Beca placed the cake on the center of the table and smiled before looking up.
"Okay, cake's here! Where's the birthday girl?" she asked.
"Right here, mommy!" Chloe said, carrying 1-year-old Charlotte on her hip.
Charlotte looked at her mother, who was smiling back at her and smiled.
"Who's my big girl?" Beca asked with a big smile and a baby voice, making the small brunette smile and jump on Chloe's arms. "Who's mommy's big girl?"
"It's me, mommy, it's me!" Chloe said, raising the toddler's hand. "So you got the candle?"
Beca nodded, taking the candle and putting it on the center of the cake. Charlotte was staring at it intently, then she looked up at Chloe.
"Ma." she said.
"Yeah, Mamma's here, we're gonna celebrate your birthday." Chloe said with a smile. "How old are you turning today?"
Chloe held out her index finger and Charlotte looked at her hand, reaching out to grab it.
"Ma." she repeated, holding Chloe's hand.
"Yes, you're turning 1 today!" Chloe said.
Beca smiled watching the scene before lighting a match and lighting the candle, then everybody gathered around the table and started singing happy birthday. Charlotte was startled by the singing and looked around, as if looking for an answer. She smiled as she saw both Beca and Chloe looked at her with smiles on their faces.
"Blow the candle, Char!" Chloe said, leaning down. "Come on, baby!"
Beca and Chloe blew the candle and then kissed the baby's cheeks while the others took pictures. Beca then smiled at Chloe and kissed her lips softly, making the small baby jump in Chloe's arms and giggle, making the entire crowd laugh.
Chloe and Beca giggled, Beca kissed her daughter's cheek one more time before taking her from Chloe's arms.
"Let's go take a few pictures." Beca smiled and took Chloe's hand, leading them away from the crowd.
Aubrey took a few pictures of them and of Charlotte alone and the little girl had a smile on her face.
"These look great!" Aubrey said.
"Thanks, Bree." Chloe smiled.
Aubrey smiled and showed Beca and Chloe the pictures.
"Come on, Char, let's go take some pictures with Grandma and Grandpa." Beca smiled at her daughter and turned to Chloe. "I'll be right back, okay?"
"Sure, I'll be here eating a piece of cake." Chloe smiled and gave Beca a sweet kiss on her lips.
"Okay." Beca smiled and walked over to her parents with Charlotte.
Chloe smiled as she watched her girlfriend take pictures with her parents, then she let each taken pictures with Charlotte. God, she loved that little girl and she loved her mother.
"You know, you and Beca really are an amazing family." Aubrey said, smiling at her best friend. "I'm really glad you have her. And Charlotte."
Chloe smiled at Aubrey.
"I'm sorry about that whole Beca incident, Chlo." Aubrey said. "If something had happened to her or Charlotte, it'd have been my fault."
"Stop blaming yourself, Bree. It's okay, everything's okay now." Chloe gave her a side hug and smiled when Beca returned, carrying Charlotte.
Charlotte looked at Chloe and smiled, throwing herself in her arms.
"Hey Char!" Chloe picked her and kissed her cheek. "Are you enjoying your birthday?"
Beca smiled.
"She is, isn't that right sweetie?" Beca asked.
Charlotte looked at her and put her chew toy inside her mouth.
Beca smiled and looked at Chloe.
"I love you, red." she kissed her softly on the lips. "Thank you so much for being in our lives."
"I love you too, Beca. Thank you so much for letting me into your and Charlotte's life." Chloe said and kissed the top of Charlotte's head.
Beca smiled.
oO0Oo
Beca was sitting on the floor in the living room, her feet were under the coffee table and she was writing something on her notebook while she held an open book in front of her. She was twenty minutes away from finishing her study session and from the end of Charlotte's nap when she heard the doorbell rang. She sighed, thinking maybe it was her dad or Sheila who forgot their keys, since Chloe was upstairs taking a nap with Charlotte.
Beca opened the door but was surprised to find Jesse standing outside.
"Jesse? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well, hello to you too, Beca. We barely saw each other in like a year!" Jesse said.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just surprised you know where my dad lives." Beca said.
"I didn't, spent a good portion of the year trying to get in touch with you, but Luke said you weren't working in the station anymore, I hadn't seen you around campus much, then I asked Kimmy Jin and she said you moved out, then I asked your dad and he said you were living with him." Jesse said. "I just.. I'm confused, why did you disappear?"
