"Her vitals look good. Her blood pressure is a little elevated but that is most likely due to the pain." The doctor was saying as Aubrey, Chloe and Stacie listened intently. Warren was next to his daughter, tears in his eyes once again.
"Beca, how are you feeling?" The doctor asked.
She was quiet for a moment, her eyes heavy. Then they scanned the room and landed on Aubrey. The woman sucked in a small breath as Becas eyes found her own. She didn't look at her long though. Quickly looking away from her wife and looking back at the doctor.
"Are my babies, okay?" She whispered.
"Yes, they are doing just fine. Aside from some bruising to your abdomen, the babies didn't seem to suffer any injury due to the accident. Now, elevated blood pressure and the fact that you are in pain, could lead to some complications but we have been and will continue to monitor that very closely. You and your babies are very lucky." He spoke.
Becas eyes welled up and she closed them, letting the tears fall.
"You had a thoracotomy. We have already removed the tube, and you have been stitched up. It may hurt some."
She nodded, slowly reaching up to where he had gestured to touch her side.
"I will let you have some time with your family. Just hit this button if you need anything." He said before walking out.
She opened her eyes, taking in a breath, trying to calm herself.
"Aubrey?" She asked, her voice cracking and Aubrey stepped closer to her, her, reaching her hand out to stroke her hair, her movement too quick and to everyone's surprise, Beca flinched.
Chloe immediately looked at Aubrey, fire in her eyes and Stacie grabbed her hand, squeezing it.
"It's okay my love," Aubrey said softly. "I know you're in pain, I wont touch you if it will hurt you." She smiled lovingly and dropped her hand.
Warren seemed to accept Aubrey's words. They made sense. Chloe and Stacie however, saw right through it. They knew they couldn't say anything in that moment though. Not with Beca having just woken up, and her blood pressure already being high.
"Aubrey," Beca said again, her voice thickening with tears that were beginning to fill her eyes. "Can I go home?"
Aubrey sighed, her face falling. "Not yet. They want to keep you here for a few days. To make sure you and the twins are okay. We will go home soon though, I promise."
Through more tears, Beca nodded. "I'm sorry…about the accident. Is the other driver, okay?"
"She is fine, Becs." Chloe said stepping forward. "She was actually released today."
Beca nodded, closing her eyes. "It hurts." She whispered.
"What does?" Aubrey asked, already hitting the call button.
"Everything."
XXXXXX
"Do you think we have enough proof now?" Chloe asked, her words dripping with disgust. She was sitting across from Stacie at a picnic table outside the hospital. Beca was sleeping, Aubrey was at work and Warren wanted some alone time with his daughter.
Stacie held onto the fresh coffee they had just bought off of a truck parked near the hospital.
"I don't know. Aubrey jumped in so fast, and what she said made sense. Beca could have flinched because she was in pain and worried Aubrey's touch would hurt."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "But we know that isn't it."
Stacie looked around. The area was filled with patients' family members. Getting fresh air. Waiting for news. Doctors and nurses taking breaks or walking to a different part of the hospital.
"It would help if we knew why Beca even got into the accident. Why she was out that late. Where she was going." Stacie mused.
"She hasn't said anything about it. And if you notice, Aubrey hasn't asked, because she already knows and she isn't telling us." Chloe almost growled, looking begrudgingly at the hospital.
"Maybe we can get Beca to tell us while Aubrey isn't here. Maybe she will feel more comfortable talking about it, if its just us." Stacie suggested.
"Maybe. Aubey won't be back until tonight after work. Maybe we can convince Warren to let us have a little time alone with her as well." Chloe said and with that they both stood up and headed back into the hospital.
XXXXXX
"Tell me what happened."
Aubrey was leaned back against her desk. Her head down. Her father had finally got her alone, away from any possible prying ears. The hospital wasn't an option for this discussion and Aubrey knew it was coming, as soon as she walked into the firm.
"We fought. About the babies." She said, looking up.
"Okay?"
"She didn't want to tell you the genders. Not yet anyway, she wanted to wait until thanksgiving when we told everyone else. I disagreed."
"Well, thanksgiving is in three days." He said. "I suppose its fine if I find out with everyone else."
She looked at him in shock. "I assumed you would take offence to it. I was certain you would be upset with that decision, that is why we fought." Aubrey said standing up straighter.
"Well, your assumption was wrong. What else happened. Why was Beca even driving that night, where was she going?"
"I don't know. We fought, I got a little rough with my hands and my words. Then I told her to get out."
John looked at her, taking in a breath.
"I don't know where she was going. Chloe's most likely."
She saw her father move towards her but had no time to react before he had slapped her across the face. She turned away from him, holding her burning cheek only to be grabbed and flipped around to face him.
