A/N: It's been awhile since I've updated this story so my apologies for that. Your patience my lovely readers is greatly appreciated. Going into this chapter I wasn't exactly sure where it was going or how I was going to end it. Turns out, this is the final chapter of More Than A Memory. It just felt right to end it here, the story I set out to tell has been told. There will be an Epilogue set at some point in the future though, so you will get a taste of what the future holds for Beca and Chloe. I hope you enjoy the ending and I do hope you have enjoyed this story.
As always your feedback in the form of comments, reviews and Tumblr messages (shesamarshmallow) is extremely helpful, and really it just makes me smile. So if you've read this story, I'd love to know your thoughts.
"If you keep wringing your hands like that they might fall off."
Beca looked up at the source of the voice, visibly surprised. She had been sitting on the steps in front of Chloe's house alone for over an hour. After their "movie date" Saturday night the red head had invited Beca to come back the next day, for another shot at getting to know her kids. It had been nice Beca thought of the previous night; she had enjoyed spending time with both Chloe and Alyson. The princess movie had even been kind of cute, even if the brunette would never admit that out loud.
"Uh…hey Tom. Sorry, I was just…"
"Debating whether or not you're going to go inside?"
Beca sighed loudly, "yeah."
For the second time in the past ten minutes Beca found herself in shock as Tom took a seat next to her on the porch. Silence enveloped the pair as they sat and stared off into space. Beca hadn't seen Tom since their years at Barden and even back then she hadn't spent much time with him. Thinking back Beca remembered how little Chloe actually brought Tom around when she was with her friends. It had never struck her as odd back then; now that she thought about it though, it was. It was as if Tom and Chloe had always existed in their own little world and in the harsh light of reality the cracks in their relationship started to show. She wondered if it was because of her that Chloe never brought Tom when she hung out with the Bellas; she being one of the biggest cracks in their relationship after all. She shook the thought from her head and continued to sit in silence. She wasn't entirely sure what she should say to the man, she was after all, dating his wife.
It was a while before either of them spoke up but eventually Beca managed to get out what had been on her mind since Tom's arrival.
"I thought you were on a business trip." It came out more curt than she meant it, but she went with it.
"I was, but the boss had to cut it short. I got back about an hour ago and I guess the first thing I wanted to do when I got home was come see the people I love."
"Right…I should go then," Beca said getting up to leave.
"Hang on. You're here because Chloe invited you right?"
"Well yeah, but I don't want to get in your way."
"Don't leave; she'll be disappointed. I can come back later, but first tell me why you've been sitting out here alone all morning."
"Your kids hate me," Beca admittedly sheepishly.
Tom couldn't stop himself from laughing out loud at the notion. "I seriously doubt that."
"They wouldn't even talk to me yesterday. I mean Alyson did, but otherwise they wanted nothing to do with me."
Tom thought for a moment before responding, "You have a step mother you're not too fond of right?"
Beca was shocked at this seemingly random turn in the conversation. Not to mention she had no idea how Tom knew that.
"Yeah, Sheila. How did…"
Beca was cut off before she could even ask.
"You think she never talked about you? She loved you, of course she did. I know more about you than you'd probably like to think."
"Oh," was all Beca could say before Tom spoke up again.
"It's just something new for them, something they have to adjust to but they're not sure yet that they want to. I'm sure you remember what that felt like, when your parents split up."
"Yeah," Beca sighed. It was strange how much Tom knew and understood about her despite the fact that she'd spent maybe five hours with him total prior to this.
"They'll come around though. They're good kids and they're smart, I think they'll see how happy you make their mother because I know you do. You just have to find something and relate to them, get down on their level. Let them know you're a friend. Adley for example, he loves books and dinosaurs, he could tell you all about them. Adrienne, she loves to dance and she's a great artist, she especially loves to paint. Aly, I'm sure you've already discovered likes princesses but she also loves to just talk, about anything. She'll talk your ear off if you let her and you should because she's sweet. Just give them a chance and they'll give you one."
Tom smiled brightly as he talked to Beca about his children. Things were different now, and not at all like he had imagined his life would turn out. If he let them though, things could be good again. As long as his family was happy, that's all that mattered. When he told Beca that he knew she makes Chloe happy, he meant it.
"I guess I'm going inside then." Beca turned towards the door, her hand poised to knock before she turned back around. "Thank you though."
"You do what you have to right." Tom turned away and walked back to his car giving Beca one last small smile before starting the engine.
Beca turned back around and knocked gently on the front door. It was a few minutes before she could hear movement from inside but eventually she was greeted by the sweet smile she had some to know and love, again.
"Morning Beca," Chloe greeted, placing a kiss on the brunette's cheek as she opened the door.
"Morning. Sorry I'm late, I was just…"
"Sitting on my porch for the last two hours?" Chloe questioned knowingly, raising an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you come out if you knew I was just sitting out here?"
