"Happy Birthday, Uncle Andre!" Chelsea exclaims, running into Andre's open and waiting arms
"Thanks, Chels!" Andre grins as he scoops the girl up in his arms "Oh man, stop growing! You're almost too big to pick up now!"
"Well I am in second grade now." Chelsea reminds him
"That's true, you are."
"Told you all of those fruits and vegetables would help you grow up big and strong, Chels." Beck chuckles as he walks up behind her "Hey man, happy birthday."
"Thanks." Andre smiles, shaking Beck's hand and then giving him a half-hug, mindful that he's holding Aspen on his hip "Our table is back this way."
Andre's twenty-sixth birthday had actually been a few days earlier, but it was easier to coordinate a get-together on a weekend rather in the middle of the week. The group, consisting of Andre, Tori, both sets of their parents, Beck, his girls, and Jade, is meeting at one of Andre's favorite restaurants in Hartford's downtown area for dinner, and then they will all go back to Tori and Andre's house afterwards to hang out for a while and eventually have cake. The whole evening will be very relaxed, much like Andre himself.
"What's she doing here?" Chelsea sighs as they approach the table, her eyes landing on Jade
She's sitting next to Tori, the two women discussing the menu already. Andre, who isn't entirely privy the little girl's thoughts and feelings, is a bit confused at first.
"Who?" He asks her
"Jade..." Beck says to his friend quietly before his daughter has the chance to answer "She's here because she's our friend, Chelsea. We're all going to celebrate Uncle Andre's birthday together."
"Fine..."
"Hey." Jade's face lights up as Beck approaches the table "How are you guys?"
"We're good." Beck smiles "Right ladies?"
"I guess." Chelsea shrugs as she climbs into an empty chair at the table
"Hi!" Aspen giggles
"Hi Aspen!"
Beck takes the empty seat on Jade's other side, and fastens Aspen into the high chair on the end next to him. Chelsea is seated in the chair directly across from him, beside Andre. Both Andre and Tori's mothers comment on how much Aspen and Chelsea have both grown since the last time they saw them, which had been at Andre and Tori's wedding about six months prior when they had been co-flower girls. Jade has gone back and looked at the pictures Cat had posted from that day, including the ones of the full wedding party, and can agree with the rest of the group that both girls looked adorable in their dresses.
Beck and Jade are still very careful not to show any public displays of affection when Beck's children are present. It's still too soon and they still haven't even begun to introduce the idea of them being in a relationship yet. However, there are still things they can do to stay out of sight. Beck spends most of the meal with his right hand resting on Jade's left knee, and occasionally she'll place one of her hands on top of his. The only person who ever really notices is Tori, who is seated right next to Jade. She has to keep herself from smirking, careful not to give them away to anyone else. She's happy for Beck, he's been through more than his fair share of difficult times the past few years, and it's nice to see him happy.
After dinner, they all leave in separate cars to reconvene at Tori and Andre's. Beck and Jade aren't able to touch each other at all there, as they're sitting out in the open on couches when they first arrive, rather than behind a table. Jade does sit beside Beck though, and much closer than she would sit to Tori or Andre.
Aspen and Chelsea are of course the center of attention, they're the only children and therefore the most entertaining out of anyone there. Aspen is thrilled with all of the praise she gets when she toddles across the room by herself for the first time. Even though she's been able to walk for a few months now, Andre and Tori's parents hadn't seen her do so yet, and are of course amazed every time that she does it. She moves from person to person, spending some time in the lap of each adult...even Jade's. Chelsea colors pictures for everyone...or almost everyone, Jade is excluded...and everyone comments on how much her art skills are improving. Beck beams like any proud father would, and Jade loves watching him do so.
Eventually, after the cake has been cut and served and Andre has opened his presents, both girls begin to grow tired. Chelsea is old enough to recognize that Tori and Andre's living room floor is not the appropriate place for her to fall asleep, but Aspen is still young enough to drift off in her father's arms with her head slumped against his shoulder. At this point, Beck decides it's best for his crew to head home, and directs Chelsea to clean up the art supplies Tori had given her to use.
"I wish I could fall asleep this easily." Jade smirks, brushing some of Aspen's hair off of her face "She looks so peaceful."
"She'll be wide awake by the time we get home." Beck chuckles "That's how it always goes."
"Of course." Jade laughs
"I cleaned up!" Chelsea announces, interrupting her father's conversation
"Good work, kiddo." Beck nods, standing up slowly so he doesn't wake Aspen "Let's say our goodbyes."
They make their way around the room, saying goodbye to everyone and wishing Andre a happy birthday one last time. Beck wishes more than anything that he could kiss Jade goodnight but he knows it wouldn't be appropriate to do so in front of his daughters yet, so he has to settle for a hug similar to the one he gave Tori.
"I'll text you later?" Jade whispers as she squeezes him tightly
"Sounds good." He smiles "I'll be waiting."
"One more chapter!" Chelsea begs as Beck closes the book and sets it on her nightstand "Please!"
"You got 'one more chapter' already." Beck chuckles "And it's past your bedtime. We can read more tomorrow."
