Beca had to hurry, breaking every traffic law known to man in the process, but she made it in time for dinner,
"Mommy are we here?"
"Yes sweetie we are. Now listen, I want you to be on your best behavior, this is a very nice restaurant." Beca tugged Skylar from her booster seat and headed inside,
"Name?" The host asked.
"Beca Mitchell. I'm looking…"
"Not on the list." He said cutting her off.
"Yes, I know, I'm here with Aubrey Posen."
The guy choked back and immediately showed her to her table, "Right this way madam."
Beca thought the dude was being strange but she went with it. She made it to Aubrey's table and did the woman ever look so wonderful. That gold silk dress clung to every curve and Beca felt way underdressed in her khakis and polo.
Aubrey stood and greeted Beca and Skylar before pulling their chairs out for them, Skylar naturally sat next to Ava who was coloring.
"I hope you don't mind Beca, but I already ordered for us all." Aubrey stated as she poured Beca a small glass of wine.
Beca was highly skeptical of this, more so because of Skylar. She was being honest when she called her a picky eater. Aubrey knew this and could see Beca panicking.
"Relax dear, I ordered the girl's chicken tenders and I ordered us the seafood platter." Beca's worries washed away, how could Aubrey be so perfect?
"Sky loves Chicken tenders, don't ya baby?"
"Yup." The little girl responded and got back to coloring.
"This place is really nice. It looks packed? How did you manage to get in?"
Aubrey leaned forward and smirked, "My mother owns it."
"Wow that explains the attitude change from Mr. Grumpy up front."
Aubrey tensed up, "Was he rude to you?"
"Oh no, just doing his job I suppose."
"Good." Aubrey said as she settled down.
The food arrived, and the girls dug in. Everything was delicious and Beca and Skylar where thankful. After dinner they all went for a walk, making small talk.
"So Aubrey, I feel like you know so much about me, but I know very little about you?"
"I try not to get too involved with the parents Beca. However, it appears I've made an exception for you. I'd be glad to answer your questions, just not here. Would you two like to come to my house? The girls can play in Ava's room and we can chat?"
"I don't know, it's getting late."
"Of course we will Miss Aubrey!" Skylar shouted.
"Skylar!" Beca yelled.
"No mommy, I wanna go with Miss Aubrey and Ava!"
Aubrey smirked in victory and Beca caved in. They made it to Aubrey's house and the girls disappeared as Aubrey and Beca sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee.
"So Beca. What would you like to know?"
"Everything!" Beca pleaded, earning a giggle from Aubrey.
"I'm not sure we have enough time tonight to get into all of that."
"Then tell me about you? What's your story? Why are you single, you're like the most flawless person ever."
Aubrey blushed at the compliment, "Well I told you about my upbringing that shaped me. But I'm sure you are asking more for the romance side, aren't you?"
Beca laughed and nodded,
Aubrey sighed, and she began, "When I graduated from college I was at a party. I met a guy, we hit it off and next thing I know I was pregnant."
"What happened to the dude?"
"When I told him he denied It and wanted nothing to do with me or the baby."
"Wow. I'm sorry. What did you do after that?"
"Well after he blocked my phone number I just sucked it up and went on with my life. I had Ava and started the Daycare. Sure my parents helped me along the way and I'm grateful for them, more so of my mother, daddy wasn't always around. But as for the guy, hell with him. He didn't need us, so we don't need him.
"Does Ava ask about him?"
"Not yet. Hopefully she never knows the truth."
"Wow Aubrey I'm sorry."
"Don't be Beca. I'm not. I don't let it hold me back. I have Ava and that's plenty."
"The Daycare seems to be doing well."
"It is. I really enjoy it. I get to care for kids and be with my baby girl all day."
"Skylar really likes Ava. All she talks about is her when she gets home."
Aubrey smiled, "Ava loves Skylar. You wanna watch some tv?"
"Yeah sure."
The two moved to the couch and turned on the tv. Aubrey squealed and flipped the channel over and Jaws popped up.
"Jaws? Really?" Beca laughed.
"It is my absolute favorite!" Aubrey smiled and set her full attention to the tv.
Beca wasn't one for movies but watching Aubrey so caught up into a movie she has seen probably a million times was cute. Seeing this Aubrey was everything Beca dreamed about, loose hair and baggy sweats munching on popcorn on a Friday night was perfect.
Beca went to check on the girls and her heart fluttered when she saw the two cuddled up in Ava's bed sound asleep.
Beca had been gone for awhile so when the commercials came on Aubrey went to look for her, she found her peeking through her daughter's bedroom door and just watched her. She could see that Skylar and Ava were sleeping,
"What's going on Beca?"
Beca jumped, "Holy shit you scared me! I was just watching them sleep. They really tuckered themselves out. I really hate waking her up, she gets so cranky, but I need to get her home."
Aubrey sprung into action, "Well she's already asleep and you're both here safe and sound. Why not just stay the night?"
"For serious? I don't wanna impose."
"Non-sense, they're already asleep and Jaws came back on! We gotta finish our movie date." Aubrey jerked Beca back into the living room and jumped on the couch.
"Did I mention I hate movies?"
