"Lucy, I swear to God, if you don't get that damn dog out of here…"

"He just wants to say hi to you." Lucy says, through a giggle, lifting the dog up to Beca's face.

Beca rolls her eyes but leans over and kisses him on the head, and adds a little scratch behind the ear for good measure. She feels her nervousness grow a little with every pound this dog gains. They had been warned he would be big, she just hadn't realized that it would happen so soon. She had never even heard of the breed, Eurasier. He looks like a bear, his black fur sticking out in all directions. He's still small enough that he sleeps most of the day, but she is dreading the time when he starts to run around.

"Alright, now both of you out, I need to get this done before dinner tonight."

Since Christmas, things have settled; which only makes Beca worry more. It's in the quietest moments that the worst things seem to happen. Those moments have come and blown their normalcy to pieces before they ever get a chance to catch their breath.

"Do we have to go?" Lucy asks, ignoring Beca's request and climbing over her legs onto the bed, Finch, cuddling into her side.

"What do you mean? You like Fletcher, and we're meeting Zara tonight."

Lucy, despite all of the growth she's experienced in the past six months, is still hesitant around new people. She's still introverted and prefers to stay home rather than go out and do things; even with Lincoln and her new friends from the school band.

"And Chloe is really nervous, so we need to go and be there for her."

Lucy sighs and rolls onto her back. She puts the puppy on her stomach and runs her fingers through his fur. It's actually pretty amazing what this little guy has done for her. Even if Beca feels like a majority of the time she's messing up the whole parenting thing, she can be sure getting the dog was one thing she did right.

"Fine, but can Finch come with us?"

Beca gives an exasperated look to her sister, over the top of her laptop. She's been trying to get her work done for several hours but every time she gets back into it, another distraction pops up.

"No, he can't come. He'll be fine in his crate for a few hours."

"But we have to go all the way to New Jersey."

"How far do you think that is?"

Beca knows attachment will probably always be an issue for Lucy; how could it not be? But she also knows she needs to set boundaries with her. This puppy is a coping mechanism, not a crutch.

Chloe walks in and leans against the door frame; she had gone out, to get her nails done at the salon down the street. She asked Lucy to go with her but she just scrunched up her nose, shook her head, and said it smelled like chemicals and she didn't want to.

"How's that work going, Bec?"

Beca gives her a pleading look that, thankfully, Lucy doesn't catch.

"Lou, let's give Beca some time to work. We can bring Finch for a walk."

Lucy hops up and goes to get the dog's leash and a coat for herself. They are nearing February now, but the air only seems to get colder every day; it's the coldest winter that either Beca or Chloe can remember since moving to New York. Lucy walks, hand in hand, with Chloe down the street. Normally, the middle of the day on Saturday would be a busy time in their neighborhood, but there isn't anyone out; save a few other people walking their dogs and the mailman, trudging through the slush with his overloaded bag. It's too cold for anyone to be out that doesn't have to be. They walk down the block to the bodega.

"Stay right here, I'm going to grab a bottle of wine for tonight."

Lucy looks up at Chloe, but she's met with a kind smile, as always, and a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be right back. Two minutes."

Lucy nods, and picks Finch up to cuddle him against her face. He gives her nose a little lick and she chuckles. She's never seen anything as cute as her dog. She's already fallen completely in love with him and hates that she has to leave him tonight. She keeps a tight grip on him as he wiggles against her chest. She uses her free hand to pull her coat tighter around her shoulders, fighting the strong breeze. Her hair blows into her face, causing some of it to go in her mouth. She shakes it away and bumps her chin against Finch's head.

"Sorry buddy." She says, quietly.

She looks around. It's still quiet, but now there's a guy walking toward her. She assumes he's going to cross the street, but when he doesn't, and continues straight toward her, she feels her cheeks get hot and her breath quicken. He is a couple steps away from her and she flinches, waiting for him to say something. Instead, he crosses his arms over his chest and continues his brisk pace down the street, turning the next corner. Once he's out of sight she takes a full breath and hugs Finch tighter to her chest. She must not be able to get the fear stricken look off of her face fully before Chloe walks out of the store because she says,

"Alright, we're all set. What's the matter?"

Lucy shakes her head, "Nothing. I'm fine. Can we go home, I think Finch is getting tired."

Chloe doesn't push it, but she makes a note of the look, the strange reaction, and decides she'll talk to Beca about it later. She falls in step with Lucy and they walk back home together.

Lucy wonders if she'll ever get the feeling of fear out of her system. She wonders if she'll ever be able to walk down the street by herself and not feel panic racing through her body, or if she'll be able to see a stranger and not think about all of the dangerous things they're capable of doing to her. She wonders if Beca feels the same way; she's seen the paranoia in her. She knows Chloe feels it too, she can tell by the way she looks over both of their shoulders when they're walking to and from school, she can feel it in the protective grip of her hand holding hers. She wonders if this is all because of Gardner or if he just sped up the process.

