25 Days of BeChloe Christamases - 2023
Day 2: This Christmas
Summary: This is a continuation of Day 1's Last Christmas.
Last Christmas, Beca and Chloe met at a Coffee Shop on Christmas Day and immediately bonded over the similarities in their lives. This Christmas, their friendship becomes something more.
December 2023
Beca's not sure what woke her, but she suddenly sat up and looked around, smiling when she saw that Chloe was asleep beside her. She lay on her side and put her head on her hand so she could watch Chloe sleep. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful.
Beca sighed. Last night's talk had gone better than she had expected. They continued talking into the night. She doesn't recall when she fell asleep but has no trouble recalling quite clearly all the kissing that happened after they confessed their feelings.
"God, she's amazing," Beca thought. "I can't believe she feels about me the same way I feel about her."
Chloe began to stir, and Beca's smile grew when Chloe's eyes opened, and she looked right at her.
"Hey," Chloe mumbled, smiling up at Beca as she stretched.
"Hey," Beca said, leaning over to kiss Chloe. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Chloe said. "What time is it?"
"It's almost ten," Beca said, checking her phone. "Oh, what's this?"
"What's what?" Chloe asked, sitting up.
"I have a text from Jesse," Beca said, sitting up as she opened the message. She smiled and looked at Chloe. "He moved out of the house and is moving back to Ohio to be near his parents."
"Oh," Chloe said, getting off the bed. "That's nice. Are the boys up yet?"
"Yeah, I heard them playing in their room," Beca said, watching Chloe. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Chloe said, opening and closing the drawers of her dresser.
Beca went over to Chloe and grabbed her hands to stop her.
"Talk to me," Beca said softly. "What's wrong?"
Chloe dropped her hands to her sides and sighed.
"If Jesse has moved out, it means you and JJ will be moving back in," Chloe said. "As in, you and JJ will be moving out of here."
Beca chuckled lightly. Chloe crossed her arms and glared at Beca.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry," Beca said, taking Chloe into her arms. "It's just that I, um, I was hoping that JJ and I could continue to stay here. I want to have some work done on the house before-"
Chloe hugged Beca, saying, "You don't have to move out at all. You two can stay forever if you want."
"Mommy?! Where are you?" JJ's voice calls from the hallway.
"Can we talk about this more later?" Beca asked.
"Mommy!" Tommy called out as he burst into Chloe's room
Beca and Chloe jumped apart.
"Tommy," Chloe said, hurrying over to him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothin'," Tommy said, then yelled, "JJ, your mommy's in here!"
JJ came running in and grabbed Beca around her waist.
"I was scared because I didn't know where you were," JJ said.
"I'm sorry, buddy," Beca said, hugging JJ and rubbing his back. "Chloe and I were talking."
"What about?" JJ asked, looking up at Beca.
"Um," Beca said, looking over at Chloe. "Daddy's moved out of our house, and we can move back in if we want. But Chloe doesn't want us to leave."
"Your mom's right, JJ," Chloe said, leaning down to look JJ in the eye. "Tommy and I love you both so much and consider you family, so of course we want you to stay."
Beca looked down to see JJ smiling up at Chloe. He then turned to Beca.
"Can we stay, Mommy?" JJ asked. "Pleeeaase?"
"We'll have to talk about it later," Beca said, checking the time. "For now, we all need to get ready for brunch."
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
Beca was driving Chloe and the boys to brunch. Chloe was sitting with her arms crossed, staring out the window.
"Are you okay?" Beca asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Chloe said, continuing to look out the window.
"Okay," Beca said, glancing at Chloe. "Are we okay?"
Chloe rolled her eyes and huffed. Beca checked to make sure the boys weren't paying attention to them.
"Are you mad at me about something?" Beca whispered. "Just tell me so I can do whatever I need to to fix it."
Chloe sighed heavily and asked, "Are you planning to move out or what?"
"That's what you're mad about?" Beca asked.
"I'm not mad. It's just you never answered the question earlier," Chloe said. "And I'd like to know what your plan is."
Beca pulled into the restaurant parking lot and turned off the car. She unlatched her seatbelt and turned so she was facing Chloe.
"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to answer you fully before," Beca said, taking Chloe's hands in her own. "I love you, Chloe. And if you and Tommy still want us, JJ and I would love to continue living with you guys."
JJ and Tommy started cheering when they heard what Beca said.
"Really?" Chloe asked.
