Fixes
12
A/N: Hi Friends and happy new year. The last two and a half weeks have been rough. I travelled home to Ireland to spend Christmas with my family for the first time in four years but, two days after I arrived, my uncle died. It was a time of both happiness and grief for my family.
I managed to get this chapter written. I don't feel like it's the best, but it did ease me back into writing again and hopefully, next chapter, I'll have it in me to write something better.
Chloe jerked awake, still in the grips of a nightmare where she couldn't save Beca from Meyers' clutches. "Fuck," she groaned, trying to relax as her back ached from having been clenched so tightly. She turned her head and found her lover still sleeping, hand tucked under her cheek and dark hair spilling over her pillow.
The vet blew out a long breath and climbed out of bed, going to the mini fridge to grab a bottle of water. She gulped it down and then shivered in the air conditioning, goosebumps standing out on her naked skin.
The clock on her nightstand read seven-fifteen and she knew her dad would already be up, so she pulled her sweats on and stepped out onto the balcony, being careful to close the doors behind her so she wouldn't wake Beca. Then she took a seat in one of the rattan chairs, feet tucked up under her.
The line rang a few times and she thought it would go to voicemail when her dad's deep voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
"Hi, Baby, you're calling early." Chloe eyes filled with tears and a sob escaped her. "Chloe, what's wrong? Did… did something happen to Beca or…"
"No… no," the vet managed to get out. "I'm just… Shit, Pop, I'm just…"
"Alright, Baby, just breathe, ok?" Tom said softly. "Where are you?"
"Um…" Chloe sniffled and wiped her sleeve across her nose. "Um… I'm still in Atlanta with Beca. I'm on the balcony of our hotel room and she's still sleeping." She sniffled again. "I just needed to talk to you, Daddy."
"I'm here. Tell me what's wrong," the man replied.
"I'm scared. My fiancée's rapist is out there a free man and I'm so scared I won't be able to protect her."
"Chloe," Tom said, tone more serious. "Do you have any reason to believe that he's coming after her again?"
"Yes…" Chloe paused. "No… I just… she's the prosecutor's star witness and I'm so scared Meyers is going to try to take her out. He's already killed a nurse and a police officer. But Beca doesn't want to go home. She's being… righteously defiant… and while I get that she wants to stay here and confront everything head on, I… a part of me can't help but think it's not the right thing to do. It just feels… too dangerous to me." She shuddered a little. "Maybe I'm being a coward, Pop, but… I just want to go home."
"Honey, you need to tell Beca how you feel," Tom said gently. "She loves you. She won't think you're a coward. I taught you to listen to your gut, Baby Girl, and your gut is talking to you. It's why you feel so conflicted."
Chloe nodded to herself, knowing what her dad had said was true. He HAD taught her to listen to her gut and it had gotten her out of sticky situations more than once in her life. "You're right. Thanks, Dad. I'll talk to her."
"Chlo, tell me honestly, do you want your mom and me to come to L.A.?"
As much as Chloe wanted to see her parents, she knew she and Beca would be safer back home and she'd be seeing her family soon in Tampa for wedding planning anyway. "No… it's ok, Pop. We'll be ok."
"Alright," Tom said. "But if you change your mind, we'll be on the next flight."
The vet's eyes filled with tears again. "I know you will. Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too, Chloe, and… I'm really glad you're finally making a life for yourself. I'm so sorry that with Tommy and…"
"No… it's ok," the redhead interrupted. "I made my own choices, Pop… and my own mistakes." She wiped her eyes then. "I've gotta go. See you soon."
"Bye, Baby."
Tom hung up and Chloe closed her eyes, letting her phone fall into her lap as she let the tears come in earnest. She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there, but her tears had already dried when the balcony doors slowly opened and a brunette head appeared.
"Hey," Beca said softly.
"Hey," Chloe smiled. She stretched her legs out and opened her arms. The musician curled up in her lap and gazed into her red-rimmed eyes. "Did you sleep well?"
"I slept pretty well, all things considered. How 'bout you?" Beca knew Chloe had been crying and that her girlfriend didn't like to acknowledge when she had, so she eased into the conversation.
