Hey, everyone! I just want to thank you all for your reviews/favs/follows. You guys/gals are the absolute best. Also, I'm not taking any more prompts for this collection, but I will accept prompts that I will use for a collection of one-shots that I'm planning (sorry, again, no major smut is going to happen).
This prompt is from RJRMovieFan and is listed in its entirety at the end of the chapter. The prompt kind of tells the whole story and I don't want any preconceived ideas in your head when you read it. I don't always use exactly what's submitted but stick to the basic idea. Or, as malexfaith, says I "change it to make it my own." [Thank you, malexfaith! Those words Make me feel all wam and fuzzy inside.]
Also, meant to say this before, but Electronis Zappa has some Christmas oneshots under "12 Days of Pitchmas", which I apparently help inspired him to write and he used my prompt as his first one-shot. Go check it out for more Christmas feels.
Beca ran through the Atlanta airport, her luggage bouncing around behind her as she tried to hold on to her backpack. She knew she was cutting it close, thanks to Amy. She wondered why she was even friends with the girl. She saw her gate and sped up. She came to an abrupt stop when she saw that the door was closed and there was no plane sitting at the gate. She missed her flight.
"Dammit, Amy!," Beca said.
She went up to the ticket counter and asked about another flight.
"I'm sorry," the agent said. "That was the last plane to leave. This storm is expected to get worse and so the airport has grounded everything. We don't know when we'll be able to start letting flights out again. Is there anything else we can help you with? Perhaps, some lodging options for the night."
"No, thanks," Beca said thoroughly disappointed.
She pulled out her phone and called Chloe's number.
"Hey, Becs," Chloe said cheerily. "Are you supposed to be on your phone right now?"
"I missed my plane," Beca said sadly. "And there aren't any more leaving because of this freak snow storm."
"Oh, Beca," Chloe said feeling bad. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," Beca said. "Can you ask Amy to come back and get me?"
"We're still in the airport," Chloe said. "Amy wanted to get something to eat before we headed back to Barden. I tried to tell her it looked the storm was getting worse, but you know how she is."
"Where are you guys?," Beca asked.
Chloe told her and Beca hurried to catch up with them.
"Beca!," Chloe said jumping up to hug her. "I'm so sorry you missed your plane."
"Me, too," Beca said. "My mom was looking forward to seeing me and I was looking forward to being with her."
"Hey, Shawshank," Amy called out. "I thought you were on a plane."
"I missed it," Beca said through clenched teeth. "Thanks to you and your 45 minute stop at the gas station. I should have called an Uber."
"Hey," Amy said. "When the pipes need to be unclogged, you have to let them do their thing."
"Gross," Beca said. "I'll have to call my mom and tell her I won't be there for Christmas."
"Don't make that call," Chloe said. "Give me your laptop. I'm going to find another way to get you to Portland."
Beca takes her laptop out of her backpack and gives it to Chloe. She boots it up and starts typing. She clicks through a few websites and then lets out a squeal.
"You can take the Greyhound bus," Chloe said. "Look."
Chloe turned the laptop and Beca looked at the website Chloe had up.
"I wish I could," Beca said. "But I don't have enough money. I spent most of what I had on my plane ticket."
"Invite us to go with you," Amy said. "And, I'll pay for the bus tickets."
"What?," Beca said.
"Amy, that's sweet of you," Chloe said. "But, we don't have any clothes or anything."
"I'm sure Beca's mom has a washer and dryer," Amy said. "Or, you can wear something of Beca's until we can go shopping. I have loads of money thanks to my parents so everything is on me. Since Beca thinks it's my fault she missed her plane."
"It is your fault," Beca said. "But, Amy's right, Chlo. Come with me to Portland. I know my mother would love to have you guys. Please?"
"Come on, Red," Amy said. "It's better than eating some cardboard takeout and pining over Shawshank for two weeks."
Chloe threw Amy a glare and Beca just looked at her confused.
"Okay," Chloe said thinking it over. "Let's do it."