Lucy is thankful to be home. She steps inside, letting the scent of the lavender candle waft over her. Chloe has been on a mindfulness kick lately, making Lucy meditate with her, and partake in weekly yoga practices led by some guy on their television. Lucy doesn't particularly care for it, but Chloe likes it so she does it anyway.

"Lou, go shower, we're going to be leaving in about an hour."

Lucy does as she's told. Chloe waits to hear the shower running, to make sure Lucy doesn't get distracted by the puppy. Again. Once she's sure Lucy is getting ready, she walks into her own bedroom and grabs her towel. Beca is still in the exact same spot. She's looking at her laptop, her brow is furrowed, eyes squinted just barely, and her lips pursed. She has put earbuds in, and Chloe can just barely hear the music coming from them. She always plays her music way too loud; no matter how many times Chloe tells her not to.

Chloe pulls her sweater over her head and slips her jeans down. She looks over her shoulder and gives a soft chuckle when she notices Beca now looking up at her, instead of down at the screen. Beca's eyes flit back down at the screen, but she closes her laptop and crawls to the end of the bed, tossing her earbuds aside and reaching her arms out for Chloe. She walks into them.

"How are you feeling about tonight?" Beca asks, kissing Chloe's bare shoulder.

She can feel the shiver run down Chloe's spine. Her lips are met with goosebumps. She kisses the same spot again. Satisfied when she gets the same reaction.

"I think I'm okay. I'm excited to meet this girl. Now that we all know about her, she's all Fletch talks about."

"That's a good sign, right?"

Chloe nods, sending her hair into Beca's face. Beca snakes her arms around Chloe's waist and her fingertips tickle the small of her back.

"He's excited," Chloe says, "and I'm trying to be excited for him."

"I know you are."

Chloe never told Beca about the conversation she had with her brother when they were back in Georgia. She hadn't been able to. She realizes there are a lot of things she needs to work on, but there hasn't been time. At least that's what she keeps telling herself.

Beca kisses her neck, down to her collar bone. Chloe reaches down and pulls Beca's face back up to hers and gives her another chaste kiss.

"We don't have time for this. I have to shower."

"We are very good at multitasking."

Something about the tone in Beca's voice, mixed with the look in her eyes, makes Chloe's stomach flip. They haven't had much time for themselves lately; between Beca's work schedule, and taking care of Lucy, and now the new puppy, it's been chaotic to say the least. Chloe giggles and pulls on Beca's hand, leading her to the shower.

"We have to be quick." Chloe says, stripping off the last of her clothes and stepping under the spray of the warm water.

"Yeah, I don't think that's going to be a problem." Beca says, with her usual snark.

"And quiet."

"Uh, that one may be a problem."

When Chloe looks back up at her she's still smiling, that cocky smirk that makes Chloe go wild. She watches Beca kick off her pants and join her. She wraps her arms around Beca's shoulders, steadying herself. before pulling her into a deep kiss.

"God, I love you."

"I love you so much." Chloe says back, letting Beca kiss a trail down her body.

She throws her head back. She's pretty sure they're going to be late for dinner.

"What took you guys so long?" Lucy asks, from her spot on the couch.

Beca and Chloe both walk out into the room, after their shower. They're finally fully dressed and ready to go. Lucy looks adorable, in her new clothes from Christmas; clothes that actually fit her for the first time in months. She's pulled her hair into an intricate braid; one she must have learned from Beca. She looks awake and alert, and like a normal kid. Chloe feels guilty for the thought, but it's one that's nearly impossible not to have; not when she's seen the alternative.

"Jeez, Father Time, calm down." Beca bites back, which makes Lucy laugh.

"Why don't you go put Finch in his crate. We need to get going." Chloe says.

Lucy hesitates before standing from the couch, cradling him in her arms. She kisses his head, and they can both feel how much she doesn't want to do it. She drags her feet down the hall, and into her bedroom. She puts him in his kennel and kneels down in front of it.

"I'll be back, buddy. I love you. I won't be gone long, I promise."

She stands and watches him walk in two full circles before curling up on his bed. She turns the small light on in the corner before shutting the big light off and closing the door. She takes a deep breath, and fixes her shoulders before walking back down the hallway.

"You ready, Lou?"

"Mhm."

"He'll be okay."

"I know." She says, not fully convinced, but she can't be with him every second of every day.

It's the first time he'll be home alone, for any extended period of time, and she does her best to force the thought from her mind.

"But what if someone breaks in or there's a fire?"

