Fixes
6
A/N: Enjoy, Guys! The next few weeks are going to be a bit hectic for me between a big project at work, my brother visiting me from Ireland and a couple of big holidays (you might know the ones ;-) ) I have one more chapter prewritten for next week, but it might be a while before I'll be able to finish any more. I'll be back as soon as I can, Lovelies.
Thanksgiving morning seemed brighter, shinier, sunnier, more beautiful. Chloe hadn't been able to wrestle the smile off her face since that morning and she was singing softly as she helped her dad put the turkey into the infrared cooker.
"I've missed that, Baby Girl," Tom said with a smile.
"Missed what?" Chloe asked, eyebrows hiked.
"Hearing you sing like that. You sound happy."
"Oh... I am," the redhead grinned, white teeth flashing.
"Does Beca have anything to do with that?" her dad asked carefully. "You two seem... very happy... this morning."
"Definitely. We told each other how we really feel," the vet replied. "Knowing she loves me as much as I love her is just... amazing." Then she spotted a frolicking golden retriever and put two fingers into her mouth to whistle to him. "Hey, why don't I look at Duke now? I might need you to help me if he doesn't want to cooperate."
"Sure," Tom replied. "And you know, Baby Girl, I'm really happy for you. Beca's lovely."
"Thanks, Pop." Chloe said happily as the big dog lumbered up the three steps onto the back deck and sat at her feet. She reached for his leash hanging next to the door. "Hi, Dukey," she said in a high voice. "How's my smiling boy?" She ruffled his fur and kissed his nose as she got down on her knees. Then she clipped his leash to his collar and gently wrapped the leather length two loops around his snout. "Just as a precaution, since I don't have a muzzle," she explained at her dad's surprised look. "If I touch him somewhere painful, he might bite reflexively, and I'd really like to keep all my body parts intact, thank you very much."
"Ah, got it," Tom agreed. "Learned that the hard way, did you?"
"Yep," the vet replied. She showed him the scars she already had. "Not all dogs of course. This one…" She pointed out the evidence of double puncture marks in the web between her right thumb and index finger. "Was a fuck you from a very pissed off snake."
"Watch your language, young Lady," her father teased as she stood Duke up and started running her hands over his hind quarters.
Chloe snorted softly. "I'm an adult, Pop. Get over it."
Tom grinned. "Fair enough."
She'd just started manipulating Duke's right hip joint when he growled a warning to her and then whimpered. "Ooookay, Dukey," she soothed, rubbing his ears. "I suspect his arthritis is worse. In fairness though, he's in great condition for a sixteen-year-old. I've seen dogs half his age in much worse shape, but I think you need to take him in for a full geriatric workup. The vet will check joint fluid and maybe take some x-rays to see if the arthritis is any worse. Some things, I just can't diagnose through a physical exam but send me the x-ray images and I'll review them as a second opinion."
"Thanks, Baby," Tom agreed. "I'll call on Saturday and make an appointment for him to be seen."
"Cool," Chloe nodded. Then she went on with the physical exam. She was almost done when she suddenly paused and ran her hand over Duke's chest again. "He has a mass right here," she said. She leaned closer and tried to get her fingers around it through his fur to manipulate it. It was fairly mobile, and she nodded to herself. "It feels like it might be a fatty deposit but get them to check that too, ok?"
"Hey, Chloe?" her dad said softly.
Light blue eyes lifted. "Mmm…?"
"I'm so proud of you, Doctor Beale, you know?"
Chloe smiled and leaned in to give him a one-armed hug. "Thanks, Pop."
Just then the kitchen door opened and Beca came out onto the deck, carrying two glasses of iced tea. She handed one to Tom. "I come bearing drinks," she stated. "I reckoned turkey stuff must be thirsty work."
Tom and Chloe flashed her identical grins and the vet unmuzzled Duke before getting up and dusting off her knees. She wrapped one arm around her girlfriend's waist then and dipped her a little to kiss her as she eased the glass out of her hand. "Thanks, Becs."
The musician's cheeks turned pink, and she cleared her throat as she looked furtively at Tom. He laughed and held his hands up. "This is all new to us too, Beca. Chloe's never brought anyone home before so… just go with it and we will too, ok?"
The vet swallowed a mouthful of sweet tea and then shrugged. "Toldja."
Xx
Beca was sitting on the front porch with Mo, rocking gently as they watched Chloe and Duke race madly around the huge front yard, chasing Jack and Mark with their football.
