A/N: Bonus chapter for today! This one starts off with sensitive chats and then basically becomes fluff and smut! I kinda love these girls! By the way, I saw "X" today. Brittany was amazing in it so, if you don't mind the horror aspect, run don't walk to see it!
Beca didn't like being alone. She'd grown up in group homes where she'd been pretty much never alone so being on her own in Chloe's apartment was kind of disconcerting. After enjoying a coffee from her friend's fancy coffee machine, she showered, dressed and headed out into the city.
The first thing she noticed was that people treated her differently now. She was still Beca Mitchell, still had a prosthetic leg, was still as prickly as ever… but she was dressed well, was carrying a nice purse and her shoes didn't have worn patches. That apparently made all the difference. Also, the attention she was getting from random men was a little disconcerting, considering she was more used to being looked at with pity or disdain.
Beca loved her new job and she felt like she was doing well. There had been only one occasion over the previous three weeks where she'd become slightly overwhelmed and had had to go to Chloe for support. It had all begun in the break room.
"People know, you know."
Beca frowned as she looked at the woman who was making coffee next to her. The brunette didn't really know much about her, except her name. "I'm sorry? Know… what, Amber?"
"We know that Chloe gave you the job because she felt sorry for you. You were here before. You were that homeless woman who returned her wallet, right?"
Beca looked down, continuing her coffee preparation. Then she plucked another mug from the rack and began making a second cup… for Chloe. "That's right," she said calmly, concentrating on adding just the perfect amount of creamer and sugar for her friend to try to stave off the anxiety welling in her chest. "But she didn't hire me because of that. She hired me because of my experience and helped me get off the street at the same time."
"Hmmm…" Amber replied, shooting her a skeptical look. "Are you sure? Chloe's kind-hearted… sometimes too much for her own good."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Beca replied. Then she took a step closer to the woman, eyes challenging. "But feel free to ask her. I'll let her know you were concerned."
The blonde's eyes widened. "No… I mean… no need. I trust Chloe's judgement.
Beca held their eye-contact for a few seconds more, then nodded. "If you'll excuse me, she's waiting for her coffee."
A flustered nod from Amber was all she needed. Then she was turning and heading for Chloe's office, hoping she was free. The redhead's door was open, and she was typing furiously, bottom lip caught between her teeth in concentration, and the brunette took a moment to just gaze at how adorable she looked. Beca tapped on the doorjamb and slipped inside, easing the door closed behind her with her foot before leaning back against it and letting out a breath. Then she crossed the office and set Chloe's coffee down next to her right hand.
The executive's blue eyes moved to the cup, then lifted as a beaming smile lit her face. "You read my mind. Thank you!" But she frowned then and got up, rounding her desk to take gently Beca by the shoulders as she registered the look on her face. "What is it? What's wrong?"
To Beca's shame, tears welled in her eyes, and she suddenly just wanted to be in her friend's arms. Chloe's arms had somehow become her safe space. "Just… someone just told me that everyone knows I was homeless. It caught me off guard and I know it's the truth, Chlo, but I'm just…
"Embarrassed?" the redhead said softly.
The brunette nodded. "I didn't think anyone would remember me from that first day. I thought this was somewhere I could pretend to be someone."
Chloe's face was suddenly the picture of dismay and she pulled Beca into her arms without hesitation to hug her, onlookers be damned. "You ARE someone, Beca. You're…" MY someone. Her tone gentled as she swallowed what she really wanted to say. She didn't want to scare the younger woman off. "Believe me. You're someone special and what other people think doesn't matter."
"What YOU think matters to me," Beca replied with a small smile. She was feeling better though. Chloe tended to do that for her with just a few words.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," the redhead grinned. "Because I think you're amazing." She wiped Beca's tears away with her thumbs. "Listen, if you need some time to…"
The younger woman shook her head. "No… it's ok, Thanks, Chloe.
Chloe straightened then. "Hold your head up high, Beca Mitchell," she said then. "You're a freakin' marine."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Beca responded automatically as her own back straightened, then she blinked in confusion. "Wow… ok… that was weird."
The executive just laughed and hugged her again.
Beca couldn't help but smile at the memory. Knowing what she knew now, suspecting how Chloe felt about her, made it just that much sweeter. The phone sex the night before had been so unexpected but, in hindsight, unsurprising considering how aroused they'd been just making out before the redhead had had to leave for the airport. Beca suspected that, had her friend not left, they would have ended up naked between her sheets.
Friend.
The brunette popped a chip into her mouth and chewed absently. That word didn't feel right anymore. She wanted Chloe to be her girlfriend and she hoped the redhead wanted that too. Then her thoughts went to how upset Chloe had been on their call a little earlier and she decided to be at the airport when she got home to meet her and give her the hug she needed.
