AN: Hi, guys... I know I stated a while back that I was continuing this - and I am - as you can see. I just didn't continue it as soon as I had hoped. ^^; This chapter... I don't know why... it was so hard to write? Like I've had it half-way typed up for a LONG time. And I finally sat down and was like "You need to finish it... You know you want to finish this story but you won't if you don't sit and write this chapter." And I did. I'm hoping to update more frequently. Thanks for sticking with me and again, I am so deeply sorry for leaving you all like that. I barely proof-read this btw, (Some things never change).
I own nothing except Jonah and the parts you don't recognize from the movie.
Chapter Six
"Chloe, what's he drinking?" Aubrey's voice breaks Chloe from her watchful gaze of the boy at their kitchen table as he happily munches away at a grilled cheese sandwich.
Before Chloe can answer though, Jonah looks up with a wide grin. "Mountain Dew!" He chirps, head bopping to some sort of music no one can hear.
Aubrey's eyes widen. "Chloe!" The blonde starts, looking a little panicked. "Do you know how much sugar and caffeine is in that?!" She doesn't give Chloe a chance to answer as she continues. "And what if he's not allowed to drink soda! Oh god, we should have asked if he was allergic to anything—what if he—"
Chloe stands up and moves to place her hands on Aubrey's forearms. "I asked him and he said it was totes fine." She reassures.
"Oh, yes, of course. Ask the five-year-old if he can have soda, that will go over well." Aubrey rolls her eyes and gives Chloe a pointed stare to which Chloe just frowns at, because why would Jonah lie to her?
They stare at each other for a long moment before Chloe watches Aubrey sigh and turn to look at Jonah. She turns her head as well, just as the little boy shovels a handful of Goldfish crackers into his little mouth.
Chloe winces as Aubrey turns her head to give her one last glare before she turns her attention back to Jonah. "Jonah, are you sure it's okay for you to have soda?" The blonde's voice is much less shrill as she addresses the five year old and Chloe watches as her face softens.
"I'm sure, Bree! Mommy says I can have it only sometimes and when I'm at someone else's house. She says if they're brave 'nough to offer me soda, it was their problem. She doesn't give it to me often but I'm allowed to have it." He says, emphasizing his point by taking a large sip of the soda.
Chloe bites the inside of her cheek, not daring to look at Aubrey, knowing her blonde counterpart is probably glaring at her. "What does she mean by brave?" She's sure she already knows the answer, but…
Jonah wipes his mouth with the back of his little hand and Chloe can already see the way his legs twitch with the need to move but the boy seems to be holding back. "She says I'm hyper 'nough as it is without soda." He replies, taking the last bite of his sandwich. "Chlo-Chlo, d'you think maybe we can listen to music after I eat? Do you think maybe we can do that and dance or play tag or something fun? Maybe?" He's bouncing a little in his seat as he shoves more Goldfish crackers into his mouth.
"You made the mistake, you can handle it." Aubrey says suddenly, turning on her heel to leave.
Chloe's eyes widen as she realizes Aubrey is going to leave her with a five year old high on a sugar rush. "But, Bree!" She whines, lips pulling down into a pout. The pout almost always works.
Almost.
"Don't even try it with me, Chlo. That face isn't going to work on me this time." Aubrey says sternly, arms folding over her chest.
Panic starts to rise within Chloe until an idea hits her. She turns and moves to scoop up a bouncing Jonah from his chair and perches him on her hip, holding him up with one hand while the other cups around his ear. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Aubrey's stern glare already slipping from her face as Chloe whispers in Jonah's ear.
"Tell her you want her to play with us—give her your best puppy-dog eyes. I mean the best you've got, pull out the big guns." Jonah is nodding as Chloe whispers and when she pulls away from his ear, she smiles at him and nods back. "Ready?" Surely the blonde can't say no to a tiny Mitchell.
"Chloe, what are you-" But Aubrey doesn't even get a chance to finish her question as Jonah's eyes widen slightly and his little lips tug down in a frown.
"Bree, you don't wanna play with me?" Chloe watches as Aubrey's resolve falters. "I was hoping you'd play with me and Chlo-chlo." The ginger girl is surprised when she hears the boy's voice waver and when she turns her head to look at his face; she's even more surprised at Jonah's watery eyes. He reaches out the short distance between them and cups the blonde's face with his little hands. "Please? Please play with us?" His lip quivers for good measure.
Chloe looks back at Aubrey and tries to hide a smirk as she watches green eyes soften and a pink lower lip get caught between white teeth. "Yeah, Bree, play with us?" Chloe coos in the same kicked-puppy tone as Jonah, putting on her own best pout and pressing her cheek against Jonah's so that they're both looking up at Aubrey with sad eyes.
Aubrey sighs loudly and her arms drop back to her sides. "You don't play fair, Chlo." She mumbles as she reaches out to take the boy from Chloe's arms.
The ginger grins widely and holds out her hand to Jonah for a high five which he promptly gives. "That's because it's no fun!" She chirps back with a laugh.
The three spend the afternoon dancing to the music on Jonah's Ipod and having tickle wars. After a few hours, Chloe is sure that Jonah has to be getting tired. He's been on full tilt since the beginning. She's right because as Chloe herself plops down on the couch in a heap, Jonah follows suit, panting.
It's at that moment that Aubrey walks into the den with three glasses of water. Chloe smiles at her girlfriend as the blonde hands the drink to her and sits down beside Jonah, helping him to sit up so that he can sip his water.
The music plays in the background as the three of them settle down until a song comes on that the two adults recognize, but at the same time it's different. It makes Jonah sit up straighter and his eyes widen slightly.
"What's-" Chloe's brows furrow as she listens to the lyrics.
