Author's Note: Well, I told you it would get lighter and here it is! This is actually my favorite chapter, I think, at least so far. It's also the second to last chapter, but I may write a New Year's epilogue. Let me know in a review if you want one!

Whatever Beca had been expecting after her confession, it was not this. It was not a happy squeal. It was not a hug so tight it literally took her breath away. It was not a peck on the lips.

"Umm, Chloe?" Beca finally said. "You're holding me awfully tight." Chloe released her hold, only to grab Beca again in a slightly looser embrace. "I wasn't expecting that," she muttered.

Chloe pulled away enough so that she could see Beca's face, and smiled at the confused brunette in front of her. "What were you expecting?"

"Err, I think rejection topped the list. Probably getting tossed out into the cold."

"Silly, silly Beca-boo," she said, shaking her head slightly though there was a smile on her face.

"Beca-boo?" Beca said, cringing. Adorable nicknames really weren't her thing, and that probably topped the list at the cheesiest.

"Maybe I need to ease you into the cute nicknames thing..." Chloe said with a giggle.

"I don't understand. After everything, everything I just told you, how can you be so...happy? Why aren't you running in fear for your life?"

"Silly, silly Beca," Chloe said, again. "Don't you know? I've been wanting this moment for a year."

"What?"

"I had a crush on you, you silly girl."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Well...why didn't you do anything about it?"

"Why didn't you, sooner?"

"I was sure you were straight. I mean, c'mon, you were with Tom in the showers that day and at initiation night and countless other times, until you dumped his ass and went out with what's-his-name."

"Damon. But that doesn't matter. I was sure you were straight. I mean, you kissed Jesse after the ICCAs. You have no idea how jealous that made me."

"Well, I guess in all fairness, I kinda thought I was straight too."

"I prefer not to label myself."

"I would expect no less," Beca said, with a slight smile.

"Honestly, best Christmas present EVER!" Chloe said happily, surging in for another kiss. This was not a peck on the lips. It started as a peck on the lips, and became an open mouthed kiss, and when Chloe brushed her tongue against the younger girl's lower lip...well, let's just say it might have lasted several seconds, or several sunlit days, before they finally broke the kiss for air.

"That was..." Beca said, gasping slightly.

"Hot." Chloe finished her sentence with a grin.

"Yeah." They spent several more minutes kissing, until a chime broke them apart.

"Shit, it's three in the morning," Chloe said. "Christmas morning." She got up, tugging Beca up with her. "C'mon."

"Uh, where?"

"To bed, silly. To sleep. We need to get some sleep tonight."

"Or else how could Santa come unless the children are asleep?" Beca asked, with a smirk.

"Santa already came," Chloe responded, with such a loving look that Beca blushed bright red. "Aww, you're cute when you're embarrassed."

"I am not cute!" Beca protested.

"Whatever you say, babe," Chloe said, leading them into the bathroom. "Here, I think I have an extra toothbrush down here..." she said, rummaging through the cupboard, "Ahh, yes!"

"Are you trying to tell me politely my breath stinks?"

"Well, not now. Now you smell and taste of hot chocolate and marshmallows, but morning breath on the other hand, not so nice for kissing..." Without another word, Beca took the proffered toothbrush and proceeded to brush her teeth alongside Chloe. She could get used to this, she thought, these little domestic things like brushing their teeth together.

Chloe then took her by the hand again, leading her into the bedroom. "Now for sleep and cuddles," she said, pushing Beca onto the bed and climbing in afterward, pulling the blankets over them both. Though Beca tried carefully to stick to one side of the bed, Chloe had other plans, and drew the smaller girl into her, turning herself in the big spoon and Beca into the little spoon. And it was like this they fell asleep.

The bed was moving. This Beca recognized. She also recognized that beds shouldn't move and the voice that said, "Up, Beca, get up!"

"Chloe?" she asked, groggily, her sleepy mind not remembering yet the events of the night before or even where she was for that matter. "What...?"

It all came rushing back with the touch of Chloe's lips on her's, and her eyes shot wide open. "I'm up, I'm up."

