A/N: Sorry I'm a day late posting. I hope it's worth waiting an extra day. Please don't forget to read & review. I love hearing from all of you.

Corinne (waatp), thank you for your amazing beta skills & for always being so willing to read & reread my chapters until they're perfect. Your constant love & support mean the world to me. xx

o~O~o
Chapter 19
Grinches and Gingerbread
o~O~o

"Wow! Just... wow." Jesse breathed out evenly as he lifted his eyes to meet Beca's. Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. He blinked a couple of times before locking eyes with her; the truthful reality sunk in quicker than cold butter on a hot baked potato. "Are you sure?"

"I haven't been to the doctor yet but I'm pretty sure." Beca said, nodding gently to confirm her own suspicions.

"So, I'm really gonna be a dad?" Jesse asked, his eyes brimming with unspent tears.

"Yeah." Beca replied, unable to get a clear read on Jesse's emotions.

"Beca...?"

"What?"

"I'm gonna be a dad!" Jesse said, his voice rising steadily as the news began to sink in. He reached for Beca's hand and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her back and pulling her tightly towards him.

Beca watched his reaction carefully as she broke the news that just a couple of days before, she'd taken a home pregnancy test. Ok so… she actually took more than one but every one had two pink lines, so in reality it didn't matter how many tests she had taken because the results were the same. Jesse's reaction had genuinely taken her by surprise. She had run through a couple of scenarios of the way it could go when she told him ranging from completely denying responsibility and even questioning whether he was, indeed, the father of her unborn child or Jesse not saying anything at all and getting up and walking out on her. The thought of him being ok, let alone him being ecstatically happy about it hadn't entered into her mind at all.

She'd been in such a rush that day that she'd jammed the test back into her make up bag and thrown it into her desk drawer, rushing out to a team meeting. When her appointments were over and she was back in her office, she'd knocked a pile of paperwork to the floor and only remembered the test when she'd seen it after stuffing the knocked over files back in her drawer.

She couldn't tell Jesse that he wasn't the first to know about the baby, he would be devastated. She had called Luke, not to tell him about the baby, but to find out whether he could help her figure out where the package containing the photographs of Jesse had come from. While he was there, Luke had inadvertently seen the pregnancy test in her drawer and had persuaded her to tell Jesse, reminding her that he had a right to know. What Luke and Jesse didn't know was that she had taken three more tests that night when she got home.

"I promise I'll do everything it takes to be there for you and this little one." Jesse said, sinking to his knees and putting his face as close to Beca's tummy as he could. "Helllloooo little one, this is your Daddy! Can you hear me?"

Beca couldn't help but giggle over the ridiculous behavior and she felt a burden being lifted from her shoulders.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Jesse asked.

"That's something I can't tell you." Beca said. "It's still way too early for that."

"Oh yeah. Sorry, I got carried away..." He said, looking a bit deflated. "When is he or she due to be here? I mean, how long do they bake in there... I mean, is it soon or..."

"I'm not entirely sure. I need to make an appointment with my doctor." Beca said. "I think it happened within a few days of you being home from rehab. Maybe the first day, seeing as that was one of the only times we weren't careful."

"Hmmm..." Jesse said, moistening his lips for a moment. "What a homecoming."

"Indeed it was."

"Are you ok with the news?" Jesse asked.

"I'm shocked but at the same time, I'm not." Beca said honestly. "I mean, all sense went out of the window when you came home and we... you know."

"True that!" Jesse said and then a look of horror flashed on his face. "Wait! What we just did? That couldn't hurt the baby, could it?"

"I think it's doing pretty good in there." Beca laughed as she patted her perfectly flat tummy.

"Is there anything else you need to tell me?" Jesse joked. "I'm not sure I can take any more surprises but... whoa wait, what's that face for?"

"No face." Beca said, desperately trying to school her features.

"What's up?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I know it's nothing."

"Bec… come on. What's wrong?"

"It's just..."

"Hey, you can talk to me, you know." Jesse told her as he reached over and gently turned her face upward so he could see her eyes. "You can say anything you want to."

Beca sighed. She hadn't intended to turn the morning into a complete air and share. "It's just... I was sent some candid photos of you in the mail. You're pretty much naked in the shots or at least that's how the pictures-"

"-Oh geez; I wondered what happened to them."

"You know about them?"

"Of course I do. I met up with some guys who offered to take some headshots for my music portfolio in exchange for a couple of pictures with another one of their clients. I knew something wasn't right when they asked me to meet me at a burger joint on the beach, of all places but I didn't have money for an official photographer and I thought it was a cheap way of doing it. I knew if I'd asked you, you would have spotted me the cash for it but that just made me feel even worse. I was promised some modeling work in exchange for my time. I jumped at the opportunity to do it and completely forgot to mention it to you later on. I didn't mean anything by that, I just simply forgot. And, like I said, I didn't tell you before I went because I didn't want to have to ask you for a couple of hundred bucks and you feel awkward about me asking."

