Well, well, well look what we have here. Chapter 12 up on Wednesday and not Friday like I was expecting. Thank you so much for your support last chapter, sorry that this one took a little longer to get out.
Sort of on the same note, I think with this chapter we'll pass 100k words and we passed 100 reviews a few chapters ago - so thank you so much for all of your support in general!
*Please, please note the content warnings for this chapter. This is the first time that we actually see Beca and Theo interacting rather than from a solely narrative perspective. Please do not read the first section or the flashback at the end if this is something that might make you uncomfortable.
Icedragone - Yes you're exactly right on all accounts. Not only does Chloe really not have any way to protect Beca, but Chloe is also an additional reminder of everything that Beca has gone through - which is just added stress at this point. None of the Bellas will hesitate in taking Theo out - I hope the interaction with Theo is worth the wait. Thanks so much for reading and for your support!
Wolvezzz - Hahaha the wait for Theo to find Beca has been long, and I'm honestly surprised so many people have stuck around for it. I've definitely drawn it out lol. Theo's reaction is interesting because on the one hand...well, you'll see. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts. I think sadder is a word but what do I know... they have a bit of a moment this chapter, too! They'll be okay! It's just a stressful and scary time for all those involved. If you liked Aubrey taking charge last chapter, you'll love the upcoming chapter. Callie is just falling in love with all the Bellas :') I'm glad your mom is getting better! I am sending all of the healing vibes. And thank you! Just a stressful week with school, work, and some family stuff. But we're doing better now, so I appreciate it :) Thank you so much for your support!
RJRMovieFan - A terrible experience for sure. I promise there is a happy ending though :) The first part is definitely tough... there's... a lot. The second part focuses mostly on healing and definitely has a lot more levity than the first. The answer to your question is in this chapter ;) Thank you so much for your kind words and your support!
Jody1990 - omg don't apologize! I love it so much. Aubrey is definitely professional until the end - but that might be tested a bit in this chapter. She most certainly is going to have to play that professional, lawyer, protecting Beca's interests and well-being card a few times throughout the legal proceedings, especially with Chloe just wanting so desperately to help. Yeah the paparazzi scene was a tough one; I know I got a bit uncomfy writing. I would not have been able to handle it in real life - definitely not if I had kids. Thanks so much for your kind words and your support!
Guest (Mar.24) - You're exactly right... it might have been a little bit of hopeful thinking on their parts. But now that it's happening, it's going to go fast. Again, you're right about the restraining order - a piece of paper won't stop him, but something else might. I'm glad you enjoyed Aubrey taking charge! It'll definitely happen a few more times over the course of the legal proceedings; as much as she is Chloe's bestie, she also knows that Beca came to her for help and protection. She's not going to take that lightly. Loved loved loved your questions about the kids. All I'll say is that the way they react this time might not be the same as the next time. Hehe thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for your support!
NJCE - I agree with you 100% that if Aubrey wasn't there it would be so much harder. The paparazzi really grind my gears with real life people - like seriously, just because there are celebrities, they're people and private human beings first - they owe the public nothing in my opinion. Turtle is coming and it is going to be an incredibly bumpy ride for everyone involved. He is going to learn to be afraid of the Bellas, and regardless, they'll all protect Beca and the kids with everything in them - so they're unstoppable in that respect. Thanks so much for your kind words (doing much better now) and for your support!
Guest (Mar.25) - The process is going to be long and hard, and I imagine that it won't end after the conclusion of the fic (it's fiction, but, ya know, daydreaming past the end hahaha). Yes, I've loved exploration the evolution of their new relationship, and I'm equally as excited to explore that in Part 2. This chapter is heavy for sure. Potentially one of the heaviest yet. It's just been such a build up leading to this interaction. But Theo is back, as for what happens next... all I can say is read on ;) If you liked Aubrey's amazingness last chapter, all of them get a little bit of a chance to shine this chapter :) Thank you so much! Doing much better now and happy to get back to writing :) I hope you had a nice rest of your week, and thank you for your support and for sharing your thoughts!
Chapter 12
Content Warning: Theo is in two parts: this first section, and the flashback at the end; panic attack, gaslighting, manipulation, guilt, guilt-tripping, alcoholism, mentally and physically abusive relationship.
"You don't want any more chicken, buddy?"
Henry shakes his head, lips pursed, as he pushes the plate further away from the highchair tray. "All done."
With a sigh, Beca looks down at the – basically full – plate. It's been a struggle to get him to eat the few bites that he did. "How about just a few more bites? For Mama? Please?"
"Look, Henry! It's yummy!" Callie perks up from across the table at her seat next to Bella, exaggerating her chewing as she grins at her little brother. "Mmmm, yummy chicken!"
The rest of the adults around the table, as well as Bella, laugh at the display. After her little bit of rest this morning and the day of playing with her new friend, Callie has perked up dramatically. Henry, on the other hand, is absolutely exhausted, confused, and wants nothing more than to go to bed.
His lip quivers in his sister's direction, his face growing red as tears start collecting in his eyes. He's been attached to his mom's hip all day. Sleeping, laying his head on her chest. Anything so that he didn't have to be put down, and so that Beca didn't have the chance to leave him alone.
For everyone else, the day has been a combination of long, productive for some, unproductive for others, and an absolute nightmare for one.
For the most part, Chloe, Emily, and Stacie tried to keep Beca's mind off of things. They watched a few episodes of some television show that Emily's been wanting to watch, they all tried to play with Henry, who wanted nothing to do with anyone else but his mother. So, they brought the girls downstairs, who started up a few rounds of Monopoly. Even during that game, they all took turns looking worriedly at Beca, who was in a daze more often than not, simply rocking Henry back and forth, her fingers running through his hair.