"It's CHRISTMAS!"

"Yay?"

"I love Christmas!"

"I know."

"I love it even more now that you're here."

"Oh. Well, me too."

"Up! Time for pancakes! Christmas pancakes! And then to grandmother's house we go!" She cried, singing the last sentence.

"Err, right. Coffee, too, I hope? And, can I brush my teeth first?"

"Hurry up, silly. Pancakes in the kitchen." She pulled Beca out of bed, and then raced out the bedroom door, before doubling back. "Coffee, too." And boy, did Beca need a cup. She glanced at Chloe's clock. It was a little after nine in the morning. Well, six hours of sleep wasn't horrible, not for a college student. Though she felt like she had run a marathon. Okay, on second thought, maybe not a marathon, but there was a lot of sprinting and walking yesterday. No wonder she hurt.

She dragged herself into the bathroom to take care of business and morning breath, before dragging herself into the kitchen. Chloe was happily humming at the stove, back to Beca, so Beca took the opportunity to creep up behind her and place a gentle kiss on the back of her neck. Chloe squealed, spun around, and kissed her full on the lips.

"Hmm, no more morning breath.." she said, kissing her again. "Wait, my pancakes!" She turned with great haste back to the stove. "Sit down, have your coffee, pancakes will be ready in moments," she instructed Beca. Beca was happy to obey, sipping at the mug Chloe pointed to. She was so engrossed in the perfect cup of coffee, that she almost missed Chloe's triumphant entrance was a stack of – green? - pancakes. And not only were they green, they were different sizes, stacked and ordered by size so that the smaller ones were at the top and the larger ones were at the bottom. And they were topped with a slice of pineapple shaped like a star. It was, you guessed it, –

"A pancake Christmas tree?" Beca asked, incredulously.

"Yep! A Beale family tradition!" Chloe said happily. She set the platter down on the table, and starting carving into them, handing Beca half. "There's butter and syrup, do you want anything else?"

"Nope, syrup's good," Beca said, eying the green pancakes skeptically. Chloe was digging in happily before she realized Beca wasn't. Beca was poking at a green pancake with her fork, like it was an alien or something.

"It's just food coloring, Becs," Chloe said, laughing.

"Oh." Now Beca dug in, too. "This is good!" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Of course it is!"

Beca finished her pancakes, and then insisted on doing the cleanup since Chloe had cooked. The ginger sat on a counter, sipping her coffee while Beca worked. "You know, this is the first time I've ever had Christmas tree pancakes..." she said, conversationally.

Chloe giggled. "I kinda guessed that. I don't remember not having them on Christmas. It's sort of a Beale family tradition. Though this is the first time I've made them all by myself..."

"You did a great job."

"Thanks! So, what was your traditional Christmas breakfast growing up? Because we can totally make that too, if you want."

"There wasn't one, so no worries."

"Okay...other traditions? This is, after all, our first Christmas together," she said, winking, "and I wanna make it right for you."

"It is right. It's perfect."

"C'mon, I shared a Christmas tradition with you. Now, it's your turn. That's how these things work."

"It's just...there wasn't really any Christmas traditions. After my dad left, it was just me and my mom and we'd celebrate it together. A little decoration beforehand, a few gifts the morning of, some Christmas music playing, mostly it was like any other day. And last Christmas we really didn't do anything because she had a horrible stomach flu."

"Aw, Becs, I'm sorry. That must've been rough."

"Surprisingly, it wasn't really. As I said, Christmas was never a huge deal."

"Surely you spent it with other people though. Family...even friends..."

"We didn't have any family close by, and my mother, well, she has some, uhh, social anxiety, so she doesn't really do the party thing. We had each other, though, so it was fine. I kinda feel guilty though, leaving her alone this year, but my father insisted I spend Christmas with him."

"And look how well that worked out. Well, a Beale family Christmas is going to come as a real surprise to you. I hope you like it."

"Um, sorry, what?"

"When we go to my family's in a few hours? I said I'd be there around 11 or so, which means we should probably start getting ready."

"We?"

"Did you have other plans I'm unaware of?"

