"This is easily the worst idea anyone's ever had", Beca grumbled, as she slapped another sandwich together. "Rosie, I hope you're up!"

"Why are we all going to the zoo?" Courtney questioned.

"How are we getting there?" Natalie questioned for the fourth time.

"Aunt Amy's car, for the last time. We're all going because apparently we can't do anything by halves, and yes, we all have to go". Beca

Rosie stumbled down the hallway, her eyes heavy with sleep. "When are we going?" she croaked, and Beca glanced at the clock.

"Amy and everyone will be here in an hour. Get some breakfast and we'll be on our way". Beca ran her hand through her messy curls. "Courtney, how are you having your hair today?"

"Braids, please". Courtney beamed up at her and Beca pressed a kiss to her forehead.

(Knowing how to braid came in handy with her three girls- she was able to weave intricate patterns and make Chloe insanely jealous.)

"Are we gonna see the monkeys?" Natalie yawned slightly, and Rosie beamed.

"Let's see the monkeys first!"

"You are a monkey", Beca said, as she tried to comb the tangles out of Courtney's hair. "Courtney Ryerson, how does your hair manage to get so knotty?"

"Dunno".

"Aunt Aubrey says it's because we take after you". Rosie's eyes sparkled cheekily and Beca gasped playfully.

"Rosie!" Natalie giggled.

"We're here!" Fat Amy hollered, swinging her ten seater van into the driveway, Stacie waving excitedly from the backseat.

"Beca, where are their seats?" Tom called. "Let's get this show on the road!"

Beca pointed to the driveway, where she had unbuckled the two car seats from her own car. "We aren't all going in Amy's, are we?"

"No, no". Chloe shook her head. "Tom, Michael, Cynthia Rose and Aubrey are all going in Aubrey's car. Stacie, Lily, the girls, you, Fat Amy and I are taking hers".

"You put Tom and Michael together?" Beca whisper shrieked. "That's probably the worst idea anyone has ever said".

"Mummy said that about going to the zoo today", Courtney said to Chloe cheerfully, as the redhead lifted the little girl to her hip.

"Did she?"

"Yep". Courtney nodded and Chloe chuckled, tugging on one of her braids.

"Well we're going to have to prove her wrong, aren't we?"

Courtney nodded, giggling.

"Rosie posie!" Michael said brightly, as Rosie came out of the house.

"Hey Uncle Michael", Rosie grinned, and he swung her into the air, smacking a noisy kiss to her cheek and making her squeal in protest.

"Uncle Michael!"

Michael laughed, setting her back on the ground.

"Hey Aunt Stacie, can you sit in the back with me?" Courtney questioned.

"Can I go in Aunt Aubrey's car?" Natalie questioned.

"No, your seat's going in Aunt Amy's car", Beca said quickly, and Natalie pouted. "I know, it sucks".

"Dunno why I have to be in a stupid seat", she grumbled.

"It's because you inherited your mother's height, munchkin", Tom said helpfully, and Beca smacked his shoulder. "Hey!" he squawked. "It's true!"

(Unfortunately, all three of her children had inherited her pint sized height. The poor things- Beca felt bad, she really did.)

"Where are we meeting Jesse?" Natalie wanted to know. "I've got a real good joke for Dean!"

"Yeah?" Michael said to her. "You like Jesse, do you?"

"Yeah, he's really nice and funny". Natalie smiled. "We like him, right Courtney?"

Courtney nodded. "Yep".

"Hey, what's the hold up?" Cynthia Rose poked her head out of the car. "Let's get going!"

"Hold on!" Michael held his hands up. "Patience, people!"

Tugging on Courtney's car seat to make sure it was buckled in properly; he lifted Natalie's booster seat into the back of the van. "Where's Rosie posie riding?"

"Aunt Aubrey's car", Rosie said immediately.

"Amy's car", Beca corrected, and Rosie pouted.

"Maybe on the way back, chicken". Aubrey kissed the top of Rosie's head and she grinned at her.

"Oh my God, who's his friend with the good hair?" Stacie fanned herself and Beca smacked her arm.

"Don't even think about it".

"Hey Becs!" Jesse waved enthusiastically, helping Brody out of the car. Brody, catching a glimpse of Beca, went to bolt, but Jesse grabbed him by the back of his shirt. "Hey!"

