It was 10:02 am, Jesse had ran the distance from the subway station to the restaurant he was meeting Beca and her mother at. He would have gotten there earlier, like he had planned, if he didn't have to walk back to his apartment to get the music sheets he forgot.

Jesse took a moment to compose himself before stepping inside the restaurant. Sucking in a breath, he pushed the door open and walked in. He scanned the place and spotted Beca: She had her elbow on the table, cheek against her palm, and was scrolling down her cell. Her mother was sitting next to her, leaning against her seat, and typing on her phone.

Jesse made his way to them, wiping the sweat from his brow when he reached them. "Morning," he greeted, placing the folder he had in hand and phone on the table. He extended his hand towards Beca's mother who had put her phone down.

"How are you doing, ma'am?" he asked, shaking her hand.

"I'm doing well."

"Were you running?" Beca frowned, noticing how he was panting. She got on her feet and briefly hugged him.

"Yeah," he nodded, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Ugh, you're all sweaty," she grimaced, pulling away.

"I didn't want to be late," he explained, taking a seat, facing them.

"What's that?" Beca nodded at the folder.

"Some pieces I wrote few months ago," he answered curtly. "You guys ordered yet?" he asked, looking between them.

"No," Beca said, reaching for the folder.

"We were waiting for you," Ms. Ward leaned in to check the sheet Beca had pulled out of the folder.

"What's this for?" Beca asked as she read the musical notes.

"Eh, it's nothing," he shrugged. "Some college kids are making a short movie and asked me if I could score it. I'm showing them some of the stuff I made," he added when Beca looked up, waiting for elaboration. He reached for the glass of water that was in front of Beca and drank from it.

"I've seen the short and these pieces seem to go well with it, in my opinion," he watched Beca hum the notes and smiled to himself when he noticed the way she was drumming her fingers on the table.

"If these don't work, I'll either write something new or look through the pieces I have."

"This sounds sad," Ms. Ward noted once her daughter finished humming the piece.

"It's depressing," Beca placed the sheet back in the folder and pushed it Jesse's way. "I like it. It's really good," she held his gaze.

"Thank you," he smiled at her then looked at her mother. "I'm sorry about last night, ma'am," he apologized. She nodded at his apology.

Not a good sign— Jesse tsked, reaching for the menu.

"You went to film school, right?" he heard her ask after a few awkward seconds of silence.

"Yes," he nodded. "I got a scholarship: I majored in composing."

"Minored in anything?"

"Film-making," he replied. "I was a part of some projects but they were all school related, nothing worth mentioning," he added as he put the menu down.

"Jesse scored a feature length movie. It came out earlier this year, I think."

"Yeah,"he affirmed. "Bec got me that job," he told Ms. Ward.

"I didn't get you the job," Beca rolled her eyes. "I just told you about it."

"You got me to go when I had given up on making a living outta composing."

"That's not—"

"—Beca, the way you looked at me when you told me about the gig got me to go," he smiled at her. "You were really excited about it and I felt like I would disappoint you if I didn't at least try," Jesse reached under the table for Beca's hand. He touched her knee and felt her take his hand, squeezing it as she smiled at him.

"How are you going to balance between your relationship with my daughter the one with your ex-wife?—you're going to be more involved in her life since you're expecting your second child with her."

Jesse cleared his throat, suddenly feeling like the collar of his t-shirt was too tight. The question was out of the blue but was clear yet he didn't know how to answer her.

"Honestly, I don't know," he answered, feeling Beca rub her thumb against his knuckles. Her mother didn't like him. He saw it the moment she looked at him when he joined them. He had wanted to make a good impression but he realized, as he tried to think of a better answer, that that ship had sailed when he met her the night before.

"I want to say that I will not mess up and keep everything under control but I can't because then I'd be lying to myself and to you. I'm trying. I really am. I'm trying to do a good job as a parent to both Samantha and the new baby and also treat Bec the way she deserves. I love Sam and the baby, they're my kids. And, I also love your daughter very much. I'm not going to promise that I won't let spending time with Sandra for the sake of our kids, in any way, affect what I have with Beca. I'm not perfect. I can't make promises that I know that I might not keep. But I can and am promising you that I will try my best not let my relationship with Sandra affect Beca."

Jesse was amazed by how neutral the expression on Ms. Ward face was. Beca could pull it off really well but not as well as her mother. He remembered that she worked as an a lawyer so it made sense she could keep a neutral expression. He tsked then glanced at Beca who was watching her mother.

Beca arched an eyebrow,tilting her head to look at Jesse, and shrugged when he held her gaze and slightly shook his head silently asking for her help.

Ms. Ward sighed then reached for the menu. "What are you ordering?" she asked no one in particular as she gestured for the waiter to come. "I think I'm having scrambled eggs."

"I'll have scrambled eggs, too," Beca shrugged then nodded at Jesse.

"Um, French toast," he said. He was still hungover and was slightly nauseous.

"How old is Samantha?" Ms. Ward asked when the waiter placed their order.

"A year and 7 months," Jesse answered. "Well, she's gonna turn a year and 7 months next week."

"She should be making two-word sentences by now."

