Merry Moviecations and Mistletoe
If you had told her last year that she was going to spend time curled in Jesse Swanson's bed, his arms around her tiny figure, a movie playing in the background, Beca Mitchell would have laughed in your face.
But yet there she was, his arms around her, trying to focus on the laptop screen and actually stay awake (because they were the perfect conditions to be sleeping in, she believed).
"Come to New York with me for Christmas", he said suddenly, and she stiffened.
"What?"
"Come to New York with me for Christmas", he repeated. "Come on, you'll love it".
"With your family?" she said, almost fearfully.
"Yes".
She shook her head. "No thanks".
"Come on, Becs!" he protested. "You'll love it. You told me you've got no plans for Christmas, and you said so yourself you didn't want to spend it with your dad and Sheila, and your mum had already made plans".
"But your family is going to be there!"
"And they're dying to meet you!"
"I was just going to stay at Barden, have some turkey with my dad-"
"Come on, Becs, it'll be fun", he wheedled. "I promise you'll like it. I promise".
(She wasn't convinced.)
"Okay, it's settled", Jesse called, marching into the recording studio. "We fly out on Friday".
"What?" Beca squawked. "Jesse!"
(She hadn't even totally agreed and the boy was waving around their flight details.)
"And guess what, Becs?" Jesse grinned. "My mother's even got you an embroidered Santa hat".
"Christmas isn't for like ten days!"
"We'll be there four days before Christmas", he explained, "And we fly back on the twenty seventh. We're spending New Year's in Barden, and Donald said he was going to try and pay a visit to the Treblehouse. We were thinking of having a Bellas and Trebles karaoke night like last year".
"We agreed we were never talking about last year again".
"No, you agreed". His eyes shone. "Come on, Becs, that was a great night!"
(That was not a great night.)
"You'll love it", he promised.
(Deep down, she was kinda excited.)
"What am I supposed to get your parents?" she said suddenly, the CD she was holding paused in mid-air.
"Nothing". He shrugged. "They tell me not to get them anything; they just want me to get something for my sister".
"How old is she?"
Jesse paused for a moment to think. "She's just turned thirteen", he said finally. "Yeah, we're nineteen and she's fourteen… there's six years between us".
"Well what am I going to get her?" she said helplessly.
"Nothing, she won't expect you to get her a gift". Jesse shrugged. "I'll probably go to the mall when we get to New York; I've got to get her something".
"I've got to get them something", Beca mumbled.
"Hey Dad", Beca said, once her father opened the door.
"Hi Beca, merry Christmas". He grinned at his daughter, and Beca held out a gift.
"Here, for you and Sheila".
"What's this I hear about you not joining us this year, Becs?" he asked, genuinely curious, as he invited his daughter into the house.
"Oh. Um… I'm going to New York for Christmas".
"Really?" William Mitchell's eyes widened. "And am I correct in assuming a certain Jesse Swanson had something in influencing your decision?"
"You would be".
"I thought you were going to Portland". He didn't sound disapproving, and yet Beca knew that he didn't fully approve.
"There was a change of plans. Jesse invited me to New York for Christmas, and seeing as though I never made any specific plans to go to Portland-"
"Don't you think your mother would miss you?" he checked.
"I spoke to Mum. She's already made plans; she was spending Christmas with Aunt Janice. I never made any specific plans to go to Portland. Dad, I'm not asking for your permission, I'm telling you where I'm spending Christmas".
William almost chuckled at her assertiveness- his daughter had been like that from day one. "I know, Becs. I'm just looking out for you. I'm a dad, that's my job".
A year earlier, those words would have gotten barbs from his daughter. But right then, she just looked at him with a shrug.
"I know", she said, hugging him for the first time since she was seven years old.
With one hand in Jesse's, she nibbled at her thumbnail nervously, gnawing away at her black painted fingernails.
"Stop that", Jesse chided gently, squeezing her hand. "You're going to bite your thumb off. What are you so scared of?"
