Once they step inside, Lucy rushes to her bedroom to change out of her dress. When she first saw it, she fell in love with the lace. But, after only a few hours of wearing it, she has a newly found hatred for it, and the chafe marks it's left on her underarms.

Lincoln lingers near the kitchen. She isn't sure if she should follow Lucy. She didn't ask her to, so she stands near the island with her arms crossed over her chest. She watches Beca pour a glass of water for Chloe. She watches the way she ensures that she drinks it and the way she takes Chloe's necklace off when she complains it's pinching her. It's all done for her with so much love. She wishes that she could live in this moment always; in it's easy to miss loveliness.

She's wished for a life like this since she can remember. She feels guilty, like everyone can hear her thoughts, or like if they were to take a closer look at her face, they would know exactly what she is thinking. That would be embarrassing, but also, she thinks, it might be nice for someone else to know about this wish; then maybe one day it could come true.

"Lincoln?"

"Oh, uh, sorry. What?"

"You alright? You seem kind of far away." Beca says, keeping a firm grip around Chloe's waist.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just tired I guess."

"I'm sure. I hear those middle school dances can get pretty out of control."

It's dripping with sarcasm. Lincoln smirks. There's something in Beca's stare, something about the way she's looking at her, that seems so genuine; seems like she really wants to know what's going on. It makes her want to bare her soul. But she catches herself before she lets any more secrets slip from her increasingly loose lips. She isn't sure what it is about this family that makes her feel this way. She wonders if hanging around them is truly in the best interest of her independent reputation.

"I, uh, I'm gonna go and find Lucy."

"Alright, kid, have a good sleep." Beca says, watching her go, wishing she could get her to open up; she can see the longing behind her eyes, she recognizes it deep in her bones.

"We're right down the hall if you need anything." Chloe says.

It's kind. It's almost an afterthought; she knows that's because it's what she says to Lucy every night. She's positive her mother has never said anything like that to her before. She pushes that thought aside and opens the door to Lucy's bedroom. Lucy has Finch in her arms. Shes rocking him back and forth like a baby, nuzzling him into her cheek.

"Sorry, am I interrupting something?" Lincoln asks, "I can come back." Her own smirk overtakes her face now.

"Shut up."

Lucy puts Finch down on the bed. That's when Lincoln realizes that she's still in her dress. Lucy gives him one more scratch under his chin before she turns to change into her pajamas. Lincoln sits on the bed and focuses on Finch, now laying down to expose his belly. She keeps her eyes down and tries not to pay any attention to the sudden heat on her cheeks.

"I'm sorry your first dance was such a bust." Lincoln stutters out, running her fingers through Finch's thick fur.

"What do you mean? It was fine."

Lucy turns around, now dressed in her pajamas. The flannel pants hang loose around her ankles making her look even shorter than she actually is and the Barden University t-shirt has definitely seen better days.

"I mean, we didn't do any actual dancing and then Wes kind of took me away from you and I-"

"Don't worry about that. I know why you danced with him."

"You do?"

Lincoln quirks her eyebrow and looks up at her finally. She isn't sure that Lucy knows what she's talking about. After all, if Lincoln isn't one hundred percent sure why she danced with him, how could Lucy know?

"It's the way it looks."

"What does that mean?"

Lucy shrugs, "I think that you agreed to dance with him because it's easier than saying no and having to explain yourself. Because we both know that Wes wouldn't take a simple 'no' as an answer."

Lucy says this with a distaste that Lincoln's only seen a few times. She lets out her own little chuckle and shakes her head.

"He's nice."

"He's abhorrent."

Lincoln lets her shoulders sag. Lucy takes a seat next to her, placing Finch in her lap.

"And I get it."

"Why do I feel a but coming?"

She knows there's more Lucy wants to say; there's always more.

"I know why you wouldn't want him to know. And I know why you wouldn't want, like, all the other people at our school, to know. But, I hope you also get that it's nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about."

"No offense, Lucy, but that's easy for you to say. You don't know what it's like. I mean, you live with…" She trails off, unsure if she should finish that sentence, or how she even would.