Chloe looks on the computer and is going to purchase tickets but the website won't let her.
"We need to get to the bus station," Chloe said. "According to the website, there's a bus station here at the airport. There's a bus leaving at 4:30 and it's 3:45. We have to go. See if we can grab a shuttle or something."
Beca grabbed her stuff and the three girls hurried out of the terminal. They walked down the outside of the terminal and finally see a shuttle. They run over to it only to find out it didn't go anywhere near the bus station. They looked around for some other way to get to the station. They don't see much of anything moving traffic wise. The sit down on a bench all looking dejected.
"You ladies look a little lost," a man's voice said. "Can I help you with something?"
"No thanks," Beca said.
"We need to get to the bus station," Chloe said with a smile. "It's not that far."
"I can get you there," the man said. "The names Cal. I have a four-wheel drive truck and I know how to use it."
"Yay," Chloe squeals and jumps up and down.
"No," Beca says.
"Let's go then, Cal," Amy said. "We have a bus to catch."
"Hop in ladies," Cal said and helped the girls into his truck.
Cal drove carefully and got them to the bus station in about 15 minutes. The girls all thanked him as they got out of the truck. He wished them luck and drove off. The three girls hurry into the bus station and go to the ticket counter.
"We need three tickets for the 4:30 bus to Portland, Maine," Amy said.
The agent printed the tickets and Amy paid for them. The agent handed the tickets over.
"You'd better hurry," the agent said. "The bus is already loading and will be leaving in just a bit."
The three girls yelled a thank you and ran out to the buses. They hustled onto the bus and looked around to find seats.
"There. In the back," Beca said with a nod at three seats near the back.
Beca made her way down the aisle first, with Chloe behind her and Amy bringing up the rear. There were only single seats so Beca stops next to an older man and looks at him.
"Excuse me," Beca said. "Would you mind moving to the empty seat behind you so my friend and I can sit together?"
"No," the man said tersely.
"Seriously?," Beca said with raised eyebrows.
"Let me try," Chloe said as Beca moved forward so Chloe could talk to the man. "Sir, we would really appreciate if you would move. It's just one seat back."
"I told your little girlfriend no," the man said. "And, now, I'm telling you no. I'm not moving."
"Why you-"
"Beca," Chloe said holding her arm out to stop Beca from doing anything to the man.
Chloe then leaned over the seat and said something quietly to the man. He looked at Chloe and then at Beca. Beca glared at him.
"Fine," the man said and got up to move.
"Thank you," Chloe said brightly.
They maneuvered themselves so they could all get seated. Chloe was in the aisle and Beca was by the window.
"What did you say to him?," Beca whispered. "Oh, my God! You didn't offer him any kind of sexual favors to move did you?"
"Beca!," Chloe said laughing as she slapped Beca's arm. "I just told him that if he didn't move he would have to sit next to you for, like, the next twenty hours."
"I don't know whether to be offended or impressed by that," Beca said and laughed.
"I'm telling you it was dingoes and crocodiles," they could hear Fat Amy saying.
"Oh, God," Beca said. "She's going to get us thrown off the bus before we even leave the terminal."
The driver announces that they are ready for departure. He walks down the aisle and checks everyone's tickets. He then gets behind the wheel and they are on their way.
"I want to thank you, and Amy," Beca said. "I don't know what I would've done if you guys hadn't still been at the airport. Or if you hadn't found the bus info."
"I couldn't let you miss Christmas with your family," Chloe said.
"Why aren't you with yours?," Beca asked digging through her backpack looking for her ear buds. "I can just imagine what a Beale family Christmas would be like. A real tree that you probably cut down yourselves. Put up ornaments that have been in the family for years, including ones you made while in elementary school. And, sit around drinking hot chocolate and eating homemade cookies while singing Christmas carols."
Beca turns to Chloe with a smile, only to see tears falling from Chloe's eyes.
"I didn't mean to make you sad," Beca said taking Chloe's hand in hers. "I'm sure they miss you not being there. Why don't you call and let them know you're not spending Christmas alone and you'll be in Portland with friends."
