Chapter 24: Meet the Beale's!
A/N: Enjoy!
To my Usual Guest: Thank you!
To Everyone Else: If you love this chapter, you can thank my Usual Guest for putting all this into my head. If you hate this chapter, you can blame my Usual Guest for putting all this into my head. :-).
Consistency is key people...key.
Chloe breathed a sigh of relief as the plane touched down with only a small bump before smoothly slowing to an easy speed on its way to the gate. She was by no means afraid of flying, but ever since September eleventh, followed by those occasional plane crashes and disappearances, she was always a little anxious when traveling by air. The man beside her had been polite and pleasant during the flight, but she could recognize the slightly hopeful look in his eyes and knew exactly what was coming.
"So, would you want to grab a drink while you're in town?"
Chloe gave him a small smile. "Ah, no thanks," she answered, hoping her positive tone let him down easy. "I'm actually seeing someone and I'm just looking forward to spending time with my family over the holidays."
He nodded understandingly, replying, "I figured someone as pretty as you would be, but you can't blame me for asking. Have a nice time with your family."
Chloe gave him a much warmer smile as the plane stopped at the gate, saying, "Thanks! I hope you have a nice time in Nashville."
She watched him nod again, then stand up in the aisle to retrieve his bag from the overhead compartment, her thoughts instantly turning to Beca as she switched her phone off airplane mode. Chloe shot off a text to her girlfriend letting her know she landed safely, before reading one from her brother letting her know they were waiting at baggage claim.
"We..." she mumbled questioningly to herself, wondering who CJ had brought with him. After exiting the plane, Chloe made her way through the airport to baggage claim, looking around for her oldest brother.
It wasn't CJ that caught her attention, but two identical young men, with brown hair and blue eyes, calling her name as they headed in her direction. Grinning she, laughed as they both swooped her up in a hug, lifting her off the ground and squeezing tightly.
"I thought you guys weren't coming until Christmas Eve!" Chloe exclaimed as they put her down, stepping back to look at her twin brothers. "Ev, I've never seen you so scruffy!" she added, her voice disbelieving.
Evan chuckled, rubbing a hand over his jaw before glancing at his twin. "Just trying it out," he said, before his brother cut him off.
"And by that, he means that he's trying to impress a girl," Oliver filled in, his eyes alight with mischief. "But mom doesn't know yet...imagine when she finds out he's got a crush."
"Tell her and die," Evan retorted.
Before Chloe could respond, a third man joined their group, wrapping her in another hug.
"Hey, Chlo-bear," he said, pulling back to get a good look at her. "You look good! Cali treating you well?"
"I love it out there!" she answered happily, looking up into the handsome face of her oldest brother. CJ was a spitting image of their father, also with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes.
CJ smiled and glanced over at the thinning crowd around the baggage claim, before looking at his watch. "Well let's grab your stuff and you can tell us all about it. Mom's beyond excited to see you."
Chloe sighed, walking over to the carousel with her brother, replying, "I'm sure she is. She's asked me twenty times when she can come visit me in California. It hasn't even been six months."
Oliver chimed in, his voice a high-pitched imitation of their mother's. "Aw Chlo, you're her only baby girl and she misses you."
Chloe rolled her eyes, giving him a light shove. "You guys have been gone since undergrad and she never gave you a hard time," she said accusingly to the twins.
Evan shrugged. "She's got a soft spot for you. By the time we came around it was just two more boys. She was waiting for her princess," he said, exchanging a look with his brother before they both laughed.
Chloe ignored them, spotting her suitcase and moving to quickly grab it off the carousel. CJ came up behind her, grabbing the handle and started to wheel it back towards where the twins were waiting. "How is my favorite nephew?" she asked excitedly, falling into step with him.
"A terror," CJ replied, shaking his head though he had a wide smile on his face. "Mom says he's just like I was at his age. A tiny ball of energy. I swear he never stops moving."
"How's Nora? You guys thinking of having another?" Chloe asked, studying the look on her brother's face.
CJ looked at her thoughtfully. "We may be talking about it," he hinted with a smirk. "What about you, princess? Meet any blonde surfer dudes out in Cali?"
They were close enough for the twins to hear that question, Oliver jumping right on board, saying, "Yeah, Chlo. Are you dating anyone? Do we need to come teach him a lesson?" He cracked his knuckles as he waited for her answer.
"Lower the testosterone," Chloe scoffed, quirking an eyebrow. "And quit cracking your knuckles like you'd actually hit someone with your precious hands. Both of you," she added, unable to stop her grin at Evan's guilty look.
"Okay, okay," Evan conceded. "If any of us are going to beat up your boyfriend it'll be daddy junior," he said, smirking at the oldest Beale.
