AN: I apologize for the wait. We're slowly but surely moving along. :P
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
The decision to start a family on her own did not come lightly for Aubrey, but she was completely behind schedule when it came to her ten year plan. It wasn't like she'd never changed her plan up before. It's how she ended up opening the Fallen Leaves Retreat instead of becoming a lawyer. Plans change and Aubrey was adaptable. You had to be adaptable when you were an army brat.
She's 24, now and according to her plan, she should have been married by now and on her way to starting a family with her significant other. But with no husband (or wife) to speak of, she figures it's time to change up the plans. Besides, she doesn't need to be married or in a relationship to start a family. She has the want, the love and care, and the means to care for a child. And she has Chloe - future godmother to said child. And then she has Beca… future - something. Cool aunt? Whatever, the point is, she's got her small village. She's ready. She wants this.
Of course, saying she's ready and then suddenly having a potential chance at actually becoming a mother being thrust into her lap? Well, that's more than a little daunting.
It's been two weeks since Beca called Aubrey about Stacie Conrad. At first, Aubrey was wary about not going through some sort of agency, especially once she learned the girl's story. Aubrey wasn't judging… (shocker, right? But after misjudging Beca, she vowed to always try to look beneath appearances) She just didn't know anything about this girl.
But, she figured it couldn't hurt to at least look into it. So, Aubrey paid for Stacie's first ever prenatal check-up as well as had (with Stacie's signed permission) her medical records faxed over. Then, she ran an extensive background check. Nothing a good agency wouldn't do.
Aubrey had been pleasantly surprised by what she found out. Stacie had graduated at the top of her class in high school and was even valedictorian. The young woman had won a couple of awards for science projects and her GPA was perfect.
Needless to say, the blonde is impressed… And anxious. She's never been more anxious in her life. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but after today, she could be well on her way to being a mother. She figures she's allowed to be a little melodramatic.
It doesn't help that Aubrey has thought up dozens of ways this could go wrong; like Stacie changing her mind or deciding Aubrey isn't good enough. (Which, she could understand because Stacie is giving up her child, here. She's allowed to be picky about whom the child goes to) But that doesn't stop her from panicking every time she lets her mind wander down that road.
It's what has her cleaning her house for the fifth time around. She's so caught up in her thoughts, she doesn't hear Chloe come in.
"Are- are you vacuuming your vacuum?"
Aubrey nearly yelps in surprise, dropping the little dirt devil to the floor. "Chloe! How many times do I have to tell you to knock?!"
Chloe gives an apologetic smile, hands going up to placate. "Hey, I did this time, but you didn't hear me… because you were vacuuming… your vacuum, seriously? Honey, I don't think this house could be any cleaner. It's time to put the cleaning supplies away."
"It gets dirty!" Aubrey protests as she moves to put both the vacuum and the little dirt devil up neatly in the closet before she sighs and slumps onto the couch. "I'm nervous." She admits quietly.
Chloe smiles softly and moves to sit beside the blonde, hand gently rubbing her back. "I can tell. But it's going to be fine. I'm telling you. This is it, I can feel it." Aubrey chuckles and shakes her head softly. Chloe Beale, ever the optimist. Then again, Chloe is rarely ever wrong in her 'feelings'.
"Thanks for being here, today." Aubrey says, letting her head fall gently onto Chloe's shoulder.
The redhead turns her head to press a kiss to the top of her best friend's head. "Of course, Bree."
Just as Aubrey goes to ask if Chloe would like some refreshments, there's a knock at the door. The blonde freezes, eyes wide and heart suddenly racing.
"Relax." Chloe says, gently as she stands up and pulls Aubrey up with her. "It's gonna go great." She tugs the blonde into the foyer and then gently nudges her to the door.
Aubrey takes a moment to breathe before she opens the door. Standing with her fist raised to knock again is Beca, and behind her stands a tall (and beautiful, Aubrey will privately admit) brunette. She looks as nervous as Aubrey feels.
"Posen." Beca greets casually, her lips quirking up into that stupid smirk. "You gonna let us in or just stand there?"
Aubrey's jaw clenches as she resists the urge to roll her eyes. With a quiet, indignant huff, the blonde moves aside to let them in. "Are you going to introduce us, Mitchell or is that too much to ask of someone who was raised in a barn?"
The dead eyes that Beca gives Aubrey only lasts for a second before the small brunette is grinning which in turn has Aubrey smiling back.
"I feel like I'm missing something, here." Stacie cuts in, a bemused smile on her face.
