Hi! I have no idea if anyone is still reading this, but if you are, let me know your thoughts. I haven't written in a long time, but I have a lot of little thoughts left for these ladies and inspiration struck - so please share what you'd like to see if you're still reading. Thanks!

Chapter 10 - Chloe's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Beca arrived home to a tense house. She felt it immediately. There was no music on – that was her first clue. And usually at least one of the girls was playing in the living room – or came running when they heard her. Instead, overwrought silence. "Chlo!"

"In here," she said, calling from the kitchen. The tone was pinched. Beca set her things aside by the stairs and walked towards the kitchen. She frowned when she realized that the twins were still doing homework. She looked at her phone to check the time.

"Why are we still doing homework at almost seven?" Poppy looked annoyed and Bella's expression was both sad and frightened. And Beca knew why when she looked at her wife. Chloe was angry. Chloe didn't get angry often. When she did; watch out. Her expression was one of deep annoyance, her skin blotchy from temper.

"They didn't finish after school because they were playing games," Chloe said sternly. Bella gave a small shake of her head but stopped and cast her eyes down when Chloe gave her a look.

"Where is Vera?" Beca asked, looking around and studying the room.

"In her bedroom," Chloe said. "She's finished. And she wouldn't settle down – so she's in time out."

"Okay." Beca said, simply. "Chloe?" Beca said, motioning to the living room. Chloe followed her until they were far enough away from the kitchen to speak privately. "Are you okay?"

"No!" Chloe cried, bursting into tears. Beca held her and stroked her hair, trying to calm her.

"Oh my. Love, what's going on?"

"I just – I can't do it right now. They won't stop." Beca had no clue what her daughters wouldn't stop doing – but she had a sneaking suspicion Chloe's mood had little to do with their little girls.

"Okay," Beca said calmly, "that's okay. Why don't you take a break? Go upstairs – take a bath, read a book – do something totally un-mommy related."

"I can't," Chloe cried. "I can't leave you alone with all of them."

"I promise, it will be fine. We'll finish up, get ready for tomorrow – pack lunches, pick clothes, and then do the bedtime thing. You need a break. So you need to take it. Go upstairs."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Beca responded, kissing her lightly and hugging her once more. She watched Chloe walk up the front staircase and waited until she heard their bedroom door shut before going back into the kitchen. She sat in the empty chair next to Bella. The little girl was radiating some major distress.

"What's going on?" That was all it took for Bella to burst into tears. Beca pulled the child into her lap and looked at Poppy, sitting across from her. "Come on," she said, motioning. "Let's go sit together for a few minutes." She went into the Livingroom and sat down with Bella again in her lap. She patted the spot next to her and Poppy climbed up, snuggling into her side.

They sat quietly for a few minutes until Bella's tears slowed and died away. "Who wants to start? What happened when you got home today?"

"Annie picked us up from school," Poppy said. "And we came home. Then Annie made us do our homework – and we did. She gave us a snack. A cookie and apple slices."

"That sounds very good right now, actually," Beca said. She hadn't eaten since a quick afternoon snack and she was quite famished. Poppy stared up at her, unimpressed. "Sorry, continue," she told the redhead.

"We finished our homework. It wasn't hard," she said, her voice annoyed. "And Annie said we could play. So we went upstairs to play."

"Vera stayed with Annie. She was building something in the kitchen," Bella said, softly. Beca nodded; she had noticed a mess of blocks in the corner.

"Then Mommy came home and told us it was time for dinner."

"We washed our hands," Poppy asserted.

"Cool. Good thing to do before you eat. What did you have for dinner?"

"Basketii and Meatballs," Poppy said, woefully mispronouncing the first word. "But Bella doesn't like red sauce. So she asked for her 'sketti without it. But Mommy already put the sauce on, so she said no."

"I said no thank you," Bella said, as though she could not understand why her politeness had not worked in her favor. "And then I said it was okay, that I wasn't hungry. But Mommy got mad. She yelled," she said, her eyes once again welling with tears.

Beca rubbed her back. "You've had bad days, right? Days were things just a little bit too much?" Bella nodded. "I think Mommy had a bad day. I am sure she did not mean to yell. She was probably just feeling a little overwhelmed." She paused for a moment.

"What happened with your homework? You said you finished before?"

"Mommy wanted to see it. She always checks it," Bella said. "And we showed her, but she told us we didn't finish."

"Mommy was looking at tomorrow's homework," Poppy told her. "We didn't do that stuff in class yet. We're not supposed to do it at home until we finish learning about it in school. I told Mommy it was for tomorrow and she told me not to be a smart alec." She looked up at Beca. "I'm not. I don't even know what a smart alec is."

