Beca stretched her entire body from her feet to the top of her head, reaching out her arms and flexing her fingers. She hadn't slept this well in the past few weeks since this drama with Chloe started. When she rolled over and came face to face with Lil Red and Toad who were tucked in beside her, she chuckled. Maybe beanie baby cuddles comforted her. Sitting up, she swung her legs off the edge of the bed and continued her stretching. A trip to the bathroom allowed her to splash water on her face, brush her teeth, and put her hair into a pony tail.

The refrigerator did not have a lot but enough to scrounge together an okay breakfast. She started a pot of coffee before pulling out the last remaining bagel, some cream cheese, and the final yogurt container which was only half full but enough to put some calories in her stomach. Beca chuckled at the lame meal she had cobbled together but figured it was better than leaving the apartment.

After finishing a few cups of coffee and her meager breakfast, she began to straighten up her apartment. She cleaned up the kitchen and straightened up her living room. Today was going to be a good day; she could feel it in her bones.

While Chloe's morning tea steeped, she sliced a quarter of a cantaloupe and a banana. She wiggled her hips to the music playing from her phone. She had avoiding checking for any messages from Beca to keep from being disappointed. The longer she steered clear of her phone, the better chance she had of hearing from the brunette. It also staved off any disappointment there might be if no message arrived.

She wanted to text Aubrey but knew that this would mean she couldn't avoid seeing any messages that had (or hadn't) been sent by Beca. Her desire to message Aubrey beat out the fear she hadn't heard from Beca. As she unlocked her phone, she was surprised to see she had missed a message from the project manager the night before, around eleven. No words were sent but a video was attached. She downloaded the rather lengthy video, plopped down on her couch and pressed play.

A title screen flashed: Therapy Talks with Toad and Lil Red Starring Toad Mitchell and Lil Red Beale. Chloe paused the video so she wouldn't miss any of it while she laughed at the adorableness of even the thought behind this video. She had no idea what to expect. After she got control of her mirth, she started it again.

Apparently Beca was using a phone tripod to keep the device upright. The video clip started with the phone camera focused on the two beanies who were facing each other, being held by the project manager. Chloe couldn't help but to smirk when Beca had the beanie babies start conversing with each other as they each had unique voices.

Beca started talking to the stuffed animals. She used her own voice when talking but Toad and Lil Red were animated, each with a special sound. "Hey kids. Wanna help me send a message to Mommy Chloe?" She made both beanies nod their heads.

"Yes Mama Beca." Toad hopped up and down.

Lil Red stood up on her hind legs. "We'd love that."

Beca motioned to the phone. "Go ahead kids; just talk towards my phone there. Mommy Chloe is right there."

"Don't you love us anymore Mommy Chloe? You didn't talk to us last night at dinner." Beca moved Toad side to side as he spoke.

"Did you even notice I was gone from home Mommy?" Beca put her finger on Lil Red's head as she spoke and bowed it down towards the table, a sad gesture which matched Lil Red's voice.

Chloe paused the video as an ache gripped her chest. She realized that indeed, she hadn't acknowledged Beca's bringing the kids to dinner, even making them have a place at their own table. Normally Chloe was the one with quixotic actions and romantic ideas. Beca had obviously tried to make her smile at dinner, and she hadn't even mentioned it. She'd been too caught up in her own issues.

She started the video again.

"Mama Beca is sad," Toad's voice was miserable. "She told us you both messed up. Maybe if you say you are sorry, she'll get un-sad."

"She knows she needs to say she's sorry, too. But we are worried Mommy Chloe." Beca danced Lil Red from side to side. "She's really down. She told us how important you are and that she wants to trust you, but she can't trust herself to trust you."

"Okay kids, it's time for bed." Beca got up from the table and picked up both beanies. A clear view into the bedroom allowed Chloe to see Beca tucking them into bed together before Beca came back and turned off the phone.