"Hi guys", Beca said cheerfully, coming towards them with Natalie and Courtney's hands in her own.

"Beca, can we go and see the monkeys first?" Dean said immediately, and Brody shyly wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Hi Brody- if it's alright with your dad we can, Dean, the girls love the monkeys too. Nat and Courtney want to see the monkeys first".

"Jesse", Michael said coolly.

"Hi Michael, nice to see you again". Jesse smiled warmly at Beca's older brother, noticing the way the older man stood a little closer to the tiny brunette. "Guys, these are Beca's friends- and older brother".

"Hi, I'm Hat". Hat waved and Courtney giggled.

"That's a funny name!"

"Courtney", Aubrey reprimanded.

"My real name is Lionel", he said sadly, and Ben started to chuckle.

"Good Lord, that's why they call you Hat?" Beca's eyes widened, and Aubrey smacked her hand.

"Beca!"

Beca glared in protest. "Guys, this is Michael, my older brother. Aubrey, Stacie, Chloe, Tom, Lily, and Fat Amy, our driver for the day".

"Our driver since college", Fat Amy corrected.

"They call you Fat Amy?" Donald said in amusement.

"Yep, so twig-"

"Amy!"

"Never mind".

"This is Donald, Benji, Hat and Unicycle".

(He still carried a freaking unicycle. Jesse thought that maybe he'd outgrow that habit, but apparently not. Now he had little Brody trying to convince him to let him ride a unicycle, and how was he supposed to tell his youngest son that that was not a cool thing to do?)

"Uncle Benji, can I have a piggyback?" Brody wanted to know, and Benji knelt down to scoop up the little boy. "Hey Natalie, did you know my Uncle Benji does magic?"

"Really?" Natalie's eyes sparkled. "Could you please show me a trick?"

"Later", he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Is this a bad idea?" Beca whispered to Jesse and Jesse shrugged.

"Maybe. It's alright, Benji promised when the kids were born never to teach them tricks that involved fire".

"That's very comforting, thank you".

"I thought you'd think that".

She tried to fight a smile, eventually giving in to the edge of her mouth turning up. "Let's do this, Swanson".

"Let's do this, Mitchell".

"Let's go", Ben said impatiently. Jesse laughed, wrapping an arm around him.

"Alright, let's go!"

Donald hoisted Dean onto his shoulders. "Watch the hair, buddy".

Natalie giggled. "I like your hair, Donald".

Donald grinned at her, pulling a comb out of his pocket.

"Uncle Donald has rubber ducks", Brody said cheerfully, and Courtney burst into giggles, swinging Tom's hand. "And a shower cap. When I go to Uncle Donald's house I get to play with the rubber ducks in my bath".

"Aunt Chloe and Uncle Tom have bath crayons", Courtney piped up. "And I get to draw when I sleep over".

"Really?" Brody looked at Jesse. "Hey Daddy, can we get crayons for the bath?"

"Ask Uncle Benji".

"She's a bad influence", Benji said to Beca, and the little brunette beamed.

"She takes after her mother", Cynthia Rose piped up, and Michael chuckled.

The monkeys were a hit.

As were the helium balloons each child had collected, near the monkeys.

"The monkeys are my favourite, Uncle Donald", Ben told the man cheerfully. "Hey, um… Chloe, do you like the monkeys?"

"I do", Chloe nodded, squeezing Rosie's hand as the girl scowled. "You like the monkeys too, right Rosie posie?"

"Not as much as Courtney and Natalie".

"That's because they are monkeys", Tom said, reaching up to tickle Natalie's sides (having lifted her onto his shoulders as they walked into the zoo).

"Hey, what's Ben's deal?" Donald wanted to know, motioning towards the eight year old.

"Yeah, I don't know. He's got this rivalry with Rosie that no one understands". Jesse shrugged. He too had noticed the way his usually bright and cheerful eight year old was quieter around Beca and her girls, but he didn't say anything.

Chloe sidled up to Beca, tugging her away from Jesse.

"Do Rosie and Jesse's eldest-"

"Ben", Beca filled in, nodding at the eight year old walking beside Courtney.

"Do Rosie and Ben not get along?" Chloe asked curiously, and Beca shook her head.

"Nope".

"She's so much like you".

