Note: My apologies for missing yesterday. Life got in the way a bit. This was supposed to be the penultimate chapter, but it was getting so long, I decided to split it up. Hope you are enjoying their day.

Best Christmas Ever

Chapter 16

The Perfect Date

Part 1

The two young women woke early that morning, well before everyone else, save for Catherine. Both had felt highly charged from their personal epiphanies the night before. Each was highly energized for this day. Both had showered and quickly dressed before going down stairs.

Catherine had greeted the both of them with a bright smile, a warm breakfast, and coffee.

"You may be my most favorite person in the whole world," Beca declared to Chloe's mother.

When Chloe gave the freshman a cold look along with a less than enthusiastic grunt, Beca corrected, "My second favorite person."

"A title I will forever cherish," Catherine said as she gave both young women a plate of eggs and bacon. "By the way Beca, those plans we discussed yesterday are all taken care of."

"Plans?" Chloe asked as she picked up a piece of bacon. "What plans?" She was surprised by this information.

"I thought we could go to Wickford Village today," Beca answered after taking a sip of her coffee. "Umm-would you like to go? With me? You know go with me?"

Chloe thought Beca's fumbled asking was adorable. Her grin grew as she began to shake her head 'yes' even before she could answer, "Yes! Of course I want to go with you. One of my all-time favorite holiday activities, with my favorite person, of course I'm going to say yes."

"Then it's a date," Beca grinned, though she knew Chloe didn't realize this was an actual date-date.

"It's a date," Chloe agreed, though she knew Beca didn't realize this was a date-date.

-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-

It was a crisp winter's morning in Wickford Village as Beca and Chloe went for some last minute holiday shopping. It was a perfect day, with snow gently falling over the wooden market stalls of the Christmas Bazaar, where vendors were attempting to sell the last of their various Christmas gifts and sweet-smelling treats.

The town of North Kingstown goes all out for the holiday season. Beyond the bazaar, all the shops and restaurants in the classic brownstone buildings of Wickford Village were all decked out in the classic holiday decorations. Red bows and holiday wreaths were tied to every door. The main street was lined with old-fashioned kind of street lamps that were bedecked with twinkling blue, green, red, and white lights that just brought a beautiful amount of color to the snow covered streets.

There were a lot of people bustling about Wickford Village, all searching for last minute gifts or just a bit more of the festive experience; but it didn't feel too crowded. On the contrary the people seemed to add to the festive nature of the day. They all fit the esthetique of the bazaar, garbed in comfortable winter jackets, and accessorized by woolen hats, mittens and or scarves. What truly set the Christmas tone though, was the large number of small children, whose energy and efferessence just infused Christmas into all of Wickford Village. The peals of laughter rang out from children running around from stall to stall, or trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues, or waiting to meet Santa Clause.

Throughout all of this, Beca and Chloe walked hand in hand, just soaking in the experience. They were in no particular hurry, and had no specific destination, so the petite brunette found herself just enjoying the moment, with the redhead excitedly pointing out all the decorations and her favorite shops. For Beca walking through the village felt like going back in time. To Beca, Wickford Village looked like a holiday postcard. Many of the buildings and storefronts had been built in the 1700's, and they were all decked out in beautiful holiday decor.

It all just seemed so perfect.

"I feel like we've stepped into a Dickens' novel," Beca commented.

"That's what I always thought," Chloe laughed. "Well as soon as I learned who Charles Dickens was."

They went from stall to shop, to boutique, each unique and fun, and all very Christmassy. Never a big shopper, Beca found this experience quite enjoyable. As the morning passed, Beca found an adorable fox stuffed animal for Colton, and had picked up a handwoven scarf for Lizzy and a fancy pen set for Charlie. For Jim she had found a fancy leather bound book of sports trivia focused on his favorite baseball team, the Red Sox.

By about mid morning, Beca had found gifts for half the Beale's, though she still needed the most important gifts, those for Chloe and her mom. Wanting a bit of a rest, and at Chloe's urging, they bought Belgian waffles covered in powdered sugar, and sat on a bench by the tallest Christmas tree in Wickford Village to eat and just people watch. It was of course the most decorated tree Beca had ever seen with what must be a thousand bright lights, and hundreds of colorful ornaments.

