Epilogue XIX - ProCHLOsal

"Beca, Chloe, hi!" The greeting was a breezy yet jovial one from a member of the waiting staff who skipped away from the door as the couple entered their local and favourite bar. It was busy tonight. The Rubix Bar was a quirky little joint that boasted beautiful old wooden panelling on its walls, a back-drop to the massive canvasses that had acrylic interpretations of the NYC cityscape painted on them by local artists.

Along one side of the room was a bar area where cocktails and beers were served to the locals. Towards the back was a large hatch which acted as a through-way for food that was homemade in the kitchen at the back of the building. In the far corner was a small stage where local musicians would perform every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights; and comedians would perform stand-up sets on Wednesday nights. And scattered within the belly of the room were rough-cut oak tables, currently set up for dinnertime service, which were lit by oversized lampshades that hung from the dark ceiling.

Beca bent down and scooped Alba up into her arms as the puppy's nose caught onto the scent of the homemade food that filtered around the building. One of the many good things about this place was that they allowed dogs. Alba was a big celebrity here, with each member of staff always making the time to stop what they were doing and coming over to Beca & Chloe's table whenever they visited to have a cuddle with the little white labrador who adored all the fuss.

"Evening Beca," Jason, the manager of Rubix, chimed as he approach them by the door, greeting Beca with half a hug before bringing his hands out and scratching Alba behind her floppy ears, "and good evening Alba!" he cooed. Before getting the puppy Beca found this type of behaviour highly unnecessary. She hadn't got it. She couldn't work out how people could become so mushy over a dog. But Alba wasn't just any dog. She was the cutest dog on the planet. Fact. And Beca prided herself on that fact every day.

Jason stepped away from Beca and the puppy, smiling at the other new arrivals, "Chloe, you're looking so well!" he complimented with half a hug for the redhead and his face lit up as he noticed the other two guests who had arrived with the couple, "And Mr and Mrs Beale! So good to see you again!" and the man stepped away from Chloe to shake the hands of both Jerry and Sue Beale.

Jerry was a huge hit with the staff at Rubix, partially due to his sense of humour, but mostly because of the generous tips he gave each member of staff, whether they had served him or not. He always claimed later to Beca that it was the least he could do because she always insisted on picking up the cheque at the end of the night. Sue was a hit too, her kind nature and patience going down well with the waiting staff, particularly when there was a wait on food. And in return the staff treated them like old friends whenever Beca & Chloe brought them to the establishment during their visits to NY.

"Your usual table is ready" Jason said as he motioned to the back of the room and Beca spied the table that she and Chloe had always sat at. The four adults made their way towards their table, weaving between occupied chairs along the way, many of the customers sat in them "aww"d at the sight of Alba who lay obediently in Beca's arms.

"I can't believe they remember us." Sue whispered to her husband as they all sat down and Jerry nodded, clearly impressed.

"Well you have to remember Chloe and Beca come here every week." He replied with a chuckle, noticing his daughter's brow furrow slightly.

"Er it's not every week." Chloe protested but Beca joined the Beale's in chuckling at the redhead's reaction.

"It's most weeks Chlo." The brunette admitted as she placed Alba on the floor between them and tied the little pink lead to her chair leg as the puppy licked her hand ferociously. They had come so far since the first time they had stepped into this bar. The evening they had first moved here three years ago. Into their little apartment that was only a couple of blocks away. Little had Beca known back then that the small crush she'd had on her best friend, that she secretly held deep deep down, would turn into something real and strong three years later. That she would be in a relationship with her. A happy relationship. And she would be so in love. More in love with her than Beca believed she could ever be with anyone. But Chloe had helped her believe.

"I feel so underdressed." Beca mumbled awkwardly to Chloe as she pulled her hoodie further down her hips, trying to hide the ketchup stain she'd slopped onto the top of her jeans from the burger she'd been eating while she'd been driving them up from South Carolina earlier that day. She was shattered, hungry, thirsty, stressed. It had been a long day of travelling and she'd been reluctant to let her best friend drag her out of their shell of an apartment to find this joint that Chloe had read on TripAdvisor was 'the best hidden gem in Brooklyn'. But here they were and as Beca took a seat at the table in the corner of the room she heard Chloe let out a tired yet sweet giggle.

"All of our belongings are packed in a gazillion boxes that are arriving tomorrow Beca. I'm sure the staff will understand."