"TOUCHDOWN!" Mark yelled, doing a little victory dance as he slammed the ball into the ground. "We beat you, Chlocifer!"
"Dude!" Chloe exclaimed, skidding to a stop and bending over, chest heaving. "No fair! I'm old, I can't keep up with you!"
Mo snorted and exchanged a look with her daughter's girlfriend. "Is she still running five miles every day?"
"Almost every day, yep," Beca chuckled. "She's totally faking. It's so adorable how great she is with the kids. She's going to be an amazing mom someday."
Her eyes met her girlfriend's, and she received a little wink. Beca melted and just gazed admiringly at the strong body that, only a few hours earlier, had come undone under her touch. She wanted so much to feel that again.
"You wear your thoughts on your face," Mo said with a little laugh. "So, I assume what I thought I heard happening this morning in Chloe's shower was actually happening?"
The musician turned red and covered her eyes with her hand. "I'm so sorry. It totally wasn't planned. She… she told me she loves me for the first time and… we…"
But the older woman just squeezed her forearm gently. "It's ok. She may be my daughter, but I do have eyes. She's a gorgeous woman, Beca. I get why you can't keep your hands off her."
Beca turned redder and just shook her head. "I'm still sorry."
"Why?" Mo chuckled. She leaned on the arm of her chair, gazing at the musician with a smile. "Look, Honey, you're head over heels in love with each other and you're both consenting adults. If you want to fuck... fuck! How do you think Tom and I ended up with seven kids?! Probably the only reason we don't have more is because Tom got a vasectomy after I got pregnant with Jack." She paused then and glanced around. "Don't tell anyone I swore like that... or that I just made myself sound like a nymphomaniac."
Beca laughed helplessly. "No, Ma'am."
Then she laughed again as Chloe hopped up onto the porch, dragged her out of the rocking chair and sat down, pulling her back down to sit sideways in her lap with her legs over the wooden arm. "Hi, Beautiful," the redhead beamed, chomping playfully at Beca's neck and making her giggle uncharacteristically.
"Yuck… you're all sweaty," the brunette teased, wrapping her arm around her lover's neck anyway and leaning against her chest.
"Guess I need another shower," the vet replied, waggling her eyebrows. Her palm absently rubbed the brunette's stomach under her shirt.
"Down, Girl!" Mo stated with a laugh.
Chloe looked at Beca questioningly.
"She knows," the musician said. "We weren't as quiet as we thought we were."
The vet blinked. "It was Beca's fault," she said, pointing innocently at her girlfriend. "She made me do it."
The brunette rolled her eyes. "Right. Thanks for that, Babe."
But Chloe just smiled. "I love you."
Mo chuckled as Beca stared at her girlfriend, slightly speechless at how easily Chloe said the words. "I love you too," she replied after a moment, lifting her hand to caress a slightly flushed cheek.
Xx
The family was settling down at the large dining room table to eat dinner, when a surprise visitor made an appearance. Chloe squealed as she jumped up and ran into a man's arms to hug him to within an inch of his life.
"Tommy!"
"Hi, Chlo."
Thomas Beale, Junior, next eldest to Chloe at twenty-nine, was dressed in a dark grey suit. He was tall and very handsome with the same red hair and blue eyes as almost all his siblings.
"I didn't think you were going to be here," the vet said.
"Wanted to see you," he replied, eyes a little unfocused. It was only then that Chloe realized he'd already been drinking, and she frowned a little.
"T…"
But he eased out of her arms and went to greet the rest of the family. He went around the table until he reached Beca and paused, holding out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Tommy. We haven't met…" He eyed the brunette appreciatively. "Because I'd definitely remember you."
Chloe rolled her eyes, but Beca just smiled at him and took his hand to shake it. "Beca Mitchell, Chloe's girlfriend."
"Ah," Tommy nodded. "My sister obviously has exquisite taste in women."
Beca inclined her head gracefully. She got the impression that Chloe's brother was trying to flirt with her, and she thought it safer to not respond.
The vet had taken her seat next to her girlfriend again, arm wrapped around her shoulders almost possessively. The musician saw the potential for a pissing match, so she squeezed Chloe's thigh under the table. "Hey," she said softly and then smiled. The redhead smiled back.
"Mom, can we talk about what we're thankful for now?" Jack asked, oblivious to the sudden tension.
"I think that's a lovely idea," Mo replied. "Dad can go first."
Tom smiled "As always, I'm grateful for my kids, my beautiful wife and my health. And I hope I get to say that again next year."
