3 YEARS LATER
Beca pulled her car up to the curb in front of Pinecrest Private School ignoring the no parking sign. She climbed out of the car and walked as fast as her legs would carry her to the front door. She pushed them open and walked the familiar path to the office to meet with Principal Hawkins. After passing through the glass door she stood in front of the secretary who smiled at her, holding up a finger while speaking into the phone.
After ending the call the secretary greeted her. "Hello Mrs. Mitchell. Principal Hawkins will see you in a few minutes."
"Thanks Shelly." Beca said. She turned to have a seat in one of the small chairs that lined the windows. As she sat she felt like she was in trouble. Again. The feeling almost never left her when she was in the school. After Finley started kindergarten last year, Beca and Chloe found themselves being called to the school three times. This year with Sebastian being enrolled in pre-kindergarten this was the third time this year already that Beca sat in this chair and the year was only half over. Beca smiled subtly as she remembered the first time this year. The newness of getting up early in the morning and getting dress and going to school with his big sister had worn off and 8 days into Pre-K Sebastian had enough. Not of school, according to his teacher, but of Oliver stealing his blocks. After coaching Sebastian through an apology for hitting the other boy in the face and profusely apologizing to Oliver's parents, Beca and Chloe took the little boy home with the instructions to let him cool off for a couple of days and then start fresh on the next Monday. The next time this year was for Finley's language in class. Or her lack of restraint when using language. Beca had to sit through the lecture from Principal Hawkins and then through the lecture from her wife. It's not that their kids were bad. In fact all the teachers loved them and they had made some good playmates while going to the prestigious and in Beca's opinion overpriced private school. But Chloe insisted and they had a great music program which Finley loved. It was her favorite part of the day and she barely stopped talking about it. Ever.
"Mrs. Mitchell" Shelly said pulling Beca from her day dream.
Beca stood as Shelly walked her into the principal's office. Beca walked through the familiar door greeting the older woman. "Principal Hawkins." Beca said extending her hand.
"Mrs. Mitchell, thank you for coming so quickly. Please" she said motioning towards the chairs in front of her large desk.
Beca sighed and took a seat in the familiar chair.
"I'm so sorry I'm late" an out of breath Chloe said as she quickly walked into the office.
Beca turned to her wife, surprised to see her.
"We were just getting started Mrs. Mitchell." The principal said addressing Chloe.
"What are you doing here?" Beca whispered as Chloe sat in the chair next to her.
"They called me" Chloe replied. "Why wouldn't I be here?"
"I thought you were on set today" Beca replied quickly.
"I was but I left. This is more important." Chloe said just as the principal cleared her throat to begin.
Beca sat back in her chair with a satisfied smile. Since going back to work, Chloe had put her family first every chance she got and Beca was proud of her for not giving into her fears about returning to doing what she loved.
"Ladies, I called you in today because I believe it is time that you had a discussion with Finley." The principal began.
"About?" Beca interrupted.
"Her parents." The older woman replied honestly.
Chloe saw Beca tense in her chair out of the corner of her eye. She reached over to grab her wife's hand squeezing it comfortingly. Chloe knew this conversation was coming but Beca was putting it off. She kept insisting that the 6 year old wasn't ready and that she wouldn't understand but Chloe could see it in Finley's eyes at times, the little girl knew something was 'off.'
2 YEARS AGO
"Come on baby." Chloe called up the steps for her 4 year old daughter as she held her 18 month old on her hip. "Fin!" Chloe called up after a few more minutes.
The girl came bounding around the corner. Her little hand grabbed tight to the rail as she carefully navigated the stair case. With two to go Finley jumped off and landed squarely on the landing with a mischievous smile. It reminded Chloe very much of Quinn.
"Put Marco Polo in his house bug" Chloe instructed as she headed for the kitchen to pick up her bag and car keys. After Finley locked the dog securely in his crate she ran towards the front door where her mom was waiting for you. "Ready?" Chloe asked.