And the brunette looked over at her best friend, unconvinced. Beca admitted to herself she'd loved the drive up here. Chloe had chucked together several Spotify playlists and had impressively sang pretty much the whole way there, in between asking Beca a hurricane of questions from what her first pet's name was ("Blackie the rat") to who would win in a fight between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry ("Katy Perry, hands down"). Beca had laughed a lot, and it had given her more hope that this move really was a good decision. And that the best part about that decision was allowing Chloe to join her in this new adventure. They'd survive it all together.

Two hours later, and the four adults'd had a good meal. Alba had even been given a small bowl with chicken, gravy and vegetables in it, from the kitchen staff, which the puppy had of course inhaled. Beca found herself grazing her thumbnail along the edge of the sticker of her beer bottle, picking at it slightly. This evening was going well, but a slight cloud of anxiety had pulled over her head. She smiled politely at her girlfriend who announced brightly to the table that she needed to go to the bathroom, and Beca grabbed the lead of their puppy as Alba darted to try to follow her Mommy out of the room and up the stairs to the bathrooms. Before Beca knew it she she was alone with Jerry and Sue Beale. This was it.

Beca exhaled loudly before looking up at Chloe's parents, "So…I'm really pleased you guys were able to make it up here." She swallowed loudly as both Sue and Jerry beamed at her.

"Well we're pleased you invited us." Jerry said and Beca felt her stomach knot. That was one of the things Chloe hadn't found out about. One of the things Beca had asked Sue not to tell her girlfriend. She didn't want Chloe finding out that she had specifically invited Mr & Mrs Beale up to Brooklyn to visit and go for dinner with their daughter and her. She had invited them because she needed to ask them something. Something that she couldn't ask over the phone, or via FaceTime, or by email. No it had to be asked in person. The thing was, though Beca knew that things would probably be okay the moment she asked them this question, she was still terrified it wouldn't be.

"Good. I'm glad. The thing is…the reason I asked you here…well I wanted to ask you something. And if you say no then that's cool, I totally get it."

Beca was too nervous to notice Sue and Jerry Beale glance at each other with knowing grins, turning back to watch in delight at how awkward their daughter's girlfriend was acting.

"I…you guys have been amazing to me over the past seven years that I've known your daughter and I can't thank you enough for how you've welcomed me into your home and your family. And you've been so cool about me and Chloe being in a relationship and stuff and…I just wouldn't want you to think that I'm taking your little girl away from you or anything but…I really love her, so much…so I was wondering if…maybe…I could ask her to marry me…maybe…if you were okay with that?"

And Beca felt as though time stopped, because this was probably one of the biggest moments of her life. It joined her telling Chloe how she felt about her, and her telling her father that she and Chloe were in a relationship together, as one of the most terrifying moments of her life.

To her surprise (and relief) Sue Beale let out an excitable squeak while Jerry Beale slammed his fist on the surface of the old oak table, both grinning from ear to ear.

"Of course we'd let you sweetheart!" Chloe's mother gushed enthusiastically.

"We couldn't think of anything better than having you marry our daughter." Jerry nodded in agreement, and Beca was sure she hadn't seen him smile so broadly before.

The brunette got to her feet as The Beale's stood up and the moment she felt the warm embrace of Mrs Beale she exhaled a deep heavy breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding. She jumped as she felt Mr Beale join them and the three had a group hug. Beca felt this strange sense of belonging in the arms of the people she hoped would become her in-laws, if Chloe said yes. And as Sue and Jerry sat back down with wide smiles on their faces Beca felt her stomach flip.

"Everything okay Beca?" Jerry asked, a concerned expression wiping fleetingly over his face as he watched the brunette take a seat.

"Oh…yeah…it's just…what if she says no?"

Sue and Jerry Beale erupted into light laughter, finding their daughter's girlfriend endearing when uncertain.

"There is no way in heaven or earth that Chloe would ever say no to you Beca. Ever. And especially not with this." Jerry said with a chuckle as his wife leant forward towards Beca with a soft smile.

"Jerry's right Beca, there has never been a time when Chloe has said no to you." And Beca paused at Sue's words. Because the mother was right, thinking back Beca realised that her girlfriend really hadn't ever said no to her. In fact the closest Chloe had ever got to saying no to Beca had been one of their first encounters seven years ago, when the redhead had barged into her shower cubicle entirely naked, and refused to leave until Beca sang for her. Beca had told her to "get out" and she'd literally said that she wouldn't leave until Beca sang.

