A lazy arm flopped over a bare shoulder, pulling its owner over atop her so she could sprinkle kisses over the exposed skin. "What do you think we should tell them?"
"About what?" She turned over to kiss her girlfriend solidly.
The first woman playfully shoved her lover's shoulder. "You know they suspect something. They are bound to start asking questions soon."
"I say let them ask." A coy smile accompanied this statement.
"Well I say we just tell them. Unless you want to keep it a secret."
"Stacie Conrad! Our relationship is not a secret." Aubrey sat up with purpose as she sent a dangerous look towards the naked brunette who had just been kissing her.
Stacie didn't know whether to be shocked or to take the blonde's reaction in stride. "But our plans on shacking up are! Aubrey Posen." She emphasized her comment with her girlfriend's full name much like Aubrey had done her.
"Shacking up? You make that sound so dirty." Aubrey couldn't help the smile that escaped.
"Because you have ulterior motives for me moving in. Of this I'm sure." Stacie sat up behind Aubrey and wrapped her long legs around the blonde's torso.
"If the topic comes up, I suppose we can tell them. But..."
"But nothing. We are telling them." Stacie playfully nipped Aubrey's shoulder to emphasis her statement.
Another couple were struggling awake as well. As with her normal habit, Beca opened her eyes then slammed them shut again when the streaming sunlight hit. Her body seemed unusually warm. When she went to toss off the thick comforter and let some air under the covers, she discovered one of her arms was pinned to the bed, immobilized by a person who was putting out an extreme amount of body heat. Forgetting about the heat she was trying to escape, Beca snuggled against the redhead, pulling her in more tightly. Her mind drifted back to the previous evening.
After the texts which had so rudely interrupted their make-out session had been duly answered, and Chloe had straddled Beca, pinning her on the couch, she stared at the brunette just long enough to make her nervous. "Ummm…" Beca wasn't quite sure of which words to select.
"Stop worrying; I can see the wheels in your brain turning." Chloe bent down and kissed her on the tip of her nose. "I am just looking at you. I've missed seeing you. I'm sorry Beca, honestly."
Beca reached up and silenced the redhead with a searing kiss, pulling her down to Beca's level as her hands slipped up Chloe's shirt. She froze when Chloe flinched at her touch. "Too much?"
"Too cold," Chloe giggled. She got to her feet, pulling Beca up and bravely leading her to the bedroom. "Too much?" She parroted Beca's words from a few moments ago as they fell onto the mattress. Chloe's lips found Beca's, and they kissed – their kisses encompassing all the missed kisses from the past ten days.
As Chloe began to stir, Beca's mind snapped back to the present. She looked at the redhead and realized how much she adored the passionate woman laid sprawled out in her bed. Chloe's desires were fueled strictly by her emotions – her motivation driven by joy, fear, love, sadness, and even anger. The extra determination her passion provided seemed to be what drove Chloe to her successes in school and over the multitude of obstacles thrown in her path.
Chloe was not waking up quickly enough for Beca's liking, so she reached over to the bedside and got Lil Red. Adopting the voice she used in the video, she talked as she used the beanie to bounce on Chloe's face. "Mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Wake up. It's time for coffee. And breakfast. And beanie attention. Mommy. Mommy."
The project manager could tell Chloe was trying to keep the smirk off her face as she came to a more awareness of her surroundings. "Lil Red. Let Mommy sleepy." Chloe decided to play along as she whined.
"No Mommy. Toad and I are too short to make coffee and Mama Beca doesn't let us mess with appliances anyway. Wake! Up!"
Chloe gave a mock gasp. "Well you tell Mama Beca that she can make her own coffee and to make some for me while she's at it."
When Beca started to take Chloe's discussion with Lil Red at face value and get up to make coffee, the redhead grabbed her and pulled her back into bed. "C'mere Mama Beca." She pressed her hands on either side of the brunette's face and kissed her solidly.
"Don't get me started. We'll never get out of bed, and it's late enough already. We'll be tardy for lunch then Stacie and Aubrey will crucify us." Beca wriggled out of Chloe's grasp and padded to the kitchen to start the morning caffeine brew. She heard Chloe get out of bed and head to the bathroom. Beca followed.
