Prompt: "I always thought I'd be the first one to go."
A/N: This one might be a bit sad. The Bella's have to say goodbye to their friend.
Chloe barely reacted as Aubrey's hand landed on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
"Ready?" the blonde asked.
Chloe swallowed. "I don't want to go."
Aubrey's hand slid across her friend's back as she wrapped her arm around her. "I know," she said. "This just makes it feel real, right? I don't think any of us wants to go."
"Mom?"
The redhead turned as the brightest spark in her life brought a smile to her face. "You look so handsome, Honey."
Tyler smiled sadly as he tossed his hair back out of his eyes; eyes so like Beca's, it made Chloe's breath hitch. "She said she didn't want us to wear black, but it feels weird." He tugged on his grey suit jacket uncomfortably.
"I know, Baby," the redhead replied as she looked down at her own red dress. It had been Beca's favorite, and she wanted to honor her wife by wearing it.
Aubrey gently patted Tyler's cheek. "I can't believe how tall you've grown," she said with a smile. "Your Mama always said she had a feeling you'd be a tall one, despite how short she was... and she was right."
A little choked sob escaped Chloe's chest and she pressed her hand to her mouth, shaking her head as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Tyler wrapped her up in his arms and rocked her slowly, letting his chin rest on top of her head. "You know," he replied. "Mama had this thing where she was always right."
The redhead managed a little watery laugh at that. "Your Mama had this thing where she THOUGHT she was always right," she said warmly. "She was stubborn and God, I love her for it. Her determination got us through more difficult situations than I can even remember."
"She got me through the whole Bumper Burrito attack," Fat Amy said as she ambled into the room.
"And she got all of us through the whole Amy's Dad wants to kill us thing," Aubrey added.
"Oh yeah, that was a good one," the Australian agreed with a thoughtful nod.
"And she stepped up to marry Ashley and I when our celebrant got the flu," Jessica said, bringing her wife's hand to her lips to kiss it.
"And she bailed me out when I was stuck for cash," Cynthia-Rose said quietly as she squeezed Chloe's hand. "I'll never forget that."
Emily started to cry, and Flo put her arm around her, pulling her closer and kissing her temple.
"She wouldn't want us to cry," Chloe said then, wiping at her eyes and looking at each Bella in turn. "She battled Parkinson's like a champ. She fought every day to live, and she wouldn't want us to mourn her. She'd want us to celebrate her."
"She was the best of us," Stacie said with a sigh.
"You and Beca were and still are the glue that holds us together, Chlo," Aubrey said, wiping her own eyes.
The redhead's breath hitched. "I always thought I'd be the first one to go. Why did..."
"No," Aubrey said firmly, taking her old friend by the shoulders and gazing into her eyes. "Beca wouldn't want you to think like that."
Chloe sniffled and pressed closer to her son. "I know. She'd want me... all of us... to live and love and be happy."
There was quiet for a moment... and then the silver-framed photo of Beca sitting on Chloe's nightstand, suddenly tipped over and fell onto the carpet.
"Uh..." Amy said. "That was just a breeze... right?"
The Bellas and Tyler all looked at each other and then Emily cleared her throat. "We should... probably go, right? The cars are outside."
Chloe looked down and twisted her wedding ring before bringing it to her lips to kiss it. "Yeah," she smiled. "Yeah, let's go." And as they all filed out of the room, she looked back over her shoulder. "I love you," she whispered. "And I always will."