CJ sighed, before quickly wrapping a muscular forearm around Evan's neck without breaking stride, forcing him to twist around and walk backwards. "What'd you call me, little bro?" he taunted, emphasizing the 'little.'
Chloe grinned, before coming to her brother's rescue. "Aw, CJ let him go. He was paying you a compliment since you're definitely the only one out of all of them who could beat anyone up."
CJ glanced at her, sighing and releasing Evan, who immediately shoved Oliver for laughing at him. "Put that puppy face away, Chlo," he grumbled, turning away from her to lead them to his truck.
Chloe smiled watching the twins wrestle playfully. "You guys are worse than my students," she chastised, her voice light as she squeezed between them and slipped an arm around each of their waists. "But I missed you anyways."
The twins each wrapped an arm over her shoulders.
"Aw, Chlo, that's because we're awesome," Oliver said, giving his twin a high five over her head with his free hand.
They reached CJ's truck, and he easily tossed Chloe's suitcase into the back while the twins climbed into the backseat, letting her ride shotgun. She settled into the familiar pickup that her oldest brother had owned for ten years, her eyes immediately drawn to the green army figured lining the dashboard.
"The little man wants to be a soldier," he explained, catching her curious expression.
Chloe replied, "Like his daddy. Can you blame him?"
CJ shrugged, starting the truck and pulling out of the parking lot before answering. "I'll be proud of him no matter what he does, but I think it'd kill Nora to send him off," he said, running a hand through his hair and giving her a grin.
Oliver piped up from the backseat, sticking his head forward between the front seats, reminding her of Jesse. "Chlo, you didn't answer me earlier. Are you gonna break mom's heart by telling her you're still single?"
Chloe turned halfway around and shoved him into his seat with a well-placed hand on his forehead. "None of your business, Ollie," she said, rolling her eyes at the second part of his question. "And mom can get over it. She's already too nosy as it is."
"CHLO! You're dating someone!" Evan shouted, his voice filling the cabin of the truck. "Spill, sis. We'll bug you about it endlessly until you do."
Chloe glanced back at him, ignoring his words and retorted, "What about you, mister future doctor? How come you aren't bringing anyone home for mom to fawn over?"
Evan scoffed, "Because I'm in med school and have no life, and I'm fucking poor and drowning in debt. Not even my good looks can overcome it."
CJ shook his head, commenting, "Ollie's in med school and he has a girlfriend. No excuses bro."
Evan rolled his eyes, responding defensively. "Dude, Ollie's been dating Megan since they were freshmen in college. That doesn't count. And he didn't bring her home for Christmas either."
Chloe asked, "Aw, Megan's not coming?"
Oliver shrugged, shooting a smirk at his brother. "A few of my classmates are dating. It's not impossible, Ev. Sorry Chlo, I know you and Nora like to have more girls around but she's spending Christmas with her family. Her little sister just got engaged," he admitted, his tone sounding less than happy.
"Aww, that's amazing! Why don't you sound happier?" Chloe asked, turning to look at her brother.
Oliver turned to look out the window, staying silent as CJ chuckled beside her. "Megan's been dropping hints, but Ollie doesn't want to get married until he's finished with school," CJ explained. "Mom's been giving him a hard time about it too."
"She's not subtle about it," Oliver said, still looking out the window.
"Mom or Megan?" Chloe asked, causing Evan to break out into a new round of laughter at his brother's expense.
Oliver turned to meet her gaze as he answered, "Both, I suppose. Mom thinks I've waited long enough, and Megan…I don't know, maybe she just wants to be married. Maybe she's upset that her little sister got engaged before she did, even though we've been dating longer."
Chloe replied tentatively, "I mean, come on Ollie. You guys have been dating for like eight years. Can you blame her for wanting to take the next step?"
"She's pissed because Ollie's afraid of commitment and she only just now figured it out," Evan quipped, winking at Chloe.
That seemed to be the last straw, as Oliver frowned at his twin. "The last thing I want to do right in the middle of med school is plan a wedding," he snapped. Effectively changing the subject, he said, "Enough, I want to hear about Chloe's new boyfriend."
CJ jumped on board to ease the tension, agreeing with him. "You're right, Ollie. Don't get married until you're ready. Chlo, tell us about your guy," he said warmly, glancing at his sister out of the corner of his eye.
Chloe fell silent, not knowing how to tell her brothers about Beca. She missed the short brunette already, wishing they could somehow spend the holidays together. But Beca was spending Christmas at home in San Diego, and she was here with her family in Tennessee. Chloe was planning on returning to California in time to spend New Years with Beca, and hoped her girlfriend could get away.
Realizing her brothers were waiting for her to speak, she quickly said, "I would, but there's nothing to tell. I'm not dating anyone."