"Where she no doubt would have told Chloe what you have been doing. How could you be so stupid, Aubrey. You could have just ruined everything. That aside, Beca could have lost the babies. Do you know how much money I put out for you to have these babies? And you do something as careless as tell her to leave after all you have been doing the last few months. That would fall back on this firm. A nasty divorce, custody hearings. You would be charged with domestic violence. We could lose everything we have worked so hard for." He let her go and stood back.
"I was just trying to do what I thought you would want." She said, tears rolling down her cheeks. She was angry, and embarrassed. She tried so hard, to make him proud. Went so far as to turn into him. She treated Beca the way he used to treat her mother. It hurt her, sometimes, to do so. But she did it. And he seemed proud at first. Now? Now she didn't know what to do.
"Well, you are dumber than I thought you were." He said. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital. With your wife?"
She looked at him once more before grabbing her things and hurrying from the office. She needed to talk to Beca. Alone. Before Beca spoke to anyone else.
XXXXXX
Chloe and Stacie walked into Becas hospital room, surprised to see she was awake and speaking to her dad.
"Oh, sorry. We don't want to interrupt." Stacie said as they stopped in the doorway.
"No, you're good girls. I was just heading out." Warren smiled. "I have a few things I need to do, but I'll be back tonight." He said standing up and kissing Becas forehead.
"Thank you for telling me." He smiled at her. "I love you, Beca bear."
"I love you too, Dad." She said as he walked out, giving Chloe's shoulder a loving pat on the way out.
They walked over to see Beca smiling softly at them. "It's nice to see a smile." Chloe said as she took a seat next to her.
"Pain meds." Was her simple reply. "And I had a good talk with my dad."
"Yeah? What about?" Stacie asked, curiously. "If you don't mind my asking." She smiled.
"I just apologized, for not telling him about the pregnancy sooner. You know, finding out when I'm five months, and in a car accident was a little traumatizing for him. I promised him I wouldn't keep anymore secrets." She said.
"Why did you keep it a secret?" Chloe asked. "From your dad I mean?"
"Well I didn't really mean too. I don't see him very often, and everything got so hectic so fast."
"Like what?" Chloe pressed and Beca looked at her for a second. Stacie could tell Chloes questions were alerting her.
"Like taking over the label, and your move back. Just a lot of things. I don't know, he is out of town a lot and I just…didn't tell him." She said looking down.
"Was Aubrey one of those things?" Chloe asked and Stacie's eyes widened, her blood running cold as she looked at Beca.
"What do you mean?" Beca asked.
Chloe didn't get a chance to elaborate, however because the topic of conversation walked in at that moment.
"Oh love you're awake? Why didn't anyone call me?" She asked as she walked over. Her arms full of a beautiful bouquet of red roses and sunflowers. She set them on the table next to the bed before bending over and pressing a soft kiss to Becas lips.
"We just got here," Stacie started. "Warren actually just left, he and Beca were catching up."
Aubrey looked from Stacie to Beca. "Oh, yeah? That's good, I know you've been wanting to do that."
"Yeah, it was nice to talk to him. Apologize for not telling him sooner about the babies."
Aubrey stiffened slightly. "Yes, well, it's hard to get a hold of him sometimes." She said.
"Would you girls mind? I haven't gotten a chance to be alone with Beca since she woke up, and I would like to spend some time with her, just us."
Becas eyes flashed to Chloe, but as much as she waned to plead with her, to not leave. She couldn't do it. She couldn't risk Aubrey seeing. Or worse, Chloe understanding and causing a scene.
"Of course. Chloe needs to get some sleep, anyway. She has barely gotten more than a few hours since the accident." Stacie said and stood up, taking Chloe's arm so she would stand as well.
"Love you, Becs." Stacie said.
"I love you, Beca, see you soon, okay?" Chloe said as they walked toward the door.
"I love you guys, too." Beca said as they disappeared out the door.
It was quiet for what seemed like a long time. Becas eyes were downcast. Aubrey sat on the bed next to her, her own eyes on her lap.
"Aubrey, I'm sorry about the accident. And the car. I didn't mean for it to happen."
"Well," Aubrey stood up. "It wouldn't have happened if you wouldn't have left like you did."
"You told me too."
Aubrey turned to her, her hands on her hips. "I didn't think you would leave the house. I figured you would go to the guest room, or your studio. Why in the hell would you leave the house-"
"What happened to your face?" Beca cut her off. Aubrey stopped and reached up to her face, the spot where her father had hit her just an hour before.
"Nothing." She said. "Don't worry about it."
Beca laid back, her eyes on Aubrey and she shook her head. "He hit you, didn't he?"
