Chapter 2 - Bright Blessed Day
"I can't believe Legacy is getting married when I'm nine months pregnant," Beca grumbled, holding onto the car door as she tried to gracefully slide into her seat. It was impossible. She had not been graceful before pregnancy – and now she was just a mess. A heated mess, as the jackass from DSM would have put it. In addition to her stomach to body ratio throwing her all off, she was more than unhappy that a heatwave had hit early in California – and no amount of air conditioning was helping. Chloe told her it was psychosomatic, but Beca was certain that she was hot. All the time.
"Emily and Benji planned their wedding long before you got pregnant," Chloe reminded her, sliding into the driver's seat, her sunglasses hiding the mirth in her eyes. She wanted to help her wife – but she knew how that would be received. Not well.
"I didn't think the first one would take. Isn't is supposed to be like pancakes? The first one is always crap."
"Yes, Beca. IVF is completely like making pancakes," Chloe said, not even trying to hide her smile. She waited until the door closed and helped Beca buckle her seatbelt – that was not something the tiny brunette could even attempt to do alone anymore. "Can you try to calm down about this? We have a long drive. And if you complain the whole time – I might forget all of the good reasons I had to marry you."
Beca simply stuck her tongue out at Chloe and took a flash drive from her purse – placing it into the slot near the radio. "Perfect," the redhead said with a smile as a mix beginning with Life is a Highway came over the speakers. Beca looked pleased at the compliment. The peace and calm lasted for about an hour. Beca had to stop to pee. Immediately. Luckily, they were within a mile of a rest stop – so Chloe might have sped a little, but they made it. When Beca returned to the car, she glared at Chloe over the roof. They stood on either side. Chloe tilted her head, waiting for whatever sarcastic jab was coming.
"At this rate, we're going to be in Kansas when they get married."
"We're not driving through Kansas," Chloe said simply, sliding back into the car.
Chloe felt she was being a fairly good sport about Beca's mood swings, but she texted Aubrey a list of complaints at each rest stop. According to Beca, Texas was too big. Their car was too small. The air conditioner was broken (despite the fact that Chloe was freezing). Her hair was too long. Possibly it was also too brown. She didn't remember what her toes looked like. Pregnant-people clothing was horrid. Strangers had looked at her belly at one of the rest stops. Chloe really wished her wife could mix in the car – it would keep her busy. But she got carsick too easily to do anything other than sleep or stare out the window.
Two and a half days of travel – and 34 hours of driving later - Chloe wanted to jump out the window – and possibly file for divorce. "Oh my god," she said, when she finally stumbled out of the car in front of Beca's dad's house. "Thank god."
"It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Beca said with a shrug. Chloe's glare was strong and she might actually have killed her, had Warren Mitchell not come out of the house that very moment.
"Beca! Chloe!" He hugged each of them, taking time to marvel at his daughter's missing waistline. "Should you be traveling this close to your due date?" He asked, concerned. Beca rolled her eyes; he'd asked that over the phone at least three times in the planning for this trip.
"Chill, Dad. We've been over this. We checked. Flying is dangerous – driving is fine," Beca promised. "And my doctor is a guest at the wedding – so it actually makes more sense for me to be here where she is than in California without a doctor."
"You look gorgeous, Bec," he said as he looked at her again, after setting the last suitcase down in the living room.
"I'm waddling like a penguin," Beca told him sternly. "Don't lie to me."
"You do look good," Sheila assured her, appearing from the kitchen. "Some of the girls in the department have had babies lately – poor Hilary was so swollen for the last month that it looked like her skin was going to pop."
"Thank you for that visual," Beca responded with a grimace.
"Would you girls like some lunch?" Sheila asked. "We have cold ginger and carrot soup – or I can make sandwiches."
"That sounds great," Chloe said. Her eyes went to Beca's returning grumpy expression and interrupted before she could speak. "But we ate a late breakfast – and I think Beca needs a nap."
"I'm not a child," she said petulantly.