All three immediately broke out into protests, but Chloe held firm for the rest of the drive. Happiness swept over her as CJ turned into the driveway of the large home, the familiar view almost bringing tears to her eyes. As her brother parked the truck, she realized just how much she missed home, despite knowing full well that the move to California was the right one.
As the four siblings piled out of the car, the door to the large brick home opened and a dark-haired little boy came tearing across the front lawn shouting, "Daddy!"
CJ grinned and snatched him up, tossing him lightly into the air before catching him and tickling his stomach. "Eddie, look who I've brought home," he whispered, setting his son back on the ground and pointing at Chloe.
"Holy crap CJ, he's huge!" Chloe exclaimed, as Eddie's eyes landed on her, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree.
"Aunt Chloe!" the boy yelled, his little legs churning as he ran over to her.
Chloe's heart melted as she crouched down to catch him, feeling his arms wrap around her neck. "Hi, Eddie!" she said, laughing at his enthusiasm. "How old are you now?" she asked, feigning confusion.
"SIX!" Eddie yelled happily, seeming to only have one volume, which was turned up to the max in all the excitement.
Chloe laughed again, tickling his stomach as he shrieked and tried to squirm away. "No way, I don't believe it," she teased, finally letting him go and watching him collapse to the ground, out of breath.
"I am!" he insisted, getting to his feet and running back over to CJ. "Daddy, tell her!"
CJ picked his son up and whispered something into his ear, before setting him down and letting him sprint off across the yard towards the house. Chloe stood up as well, spotting Nora watching the scene from the front porch with a smile. She waved as Eddie climbed the steps and launched himself into his mother's arms, turning to find Evan rolling her suitcase past her towards the house.
"Thanks, Ev," she said, falling into step with him. "Is Will home already too?"
Evan nodded, lifting the case up the front steps. "He got home earlier this morning. Took a whole week off from work, believe it or not," he added, a hint of humor to his tone.
"Not," Chloe laughed, knowing their older brother's tendencies. While Will looked the least like Christian Beale of all the boys, he was the only one who toiled through law school to follow in their father's footsteps. Unlike their father though, instead of going into private practice he chose to work for the public defender's office in Washington, D.C. after graduating from Georgetown. Chloe knew it was a lot of long, thankless hours, and she was proud her brother was determined to fight for those who couldn't afford the help they needed.
Chloe climbed the steps and immediately gave Nora a hug, finding that Eddie had disappeared inside the house. "Hi, Nora!" she said warmly, stepping back from the older woman. "Eddie seems like a real handful these days," she said, laughing at the look Nora gave her.
"He never stops moving," Nora replied, shaking her head despite the twinkle in her eye. "Never a dull moment."
"I can imagine," Chloe said, smiling at Evan as he held the door open for both women to walk through.
Once inside, Evan dragged her suitcase upstairs to her room while Nora led her into the kitchen. Chloe smiled at all the pictures on the wall of her parents and siblings growing up, the memories rushing back. Upon entering the kitchen, Grace Beale immediately wrapped Chloe in a hug, holding on even when she tried to pull away.
"Mom, let go...oh my God!" Chloe laughed, shaking her head when she was finally set free. "You'd think you hadn't seen me in years," she joked, as her mom looked her over.
Grace Beale was, without question, the best mom Chloe could have asked for. She was a petite woman, but ruled the house unconditionally, keeping Chloe and her brothers in line for fear of upsetting her. Grace had red hair and kind blue eyes that almost looked gray in the right light, along with a warm personality that lead to all sorts of friends and gatherings occurring at the Beale household over the years. There was almost always at least one friend over for dinner, as Grace herself said teasingly that she could never turn down a hungry stray.
Glancing around, Chloe saw Oliver and Will chatting at the kitchen table, and could faintly hear CJ and Eddie making truck sounds in the distance. Nora headed into the family room to find them, leaving Chloe in the kitchen with her mom and brothers.
"Chlo, sweetie, you look so good! Do you really like it out there?" Grace asked, still holding her daughter's arms.
Chloe nodded happily, answering, "I love it. Barden is an amazing school, and San Diego is great. I've only been there for about five months, but it's already feeling like home."
"I'm glad. Are you sure though? You can always come back here and teach at Townsend, you know," Grace said, a touch of hope to her tone.
Chloe rolled her eyes, but Will cut in before she could answer.
"Come on, Mom. She just said she loves it out there. Hey, Chlo-bear," Will said, rising from his chair to give her a big hug.
Chloe grinned, hugging him back. "I can't believe you're here! I missed you Willie." She stepped back to look at him, continuing, "You haven't changed at all."
Will was the only son who inherited their mother's red hair, though all of the siblings had the same bright blue eyes. He and Chloe were much more like their mother, while CJ and the twins looked more like their father.
Oliver couldn't resist that opening, chiming in, "Yeah, Willie, you look exactly the same."
