Author's Note: Wow, you guys are amazing. I can't thank you enough for all the encouraging words you've given me with this story. I just, wow. Thank you so much! xoxo
"So tell me again why I have to go to this dinner?" Beca whined as Aubrey paced around in Beca's office.
"Because he remarried and he's your father Becs. You can't avoid the man forever."
"Wanna bet?" Beca scoffed.
"No Beca, I don't want to bet!" Aubrey sighed in frustration and took a seat in front of Beca. "Look, I know that he isn't the best guy in the world. Hell, my own father is better than him but still, you can't just pretend he doesn't exist."
"Why not?! He walked out on me. He decided that college was best for me. He thought that he didn't even need to be there when mom passed away. So tell me, why the fuck should I let him come back and be a father when I don't need him anymore? I get it Bree, I really do. I mean, look at CR, he dad passed away when she was sixteen and she misses him still. The Captain passed away two years ago and he was no better a father than yours but I know Aunt Addie still misses him. I get it, I really do, and I should appreciate him because he's still around. But come on, he left when I was six and he never came back. He disappears and I'm tired of being treated like a side show whenever he decides he wants me in his life."
"Beca…" Aubrey walked around her desk. "Don't think like that. In the end, he missed out on how amazing you really are, with or without all your ear monstrosities, it's just who you are. Anyone would be lucky to call you theirs. I know my dad isn't perfect and that I spent most of my life trying to make him happy but I know that he did it because he cares and he cares about you too."
"No he doesn't, he thinks I'm a rebel without a cause."
"He does but he thinks you're his rebel without a cause. Do you think daddy would have let you live with us if he didn't think you were worth it? It definitely wasn't about the money Becs. He always had a soft spot, for both of us. He wanted us to be happy and great at whatever we choose to do. That's why he still calls for holidays and he still bugs me about keeping an eye on you." Beca gives a breathy laugh and Aubrey smiles because she knows Beca's fighting tears. "Plus, think about this, daddy accepted you when you came out to him and mom. Hell, he even assumed you were into me!"
"He didn't!" Beca replied, shock evident in her voice.
"Why do you think he gave you your own room?" Aubrey challenged.
"Oh man! Papa Posen really thought that huh?" Beca laughed, "So let me ask you something, what's happening between you and Miss Conrad?" Beca teased as a smirk appeared on her face.
"I'll tell you if you admit you're falling for Miss Beale." Bree teased right back, standing her ground.
"Nothing is going on. She's just a…"
"Friend. I know" Bree finished for her. "Look, I don't want to be that person but just be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt. And you should leave soon. Dinner's at eight and its six thirty."
"Do I have too?" Beca groaned and whined.
"Yes, now go. Chloe is probably waiting for you. Call me and let me know how you coming out to your father goes" Aubrey teased as she waved and walked out of Beca's office.
Beca groaned as she started organizing her desk. She decided to check in on the bubbly redhead.
Hello?
"Hey Chlo"
Hey Becs, are you on your way yet?
"Yeah I was actually calling to see if you were almost ready or not?"
Well, I already took a bath and then walked around in my under garments and watched some TV. Then I did my hair and my makeup and I'm still not wearing clothes because I don't know what to wear. So I'm almost ready.
"You're giving me images Beale and urges along with those images."
Well, if you behave we might fulfill some of those urges to some of those images.
"Okay Chlo, I'll be there soon. I'll help you pick out an outfit and then we can go to dinner."
Okay. Hey, Becs?
"Yeah?"
Should I be nervous for tonight?
"Honestly, I don't know Chlo. It's…complicated when it comes to my dad."
Well, I'll do my best either way Becs. I hope I don't disappoint you tonight.
"I don't think you could ever disappoint me Chloe" Beca sighed with a small smile on her face.
You mean that Beca? Like really mean it?
"Yeah, I mean it." Beca sighed, Damnit Beca, you have to stop falling for this girl. It'll only hurt the both of you. "I'm almost home so I'll see you soon okay?"
Okay Becs…Bye.
"Bye" Once Beca hung up; she realized she was sitting in front of her building. She buried her face in her hands and sat in the back of the limo for a bit longer. She couldn't believe what was happening. It just wasn't possible.