"One of my earliest memories was sitting on this bench, between Charlie and Chad, eating Belgian waffles that my Dad purchased for us, while my Mom made some last minute purchases, though we didn't know it at the time," Chloe explained. "I've come here, to this spot, every year I have been living at some point before Christmas. It would feel a little less like the holidays if I didn't get to do this," Chloe admitted to Beca. "Thanks for suggesting coming here."

"You're welcome." Beca replied with a smile, her cheeks a bit stuffed with waffle, which made her all the more adorable. "Though I am sure you would have invited me, if I hadn't beaten you to the punch."

"Very true," Chloe laughed, "but still it was nice to be asked."

"So tell me more about what you remember of this place," Beca said as she indicated the town around them.

The first time Chloe had been brought to the Wickford Village, she had been an infant, and she had come back every year since. Because of this, Chloe had hundreds of anecdotes and fun stories to share. With every excited squeal, or little story, Beca thought Chloe was even more beautiful. It was in the way she talked, and laughed, and how she returned Beca's gaze. The way her eyes lit up when she explained one of her favorite memories of coming to the Christmas village as a child, or told the tale of her first job at a small ice cream shop. Through it all Beca can see the Christmas lights reflected in Chloe's eyes, and it just draws her in more.

Something about last night's revelation after the dream had removed a great burden from Beca's heart. In the past she would have been mortified by what had transpired, but this morning she wasn't. Quite the opposite, she was light and happy, which allowed her to happily respond to every suggestion that Chloe made.

When Beca responded with enthusiasm to Chloe's suggestions, Chloe positively beamed, giving that adorable smile that made Beca's heart flutter. Stacie might have described all of this as a perpetual feedback loop; Beca would respond happily to Chloe, who would smile wider, which would make Beca smile, which made Chloe's eyes sparkle…

You get the gist.

"I know I said it already, but I'm so glad you suggested we do this today, Becs," Chloe whispered as she hooked Beca's arm with her own. "I have always loved coming into Wickford Village, especially during the holidays. It is one of my most favorite places on earth."

"Your mother might have mentioned that," Beca answered with a shrug and a soft smile. "Besides, I need to get some presents for everyone."

"You know you don't have to…" Chloe started.

Beca held up her hand as she responded, "I want to. Everyone, even Chad, has been so warm and hospitable, and made me feel really welcome."

"I just don't want you to think that you're obligated…"

"I know I'm not," Beca cut in again. "I want to."

-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-

As the two friends walked slowly through the market, Chloe pointed to a little white building down near the harbor. "We should go there, Becs. It's a co-op run by a bunch of local artists. They sell artwork, jewelry and other gift types."

"Do you like going there?" Beca asked.

"I've always loved 'Harbor View Artisans', they have the most lovely things," Chloe answered happily, as she remembered good times visiting it with her mother.

"Then after you, m'lady," Beca said with a grand bow and flourish. This brought a fit of giggles from the redhead, who was really enjoying her time with this happy and relaxed version of Beca.

"Why thank you," Chloe replied, though she slipped her arm through Beca's, and they walked towards the shop together. "I'm really enjoying this, Becs."

Beca just smiled gently at Chloe in response.

They walked through down the street, towards 'Harbor View Artisans', talking joyously about anything and everything.

Upon entering the shop, Beca could see why Chloe had loved visiting it. There were so many beautiful locally-made treasures everywhere she looked.

The two women separated to peruse the many myriad of items. The collection of art pieces was incredible. The more she saw, the more she wanted to buy. On one wall was a collection of beautifully painted lacquered boxes; Beca was instantly intrigued. She spent a good five minutes studying the boxes, and found her attention kept returning to one in particular. Beca studied this one decorative tea box with extra care. It was a beautifully lacquered box with a painted winter scene of a horse drawn slay.

It was Perfect.

It would be a perfect Christmas gift for Catherine.