The redhead could only surmise that Beca hadn't meant to send the video to her. Then again, maybe she did. However, the insight provided to Chloe was invaluable. She was going to step up her efforts to apologize and make things better between herself and Beca. While she figured out how to do that, she also had to reach down inside of her and come up with why she had hidden the situation from her girlfriend. Beca deserved at least that much.

Aubrey rang Chloe on FaceTime soon after the redhead texted her she needed to talk. "How did things go with Beca last night?"

"It was okay." Chloe shrugged. "Hey is Stacie there?" Aubrey nodded. "Can you get her?"

Soon the leggy brunette stuck her face next to Aubrey's in the screen. "Hi Chlo. What's up?"

"I got a video from Beca last night. Well it was more from Lil Red and Toad than it was from Beca. I don't know how to take it, how to react, or even if I should respond."

Stacie chuckled. "I will bet donuts to dollars she's been having trouble sleeping and took Ambien. She always does strange things on that drug." The small smile Chloe had on her face fell a bit. Stacie laughed again. "Doesn't mean the video wasn't honest. In fact, she was probably as truthful as she could have been in the past few weeks." Chloe forwarded the video to Stacie and waited for her to call back.

The longer Chloe waited, the more nervous she got. The video wasn't that long, and she wasn't sure why Stacie hadn't called her back. When her FaceTime tone sounded and Stacie's face appeared, Chloe was relieved. Both Stacie and Aubrey were laughing.

"Oh Chloe, that was priceless. Sorry it took us a minute to get back with you. We had to watch it a few times. Priceless." Stacie grinned. "I'm surprised that she was even able to give it a title. But that was definitely Beca at her Ambien best and she was being candid with her own feelings through the kids."

Aubrey kissed her brunette girlfriend on the cheek as she slung her arm around her shoulders. "Don't give up. Stacie is going to get in touch with Beca. Things are going to be okay Chloe. You'll see."

Beca hadn't as much as touched her phone this morning. She had promised Chloe a text but had no idea what to say. She was about to unlock her phone when her phone rang. Stacie was calling.

"Hey Shorty. I hope you are up. I'll be there in about fifteen."

"Yeah I'm up. Being dressed is a different story."

"I won't mind if you aren't."

"Shut up perv." Beca laughed. "I'm hanging up now. I'll take off the security chain." She disconnected the phone, made sure her friend could get in the front door, and changed out of her pajamas.

By the time she came out of the bedroom, her leggy friend was waiting on the couch. "Hey short stack. How ya doing?"

"I'm alright, all things considered. I slept well last night.'

Stacie reached over and picked up a prescription bottle of pills from the coffee table. "I bet so." She shook the container. "How much have you been depending on these?"

"Not a lot actually. I did take one last night which is why I slept well." Beca ran her hand through the end of her pony tail, tugging it.

"I know you did." Beca's confused look let Stacie know that her friend had no idea what she had done the previous evening. She wasn't sure how Beca would respond. "It is said that a person's true character comes out when intoxicated – be in by alcohol or by drugs."

"Okay Stace, spill it – whatever you are blabbering about."

Stacie unlocked her phone and navigated to the message Chloe forwarded her. "A certain redhead sent this to me this morning. Apparently, you and the beanie babies had a little video party last night. I swear you should be locked in a padded room when you are on Ambien. Anyway – go ahead." She motioned to the video. "Watch it."

After the video was over, Beca groaned. She cocked her hand back to throw the phone before her friend caught her hand before she released the device to fly across the room. "Easy there killer. That's my phone."

Beca unlocked her own phone to navigate to her video clips. Sure enough the video was there. She looked at her sent texts and saw that she had sent the video to Chloe at 11:04 pm the night before. "Fuck Stacie. What did I do?"

"I think you told her you wanted to talk, Opened up the communication lines a bit. Aubrey and I talked to her this morning, you know. Otherwise I wouldn't have known about this here little gem." She tapped her phone. "She wants to try to patch things up and is willing to put herself on the line, all out."

Beca's contemplative expression grew deeper as her gaze fixed on her phone which was back on the coffee table. "I guess I didn't know how much I wanted that, too. Toad and Lil Red – those cute little devils." She reached over and picked up her device. "I promised her a message yesterday. I suppose she's expecting one from me, not the kids. Give me a min."

