bechloe-bible-49: Thanks! I really enjoy writing kids. Charlotte is definitely going to give Aubrey any run for her money.
Pixie1913: Not enough people appreciate the adorableness that is Aubrey Posen.
Guest: Thank you!

A/N: I don't have too many plans for this story outside of the basic skeleton. I'm just kind of rolling with it. So, if y'all have domestic Chaubrey prompts, let me know, and I can try to incorporate them.

Something Just Like This

She said, where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts,
Some superhero,
Some fairytale bliss.
Just something I can turn to,
Somebody I can kiss.

-Coldplay, The Chainsmokers

By Friday of the next week, when Chloe finally texts, Aubrey has given up all hope on seeing her again. She decided by Tuesday that Chloe had probably asked for her number just to keep her from feeling bad, and really had no intention of saving it in her phone. Worse, she had to spend an entire week making up excuses to Brian and Conrad about why she hadn't gone out with her again. They were both busy. They didn't really hit it off. Aubrey wasn't sure it was the right time to bring someone new into Charlotte's life.

But, at 6:30 on Friday morning, Aubrey's phone lights up just as she is waking up. She rolls over and reaches over Charlotte, grabbing it off the nightstand. The number is unknown. She frowns and squints at the bright light as she opens up the message.

Hey, it's Chloe. Omg, I am so sorry. I have been so busy. Ik it's early, but Conrad said u wake up at 6:30 for work. Do u want to get coffee with me? He said u always stop 4 coffee.

Aubrey blinks a few times then rubs her eyes – considering the possibility that she might still be asleep and dreaming. But, no, she is definitely awake. She looks at her phone again and sends a text back.

Sure. Where?

It's too early in the morning to feel this giddy. It's too early in their friendship to feel this giddy. She turns and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. Her phone lights up again.

Starbucks by ur apartment building at 7:45?

Aubrey smiles.

Sure.

She saves Chloe's number in her phone and gets out of bed so she can get ready for work.

xxxxx

"Why can't I go?" Charlotte asks, pouting at her cereal. "I always go."

"Because today is different and Brian is going to walk you to school," Aubrey answers. "Don't forget your lunch."

"But what about hot chocolate?" Charlotte asks.

"I made you hot chocolate; it's right in front of you." Aubrey tries to ignore the twinge of guilt in her chest.

"I don't want it." Charlotte lowers her forehead to the table.

"You're being dramatic." Aubrey grabs her purse off the counter. "I'll see you tonight. Be good for Brian. Be good at school." She walks forward and kisses the back of Charlotte's head, frowning as Charlotte waves her away then wipes off the kid. She sighs. "I love you."

"Don't be a jerk to your mother," Brian says, walking into the kitchen. "It's my job to be the asshole."

"Love you, too," Charlotte mumbles into the table.

"Don't say asshole," Aubrey says. She points back and forth between both of them. "Either of you." The moment Charlotte starts swearing because of him, she's going to kill him. "And don't say jerk either."

Brian rolls his eyes and pours himself a cup of coffee. "Yes, Mommy," he says in a honeyed tone.

Aubrey suddenly feels like she's going to puke. "And never call me Mommy."

"What?" Charlotte lifts her head.

"You may call me Mommy," Aubrey tells her.

"Daddy?" Brian smirks and wiggles his eyebrows, knowing full well that he's pushing her buttons.

"Do you want to live?" Aubrey asks him.

"Sir?" Brian tries again.

This isn't a battle that Aubrey has time for if she wants to be on time to meet Chloe. "I can live with that." She stuffs her keys and her phone into her bag. "Be good," she directs at both of them – not sure who she's concerned about most.

"Rise and shine, sluts!" Conrad announces, walking into the kitchen.

Aubrey turns and walks right out the door.

xxxxx

She gets to Starbucks at 7:44, which is basically unacceptably late. But Chloe isn't there yet. So Aubrey waits outside the door and continuously checks her watch. She technically doesn't have to be to work until 9:30. Her watch reads 7:45. Maybe Chloe isn't coming. Maybe she got there, realized Aubrey wasn't there, and left. 7:46.

"Hey!" Chloe walks up beside her, grinning ear to ear.

Aubrey almost jumps. She quickly stops looking at her watch and lowers her arm. "Hey."

Chloe glances at the watch on Aubrey's wrist, still grinning. "Come on, I wasn't that late," she defends herself. "This is probably the most on time I get."