Beca put her chips in her pocket and pulled out her phone to check the time her friend's flight was to land, a plan already forming in her mind.
Xx
It was late and Chloe was tired when she got home from the wedding. Her parents were already there, and she sighed as she saw the tentative look on her mother's face. She crossed the living room to sit on the couch next to her, staring at her hands for a moment as she gathered her thoughts.
"You hurt me," she stated candidly. "And not just today." Apparently, she was adulting now and it was terrifying, but she pressed on. "You make me feel like I'm not enough and I'm tired of it because I AM enough." Her mother took a breath to speak but the redhead held up a hand. "I know my getting pregnant at eighteen is a taboo subject for you, Mom, but it happened, and I can't change that. But it was an accident. I had sex with someone I thought I loved, and I got pregnant. Tom and I were scared but happy. But then we lost her, and everything fell apart." She lifted her hands and then dropped them into her lap. "I pushed Tom away and blamed myself. I couldn't help but think I'd done something wrong; that if I'd done something differently, she…" Chloe swallowed hard. "Zoe… would be alive today. It took a lot of therapy for me to realize it wasn't my fault; that it just happened for reasons I'll never know." She took a breath as her voice quivered. "So, I need you to stop making comments like you did today because they make me feel shitty, Mom, and I haven't spent thousands of dollars on therapy just to come home and have you make me feel broken all over again."
The redhead leaned back in her seat then, blowing out a long breath.
"I didn't realize you named her," Alice said softly, laying a hand on her daughter's.
"You never asked," Chloe whispered, tears trailing down her cheeks. She wiped at them and shook her head. "You never wanted to talk about it because you were ashamed of me; ashamed of what your other hoity-toity friends would think."
Alice looked away guiltily. "You're right," she finally replied. "I was ashamed, and I was wrong." Chloe blinked at her, surprised at the admission. "I was so worried about what the bridge club would say or whether I'd be asked to leave the arts committee that I lost sight of the fact that my daughter needed me." Her breathing hitched. "And I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm so sorry. Losing Zoe wasn't your fault, and I should have told you that years ago. Can you forgive me?"
And at that question, the redhead took a moment to just let herself feel the hurt. "I want to," she said. "And just so you know, I DO want children, Mom. I just… hadn't found the right person to have them with." Until now. The sudden thought made her suck in a breath and she looked away in confusion. "Um…"
"Beca?" her mother asked softly. "Does she want kids?"
Chloe thought back to their conversation that morning. She had told Beca she wanted kids, but she hadn't asked if the brunette felt the same way and she kicked herself mentally for that. "I… I hope so," she replied.
"You really like her?"
The redhead nodded, gazing out the window into the darkness beyond. "Yeah, I really do. Maybe I could even fall in love with her… but…" She cleared her throat then. "It's very new so let's see what happens." She got up then, collecting her purse and hiking up the hem of her dress. "I'm gonna go to bed but I'm really glad we had this opportunity to talk. I think we can… we can both do better at being mother and daughter." Chloe was fully aware she'd been avoiding her mother's calls and took responsibility for that.
"Yeah," Alice smiled as she got up and hugged her only child. "I do love you, Chloe. I hope you know that."
"I do," the redhead smiled. "And I love you too. Everything's going to be ok. Breakfast tomorrow before I have to leave for the airport?"
"Absolutely," the Beale matriarch replied. Then she dropped a kiss on her daughter's cheek. "Sleep well, Honey."
"You too, Mom."
Chloe headed upstairs then and sat in front of the mirror, removing her makeup and cleaning her face before taking a shower. She'd been texting on and off with Beca during the evening but, when she was finally snuggled up in bed, she sent one more selfie with a smile on her face.
Me… waiting to come home to you.
Xx
"Shit… shit, shit, shit…" Beca muttered as she held up two different shirts in front of her chest, gazing critically at them in the mirror. Then she looked at her watch, eyes widening as she realized she was heading into the territory of being late to pick Chloe up. "If in doubt, go with black," she muttered, discarding the red one on her bed and quickly dressing. Then she grabbed her jacket and shoes before going to the kitchen to grab the things she needed for her surprise.
Ten minutes later, she was in a car headed for the airport and she was inexplicably nervous about seeing Chloe again in person. The car dropped her at the arrivals floor, and she hopped out, straightening her shirt and jacket before taking a deep breath and heading to the waiting area. The monitors there told her that her friend's flight had just arrived, and she shifted nervously from foot to foot in anticipation. It took twenty more minutes but finally, the automatic doors opened to reveal the most beautiful thing Beca had ever seen.