Will shot his younger brother a glare. "Don't call me that," he warned.
Chloe smirked at Oliver, adding smugly, "Only I can call him Willie."
"And me," Grace said, ruffling his hair fondly before pointing a finger at Oliver. "Don't start trouble."
Oliver looked innocently back at her and didn't respond. Chloe smiled and joined him at the table, watching her mom go back to baking Christmas cookies. Will sat down beside her asking, "So what's new, Chlo? Tell us all about California."
Chloe smiled, thinking about Barden, her thoughts taking only a moment to travel to Beca. The brunette was constantly on her mind, and she found herself wanting to tell Will about her. Knowing that now wasn't the time, she turned her thoughts to school and said, "I love it. It's so beautiful out there! I'm teaching ninth and twelfth grade Biology, and I have a full class schedule. The students are so amazing," she gushed, thankful that she didn't have to lie about how happy she was.
"The administration is so supportive of everything, too," she added. "It was like pulling teeth at Townsend to even get basic materials. At Barden I actually have what I need to teach, and the students are engaged and interested. It's so different, but an amazing different. I have a mentor teacher who has been helping me get settled my first year. Aubrey, I've told you about her mom," she clarified, and Grace nodded from where she was adding ingredients to the mixer.
"She sounds like a wonderful young woman, Chlo," her mom said, smiling at her. "I want to hear more about this music teacher, though. Mr. Swanson?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Oliver cut in, asking, "Is that your new boyfriend, Chlo?"
Chloe's eyes shot daggers at Oliver as Grace gasped, shutting the mixer off and coming over to the table. "Chloe, do you have a boyfriend?!"
Sighing, she shook her head no. "No, mom, I don't have a boyfriend. Ollie's just trying to distract you from the fact he won't propose to Megan," she said slyly, watching her mother's excited expression turn into a knowing line.
"Hmph," Grace muttered, turning her stare on Oliver, before silently making her way back to the mixer.
Oliver shook his head, admitting defeat. "Touché, sis," he muttered, rising from the table. "I'm gonna go find Evan," he said, wandering out of the kitchen in search of his twin.
Grace sighed, shaking her head as well, watching him exit. "That boy is going to lose the love of his life if he doesn't pop the question..." she trailed off, wrapping the new batch of cookie dough in wax paper. Opening the fridge, she placed the packet inside and pulled out two chilled ones. After spreading flour on the countertop, she opened one of the packets and grabbed her rolling pin, focusing on the task in front of her.
Will, always the peacekeeper, stood and joined her behind the counter, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Don't meddle, mom. It's his life and he's not ready."
Grace turned to look at him, asking, "And what about you? You're almost thirty, William. When are you going to find a nice girl and settle down, hmm?"
Chloe chuckled at how fast her brother backpedaled away from their mother. Grace knew exactly how to push all of their buttons, not even CJ escaping her wrath after getting married and having Eddie. She recalled last Christmas when her mother had cornered him about finding a less dangerous profession for the hundredth time, stating that being a firefighter was asking to get burned up like toast. He had patiently explained that he loved his job, and offered the option of returning to the military, which put an immediate end to the conversation.
Chloe said, "Mom, leave him alone. We don't all have to be CJ, married with kids. Maybe Will likes being single."
Grace rolled her eyes at those words. "Chloe, I'll be dead before I get to hold another grandchild at the rate you lot are going."
"So dramatic, mom," she laughed, noticing the grin spreading across Will's face. "Have you been watching Desperate Housewives again?"
Will laughed when Grace refused to answer the question, mouthing 'yes' behind her back.
"William Curtis Beale!" Grace said, without looking up from the cookie dough she was rolling out. "Just because you're almost thirty years old does not mean you can make fun of your mother when you think she's not looking," she chastised, spreading more flour over the dough.
Chloe snickered at the guilty look on her brother's face, and at their mother's uncanny ability to see everything at all times. She decided to help him out again, asking, "Where's dad?"
As the words left her lips Will shook his head furiously, but it was too late. Grace dropped the rolling pin, looking up to meet Chloe's gaze, the frustration and annoyance evident on her face.
"Your father flew out at seven this morning to meet with a prospective client," Grace said, her lips forming a thin line. "I told him if he's not back by Christmas Eve not to come back at all. This is the first time in six years we've had all of you here for Christmas and I'll be damned if he's going to miss it."
It was Chloe's turn to circle the kitchen, grabbing an apron off the hook in the pantry, looping it over her head and quickly tying it around her waist. "Don't worry, mom. He's never missed Christmas before," she said comfortingly, dusting her hands with flour and reaching for the rolling pin. "We better get started if we want to have enough cookies...you know how the boys are," she teased, catching the hungry look on Will's face.