"What do you think their deal was last night?" The project manager wrapped her arms around Chloe as she brushed her teeth and washed her face.
"I am positive they were trying to irritate us. They knew we were having dinner, and I suppose just figured we would have made up and wanted to interrupt said making up." She turned around in Beca's arms and smiled sheepishly. "Have we made up?" She leaned in to kiss the project manager who quickly pulled back. Horror crossed Chloe's face as this rejection was unexpected.
"Of course we've made up," Beca laughed. "But you just brushed your teeth, and I haven't. If you'll switch with me, I can clean up then kiss you properly."
Once the couple had both finished their coffee and a quick morning snack, time was running short. They showered separately, dressed, and headed to meet their friends.
"Your birthday is next weekend? How did I not know this?" Beca had a playful pout look plastered on her face. Chloe looked down at her lap. "Seriously Chlo, your birthday? That's a big deal!"
Chloe shrugged. "I've never been a big one on birthdays."
"Balderdash! That's not true my friend." Aubrey called her on what she said. "You live for your birthday. In undergrad, you forced us all the celebrate your birthday week."
The redhead sighed. "Pull my fingernails out why don't you. Sharing my secrets." She wasn't upset, just seemed embarrassed. She turned to her girlfriend. "I didn't tell because it honestly never came up, and we haven't exactly been talking recently."
Beca squeezed the redhead's hand beneath the table and leaned her face over to Chloe's. She pressed her face to the redhead's neck and nuzzled beneath her hair. "It's okay babe." She popped back and looked around the table. "Okay soon to be birthday girl, what are the plans? Spill them."
Aubrey insisted she had some ideas but wanted things to be a surprise for Chloe. "No woman should be responsible for planning her own special day."
"Week!" Chloe giggled.
The blonde rolled her eyes. "I'll get with Beca about my ideas at work tomorrow. I'm sure she'll have some plans herself as well."
Because all the women except Chloe worked during the week, the decision was made for a birthday weekend. Stacie was able to get someone to take her weekend shifts. Friday evening was Jessica and Ashley's surprise event for the birthday girl. Everyone was waiting for the birthday girl and her girlfriend they arrived. Early evening reservations had been made for early had been made at Bar SixtyFive at the Rainbow Room located on the sixty fifth floor of Rockefeller Center. This unique bar had been perfecting its excellent cocktails and stocking rare scotches and whiskeys since it opened the year after prohibition ended.
A large corner booth had been commandeered, and presents were displayed on a nearby table. The college friends had enjoyed decorating the swanky bar with an excellent view of the city with gold and silver birthday décor. Aubrey and Stacie arrived right before the birthday girl, carrying their gifts and Beca's.
Meanwhile on the street, Chloe was practically skipping as she clung to Beca's arm. "Where are we headed Becs?" She kissed the shorter woman. "Nobody will tell me what we are doing this weekend." She faked a pout in hopes she could convince Beca to provide some clues.
Beca stumbled as Chloe's motions pushed her off balance. "No Chlo." The brunette was amused at how adamant the woman was about finding out about the birthday plans for her weekend. "Patience…"
All Chloe knew was she had been told to dress chic and had chosen a cute little body conforming navy dress with a high neck and cut out detail. It was stylish, and when paired with her barely-there strappy shoes, she was primed for a night out with her besties and her favorite girl. Beca had on black dress with a scalloped neckline. The skirt was flirtier and fuller as the stretchy knit material flared out away from her hips. The couple definitely turned eyes as they passed.
They arrived at Rockefeller Center and took the elevator up to the correct floor. As they stepped out, realization dawned on Chloe as she began to look around until she spotted her four friends in the corner booth. She dropped Beca's hand and rushed over to give Jessica, Ashley, and Aubrey hugs. Beca approached Stacie and stretched out her hand in greetings. The taller brunette shook it before pulling the project manager into an embrace.