"No," Chloe agreed. "But you are being sent to your room for a nap like one," she informed her. Without leaving room for another argument, Chloe took her arm and walked her up the stairs to the guest bedroom. She took Beca directly into the bathroom and sat her on the closed toilet lid, leaning into the tub to start the shower. "Get in the shower – carefully," she ordered, dropping a kiss on Beca's head. "I will go and find your pajamas and bring them back. Then you are taking a nap."
Beca wanted to grumble on principal, but it actually sounded like a fantastic plan. Half an hour later, she was lying in bed on her side, eyes fighting to stay open while Chloe towel dried her hair. "My back hurts," she said softly.
"I know," Chloe answered soothingly. "Too much time in the car. If you close your eyes, I'll give you a backrub." Beca did – and fell to sleep while her wife magically worked the knots out of her muscles.
Once she was asleep and seemed comfortable, Chloe took her own shower and changed into a yellow dress with random sprays of red and orange flowers. She walked into the kitchen to find Warren and Sheila. The older woman smiled. "Can I get you something to eat?"
Chloe nodded. "That soup sounded great. Sorry about earlier - I just needed to get Beca into bed before we ended up divorced."
"That bad?" Warren asked, trying to hold back his laughter.
"You've met your daughter," Chloe responded. "I've just spent the past three days driving across the country with her – and she was already uncomfortable and cranky before we started."
"You're a saint, Chloe."
"Don't I know it," she responded, gratefully accepting the summer soup that Sheila set in front of her. She also felt much better once she ate and decided to see if she could catch a quick nap herself. She slept beside Beca for a few hours, then woke again and spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on the porch with Warren and Sheila.
After a nap and a shower, Beca felt worlds better. She dressed in a black sundress and wrapped a red scarf around her neck. She was dangling earring from her lobes when Chloe found her. "You look more comfortable," she said, kissing her wife.
"I am. Sorry I was such a grouch on the way here."
"I understand – I know you haven't been comfortable for a while. That makes travel unpleasant." She pulled away and smiled at Beca in the mirror. "You look beautiful. Are you almost ready to go? Aubrey and Jesse are picking us up – we figured with street parking, fewer cars made sense." Beca nodded, slipping her rings onto her left hand and bracelets onto her right.
They sat on the porch waiting and stood when they saw the approaching car. Jesse practically barreled into her, making Beca yelp in surprise. She hugged him back though, happy to see him for the first time in several weeks. He had been working on a project in New York, so his presence in LA was sorely missed. He lifted her from her feet and she smacked him. "Dude, put me down."
He did, immediately, and looked alarmed. "Did I hurt you? The babies?"
"No," Beca said. "But I still don't like to be manhandled. Weirdo," she muttered with a smile. "That is completely unfair," Beca said, looking up to see Aubrey standing behind him, her hand resting demurely on her perfectly rounded tiny stomach. "You look perfect."
"I'm only four months pregnant," Aubrey reminded her. "And we're not having twins. You look wonderful, Beca."
"Don't go soft on me, Posen," Beca said. But she did hug Aubrey.
They headed close to campus to an upscale restaurant that none of them could have afforded in college. Beca and Chloe had rented out the entire patio for a reunion dinner with the Bellas and the Treblemakers. Most of the groups were already there, eating appetizers and drinking what Beca assumed was copious amounts of alcohol. Several of the Treblemakers were already singing.
"Why did we think this was a good idea?" Beca asked, looking up at Jesse.
"Not sure," Jesse said, a grin creeping into his expression. "Because it's not – it's an amazing idea!" He bounded off toward a few old teammates, leaving his best friend shaking her head. She walked toward the center of the space where Emily and Benji were sitting together on an outdoor sofa. Emily jumped to her feet and squealed when she saw Beca, hugging her fiercely.
"Okay, Em," Beca said calmly. "That's enough. I'm here for a few days. You can let go now." Emily did, but still remained close. "I'm so happy you're here!"
"Wouldn't miss it," Beca replied honestly. She looked at Benji, who still managed to look incredibly guilty every time she found him in the vicinity of Emily –and they had been dating for five years. "Hey, Benji."
"Hi, Beca. How was your trip?"
