AN: Chapter four. (: Your thoughts are appreciated. I hope y'all enjoy. (I'll be going through and editing previous chapters because it seems my divider didn't show up in some of them, so if you get multiple alerts, I apologize)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Aubrey hasn't stopped smiling since she dropped Stacie back at Beca's. Hearing the baby's heartbeat - seeing her move on the screen, it made everything so real. She's going to be a mother.
It was a bittersweet experience, because she knew that Stacie was struggling with this. Aubrey could see it in her eyes. She can't possibly imagine what the brunette is going through. Apart of Aubrey still fears that Stacie will back out, and though Aubrey wouldn't blame her, she would be incredibly heartbroken. She's already so attached.
Her eyes drift to her refrigerator where two sonogram pictures are hanging next to each other amongst other photos, and she can't help but smile softly. Her eyes trace every shape and curve of the black and white picture before she opens her fridge for a bottle of water.
Aubrey moves back into her living room to curl up on the couch, thoughts drifting back to Stacie. Their interaction in the waiting room had really thrown Aubrey. She had found herself envying Stacie- being able to feel the baby, but then the brunette had brazenly grabbed Aubrey's hand and placed it onto her round belly. She'd been a little… uncomfortable? No, that wasn't it- she'd been something, and Stacie's hand had been warm and soft and- and then the baby kicked and something warm swelled inside of her chest.
And then their eyes met and suddenly, Aubrey's skin felt hot, her heart picking up a few beats. There was something electric there, between them- something buzzing and unstable, like a livewire.
Before Aubrey could try to question it, Stacie was being called back. So, Aubrey chose to ignore it- it was probably nothing, anyway. Besides, the ride home had been comfortable, their silence companionable - like nothing had even happened, so Aubrey suspected it was just the excitement of the moment.
Over the next couple of days, Aubrey spends her time baby shopping and turning one of her spare bedrooms into a nursery. There's a huge part of her that's wary, still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Stacie has shown no indication of backing out. When she isn't shopping, she's spending time with Chloe and Beca, and Stacie by proxy. It's apparent that Stacie and Beca have quickly become good friends, which Aubrey can understand, because the more time she spends with Stacie, the more she likes her.
Aubrey has learned a lot about the brunette. She's smart and witty, and funny and Aubrey finds that she genuinely enjoys the other's company, whether they're alone or with Beca and Chloe. When they're left alone for whatever reason, they contemplate whether one of their two friends will finally sack up and tell the other how they feel.
Today, though, Aubrey is running a few errands - picking up a few groceries and household items she'd run out of. It's as she's putting the last of her bags in the back of her car that her phone rings.
Closing her trunk, Aubrey pulls her cell from her back pocket. "Aubrey Posen speaking."
"Don't you have caller ID?" Aubrey chuckles lightly at Stacie's amused voice.
"Hi, Stacie. I do, it's just a force of habit, I guess." The blonde says as she moves to open her car door and slide in. "What can I do for you? Is everything okay with the baby?"
"Everything's fine, don't worry. I just-" She sighs and Aubrey can hear the weariness in her voice, now. "Can I ask you a favor? Can you come get me from work? Beca said something about a 'Fat Amy emergency', and I'm not really sure what that means, but she said to call you."
Aubrey rolls her eyes. Of course, Beca did. Not that Aubrey minds, of course, but she doesn't like that Beca would just assume- "Aubrey?"
"Oh, yes, of course. I can do that. When's your shift end?"
"Half an hour. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry to bug you, but Beca is my only ride unless I want to walk, and I really, really don't. My ankles are already swollen."
Aubrey frowns slightly. "I'll be there, don't worry."
"Thanks. My break is almost up, I've got to go." After saying their goodbyes, Aubrey puts on her seatbelt and starts up the car to head to the coffee shop where Stacie works.
The drive is relatively short, and like she is for basically everything, Aubrey is early. Deciding to have a cup of coffee, Aubrey exits the car in favor of grabbing a cup and finding a spot in the corner of the shop to sit quietly.