"Of course I would hav-"

Jesse put his hand up. "-I needed to try and make it on my own. The band needed me to take charge but I had no means of getting our names out there. I got the photos done and thought no more of it. I was ignorant and it was only when I had time to think, when I was alone for all that time on the road and replaying my life before I fucked up that it occurred to me that I never saw the proofs and then it hit me like a shit ton of bricks that I'd been played. I'd been asked to pose with a female model and yeah, was told to remove my clothes as it made photoshopping and airbrushing her easier. I never even questioned it. I'd called the company a couple of times to see where the negatives where but I never heard back from them. Then you said you were going to Oahu and then..."

"Yeah, I know how the rest of that story goes."

"Who sent you the photos?" Jesse asked.

"That's just it. I don't know. They were sent anonymously."

"You didn't think I was... wait, you thought they were candid? And proof I was having an affair or something? No! No, you didn't, right? No-"

"-Yeah, I did." Beca said honestly. "I've been stewing about it for a few days."

"Baby, why didn't you just ask me?"

"I was scared of the reason. I found out about the baby on the same day. It was just all too much."

"I swear that's what happened. I have nothing to hide from you. I promise. I promised in Couples Therapy I would be honest with you about everything, even if the truth was hurtful."

"Your word is good enough for me."

"I can't quite believe the morning has turned out like this."

"I know, right?"

"Is it weird that I'm happy about the baby yet I'm not nervous at all." He said rubbing her still very flat, very firm tummy.

"Hold that thought buddy!" Beca said.

"Why?"

"You're the one who has to tell my dad!"

"Oh shit."

o~O~o

The following week Beca and Jesse found themselves sitting in the warm, well appointed and welcoming waiting room at Dr. Kaiser's office. Dr. Beverly Kaiser had been Beca's gynecologist since she was sixteen and, while clinical at times, Beca appreciated her honest and direct approach. She had been the one that, with Anne's permission, had preached to Beca about abstinence, safe sex, the different types of contraception and the importance of being married or at the very least having a steady partner before having babies. As a result, Beca was dreading the moment when she had to tell Dr. Kaiser that she was pregnant… or that she thought she was pregnant. She'd made a promise to herself long ago that she wouldn't get pregnant until she was married but things change and life had a way of throwing curve balls when it was least expected. Not having been in a many long term relationships, she wasn't exactly sure she how she felt about getting married and she had no idea how Jesse would react to the suggestion. Perhaps being with Jesse was as close as she would get to marriage.

And she was ok with that.

If Beca's calculations over the last few days were correct, she was about seven or eight weeks along and she had been suddenly become sicker than she ever expected to be. The last week had been absolutely horrendous but according to everything she had read on WebMD, morning sickness was usually indicative of a healthy pregnancy.

After being called through to the back and going over all the routine stuff including a kind but stern reprimand for missing her last pap smear, Beca and Jesse were asked to wait in an exam room and told that the doctor would be in shortly. Beca was handed a cup to pee in which Jesse mocked her with until she told him he had to be the one to carry it out to the front desk for testing. She made sure filled it as much as possible to teach him a lesson for laughing at her. He returned after a couple of minutes and sat quietly for a short time before he started looking around the room. As they sat and waited for what seemed like forever, Jesse found himself getting fussed at for digging in all the cabinets and drawers.

"What the fuck is this piece of torturous equipment used for?" He hissed as he held up a pair of metal forceps.

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

"It's as long as your leg." Jesse said, moving quickly to Beca's side and measuring it against her thigh.

"And that's why you don't want to know." Beca smirked. "Now, put it back or we'll get in trouble."

"Surely they don't treat dinosaurs in here as well." Jesse said, throwing down the forceps. "No wonder-"

"-Good morning! And how are you today? I see you are missed your last appointment." Dr. Kaiser said as she and her midwife, Jennifer, entered the room. Looking up from the chart in her hand Dr. Kaiser noticed Jesse in the room. "Oh, I'm sorry Beca, I didn't realize you brought someone with you."

Beca smiled at Dr. Kaiser's obvious embarrassment. "Dr. Kaiser this is my boyfriend, Jesse Swanson. Jesse, this is Dr. Beverly Kaiser."

After trading pleasantries, Dr. Kaiser sat on the rolling stool and proceeded to move the appointment along. "What brings you in today Beca?"

"Umm…" Beca suddenly found her fingers very interesting and she felt her cheeks redden. "I've missed my last two periods and I took a home pregnancy test about a week ago that came back positive."

Dr. Kaiser grinned. She knew Beca was uncomfortable, especially after all of the conversations they'd had in the past. "I see…" Opening Beca's chart she smiled again. "Well, you are definitely pregnant. Congratulations! Any morning sickness?"

Beca nodded. "More like all day sickness, it's horrendous but I just started getting sick about two weeks ago so I guess I should could my blessings, right?"

"That's fine. Morning sickness isn't necessarily a bad thing and… hits people at different times and in different ways. Is it manageable or do I need to give you something for nausea?"