Chloe Beale.
The brunette sucked in a breath as she stepped forward and then smiled widely as Chloe realized she was waiting. The look on her friend's face made the stress of the surprise more than worth it and then Chloe was running to her, slamming into her and almost squishing the huge bouquet of flowers she was holding, to death. The redhead's hands were on her cheeks, and she kissed Beca, mindful of the people around them, but with enough passion to make the veteran's head spin.
"I can't believe you're here," Chloe whispered in her ear as her arms came around her and squeezed hard. "Thank you for coming. And I know you have flowers. I just don't want to let you go yet."
"The flowers will get over it," the brunette whispered back. "They knew the risks of coming with me. God, I missed you, Chloe."
Finally, after another long moment of just breathing, they parted and Beca took possession of her friend's bag, pulling it along behind them as she took Chloe's hand and laced their fingers together so they could walk to the exit. Outside, the car was waiting and Beca opened the door to let Chloe slide in, as the driver took her case and put it in the trunk.
"You did all this for me?" the redhead asked, looking around at the swankiness and running her hand along the edge of the cool leather seats. She brought her bouquet to her nose and inhaled deeply, a broad smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Baby."
"You're always taking care of other people. I wanted to take care of you."
A little mischievous smile lifted Chloe's lips and she reached out to hit a button on the panel in front of her. A privacy screen slowly lifted into place and Beca swallowed as her friend slid closer to her. And then they were kissing and Chloe was moaning softly into the brunette's mouth. "You have no idea how much I want you," she groaned, fingers lacing into Beca's hair as she went back for more.
Beca was trembling, her hands aching to touch more of the soft skin she was craving but in the back of her mind, she didn't want their first time to be a rushed fuck in the back of a car, so she slowly eased back. "Oh, I think I do," she chuckled, running her thumb across the redhead's lips as she cupped her cheek and caressed it. "But…" Her look was regretful, and Chloe smiled resignedly.
"It's ok, I know." They kissed a little more, but the intensity had eased and, by the time they made it to their apartment building, Chloe was snuggled in Beca's arms, relaxed and happy. After giving the driver a tip, they went up in the elevator and then into the apartment to collapse on the sofa together. Chloe immediately moved back into Beca's embrace. "Is this ok?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course," Beca replied. "But… we should probably talk."
"Talk?" Chloe said with a smile. "I'd love that." Beca's fingers ran absently through Chloe's hair as the redhead examined her injured nose. "It does look a little better," she said, then kissed it gently.
Beca grinned and returned the favor. "So…" she said. "I think it's safe to say that we like each other?"
"Mmm…" the redhead agreed. "A lot." She grinned herself. "I think this is going to be a short conversation. Oh… wait… do you want kids, Becs?"
Yeah, some day," the brunette replied. "A couple at least."
"Good," Chloe nodded.
Beca nodded with her, then took a deep breath. "Sex," she said.
Red eyebrows lifted. "Like… Now?"
"Yes… I mean… No… I mean… Wait…" Beca shook her head to clear it. "What do you like?"
"Simple. I like orgasms," Chloe replied seriously but with a twinkle in her eyes.
The brunette chuckled and brought her friend's hand to her lips to kiss it. "Ok, me too. But what are your boundaries? Like for example, I'm not really into receiving during my period. I always feel icky."
"Oh…" The executive made a face. "Right. Me neither actually." Then her eyes moved away as she thought about her preferences. "I don't really like anal play, but I do like toys."
Beca nodded. "Fair enough. I don't like being restrained. It's a trauma thing for me."
Chloe nodded seriously. "Is pinning your wrists without restraints ok?"
"Yeah," Beca nodded. "Just no handcuffs or rope or anything like that."
"Anything else?" the redhead asked.
Beca swallowed. "Um…" she looked down, but Chloe wouldn't let her back out now and used two fingers under her chin to lift her eyes.
"You can tell me anything," she said softly.
"My residual limb," she said. "My leg… Does… will it… bother you?"
Chloe's heart melted, and she leaned in to kiss the younger woman's lips as she let her hand run down her thigh to where the prosthetic's socket met Beca's leg. "Every part of you is beautiful to me, Beca," she said seriously. "I'm not bothered at all by your residual limb."
The veteran exhaled raggedly. "Ok," she whispered. "Thanks, Chlo."
"Nothing to thank me for," the redhead replied. "I just want you to feel comfortable and, above all, safe with me, Becs." She looked at her watch then. "How about we order some pizza and then go to bed. If it's ok with you, I'd really like us to sleep together tonight… just to snuggle. I mean…" She took a breath and smiled. "I'm trying to say that nothing has to happen. I just want to be close to you."