As she enters, the first thing she notices is Stacie talking to a young man, probably around Stacie's age; he's tall, muscled and handsome in a country kind of way with dark, cropped hair and a 5 o'clock shadow. He's wearing a pair of worn blue jeans, a wife beater with an open, red plaid shirt. Upon closer inspection, Aubrey can see that Stacie is visibly uncomfortable, arms crossed over her chest and an angry frown marring her face.
Aubrey waits near a table, not exactly wanting to interrupt, but willing to if need be. She watches as Stacie says something low and she turns to leave, only to have his hand dart out and grip her arm. It's at that moment, that Stacie's voice rises. "Let go of me, Johnny! I told you, to leave!" She pulls at her arm, but his grip tightens as he yanks her forward, jaw tensing. "You're hurting me!"
Aubrey is across the caffe in seconds, attempting to step between them. "Is there a problem?" She poses it as a question, but there is a warning dripping from her curt tone and fire in her eyes.
The young man - Johnny doesn't release his grip. "Nothin' that concerns you. This is a private conversation." He spits angrily, attempting to tower over the blonde.
"Aubrey-" Stacie hedges gently, but Aubrey doesn't budge.
Aubrey doesn't even flinch as her hand reaches out and grips his arm tightly. "You made it public the second you decided to lay your hands on a pregnant woman in a very public area. Now, remove your hand before I remove it for you." She says icily, grip tightening by the second.
Johnny finally removes his hand and Stacie pulls her arm back to cradle it against her chest. "That's my baby, Stacie. I ain't leavin' here 'til ya come with me."
Stacie frowns deeper. "This is not your baby, Johnny. You left me at a fucking gas station with nothing!"
"I was findin' a place for us!" Johnny tries, at least having the decency to look ashamed.
Stacie laughs but it's anything but humorous. "For 4 weeks!? Did you think I'd just be sitting there, waiting for you?" She shrieks, still cradling her arm as she stands half behind Aubrey. "The truth is, is that you got scared, and you bailed. Just like you always do. And you thought I'd be here with open arms to take you back once you got your head out of your ass, but guess what? Not this time. You've used up all your chances, Johnny."
Johnny goes to take a step forward, reaching out for the brunette, but Aubrey steps further between them, her hand coming up to press against a hard chest. "I'd reconsider that movement, if I were you." She warns, eyes burning with anger.
The man hesitates before he steps back, his face scrunching up in anger. "I'll get a lawyer, Stacie! That's my kid!"
This time, it's Aubrey who laughs humorlessly. "You think that'll hold up in court? You think a judge is going to side with you? You abandoned her and left her with nothing but the clothes on her back, and you think a judge is going to allow you near a child? You'll be kicked out of that court room faster than you can say 'when'."
Johnny's face is red with anger, fists clenching at his sides, looking as though he's working hard to control his actions, but Aubrey stands unflinchingly, not even a flicker of fear. "What are you, her lawyer? Her fuckin' keeper?"
"I'm her friend. And I've got lawyer connections, yes. So, I think it would be wise of you to just walk away." Aubrey replies, voice eerily calm.
Before Johnny can say anything else, a voice from behind the counter startles them. "What's going on here? Stacie, are you okay?" An older woman asks as she unties her apron.
Aubrey raises a brow, up at Johnny, as if waiting to see if he tried anything else. Stacie glances back at the older woman behind the counter before looking back up at Johnny. Finally, Johnny huffs and turns to leave.
Once the door closes shut behind him, Aubrey turns to find Stacie crying silently. The previous anger she felt melts away into concern and before she can even open her mouth to ask if Stacie is okay, she's flinging herself at the blonde, hugging her (albeit awkwardly since Stacie's belly is in the way). "I'm- I'm so s-sorry." She sobs into Aubrey's collarbone.
"Oh," Aubrey mumbles, arms out and rigid at her sides, not sure what to do with them. She meets the older woman's eye as she watches on in concern. The woman widens her eyes slightly and gestures toward Stacie. Aubrey's brain finally catches up with her and she immediately wraps her arms around Stacie's shoulders, one hand rubbing her back. "Hey, it's okay." She murmurs softly. "Just breathe, it's okay."