Aubrey stopped smiling and gave Beca a unreadable face, "What do you mean? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"The endings are so predictable, the guy gets the girl, the kid see's dead people, that dude is Luke's father."
"Or how about blowing up a shark with an oxygen tank!?" Aubrey added.
"Well that one was unexpected but nonetheless, the shark had to die somehow."
Beca endured the rest of the movie, Aubrey had her head in Beca's lap while she stroked the soft golden locks before Jaws 2 came on. "This is so nice Beca." Aubrey said in a nostalgic voice. She sounded so at peace and Beca knew that this feeling only came seldomly.
"Aubs? Anytime you want a night off I will be happy to bring Ava home with me and Skylar. I don't mind watching her. Besides, Skylar would love that."
Aubrey sat up, no one has ever watched her child before. She was the Mother Duck after all. But she knew she could trust Beca,
"Really you would do that?"
"Bree, I know how tough it is to be a single mother. You hide it well, but I can tell when someone needs a break. I think it's only fair that I watch Ava while you relax."
Aubrey jerked Beca into a desperate hug and thanked her a million times trying not to seem so vulnerable and broken, "Thank you Beca!"
"It'll be my pleasure."
Beca was woken up by a pair or girls demanding breakfast, she tried to move but a pair of arms and legs had her engulfed securely. She wanted to panic but after she realized it was only Aubrey, she didn't want to move.
Beca eventually had enough of the pestering kids so she untangled from Aubrey's death grip, trying not to wake the blonde beauty and went to the kitchen and began scavenging through the fridge.
Aubrey woke up, with a hint of Bacon in the air. She heard voices in the kitchen and she went into full panic mode. She made her way to the kitchen and eased around the corner only to find Beca and the girls eating breakfast.
"Mommy!" Ava shouted. "Beca made breakfast."
"I see that sweetie."
"I made you a plate, don't worry I just got done so its still hot." Beca said.
"Thank you, I'll just grab a cup of coffee."
"Already done it." Beca added. "Two sugar cubes and a teaspoon of milk."
"How did you know?" Aubrey asked impressed.
"I'm very observant."
"Well I guess so. Smells delicious."
"Oh it is Miss Aubrey!" Skylar yelled with a mouthful.
"Skylar! Don't talk with your mouth full!"
The ladies ate their breakfast and Beca cleaned up the kitchen before she and Skylar went home.
It was so nice to be cared for on occasion Aubrey thought. The last twelve hours were the best she's spent with someone other than her daughter that she could remember.
She was interrupted by her thoughts by Ava who had crawled into her lap, "Mommy."
"Ava."
"I miss Beca and Skylar."
Aubrey giggled. "They've only been gone for 20 minutes."
"I know but I miss them."
"I do too sweetie, I do too."
"Then ask her out again!" Ava demanded.
"It doesn't work like that honey. We need more time."
"Don't mess this up mommy. I like them."
Aubrey didn't know if she should be offended or not. But Ava was right, she didn't want to screw this up.
…
"How did it go last night?" Stacie said barging through Beca's front door.
"Ever heard of knocking?" Beca said putting the frying pan down from her swinging position.
"Yes, but there is no fun in that. Bella put that down!" Stacie said grabbing the flower vase from her daughter's hands. "Go play with Skylar."
"Anyways, yeah, last night was perfect. We ate at the Royal Oyster, then…"
"Hold up! You got into the Oyster!?"
"Apparently her mom owns the joint. Anyways we ate and then went for a walk with the girls. She invited us to her place, the kids played, we talked about her and then watched movies."
"You. Beca Mitchell. Watched a Movie? Damn Aubrey has you so good right now."
"Shut it! It was Jaws anyways. You should have seen how excited she was when she saw it, just like a little kid. It was adorable."
"You're whipped."
"Again I say, shut it!"
"Then what?"
"Well we stayed the night and this morning we woke up snuggled up on the couch and I cooked us all breakfast."
"Oh my god she's turning you into her little housewife! That's so adorable."
"Why do I even open my mouth." Beca sighed.
"Because you love me."
"That's debatable." Beca smirked.
"Yeah right, so what now?"
"What do you mean?"
"When are you going out again? Have you texted her today?"
"No. And I don't know. I told her I could watch Ava anytime she needed a break."
"And?" Stacie leaned forward.
"She said that it would be ok, and we got back to our movie."
"She must like you if she's putting her child in your hands."
"Hey! I'm an excellent mom! And she could really use a night off Stace. You know how it is."
Stacie nodded in agreement when Beca's phone vibrated, a text from Aubrey.
Aubrey-Could you maybe watch Ava tonight for a few hours?
Beca-Absolutely! I would love to.
Aubrey-I'll be there at six? Sound good?
Beca-Perfect. See you then.
"She wants me to watch Ava tonight!"
"Are you going to?"
"Well yeah. Why not?"
"Can I leave Bella here too." Stacie laughed.
"Sure I don't mind."
"Oh you're serious? I was only kidding."
"No really, I'm sure the girls will like it."
"Well ok then, maybe I can get some shopping done."
"Bring her back whenever you like." Beca added.
"Whatever you say Momma Duck." Stacie teased.
Beca rolled her eyes and got back to cooking lunch, eagerly awaiting Ava and Aubrey.