"I'm not exactly a mother's dream", she pointed out to him, motioning to the amazingly scary earspike (half hidden by her loose curls). Her jacket covered her tattoos, but her piercings were visible. "I mean, your grandma is gonna be there and I'm sure she'll adore me", she added sarcastically.
"She will!" Jesse insisted. "Trust me, Bec, they love you. There is no way they won't adore you. Come on, Dad's waiting for us".
Beca gripped his hand a little tighter, and he felt her walking slower and slower.
"Jesse!" a voice called, and Jesse broke into a grin.
"Come on, Becs!" he urged. Beca fell into step with him, keeping her eyes trained to the ground.
"Hey Jess!"
Apparently, the Swanson grin was genetic. Barry Swanson had an ear to ear smile on his face, as he hugged his son cheerfully.
"Hey Dad! Dad, this is Beca".
"Nice to meet you", Beca said, almost shyly.
Barry pumped her hand up and down. "It's so nice to meet you, Beca, we've heard so much about you already".
"All good things", Jesse assured her.
"Nice to meet you to, sir".
"Sir?" Barry started to laugh. "Call me Barry, please!"
(Beca should have picked which one was the Swanson house. It was intricately decorated, looking like something out of a magazine. Of course that was the Swanson house.)
"Beca!"
And Beca was all but tossed back out the front door, as she was smothered by a woman she assumed was Jesse's mother.
"Mum… MUM!" Jesse hauled her off his girlfriend, chuckling. "Let the girl breathe!"
"Sorry sweetie", Caroline Swanson apologised, "It's so nice to meet you! Jesse hasn't stopped talking about you since he arrived at Barden".
"Nice to meet you too, Mrs Swanson". And Beca gave her a genuine (tiny) smile.
"Jesse!"
And a young girl came flying down the hallway, throwing herself with force at Jesse.
"Hey, little sister!" Jesse lifted her off the ground; squeezing her so tight he made her squeal.
Once she let go of her brother, she turned to Beca. "Hi! I'm Mikaela, Jesse's sister. It's so nice to meet you! Jesse's told us so much about you".
"That would be an understatement", an older man chuckled from the doorway. "Hi honey, it's great to finally meet you!"
"Hey Grandpa!"
"Hey buddy". He smiled.
"Becs, this is Jack, my Grandpa. Where's Grandma?"
Jesse's family was close, and it was a little unnerving to Beca. Her family weren't particularly close, and she rarely saw her cousins. So, she wasn't really sure how to act when she saw Jesse's whole extended family in the cosy New York house.
"Hi sweetheart, I'm Beth", his grandmother said warmly. "It's so nice to meet you".
"It's nice to meet you all", Beca said, moving a little closer to Jesse before Caroline threw her arms around her again.
"Mum, we're going to take our bags upstairs", Jesse told his mother.
"Beca, where are you staying?" Mikaela asked curiously, and Beca froze.
"Um…"
"My room", Jesse filled in for her.
"Is it true you don't like movies?" Mikaela asked.
"Mikaela!"
"Jesse!" Beca turned to him, aghast.
"What?" he defended. "They asked!"
"No, we didn't", Barry objected. "We asked how college was".
"Jesse came out with 'I'm in love with a girl who doesn't like movies'", Caroline finished.
Beca shook her head, unable to wipe away the smile that had crept onto her face. "I can't believe you!" she almost chuckled.
"Come on, I'll show you around", Jesse said, taking her bag from the floor. She followed him out of the room, but not before she heard Beth's comment.
"She's good for him; I've never seen a smile that big on his face".
"Told you they'd love you", Jesse said smugly, as they climbed the stairs. "And my mother probably didn't even notice your earspike", he said as an afterthought, and she punched his shoulder. "Hey!"
She didn't know how, but she just seemed to fit in with the Swanson family. They joined her ribbing of Jesse (Mikaela laughing gleefully and declaring her the sister that she never had), and even made a few short jokes directed at her (she had frowned indignantly as Jesse howled with laughter, but she had grinned at his parents).
