A/N: Geez. I know this has been forever. I'm sorry. It seems like I just got...distracted. But I'm back and I plan to keep it updated regularly for the rest of the story. As always, thank you for reading!

Chloe and Sam were sitting in a comfortable silence. Slowly planting, and weeding, and fertilizing the garden plot in the backyard. Sam wasn't really thinking about anything, and she was enjoying that. She welcomed any respite from her constant thoughts. Chloe, on the other hand, was thinking about Sam. And Beca. But mainly Sam. She seemed to be handling her mother's sudden leave well. Was she used to this? Why did she seem to be used to this treatment at only eleven? Who took care of her? She was definitely too young to be taking care of herself. Chloe's parents were some of the most important people in her life. What would she have done if her mom just left her like Beca had done?

"Is Jesse your dad?"

"No."

Chloe smiled to herself. This was going to be harder than she thought.

"What does your mom do for a living?"

"She's a music producer."

"Woah! That's a really cool job!"

"Yeah I guess."

"What do you want to be when you get older?"

Sam leveled Chloe with a stare. "Whatever I want to be."

Chloe had to fight to hold back a burst of laughter. Who was this girl? An enigma wrapped in a mystery.

"Well that's a fair answer. Do you have any options?"

"I dunno. Maybe a psychologist. Maybe a social worker."

"Hey! I'm a psychologist!"

Sam looked up with a slight smile on her face. How could Chloe get so excited over a small thing? Who was this woman?

"I'm really glad that you want to be one. I love my job. I couldn't let you sit in for a session, but I could definitely show you around the office. Introduce you to some people. I know you're only eleven, but it's never too early to meet people. Would you like that? I could talk to your mom about it."

Sam had only stared at her the whole time she was talking. Her slight smile growing bigger by the word. Who WAS this woman?

"But you know. Only if you want to. You don't have to. I thought-"

"I would love to. Really."

"Yeah? Ok!"

"You know I'm only eleven right? Why are you so excited?"

"You don't act very eleven."

"Jesse tells me I'm eleven going on forty about every day."

Chloe laughed. "Yeah that sounds about right."

They both sat in silence for a while. Each thinking their own thoughts. Each getting lost in their thoughts that weren't really thoughts. Just wanderings.

"I turn twelve in a week."

"Wow! That's so exciting. You're having a party right? How many people are going to be there?"

"I'm not really having a party. I don't think anyone even realizes that it is my birthday except for Jesse. He has a son, but he's three years younger than me. My only friend from school already went to her mom's house in Kentucky. I don't really have anyone else to invite."

"Well I'm your friend, and I'm sure your mom has something planned. It's probably just a surprise."

"No she doesn't."

They fell back into their silence, but this time Chloe's toughts was worried. Worried about Sam. But also worried about Beca. About a woman she only knew through her daughter. A daughter that knew too many things for an almost twelve year old.

"Why don't you call your mom 'mom'?"

Sam stared at Chloe for a long time. "That is a very personal question."

"Just thought I would ask. You really don't have to tell me. My feelings won't be hurt."

Sam was still for a long time. She didn't look up. She wasn't doing anything. Just when Chloe was starting to get worried Sam spoke.

"Well she hasn't really been my mom for a long time."

Now they were both still. Chloe barely knew how to take this. She heard stories like this almost every day, but that didn't make this any easier. It never made any of it any easier. But Chloe knew that she was about to get involved. It was one of the unfortunate side effects of her caring personality. She knew she shouldn't. This was none of her business, but it was too late. Way too late. She was already invested in Sam. She already cared too much.

Sam had grown more and more anxious as the silence stretched on. Chloe, lost in her own thoughts, didn't notice.

"I'm going to finish reading. Maybe see you later?"

Chloe's head snapped up. "I'm supposed to be watching you. I know you're almost forty," a slight smile from Sam. Slight smiles seemed to be Sam's speciality,"but I would feel more comfortable if you stayed over here."

"Oh...right. Well can I least go get my book?"

Chloe smiled. "Of course. Hurry back. I like your company."

That was when Chloe saw Sam's first real smile of the day. A bright 100 watt smile. Chloe smiled back automatically.

"Yeah I will."

Chloe sat back and sighed. Watching Sam run away Chloe couldn't help but look forward to getting to know the kid better. She might be too caring and too involved, but she could honestly say she cared about Sam. Even if she had only known her for a day. One thing was for sure, this was going to be an interesting summer.