"Something tells me I should take offence to that". Beca glared at Chloe and the redhead laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

Beca and Jesse walked alongside each other, occasionally nudging each other's hands, but never taking them. Beca swung Brody's hand, while Courtney gripped Jesse's.

"She's really happy", Aubrey whispered to Michael. "I never saw her that happy even when she was with Luke".

"She is", Michael admitted. "Doesn't mean I like it. She was so hurt, Aubrey, and I know she couldn't stand to go through that again".

"I don't think she will, Michael, just look at her".

"Be nice", Chloe said under her breath. "She's happy, she's really truly happy right now".

"Where to now?" Beca wanted to know, waiting for the general consensus.

"The lions!" Stacie piped up.

"Let's go!" Fat Amy agreed.

Courtney reached for Jesse's hand again, and Jesse smiled at her, taking her tiny hand in his. Swinging it gently, he glanced at Benji.

"He's got himself a fan", Benji said quietly to Donald, who nodded enthusiastically.

"He's really happy", Hat added, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't even remember seeing him this happy when Katherine was alive".

"No, I don't either", Uni admitted.

"So, it's come to my attention that if you guys get married", Fat Amy said cheerfully, biting into a sandwich, "You would be the real live Brady Bunch".

"Amy!"

"I mean, that's just what I've observed. And if you do get married, we are totally singing the Brady Bunch theme song in a capella".

(Aubrey started to laugh at the look of sheer panic that crossed Beca's face.)

"You were one of those a capella girls!" Jesse said, turning to Beca.

(She didn't know he had to point it out like that, she had admitted it to him. under duress, but she'd admitted it nonetheless.)

"Jesse was into organised nerd singing too", Beca filled in for Chloe's sake. "All of them were".

"Hell yeah we were! ICCA finalists!" Hat said brightly, and Benji nodded in agreement.

"This just is my best idea yet", Fat Amy announced, and Beca groaned.

"Those are never comforting words coming from you".

"We could sing the Brady Bunch theme song in a capella TOGETHER!"

They were unsure whether or not their children were laughing at the idea of their friends' singing in a capella, or the colour that their parents' cheeks had turned. Either way, all six kids cracked up, laughing so hard that Dean choked on his juice pouch.

The day went smoother than either of them anticipated. Despite the grilling Michael gave Jesse when they sat down for lunch, the rivalry between Ben and Rosie (Jesse had hauled his eldest son away from the picnic tables and told him to brighten up, while Beca had simply shot her daughter a look that said it all), the constant Brady Bunch references (Jesse laughed while Beca flushed red) and the fact that Stacie was grinding up upon Donald (Cynthia Rose hauled her away after seeing the look on alarmed look Beca's face), despite Donald seeming more interested in Lily (Beca made a mental note to text the Asian when she got home), everyone had a really good time. Chloe took photos of everything and everyone (because Chloe was determined to capture every moment of their time together as a group), the kids giggled together over the jokes Fat Amy told (Beca was sure they were going to be terribly inappropriate, and she was only half wrong), and Benji showed them a few tricks (without fire, he had hastened to assure Jesse).

"Thank you for a really great time, Bec", Jesse said to her, as they headed into the car park. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I'd kiss you, but your brother would skin me alive".

"Ignore him", she whispered back, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek (all but giving Michael an aneurism on the spot- they weren't blood related, but she had been his baby sister since she was twelve).

"Can we do this again sometime?"

"I think we can". She shrugged, giving him a small smile that she had been fighting all day (Chloe cursed silently, because she didn't have her phone out). Turning away from Jesse, she faced the boys.

"Thanks for a nice day, guys", she said sincerely, and Courtney nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah! I had fun!" she said, her balloons bouncing along with her nods (somehow, she and little Brody had acquired four more balloons each, almost enough to send the tiny girl floating away).

"Guys, say goodbye to Beca and the girls", Jesse chided gently, and Brody flung his arms around Beca with such force she almost toppled backwards.

"Bye Beca!"

"See ya, Brody". She ruffled his hair (making Stacie hold back a squeak, from where she was standing next to the van). "Bye Dean, see ya Ben".

"Bye Beca", Dean said shyly, and Ben waved in acknowledgement.

Courtney hugged Jesse, and Natalie shyly approached Benji.

"Thank you for showing us those tricks at lunch".