"Chloe loves you more than anything Beca, and she'll love nothing more than to become your wife." Jerry said kindly, and Beca felt a smile grow on her face. She liked how that sounded. She liked the sound of Chloe being her wife. Of her being Chloe's wife.

"Do you know how you're going to propose?" Sue asked, leaning forward keenly, keeping her voice low. Beca bit her bottom lip. She'd been planning it for weeks now. Ever since Fat Amy had informed her that she would be the one to propose. Or rather, ever since Fat Amy'd informed The Bella's...

Beca sat at the small table at the front of the coffee shop that Chloe worked at, her phone in her hand, sipping coffee from her takeaway cup as she grinned at the fuss Alba was getting from Fat Amy, who had been sat unconventionally on the floor with the puppy for twenty minutes now. Fat Amy had just been in the process of trying to find out who would be doing to proposing should Beca and Chloe decide to get married. Beca had internally cringed at the question and to her relief Chloe seemed awkward about it too. It was something that had crossed her mind, of course. But it wasn't something she and Chloe had discussed, and she wasn't sure that she wanted to have that discussion in front of their blonde Australian college mate.

But they did end up having that conversation. And they ended up agreeing that Beca would propose to Chloe when the time felt right. Which had of course thrilled the Australian. Beca glanced down at her phone as it buzzed and the brunette almost choked on her coffee as she saw the message that flashed on her screen.

Fat Amy: Bloe are getting engaged!

Beca looked up immediately and glared at her old college roommate, "Amy! What the hell?"

"Whaaat?" Amy said innocently, as Alba lapped away at her chin affectionately.

"Not everything has to go in The Bella's Whatsapp group you know!" Beca said sharply, before daring to glance at Chloe who sat to her left. The redhead had a coffee in her hand, and was peering at her over the lip of the cup with an amused grin on her face. Her eyes flickered down to her phone on the surface of the little table they sat at as it vibrated. Several messages began appearing on the screen and Beca looked to her own phone as it started going wild.

Ashley: Oh my god!

Jessica: Oh my god!

Flo: Wahooooooo!

CR: Yeaaassss!

Emily: Eeeeek! How did it happen? Who proposed to who? Xxx

Beca rolled her eyes and briefly glared at Fat Amy again who was staring at her own phone from around Alba's little face, a big grin on her face.

Staci: Ahhhhh!

Staci: CR I owe you twenty bucks! You said they'd do it this year.

Aubrey: What?! Why am I only just hearing about this?

Staci: Hearing about what? The engagement the money or the bet? X

Aubrey: I HAD meant the engagement.. x

Lily: congratulations

Ashley: So how did it happen?

Jessica: How did it happen?

Ashley: Haha literally just sent that!

Jessica: Oops sorry Ash, copying your question!

Jessica: Oh and you just pointed it out too. Haha!

Jessica: Mind-reader ;)

Ashley: Clearly I'm a mind-reader ;)

Ashley: Haha! As if you just said that too!

Beca had to put a stop to this. She knew how obsessed The Bella's got.

Beca: Guys relax, Chloe and I aren't engaged.

Beca: Just Fat Amy taking everything out of context as usual.

Aubrey: No surprises there.

Beca glanced briefly over at Chloe who was grinning at the screen of her phone still, clearly loving this new obsession by The Bella's.

CR: How can getting engaged be taken out of context?

Fat Amy: Beca you just said yourself that you'll be the one proposing to Chloe!

Beca looked up from her phone and glared at Fat Amy again who simply raised her eyebrows at her and shrugged as though what she had just sent was perfectly innocent. But Beca knew it'd fuel The Bella's fire.

Flo: Eeeeeeeeeeeee!

Emily: Oh Em Aca-Geeeeeeeeee!

Emily: Xxx

Beca: STOP IT!

Fat Amy: It's true! Chloe tell her!

Beca could see out of her periphery Chloe's fingers begin to type a response but pause every few letters or so as responses from the rest of The Bella's continued to pop up onto the screen.

Staci: I'm gonna go buy a hat

Aubrey: Why? X

Staci: For the wedding! X

Aubrey: Beca just said they weren't engaged x

Beca: THANK YOU Posen!

Staci: Yeah but Beca's GOING to propose, so there'll be a wedding at some point? X

Aubrey: Hmm I guess? X

Beca: POSEN!

Aubrey: Lol

Flo: How are you going to propose Beca?

Fat Amy: Mud wrestling?

Beca: NO!

Lily: Fight club. I know a place

Jessica: Romantic beach walk at sunset?

