It's two days before Christmas. Chloe guesses she's been awake for about twenty minutes, but she's yet to open her eyes. Beca's arms are wrapped around her and Beca's legs are tangled with her own. She's savoring the moment. She loves these moments, the small ones, like waking up in her girlfriend's arms, which subconsciously pull her closer when she starts to stir.
Chloe turns around in Beca's arms fitting her head into the crook of Beca's neck, the brunette pulls her closer and mumbles good morning. Chloe just nuzzles her head further into Beca.
They lie there together for a long time. Their eyes are closed, but they're both awake, just relishing in each other's company.
It isn't until Beca's door bursts open that either of them move.
"B!" Quinn shouts as she runs into the room, pulling Rachel behind her.
Chloe and Beca's eyes fly open, and Chloe unconsciously pulls the covers up to hide herself, despite the fact that both she and Beca are fully clothed.
"What the hell, Quinn!" Beca says. She's glaring at Quinn for interrupting their moment. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking!"
Quinn arches her eyebrow as her eyes sweep between Chloe and Beca. "Nobody ever knocks in Lima," Quinn says.
Beca huffs. "What do you want?"
"I want you to come meet Beth," Quinn says.
Beca's eyes widen. "Are you sure?" Beca says.
"Yeah," Quinn says. "You're important to me, I want you to meet her. Shelby already said it was okay."
"Yeah," Rachel says. "Mom says the more the merrier. Beth just loves people."
"Wait," Chloe says. "Your mom adopted Beth?"
"Uh, yeah," Rachel says.
Beca smirks. "So you're dating your daughter's sister?" she says. "Kinky, Q."
"Oh my God," Rachel says. "It sounds so wrong when you say it like that."
"I love her," Quinn says. "Sue me."
Rachel's eyes widen. Chloe can tell that Quinn hasn't said that before.
A huge grin settles on Rachel's face as she says softly. "I love you, too."
Chloe smiles at the pair of them. They're so good together.
"Well I'd love to meet my best friend's daughter," Beca says.
Quinn smiles at her, but suddenly her face drops. "There's just one thing, B," she says.
"Yeah?"
"Puck's going to be there," Quinn says.
Chloe looks over at Beca. Her face is blank and not even Chloe can get a read on it.
"Becs, baby, look at me," Chloe says. Beca does. "It's okay. No one is going to blame you if you don't want to face him."
"It's not that," Beca says. "I mean, I don't even know him. I just know I should tell him he's having another child, but how do I do that? How do I go tell someone I don't know that I'm pregnant with his child. Worse, what if he doesn't remember me and claims it isn't his? I don't know whether I would be relieved or furious. What if he wants to be in our child's life? Is he going to give up his life to be near us? I'm not going to stay in Lima. I don't want to deny my child his or her father though. It's just so overwhelming."
"You don't have to tell him," Quinn says. "You're right you don't know him."
"But do I have that right?" Beca says. "To keep him from his own child?"
Quinn sighs. "What if I tell him?" she says. "When you're back at school?"
Beca nods. "I think that might be best."
Chloe's not sure what to expect at this Christmas party. It's supposedly small, just her, Beca, Quinn, Rachel, Shelby, Beth, Puck, Shelby's parent's and 'Mr. Schue and Miss Pillsbury' whoever they are. But she doesn't know these people, well apart from Beca of course. Sure she's met Quinn and Rachel, but only just.
They ride with Quinn and Rachel to Shelby's house. They're in the rental car in case Beca and/or Chloe want to leave early. They're the first to arrive. Shelby opens the door and Quinn does the introductions. Shelby graciously invites them into her home and within seconds a little blonde girl is running into Quinn's arms. The little girl then hops from Quinn's arms right into Rachel's and Chloe grins at the sight.
"Beth, honey," Quinn says. "These are my friends, Beca and Chloe. Can you say hi."
Beth says hi and waves a little before ducking her head into Rachel's shoulder.
"It's nice to meet you, Beth," Chloe says. "You have a very pretty dress."
Beth turns her head back towards Chloe and smiles shyly. "Tank you," she says.