"No, just, I wouldn't want to impose. Christmas is a time for families." Beca looked down and started intently studying her feet in order to avoid Chloe's eyes.

"Beca, my family will love you. They'll be happy to have you there. It's not the first time someone's brought a friend or significant other to the celebration."

"I just, umm, it's probably better if you just go alone, as you planned."

"Why? Don't you want to meet my family?"

"Well, umm, me and meeting families...it doesn't usually work out so well and I don't want to spoil your Christmas."

"Don't be silly. They'll love you and you'll love them."

"Sometimes I wish for your optimism."

"Trust me, Beca. It'll all be okay."

"Chloe, just yesterday I met someone's family, and it was not okay."

"Yeah, well, that's different."

"How so?"

"Did you ever much like Sheila?"

"Well, no..."

"And didn't you say she was a chip off the old block?"

"Yeah..."

"Do you like me?"

"Of course I do!"

"So, I'm a chip off the old block, too. My family is much like me, or I'm much like them, but whatever way that goes, that seems to be a much better recipe for success, right?"

"I guess..."

"And if you really are uncomfortable, we'll leave."

"I couldn't ask you to leave your family on Christmas. That's just not fair."

"I've spent many Christmases with my family. This one, I want to spend with you. Besides, I'm very confident that once you're there, you won't want to leave. I mean, it's not going to be like anything you're used to, but I really think you're going to enjoy it. Won't you at least try, for me?" She turned her best puppy-dog eyes on Beca, who had no defenses against those.

Beca caved. "Fine. For you. I'll try."

"YAY!" Chloe yelled, grabbing Beca and whirling her around in the small kitchen before moving to plant a kiss on her lips. "Now, c'mon, we have to get ready."

At the bathroom, she turned to look at Beca, a predatory glint in her eyes. "I'm going to hop in the shower...care to join me?"

Beca flushed red. "Maybe some other time," she managed to stammer out. Chloe shrugged, and started stripping while Beca was still standing there. The sight of Chloe's perfect body mesmerized her, until she realized she was probably being creepy and beat a hasty retreat. Not knowing what to do with herself, she went back to the kitchen and poured another cup of coffee, sipping it as she made sure the counters were spotless. When she turned around, Chloe was standing there, dressed only in a towel.

"Umm..."

"Shower's all your's," the ginger said, before turning around and walking into her bedroom.

Beca immediately claimed the empty bathroom, shutting the door tightly behind her. The idea of a hot shower was especially appealing, both to her sore muscles and for dealing with the rat's nest that was her hair. Her clothes were still strewn across the radiator from last night, and they felt reasonable dry. Good thing, too, because Chloe's clothes, as evidenced by the set of pajamas she was wearing now, didn't really fit her. She noticed splashes of dried mud on the hems of her trousers, and tried to wipe them off, before placing them back on radiator to dry again while she showered. Yesterday's clothes, which she hiked across Barden in, were not what she would have chosen to meet Chloe's family in, but it didn't seem like she had very many other options, she thought as she stood under the deliciously hot water. She took a quicker shower than she would have liked, but Chloe had said that they were supposed to arrive around 11, and it was already 10. She used Chloe's shampoo to tame her hair, and now her hair smelt like passion flower and vanilla, just like Chloe's. At least her body was clean and her hair decent, even if her clothes weren't and she felt almost bare without her makeup.

Unlocking the bathroom door, she exited, pajamas and towel in hand. "Chloe?" she called.

"Bedroom" was the answer.

She followed the voice and instructions to find Chloe in her bedroom, dressed and applying her makeup. "What do you want me to do with these pajamas I borrowed?"

"Well, if you're done with them, you can toss them in the hamper. Or..."

"Or?"

Chloe turned around, to face Beca. "Beca, what are your plans for the rest of break?"

"Umm..."

"Let me guess. You're not the biggest fan of finishing it up at your dad's."

"Well, no, but..."

"But what?"

"I don't have a lot of other options, alright?"

"Actually you do. I was really hoping you might stay here, with me."