Beca carefully picked it up and was turning towards the cashier station when something caught her attention. She paused and focused on a table about a dozen feet further in the display room. Looking about to ensure Chloe wasn't in the immediate area, Beca made her way over to the table.

There was a snow globe placed in the center of the display table. Beca wasn't sure why it had caught her attention, maybe it was the light hitting it in such a way that it almost had a halo. Whatever it was, it sparked Beca's curiosity.

Taking a closer look at the snow globe, Beca instantly loved it, and knew she had found Chloe's present. What's inside the glass dome makes her heart beat like the wings of a butterfly, because she knows Chloe's heart will do the same. Beca carefully picked up the globe and gave it a gentle shake, because a shaken snow globe is even more beautiful than a static one, and her decision was made. She watched the snow cascaded around the three figures, and just smirked.

It was perfect.

Again, Beca looked about for the telltale sign of red hair. Chloe was not visible, so Beca took her two finds swiftly to the cashier. The elderly lady working the cash register flashed a friendly smile at Beca. She picked up the lacquered box, and her smile changed to a more warm, knowing smile. "My wife will be happy to hear this box sold," she informed Beca.

"She will?" Beca asked.

"Oh yes," the woman answered with a very proud smile. "She made it. Lacquered boxes are kind of her thing. She made most of the boxes where you found this one."

"That's amazing. She's really talented, it was hard to choose, they all were so beautiful," Beca said honestly. Looking about Beca continued. "It must be really cool to work here, surrounded by such beautiful treasures."

The woman nodded, "It's nice to work in a place where so many beautiful pieces are on display, especially when you personally know all the people who created them." She had a warm wistful look.

"Are you one of the artists too?" Beca asked.

"I dabble, I'm not nearly the artist my wife is, or most of the others, but I enjoy what I do," the cashier's voice was so warm and kind, Beca just wanted to continue the conversation.

Looking about, Beca asked, "Anything of yours on display in here?" She really was intrigued to see one of this woman's pieces.

"You already selected it," the lady answered, as she picked up the snow globe and gave it a quick shake. She smiled fondly at it, before she carefully placed it in a box she had pulled out from under the counter.

Beca's eyes widened as she asked, "You made that?" She gestured to the now closed box.

"I did," the woman's smile changed again, now there was a pride in her own work. "It's the only snow globe I've ever made, but I was inspired. I'm quite proud of it."

"You should be," Beca breathed. "It's beautiful."

"Is it to be a gift?" The cashier asked.

"Yes," Beca nodded. "For someone special."

The woman's smile changed again as she asked, "Would you like these gifts wrapped?"

"Yes please," Beca nodded again. As the woman carried the two boxes over to a table behind the counter where a gift wrapping station was set-up, Beca asked, "Will you be making any more snow globes?"

"I think so," the woman said over her shoulder. "I enjoyed the process. I personally blew the glass for the globe. Tony, one of the artists here, taught me how to blow glass. Lilian, my wife, helped me with creating the scene. It was both fun and stimulating, yet oddly relaxing."

"It came out beautifully," Beca said honestly.

"Thank you."

"Hey Becs!" Chloe said as she sidled up into Beca's side. The redhead noticed who the brunette was talking to. "Oh hey Mary."

The cashier smiled fondly at the redhead, "Chloe Beale! My goodness, you're back in town. How is college going?"

"I'm a senior now," Chloe answered, and just like that Chloe and the cashier, Mary, fell into an easy conversation. Beca just stood back and watched. It was so easy for Chloe to start a conversation, and give the other person her undivided attention. It was a trait she really admired in the senior Bella.

"You found some presents!" Chloe happily observed, pulling Beca back into the conversation.

"Ugh-yeah," Beca nodded, as Mary handed her a decorative cloth bag with the two wrapped presents.

"Me too!" Chloe said as she held up a similar bag.

"Thanks for suggesting this place," Beca added. "It's amazing."

"Thank you," said Chloe and Mary simultaneously, before both laughed.

"So, Becs, would you like to get a bite to eat?"

"Yeah, I could eat," Beca nodded.

"I know just the place," Chloe said as she again hooked the petite woman's arm.