Beth squirms in Rachel's arms until Rachel puts her down. She runs into the other room, presumably to play with her toys.
Mr. Schue and Miss Pillsbury or Will and Emma as they introduced themselves are the next to arrive. Will is a teacher at the high school and runs the school Glee Club. Quinn and Rachel seem to think highly of him. Emma is the school guidance counselor and Will's girlfriend. Chloe thinks that with all the voices in here, singing is an inevitability. She's excited by the prospect. She hasn't done too much since she quit the Bellas and she misses it.
A half hour later and only Puck hasn't shown up. Chloe isn't sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. Shelby's parents had shown up a few minutes after Will and Emma, and Chloe found Beca enjoys talking to them. She hadn't expected that. As it turns out, Shelby's father, Lionel, was the son of a Lieutenant in the Army. He himself had enlisted for a short while. He'd only served for one tour and hadn't made a career out of it like his father and Beca's mother had.
Shelby announces that Noah's mother was called into work and that he will be here shortly with his little sister. Rachel gets excited.
When Puck finally comes through the door with an adorable young girl bounding next to him, he goes straight to Beth and Chloe can't help but feel that he would be a great father. She's not sure how she feels about that though.
It turns out that Beca needn't have worried about telling Puck about him becoming a father again. One look at her baby bump and he knows. Chloe can see it in his eyes.
He comes over and stands awkwardly next to Beca. Chloe seems to think he's waiting for her to leave, so she starts to take a step away, but Beca grabs her hand and pulls her close to her side.
"You remember me?" Beca says, breaking the silence.
"A little," Puck says. "My memory from that night is hazy at best. Mostly, I just remember watching you and Quinn dance. Hot as fuck."
Chloe mentally concedes that Quinn and Beca dancing together would probably be almost as hot as she and Beca dancing together, so she decides not to smack him upside the head. Beca on the other hand smirks.
"Funny," Beca says. "That's the last thing I remember before waking up in your bed."
Puck frowns. "Look I'm sorry," he says. "I don't make a habit of sleeping with strangers…anymore. I mean I knew I must have slept with someone, but I figured it was one of the Cheerios I usually do. I didn't know it was you until I found your shirt under my bed a week or so later."
Cheerios? "How did you know it was my shirt?" Beca asks.
"Aside from remembering you dancing with Quinn, you've got a particular style that none of my friends have," he says.
"Anyway, I just want to say, I know you don't live around here or whatever, but I'll do whatever you need me to. I'll fly out for the doctor's appointments, I'll give you whatever I can to help with the costs. I won't be a deadbeat."
Chloe smiles at him. He clearly cares.
"You don't need to," Beca says. "I don't really know you, so I wasn't even sure I was going to tell you, I guess I didn't have to. I just thought you should know. I'm not expecting anything from you."
"But I," Puck starts.
"Look, you've got a family here," Beca says. "You're still in high school, you've got a little sister and a daughter that clearly adore you. I don't want you to lose that. And I'm not going to stay here. I appreciate that you're willing to step up, but it's not necessary. I've got a great support system already. I'm not going to stop you from knowing our child, but you've already got one here. You've got a life here that you can't give up for us."
"You seem like a good guy," Chloe says. "So do right by your daughter, by your little sister, by your family and friends. Do right by yourself. Stay in school, make your dreams come true, lead by example. We can fly you out for the birth, and you're welcome to stay in the guest room if you want to visit."
"We'll make sure he or she knows who you are and that you love them, but you need to do that for the ones you already have," Beca says.
"I just don't want to abandon my kid," Puck says.
"And that's very noble of you," Chloe says. "But following us means you're not staying with Beth. Beth already knows you."
"We can Skype?" Beca says. "So our child will see you, and maybe she can get to know Beth."
Puck nods.
Chloe wakes up at six on the dot. She tightens her grip her girlfriend before getting out of bed, trying her best not to rouse Beca. It's Christmas morning and ever since Chloe was a little girl her internal body clock woke her up at six on Christmas morning.
She goes downstairs and turns on the coffee pot. Coffee would be the first thing Beca wants when Chloe finally gets around to waking up her girlfriend. Chloe sets up presents around the Christmas tree. She knows that Beca and Kurt are too old to believe in Santa Claus, but she figures she'll do it anyway, at the very least she'll get a smile and an eye roll from Beca.