"Miss Mitchell?" the driver in the front called out.
"Yeah?" Beca replied still hiding her face.
"Will you be needing me for tonight?"
"No, it's okay. I'll take my personal car for dinner. You can have the rest of the evening off."
"Yes ma'am." He nodded and waited patiently for Beca to regain composure. Five minutes later and she waved her driver off and headed inside.
"Chloe?" Beca asked out loud when she walked into her condo.
"In here!" Came the bubbly redhead's voice from the master bedroom. Chloe was wearing a baby blue dress that flowed out at the waist stopping right above her knees. Her hair was pulled back but slightly on the sides as curls cascaded down her back. Her make-up was done lightly but her eyes shined brighter than ever. "Hey Becs, I thought you said you were almost home when we hung up?" The redhead pouted as she faced the small DJ.
"Uh yeah we bumped into some traffic. It's nothing really."
"Are you okay? You seem a bit out of it?" Chloe asked taking in the lost expression on Beca's face.
"I-I'm fine Chlo" fake smile in place, "promise. I'm going to get ready and then we'll head out okay?"
Chloe didn't seem convinced at all but kept quiet for multiple reasons. The main one, she knew Beca was already dreading this dinner and she was going to keep her calm for as long as possible. "Okay" Chloe replied as she walked over and pulled the brunette into a hug. She felt the brunette's body tense but immediately relax into the redhead's arms. "It'll be okay, I'm here for you okay?" Chloe whispered into Beca's ear as she placed a kiss on the side of her head.
"Now go on, get ready" Chloe encouraged as she gave her a small pat on her ass.
"Hey just because you like it doesn't mean you get to touch it like that" Beca playfully warned as she walked into the bathroom.
"I'll let you do that to me later DJ" Chloe winked and received a smirk in response.
"Oh I'll do a lot more than that"
Ten minutes later, Chloe was found on the couch watching TV waiting for her famous DJ to come out. Beca walked out in tight black skinny jeans, chucks and a navy blue plaid button up.
"Why do I have to wear a dress and you don't?" Chloe pouted feeling all to overdressed.
"Because you're the girl in this relationship babe" Beca teased.
"So you wear the pants but I control the zipper?" Chloe smirked.
"Oh you're funny Beale, real funny"
"I can prove it if you want"
"Later, we're going to be late"
"Fine lets go meet daddy!" Chloe shimmied in front of Beca with a huge grin on her face.
"I feel like I should say make good choices but I don't want too. Let's get my ginger some giggle juice; heaven knows I'll need it!" Beca replied as she walked into the elevator pushing the garage button.
"Garage?" Chloe asked since she was used to going to the lobby.
"Yeah, I'm driving" Beca winked.
"Not a manual right? Because then you mean, I'm driving."
"Damn you are on a roll tonight, aren't you babe?" Chloe giggled at the term of endearment. "No not a manual. No not a jeep either. It's a two seater Mercedes."
"Is it convertible?!" Chloe squealed as they exited the elevator.
"Of course it is but we'll put the top down after dinner. Don't want you looking wild; he'll blame me for corrupting you"
"Oh calm down, he can't be that bad"
"You can tell me what you really think after dinner." Beca opened the passenger door for Chloe and walked around tithe driver seat. "Ready?" Beca asked and received a comforting smile from the redhead.
"Let's get this shit on the road then"
They drove in comfortable silence with the random humming and singing along to the radio. Once they arrived Beca parked her car but stayed put. Chloe had already unbuckled when she noticed Beca wasn't moving.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Chloe asked but Beca didn't answer. "Hey, look at me" Beca turned slightly as she became mesmerized by the redhead's piercing baby blues. "Whatever he has to tell you let him. Let him say whatever he wants because after you leave this place, he won't matter anymore. The only opinion that can change you is your own. So let him talk, yell, argue, whatever. It's just talk and you're so much more than that. Now come on, let my little badass DJ come out and play" Chloe rubbed Beca's bicep and gave it a reassuring squeeze with her megawatt smile.
"You're something else Beale." Beca laughed, "You're actually pretty amazing."
