A little about Chloe's family. Hope y'all like it! Let me know?
"Chlo we don't have to do this if you don't want to." I whispered as Chloe clutched my hand in my BMW as she stared at the house to our right. She sighed heavily before turning to me with a cautious smile on her face.
"Thank you for doing this with me." She whispered so softly my heart fluttered. I lifted her hand to my face and kissed her knuckles, glancing down at the ring before speaking.
"That ring means I'll be there. Through anything. Forever." I stated firmly as I watched Chloe post a small smile on her face.
"Do you really want to have kids Becs?" She asked with a new twinkle in her eye.
"Only with you." I confirmed receiving a small giggle as she turns back to the house. She sighs heavily and I take that as a sign to step out of the car. I walk around the BMW slowly and open my fiancé's door. "Come on Red. I've got you, no worries." I offered her my hand and she took it without hesitation, twisting her fingers tightly in mine. Reaching up with her free hand she adjusted the collar on my shirt and then kissed my cheek softly. "Ready, future Mrs. Mitchell?"
"We still need to talk about that." Chloe teased lightly before slowly leading the way to the door. She hesitated with her hand hovering over the door and looked at me as if to ask what to do. I pushed her hand down gently and knocked for her. The door swung wide open and a woman about Chloe's size with the same bright blue eyes appeared with the signature Beale grin plastered on my face.
"Chloe!" She threw her arms around Chloe without hesitating and Chloe seemed to relax, I watched quietly trying to keep Chloe in a comfortable zone. "Chloe's here everyone!" The woman shouted and all of a sudden it sounded like a heard of elephants were running towards us. "You must be…" She looked down at our locked hands and smiled widely again. "Beca." I nodded and hugged her carefully as a group of people showed up behind her. Chloe let go of my hand to pass out a round of hugs and somehow in the frenzy I was grabbed by the elbow and tugged into the gorgeous house. I took a seat outside on the patio and watched as Chloe's family asked her a million questions, in which Chloe answered most of them without hesitation.
"Chloe, what are you doing for work?" One man who I think was her uncle asked.
"Oh Aubrey and I teach theater together at the university." There it was that megawatt grin. This is the Chloe Beale experience. "I didn't think the college would consider us but after my work out in LA they said that they didn't think anyone was as qualified as I was. Of course Bree's resume was just as impressive." She added quickly.
"And are you and Bree still living together?" Her brother asked with half his attention focused on the curly headed child bouncing in his lap. This time Chloe's smile faltered a little and panic filled her eyes for just a moment before she smiled again.
"No, I've been living with Beca for a while now. What almost a year?" Chloe turned to me with an apologetic look that really confused me.
"Give or take." I joked never missing a beat. Chloe shifted lightly towards me and I rested my arm on the back of her chair.
"Oh really? What is it that you do Beca?" Her uncle asked without much thought. I squirmed a little under the attention but cleared my throat to calm down.
"I'm a music producer and manager at a recording studio not too far from Barden. It started as a radio station and then we expanded. In the expansion I got promoted from event manager to producer." Chloe's grin was back and my nerves eased.
"Wow, that's… very impressive. How do you and Chlo know each other?" When the question my ears it all made sense. Chloe's family didn't know Chloe was gay, let alone that we are together. Chloe seemed to be struggling with her words.
"We met my freshman year of college at Barden. Chloe managed to convince me to audition for the Bellas. And that's that. I spent the next four years singing and dancing with a group of amazing women. Best decision I've ever made." I flashed a reassuring smile at Chloe who seemed to relax but was tense just moments later when the next question was blurted out.
"Chloe? Is that an engagement ring?" There it was, the unavoidable question. Chloe looked like she had seen a ghost. I knew I couldn't answer the question for her so I just sat there, I dropped my hand into hers and squeezed it as she stared at the ground.
"Did I just hear that my daughter has an engagement ring on?" I woman came floating into view from the house, I gawked awkwardly as the woman's features registered in my mind. She looked like Chloe just with more smile lines. That's what Chloe was going to look like in 20 years. My jaw practically hit the floor when another face came into view. I looked back and forth between my love and the two women standing in front of us. Chloe's face filled with shame.
"Beca this is my mom Marie and my twin sister Cathy." Chloe's voice was small and broken. I regained my self-control and closed my mouth. Standing quickly to shake their hands.
"I'm Beca." I stated in a professional tone before Chloe took her place next to me. Awkwardly hugging the pair. Confusion set in as I watched the interaction. As Chloe pulled away her mom snagged her hand and raised an eyebrow.
"That's a pretty huge rock Chloe. Who's the poor fella?" Her mom's voice was smothered in a deep southern accent, Chloe flinched at the question.
"Umm…" Chloe seemed to shrink as the entire group's attention suddenly weighed heavy on her. I took a deep breath.
