Thanks again for the reviews, they are much appreciated and really help me get a feel for what you guys think and if I should keep writing this story :) Sorry it took so long to update, I have been pretty sick this last week (gotta love bronchitis)
As always, please review and let me know what you think!
Beca had come back down the stairs looking refreshed, and sadly more clothed, but also a little flushed. Though Chloe couldn't blame her given the moment they had just had. She was certain she herself must have a slight flush given the heat of their exchange. Or rather, almost, exchange. But Beca also seemed to want to distance herself from Chloe, having sat in the chair across from them as opposed to next to her on the couch where she would normally sit. She found this just a little unsettling but when she looked over Beca gave her a smile, albeit weak, but a smile nonetheless.
Just then Benji had shown and Beca had seemingly forgotten about their earlier exchange as she went back to her old sarcastic self, teasing Emily and Benji about their date. She thinks Beca is so adorable when she is in protective mode. Obviously she was messing with the two but anyone who knew Beca knew that it came from a place of love no matter how much she would protest that claim if confronted with it.
Chloe loves making her squirm and when she called her "auntie Becs," she could feel her piercing glare behind her but knew she wasn't in any real trouble. Beca, as far as she was concerned, was really all bark and absolutely no bite. Unless of course someone was being mean to one of the girls and then she could definitely bite. Her little angry ankle-biter captain could bring a vicious verbal beatdown to anyone unlucky enough to hurt one of the Bellas, that's certain. But Beca was just a ball of sarcastic mush in Chloe's hands and Chloe loved it. Loved her. In all her forms.
Normally Chloe was all about movie nights. She loved to watch movies no matter how many times she had seen them because there was always something new you could find if you just paid attention. But this night her mind was not at all on the movie. This time it was on Beca.
For all the teasing she gave Beca about children and babies she couldn't deny a real curiosity about Beca's true feelings on children. Of course the version that Beca presented to the world as a front for her actually soft and gooey center "doesn't like children" but seeing those videos of her today and then coming in to see her cuddled with Maddie cradled in her arms, she thinks that maybe, just maybe, there is a part of Beca that isn't so adamantly opposed to the idea of children.
Lying there, her back pressed firmly against Beca's chest, her arm wrapped around her waist, she finds herself distracted by Beca's perfume, assailing her senses. She can feel the rapid heartbeat beneath her mixing with her own, strong and steady, racing slightly with the gentle strokes she makes while massaging Beca's hand in her own.
She wonders if Beca would want to be a part of a child's life if Chloe had one. Unable to stop her curiosity she turns to ask her about it. And of course Beca would have a sarcastic comment but she also didn't hesitate in saying that she would be a part of her child's life if she asked. That was a good sign, right?
While drawing on Beca's stomach she wonders what it would be like if Beca were to have a baby. Something about the image of her tiny ball of sarcasm sporting a round belly full of life was enough to make her feel moisture start to pool in her eyes. It was a bittersweet image to think of Beca carrying a baby. A journey she would most certainly want to be a part of in any and every way possible, but despite the shining rays of happiness this brought to her there was a prickling and unsettling sensation in her chest at the idea that she might not be the one who shares that journey with Beca.
"Do you want a baby?" she found herself asking without thinking. Of course Beca only says she wants to stop watching the movie and doesn't answer her question, but it doesn't matter because Chloe can't stop the images of Beca holding a baby. Maybe someday, their baby. And just like that it feels like a rush of adrenaline courses through her and she finds herself leaning in to whisper in Beca's ear. "I thought you were very sexy holding a baby."
She can feel Beca tense beneath her but she can tell by her breathing and the way she is clenching and unclenching her fists that is is not a bad kind of tense. "You hate me. You really hate me. You find pleasure in torturing me, don't you?" she hears Beca breathe out.
Teasing Beca has to be in her top five of things she loves to do. But lately, ever since she and Jesse had decided to just be friends, she has noticed a slight change in Beca's response to her teasing. She seems more open maybe? Definitely more responsive physically but she has also taken to teasing back, or at the very least, challenging Chloe's teasing. It is this that gives her the confidence to push just a little further than usual. "You know I don't hate you… And is it really considered torture if you want it?"
At that Beca turns to face her, midnight blue eyes meeting her own, and she sees that same steely resolve that had ghosted Beca's expression earlier while they were on the couch. "And what makes you think I want it?"
Chloe is good at flirting. She is good at teasing. She knows her body and she knows how to use it. It is just who she is and it's all just fun and games really. But there is something different when it comes to Beca. Something real. It up's the ante, so to speak, and every minute detail of their exchanges sends warm tingles throughout her body.
