Renewed.
Beck can hardly believe his eyes he looks at his phone screen, the word staring back at him in big, bold print. The show is getting renewed. He can't believe it.
Sure, the show he had been on back in Chicago had been renewed numerous times while he was working on it, but this time it feels different. He had only been a supporting character then, and had been added during a later season. He feels more of a sense of ownership now, being a lead character and having been part of the process from the beginning. This renewal gives him a greater sense of pride than he has felt working on any other project in his career so far.
"BEE!" Beck calls out to his wife "BIANCA!"
"I'm right here..." She chuckles, walking into their bedroom from the mater bathroom "What is it?"
She's dressed in leggings and a tank top with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, very clearly on her way to a dance rehearsal.
"The show was renewed!" Beck grins, turning the phone for his wife to see "Look!"
"Holy shit..." She gasps, taking the phone from his hand to read the email "Wait, two more seasons?"
"At least." Beck nods with a smile "Jade said that she has a plan for four, but the premiere ratings were so good they're giving us two more right off the bat instead of just one."
Given the popularity of the book series and all of the buzz surrounding the show since they had started production, everyone in the cast and crew had expected a positive response from viewing audiences. Sixty-four million households viewed the show within the first twenty-eight days of it's premiere, making it one of the service's most popular shows ever, not just of the moment. Most of the reviews from critics sang high-praise, especially for Beck. His performance has caught people's attention, both the viewers and those in the industry. His fanbase and his online following have grown substantially as well. This is exactly what he's been waiting for.
"Congratulations." Bianca kisses him on the cheek "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you, baby." He smirks "Want to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate?"
"I would love to." Bianca nods "I'll see you when I get back from rehearsal?"
"See you then." Beck affirms, kissing her goodbye "I love you."
"I love you more."
"M'not sure that's possible."
"Sixteen!" Bianca laughs as she and Beck return home that evening "I'm used to maybe one or two...three at the maximum, but sixteen people asked you for a picture tonight."
"People love the show." Beck shrugs "What can I say?"
"It's well deserved." Bianca tells him, wrapping her arms around his waist "You all worked so hard for it."
"Y'know I wouldn't have had a problem turning those people away..." Beck admits, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face "When I'm by myself, it's one thing. But I don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you when we're out together."
"I understand that I have to share you with the world." Bianca reminds him "I've known that since you booked your first major role. I don't mind, so long as I'm the only one on your mind at the end of the day."
"You're the only one." He assures her with a kiss
"Good." She smiles, kissing him back
Kissing slowly turns to making out as their tongues snake their way into each other's mouths, and before long Beck is carrying Bianca upstairs to the bedroom.
"There's something I want to talk about." Beck tells her later
They're both naked, cuddled up in each other's arms and wrapped in the bedsheets.
"Okay?" Bianca smiles over at him "What is it?"
"With the show doing so well...and getting renewed for two seasons...well...that's job stability." Beck tells her "I'm going to have regular work with a regular schedule."
"Right?" Bianca agrees "Where is this going?"
"I think we should revisit having kids." Beck tells her
"Beck, I-"
"I know you weren't ready the last time we talked about it." He assures her "But I think with both of us becoming more established in our careers, and me actually knowing what my work is going to look like for the next few years...now is as good a time as any. Obviously it won't happen this month because you're still taking birth control, and it might not even happen next month but-"
"Slow down." Bianca cuts him off, pulling the blankets around her as she sits up "Beck-"
"Think about it, Bee." Beck sits up as well "A little kid with your hair and my eyes, who loves to dance but is also loves watching movies and playing pretend. Splashing around in the pool, following Hendrix around, dressing Stella up in costumes...calling us Mom and Dad."
Bianca can see the excitement in her husband's eyes, she can see how badly she wants the future that he's describing. It breaks her heart, because deep down she knows that she doesn't want the same.
"Beck..." She sighs, taking his hand in her's "I don't think I want to have kids."
"Like...physically have them?" Beck asks "Because...adoption is always an option. There are plenty of kids out there who need people to love them, we could be those people. Or we could try surrogacy..."
"I don't think I want to have them...at all." Bianca clarifies "I just...when I look at my life and what I want out of it...I dunno I don't really see kids being part of it."
"Am I part of it...?"
"Of course you are."
"I don't get it, Bee..." Beck sighs "You love Hendrix, you're so good with him."
"I love him, but I also really love giving him back to Tori and Andre at the end of the night." Bianca admits "Having a kid of your own is a major lifestyle change, and a huge responsibility...and I don't want that."
"Ever?"
"Ever." She nods "I'm so sorry."
"Why didn't you tell me this three years ago when I brought it up?" Beck asks, resting his face in his hands
"I didn't know for sure then." Bianca tells him, tears welling up in her eyes "I thought there was a chance I would change my mind. My whole life I've been back and forth on it but then..."
"Then...what?"
"I had...a scare..." Bianca admits "A few months ago, my period was late. I thought there was a chance I could be...you know...and I knew immediately that it wasn't what I wanted-"
"Wait." Beck is confused "When did you think...? Bee...why didn't you say anything to me?"
"My period came before I even had the chance to get a test. Like I said, it was a false alarm." Bianca looks at him with sad eyes "I...I don't want to be a mom...and that breaks my heart because I know how badly you want to be a dad. But I know if I force myself into this I'll end up resenting someone...either myself or you or even the kid...and I hate that even more."
"I'm not going to force you to do something you don't want to do." Beck sighs "Not something as serious as this."
"I understand if you want to leave me..."
Fuck.
Does he want to leave her? He doesn't like the thought of it, but he doesn't like the thought of never becoming a father either. He's almost thirty-one, thinking about being without Bianca scares him. Thinking about starting his love life completely over scares him too. Fifteen minutes ago his life had seemed so stable, now he's terrified.
"I...I don't know what I want right now." He says "I'm going to get some sleep."