-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-

Both young women enter the quaint cafe that Chloe had directed them to. where a little brass bell wrapped with tinsel tinkled overhead. Even the door frame was garnished with strands of blinking lights for the season.

The place had a warm cozy atmosphere, with a lot of trinkets here and there, and fairy lights hanging in every window and down from the ceiling, inviting people to stay a bit longer.

Walking along the display window at the Christmas cakes and decorative fruit tarts that line the display counter of the cafe. One particular tart with whipped cream snowmen and chocolate-covered oranges catches Beca's eye in particular.

"I'll go put these bags down at a table," Chloe explained, before she asked Beca, "Oh, would you order? I'll take a citrus tart and a hot chocolate, please. With whipped cream!" She went to pull out a twenty, to pay for their order, but Beca covered her hand.

"I got this," Beca assured her best friend.

"Are you sure?" Chloe asked, but put her money away when the brunette nodded.

Chloe took a seat in the chair, a tired sigh escaping her lips. She looked at Beca and grinned. "Hot Chocolates sound amazing right about now, don't they?"

Beca nodded and held up two fingers towards the barista, who nodded in return.

"They definitely do," Beca admitted with a grin. "My feet are beginning to hurt," she complained, "and frankly I'm exhausted."

"Well, we've been in Wickford nearly all morning," Chloe pointed out.

"I didn't think shopping for your family would be so difficult, but it has been," sighed the petite brunette.

"You know my family will love anything you buy them, right?" Chloe pointed out.

Beca blushed. "Yes, well, I love them too, and they all have been so nice, which is why I want to get them each just the perfect gift."

Chloe smiled. "It'll be fine. Besides, it's the thought that counts, you know that."

The hot chocolates were delivered to the table along with a couple croissants.

"So how's Stacie doing?" Chloe asked as she brought up her hot chocolate and blew on it.

"Stacie?" Beca asked, confused by the random question about the leggy brunette, as she took her own mug. The redhead nodded, her gaze kept down on her hot chocolate.

"She's good, I guess." Beca dragged out, wondering why the redhead was asking as she sipped the warm liquid. "Talked to her yesterday, actually. She seemed to be enjoying her break, her parents are smothering her with attention, blah blah, etcetera. She says it's annoying, but I know the nerd totally loves it." Beca smirked.

"Good. That's good. That she's having a good break." With a deep breath, Chloe pushed ahead, needing to know the truth. "I'm sure she misses you, too."

"I… guess?" Beca furrowed her eyebrows. She set her mug down on the table a little harder than intended and spilled some of the chocolaty liquid on the table.

Why is Chloe asking about Stacie?

Beca was deeply confused where this conversation was coming from or where it was headed, as she tried to clean up the spilled hot chocolate with the flimsy paper napkin. The freshman couldn't think of a reason that the redhead would ask her about their fellow Bella. All the while, Beca was oblivious to the nervous picking at her napkin Chloe had been doing for the last few minutes.

For her part Chloe had been dying all morning to ask Beca about Stacie, wanting to know for sure if they're together. But due to the potential awkwardness from last night, and the happy vibe the two of them had awoken to, she hasn't had the courage to really talk to Beca yet, let alone broach that subject matter of her feelings. Now though, she felt it was okay. She trusted that at most she might be disappointed with the answer, but nothing worse. Chloe knew she just needed to rip the bandaid off and get her answers.

"You know, you guys looked pretty cute together the other morning. So-umm-how long have you been dating?" Chloe asked, her eyes still cast downward towards her mug, her lips tightly pursed together, forcing the sentence out of her mouth.

Because her attention was on her mug, Chloe hadn't noticed Beca reaching over to the next table for more paper napkins. As the question from the redhead was processed by Beca's brain, it caught her completely off guard. She suddenly lost her ability to balance, and fell off the edge of her chair.

"Oh my gosh, Becs, are you okay?" Chloe scrambled off her seat and moved around the table to help the petite brunette up off the floor.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just uh, umm-yeah-no I'm good." Beca scrambled up off the floor, and back into her seat again, adjusting her shirt, and trying to keep what little pride she had left in check.