Chloe decided a few nights ago, since she knew she would be up, that she would make breakfast for everyone. Beca having alluded to the fact that they didn't often eat home cooked meals. Apparently when Beca's mom was away, only Kurt could make a decent meal.
Chloe cooks bacon and sausage, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee cake, croissants and blueberry muffins. She brews a new pot of coffee and throws all the food in the oven to keep it warm while she wakes up the household.
She pours some coffee into a mug adding one sugar packet and stirring it, just the way Beca likes it. She takes it upstairs.
"What smells so good?" Kurt asks as she reaches the top of the stairs.
"I made breakfast," Chloe says.
"You're an angel," Kurt says as he descends the stairs.
Chloe chuckles and goes to wake Beca. She puts the coffee down on the dresser and jumps on the bed.
"Wake up! It's Christmas!" Chloe says.
Beca's eyes snap open. "What time is it?" Beca asks.
"Just after eight," Chloe says.
"Too early," Beca says. She pulls the covers over her head.
"Come on, baby," Chloe says. "I made breakfast. There's even pickles in the fridge if you want them with your bacon."
Beca peeks her head from under the covers. "Is there coffee?"
Chloe chuckles, grabbing the mug from the dresser and giving it to Beca. "Of course," she says. "Like I would come wake you up without coffee."
Beca rolls her eyes but smiles at Chloe before taking a sip of her coffee.
"Okay I'm up," Beca says. Chloe claps her hands like an excited child.
Breakfast is mostly quiet, but comfortable. Chloe learns that Beca never had Christmas traditions, because they moved around so much, and for so long it was just her and her mom, who sometimes worked on Christmas anyway.
Burt has some trouble getting a piece of coffee cake. When he finally manages to get the piece out it goes flying across the table hitting Beca clean in the face before falling onto the plate in front of her. She seems stunned for a moment, but a few blinks and she reaches down and puts some of the coffee cake in her mouth as if nothing happened. Chloe just laughs because, yeah, she loves her girlfriend.
Chloe shares a couple not so embarrassing Christmas stories from when she was young. She's sure that in time her family will share the embarrassing ones with Beca, but she doesn't want to be the one to do so. Not currently anyway.
Faces light up when they reach the family room. It looks as if Santa himself has actually come, even if Chloe knows that it was only her. She had set something out for herself too, so it gives the illusion that she hadn't done it.
She had worked hard to come up with things that everyone would like. It seems like everyone likes them so far. On the far right there was a framed football jersey signed by the team. Chloe can't remember what the team is, but she made sure when she got it that it was Burt's favorite team. There's also a signed football and four tickets to the next local game.
Right next to Burt's football paraphernalia is an original poster from Wicked signed by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. There's also a mannequin with a very expensive jacket that Chloe had seen on one of Kurt's bulletin boards as she walked past his open door the day after they arrived. He also got four tickets to an upcoming fashion show in Columbus.
Beca's pile was next. It had been hard for Chloe to restrain herself from making Beca's pile larger than the rest, but in an effort to keep anonymity, she had managed. Beca's pile contained a piece of equipment that Chloe had no idea what it was, only that Beca had wanted it. It had knobs and buttons and slides and Chloe only knows that it will help Beca with her music. There was a framed piece of artwork by Beca's favorite artist. Chloe knows that there's a personalized letter to Beca behind the painting, but she isn't planning on telling Beca that until later. Lastly there were four tickets that Chloe had created symbolizing the four passes she had obtained to a club in Atlanta where David Guetta is supposed to be playing on opening night.
Chloe's pile was easy. She didn't really buy the signed poster of her favorite band or the cool karaoke machine, she had someone take them from her room in her father's house. She did splurge for four tickets to see the Dixie Chicks in a few months in Atlanta.
As everybody is enamored by the 'surprise' gifts, Beca leans over and kisses Chloe, whispering a thank you into her ear before continuing to explore her new electronic.