And that night, as they sat down comfortably in the living room, cradling mugs of hot chocolate, two bowls of popcorn circulating the room (like a freaking film); Caroline put on the first of what Beca assumed would be many Christmas movies.
"Its tradition, Becs", Jesse had explained, as she looked surprised. "As if we're going to go through the holiday season without watching Love Actually!"
Jesse's love of movies was hereditary, and it was confirmed as Beca saw the rows and rows and rows of DVDs lining the walls.
But it wasn't bad. It was comforting, as they sat around and watched the movie (and, just like Jesse claimed she did every year, Mikaela declared that her life wouldn't be satisfactory until someone chased her through the airport).
"They love you, you know?" Jesse said conversationally, as Beca slipped under the blankets, later that night. She grinned, shifting over so her head was resting on his chest.
"I like them too".
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, sighing contently.
Not only did they wake to the smell of pancakes floating up the stairs, they were greeted by gingerbread.
"I'm decorating them!"
And Jesse was out of the bed and down the stairs before Beca could register what had just happened.
"My God", she chuckled quietly, as she ferretted in her suitcase for something to wear (because as comfortable as they made her feel, she was not going downstairs wearing what she wore to sleep). Changing into her usual skinny jeans and jacket, she braided her hair loosely and wound it into a bun, before doing her usual eye makeup.
"Morning Beca", Barry greeted cheerfully, where he was sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. Mikaela and Jesse were sitting at the table with stacks of pancakes in front of them; both tousle haired and wearing matching grins.
"Good morning Beca sweetheart!" Caroline presented her with her own plate of pancakes, and Beca slipped into a chair.
"Thank you. Good morning".
"Did you sleep okay?"
"I did, thank you". She nodded, and Jesse passed her the syrup.
"Hey Mum", Jesse said casually, "Can I borrow the car tomorrow?"
"Sure, do you have any plans?"
"Beca and I were going to go to the mall".
"Last minute Christmas shop, nice one", Mikaela snorted.
"You've just cost yourself a gift".
She pouted. "Jess!"
"They're here!"
"Who's here?" Beca turned to Jesse (who was decorating gingerbread at the kitchen table).
"MA!" he hollered instead. "The cousins are here!"
"What?"
"Didn't I tell you they were coming too?" he said in surprise. "Well, my cousins are coming. My Aunt Anna and Uncle Ben, and cousins. Jace is ten; Austin is almost seven- Mikaela? How old is Brielle?"
"Three!" and the teenager appeared in the doorway, clutching a little girl with pigtails in her arms.
"Jesse!" she giggled, holding her arms out for her cousin.
(As a general rule, Beca steered clear of kids. it wasn't that she didn't like them, it was that she really didn't know how to act around them.)
"Hey there kiddo!" Jesse held his arms out, swinging her into the air. "Hey!
"Hi!" Brielle said brightly, grinning at Beca.
"Becs, this is Brielle. Bri, this is Beca, my girlfriend".
"Jesse loves you", Brielle pronounced, and Beca grinned.
"Yes, thank you Bri, Beca knows that". Jesse chuckled, bouncing her slightly.
"Grandma!"
"Grandpa!"
The cheers that followed Henry and Beth's appearance made Beca grin, as she shyly lingered in the doorway. They exclaimed over how much Jace, Austin and Brielle had grown (because they saw Jesse and Mikaela far more often, living in the same town), hugging and peppering their grandchildren with kisses.
"And where's that beautiful girlfriend of yours?" Beth questioned Jesse.
"Beca". Jesse pointed over Austin's head, and Beca gave a shy grin.
"Don't be so quiet, honey", Beth chastised, putting an arm around her and squeezing her shoulders tight. "You're part of the family now, Beca, and I'm sure you've seen that they're not quiet people".