"Is that one of-" Aubrey is sitting up a little straighter, confusion evident on her face.
Jonah looks slightly guilty as he glances between the two women. "It's uh—one of Mommy's mashups… Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars and Just A Dream by Nelly." He looks away for a moment. "You weren't s'posed to hear it."
Chloe notes the way Jonah fidgets in his seat. "How come we weren't supposed to hear it?" She asks, leaning forward in an attempt to gain eye contact.
Jonah seems to think hard about this before he scratches the back of his neck. "'Cause it's not done…?" It sounds more like a question, and that seems to be the only thing Chloe is going to get out of him because he yawns and rubs his eyes. "I'm sleepy."
Chloe hums quietly to herself before she looks at Aubrey, noting the questioning look in her eyes before she checks her watch. "It is getting pretty late." She muses standing up and holding out her hand to the little boy. Chloe pulls her phone from her pocket to see that it's 7 PM. She watches as Jonah takes Aubrey's hand and begins to lead him down the hall to their bedroom but stops to turn and look at the ginger. "Are you coming?"
Nodding, Chloe stands and follows the two down the hall. They settle Jonah in their bed, smiling as he falls asleep almost immediately.
It's 9 o'clock before Beca shows up at Chloe and Aubrey's and the second that the red head opens the door, she feels concern wash over her. Beca looks utterly exhausted as she leans against the doorframe, smiling blearily up at her. The tiny brunette had texted earlier that night to let them know that she would be late.
"Beca, you look terrible!" Chloe says, pulling her inside and closing the door.
Beca raises a brow and smirks. "Wow, you're a real charmer. You look great, too." She replies sardonically.
Chloe winces and before she can correct herself, Aubrey comes up beside her, shaking her head. "She means you look exhausted. Are you okay to drive, home?" The blonde asks worriedly.
Beca waves them off. "Yeah, I'm good. It's just been a long night and I had to deal with this creepy ass customer." She rubs tiredly at her eyes and stiffles a yawn. "Jonah asleep?"
Chloe nods. "We wore him out." She grins brightly at the memory of dancing around the living room with him.
"He wore us out." Aubrey adds with a laugh. "What have we learned, Chlo?" She raises a brow, looking down at the redhead.
She looks sheepish and glances to the side. "Not to give him Mt. Dew…"
Beca all but laughs, shaking her head. "Yeah, I should have warned you… I mean, he's allowed soda every now and then, it just… it makes him super hyper. He's like the energizer bunny."
They all share an amused look before Chloe watches as Beca yawns again and stretches her arms up. "I should get going." Beca says and Chloe frowns, worried that Beca shouldn't be driving.
Aubrey seems to be thinking the same thing because she studies the tiny DJ a moment before speaking. "Are you sure you're okay to drive?"
Smiling, Beca nods. "I'm good. I promise."
Chloe sighs and Aubrey still looks unsure, but she nods. "I'll go get Jonah, then. He's in mine and Aubrey's bed." Just before she turns, she notes a change in Beca's expression, in her whole demeanor, actually. Aubrey raises a brow at Chloe before she turns to the living room to retrieve the boy's bag.
As Chloe continues her ascent down the hall, she tries to discern Beca's sudden change mood swing. Something like hurt had flickered across her face, but Chloe couldn't be sure. She had seemed to stand a little straighter, a little more rigid, but Chloe can't understand why. Maybe Beca was just that tired.
The redhead shakes her head as she enters she and Aubrey's bedroom, leaving the light off so as not to disturb the little boy. She manages to scoop him up in her arms, cooing softly in his ear when he whines and grumbles at being moved, before she moves slowly out of the room and back out to Beca.
Beca is still in the position she'd left her, her expression unreadable. Aubrey is handing over Jonah's bag and Beca just slings it over her shoulder, mumbling a quiet thanks. As Chloe approaches, Beca's eyes land on her and a small smile creases her lips at the sight of Jonah. The little boy is tangled up in Chloe and the redhead doesn't really want to let him go. His face is in her neck and his little breaths tickle her neck. Tiny fingers clutch at her shirt and it fills her with a warmth that she doesn't quite understand. She has the urge to kiss the top of his messy brown locks, but she doesn't as she gently hands the boy over, smiling softly when his little arms wrap around Beca's neck and he barely stirs.
Beca takes a moment to get adjusted before she looks up at the two of them, her face going unreadable again. "Uh, thanks again, guys. I really, really appreciate it." She sounds genuine but Chloe can't help but wonder why the brunette seems so eager to get out of there. "So anyway… see ya." And before either of them can say anything, Beca is out of the door.
"...Okay, is it just me or did she seem to like… shut down all of a sudden?" Chloe turns to Aubrey, noting the way her girlfriend's lips tug down in a frown.
"No, it's not just you." Aubrey says, closing the door. She turns to Chloe and crosses her arms. "But I think I know why…"
Chloe just raises her brows expectantly.
"You said 'mine and Aubrey's bed'. I think maybe she didn't realize that we were together and I think for whatever reason, she was hurt by that knowledge."
Realization dawns on Chloe and she frowns. "Maybe that's good news for us?"
Aubrey's brows knit together in confusion. "How? I don't see how hurting Beca in any capacity is good."
Chloe shakes her head. "No, I mean… I hate hurting her, of course… but, if she's hurt than that means she has feelings for us."
"Or just you." Aubrey says, frowning. "You hang out with her more and spend time with her. I could just be in the way."
"Oh, Bree." Chloe steps closer into Aubrey's personal space and uncrosses the blonde's arms before wrapping her up in a hug. "That's silly. She totes likes you. You'll see."
Aubrey just sighs, but seems to settle into Chloe's comforting embrace. "I suppose I will."