Mo went next. "I'm grateful for this family, how close we are and how we love and support each other."
All eyes moved to Chloe then. "I'm grateful for all the blessings in my life… my family, my friends, my new job… and this year, I'm grateful that I've found someone to bring home to meet you all. Thank you for welcoming her. Love you, Becs."
The brunette melted and placed a chaste kiss on her girlfriend's cheek. Then she realized it was her turn. "I've been through some bad stuff in my life," she said softly. "But I wouldn't change that now because it brought me to all of you. I'm grateful for that and I'm so grateful for Chloe, who's shown me that falling in love can be as natural and easy as breathing air." Tears welled in her eyes. "I thought for a long time that I could never have that." Her voice was stolen by emotion, and she was suddenly embarrassed, but the look in Chloe's eyes as she caressed her cheek, washed it away. "I love you, Chlocifer."
The expressions of gratitude went on as Beca leaned against her girlfriend, smiling at the gentle pressure of lips against her head.
Xx
Chloe was yelling at the football game on TV and Beca laughed when she started throwing popcorn at it. "For fuck's sake, Dude, are you blind?!"
"Language!" Mark, Jack and Mo all exclaimed at the same time.
Chloe clapped a hand over her mouth and settled back down, squashed between Beca and Melissa on the love seat. "Sorry," she mumbled against the neck of her beer bottle. She was a little tipsy, she realized, and maybe a tad too invested in the blaring game.
Beca laughed a little and then eased out of her seat. "I need some air, Chlo. I'll be back in a few."
Chloe kissed her knuckles with a smile and then suddenly found something else to yell at the TV about. The brunette chuckled and headed toward the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, then left out the back door and trotted down the steps of the deck. It was dark and she strolled across the grass, lit by moonlight and the glow from the house, toward a fence to sit up on it and gaze up at the stars. She was happy to sit alone for a few moments and let the family enjoy the game together. So many people together were a little overwhelming, but her heart swelled with unexpected affection for all the Beales she'd had the honor of spending time with.
"Hey, you ok?"
Beca looked over her shoulder to see Tommy strolling toward her, a beer in his hand. He was slightly unsteady on his feet and the musician made a mental note to ask Chloe what was going on with him.
"I'm fine," she replied with a smile. "Just getting some air and looking at the stars."
He joined her to lean on the fence, looking up at the sky too. His head was even with her shoulder, and he head-butted it gently with his forehead. "They're pretty, just like you."
"I don't know about that," Beca replied carefully, avoiding eye-contact with him.
"I do," he said, slurring just a tad. "If you weren't with my sister, I'd ask you out on a date in a heartbeat."
Beca nodded. "But I AM with your sister," she reminded him.
Tommy straightened and sidled closer, moving into her personal space and suddenly making her feel very uncomfortable. Anxiety began to needle at her chest. "What she doesn't know about won't hurt her," he said, leaning even closer as if he was going to kiss her.
Beca leaned away. "Tommy, stop," she said firmly. "I'm gay and you're drunk. You're not making good choices right now. Don't do something you're going to regret."
A grin stretched his lips. "Oh, I think I'm making stellar choices and I never regret anything," he replied as he went for her lips again, grasping her hip in his big hand as her hands came up to protect herself. But then there were running footsteps and he was suddenly being hauled back by his collar. "What the…" He turned and barely saw the knuckles headed for his face before they connected solidly and took him straight down.
"Asshole!" Chloe exclaimed as Beca gasped and hopped down from the fence. "Get up!"
Tommy was on his back, holding his nose. "Jesus, Chloe! What the hell?!"
The vet bent over and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, dragging him back up and onto his feet. He towered over her as she pulled her fist back again, but Beca grabbed her arm and hung on. "Chloe! Baby, stop!"
It did stop the vet and instead, she pointed a finger into her brother's face. "You have no idea what she's been through!" she yelled. "You have no clue what she's had to survive! Leave her the FUCK alone! Do you hear me?!"
"I hear you, Chloe, Jesus Christ," Tommy exclaimed and then turned to head back into the house, holding his bloody nose. He passed his parents as they came to see what was happening but just held up a hand and kept walking when they tried to question him.
Chloe's chest was heaving, and she grasped her hands into her hair as she tried to calm down. Beca wrapped her arms around her waist, going cheek to cheek with her lover as she hugged her gently. "It's ok, Chlo," she said. "He didn't hurt me. Breathe, ok?"