Chloe debated whether she should lie or not, then decided against it. She and Beca never lied to each other. "Not really. I had some bad nightmares."
"About?" the brunette asked but when Chloe didn't immediately reply, she sighed. "About me, right?"
The redhead nodded. "I can't shake the feeling that we shouldn't be here."
Gentle fingers ran through her hair, softly scratching her scalp. "Be honest, Chlo. You want to go home, right?"
"Yeah," the vet breathed. "I really do. I'm scared here."
"Then we'll go home. I'm not putting you through any more of this fear, Chloe. I love you too much."
"I called my dad earlier," Chloe said. "I was worried you'd think I was a coward for wanting to leave and he said to just talk to you. To tell you how I feel. Thank you for not making have to."
"Your parents must think I'm more trouble than I'm worth," Beca whispered unhappily.
"My whole family loves you, Becs," the redhead replied with a smile as she kissed her lover's forehead.
"Good," the musician nodded, "Because I love them too." She patted her lover's chest gently. "Let's get packed and try to get home."
"I'll look at flights," Chloe replied, face a mixture of happiness and relief.
Xx
Chloe had never been so happy to be home as she turned her key in the lock and let them into their Los Angeles apartment. Beca had been suspiciously quiet since they'd left Atlanta and she just wanted to snuggle with her fiancée in their bed, and maybe try to forget the serial rapist that was running around loose in the city.
"Honey, you ok?" Chloe asked worriedly.
The musician snorted a little laugh. "Right now, I'm fine, but ask me in five minute's time and I might give you a different answer."
Chloe wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and pressed a long kiss to her forehead. "I love you," she said sincerely. "More than anything. And I want you to be happy, Beca. Right at this moment, what will make you happy?"
"You… holding me," the brunette whispered in reply. "In our bed."
The vet nodded and shuffled them back toward the bedroom. "I think we both need a nap," she smiled. Bella appeared from under the couch, rubbing herself around their legs and almost tripping them.
Beca scooped her up and kissed her nose. "Hi, Baby Girl. Were you good for Aunt Aubrey?"
The orange tabby meowed innocently and began to purr as Chloe rubbed her ears. "We missed you too, Bells."
They carried her into the bedroom with them and a quick shower later, they were snuggled together in their bed. "I'm glad to be home," Beca admitted, dropping little kisses on Chloe's chest.
"Me too," the vet replied with a soft smile. "I need to get back to work tomorrow."
"Me too," Beca agreed. "I missed a couple of meetings with Disney so I really need to catch up with them.
"Did Benji get the contract looked over by a lawyer?"
The brunette sighed. "I probably have an email somewhere I haven't read yet about that." She grabbed her phone off the nightstand and opened her email app to look through the list. "Hmm… yup." She scanned the text and a small smile turned her lips up. "He managed to negotiate an extra ten percent… with the Oscar nom and stuff."
"That's great," Chloe nodded with a grin. "Every little bit helps."
"So…" Beca said thoughtfully. "I was thinking about something. How would you feel about moving?"
"Moving?" Chloe repeated. "Moving to where?"
The musician smiled and shrugged a little. "I've had this dream," she said. "That when I made it, I'd buy a house on a beach."
The vet smiled, waiting for her to go on. "Mmm…"
"I was thinking we could do that and you could open your own practice maybe? And bring Aubrey of course? Ooooorrr…" She grinned and snuggled closer to her lover. "You could give up work completely and just be a kept woman."
"I'd be so bored if I didn't work," Chloe laughed. "But the first idea definitely has merit." Her face sobered then. "But, Becs, it takes a lot of capital to be able to start a practice and I don't have it."
"Honey, you haven't seen the amount on this contract, right?"
"No," the vet admitted, then craned her neck as Beca held out her phone to show her the figure. "Holy shit."
"Ten percent of that would be enough to get you up and running, right?" Chloe nodded speechlessly and the musician laughed softly. "Want to start looking for properties after the wedding?"
"I'd love to," Chloe replied. "Do you have any idea where?"
"Not really," Beca shrugged. "Maybe we should just throw a dart at a map?"