"Lesbians?"

"I mean, yeah. But, they're also two of the most open minded people I've ever met. They would except you no matter who you chose to be."

"Even I know that this isn't a choice."

"That's not what I mean. And that doesn't mean other people know that."

There's another pause.

"Other people like your mom?"

Lincoln turns her head aside and shrugs. She sniffles, to get rid of the tingling in her nose that means tears could form any second. The expression on her face stays the same but when Lucy's hand lands on her forearm it falters, just barely.

"Can we drop it? I'm really tired."
"Yeah, of course."

Lincoln disappears into Lucy's bathroom and comes back in her own pajamas. This is only the second time she's slept over, the last time she had borrowed sweatpants to sleep in. Lucy isn't sure why but she feels strange seeing Lincoln in her pajamas. They're just sweatpants, matched with a t-shirt that's so faded Lucy can barely make out the Rangers hockey team logo on the front. Still, it feels like an invasion of privacy somehow.

"You look cute in your jammies."

She jokes. She hopes it will help to break some of the residual tension.

"Shut it." Lincoln shoots back but then turns with a sheepish, "Thank you."

"The guest bed is all made up for you."

"Um, is it okay, like I don't know if you want me to, but-"

Lucy lets out a breathy giggle.

"Get in the bed, loser."

Lincoln gives a relieved sigh as she lays down in the bed. Lucy's bed is the softest one she's ever been in; not that she's been in many. But it's about a thousand steps up from the futon she sleeps on every night. It's soft and warm and wraps around her the way that Lucy, herself, has. She closes her eyes for a moment before she pulls the duvet up to her chin.

She watches while Lucy lays Finch down in his crate. She kisses his head three times and scratches under his chin. It's gentle, and practiced. Something about it makes Lincoln's heart hurt.

"Hey, um, can I ask you something?" Lincoln asks.

She hadn't dared to before but she finds her voice again once the lights are off and they are both laying on their own side of the bed.

"Sure."

"It's, like, really personal. Is that okay?"

Lucy lets out a giggle, "Tonight kind of seems like the night for that. What is it?"

"Do you still miss your parents?" Even though it's the exact question she had in her head, it still seems to shock her, "Of course you do, I just mean, like, do you miss them as much as you did when they first died?"

It's silent. Lincoln sits in it as she notes the sound of her breathing and her own heartbeat, quickening, in her chest. She wishes she could take it back. There's not a single movement, no ruffling of sheets, or deep intake of breath. She squeezes her eyes shut as she feels all the heat from her body rush to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's okay. It's okay."

She can hear in Lucy's tone that she means it. The mattress moves and it jostles her. Suddenly, she can feel Lucy's breath on the side of her face; she's laying on her side, facing her now. Lincoln keeps her spot; on her back, staring up at the ceiling.

"I think I do. I'm pretty sure I always will. But I think the big difference now is that I just think about it all a little less. Like, when they first died they were all I could think about. Them dying was the only thing anyone ever wanted to talk about with me. Everyone was afraid that I was going to break; and most of the time I felt like I was going to. But now, it's just… different."

The room falls flat until Lucy's raspy, tired, voice asks,

"Why?"

"I don't know. I was just thinking, I kind of wish I got to meet them."

"Me too. You would have liked them."

"Do you think they would have liked me?"

"Totally."

There's not a second thought before her answer; no hesitation or question. Lincoln smiles now, a bright, full, smile because she knows Lucy can't see it.

Beca knows she shouldn't be listening. But when she heard Lucy's giggle through the door, she couldn't help herself. Hearing her sister talk like this; so grown up, with a sense of healing, it makes her feel lighter. It's the moments like these, that are coming closer together now, that makes her feel like she hasn't been doing as badly as she thinks she has.

She walks down the hallway, into her bedroom. Chloe is laying in the bed, sipping the water that Beca has demanded she drink.

"Are they alright?"

It isn't until now, looking at Chloe, that she feels the affect of the alcohol in her own system. She feels floaty and happy; so happy that she can't wipe the dopey grin off her face when she climbs into the bed.

