Author's Note: It's been a while- I know. Hi, I'm back. Special thanks to totalbellatrash on tumblr for helping me get back into the swing of things. And for being my sounding board. Let me know your thoughts, guys. (: We're progressing, here. (this chapter is extra long since you all have waited so long) I did very little proofreading, so...
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Twelve
Beca ends up crying herself to sleep. She cries so hard that she idly wonders if her repressed emotions are just making up for lost time. When she wakes up, she's groggy and her eyes feel swollen and she's got a massive headache.
There are fingers running through her hair and it's the only thing keeping her from opening her eyes. Instead she sighs and snuggles further into the abdomen of whom she assumes is Chloe.
"Hey, sleepyhead." Chloe says gently, fingers scratching at the back of Beca's head. "How're you feeling?"
"Like I got eaten by a bear and then shit off a cliff." She smirks when she feels Chloe shake gently with a restrained laugh. "How long have I been out?"
"All night." Chloe replies as she continues her ministrations.
Beca sits up suddenly, eyes wide. "Jesus, you've been like this all night? God, I'm so sorry- you could have just put my head on a pillow, I probably wouldn't of woken up."
Chloe just chuckles softly. "Aubrey and I took turns holding you and tending to Jonah. But we got some sleep, don't worry."
Beca scrubs her face tiredly. "Still…" she sighs and runs her fingers through her hair, trying to ignore the blush she can feel creeping up her neck. "How's Jonah? Did he have anymore nightmares?"
"Jonah is with Aubrey. He had one other nightmare but she managed to calm him down fairly easily. They should be in the guest room- they didn't want to wake you." Chloe explains before stretching her arms up languidly.
Beca nods and stands, taking a moment to stretch before she moves down the hall and toward the guest bedroom, Chloe not far behind her.
The door is half open and Beca is quiet as she peaks her head in. The sight she is greeted with has her insides melting. Aubrey sits at the head of the bed with Jonah curled into her side, his little head resting against her chest as he listens intently to the book Aubrey is reading.
The blonde holds the book in one hand while the other idly runs through messy brown locks. Beca has never seen Jonah so comfortable with someone who wasn't her or his grandmother. Yet here he was with his arm thrown over Aubrey's abdomen and his eyes drooping ever so slightly, clearly fighting sleep.
"That is literally the cutest sight I've ever seen." Beca nearly jumps at the sound of Chloe's whispered words so close to her ear. Her hand goes to her heart as she turns to send a halfhearted glare at the redhead who merely grins. "Sorry." She whispers with a sheepish shrug.
Aubrey's head snaps up at the sound of their voices, brow raising slightly at the two of them. Beca can't really help the dopey smile as she watches Aubrey gently extricate herself from the now sleeping little boy's grasp, tucking him in before she turns and moves toward the door, cracking it behind her.
They move back out into the living room and Aubrey stops to take a moment to look Beca over, causing the brunette to glance away briefly. "How are you feeling, Beca? Are you hungry?"
Beca smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She definitely feels a bit better emotionally, but physically she's still tired and groggy. "I'm okay, I think." She chews on her lower lip and glances down at her sock covered feet. "Listen-" She starts shyly. "I just- I want to thank you guys, again- for what you're doing. I promise Jonah and I will be out of your hair by tomorrow."
"Nonsense, Beca. You and Jonah are welcome here for as long as you need." Aubrey says with a warm smile, hand moving to give Beca's arm a gentle squeeze.
Chloe nods her agreement, smile soft and happy. "Totes! You're always welcome here, Becs."
"Thanks, but I don't want to be a burden. I'll make a few phone calls and get my damn door fixed and-"
"Oh," Chloe glances away, while Aubrey clears her throat. "Well, we sort of made a few phone calls and- well, the girls went and cleaned up and waited for a repairman to come and fix your door. Stacie texted and said everything is as good as new."
Beca thinks maybe she should be angry for what should feel like having her privacy invaded, but her shoulders droop in relief. "Seriously?" Her eyes water briefly, but she blinks back the tears- clearly still exhausted and feeling vulnerable. "You guys are amazing."
Chloe winks, grinning wide. "We know, Becs."