"I figured you needed your space. If you wanted to come in, you would have. You needed to decide if this is something you still want. I'm just hoping since you knocked that you decided to give it another go."
Beca nodded, smiling. "I do, and a little birdie may have given me some tips to make it easier."
"Tom texted me," Chloe laughed, "and I saw him through the window. You do know windows are see through right?"
Beca nudged her girlfriend playfully before taking her hand as they walked through the house. The brunette took a deep breath as they reached the living room. All three of Chloe's children were seated around the coffee table, pieces to a board game skewed around the room.
"You got room for two more?" Chloe asked taking a seat on the floor next to her eldest daughter.
A hint of hesitation was audible in his voice but Beca breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the words "yeah" come out of Adley's mouth.
"We were going to play Monopoly if you want to play."
"I'd love to," Beca smiled at the boy, "which piece can I be?"
"Mom's always the dog, so you can be the car if you want?"
The young boy looked at her expectantly. There was a marked changed in his attitude towards her that Beca was sure had something to do with Chloe.
"Great," Beca said grabbing the small silver piece and taking a seat on the floor. She smiled when Alyson moved in her direction and took a seat in her lap. The atmosphere in the house was decidedly warmer than the day prior. The five of them smiled and laughed as they played the game. Adrienne beat all of them handily, impressing Beca with her strategic play at only 8 years old.
"I never had siblings," the brunette said defending her last place finish. "I didn't have anyone to play board games with."
"Now you have us," Adrienne smiled.
"Yeah, yeah I do."
Beca could see the slightest hint of tears forming in her girlfriend's eyes and chuckled lightly. The red head brushed at the corners of her eyes and smiled at her girlfriend across the room.
"How about you and I go and get some snacks for everyone from the kitchen?"
"Sounds good," Beca said, taking the other woman's hand and getting up off the floor.
"You'll be right back?" Aly asked sweetly.
"Right back Alycat. Promise."
When they reached the kitchen Chloe took a seat at the table, motioning for Beca to join her.
"I thought we were getting snacks?" the brunette questioned.
"We are. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute."
"Okay, we can talk." Beca sat down next to her girlfriend and took her hands in her own. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Well, you can probably already tell but I talked to Adley and Adrienne last night after you left."
"I figured as much. They're actually talking to me voluntarily."
"They like you, they do. They're both just still trying to adjust to all the changes and not having dad here all the time."
"I know. I had forgotten, I guess since it's been so long, but if I think back to when I was a kid, I remember what that was like. It was hard, and hell I don't think I was nice to Sheila even once in the first few years after she and my dad got together. I just really want them to like me you know, because I love you and I guess I've been thinking more about a future with you lately."
Beca hadn't intended to turn this into such a deep discussion, but the floodgates were open and she just couldn't stop.
"You have?"
"Yeah, I have. Ten years ago we were both so much younger and speaking for myself I was stupid and confused and I didn't know what I wanted. I was and idiot and I let you slip away. Now I'm thanking my lucky stars it's not too late and that you found your way back to me. I never would have taken a leap like this on my own but you've helped me get here. You've helped me grow up and realize what's important in life. You, and loving you, that's important to me. I guess what I'm saying is that I want everything about you to be my everything. I want them to be important to me too you know, as important as they are to you. I like them Chloe, they're sweet and funny and they're yours which means they're perfect. I want you in my future, and by that I mean all four of you."
The tears that had been forming in Chloe's eyes earlier were now gushing out. She hadn't meant to make a big speech, and it was Chloe who said she wanted to talk but it seemed like the right time to let her heart do some talking. It was no good feeling how she felt if she wasn't going to share that with the person who she loved more than anything in the world.
Chloe's hands found their way to Beca's cheeks. Her lips found their way to the other woman's. When she pulled away she was smiling, face still wet with tears but now the brunette's matched.
"Beca I love you so much. Years ago when I daydreamed about my future a lot of the time it included you, until it didn't and it couldn't anymore. It included you until I realized that yours didn't include me and I needed to make a decision to let you go. I let you go once and I never want to do that again. Now when I think about my future, you're there again. Right there next to me and I'm glad that you want my kids to be important to you, because you're important to me. You mean the world to me and then some and so do they. What I'm saying is that I'm glad we're on the same page love, because I'm never letting you slip away again. We missed ten years and I don't want to miss another second."
Beca wiped the still falling tears from her girlfriend's cheeks and pressed another sweet kiss to her lips. "I love you. Now though, should we get those snacks?"
Chloe just laughed, "How does fruit and cheese and crackers sound?"
"It's good with me if the kids like it."
"They love it."
"It's perfect then and that's one more thing I know about them."
"Just a million more to learn then," Chloe smirked.
"Maybe more, but I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy every second of the learning process. Can't pass up the opportunity to play games, read stories, ride bikes, go to the park and anything and everything else they want to do."