"It was fine. I think I almost killed Chloe, but we all made it." She turned when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Stacie, looking breathtaking as usual in a slinky red dress. She had not brought a date, so all of the single Treblmakers were already laying bets on who would get her to share the weekend with him. Beca had already overheard the mutterings and wondered how she could reveal to them – in the funniest way possible – that none of them had a chance in hell anymore. Stacie had realized long ago that she didn't play for that team. The tall brunette hugged her and pulled back – her hand resting protectively on Beca's stomach. She was the only one – other than Chloe – who could get away with that.
"How are you?" She asked, her brow knit with concern.
"I'm fine," Beca assured her. "You saw me four days ago."
"Before a strenuous trip. Your blood pressure?"
"It's normal. Trust me, Chloe is watching me like a hawk – she makes me take it twice a day – and you'd be the first phone call if those numbers dip above 120/60."
"Good," Stacie answered. "You need to be careful."
"I'm clearly not allowed to – but are you planning to have any fun on this trip?" Beca asked. Stacie smiled, her eyes fixed on a woman Beca recognized from Emily's senior year in the Bellas.
"I'm going to try my best," she answered. "I don't think I've met that one," she said seductively, pecking Beca on the cheek before walking away. Chloe appeared then at her side, handing her a glass of water.
"Stacie on the hunt?" They watched as she approached the blonde who was two years Emily's junior.
Beca nodded. "Yeah – we should probably have Emily warn the younger Bellas. Some of the Treblemakers think they have a shot – they're making bets."
Chloe laughed. "Well, they honestly had very few IQ points to rub together pre and post Jesse and Benji." The party was actually a lot of fun. Beca only had to hit a few people who tried to touch her stomach – she still couldn't believe that people thought they could do that. The evening was still going strong when her exhaustion hit. Chloe found her curled up in the corner on one of the sofas, her head on a pillow and her feet in Jesse's lap. Jesse nodded to her and stood up, giving the spot to Chloe. Beca woke when she felt someone touching her feet. She relaxed when she realized that it was Chloe, trying to massage them around the thin black sandals she wore.
"You ready to go home, sweetie?" Chloe asked, once she saw Beca's eyes fluttering open. The brunette nodded sleepily. "You think you can walk to the car?" She shook her head; she really didn't. Jesse was still close by, so Chloe waved him over and he gently lifted Beca into his arms, carrying her out to the car. Once they arrived home, the ex-boyfriend carried the tiny, sleeping brunette back to the guestroom. Warren and Sheila watched from the doorway.
"Is she okay?" He asked, concern evident as he looked at her sleeping form on the bed.
Chloe nodded. "Just tired. The babies are zapping her energy pretty quickly lately." The next two days were insanity between the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and helping prepare the reception hall. Granted, Beca was relegated to doing almost nothing. Every time she was given a job that might have been useful, Chloe or Stacie showed up to take it away – shooing her away to sit down or "rest."
She still was exhausted by the time the actual wedding rolled around. She was the maid of honor, despite – in her opinion – her ridiculous size. As the maid of honor, she was supposed to walk the aisle on her own, just in front of Emily. Once the planners of the wedding saw exactly what "nine months pregnant" actually looked like, she was given her very own usher to walk her down the aisle. It was Unicycle – but as long as he didn't touch her too much, she was good. Jesse and Benji were already at the altar, so she was able to make faces at them occasionally, amusing herself as they walked slowly to the front.
When she arrived, she stood across from Jesse and beside a few of the younger Bellas – Emily had eventually made friends her own age. Chloe smiled at her from her seat between Stacie and Aubrey in one of the front rows. Emily appeared – looked as gorgeous as expected – and almost made Benji fall over. Once the groom was as stable as he would ever be, the wedding party turned and the priest began to speak.
Something wasn't right. Her back hurt – badly. But she knew it was from standing in these cheap shoes for too long. Why were weddings so long? Why hadn't she invested in more comfortable shoes? Beca kept a smile plastered to her face as she went through the motions holding Emily's flowers and fixing her gown when she turned. Exhaustion was hitting her hard by the time the ceremony ended. She almost sighed in relief when the priest announced;
"By the power vested in me by the church and the state of Georgia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Beca smiled as Emily blushed a deep red – and so did Benji. They kissed gently and turned, arm-in-arm, to be presented. Beca stepped toward the center of the aisle as they began their walk, taking Jesse's arm as he came from the other side. They were supposed to follow, next down the aisle, but she stood stock still in front of the cross, unable to move. Jesse saw her face and leaned close, waving the other bridal party couples in front of them.