Beca just chuckles and rolls her eyes as Aubrey smiles down at the two of them.
...
They end up going home the next day, but by nighttime, Beca starts to get antsy. She ends up calling Stacie to come stay with her, figuring she's already burdened Aubrey and Chloe long enough. Stacie arrives about an hour later, toting a few piece of small luggage and a bookbag, as well as a pizza.
"Jesus, Stace. I could have helped carry some of that in." Beca says taking the pizza and setting it onto the kitchen table. Stacie makes a dismissive gesture as she shuts the door behind her.
"Hi, aunt Stacie!" Comes a cheery voice.
Beca turns to see Jonah grinning broadly up at Stacie, she turns back to look at her friend who kind of looks like she's about to melt into a puddle, eyes shining with happiness and face full of adoration. "Since when did we start calling Stacie, 'aunt?'" Beca asks, smirking slightly at the way Stacie shoves her gently as she sets her bags down.
"Shut up, he can call me anything he wants." Stacie says, kneeling to open her arms for a hug. Jonah grins and quickly rushes into the embrace, hugging the leggy brunette tightly. Stacie scoops him up and smacks a kiss to his cheek. "I've always wanted a nephew." Jonah just giggles and blushes at the attention.
Heart warming at the interaction between them, Beca smiles. "Well, now you've got one." She says earnestly, meeting Stacie's awe filled gaze.
"Wanna come watch 101 Dalmatians with me?" Jonah asks Stacie, fingers twirling around a long strand of dark hair.
Stacie breaks her gaze with Beca in favor of smiling brightly at Jonah. "Definitely! That's one of my favorite movies!" She replies enthusiastically, carrying him into the living room to settle on the couch.
Beca watches the two of them, chest feeling light and full all at once. Maybe coming to Barden hadn't been such a bad idea after all, she had certainly gained a lot of friends and people she could count on- while Jonah had gained a bunch of aunts who seemed to be as crazy about him as he was with them.
…
Stacie ends up staying for the week, and Beca finds that her life is marginally easier with her friend there, but her nights are still filled with nightmares and any spare time is spent stressing about the set list and perfecting it in time for the next practice.
By the time practice does roll around, Beca manages to finish the set list and nearly chokes on her anxiety when the girls listen to it silently.
"...Well?" She asks, fidgeting with her thumb ring when the mix finally ends. "What'd you think?"
Everyone reacts at once, letting out cheers and various praises.
"Becs, that was amazing!" Chloe says, throwing her arms around the smaller woman.
Aubrey stands off to the side, smiling brightly - something Beca is still getting used to. "I should have listened to you sooner." She says, smile slipping slightly as she glances away. "You're very talented, Beca."
Beca feels her face flush as she pulls back out of Chloe's embrace. "Uh- thanks, dude." She rubs the back of her neck as she glances away. Somehow the compliment means a little more coming from Aubrey, like her approval is the highest of praise.
The rest of the Bellas add their praise, as well, each of them eager to get started practicing it.
By the end of practice, everyone is panting and sweaty, but excited and full of hope for the upcoming competition.
"Okay, Bellas!" Aubrey claps her hands to gain their attention. "I know you're all nervous about the ICCA's, but we're going to kill it! And since you all have worked hard today- have been working hard, Chloe and I have decided to host a Bellas Bonding night. There will be music, alcohol and pizza."
"You had me at pizza!" Fat Amy says, causing a few smirks and chuckles.
"You had me at alcohol." Stacie adds with a wide grin.
Chloe grins and clasps her hands together. "Great! And bring a change of clothes and a pillow, because no one is driving home drunk."
"Text us your schedules, so we can plan accordingly, ladies. Practice is dismissed!" Aubrey says, with a small nod.
Beca turns to gather her things, mentally going over her schedule and hoping that the Avery's will be able to keep Jonah for the night. She goes to catch up with Stacie, but a voice stops her.
"Becs!" Turning back around, Beca raises her chin slightly in acknowledgement.
"What's up, Chlo?"
"How are you doing?" Chloe asks, lower lip getting caught between teeth.
Aubrey watches Beca with a concerned gaze, one arm resting across her stomach while the other pushes a loose curl out of her face. Jesus, why are they both so pretty?