"Actually, Chloe and I are engaged Mrs. Beale." There it was, that was it. I said it. A few gasps and a few whistles escaped the now overwhelming family. Blue eyes bore into me. Some accepting and excited, others were judgmental and I could even feel a few sizing me up.
"Well, that's not much of a surprise." Cathy laughed. I shot her a questioning look as Chloe's hand clung to mine for support. "Last time I saw her she wouldn't shut up about some alt girl that was in the Bellas. And most of the picture frames in her room were either of her and random Bellas. Or of you two." She offered, her eyes laying heavily on the identical looking woman next to me. They may be twins but she defiantly didn't have the same over bubbly personality that I'd grown accustom to from Chloe.
"Are you the reason Chloe ran off to LA and stopped talking to us?" Marie asked harshly, I flinched because I wasn't sure how to answer. In a way she was right but at the same time I wasn't sure. Chloe stiffened next to me.
"It wasn't like that mama. I… Beca… Beca was…" Chloe looked at me with a pleading look.
"Ma'am, if you'd like to take a seat I'll explain everything to everyone. Answer any questions you have. Family is very important to me. You're Chloe's family and you deserve to know the truth." I scanned the group and everyone seemed to nod at me respectively. I turned to Chloe and smiled softly, trying to remove the frown that was twisted onto her lips. "Come on Chlo, sit down. We'll walk everyone through it together." Chloe frowned again.
"I need a beer. Do you want one?" Her aunt asked facing us as she stood. Chloe nodded and then mumbled something about coming with her. So I sat down and looked at her mother expectantly waiting for the questions to begin.
"How old are you Beca?" Was the first question.
"Twenty-four." I answered automatically to the painless question.
"What do you do for a living?" Her sister asked.
"She's a music producer." Her uncle answered as he threw a ball absently for the dog. Her mom raised an eyebrow. "They met at college through the Bellas. Beca and Chloe were co-captains." He offered like he could read her mind. I could hear Chloe quietly talking to her aunt in the house.
"What are your intentions with my daughter?" Marie asked with a warning edging into her tone.
"To marry her, give her everything she needs and wants, support her dreams no matter how eccentric they are, have a family and live a long healthy and happy life. Most of all to make sure that no matter what we do or where life takes us that she never stops smiling and laughing. Eventually Chloe and I want to have kids and settle down." The words flowed from my heart without a filter and I saw a small grin spread on her uncle's face. Everyone had gathered in a circle and taken a seat or was sitting on the ground to play with the children while they listened. Chloe returned with a beer for her and some cocktail for me. I smiled at her and she seemed to have to force one in return. Her aunt patted my shoulder before taking her place on the bench next to her husband.
"Why did Chloe move to LA? I know you didn't go with her." Her sister shot out harshly.
"I would have, that was actually the plan. We had picked out an apartment and applied to jobs. We were prepared and ready to go but it didn't work out that way." I tried to explain knowing they were expecting more details than that.
"You didn't go though. You let my sister move to LA on her own. You know what could have happened to her in a city like that? She quit talking to us when she left." Anger was evident in her voice as she got defensive.
"It wasn't her fault." Chloe snapped and everyone's eyes widened. "Beca and I were engaged before. She was supposed to go and then something happened okay? It's not really any of your damn business Cathy."
"Whoa, Chlo calm down. It's okay." I tried to calm her down.
"No Beca, don't try to defend them. It's none of their business what happened and you really don't have any obligation to explain." For the first time I realized just how much Chloe was hurting because of what happened and I knew it was just as hard to talk about for her as it was for myself. This was her family though and I felt like Chloe had a right to have them in our lives if she chose to do so. I spoke to them directly, ignoring Chloe's anger.
"I got in a drinking accident. I was being reckless and I was upset so I got drunk and I had gone to the roof of a building to be alone. My brother… One of my four siblings. The oldest and probably the one that I was closest to followed me. I almost fell over the edge. He saved me. In doing so he fell and died, I fell and hit my head. Which gave me temporary amnesia. I forgot who Chloe was, the Bellas. I forgot all my memories from Barden except my schooling. In a selfish attempt to hide my brother's death from me. My family threatened Chloe and the rest of the Bellas so they'd stay away from me. The doctor thought that Chloe being around might trigger my memories and my family didn't want me to blame myself for my older brother's death." I paused to let everyone catch up, quickly speaking again before anyone could interrupt because I wasn't sure I could finish if they did. "Of course they told me he had killed himself. This all happened less than a week before Chloe and I were supposed to move. Right after graduation actually. Chloe left because my father told her it would be best for me. Which of course wasn't true. I spent the next two years at the bottom of a whiskey bottle. When Chloe came back into my life it was rough. My mind flooded with these dreams and memories that I didn't understand and my world was torn apart again. If it wasn't for Chlo I would be living a lie. When I found out the truth I pushed Chloe away and we almost ended for good but you know Chloe. When she sets her mind to something she doesn't give up." My last sentence got a few mumbles about what and understatement that was and a couple laughs.