"I, I can't," Chloe said and put a hand to her mouth to hold back a sob.
Beca didn't know what to do. Chloe doesn't cry, at least not like this. She pulls Chloe into a hug and rubs her back.
"Sh," Beca said. "It's okay. I got you."
Chloe cries into Beca's shoulder. Beca glares at the man across the aisle who is making it obvious that Chloe's crying is disturbing him. Chloe calms down and wipes her face on her sleeve. She sits back in her seat.
"Want to talk about it?," Beca asked.
"My, um," Chloe said and clears her throat. "My family is gone. They were killed in a car accident just after I started at Barden. Home doesn't feel like home without them all there so I usually spend Christmas with Aubrey. This year her family went on a cruise and so I decided to just stay at Barden. It feels more like home than Tampa."
"Oh, Chloe," Beca said. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I'm such an idiot."
"No, you're not," Chloe said and squeezed Beca's hand. "You didn't know. I don't really talk about it so most people don't know. But, you were pretty spot on. We did cut down our own tree. And, my mom kept all the ornaments my sister and I made in school and put them on the tree every year. I just really miss it. Miss them."
Chloe wiped the tears from her face. Beca put her arm around Chloe's shoulder and gave her a side hug. Chloe laid her head on Beca's shoulder.
"Well, we may be a bit dysfunctional," Beca said. "But consider my family, your family. And, I guarantee that once my mom meets you, you'll be invited back every year."
"Thanks, Becs," Chloe said and sniffled.
"You're welcome," Beca said and kissed the top of Chloe's head.
Chloe wiped the tears from her face and pulled her phone out of her pocket.
"Oh, shoot," Chloe said sitting up. "My phone's almost dead."
"Here, give it to me," Beca said.
Beca pulled out her charger and plugged Chloe's phone into the bus's power outlet. She then handed Chloe one of her ear buds so they both could listen to Beca's music. They sat back and smiled.
Beca and Chloe listened to music and chatted as the bus drove down the road. Amy had come back to stand and chat with them once or twice when her seatmate had to use the onboard restroom. It was close to 7:00 pm when the driver said they'd be stopping for dinner. Beca and Chloe both laughed when they heard an "Awww, yeah!" from Fat Amy. The driver parked the bus and then stood facing the passengers.
"Okay, ladies and gentleman," the driver said. "We will be here for ninety minutes. I would recommend buying some snacks before you leave because we won't be stopping for breakfast until around 6:30 or 7:00 tomorrow morning."
With that the driver and another gentleman, whom they decided was another driver, got off the bus. The passengers all made their way off the bus. Beca and Chloe caught up to Amy. It was an all you can eat buffet and Amy paid for all three of them. They found a table and then went to get their food. They all returned to the table.
"Got enough fried food there, Becs?," Chloe asked with a smirk. "Wouldn't kill you to put a vegetable or two on your plate, you know."
"I put ketchup on my fries," Beca said. "Ketchup is made from tomatoes, so, technically, I do have a vegetable on my plate."
Amy wasn't saying anything. She was just digging into her two plates of food.
"Amy," Beca said. "You know you can go back for more, right?"
"It's a waste of time," Amy said. "Didn't you hear the driver? We won't be stopping to eat again for like almost ten hours. Ten hours, Beca. I can't go that long without fueling up."
They finished eating and each purchased snacks as the driver suggested. The passengers were back on the bus and the driver took off. They had been driving for a couple of hours when Beca started yawning.
"I think I'm going to try and get some sleep," Beca said.
"Me, too," Chloe said and looked at Beca with her puppy dog eyes and pout.
"Fine," Beca said and moved so that Chloe could cuddle with her. "The things I put up with for you."
"You love me," Chloe said and Beca just rolled her eyes.
They had been asleep for a couple of hours when Beca woke with a cramp in her arm. She went to move it and realized Chloe was laying on it.
"Chlo," Beca said quietly trying not to disturb the other sleeping passengers. "Chloe. Wake up."