Beca chuckled. "I love it", she said honestly.
As soon as the car Jesse's aunt and uncle had arrived in was unpacked, they gathered in the living room to put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree and hang up their stockings (Jesse presented Beca with her own embroidered stocking and she was speechless).
"Do you have any family Christmas traditions, Beca?" Anna questioned curiously, as she lifted Brielle up to hang her stocking.
Beca shook her head. "No, not really. It was just my parents and me, and after their divorce, my mother and I would spend Christmas with my grandparents. That was it, really".
"Don't worry, you'll learn quick", Austin said kindly.
"Thanks buddy". She smiled at him and Austin beamed.
That afternoon, they actually put together a gingerbread house. Beca hadn't put together a gingerbread house since the Christmas she was six, when her grandmother helped her piece together the pre-made kit (and in the end they had given up on the house and eaten the candy and gingerbread and frosting with a spoon).
"Very nice!" Beth declared, and Anna bustled in with a camera. Beca stood up, but Jesse snaked his arm around her waist, tugging her back.
"You're being in the photo, Mitchell", he warned her, and she blushed, smiling for the camera.
"You've got yourself a fan!" Anna laughed, as Brielle scrambled up to sit beside her new friend. Beca grinned sheepishly, helping the little girl onto the couch.
"Me an' Beca are friends", Brielle pronounced.
"Yeah, we are". Beca nodded, and Brielle gave her a heart melting grin.
"What are we watching tonight?" Austin questioned. "I don't remember".
"The Grinch", Barry reminded the little boy, and Jesse wrapped his arm around Beca's waist.
"Both the original cartoon from the sixties and the film from the nineties", he informed her.
But once the kids were tucked into bed (the three of them were bunking with Mikaela, although Brielle had protested very vocally that she preferred to sleep in Jesse's room with her new friend Beca), Christmas with the Kranks was slot into the DVD player and more popcorn was popped.
"We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols".
"We're not coming all the way out here just to get one of those stupid ties with Santa Clauses on it are we?"
"No, I have one of those at home".
(Good God, the whole Swanson family could quote movies. Beca was totally out of her depth there.)
On Christmas Eve, Beca and Jesse woke up to impatient knocking on the door.
"Jess-see!" Brielle called cheerfully. "Bec-ca!"
(The little girl's sing-song voice could put Chloe Beale to shame.)
"Coming!" Jesse croaked.
Beca didn't know what to expect on Christmas Eve with the Swanson family. She watched as Jace, Austin and Mikaela lay underneath the tree with the presents, commenting on whose was whose and trying to guess what was inside. Brielle glued herself to Beca's side, as Beca pottered around the kitchen with Jesse.
By lunchtime, five batches of Christmas cookies had been made and decorated, a jug full of eggnog sat in the fridge, the turkey had been prepared for the next day, and the kids were antsy.
(It was then that the carols started.)
"You better watch out,you better not crybetter not pout,I'm telling you why!Santa Claus is coming to town", Jesse sang cheerfully, twirling Mikaela around and making her chuckle. "Come on, Becs, you too!"
She shook her head.
"Beca", Jace pronounced, "You sing really good! Jesse showed us".
Her eyes grew wide (because she had made those mixes for his ears only, why did he show a ten year old?). "He did?"
"Relax", Jesse chuckled. "Are you gonna sing for them, Becs?"
"Absolutely-"
"Yes!" Mikaela pumped her first into the air.
"Not", she finished.
"But Beca!" Brielle protested. "Puh-lease?"
(So apparently she couldn't say no to a three year old. She had to work on that.)
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas", Beca sang softly, and Jesse twirled her around. "With every Christmas card I write. May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white!"
"Wow you can sing!" Jace said appreciatively.
The afternoon was spent singing carols and playing out in the light dusting of snow (Beca was praying for a white Christmas), before they were called inside.
"What are we doing tonight?" Brielle questioned, as she climbed into Jesse's lap, pulling her plastic mug of hot chocolate closer to her.