After a moment, Stacie finally pulls back, looking rather embarrassed as she wipes at her eyes. "I-I'm sorry. I don't- I'm not-" She huffs and sniffs, clearly on the verge of tears again. "Hormones." She manages after a second and Aubrey nods, offering a sympathetic smile. "And I'm sorry about- about Johnny."
Aubrey rubs Stacie's shoulder gently. "It's okay, it's not your fault. Are you alright? Is your arm okay?" They both glance down at the brunette's arm. There's already a bruise forming on it and Aubrey frowns at the sight.
"Stacie?" The brunette turns to see the older woman approaching, Aubrey guesses it's her boss.
"Oh! Oh, Edna, I'm so sorry." She says, eyes welling up again. "He came in and I-"
"Honey, it's alright." Edna says, patting Stacie's uninjured arm. "I'm sorry I didn't come out, sooner. I was in the back doing inventory. Just as long as you're alright."
Stacie smiles gratefully. "I'm okay."
Edna smiles. "Good. Why don't you go on home, honey. I've already called Jessica to come in a little early. I'm sure I can handle it until she arrives." She nods softly to Aubrey before making a shooing motion at Stacie.
"I'll just get my stuff." Stacie sniffs.
"You're awfully quiet." Aubrey says as she maneuvers through 5 0'clock traffic.
Stacie glances over at the blonde. "What if he tries- tries to take the baby away, I can't let him take her away from you."
Aubrey glances once at the brunette to offer a reassuring smile. "He can't. He terminated his parental rights when he decided to leave you stranded at a gas station and then bruise your arm, which- you should document. Just in case. But, the law dictates that a parent's consent of putting the child up for adoption is not needed under certain circumstances, and your circumstances just happen to meet the criteria."
"You sure know a lot about this stuff." Stacie smirks over at the blonde.
Chuckling, Aubrey looks over at Stacie as they reach a stop light. "Well, I was pre-law. And I was very good at it. I also researched. I like to be prepared."
Stacie's smirk turns into a small smile. "You would have made a kick-ass lawyer."
Aubrey lofts a brow and grins. "I know."
The rest of the drive is quiet, both women lost in their own thoughts. Beca's car is in the driveway when they pull in.
Aubrey helps Stacie out of the car, walking her to the door, wanting to make sure the other woman is okay. They enter the small house to find Beca bracing her hands on the kitchen table and shaking her head. "Everything okay, B?"
Beca lifts her head and sighs, eyes catching Aubrey's and then Stacie's. "I had to talk Fat Amy down from pranking the Trebles."
At this, Aubrey outright laughs. "Of course you did." She says, not at all surprised.
Before anyone can say anything else, Beca's eyes zero in on Stacie's arm. "Dude, what happen to your arm?" She asks, concern dripping from her voice as she moves toward her. Stormy hues move toward Aubrey then back at Stacie, clearly wanting an explanation.
They explain what happen to Beca, and by the time they finish, Beca looks like she's seething. She brings her gaze back to Stacie and her features soften. "I'm so sorry, Stace. I'm sorry I couldn't be there."
Stacie smiles softly and and pulls Beca into a quick side-hug. "It's okay. Besides, Aubrey came in and saved the day." Aubrey watches as Stacie's cheeks flush a little as she meets the blonde's gaze.
Aubrey's own cheeks start to flush so she brings her attention back to Beca and smirks. "You're lucky it was me and not Beca. She would have punched him."
"You're damn right I would have!" Beca says with conviction.
Stacie raises a brow. "You? But you're so small!" She chuckles and Beca scoffs.
"Don't underestimate that small ball of rage," Aubrey says with a grin. "I've seen her launch herself at a 6ft muscled jock for slapping Chloe's ass as she walked by."
"I'm scrappy." Beca says with a shrug.
Stacie laughs, looking as though she's trying to picture it.
"At least I know how to use my words." Aubrey teases with a grin as Beca rolls her eyes.
"Whatever, Posen. You're scary enough on your own, you don't need fists." Beca says with a smirk.
Because they both know that Aubrey's best weapon is quick wit and her ability to cut someone down with just words. But she does have a pretty mean right hook if ever the occasion should arise that she need it.
Aubrey sighs as she collapses on her couch. She had stayed and chatted with Beca and Stacie for a little longer, making sure the taller brunette was okay and settled before heading on home.