"Bec? What's wrong?"
"I think I'm bleeding," she said, looking down at the ground. She couldn't see it because of her belly, but Jesse could see a trail of blood on her feet below the ankle-length gown and blood already pooled in her silver shoes. His stomach turned. He was pretty sure this was not how labor started. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Okay," he said, as calmly as he could manage. "Sit down – I'll find Stacie." He lowered her to the ground but before he could leave to find the doctor, she appeared at their side. She had seen Beca falter – as had most of the church. Chloe, Aubrey, Jesse, and Beca's father and step-mother created a loose circle, blocking the general assembly from seeing much.
Chloe was frantic, kneeling by Beca's head. "What happened? What's wrong?"
"It's fine," Beca insisted. "I'm sure it's fine. Right?" She asked Stacie. Her eyes pleaded with the brunette to assure her that she was correct. "Tell them its fine."
Stacie didn't respond. "What happened before the blood came? Anything?"
"My back aches really badly – it started right as the ceremony did – I thought it was from standing too long in these stupid shoes." She watched as the other brunette donned gloves and – much to the dismay of many – reached beneath her dress to examine her. "This is an altar," she said, aghast. "You can't do that here."
"There a lot of things I do that God will probably hold against me," Stacie responded, "I don't think this is one of those things."
"This altar will need new carpet," Amy said, appearing behind Aubrey, craning to see what was going on. "Legacy is wondering where you all went. Is it aca-baby time?"
Stacie was ignoring them all, except for Beca. She removed her gloves and turned to Aubrey. "Find towels – as many as you can." Beca's father was next. "Call an ambulance. If they're going to be more than 10 minutes, tell them not to bother – and bring the car around to the handicapped entrance." Chloe was leaning close to Beca, trying to offer her words of reassurance as she gripped her hands. Stacie bent forward more so she could speak with them as privately as the situation allowed.
"Beca, I need you to stay calm for me, okay? As calm and as still as you can be. No pushing. It's going to feel like you need to push – but you can't. Promise?"
Beca nodded, tears now streaming. She had never been so frightened before. "Stacie, what's wrong?" She was begging for answers now. Something just felt off. Her body was betraying her and she couldn't do anything about it.
"Calm," Stacie reminded her. "We just need to get to the hospital. The placenta detached from your uterine wall – which is where all the blood is coming from. We just need to get the babies out as soon as we can. They're almost full term – so they're going to be fine." Professor Mitchell appeared then, handing the phone to Stacie. The ambulance, he told Audrey, was only a few minutes away. Beca began shivering as the paramedics arrived and Stacie started telling them what they needed to do.
"She's freezing," Chloe told Stacie.
"She's going into shock from the blood loss," Stacie told her. She took an IV from one of the paramedics and expertly inserted it, beginning a line for saline. While Stacie worked attaching monitors and IVs, the paramedics lifted Beca carefully into the backboard and strapped her into place.
Chloe wasn't allowed in the ambulance – there wasn't room. But Stacie was with her, so that helped. She found herself being led to Aubrey's car – Jesse did a fantastic job of keeping up with the ambulance.
When they arrived at the hospital, Chloe was stopped at the Emergency Room doors. Stacie didn't take the time to even look at her – she nodded to Aubrey, who took over. The blonde physically moved her best friend from the entry and dragged her toward the waiting room. "This is not how it's supposed to happen, Aubrey. We have a plan," Chloe told her hollowly. "And nowhere in that plan is my wife covered in blood in a church! What if something happens to her? What if it's not okay?" She was almost hyperventilating as she conjured the different images in her mind.
"It will be," Aubrey assured her. "This is Beca we're talking about. She's a fighter – she's going to be just fine." They wait wasn't terribly long – but it felt it. After twenty minutes, a nurse had come to tell them that they should go wait in the maternity ward – that was where Beca and the babies would be after leaving the OR. The waiting room was full. Aubrey had tried to convince people to go home – or go to the reception – but all of the Bellas and most of the Tremblemakers waited. Emily and Benji were there, having skipped their own reception. Aubrey had tried to coax Emily into changing into the dress her mother had brought, but the young woman was still a little dazed and extremely frightened – she wasn't budging from Benji's side.