"Yes, really," Beca said, smiling. "I would have told you that earlier, but the boys interrupted us. As I had started to say before they came into your room, I am going to have some work done on the house so I can rent it out. That's my plan anyway."
Chloe smiled and grabbed Beca's shirt front, pulling her into a kiss.
"Ewwww," Tommy and JJ both said, laughing and making a face.
Beca and Chloe laughed when they saw the boys' faces.
"I guess we need to have that talk with them," Beca said.
"Yeah, we do," Chloe said. "We can tell them over brunch."
"Let's get to it, then," Beca said. "Come on, boys, let's go inside."
The four entered the restaurant, and Beca gave the hostess her name. A few minutes later, they were shown to their table. A waiter came to their table and asked for their drink orders.
"JJ, do you want milk or a soda?" Beca asked.
"Can I have a Coke?" JJ asked.
Beca nodded, and the waiter wrote it down.
"Me, too, please," Tommy said.
"Got it," the waiter said with a smile. "And for you ladies?"
"Iced tea," Beca said. "Sweetened, no lemon, please. "
"I'll have sweetened tea, also," Chloe said. "Oh, and we're all planning on having the brunch buffet."
"Excellent," the waiter said, noting it on his order pad. "Help yourselves to the buffet, and I'll bring your drinks right over."
"Thank you," Chloe said.
The waiter gave a slight nod and walked away.
"Do you want to talk to the boys first or get food?" Beca asked.
"Let's fix our plates, and we can talk while we eat," Chloe said.
"Okay," Beca said. "Come on, JJ. Let's go fix our plates."
Chloe took Tommy's hand and followed Beca and JJ.
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
As soon as the boys sat down, they began eating. Chloe and Beca smiled at each other across the table.
"Boys, can you listen up for a minute? We want to talk to you," Chloe said.
"Is this about why you were kissing Beca?" Tommy asked.
Beca and Chloe smiled at each other.
"Yes, it is," Beca said.
"We love each other very much," Chloe said. "And Beca and I are girlfriends now."
"Are you going to marry Chloe?" JJ asked Beca.
"Maybe," Beca said. "Would it be okay with you if we did?"
JJ sat thinking for a minute. He looked from Beca to Tommy to Chloe and back.
"If you marry Chloe, will Tommy be my real brother?"
"Sort of," Beca said, chuckling.
"Then I'm okay with you marrying Chloe," JJ said.
"Did you hear that, Chloe?" Beca asked, smiling at Chloe. "My son gives us permission to marry. Tommy, what do you say? Is it okay with you if your mom and I want to get married?"
"JJ and me are brothers," Tommy said. "So, you guys don't have to get married."
"So, that's a no from Tommy," Beca said and picked up her fork. "Let's eat. We have a show to get to."
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
Beca hadn't said much to Chloe since brunch. When they got home after the play, she complained of a headache and went to lie down in her room. Once in her room, she lay thinking about what Tommy had said when she asked him if he was okay with her marrying Chloe.
"If I really proposed, would Chloe marry me if Tommy really doesn't approve or accept it?" Beca thought. "What can I do to get Tommy to accept that I really love his mother and want to marry her someday?"
Beca was going back and forth inside her head on how and when to propose to Chloe and get Tommy to accept it. She was brought out of her musings by a light knock on her door.
"Beca?" Chloe's voice came through the door. "Are you feeling any better?"
Beca sighed and went to the door. Chloe looked at her with so much concern that Beca couldn't help but melt a little inside.
"I'm fine, Chloe," Beca said, smiling. "Just trying to figure out a way to get Tommy to like me and accept the idea of us possibly marrying."
"Tommy, much like his mother, adores you," Chloe said, grinning. "Do you want to talk about what you're feeling?"
"Sure, come on in," Beca said, opening the door a bit wider to let Chloe enter. "Where are the boys?"
"They're in their room, playing," Chloe said. "Why do you think Tommy doesn't like you? Is it because he said we didn't have to get married since he and JJ already consider themselves brothers?"
"Well, yeah," Beca said. "I'd like for him to be okay with us getting married, and it doesn't seem like he is."
"Oh, baby," Chloe said. "Stop worrying. I love you, and I know I want to marry you at some point, and that's all that matters. I'll talk to Tommy and see where his head is. I bet you're worrying over nothing."
"It's okay, Chloe," Beca said. "I have to admit, it kind of snuck up on me how much in love with you I am. I'm sure Tommy is a bit surprised by it all, too." Beca pulled Chloe into her arms and kissed her before adding, "You don't have to talk to him. I'll just keep trying to win him over until he seems okay with us getting married."