"I'd love that, Chloe," Beca replied softly. "And I do feel safe with you."
"Good."
Xx
Beca couldn't sleep. Or wouldn't, more like. She knew that closing her eyes and drifting off would rob her of the feeling of Chloe's warm body pressed against her. The redhead's head was pillowed on her shoulder and her thigh was slung across Beca's in the most pleasant of ways. Then Chloe stirred and her hand moved to cup Beca's breast as she sighed softly and settled back into sleep.
Beca's body was suddenly electrified, and she couldn't stop a little whimper from slipping out. She tried to steady her breathing, but then Chloe's hand moved again, and she exhaled shakily as her nipple hardened under the redhead's palm.
"Mmmm…" Chloe hummed, a smile lifting her lips even as her eyes remained closed. "Nice."
"Chlo," Beca whispered. "God."
"Is this ok?" the redhead asked softly as she continued her caresses, circling the hard nub with her thumb. "Or do you want me to stop?
Beca's back arched a little and she nodded. "Feels really good," she replied, voice turning husky. "Don't stop," she added in a whisper.
The older woman lifted to slide more on top of Beca, her hand moving to the brunette's right breast as her mouth descended onto the left. She bit softly on her nipple through her friend's shirt and Beca's body bowed again as she groaned her pleasure. Then her shirt was lifted, and the pleasure increased tenfold as Chloe's hand and mouth met bare skin. Beca cried out, her hips lifting, seeking something to relieve the sudden throbbing pressure between her thighs. The redhead lifted her head to check in again. "Are you ok?"
Beca brought her face closer and kissed Chloe, pushing her tongue into her mouth as she pressed up into her. It was messy and passionate… and the redhead got the clue. She lifted herself again and straddled Beca's thighs to lift her shirt off over her head, baring her torso to her friend's dark blue eyes… which widened as they took her in.
"You're perfect," the brunette said, awe coloring her tone as Chloe's skin glowed in the moonlight streaming into the room. She foiled the next stage of the older woman's plan though by reaching out and cupping her breasts, testing their firmness and weight. "Soooo fucking perfect."
Chloe's eyes fluttered shut and she tipped her head back, biting her bottom lip as Beca's palms caressed her breasts, then down over her abs, fingertips tracing their ridges. Then the brunette sat up, wrapping her arms around Chloe's waist as she took her left breast into her mouth and sucked gently. The redhead's fingers laced into Beca's hair and gently scratched her scalp. "You know…" she said breathlessly. "If we don't stop now, this is probably going to lead to sex," she teased with a smile.
She felt the brunette's chuckle against her breast, and it shot a bolt of pleasure straight to her clit. "No shit, Chlo."
But Chloe guided the brunette's face up so she could look into her eyes. "Seriously though," she said. "Are you sure about this?"
Beca smiled, loving how her friend… lover… just wanted her to be comfortable. "I'm sure. Are you?"
And then Chloe was pushing her back onto the mattress, kissing her deeply as she gripped her hips and pushed slowly down onto the thigh of Beca's residual limb. The brunette's eyes fluttered closed as she felt the slickness of the older woman's arousal and she reached to cup her ass, guiding her to press harder. "Wait… use the other one," she whispered then. "It'll work better if I can plant my foot."
Chloe got the message and shifted over, but this time, she let her fingers run between Beca's thighs, feeling that she was just as wet. Then she brought the digits to her lips and sucked them as she slowly ground down on Bec's thigh again. It was the most erotic thing the younger woman had ever seen, and she swallowed hard. "Fuck, Chloe, you're so hot." Then she quickly pulled her own shirt off.
"Mmmm… you too," Chloe replied huskily, balancing herself with her palms on her lover's breasts as she pushed down again into her thigh. She lifted herself then and slowly eased her lace panties down and off over her feet, leaving herself completely naked. Beca's hands moved from the redhead's ass to her thighs and then she slipped one hand between them, closing her eyes again as her fingers were instantly soaked. Chloe thrusted her hips forward, groaning loudly as Beca's fingers found her clit, hard and pulsing with need. She thrusted her hips again and the brunette smiled as she caressed the tiny bundle of nerves with one hand while using her other to slide two fingers inside her lover.
Chloe's eyes fluttered, and she shuddered, her own hands moving to her breasts to caress her nipples.
"Fuck, Chloe," Beca husked out as the redhead started a slow rise and fall rhythm, essentially riding Beca's fingers.