Stacie's light blue dress was covered in blood when she disappeared into the Emergency Room with Beca and the two paramedics. When she reappeared an hour later in the maternity ward waiting room, she had on a clean pair of scrubs and her hair was pulled back into a messy bun. Chloe stood from her spot between Aubrey and Jesse as the brunette appeared. "Beca is fine – she's stable," she announced almost before she reached them. Chloe took what felt like her first breath in hours.
"She lost a lot of blood – she'll likely need another transfusion in the next few hours. But we stopped the bleeding and there shouldn't be any permanent damage."
Chloe's heart pounded – she hadn't realized that had been a possibility. "The babies?"
"Apparently they're already singers," Stacie said with a smile. "I'm pretty sure they came out screaming in key. They're perfect. They're just a bit on the small side – probably a mix of being early – and from having Beca's DNA." Chloe smiled. "They'll be kept in the NICU overnight just for observation – but they're both breathing on their own – so they won't be there long."
"Can I see her? And them?" Chloe asked, tears pooling in her blue eyes.
"Beca is still in recovery," Stacie told her. "It will be a few hours before you can see her."
Chloe's face fell. "I can't just leave her alone – she's all by herself."
"Chloe – she is drugged out of her mind. She's not lucid or conscious right now," Stacie told her. "And there's a recovery nurse with her constantly – I promise, she's fine." Chloe bit her lip but finally nodded. Stacie took her arm and led her down the hall. "The babies are just over here." She led them to a windowed room that had NICU written in playful block letters. But it was frightening inside – Chloe could see through the window that the babies were each in his or her own plastic box. Well, most of them. Stacie pointed toward two bassinettes that were just entering the space. A nurse pushed each one. The babies inside here swaddled and wore little caps, so you couldn't see much – but Chloe knew they were hers.
Stacie pointed toward the door and Chloe followed her. She looked at Chloe. "We can take one more person in."
"Emily," Chloe responded, knowing it was what Beca would want. The two women washed their hands up to their elbows and scrubbed under their nails, following Stacie's instructions. The donned yellow gowns over their clothing – Emily's over her wedding dress – and were allowed to walk into the space.
The rest of their friends and family watched from the window as Chloe met her daughters for the first time. She was overcome with joy. Tears dripped freely from her cheeks as she gently reached out to touch them. "You can hold them," the nearest nurse told her with a smile. Chloe looked startled but nodded. The nurse directed her to a rocking chair and brought the first baby over. "This little doll," she said sweetly, "was born first. She's a bit smaller than her sister – four pounds and eleven ounces." She placed the child into the crook of Chloe's right arm and the redhead leaned close, kissing the baby's forehead.
"She's perfect." Beca was going to be thrilled – it looked like the baby had red hair; just what the brunette had wanted for at least one of the twins.
"You're a little biased," the nurse laughed. "But I'd agree with you." She approached with the second baby and Chloe looked baffled. The nurse laughed again. "You'll have to learn how to hold two at once sooner or later. Might as well be sooner." She helped Chloe balance the first baby as she placed the second into the crook of her other arm. Emily watched in awe, Stacie in pride and joy.
Chloe remained in the nursery for a good two hours, holding one or both of the babies. Emily traded places so that Aubrey, Jesse, Benji, Mr. Mitchell, and Chloe's newly arrived parents could all see the babies as well. "Chlo," Stacie said softly. The redhead looked up, eyes still glassy from the tears she'd cried all day. Stacie smiled. "Beca is awake." Stacie took one baby from Chloe's arms.
"Why don't we introduce them to their mama?" Chloe followed Stacie down the hall with the baby in her arms and she was terrified – what if she dropped her? What if someone ran into her? This was serious business – how did anyone ever let their child out in the world? It was too dangerous. But her fears diminished when she saw her wife. Beca was lying in bed, much paler than usual, but glowing with a smile as she watched Stacie and Chloe enter. Stacie immediately lay the first baby on Beca's chest, helping the weak brunette support her head. Beca stared at her fondly, enamored. Chloe moved closer and sat on the edge of the bed, holding the second baby so that Beca could see.