"I was just checking what time it was." Aubrey awkwardly adjusts the strap of her purse.

"It's 7:47." Chloe winks at her. "Do you want to go inside?"

Aubrey quickly nods.

Chloe pulls the door open for her. "You look nice," she comments, holding it open with her foot.

Aubrey scolds herself for not being the one to hold the door. "Thanks," she says, walking inside. "You do, too."

"I guess." Chloe follows her in. "There's only so much one can do with a t-shirt and jeans. I almost came in scrubs."

Aubrey realizes it probably wouldn't matter what Chloe is wearing; Chloe is just cute. On the other hand, Aubrey has to make an effort to look nice for work – working at a law office and all. She's forced to wear either a dress or a suit every day. Today, she opted for a suit. "What do you drink?" she asks, walking up to the counter. She pulls her wallet out of her purse and takes out her card.

"Hey, we have a deal, remember?" Chloe asks.

Aubrey stares at her in confusion.

"You buy the food, and I buy the drinks." Chloe pulls some cash out of her back pocket. "What do you want?"

"I can buy drinks this time," Aubrey assures her. She knows what it's like to just recently move to New York – it makes a person tight on money.

"How about you buy breakfast?" Chloe suggests, "I really like bagels."

Aubrey nods. A deal is a deal, she guesses. She turns and orders them both a bagel, paying for them on her card.

Chloe orders herself a vanilla latte once Aubrey is finished. "What do you like?" she asks.

Aubrey orders herself a grande iced chai then looks around for a seat as Chloe pays. There are no window seats available – only a small table in the back corner. She waits for Chloe to collect her change then leads her that way and places her purse down on the table as she sits. "You're going to work after this, too?" she asks, remembering Chloe saying she almost showed up in scrubs.

Chloe nods and puts her bag down beside her chair. "I have a few patients to check up on," she says, "And then a handful of rabies shots to give. How is your dog doing?"

Her dog? Oh. Right. Conrad has one of those. It's the thing that digs through the trash. Aubrey shrugs. She glances at the counter when she hears her and Chloe's names.

"I got it." Chloe stands up and walks over to retrieve their bagels and drinks.

"He's fine," Aubrey says when she comes back. "He and Charlotte are always in some sort of trouble." She pauses. "Charlotte is my daughter."

Chloe smiles and places their things on the table. "How old is she?" she asks before sipping on her drink. She leans back against her chair, focusing all of her attention on Aubrey.

"Five," Aubrey answers, "She just started Kindergarten this year."

"Aw. Does she like it?" Chloe doesn't take her eyes off Aubrey as she grabs her bagel.

"I don't know." Aubrey swirls her drink around in her cup and shrugs, "She doesn't really tell me about it. I mean, she gets good grades… Her teacher never responds to emails." She takes a swallow of her drink to hide her frown.

"That must be really frustrating." Chloe's smile turns sympathetic. "Do you have a picture of her?"

Aubrey nods. She puts her cup down and digs her phone out of her purse. She unlocks it and quickly flips through her images until she finds one of Charlotte hugging Twix. She guesses Chloe will like that one. "This is her." She turns her phone so Chloe can see the screen.

"Awwww." Chloe leans forward. "She looks just like you."

Aubrey doesn't really think so. She guesses she can see it in the shape of Charlotte's features and blonde hair – but Charlotte has brown eyes and freckles. She puts her phone back in her bag. "She's a handful," she says, not having any other way to describe her.

"Aren't all kids?" Chloe asks and leans back again.

Aubrey looks at her. "Then she's two handfuls." She picks up her bagel and shakes her head. Eight handfuls might be more honest. She wouldn't describe Charlotte as a bad kid. But her behavior since moving to Queens has been…questionable.

Aubrey's phone rings. She pulls it out of her bag again, and recognizes the number as Charlotte's school. Right on cue. "Sorry," she apologizes to Chloe, then answers the phone. "Aubrey Posen speaking."

"Hello, Mrs. Posen," the lady on the other end of the phone says, "This is Principal Briar from Charlotte's school. Do you have a moment?"

Aubrey has a feeling that she wouldn't be allowed to answer no, regardless of if she had a moment or not. But it doesn't matter, because at least someone is finally fucking talking to her. "I do," she says.