"Ready!" Finley replied.
After getting everyone settled in the car and on the road to Culver City, Chloe turned the satellite radio on. Settling on a hits station she began to sing along to the latest Katy Perry hit. She made eye contact with her daughter who sat in the backseat. "Wanna sing with me bug?"
Finley shook her head.
Chloe turned down the radio and began singing loudly. She felt slightly hurt when Finley covered both her ears with her hands but knew Finley was playfully teasing her when the dark haired girl couldn't hold back her smile.
"You know your mom and I met in an acapella group in college" Chloe said turning down the radio.
Finley dropped her hands and looked up to here mom. "Applellla?" Finley asked.
"Aca-pella" Chloe said slowly.
"Acapella" Finley repeated and Chloe nodded. "What's that?"
"We sing songs but with no instruments." Chloe explained.
She saw Finley cringe.
"It's all with our mouths baby" Chloe explained.
"No thank you" Finley said sweetly.
Chloe smiled at her daughters words. Recently Finley had been using that phrase when she didn't want or like something. Chloe thought it was cute, especially when she used it in slightly the wrong context.
"Why baby?" Chloe asked.
"Songs should have instruments mom." Finley said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "It's the best part."
Chloe turned her attention back to the road thinking that was just like Quinn. After a few more minutes they pulled into the small parking lot behind 20/20 Records. Chloe pulled Sebastian out of his car seat and held Finley's hand as she jumped out of the SUV and onto the pavement. The little girl didn't let go of her hand and practically pulled her towards the front door. Once they got there, Finley dropped her hand and had to use her whole body to open the heavy door. Chloe helped her pull it open after she got it started and watched as she ran into the studio.
"Hi Fin!"
"Hi Kelsey" Finley greeted the blonde who stood behind a desk in the lobby. "Where's mommy?"
Kelsey pointed up the rounded staircase and Finley was off like a shot.
"Hi Kelsey" Chloe greeted.
"Hey Chlo." Kelsey turned to the redhead. "Oh my gosh that little guy gets more and more handsome every time I see him" Kelsey gushed as she reached for the baby.
Chloe smiled and pulled the little boy off her hip and handed him over to Beca's assistant.
"Finley Sutton Richards" Chloe said loudly.
The little girl stopped in the middle of the staircase and looked down at her mama.
"Your mommy is in there working. Go in quietly and be on your very best behavior." Chloe warned.
"Yes ma'am" Finley answered before slowly continuing up the stairs.
"There's no one up there" Kelsey whispered.
"Still, she needs to learn that she can't just barrel through any door she wants." Chloe said as she watched Finley reach above her head for the doorknob, slowly turn it and peak her head around the door before she heard Beca's voice invite her in and then Finley was streaking through the door.
Chloe made her way up the staircase and into the studio.
Beca stood with her daughter in her arms and a huge smile on her face. "Hey baby" Beca greeted.
"Hi" Chloe replied.
"I'm so glad you're here. I wanted you to listen to this." Beca said waiving Chloe over. She sat down behind the mixing board with Finley on her lap.
Chloe noticed Finley looking up at one of the portraits that hung in the studio. It was the one that Finley would stare at every time she was in her mother's studio. Chloe's eyes glanced up at a picture of Quinn with headphones hanging around her neck looking down at the mixing equipment in front of her. It was taken at one of the festivals that Vision played when they were just starting out but Chloe knew the reason Finley was captivated by the large picture. She could see herself in the woman on the wall. The same hair color, the same eyes, the same smile.
Finley felt a hand on her shoulder and turned toward her mama. She smiled up at the woman and then focused her attention back towards the knobs that her mommy was twisting.
PRESENT DAY
"We had a bit of an incident today during off period." Principal Hawkins began, "It's fairly unusual for Finley and Sebastian's off periods to line up like they did today but nonetheless they did. As Sebastian's teacher was calling roll for the class to line up, a little boy in Finley's class began to question her as to why her and her brother have different last names."