"Okay, I won't talk to him just yet," Chloe said, smiling. "I'm going to go start dinner."
"I would offer to help, but I still have way too much stuff left to wrap, so I think I'll be hiding out in the basement for a bit," Beca said. "Will that be okay?"
"That's okay," Chloe said. "Do you need any help?"
"No, but thanks for asking," Beca said.
"Okay. Go do what you have to do," Chloe said, kissing Beca. "I'll get the boys to help decide on what to have for dinner."
"I love you," Beca said, kissing Chloe.
"I love you, too," Chloe said as Beca reluctantly let her go.
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
A couple of hours later, Beca put the last piece of tape on the gift she was wrapping and smiled.
"Finished," Beca mumbled. "Finally!"
"Beca, dinner's ready!" Chloe called down the basement stairs.
"Coming!" Beca called back.
Beca cleaned up the wrapping stuff and went upstairs.
"We're having pizza for Christmas Eve dinner?" Beca asked, seeing pizza boxes on the table. "I don't know why, but I was expecting a bit more of an elaborate meal for Christmas Eve."
"It's what the boys wanted," Chloe said. "Besides, we're saving the big meal for tomorrow when the girls are over."
Beca sat looking around the table. She smiled when she caught Chloe's eye. Chloe winked and smiled back before turning her attention to JJ.
"Chloe's such a good mom," Beca thought as she watched JJ laughing at something Chloe said to him. "Married or not, we already are a family."
She then caught Tommy looking at her. She smiled at him, and he ducked his head and took another bite of pizza.
"It's official," Beca sighed. "Tommy hates me."
"Beca?"
Beca looked up to see Chloe, JJ, and Tommy looking at her.
"Um, yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Chloe asked. "I've called your name a few times."
"Oh, sorry," Beca said. "Why were you calling me?"
"We were talking about what kind of cookies to leave for Santa," Chloe said. "What do you think he'd like?"
"I'm sure everyone will leave him the usual Christmas-shaped sugar cookies, so I think we should leave him chocolate chip cookies," Beca replied.
"Yes!" JJ cheered. "I love chocolate chip cookies. Especially the ones Chloe makes."
"Why thank you, JJ," Chloe said. "Maybe we'll have some for dessert. What do you say?"
"Yes, please," JJ responded.
"Can I have chocolate chip cookies, too?" Tommy asked
"There's enough for all of us to have chocolate chip cookies," Chloe said, smiling at the boys. "Even Santa."
Beca smiled when Chloe looked over at her. She really couldn't get enough of Chloe's smile.
"God, I really am in love," Beca mumbled.
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
Later that night, after the boys were in bed, Beca made another trip to the basement, returning with two bags filled with gifts.
"This is the last of my stuff," Beca said as she met Chloe by the tree. "It's mostly for the girls."
"Good," Chloe said. "Add them to the piles I already put together for them."
"Thanks again for helping me find something for them," Beca said. "I wanted to thank them and you, for everything you all have done for me this past year. I don't know where JJ and I would be without you."
Chloe put her arms around Beca's shoulders and kissed her.
"Aww," Chloe murmured. "You like me."
"Nope," Beca said, pecking Chloe's lips. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Chloe said. "Oh, I almost forgot. I heard JJ and Tommy talking earlier, and I think you'll be happy to hear that Tommy loves you."
Beca scoffed and pulled away from Chloe.
"Are you sure you heard what you think you heard?"
"What I heard was Tommy telling JJ that he loved you and couldn't wait for you to be his mom, too," Chloe said.
"Did he really say that?" Beca asked. "Or is that what you were hoping he'd say?"
"He said it," Chloe said. "I wish you'd believe me when I tell you he's crazy about you."
"I'm sorry," Beca said. "I just can't get out of my head what he said at brunch. It didn't sound to me like he was thrilled that you and I might marry someday."
Chloe sighed. "It's getting late," she said. "The boys will be up early, and we're going to have company tomorrow. Maybe we can revisit this after Christmas is over, okay?"
"Okay," Beca said, allowing Chloe to lead her upstairs.
Beca stopped at her door, and Chloe kissed her before going to her room.
It was just a few short hours later that Beca found out how right Chloe was about the boys being up early. She felt as if she had just laid down when JJ came bursting into her room.
"Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! Santa came!"
Beca sat up when JJ threw himself onto her bed.
