Comfortable. The word Beca and Aubrey would both use if asked how they felt around each other. Weeks had went by since Beca watched the kids and the women fell into a routine. Every other night the two families would unite and do something, whether it be out eating, at the movies or just at home. They didn't care as long as they had each other.
The women started staying at each other's houses on the weekends. Usually alternating back and forth and everything was perfect. It was another Sunday night and Beca was at Aubrey's, checking through her things as well as Skylar's to make sure they were both ready for tomorrow.
"All set for work tomorrow Becs?" Aubrey asked as Beca returned to join her on the couch.
"Yep. Gonna be a stressful day tomorrow but I'll manage. I packed Skylar and Ava's bags for tomorrow as well. Swimsuits, towels, sunscreen and some dry clothes." Beca said as she laid her head into Aubrey's awaiting lap.
"Thank you for that." Aubrey reached down and kissed Beca's forehead.
"Are you sure you don't need an extra chaperone or anything?" Beca asked worriedly.
"I'm sure Beca. Me and Jessica can handle it, we always do." Aubrey stated matter of factly.
"Well ok. I just don't wanna worry."
"It's ok Beca. I'm just taking the kids to the waterpark, we go every year incident free. As long as I'm breathing, you won't have to worry ok?"
Beca smiled and nodded. Aubrey was so perfect, and it did things to her that she would be ashamed to confess.
"Alright then that's settled. Now come in, its bedtime and we both need our rest for tomorrow."
Beca moaned, too tired from packing to move, "Bree carry me."
Aubrey rolled her eyes and did as asked, surprising Beca. She was only kidding but she wasn't complaining. Aubrey carried her with ease to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed before crawling into the other side.
Beca assumed her sleeping position and Aubrey instinctively fell into Beca's posture and held her tight, almost as if they've been doing it forever.
The next morning Beca kissed the three girl's goodbye and Aubrey made sure her kiss had a little extra in it to reassure Beca. After that, Aubrey strapped the girls into her car and headed for the daycare.
Jessica was already there with the rental bus and the two women got to work making sure everything was ready. All emergency contact numbers, their roll call list, snacks and anything else they thought they might need.
The last child arrived and was loaded onto the bus. All the kids were giddy about the waterpark, but first, Aubrey had to take roll and lay down the ground rules.
After calling roll and taking a triple headcount of 13, she spoke,
"Alright boys and girls. I know we are all excited about our little trip to the waterpark…" She paused as the kids screamed for joy and she couldn't help but smile. "When we arrive you will all join me and Miss Jessica. There will be no running and I will assign each of you a hand buddy. You and your hand buddy must hold hands when we are moving around, no one is to leave the group or their buddy."
The kids excitedly agreed to the terms and Aubrey took her seat as the Jessica took off for the waterpark. After arriving Aubrey lined them up along the bus and assigned each a hand buddy.
Skylar was last, and Aubrey realized she had an odd number. "Skylar? Would you like to be my hand buddy?" Aubrey sweetly asked.
Skylar wanted to be with Ava, but she was assigned with Bella. But this was Aubrey, she adored her, and Aubrey treated her and spoiled her like her own child. Skylar snatched the older woman's hand and began tugging her towards the entrance. "I'll take that as a yes!" Aubrey squealed back to Jessica who was herding the group towards the gate.
Beca's morning had been dragging on, she hated Mondays. Mondays consisted of a recap of last week and the goals for this week. Which artist were expected to arrive and that Beca was supposed to seal the deal with at least one of them. It was always the same and all she could think about was wanting to see her girls.
That last thought surprised Beca. When did Aubrey and Ava become her girls? The thought brought a warm loving feeling to her and it was something positive she could look to help her through this shithole of a day.
Meanwhile back at the waterpark, Aubrey had herself in a predicament. She was caught in the crossfire of the kids in a splash war, so she joined in to fend off her attackers. To her surprise all the kids turned their attention to her and ganged up on her.
Outnumbered and outmatched, she couldn't help but giggle and beg for mercy, but not before her hand buddy Skylar joined her side to help her out. Ava eventually gave in and switched sides to join Sky and her mother. Aubrey laughed herself into surrender and gave up, throwing her hands up in defeat as she sat down in the shin-deep water, pulling both Ava and Skylar into her lap.
"That was fun!" Ava proclaimed.
Aubrey agreed and remained seated in the water, back against the wall with her two girls in her lap holding them lovingly. Her last thought struck her, when did Skylar become her girl as well? It was quickly dismissed as she thought about the little girl in her lap and her mom. The woman she was fool for and desperately loved. They were her girls indeed.
Jessica started pulling the kids from the water and sat them down by a nearby shaded table. Aubrey sighed, she didn't wanna move. Content to sit here forever, but she had a job to do so she raised up signaling the girls to stand. It took her a minute to get her legs woke back up and took her girls hands as she joined the others for lunch.
Aubrey and Jessica tended to the kids first before sitting down by themselves to eat. After they ate and cleaned up they both remained seated and took a much-needed smoke break as they kept an eye on the kids.