"Only because mom's cookies are the best," he said, rubbing his stomach and reaching over to drag a finger along the inside of the mixing bowl for some leftover dough.
Grace's good mood had returned, and Chloe smirked as she used the spatula to swat her son's hand away. "If you keep that up there won't be any cookies at all. Go find Nora and tell her she can join us and escape all you rowdy men for a little while."
Will nodded. "Yes, ma'am," he replied, heading out of the room to find her.
Grace turned her attention to Chloe, giving her another hug. "I'm so glad you're home, sweetie. I've missed having you around. As much as I love your brother and his wife and that precious little boy, it's not quite the same," Grace admitted.
Chloe smiled, replying, "That's because I'm your favorite, mom."
"Mmmm...don't tell your brothers," Grace said with a wink, as Nora entered the kitchen. "Nora, honey, would you please grab the cookie cutters off the shelf in the pantry for us? I think we're about ready to get started. God knows those boys can eat..."
It was Christmas Eve, and Chloe was curled up in her favorite chair in front of the fireplace, clutching a mug of hot chocolate and a napkin with two of her mother's cookies. The whole family was partaking in their Christmas tradition of watching Miracle on 34th Street, Eddie having dozed off against CJ's chest. Her father had arrived home yesterday morning, and Chloe was thrilled at how happy and at ease her mother had been since. She'd been home for four days now, and had loved every minute of it. The large brick house definitely still felt like home, with its spacious rooms and fun Christmas decorations reminding her of happy childhood years. It was also a nice change to get to spend time with all her brothers again. Being the youngest, she'd grown up watching them leave one by one, or in the twins case the pair of them, and head off to college to start their adult lives. It was amazing to spend time with all of them under the same roof again, and it was easy to see how happy it made her mom.
They had decorated the Christmas tree her first night there, with CJ lifting little Eddie high enough to put the star on top. His childlike joy permeated the whole family, and the Christmas spirit was running rampant through the house. She looked at all their stockings lining the mantle, feeling extremely thankful for her family and the love shared between them. Sure there was the playful teasing and joking around, but there was never a doubt that they loved each other.
It had been a relaxing vacation so far, mostly spent around the house enjoying time away from teaching. As much as she loved her students, Chloe was excited to have some free time to herself. She loved to read, especially the classics, something Aubrey had greatly approved of when they first met and got to know one another. Chloe was currently working her way through Pride and Prejudice, something Beca had scoffed at when she told her.
Beca. Her mind instantly filled with thoughts of her girlfriend, feeling guilty that she hadn't spoken to her since making the trip home. They had texted on and off, but they just seemed to keep missing each other. It was either Chloe playing army figures with Eddie, or Beca spending hours working on a new song or mix and blocking out the world, but the effect was tangible for Chloe. She missed Beca, a lot, and often found herself looking for ways to get one of her brothers alone to talk to. Chloe didn't want to hide her relationship from her family, but she was admittedly scared of how they'd react. She wasn't overly concerned about the fact that she was bi, having already overcome that obstacle in college when her occasional experimenting turned into a pretty steady experiment over the better part of a year. The fact that Beca was one of her students, however, escalated the situation to a whole new level.
The movie ended and CJ stood as the credits rolled, cradling Eddie carefully and followed Nora up to their room. The twins followed, clattering in the kitchen for a moment before she heard their footsteps on the stairs. Grace smiled at her, rising and heading into the kitchen to finish cleaning up from dinner, leaving Chloe alone with her dad and Will. Christian rose to join his wife in the kitchen, placing a kiss on the top of Chloe's head as he passed her. She was almost amazed at how easily the moment presented itself, and was relieved to be left alone to talk to Will. He was the more serious one out of all her brothers, his calm temperament suiting his career choice perfectly. Chloe had never seen him get flustered or upset, always finding the peaceful solution to a problem or conflict.
As if sensing her apprehension, he patted the couch cushion next to him. "C'mere Chlo-bear," he said. "You look like your head's goin' a mile a minute."
She smiled gratefully, rising to join him on the couch. Setting her mug on the end table, she asked, "Can I tell you something? You have to promise to keep it a secret."
His face turned concerned, before glancing around to see that they were alone. "Are you okay?" he whispered.
Chloe nodded, feeling her heart start to race. "Yeah...it's...well, I'm dating someone," she admitted for the first time since she'd been home. Instead of calming her nerves, saying it out loud only caused her heart to thump faster against her ribs.
Will broke into an easy smile, saying, "That's wonderful, Chlo! Tell me about him."
"Uh, well, that's the thing, Will. It's kinda...it's a her," she said, looking up to gauge his reaction.
Will's eyes widened for a moment, before he asked, "Are you happy?" At her nod, he leaned in, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Then I'm happy for you, sis." Leaning back, he asked, "Were you nervous to tell us you're dating a woman?"