"I know" Chloe winked, "now come on"
Beca shook he read but obliged and walked over to Chloe. She looked into her baby blues once more before placing a lingering kiss on the redhead's cheek. Beca interlaced her fingers with Chloe's and took a deep breath. And just like a solider going to war, she faced the war head on and she wasn't going down without a fight.
"Mitchell for four at 8" Beca told the hostess still having a firm grip on Chloe's hand.
"Yes, your party has arrived follow me" she replied grabbing a couple of menus.
"Here goes nothing" Beca mumbled underneath her breath but Chloe heard her and returned a small squeeze of confidence. They arrived to the table and what Beca saw surprised her to no end. Not only was his father new wife a couple of years older but she looked to be four or five months pregnant.
"Beca" Dr. Mitchell greeted standing up and extending a hand towards Beca.
"Dr. Mitchell" Beca gave him a firm shake. "This is my girlfriend, Chloe Beale. Chloe, this is my father, Dr. Will Mitchell."
"Pleasure to meet you Dr. Mitchell" Chloe greeted in her normal bubbly voice.
"Girl-girlfriend?" Dr. Mitchell stuttered. Beca raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Beca and I have been together for a while now." Chloe chimed in.
"And we're happy together, Dr. Mitchell, is that okay?"
"I-I uh I think it-it's great. Pl-please sit" Dr. Mitchell gestured to the seats in front of him.
"Oh, I'm Beca Mitchell; it's nice to meet you...?" Beca extended her hand to the woman next to her father, who he had completely forgotten she was there.
"Sheila, it's nice to meet you, both of you." She smiled politely at both girls.
"Likewise" Beca replied with a small smile. She felt a hand on her thigh and looked over to Chloe who was giving her a reassuring smile with a "you're doing great" expression. "So how was the wedding? I forgot to bring your wedding gift along but I'll mail it to your house so you don't have to carry it on the plane" Beca directed her comment towards the woman rather than her father who was still processing the fact that Beca wasn't with a man.
"It was small, intimate mostly. I wanted to send at least an invite but your father said you were too busy and wouldn't attend." Sheila said quietly and timidly. Two things that didn't go unnoticed by either of the girls
"Well, I can't say I would have been there but I would have tried."
"Like hell you would have tried." Will scoffed as he took a sip of his whiskey.
"Excuse me?" Beca asked with a bewildered look, "Just because you couldn't make it to my graduations doesn't mean I'm anything like you" Beca shot back. "Actually I am really happy that I never let your opinion affect me and my dreams."
"Because Arthur Posen was a better role model, right?!"
"Actually, he was. He was hard on Aubrey. He was hard on me. But he also accepted that I was gay. He accepted that I wanted to be a DJ. He never made me feel like I wasn't part of his family. He loved me like I was his daughter too. Something you have never done."
"That's enough."
"Why? Because your new wife is carrying your child and it gives you an opportunity to have the picture perfect family now? Or because you don't want to seem like the deadbeat father you are in front of my girlfriend?"
Will Mitchell was fuming and trying to contain his temper. "Don't speak to me in that tone young lady; I'm still your father."
"Look," Beca started letting out a deep sigh, "I know you're my father, trust me, but that doesn't mean you're an actual father figure in my life. You weren't there when mom was diagnosed. You weren't there when she asked you to be there. You weren't even there during her funeral. Forget about me, dad. You were college sweethearts and you threw all of that away. You left her and you left me. Maybe, just maybe one day I'll forgive you. But right now, I don't even want to look at you. It disgusts me to look at you because it reminds me that I'm like you in so many fucking ways. And now sitting here I realized it probably wasn't even your idea to have this dinner so thank you Sheila for considering me despite not being related to me. And thank you Chloe for putting up with this pity excuse of a man that I get the honor of calling father. So if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving before this get any more out of hand. So congratulations one more time and I'll let you know when I want to see you again."
Sheila gave Beca a small reassuring smile and shook hands with her. Will Mitchell was completely dumbfounded and sat there in complete shock. Beca stood up and helped Chloe out of her chair and took her hand and led her out of the restaurant.