"I'm glad they have this section." Jessica said as she exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"I've needed this weeks ago." Aubrey replied, relaxing as she slumped her shoulders and smoke blew from her nose.
"You alright there Aubs?"
"I haven't been smoking lately, since Beca and Skylar came along. We're always together now and I don't want Beca to think I'm trashy by smoking."
"Aubrey I'm sure she would understand. Look at what you have on your plate. This job is stressful, and you are just coping with it."
"Not to mention I've been seriously thinking about asking Beca and Skylar to move in with us." Aubrey trailed off.
"What!? No shit? Things really are going well for you two huh."
"Yeah." Aubrey beamed. "I love her and Skylar. I want nothing more than to have them at my…our home."
"Aubrey that's the sweetest thing I have ever heard! You need to get on it asap!"
The two tended to the kids once more, exploring all the waterpark they could. It was child friendly, so the rides were plentiful. All in all, today was a success. They loaded up on the bus and Aubrey took roll.
"Skylar." She called with no answer.
"Skylar." She repeated, looking up this time, panic striking in when the girl didn't answer.
Aubrey quickly took a headcount, walking down the isle to make sure she wasn't laying in a seat. So far, she was up to 12 and only one seat left, her worst fear sunk in when Skylar wasn't in the seat.
"Jessica!"
…
The day had ended and Beca was so glad to be home. Well at Aubrey's but it was becoming her second home anyways. The girls would be home anytime, and she had to have their dinner ready. Aubrey was surely to be wore out and Beca wanted to make sure she was well pampered tonight. Dinner was done but something was wrong. Aubrey and the girls should be home by now. Time drug on a bit longer and her phone rang, it was Aubrey.
…
"Jessica! Skylar is missing!" Aubrey cried out as she jumped off the bus. "Stay here with them while I go look."
Aubrey looked all over the water park for the girl to no avail. She had the park on red alert looking for the small brunette. Aubrey was in shambles. Never has this happened. How could this happen? Her buddy system was unbreakable. That's when she realized, she was supposed to be Skylar's buddy.
How could she forget about her buddy? She felt like dying because she had lost Skylar. How was she gonna break it to Beca? Aubrey snapped in panic, Beca can't find out about this. She promised Beca, promised nothing would happen. After realizing what time it was, Beca was sure to be dying that they weren't home. So, she reluctantly made the call,
"Aubrey where the hell are you guys!?" Beca didn't seem too thrilled, just what Aubrey didn't want.
"Beca…" Her voice was shaky and cold. Beca feared for the worst. "I've lost Skylar. We can't find her."
"How could you lose her Bree! She's three! I can't believe this! I knew I should have went!" Beca snapped as she ended the call and sped away to the waterpark on the other side of the city.
Aubrey closed her eyes, trying to hold her tears in, she had fucked up big time. She was pulled from her thoughts from a light tugging on her jeans. She looked down to see Ava.
"Baby." Aubrey sniffled and picked Ava up tightly. "I told you to wait on the bus."
"You looked lonely mommy." Ava stated, and she tucked her head into her mother's neck. "You have no idea baby."
"Mommy? What's going on?" Ava quietly asked.
"Skylar is missing honey. We can't find her." Aubrey replied when an idea struck her. "Ava? When did you see Sky last?"
"At the playhouse. The water dropped on us then we decided to play hide and seek."
Aubrey's heart stopped. They were playing a game of hide and seek. How could she not notice that one of her kids had disappeared.
"She's a pro at hiding." Ava said proudly. Aubrey didn't take that well. Instead she scolded her daughter for not following the rules and for leaving Skylar there, "Ava! You march yourself onto that bus and I will deal with you later." Ava hurried away form her raging mother and Aubrey headed for the playhouse.
She made it to the playhouse and sure enough she spotted Skylar wandering around on the playhouse crying.
"Skylar!" Aubrey shouted as she gained the girls attention. Aubrey tried to find a way to the girl, not caring about the giant water bucket spilling over and soaking her dry clothes. She had to get to Skylar. She made it up and snatched the brunette up in the world's deadliest hug, glad that the girl was ok. If something had happened to her…Aubrey did not want to think of the outcome.
"Skylar I'm so glad I found you!" Aubrey cried.
"I'm sorry Ms. Aubrey." Skylar tearfully pleaded, finally being found. "I got lost up here hiding and couldn't find you." The tears were plentiful, and Aubrey needed to assure the small girl.
"It's ok now sweetie. I got you and that's all that matters." Aubrey placed a tender kiss on the small girl's forehead and held her tightly as she packed her to the bus. Shit was about to get real when Beca drifted her car up next to the bus and jumped out hurrying to grab Skylar form Aubrey. Aubrey jumped back at the action and felt awful.
Beca kissed Skylar all over. Tears rolling down her face. Thanking the lord her daughter was safe.
"Beca I'm sorry." Aubrey tried.
Beca raised her finger to Aubrey, successfully shushing her. Aubrey deserved that and backed down. Beca strapped her daughter into her car seat and just glared at Aubrey. One of hurt and disappointment and Aubrey fell to her knees as she watched the woman she loved speed away in anger. All because she promised it would be alright and it wasn't.