It's not too long before they decide to exchange their actual presents. Chloe watches in earnest as Beca gives Kurt his present. It's a pocket watch. Kurt looks mildly excited and somewhat disappointed until Beca whispers that he should open it and when he does he exudes glee. Chloe manages to see a picture of a woman and some words that she can't read, but she knows whatever it is must mean a great deal to the boy. She also gives him a CD. It's just a regular blank CD, or it was anyway. Beca's written, as neatly as her messy scrawl can be, 'KURT XMAS' on the top, and Chloe knows whatever is on the CD Kurt will love, because music is Beca's thing.
It seems to be an unspoken agreement that Chloe goes last. Chloe thinks it's because they think only she and Beca will be exchanging gifts, and she's okay with that assumption. She watches as Beca quickly unwraps an iTunes gift card and what looks like a tattered old book. From Beca's expressions, the gift card is something Kurt always gets Beca, but the book seems like something Beca wasn't expecting. She glows when she sees it and pulls Kurt into a hug. Even Kurt seems surprised at her action, but he isn't protesting.
Kurt seems to be mentally calculating something as he opens his presents from his father. Chloe guesses it's something of a checklist in his head of the things he wanted for Christmas. There's a broach that Kurt squeals when he sees and some CDs and a sweater that Chloe guesses was circled in a magazine that Kurt left out at some point for his father to see.
Burt receives a few articles of clothing from Kurt one of which looks like something Burt would never wear of his own accord and another is a tie, something Chloe thinks he won't wear often either. Beca gives Burt a custom CD and what Chloe guesses is some sort of car part. Burt seems to like them as he smiles fondly at Beca.
Burt too gives Beca an iTunes gift card. Chloe thinks it's a standby because it seems like the one thing everybody knows about Beca is that she loves music. Chloe's seen just how large her music collection is. Beca unwraps another present from Burt. It's a green velvet box about the size of a standard paperback book. Chloe knows enough to know that it's clearly a jewelry box. Beca doesn't open the box, but she must know what's inside as she looks up at Burt, her eyes wide. Burt just smiles and nods. It's pretty much instantaneous, Beca's launches herself into his arms and wraps her arms around him. Chloe swears she sees tears forming in Beca's arms.
Chloe had planned on surprising everyone with her gifts only they surprise her with their gifts for her. Burt goes first, handing Chloe a small present. Chloe unwraps it carefully, savoring the moment. It was a framed picture of her and Beca. They're holding each other and looking into each other's eyes. Chloe remembers the night, though she was unaware that anyone had taken a picture. They had had Christmas music playing and Burt had gone into the other room to watch sports. Kurt was at Blaine's and Chloe had pulled Beca towards her and started to dance slowly. Beca had protested for a moment, but quickly fell into step. They spent probably half an hour just dancing slowly to the music.
Chloe had always loved Christmas. It was filled with smiles and laughter and family and just general merriment. Chloe was starting to think that Christmases with Beca would be better than any of the ones she had before.
"Thank you," Chloe says to Burt. "It's beautiful." Chloe turns to Beca. "You're beautiful," she says as she shows Beca the picture. Beca smiles, Chloe thinks she too is remembering the moment. After a moment, Beca pulls Chloe close and brings their lips together. When they break, Beca, too, thanks Burt.
"I didn't know what to get you," Kurt says as he hands Chloe a present. Chloe opens the package to find a number of DVDs. Step Up. Definitely, Maybe. West Side Story. Bend It Like Beckham. I Can't Think Straight. The Guardian. The Fast and the Furious. Never Back Down. Raise Your Voice. Under the Same Moon. Imagine Me & You. Wedding Daze. Though she's heard of some of them, she's pleased to find that she hasn't seen any of them yet. She thanks Kurt and lets him know she's excited to watch them. Beca grimaces because Chloe will make her watch them with her.
"I didn't know what to get you either," she says as she gives Kurt his present. It's not much, in fact she's not even sure that Kurt will like it, it's one of those hit or miss things that she guesses he might like based on his personality, but then she could just be stereotyping him. It's Patti LuPone's autobiography. She knows he likes it when a full grown grin appears on his face. He thanks her and she just says she's glad he likes it.