After taking a breath to calm her embarrassment, and to settle her thoughts, she looked at Chloe and asked, "Sorry, I um, how long have we what?"

"Been dating? Aren't you two secretly dating so you don't get in trouble with Aubrey?" Chloe asked again, her heart stuck in her throat.

"Why would we have to keep it a secret from Aubrey?" Beca asked automatically.

"Because Aubrey has the hots for Stacie," Chloe answered right back. Suddenly it dawned on her what she just said, and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

"What?"

"You can't tell anyone I told you that," Chloe pleaded with Beca. "Seriously Beca you can't."

"I won't," Beca responded with a chuckle, the idea of super uptight Aubrey Posen having 'the Hots' for anyone was rather amusing to the freshman. "I didn't even know she swung that way.. "

"Nobody knows," Chloe cut in. "I'm the only person she's told, and I really violated her trust just now. Her family, and her father especially, are very conservative. She's not sure where she sits on the sexuality spectrum, and so isn't ready to tell anyone."

This bit of information sobered Beca rather quickly. She completely understood the confusion of not knowing, or wondering how people will react. This news actually made her feel a bit closer to the high-strung Bellas captain.

"I know… she'd be disappointed, but it's okay if you two are seeing each other," Chloe couldn't yet admit out loud that she would also be disappointed.

"Stacie. And me. Dating?" Beca said slowly and Chloe nodded in affirmation.

"Why do you think Stacie and I are dating?" Beca asked, really at a loss why Chloe would think that.

"I actually overheard you talking with her yesterday," Chloe admitted, feeling like the proverbial child caught doing something naughty. "You two were talking, and I heard you both talk about going lingerie shopping and modeling for each other."

Before the redhead could say anything more, she watched the brunette contort her face, then let out a burst of laughter that caused her petite body to double over. It confused Chloe, and maybe offended her a bit.

A few moments pass before Beca manages to get her laughter under control, tears beginning to stream down her face somewhat. She coughs a couple times then sips her now tepid hot chocolate to wash away the dryness in her throat so she can respond appropriately to the redhead sitting across the table from her, who was looking a little alarmed and confused.

"Sorry for laughing, but that's–that's just an absurd thought for me. No, no, we uh, we're soooo not dating."

"Oh. You're not?" Chloe tried to keep her voice neutral, hoping Beca can't hear her heart beating out of her chest.

"No way dude. Not a chance," Beca replied emphatically.

"But she's so gorgeous," Chloe pointed out.

"She is gorgeous," Beca agreed.

"So you're not into gorgeous women?" Chloe asked. The name 'Jesse' flashed in her mind, and so Chloe amended her question. "Or not into women, at all?"

"I'm into gorgeous women," Beca answered quickly, before she really thought about her answer. It dawned on her an instant later she had just come out to Chloe.

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief, and then her mischievous side began to assert itself. "So you are into gorgeous women?"

Caught, Beca could only nod.

"But you're not into Stacie?" Chloe asked for clarification. Her voice betraying her mirth.

"No," Beca shook her head, though she caught Chloe's teasing tone. When Chloe raised an eyebrow challenging this, Beca decided to explain. "First of all, she's like my annoying big sister." Beca made a face to let the redhead know what she thought of that. She leaned forward and stage-whispered, "Don't tell her this, but I always wanted a sibling, especially a sister. Stacie has kind of slipped into that role, sometimes whether I wanted it or not."

"But what about the lingerie modeling?" Chloe asked.

Beca began to blush, her answer was much quieter, "That was Stacie teasing me about my underwear collection." She shrugged, "It's kind of plain and boring. She thinks I need to up my game, and of course she's volunteered to help. Personally I think it's an excuse to see me in my underwear. "

"I can understand why she would want to see you in your underwear," Chloe said. Then realized she had again spoken out loud things best left for her internal dialogue.

"You would?" Beca's eyes grew as wide as Chloe's.

The redhead could only nod in response; not completely trusting her voice.

"Maybe, uhh-you could go with me, you know instead of Stacie?" Beca offered.

"I could do that," Chloe smirked at that response, internally jumping for joy. "So, second?"