Chloe hesitated, before steeling herself. It was terrifying, but she forced herself to say the words. "No, not really. More because she's...well, she's one of my students..." she trailed off as Will's jaw dropped. Like literally dropped, making her instantly add, "I know, okay! This is why you can't tell anyone."
In a flash, he composed himself, surprising her to say the least when he spoke in his normal tone. "Wow, um, I definitely wasn't expecting that. Chlo, you could get in a lot of trouble...how'd this happen?"
"I'm not sure, really. It just happened. The chemistry is off the charts, Will. I've never felt like this around anyone before. She's..." Chloe trailed off, unable to find the right words to describe how she felt about Beca, and the thought of her caused her heart to ache a little.
Before Will could say anything else, CJ re-entered the room, eyeing the two of them sitting so close together. "What are you two whispering about in here," he asked suspiciously, sitting down on Chloe's other side.
Chloe looked at Will's nervous expression before turning to her oldest brother. "I'm dating someone," she started, only to have him interrupt her.
"I knew it! Ollie owes me twenty bucks," he said happily, before catching the expression on Will's face. "What's with you, bro? You look like one of your clients just told you they killed someone and swore you to secrecy." He looked back and forth between Chloe and Will, finally saying, "Okay, spill. What the hell's going on?"
Chloe responded, "I'm dating one of my students."
CJ rolled his eyes. "Very funny, Chlo. Want to tell me what's really going on?"
"CJ," Chloe said evenly. "I've been dating one of my students since the beginning of October. It's not a joke."
"Okay," he said, still not taking her words seriously. "Not really fair though, is it? How am I supposed to scare the shit out of an eighteen year old kid? What's his name?"
Chloe smirked, replying, "Her name is Beca." She let herself enjoy watching the emotions play across his face, hearing Will chuckle on her other side. "And we won't be needing any scary older brother tactics this time, thanks."
CJ looked over to Will for confirmation, who shrugged and said, "She just told me. I'm as shocked as you are."
Chloe sighed, explaining further, "I don't know how it happened, but I don't regret it. She's incredible."
"She's illegal, Chlo," Will cut in, looking worriedly at his brother. "You could get fired. You could go to jail. You must have told Jess...what did she say?"
CJ held a hand up, silencing the stream of questions. "Chlo," he said slowly, as if still trying to wrap his brain around it, but shook his head as he came up empty, instead taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
Will jumped in, taking advantage of CJ's silence. "Chlo, have you thought about the implications? Your reputation, your career would be ruined. I'm not familiar with the specifics of California case law, but I know it won't be good if the wrong person finds out. Like her parents," he said, his eyes flashing with concern.
Chloe sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I've spoken with Jess about it a lot. She and Ashley actually met Beca when they came to visit. She's warned me of all the possible consequences, trust me."
Will refused to let it go, retorting, "And you just don't care? Chloe, this isn't a game...this is your life..."
"Jesus, Will, I know!" Chloe exclaimed, louder than she intended. They fell silent as Grace entered the room, looking suspiciously at the three of them.
"Now, just what is going on in here?" she asked, looking from one guilty face to the next. When they remained silent, she repeated the question. "I asked a question and I expect an answer. What on earth was that language for, Chloe?"
CJ piped up, and Chloe breathed a sigh of relief until she realized he was speaking to her. "Chlo, I think you should tell her," her brother said softly, but still loud enough for their mother to hear.
"Tell me what?" Grace asked, becoming more agitated by the minute. Christian appeared behind her, looking curiously at the three of them on the couch.
"Can you kids not rile your mother up for five minutes?" he asked, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, clearly oblivious to the tension in the room.
Before Chloe could speak, Grace made up her mind. "Everyone out," she ordered, her eyes warning the boys not to argue. "Not you, Chlo. We're going to talk and you're going to tell me what this is all about."
Chloe nodded, watching her brothers leave the room, her dad waiting patiently in the entryway, until Grace shooed him away with one hand. "You too, Christian."
Chloe couldn't help but laugh at his wounded expression as he slinked toward the kitchen, mumbling something about eggnog. She turned back to her mother, who was waiting expectantly for her to explain.
"You know how you asked me if I had a boyfriend when I first arrived home?" she asked, thinking it best to get right to the point instead of drawing it out slowly. Grace nodded, and she continued, "Well, that was true. I don't have a boyfriend. I have a girlfriend, though, and we've been dating for almost three months."
Grace stood up, quickly moving to join Chloe on the couch and sweeping her into a hug. "Oh, sweetie, that's fantastic!" Leaning back, she studied Chloe's face, asking, "That is fantastic, right? It's something you want?"