"What boy?" Beca asked quickly.
"You know I'm not able to tell you that Mrs. Mitchell. But the other student's parents have also been called in." Principal Hawkins explained.
"Was it that little shit Corey?" Beca fired out.
"Babe" Chloe whispered as she squeezed Beca's hand.
"Mrs. Mitchell" the principal warned.
Beca sighed and nodded in understanding. "Sorry."
"Unfortunately it didn't stop there." The principal continued. "It got so bad that the two had to be pulled apart."
Chloe's heart felt heavy.
"Finley is a great kid. She's very smart and one of the most talented kid's I've seen in years. As you know, the majority of the time that we meet it's because Finley is reacting to something that she's uncomfortable with. And I believe she's uncomfortable because she instinctively feels like she's different." Principal Hawkins explained.
"Different from who?" Chloe asked.
"From her family. From her peers. From her brother."
"Her brother?" Beca asked quickly. "How could she possibly feel different from Bash?"
"Because she's not biologically related to him." The principal answered.
"Are you suggesting that we treat them differently? That we favor him because Chloe gave birth to him? That" Beca spat.
"Beca" Chloe interrupted her wife. "She's not saying that we treat them differently, she's saying that Fin feels different. She knows." Chloe said as she turned toward her wife.
"Know what? She's six" Beca replied quickly.
"She's asked me why we all have blue eyes and she has brown. She's asked me for pictures of me when I was pregnant with her. Like the ones when I was carrying Bash. She can see herself in Quinn's pictures. It's time."
"No" Beca argued harshly.
"Becs" Chloe whispered.
"Mrs. Mitchell, I can't tell you how or when to tell her the truth." Principal Hawkins said sincerely, "but"
Beca stood quickly. "No, you can't. I'm sorry that she was fighting with that boy. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again but this conversation is over."
Chloe and Principal Hawkins watched as Beca quickly left the room.
"Beca stop!" Chloe called as the brunette stormed out of the school building and down the walkway.
Beca heard but kept going. Chloe walked quickly to catch up.
"Do not take one more step Beca Mitchell."
Beca froze in place instantly. That was Chloe's serious voice.
"Baby" Chloe said much more gently as she walked around to face her wife who stood a mere feet from her car and a clean get-a-way. Chloe wrapped her arms around Beca's neck pulling her in for a tight hug. "We need to talk about this."
"Yeah" Beca admitted, "but I don't want to."
"Tonight. Okay?" Chloe asked as she pulled back from the hug.
"Okay." Beca reluctantly agreed. It wasn't the first time they were having this conversation but it never seemed to get easier especially since they continued to disagree about what to do. So far Chloe had agreed to wait but now she had someone else in her corner and it was going to be hard to put off telling their daughter.
"Um, it's Jesse's day to pick up the kids." Beca reminded Chloe. "But I think I'll just finish work early and pick them up myself."
"Yeah, okay. So what time do you think you guys will be home?" Chloe asked.
"Around 5."
"Okay, I'll text you but if shooting stays on schedule this afternoon then I should be finished around 7." Chloe hoped.
Beca nodded and they parted ways with a kiss. Beca watched Chloe drive away before she turned on her car. She lost herself in thought as she drove back to 20/20 Records.
XxXxXx
6 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS AGO
"Hey" Quinn whispered over her shoulder as she pushed the door to the recording studio open with her butt, backing in and pulling a stroller.
Beca looked up at her best friend with a smile watching her maneuver the stroller so that it was eventually facing her. Beca looked closely down at the sleeping 4 month old. "I can't believe Emma trusts you with her."
"I know right" Quinn agreed as she peered down at her daughter. "This shit is fucking crazy" Quinn whispered excitedly. They sat looking at the sleeping baby.
"Where's Em?" Beca asked turning to her friend.
"The spa. She said she needed some pampering." Quinn answered with a shrug.
"So why are you here?" Beca asked.