Jesse blew gently on her mug, trying to cool it before the little girl burnt her tongue. "We're watching a few movies, and Uncle Barry is going to read the Christmas story, and then you're going to bed because Santa's coming".
Her eyes shone. "Santa's coming! Beca?"
"Yeah?" Beca swallowed quickly.
"Does Santa know you're here?"
"Of course he does", Jesse answered smoothly. "When Beca and I wrote our letters to Santa, we told him that Beca was staying with us for Christmas. Just so he knew where to deliver her presents".
She nodded. "Good".
"Hurry up!" Jace called impatiently, from where he was leaning against the couch with his brother.
"Is the popcorn almost ready?" Austin questioned, as Caroline brought in three large bowls of popcorn.
"Jess, can you start the movie?" Barry questioned, and Jesse jumped up to grab the DVD player remote.
"Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown", Jesse told Beca, as he took his seat beside her once more. "Christmas Eve with the cousins tradition".
(Beca didn't say anything, because Jesse was likely to dump her ass on the spot, but she had actually never seen it.)
"I've been looking for you, big brother. Will you please write a letter to Santa Claus for me?"
"Well, I don't have much time. I'm supposed to get down to the school auditorium to direct a Christmas play".
"You write it and I'll tell you what I want to say".
"Okay, shoot".
"Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer? How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want".
"Oh brother".
"Please note the size and colour of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?"
"TENS AND TWENTIES? Oh, even my baby sister!"
"All I want is what I... I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share".
Brielle, having given up on her spot with her grandmother, climbed into Beca's lap, resting her head on her chest. Beca, a little surprised at the gesture, wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her from falling, and Brielle fiddled with her wristful of bracelets.
(Maybe she could get used to Christmas with the Swansons.)
After Brielle, Jace and Austin laid out milk and cookies for Santa, read The Night before Christmas and were put into their respective beds, Miracle on 34th Street was slid into the DVD player, and presents were removed from their respective hiding spots.
"Santa's coming", Anna chuckled, as Jesse snatched up a box from under the tree. "Hey, nephew! Paws off!"
"Hey Becs, this is mine!"
"Mum! Tell Jesse not to touch the presents! If I'm not allowed to, he shouldn't be either!" Mikaela squawked.
"Jesse", Caroline scolded gently.
"Does anyone want more popcorn?" Ben questioned, and Jesse and Mikaela pumped their hands into the air.
"You really needed to ask that question", Barry chuckled.
"Dad, the mistletoe!" Jesse said in alarm, running into the dining room.
"What?"
"We always hang the mistletoe up on Christmas Eve!"
"Mikaela, go and get the mistletoe".
Once Mikaela returned with the mistletoe, she handed it to Beca, making Jesse chuckle.
"She can't hang it up", he said in explanation.
"What?" Beca bristled. "Why not?"
"Jesse!" Caroline said, aghast.
"You're shorter than Beyonce's hair", he chuckled, and she frowned.
"That's not nice. That's not a nice thing to say".
"Jesse Swanson", Barry called to his son.
"Don't worry Becs, I'll lift you up".
She let out a shriek of protest as his arms snaked around her waist, lifting her off the ground.
(It was at that moment that Caroline pulled out the camera once more, capturing the wide eyed grins on their faces.)
Beca was awoken on Christmas Day by shrieks of excitement, well before the sun was even up. She groaned a little, shifting under the blankets and keeping her eyes firmly shut.
"Merry Christmas weirdo", Jesse said softly, and her eyes snapped open. "Better get up, Becs, I don't think they'll be able to hold it much longer". He pressed a kiss to her lips and she fought a grin.
"It's too early", she informed him, squeezing her eyes shut again.
"If you don't get up they'll come and get you", Jesse warned (knowing that it wasn't an empty threat. He hadn't forgotten the Christmas before, where Austin, fighting a cold, had slept past their usual dawn wakeup and Jace had jumped on his bed and made the younger boy scream).
