Aubrey and Ava returned home mourning over the events that just played out. To make matters worse, Aubrey took in the sight of a perfectly set dinner table full of cold food. Beca was so perfect and Aubrey desperately needed her back.
"Hi, you have reached Beca Mitchell. Sorry I couldn't get to the phone but please leave a message and I will return your call." Aubrey let out a frustrated groan for the fifth time that night.
"Mommy are you ok?" Ava sweetly asked crawling into her mother's lap.
"What makes you think something is wrong baby?" Aubrey said trying to sound ok.
"Because you are crying mommy." Ava reached around her mother's neck and laid her head on her chest. "I don't like it when you cry."
Ava's words only made the tears flow even more. She truly was a sweetheart. "I know sweetie. It's just been a rough afternoon is all. Beca is upset with me."
"Is it because we played hide and seek?" Ava asked. There was truth in her daughter's words, but it wasn't entirely her fault. She wasn't about to blame her 4-year-old when in reality she was the person responsible,
"No baby. You were just being kids. It's my fault, I should have known better is all."
Ava yawned out and Aubrey carried her to her room to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight. The doorbell rang soon after and Aubrey went to let her friend in. The only person she could talk to about things like this,
"Chloe, I'm so glad you came." Aubrey greeted.
"Anytime. Now tell me what's going on." The former redhead stated taking a spot on the couch.
Aubrey glided over with two cups of coffee and handed one to Chloe, "I fucked up this afternoon."
"How so?"
"I've ran this Daycare for 4 years and have never had so much as a boo-boo. I lost a child at the waterpark today Chlo."
Chloe gasped, "Oh my god Bree! Seriously?"
Aubrey sank down thinking back to the afternoon, "Not just any kid. Skylar."
"You lost Beca's daughter at the waterpark!" Chloe shouted quickly reeling herself in because Ava was sleeping. "How do you lose a child Bree?"
Aubrey started crying again. Her once proud clean record was ruined, and she would have to live her life with that now. Especially the look of betrayal on Beca's face before she sped away.
"Am I a terrible person? Is that it?" Aubrey begged. "It was an accident and I feel like shit and want to die."
Chloe tugged Aubrey in for a hug, "Aubrey you are a wonderful human being. Probably top 5. What you do is amazing because you are amazing at it. Don't let what happened eat at you it was an accident."
"Beca hates me. And now Skylar probably does too. I love them so much Chloe I can't handle this." Aubrey cried.
Chloe smiled at Aubrey's revelation that she loved the girls. "Sweetie look at me." Aubrey looked up and Chloe looked deep into the hurt green water-logged eyes, "Things will be fine. It will work itself out I promise. If you love them you hang in there and fight because I'm pretty sure the way you talk about them, they love you too. Especially when the kids are involved.
Aubrey seemed to find light in Chloe's words and finally cracked a smile, hugging Chloe tightly for their girl talk. The two friends settled on the couch when they were interrupted by a grumpy child.
"Mommy I can't sleep." Ava moaned as she entered the living room immediately hiding at the sight of the stranger.
Chloe giggled, and Aubrey shot her a sympathetic look, "Ava won't you say hi to you godmother?" Ava perked up at stared the other blonde up and down. Ava wasn't convinced so Chloe put on her puppy dog face. That's all it took, and Ava jumped into her lap and began talking her head off.
…
"Beca it was an accident. These things happen. I'm sure Aubrey didn't mean to misplace Skylar." Stacie pleaded, trying to get Beca calmed down.
"Well she lost her! Something could have happened to her Stace! What if it was Bella? How would you feel then?" Beca barked.
This was true, Stacie would probably be pissed too but there is a line that you have to draw somewhere. Beca was completely losing it.
"Beca all I'm saying is please don't be so hard on Aubrey. I'm sure she feels awful."
"Well how do you think I feel? I could have lost her Stace. I knew I should have went."
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT BECA." Stacie finally said loud enough to get it into Beca's head.
"I know Stace. But Skylar is all I have. I know Aubrey didn't mean to lose her, we're only human. But still I'm very upset with her."
"Well you have every right to be. But please go easy on her. You guys have way too much involved to throw it away like this."
Beca sat back at took Stacie's words to heart. She did have so much tied up with Aubrey and Ava. Just as much as Aubrey and Ava did with her and Skylar. She loved Aubrey and Ava so much, but she needed time to cool off.
"So what are you gonna do about tomorrow?" Stacie asked.
"What do you mean?"
"The Daycare? Hello? You have to work, and Skylar has to go to Daycare. Aubrey's Daycare."
"Oh right." Beca thought for a minute, she wasn't ready to face Aubrey just yet. "I'm taking tomorrow off so I can stay home with Sky."