Before either Aubrey or Beca can respond, Chloe is swooping in and guiding Stacie inside. "Don't worry about them, that's just how they communicate and show affection. I'm Chloe! Chloe Beale, the best friend. You must be Stacie." The redhead holds out her hand and beams at the tall brunette.
Stacie still has that bemused smile on her face, and it takes her a second to actually respond and shake Chloe's hand. "Yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you." She turns to Aubrey and offers the blonde a small smile. "And you're Aubrey. It's nice to officially meet you, I've heard a lot about you." Stacie holds out her hand to the blonde.
Aubrey shakes Stacie's hand and offers a polite smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Stacie." Her brow quirks slightly as she turns to give a pointed look at Beca. "You've heard a lot about me, huh?"
Stacie chuckles as Beca shoves her hands in her back pockets, glancing away. "All good things." Stacie adds with a smirk.
"Uh-huh." The blonde narrows her eyes at Beca suspiciously. "Somehow, I don't believe that."
Beca rolls her eyes and huffs. "What do you want from me, Posen? I can be nice."
"Whatever, hobbit." Aubrey smirks and Beca smirks right back.
"Okay, why don't Becs and I go out on the back patio, yeah?" The redhead moves toward the brunette and loops her arm through Beca's, tugging gently.
Aubrey has to keep herself from rolling her eyes as she watches the slight flush creep up Beca's neck. Idiots, she thinks. She doesn't understand why they keep dancing around their obvious feelings for each other.
Stacie and Aubrey watch the two leave before Aubrey brings her attention back to the tall brunette. "Let's go into the living room. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Aubrey asks as she gestures for Stacie to have a seat in the living room.
"Oh, no. I'm fine, thanks. If I drink anything, I'll just end up having to use your restroom every thirty seconds." Stacie says with a nervous chuckle. Her sea green eyes glance back in the direction that Beca and Chloe left and a thoughtful look crosses over her face. "It's none of my business, but are they…?"
Aubrey almost snorts a laugh as she takes a seat across from Stacie. "If only. Three years later and they're still dancing around each other."
Stacie nods thoughtfully. "Ah. I just wondered. I've been staying with Beca for a few weeks now and she's never mentioned anyone. Not that I've learned much about her. She said she's the captain of an acapella group and that this is her last year in college. And that she's extremely talented with music." Aubrey watches as the younger woman pushes a strand of long brown hair behind her ear. "But, anyway. I'm sorry. I'm a little nervous."
Aubrey smiles softly. "It's alright. To be honest, I'm a bit nervous myself. I'm not sure where to start, so I guess I'll just dive in. First, I'd just like to thank you for- well, just for talking to me. I can't imagine what you must be going through."
Stacie smiles a little sadly and nods. "Thank you."
"I received your medical records and I did my snooping on you. Background check and all that. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable. It's what an agency would have done had I gone through one."
"Oh, no. That's fine. I've got nothing to hide." Stacie offers a small half smile. "I mean other than having my appendix out at fourteen, I don't think there's anything interesting in my medical records." She chuckles. "Did you have any questions that the background check didn't answer?"
Aubrey chews the inside of her cheek for a moment. "Had you ever considered going to college? I mean, you graduated at the top of your class."
Stacie smiles weakly. "I was offered scholarships, but I still wouldn't have been able to afford it. I had started saving but then-" She trails off and glances down at her ever growing belly.
"I see. Well, perhaps after, you can still go. It's never too late, you know." Aubrey watches Stacie nod gently, eyes finding a place on the carpet. "Is uhm-" The blonde hesitates, not wanting to further upset the other, but needing to know. "The father-"
Stacie's head jerks up and Aubrey watches as her eyes flash with anger before she blinks and it's gone. "Not in the picture." She says curtly. "I'm not sure what Beca told you- about how I ended up staying with her…" She sighs tiredly. "We were supposed to be driving away together, but- he got cold feet, I guess, and he left me at the gas station."
Aubrey's mouth drops open in shock, until anger shoots through her veins like fire. "He just left you there? With nothing?" Stacie nods. "What a piece of garbage."
"And Beca found me pathetically crying in front of the store and yeah."
"I'm sorry that happened to you, Stacie." Aubrey says earnestly.
Stacie smiles softly. "Thanks. I don't know too much about his side, but I don't think there's anything to worry about… unless there's an asshole gene."
Aubrey chuckles and nods before asking, "Did you have any questions for me?"
The brunette looks thoughtful for a moment, eyes studying Aubrey carefully. "What do you do? What's your story?"
