"One more chapter?" Chelsea begs "Please?"
"Not tonight." Jade chuckles as she sets the book down on Chelsea's nightstand "You need to make sure you get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow is a big day for you."
"The last day of school?" Chelsea scrunches her nose up "That's not as big of a deal as the first day!"
"It's a very big deal." Beck assures her "As soon as the school day ends tomorrow, it's the start of summer. Don't you want to be well rested so you can enjoy it?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Chelsea smirks "Tomorrow night can we read two chapters?"
"We'll see."
"Alright, fine."
"Goodnight, Chels." Beck says as he leans down to kiss his daughter's forehead "See you in the morning."
"G'night kiddo." Jade adds
She stands up and follows Beck out of Chelsea's bedroom, closing the door behind both of them as they exit into the hallway.
"Are you staying here tonight?" Beck asks, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend's waist "Or are you going back to your place?"
"Probably back to mine." Jade tells him "Work, y'know?"
"I know." Beck nods "I just thought I might get lucky this time."
"Well no one said anything about not being lucky..." Jade smirks, slipping her hand under his t-shirt "I still have some time."
"Wait, wait, wait..." Beck laughs, pulling his shirt back down "I'm all for that but...there's something I want to talk to you about first. And it's a bit time sensitive."
"Okay." Jade nods "Me too, actually."
"Really?"
"Really."
The two of them make their way down the hallway and into Beck's bedroom, wanting to avoid the noise of their conversations waking either one of the sleeping girls.
"You can go first." Jade offers as Beck closes the door behind them "You brought it up."
"Alright..." He sighs as he sits beside her on the bed "Well...every year since I can remember, my parents have been renting a house in Ocean City for a week each summer."
"New Jersey?"
"New Jersey." Beck nods "It's a very 'east coast' thing, you'll see that the more time you spend out here. Everyone goes to 'the shore' for their summer vacations. Anyway, we go for a week each summer. We go to the beach during the day, go to the boardwalk in the evenings, just hang out...enjoy the vacation. We're going at the end of June, and you're part of our family now so...I wanted to invite you to come with us."
"I would love that." Jade admits
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Awesome." Beck grins "It's so much fun, you'll love it. My parents can stay with the girls at night and you and I can go out and have time just the two of us..."
He continues talking, telling her about all of the fun things they'll get to do on their vacation, but Jade is still hung up on him saying that she's part of the family. And of course she is, she's his partner and she's helping him raise his kids...one of whom refers to her as 'Mama'...but hearing him say it makes it real...and she loves it.
"Anyway, what did you want to ask me about?" Beck asks her "Sorry, I was rambling."
"It's fine." Jade chuckles "It's about this summer..."
"What about it?"
"What if you didn't send the girls to daycare?" Jade proposes "I'm a teacher, I get my summers off. I might pick up a tutoring job here or there but it wouldn't be often...I could take care of them during the day."
"Wow..." Beck looks surprised "That's...that's a really great idea, but are you sure?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I mean, I don't want you to feel like you have to." He tells her "I've put a lot on you this past year...actually it hasn't even been a full year yet. This probably isn't the life you thought you were signing up for when you and I first met. You help me take care of them, Aspen calls you Mom, I mean-"
"Hey." Jade cuts him off, taking both of his hands in her's "You're right, okay? This definitely isn't the life I thought I was signing up for but if I didn't want it, I wouldn't still be here. I love doing life with you and helping you raise those two girls...they feel more and more like mine each day."
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that..." Beck admits, fighting back tears "I never thought that-"
"I know, you don't have to say it."
Beck knows how lucky he is, that such a great woman walked into their life and is willing to stay in it. It almost makes all of the pain that Alyssa put him and his girls through worth it.
"So is that a yes to canceling daycare for the summer?" Jade clarifies "I have two institute days next week that I have to go in for, and obviously once school starts again in the fall they'll have to start going again but...for the summer?"
"I would love nothing more than for them to spend their days with you." Beck admits "And I'm sure they'll be excited about it too."
"Mama come play!" Aspen calls out to Jade "Come on!"
"Just a second!" Jade calls back with a smile "I'm almost done with this chapter!"
"C'mon, Jade!" Chelsea chimes in "She's just going to keep yelling at you!"
"Alright, alright..." Jade laughs "I'm coming!"
She places her bookmark between the pages, then secures the book in the beach bag beside her. As she stands up from her beach chair, she removes her hat and tosses it into the chair behind her.
"They would have survived if you had finished the chapter." Priya chuckles as she watches Jade
"I know." She shrugs "But I do kind of want to go play with them."
Not enough that she runs though, running in sand is no fun and should be avoided if possible. Jade takes her time walking from their beach chairs down to the tide, joining Beck and the girls at the edge of the water.
