"Where did you say Chloe was this Christmas, Aubrey?" Aubrey's mother asks turning to look back at her daughter smiling.
"She and her girlfriend, Beca, went to visit Beca's grandmother up around the Yellowstone area." Stacie answers.
"Oh that must be nice." She smiles, Stacie moves from her spot on Aubrey's lap to stand beside the older woman.
"Is there any way I can help?" She asks, Mrs. Posen looks up and smiles at her.
"I am sure I can find something for a willing victim to do." She chuckles. "Can you grab the eggs and butter out of the fridge?"
"No problem." Stacie smiles, jumping to the task.
"You should have brought this one home long ago Aubrey. All your past dates were too afraid to even speak to me." Mrs. Posen winks at Stacie as Aubrey rolls her eyes.
"Yeah well I didn't know about her till now." Aubrey reminds her mother. The two of them arrived at the Posen's house a few days ago and since then Stacie had formed a good bond with the family. Even spending time talking with Mr. Posen about the economy and politics, for the first time Mr. Posen was impressed with someone Aubrey had brought home to meet him.
"I am going to run out for a bit, you need anything mom?" Aubrey asks, standing up from her chair.
"Take the grocery list with you, and you can take my helper if you want." She grins and Aubrey chuckles.
"You coming helper?" Aubrey asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure am. I promise to help with dinner." Stacie offers and Mrs. Posen shakes her head.
"You don't have to be over helpful dear, you already impressed me."
"I'm not really, I just like to help."
"Sure, now scoot." Stacie grabs the list, then Aubrey's hand as they walk out the door.
"So where are we off to?" Stacie asks smiling at Aubrey.
"Well first off we have to go to the bank, and then stop at the book store, then off to the grocery store." Aubrey opens the door for Stacie to get in the car. "It shouldn't take too long."
"Sounds perfect." Stacie smiles back, leaning over to kiss Aubrey as she get in the car. Soon the two were on their way back toward the house with their last stop at the store.
"What do you mean we can't pick up hot chocolate?" Stacie exclaims and Aubrey chuckles shaking her head.
"Love we really don't need any more hot chocolate."
"You can never have too much." Stacie says giving her best puppy dog eyes.
"Fine just one box." Aubrey agrees and Stacie grins, kissing Aubrey.
"Thank you!"
"Hurry up though we must get back and help mom out."
"Alright." Stacie smiles back at Aubrey as she heads down the aisle of the store.
"Aubrey Posen, is that you?"A man asks walking over to Aubrey.
"Jesse…What are you doing here?"
"My grandparents live just a few miles away, they sent me up for some groceries. What are you doing here?" Jesse asks raising an eyebrow. He helps Aubrey out by putting her items onto the checkout belt.
"I grew up here."
"Hmm small world." Jesse grins. "How is your break so far?"
"Not too bad, Stacie came with me, you know meet the family and stuff?" Jesse nods.
"You two seem pretty great together." He smiles. "Can I tell you something?"
"Jess, maybe we should…"
"I feel terrible for how I treated Beca and Chloe."
"Jesse, Chloe and Beca will always be my friends and what you did was horrible. I will be civil to you but that is it, until you can explain yourself to those girls and be on stable ground with them. I will side with them." Aubrey glares at him, she didn't hate the man but she didn't trust him. Suddenly Stacie was standing beside her, an arm around Aubrey's waist.
"Hey babe." Stacie smiles at her, then looks at Jesse. "Jesse."
"Stacie. Why don't we just let things be? I hope you guys have a good break."
"Same to you Jesse. Oh and Jesse thank you for the help." Aubrey says motioning to checkout belt, Jesse nods back as he walks off.
"What the hell did he want?" Stacie snarls and Aubrey just hugs her, smiling.
"I think he wants peace, I set him straight though. He has to talk with Beca and Chloe before he gets anything from us." Aubrey says. "Now why don't we hurry up and get home to help my mom out?"
"Oh the sooner we get home the sooner we get cookies." Stacie grins, Aubrey pulls her in for a kiss.
"Sugar addict."
x-x-x
A/n: Sorry about the huge delay, between the stress of my last exams before I earn my associates degree and work I've been swamped. Hopefully the next week or so I have off I can write more.