"I spent a little more on you," Chloe tells Burt. "It was the only thing I could think of that I thought you might like." She hands him an envelope. It's two tickets to a car show coming up, all the old stuff, not the sports cars, the antique classics that are hard to find. Burt seems to like it, though he protests that she spent too much money. "I saw them advertising it in town, it just seems like it's right up your alley."
Beca and Chloe agree to give each other their gifts when they're alone. Before they go off Burt stops them and gives them each an envelope. "They're from your mother," Burt says. They both go to open them, but Burt stops them again. "Your mother insists that you open them in private. She says that you're not to share what she's written in them with anyone, not even each other.
Chloe frowns at that. She doesn't want to keep anything from Beca. Beca seems to be thinking along the same lines. "You can argue with her next time you talk to her," he tells Beca. "But you should respect her wishes for now."
Beca nods. They head up the stairs and Kurt calls after them. "Lunch is at noon sharp," he says.
"You should know that we're not having Christmas dinner here," Beca says. Chloe looks up at her. She's very confused. They had planned on having Christmas with Beca's family.
"Don't think too much about it," Beca says. "It's a surprise."
Chloe starts overthinking the second they cross the state border. "Baby, where are we going?" she asks.
Beca smirks. "Good things come to those who wait," she says.
Chloe huffs but is resigned to the fact that Beca's not going to tell her. She starts thinking about their day so far. She and Beca still have not exchanged presents, nor have they opened their envelopes from Beca's mom. They had simply been enjoying each other's company and their first Christmas together.
Beca had mentioned that she had spent too much money on them and that she doesn't need to. Beca had said that she understands that she has the ability to, but that's not important, it's the thought behind the gifts that count. It's not that Beca doesn't appreciate what Chloe has done, Chloe knows she does, but Chloe wants to spoil Beca. She's never wanted to spoil someone before. Beca explains that it's not fair that Chloe gets to spoil Beca when Beca doesn't have the means to spoil Chloe. Chloe argues that her money is Beca's money too, but Beca is adamant that she doesn't want that. She doesn't want to freeload off Chloe, and Chloe's already done so much for Beca. Chloe eventually told Beca that she would tone it down in the future, which Beca said she appreciated.
Lunch had been good. Kurt made something actually fancy this time. And the four of them had enjoyed light conversation throughout the meal. She had relaxed with Beca for an hour after lunch before Beca had told her to get changed and that they're going out. She had said that they should bring the gifts because they would exchange them while they're out.
Chloe hadn't foreseen that they would be going this far out, but as they near their destination, Chloe starts to recognize the area. It isn't until Beca pulls up to a very familiar house that Chloe realizes where Beca is taking her for Christmas dinner.
"Beca," Chloe says warily.
"You've given so much to me," Beca says. "And you've given up so much for me. I can't even tell you how much that means to me, or how happy you make me because I don't think there are words to describe it. I want you to be happy, too. I want you to enjoy every part of life. I know you miss her. I want you to have your best friend. It doesn't have to be me or her. You can have both."
Chloe takes Beca's hand, squeezing it lightly. "You're all I need," she says.
"Maybe so," Beca says. "But I'm not all you want."
"You are, though," Chloe says.
"My mom asked me about Aubrey," Beca says. "She's been your best friend for years. I'll never be able to express how much it means that you would choose me over her, but you don't have to choose. I will never make you choose. I can see it in your eyes, there's like this sparkle in your eye that quickly fades whenever you see something you think she'd like or when something happens that you're dying to tell her. I know you miss her and I know you miss the Bellas. I want you to have the world, baby."
Chloe's got tears streaming down her face, she leans over and pulls Beca into a passionate kiss, their tongues warring until the need for air becomes too much. "You're the best," Chloe whispers.
Beca smirks, but then it fades into a soft smile. "Only because you deserve it," she says.
Chloe looks up at the house, preparing to face Aubrey, no knowing what she's going to say. She doesn't expect Aubrey to be standing in the open doorway just watching them.
"Go on," Beca urges.
Chloe gets out of the car and offers Aubrey a small smile. Aubrey shoots out of the doorway, jumping over the four steps leading up to the front door, and throwing herself into Chloe's arms.