Beca sighed.
"Okay, come in." she said, letting him in and going into the living room. "I'm sorry we haven't talked much last year or this year, I just.. I've been rather busy."
"Yeah, I noticed." Jesse said.
"I'm sorry Jesse I'm just.. I'm not interested in you the same way you're interested in me." Beca explained. "But.. I don't know, I guess I'd like us to be friends."
Jesse didn't look surprised at all, but he nodded.
"Of course." he said. "I was just worried that you'd disappeared."
"I'm sorry about that." Beca said and checked her watch. She had to wake Charlotte up. "Hold on, Jesse, there's someone I want you to meet."
Beca went up to Charlotte's room and saw the toddler sitting on her bed, looking around. She smiled when she saw her mom.
"Hey baby! Come on, let's go meet mommy's friend." she said, picking her up and kissing her cheek. She changed her diaper first and then took her downstairs.
She was holding Charlotte close to her chest, her right hand supporting her legs and the little girl was facing the front, looking around.
Beca entered the living room cautiously, not wanting to startle Jesse, who was still sitting on the couch. He looked at her and was surprised to see her with a baby and he stood up.
Charlotte looked at Jesse intently for a few seconds as she moved her arms.
"Jesse, this is Charlotte." Beca said.
"Wow! She.. She looks a lot like you." Jesse said, not taking his eyes off of the baby, who was still looking at him. He smiled at her. "Hey Charlotte!"
Charlotte smiled and started jumping up and down on her mother's lap.
"Is she your sister?" he asked.
"She's my daughter." Beca said.
"Your.. you're daughter?" Jesse asked, confused. "How old is she?"
"She turned one this weekend." Beca said. "That's why I was being so closed off last year, I didn't want people to find out I was gonna be a mom and leave."
"Well, I wouldn't, Beca. The idea probably would have surprised me as it did now, but you being a mom doesn't change anything." Jesse said.
"Thanks, Jesse, that means a lot." Beca said.
Chloe yawned and got in the living room, surprised to see Jesse there.
"Hey Jesse." she said and smiled at Charlotte and Beca. "Hey Char!"
Charlotte smiled wider as she looked at her second mom, jumping up and down even faster.
Jesse frowned at the interaction.
"Did mommy feed you yet?" Chloe asked.
"Not yet." Beca said.
"Want me to do it?" Chloe asked, knowing Beca probably was in the middle of talking to Jesse.
Beca nodded and Chloe smiled, taking Charlotte and going into the kitchen. Beca turned back to Jesse.
"What was that?" he asked.
"Chloe and I are.. are together, ever since Charlotte was 2 months old." Beca said.
"Well, I didn't exactly see this coming, but.. I wish you guys the best." Jesse said. "And I hope you're happy, Beca."
"I am, I'm really happy." Beca said with a smile.
Jesse smiled.
"Good." he said. "It seems like you're a little busy, so I'm gonna go. I have to study." Jesse said.
"Well, thanks for stopping by." Beca said, taking him to the door.
Jesse smiled and nodded.
"Bye Beca." he said. "I'll see you around. Text me sometimes, okay? Don't be a stranger."
"I will." Beca said and smiled, waving at him as he left. "Bye!"
Beca closed the door after he left and went to the kitchen to see Chloe sitting on a chair in front of Charlotte, feeding her bananas and papaya, which the little girl loved. Her little face as covered in fruit.
Beca giggled.
"Someone needs a bath." Beca said.
"I know." Chloe said.
"I wasn't talking about you." Beca giggled, sitting next to Chloe, laying her head on her shoulder. "Are you coming with me to the doctor's appointment tomorrow?"
"Of course. I wanna know how our little girl is doing." Chloe smiled and fed Charlotte the last piece of banana.
Charlotte swallowed and started hitting her open hands against the small table, which was full of fruit.
"Alright, little girl, I think it's time for your shower." Beca said, standing up.
"Hey, let me do it." Chloe said with a smile. "Char and I can have a bubble bath together."
Beca smiled.
"Your stealing mamma from me, little one." Beca said, looking at Charlotte. "Bubble bath together is our thing."
Chloe giggled.
"Don't be upset, you'll get yours too." Chloe kissed her cheek and picked the little girl up, taking her upstairs.