"Yep. Along with gibberish that doesn't make sense but sounds like it should. Does that make any sense?"

"It does," she nodded. "I remember how Beca would get really angry when no one understands her and just storms off, hiding in really clever spots for a toddler," she smiled at a memory.

"Like where?" Jesse asked, intrigued.

"She once hid in her dad's car. Um, another time, she hid in the basement," she titled her head to look at Beca. "Your dad and I would spend hours looking for you."

"Hide and seek champ over here," Beca pointed at herself.

"Well, Sam doesn't get pissy when I don't get what she's saying, thankfully."

"You lucked out."

"Okay, I'm offended," Beca said to her mother.

"Beca, you were a pain in the ass. You were a really cute kid but a serious pain in the ass."

Jesse snorted, watching Beca's facial expression at her mother's use of the adjective cute.

"So, Beca has always been angry at the world?" he let out a small laugh when Ms. Ward nodded. "Beca, you're like that grumpy angry Smurf, um," he paused, trying to recall its name, "Grouchy Smurf: Angry and tiny—Ow!" he exclaimed, pulling leg back when Beca kicked him in the shin.

"Beca!" her mother called. Beca shrugged, looking at her scrambled eggs.

Jesse rubbed his shin then picked up his phone when it chimed with a text. "Excuse me for a second," he sighed, unlocking the screen. "It's Sandra," he told them.

'I couldn't find a flight on Tuesday.'

Jesse rubbed his forehead reading her text.

"Is everything all right?"Beca asked.

"Yeah, yeah. It's just that Sandra is going to spend the 4th of July with her folks in L.A. She's taking Sam with her. The thing is that we talked about her booking a flight on Tuesday so that I'd get to have Sam over for a day, at least, next week. She couldn't find any flights on Tuesday," he told them as he typed back his reply.

'Book whatever works for you.'

"I was looking forward to seeing her. We were going to the zoo," he said, placing his cell on the table. "I'll take her when I have her over, I guess," he shrugged.

"How did you split the week?"

"Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with me the rest will Sandra."

"You're going to have to cut to lesser days when she's older. It'll mess her up to keep on going back and forth between the two of you."

"Yeah, we talked about it. This is just because Sammy is really young and deserves to spend time with the both of us. When she grows older I guess she'll permanently stay with her mom and pays me a visit like twice a month or something," he shrugged.

"Or the other way around. You should let her pick," Beca jumped in.

"You stayed with your mom, right?"

"Yeah, until I was, like, 16," she shrugged. "You moved here around that time, right?" Beca asked her mother who nodded in response.

Jesse frowned, watching them and waiting for elaboration.

"Beca decided to go live with her dad because she didn't like New York and staying with her grandparents in Pittsburgh was a no-no," Ms. Ward said, noting Jesse's curiosity.

"Yeah, well, I didn't know anyone in New York. You'd get paranoid when I leave the house, scared I'd do whatever stupid teenagers do because I was 'disturbingly quiet for my age'," Beca rolled her eyes using air-quotation."Nana and Pops are fine when I see them on holidays but if I stayed with them I would have gain like 100 pounds. At least, dad and step-monster wouldn't overfeed me. And, I'd actually see them, have conversations with them, even if it's weird small talk with Sheila about boys and school or dad trying to make awful jokes," she cringed thinking about one of the times where she and Sheila talked about boys."Not read notes that I'd find on the fridge because you practically lived at the firm."

"I'm sorry I worked too much," Ms. Ward apologize, going through a quick guilt trip.

"It's fine," Beca shrugged."What?" she arched an eyebrow when she looked at Jesse to find him grinning at her. "Nothing, I was just imagining how you were like when you were a teenager," he shrugged.

"Darker makeup. A wardrobe that consists of plaids, skinny jeans and combat boots. Always on her laptop remixing songs," Ms. Ward told him.

Jesse chuckled to himself, watching Beca roll her eyes. He was still nervous but somehow was starting to relax a little. Beca's mother didn't show any sign that she was a fan of his but he figured out what she was doing— at least, he thought he did: she was trying to get to know him… maybe, give him a shot to show her who he is? See who he is through talking about what they had in common which was having a daughter?

Beca told him that her mother was excellent at her job. She had a knack for seeing through people. He hoped she could see that he was head over heels for her daughter and was serious about treating her rightfully.

"Wanna see my daughter?" Jesse asked.

"Sure," she shrugged.

Jesse picked his phone, unlocking it before he tapped on his gallery.

"She's a precious little thing," Ms. Ward softened her expression, commenting on the photo on Jesse's phone when he placed it in front of her.

"Thank you," he thanked her, feeling a sense of accomplishment because he had finally gotten her to show an emotion.

"That went well, right?" Jesse asked as he and Beca stood few feet away from her mother, who was talking on the phone, while they waited at a subway station.

"She went full on lawyer on you back there. There's no way to be sure, but I think you're good," she shrugged.

"You do?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Your mom is really intimidating."

"I know," she sighed. "It's weird when she gets like that," she blew a breath.

"You know what's weirder?"

"What?"

"The fact that your parents are super smart people with, like, real jobs and you picked making music as a career."