"Beca, mind your business." She said dropping her hand. "You need to get some rest. I will be back." She said abruptly and left the room as Beca looked after her in shock.
XXXXXX
Beca woke in the middle of the night to a nurse checking her vitals.
"Sorry, honey, I didn't mean to wake you." She said softly.
"It's okay." Beca whispered, then looked around the dimly lit room to find it empty.
"My Wife didn't come back? What time is it?"
The nurse stood up straight and checked her watch. "Just after four in the morning, I didn't see anyone come in or out all night, I'm sorry. Can I get you anything?"
Beca shook her head and laid back. "Thank you." She said as the nurse left and she looked at the empty chairs in the room.
She knew she should go back to sleep, but she didn't want too. She looked at the table by her bed to see someone had plugged her phone in next to her. She carefully reached over and grabbed it, unplugging it and opening her text messages.
She typed out a text and sent it, before putting it back and laying back, closing her eyes.
XXXXXX
Across town, a phone vibrated and was picked up. Tired eyes looked at the text and immediately widened before Chloe got up out of bed and started getting dressed.
Stacie who was asleep in the bed next to her, stirred. "Chlo?"
"It's Beca, she woke up and no one is there." She said. "I didn't know Aubrey was going to leave or I wouldn't have." She said as Stacie sat up.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
Chloe smiled at her. "You should get some sleep."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I'm just going to go sit while she sleeps. So, she isn't alone."
Stacie nodded as she laid back down and got comfortable. "Maybe with it just being you she will be more comfortable talking."
Chloe pulled on her jacket. "Yeah, maybe. Get some more sleep, ill see you in a few hours." She said as she headed for the door.
Twenty minutes later she was walking down the nearly dark, quiet hall of the hospital that led to Becas room. The hospital was an eerie place to walk around that early in the morning. She only saw one nurse, typing away on her computer at the nurse's station. She had glanced up at her with a tired smile before looking back to her screen.
She tried to be quiet as she pushed open Becas door, in case she was asleep. However, she entered to see Beca turning her head to look at her.
"Hey, Chlo. Sorry to wake you up."
Chloe walked in, smiling at her lovingly. "Don't worry about it, Becs. I'm sorry you woke up alone, I thought Aubrey was staying with you tonight?" She asked as she sat in the chair next to her bed.
"She said she would be back." She started, her voice almost sad, and very quiet. "But she never came." She said looking down in her lap. "I think she is just tired, and probably fell asleep or something. I'm sure she will be back in the morning."
Chloe reached over and carefully wrapped her hand around Becas wrist that was laying on her stomach.
"How are you, Beca?"
"I'm okay. A little sore, mostly just want to go home."
"How are the babies?"
Beca smiled down at her stomach. "I think they are okay. I'm glad they are okay. I was so reckless; I could have killed them." She whispered.
"It was an accident." Chloe said. "It could have happened to anyone."
Beca didn't look at her, but could feel Chloes eyes on her.
"Beca, can I ask you something?"
She slowly turned to look at her, feeling her heart start to beat faster. "Yeah."
Chloe squeezed her wrist a little tighter. "The accident…It was just an accident, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't run that stop sign on purpose? You weren't trying to…you know?"
"Kill myself?" Beca asked and Chloe nodded sadly.
"No, I wasn't trying to kill myself. I was just trying to-"She trailed off. "I was just trying to get some space."
"From Aubrey?" Chloe asked and could feel Beca tense slightly, seconds later, she could feel her start to shake.
"I just needed to get away for a little while, I didn't mean for this to happen."
Chloe watched as she tried to make herself appear smaller. How she kept her eyes locked on her stomach. How she shook and her heart monitor started to beep a little more rapidly.
"Beca, its okay." She spoke. "I know you didn't."
Beca looked up at her, and her eyes were filled with tears. Chloe could feel the words building in her throat. She was going to ask. She had to ask.
"Beca, tell me the truth." She started and blinked nervously, her tears falling.
"Is Aubrey-"Beca gasped and clutched her stomach before she looked at Chloe with wide eyes.
"What? What's wrong?" She asked hurriedly.
Beca wiggled her wrist out of Chloes hand before taking it and pressing it against her stomach.
"Beca what-" Chloe started and then froze before a huge smile broke out on her face.
"Oh my god, Becs!" She smiled as she felt another soft flutter hit her hand. "They're kicking?"
Beca nodded. "This is the first time. They must love the sound of their Aunt Chloes voice." She smiled and Chloe too began crying. For a whole different reason.
"I cant believe it, I've never felt a baby kick before." Chloe said, holding her hand to Becas stomach and willing them to do it again. She smiled wider when one of them did.
"Beca this is amazing, thank you for letting me feel."