"How soon I have been abandoned," Beca chuckled. Stacie laughed as she locked her arm around Beca's neck and rubbed her head with her knuckles.
Once the women settled around the curved booth, drinks were ordered all around. The college friends each ordered a specialty cocktail while Stacie and Beca ordered a scotch and whiskey respectively. Some tapas were ordered along with some larger appetizer plates, and the group of women spent the evening celebrating Chloe – her birthday, her recent graduation, and her upcoming residency.
When Jessica crawled out of the booth and headed to the table on which the gifts were piled, Chloe began quivering with excitement. She loved presents, and her friends always gave her good ones. As she opened each one, her delight was evident in her reactions. Most of the presents were small as they were for most birthdays among the friends. Experiences, such as spending an evening among friends at a rooftop bar high above Rockefeller Center, were the highlight of her gifts.
Jessica placed a card in front of her redhead friend. "From Ashley and myself." She nudged it forward.
Chloe slid her finger beneath the flap and wiggled it along the edge to open it. She pulled out the card, smirking at the humor written. She looked at the small business card that had been tucked inside the fold of the card. "Village Tattoo," she questioned. "What's this?"
"It's July, and your residency doesn't start for a while. Jessica and I thought you might want to get a tattoo, a small one – maybe on your wrist." Ashley was beaming at her friend. "If you get it now, there will be plenty of time for it to heal before you start."
"I've always wanted a tattoo but never had the nerve to go through with it." Chloe was pondering the gift. "Yes!" She announced. "I want a ladybug... right here." She poked a place on the inside of her wrist. "An Indian shaman once told me that a ladybug is my spirit animal, my animal totem." She leaned over and kissed Beca. "You'll go with me, right?" Of course, Beca agreed as Jessica and Ashley claimed they wanted to go, too. In fact, everyone wanted to go. The outing would be another friend affair.
The present from Aubrey and Stacie was next. The small box was shaped like a space ship. A fancy space themed letter was inside the box.
Houston, we have a problem… a really big problem. A sudden explosion wakes you and your crew from their sleep. You're in deep space, light-years from home and you've lost control of your ship. Can you escape the darkness of universe? To have any hope at all, you're going to need brains, cunning and an amazing crew.
In this game, you have to regain control of a spaceship. Bring your team of up to 6 players and escape the darkness of the universe.
Outer Space – New York's best Sci-Fi Escape Room – meet us at Escape Games NYC tomorrow at 11:00 am. Give us an hour, and we'll give you the experience of the lifetime.
Chloe shrieked. "Oh. My. God. I've always wanted to do one of these. Aubrey, Stacie – you two are the bomb."
The blonde grinned as she looked around the table. "Everyone is invited. I have a feeling we are going to need to every single brain we can bring. This experience is rated a difficulty of nine!" Everyone chattered happily and were excited about the game. "The game only takes an hour, so we'll still have most of the day."
"Wellllllllllllll not quite the rest of the day. I'm afraid I have to steal my girl a little after three." Beca was grinning as she stared at Chloe.
"Beeeeeeeecccccs," Chloe whined. "It's present time. I'm supposed to get all my presents today. It's the rules."
The project manager rolled her eyes. "Whose rules? Yours?" She playfully scoffed. "Here's a present, but tomorrow is still a secret." Jessica handed Chloe her last present, this one from Beca. The small, flat, square was wrapped in bright colors – very Choe-esque.
The redhead ripped off the paper to find a DVD case and a sticky Post-It note which read For Your Eyes Only. A chorus of catcalls and a symphony of teasing arose from the table. "Did my little Becs make a sex-tape?" Stacie reached over to tickle her short friend.
"God no. You guys are incorrigible. The DVD is a collection of things I thought Chloe might be interested in seeing."
"Like you two joining the mile-high club?" Beca was surprised to hear the quip from her boss.
"No Bree, us about to get it on in your kitchen," the project manager bantered back as Jessica and Ashley simply watched the teasing back and forth between the others at the table. "Seriously, it's private."
"Tonight was incredible Becs. Thanks for everything. I love spending time with you, but my friends mean a lot to me." Chloe reached behind her and fumbled to find her girlfriend's hand.