Emily: You could produce her a song? I'll write the lyrics! Xxx

(Beca had to admit she didn't hate that idea from Emily, but Chloe was reading these suggestions. It wouldn't be a surprise any more if she produced her a song.)

Ashley: A sunset beach walk maybe? So romantic!

Jessica: Haha! Again with the mind-reading Ash ;) x

Ashley: We're too awesome xx

CR: Oh my god FLASH MOB!

Beca: STOP

Fat Amy: YES!

Beca: NO!

Staci: After sex?

CR: What.. a flash mob?

Staci: NO! Beca should propose to Chloe after sex.

Aubrey: Ew x

Staci: Oh relaaax Posen it's just a word ;) x

Aubrey: Yes but it implies too much x

Beca: Guys I wasn't looking for suggestions!

Staci: So you ARE going to propose!

Beca rolled her eyes and briefly threw her hands in the air, shaking her head slightly. There was nothing she could say that would stop this was there.

Flo: Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!

Emily: I'm getting so giddy right now I can barely text xxxxxxxxxx

Staci: Chloe's going to be unbearably excited you know.

CR: She seems like the type to have her ideal engagement and wedding all planned out you know?

Ashley: Agreed

Jessica: Agreed

Jessica: Haha!

Ashley: Haha!

Jessica: Stop copying me ;)

Ashley: You love it ;)

Emily: Aubrey would know xxx

CR: True! Aubrey has Chloe got it all planned out?

Beca: Guuuuuys!

Staci: Chloe talked about it all through college until I graduated. She might have changed her mind since dating Beca though.

Beca furrowed her brow as she read Staci's last message two or three times over, then looked up at Chloe who was also re-reading the text from her own phone, her brow also furrowed. How did Staci know about Chloe's wedding hopes? And through college? Until she graduated?

Suddenly Beca's eyes opened wide as she looked back down at the text. Aubrey had accidentally replied using Staci's phone! Here's hoping none of The Bella's noticed.

CR: ?

Staci: (*I'm sure that's what Aubrey told me once)

Nice save Staci...

Beca: Can we please stop?

Fat Amy: Yeah, Beca's getting nervous.

Jessica: Awwwww

Ashley: Awwwww

Lily: I've got something that can help with that

CR: Chill Becs, we all know she'll say yes.

Emily: She will! She loves you so much Beca! Xxx

Flo: Adores you!

Staci: Can I be Best-Woman?

CR: Gurl I think if any of us Bella's should be Best-Woman it should be me!

Lily: I'll sort the security

Fat Amy: Erm if ANYONE is Beca's Best-Woman it's me!

Fat Amy: College roommate

Fat Amy: Best friend

Fat Amy: Best looking

Flo: Oh can I be bridesmaid?

Emily: And me! Xxxxx

Fat Amy: Legacy, you'll be flower girl..

Fat Amy: Aubrey will be Chloe's chief bridesmaid of course..

Aubrey: Of course

CR: Did we ever get to the bottom of how you're going to propose Beca?

Beca rolled her eyes again with a sigh. This was getting out of hand.

Beca: No

CR: …Flash mob?

Beca: NO!

CR: Come on it's a great suggestion! She'll never expect it!

Staci: If Beca does it right Chloe'll never expect any of these suggestions!

Chloe: Guys I'm actually IN this group chat you know xx

Staci: Oh yeah!

Staci: Shit.

Staci: Sorry Beca!

Beca heard a giggle sound from her girlfriend's mouth but she didn't look up. She couldn't. She felt too embarrassed.

Chloe: As long as it's memorable I don't care how Beca proposes ;) xx

Flo: Oooooh so much opportunity!

Beca placed her phone on the table so she could put her head in her hands. She peered between her fingers when she heard Chloe let out a quiet "Nooooo!" and looked down at the latest text to The Bella's Whatsapp group.

Staci: Beca, we're making a separate group chat sans Chloe. Hang on!

Chloe: Nooooooooo!xx

Beca: Guys you know Chloe gets bad FOMO. Don't make a separate chat! I'll never hear the end of it.

Beca looked up from her phone and saw Chloe quickly stare at her with a sad expression, clearly gutted that The Bella's might be messaging without her. But Beca shook her head and gave her a reassuring smile,

"I won't be telling any of The Bella's about any potential proposal. I promise" and these words were enough to relax her girlfriend's face into a soft smile. Beca felt her phone buzz again and she looked down at the device.