Aubrey, on the other hand, worked from the moment that Chloe called her from Beca's apartment, to about two hours ago when she finally got back from the courthouse. She spent most of the day in her office on the first floor of the house, organizing the paperwork necessary to file the temporary restraining order, and once it was all set, she was off to the courthouse to get a judge to grant the petition. While she was out of the house, Beca couldn't help but be worried that Theo might show up while Aubrey was gone, but he didn't, and when Aubrey finally got back into the house, she had the restraining order in her hand.
It was the first time that Beca breathed easily all day long.
They still need to serve him with the papers, but according to Aubrey, there is an officer stationed at the airport for the day in case he arrives in New York, and Aubrey had even requested that someone be posted outside of the house later this evening (apparently, someone in some department owes her a favor).
The fear is still there. How could it not be? Theo could still show up at any moment, could still get to her and the kids. It is just a sheet of paper, after all, one that, up until recently, Beca hadn't really had an interest in getting. What else is she supposed to do now that every tabloid has her and her kids' faces splayed across magazine stands.
But right now, tonight, she's sitting at the dinner table with a freshly printed restraining order on the kitchen counter saying that Theodore Wright cannot come within 500 feet of her or the kids and is forbidden from communicating with them in any way shape or form. It says that she has full custody of the kids, and yes, it also says that the judge scheduled a hearing for two weeks away in California, but that's a problem for tomorrow.
Beca lets out a soft sigh and abandons her dinner to lift Henry carefully from his chair as the tears start falling faster. She cradles him against her chest, knowing that nothing calms him down quite like the sound of her heart beat. She lets him lay there, his thumb slipping into his mouth almost instantly, before starting to rock back and forth.
She ignores the pitiful looks from everyone else around the table.
"Henry's slept so much today, Aunt Beca," Bella says after taking a sip of milk.
Beca nods, a smile spreading across her face. Aubrey and Stacie have done a fantastic job raising her – she's sweet, polite, and has been nothing but welcoming to her new 'cousins' despite not knowing of their existence until three weeks ago. "He had a tough morning, but he'll be back to his old self tomorrow, I'm sure."
"Is it because of the camera people?"
"I think so."
Bella wipes her hands on her napkin, pushing her plate away. "Mom said they were there because you used to be a celebrity?"
Callie looks from Bella, to Beca. "What's a celebrity?"
Beca shifts Henry's weight, his body already growing heavy as he settles into sleep. "It's just another word for being a singer, Cal. And yes, Bella, that's right."
"How come you stopped?"
"Bells, how about we cool it with the questions, yeah?" Stacie warns carefully, finishing her own bite of chicken from the other side of Henry's highchair.
"But—"
"It's okay, Bella. It just…wasn't something I wanted to do anymore."
Bella nods and slow understanding. "Like when I stopped playing soccer?"
Beca laughs lightly, as do her moms and her other aunts. "Exactly."
Callie turns to Bella, Chloe on her other side. "You played soccer?"
"Mhmm. But I don't do it anymore because I dance now. Like my moms."
Chloe nudges Callie lightly with her shoulder. "Maybe we can sign you up for some of Bella's dance classes, Cal."
Callie brightens, immediately looking to Beca for permission. "Can I, Mama?"
A small smile tugs at the corner of Beca's mouth. "We'll see, bug."
"Maybe you have some of your Mama's dancing skills, Callie." Sitting to Beca's left, Emily grins over at the little girl.
Callie breaks out into a fit of giggles. "Mama can't dance, Emily."
Jaw dropping open, Beca fights back her own laughter as everyone else in the room succumbs to it. "Excuse me, but I most certainly can dance, Callie Jane."
"I don't know Bec… freshman year Bellas' rehearsals? Ring a bell?" Despite being tired from the day, Aubrey joins in, starting to collect everyone's plates.
Beca glares good-naturedly at the blonde, trying to ignore the dull ache in her chest, and the way Chloe's eyes have suddenly developed a sad glint to them. "It took some time, but I got it down."
"You don't dance, Mama," Callie reminds her one more time, acting like this is the most ridiculous thing that she has heard in her life.
"I don't like dancing, but I promise I can, in fact, dance."
Stacie grins mischievously, loving how carefree everyone is acting right now. "You know, Bec, we could just show a vid—"
"—No. Absolutely not."
"I want to see a video!"
Bella grins in agreement, loving any time she gets to see her moms and aunts as Bellas on the stage. "Can I go get my iPad?"
Beca can't help but laugh. "No, Bella, that's fine."
"Mama!" Callie laughs even more, throwing her head back in exasperation. "Puh-lease?!"
Beca is about to deny her request one more time, when she's cut off by the doorbell ringing throughout the house. Everyone in the dining room turns in the direction of the door. Beca's smile – the one that has been on her face for the last five minutes, but missing for the last three weeks – slowly falling from her lips as Henry stirs on her chest.
Aubrey stands from her chair, "I'm sure that's Officer Griffin; I'll be right back."
Beca lets out her held breath and a collective sigh falls over the rest of those aware of the actual events of this morning. Nonetheless, they all watch Aubrey walk from the far end of the table, all the way towards the front entry way.
Beca strains to hear the front door unlock underneath the cover of the softly playing music and Callie and Bella's quiet talking back and forth.
She regrets it as soon as she actually hears what is said.
"Hello, Aubrey."
Beca's blood runs cold, her eyes widening at the sound, and Henry raising his head inquisitively at the sound.
"Are my wife and kids here?"
Chloe, Emily, and Stacie remain just as frozen as Beca is, the sound of the British accent catching all three of them off-guard.
But for one person in particular, while it takes a second for it to register in her mind, as soon as it does, a grin spreads across her face. "Daddy!"
The exclamation is enough to snap Beca out of her stunned state. "No, Callie—"
Chloe tries to grab her before she's out of the chair, and Stacie attempts to as well, but Callie is far too determined to get to the sound of the familiar voice.
"Callie, wait!"
Panic overtaking her entire body, Beca makes the split-second decision to hand Henry off to a flustered Emily, before following Callie's path. She ignores the calls coming from everyone else, knowing that they'll follow her in no time, but right now she doesn't care. She just needs to get Callie.