Chloe didn't move so Beca tried to move her arm but when she did it caused Chloe to jerk awake. Beca grabbed her and kept Chloe from falling off the seat.
"Sorry, Chlo," Beca said helping the redhead sit upright. "My arm had a cramp and I couldn't get you to wake up."
"It's okay," Chloe mumbled sleepily. "What time is it?"
"It's almost 1:30 in the morning," Beca said. "I'm kind of hungry."
"I bought some animal crackers," Chloe said. "I'll share with you."
"What are you five?," Beca said with a chuckle.
"They remind me of my mom," Chloe said. "She used to buy them for me whenever I went to the grocery store with her. We'd share them-"
Chloe wiped a tear from her eye.
"Hey," Beca said. "You should talk about them. If you do, it'll get easier each time and you won't always be so sad when you think about them. Plus, if you don't, no one else will know how great they were. I think you'll feel better if you stop bottling up all the memories you have of them."
"It just hurts so much," Chloe said as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I'm here for you," Beca said. "We can talk about them any time you want."
Beca took an animal cracker and put it in her mouth. She pulled out two bottles of water she had bought and handed one to Chloe.
"My mom used to buy me animal crackers whenever I went to the grocery store with her," Chloe said with a small smile. "We'd share them on the way home. It was something we did together, just the two of us."
"I think I would have liked your mom," Beca said smiling at Chloe.
"She would have loved you," Chloe said. "You think I'm bad at yanking your chain, I'm tame compared to how my mom is. Was."
"Tell me about your dad," Beca said before Chloe could start crying again.
Once Chloe started talking about her family, it was as if the flood gates had opened. Beca found herself laughing of some of the memories Chloe was sharing with her. Beca watched as Chloe told her stories. She was mesmerized at how Chloe's eyes lit up and her smile would get bigger. God, she was beautiful. As Beca watched her, all she wanted to do was to grab Chloe and hold her until all the pain of losing her family went away. To tell her it would be okay. To let her know that she had friends who loved her. That she loved her and not just as a friend. Beca's mouth grew dry as she thought about what Chloe would say if Beca told her how she felt. Beca smiled a sad smile and realized that she couldn't risk it. She had only known Chloe for a few months but she knew she wanted to keep the girl in her life. So she ignored the ache in her heart and tried to pay attention as Chloe told her about her family.
At some point, Beca and Chloe fell asleep again. They were cuddled up together and when Amy went to use the bathroom she snapped a picture of them. She smirked as she sent the picture in a Bellas group chat, minus Beca and Chloe, with the caption "Just friends, my ass".
Around 6:45 that morning the bus stopped for breakfast. Everyone was told the bus would be leaving at 8:15 and to make sure they were on it. They would be making a stop in Boston to drop off some passengers and then they would continue on to Portland. If all went well they should be pulling into Portland a little after noon.
Beca was getting excited. She was almost home. The girls sat down and were eating their breakfast. Amy had piled one plate with hot sausages and bacon and another with eggs and hash browns. Beca and Chloe just shook their heads as Amy dug into her food.
They were back on the bus and cruising down the road. The driver announced that they should be pulling into the Boston terminal in about 30 minutes. Amy got up from her seat and as she walked by Beca and Chloe, Beca heard her mumble, "I gotta see a man about a horse." Beca's eyes grew wide and she stood up and turned in her seat.
"Amy, don't you go in there," Beca said. "You can wait. Don't do it."
"Sorry, Beca," Amy said. "Gotta unclog the pipes."
"Oh, God," Beca said as she sat back down.
"What is wrong with you?," Chloe said with a laugh.
"Amy is going to spend the next thirty minutes in there," Beca said pointing to the bathroom. "Trust me, it will not end well."
About five minutes later, Chloe got the first hint of what Beca meant.
"Oh, my God," one of the passengers behind Chloe said.
Several others followed suit and she looked around to see people holding their noses. Some looked like they were trying not to gag. It took about thirty more seconds before it hit her. She nearly gagged and looked over at Beca who had her shirt pulled up, covering her nose and mouth. Some of the passengers chose to stand near the front of the bus for the last 15 minutes of the trip rather than stay near the back of the bus.