"I will explain that another day. Mommy didn't mean it." She studied both girls. "So, is all of your homework for tomorrow finished?"

"Yes," both girls chorused.

"Okay. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to go back into the kitchen and we're going to make our lunches for tomorrow. Then we're going to go upstairs and get ready for bed – and we'll have snuggles before stories. Sound good?"

"Were we bad?" Bella asked, eyes wide and bright with tears.

"No. No. Absolutely not. I just think Mommy had a bad day and we need to give her a little bit of space so she can feel better for tomorrow."

As they walked into the kitchen, Beca realized Bella probably hadn't eaten. "Did you eat anything for dinner?" She asked, looking down at the child.

"I drank my milk," Bella answered.

Beca put her on one of the stools at the counter and plopped Poppy into the other. She pulled containers of cheese cubes and grapes and made a small plate for Bella, setting it in front of her. "Thank you. I like cheese and grapes."

"I know," Beca responded with a smile, "you're going to turn into cheese and grapes." She looked at Poppy. "Would you like any?"

"Just cheese, please."

"It even rhymes. I like it." She put a small serving onto another plate and gave it Poppy. She poured a small glass of apple juice for each of them and another with a lid to take upstairs to Vera.

They were happy to inform Beca's lunch-making, telling her what should go in each one – including her own and Chloe's. Once they were packed, Beca put them in the refrigerator and removed Vera's cup and a small snack in case the little girl wanted it. "We got baths last night, right?" Beca asked. They both nodded. "Okay. Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to check on Vera. You two, go to your rooms and get ready for bed. Wash your face, brush your teeth, change into pajamas. Then meet me in Bella's room. Got it?" They nodded. Beca herded them upstairs, turning out lights as she went.

Vera was not immediately noticeable because she had buried herself in the stuffed-animal menagerie that lived on her bed during the day. But as soon as she saw Beca, she jumped up and flew across the room. She grabbed onto Beca and began sobbing. From Bella, this was expected. From Vera, not as much. Beca closed the door and lifted the little girl into her arms, rocking her. Once Vera was quiet, Beca sat with her on the bed.

"Mommy yelled," she said.

"Did you do anything that she yelled about?"

"I knocked the blocks over. But it was an accident." Beca nodded, offering a sympathetic expression.

"Love, I think Mommy just had a bad day. She did not mean to yell." Vera huffed and buried herself again in Beca's arms. It took time to get her calmed down, ready for bed, and into Bella's bedroom. Beca searched the bookshelf for something specific.

"Mama, we have the book," Poppy told her, waving The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at her.

"I know," Beca responded. "But I want something else too." She finally pulled from the shelf two titles – The Forgiveness Garden and Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

"Mama, we want to read our book," Poppy whined, trying to explain her feelings emphatically.

"If you stop whining, we can do both," Beca told her. It was silent after that. She situated herself against Bella's headboard and waited for the girls to get situated. Vera in her lap, Poppy curled up against her right side, Bella on her left.

Beca picked up Alexander and showed it to them. "Have you ever had a bad day?" Bella nodded and Poppy shook her head. "Really? Hmmm," she said. "We remember life differently. Well, everyone has bad days. And that's okay. As long as you don't hurt other people when you're having a bad day."

"You should be telling Mommy," Poppy said.

Beca raised an eyebrow at her. "Is that a nice thing to say?"

"Sorry," Poppy said. Beca dropped a kiss on top of her red curls. They read both books and cuddled while they talked a bit more. She wasn't sure the topic of forgiveness was 100% covered, but they got the idea.

"Mommy did not mean to hurt our feelings," Bella said. "So we should not be mad at her."

"Exactly," Beca said. "So you need to forgive her. And know that she loves you so, so much."

"Is Mommy going to be mad tomorrow?" Vera asked, voice small. Beca squeezed her close.

"I don't know love. But if she is, we just need to be extra nice – and show her we love her – until she feels better. Can we do that?" She received three nods. "Awesome," she said, before kissing each one of them. "You are just the best little girls in the whole wide world." Two chapters, three songs, and lots of hugs and kisses later, they were sleeping. Beca went through the house and made sure everything was turned off and locked up before going to her own bedroom. Chloe was curled up under the covers, facing away from the door.

Beca went about getting ready for bed and turned out all of the lights before crawling under the covers. "I know you're awake," she said softly.

"I don't want to talk," Chloe said, flipping over to face her wife.

"You don't have to," she responded evenly.