Beca smiled at her happily before her smile suddenly dropped and Chloe watched as the happiness was replaced with panic.
"Don't tell Aubrey, please? I don't want her to be upset that she wasn't here the first time they kicked." She said and Chloe slowly pulled her hand away. She watched Becas eyes follow her hand sadly as her own hand opened and closed as if she didn't know what to do with it now that Chloes wasn't in it.
"I won't say anything." Chloe promised. "You should get some sleep." She said sitting back.
"You wont leave?" Beca asked, her voice small and worried.
"I'll be right here." She said gently. "I'm not going anywhere."
Beca nodded softly, wiping her tears before slowly closing her eyes. Chloe watched in sadness and anger as she drifted off to sleep. Beca shouldn't have been as scared as she was for Chloe to be the first one to feel the baby's kick. She shouldn't have had to make her promise not to tell Aubrey. She almost had the words out. She had almost finally asked Beca the question that had been fighting to escape her lips for months. She knew the truth and she had a feeling Beca wanted to tell her.
XXXXXX
Beca was awake and just starting on her breakfast, when Aubrey walked in the next morning. Stacie who was across the room by the window, on her laptop looked up and Chloe who was standing near the other side of Becas bed with a to go cup of coffee in her hand looked at her.
"Oh, good morning, what time did you girls get here?" Aubrey asked as she walked over and kissed Becas temple.
"What time did you leave last night?" Chloe asked, her voice flat and Beca froze and looked at Aubrey. The red mark on her face that she saw the night before was either gone, or covered.
"Not long after you did. I went home to do some work and ended up falling asleep on the couch."
"Well, I couldn't sleep last night so I came back around four thirty this morning. Just hung around with her so she wasn't alone." Chloe said before looking at Beca.
"I've gotta go to work, but I'll be back around six. Text me if you need anything okay?"
"I will, thank you." Beca said before looking at her wife.
Chloe said her goodbyes to Stacie but ignored Aubrey as she walked out. Stacie looked down at her computer, pretending like she hadn't seen the awkward exchange, hoping Aubrey wouldn't ask about it.
"Anyway, sorry about that love." Aubrey said. "How is your breakfast?" She asked looking down at the plate of pancakes and bacon the nurse had brought to her.
"It's okay." She said, poking at her food.
Aubrey looked over at Stacie who was working hard to look busy. She folded her arms, taking a breath.
"Am I missing something?" She asked and Stacie looked from her to Beca in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Stacie asked setting her laptop aside. Beca didn't say anything, as she slowly set her fork down and kept her eyes downcast.
"Chloe has been in a bitchy mood for days. She had a tone just now, is there something you guys want to say?" She demanded. Beca winced at her tone, risking a glance at Stacie. Unsurprisingly she was glaring at her angry wife.
"Aubrey, calm down." Stacie said standing up and glancing at Beca who had now looked up at Aubrey and had her eyes locked on her in trepidation.
"No, do you know what her problem is? Does she blame me for the accident or something? Because its not like I was behind the wheel."
Stacie wanted to snap at her. Tell her that she might as well have been. She knew, she and Chloe both knew that Becas accident was because she was fleeing from Aubrey's wrath.
"No one is blaming anyone. It was an accident. If you feel this way, you should try to talk to Chloe. Losing your temper and snapping at me isn't going to get you any answers. Not any that you want. And its not good for Beca, she should be resting right now." She said and Beca looked down, not liking being spoken about as if she wasn't right there.
"Please stop." She said in a whisper. "Don't fight."
They both looked at her. "I'm sorry Becs." Stacie said, her voice sincere.
Aubrey inhaled through her nose; her arms folded as she looked at Beca. "I have to go to work, if anyone cares. Ill be back later." She said and gave Becas plate a pointed look before turning on her heel and storming out.
Beca pushed her plate away, getting Aubrey's message loud and clear. "I'm sorry Stacie. I think she is just stressed, I know her Dad is being hard on her for missing work the last couple days, its my fault-"
"No." Stacie cut her off and Beca looked up at her, her eyes troubled and filled, again, with tears.
"It isn't your fault. Aubrey's mood, her dad's frustration, none of that has anything to do with you. They are grown, and they need to learn to handle their emotions. I am sorry she feels that way. But you have nothing to apologize for."
Though she didn't believe her, she knew full well that this was her fault. Every bit of it was her fault. The initial fight, the accident, Aubrey's anger and panic to try and give them a cover story. It was her fault. John hitting Aubrey, was her fault. And she accepted the punishment she was given by Aubrey's telling stare at her breakfast. She wasn't to eat it. That was her punishment. It was effective and she knew that Aubrey knew that. She would take that any day, over the usual punishment.