It's relieving that Chelsea loves books so much and that she usually has to be forced to stop reading rather than to start; Beck understands that in a lot of cases most children are the opposite. He's been reading to her since she was born though, Aspen too, and makes a habit to read with or to both of his girls for at least twenty minutes a night, sometimes more. It's more fun now that Chelsea can read too and is starting to share some of the read-aloud responsibilities with him.
"Promise?"
"Of course I do." Beck nods "We always read together before bed, don't we?"
"Yeah."
He helps Chelsea adjust her blankets so she's comfortable, and makes sure she has her favorite stuffed animal nearby.
"Can I ask you something?" He says
"Sure." Chelsea shrugs
"What do you think of my friend Jade?"
"Uhg, Dad." Chelsea rolls her eyes
"What?" Beck laughs "She's hung out with us a few times now, I think it's a fair question."
"She's fine, I guess." Chelsea shrugs "I dunno."
"What does that mean?"
He wants her to elaborate, but he doesn't want to force any of his own opinions on her. If Chelsea is going to say positive things about Jade, Beck wants it to be because she actually thinks they're true not just because she thinks it's what he wants to hear.
"It means I think she's fine." Chelsea tells him "She's nice and everything, but..."
"But...?" Beck waits for his daughter to elaborate, but he can tell she's struggling to find the words
"I don't know why you need new friends." Chelsea finally says "Aren't Uncle Andre and Aunt Tori your friends?"
"They are, yes." Beck nods "But it's always good to make new friends. You make new friends at school every year when you're in a new class, don't you?"
"I guess..."
"It's kind of the same thing." Beck explains "Even as an adult, I meet new people. And if I like them enough and I think they're nice, I want to keep them around. Because it's good to have nice friends around you, don't you think?"
"Yeah..."
"Are you okay, Chelsea?" Beck asks "You seem all mopey all of a sudden."
"Can I ask you a question, Dad?"
"Of course you can." Beck assures her "What's up?"
"Is Jade your..." Chelsea hesitates "Do you want her to be your girlfriend?"
Beck is taken aback by his seven year-old's bluntness, he had thought that he and Jade had been careful not to do or say anything to trigger any thoughts like this. Apparently they hadn't been careful enough. He knows he needs to choose his next words carefully.
"Before I answer that question..." He sighs "Can I ask what made you think to ask it?"
"Uncle Andre always says that Aunt Tori is his best friend." Chelsea explains "And before they had their wedding, she was his girlfriend. My friend Nina at school? Her mom has a boyfriend too. Jade doesn't have a boyfriend, and you don't have a girlfriend...so I guess it just makes sense."
"Well, for starters...boys and girls can be just friends without wanting to be boyfriend and girlfriend or get married." Beck smirks "Some adults still have a hard time understanding that. But in this case...yes, I do want Jade to be my girlfriend. She kind of already is."
"I don't want you to have a girlfriend...or a wife...or anybody."
"Why not?"
"Because I want you to be happy."
"What makes you think that having a girlfriend wouldn't make me happy?" Beck questions her "When Aunt Tori and Uncle Andre were girlfriend and boyfriend, they were happy. They were really happy, actually. Happy enough that they decided to get married. The same thing with Grandma and Grandpa, but a long time ago."
"Not you though."
"Huh?"
"Mom made you upset..." Chelsea says quietly "And she made you angry sometimes, and sad sometimes. I remember. I don't want you to be upset or angry or sad, I want you to be happy."
"Chels..." Beck sighs
He removes the blankets off of his daughter's body and pulls her into his lap, wrapping her up in a hug. Her hair smells like the green apple detangler he had brushed through it when she was getting ready for bed, and he knows that it's a smell he'll always associate with her childhood long after she's grown.
"I want you to understand that your mom...she made some really bad choices that put her in some really bad situations." Beck explains "And those choices hurt my feelings because they hurt her and they almost hurt you and your sister...but not everyone makes bad choices like that. Most people don't. And for me to be happy...like you want me to be...I need to find someone who makes good choices. Someone who doesn't put themselves in those really bad situations. Someone who is really nice and good and kind."
"That makes sense..." Chelsea says quietly
"Jade is a good person, Chels." Beck assures his daughter as he rubs her back gently "I wouldn't let her be around you or your sister if she wasn't. She isn't going to hurt us the way that your mom did."
"Do you promise?"
"I promise." Beck nods "Not all girlfriends and boyfriends get married, but even if Jade and I don't...I promise you she will never make those bad choices that upset me the way that your mom did."
"Okay..."
"And do you know what?"
"What?"
"Even though Jade is my girlfriend, you and your sister will always be the most important girls in my life." Beck tells her "Okay? No matter what."
"Okay..." Chelsea says again
"Give Jade a chance, that's all I'm asking for." He continues "You said it yourself, she's nice, isn't she?"
"I guess."
"I think you'll really like her once you get to know her...and it is okay to like her." Beck explains "It's perfectly fine if that takes time, and it probably will. But just know that...I am happy. You don't need to worry about me. It's my job to worry about you. Alright?"
"Alright."
"I love you." Beck presses a kiss to her temple and hugs her a little tighter
"I love you too, Dad." Chelsea says quietly "I...I'm glad that you're happy."
"Me too." Beck smiles a bit "Me too."