The bus finally pulled into the Boston station and everyone was practically falling all over each other to get off the bus. Chloe abandoned the bus along with the other passengers. Beca was the only one brave enough to bang on the bathroom door telling Amy they had stopped.
"I'll be out in a minute," Amy called from the other side of the door.
Beca didn't hear her because she had got off the bus as soon as she could. Amy comes out and sees all the seats empty and casually strolls off the bus, amidst glares.
"What?," Amy asks and shrugs her shoulders.
The driver gets the luggage from the luggage area for those whose destination was Boston. He tells the remaining passengers there will be a delay of 45 minutes while the bathroom is cleared out. The passengers aren't very happy but then knew it was that, or travel another two hours with the bus as is.
Once the crew was done, the driver started letting the passengers back on the bus. Amy went to get on the bus and was stopped.
"I'm sorry, miss," the driver said. "But, I can't let you back on the bus."
"What? Why?," Amy asked.
"You know why," the driver said. "The passengers have all requested that you not be allowed back on, and I'm afraid I agree with them."
Beca and Chloe were already seated and were wondering why Amy hadn't gotten back on. Chloe went to check on her. Chloe pleaded with the driver to no avail. Amy was not being allowed to get on the bus. Chloe went back to Beca and told her what was going on. Beca got all her stuff and told Chloe to leave the bus.
"Beca," Chloe said not moving. "You're like two hours from home. You have to stay on the bus. I'll get off and stay with Amy."
"No," Beca said. "I'm not leaving you two after you've come all this way for me. We'll all get off and figure something out."
Chloe smiled and gave Beca a big hug and then kissed her on the cheek. She turned and told the driver they were getting off. He let them off and the three girls stood there watching as he backed up and drove off.
"Now what I am going to do?," Beca asked no one in particular.
"We'll figure out something, Becs," Chloe said. "We're too close."
"I could call my Uncle Mike," Beca said. "He could drive down and pick us up."
"That's asking a lot Beca," Chloe said. "Let's make that Plan B."
They stood and were looking around. Chloe's face lit up and she smiled.
"Amy, get out your credit card," Chloe said. "We're taking the train."
Beca and Amy looked at Chloe and then looked a what she was looking at. Right across the road was the Amtrak train station. Beca smiled and grabbed Chloe's hand.
"Let's go," Beca said dragging Chloe with her.
Amy followed the two girls to the train station. They checked the departures board and saw a train that leaves for Portland at 1:30 pm. They walked over to the ticket counter and Amy said they needed three tickets on the 1:30 train to Portland. The agent typed on the computer.
"The only seats we have left are in business class," the agent told Amy.
"That's fine," Amy and handed over a credit card.
"I'll pay you back for everything, Amy," Beca said.
"No worries," Amy told her. "Consider this your Christmas present. You too, Red."
Chloe smiled and kissed Amy on the cheek.
"Thank you," Chloe said.
"Yeah, thanks, Amy," Beca said with a smile.
The girls decided to grab some lunch since they had some time before their train left. They went to the waiting area and were finally boarded. They found two sets of seats next to each other. Amy was sitting across the aisle from Beca and Chloe with Beca's stuff in the seat next to her. The train left and Beca was getting excited again. She called her mom to let her know they were on the train and would probably be at the house by 5:00. She ended the call and looked at Chloe and then Amy.
"My mom says she can't wait to meet you two," Beca said with a smile.
"What does your mom look like?," Chloe asked.
"Like me," Beca said. "Except she's a little taller."
"Who isn't?," Amy mumbles.
Beca just glares at her. They sit chatting and Beca fills them in on some of her family they'll meet.
"You'll meet most of my family tonight," Beca told them. "We always have a big Christmas Eve dinner at our house."
Beca tells them more about what her mom's traditions are for the holidays. After a bit Beca gets up to go to the bathroom.
"I feel bad," Chloe said.