But as soon as she's in the front entryway, Beca freezes in her pursuit.
She stops, feet away from Aubrey and even further away from the front door, only to see Callie already in her father's arms, Theo rocking her back and forth in a giant hug.
Beca's stomach lurches, but her feet are glued to the ground. She can't get to her daughter, simply because of the sight of her husband. Henry starts to howl from the dining room, and everyone looks in various directions to try and figure out what is going on and what they should do.
"How are you, Callie girl?"
Beca can't do anything but watch, bile rising in her throat.
She watches as Callie's arms tighten around Theo's neck, and Theo keeps his eyes closed although he undoubtedly knows he's being watched.
"I missed you, Daddy."
At that, Theo opens his eyes, somehow managing to lock them right onto Beca's gaze. Beca's breath leaves her body as he stares right through her soul in a way that only Theo has ever been able to.
"I missed you, too. Have you been a good girl for your mom?"
No one moves as he talks to her, Aubrey seeming to be battling with whether or not to move and take Callie from his hands. Beca is pretty sure that Chloe is behind her, and she's not sure where Emily is (although she hopes that she's at least trying to calm Henry's cries down because Beca has never felt so conflicted or so powerless, with Callie with Theo and Henry in distress and Beca just standing there) but Stacie is making her way protectively to Aubrey's side. And Beca's standing there, right in front of her husband, not being able to move.
"Mhmm! Are you all done working?"
Theo nods, shifting Callie to his hip. "I am. We're going home, now, Callie. I promise."
Callie grins, finally looking over at Beca. "Mama! We're going home!"
"I—" Beca loses all ability to speak, the words dying in the back of her throat.
Aubrey, on the other hand, does not. She wants nothing more than to reach out and rip Callie from Theo's arms, but she knows that the only thing that will accomplish is Callie becoming terrified, and Theo potentially becoming violent. Instead, she levels an icy, warning stare with the man, trying to convey that she will not hesitate in taking her from him if he even thinks about making the wrong move. "Theo, you cannot be here. You need to leave."
"I will. Once I can talk to my wife. Alone."
Stacie scoffs, linking her pinky with Aubrey's just to have some way to hold onto her. "Not going to happen. You have five seconds to give us Callie and get off of our property before I call the police."
Theo tilts his head to the side, holding Callie as she watches the exchange carefully, worriedly glancing from her father to the other women. "Why would you call the police?"
Aubrey shakes her head, heart pounding in her chest. But she keeps a clear mind - she needs to. For Callie, for Beca, and for everyone else in the house. "Theo, you cannot be here. There was a restraining order filed with the New York Family Court Circuit this morning; you cannot be within five hundred feet—"
"A restraining order?" Theo takes a step back, his jaw dropping open as he looks from Aubrey, to Beca. "Jesus Christ. What did you tell them, Beca?"
Beca gulps under his gaze. She knows what he's doing; of course she does. But she can't even bring herself to answer.
"Beca? What did you tell them? Did you tell them—" he looks back to Aubrey, eyebrows furrowed as he keeps a possessive grip on his daughter that makes Stacie's eyes track their every movements and Aubrey's mind spin with thoughts about how she might have to get Callie from him. "Did you tell them that I did something? To you? To the kids?"
Tears burn at the back of Beca's eyes, his voice sounding further and further away as Henry's cries grow louder, and the blood pumps through her ears.
"Why, Beca? Why would you tell them something like that? Why would you lie about something like that? Is it because you don't want to want to record the album and you had to – had to, I don't know, come up with some excuse?"
This time around, Aubrey interrupts, reaching out for Callie. "Okay, that's enough. Theo, you will have your time in court in a few weeks, but right now, I need you to give me Callie and then you need to leave."
He repeats himself, angling his right side so that Callie is further away from Aubrey's reach. "I'm not leaving until I speak to my wife, and until I see my son." He looks past Aubrey, down the hall towards Beca. "Where's Henry?"
Stacie basically growls. "You are not seeing Henry; you are not speaking with Beca. Don't make us tell you again."
"You're really going to let them do this?" Theo raises his voice and at the increase in volume, Beca flinches slightly. She knows that Chloe notices it, because the floor creaks beside her, and she can feel the redhead's presence a little more strongly by her side. But she never once looks away from Theo. "Beca, I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but we need to go back home. The kids need to sleep in their own beds, and we need to work through everything that's happened over the last few weeks. Where are your bags?"
Beca's heart pounds against her chest, and any sort of response that she might be able to give to him, dies on her lips. While her body is screaming, no!, her mind can't help but be tempted just to follow. To do what he says, like she always does, just so she doesn't have to be in this situation anymore.
The situation where everyone is seeing her and Theo interact for the first time.
The situation where Callie is in Theo's arms, and not hers.
The situation where she can't make any desperate measures to get her daughter from him, because the seven-year-old doesn't see Theo as anything other than a perfect Dad who does no wrong.
The situation where Beca can't help but feel that she's traumatizing her kids – with the move, with the secrets, with school, with the new people and the paparazzi – more than Theo ever has.
And while the idea of going back to Theo is terrifying to her because she knows what's going to happen as soon as their front door in LA closes behind them, the idea to actually do it, just to put her kids out of their misery, is tempting.
It certainly doesn't help that she's sure Aubrey, Stacie, Chloe, and Emily (wherever she is), probably want her to leave when they see how much trouble she's causing, while Theo tells them that she's lying.
But she's not lying.
She's not lying – and she doesn't want to go with him, but the thought is still -
Beca feels a firm hand wrap around hers, and the warmth jolts her from her spiral of thoughts. She turns her head for the first time since standing in the front-entry way of the Conrad-Posen household, seeing Chloe staring daggers ahead at Theo. Beca isn't sure if it's because she can sense what is going on through her head or if it's because she's just looking for a way to hold on to Beca, but either way, the touch grounds Beca in a way she hadn't been expecting.