Reaching across Beca she trails her fingers up the soft skin of her arm, across her partially bare collar bone to the base of her neck. Her eyes take in every subtle twitch beneath her fingers, every raised goosebump, and the way Beca's skin is becoming flushed and her breathing more shallow. "Well…if the goosebumps and flushed skin are any indication," she bites her lip to try and maintain some composure as her fingertips graze across Beca's pulse point and she feels it racing. "mmmmm and increased pulse rate…"
She feels Beca's eyes search her face as she explores the soft skin of her neck, drawing her touch along a strong jawline. It is only when her fingertips are about to meet Beca's lips does she pause to consider her next move. Looking up she searches the face before her. Searches for any sign, any inclining, that she might be overstepping or crossing a line. But yet again she was met with certain, almost determined, dark blue eyes. The warm breath across her cheek and the subtle scent of the woman pressed against her gives her what little push she needed to draw her thumb across a dark pink lip. Feeling as though the moment almost wasn't real she draws it back over the now parted lips, pulling down on the soft plump lip and watching it pop back into place.
It's as though every single nerve ending in her body was shooting sparks and overloading her brain. She could hear the hitch of Beca's breath, feel it against her cheek. She couldn't look away from the lips mere inches from her own. Wondering what it would be like to taste them. To feel them brush against hers.
Her attention was drawn to Beca's throat as she swallowed and Chloe watched the muscles moving. Before she knew what she was doing her fingers were trailing down Beca's neck to the hollow dip between her collarbones. For the briefest of moments she wondered if she should stop but she knew if she stopped now she might lose this moment. This chance. She isn't even sure what this is but whatever it is she was going to let it happen until Beca stopped her. So she continued down, tracing the v-cut collar of Beca's shirt.
And just like that, the moment was gone. Interrupted by the laughter of their housemates. She drops her hand back to Beca's stomach and rests her head on her shoulder for the rest of the movie but she was fairly certain that neither of them were paying any attention whatsoever to the movie before them.
It wasn't long after the movie finished that Beca had made some excuse to go up to her room and Chloe was left downstairs with Fat Amy and Stacie. As much as she wanted to follow Beca and talk about what just happened, or even not talk about it, just to make sure that everything was okay, she knew that Beca needed some space. Time to think and process. Chloe is the type who likes to process things out loud with a friend or with whoever the issue is with, but Beca is the type who has to work things out on her own first and she respects that. So she decides to give Beca some time before she seeks her out again.
It is a few hours later that Chloe heads up to Beca's room, tapping lightly on the closed door. "Hey Becs, you up?"
"Yeah," she hears coming from inside the room and after a brief pause, "come on in."
Smiling, she slowly opens the door, closing it softly behind her and leaning back against it with her hands still on the doorknob. Beca is sitting on the bed, her back against the head rest and her legs stretched out in front of her with the laptop resting on her legs.
Beca turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" she drew out.
"I can't sleep," answered Chloe with a small smile and shrug of her shoulders.
"Well most people find it easier to sleep while laying in bed instead of standing by a door. Or so I've heard anyways," a smirk playing at Beca's lips as she gives her attention back to the laptop.
Chloe just smiles at her, hands folded in front of her. She knows if she waits long enough… and then Beca, without ever looking up from the screen in front of her, rolls her eyes, lets out a long huff and pulls the covers next to her back in invitation. Chloe giggles and with a little hop of excitement she crawls into bed next to Beca, lying on her side to face her, hand under her head propping her up slightly. "So what are you working on?"
"I was trying to come up with some new mix ideas for Worlds but with everything going on at the studio and coming up with something 'new' for this producer guy to listen to and graduation and —" Beca pauses with a large sigh, "I am just coming up empty on all fronts it seems."
At that Chloe's heart broke a little and she reaches out to place her hand on Beca's leg, squeezing gently, "Don't stress, Becs. You're going to come up with something aca-mazing for us like always. And as far as the producer is concerned, I think that you're brilliant and will have no trouble putting something together that will rock his world. I thought your idea about collaborating with Emily was great. It's basically impossible for you to do anything that isn't absolutely amazing, anyways."
Beca looked down at her with a vulnerability that clutched at Chloe's heart. "You really think so?"
"I know so," she answered with such certainty that she hoped Beca would see the truth in her eyes, hear it in her voice. Giving her leg a little shake to try and lighten the mood, she adds, "but a captain needs her rest! So put this away for tonight and just try to relax a bit. Oh! I could give you a massage!"
Beca closed the lid of her laptop, laying it on the nightstand with a laugh, "What is it with you and back rubs?"
