Finally got some free time so I figured I'd finish this story. I wrote the last two chapters, but I didn't get a chance to re read them so hopefully they make sense and there's no big errors. Anyway didn't want to leave you all hanging. So here's the last two chapters.

Chapter 33

Beca's POV

"Oh girls I'm so glad you decided to come! Please all of you come in, please take your shoes off and place them on the mat. Sheila's been cooking all day and is so excited for you to meet Alison!" I hold my breath waiting for him to comment on our being late, but it isn't coming. I exchange a glance with Bree, clearly she is thinking the same thing. "So girls, let's head over to the dining room, Sheila is just finishing up the last couple things, then you can introduce us to your girlfriends." He didn't even hesitate on the word girlfriends this time. Bree and I exchange another look. I grab Chloe's hand again and she gives mine a squeeze as we follow my dad and Aubrey and Stacie into the dining room.

I sit down next to Chloe, Aubrey and Stacie take seats next to each other across from us, leaving the ends for our dad and Sheila. There is a playpen set up in the corner of the room. My dad excuses himself to help bring the food to the table.

"This is weird right?" I whisper to Bree as soon as our dad leaves the room.

"Totally! I feel like we're in an episode of the Twilight Zone. He didn't comment on us being late, he didn't even flinch at us holding Stacie and Chloe's hands, he didn't hesitate to say the word girlfriend, and he's willingly helping set the table for dinner. Maybe he really has changed?" Aubrey whispers back. Finishing right as our dad and Sheila come walking in with the rest of the food.

"Hi girls! Before I get Ali I wanted to just say that I'm really sorry about how I acted to you that night. I'm also sorry about not telling you Ali was born and for that horrible caption on the birth announcement post. I've done a lot of thinking and soul searching after that and feel awful for the way that I treated you. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I did want you to know that I truly am sorry and that I think of you girls as my daughters. I know that you both are bright, talented young women and I just couldn't stand the thought of you girls missing any more holidays and Ali not having you in her life. I know that you've never particularly liked me and how I acted towards you after your coming out really was the final nail in the 'I hate Sheila' coffin, but I do hope that we can get along. I'm not asking for you to forgive me, but you did deserve an apology from me. Now I'm going to go get Ali and y'all can start helping yourselves to the food. There is a roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, carrots and fresh rolls." Before anyone could say anything she was gone. Aubrey and I exchange a confused look. I feel Chloe squeeze my thigh in reassurance.

Soon we are all passing food around to each other and filling our plates. Shortly after we were finished serving ourselves, Sheila is walking back into the room, baby in her arms.

"Girls, this is your sister Ali." Sheila awkwardly holds her up for us to see better. Sure enough there is a little human in her arms. "Do either of you want to hold her? Or you girls can eat first?"

"Ummm I think it's probably best to eat first. We can also finish talking." Bree says hesitantly.

"Yeah I agree with Bree." I add before shoving some potatoes in my mouth.

Sheila looks a little hurt, but puts the baby in the playpen in the corner. She takes the seat at the end of the table by the playpen. We are then plunged into awkward silence. All I could hear was forks hitting plates.

"This is really delicious dear." My dad finally breaks the silence. Sheila replies with a tight lipped smile. "So girls, how is a capella going?" Bree and I exchange looks.

Finally I break, "Uhhh it's fine, I guess." Bree shrugs her shoulders and continues eating.

"That's all I get? Its fine and a shoulder shrug?" My dad chuckles.

"Listen Dad I know you both think that since you've apologized that things will go back to the way that they were, but I don't know that it ever will. I can see that you are trying to change, both of you, but that doesn't just erase all of the hurt you caused. I mean who's to say that you won't get tired of trying and disown us again? You showed us that your love is conditional, so I'm not ready to just be like one big happy family! You need to be okay with that. You need to work on our time, not yours!" I finish taking a breath. I didn't realize I had stood up in the middle of my speech, so I quickly sit back down. I feel Chloe grab my hand, rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just…" I can tell my dad looks defeated. He stares awkwardly at his plate.

"We got into Nationals." Bree suddenly announces. My dad's head whips up at that. A smile starting to form on his face.

"Oh that's so great! I knew you could do it! I'm so proud of you, all of you! I know how hard you've all worked and how badly you wanted this!"

"No! Stop!" Bree is the one standing this time. "I know you think that you're being nice but you don't get to do this! You don't know how hard I've worked, or any of us. We haven't spoken in months! You don't know what any of us have been through. And I can't hear you say that you're proud of me! I can't! I… I can't… I can't do this right now." Bree starts to leave the table. "I'll be waiting in the car." With that she storms out of the room.