"I got bored at home."
"Does Emma know you brought her out?" Beca asked with a smirk.
"I'm her mom too you know. I can bring her places." Quinn said quickly defending herself.
"So, no?"
"She has no idea." Quinn admitted. She turned back to Beca. "What are you working on?"
"Not much. Just getting out of the condo." Beca replied.
"Where's the redhead?" Quinn asked.
"Working."
"Ah. And that sucks right?" Quinn teased.
"You wouldn't understand." Beca countered quickly.
"No? Why wouldn't I?" Quinn asked as the baby stirred. She reached down and picked up the little girl bringing her up to place a soft kiss on her forehead and then holding her tightly to her chest.
Beca watched as the baby settled down quickly starring up at Quinn with her big eyes.
"You have everything dude. Hot wife, pretty awesome little baby" Beca reached for the baby who wrapped her hand around Beca's finger. "Cool house, the best partner in the whole music industry, you got it all. It's just easy for you."
"Easy?" Quinn questioned.
Beca nodded mindlessly.
"Where I am now B, took work. None of it was easy. I almost lost my hot wife because I was an idiot. She miscarried our first baby and my partner" Quinn emphasized the word, "is kind of an asshole most of the time. None of it was easy Becs."
Beca looked up at her.
Quinn continued, "You gotta remember, I'm 4 years older than you dude. So fast forward 4 years. You and Chloe will have all this. It's inevitable."
Beca shrugged. "Maybe."
"Definitely." Quinn argued.
"Maybe" Beca repeated.
"Wanna hold her?" Quinn asked changing the subject.
Beca nodded quickly.
Quinn smiled and passed the little girl over. Her eyes moved to meet Beca's.
"She likes you" Quinn said softly as she watched her daughter with her best friend.
"You think?" Beca asked looking up.
"No" Quinn said changing her mind. "She loves you."
XxXxXx
"Telling her doesn't make her any less our daughter" Chloe argued.
"Exactly! It's just about a name. So let's change it. Then it will be done. Settled." Beca argued as she paced back and forth in their bedroom.
"You know that's not true. It won't be settled." Chloe sighed. "We agreed that she would keep Quinn and Emma's last name for a reason. Why do you want to go back on that decision now? Because you don't want to tell her that her real parents are dead?"
Beca stopped pacing and turned abruptly towards Chloe. "Please don't say that again."
"What? The real parents part? Or the dead part?" Chloe asked angrily.
Beca ignored the question shaking her head. "She's too young. She won't understand."
"I disagree." Chloe replied quickly. "And so does Principal Hawkins."
"She doesn't know what she's talking about" Beca argued.
"She does Beca. And Finley knows something is different. She sees it in herself and she sees it in us and in Sebastian. She knows she doesn't look like us. It's time." Chloe said softly hoping Beca would hear her. "She stares at Quinn's picture. I know she can feel her. She should know where she came from."
Beca sat quietly on the edge of their bed and Chloe took it as a sign to continue.
"Of course we are her parents." She grabbed Beca's hand lacing their fingers together. "But she should get the chance to know how great they were too. It's not going to be a bad thing baby. She'll be confused at first and she may have some trouble understanding and I'm sure there will be lots of questions but Quinn and Emma were amazing parents and they loved her so much. She deserves to know them. She deserves to know how much they loved her."
"I just don't think it's time." Beca breathed. "She's too young."
"She's not going to love us any less." Chloe whispered trying to figure out what Beca was so afraid of.
"I know that Chloe" Beca snapped.
"It's not going to change your relationship. You will still be her mom." Chloe guessed again.
"Yeah. I know." Beca rolled her eyes rudely.
"Then what Beca?" Chloe asked softly. "What are you so afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid to tell her. I just think she isn't ready." Beca argued.
"That's a load of shit Beca. Seriously. Why are you so against this?" Chloe asked again.