"What's going on?" Tom asked. "What the hell happened?"
"Ask your alcoholic, piece of shit son!" the vet spat angrily. All five-foot-four of her was vibrating with energy she didn't know what to do with.
Beca tried to soothe her by rubbing her back. "Tommy's drunk," she told the older Beales. "He tried to kiss me, and Chloe hit him."
Mo tutted and shook her head. "Tom, go see if Tommy needs to go to the E.R. If he doesn't now, he might after I'm done with him."
Her husband nodded and headed back into the house.
Then the older woman moved closer to Chloe and Beca. "Firstly, Beca, are you ok, Honey?"
"Yeah," the musician replied. "I'm ok, thank you."
Chloe was calmer now and she looked at her mother, light blue eyes welling with tears. "Sorry," she said, shaking her head as she wrapped her arms around Beca and clung to her. "I just… saw red… I… he shouldn't have touched her. No one should have ever hurt her." Tears were trickling down her face now.
Beca rubbed her girlfriend's back gently as she looked at Mo. "I was attacked in the street and raped two years ago in Atlanta," she said. "It's taken a lot of therapy and a lot of kindness and understanding from Chloe to get me to where I am now… to be able to accept her touch without having a panic attack."
"Oh Sweetheart," the older woman said, reaching out to caress her cheek. "I'm so sorry that happened to you." Then she looked at her daughter. "What can I do, Chloe?"
"Just… get him out of here please," the vet asked. "I'll talk to him later but I… just can't right now."
Her mother nodded and then kissed her cheek. "Do you need some ice for that hand?"
Chloe looked down at her bruised knuckles. "Uh… I think maybe I do," she winced as she opened and closed her fist. "Thanks, Mom."
"Crap, is it broken?" Beca asked.
"Nah," the younger Beale shrugged. "It's probably just sprained." She sighed then and shook her head. "I need some time alone with you, Beca, can we hang out in our room for a bit?"
"Of course, Babe," the musician replied.
Mo nodded. "I'll bring the ice up to you."
"Thanks."
Xx
Chloe was very upset as she sat on the bed, Beca taking a seat beside her. "I'm so mad at him," she said. "But not just because of what he tried tonight with you. I… I think I've been mad at him for a long time, Becs."
The brunette nodded, gently combing her fingers through the vet's long, red hair. "You said… is he really an alcoholic?"
"Yeah," Chloe nodded. "He started drinking in high school and I had to pick him up, trashed out of his mind, from parties a lot. Then I went to college, and he didn't have anyone to moderate him. I should have told my parents, but I didn't, and it got worse. Then he got married and divorced and it just got even worse. He shows up drunk to everything. He stole money from Mom and Dad... from me… even allowance money from Mel so he could get a beer one day." She shook her head. "He's been to rehab; he's had a poor liver health diagnosis… but he just keeps drinking. I'm…" She sniffled a little. "I'm so scared I'll lose him, and I can't do a thing to stop it."
There was a knock at the door then and it slowly opened to let Mo come inside. She had an ice pack wrapped in a dish cloth in her hands and she brought it to the bed to sit on the edge. "My Baby Girl," she said, stroking her fingers through her daughter's hair. "I know you don't want to hear this but… you know there's nothing we can do for Tommy. Until the day he makes the decision for himself, he's not going to stop drinking."
The younger Beale nodded. "Yeah, I know." Then she hissed with pain as her mom pressed the ice pack to her hand.
"And he has to learn that his actions while drunk, have consequences," Mo went on. "Tonight, he got himself punched. And I certainly don't blame you for punching him for making a move on Beca."
They looked to the door then when Melissa came in and crossed the room to sit on the other side of Beca on the bed. "Hey, Slugger," she grinned. "Heard you knocked six-foot-four-inch Tommy on his back with a single punch. Either you're superhuman or he's a pansy-ass."
"It's the first one," Beca stated, making Chloe chuckle and blush a little.
Then Melissa tilted her head. "But I thought punching was never the answer, Chlo," she teased. "Guess we got a peek at the real Chlocifer."
The vet rolled her eyes but then something occurred to her. A segue had presented itself. "You say that now but just you wait until someone comes on to YOUR girlfriend like that."
Mel totally took the opening. "I see your point, Sis. If anyone tried to kiss Hailey like that, I'd probably punch them too."
Beca smiled to herself as Mo's ears perked up. "Hailey?" the older woman said. "Melissa Beale, are you dating someone without telling your mother?"