Clearing her throat, Beca shrugs. "I'm alright. Stacie's been staying with me, and helping with Jonah." She leaves out the part about her frequent nightmares.
Aubrey raises a brow while Chloe narrows her eyes slightly. "Really? Because Stacie says you've been having nightmares still." Aubrey says with a slight frown.
"And you look exhausted, Beca." Chloe adds, voice dripping with concern.
Beca frowns. Stacie, you fucking traitor! She thinks, rolling her eyes. "Gee… thanks, Beale - you look great, too." She deadpans. "But really, I'm doing fine."
Chloe gives a sheepish shrug while Aubrey rolls her eyes. "I mean you always look good, Becs." The redhead winks saucily.
"You're beautiful," Aubrey adds with a soft quirk of her lips and Beca knows she's blushing, because her face is burning like fire. "But what Chloe means is that you just seem like you're not getting enough sleep."
Chloe nods, placing both hands on Beca's arms and pulling her forward gently. She manages to hold back the surprised yelp as Chloe stares intently into her eyes. "So, are you?"
"I-uh, what?" Beca blinks, trying to regain some sort of composure and keep her eyes up instead of falling to chloe's lips like they want to. She shifts her gaze to Aubrey instead, but it does the exact opposite, because the blonde is smiling almost coquettishly at her, green eyes just a shade darker than usual. (When had Beca started to take notice of the exact shade of Aubrey's eyes? Or anyone's for that matter?)
It steals Beca's breath away.
"Getting enough sleep." Chloe adds, forcing Beca's gaze back to her.
Beca's breath comes out in a quiet whoosh as she manages to subtly step back from Chloe's grasp. "I mean- yeah. Well, no. But I will." She stammers, backing up slowly. "I'm just-" she stumbles over her bag, mumbling a few curses as she leans down to pick it up. "Still processing, ya know?" She finally finishes, offering a weak smile. "I appreciate the concern, but really- I'm fine. I should- I should go." She juts a thumb behind her.
"Okay. Call us if you need us." Chloe says, smiling brightly at Beca while Aubrey offers her a small nod and a little grin.
Beca nods. "Sure, yeah. Uh- looking forward to the bonding thing." She says as she turns away from the two and hurries out the door.
…
'Bellas Bonding Night', happens three days later, on a Friday. It's the only time that all the girls are free for the night, and no one has anything pressing happening the next day. The Averys agree to watch Jonah for the night, much to Beca's appreciation.
Beca and Stacie decide to go together since the leggy brunette is still staying with Beca. But of course the night of the get-together, the two of them show up 30 minutes late because Jonah couldn't decide on what toys to bring and Stacie couldn't decide on what outfit to wear and what set of PJs to bring while Beca had been ready to go hours ago. "I'm beginning to wonder if you two actually are related…" Beca had deadpanned as Stacie tossed another outfit aside.
The door swings open to reveal Chloe holding a red solo cup, cheeks tinged pink and smile blindingly bright, making it clear she's already a few drinks in. "Hi guys!"
"You're late." Aubrey appears behind Chloe, looking slightly more sober. Her brow lofts slightly but there's a hint of a smirk on her lips.
"Yeah, well, blame Stacie and Jonah. I've been ready for hours." Beca rolls her eyes as she glances up at Stacie who just reaches over and plucks the cup from Chloe's hands with a grin before she sashays into the apartment, calling over her shoulder, "But I look hot, so it's worth it!"
Chloe makes a noise of protest but her reflexes are too slow, so she's left staring after Stacie with a pout. "That was my drink." Aubrey smirks down at her redheaded counterpart, half in amusement and half in affection.
"And now it's Stacie's." Beca says with a chuckle before she reaches beside Chloe to snatch the cup out of Aubrey's hand. "And this," She holds up the red solo cup as she moves around the two captains. "Is mine."
"Hey!" Aubrey calls after her before shutting the door.
"Snooze you lose, Posen!" Beca smirks crookedly before she takes a sip, only to grimace and nearly choke. "Jesus Christ, Bree. What is this? Fucking gasoline?"