"She's not going anywhere with you. You're not seeing Henry, and you're going to put Callie down, and then you're going to leave." Venom drips from Chloe's words, her piercing blue eyes glaring in his direction.
"Funny thing is," Theo tilts his head with a smirk, never once looking away from the redhead. "I don't have to listen to any of you. Where's Henry, Beca? I'm not messing around, let's go-"
Theo tries stepping into the house, set on coming inside, but both Aubrey and Stacie cut in front of him, hands out and stopping him from going any further, their voices rising in protest as well. Beca's breath hitches in her throat as she sees him staring down the two women, with Callie growing increasingly uncomfortable in the situation and starting to squirm in Theo's tight hold. Beca's lip trembles, Henry's cries no longer creeping into her consciousness, and instead, she jumps when she hears a call come from behind them.
"Aubrey," a call comes from behind them. Emily pushes past Chloe and Beca, her hands free of the toddler she had once been holding, and instead is now carrying a collection of papers. "What else do you need?"
She stops beside Aubrey, showing her what she has, and not even glancing in Theo's direction, before Aubrey chooses the correct sheet.
Aubrey turns back to Theo despite Stacie trying to hold her back with a grasp on her wrist. She hands Theo the piece of paper. "Theo Wright, you have been served. You have a court hearing scheduled for two weeks from Monday morning in which you can present your side of the case to the judge. But from this point forward, you are in violation of this restraining order, which clearly states that you cannot be within a five-hundred-feet proximity of Rebecca Mitchell, Callie Wright, or Henry Wright."
Beca watches as Theo locks his jaw, grits his teeth, and takes a deep breath that seems to go on forever. He's trying to calm himself down – it happens sometimes at work events or at the studio – never at home, but always when Beca or someone else does something to make him upset and he knows he can't lose his temper in the presence of whoever is around him. And that's exactly what is happening right now.
He's recognizing that, unless he wants to prove exactly what Beca is saying happened, is true, he has to keep his temper under control. He has to play the role of the doting father and husband, the one that is confused by the restraining order, rather than expectant of one. He can't give them any more reasons to justify legal recourse.
Not if he wants to win.
Emily softens her voice while Aubrey and Stacie continue to stare the man down with looks that could kill, daring him to take a step further. "Callie, sweetheart, I need you to say goodbye to your dad, alright?"
Callie, who has been relatively silent this entire time, looks between the taller brunette and her father with tears in her eyes. She's still uneasy, uncertain of what is going on or who to listen to when her mother is feet away not able to say anything, her father is telling her one thing, and everyone else looks terrified at the fact that she's in his arms. "How come?"
Emily gives her a gentle smile, her hands itching to pry her from Theo's hold. "Because right now is not the best time for you to see him. So, give him big hugs, and let's go get your Mama, okay?"
Lip trembling, Callie looks back up to Theo. She wraps her arms around his neck, as Theo forces himself to break the stare he has been holding with Emily. "Bye, Daddy."
"Bye, Callie girl. You'll be back home with me soon, okay?"
Callie nods into his neck, but while she's grateful that she's gotten this chance to see her father, all anyone else in the room hears is a threat.
"We'll be home, soon?"
Theo nods. "You will. And so will Mama."
"He's not going to come back tonight, right?"
In the darkness of her bedroom, illuminated only by the butterfly nightlight plugged into her wall, Bella Conrad-Posen nestles deeper underneath her covers, clutching onto the stuffed elephant that she's had since she was a kid. Her moms sit on the mattress on either side of her, Stacie's fingers running through her long hair, and Aubrey's hand on top of where Bella's are latched underneath the sheets.
Aubrey shakes her head. "No, sweetheart. He isn't."
Stacie meets her daughter's eyes. "I am so sorry you had to hear that tonight, Bells. You were so brave."
"I just don't get it." Bella's voice cracks with emotion. It's been a stressful couple of hours, getting Theo to finally leave and then having to deal with the aftermath. Besides Bella having trouble comprehending why this man was showing up and having every one of her aunts seemingly hating him while Callie seemed to love him, she also got to hear Callie crying after he left. Callie's crying led to her Aunt Beca's crying and shaking and not letting anyone touch her (which perhaps scared Bella even more). It took Henry forever to calm down, too, even though Bella had done her best to soothe him when her Aunt Emily handed him off to her a little while after the man – Theo, Callie's dad – showed up at the house. After a few minutes of watching everyone break down, her moms sent her upstairs to her room, but she could still hear the crying. She could still hear Aunt Beca and her kids struggling to calm down. "Why did he come here? And why was Aunt Beca so sad to see him?"
Aubrey sighs, looking over Bella's head at Stacie. They've talked a little bit about what they wanted to tell Bella about Beca and the kids, especially knowing how inquisitive the ten-year-old is. But with Bella getting closer to Callie and now actually having witnessed Theo at her house, there's really no easy way to explain it. "Well, that was Theo. He's Callie and Henry's father, and Aunt Beca's husband."
Bella plays with the ears of her elephant. "Is he my uncle?"
"No." Aubrey and Stacie respond in unison, nipping that in the bud as soon as the question leaves Bella's mouth.
Stacie takes a deep breath, trying to rein in her own nerves. "No, he's not. He is not a nice person, and you will never have to see him again."
"And if you do see him again, we want you to go find the closest adult and get them to call us, okay?"
Bella nods at Aubrey's instructions, but she doesn't look at either of her moms. "But, if he isn't nice, why was Callie so happy to see him?"
Stacie moves her hand to cup her daughter's cheek. She takes a deep breath, hoping to keep this as simple as possible. "Do you remember when you had that assembly at school about treating others the way you want to be treated?"
Bella nods once more.
"Do you remember what else they talked to you and your classmates about?"