Beca sighs, not loud enough for Lucy to notice, but Chloe picks up on it. She places both of her hands on Lucy's cheeks. She looks directly into her eyes and says,

"He will be okay. I promise you."

She pulls her into a hug and Lucy squeezes her tight. Beca can't help but be a little envious of the patience Chloe always has with Lucy. It's the maternal streak in her that allows her to be so understanding; it's the same thing she always saw when Chloe would deal with an inane problem the Bellas were having, or the care she put into her work when she was still in vet school. She supposes she should just push the jealousy aside and be grateful for her ability to deal with both her and Lucy at the same time; but it's harder than she'd like to admit.

"We won't be gone that long right?"

"Right."

"Okay."

Lucy reaches out and takes Beca's hand. Beca leans over and kisses her head. To a lot of people, it wouldn't seem like much, but they'll take the little victories where they can get them.

"Hey, you guys made it." Fletcher calls, from his front porch as soon as they're out of the car.

"Barely, dude this is the middle of nowhere." Beca says.

Fletcher laughs and wraps Chloe in a hug.

"Beca, be nice." She says, from her spot in her brother's arms.

"It's fine, you're right, it's definitely not Manhattan. I'm just honestly surprised that the first thing out of your mouth wasn't a joke about it smelling like garbage."

"Well, now that you mention it." Beca says, allowing him to wrap her in his arms next. "It's good to see you, Fletcher."

"You too." He looks around Beca and smiles at Lucy, "Hey Lucy."

She gives a little wave and leans into Chloe's side.

"Come on in. It's freezing."

They follow him into the house. It's small but cozy. The outside, isn't much to look at but Fletcher has already told Chloe he has plans to do some work on it as soon as the weather permits. As they step through the front door, they all huddle in the small entryway, in front of the staircase. There is a hallway next to them that leads to the rest of the house. They've only just moved in, two weeks ago, but it seems like they've been able to get a lot of decorating and unpacking done.

"Wow, it looks nice." Chloe says, sounding genuinely pleased.

"Thanks." Fletcher's smile is bigger than Chloe has ever seen, "Hey Z, they're here." He calls out down the hallway.

A beautiful woman walks into the hallway. Chloe has seen a couple pictures of her, since Georgia, but none of them have done her justice. She has long dark brown hair that matches her eyes, she's tall, taller than Chloe, and her smile matches Fletcher's in a way that is utterly complimentary and kind. She has one hand on her stomach, that is now protruding just slightly, well into her fourth month of pregnancy.

"Hi, it's so nice to meet you all."

"You too." Chloe says.

It's awkward for just a moment. They aren't sure if they should hug or shake hands or what they should do. Chloe decides she needs to do something, so she moves in to give her a quick hug. Beca hangs back, wrapping one arm around Lucy's shoulders.

"Please, come in," Zara says, "Fletch, why don't you take their jackets."

"Oh yeah."

Beca watches them, she can't believe they're only twenty-four. It's only three years younger than she is, but it still seems like a lifetime.

"So Fletcher, when do you start the new job?"

"Two weeks." He says, taking a sip of his beer. "It's pretty scary, but I think it'll be good."

"Of course it will." Zara says, taking a pan from the oven.

"That smells amazing." Beca says.

Zara smiles, "Thank you. It's an old family recipe. I hope you guys are hungry, I made way too much."

"Told you, babe."

"Thank you, Fletch, that's super helpful." Zara says, with her back turned, but there is a giggle just underneath her words which makes Fletcher laugh.

Zara plates the food, declining offers from both Beca and Chloe to help. When she puts a plate down in front of Lucy, it is nearly overflowing with food. Beca puts her hand on her lower back and taps her knee with her other hand to make her look up. Eating, especially in front of new people, in new situations, is still a cause of stress and discomfort for Lucy. She seems to understand what Beca's eyes are trying to tell her. She gives one, curt, nod, before picking up her fork and taking a small bite.

The conversation is easy and light throughout dinner. They talk about work and baby names and sports, well Fletcher does, and the rest listen with a practiced patience. They can all feel the nervous energy coming from him so they let him go on for a little longer than they probably would otherwise.

"Zara, that seriously was so good." Beca says, getting up to clear the table. "No offense, baby, but I think we may have a new best cook in the family."

Chloe lifts her hands in surrender, "I am more than happy to pass that torch. Next year, we're doing Thanksgiving here." She jokes.

"We'd be more than happy to do that. I've been cooking Thanksgiving dinner since I can remember. The holiday is not a reason to celebrate in my family, but the food always is." Zara says.

"Are you close with your family?" Chloe asks.

There's a quiet that settles over the room. Chloe feels like she said something wrong, but Zara smiles again; this time it's much different. It's sadder.