"When a wave of nausea hits, it's pretty bad but no, I wouldn't say it's unmanageable. Almost inconvenient but nothing to complain about"

"Ok… that's good. Have you noticed anything else?"

"I can't eat pancakes with maple syrup… the baby seems to hate it!" Beca told her.

"That's probably because pancakes and maple syrup are pretty heavy on the tummy."

"When does the morning sickness stop?"

"Well… each woman is different but honestly, there is no clear answer to this question. It usually starts to get better between 14 weeks and 16 weeks. It may not stop completely though and you may experience varying levels of nausea until about 20 weeks."

"Well… at least there's some light at the end of the tunnel." Beca said as she smiled, casting her eyes towards Jesse who automatically and instinctively rubbed the small of her back.

"So… would you two like to hear your baby's heartbeat?" Dr. Kaiser asked as she turned to Jennifer and gave her a small nod. The midwife reached over and handed the doctor a small doppler.

Looking at each other, Beca and Jesse both nodded. "Yes, please." Beca finally said as she laid back on the exam room table and Jesse stood up to make some space. She raised her top so that Dr. Kaiser could place the doppler on her tummy and they waited.

Jesse took Beca's hand in his own and kissed her knuckles. Beca was surprised that his hands were trembling and was about to speak when the doctor stopped still.

"There it is." Dr. Kaiser announced when she found the heartbeat. She held it in place so they could all hear the sound. "Sounds good… healthy." She said as she removed the doppler.

Beca couldn't wipe the smile from her face. "It sounds like galloping horses."

"It does." Jesse agreed and Beca noticed his hands had stopped shaking and his fingers began to warm up again.

"Many people have said a baby's heartbeat sounds like a washing machine but I've always preferred galloping horses. It just sounds better." Dr. Kaiser said.

"Horses definitely does sound better." Jesse told them.

Dr. Kaiser wrote a few others things in Beca's chart then looked up. "Now… according to your calculations, the first day of your last period was October 7th which put conception on or about October 20th. Does that sound about right?"

"Yes… but am I wrong?" Beca asked suddenly concerned.

"No, I don't think so, but we're going find out for sure." She told them. "I'm going to do a quick transvaginal ultrasound."

Jesse froze when he saw Dr. Kaiser stretching a condom over the ultrasound probe. Whispering to Beca he asked, "What's she gonna do with that thing? It's huge!"

"Sssh." Beca gulped down a laugh.

Beca and Jesse watched the screen as Dr. Kaiser moved the wand around after checking Beca was comfortable. She pointed out the umbilical cord, the shape of the baby and its beating heart. "Let's see if we can get a heart rate… ahh, right there. You see it?" She asked them.

They both nodded, unable to speak.

"One hundred and fifty seven beats. That's very good, nice and strong. Ok… now we're going to measure from the head to the baby's butt. It's called the crown rump length."

"This is so amazing." Jesse said as he looked at the screen in total awe.

"Aww babe look… it looks like a little peanut." Beca breathed out.

"It does… a peanut with teeny tiny little arms and legs." Jesse joked as he kissed Beca's hand.

"The baby is measuring about one centimeter long."

"Is that good?" Jesse asked.

"Very good… and Beca, it looks like you're right on the money. According to the ultrasound you're about eight weeks five days today and it's looking like your due date is July 13th." Dr. Kaiser told her as Jennifer wrote a few things down in Beca's chart. "So, I want to see you back on or around the 3rd for your next appointment." She said as she printed out a few ultrasound pictures for Beca and Jesse.

"Thank you Dr. Kaiser."

"Any questions?"

Jesse looked at Beca then at Dr. Kaiser. "When do you think we'll get to see the gender of baby… on ultrasound?"

"I usually do one at the 16 week appointment then another somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks and as needed after that." Dr. Kaiser informed them. "Are you hoping to find out?"

Beca and Jesse both smiled. "Yes, we are." Beca admitted. She was, after all her mother's daughter, a complete and total planner. The sooner they knew the gender, the sooner they could go shopping.

"We should be able to see something if the little one cooperates. If he or she doesn't then I can try again at 20 weeks. Sound good?"

"It does… thank you."

Dr. Kaiser closed Beca's chart and stood up. "Here's a prescription for prenatal vitamins. You'll need to take one a day for the remainder of the pregnancy."

"I'll get this filled as soon as we leave here." Beca said as she folded the piece of paper and put it in her purse.

"Well, if that's all I'll see you on the 3rd of January." Dr. Kaiser said turning around before she walked out. "Congratulations again and Merry Christmas."