"Yeah, they're going to sleep."

Chloe scrunches up her nose.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just, that's kind of lame. It's only, like, ten o'clock."

"They're twelve. What do you want them to do, throw a kegger in our living room?"

"I don't know," Chloe says, flopping down onto her back, "it's a sleepover. Shouldn't they stay up all night watching movies and eating junk food?"

"I prefer this option. And don't you go putting any ideas in their heads. I prefer to keep them lame."

Beca lays down next to Chloe and runs her fingers up and down her arm. The same solitude from earlier comes over them and settles around them. It's quiet and calm and neither of them have anywhere else they'd rather be.

Chloe seems to be sobering, or leveling out, in that same happy, floaty, space as Beca. She rolls onto her side and rests her hand on Beca's hip. Their foreheads rest against each other before Chloe closes that small distance and kisses her. It's gentle at first, but quickly grows deeper, needier. Beca pulls back and locks her eyes onto Chloe's.

"Baby, I don't-"

"They're going to sleep. Lock the door, it'll be okay."

Beca had been almost squeamish about sex as soon as Lucy moved in. She was hyper-aware of every creak and sound outside their door every time; despite the fact that their door is always locked, despite the fact that Lucy is always asleep. Eventually she got more comfortable with the idea, decided that they needed to be close with one another. The nervousness subsided enough that she started to initiate it again but now there's two kids right down the hall that could hear them.

But the thought that it's been too long, every signal from her body telling her she wants and needs this, makes her get off the bed and lock the door. When she turns back around, Chloe is already undressed, laying on the bed. The same look of desire that overtakes her features every time they're intimate is placed on her face and Beca's knees almost buckle.

"God, you're beautiful."

Chloe giggles and reaches her hand out. Beca rushes back to the bed and takes it in her own. She moves it to her mouth so she can kiss her knuckles before placing it back on the bed. She straddles Chloe's waist and kisses her neck.

"Take your pants off."

Beca chuckles, it's breathless and a little out of place, but something about the sentence makes her laugh. One more look at the seriousness of Chloe's face and she does as she's told. Beca is about to resume her position but is taken by surprise when Chloe flips them both over so she's hovering over Beca.

She leans down and kisses the dip in between Beca's collar bones. Now that she's laying still, Beca's attention is brought more presently to her ragged breath. She hadn't realized how worked up she had gotten in just a few minutes; she definitely needs this more than she thought she did.

"Thank you for my birthday surprise." Chloe whispers, before lowering herself down between Beca's legs.

Beca pushes herself up on her elbows but Chloe reaches one hand up toward her shoulder to push her back down.

"You take such good care of us. So let me take care of you now. Lay back."

Beca is about to protest. She's about to say that Chloe is the one always taking care of her. She's about to say that it's her birthday and she deserves to be taken care of. But as soon as her head falls back against the pillow every coherent thought disappears.

As soon as her head is rested on the pillow, her eyes close. She squeezes them shut and takes a deep breath, keeping it in her chest for a moment before letting it out slowly. Each touch feels like a matchstick striking on her skin. She's overtly aware of where each fingertip is pressed into her calf and where the stray pieces of Chloe's hair tickle her thigh.

"Chlo."

"That's it. I've got you." Chloe whispers, once she feels Beca's muscles relax.

Chloe leaves open mouthed kisses on Beca's thighs. She works her way up one leg and down the other. It can't be more than a minute or two but to Beca, with her entire body thrumming, pumping adrenaline in a way it hasn't in a while, it feels like an eternity.

"Baby, don't tease."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Chloe says, in a playful tone that sends a shiver down Beca's spine, "I thought you wanted to take it slow."
"Why the hell would I want to do that?"

This time, a louder laugh, maybe a little too loud, escapes Chloe's mouth. The heat of her breath combines with Beca's own heat. She throws her head back, again, against the pillow. She grips the sheet in her fist and does her best not to be too loud when Chloe's mouth finally finds the spot she needs it to. She thinks she hears something on the other side of the door but she's too far gone to care. The rest of the night falls into a blur of gasping breath and words of love whispered in one another's ears.