"We did a pretty good job," she said with a weak smile.
"You did all the heavy lifting, mama," Chloe said. She leaned close and kissed Beca's cheek, then her lips. She smoothed her hair back with her free hand. "You are not allowed to scare me like that – ever again." She looked down at the babies. "That goes for all three of you," she said sternly.
"I didn't know Chloe was going to be the disciplinarian," Stacie said with a smirk.
"I'm a complete pushover," Beca told her. She felt her hands growing weaker and looked up at the doctor reluctantly. "I want to hold her – but I'm really tired." Stacie lifted the baby.
"You'll have plenty of time with them soon enough," she promised. "You need to rest now." Beca didn't argue –another sure sign she was exhausted. She was sleeping before Stacie rounded the bed to speak with Chloe.
"I'll have them bring in the bassinets. There's no reason the babies can't be in here with you. They'll take them back to the NICU for the night through."
"Thank you, Stacie," Chloe said, her voice so sincere and full of emotion.
Beca was never fully functional that day – she was stilled drugged. The most important conversation she could really participate in was the one where very visitor hold her how beautiful her girls were and she agreed.
The next day, she was lucid. Also in a bit of pain, but she didn't begrudge it at all. As long as she could see those gorgeous infants, she remembered that the pain had been worth it. She looked apologetic when Emily and Benji appeared that next day around lunchtime. "I'm so sorry we ruined your wedding."
"Our wedding was perfect," Emily promised. "The reception – well, we can have a party any time," she said with a shrug. "And I'm pretty honored – I get to share my anniversary with these beautiful babies." Benji wholeheartedly agreed with his usual mixture of blushing and embarrassed smiles.
It took three days before Beca was allowed to sit up. A nurse helped her wash her hair and – to her utter embarrassment – take a sponge bath. But she felt much better once clean. She was dressed in a pair of pajamas Chloe had rescued from her suitcase. Her hair was dry and curled, floating in soft locks past her shoulders. A nursing pillow was on her lap and she used it to support the weight of the babies as she held them. With her weakened state, it was the only way she trusted herself with both at the same time. She smiled knowingly as her friends and family crowded into the room. Aubrey and Jesse to her right, flanking Chloe. Emily, Benjy, and Stacie to her left. Her father, Sheila, Chloe's parents, Cynthia Rose, Lily, Jessica, Amy, and Ashley along the far wall.
"Are you finally going to tell us what you're naming these kids, or what?" Amy demanded. "Because if you don't – I'm going with my original plan to call them Bloe 1 and Bloe 2."
Beca rolled her eyes and shook her head at Amy. She looked up at Chloe, who sat next to her and took one of the infants.
"This," Beca said, indicating the baby she was holding – the one with brunette hair, "is Isabella Rebecca Beale-Mitchell."
"That is a large name for a tiny girl," Jesse teased.
"We'll just stick with calling her Bella on a day to day basis."
"It's perfect," Audrey responded.
Chloe bounced the baby in her arms. "And this is Poppy Alexandra Beale-Mitchell."
"Isn't this going to be confusing for Bella when they go to Barden and become Bellas?" Aubrey asked, teasing.
"We're not too worried about it," Beca responded. She cradled Bella closer to her chest. "And it is going to be their choice if they go to Barden," she said warningly, shooting a look at Aubrey and her father.
"Hey!" Warren argued with a laugh. "Just think if I hadn't made you go – you wouldn't be here right now, missy." Beca shook her head at him but smiled radiantly as she looked down at the infant in her arms.
(And I think to myself, what a wonderful world).
Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows. For those of you who took the time to review, extra-special thanks! If you haven't yet, please take a moment to review. I would love to know what you liked, best lines, worst mistakes, whatever you want to comment on. But please do comment! It lets me know that you enjoyed the story and would like to read more.
This story has no more – but please review and let me know what you like about this – and if you would like to see a follow up. (I've got a much longer story in the works full of parental Beca and Chloe). Thanks for reading!