Beca and Chloe had made it as far as the parking lot when she heard her name being yelled out. She ignored it until she heard her full name.
"Rebeca Jade Mitchell! You stop walking away from me when I'm talking to you!" He hollered with Sheila not too far behind. "If you think you can insult me and just walk away from it you are so mistaken!"
"Why? Because I'm supposed to respect you and love you because you helped bring me into this world?!"
"Yes that's exactly why! I'm your father and you have to respect me!"
"I don't have to do a fucking thing William! You helped bring me into this life, congratufuckinglations! But guess what?! You walked out on me when I was nine! You never looked back! So please don't waste my fucking time trying to mend your fucking conscience. Because last time I checked my conscience was clear and I'm happy. If you aren't happy well good luck with that." Beca laughed bitterly as Chloe went to get the car, "you know, I actually thought Sheila was going to be the obstacle of the evening but I should have known that you would be the center of attention. But it's cool; I'll love that baby with everything I have because she or he will share a part of me. Maybe not my favorite part but still. So let me know when the baby arrives."
"You're fucking delusional if you think you're going be an influence in this baby's life!"
"Excuse me?" Sheila's voice cut deep in the tension surrounding him. "What do you mean she won't be around?"
"Yes father, why is that? Is it because I'm gay? Or because I'm a DJ? Or because I succeeded without you in my life?"
"Sheila you don't want her around. She's a bad influence."
"I think you're the bad influence here Will."
"Sheila, here's my card. If you need anything give me a call. But I'm done having this conversation with you, father. So if you'll excuse me and my girlfriend, I have better shit to do than deal with you" Beca handed her a business card and opened the passenger door for Chloe and then walked back to the driver side.
Beca got in her car and drove off with a silent redhead next to her. Beca drove around for what felt like hours but was only one. They drove in complete silence.
"Are you hungry?" Beca broke the silence when she felt calm again, thankful that Chloe hadn't said anything.
"Yeah I am. Can we have burgers?"
"Burgers? Never took you for a burger girl" Beca smirked, "look at that, someone is full of surprises"
"It's comfort food really" Chloe smiled.
"I'm sorry you had to witness all that." Beca apologized after processing everything. "He's an ass and Sheila is the complete opposite and you shouldn't have seen me that upset."
"It's okay Beca. I know how it feels to have an overbearing father try to control your life. Well in my case it was my mother but that doesn't matter."
"Well thank you anyways. We could get some burgers and go walk on the beach, is that okay?"
"That sounds amazing" Chloe smiled as she looked at Beca's face soften after the recent argument.
Beca drove to a small restaurant and took a booth in the back. The girls ordered their food and the conversation flowed easily between the girls. They enjoyed each other's company. After they finished eating they drove to the beach. Beca put the top down and let Chloe's hair flow freely in the night air. Beca loved seeing that smile on the redhead and would do anything to be the one to give her a reason to smile. Wait, what?
Beca was blasting the radio while Chloe sang along at the top of her lungs. Once they arrived, they walked along the beach feeling the sand in between their toes.
"This is nice" Chloe said leaning in towards Beca. Their hands touched but neither one wanted to make the first move.
"Yeah, do you think we could sit for a while?" Beca smiled feeling more at peace now than ever before.
"Sure" Chloe replied taking Beca's hand and led her to a spot with dry sand and sat in between the smaller brunette's legs. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure" Beca replied wrapping her arms around the bubbly redhead.
"Why are you offering Sheila help with the baby?"
Beca let out a sigh before continuing. "I'm doing it because I don't want that baby to go through what I went through. Plus if I'm willing to help children without parents that don't share my blood so why not someone who does?"
"You know, you're really sweet and under that entire badass persona, you're just a huge softy."
"Maybe, but I guess I have my mom to thank for that. She was the one that introduced me to music really."
"Do you miss her?"
"Yeah, I do. Sometimes there are days where I forget she isn't here. Because I can feel her with me. But then it all comes back and I remember I can't see her or hug her and I miss her."
Chloe was silent for a while, starring out into the ocean as the waves crashed against the bank. "Chloe?" Beca whispered. Her arms still wrapped around the redhead.