She's exhausted. It'd been a long day and she's looking forward to a warm bath and then curling up with a good book and a glass of wine. Just when she thinks about getting up for that bath, there's a frantic knock on her door and then the sound of locks tumbling and before Aubrey can think to panic about someone breaking into her house, there's a flash of red and then the couch is dipping beside her.
"BREE! Bree, Bree, oh my god, oh my aca-freakin'-god." Chloe bounces slightly beside the blonde, and had it not been for the bright smile and pink cheeks of excitement, Aubrey would be worried.
"What? Calm down, Chlo. What is it?" Aubrey places a hand on a jiggling leg, stopping it only to have the other one start jiggling. She rolls her eyes.
Chloe is practically beaming, smile so bright, Aubrey briefly wonders when the world got a second sun. "Beca asked me out." She bites her lower lip and her cheeks tinge that much more pink. "Like- on a date. A real date."
Aubrey's mouth drops open in surprise as she blinks owlishly at the redhead. Chloe presses her finger under the blonde's chin and gently closes her mouth, grinning at her. After a moment, Aubrey shakes her head as if to clear it. "You mean, she finally womaned the hell up and admitted her feelings for you?" Aubrey's surprised expression turns into a warm smile. "It's about damn time."
Chloe's brows furrow slightly. "You knew?"
"That you two had monumentally gigantic toners for each other?" Chloe nods. Aubrey pats the redhead's knee and just chuckles. "Chloe, honey… it could be seen from space. Hell, Stacie saw you two stand together for all of three minutes and she picked up on it. You guys weren't subtle…" Aubrey frowns slightly. "Speaking of… damn, I owe Stacie a home-cooked dinner."
Chloe raises a brow at this. "What? Why?"
"We made a bet. If Beca admitted first, she won, and if you admitted first, I won. Clearly I underestimated Beca."
"Okay, we're gonna circle back to the fact that you guys placed a bet on our love lives, but first- be kind, rewind… dinner? With Stacie? You guys sure are getting chummy." Chloe says, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raising.
Aubrey's brows furrow in confusion. "What do you mean? She's Beca's friend and Beca is my friend- it'd be inevitable that we hang out."
Chloe's other eyebrow joins its counterpart. "Won't that- I don't know, be kind of… weird and… hard on Stacie when she sees you with the baby?"
Aubrey frowns and crosses her arms over her stomach.
"Are you sure you're not like… falling for her? 'Cause that's a dangerous, slippery slope, Bree." Chloe warns, gently.
"What?! No, of course not!" The blonde denies vehemently, swallowing the sudden dryness in her throat and ignoring the sudden clenching in her stomach.
Chloe holds up her hands in placation. "Hey, I was just asking, Bree." She places her hand back on the blonde's knee. "I'm not here to judge, you know that. I'm just- making sure you're okay. This is all a lot, ya know? You're gonna be a mom and it's an emotional time and it's stressful for both you and Stacie and- emotions are high-"
"I'm not falling for Stacie, Chloe." Aubrey says, cutting her off.
"-And it'd be understandable… if you were." Chloe continues, as if Aubrey hadn't spoken at all.
The blonde fidgets slightly under Chloe's kind and earnest gaze, her heart beating anxiously against her breastbone. "I'm not." She says again, unsure of why this line of questioning is making her so uncomfortable and anxious. "We're just friends." She clears her throat and sits up a little straighter. "I don't want Stacie out of the baby's life, but ultimately it's up to her. She's welcome to stay in it."
Chloe nods, looking thoughtful. "Okay, Bree." She smiles something soft and empathetic. "I'm just making sure. You know I'm here if you need me."
Aubrey offers a small smile in return and nods. "I know, Chlo. And I appreciate it."
The redhead squeezes Aubrey's knee, gently. "Alright, then." Her smile turns into an amused smirk as one brow raises slightly. "So, about this bet…"
And Aubrey sighs and rolls her eyes, smiling sheepishly on the outside, but internally, she's panicking. She isn't falling for Stacie, that's crazy.
Still, she can't shake the nervous feeling that Chloe seems to have awakened within her.