25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020
Day 18 - It's A Wonderful Life

Author's Prompt: Beca and Chloe argue and Beca leaves claiming Chloe and their daughter Sophie would be better off without her. She drives around and wrecks her car. While assessing her injuries, she cries and says "I wish I had never been born." An angel appears and shows Beca what life would have been like if she had never been born. Loosely based one of my favorite Christmas movies.

Beca's life had become a living hell. An intern at the studio Beca works at charged her with sexual harassment a year ago and Beca was fired without any proof of the allegations. She tried to find a job at another studio but had been blackballed because of the false claims of some low-level intern. Beca knew the intern had accused her because she had rebuked the girl's advances; no one believed Beca. Hell, she thinks even Chloe believes the intern.

Beca and Chloe were arguing again. Money was tight and bills were overdue. Christmas was tomorrow and they couldn't afford to buy their three-year-old daughter, Sophie, any gifts. Beca grabbed her jacket and started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Chloe yelled.

"Out," Beca yelled back. "I'm worth more to you dead, than alive. You and Sophie will be better off without me. Just remember, that I will always love you both."

With that Beca ran out the door, slamming it behind her. Chloe stood stunned for a moment until her brain registered what Beca had said.

"Beca!" Chloe yelled running to the door. "Beca, stop!"

Chloe got outside in time to watch Beca speed off down the road.

"Mommy?" Sophie called from the door.

"Let's go inside, baby," Chloe said, wiping at her tears.

"Where mama go?" Sophie asked.

"Mama's upset," Chloe said. "She went for a drive. She'll be back soon, okay?"

"Okay," Sophie said.

Chloe hoped Beca would be back soon. She knew Beca was under a lot of stress and hadn't meant to push her. But, Chloe was worried about their financial situation and took it out on Beca.

The way Beca ran out, Chloe was now more worried that Beca was going to do something to harm herself.

Chloe picked up Sophie and grabbed her phone.

"Hey, Chloe," Aubrey said through the phone.

"Brey, can you come over and watch Sophie for me?" Chloe asked.

Aubrey could hear the panic and tears in Chloe's voice.

"What's wrong?" Aubrey asked.

"Beca stormed out of here," Chloe said. "She said we would be better off without her. I'm worried she's going to hurt herself. I need to go look for her, Brey. Can you come over?"

"I'll be right over," Aubrey said and ended the call.

Twenty minutes later, Aubrey was at the door with Stacie and Jesse.

"Have you tried calling her?" Jesse asked.

"Yes," Chloe said. "But she's not answering."

"We called all the girls and they're going to look for her, too," Stacie said. "I'm going to go with Jesse and you stay here with Aubrey in case she comes home before we get back. This will be the command center and you can monitor calls and texts as they come in from the others."

"Thank you all," Chloe said.

"We'd better get out there," Stacie said as she walked to the door.

"We'll take my car to drive around and look for her," Jesse told Chloe. "And don't worry. We'll find her."

Chloe nodded and watch as Jesse and Stacie left.

~~ Day 18 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~

Beca wiped at her tears as she sped down the road. As was crossing over a small bridge, a dog ran in front of her car. She swerved to avoid it, causing her to lose control and ram into the side of the bridge. She hit her head on the steering wheel and reached her hand up to her head. She groaned when she pulled her hand back and saw blood.

Beca sobbed as she thought about Chloe and how she was ruining her and Sophie's lives.

"Chloe would have been better off if she had never met me," Beca screamed inside the car. "I wish to God that I'd never been born."

Beca rested her head on the steering wheel as the tears fell hard and fast.

"Are you okay?" a voice suddenly asked from the passenger seat.

Beca jerked her head up and looked over to see a young woman sitting in the seat beside her.

"Ahhh!" Beca screamed. "Wh-Who are you? And how did you get in my car?"

"I'm Emily," the young woman told her. "God heard your wish and sent me down to help you. I'm an angel in training. I'm hoping I can help you so I can finally get my wings. I haven't earned them yet."

"Angel? Wings? What?" Beca asked. "I must have a concussion and am hallucinating."

"You're not hallucinating," Emily said. "I am an angel and I was sent down here to help you."

Beca threw open her door and tumbled out of the car. She picked herself up and ran away from the car. She ran inside a twenty-four-hour convenience store and fell into a chair. She wiped the blood that was dripping from the cut on her head.

"I need you to repeat what you prayed to God for in the car," Emily said, causing Beca to jump up and squeal.

Beca looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to her. She frowned because the store clerk was looking right at her, but wasn't seeing her. She waved her hand at him and got no reaction at all.

"What the hell?" Beca muttered.

"Oh, my gosh," Emily said. "I think you mean, what the Heaven."