"Can we keep it down a bit?" Beca said, pulling JJ to her. "Chloe might still be asleep."
"It's okay, I'm up," Chloe said from the doorway. "I got the same treatment from Tommy. Let's go downstairs and see what Santa brought."
"Yay!" JJ yelled as he ran out past Chloe.
Beca groaned and fell back on the bed.
"Do I have to go, too?" she asked.
"Yes," Chloe said. "Tommy told me he has something special for you. Plus, the girls will be here around ten, and we want to get our presents out of the way before they get here. So get your cute little butt up and downstairs."
Beca lifted her head and grinned. "You think I have a cute butt?"
Chloe laughed. "Let's go so the boys can open their presents."
Beca got up and followed Chloe out of the room. Tommy was sitting in front of the tree, looking at all the presents under them. JJ was standing at the bottom of the stairs when they stepped off the last step.
Beca looked at JJ and asked, "What are you up to?"
"Here," JJ said as he held out a gift.
Beca reached for the gift, and JJ pulled it back.
"No," JJ said. "This is for Chloe."
"Oh," Beca said as Chloe took the proffered gift.
"Thank you, JJ," Chloe said. She looked at Tommy, asking, "Tommy, don't you have something for Beca?"
"I do," Tommy said. "But I don't have it because Aunt Brey is bringing it for me."
"That's sweet, Tommy," Beca said, smiling. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you got me."
Tommy smiled back and then turned to Chloe.
"Mommy, can me and JJ open our presents now?"
"Sure," Chloe said, smiling. "Go for it."
"Yay!" JJ and Tommy said, looking over the gifts and picking one.
Chloe pulled Beca to the sofa and snuggled against her so they could watch the boys open their gifts.
"I told you he had something special for you," Chloe whispered before kissing Beca's cheek.
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
A few hours later, the boys were playing with their new toys while Beca and Chloe were in the kitchen getting everything ready for their Christmas brunch. The doorbell rang at just before ten and Chloe grabbed a dish towel to wipe her hands as she went to the door.
"Merry Christmas!" Stacie and Aubrey said as the door opened.
"Merry Christmas," Chloe said, ushering them into the house. "We've sorted the gifts and made a space for each of us. I have to go back and help Beca in the kitchen."
"Okay," Aubrey said as she and Stacie made their way over to the tree.
"Merry Christmas, boys," Stacie said, setting her bags down.
"Merry Christmas," both boys said.
"Hey, Tommy," Aubrey said. "I have your gift for Beca."
Tommy ran over and took the gift from Aubrey.
"Are you ready to give it to her yet?" Aubrey asked.
"Not yet," Tommy said. "I'll give it to her when she's done helping Mommy in the kitchen."
"Oh, okay," Aubrey said.
The doorbell rang, and Stacie went to answer it.
"Hey, Em," Stacie said. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Emily said, smiling as she squeezed past Stacie. "Where should I put these?"
"Ask Chloe," Stacie said when Chloe and Beca came out of the kitchen.
"Merry Christmas, Emily," Chloe said as she joined them.
"Merry Christmas, Chloe," Emily said, holding up her bag of gifts. "Where should I put these?"
"I'll show you where they go," Beca said. "Come with me."
"Thank you, Beca," Emily said as she followed Beca to the tree.
Tommy walked over to Beca as Emily started placing her gifts under the tree.
"Beca, here's my present for you," Tommy said, handing her the gift. "I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I'll love whatever it is," Beca said, taking the gift. "May I open it now?"
Tommy nodded, and Beca tore open the package and found a box. She smiled and looked at Tommy as she opened the box. Her brow furrowed when she saw a bunch of small cards.
"Look at them," Tommy said, grinning.
Beca took out a card and smiled.
"You had these made for me?" Beca asked, hugging Tommy. "These are amazing. Thank you."
"What is it?" Stacie asked.
"Business cards for Beca to use when she starts her new job," Aubrey answered.
Stacie looked at Aubrey with a raised brow.
"What?" Aubrey asked. "I helped Tommy with them."
"Thank you, Aubrey," Beca said. "But how did you get all the information for them?"
"I'm a lawyer," Aubrey said, shrugging. "I made a few calls, and voila, I had what we needed to make the cards."
"Wow," Beca said and started passing out the cards, giving the first to Tommy.
Emily thanked Beca and put the card in her pocket. She then looked around and asked, "Where's Amy?"
"She had to visit her aunt before coming here," Aubrey said. "She should be along shortly."