Chloe scooted over as Beca turned the lamp off and pulled the covers back to slide in next to her. "They are fun!"
"Fun for you, or fun for the person getting one?" asked Beca, quirking an eyebrow and turning on her side to face Chloe, both now laying with their heads on their respective pillows.
"Mmmmm both if we're lucky," came her hummed response followed by a slow wink and flirty smile.
Beca closed her eyes, shaking her head, "Oh my god." But Chloe just laughs, enjoying the ease of their conversation and feeling relieved that things seemed to be okay between them.
A comfortable silence falls between them as they lay there in the dark room facing each other. The light of the moon coming in through the window behind Chloe casts a soft glow across Beca's face and she swears that if she looked closely enough she would see the stars reflected in those stormy blues. Once again she finds herself mesmerized by the beauty that lay before her. Beca began to squirm a little under her gaze so she decides this is the best time to break the silence.
"I have a very important question to ask you. It's been on my mind for a while now and I just have to know." Beca pauses in her squirming to look at her and Chloe sees the seriousness reflected back at her.
After a moments silence she hears Beca's voice cross the short distance between them, "Ugh…yeah…okay. I mean, sure. Yeah. What's—" Beca was shifting nervously, averting her eyes and looking down to play with the pillow case corner.
Chloe let out a long sigh before answering, "What song did you sing to Maddie?"
Dark blue eyes shot up to meet hers and the look Beca gave her was the epitome of a dear in head lights, her mouth opening and closing a few times before speaking. "Wait— What?"
"What song did you sing to Maddie to put her to sleep? Was it 'Wheels on the Bus' or 'Itsy Bitsy Spider,' I just need to know." Chloe asks, trying desperately to keep a straight face.
Beca responded with her typical glare, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Chloe's melodic laugh filled the room and she could have sworn she saw the edge of Beca's lips twitch, "No? You don't have any idea, huh?"
Beca answered in only huffs and puffs as she crossed her arms across her chest. Chloe wasn't going to let up though, not yet anyways, so she reaches out and shakes Beca's hip, "Aww, come on Becs, please!"
She tilts her face up and away from Chloe but still does not make any attempt to remove her hand from her hip and she hears Beca mumble over her head, "I am not having this conversation."
Chloe hums, tapping her chin as though she is thinking hard about something, "Was it 'Let It Go'?
"Go to your room," Beca points and starts to roll over but Chloe slips her hand from her hip around to her back to keep her from turning away.
"Okay, okay fine," she chuckles softly and Beca looks warily at her as though she is certain she has not heard the last of Chloe's teasing, which is usually a pretty safe assumption.
"I thought you came up here to sleep, not to torture me," she said with the raise of her eyebrows.
Chloe couldn't help the mischievous smirk pulling at her lips, "I thought we had agreed that it was not torture?"
Beca's eyes dropped to her lips for just an instant before clearing her throat and meeting her eyes once more, "We did not agree to that! That is what you came up with. All on your own I might add."
"Ah, yes," she nodded slowly, pursing her lips, "I pulled that conclusion out of thin air."
"Exactly," came Beca's firm nod in reply, as if to say Chloe had finally caught on.
"Hmmm okay," and she knew her eyes were sparkling with the laughter she was holding in but if Beca was going to continue to deny it then she was just going to have try a different tactic. Pulling her arm back from around her waist she reached out and slowly traced the freckle just above Beca's left breast.
"Dude!" she all but squeaked, looking down to where Chloe's finger rests against her chest and then back up, her eyes wide. "Do you always go around touching other people's boobs?"
"Only the ones I like," Chloe just smiles and winks. "You know, I meant what I said at the camp that night." Beca just stared at her, clearly not knowing where she was going with this. "About not doing enough experimenting in college." She saw recognition dawn across Beca's face, followed swiftly by a blush creeping up her neck and she smiled to herself before continuing. "There is still a little time left before we graduate…" she let the sentence hang between them as she ran her finger from the freckle above one breast, down the collar of the shirt and over the other breast.
"Umm… Well… I mean—" came Beca's stammering reply, "Shou— shouldn't you be talking to like CR? Or…or Stacie or…something?"
"Why would I when I've already got a head start with you?" She smiles wide at the lack of words Beca is able to form, her mouth just kind of hanging open a bit in shock. "I mean, I've already been naked in the shower with you, and what's a little experimenting among friends?" And with that Chloe took the opportunity to take advantage of Beca's immobility to lean in and plant a quick kiss to her slightly parted lips before rolling over onto her other side with a laugh.
It was a good ten seconds before she felt Beca even move, "Dude!"