"Why can't he see me?" Beca asked, pointing out the store clerk.

"Because you're with me," Emily said. "And angels can't be seen. If I let you be seen and you talk to me, they would think you were crazy."

"People already think I'm crazy," Beca said. "I wish I'd never been born."

"Granted," Emily said with a smile and a snap of her fingers.

~~ Day 18 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~

Emily looked quite pleased with herself.

"Are you going to buy anything or are you just going to stand there all night?" the clerk asked, looking at Beca.

"Are you, um, are you talking to me?" Beca asked.

"There's nobody else here," the clerk said. "If you're not buying anything, you should leave. Go on, get out!"

Beca looked frightened when the clerk pulled out a gun and pointed it at her.

"I'm going," Beca said and rushed out the door.

Once outside, Beca stopped and looked around. She put her hand to her head and when she pulled it back, there was no blood. Not only that, there was no pain.

"What's happening to me?" Beca cried out. "My car!"

Beca ran back to where she had crashed her car. Only when she got to where she thought she thought her car was, it wasn't there.

"Emily!" Beca screamed.

"Yes?" Emily said, scaring Beca.

"Where's my car?" Beca asked. "I need to get home to Chloe."

"You were never born," Emily said. "So, you never bought a car and Chloe never met you."

"What?" Beca said. "Chloe and I never met? How can that be? She's the love of my life."

Beca's eyes grew crazed. "What about Sophie? Is she okay?"

"Sadly, there is no Sophie," Emily said. "You were never born, so she was never born."

"This can't be," Beca said and suddenly took off running toward home.

"Beca, you don't live there," Emily said, keeping up with Beca as Beca ran.

Beca made it to her 'house' and went to open the door. It didn't open so Beca started knocking until a man answered.

"Can I help you?" the man asked.

"Where are they?" Beca screamed as she pushed past the man. "Chloe! Sophie!"

"Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the man said. "Or I'm calling the police."

"Call them," Beca said. "Go ahead. I'm begging you to call the police. I need to report that my wife and daughter are missing. Call them!"

"Beca," Emily said. "We should go."

"I need to find Chloe," Beca said through her tears. "And Sophie."

Beca apologized to the man for disturbing him and left the house.

"I can show you where Chloe is," Emily said as they walked down the sidewalk.

Beca stopped and stared at Emily. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I tried but you weren't listening," Emily responded. "Come on, I'll take you to her."

~~ Day 18 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~

Beca blinked and they were in front of a mansion on the outskirts of L.A.

"Who lives here?" Beca asked.

"Chloe and her husband," Emily responded.

"Husband?"

"Yeah, she married him five years ago," Emily said.

Beca went running up to the door and knocked. Chloe answered and Beca grabbed her in a hug.

"Oh, thank God," Beca said as tears ran down her cheeks. Beca pulled back and looked at Chloe. Her blood started to boil when she saw that Chloe had a black eye. "What happened to you?"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Chloe asked, pushing Beca off of her.

"Chloe, it's me, Beca," Beca said. "Your wife."

"What?!" Chloe screamed and a man came running from another room.

"What the hell is going on here?" the man bellowed. "And who the fuck are you?" He glared at Chloe. "Is this the woman you've been messing around with behind my back?"

"I'm Chloe's wife," Beca said.

"NO! I don't know who she is," Chloe said. "She just grabbed me and hugged me when I opened the door."

"What are you some kind of pervert?" the man asked, stepping between Chloe and Beca.

"No, I'm Chloe's wife," Beca said. "I swear it's true."

"Get the hell out of here," the man said. "Before I beat the shit out of you."

"You should go," Chloe said. "We don't want your kind around here."

"My kind?" Beca mumbled.

"I'll take care of her," the man said. "And then I'll take care of you."

The man pulled Chloe into a heated kiss. Beca saw Chloe struggling and let out a roar. She pushed the man away from Chloe and grabbed Chloe's arm. The man punched Beca, causing her to let go of Chloe and fall to the porch.

The man lifted Beca over his shoulder, walked down the porch steps, and threw Beca into the snowbank at the curbside. She immediately jumped up and brushed the snow from her hair.

"Asshole," she yelled.

"Get the fuck away from us," the man yelled. "And don't ever come back here."

Emily hurried to Beca's side. Beca looked back and watched as the man dragged Chloe back inside.

"Come on, Beca," Emily said, pulling on Becas' arm.

"No, Emily!" Beca yelled and pushed Emily away from her.

Hearing Beca yell, the man came back out and stalked toward Beca.

Beca saw him coming and started running. Beca made it back to where she remembered crashing her car. There was a bar nearby.

"I could use a drink," Beca mumbled and stumbled over to the bar.

"This is not going to end well," Emily mumbled as she followed Beca.