"Whiskey, straight." Aubrey laughs outright and it's not something Beca has really heard before. It's free and unrestrained, smile bright and beautiful. Chloe just grins dopily up at the blonde, like she's never seen anyone so beautiful - which Beca has to kind of agree.
"Close your mouth, stud- you'll catch flies." Stacie whispers into her ear, causing Beca to jump slightly and let out a startled little squeak. She shoots a glare at a grinning Stacie, who's eyes seem to sparkle with mischief as she waggles her eyebrows down at Beca.
Beca just rolls her eyes before she takes a quick sip of the whiskey she'd stolen from Aubrey, managing to keep from coughing this time, but unable to keep the grimace from her face.
The night progresses with pizza and karaoke and numerous competitive games of Mario Kart on the Wii that CR brought over. Much to everyone's surprise, Stacie wins almost every game, with Aubrey coming in second and CR in third.
"How are you so good at this?" CR grumbles as she slumps in defeat.
Stacie grins wide. "Oh, you sweet summer child." She pats CR's shoulder. "I am the master at Mario Kart. If I'd have known we were going to be playing video games, I would have brought my PS3 and a few COD games, or Halo."
Beca's brows raise slightly. "What the fuck is COD?" She asks from her spot on the couch. Somehow she had ended up wedged between Aubrey and Chloe, but she was just tipsy enough not to be so nervous about it.
Stacie whirls around, a look of shock on her face. "Call Of Duty?" Beca blinks up at her, still clueless. "Oh god, okay. We'll fix that sometime soon, B. Don't worry, grandma. I'll even teach you to play World Of Warcraft."
Beca grins up at Stacie. "Dude, you're an actual fucking nerd."
"But I'm hot and when those fuckboys find out they just got headshotted by a girl, 12 times in a row- god it's hilarious. Their rage tears make my skin glow."
"You do have great skin." Jessica says from her spot in a recliner, cuddled up next to Ashley.
Stacie smiles. "I know."
"Alright you flat butts! It's my turn, I bet I can beat you, legs." Fat Amy snatches the controller from CR and readies herself while Stacie merely shrugs and takes a sip of her drink before she settles back into her spot on the floor, eyes glued to the tv.
Stacie ends up beating Fat Amy, but just barely. When they're all too drunk to focus on the tv, they all end up on the floor in a circle and yet again, Beca somehow gets pulled down between Aubrey and Chloe.
She had intended to get some air and sit by Stacie, but their hands had respectively wrapped around each of Beca's and pulled her down between them. Stacie had shot her a knowing little grin, but Beca just flipped her off.
This time, as Beca sits between them- she's suddenly aware of every touch. She's just past tipsy and her senses are dulled yet intense all at once. Chloe is like a fucking koala, arms wrapped around one of Beca's and her head on Beca's shoulder. Aubrey is just- well she's pressed tightly against Beca and her pajama shorts are short enough that every time Beca moves, her own leg brushes up against Aubrey's and it takes everything in Beca not to let her fingers trail across exposed flesh.
It's torture, honestly. Sweet torture. And it doesn't help that Stacie occasionally sends her knowing looks and a few obscene hand gestures, making Beca both laugh and blush all at once.
"Alright, pitches. Let's play a game." Fat Amy says, taking a long sip of her drink. "Never Have I Ever. Is everyone familiar with the rules?"
Everyone murmurs their affirmations as they settle in more comfortably.
"I'll start-" Fat Amy taps her chin in thought. "Never Have I Ever… Cried during a Disney Movie."
Everyone, even Beca takes a sip of their drinks (okay, Lilly doesn't, but nobody questions her). "Dude, how could you not cry when Bambi's mom died?"
"Or when Dumbo's mother was taken away from him and he went to visit her when she was in the cage, and she rocked him from inside with her trunk?" Ashley asks in disbelief, her voice wavering slightly, like even just the thought of that scene makes her want to cry. Jessica wraps an arm around her tightly.
"Or when Bing Bong died?" Chloe pouts from beside Beca as everyone nods with murmurs of agreement.
Fat Amy gives a shrug. "Guys- they're just cartoons."
"Okay, moving on from the fact that Fat Amy is apparently heartless," CR says with a raised eyebrow in the Aussie's direction. The blonde just shrugs again, uncaring.