"Second?" Beca echoed. She had lost the thread of the conversation.

"You said, 'first', so I assume there is a second."

"Second…" Beca continued. "She's so not my type," Beca said casually, before instantly regretting her words. She knew Chloe well enough to know she had just opened a whole new line of questioning.

"So you have a type?" Chloe grinned with her flirty question. She totally recognized this as an opportunity to get to know the brunette a little bit better. maybe she could scope out if she had any chance with the alt-girl.

"And what type is Beca Mitchell attracted to, might I ask?" Chloe flirted.

Beca's cheeks were completely beet red at this point, memories of last night's dream running through her head. This left her not ready for any of the attention the redhead sitting across the table from her was currently giving her.

"I, um, it's not, I mean, I don't– I don't have a type per se," Beca answered in her meandering way. "But if I did, Stacie definitely wouldn't be it," she confidently added.

"Well, you are still fairly young, Bec. If you don't have a type, maybe you just don't know what you like yet." Chloe goaded the freshman girl.

"I know what I like." Beca said confidently, staring straight into the redhead's shining bright blue eyes.

Chloe's chest heaved up and down quietly, letting the moment between them hover in the air before speaking softly. "So what do you like?" The redhead asked it quietly, not breaking her gaze with the petite brunette.

Flaming red hair, blue eyes clearer than the ocean. A confident, crazy, knows-no-boundaries woman that has a smile as bright as the sun.

"I just like a personality that meshes with mine. I'm kind of hard to be around, so pretty much someone who can tolerate me at my worst, which is pretty often," Beca responded with a shrug of her shoulder.

"I don't think you're hard to be around," Chloe answered truthfully. "I've never seen you be anything other than amazing Beca, so I highly doubt you have a worst."

"Then maybe you haven't been hanging around me enough, Beale," Beca answered with a self-deprecating smile.

"Is that an open invitation, Mitchell?"

Yes!

"Maybe it is," Beca flirted back.

The two young women held each other's gaze for a solid minute before simultaneously breathing out airy smiles and looking away shyly. It was as if they were synchronized.

"Alright Becs. Let me ask another question. What kind of hair color do you prefer, then?"

"What?" Beca asked, slightly baffled by the question.

"You heard me. You know what you like... Well, what hair color do you like on a person? Everyone has a preference." Chloe asked in a sing-songy voice.

Flaming red hair

"Excuse you, I don't discriminate against hair color, thank you," Beca answered defiantly.

Chloe giggled.

"So blondes, brunettes…" Beca shrugged in a non-committed fashion.

Chloe then suggested, "Redheads?"

Definitely

Beca quickly caught Chloe's eyes before shifting them away again, looking down at her fingers when she responded.

"Can't say I've known too many redheads, but I've liked the ones I have," Beca smirked. There was a playfulness in her eyes that wasn't always present.

Chloe bit her lower lip, letting the moment settle between them before lightening the tension again, "What about rainbow colored hair."

"What?" Beca exclaimed with a laugh.

"Well, you said you don't discriminate." Chloe answered coyly.

"You got me there, Beale. I think rainbow hair might be a little too extreme, even for me. It's the artificial colors. I'm more of a neutral palate kind of gal," Beca explained as she sat back.

"Mmm. Fair enough."

The two women continued their conversation for a while longer, Beca got them refills of their hot chocolates. Later they shared a fruit tart, and all the while just talked. Some of it was flirtatious, other was stories about their childhood, or life back at Barden. Beca asked a few questions about Aubrey, while Chloe asked about Beca's high school experience. Both women were at ease with the other in a new way. Without words being spoken, they seem to have made an agreement that they did not need to be afraid of the other or be awkward anymore. They both knew instinctively that things were changing between them.

Looking at the time on her phone, Beca announced, "Oh, we have to go."

"What?" Chloe asked. She was unaware of any place they needed to be.

"We have to go," Beca repeated as she stood up.

"Where are we going?" Chloe asked.

"You'll see," Beca said with a smirk, "but I have it on good authority that you'll love it."

-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-

Note: Can you guess what they are doing next?

Hope you all are still enjoying this tale.