"Don't thank me Chlo. Tonight was all Jess and Ashley. That bar is da' bomb though. I would have never thought of having ladies' night at a place like that. But I am glad you enjoyed yourself." She breathed in the sweet scent which lingered on her girlfriend's hair as she kissed the back of her head.
Chloe wriggled around until she faced Beca. "I've waited as long as I can. Can I find out what's on the DVD?" Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. "The anticipation has been killing me. Is it really a sex tape?"
"Hell no Chloe." A horrible look crossed the brunette's face. "For that to happen, one of us would have had to video, and I know I haven't done that. Is there something you aren't telling me?" Chloe giggled as she shook her head. Beca prodded her to sit up so she could get up and get her laptop. "These are multimedia files which is why we have to use the computer."
"Remember your first visit here? When you saw my younger self during the glory years of my gymnastics career?" Chloe nodded. "I had honestly forgotten I had the pictures up in here." She motioned to the wall unit where the pictures were still standing. "You asked about videos…converting my collection to digital media."
Chloe placed her hand on Beca's leg. "And then I totally blew things by suggesting it would be a great present for your mom." She glanced at the project manager to judge her reaction. "I didn't know."
"I know you didn't. But that's okay. I thought about what you said. And I realized that my mom was there for all my performances live. But… my future kids… they deserve to have this preserved for them. Happy birthday baby. Now you can look at all the pictures and all the videos to your heart's desire."
All six women walked out of the Escape Room on a total high since they had solved the puzzle right before time was up. After the final puzzle had been completed and the door unlocked, the worker told the team that the that particular game had a success rate of only 60%. As they walked to the restaurant, they replayed each of the clues and every puzzle that had been solved in their journey and agreed that this needed to be a regular part of their activities.
During lunch, Aubrey finally got ballsy enough to ask Chloe what had been on the DVD she'd received the previous day from Beca as a gift. "You guys seriously think it was a sex tape?" Chloe laughed.
"Why else would Beca write For Your Eyes Only?" Aubrey looked as though she actually believed Stacie's version of what was on the DVD.
Chloe looked over at Beca who gave a slight head nod. "Stacie knows this about Beca's past, but I'm not sure the rest of you do. When she was younger, Becs was a world-class gymnast, medal winning world-class. The first time I was at her apartment, I saw pictures of her at various ages. I teased her that I wanted to see the videos of her performances which I knew had to be stashed somewhere." She flashed a smile towards the project manager. "For my birthday, Beca had the pictures and VHS tapes converted to digital media so I could see them."
"What?!" Stacie leaned forward. "I haven't even gotten to see those tapes, and I've been her best friend for years. I expect a viewing party."
Beca glared at Stacie. "Nope. That's why the DVD was marked For Your Eyes Only. Maybe later." Stacie still frowned.
Jessica, Ashely, and Aubrey were not so much concerned with the videos as they were shocked with the news that Beca used to be a competition gymnast. They were clamoring for stories, asking if she went to the Olympics, etc. Beca answered as much as she could before she got overwhelmed.
She looked at her watch and proclaimed it was time for her and Chloe to head off for the redhead's final experience of the weekend.
Beca was still humored by Chloe's insistence to be informed of their destination. "If I haven't told you yet, I'm not going to tell you Chloe. Patience. We'll be there in about half an hour anyway."
The couple headed toward the nearest subway station and got on the 1 train. The last stop on this line was South Ferry. Beca consulted the map on her phone and began to walk. Soon signs appeared for the Manhattan Heliport. When she saw the banner, Chloe's eyes about popped out of her head.
"A-a-are we going on a helicopter ride?"
"Yup." Seeing Chloe's white face concerned Beca as she realized she didn't know how Chloe felt about heights. "Is this okay Chlo? Ummm I know neither of us has touristed much in the city, so I thought this would be a good way for you to see the landmarks from a different viewpoint."
After thoughtful consideration and several deep breaths, Chloe managed to eek out a smile and a brave face. She had a death grip on Beca's hand. "I'll be okay. Just… just… no I'll be okay."