*Staci added you to the group "ProCHLOsal"*

Beca rolled her eyes, opening the group chat and typing feverishly, feeling Chloe's eyes on her as she did so.

Beca: Guys please stop. Yes I'll be proposing to Chloe AT SOME POINT but it won't be soon. Please don't get her hopes up. And please stop making suggestions. I know Chloe, and I think I know how she'd want me to propose. So let me do it with less pressure please.

*Beca left the group*

Beca sat up straight as she saw Chloe appear at the bottom of the stairs. She took hold of her beer bottle again, picking slightly harder at the label, her mouth going dry as she cleared her throat to prompt Jerry and Sue to act cool. Which they did. Of course they did. Because they were far cooler than Beca ever was.

"Did I miss much?" Chloe said with an airy voice as she sat down at the table. She let out an adorable squeak as she noticed her puppy sat looking up at her, tail wagging affectionately, and Chloe leant down to waggle Alba's ears. The puppy licked the redhead's hand enthusiastically.

"Um here? No. Nope. No…you missed nothing. Absolutely nothing…" Beca said awkwardly, grimacing slightly as her sentence trailed off and she looked to Chloe's parents for help. Both Sue and Jerry were beaming at her until Chloe sat upright suddenly and turned to them. The moment that happened they cleared their throats and sat back before looking at each other with nonchalant shrugs.

"Nothing much" Sue said.

"Just talking about how stocks have gone down" Jerry nodded at Beca and the brunette nodded back. Good. Talking about finances and money and stocks around Chloe was the quickest way to remove her interest from any conversation. And remove it did! Chloe let out a sigh, rolling her eyes slightly before smiling. She reached out either side of her and gripped her father's arm and her girlfriend's arm.

"I'm so glad you both have each other to discuss boring stuff like that." She said sweetly. Sue and Jerry laughed out loud.

"We'll work out the money" Jerry said motioning towards Beca who now had a smile on her face.

"And we'll work out how to spend it!" Sue said to her daughter with a wink and the four adults laughed.

Beca reached her right hand under the table and placed it gently on Chloe's left thigh. This was a bold and unusual move for the brunette, particularly in the presence of her girlfriend's parents, but for the first time in several weeks Beca felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. And it was all thanks to the couple sat opposite her. Chloe had reached down under the table with her left hand, entwining her fingers with Beca's on her thigh and squeezed her hand affectionately.

Sue & Jerry Beale's permission for Beca to ask Chloe to marry her represented so much more than permission. It meant they trusted her. That they not only trusted her to love and care for their daughter for the rest of her life, but that they believed in the strength of the women's relationship and how successful it will be in all the years to come. And this knowledge gave Beca a warm sense of security that everything she had been painstakingly planning over the past few weeks would be alright.

Beca watched as Chloe turned to beam at her, giving her an affectionate wink and squeeze of the hand before turning back to look at her parents. Beca took a deep refreshing breath and smiled. Chloe was going to say yes. She just knew it.

I can't begin to tell you how much I loved writing this chapter!

Right, next chapter's the big-un! The big deal. The chapter I've had planned for weeeeeeeks!

So don't forget to check out 'Kodaline's 'The One (Acoustic)' on YouTube (if you haven't already) and all will be revealed in the next chapter!

LighteningShades - Haha you're right, no flies given! I was going to have her chew on Beca's headphones but I didn't want Beca to be more gutted than Chloe, and you know she would've been. Yup more doggie moments to come. Thank you so much for the compliments dude, have a good day too!

Guest number 1 - I'm so glad you're loving this story! Hope you loved this update too :)

Guest number 2 - Haha maybe a Staubrey spinoff? For what it's worth I always have an idea of what Staci & Aubrey are in each chapter even if they're not mentioned ;)

LauratheChef - Hey dude, thanks for taking the time to leave such an awesome review. Um white labs are essentially super pale versions of golden labs yes. Alba is based on my own white lab that I had growing up, who was also called Alba (which means 'white' in Latin) - her fur wasn't completely white though, it was a light cream colour in some parts, particularly her ears. Wow Gemma sounds like she was a brilliant dog! Labradors really are a super dog breed!

Yvette23 - Hello! I'm so pleased you like the storyline and I hope you liked this next chapter :)

Guest number 3 - wow wow wow am I touched by your review! Thank you so much dude, I try to make it sound as real as possible. And to hear that it's the best fanfic you've probably read? Wow! Thank you!

Next chapter will be up in the coming days :)

Thanks again for the awesome reviews xx