"That's kind of you, Chloe, but I wouldn't want to be a bother. I can take care of myself. You don't need to take care of me. Or...pity me."

"It's not pity, Becs. Honestly, I'm bored as hell sitting here alone all the time; you'd really be doing me a favor, keeping me company."

"Sure..."

"I'm telling the truth. It's not an issue of me thinking you can't take care of yourself; it's me wanting to spend time with you. You're my girlfriend now, right? That's what girlfriends do."

"Girlfriend?" It came out as a squeak.

"Right, we haven't really had that conversation yet. Let's do it now. Beca Mitchell, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" she asked, standing up from her chair to grasp Beca's hands in her's, knocking pjs and towel to the floor as she did it.

"I...uh...yes."

"I don't want you to feel pressured or anything, or like we're going to fast..." Chloe said, concerned about the hesitation in Beca's voice.

"Yes. I'm sure. Yes. A thousand times yes." Beca said, with more conviction. And to solidify her answer and their status, she leaned it to capture Chloe's lips in a sweet kiss. It was meant to be a light peck, but it went deeper, and hotter, until Chloe finally pulled away.

"As much as I like this, we do have to be somewhere and I have a feeling that once we get started..." she trailed off, winking at Beca, who blushed yet again. Chloe started to get a sense, though they had never talked about it, that given Beca's embarrassment about any and all sexual innuendo, that perhaps she wasn't all that...experienced. She was pretty sure she was Beca's first girlfriend, so maybe that's all it was about...had Beca and Jesse...no, not going there right now.

"Do we need to get going?"

"Yeah, pretty soon. Hey, do you want to borrow some eyeliner or something? You can help yourself to my makeup."

"Yeah, thanks." Chloe had a different style, but she also had a lot, so Beca was able to find something she could use to approximate her normal look. "Now I feel more like me."

"Now you look more like you," Chloe responded. "So let's go!"

They hopped into Chloe's car, but Beca grew confused as to their direction. "What part of Atlanta does your grandmother live in?" she asked Chloe. "We're still in Barden."

"Oh, she lives in another suburb, but we have to make a short stop first."

"Okay." Beca accepted that, figuring they needed to pick up cookies or wine or something.

It was less okay when she found herself on her father's street, and when they pulled up into the driveway. Chloe had picked her up here before, so she knew where Beca's dad lived. "Chloe?"

"I figured you'd want your stuff if you were going to stay with me for the rest of break. Clothes, laptop, mixing stuff, those awesomely huge headphones of your's. If you're worried about facing your dad alone, I can come in with you."

"Actually, it doesn't even look like he's here. Maybe they're at church; I think I remember Sheila saying something about that."

"Church? I thought you said they were at Midnight Mass last night."

"They were, I think at least. That was the plan. Sheila's pretty religious. She hates the commercialization of what should be a religious celebration of Jesus's birth. At least, that's what she told me. Even a Christmas tree is too secular for her."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Well, can you get in without them here? I know your keys are probably in your purse, which hopefully they brought home from the party."

"Yeah, I know where a spare is. Wanna come in, help me pack?"

"Sure thing." They got out of the car, and Beca pulled the spare key from a potted plant. Chloe was shocked at how little Christmas decoration there was inside, just a very ornate nativity scene. Beca led them up to her room, and with two of them working, they were able to pack up what few things she had there pretty easily. After all, most of her stuff was in her dorm, or at her mom's place; really the only stuff she had there, she had brought over from her dorm to last her through the break. Beca didn't admit it to Chloe, but she was actually secretly relieved to see all her things exactly where she left them, especially her mixing stuff. When her dad got angry, things usually went flying and not because they grew wings. Her purse and phone were also sitting on her desk, an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. She was also able to change her clothes.

"Got it all?" Chloe asked finally.

"Yep." Beca said, popping the p. She closed and locked the front door, returning the spare key to its plant.

"Then onward to your first official Beale family Christmas celebration!"

Author's Note 2: So, uh, any ideas for a fun happy awesome big Beale family Christmas? Such a thing has not really been my experience, so I've had a deuce of a time coming up with good ideas. Help?