"Thank you and Merry Christmas to you too."

o~O~o

It had been a little more than two weeks since Beca's visit with Dr. Kaiser and they still hadn't told her parents about the baby. The only other person who knew, apart from the medical staff, was Luke who was keeping a low profile. He'd called with his heartfelt congratulations after Beca had told him they'd been to the doctors and had promised to keep the news to himself. They had planned to tell Anne and Will at the last two Sunday dinners but had chickened out at the last minute deciding that it just wasn't the right time. They knew it couldn't be put off indefinitely, which was exactly why Jesse was pacing the family room and chewing on his thumb at three o'clock in the morning on Christmas Day. Beca had suggested to him a few days earlier that they tell her parents together on Christmas but he just wasn't sure he was ready. He thought that it was going to go spectacularly bad.

He stopped in front of the fireplace and ran his hand along the Christmas stockings. There was one with his name, one with Beca's name and one smaller one for the baby. Sticking out of the top of the baby's stocking was an envelope for Beca's parents. Beca had been on Pinterest looking for cute announcement ideas and the note was what she'd come up with. They were both finding it so hard to believe that next year, the baby's stocking would have his or her name on it and Santa would be making the first of many visits to their house.

Knowing it wouldn't be long before Beca was awake and looking for him, Jesse got a glass of milk and headed back to bed. The next day was going to be the first time he had ever gotten to celebrate Christmas with a real family. The fact of the matter was, he didn't have a real family, even his brothers were only half siblings. He really didn't have anyone who was a full blooded relative… until the baby. That alone made him the happiest man on the planet.

As Jesse crawled back in bed, Beca scooted closer to him. Laying her head on his chest she mumbled, "I missed you." before drifting back off to sleep.

o~O~o

When they woke several hours later, Beca and Jesse spent a couple of hours making love before they exchanged their gifts to each other privately before her family arrived. Beca gave Jesse a Versace watch and Jesse gave Beca a necklace that had the baby's heartbeat engraved on it. He promised to have the baby's name engraved on the opposite side after he or she arrived.

They showered together to save time and Beca laid out their new Christmas clothes. Jesse loved the idea of new clothes for Christmas and asked that they make it their family tradition. Beca nodded her approval as Jesse helped her with her buttons. She was really pleased to see Jesse entering into the spirit of everything and he'd been completely on board with helping prepare the food the night before so that they wouldn't have to do so much work the next day and could enjoy the time with their family and friends. He dusted and vacuumed everything in the family room while Beca took a quick bath and he also set the table, using their best china and silverware. Beca was surprised that it all looked so good and while it wasn't exactly how she imagined her Christmas table to look, she saw the effort that Jesse had taken in doing it and knew her mother would be impressed.

Beca's family, Luke and his family as well as Amy and Bumper arrived around Noon. Amy barrelled through the door clutching a homemade wreath complete with pinecones, a plastic baby Jesus and candy canes. Bumper, looking very uncomfortable in a shirt and tie, handed Beca some freshly cut flowers which brought tears to her eyes; crying over the smallest things being something that she'd picked up in the last week or so. Aubrey and Ben wore matching Christmas sweaters while Luke and Jake brought more bottles of wine than necessary and the smallest of tell tale glances from Luke suggested that he needed the alcohol to get through the day. He kissed Beca on the cheek and held onto her for a moment longer than necessary before briefly shaking Jesse's hand and introducing him to his brother.

Pretty soon the festivities were in full swing, the conversation flowed fluidly and everyone had a drink in their hand as the reminiscing began and the crazy stories started being shared. While the cornbread muffins and croissants were in the oven, everyone exchanged gifts and started the balling up of the wrapping paper for the annual wrapping paper war. Jesse thought it was weird at first but started to embrace it when he thought that this must be what real families across America did on Christmas Day.

What Jesse and Beca hadn't planned on was everyone being oblivious to the clue on the mantle to announce that Beca was pregnant. Not one of them seemed to notice that there were not two but three Christmas stockings hung by the chimney with care.

As Beca tossed the dinner salad, made of baby spinach, baby shrimp, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, baby corn, baby carrots and baby cucumbers she wondered if anyone would pick up on her themed dinner. Nervously, she set the table, placing the barbeque baby back ribs, new potatoes, the salad and a tray of mini cornbread muffins and croissants in the center of the table.

"Beca!" Amy called as she walked into the dining room. "Is dinner almost ready?"

"Just about."

"Good, because I'm so hungry I could stick my hand up a hog's ass and pull out a ham sandwich."

"Amy… you're so gross."

"Barbeque on Christmas?" Amy questioned as she looked at everything on the table.

"Yeah… I thought it would be a nice change." Beca winked.

"Cool." Amy nodded. "Wait! Why won't you eat my barbeque?"

Beca giggled. "Because you're Australian."

"So, you won't eat my barbeque because I'm Australian but you'll eat an egg that comes out of a chicken's ass!"

"When your barbeque doesn't look like something that came out of a chicken's ass then I'll try it."

"Fair enough."

"Can you let everyone know that it's time to eat?"

"Sure thing boss!" Amy said as she turned around. "TIME TO EAT! COME AND GET IT!"