"Mmm" Chloe hummed in response.
"Could you, I mean, will you, no. Uh. I want to know more about you" Beca tried building a complete sentence without trying to be overbearing.
"What do you want to know?" Chloe turned away from the waves in front of her and looked up towards Beca's navy blue eyes.
"About whom you used to be or why you ended up here or anything you feel comfortable telling me."
Chloe looked back into the ocean but remained silent. She let the waves crashing into the shore calm her nerves. She knew she shouldn't open up too much but right there, sitting in Beca's arms, she felt like nothing could hurt her. It was a weird feeling but it was comforting nonetheless. The redhead took a deep breath and snuggles closer into the brunette's embrace further.
"When I was twelve my dad started drinking. At first it was nothing just a drink here or there. It was like that until I was fifteen. He came home on a Wednesday night. He walked into my room and I could smell the vodka on his breath. He whispered how beautiful I looked that day. I-I pushed him off and kicked him in his groin on accident but still."
Chloe let out a sigh and was grateful when she felt the arms around her tighten and pull her in closer, if that was even possible. "I ran to my parent's room and I tried waking up my mom. She yelled at me and told me I shouldn't be so flirty with him and that I encouraged him. So I left. I moved in with Stacie and never looked back. When my two older brothers found out, they didn't blame me or say it was my fault. They made sure my parents never came around. Stacie's older brothers did the same but when Stace and I turned 18 we decided to move out here to get discovered. But work wasn't paying bills or putting food on the table. So, we became escorts or prostitutes. Either way, I'm not giving up on being discovered one day."
"You're really brave you know? Not letting anything happened and moving away. I mean, wow."
"It was hard. Well back then. I didn't know what to do or how to even feel."
"But you're here and I'll do anything to help you find your big break"
Chloe smiled and turned around to face Beca. "You'd do that for me?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I? You have an amazing voice."
"You're something else you know"
"Did you ever doubt it?"
"Mm I don't think so" Chloe smiled. Chloe leaned up and tried placing a kiss on the smaller brunette's cheek but it landed on the corner of her mouth instead. The redhead froze right after but whispered, "Have you ever had sex on the beach?"
Beca let out a breathy laughed and without warning laid the redhead flat on her back. "No but I'm about to"
Beca's hands started roaming up Chloe's legs. They kept eye contact not staying anything. Every so often Beca would place small kisses around Chloe's blushing face. They were so isolated in their own bubble they didn't see a couple looking at them. They didn't notice that the couple was Bree and Stacie. They didn't even notice them until Stacie tackled Beca and she landed on her back with a swoosh of air escaping her lungs.
"Stacie!" Chloe exclaimed, "What are you doing?"
"I have been calling your name for five minutes! Neither one of you were moving or saying anything so I tackled her." Stacie explained as she helped Beca off her back.
"Why aren't you at dinner?" The stern voice of Aubrey Posen cut through making Beca flinch.
"I never showed." Beca simply replied avoiding the looks from everyone and looking back into the ocean.
"Beca" Chloe started but was cut off by Aubrey.
"Chloe, could you and Stace give us a minute. We'll go to a bar after okay?" Chloe nodded and Stace placed a kiss on the blonde's cheek. As they walked away it was dead silent between the two best friends. Aubrey took a seat next to Beca still not saying anything and looking out into the ocean.
"What happened?" Aubrey finally asked.
"She's pregnant." Simply stated but with so much hurt laced between those two words.
"Who's pregnant?"
"His wife, Sheila."
Aubrey was caught off guard she didn't know how to respond. She stayed silent.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes and no." Beca wasn't giving much away and Aubrey knew not to push but she was worried. Her best friend was abandoned by the man who was starting a new family again.
"Are you scared he will do the same thing to the baby?"
Beca sat in silence as she let the sand go through her fingers. "Yeah" she sighed. "That baby deserves better than him. He picks these great women but then he just leaves and I don't want that for the baby."
"Did you offer her help?" Aubrey asked even though she had an idea. I mean, Beca Mitchell auctioned herself off in order to raise money. Sure enough, Beca nodded her head. "That's really nice of you Beca."