Chloe beamed, listening to her girlfriend talk about how much fun it was going to be getting to know her kids brought the biggest smile to her face. She couldn't help but stare as Beca threw out ideas for fun things they could do over the summer together. Everything she mentioned was something Chloe knew her children would love. Life didn't get much better than this; moments where you knew everything would be okay. She had been worried before about how her children would adjust and react to Beca, but with every word from Beca's mouth calm washed over the red head. Ten years really did make a difference because the Beca she knew about Barden would never be talking about a trip to the zoo to see pandas.
"Do you think they'd like camping? My family never went camping and I've always wanted to go."
"I think they'd love it."
"Good. Shall we bring out this fruit now?"
"Yeah, let's do that. It's been a while; they'll probably start to wonder if everything is okay if we don't go back in there soon."
Beca grabbed the tray of fruit from Chloe's hands and waited as she picked up the plate of cheese and crackers.
"When you lay the fruit down put the grapes in front of Aly, the banana near Adrienne and the watermelon facing Adley. Those are their favourites," Chloe advised.
"Make that 999 999 things I need to learn about them then," Beca chuckled.
The afternoon was spent playing what seemed like endless rounds of Monopoly, watching a few episodes of Adley's favourite cartoon, listening to Aly's stories and watching as Adrienne painted pictures on the floor. By the time evening darkness fell over the house everyone was tired, but happy. The day had certainly brought Beca closer to Chloe's older children. Adrienne had spent an hour telling Beca about her dance classes and then quizzing her on her own hobbies. Beca was pleasantly surprised when the young girl seemed to enjoy her explanation of how she mixes a song.
Beca found that what Tom said about Adley proved to be true as well, his love of dinosaurs and books evident when he showed Beca his big book of facts about dinosaurs. She listened as he described a few of his favourite types and showed her their pictures. Aly who had immediately taking a liking to her the day prior hugged Beca goodnight before she left, whispering in her ear about a new princess movie that was coming out soon. Beca promised to watch it with her before wishing her a final goodnight. She knew Tom would be back soon and she didn't want to keep him from seeing his family again.
Beca still felt slightly guilty about taking time with his kids away from Tom. He had assured her not to worry about it before leaving earlier in the day, but she couldn't help it. As much as she was starting to plan a future that involved Chloe and three of the most adorable kids she had ever met, at the end of the day they were still Tom's kids. Even though she had loved spending the whole day with Chloe and the kids, there was still a nagging feeling that she was interfering with a happy family.
Chloe had gotten to know her all over again though and she could almost see the wheels turning in the brunette's head as they stood on the porch. They were standing exactly where Beca had sat all morning, avoiding entering the house. Chloe looped her arms around Beca's neck and pulled her in close for a goodnight kiss.
"Don't worry about it Beca," she said, shocking the brunette.
"How did you know I was worrying?"
"I know you. I told you, Tom texted me earlier. He said it was cool and to have a good time, which we did. He's taking the kids all week; he'll have his time with them. He doesn't love not being here all the time like he used to be, but he's dealing with it. He just wants all of us to be happy, and he knows you make me incredibly happy. He also thinks you'll be good to the kids, so don't worry."
"You realize your ex-husband is a Saint right?"
Chloe laughed, "Well, I do have great taste in partners, wouldn't you say?"
Beca's hands snaked around her girlfriend's waist. "I hate to say you do, but you do."
"Confidence, very hot Beca."
"Mhmm," was the only sound the brunette could make as the other woman's lips enveloped her own in one final kiss.
"As much as I'd love to continue this I have some kids to get ready for the week. I'm free all week though, so I'm hoping you're open to overnight guests."
"So formal, yet so seductive. I'm definitely open to overnight guests so take this as my official invitation for you to stay with me this week. We can spend some time together, just the two of us, for more than a day."
"I'm looking forward to it already Beca. Goodnight babe. I love you."
"I love you too, goodnight."
As Beca made her way back to her car she couldn't help but think about the upcoming week. Over the course of their relationship they had spent mostly just scattered days together alone. It had been frustrating, but doable. Anytime they did get to spend together was bittersweet, knowing the next day would be the first day of many days they would be spending apart. This weekend was a turning point in their relationship. Meeting Chloe's kids meant she could spend time with Chloe whenever she wanted, even if it was Chloe's week to have the kids.
As she laid her head down to sleep, she thought about her situation. This weekend was the first step towards her future with Chloe and as nervous as that made Beca it also brought her great joy. Beca was old enough and mature enough now that she was ready to have a future with someone, instead of running away from one like she had done so many times before. She had left Chloe back at Barden, she had left Jesse at the altar but this time, she wasn't going anywhere. Her relationship with Chloe was finally more than a distant memory, and she intended to keep it that way.
The End