Beca sighed. This argument was going to go on for a while if she didn't admit her fear. "I'll never be able to be Q." Beca finally answered.
"What?" Chloe asked softly.
"I'll never be her. I never was and I never will be." Beca admitted. "She would have been a much better mom than me. She could have given Fin so much more. What happens when Finley realizes that? She'll hate me."
"Baby" Chloe said leaning in to kiss Beca softly on the neck and then nuzzle her head into Beca's shoulder. "That is not true and you know it" Chloe supplied. "And I know that Quinn and Emma are looking down on us, on you and they are so happy. You've given her everything. And I know and they know that you will do anything to make sure she is happy. To make sure she is loved. That's all they wanted baby. That's why they chose you." Chloe whispered.
XxXxXx
Beca opened her eyes the next morning after a couple of hours of rest and she felt tired. Exhausted. She pushed herself up to her elbows and looked to her right but the bed was empty. Beca flopped back down on the bed and covered her eyes with her right arm draped over her face. After taking several deep breaths to prepare herself before going down stairs, Beca forced her tired body up and out of bed. She descended the stairs with a stomp that should have alerted her family of her presence but it was obvious as she stood with her arms crossed over her chest that the sounds of their giggles covered up her steps.
"Mommy!" Finley called seeing the brunette standing feet away watching them. She untangled herself from Chloe's arms and legs and pushed herself to her feet. Sebastian's head popped up and he turned the direction his sister was running. Chloe let go of the struggling boy who flung himself through the air towards his mom falling to his knees but then picking himself up quickly and continuing.
"What are you guys doing?" Beca asked in a serious tone.
"Playing" Finley replied happily as she held on tight her arms wrapped around her mother's waist.
"You woke me up" Beca said angrily.
Finley's head looked up to meet her mother's eyes but was met with a mad glare.
Beca turned to look at her son who was wrapped around her right leg. "You too young man." She disciplined.
Finley dropped her head. "I'm sorry" she said sadly as she let go of her hold on Beca.
Beca was fighting to maintain her mad face as Finley turned around sadly.
"Finley Sutton" Beca called loudly and the child froze in place.
Sebastian dropped his hands to his side standing straight as an arrow.
"ATTACK!" Beca yelled and all three of them leap towards Chloe who was helpless against their plan.
"What?" Chloe screamed through laughter. "Oh my God stop! Please" she begged as Finley worked to hold her arms as still as she could and Sebastian tried his best to sit on her legs.
"Do you give up?" Beca asked as she straddled her wife's waist.
Finley's hand covered Chloe's mouth and the redheads eyes shot open as wide as they could.
"No?" Beca teased. "Get her tickle monsters!" She instructed the two kids who relentlessly went back to their mama's most ticklish spots.
Once her mouth was free Chloe was shouting again through breathless gasps. "Plea" "Please" She begged. "No Stop. I'm gonna pee. I give up." She begged.
"Freeze" Beca gave the order and both kids stopped immediately. Beca leaned over and place her hands on the floor next to the sides of Chloe's head. "Say I'm the best and you're the worst."
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"No? You won't say it?" Beca asked with a smirk.
Chloe bit her lip and shook her head.
"Tickle monsters" Beca called and the two little ones appeared by her side with their fingers wiggling quickly in the air. Beca looked back at Chloe once more. "Say I'm the best and you're the worst and we will let you go."
"I'm the best and you're the worst" Chloe repeated bravely.
"Wrong move Beale." Beca teased. She pushed herself back into a sitting position.
"ATTA"
"WAIT" Chloe screamed cutting Beca off.
Beca held up her hands and both of her kids froze in place with giant smiles on their faces trying to hold in their laughter.
"Wait. Wait." Chloe pleaded.
"Yes?" Beca teased. "Do you have something to say?"
Chloe nodded vigorously. Beca quirked an eyebrow. Before she knew it she was on her back looking up at Chloe who had flipped their position unexpectedly.
"Soldiers!" Chloe said authoritatively.