"Son of a bitch!" Beca said as she covered her ears and winced. "I could have done that!"

o~O~o

Jesse and Beca both thought that once everyone sat down and took in the non-traditional Christmas feast in front of them that someone was sure to guess they were expecting, or at least pass a comment on the 'baby' themed foods. Apparently, everyone was too hungry to notice the theme that Beca had put so much love and thought into. Since plans A and B failed miserably, they had to go with plan C which was dessert and if they had to go to plan D, which was the last plan they had, Beca realized her family was even more dense than she thought. Who actually came up with four separate plans to reveal a pregnancy?

"Beca… honey, dinner was fabulous!" William told her as she started to put the leftovers away in the fridge. "Great job. You may have just started a new family tradition."

"Thanks Dad. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I did… what's for dessert?"

"Well, I made that homemade key lime pie that you like so much and Granny Mitchell's famous apple pie as well as some petit fours and other little bite size treats."

William kissed Beca on the forehead. "You've outdone yourself kid. You may be hosting every holiday after this."

"And I'm totally ok with that." Beca said as she hugged her dad. "You don't have to stay in here with me, you know? Go watch the game with the guys and Amy."

"You sure?"

"Well, it's either that or sitting on the morning porch and drinking proper English tea with Mom, Aunt Gail, Aubrey and Mrs. Claire."

Claire, Luke's mom, had 'a cuppa' and biscuits several times a day. She even carried her own tea bags in her purse, in the event she wasn't home at tea time. She had even been known to bring her own teapot because 'American teapots ruin English tea'. One afternoon during tea time, Beca snapped a picture of Claire's teapot. She spent a good deal of time the following week searching far and wide for an identical teapot so that she could have one at her house for Luke and Claire to use.

"TOUCHDOWN!" The guys yelled from the family room.

"Dad… you're missing the game. Go."

"Ok, ok…"

Jesse was walking into the kitchen to check on Beca when he passed her dad as he walked through the dining room. William actually gave him a pat on the shoulder as he passed. It was kinda nice but Jesse knew it would be short lived. He worried that after Beca's parents figured out their news, he wouldn't make through the rest of the day and gulped down his remorse at never finding out if Will had a gun licence.

"Hey babe… need some help?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Yes, please tell me that my family hasn't been totally oblivious all day."

Jesse chuckled. "I wish I could. I honestly thought they would have gotten it by now."

"What are we going to do if they don't?" Beca asked, spinning around to face him.

"Well, we've got two more things we can do… after that, there's nothing left but to just come out and say it."

"Perhaps we shouldn't have tried to make this into a game and we should have just called with the happy news." Beca said, picking up the dessert trays and holding them out to him. "Here, take this in the family room and see if anyone needs a refill on drinks."

"Got it." Jesse said, taking the tray of desserts from Beca. He turned, carefully carrying through the key lime pie that he'd been desperate to try as soon as Beca had made it.

"And Jesse?"

"Yeah."

"You're doing great."

o~O~o

William looked at Jesse, taking his glasses off and putting them in the pocket of his shirt. "Jesse… can I see you outside?"

Jesse had the decency to look scared shitless and he should have been. They had just told Beca's family and friends that they were expecting a baby and while their reactions weren't as bad as they thought, it wasn't great either. If Anne could have, she would have made Jesse drop dead with her glare alone. Amy, predictably, had been overly excited about the prospect of becoming an Aunt and while her comment regarding Beca having 'stopped blowing Jesse's didgeridoo long enough to sit on it instead' had gone undetected, her passing remark to Anne that she was about to be a Granny and would need to add a blue rinse to her Judge's wig had soured Anne's expression.

After a suitably long sigh in her daughters' friends' direction, Amy had muttered 'Judgey Bitch' under her breath but only Beca and Bumper had heard it. Seeing Will stand and stare at Jesse while waiting for him to move, Beca felt Jesse stiffen in fear.

Beca cupped his face in her hands and kissed him gently. "His bark is bigger than his bite." She whispered.

Jesse cleared his throat. "Yes sir… after you." He said motioning toward the door before following William out to the morning porch.

The door was hardly closed good when William rounded on him. As much as he wanted to yell and scream at Jesse, William kept his emotions in check as he paced along the patio by the pool. "What were you two thinking? You're hardly out of rehab and she works more hours than the President. You work in a mailroom downtown making a little more than minimum wage and I know Beca has been bank rolling you for months. Did you do this to get money out of her? Did you plan this? How are you going to take care of Beca and a baby?"

"Mr. Mitchell, I am in no way saying that this is an ideal situation and it certainly won't be easy but Beca and I are very happy about this baby."

"Or are you happy because you've finally succeeded in trapping my daughter?"

Jesse was only slightly taken aback by William's accusation. He knew Beca's parents weren't going to be happy about the baby… at least not at first. He hoped that with time, they would come around and be just excited as they were. While he knew they were young, they weren't teenagers and were fully prepared for the responsibilities that were about to come their way.

"If I have to take on a second job then I will." Jesse said, standing up straight and puffing out his chest. "My band has been practicing and we'll be scheduling gigs soon."