Chloe's face reddened and she was still blotchy; Beca could see just enough from the moonlight to notice. "How can you be so calm?"

"We can't both freak out at the same time," she said with a sad smile, "It would be impractical."

Chloe broke down then, crying. "I am a terrible mother. I can't do this."

"Well, that's just not true," Beca scoffed. "Chlo, everyone is entitled to a bad day every once in a while. It was an off day, that's all."

"I yelled at them," Chloe cried. "And I knew while I was doing it that they didn't deserve it. They were just being kids. And I couldn't take it – not for another minute."

"That doesn't make you a bad mother," Beca said softly. "It makes you human. And that's okay."

"How am I supposed to look at them in the morning?"

"Hey." Beca said, forcing their eyes to finally meet. "Don't even think like that. It was a bad evening. It happens. They will forgive and forget – just like we do. We've had worse days."

"I don't remember it ever being this bad," Chloe cried. "I should have walked away. I should have asked Annie to stay. I knew I wasn't in the right mindset to take care of them. I knew it – and I just subjected them to my mood anyway."

"Love, you're human. It wasn't that bad. They're fine. I promise you." She was running her hand through Chloe's hair, gently massaging her scalp. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her wife this upset. "Why don't you take tomorrow off? It seems like you maybe need some time to yourself. Or together. I can take off if you want that."

"I can't," Chloe cried, "I didn't leave plans. I can't just call off."

"I know for a fact that you have several days of emergency sub plans. Take tomorrow off. Please. I'm worried about you," she finally admitted. "This isn't like you at all. It really seems like you need a break."

"I can't," she said, tears streaming. "There's too much going on—"

"Sometimes that's when you need it the most," Beca reminded her softly. "Please, Chloe. Take the rest of the week. Go back fresh Monday."

Finally, Chloe agreed, nodding, tears still dripping from her eyes. Beca kissed her and took her phone, logging into the school's portal to sign Chloe out for the following two days and ensure she had a substitute teacher to cover her class. They talked for a long time that night, Chloe letting loose on all the things that had been bothering her lately and Beca listening, reassuring her.

When Chloe woke the next morning, she realized she'd overslept, but not by too much. She tied on her robe and padded down to the kitchen, her brain racing with anxiety as she remembered how she'd left things. She could hear high-pitched little girl voices as soon as she reached the hall and she braced herself, hoping they weren't upset – or worse – afraid of her.

She entered the kitchen to find everyone eating breakfast, including Annie, who had clearly just arrived. "Good morning," Beca said, standing up to kiss her in greeting. "I saved you a plate."

"Good morning mommy!" Poppy said cheerfully.

"Good morning," Chloe said, returning the smile.

"Do you feel better?" Bella asked, kindly, but with a clear worry.

"I do," Chloe told her. "I'm so sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have taken out my bad mood on you."

"Everyone has bad days," Bella said. "We love you, mommy." She, Poppy, and Vera all scrambled out of their chairs to hug Chloe, reducing her to tears.

"Happy tears," she reassured them, when they looked worried. "I love you girls so, so much." She wiped her eyes and hugged them again before straightening. "Okay, finish your breakfast. It's almost time for school." They finished their breakfasts and the girls located shoes and book bags. They hugged Chloe and Beca.

"Love you," Beca said, as Annie herded them out the door.

"See you in two sleeps!" Vera said, just as the door closed. Chloe turned to Beca, eyes wide.

"What is she talking about?"

Beca bit her lip. "Well, I thought it would be nice to get away for a day or two. Annie and Stacie are going to stay with the girls – we're going to a spa for two days and nights – and we'll be back to spend the weekend with the girls. What do you think?"

"Beca, we can't…"

"Why not?"

"We have things to do. Work – and the girls need us here –"

"Sometimes it's okay to take a break. Aren't you always the one telling me that? And those expensive shrinks? They tell me that too. We might as well take their advice."

In the end, Chloe allowed herself to be convinced. She and Beca went to a remote spa for the next two days and did their best to relax and spend time together. She unloaded a lot of what was bothering her – and they talked about making themselves a priority too. As much as they loved their little girls, they weren't much good if they ran themselves into the ground.

Beca also discovered that, after almost a decade at this school, there was a new administrator that was making Chloe's life miserable. They talked about solutions and Beca reminded her that she didn't need to work, but Chloe wanted to – and she would figure it out. After two calm days together, they returned home to spend the weekend with their daughter, who were thrilled to see them.

A trip to the zoo, the local park, and a mini-golf filled their days and the little family reconnected, having many good moments to fill their days.

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