"Why did she leave though?" Her mom still didn't understand and it wasn't a question I could answer.
"If I couldn't be with Beca, if she didn't remember me. I thought that going to LA and living the life we had planned together would make me feel closer to her. Maybe one day she would wake up and remember and I would have her life ready and waiting for her." Chloe admitted, I looked at her a little shocked at the new information. "Her dad tried to pay me off with a check which I of course didn't cash. When I spent two years out there, I was miserable. I thought that maybe having the new Beca, the one that didn't remember me would be better than not having her at all. I thought we could start over and I'd take whatever I could get. But as soon as I came back… Well that's when the accident happened. And Beca helped me through it. She found out in a really hard way what happened and then disappeared for a while but then she came back and we've been pretty great since then." I squeezed her hand and smiled gently as tears settled in my eyes. I blinked them back as everyone sat stunned in silence. "I didn't stay in touch with anyone but Stacie and Amy because I couldn't handle explaining any of this to anyone. Stacie and Amy were my eyes and ears on Beca while I was away and when Amy explained how far Beca had fallen I had to come back. I couldn't handle her feeling alone when I knew I could help."
"So you're an alcoholic?" Marie asked, I blinked a rapidly at the question. I didn't think I was but thinking back on the information we had just shared I didn't know what to say.
"She is. We're working on it." Chloe answered firmly.
"You really want to spend your life with an alcoholic Chloe?" Her mom was brutal and now I understood why Chloe was so reluctant to come inside.
"Marie, I don't think Beca's demons concern you. The poor kid has been through a lot." Mrs. Beale's sister shot at her harshly. Marie shrugged the question off and pressed on.
"Where are your parents Beca?"
"My mom is dead. My father abandoned me." I choked out.
"Beca, we don't have to do this. Lets go." Chloe began to stand up and I pulled her back down.
"If they want to know, then I'll tell them. I don't have any secrets Chloe." I stated firmly before turning back to the pair directly in front of me.
"And you think you'll be a good parent with a background like that?" Her mom practically laughed and my stomach twisted painfully. These were thoughts I'd been wrestling with for a long time now.
"Actually ma'am with my background? I think I could use my experiences to be the best parent possible. My mom was an angel; she was a perfect mom. She attended all of our sports events, all my choir concerts, field trips, PTA meetings and anything else we managed to sign her up for. Between five kids who were all born in a six-year period she never missed an event." I sighed at the thought. "My dad was a business man who dedicated his life to taking care of us all. He was also a family man and that didn't change until my mother passed away. She got sick but to the very end all she cared about was being the best mom possible." Her mom mulled this over for a moment before asking again why Chloe would be with an alcoholic.
"Beca has always been Beca. There's no one like her in this world and I loved that from the moment I met her. The first time I saw her I knew she was IT for me." She smiled at the memory of the activities fair. "She was moody and distant. A tortured artist. She was angry and alone but once I got through those walls she became the most loving and caring person I'd ever met. She got arrested once because she was protecting the Bellas in a full out brawl after a competition. She stayed up on endless accounts to take care of girls after breakups, family deaths, she held hair for overly drunk Bellas while they cried about stupid shit. She even punched one of my exes in the face when she found out he'd been bothering me at a party. Beca might have some issues but she's perfect to me. She treats me like a queen and she never even complains when I have nervous breakdowns." Chloe pulled in a long breath and continued. "She's seen hell and she's shook hands with the devil. She's seen darkness and pain and she still does nothing but exude love from her core. If you can't accept that, accept the love I feel for her… The consuming need to love and protect her. If you can't accept… Us." She motioned between us with her free hand. "Then I don't want you to be a part of my life." Chloe finished with a ragged breath. Her aunt and uncle stood quickly, followed by all of her cousins.
"I don't know about the two of you." Her aunt eyed Marie and Cathy sideways. "But I support anything you do Chloe. Whether it's a career choice or Beca. If you love Beca then we all love her too." Her uncle nodded and three of her cousins cheered. Cathy seemed torn, her eyes darting back and forth between Chloe, Marie and I.
"Come on Cathy, I think Chloe's made her point clear." Marie turned to walk towards the house but Cathy stood glued to her spot, wide eyed. Chloe's stare locked on hers with a clear sign of acceptance on whatever the woman chose to do. "Cathy I said we are leaving!" Marie shouted.
"No mom," Cathy whispered. "I want to stay here with Chloe. I miss my sister and obviously she didn't just leave for selfish reasons. Chloe was alone and broken for two years and we didn't even try to help her. We didn't even ask. We just assumed and nothing about that was right." Cathy stepped up and reached out for both our hands. "When is my sister getting married? What colors are the wedding? Can I be in it?" And the water works began. The twins began to cry in each other's arms as their mom just scoffed and stormed out.