Chloe nodded, smiling as a picture of Beca popped into her mind. "Yeah, it's pretty amazing. She's not like anyone I've ever met before."
"Tell me about her!" Grace encouraged. "She must be wonderful if that smile is anything to go by," she teased, reaching up to poke at Chloe's cheek.
Chloe blushed, replying, "It was so unexpected. I actually met her really soon after moving to California, but it took a few months for anything to happen. I wasn't looking for a relationship, it just kinda happened. She's incredible…really thoughtful and caring, and she has the biggest heart even though she puts up all these walls to hide it. Oh, and she's this crazy talented musician, you should hear her music, mom," Chloe continued excitedly, her mind drifting back to the sporadic times when Beca would play her an impromptu concert in her apartment.
Grace's smile turned into a look of confusion as she asked, "I don't understand then, were your brothers giving you a hard time about dating a woman? I'll teach them both a lesson if..."
"No, mom, no they weren't," she interrupted, not wanting her mom to get that impression. "They're just looking out for me..." she trailed off as her mom looked even more confused. "Because...because she's one of my students," Chloe admitted, watching as her mom's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Oh, Chloe," her mom started, before covering her mouth with one hand and closing her eyes. "What are you thinking? Do you have any idea..." she trailed off, as though unable or unwilling to complete the thought.
Chloe felt tears pooling in her eyes as she said, "I know, mom. I know it's wrong, and the odds are against us, and I could get fired, but I can't help it. I'm in love with her," she admitted, a little shocked at how easy it was to say the words out loud, wiping at the tears that were starting to fall.
Grace fell silent again at her words, seeing the emotion in her face and pulled her into another hug. Chloe felt the tears start to fall freely down her cheeks, holding tightly to her mother. "I don't know what to do, mom. She makes me so happy, in a way I've never experienced before. When I'm with her it just feels right, like there's literally nowhere else I'd rather be, and...and I think she loves me too."
Chloe pulled back, wiping at her eyes again before bringing her knees up to her chest and hugging them tightly.
Grace sighed, reaching out to take her daughter's hands. "Chlo, you've always been outgoing and bubbly and not afraid to step outside the norm. I've never seen you look like that before, the way you just did when you were telling me about..."
"Beca," Chloe supplied, sniffling a little.
"Beca," Grace said, smiling at the way the name sounded. "Your whole demeanor changed, and you just lit up like you were overflowing with happiness. I don't know anything about this, Beca, but if she makes you feel like that, and look like that..." she trailed off, leaving the rest of the thought unspoken. "Can I see a picture of her?"
Chloe nodded, pulling up a picture of Beca on her phone to show her mom, smiling at the memory of when she took it. Beca had been playing around on her guitar one evening while Chloe graded papers, before breaking into a choppy rendition of Bless The Broken Road, knowing how much she loved that song. Chloe had sneakily snapped a picture of her girlfriend, an easy smile on her face as she comfortably strummed the tune.
"She's certainly different from that other girl you were fooling around with in college," Grace said thoughtfully, taking the phone from her hand to study the photo. "How old is she, Chlo?"
Chloe replied nervously, "Eighteen. I don't think it's technically illegal, but I'd definitely get fired if anyone at school found out. Or probably if her parents found out."
Grace looked up at her, meeting her gaze. "And you don't care? You've been telling us how much you love this school and your new coworkers, and you're willing to risk throwing that all away for this girl?"
Chloe noticed that her mom didn't sound judgmental, that her tone was more curious than anything else. She nodded, replying simply, "I love her. Jess and Ashley talked through all the options and alternatives with me...waiting until she graduated or just ending it, but I can't."
Grace hummed at her words, taking her time to respond. "Tell me the whole story?" she asked. "How did this even become a possibility?"
Chloe took a deep breath before explaining everything that had happened between her and Beca, starting from the beginning of the year. She omitted the more scandalous details, not quite ready to discuss her sex life with her mother, but had the feeling that Grace was reading between the lines anyways. Her mom had listened patiently during the whole story, and Chloe wasn't expecting the first words that came out of her mouth.
"I know you were listening. Come in and sit down then, nosy."
Chloe turned to see her father enter the room, a sheepish smile on his face. She couldn't be mad at him, actually surprised at the relieved feeling that came over her knowing she wouldn't have to explain the whole story over again to him.
Christian Beale was as fierce in the courtroom as they come, making a name for himself by winning a very prominent murder case that everyone had expected him to lose. His client was innocent, however, and Christian had fought tirelessly to prove it, spending many sleepless nights pouring over police files and evidence reports. A year later he opened his own practice and never looked back, well on his way to becoming one of the most respected and feared defense attorneys in the country.