The redhead laughed happily. "How about we just start with picking a price range and looking for beachfront properties?"
"Sounds like a plan!"
Xx
After a month back in Los Angeles, Beca and Chloe were visiting with the Beales in Tampa and beginning their wedding planning. They'd picked the perfect spot on the Beale property under the shade of a old, giant tree and they were working with Mo as their wedding planner to put together the details.
Each of Chloe's siblings were in the wedding party… except they were having a problem finding a job for Jack.
"But…" The little boy shook his head and frowned as Chloe crossed her arms, looking down at him.
"I know, Dude, but you're not a girl."
"Can't there be a flower boy?" he pouted, blinking his blue eyes at her. "I like flowers."
Chloe looked at Beca, who just shrugged and smiled. "He has a point, Chlo. We don't have a flower girl and Mark is the ring bearer so…"
"Maybe we could call you the Petal Bearer," the vet mused. "Would that be ok?"
Jack nodded, flashing a gap-toothed grin. "I like it."
"Cool." Beca fist-bumped him. "Did you get measured for your suit?"
"Yep. It's navy."
"And what color is your tie?" she asked.
"Mark said I have to wear a pink tie."
The vet tried to desperately keep a straight face as Jack scowled adorably. The adults had agreed that the boys would wear a tie a lighter shade of blue than their suits but seeing the look on Mark's face when Chloe had solemnly announced they'd be wearing pink had been more than enough for her to want to keep the charade going.
"It's pink like a flamingo," she said. "We're in Florida and I like tradition."
Jack's scowl deepened but he didn't say anything. He just kicked at a stone and wandered away, muttering to himself something about not wanting to dress like a girl.
"Chlocifer at her best," Beca sniggered. "He's not at ALL amused."
"I know but I can't help it. His face is so funny," the vet grinned. "Next time, I'm telling him that it's pink with lace tutu on it."
"Chloe! Beca!" Mo yelled from the kitchen, pulling their attention away from the vet's evil thoughts.
"Yeah, Mom?" Chloe yelled back.
"Can you both come here please?"
"Sure!" Beca called back.
The two women headed for the kitchen. "What's up, Mom?"
Mo was dressed in an apron over her shorts and t-shirt, and she was covered in flour. "Here, taste this," she said. "If you like it, it'd make a great wedding cake."
Chloe and Beca took the proffered confection, and each took a bite. "Oh... wow..." the musician murmured as a zesty lemon taste spread through her mouth. "That's delicious!"
"Yeah, Mom," the vet agreed with a bright smile. "Needs ice-cream with it."
Beca's dark eyebrows shot up. "In the heat, Babe? Won't it melt outside?"
Chloe wrapped her arms around her fiancée and nibbled her ear. "If it melts, I can just lick it off you," she said.
"Seriously, Chloe?" the musician admonished, blushing a deep red as Mo sniggered to herself. "You had to go there?"
"Most definitely," the vet laughed. "But ANYWAY... yeah, the cake is amazing, Mom. I'd be happy to have it. What do you think, Becs?"
"I think it's perfect. But I think I'd like heavy whipping cream and fruit on top, as well as ice-cream."
The elder Beale made a note on her iPad and nodded happily. "Sounds perfect."
Beca leaned on the island then and took a deep breath. "So, I spoke to my mom," she said. "And she wants to help with the planning."
Chloe and Mo nodded, identical impassive expressions on their faces. "What is it she'd like to help with?" the vet asked.
"My dress. She wants to make my dress."
"But..." Chloe paused. "You've already chosen your dress... right?"
"Yeah, but..." The musician sighed softly. "I don't want to hurt her feelings. She wants to be involved."
"Well, what if you sent her a picture of the dress you want and have her make it for you?" Mo looked back and forth between the two women. "Win, win… right?"
"That's a good compromise, Becs," Chloe agreed. "But will she have enough time?"
"I guess I can only ask her," the musician replied. "I'll talk to her now."
Beca pulled out her phone and strolled out onto the back deck while Chloe helped her mother clean up from the baking.
"You still haven't met her mom, right?" Mo asked conversationally.
"No," the vet replied with a shrug. "I think Beca's been putting it on the long finger, honestly."