"Never Have I Ever… Kissed a dude." Everyone except of course, CR takes a sip.
Aubrey is next. She looks thoughtful for a moment before she seems to think of something. "Never Have I Ever failed a test." A few of the girls groan as they take a sip of their drinks, excluding Stacie who just grins over at Aubrey's surprised expression.
"Oh, shit- it's my turn?" Beca says after a moment of everyone staring at her. "Uh…" She stares down at her drink, trying to think of a question. "Never Have I Ever… uh- flirted with a police officer to get out of a ticket." Fat Amy and Stacie both take a drink and everyone laughs.
"Never Have I Ever gotten into a fist fight." Chloe says after a moment of thought. Beca, Stacie, Lilly, CR, and Fat Amy all take a sip of their drinks.
Jessica is next. She's silent for a moment, clearly trying to think of a good questions. "Uhm- Never Have I Ever… used a fake I.D." She finally says. Everyone save for Ashley, Aubrey and CR take drinks.
"Never Have I Ever… kissed a girl." Ashley says, a light blush coloring her cheeks. This time, everyone except Fat Amy and Lilly take a sip. Everyone seems a little surprised at the revelation with Fat Amy making a comment about being the only straight one there.
"Hold on- be kind, rewind-" Stacie says before the game can move on. "B- you've kissed a girl?"
Beca gives Stacie a look, because now everyone is looking at her, including Aubrey and Chloe. "Uh- yeah. Why?"
Stacie just lofts a brow, her lips curling up into a hint of a smile. "Just- I don't know- you don't seem like the adventurous type… I bet it was like- some sort of truth or dare thing..."
Beca knows, somewhere in the back of her mind that Stacie is egging her on, but she can't figure out why. "I am so! I can- I can be adventurous… I mean- it wasn't a dare, but I wasn't- I wasn't really sober a lot of the times."
"There were multiple times?" Chloe sits up to seemingly get a better look at Beca, brows raised. Aubrey is looking down at Beca with an unreadable expression.
"I- I mean, yeah… I-" She can feel herself blushing, now and she's glad for the low lighting because even her fucking arm are turning red. "Why's that so surprising? I was a teenager."
"Wait, so- I mean- you don't have to answer this, of course-" CR starts, leaning forward slightly in interest. "So, are you bi? Have you- ya know… with a chick?"
"Oh my god, I thought this was Never Have I Ever, not 20 questions with Beca Mitchell." She doesn't look at any of them, finding a loose string in the blanket covering her lap and picking it. "I'm gay, and yes."
CR looks as though she's about to ask more, but to Beca's relief, Aubrey claps her hands. "Okay, that's enough. Who's next?" She gestures for Lilly to go, before she places her free hand on Beca's knee and squeezes gently without looking away from Lilly, who mumbles something that no one understands. Beca thinks she wouldn't hear anyone, anyway because the only thing she can focus on is the way Aubrey's thumb brushes over her knee, or the way Chloe's breath hits her neck as the redhead settles her head back onto Beca's shoulder.
Holy fucking shit am I gay.
A few more rounds in, they've gone through so many questions that now they're just seeing who can come up with the most ridiculous ones. "Never Have I Ever…" Jessica blows out a puff of air before she shrugs. "I don't know- had sex with a dingo." Nobody drinks- except Fat Amy. Everyone gawks at her in both horror and shock.
"What?" Fat Amy asks as she wipes her mouth with her hand. "Our School Mascot was a dingo- bloke never took off the head of the costume."
Everyone laughs while making various noises of disgust.
"Okay, who's up for shots?" Fat Amy gets to her feet, already heading into the kitchen.
"Body shots!" Stacie says excitedly, trailing behind Amy.
"Eh, I'll make the shots." Fat Amy says, already slicing up a few limes. "Everyone grab a partner."
Beca reluctantly moves into the kitchen, Aubrey and Chloe trailing behind her. "Uh-" Before she can opt out, Stacie is snatching her arm up and placing a shot of tequila in it.
"C'mon, B. I thought you could be adventurous." Stacie teases.
Beca narrows her eyes. "I can." She reaches out for a lime, clearly accepting the challenge.