The shorter brunette took some time and thought through what she wanted to say.

From Tiny Project Manager: Good morning Chlo. Kids say hi. But you already heard from them this morning
From Cute Redhead: Morning Becs. Hi to the kids, too.
From Tiny Project Manager: I was hoping we could talk today, really talk this time
From Cute Redhead: I'd like that

Beca was leaning up against one of the stone lions outside of the library. When she saw the redhead walking down the street towards the brown brick building, she grinned. When Chloe climbed the stairs, she stopped short of the brunette. "Hi." Chloe seemed to be acting shyer than normal, anxious maybe.

The brunette reached out to the redhead and wrapped her arms around Chloe, burying her face in the scarlet hair. "I've really missed you, this." Beca's words were muffled in her girlfriend's locks. Chloe began to sniffle as she latched on to the brunette.

"I can't believe we are back here – your thinking spot."

"One of my thinking spots," Beca corrected. They made their way back to the hidden area they had sat at before. This time, Chloe did not lay in Beca's lap but crossed her legs, facing her so they could have eye to eye communication.

Beca reached into her pocket. "Oh, I have some peeps that want to say hi." She pulled Toad and Lil Red from her pockets. She switched her voice back to ones she used the previous evening. "Hi Mommy Chloe. We missed you last night. Did you get our cool video?" She stretched over and had the beanies give Chloe lots of stuffie kisses.

The redhead began laughing and took both the kids. "Hi kids. Yes, I got your message. And I still love you both, very much. And I love your Mama Beca, too. Thanks for making me realize just how much." She tucked Lil Red in between her crossed legs and sat Toad on Beca's shoulder.

"Last night's conversation didn't resolve much." Chloe's eyes dipped down to Toad who Beca had moved to her lap. "You had some specific questions and deserve some answers more defined that I gave you. I want to do better Beca. I want to answer what I can."

"Chlo," Beca started. "My issues are…"

The redhead stopped her. "I need to tell you these things Beca. Talk it out. To help me understand a bit better myself. I thought through some things since I left your apartment last night, and this is what I have been able to surmise. When I first got the acceptance letter to New Haven, I was terrified to tell you."

Confusion spread across Beca's face. "Why Chloe? A pediatric residency is your goal, a specialty certification working with children. Right?"

Chloe nodded. "But I would have never survived four hours of commute a day Becs. I would have had to move there. Moved to New Haven. Away from you."

Despite understanding sinking in for Beca, she didn't react the way Chloe thought. "Chlo, we could have seen each other on weekends. I would have come to see you, and you know you'd be welcome in the city. For only a year, we would have survived."

"I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure how you react. The thought of losing you over me moving to Connecticut scared me. Avoidance I guess. My thoughts were – I don't tell you and I don't lose you. But I lost you anyway."

Beca reached over and put her hand on Chloe's leg. "You haven't lost me. We'll work this out. I promise."

"And I was going to tell you. I swear I was. I never meant for you to find out the way you did."

"I know." Beca gave the redhead a smile and positive vibes towards her girlfriend. She hoped to comfort her. She pulled Chloe's hand towards her and linked their fingers together. "May I ask a question?" Chloe nodded. "Did you think about why you changed your mind? From New Haven to Newark?"

"That's easy." Chloe flashed a bright smile. "I told you. After Guam, I realized that two hours was an hour and a half too far away. I wasn't trying to be flippant last night when I said I wanted to get the job and keep the girl." Her grin dropped as quickly as it came. "But I lost the girl."

Beca leaned over and kissed Chloe on the cheek, squeezing her hand. "You haven't lost the girl."

"I know I ruined your trust Becs. I'll do whatever it takes to earn that back." Tears leaked from Chloe's eyes.

"Hey…" Beca tugged on Chloe's hand to get her to make eye contact. "Seriously look at me." Chloe lifted her eyes. "Sometimes I'm a drama queen, okay? Especially when I get my feelers hurt."