She falls silent for a moment, the gears turning in her head. "We talked about the difference between tattling and reporting, and about bullying and how that's really bad."
"Exactly." Stacie forces the corner of her mouth to tug up in a smile. "So, you remember what bullying is, then?" At Bella's affirming response, she continues. "Well, Theo, he bullied your Aunt Beca. A lot. Which is why she was so upset to see him, but Callie and Henry don't know that that happened because they're both pretty young, and Aunt Beca didn't want to tell them. Does that make sense?"
Obviously, Stacie knows that's not the true story. But, how else is she going to describe an abusive relationship to a ten-year-old who grew up in loving household with aunts and uncles and grandparents who love her more than anything?
Bella looks up to meet Stacie's eyes. "I guess so. But if Theo was bullying Aunt Beca, how come they got married?"
"It's complicated, sweets." Aubrey moves her own fingers through Bella's hair. They always joke about how, if they didn't know any better, that some of Aubrey's genes might have slipped into Bella's – their golden locks are almost identical. "All that matters now, is that Aunt Beca left her home with Theo, and both her and Callie and Henry are safe now. They won't ever have to live with him again."
Bella lets out a soft breath. "That's good. That's really sad about Aunt Beca, though."
"It is," Stacie murmurs in agreement. "But your Aunt Beca is one of the strongest people that I know. If anyone can get through this, it's her."
A pensive look passes over Bella's face, and both of the moms can practically hear their daughter thinking.
"It's okay, Bells. Go ahead and ask any questions that you have," Stacie gently encourages. Bella has always been such an observant child, even as a little toddler. Normally, she wouldn't hesitate to ask questions (the dreaded 'where do babies come from' question came when she was only three), but now, Stacie knows that the hesitance is coming from a place of deep confusion, and, more likely than not, fear.
Bella glances up at Stacie as though surprised that she knows what is going through her head. "What about Callie? And Henry, too. If they don't know – aren't they going to be really sad?"
"Well, Aunt Emily and Aunt Beca are talking to them right now. But they're probably going to tell them a little bit of a different story than we told you."
"Why?"
Aubrey shrugs. "A few reasons. You're older, for one. They're still young and probably haven't learned about bullies and such yet. And plus, Theo is their father, so it's… complicated."
Bella cracks a smile. "You already said that, Ma."
Aubrey shakes her head with a laugh. "I know, but it is. They're also pretty scared, having to move to a new place and all. It's not a good situation for any of them to be in."
Stacie gently cuts in. "And it's important that, if Callie ever says something to you about her father, or if she starts asking questions, you come get me, or Ma, or Aunt Beca, or Aunt Chloe, or Aunt Emily if she's still here, okay?"
Bella nods her understanding. "Okay."
Aubrey reaches up to press a delicate kiss into her daughter's forehead. "They are going to be just fine, Bells. It just might take a little while."
Bella leans into her mother's hold, whispering, quietly, "But we're going to help them, right?"
"Exactly."
Beca holds Callie on her lap, rocking the little girl side to side as she continues to sniffle into the otherwise silent room. They've been in this position for a while – Callie sitting on Beca, Henry sleeping on the bed beside them – having once again crashed after being abruptly woken up from his last nap – and Emily sitting beside him. Of course, they haven't gotten far in the conversation because all Callie wants to do is know why she is still here, in New York, rather on her way home, to LA, with both her parents by her side.
"You're just going to make your head hurt more, bug, I need you to take some deep breaths for me, okay?" Beca runs a hand over her forehead, her skin hot to the touch simply because she has been crying for so long while simultaneously asking questions and trying not to break down. "All done tears, baby, I don't like seeing you so upset."
"I – just – wanna – go home," Callie manages through hiccups, tears still rolling down her cheeks.
"I know you do, Cal, and I'm so sorry, but we can't; not right now, at least."
This isn't the answer that she wants, so Callie cries out once more, another sob getting caught in her throat.
Emily reaches across the mattress, laying a gentle hand on Callie's ankle. She's used to having upset patients – it's one of the many reasons why she offered to help Beca have this conversation with the kids (which turned into just Callie when Henry inevitably fell asleep). But it is so different when it's someone that you care deeply about, and if Emily is sure about one thing, it's that she cares intensely for Beca Mitchell and her kids.
"Callie, can you open your eyes for me? I would like to try something." Emily taps her ankle a few times, lightly trying to get her to come back to the present. Her breathing has been all off ever since they sat down, and Callie hasn't really stopped crying since Theo left. Eventually, after a few moments, Callie's eyes open to meet Emily's, and the older woman is caught off-guard by how much they remind her of her mother's. "Hi, pretty girl. I know you're probably really scared right now, but just focus on my voice and watch me, okay?"
To Callie's credit, she doesn't close her eyes. She watches Emily as she leads her through a few breathing exercises, and gradually, her sobs are reduced to sniffles. She is simply left laying her head against Beca's chest, gripping onto her mother for dear life.
She doesn't understand. That's the gist of it. She doesn't understand why her Mama is acting so strange, she doesn't understand why she can't see her dad or why everyone made him leave Aubrey and Stacie's house today. She doesn't understand why they were all mean to him and how, when her dad said they were leaving, why her Mama didn't say 'okay' and follow him like he asked.
Mama always does what Daddy asks.
She doesn't understand why they're still in New York, or why people all of a sudden want to take her pictures. She doesn't understand why she doesn't go to school with Karla anymore. She likes Aubrey, and Stacie, and Emily, and Chloe, and Bella, but she doesn't understand why she's been forced to meet them and spend so much time with them.
She just doesn't understand what is going on and it makes her head hurt and her heart hurt, and she just wants to go home. She doesn't want to be on this trip anymore, she doesn't want to live in New York. She wants to go back to LA where she was happy, and everything made sense.
Beca runs her thumb tenderly over Callie's cheek, collecting the fallen tears. "I know it's confusing, bug, but I promise that everything is going to be okay."