A few awkward seconds after Aubrey's exit, Stacie gets up. "I'm just gonna go check on her. Umm thanks for dinner, ummm yeah, I'm just gonna." She points towards the door and then quickly leaves. Everyone sits in silence for a few seconds.

I start laughing. Everyone turns to look at me.

"Are you ok babe?" Chloe looks genuinely concerned.

"I'm great! It's just… you gotta love a classic Mitchell Family dinner! Usually I'm the one that storms out, but it's really all the same isn't it. Dad says something offensive, is confused why its offensive, one of us storms out, Dad is still confused. I guess things are back to normal." I stand up and throw my napkin on my plate. Beside me I see Chloe start to get up as well. I start to head towards the door.

"Well thank you for dinner, it was… nice meeting you both." Chloe says sweetly before following me.

I quickly shove my feet into my shoes, well as quickly as I could. I throw the door open and head outside. Sure enough Aubrey and Stacie are waiting in the car like they said. I climb into the backseat and slam the door. They both turn to look at me and it's clear Aubrey's been crying.

A few seconds later the other door opens and Chloe is climbing in. "Let's get out of here!"

The drive is quiet except for a few sniffles from Aubrey. Stacie breaks the silence "Well turns out we didn't even need a safe word!" Suddenly we're all laughing. A couple mins later we pull into the parking lot for Chloe and Aubrey's apartment. Chloe moves to get out of the car. "Hey Stace, why don't we give them a few minutes." Stacie nods and gets out of the car.

"I don't know why I got so mad. He was just trying to be nice." Aubrey starts. "You know I used to thrive off that! 'I'm proud of you Bree' used to make me feel so good. When he said it tonight I just… it made me feel really shitty. Like why should I care if you're proud of me or not, you know?!"

"It makes sense. You were always striving to get his approval and have him be proud of you. That's how he showed his love. I never felt that because he never said it to me. It made you feel shitty because you feel like he still only loves you when he's proud of you. And now that you've witnessed how it feels for him to be disappointed in you and how his love is conditional on his pride in you, you don't want him to be proud of you anymore. You know what real love feels like now, so his love and approval doesn't hold as much weight."

"When did you get so smart? Like seriously where the fuck did all of that come from?!" Aubrey says, causing both of us to laugh.

"Idk maybe it's from that stupid philosophy class that you force me to attend" Bree shoves my shoulder "Or maybe I'm just telling you what my therapist told me" I whisper out the last part, I don't know why I'm nervous for Bree to find out that I've been going to therapy.

"Therapist?" Bree asks, looking confused. "When did you start going to therapy?"

"A little bit after the whole thing with Dad went down and then I lashed out at you. Jesse and Chloe thought it would be good for me to talk with someone who could give me some opinionated advice. It's actually been really helpful. I've honestly never felt better."

"Huh. Stacie's told me that I should go talk to someone about the Dad situation too. I guess I just always thought therapists were full of it, you know. That's probably another thing that Dad ingrained in me."

"Yeah. I thought that too. After the whole dinner with Dad and then me yelling at you… I was in a really bad place Bree, like really bad. I guess at that point I figured it couldn't make me feel worse. And I really trust Chlo and Jess, so I got an appointment and Chloe drove me. I really think it would help you Bree. You should think about it."

"Alright, I will. Now enough of this sad sappy shit. Let's go hang out with our amazing girlfriends." Aubrey wipes the last of the tears away. We get out of the car and start to head towards the apartment.

"Hey Bree," We stop walking and Aubrey turns to look at me "I just want you to know that I love you and I'm really proud of you." This causes fresh tears to spill down Aubrey's face. She pulls me in for a really long, tight hug. "Ok, ok, enough! Bree I can't breathe!" She finally lets go of me.

"I love you too, Beca." I roll my eyes at that. "And I'm really proud of you too."

"Ugh alright, let's get inside before I throw up from all of this emotional crap. We're not doing this anymore. Because now I'm going to have to relive this whole thing with my therapist again. Ugh I hate emotions. They are stupid. Now let's go inside before they think we've fled to Mexico!"

"Why would they think we've fled to Mexico?!"

"Because I told Chlo that if tonight goes horribly I would kidnap you and we'd run away to mexico, change our names, and we could start a new life where dad wont find us"

"Beca! What the hell?!"