"Does Beca not get along with her?"
Chloe hopped up to sit on the island counter, swinging her legs a little. Mo smiled, remembering a much smaller Chloe doing the same thing. "It's not really that," the vet mused. "It's more that... there's still conflict between her parents, even though they've been divorced for years, and it causes stress for Beca. She invited them to the Oscars with us and now she's worried that her mom will cause a scene with Sheila."
"Which is first? Wedding or Oscars?"
"Oscars," the younger Beale replied. "So, I guess it'll be a dry run for the wedding." She hopped down again and began loading utensils and bowls into the dishwasher.
"And how are YOU feeling about everything?" Mo asked but, when Chloe didn't answer, she turned to look at her. "Chlo?"
"What if..." Chloe swallowed. "What if I'm a terrible wife, Mom," she said softly. "Or a terrible mother? I don't want to let Beca down like her parents did."
The older Beale chuckled softly. "I can guarantee you'll make mistakes, Baby Girl," she said. "But I know for a fact that you're going to be great at both. I've seen you with Beca... and with your siblings. You have what it takes, Chloe. Believe me." She kissed her daughter's cheek. "And you're going to be amazing."
"Thanks, Mom," the vet replied with a smile.
Xx
Beca had been gone a long time when Chloe went to look for her. She found her fiancée sitting on top of the fence, gazing out into nothingness.
"Becs? You ok?" she asked as she climbed up to sit beside her. "Did something not go right with your Mom?"
"Swanson called," the musician said, briefly holding up her phone. "They still have no leads on Meyers. He could be anywhere." She looked around. "Even here."
"He's not here, Becs," the vet soothed, sidling closer to hold her lover's hand.
"How do you know?" the musician asked, raising her voice in frustration. "How the FUCK am I supposed to relax, Chloe? How am I supposed to enjoy the Oscars or the wedding or anything else knowing he could be anywhere... watching, planning, waiting to hurt..." She gasped as the anxiety hit her squarely in the chest, making her breathing come harder. "I hate this," she groaned. "I hate being scared like this."
"Me too, Baby," the redhead replied. "But we're safe here, ok?"
"But what if he comes here, Chloe? What if he somehow finds out? What if… oh my God, Melissa!" Beca threw herself off the fence and took off toward the house.
"BECA!" Chloe yelled. "WAIT!" She sprinted after her fiancée, her longer strides catching the smaller woman up just as she hit the front porch, and physically bear hugged her. "Beca, please, wait. Melissa's not here. She went to the mall hours ago."
"Fuck… you have to call her, Chlo. What if Meyers has her?!"
Chloe held her lover with one hand as she pulled her phone out and dialed with the other. It rang for a moment, then a familiar voice came through the speaker. "Chlocifer, what's up?"
"Mel, are you ok?"
"Of course I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be? I'm just hanging out at the mall with Hailey, Brian and Jaime."
"Ok, cool… just um… be careful, ok? Stay with your friends. Don't go anywhere alone."
"You're being really weird, Chloe."
The vet smiled sheepishly. "I just care about my baby sister. I'm allowed, Shrimple, ok?"
"Ok, Weirdo," Melissa replied with a little laugh. "I'll see you tonight."
"Seeya, Kiddo."
Beca was still breathing heavily, but she was beginning to calm down. "You must think I'm crazy," she said.
"Of course not. I know how serious this is, Beca, and I'm not disregarding your feelings, please know that."
The musician nodded. "No, I know you're not, Chlo. I just feel… I want nothing more than to marry you… but I think we should postpone the wedding until after Meyers is caught."
"Beca…"
"Please, Chloe. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder on our wedding day!" She pulled her fiancée to her, hugging her hard. "Please, Chlo."
The vet hugged her back, rocking them slowly. "Ok," she soothed. "Ok, we'll postpone until he's caught." She smiled then. "It'll give your mom more time to work on the dress, right?"
Beca laughed softly. "You always see the bright side, Baby."
Blue eyes twinkled in the sun. "I love you, Becs, and as long as you love me, my life will always be bright, ok? Married or not."
"I love you too," the musician replied. "Thank you."