"I'm so, so sorry," Aubrey says. She's crying. Chloe can tell, she can feel it in her heart, she can hear it in her voice, and she can feel the tears falling onto her. "I was wrong and I'm just so, so sorry."
Chloe pulls her closer, tightening her embrace. "I know, Bree," she says softly. Chloe pulls back and looks at Aubrey, like really looks at her for the first time in a long time. Her eyes are swollen from crying, but Chloe notices it looks like she's been crying for days, not for minutes. There are bags under her eyes, it looks like she lost weight, and her eyes are burning with sincerity and begging for forgiveness. "I love you, Bree," she says. "I've always been your best friend, I just need to know that you're going to be my best friend, too."
"I know I've been a shitty friend," Aubrey says. "But I promise I'm going to be better. I'll be the friend you deserve."
Chloe sees Beca getting out of the car out of the corner of her eye and grins.
She steps back looking between Aubrey and Beca. Beca seems to be rocking on her feet nervously, whereas Aubrey is just looking at Chloe.
"So," Chloe says trying to break the tension and the serious atmosphere. "I was promised Christmas dinner."
Beca laughs and Aubrey grins.
"Mom's waiting for you," Aubrey says. "She was quite looking forward to you spending the holidays with us. When you didn't come home with me she looked like someone had kicked her puppy."
Aubrey leads Chloe and Beca into the house, Beca sidles up beside Chloe and intertwines their fingers.
"Chloe, darling, I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Hi, Mama P," Chloe says. Aubrey is the spitting image of her mother.
Aubrey's mother wraps Chloe in a hug, and Chloe eagerly returns it.
"Beca, dear, it's lovely to see you again," Aubrey's mom says when she releases Chloe. Chloe's jaw drops as her eyes flit between her girlfriend and Aubrey's mom trying to recall when they could have possibly met.
"You as well, Mrs. Posen," Beca says. "I apologize for my rudeness the last time we met."
Chloe is completely confused. She doesn't know how the two know each other. She can't help but think that Beca and Aubrey must have known each other before Chloe met Beca, which might explain why Aubrey doesn't much like Beca, but why wouldn't Beca or Aubrey have told her something?
Aubrey's mom interrupts Chloe's thoughts. "Dinner's just about ready," she says. "I believe your father has already found his place at the table, why don't you round up everyone else, Aubrey?"
Aubrey nods and disappears into the house. Aubrey's mom goes back to the kitchen, leaving Beca and Chloe standing in the foyer. Chloe knows Aubrey's house as if it were her own, so she doesn't need to follow either of them, instead she turns to look at her girlfriend.
"You know Bree's mom?" Chloe questions Beca.
"Um," Beca says. "Not really. We met once."
Chloe just looks at Beca waiting for details. It doesn't take long for Beca to cave.
"I may have barged in here demanding to speak with Aubrey that day I went shopping," Beca says.
Chloe's eyes widen. Beca smiles sheepishly. "Merry Christmas?" she says.
Chloe can't believe Beca planned this. Well, she can, but she's still trying to wrap her head around Beca going to see Aubrey of her own accord.
Chloe simply pulls Beca into a kiss, trying to convey the words she doesn't have through it.
"You're the best," Chloe says. She takes Beca's hand and pulls her into the dining room. She's so happy she's skipping.
The only person in the dining room when they get there is Aubrey's dad, Colonel Richard Posen. He's tall, blonde, rigid, with brown eyes and a slightly darker skin tone than Aubrey and her mother. While Aubrey looks exactly like her mother, her demeanor tends to be a bit more like her father's. She has his rigid posture, and his ideals engrained into her head.
Chloe sits in her usual spot, at the last chair next to the opposite head of the table from where Colonel Posen sits. Beca sits right next to her. Colonel Posen nods to each of them in way of greeting and acknowledgment of their presence, but says nothing.
Aubrey comes in, followed by a large number of people. Chloe and Aubrey introduce Beca to them. There's Matt, Aubrey's older brother, Nick, Aubrey's younger brother, Dani, Aubrey's sister along with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.