"Okay, guess we know who's first!" Fat Amy says, placing the lime in Beca's hand.
Beca's lips quirk up in a confident little smirk as she holds out the lime to Stacie who grins and takes it, holding it between her teeth. Beca then gently yanks Stacie down so she can lick along the side of the brunette's neck slowly before she salts the area.
Stacie looks a little surprised at Beca's abrasiveness, but smirks around the lime in her mouth with a quirked eyebrow.
Without warning, the smaller woman yanks Stacie back down and runs her tongue along the salted skin before she throws the shot back without even a grimace. She then wraps her fingers around Stacie's neck and pulls her down further so that she can reach the lime. Canting her head to the side, Beca leans up and takes the lime from Stacie, their lips just barely brushing together before she pulls back, holding the sour fruit between her teeth before she slowly begins to chew and swallow it, rhine and all.
Stacie licks her lips, smirking down at Beca. "Damn, Mitchell." She says, fanning herself.
Beca just smirks confidently up at Stacie, though inside- her heart is hammering away like a jackhammer inside her chest. She completely misses the jealous looks coming from Chloe and Aubrey from behind her.
"Alright, Shawshank!" Fat Amy cheers. "Who's next?"
The rest of the night is a bit of a blur for Beca, but she does remember Aubrey and Chloe going next and Beca nearly loses it at the sight of Aubrey's tongue running along Chloe's pulse point. She also remembers the dead eye contact from Chloe as it happened, her eyes darker than Beca had ever seen them.
She briefly remembers Jessica and Ashley going and then- making out, much to the amusement of the other Bellas.
She doesn't remember Aubrey and Chloe clinging to her sides the rest of the night. And she certainly doesn't remember going to bed with them.
But, the first thing Beca registers as she's dragged from the dregs of sleep is the throbbing behind her eyelids. The second is that she can't really move, something is trapping her to the bed. She opens her eyes slowly, groaning quietly at the shooting pain the action garners. When her eyes finally focus, her entire body stiffens as she takes note of where exactly she is.
Her own body is pressed into Aubrey's side, arm slung over the blonde's middle and her head resting against Aubrey's shoulder. If that wasn't awkward enough, Chloe is spooning her- her arm tucked around Beca's midsection and her face burrowing into Beca's shoulder blade. The arm of Aubrey's that Beca is resting in the crook of seems to extend out to touch Chloe.
There's a part of Beca - the part that isn't actively panicking and trying to think of a way to get out of this without waking the two women - that really, really likes this.
But the more dominant part of her brain- the part that's screaming at her to run, tells her to push that thought back, to lock it up and throw away the key.
Carefully, Beca removes Chloe's hand and slowly begins to scoot down the bed. She pauses every few seconds to make sure the two don't wake up. It takes almost ten minutes for Beca to finally reach the edge of the bed. With one last (longing) look at the two sleeping women- who seemed to immediately gravitate to each other in Beca's absence, Beca exits the bedroom. She tiptoes around a mass of sleeping Bellas until she reaches the kitchen, where she finds Stacie sipping on a cup of coffee and checking her phone.
"Hey, B!" Stacie chirps, causing the smaller woman to wince.
"God, not so loud, dude." Beca grumbles.
Stacie chuckles before moving to pour Beca a cup of coffee and slide it across the table to her. "So-" She waggles her eyebrows. "Where did you sleep?" She asks in a tone that tells Beca she already knows.
Beca shoots her friend a glare. "Shut up, Conrad. I don't know what you're up to, but don't."
"Me?" Stacie looks offended. "I was just asking a simple question. No need to get so defensive." She pauses to take a sip of her coffee. "But, really- they were all over you all night, B. I wish you'd just see that."
Beca sighs and drops her head to the countertop. "Too complicated, dude."
Stacie sighs, too. "More like too stubborn." She mutters into her coffee cup.
"What?" Beca lifts her head to give Stacie another glare- this one much more halfhearted.
"Nothing," Stacie flicks her hand dismissively. "Help me make breakfast for everyone."
Beca stares at Stacie carefully, knowing that this wouldn't be the end of the conversation. "Alright." She finally concedes, getting to her feet to open the fridge for ingredients. At least Stacie seemed to know when to drop it, though.