"I'm sorry I hurt you babe." Chloe reached up and cupped Beca's cheek in her palm.

"And I'm sorry I reacted the way I did. I should have listened to you, let you explain while I kept my mind open."

Beca used Yelp to find a high rated tapas restaurant in the area. They shared countless plates, enjoying the variety, stuffing their faces until they were both about to pop. Dinner had been a smattering of casual conversation mixed with tidbits of information about Chloe's residency. When Beca asked for the check, she was disheartened that the meal was over so quickly despite them having been there for several hours.

Beca and Chloe walked along the sidewalk, stumbling from side to side with bouts of laughter from the redhead's jokes and little puns. She grabbed Beca's elbow with both her arms and pulled her close. "Dinner was good Beca Mitchell. Thank you."

"I'm glad you approve Chloe Beale. Meals are always better shared with you. I said it at the library, and it bears repeating. I missed you during our time apart. More than I can ever show."

When the couple got to the subway station, Chloe grasped both the brunette's hands and pulled her in close, pressing their foreheads together. "I guess this is where we go our separate ways."

"Chloe," Beca tightened her grip on Chloe's hands, "go home with me?" Beca's voice was soft, quiet. "I mean, if you want to that is. I sleep better when you are with me."

Chloe swayed back and forth, swinging their hands. "I don't know," she teased. "What if I like getting drug induced videos when I wake up?" Beca's face flushed a deep red. "Sure I'll go home with you Becs. I sleep better when I'm with you, too."

"I haven't heard from Beca. You heard from Chloe?" Stacie wrapped her legs around the blonde's who shook her head. "I guess that's a good thing. Surely they have worked their shit out this time."

"God I hope so. This is all getting to be tedious. Plus Chloe's birthday is next weekend, and I don't want that to get all messed up."

"Chloe's birthday? Does Beca know?"

"I doubt it. They haven't exactly been on speaking terms."

After a brief discussion, the couple decided to put Beca and Chloe on the spot and ask them to go to lunch with them the next day. This way they could see for themselves how their friends were coming along on making up after the huge blow up.

Beca had not let go of her girlfriend's hand throughout the entire trip back to the apartment. She absently rubbed Chloe's skin with the pad of her thumb while the redhead leaned into her side. When they entered the elevator to go up to Beca's apartment, Chloe pressed her back against the brunette's front and grasped both her hands as Beca buried her face in Chloe's hair then quickly found bare skin to press her lips against.

Right before the elevator arrived at the correct door, Chloe turned around and ran her hands through Beca's hair, pulling their faces together for a solid kiss. Beca's mind blurred as the kiss was solid filled with want, desire, lust. The time apart had dialed up their desires. Beca stumbled to the door of her apartment and fumbled with the key in the lock.

Chloe's hands were exploring the project manager's sides, her back, her neck. When they couple stepped into the apartment, the redhead tucked her head into Beca's chest. Their kisses became frantic yet passionate.

The moment the door was secured, the women were jolted from their state by their phones going off simultaneously. Just one device could have ignored, but both at the same time was more distraction then either could handle. The pair broke apart, chests heaving as they panted their desire.

"Aubrey," Chloe said at the same time Beca spoke.

"Stacie." They both laughed "They want us to meet for lunch tomorrow. I guess their nosy asses want to know if we've gotten our head out of our asses."

"Yeah or torn each other's faces off." Chloe leaned in and kissed Beca's nose. "Are we going?"

"I don't think we have a choice Chlo." She motioned towards Chloe's phone. "Let's tell them 'yes' so they will leave us alone." Beca texted Stacie then turned her phone completely off. After Chloe sent her text, Beca pulled the phone from her hands and powered it off as well.

Chloe pulled Beca over to the couch and pushed her down before crawling over the brunette, straddling her hips. She ducked her head and pressed her lips against Beca's. "Now… where were we?"

A/N: Next chapter, I took liberties with Chloe's birthday since hers is early June. They were on vacation then, so I shifted it some to be a bit closer to the Chloe's residency.