Beca looks sort of overwhelmed at all the new people. Chloe knows she feels out of place. She squeezes Beca's hand under the table, trying to ground her. Beca smiles in appreciation.
Dinner is great. The food is excellent. Matt is sitting at the head of the table next to Chloe, Aubrey is on his other side. Opposite Beca is a four year old that pays no attention to anyone except Aubrey, and next to Beca is Dani. Chloe thinks there could not have been a better seating arrangement. While Aubrey, like her brother Nick, take after their father, Matt and Dani have the same exuberant disposition as their mother, which is almost as outgoing as Chloe's. While most of Aubrey's time is taken by her four year old cousin, she does make time to talk to Chloe and her siblings and even Beca. Chloe can't help but smile at her girlfriend and her best friend getting along.
After a long night of festivities with the Posens, Chloe and Beca bid them goodnight and head out. Before they take off, Beca goes around to the trunk and takes out the presents.
"It's been hard, trying to figure out what to get you for Christmas," Beca says. "You have everything you need and you could get anything you want, which makes it harder than Kurt, because even though he's very particular in what he likes, he can rattle of a number of things that he wants so you know exactly what to get him. I wanted our first Christmas together to be meaningful. And so I thought, for Christmas I'd reunite you and your best friend, because I know how much you wanted that."
Chloe nods, she's very grateful to Beca.
"I've also got a few other things for you, it's not much, but I thought you'd like them."
Beca gives Chloe a CD of her mixes, which Chloe saw coming. Beca also gives her a book. It's old and worn and Beca says it's her favorite book and she's had it for years. Beca gives her one more gift. When Chloe sees it she's not sure whether to smile, laugh or cry. She opts for smile.
Chloe looks up at Beca. "I just want you to know that you mean the world to me," Beca says. "I know it hasn't been that long, but from day one you've been there for me in ways that no one else has. You've been my rock, my support, my shoulder to cry on, my confidante, my friend, my everything. You've been nothing but amazing to me, and it's probably a little soon to be talking like this and I hope it doesn't freak you out, but I hope you're with me for many years to come."
Chloe is smiling softly at Beca as she speaks. Tears are escaping her eyes at the sincerity and the emotion of Beca's speech.
"I just want you to know that –" Beca takes Chloe's hand and places it on her baby bump. "This child is our child, and God forbid we don't work out, he or she is still our child, if you want that, I mean."
Chloe pulls Beca into a kiss, it's soft and slow and full of emotion. When they break, Chloe looks down at her gift, a framed copy of the sonogram from Beca's first appointment, she laughs lightly and gives Beca her first present. Beca laughs a little, too when she opens it. It's the same thing Beca had just given Chloe, only with a different frame.
Chloe gives Beca her next gift.
"Chlo," Beca says. She has the present in her hands, but it's still wrapped. "This is too much. You've already given me and my family so much. I appreciate it, but you don't need to spend all this money on us. I already have what I want for Christmas."
Chloe laughs. "And what did you want for Christmas?" she asks.
"You."
Chloe's jaw drops. She wasn't expecting that answer. And when Beca starts serenading her with "All I Want For Christmas Is You" she feels her heart racing in her chest.
When Beca stops, Chloe pulls her into a searing kiss, only breaking for air when it becomes absolutely necessary.
"You're all I want, too," Chloe whispers.
Beca's present lays forgotten in the back seat, and Beca starts the long trip back to Lima with one hand on the wheel and the other entwined with Chloe's.
The ride is spent mostly singing along with the radio, moreso Chloe than Beca. Chloe can feel her nodes as she sings, but tries to ignore it and just enjoy singing like she always has, especially since she hasn't really done it in a while. Maybe she'll arrange to get her nodes removed when she gets home. It's not like she's singing regularly anymore, but she would really like to be able to without it hurting.
They're exhausted when they reach the house, but they're both really happy. Kurt and Burt are still up when they walk through the door, but they're too tired to spend the last of the night with them. They say good night and Chloe thanks them for letting her spend Christmas with their family.
They fall into Beca's bed without a care in the world, just letting their exhaustion take over, Chloe wraps her arms around Beca and they fall into a deep slumber still wearing their clothes.
What do you think?