Chloe took the card Beca handed her and smiled. "Tommy, you did an excellent job with these."
"Thanks," Tommy said, grinning. "Are we still planning to go to the coffee shop for hot chocolate, Mommy?"
"Yes, we are, sweetheart," Chloe said, running her hand through his hair. "It's our tradition, but we can't go until after we eat."
Beca looked over to Tommy and Chloe, holding up her business cards, mouthing, "This is the best gift ever!" Chloe smiled and said something to Tommy; Tommy nodded and smiled. Beca's eyes furrowed when she saw Chloe take a deep breath and start walking toward her.
"Chloe?" Beca whispered.
Chloe didn't speak; she just took Beca's hand and led her into the kitchen.
Once they were in the kitchen, Chloe turned and stood in front of Beca. She stared at Beca but didn't say anything. After a minute or so of just standing there, Beca was beginning to get worried.
"Um, Chloe?" Beca said. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," Chloe said. "I just have something to ask you, but I'm afraid of what you're going to say."
Beca smiled and took Chloe's hands in hers.
"If this is about what I think it is, just ask me."
"But you said we should wait and talk about it later."
"I know, but I don't want us to wait anymore."
"But, you were worried about Tommy accepting it."
"I'm not worried about that anymore."
"But-"
"Chloe, I love you, I swear I do," Beca interrupted. "But I'm going to give you to the count of ten, or I'm going to-"
"Beca Mitchell, will you marry me?"
Beca just smiled and stood there. Chloe's smile faltered as she stared at Beca.
"Beca?"
"Does a ring go with this proposal?" Beca asked, reaching into her pocket. "I've heard it's not official unless there's a ring."
"I, uh, I left it upstairs," Chloe said. "I wasn't planning to ask today."
"Well, I just happen to have a ring right here," Beca said, taking a knee. "So, Chloe Beale, will you marry me?"
"When we tell everyone this story later, just remember I asked you first," Chloe said, smiling as she pulled Beca up and into a deep kiss. "That's a yes, by the way."
"Thank you," Beca said. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Chloe said, kissing Beca again.
~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2023 - Day 2 ~~
Stacie quietly backed out of the kitchen without Beca or Chloe knowing she was there. Stacie hurried over to the friends' group, smiling.
"She did it!" Stacie exclaimed.
"Who did what?" Emily asked.
"Chloe proposed to Beca," Stacie said. "Well, technically, Chloe asked, but didn't have the ring, so Beca pulled one out and asked Chloe. Chloe, of course, said yes, and now they're officially engaged."
"Oh, my stars!" Emily squealed. "This is amazing news!"
"I can't believe she did it already," Aubrey said. "Beca was so worried about how Tommy was going to react, so Chloe was thinking about waiting until Valentine's Day before she asked."
"Girls, we have something to tell you," Chloe said as she and Beca came out of the kitchen.
"Wait," Beca said, then whispered something to Chloe.
Chloe nodded and said, "You're right."
Chloe and Beca walked over to the boys and knelt in front of them. Beca looked from JJ to Tommy.
"Boys, we have something to tell everyone, but we wanted to tell you first," Beca said. "Chloe and I are getting married."
"You are?" Tommy asked, looking from Beca to his mother.
"Yes, we are," Chloe said. "Are you boys okay with that?"
"Yes!" JJ and Tommy cheered.
Tommy surprised Chloe, but moreso Beca, when he pulled Beca into a hug. Beca hugged him to her and chuckled.
"I guess this means he's okay with it."
JJ joined Tommy in hugging Beca; Chloe wrapped her arms around the three.
"Congratulations!" the small family heard just before three more sets of arms engulfed them.
"I feel like there's a Christmas wedding in our future," Emily said as she pulled back from the hug.
Just then, the doorbell rang, causing everyone to jump and look toward the door.
"Who's going to tell Amy she missed the proposal?" Aubrey asked, immediately followed by, "Not it!"
"Not it!" Stacie called out.
"Not me!" Emily cried.
"I'll tell her," Chloe said as she got up and went to the door. "Hey, Amy. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Amy said. "I can't believe you bitches got engaged without me."
Amy then pushed past Chloe to enter the house.
"How did you-?" Chloe asked, confused.
"Duh! You're wearing an engagement ring," Amy said as she set her bags down next to the tree. "I'm guessing since you met on Christmas and got engaged on Christmas, you're going to have a Christmas wedding, so we need to start planning now. We only have a year to get it done."
Everyone laughed and started talking at once.