lap.
Beca wasn't sure what heaven was like, but in that moment, she was pretty sure she had a fair idea. And Chloe, Chloe couldn't think of anywhere else she would rather be than on that couch with her wife and daughters with the rest of their lives ahead of them.
The world around them may be chaotic, hate would always rise up to try and destabilize society, but Chloe knew that love would always win in the end. Because it was stronger, more resilient, because Love is Louder.