"I just, I liked Sheila in the ten full minutes I talked to her." Beca let out a breathy laugh, "you know if he would have brought her around right after mom passed away, I would have been horrible to her but tonight? I could actually see her as a parent for me."
"Then maybe you should tell her that."
"What good would that do? She's married to him and she has a baby on the way. There's no way he will let me be a part of either of their lives."
"Maybe not but you don't like people based on how they look. You have a great sense of character Becs."
"No I don't."
"Beca," Aubrey had a stern tone almost as if warning her but not really. "If you didn't have a good sense of character I would be throwing up half my body weight every time I went inside a courtroom. My dad wouldn't call me bi-weekly to check in on us and you wouldn't have all of your headquarters in good hands. Chloe and Stacie wouldn't be in our lives either. And you can't tell me you aren't happy you get to wake up to a redhead every day."
"But what if by the end of these two weeks she sees how screwed up I am and she doesn't even want to try with me. I haven't even kissed her Bree."
"You don't know that. You don't know what she'll think or how she will feel. You have to wait it out and if kissing her is so important to you then make it the perfect kiss. Perfect timing, foot popping perfect kiss."
"What would I ever do without you?"
"The same thing we are going to do right now. Get drunk!"
Beca laughed as her best friend stood up and held her hand out.
"What has Stacie done to you?! I've never seen you be this excited to get drunk before."
"We were just going for some drinks before I got a call telling me how much of a disgrace you were and figured you'd be here" Aubrey replied with a small shrug.
"He called you? He really has no respect for anyone. How am I related to him?"
"Like you've said multiple times before, he's just the sperm donor and nothing more. Now come on. We can go to your place with alcohol since I don't feel like fending off nosy paps"
"Okay let's go. Chloe and I will buy the alcohol and you and Stacie the snacks. You know I get hungry."
"Oh don't I know it."
Both girls walked back to their companions and Chloe was surprised to see Beca smiling.
"Hey, is everything okay?" A concerned redhead asked after they got into the car and started driving off.
"I feel better if that's what you mean. Aubrey made me realize a couple of things. Plus I see how happy Stacie is making her. I've never seen Bree be the one to encourage a night of drinking. It's so unlike her" Beca laughed remembering how many times she had to force her best friend to go out with her.
"Yeah, Stacie is really coming along too. She has never really been one for wanting to be with just one person but this is just new. But she's happy."
"Are you happy?"
Chloe looked over towards Beca who was driving. Chloe placed her hand on Beca's thigh but missed the small brunette's breath hitch. "Yeah, I'm happy. Are you?"
"Yeah, the most beautiful redhead is in my prescience. It's hard not to be happy around you Chlo."
"Whoever said that DJ Titanium B was a badass has never met Beca Mitchell" Chloe winked but left her hand on the brunette's thigh. Beca laughed at the comment.
"Damn Red, you're ruining my street cred!"
"Oh it isn't anything bad. Well, maybe just a little bit" Chloe teased.
"So in regards to earlier, have you ever had sex on the beach?"
Chloe smirked, "Would it make a difference if I have or I haven't?"
"Maybe, I don't think so" Beca replied as she pulled into her condo's garage.
"Well, you would have been my first there. I have never been had sex on the beach unless it's the alcoholic beverage."
"So I would be your first huh?"
"We can say that."
"You're still one of a kind Beale and I would gladly pop that cherry on the beach for you" Beca winked.
"Mitchell!"
"Beale!"
"You will be the death of me one day, you know that?"
"At least you'll die happy. Now come on, Bree and Stace should be here soon." Beca reached for Chloe's hand and interlaced their fingers and it was as if everything was right in the world. The feeling of being at peace with their surroundings as long as they had each other.
Maybe I just need to show her that it's all worth it. Being with me and leaving the escort life behind. Aubrey's right, god I hate saying that. But she is, I have to give Chloe the best first kiss and it has to be perfect. Now to find the perfect timing; I'll leave that for another day. I'm happy right now and I'll enjoy every minute of it.
Author's Note: Well, there is chapter five. Again, thank you for everything, all the kind words and encouragement. It means the world to me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Love you guys and Thank you xoxo :)