Chapter 22-Closure

Beca awoke from her nap after a marathon of love-making with her Ginger to find herself alone in the bed. Naked, she looked around the floor for her discarded clothing, but this time could find none.

She climbed out of the bed...looking more like a child with the extra height of the mattress. Sometimes it really was horrible to be so very short, she thought to herself.

She reached over the bathroom door to find Chloe's robe, and headed in search of her girl. As she rounded the final step to the ground floor, she noticed a note...

"Gone down the mountain for a quick trip, I'll be back soon, don't worry. It should only take an hour and a half to get back to camp, so we have plenty of time to make it before your Dad arrives. Call me if you need anything. I love you."

Beca looked over at the clock on the kitchen oven..it was nearly 2:00pm. She had managed to push the thoughts of this meeting with her Dad from her mind all day. Now she found herself consumed with dread at the idea. She knew it would be no use in talking him out of meeting, but perhaps maybe a change of venue would not be out of the question. She quickly grabbed her iPhone and turned on location services to map out the distance from Atlanta. It was only a 20 minute drive difference from Atlanta directly to this town. And for Beca, meeting away from camp would certainly provide some protection from any drama that ensued with her father.

She quickly decided on a new plan, and in this way she could meet her dad on her own terms. She dialed her phone..

"Hi Babe...you finally awake? I worried I might have killed you with my mad skills. "The ginger teased.

" Mad Skills..." the brunette laughed.."No, I think I can handle all that you have to offer...I just called to ask a favor."

"Well, I'm pretty tired, but if its seconds you want, or is it thirds, I've lost count!" The ginger continued.

"Stop, I'm being serious..." Beca chided.

"Oh, sorry..." Chloe tried hard to sound serious.

"Well, you know I have to meet my Dad for dinner tonight..right?"

"Yep, that hasn't slipped my mind, despite all the distractions."

"Well I was wondering if you would mind if I asked him to meet me here, instead of back at camp."

"Well, if you think that would be best." She hesitated slightly, but continued. You know I guess it's actually the same distance from Atlanta, you really think its a good idea?" Chloe tried her best not to let her voice show her worry.

"I do. At least meeting him here, I don't have to go back and face the others at camp after, if all goes to crap. And he can't try to pull some crazy power struggle with me, which he tends to do, if I'm not acting exactly as he wishes."

"Beca, just try to give this a chance, You never know what he is going to say, and your last meeting probably scared him quite a bit...do you want to invite him to the house, or just meet in town?" Chloe could understand Beca's process, and wanted desperately to be supportive, despite the awkward situation.

"I think I'd prefer in town, however I need to call him first. Am I right that the closest town is Highlands?"

"Yes, unless you want to drive back towards Clayton." Chloe suggested.

"Ok, I'll call you back. I need to reach him before he heads out, and Chloe thanks...ya know, for understanding." Beca smiled, feeling a little more at ease.

Beca began to dial her dad's mobile number...she heard it ring a few times...

"Beca?"

"Hi Dad."

"Beca, Sheila and I are looking forward to our dinner, we are planning to leave a bit early and see some of the sights." He sounded so normal, like nothing had ever happened between them.

"Sheila is coming?" Beca tried to hide her disappointment.

"Well, yes Beca, we thought it would be nice for us all to enjoy a meal together." Dr, Mitchell was less effective at hiding his frustration.

"Fine... well I would like to meet in Clayton, would that be ok for you?..it's a shorter distance, and I am not exactly at camp anymore." Beca explained, hoping this wouldn't start an argument.

"What do you mean, where are you?"

"I'm hanging out with friends from camp, its our weekend off. Look, I can drive to Clayton in about 30 minutes." Beca explained.

"Ok sure, do you have a restaurant in mind?"

"No, just give me a call when you get to town and we'll meet up...ok?"

"Ok...we are looking forward to seeing you Beca."

With that the call ended, and Beca turned her attention to the opening door, and her girlfriend.

Chloe offered to let Beca use her car for the evening, and after much trepidation and anxiety, Beca managed to pull herself together for her dinner meeting. Chloe encouraged her to give her Dad a chance, and Beca gave her word, she would try.

On the drive, Beca answered her ringing phone, and heard her mother's voice...

"Hi Mom."

"Beca when are you coming back?"

"What do you mean Mom? You know I have a few more weeks of camp left." Beca explained.

"I miss you so much honey, please come home soon." Her mother sounded slightly desperate.

"Ok Mom, you're freaking me out"

"Make sure you give your Dad a chance tonight, he's trying his best honey. He loves you. We both love you so much."