"Yes please…" the redhead replied with a sexy smile and Beca sniggered softly. But then Chloe's hand reached behind her, and her fingers found Beca's clit through her panties, rubbing it in time with her own movements. She did that for a while, driving them both toward orgasm but then she suddenly stopped and scooted down the bed to lie between the veteran's thighs. She lifted them over her shoulders and pushed her panties aside to nuzzle her face between Beca's folds, nose nudging against her clit.
"FUCK!" Beca exclaimed loudly as the redhead's tongue pushed inside her and her hand came down to tangle into soft, red hair. "Chloe! Oh my God!"
"Mmmmm…" the redhead replied as she closed her eyes and redoubled her efforts. Then she lifted her hand over Beca's thigh and rubbed her clit with her thumb. Only moments later, Beca's back arched off the bed and she cried out loudly, hand clenched in her lover's hair as she came spectacularly. Chloe smiled and hummed against the swollen flesh, but she didn't stop, this time concentrating on sucking her lover's clit and only moments later, Beca came again, hips bucking her sex harder into the redhead's mouth.
"Stop… please… oh my God…" the brunette begged. "I need to catch my breath."
Light blue eyes lifted worriedly. "Are you ok, Baby?"
"No… yeah… fuck, Chlo," Beca laughed. "That was incredible."
"Mmmm…" Chloe replied as she slid up the bed to snuggle against her lover. "I aim to please."
Beca turned onto her side and kissed Chloe deeply, tasting the tangy essence of herself on the older woman's tongue. "You most certainly pleased," she replied with a sweet smile, pushing her lover's red hair back from her impossibly blue eyes. Then her hand dropped to cup Chloe's breast again as their foreheads met. "Why did you stop earlier?" she asked softly. "I could tell you were close."
The older woman smiled softly and cupped her cheek. "Because I wanted to make you feel good first," she replied. "I wanted to take care of you. You deserve that." Beca was speechless and a sudden, hitching sob left her as she closed her eyes and just savored the moment. Chloe gathered her into her arms, holding her as close as possible. "Shhhh… it's ok." She kissed the younger woman's forehead and whispered to her. "I think I could fall in love with you, Beca Mitchell."
For a long moment, Beca said nothing but then she eased back and pushed Chloe gently onto her back, leaning over her to kiss her softly. "I think I could fall in love with you too, Chloe Beale," she replied. Her hands and lips were moving then, worshipping every inch of the redhead's body.
Chloe squirmed under her, pleasure tingling through her until she was delirious with it. "Beca, please…" Then she gasped as Beca's fingers found her clit and caressed it softly, teasingly. The older woman groaned, and she wrapped one leg around Beca's waist, hips bucking as she chased the release she needed so badly. "Inside… pleeeease," she begged. Beca kissed her deeply as she pushed two fingers slowly inside her making Chloe buck upward again.
"Easy, Baby," she whispered. "Relax and let me make you feel good."
"It already feels amazing," Chloe gasped as Beca's mouth latched onto her breast and sucked, continuing to work her lover's body into a mess of moans and whimpers.
"You're amazing, Chloe," the brunette murmured in awe as she added a third finger, stretching Chloe deliciously as her thumb circled her clit. She curled her fingers then, thrusting harder and faster as she sucked her nipple again. Chloe suddenly stilled, eyes slamming shut and body bowing rigidly as her orgasm hit her like a freight train, stealing all the air from her as she screamed out her pleasure. Her nails raked down Beca's back then, leaving red lines behind but the brunette didn't care. All she cared about was prolonging her lover's pleasure for as long as possible and she guided her through the climax with small coaxing movements of her fingers and thumb.
When the redhead finally collapsed onto the mattress, chest heaving, she threw her arm over her eyes, shaking her head. "I… Jesus Christ… I can't…"
Beca chuckled softly as she caressed her lover's oversensitive skin, peppering little kisses along her collar bone and biting softly on her neck. "You look so beautiful when you come, Chlo."
"Shut up," the redhead replied, grinning as she moved her arm. "I think you just ruined me for ANYONE else EVER." And Beca found herself hoping she HAD because she wanted to be the only one in Chloe's life who got to do this with her ever again. The thought both thrilled her and terrified her, and Chloe must have seen it on her face because she reached up and caressed the brunette's cheek with an affectionate look. "Don't freak out," she said gently. "That wasn't a marriage proposal or anything."
"Dude, no, I know," Beca replied, blushing a tad. "It just… it made me feel good and you know how that scares me. Good things normally get taken away."
The redhead nodded. "I get that," she said. "But I'm not going anywhere, Becs, I promise. I'm right here."
They kissed slowly and gently and then Beca snuggled against Chloe's chest, letting herself be held and just existing in the moment.
And letting herself fall in love.