"I was raised by my mom, but she passed away about eight years ago."

There's another bout of silence until Lucy says, quietly, like she shouldn't say it at all.

"Mine died too."

It's one of the first things she's said since they've gotten here. Beca grips her own knee and squeezes. She doesn't know what to do. She doesn't know what kind of physical reaction she should have to this; hearing her sister share this part of her life more openly than she ever has before. She supposes it's a good thing, a positive change, but she wishes she didn't have to witness it. It makes her dizzy and it makes her eye twitch.

"I know, Fletcher told me that." Zara admits, she is sitting across from Lucy at the table. Her eyes flit over to Beca for just a second, so she can say this next part to both of them. "I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry too." Lucy says.

Chloe watches Lucy make this connection with a nearly perfect stranger and it makes her feel a little better. It reminds her that Lucy can, and should, feel like she's not alone. Fletcher never told Chloe about Zara's parents and she feels horrible. But now that she knows, she can see the same thing in her eyes that she so often sees in Lucy's: helplessness.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Chloe says.

Suddenly being on the other side of this situation has left her feeling at a loss for words. She tries to remember what made Lucy feel better, and what grated on Beca's nerves, while they were first going through this whole situation; what still helps and hurts, but she can't remember a single thing.

"How could you have?" Zara says, "It still hurts, but I'm far enough from it now that I can talk about it." She says.

Beca watches Lucy's eyes look up, but not quite at Zara's eyes; they settle somewhere near her shoulder.

"But I am close with the rest of my family. I lived with my aunt and uncle after my mom's passing and my cousins became like my brothers and sisters. They were still very little when I went to live there, but we're very close now."

"You liked living with them?" Lucy asks.

She thinks about all of the books and movies she's seen where someone's parents die and they are sent off to live with an evil aunt or left alone with a spiteful step-parent. She assumes those must be based in some kind of truth. She's thankful that wasn't her experience, and she hopes it wasn't Zara's either.

"Very much. If I can't have my mom, my aunt and uncle are a very close second. I don't think many people understand that."

"I do." Lucy says, quickly, looking over at Beca and Chloe.

Zara gives a knowing smile and nod before looking over at them as well. Beca bites her lower lip and looks down and Chloe looks like she could fall into a fit of tears at any moment.

"It's a remarkable thing you two have done." Zara says.

There is something about her voice that feels like they've known her forever, a sense of familiarity and comfort there. Chloe is thankful that her niece or nephew will grow up knowing that voice.

"It was the best decision of my life." Beca says, truthfully.

"It's kind of crazy," Fletcher starts, "that we've all found each other, isn't it?"

Zara reaches over and takes his hand in her own. They sit in that thought. If you had asked Beca what she thought they were going to talk about tonight at dinner, she would have probably said work, or what they've been watching on TV, or Lucy's school. She never would have guessed all of this. But Fletcher's right. It's crazy, on so many levels, that they've all managed to find each other, and keep each other. Through a series of life's biggest misfortunes, they've all come out the other side somehow very lucky.

They don't account for the amount of traffic heading into the city on a Saturday night. Beca tightens and loosens her grip on the steering wheel repeatedly while they wait to get into the Lincoln tunnel. Chloe puts her hand on Beca's thigh and looks behind her into the backseat. Lucy is sound asleep. They both knew it wouldn't take long.

"She seems great." Beca says, pulling Chloe's attention away from Lucy's sleeping face.

"What? Oh yeah, she really does. Thank God, sometimes with Fletcher I question his judgment of character, but they seem to fit."

"And who are we kidding, that baby is going to be gorgeous." Beca adds.

Chloe giggles, it's breathy and light, but real. Beca glances over, not wanting to take her eyes off the road for too long but she needs to look into Chloe's eyes; she's suddenly overtaken by the admiration she feels for her. She's never known anyone so selfless and outwardly kind.

"What's that look for?"

"Nothing." Beca says, quickly, before turning back to look at the road and hide her blush.

She knows the entire world is well aware of how soft Chloe Beale has made her; no one knows it better than Chloe herself. Yet, she still finds herself getting embarrassed in moments like these. She would shout her love from the rooftops, if it ever came to that. But somehow the quiet moments, the ones that catch her by surprise, are the ones that make her squirmy, and awkward, and sputtering. They make her feel like she's a freshman at Barden all over again.

"Hey." Chloe says, softly, almost a whisper.

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

She's fought, tooth and nail, to keep her family together, and happy, and safe. And if she's being honest there are days where it feels like that fight will never end, like they'll never get their happy ending. But then there are days like today, where it's not so heavy, and things are quiet, and she's reminded what all the fighting is for. She rests and reevaluates, and arms herself to fight another day for the two people she loves more than anything in the entire world.