Finley and Sebastian were by her side in an instant. "Let's teach your mommy a lesson."
"Chloe" Beca said hoping to intimidate her wife. "Don't."
"Or what?" Chloe asked playfully.
Beca looked at Finley and Sebastian. "Are you going to let her do this?" She asked the kids who laughed and nodded. "Traitors." Beca mumbled.
"Get her!" Chloe yelled and Beca was pounced upon. She was tickled relentlessly but she fought. She wiggled and pushed but as soon as she was able to push one kid off of her the next would fight harder. Finally she was able to get a hold of her son and hold his back tight to her chest. Breathlessly she threatened. "Stop. And the boy will not be harmed."
Chloe held her arm out holding Finley back. She glared at Beca. "Truce?" She offered.
Beca narrowed her eyes. "Live to fight another day?"
"Deal" Chloe accepted holding out her hand as a peace offering.
Beca slowly pushed the boy off her chest so that he was seated next to her. She reached out for Chloe's hand grabbing it tightly and pulling the redhead down to her. Once Chloe had adjusted her position on Beca's chest their lips met in a soft kiss. "I love you" Beca whispered barley pulling her lips from Chloe's.
Chloe pulled back with a smile. "I love you." She rolled off to the side but kept one of her legs draped over Beca's and rested her head on the brunette's shoulder. She reached up and grabbed Finley's hand and pulled the six year old down. She landed on the side her brother was sitting on. "Snuggle party" Chloe announced and two kids immediately took their positions. Finley laid down so that her head rested on Beca's stomach and Bash crawled over to tuck himself tightly between Beca and Chloe.
Chloe looked up at Beca expectantly.
"Bug" Beca said softly.
Finley rolled over keeping her head on Beca's stomach but now looking up at her.
"Mama and I want to tell you a story." Beca began but Finley got excited and interrupted her.
"What kind of story? Does it have animals in it?" Finley asked quickly.
"Woxes?" Bash asked popping his head up. Chloe leaned down and placed a kiss to the boys head.
"No animals" Beca answered.
"Oh" Finley replied sadly. "Music? Does it have music in it?"
Beca's eyes lit up. "It does. It's filled with music." Beca replied happily as a warm feeling filled her body. She felt Chloe's lips on her neck softly.
"Does it have a happy ending?" Finley asked softly.
Beca pulled her eyes from the dark brown pair that were looking up at her to meet her wife's brilliant blue. Chloe nodded softly urging Beca to continue.
"See that's the thing bug. This story isn't over yet. I'll tell you the beginning and the middle but the end, it hasn't happened yet." Beca tried to explain. "It will be up to us how the story ends."
Finley tilted her head as she listened to her mommy. "Up to us?" She asked.
"Yeah. Me and you and mama and Bash." Beca said with a smile.
"What's it about?" Finley asked. Beca sighed wishing the little girl would stop asking questions and just let her tell her.
"It's about two very special people. It's about Emma and Quinn." Beca revealed.
"Emma and Quinn?" Finley questioned. She knew those names. She knew those faces from lots of pictures. She had heard her moms talking about those two people but she hadn't ever met them.
"Would you like to hear the story?" Chloe asked softly looking at her daughter. "Mommy's in it and I'm in it and Aunt Bree and Uncle Jesse and all of our friends."
"Me tawoo?" Bash asked.
"Yeah buddy." Beca answered.
"I want to hear the story" Finley replied ready to listen.
"Okay but I need you listen really carefully bug okay?" Beca asked.
Finley nodded quickly.
Beca took a deep breath, "Okay Fin because this is a very important story and it matters how this ends."
FINISHED
AN: So that's all. This story is now complete. I wrote this last chapter about 4 different ways. I hope you guys like what I decided to go with. I'll miss these characters and this universe so much but I have to let them go.
Let me say thank you so much to all of you who read the original story and then came on board for the sequel. Your comments and messages have meant so much to me. You guys are all so awesome.