Callie continues to lean her head against Beca's chest, the sound of her beating heart soothing her. She sniffles, more tears burning her eyes. "How come we c-can't be with-with Daddy at home?"
Beca lets out a heavy sigh, her throat thickening with emotion. She has known that this moment wouldn't hold off forever, but now, face-to-face with it, Beca doesn't even know how to answer.
And on top of all of that, she feels like such an incredibly failure. What kind of mother lets their kid hang out in the arms of an abusive man who has hurt both of them before, even if her daughter may not remember it? What kind of mother succumbs to her own fears rather than attempting to protect their sweet, innocent child from the most dangerous person in their life?
She looks helplessly from her daughter, up to Emily, who graciously offered to try and help Callie calm down following Theo's departure (and Callie's subsequent hours-long breakdown). Emily just smiles softly, a silent understanding, and turns her attention to Callie.
"Callie, can you tell me who your best friend is?"
Callie lifts her head just so she can meet Emily's gaze. She hiccups once more, and answers, quietly. "Karla." As an afterthought, she adds, "and Mama."
This brings a blinding grin to Emily's face, but she maintains an air of professionalism, even if they are sitting in a guest bedroom rather than her office. "Karla and Mama, okay. Now, what would happen if someone was making Karla or Mama sad, or hurting their feelings? How would you feel?"
Callie's breath hitches on her next inhale, but she responds after a few moments. "I would-would be s-sad."
Emily nods encouragingly, but has a sad smile on her head nonetheless. "You would be sad. Would you want Karla or Mama to see that person that was being mean to them anymore?"
Slowly, Callie shakes her head.
"No, because that would make you sad, and that would make them sad, right?" Callie tiredly blinks, nodding against Beca's chest. "Well, sweetie, sometimes, your Daddy makes Mama sad, so that's why you, and Mama, and Henry, took this trip out to New York and have been living in the apartment."
Tears burn at the back of Beca's eyes as Callie looks up at her, the question clear in her expression, though she vocalizes it as well. "What?"
Beca gulps, tears silently streaming down her face. "Emily's right. Sometimes – a lot of times – Daddy makes me sad, and that's why we left. Because I knew that he makes me sad, and I didn't want him to make you and Henry sad, too."
"But…" Callie's voice trembles, looking up at her mom with wide, blue eyes. "But he doesn't make me sad."
"And I am so, so happy about that, bug," Beca's voice cracks, "but—I couldn't take the chance that he could make you and Henry sad in the future. Does that make sense?"
While it's clearly not the whole story and certainly not the whole truth, the language and phrases that Emily introduced, and that Beca continues to use, seem to be clicking inside of Callie's head. At least to some degree.
"We left because he makes you sad?"
A small tear escapes from the corner of Beca's eye. "Yeah, bug. We did."
Callie's lip quivers, her breathing starting to quicken again. "Are we gonna-gonna see Daddy again?" She sniffles, though her nose starts running despite her efforts. "Are we ever gonna go h-home?"
Beca sighs, kissing Callie gently on the head and holding her close. Emily warned against lying to Callie – about getting her hopes up. But what else is she supposed to say to her crying child whose whole world has been turned upside down five thousand different times in the last few weeks?
So, Beca settles on the vague truth. The truth that says that she wants nothing more than for her kids to find their home, far, far away from the dangers of the last one they lived in. "I hope so, Cal."
Beca knows she shouldn't be here. She knows she should be upstairs, sleeping with her kids – not only making sure that they're okay but getting some rest herself.
Yet, when there is no way in hell she'll be able to sleep, there doesn't seem to be very many options.
Keeping that in mind, Beca finds herself sitting on the second-to-last stair inside of Aubrey and Stacie's house, her head pounding from the headache seems to have taken permanent residence inside of her skull. Most importantly, though, she has a perfect view of the front door.
Which is why she has chosen this spot.
Who knows what state of mind Theo will be in tonight and what he might try to do. Beca doesn't care if Aubrey's cop-friend is parked outside the front yard, supposedly watching for any suspicious people wandering the neighborhood. She will not be caught off guard.
And, in all actuality, she does know what state of mind Theo is in. Well, at least, she can predict it.
In the simplest term, he's mad.
In more complex terms, he's enraged. Livid. Seeing red.
Theo has never liked not getting his way – in fact Beca's never seen him not get his way. Not since she's been with him, even just as a working relationship. Of course, all he could do about it prior to marrying Beca was send her a stern look or guilt her into accepting his decision.
After marrying Beca, the guilt continued. But he suddenly had much more control and ways of showing that control (and making sure it was kept a secret). Obviously.
So tonight, him knowing that Beca went against every little rule that he's ever implemented in their so-called relationship – taking his kids away, disobeying what he asks or says, getting other people involved, simply leaving – there's no way he's sitting in a hotel room accepting the fact that the next time he sees Beca will be back in a California court room.
There is absolutely no way.
While it terrifies Beca, she can't help but feel a least a little bit safer in this house, with Aubrey, Stacie, Emily, and Chloe – especially with how they all stood by her and the kids tonight when Theo showed up.
The way Aubrey wouldn't let him in the house, and recognized that playing into Theo's game momentarily kept Callie safe, rather than further traumatizing her.
The way Stacie said she was going to call the police.
The way Emily got Bella and Henry to safety before going to find the papers that Aubrey brought home from the courthouse.
The way Chloe just knew when Beca had been contemplating taking a step towards Theo, and with the slightest brush of her finger, brought Beca back to the right frame of mind.
Without them – if she had been alone at the apartment or somewhere else – Beca is certain that she would've gone back to LA with him. She would've packed up the kids and flown right back to the place that she had escaped from.
But they – the girls, the Bellas – wouldn't let her.
And Beca's thankful for that.
Beca takes a deep breath, filling her chest with as much air as she can, before slowly exhaling and keeping her gaze on the front door. She's going to figure this out. She's made it this far.