Beca spent some more time ensuring that this was something Chloe was willing to do before they went to check in at the helipad. While they were waiting, Beca opened a bag Chloe hadn't noticed before. After their vacation, Beca had decided that she needed a GoPro herself and had purchased one with all the bells and whistles. After the couple decided that Beca would wear the GoPro, the brunette pulled another contraption out of the bag – a small harness which she strapped to Chloe.
"What's this Becs?" Chloe busted out laughing when Beca pulled out Toad and Lil Red and fitted them into the harness.
"This is to make sure they don't fall into the Hudson! You don't think we could go on an adventure like this without them, do you?" By now Chloe was thoroughly distracted and not nervous a bit about going up in the chopper.
The pilot explained all the safety rules as well as where he would fly and where he wouldn't. "The city is pretty strict about the no-fly zones. We will only be flying over New York Harbor and the Hudson. As well, the closest we can get to Ms. Liberty is about half a mile. However, I assure you that you will not be disappointed. You'll never see New York City's famous landmarks the same after this."
The huge headsets allowed the couple to listen to the pilot's conversation with air traffic control but kept Beca from hearing Chloe's shrieks of excitement. But she was certain the GoPro would pick up some as they zoom up the river and were provided new perspectives of Central Park, the Freedom Tower, and the Empire State Building. They caught glimpses of the George Washington Bridge as well as the Brooklyn Bridge. When they flew past Hoboken, New Jersey, the pilot pointed out where Captain Sully had landed the US Airways flight in the Hudson River.
Before she knew it, Chloe was safely back on terra firma delighted with her short half-hour highlights tour of the city. She carefully tucked Toad and Lil Red back into Beca's satchel as Beca disconnected the GoPro and placed it in the bag as well.
"What a rush Beca. Wow! This really has been a birthday to beat all birthdays. I can't wait to call the girls."
The project manager had a crooked grin on her face. "I'm sure they can't wait to hear from you."
All the way back to Beca's apartment, Chloe kept chattering about the weekend from the rooftop bar to the escape room to the helicopter ride. "And I am pumped about my tattoo. Oh! I have lots of pictures to look at and videos to watch of my girlfriend as an adorable child." She hadn't noticed that though all of this, Beca was relatively quiet. She had learned sometime letting Chloe spout off her emotions was one way to drain her of excess energy.
When they got back to the apartment, Chloe was still fired up. Beca started heating some water for tea then put on some calming music in hopes of helping her girlfriend wind down. She got the redhead settled on the couch and tucked a huge, fluffy comforter around her. Once the tea was ready, Beca snuggled under the blanket as well. Chloe could sense Beca was needed some tranquility so leaned into her as she relaxed.
"Chlo?" Beca's voice was quiet. "Did you honestly enjoy your birthday weekend?"
"You know I did Becs." Chloe was concerned Beca had doubts. "What's that about? Why did you ask me that?"
"I… I … umm there are some things I need to talk to you about."
Alarm went through Chloe's mind and her heart twinged. "And I thought all of that was settled and put behind us."
Beca shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "I have to say this. It's been weighing heavily on my mind and on my heart." Chloe started to pull away, to put distance between herself and the brunette. Beca grabbed her arm and wouldn't let her go.
"When we were on vacation, you told me you love me. That sent me over the moon. Nobody has said that to me in a long time. The shock was so great that I needed some time to process." Beca stopped for a moment to regain her composure. "Then my world blew up and we weren't talking and you came to my office. I was furious – SO FURIOUS – and I yelled at you. I screamed those three precious words at you and felt my heart shatter."
Chloe heard Beca sniffling and looked over to see her fighting back tears. "Nobody deserves to hear those words in anger, especially you, and especially not for the first time. I'm sorry Chloe. I am so so sorry. For everything – the arguments, the trust issue about your residency, everything. Most importantly I'm sorry for screaming at you."
"So tonight – in front of God and everyone – I want you to let you know that I do love you. Resolutely. Without question. I love you."
A/N: This story is coming to a close - maybe two to three more chapters.