"Um… yeah… kinda," Mel replied. "We've been dating a few weeks now."
"Actually," Chloe said casually. "Beca and I are double dating with them tomorrow night." She felt a whole lot better, now she had something else to think about, and helping her baby sister was something she could definitely focus on.
"Actually, that reminds me," Beca added. "Chloe and I were wondering if we could borrow something to wear please, Mo? Neither of us brought double-date-worthy outfits."
"Oh… of course, feel free to go through my closet," Mo replied with a smile. "And Mel, you're going to have to wear something killer to impress Hailey."
And it was done. Melissa looked gratefully at her sister and Chloe just grinned back.
Xx
Chloe was very quiet as she and Beca lay in bed. The room was softly illuminated by one lamp and Beca just snuggled against her, softly rubbing her chest. "Dude, a lot's happened the last two days," she said.
Chloe snorted a little laugh at what struck her as possibly the understatement of the year. "Totes. I didn't expect everything to just…" The vet trailed off as her light blue eyes met her girlfriend's dark blue. "It's a lot. I wasn't expecting to have to deal with Maura, or Tommy's bullshit." She kissed the musician's forehead. "I'm sorry you had to see me lose my temper so badly like that, Beca. I honestly can't remember the last time that happened. I don't want you to think that's what I'm like and not want to be with me."
"I'M not sorry I saw that, Chloe," the petite brunette replied. "You were protecting me, right?"
"I…uh…" The vet blushed a little and bit her bottom lip. "Yeah, I guess I was."
They were quiet for another moment and then Beca began to sing quietly.
"I got my ticket for the long way 'round.
The one with the prettiest of views.
It's got mountains, it's got rivers,
It's got sights to give you shivers,
But it sure would be prettier with you."
Chloe's eyes filled with tears, and she bit her bottom lip again as she shakily took a breath. "Beca", she whispered.
Beca kissed her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
Xx
Black Friday. Chloe was dozing and Beca was in the shower when a fist pounded hard enough on the door to make the vet jump.
"Holy sh…" She sat up and scowled. "It's too early! Go away!"
"Chloe Beale, stop fucking your girlfriend and open this door right now!"
"Oh my God," the older woman sighed. "OK, OK!" She got out of bed and went to the door to unlock and open it, leaning against the jamb with her eyebrow raised. "Seriously, Micky?"
But her sister just laughed and threw herself into her arms for a loving hug. "Hi, Chlochlo." Michelle was next eldest after Tommy at twenty-six, and the tallest of all the girls. "Where's this woman the kids won't shut up about?"
With impressive if unplanned timing, Beca opened the door of the bathroom and stepped into the bedroom wearing only a short towel, with her long dark hair dripping down her chest. Micky smirked. "Wow, SHE'S with YOU?" she teased. "She's obviously WAY too good for you!"
Beca stopped and turned at the new voice, eyebrow hiking. "Oh God… ANOTHER Beale?" she asked Chloe jokingly.
Micky laughed and punched her sister's shoulder. "I like her already."
The brunette chuckled as she crossed the room to hold out her hand. "I'm Beca. Sorry I'm not wearing pants… or actually anything at all."
Chloe grinned. "Becs, this is Michelle, but she prefers Micky."
The two women shook hands and Micky beamed the Beale smile. "Nice to meet the first person my sister's ever brought home. Congratulations for putting up with her."
"Shut up, Beeotch," the vet laughed. "And get out so Beca can put some clothes on."
Micky held up her hands and backed off. "Sure. Oh, and Mom says breakfast is ready and to not let it go cold."
The older redhead nodded. "Hey… is Tommy here?"
"I haven't seen him… why?"
"He and I had a fight last night," the vet said. "I'm not ready to talk to him."
Micky looked at Chloe's bandaged hand and put two and two together. "Oh shit! Please tell me you punched him, Chlo!"
Beca blinked and looked back and forth between the two sisters.
"Um… yeah... I punched him." Chloe said sheepishly.
"What did he do THIS time?" the younger redhead asked. "Let me guess, he showed up to dinner drunk and said something to piss you off?"
"No, it was worse than that," the vet replied, biting her bottom lip as she glanced at Beca. "It's over now. I'm just not ready to talk to him. I'm still too pissed off."
"Ok… Oh, hey, did you hear Mel came out?" Micky said.
Chloe chuckled. "Beca and I are double-dating with her tonight."