Somewhere towards the back of the house, a door opens and the hinges squeak. The sudden noise makes Beca jump in her seat. She listens as someone starts walking across the living area, and while she tries to calm herself down by assuring herself that it's just one of the seven other people that are sleeping in this house – well, it can only be two, really, because Beca would've seen any of the kids or Stacie or Aubrey come from downstairs – her heart pounds against her ribs, and she can feel the panic rising.
So, knowing that she won't be able calm down unless she goes to investigate, Beca carefully stands from her perch. She stuffs her hands in the pocket of her sweatshirt and walks as quietly as she can towards the kitchen.
Though her back is towards the rest of the living area, it takes Beca about 0.2 seconds to realize that it's Chloe drinking a glass of water, staring ahead at the tile above the sink. Frozen in her pursuit, Beca just waits quietly – not quite wanting to engage in conversation, but not wanting to run off or to scare Chloe, either – until the redhead dumps her glass and places it in the dishwasher, turning around as soon as she finishes.
At the sight of Beca standing in the dark living room, Chloe jumps about a mile high, a small yelp escaping from her mouth, and her hand flying to her chest.
Beca, too, reacts similarly, Chloe's response to being startled, startling her. Her breath hitches and she flinches backward, and even though it's a bit of a struggle, Beca finds herself smiling as Chloe breaks into a fit of giggles.
"You can't just sneak up on someone in the middle of the night like that, Bec," Chloe reprimands good-naturedly, tugging the sleeves of her pajama shirt down around her wrists before crossing her arms over her chest. She walks around the counter, closer to where Beca is standing. She lowers her voice to more of a whisper. "What're you doing up?"
Beca mirrors Chloe's stance, leaning up against one of the stools. "Can't sleep. You?"
"Same." Chloe eyes Beca carefully, but the brunette looks the same as she always does these days – closed off and absolutely exhausted. "How long have you been awake?"
"What time is it?"
"A little after two-thirty."
"Since eleven."
Chloe's eyes widen. "Bec, did you get any sleep?"
A small snort escapes Beca's control. "No. It doesn't really happen most nights."
Chloe's expression softens. "Is it just nightmares, or…"
Beca shrugs. "Nightmares, purposefully not falling asleep. Kind of comes with the territory."
With her baby blue orbs filled with sympathy, Chloe falls silent. She watches Beca carefully, taking in her rigid posture and the way her eyes flick across the room, wanting to land anywhere but Chloe's. It takes a few moments for Chloe to gain the courage to act on the strong pull that she feels whenever she's around her best friend, but when she does, she takes a few small steps in Beca's direction, and links their hands together. She gently leads Beca towards the back deck, and brings her to sit down on the steps, just like Chloe and Aubrey had, what feels like, an eternity ago.
Beside her, Beca takes a deep breath, breathing in the chilly New York air, but there's something about the breath that makes Chloe feel like there's a little bit of levity settling over the brunette. Her suspicions are only confirmed when Beca leans back against the steps, looking up into the night sky, and mumbles, "I suddenly feel like I'm back at Barden, sitting on the Bellas' porch."
Chloe lets out a light laugh, mimicking Beca's stance, glancing up at the stars. "We spent a lot of time out there, didn't we?"
"Mm…" Beca hums in agreement. Although it seems like she's going back and forth with something to say, Chloe waits patiently, until Beca speaks. "You helped me through a lot of shit, even then."
Despite the warmth that washes over Chloe, and the fact that her heart starts beating erratically in her chest, Chloe remains still. There's a faint glimpse of the Beca Chloe once knew, and the fear of scaring her away, causes Chloe to stay quiet.
"I wasn't lying, you know."
Chloe jumps at Beca's statement, which comes after a long, long bout of silence. "What?"
Beca takes a deep breath. "I wasn't lying. What Theo said - I haven't lied to you guys at all. I swear."
"Oh, Bec... of course you haven't." Tears burn at the back of Chloe's eyes. "I never thought you were lying. None of us did. Please promise me that you get that."
Beca doesn't answer this time around, and in the light of the porch lamp, Chloe is pretty sure she can see tears glistening in Beca's eyes.
She can't help it anymore, so she gently prods, whispering, "Do you want to talk about it, Bec?"
There have been moments – fleeting at best – since Beca arrived in New York, that they've had a chance to talk. But really, and Chloe hates to admit it, those times have only been during states of extreme panic, and they almost always result in Beca pulling back away from her. Chloe isn't sure what it is, if the time apart has been too great or if Beca just doesn't want her around, but that doesn't stop the burning desire that Chloe has to rebuild their once-close relationship. And one thing they've always been able to do is talk, so it makes sense that that might be a good first step.
Except, of course, Beca shakes her head. "No. Not really."
Chloe brings her gaze back down to Beca, who has instead taken to staring out into the dark abyss of Stacie and Aubrey's backyard. She sighs, the ache in her chest growing, but relenting just like she has been practicing over the last few weeks. "Well, I know today was a lot. I can only imagine how difficult it was. But I'm here if you do want to talk. Whenever you want. About whatever you want. I mean it."
Beca slowly nods but doesn't say anything else. She just wants this day to end.
She just wants this nightmare to end.
Eight Years Ago
Beca can't focus on anything besides the smell of the whiskey permeating from Theo's body.
Well, that, and the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach as his fingers dance across the bare skin of her belly.
She hasn't been able to shake this feeling of uneasiness since she found herself staring at the little pink 'plus' sign a few mornings ago. She couldn't believe that she had gotten herself into this situation – she still can't believe it. Not after how careful they had been, and certainly not with everything that is going on right now.
Not just with her career, which has been taking off in ways that Beca still can't even fathom, but also with Theo.
Beca has known from the beginning that it's wasn't the best situation. She knows that she shouldn't have started sleeping with her boss to begin with. She had told herself from the beginning that it wouldn't happen, but lo-and-behold, here they are over a year later. In bed together, with Beca pregnant.