"A second job and some gigs… that's great!" Will said sarcastically. " So, basically that means Beca will be alone with the baby all the time."

"I admit… it's going to rough, I get that but I really do think Beca and I can make it work. Plenty of people have less than we do and raise children with next to nothing and most of the time, those kids turn out fine. This baby will want for nothing and I know we will make it work."

"Don't you mean, Beca can make it work?"

"No, I don't. I meant we."

William scoffed and looked angrily up to the sky.

"A baby is a big responsibility Jesse. It's not all fun and games and buying things they need. It's being there twenty four hours a day, teaching them right from wrong and above all, it's loving that child unconditionally for the rest of your life. It doesn't ever stop. I love Beca with everything I have and I'll do everything in my power to see her happy. What I won't stand for is her being taken for a ride."

Without even thinking, Jesse blurted "Mr. Mitchell, I want to marry Beca."

William chuckled.

Asking for Beca's hand was something Jesse had been intending to ask William all day but had never really gotten the chance to until that very moment and to be quite frank, it didn't come out like he wanted it to. Jesse begin pacing, matching Dr Mitchell's attempts to keep moving and keep his temper under complete control. "Mr. Mitchell, I love Beca. I've never loved anyone the way I love her and I've never wanted to be with anyone the way I want to be with her. In the short time I've known her, she's shown me what love is, she's shown me what a real family is. Those are two things I've longed for my entire life. I grew up with nothing, on the wrong side of town and yeah, I made some mistakes to survive. I pretty much raised my three younger brothers until I realized they needed more than I could provide for them. As their brother, I knew what was good and bad for them. I now have the opportunity to right all my past wrongs and raise this baby in the correct way, with an abundance of love and support. While I may not be able to provide everything myself, I will make up for that with time and dedication. Much like I will do for Beca. I know we're doing this all wrong in your eyes but please, give us the opportunity to make it right."

"You've said it yourself though, you are a bad egg and-" William began before Jesse put his hand up to stop him.

"-I won't listen to you say that I am not good enough. I know my faults, my limitations and my failures and I don't need to be reminded of my past. I've made mistakes and I've paid the price for them. I cannot change the past but I am prepared for the future. I want Beca as my wife. I want her happiness as my top priority right now which is why I will ask her to marry me, with or without your blessing... sir."

William had to admit, he was impressed with Jesse's little speech but that didn't make up for what he had done to Beca since this entire sordid affair started. Things were different now, Beca was pregnant and obviously, Jesse wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Ok, ok. You have my blessing, although Anne maybe a little harder to convince but leave her to me." William chuckled, reaching out his hand to shake Jesse's. "But I'm going to be watching you. One foot out of place and..."

"I get it. Thank you."

o~O~o

"Rebeca… upstairs… now." Anne told her daughter as soon as William and Jesse had left the room.

Beca knew her parents were pulling the divide and conquer technique; it was definitely a tried and true Mitchell method. They were going to try to wear them both down in an attempt to see things their way. While Beca didn't know how Jesse would fare with her dad, she knew for a fact that she wasn't going to back down from her mom.

"Beca… honey, what were you thinking?" Anne asked, attempting the softly softly approach as she rubbed her forehead. She sat down heavily on the small armchair in Beca's bedroom.

"Well… clearly we weren't." Beca said, rolling her eyes. This reminded her of the time she was fussed at for skipping school one morning with Luke. They decided they didn't want to go to school and ended up at the mall when they were spotted.

"What do you mean?"

"Believe it or not Mom, this baby was not planned. We're just as surprised as all of you."

"Surprised doesn't quite cover it Rebeca."

"Yeah, well, you don't like it when I swear, especially when we have company."

"Do you want to know what my biggest concern is for you right now?"

Beca rolled her eyes again but conceded to look at her mother while she talked. "Sure, it's not like I have a choice."

"This is no longer a clean break. You will be forever tied to Jesse. What happens when you two split up? Are you ready to share custody? Bounce the baby back and forth every other weekend and on holidays?"

Beca shook her head, not quite prepared to take it all in. "Mom, what makes you so sure we're going to break up?"

"It's happened once, it will happen again."

"Why? Because we've known each other less than a year?"

"For starters… yes."

"What else?"

"Beca, he has a past."

"And? None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes."

"And you're calling this situation you're in now a mistake?"

"Yes, no, I don't know. Stop putting words into my mouth and confusing what you are really trying to say. Although unplanned, we couldn't be happier with this situation we are in. Sure, it's sped things up a little but we can't do anything to change the fact that in a few months, we are going to be adding to our family. I just wish you could accept that Jesse isn't going anywhere."

"Beca, you hardly know him."

"Mom… you met Dad and got engaged three months later. Three months after that you were married and here you are almost thirty years later, still together and happily married. Don't you think you're being a bit of a hypocrite right now?"

"No, I don't. Daddy has never hurt me like Jesse has hurt you."