"What's wrong, Red?," Amy asked.
"I don't have anything for Beca's family for Christmas," Chloe said. "I was raised to bring a gift whenever you were invited to someone's home."
"Chloe, you're delivering Beca to them," Amy said. "I think that's quite a spectacular gift to bring them."
Chloe just smiled.
"You're one of a kind, Amy," Chloe said. "I wish I hadn't insisted Beca leave the gift I gave her at Barden to open when she got back. I don't have anything for her either."
"Just tell you love her," Amy said. "That's the best gift you can give her."
"Amy," Chloe said. "Don't. Please. I know everyone knows I have feelings for her, but I don't want to lose her as a friend. I can't tell her or I could lose her forever."
"But, you do love her, right?," Amy asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I do," Chloe said.
Amy just smiled and looked up. Chloe looked over her shoulder to see Beca standing there.
"Then you should tell me," Beca said staring into Chloe's eyes.
"I need to be some place else," Amy said getting up and leaving.
"You really love me?," Beca asked sitting next to Chloe.
"Yes," was all Chloe said with a tear falling from her eye.
"I love you, too," Beca said taking Chloe's hands. "I didn't want to lose you either so I never said anything."
"So, what happens now?," Chloe asked.
"Well, first," Beca said moving her head so her lips were just inches from Chloe's. "I'm going to kiss you. Hard. And then I'm gong to ask you to be my girlfriend."
"I can live with that," Chloe said and closed the distance to grab Beca's lips in a kiss.
They finally pull back and Chloe lays her forehead against Beca's.
"Wow," Chloe says.
"So," Beca says. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Chloe said and kissed Beca again.
Unbeknownst to Beca or Chloe, Amy took a picture of them kissing and sent it to the Bellas in the group chat. No caption was needed.
Amy came back to her seat and the girls told her of their new relationship status. She congratulated them and gave Beca a high five. The train pulls into Portland and they make their way to the street. Chloe calls for an Uber and they are dropped off around 5:00 in front of Beca's mom's house.
"Looks like everyone is already here for Christmas Eve dinner," Beca said noticing all the cars.
Beca takes Chloe's hand and they walk to the door. Amy knocks and the door is answered by Beca's mom, Sarah.
"Beca!," Sarah squeals and grabs her daughter in a hug.
"Can't breathe, mom," Beca says before her mother lets her go. "Thanks."
"Come in, come in," Sarah says ushering the three girls inside.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet my good friend Amy," Beca said. "Whose generous gift helped fund our travels so we could all be here."
Sarah hugs Amy and thanks her for helping make sure Beca got home for Christmas. Sarah lets Amy go and turns to Chloe.
"This is the person whose tenacity and determination also helped get us here," Beca said. "This. This is Chloe. My girlfriend."
Sarah's eyes went wide and she let out another squeal as she grabbed Chloe in a hug.
"It's about damn time, Beca," Sarah side with a big smile. "She's talked nonstop about you since you met."
"Mom," Beca said and Chloe laughed.
"Come on," Sarah said. "It's almost time to eat."
Amy immediately followed Sarah. Beca held Chloe back and pulled her to her. She smiled and looked up. Chloe looked up as well and smiled. She grabbed Beca's lips in a kiss and Beca grabbed Chloe behind the neck and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.
"Come on, you two," Sarah said smiling when she saw them kissing. "Get out from under the mistletoe and come have some dinner."
RJRMovieFan prompt: Because of Fat Amy, Beca is stuck in Georgia, though she promised her mother she would be home for Christmas in Portland Maine. Beca missed her flight and because of huge winter storms, there's no more flights. Chloe takes it upon herself to get Beca home by Christmas. I figure you could do a plane, trains, and automobiles type situations. One twist, in almost every story, Chloe has a large loving family. In this it turns out she doesn't have a family. Beca didn't know it, but Chloe lost her family years ago; which is one of the reasons she's determined to get Beca home on time. The other being she's madly in love with the grumpy DJ, of course. Beca of course learns Chloe's secret along the way.