"Sweet!" the younger Beale said. "Anyway, get your butts downstairs before Mom sends the bloodhounds to find you." She grinned. "And yes, I'm talking about Mark and Jack." She turned on her heel then and walked away.
Chloe closed the door and shook her head. "I've just realized that you've now met all of my crazy family members except Zoe. I have no idea how that happened. I thought Tommy and Micky were supposed to be out of state for Thanksgiving."
"It's cool though," Beca smiled. She went to the closet and pulled out fresh skinny jeans, a black t-shirt and a red flannel, then dropped her towel to get into her underwear.
"Mmmmm…" Chloe hummed softly, coming up behind her and cupping her breasts as she leaned in to kiss her neck. "Being as hot as you are, should be illegal, Ms. Mitchell."
The musician chuckled as she turned and playfully shoved her girlfriend away. "Go shower, Doctor Beale."
Chloe beamed back at her and went to do just that.
Xx
"Holy crap, Chlocifer!" Micky exclaimed as Chloe and Beca ambled into the kitchen to join the family for breakfast. "You broke Tommy's nose?!"
Mel sipped her coffee and then looked over the rim of the mug as the vet and musician took seats at the table. "Asshat."
"Asshat," Jack repeated.
"Hey…" Chloe warned them. Jack looked down contritely. Melissa just smirked.
Beca looked around the table. "Why do you guys call her Chlocifer?"
"Because…" Micky chuckled softly. "Growing up, she was always the one keeping us on the straight and narrow. She was annoyingly good for us and therefore evil. Hence, Chlocifer."
"She saved my life once," a male voice said and they all looked toward the kitchen door to find Tommy there, a Band Aid across the bridge of his nose. "I got alcohol poisoning and she brought my stupid ass to the hospital. I probably would have died if she hadn't found me." Chloe sucked in a pained breath at the memory as her brother rounded the table to kneel next to Beca. He brought a bouquet of flowers out from behind his back and spoke quietly. "Beca, I'm sober. I haven't had anything to drink today, and I want to sincerely apologize for what I said and did last night."
Mo and Tom, who'd been quiet so far, looked at each other in surprise.
The man shook his head. "It apparently took my big sister punching me to finally get it into my thick skull that I need to change. I'm checking myself into a recovery facility, but I wanted to apologize to you… and to you, Chloe… before I go. I'm really sorry."
Beca smiled softly. "It's ok, Dude," she said. "We're ok." She took the flowers and brought them to her nose. "These are beautiful, thank you."
For a long moment, the vet just gazed at her brother. Then she looked down and smiled a little. "You sprained my hand with your stupid face," she said. Then she got up and pulled him up onto his feet to hug him around the waist. "But I forgive you."
Just then the kitchen door opened, and a blonde head stuck itself into the room. "Sorry, I'm late," Zoe grinned. "What did I miss?"
The vet blinked and then went to hug her little sister. "Oh my God," she said. "I can't believe… you're all here," she said.
But Tommy just smiled. "Of course we're all here. You're here, and we all wanted to see you. We miss you, Big Sister. Don't you know that you're the glue that holds us all together? You fix us, Chloe."
Chloe's eyes filled with tears as she gazed speechlessly at her siblings. Jack was looking at her like she was the thing he loved most in the world. Like ice-cream. "I love you guys," she sniffled then. "Thank you."
Tommy nodded and smiled back at her. Then he looked down. "I need to get a cab and get going."
Chloe locked eyes with her girlfriend, communicating silently with her. Beca just smiled and nodded slightly. "Not a chance," the vet said. "I'm driving you."
"But… you should stay with Beca…" Tommy protested but Chloe shook her head.
"Beca totes gets it. I'm driving you. Dad, can I borrow your car?"
Tom nodded and tossed his keys to her. "Go on."
Chloe nodded in reply and then went back to Beca's side to crouch next to her chair. "I'll probably be a couple of hours or maybe a little longer," she said quietly.
Beca let everything and everyone in the room fade out as she looked into Chloe's gorgeous blue eyes. Then she held her cheeks and leaned in to kiss her. "Take care of him. You know where I'll be when you get back," she replied. "Right here, waiting for you."
"I fucking love you," the vet stated, not caring an iota who might be listening.
Beca grinned happily. "I love you too, Babe."
Chloe straightened then and went outside to wait as Tommy said his goodbyes. As the kitchen door swung shut behind them, the vet heard her girlfriend's teasing tone. "This is all of you guys now, right? No more surprise Beales?"
And the family just laughed along with her.