"Mom, Jesse and I are deliriously happy about this baby. I wish you and Dad could be happy for us too."

"Beca, since before you were born I knew you were special. I knew from very early on that you were going to be stubborn, hard headed and extremely independent but those were just a few of the things that made me fall in love with you. You are my life, my heart, my miracle and I've always wanted the very best for you… always, no matter what. I understand that you and Jesse have known for a few weeks and have had the chance to talk about things and begin to adapt but Beca, it's going to take me some time to come to terms with this pregnancy."

"I get it Mom. It took me several days to come to terms with it and then finally tell Jesse. I would much rather have been married before getting pregnant but that's not the way things worked out. So we are making the best out of everything and I really want you and Daddy involved."

"Well of course we will be, every step of the way. Although I do draw the line at running a blue rinse through my Judge's wig. And I won't be called Granny; I'm not that old!"

"Careful Mom, it sounds like you are coming round to the idea."

"Like you said, there's little I can do to change the situation. And when your Dad and I have had a chance to talk about it, I am sure we will both be very excited to become grandparents."

"Will you spend some time with Jesse? Get to know him?" Beca asked and watched her mother bristle. 'Ah, too soon to suggest that!' She thought.

"When will Mitchell Junior be here?" Anne asked.

"The middle of July."

"So you'll be 25 by then."

"Yes, why?" Beca asked twisting her mouth a little. She'd been wondering if her age was a problem with her Mom.

"I'm just struggling with the fact that my little girl is going to have a baby of her own."

"Yeah, but I am going to be 25. I'm not that young."

Anne sat quietly for a minute or two, gently fingering the edge of one of Beca's throw pillows. Beca left her to her thoughts as this conversation had gone better than she had expected it too. She was eternally grateful that her mother hadn't asked her why they hadn't used contraception or taking better precautions.

"Have you been to see Dr. Kaiser?" Anne asked.

"Yes, everything is fine. We heard the heartbeat."

"We?"

"Yes, Jesse came as well."

"What about Luke?"

"No, he didn't come." Beca chuckled, knowing full well that wasn't what her mother was asking.

"That's not what I meant."

"What about him?" Beca asked.

"Have you considered a relationship with him?"

"Mom! He's my best friend and-"

"-the best relationships are built on a strong foundation, a secure friendship, complete and utter trust and you have that with Luke. You've always had that with Luke."

"Mom… stop-"

"-No, Beca.. I won't stop. I see the way that boy looks at you. I've seen it since you were both very young. He loves you. Can't you see that?" Anne pleaded.

"Mom, I love Luke… I really and truly do but we haven't acted on our feelings because our friendship comes first. I'd rather have Luke as my best friend for the rest of my fucking life than not have him in my life at all."

"Rebeca!"

"Sorry, not sorry." Beca breathed out heavily and ran her fingers through her hair. "But Luke is the brother I never had and the friend I've always wanted. I'm not going to throw that away. I can't bear to lose him."

"That's selfish."

"You're right… it is, but I'd be lost without Luke."

"And he's lost without you. This relationship with Jesse may kill your lifelong friendship with Luke. Is that what you want? Are you prepared to lose him to keep Jesse?" Anne asked. "Every single time something has happened between you and Jesse, Luke has shown up at the house to express his concern for you. Half the time I think he worries about you more than Dad and I do."

"And I have absolutely no doubt that he does and will continue to do so until we are old and grey, wearing matching piss soaked tracksuits in our adjoining rooms at the old people's home. But Mom, rest assured… Luke's not going anywhere and neither am I. We knew things would change as we entered our twenties but I promise you, we're as solid as the day is long."

"He didn't look shocked when the news broke about the baby."

"He's known for a few weeks."

"Oh. You told Luke after you told Jesse?"

"No, I told Luke first. Or rather, he found out."

"Luke knew first?"

"Yes."

"And what did he have to say about it all."

"He was the one who persuaded me to talk to Jesse sooner rather than later."

Anne sighed. "He's always had your best interests at heart."

"Yes, I agree, he has. And I have his." Beca said confidentially. "That's not going to change. Besides, if Jesse and I have a bad day, I've got Luke. Imagine if it was Luke and I having a bad day... I'd have to turn to Amy."

"Heaven help us!" Anne laughed, her expression softening. "Come on, you've just reminded me that we've left Amy downstairs with the desserts and without supervision. God only knows what she's up to."

o~O~o

"To be fair, that went better than I thought it would." Jesse admitted as he and Beca made coffee in the kitchen. While the good mood of the day hadn't changed, there was a thickness in the air and Beca had suggested coffee and Christmas cookies and some board games to get the subject away from them for a while.

"It did. Although, please be on your best behavior for a few more days. The mothership still has a few issues. Did you get through talking with my dad?"

"Yep. And similar to you and your Mom, he's not overly enthusiastic about it but I said I was in this for the long haul and would take my responsibility with the baby seriously."

"You were outside for ages. What else were you talking about?"

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all. I'm just glad I got through it with my balls intact."