"Fuck, that's cold!" She says quietly as the water brushes over her feet
"You get used to it." Beck laughs "Hi."
"Hi."
They greet each other with a kiss as the tide washes in around their feet once again.
"Try to jump over it!" Chelsea exclaims "Don't let it hit your legs!"
Jade can't help but think about how a year ago she had been in the process of packing up her entire life, preparing to run away from LA and get as far away as possible. Now she's on vacation with her boyfriend and their...his...two daughters, having more fun than she could have ever imagined. A year ago she hadn't known the three people beside her even existed, not they're three of the most important people in her life. So much can change in a year, and she wonders where they'll be at this time next year. Hopefully back at the beach again, making even more memories and having even more fun.
"I can't do it!" Aspen pouts, attempting to jump over one of the waves but not making it high enough "No fair!"
"C'mon, Pen. We'll help you." Jade assures her, looking to her boyfriend "Right, Dad?"
"Right." Beck smiles, taking Aspen's hand in his "You can do it, see?"
Jade takes Aspen's other hand in her's and she and Beck work together to lift the toddler over the waves each time one of them crashes against their legs. Chelsea continues to jump over the waves on her own, and both girls are giggling uncontrollably. Jade thinks it might be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world, which again is completely different from where she had been at this time the year before. Then, children hadn't even really been on her mind. Now, nothing makes her happier than seeing Aspen and Chelsea happy.
They play down at the water for a while longer, until both girls begin to grow tired. Dinner time is quickly approaching anyway, and at that point the family decides it's best to head back to the house they're renting to start cleaning up. Beck and Jade give the girls a bath before taking turns showering themselves. They would much rather shower together, but know it wouldn't be appropriate. They'll have plenty of alone time together later in the evening, and decide they can save their adult activities until then.
The four of them and Beck's parents have dinner at the Italian restaurant on the boardwalk, then walk around for a while to give their food time to settle. Chelsea and Aspen ride the carousel and attempt some of the carnival games, but don't have much luck in the way of winning prizes. Beck and his father step in, assuring that each of the girls has a stuffed animal to go home with.
Eventually, James and Priya take Aspen and Chelsea back to the house to get ready for bed, also tired from the day themselves. Beck and Jade stay on the boardwalk, walking around hand-in-hand talking and occasionally wandering into some of the gift shops. Beck is even able to convince Jade to ride the rollercoaster, even though she has her reservations about whether or not it's structurally sound. They walk through the haunted house as well, Jade holding tight to Beck's arm even though she isn't even that scared, and go on the bumper cars.
After sharing a funnel cake, the couple heads back to the beach, hands intertwined as they walk barefoot in the sand, each of them holding their shoes in their free hand. It's dark now and the only light comes from the moon reflecting off of the water and the distant glow of the boardwalk, the sound of the crowds muffled by the ocean waves. It's quiet and peaceful, just the way Beck and Jade would prefer it. They've been sneaking down to the beach each night of their vacation so far, and they're very grateful for the alone time.
"I wouldn't mind waking up to an ocean view every day." Jade remarks as they walk
"I don't know if I would." Beck admits "I think I would be afraid that I would get sick of it. Especially here, there's so many tourists."
"I never said it had to be here." Jade laughs "It's wishful thinking anyway. I'm a teacher, I can't afford an ocean view."
"Maybe one day." Beck nudges her arm "When we retire."
"We can go down to Florida with the rest of the old people." Jade smirks "Wear socks with sandals and forget to put our hearing aids in."
"That doesn't sound so bad." Beck tells her "Does it?"
"Nah."
Beck stops walking, so Jade does too. She offers him a questionable look, unsure of why he had chosen that specific place to stop.
"What's up?"
"Just admiring how beautiful you look." He smiles "The way the salty air has your hair curled, the way you look against the ocean right now...I want to remember it forever."
"You're a dork."
"But I'm your dork."
"Yeah...you are."
"Can I ask you something?" Beck asks as he pulls Jade closer to him, wrapping his arms around her waist
"Ask away." She tells him, wrapping her own arms around his neck
"Your lease is up next month, right?"
"It is..."
"Don't renew it." He begs
"What?"
"Move in with me and the girls." Beck tells her "C'mon, you're practically already living with us anyway. Save the money and...let's take the next step."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"S'what I said, isn't it?" Jade laughs "Don't look so surprised."
"I just thought I would have to do some more convincing is all." Beck admits "I mean...this is a big step."
"I know it is." Jade nods "But I'm so ready to take it."
"The girls are going to be so excited." Beck grins "I'm so excited."
"I'm excited too." Jade agrees "I can't wait to live with you."