"I know Mom, I need to go. I'll talk to you soon." Beca was relieved to get off the phone.

She wondered what had her mom so emotional, it seemed out of character, but she quickly pushed it out of her mind. She had to get through the evening with her Dad. Things were going to be awkward with the step-monster in attendance, especially after their last meeting.

The spot for the meet was a small diner in the middle of town, it looked like the kind of place that would have great food, but definitely nothing healthy. Beca thought it was perfect...Sheila was a vegetarian. She grinned as she saw her father and step-monster arrive.

"Hi Dad."

"Hi Beca, you look well today."

"Thanks? Hi Sheila" Beca feigned a smile. "Let's sit over here, it seems to be an empty booth."

The waitress immediately came over to ask for their drink orders.

"I don't suppose there is a wine list here" Beca's father joked.

Beca just rolled her eyes. As they looked over the menu, she couldn't help but find joy in the few non-meat items on the menu. In the end Sheila opted for a side salad and the kid's macaroni and cheese dinner.

Beca had a Reuben, and so did her dad. No matter how big the divide between the two of them emotionally, they were so very much alike in so many ways.

After a very quiet, and somewhat tense dinner, Sheila announced that she wanted to take sometime to stroll the town and window shop. She asked if she could meet her husband back at the restaurant in an hour. Beca and her Dad agreed quickly, and with that...the woman quickly departed the diner for her shopping spree.

Beca and her father sat together for a few moments in silence, staring at their empty drink glasses.

In the end it was Beca who offered the olive branch.

"Look Dad, I'm sorry about what happened when we met in Atlanta. I lost my temper, I regret not returning any of your communication these last few weeks. I was just upset, and well, I am sorry."

"Beca, its ok to be upset, I realize now more than ever how much I hurt you, and I just want the chance to try to make things right between us...you just keep shutting me out."

"Well don't take it personally Dad, I shut everyone out...its what I do."

"That's not you honey."

"You mean, that's not who I used to be...you don't know me now Dad."

Dr. Mitchell finally listened to his daughter's words before speaking... "Your right...but I'd like to. I just can't seem to reach you."

"Well, that's at least a start Dad. You just can't expect this to change overnight. What happened during the divorce...it has changed me. I guess I'd like you to give me the space I need, and the time to get to know me now, without forcing your own expectations on me."

"I will try Beca, you know I just want the best for you honey...that's all I've ever wanted. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I'd just like you to be able to talk to me again."

They both sat in silence for a few moments...

"Listen Dad, thanks for coming up here. I really am happy you did, but it's getting late, I should get back before it gets too dark."

"Yeah, ok. I'll see you again soon, won't I?" His voice sounded so sad.

"Sure, I'll be done with camp in a few weeks. We can see each other then, ok?" Beca tried to reassure her father, they had made progress.

"Alright."

Beca stood to leave, and with amazing effort, she leaned in to give her Dad a hug. As he embraced his daughter, a tear fell from his eye.

"Bye Dad" Beca quickly exited, looking over her shoulder at her step-mother sitting in a parked vehicle. Beca waved to her and then got into Chloe's car and began her drive back to the mountain.

As she drove, she felt a sense of relief overtake her. She was able to express herself openly for the first time with her Dad. She finally felt like maybe he could begin to respect her journey in all of this.

She found herself light and free in a way she had never felt. Knowing she was heading back to Chloe only made her feel better.

She had hope for the first time in a long time...she actually had someone in her life that loved her for everything she was, not just who they wanted her to be. Chloe Beale, a girl, who with one look, could make Beca's heart melt.

Lost in her thoughts, she listened to her mix of Just the Way You Are/Just A Dream. Chloe was right, it was amazing...their voices really fit perfectly. As she drove up the mountain pass...she noticed how the sound captured how they felt for each other. So enraptured was she, that she didn't see the large object in the road ahead. Once upon it, she had to veer quickly to the right not to hit it head on. The car took a violent roll, and Beca, immediately became aware that she had wrecked and landed against a tree. She tried desperately to loosen her seatbelt, but couldn't get it to budge. She was able to open the door, but heard rustling in the bushes ahead and suddenly realized that the large object in the road was a bear. A Black bear...and it was coming towards her in a charge. Beca quickly went for the seatbelt again but it was too late. She suddenly felt a claw on her leg...and the gash it made in her upper thigh quickly spilled red with blood...she tried to shield her face, but it was too late...the bear was upon her, and at that moment, she knew the end was near. As she heard the teeth break into the back of her skull, her final thought was of Chloe.

(Authors note: Don't lose hope, all is not lost. Thanks again for following the story, just stick with me here.)