"Come on, Becs, time for presents!" Jesse urged, as she rifled through her suitcase.
"I'm not dressed yet-"
"Doesn't matter". He shook his head, plucking her Santa hat off his desk chair. "Here, this is all you need".
"But Jess-"
"Bec, they're family". Jesse shrugged, taking her hand and hauling her towards the door.
(She didn't think his Treble hoodie and tatty yoga pants were acceptable, but if he insisted.)
"Merry Christmas!" Jesse hollered.
"Hurry up!" Mikaela bellowed from the bottom of the stairs. "I'm not allowed to open my presents without you two!"
"Me either!" Jace agreed.
Chuckling, the two of them made their way downstairs.
"Merry Christmas!" Jesse greeted, and Brielle went flying towards Beca.
"Merry Christmas!" she announced, throwing her arms around the older girl. Beca, a little surprised, hugged her back.
"Merry Christmas! Did Santa come?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright, youngest first!" Barry announced, holding up a git wrapped with purple penguins. "For Brielle, from Santa!"
"Yay!" and Brielle let go of Beca (allowing Jesse to pull her down onto the carpet), running back towards her uncle.
The morning was full of shouts of excitement and glee, as they unwrapped their presents from Santa and then exchanged presents from family. Jesse received a stack of new DVDs ("Becs, we are so continuing your movication when we get back to Barden", he told her excitedly, and Beca bit back the retort that was on the tip of her tongue) and a bunch of new shirts that he knew he'd lose to Beca before the year was up (because the girl didn't wear her own clothes, it seemed).
But what surprised Beca was when Caroline called her name.
"Beca, sweetie, this is for you".
"You got me a present?" Beca's eyes widened in shock, as Caroline presented her with something wrapped in red and green.
"Of course we did!" Caroline said, sounding surprised that Beca didn't think they would. "You're part of the family now, Beca!"
"Thank you!" she accepted it from them, gingerly peeling away the paper (Jesse rolling his eyes, because he had seen her tear into wrapping paper). Inside the little jewellery box was a set of silver earrings, shaped like treble clefs. Beca burst into laughter as Jesse grinned cheesily at her. "Thank you, thank you so much!"
Immediately she removed the first set of earrings from her ears, replacing them with the silver trebles.
"You're mine", Jesse whispered in her ear and she flushed pink.
"Your earrings are so cool", Mikaela said with a grin. "Hey Mum, can I get as many piercings as Beca?"
"There's only room for one earspike in this family, Mikki". Jesse grinned and Mikaela pouted at her childhood nickname.
Later that morning, once all the gifts had been unwrapped, Jesse and Beca escaped upstairs to get dressed. Jesse changed his sweatpants for jeans and one of his new shirts, while Beca swapped her tatty yoga pants and Jesse's Treble hoodie ("Becs, am I ever gonna get that back?" "Not a chance") for jeans and a red flannel shirt over a black singlet.
"Hey, you never opened your gift", Beca said suddenly, rummaging in her suitcase.
"You never opened yours, either", he reminded her, pulling something wrapped in red and green out of his desk drawer.
"Open yours first", he said confidently, grinning ear to ear and knowing that she would love it.
Inside the jewellery box was a bracelet, with music notes, a treble clef and a pair of headphones adorning the silver chain. Her eyes widened, glistening, and her grin grew.
"Wow", she breathed. "Thank you, Jess".
He didn't even care about his present. All that he cared about was the look on her face. The look on his Beca's face. He took it from her, gently doing the clasp up around her wrist. Her eyes shone, and she grinned wordlessly at him. Taking his hand, she led him into the hallway.
"Merry Christmas Becs", Jesse said, glancing above them and seeing the mistletoe.
"Merry Christmas Jesse". She wrapped her arms around his neck and their lips met in the middle.
(They didn't find out until much, much later, but Caroline snapped a photo, a grin stretched across her face.)