Chapter 7
Beca was leaning against Aubrey's headboard holding the blonde woman in her arms. She had her hands locked at Aubrey's waist. While Aubrey had thrown a leg over her, and buried her face in the smaller girl's neck. Beca was staring up at the ceiling while Aubrey slept. She had been so scared that afternoon at the bank. She was so close to losing Aubrey before she even got to know her. She couldn't sleep at all. She was practically vibrating with rage, and fear. She didn't know what to do with all the emotions that were building up, because of the woman in her arms. She checked to make sure Aubrey was asleep, then slowly slid out from under her. She pulled a long-sleeved t-shirt on over her tank top. She kissed Aubrey's bare shoulder lightly.
She made her way down the stairs to the kitchen where she saw some coffee still in the coffee pot. She heard Frank, and Jim talking outside on the front porch. She walked out to join them. She found them sitting on the front porch stairs with shotguns leaning against each rail beside them.
"Beca. Couldn't sleep?" Frank asked her with a kind smile.
"No. I tried. Mind if I join you guys?" Beca asked timidly.
"Sure." Jim slid over to make room for her between them.
"Are you any good with a gun?" Frank asked her curiously.
"Um… Well. I mean…. My dad used to take me to the gun range when he split up with my mom." Beca shrugged.
"I have a few farm hands patrolling the perimeter. They offered to stay late for a little extra cash." Frank informed her. Jim offered her a cigarette. She declined it with a grimace. Jim let out a laugh.
"Aubrey?" Jim rose an eyebrow.
"She read me the riot act last time." Beca laughed.
Frank pulled the holstered handgun from his hip, and handed it to Beca.
"Cool, but I'm pretty sure you are supposed to threatening me with one of these." Beca smiled.
"Once you stand between my little girl, and a gun. The shovel talk becomes un-needed." Frank explained.
"You really love her. Don't you?" Jim asked her with a smirk.
"How could I not?" Beca smiled.
"Great answer." Frank laughed.
"I never disliked her. Despite what she may have thought my perception of her was before all of this. I was not in an emotionally stable place when we met. Chloe wormed her way through the walls first, and forced Aubrey to spend time with me later. I made a mistake, and ran to someone else when I got scared. If things hadn't happened that way though, and I had gone to Aubrey. I think. No. I know. I know I would have screwed things up, and hurt her. I'm glad we happened when we did." Beca admitted.
"It seems like you have yourself put together pretty well now." Frank told her with a smile.
"Aubrey motivated me to be better. Chloe, and Stacie helped me figure out how to be." Beca shrugged.
"Yep. You guys are getting married." Jim laughed.
"We haven't even gotten to go on a real date yet. I think it's too soon to call a marriage." Beca rolled her eyes.
"Well. We can help you with that." Frank promised.
"You want to help me date your daughter?" Beca laughed at him disbelievingly.
"We'll come up with something." Jim promised.
"Beca? Are you okay?" Aubrey asked from the doorway. Beca turned to see Aubrey standing on the porch with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Beca slid the gun Frank had handed back over to him.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep. I thought I'd stay up with your dad, and brother for a bit. Are you okay?" Beca stood up to walk over to Aubrey. She ran her hands over Aubrey's arms.
"Yeah. You weren't there when I woke up. I got worried. Dad. Did you give her a gun?" Aubrey admitted. Then shot a glare at her father.
"She knows how to use one." Frank shrugged.
"You do?" Aubrey looked at Beca with surprise.
"Yeah. My dad taught me after he split with my mom." Beca explained.
"Any sign of trouble?" Aubrey asked them tiredly.
"Not so far babe. Do you want to go back to bed?" Beca ran a thumb over Aubrey's elbow.
"Only if you go with me." Aubrey yawned.
"Alright. Come on. See you guys in a bit?" Beca offered as she led Aubrey into the house. Jim smiled while he watched them disappear into the house.
She curled around Aubrey on the bed for a second time that evening. Wrapping her arms firmly around Aubrey's waist while she held her from behind. Aubrey entwined their fingers on one hand, and held Beca's hand close to her chest.
"You didn't smoke?" Aubrey whispered.
"No. I didn't." Beca laughed kissing her shoulder again.
"I never would have imagined you as someone who likes to cuddle, but can shoot a gun." Aubrey giggled.
"There are a lot of things that I am doing with you that I would never do with anyone else." Beca admitted nuzzling her face into the back of Aubrey's neck. Aubrey turned in her arms running the fingertips of her free hand along Beca's forearm.
"You never did anything like this with Jesse?" Aubrey asked curiously.
"I was always terrified that situations like this with him would lead to some type of sexual moment. Which I was one hundred percent not ready for. Not understanding back then that I wasn't interested in men that way. With you. The thought isn't so terrifying." Beca explained brushing some hair behind Aubrey's ear.
"I scare you?" Aubrey whispered with a worried look.
"In a good way." Beca corrected leaning in to kiss her deeply. Beca squeezed Aubrey's hip. Pulling back far enough to lean their foreheads together while they were still laying down.
"You scare me too." Aubrey sighed.
"Jim thinks we are going to get married." Beca chuckled after a few seconds of silence.
"Jim's a romantic." Aubrey smiled.
"I'm not opposed to the idea… Are you?" Beca realized she genuinely wanted to hear the other woman's answer.
"No. I'm not opposed to that idea Beca. I wouldn't have wanted to try this with you if I was, but I do want you to graduate first." Aubrey told her confidently.
"Of course. After I graduate. I don't really have any requirements, but I feel like we should at least go on a date or two first." Beca laughed kissing her again. Aubrey smiled against her lips.
"Do you still want to go to LA?" Aubrey asked her. Curling into Beca's side again.
"Yeah. What are we going to do about that?" Beca realized she hadn't thought about that part yet.
"I can move there when you graduate. It won't be hard for me to find a job." Aubrey suggested.
"Cocky." Beca chuckled.
"Confident. With the leadership training skills, I have gained from the training camp. I won't have any issue landing at least a partnership somewhere." Aubrey explained. Beca ran her fingertips along the skin showing below the hem of Aubrey's tank-top.
"We're really going to do this?" Beca asked her hopefully squeezing Aubrey's hand.
"I'm in if you are in." Aubrey promised.
"I'm all in. We still haven't been on a date yet though, and what if the sex isn't any good?" Beca assured. She tilted Aubrey's head up to seal the deal with a kiss. Aubrey laughed against her lips.
"I don't think the sex is going to be a problem. If it is. I'm sure Chloe, and Stacie will be able to give us some pointers." Aubrey winked at her.
"Gross. Stacie said they are taking things slow too." Beca grimaced then laughed.
"You are the one that started the topic." Aubrey leaned into her side again.
"Your dad seemed okay with it too. We talked a little bit before you came downstairs." Beca held her a little tighter.
"You talked to my dad about marrying me?" Aubrey lifted her head again.
"Jim brought it up. He just happened to be there. He agreed that we should go on a date first, but he didn't seem to have any reservations about us possibly getting married someday." Beca explained.
"You are full of surprises this week Beca Mitchel." Aubrey turned back around, and pulled Beca's arms around her waist.
"This whole week has been a pleasant surprise. I'm glad Chloe made us do this." Beca whispered to her.
"Me too, babe. Try to get some sleep. Okay?" Aubrey entwined their fingers on one hand again. While she laid the other on Beca's arms.