Stacie huffed, realizing what Beca was doing. She was stalling so she wouldn't have to face Aubrey. "Well don't wait too long Becs. Remember this, you aren't the only one that has ties to Aubrey. Don't keep Skylar away from her."
The next morning Beca woke up and cooked herself and Skylar breakfast. Usually she had to wake her daughter up, but she decided since she took the day off, she would let her sleep. It surprised her when she heard tiny footsteps joining her in the kitchen.
"Sky? What are you doing up so early?" Beca asked intrigued.
"I'm excited for Daycare." Skylar bounced in her seat. Beca fell apart, unsure of how to break the bad news to her.
"Listen baby. I took the day off and tomorrow, so I can spend time with you. So you don't have to go to daycare for a couple of days." Skylar stopped bouncing and frowned. "But I wanna see Aubrey and Ava."
Beca tried to smile through the pain, her daughter was so wrapped up in them, "Well sweetie you can see them Thursday ok?" Sky agreed, and they ate breakfast.
Aubrey was waiting outside per usual, seeing that all the kids got in safely and waved to their parents. Pain struck her when her alarm sounded to start and there was no Beca or Skylar. Had she fucked up that badly? The same went for the next day, no Skylar.
This was way too much strain on Aubrey. The thought of never seeing Skylar again ate at her soul. The thought of never being able to tell Beca how she truly felt, ate at her soul. She was so close to having a complete family, and it was literally washed away.
"You ok there Bree?" Jessica asked worriedly.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm wonderful." Aubrey said bitterly. Jessica looked around the floor at the amount of cigarette butts. Aubrey was not ok. She smoked an entire pack just this morning.
"Aubrey you can't keep this up. I understand you're upset but don't take it out on your body."
"I'm fine thank you. Please go check on the kids." Aubrey bit back. Jessica shyly nodded and fled the room leaving Aubrey alone to sulk another day away.
As Thursday rolled around, Beca held true to her word and took Skylar to Daycare. Skylar was so excited but Beca clearly wasn't. She was shockingly last to arrive as Aubrey was shutting the door. Aubrey caught sight of the girls and eagerly waited as Beca pulled Sky from her seat and handed over her backpack. Beca stood by her car and watched as Skylar ran to the door.
Aubrey was giddy inside. Skylar was back and was running to her! Skylar leaped into Aubrey's arms and the older woman flung her around and placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek, "I missed you so much Sky."
"I missed you too." Skylar retuned the kiss and Aubrey placed her on the ground and she ran inside, immediately tackling Ava.
Beca watched on as tears rolled own her face. Keeping her distance from Aubrey for the time being. Aubrey stood awkwardly at the door and rubbed the back of her head and visibly sighed before waving. Beca smiled and returned the wave instilling hope in Aubrey. One thing was clear, they would have to talk very soon.
Beca kept the girls on her mind all day. Thinking of what to say to Aubrey. Telling her how mad she was at her and how she felt. But how much she needed her and Ava in her life. Beca didn't do emotions. The only time she does emotions is when it comes to her daughter. But Beca loved Aubrey and this was just a bump in the road. She had to talk to her, not only for herself, but for her daughter.
That afternoon at playtime, Aubrey made sure to play especially with Skylar and Ava. Not that she didn't play with the rest of the kids, she just had business to attend to with her daughters. Wait? When did Skylar become her daughter? Aubrey smiled hoping that one day it would be true but for now she was dying to know, "Sky?" Aubrey asked timidly, playing with her fingers.
"Yes momma?" Skylar answered shocking the hell out of Aubrey. At least they both had the same mindset. She didn't want to break it to the girl that she loved so much, so she went with it.
"Has your mommy said anything about me?"
"Yup." Skylar replied playing with her paints.
Aubrey perked up to this, "Oh really? What has she said?"
"She told Aunt Stacie that you are in big trouble and she is very upset with you. But she loves you and things will be ok."
Aubrey got nervous, but all her worries washed away at the mention of Beca loving her back. "Well that is good news." Aubrey had to talk to Beca, but the ball was in her court. So she would try and give her as much time as possible. Surprisingly, Aubrey didn't have to wait long.
Beca showed up to pick Skylar up that afternoon and was attacked by not only Skylar, but Ava. Ava missed Beca just as much as Skylar missed Aubrey. It was Aubrey's turn to watch Beca hoist up the awaiting Ava and give her tickling kisses.
Beca was caught up with Ava, Aubrey decided to approach the brunette, "Hello Beca." Aubrey stated.
Beca grinned and placed Ava down and faced Aubrey, "Hello Bree."
"I ugh…I wanna talk about the other day."
Beca knew it was coming but she wanted to do this on her terms, "I agree. But not right now. If you are free tomorrow night, I would like to talk then."
Aubrey agreed, and the girls said their goodbyes. All Aubrey had to do was suffer through one more day before she could talk with Beca.