"Well," Aubrey starts, folding her hands in her lap. "I went to Barden. I was captain of the Bellas until I handed the title to Beca when I graduated. I was pre-law for a while, and I liked it okay. I enjoyed the challenges and the classes, but becoming a lawyer wasn't really what I wanted. It was more what my dad wanted. But he passed away not long after I graduated and I did a lot of soul searching after that and that's when I decided to open the retreat. I had a knack for bossing people around and I figured I'd put that to good use and become the camp director. So, basically I own and run it." She says with a slight shrug. "A lot of fortune 500 companies come to go through trust excersies."
"Wow, that's awesome." Stacie says with a smile. "Beca says you're pretty put together."
Aubrey's brows raise slightly. "Oh?"
Stacie smirks. "Well, actually, she said, 'I've never seen someone who's had their shit together more than her.'"
The blonde rolls her eyes with a soft laugh. "That sounds more like Beca."
The two women go quiet for a moment before Aubrey brings her gaze back to Stacie's. "So, how did your appointment go?"
Stacie smiles softly. "Baby's healthy and normal. I uh-" She bites her lip and Aubrey can't help but think it's cute. "I have this." She reaches into the small bag she had brought with her and pulls out what Aubrey recognizes as a sonogram picture. After a moment of slight nervous hesitation, Stacie holds the picture out for the blonde. "I was- I was going to give you the sonogram if I liked you. I mean- unless you've changed your mind, which I would totally under-"
Aubrey shakes her head as she reaches out with a trembling hand to take the picture. "N-no. I- I haven't. Are you sure you want to-?" She hasn't looked at the picture yet, doesn't want to until she's certain that this is what Stacie wants. She won't get her hopes up.
The other woman smiles this watery little smile and nods. "Yeah. I want to. I want to give you my baby." She says, voice thick with emotion.
Slowly, Aubrey's tearful gaze moves down to the sonogram picture and her chest immediately swells with love and excitement. The picture is a little grainy but the baby is easy to make out. Perfect. "It's-"
"It's a girl." Stacie says gently, eyes glassy.
Aubrey sniffs, fingers tracing over the picture reverently before she suddenly stands and moves across the room to hug Stacie. It's awkward and it surprises Stacie (and Aubrey, to be honest), but after her initial shock, Stacie hugs her back. "Thank you." Aubrey murmurs before she pulls back.
"Sorry to interrupt," Chloe's voice is apologetic as she basically loiters in the doorway of Aubrey's kitchen. "But Beca says if she doesn't get food in her person, she's going to get cranky."
Aubrey rolls her eyes as she pulls away from Stacie. "What do you mean, 'get'? That's Beca's default emotion."
"Hey! I heard that, Posen!" Beca says as she comes up behind Chloe, a scowl on her face. Though, once she notes the watery eyes of the two women, her expression softens. "Everything go okay?"
"Yes. I uh- I should let you and Beca go, Stacie. I know you have to be exhausted. We can talk more about this later, yes? I'll have my lawyer draw up papers and we'll go over the finer details. But I don't want to overwhelm you." Aubrey offers a small smile as she watches Stacie carefully.
Stacie nods as she moves to the edge of the couch, prepared to stand. Beca is there a second later, holding out her hand as if this was some sort of routine between them, which, Aubrey guess since Stacie lives with Beca, that it probably is. "Thanks, B." The taller brunette says as she shoulders her bag. "And that sounds good, Aubrey. Just uh, call me whenever. We'll talk."
After their goodbyes, Aubrey collapses back onto the couch where Chloe plops down beside her. "So…" The redhead prompts, grin knowing.
Aubrey takes a slow, shaky breath as she meets Chloe's gaze, her lips slowly curving up into a smile. It's enough of an answer for Chloe because she squeals loudly and throws her arms around Aubrey. "Eee! I'm so excited for you, Aubrey! You're gonna be a mommy."
The blonde's smile widens as she hugs Chloe back just as hard. "And you're going to be a godmother."
Chloe pulls back, smile so bright that Aubrey is pretty sure she could put the sun to shame right now. "That kid is gonna be so spoiled!"
Aubrey chuckles. "It's a girl." She hands Chloe the sonogram and the redhead takes it eagerly, bright eyes taking in the grainy image.
"Oh my god, this is so exciting. We should celebrate, and you can tell me all about Stacie. Beca seems to really like her." Chloe studies the picture fondly one more time before she gives it back to Aubrey.
"Wine and takeout?"
Chloe grins. "Totes!"