"Good, good," Principal Briar says, "There was an incident after Charlotte was dropped off. We're going to need you to come in to the school to discuss it."

Aubrey's brows furrow. "What kind of incident?" she asks, "Is she okay?"

"Charlotte is fine," Principal Briar says calmly, "But she is in detention."

So it's that kind of incident.

"Is everything okay?" Chloe asks.

Aubrey nods. "I'll be right there," she mutters into the phone and glances at her watch. She's going to be late for work.

"Thanks you," Principal Briar says, "We'll see you soon."

Aubrey hangs up the phone, then shoots a quick text to Brian so he can let their job know that she's going to be late. She places her phone down on the table and frowns at her drink. "I have to go," she says not bothering to hide her disappointment. She finally has someone to talk to outside of work – and she continues to have to leave.

"That's okay," Chloe says, "I'll walk with you."

Aubrey is about to tell her it's fine and that she doesn't need to do that, but she stops herself. She doesn't want Chloe to assume that she just doesn't want to hang out with her. She nods. "Alright." She wraps up her bagel and places it in her purse then grabs her drink and stands up.

Chloe gathers her things and stands as well. "What happened?" she asks and looks at Aubrey.

Aubrey shrugs and leads the way to the door, holding it open for Chloe. "Detention happened." She keeps telling herself it's fine, because at least now someone will talk to her – and she'll know how Charlotte is doing. Although detention gives her some clues about that answer.

"It's barely even 8:00," Chloe says.

"Three handfuls," Aubrey corrects her earlier statement.

Chloe offers her a sympathetic smile.

"But she's a good kid," Aubrey says quickly. She walks down the street, toward Charlotte's school – smiling as the cars go by. She likes Queens most at this time of the morning. Right when it's starting to wake up. The streets aren't crowded, but it's lively. It'd almost like Winter turning into Spring. She realizes Chloe is looking at her, and her face turns red. "Sorry, I'm talking too much."

Chloe shakes her head. "No," she says, "Not at all."

"You have a dog, too?" Aubrey asks her, unsure what to ask, remembering she mentioned something about a dog last week.

Chloe nods. "Sir Licks-A-Lot," she reminds Aubrey of its name. "We should take our dogs to the dog park sometime."

Aubrey has never walked Conrad's dog. She has never wanted to walk Conrad's dog. Now, she might be reconsidering. She tries to remember if Conrad or Brian told her of any plans over the next few days, because she is running out of sitters for Charlotte. They're going to the beach on Sunday. And Monday is a long day for Brian at work. "What about tomorrow?" she asks, wondering if that's too soon.

"Tomorrow sounds great," Chloe answers, "But maybe not this early in the morning."

Aubrey nods in agreement – not that it matters much to her. She wakes up at 6:30 on Saturday mornings to go jogging anyway. "You'll have to text me the address for the dog park."

"Do you want to just meet at Starbucks again, and we can grab coffee and go from there?" Chloe asks. "I can still text you the address. How do you have a dog, and you've never gone to the dog park?"

Because every time Conrad wants to go to the dog park, Aubrey gets unexplainable headaches that prevent her from leaving the house until right after he's gone. But the thought of going with Chloe doesn't seem that bad. Maybe Conrad is the headache. She shrugs, and is saved from answering as they walk up to Charlotte's school. "Tomorrow?" she confirms, "What time?"

"Tomorrow aaaaaaaaat -" Chloe draws out the word as the thinks. "Noon. Is that a good time?"

Both guys should be awake at that point to do something with Charlotte. Aubrey nods. "That sounds pitch perfect," she answers.

"Great." Chloe looks at the school then at Aubrey again. "Good luck in there."

Aubrey looks at the large brick building that she hasn't been inside since touring it before enrolling Charlotte. She feels a little bit like she is being called to the office – which is ridiculous, because Aubrey Posen never got into trouble in school. "I'll see you tomorrow." She doesn't care what happens tomorrow; she is not going to show up only to tell Chloe she has to leave again. The boys and Charlotte will just have to fend for themselves.

"Bye." Chloe gives her a quick, one-armed side hug. "See you tomorrow. You can text me before then – if you want to, of course."

Aubrey watches her go – wondering if she should have made an effort to try to hug her back. She isn't quite sure how that works with people she just met. But she does that have time to dwell on it. She takes another swallow of her drink, then turns and walks into Charlotte's school.