It had started off as innocent brushes against her arm, or perhaps a lingering gaze as she worked in the recording booth. Beca tried not to pay attention to it; she was there in LA to work after all. But she would be lying if she hadn't seen the way Theo had acted towards her during the USO tour and how those little actions and reactions followed them back to California.
And if Beca's being honest, though she ignored the advances in Europe, she liked it at the beginning of working with him in Los Angeles. Recording an album was hard, and the recording staff required so much time and dedication that she, unknowingly at first (and then purposefully later on, the avoidance caused by guilt and regret) started losing touch with the Bellas. With Chloe.
(Later, she would realize that her distancing from the Bellas was more of a result of Theo's actions rather than simply getting busy, but it would take a lot self-reflection in the days and weeks she would spend alone in the house with baby Callie and then baby Henry, having no other adults to talk to.)
So, Beca was lonely. She was spending all day every day with the same people, and Theo instituted all of these 'label rules' that stipulated who she could hang out with and when and where she could go for evening entertainment – and always with some sort of security detail from the label.
That being said, one thing led to another and she broke her own rule by starting to see Theo. It was fine. She wasn't falling head over heels for him, but he was a nice friend and dating him or sleeping with him or whatever, seemed to at least mildly take care of the feeling of loneliness that seemed to consume her entire being more often than not.
It had been around the six-month mark when they made it official. Or rather, Theo had asked Beca and Beca had hesitantly agreed. At that point, she was starting to get slightly nervous with how their personal relationship would interfere with her work, especially because people from the label had recently started discovering that they were spending time together. There were moments when they were in a recording session or a meeting, where Beca would say something and Theo would either shoot down her idea or laugh it off, bringing the attention of the producers or other executives back to him. He would brush off any time she questioned whether or not she could get more producing opportunities at the label, and her ability to spend time with people from the label or with other people in the industry at parties or evening events, was suddenly minimized even more than it had already been, with Theo practically dismissing each and every opportunity she got to go out, unless he could be there by her side. Sometimes, he would get angry or frustrated and his words would cut through her like a knife.
But then there were other times where he would say things that would make her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, or he would sit and listen to her talk about ideas she had for new music in the comfort of the living room in her apartment, attentive as ever. There were times where he would surprise her with romantic gestures, which normally aren't her thing, but still made her feel seen.
Which is a feeling she so desperately craved – to be seen as 'Beca' rather than 'Beca Mitchell, singer-songwriter'.
With the Bellas no longer in her life and her LA friend group restricted to the people she works with, those positives seemed to outweigh the negatives.
But now, with a child inside of her and suddenly forcing her to realize that Theo might be in her life for far longer than her estimated career-length, Beca's starting to have second thoughts.
Because she doesn't love him, even if she says it to him every night before bed. There's no spark, there's no deep desire within her that makes her want to spend the rest of her life with him. But when Theo says it back, and she is forced to realize that he is really the only person she has out here, what else is she supposed to do?
"We should do it."
Theo's voice breaks her from her reverie, and she looks down to where he is lying beside her, his fingers never once stopping as he traces her stomach.
Beca blink a few times, keeping her hands folded across her chest. "Do what?"
He looks up at her with a lopsided grin, whiskey-induced, naturally. The drinking has been a problem for a couple of months now, but anytime Beca brings it up, Theo simply scowls, the volume of his voice rising as he demands to know what's wrong with him having a drink after work. "Get married. We should do it."
Beca's heart stops in her chest and she can only hope that he can't see the sudden fear on her face. As much as she has been thinking about their future in her head, she definitely does not want to have this conversation with him. Not right now. Not when she can't even imagine having a future with him in it. "W-what?"
Theo removes his hand from Beca's stomach, and pushes himself up into a seated position. "We should get married. A small wedding – at the courthouse or something – with just our parents and a few close friends. We should be married when we bring our baby into the world."
Beca forces herself to chuckle ever so slightly, her mind starting to race. "Theo… we've barely been together for a year. We haven't even been dating for a year."
"So?" He remains as serious as ever, looking at her like she's saying something so preposterous that he doesn't even have a shot of understanding. "You love me, don't you?"
Heat rises to Beca's cheeks. There's only one way out of that question, and it's to tell him exactly what he wants to hear. Otherwise, she'll spend the next hour listening to him yell about how he's just been wasting his time and that she shouldn't have led him on. It's happened before. Twice, before Beca started realizing that if she just told him the answer he was expecting, she'd save herself a lot energy. "Of course."
"And I love you. So why wait?"
Because she doesn't want to.
"I just… I've never really thought that I'd get married. My parents weren't married when they had me so—"
"—Yeah and look how that turned out."
Beca knows that the hurt is evident on her face and her heart clenches inside her chest. It's not the first time she's regretted telling Theo about her parents – specifically about her mom and what happened with her– and she's sure it won't be the last.
(She really doesn't know why she told him - chalk it up to a night of alcohol-induced conversations and missing the one person from Barden that knew basically everything about her - but she did.)
To Theo's credit, he sighs, reaching out to take Beca's hand. His grip is too tight for her to take it away from him, and she knows that he knows that, simply by the daring glint in his eyes. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to get married when we clearly love each other and when we're bringing a baby into this world. You won't have to do any planning, and it will be as simple as saying 'I Do'. Okay?"
Bile rising in her throat, Beca forces herself to nod. She isn't sure if she's imagining it, but she almost thinks that Theo's grasp on her hand is tightening.
"Great. I'll make the arrangements. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Because she's too afraid to say she doesn't.
Thank you so much for reading; I know this was a tough chapter, but with the wheels in motion, the legal proceedings can start to get Beca, Callie, and Henry free from Theo.
I fell behind on my writing schedule so I'm going to keep the once a week update schedule for now :) Hopefully we'll be back to the every five days we had going in a few weeks.
See you next Wednesday, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