"You're welcome!" he said in surprise.

(Somehow, Jesse was never as grateful when he showed the boys tricks.)

Saying goodbye once more, they parted to their separate cars, but not before Michael trotted after Jesse.

"Michael!" Beca said warningly, glaring at him. Michael held up his hands in surrender, but kept walking towards Jesse.

"Hey man", Jesse said uncertainly.

"Take care of her", he said gruffly. "I don't want her getting hurt again".

"I'm not gonna hurt her", Jesse almost mumbled.

"Good. I'm holding you to that".

(Jesse would never say it to Beca, but her brother terrified him. he was meant to be scared of her father, not her older brother. He was almost glad that the siblings had different parents, because it meant that maybe Beca's dad wouldn't be so harsh. Unlikely, but he'd cross his fingers for the best.)

"So, Courtney, did you have fun?" Beca wanted to know, as she helped her three year old into her pyjamas. Courtney nodded enthusiastically, her damp curls bouncing.

"Yep! Can we do that again one day? Can we go to the zoo again?"

"Maybe", Beca said, shrugging. "What about you, Ro? Nat?"

"It was alright". Rosie shrugged.

"I had fun", Natalie piped up. "Donald is so funny!"

"Donald is funny", Beca agreed.

"I think I'd like it if we did something together again", Natalie mused. "Maybe before school starts?"

"Maybe". Beca shrugged, grinning.

"Did you guys have a good day?" Jesse wanted to know, as he tucked Brody under his blankets.

"It was okay". Ben shrugged.

"I did!" Brody shouted. "Beca is so nice. And her friend Chloe? Chloe is really nice too. And Amy is funny".

"She is funny, isn't she?" Jesse agreed. "What about you, Deano?"

"Yeah, it was good". He nodded. "Are we gonna do that again one day?"

"Maybe". He shrugged. "We've got to go school shopping before anything, though bud".

"Are we all gonna be at the same school?" Ben wanted to know, standing in the doorway of his brothers' room.

Jesse had asked, and Beca had confirmed it. Rosie went to Barden Elementary, and Natalie was due to start kindergarten at the start of the school year. Both Ben and Dean were enrolled and were looking forward to start, while Brody would head into preschool.

"You are", Jesse nodded.

"I hope I'm not in Rosie's class".

"Ben!"

"What?" he protested. "I don't like Rosie".

(While the younger four had no problem getting along, there was a rivalry between Rosie and Ben that no one could explain.)

"Alright, time for bed". Kissing Dean and Brody, Jesse hoisted his eight yea old upside down over his shoulder, making Ben squeal with laughter. "Good night boys! Don't let the bedbugs bite!"

"Night Daddy!"

"Good night Daddy!"

Beca glanced into the Natalie and Courtney's room, smiling when she found them both asleep. Adjusting the blankets over Courtney's shoulders, she kissed both their foreheads before going into Rosie's room.

"Sleep tight Rosie", she whispered to the little girl, and Rosie rolled over in her sleep. "I love you".

Flicking off the hallway light, she moved into the lounge room. There was a repeat of 30 Rock on TV, and grabbing a bottle of beer from the fridge, she settled down on the couch. Just as she got comfortable, her mobile buzzed on the table and she groaned.

Hey weirdo we had a really great day

She found herself grinning like an idiot, forcing it away even though she knew Jesse couldn't see her.

It was alright, I guess.

He could tell that she was smiling. She'd be trying to hide it, but he knew she was smiling.

Just alright? I'm appalled. We'll have to do something else then

That definitely made her smile.

I suppose I could deal with that. If I had to.

Jesse beamed.

That can be arranged. Sleep tight weirdo, don't let the bedbugs bite

Beca set the phone down, leaning back into the cushions once more. Her eyes were almost closed, Kay Canon's banter lulling her to sleep, when the phone buzzed once more.

Of course it would be from Chloe.

Marry that boy.

(Of course Chloe would jump straight to planning her wedding, it was so typical of the redhead.)

When her phone buzzed again, Beca braced herself for what was sure to be an influx of wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses (because she was one hundred and fifty percent certain that Chloe had already started to plan her wedding). Instead, she found herself looking at a text from Fat Amy.

Why, if Jesse can name one of his kids after his friend, did you fail to name one of yours after their favourite aunt?