Beca entered the bar and looked around. A bell over the door tinkled as she did.

"Yay," Emily squealed and clapped. "Another angel got their wings."

"Good for them," Beca said.

The woman standing near the door asked, "Are you talking to me?"

"Oh, my God, Stacie," Beca said. "I need to talk to you. I'm having the weirdest dream even though I'm awake."

"Do I know you?" Stacie asked.

"Very funny, Stace," Beca said. "I'm your best friend; have been for years. You're married to Chloe's best friend, Aubrey. Ring any bells?"

"No," Stacie said shaking her head.

"Get back to work, Stacie," Jesse yelled out. "I'm not paying you to stand around. This guy over here wants some company."

"Hey, baby," Stacie said, as she walked up to the guy and kissed him.

"Stacie?" Beca said. "What are you doing? What about Aubrey?"

"Who's Audrey?" Stacie said and laughed. "And, does she want to join us?"

Stacie and the man laughed and pointed at Beca.

"Beca let's go," Emily said. "She doesn't know you. You need to go back to where it all started."

"Where's that?" Beca asked.

"Back to the bridge where you crashed your car," Emily said. "Everything will be cleared up when we get there."

"Just tell me now," Beca said. "If I go back will I find Chloe and Sophie? Will my friends know who I am."

"I believe so," Emily said. "There's only one way to find out."

~~ Day 18 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~

Beca and Emily made it back to the spot where Beca had crashed her car. The car was still missing.

Beca let out a sob and slid down to the ground as the tears started to fall. She cried out for Chloe. She cried out for Sophie.

"Chloe! I need you!" Beca yelled into the night. "I want my life back. Dear God, please? I just need Chloe and Sophie to be okay. Please, God."

Beca passed out and stirred when she heard someone calling her name.

"Chloe?" Beca said looking around.

Beca gasped when she realized she was back in her car. She felt something on her forehead. She reached a hand up and brought it back down.

"I'm bleeding again?" Beca mumbled.

The car door was suddenly pulled open and Stacie's head popped into Beca's sight.

"Oh, Beca," Stacie said. "What did you do?"

"There was a dog," Beca said. "I swerved to miss him. I swear it was an accident."

Stacie reached across Beca to unbuckle her seatbelt. "Let's get you home? Chloe's worried sick about you."

After unfastening the seatbelt, Stacie stepped back from the car and looked at Jesse.

"Can you carry her?" Stacie asked.

Jesse nodded and reached into the car to lift Beca out.

~~ Day 18 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~

Stacie had texted ahead to let Chloe know they found Beca. Jesse drove as fast as it was safe to do so. Aubrey and Chloe were waiting on the porch as Jesse's car pulled up. Chloe ran down the steps and stood near the car. Aubrey went back inside to let everyone know that Beca was home.

Beca jumped out of the car and ran into Chloe's arms.

"I'm sorry," Beca cried. "I'm so, so sorry."

"I know, baby," Chloe said, holding Beca for dear life. She kissed Beca and pulled back to look at her. "Come inside. There's someone waiting for you."

"Sophie," Beca cried and dragged Chloe by the hand.

Jesse and Stacie followed them up the steps and went inside. Beca stopped short when she saw so many people in their living room.

She looked around. "Where's Sophie?"

"I'll get her," Aubrey said and went upstairs.

"Beca," Bumper said. "I have something for you."

Beca just looked at Bumper as he held out an envelope toward her.

"Take it," Chloe prompted, nudging Beca forward.

Beca reached out and took the envelope.

"What is this?" Beca asked.

"It's the settlement check from your wrongful termination suit against DJ Khaled," Bumper said. "As your lawyer, I can tell you we made a very good deal. And that intern dropped the sexual harassment charges against you. Apparently, Theo put her up to it for reasons we may never know. Your name has been cleared and you can work anywhere you want."

"Oh, my God," Beca said as she saw how much the check was for.

Chloe kissed Beca's cheek and nodded her head toward the stairs. Beca looked up to see Aubrey carrying Sophie.

"Mama, you back," Sophie said, rubbing her eyes.

Beca pulled away from Chloe and pushed her way through the small crowd, stopping to reach for Sophie.

"Sophie," Beca whispered and she hugged the little girl. "I missed you. I love you."

"I wuv you, mama," Sophie said, putting her arms around Beca's neck.

Chloe wiped a tear from her eye as she watched her wife and daughter. She walked over to join them. Beca pulled her in and hugged both Chloe and Sophie to her.

"Looks like we're going to have a Merry Christmas after all," Chloe said.

"I love you two, so much," Beca said, kissing Chloe. "Merry Christmas, Chlo."

"Merry Christmas, Beca," Chloe said. "We love you, too."