Beca giggled and began to pour the hot water into the cafetière. "Can you grab the small plates with the gold trim on and take them into the family room for the cookies please?"

"Sure." Jesse replied, following through with his instructions. He sought out the plates and carried them into the family room. Beca began to hum the tune she'd had stuck in her head for a few days and was completely unaware she wasn't alone.

"-Hey, mind if I interrupt a second?"

Beca spun around and watched as Luke slowly walked into the kitchen.

"Sure. What's up?" Beca asked, reaching for the tea towel to wipe her hands.

"Are we ok?"

"We?"

"Yeah feisty mouse, you and me?" Luke asked. "I know I've been a bit distant the past few weeks and I'm sorry for that but I just wanted to check that you and I are-"

"-are being overly British and strange?"

"Yes, that's about the sum of it!"

"God, you are so weird."

"Says the girl who once asked me what currency we use in England and when I said pounds, you called me stupid and asked me what money we had, not the weight of things."

"Oh sure, mock the pregnant girl!" Beca said, throwing the tea towel at Luke who caught it easily and hurled it back at her.

"Congratulations. I'm not sure I said it before."

"You hadn't but thanks. Means a lot to hear it from you. No one else seems-"

"-Give it time. Jesse's history... you know?"

"No, I get it."

Luke walked over to Beca and pulled her into a bear hug. "I always forget how tiny you are."

"You are such an arsehole."

"Yep. That's something I do know."

"To answer your question, we are fine! Just drop me a text once in a while, ok? I miss you." Beca said, remembering her mother's words.

"You got it. Now, tell me, middle of July, right?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm just making sure of my dates. Gotta make sure I'm in the country and one of the first in line for cuddles."

"Luke..."

"I can't quite believe you are having a baby."

"I am. Want to feel?"

"Um, what?"

"My tummy. You might not be able to feel anything but..." Beca said, pulling Luke's hand down to her belly. He placed it gingerly across her stomach and Beca pushed it into herself. "Feel how hard it is?"

"Yeah, but surely that's just 'cuz you had three helping of ribs. You're not infact pregnant at all, you're just a greedy bitch!" Luke laughed out, pulling his hand away.

"Sssh, don't blow my cover!" Beca giggled and they locked eyes for a moment.

"Congratulations." Luke repeated and moved down as if to kiss her on her lips, avoiding her mouth at the last second and kissing her cheek. "I'm really happy for you."

"Oh hey Luke." Jesse said, coming back into the kitchen. Beca snapped her head around quickly and caught the look on Jesse's face and realized he'd seen Luke almost kiss her on the mouth, something they'd been doing since 9th grade.

"Hey Jess." Beca said, trying to act completely normal. "Coffee's almost done."

"Cool. Amy needs decaf, she's coming off of a pretty intense sugar high." He said, his voice slightly flat.

"Well, three helpings of dessert will do that to anyone." Beca said.

"Are you coming in there?" Jesse asked and Beca nodded. "Are you having a good day Luke?"

"Yes, thank you Jesse. Your hospitality has been most gracious." Luke said in his best English accent. He nodded politely at Jesse who smiled back and dug his hands into jeans pockets, looking slightly less uncomfortable.

"I'll leave you both to it." Jesse said, sensing Luke's need to speak to Beca privately.

"No, stay." Luke said before swallowing hard. "Please."

Beca raised an eyebrow. This was the first time Luke had voluntarily spoken to Jesse.

"You ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, I just realized that I... I never said my congratulations to Jesse either." Luke reached his hand to Jesse who pulled his own out of his pocket. At the last second, Luke changed his mind and clapped Jesse on the shoulder instead, leaving his fingers there for a moment or two.

"Thanks. We're pretty excited about it all."

"I bet." Luke said pleasantly.

"We... um... actually had something we, um, wanted to ask you." Jesse said, looking over at Beca who nodded.

"Oh yes?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, um, I mean yes. We were hoping you'd be our baby's Godfather. I mean, if you'd like to."

Luke spun around to look at Beca who smirked back at him and raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" He asked.

"Oh get over yourself!" Beca laughed, aiming the tea towel at him for a second time. "We're only asking you because you'll bring the kid presents!"

"Oh bloody typical!" Luke laughed, looking between them both. "Guys, I'd be honored. This, um, this actually means a lot to me. And I'd love to be involved." He coughed a couple of times.

"Dude, your eyes are leaking." Beca snarked.

"Oh fuck off!" Luke laughed out. "Get me some coffee!" He smiled and nodded to Jesse as he walked back into the family room. He pulled out his phone and quickly scrolled through his contacts before dialing a number. He watched as Beca and Jesse carried the coffee pot and cookies towards the family room and motioned he'd be just a minute. They nodded back. As soon as he was alone, he began to speak.

"I got the sample you asked for. Strand of hair off his shoulder. Yes, I'm sure it's his. I'll get it sent over to you as soon as I can. Then we'll know once and for all if it's him."