When Beca wakes the next morning to a sunbeam hitting her directly in the eye, a chill settles around her bare shoulders. She reaches around the nightstand, blindly, for her phone to check the time. It's early, barely eight o'clock, but today is a busy one so she forces herself up and into the shower.

Her mind wanders back to the night before as she washes her hair. Her shampoo covered fingers tangle where Chloe's had been just a few hours before and she smiles. She spends a little extra time than normal under the warm spray. She lets her eyes slip closed to rest for just a few more minutes; she didn't sleep long, or particularly well, but part of her is getting used to the lack of sleep.

"Oh, good morning." She says, startled to see someone else awake.

Lincoln is sitting at the kitchen island in front of a few textbooks, writing quickly in her notebook. Beca notes how neat her handwriting is and the number of subject dividers, neatly labeled, in the binder that sits next to her.

"Good morning." Lincoln replies after finishing a sentence.

"What's all this?"

"Just some homework. I like to get it done early that way I don't have to worry about it later."

"Maybe you can instill that in Lucy. She likes to make it a Sunday night problem."

Lincoln chuckles, "I know. But she's so smart she probably gets it done really fast."

"From what I've been told you're quite the smarty pants yourself."

Beca focuses on making coffee but catches Lincoln's shrug out of the corner of her eye.

"I kind of have to be."

"What does that mean?"

Lincoln pauses. She isn't sure she should be saying this, her mom has told her that if word got out about her, she would be the laughing stock of the school; her social life would be over, not that she has much of a social life to begin with. She decides that she can trust Beca, and Lucy already knows, so she says,

"I'm at Vanderbilt on a full scholarship. Otherwise, there's no way I would be there."

Beca nods, slowly, but seems ultimately unfazed, "I see. That's pretty impressive."

That's not the reaction she was expecting. Out of all the things her mother had warned her people would say, how they would react, impressed was never one of them.

"Not sure many people would agree with you."

"Yeah, but other people are stupid."

Lincoln's head shoots up and her eyes meet Beca's. There's a sense of playfulness in them, and a gentle smirk on her face. She gives her own smile; the tight lipped kind that makes her dimples show.

"Are you hungry?"

Lincoln is thankful for the change in subject. She nods and looks back down to her textbook to finish the chapter.

"What's this surprise?"

"So impatient." Beca says, clicking her tongue, while she leads Chloe down the street.

They've just finished lunch and are on their way back home. Lucy and Lincoln follow closely behind. They both know the surprise but have been sworn to secrecy by threat of no FaceTime for a month.

"You know I don't do well with surprises."

"What are you talking about? You love surprises."

Chloe gives an exaggerated eye roll in the girls' direction which makes them laugh as they enter the building and walk toward the elevator.

"I don't know how I've never noticed how impatient you are." Beca jokes. "Good to know."

Chloe shoves her, but pulls her back quickly, by the waist to press a kiss to her cheek.

"You better be nice to me or I'll take the surprise back."

"That would be a little difficult to manage."

Lucy chimes in, which only adds to the mystery of what they have planned.

Something is different from the second they step inside their apartment. Chloe can feel it. She looks around and everything seems to be in place but she knows there's something she should be seeing. She knows it because she has three sets of expectant eyes on her. She turns with her hands on her hips and says, with a tilt of her head,

"I don't get it."

Beca snorts. Lucy covers her mouth and Lincoln does her best not to look incredibly awkward. Chloe turns back around and there are two more sets of eyes staring at her.

"Oh my God. What are you doing here?"

"We figured you only turn twenty-nine once." Aubrey says, pulling Chloe into a hug.

"I'm just here for the puppy." Emily jokes, before she's pulled into a tight embrace.

Chloe looks back to Beca and Lucy.

"You did this for me?"

Lucy shrugs, "I wish there was more we could do."

"Unfortunately, we couldn't get every Bella to the city but CR will be here, and Jess and Ashley. Stacie will be here later."

"A mini reunion." Emily says, pulling Lucy into her side.

"And tonight," Aubrey starts, with a raised eyebrow, "tonight we party."