As aggressive as he was professionally, he was the complete opposite at home, the epitome of the quiet, doting husband and father. Chloe often wondered where his courtroom personality came from, only familiar with his calm confidence and laid-back nature. She gave him a small smile as he sat down beside Grace, his rich brown hair now flecked with grey at his temples, though his blue eyes remained as sharp and alert as ever.
Grace deferred to her husband first, asking, "Well, you snoop...what do you think of all this?"
Christian gave her a look, before turning his attention to Chloe, and she felt her nerves return under his scrutiny.
"I think she's well on her way to becoming my next client," he offered, breaking into a smile and giving her a wink.
Grace narrowed her eyes at him, clearly unhappy with his response. "It's no wonder your sons can't take anything seriously," she sighed, shaking her head.
Christian quickly replied, "Oh, now they're my sons, hmm?"
"Yes, they're your sons," Grace said, giving in to his humor and breaking into a smile. "Can you try to be serious, please?"
Chloe couldn't help but smile at their exchange, reminding her of how she and Beca would trade jokes and sarcastic one-liners.
Christian nodded, looking seriously at his wife. "Yes, dear," he replied, turning his attention back to Chloe. "Chlo, I understand you're in love with this girl?"
She nodded, looking down at her hands.
"What do you love about her?" he asked curiously, causing her to look up at him.
The question was unexpected, but Chloe broke into a smile as she answered. "I love how passionate she is about music, and how confident she is when she talks about becoming a music producer. She knows exactly what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. She's honest and caring and has a great sense of humor...just now I was thinking about her when you and mom were teasing each other, because that's kinda how we are. I love her eyes, deep blue like a stormy sea, and the way she looks at me like I'm the only one on the planet..." she trailed off, thinking of the last time she looked into Beca's eyes when they were saying goodbye before she left from Tennessee.
Refocusing, she saw her parents exchange a glance, before Grace spoke. "All we want for all of you kids is that you're happy and safe. While you've gotten yourself into a very difficult situation, what you do is up to you sweetie. You can't help who you fall in love with, and only a fool would throw away love that's real, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm terrified for you...of what could happen..." Grace trailed off, looking at her husband for reassurance.
Christian sighed, rubbing a comforting hand along his wife's back. "Chloe, I'll be honest with you about this. It's not okay, and the consequences are severe. If you're caught, you will never teach again, at any level. With the age difference, it doesn't really matter that she's eighteen, her parents can still choose to press charges, or sue you and the school if anything happens between you on campus. Barden will throw you under one of their nonexistent school buses before you can blink," he said, trying to lighten the mood a little with the joke.
"But, I'm sure Jess and Will have already made this clear to you, and you've still chosen to risk it, so you must think she's worth it," he mused, rubbing a hand along his jaw."Have you two talked about how to handle your relationship?"
Chloe nodded, answering, "We've talked about it a lot. We know what's at stake, and that's why practically no one knows. She...she didn't even know I was planning on tell you about us."
Christian hummed thoughtfully, but before he could answer, Chloe watched all four of her brothers enter the room. Grace opened her mouth and pointed towards the kitchen, but CJ spoke first.
"Mom, just hold on. We all know...obviously, and we..."
Christian stood up and interrupted his oldest son. "Stop. You four, sit," he directed, pointing to the other side of the room with the loveseat and chair.
Chloe watched as her brothers silently obeyed, the twins occupying the loveseat while CJ and Will chose to sit on the floor.
Christian looked around at all of them before speaking in his calm, even tone. "Now that the whole family is here," he said, a touch of humor evident. "Whether or not any of us agree with Chloe's decision, she deserves our support. We're her family, and it's our job to love her, not to judge her. Just like no one is judging Ollie for not being ready to get married, or CJ for his chosen profession, or your mother for refusing to quit meddling in all your lives," he finished, smiling and purposely ignoring the glare Grace was sending his way. "Or me for choosing to meet and take on a new client and missing most of the time you all were home for Christmas," he added, not helping his case with his wife.
Chloe recognized the edge to her dad's tone, making it clear that he'd made up his mind and there would be no argument. Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked over to see her brothers grinning happily, and instantly knew that they had come down to tell her exactly what her dad had just said.
Chloe felt the tears start to fall again as her dad pulled her into a big hug, breaking out into laughter as all four of her brothers quickly joined in. She heard various phrases from the center of the pile, including, "family hug," and "we love you Chlo-bear," and "we'll get you and your girlfriend a new cradle for Christmas!" The last was followed by a grunt of pain and her mother's voice clearly saying, "Christian Junior, the only cradle you'd better be buying is for my second grandbaby!"
Chloe couldn't help the tears, but knew that this time they were happy ones. She savored each second in the middle of her brothers' group hug, never having felt more loved by her family than in that moment.
A/N: As always, thank you to my incredible beta, Ravenclawsome33!
Thanks to everyone who continues to read and review! You're all awesome ;-).