"Are you saying that I'm stupid for not picking a 'real job' like my parents?" she narrowed her eyes at him.

"What? No!" he shook his head. "It's just weird that they didn't influence your career choice."

"They tried but let's just say I'm too stubborn for my own good. And, I did stay in college and got a degree—a degree that I never used but it made them happy," she looked behind him, hearing a subway coming. "That's you," she nodded at it.

"What are you gonna do today?" he asked, glancing at the subway.

"I'm gonna try and convince mom to stay in my air-conditioned apartment. And, if it doesn't work, we'll probably go get a mani-pedi, or something," she shrugged.

"Well, have fun," he leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek. She frowned at the gesture and he nodded at her mother who was still on the phone not so far from them.

"Holy shit, you're really scared of mom!" she laughed. "My very confident boyfriend is frightened of my mother," she cupped his face, initiating a long passionate kiss that she knew Jesse would have love any other day. Pulling away, she grinned at the blush on his cheeks. "I never thought I'd live to see you blush, like, ever," Beca said in amusement.

"I love you. Bye," he placed a kiss on her forehead then paced to the subway.

"You too, nerd!" Beca said in a loud voice.

"Is he blushing?" her mother's voice came from behind, watching Jesse glance at Beca before getting inside the subway.

Beca nodded then turned on her heels. "Jesse is really intimidated by you."

"I knew making me go with you to drop him off wasn't as innocent of a gesture as you made it out to be," she chuckled, shaking her head.

"Jesse is usually really confident, it gets annoying sometimes," she stuffed her hands in her pockets. "It's pretty hot today," she remarked as they waked up the stairs.

"It is."

"Can we go back to my apartment and eat ice-cream while we both work in silence?" she asked, eyeing her mother. "Think of all the unread e-mails you need to answer," Beca added when she shook her head.

"Beca, you're walking in my steps of workaholism and you need to put a stop to it before it's too late," she sighed tilting her head. "We're spending quality time then we're having a serious talk about your relationship with Jesse."

"Can we skip the quality time and get it over with," Beca stopped walking. "You don't like him. It's fine. I honestly don't care that much. It would have been better if you did tolerate him because that way I wouldn't have to listen to whatever lecture you have for me."

"No," her mother answered curtly and continued to walk.

Beca groaned following her. "I haven't seen you in like a year. I'd like it very much if you would just tell me what you want—"

"Beca, you will get defensive and walk away after we talk. I know you. Stop acting like a child. It was cute when you were an actual child."

"I won't get defensive."

"Fine," her mother gave in. "Let's go back to your apartment. At least, that way you won't have anywhere to run away to," she murmured the last part.

"You wanna hear what I have to say about your boyfriend?" Ms. Ward rhetorically asked as she closed the door behind them.

"Bring it on," Beca placed her bag on the couch.

"He is a serious mess and will probably have nervous breakdown, I'm guessing, around the time you leave him."

"What?" Beca frowned. She had expected a lecture on how unhealthy it is to have a relationship with Jesse given the circumstances.

"Beca, why do you always do this?" her mother asked in a very even voice.

"Why do I always do what?"

"You always get involved with men that you eventually fall in love with only to run away from them. It's like you have this mark you hit then you call it quits. You did it with that boy you dated through college. You did it with Crispin. And, now you're going to do it with Jesse."

"Hey, Crispin was going to ask me to marry him. I didn't run away from him. He wanted something that he knew I didn't want to do."

"But, you knew he'd ask you. C'mon, Beca, you don't stay with a man for 3 years and not expect him to ask you to marry him."

"What does this have to do with Jesse?" Beca asked after a beat.

"You're dragging a man who is splitting his time between you, his daughter, unborn child, and ex-wife, while also trying to get you to stay."

"You're trying to make me feel guilty? Is that it?" she asked and watched her mother shake her head. "Well, yeah, it'll suck when I leave him then starts to suck less until it stops—that if we do make it through the year together."

"How did it work for you the last time you bailed? I'm pretty sure it took you like a year to get over Cris."

"Okay, I'm done talking about this," Beca picked her bag and started to make her way out.

"This is exactly why I wanted to postpone this talk. You don't want to face your issues so you just take off. Reminds you of someone?"

"I'm not dad," Beca shook her head at her mother's implication.

"Your dad gave up on us when he got the position in Barden."

"No. He gave up on us because you were too busy working to notice how he was drifting away—This is pointless. I'm done. If you'd like, we can go have quality time."

"We can go out," she sighed. "But you really need to reconsider your actions, sweetheart, and think about what's good for you because job opportunities come and go but you can only mess up so many times in your love life. You might not realize it know but it'll hit you like a ton of bricks when you're older," she reached for the door and unlocked it. "Trust me, I know," she said over her shoulders.

AN: Thanks for reading, people of the internet. Your feedback makes my day. I hope you enjoy this. I'd like to hear your thought, criticism, suggestions.

It just hit me that in my last note I mentioned that I'm going to shake things up. Welp, although this chapter's ending does count as shaking things up, it's not what I had in mind. And, it wouldn't add up if include it in this chapter. Um, next chapter will have what I had originally planned to write and forgot.

Stay awesome. Peace out!