Chapter 14
When Chloe wakes up, Beca is sitting at the headboard with her knees pulled to her chest and a worried look on her face. When she sees that the redhead has opened her eyes, she says:
“Shit, Chloe what have we done?”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but as I remember, I had a wonderful date and then some incredible sex with an amazing girl.” Chloe says with a wide grin as she props herself up on an elbow.
“Chlo, how can you not be freaking out right now?” Beca says as she shifts folding her legs under her.
“Why would I freak out right now?” Chloe returns while she strokes Beca’s leg.
“So what is supposed to happen right now? I mean, we can’t be together, like, really together, right?”
“Beca, I don’t know how long you’ve been sitting there, and what has got into that head of yours, but I think we deserve a chance.” Chloe is now sitting up, wrapped in the sheets, gently stroking Beca’s hair.
“That’s it, Chlo, a chance, try, we can’t do that. We’re best friends again, finally. I have David to think of too. He is already attached to you, we can’t make this some experiment. If it fails, there is no coming back from for any of us, I fear.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Becs, not some experiment. I can’t give you any guarantees, no one ever can, but I promise you that I will do everything within my power to make you happy, and to help you achieve anything you want, support you in raising David. This is still us. Us, but better if you ask me.”
Chloe is silent for moment and then adds “I would even have wanted to stay for that weird friendship-roommate situation which stretches the borders of platonic that we had going."
"Seriously?" Beca asks full of disbelief.
"Yeah Becs, just being around you, being with your little family is the only thing that made me happy in a long time. Being with you like this makes me the happiest I've ever been. Although it has never been about this", Chloe gestures to their bodies and the bed, “It has always been about us, about our love, in whatever way we shaped it, however we called it”. Chloe pushes a strand of hair behind Beca’s ear. “And I’m not going to let you give that up again. So what this is, I'll leave it up to you, but you won't be able to get rid of me again.”
“But don’t you worry? I mean, I trust you, but there are so many issues that can come between us. I mean my job, it’s pretty demanding, even though it’s better than it used to be. I can’t promise I will always have time for you, and you’ll often have to share with David. And what about your job? Don’t you remember what the principal said? I don’t want to be the reason you lose your dream job and hate me for it.”
When Beca brings up the topic of Chloe’s work, the redhead’s smile fades. It was not that she hadn’t considered it, and to be honest, she was worried too. But to see Beca concerned over all the little aspects of their lives and willing to put all that first, instead of love, it broke her heart. Of course, Chloe knew where Beca was coming from, she couldn’t imagine what it’s like to grow up in a broken home. So she swallows and says:
“I do worry about that too, I really do. It’s an amazing job. But it’s not worth letting you go for it. Yes, I might lose my job, but I won’t be unemployed forever, I’ll probably find something new, plus I will have this wonderful girlfriend who will support me in everything I do. And on top of that, if they fire me, because I found love, they’re a bunch of dicks anyway.”
Beca’s heart had stopped and her stomach had summersaulted when Chloe had so casually used the word ‘girlfriend’ to refer to whatever it was that could be between them.
“And I don’t worry about your job, Becs, the drive and passion for music and to become a producer is one of the things that I always admired most in you. I know there will be nights when you aren’t home, out with some clients, days where you are stressing about upcoming deadlines, but as long as you slip into bed with me at night after and we will lay here together, I know we can get through those days too.
I know you worry about David too. We haven’t talked about this at all, but I assume the fact that you have a son already has been an issue in your previous relationships?”
“Yeah, raising someone else’s kid isn’t very appealing to most.”
“But Becs, I’d be helping you raise your kid, and I would love to, because I love you. And maybe I’m biased, because I already know him so well, but he’s pretty awesome.”
Beca is softly sobbing, moved by Chloe's words, and Chloe shifts so she can pull her against her chest. Rubbing soothing circles on the girl’s back, Chloe sits there patiently waiting.
“Chlo, I trust you, and I want to make you happy too. But I can’t promise I’ll never freak out again.”
“I know, Beca, and I might freak out sometimes too, just so you know.”
Chloe’s last answer causes both girls to giggle and break the embrace. Beca presses a sloppy kiss to Chloe’s lips and presses their foreheads together. They sit like that for a while, just looking into each other’s eyes.
The total lack of awkwardness in the moment and the way Chloe had read Beca’s mind, calmed the raging thoughts in Beca’s head. In a moment of clearness and bravery she opens her mouth and says:
“So if I can’t change your mind at all: Chloe Beale, will you be my girlfriend?”
“You’re such a romantic, but: Yeah Beca Mitchell, I’d love to be your girlfriend.”
They share a long and passionate kiss and slide back under the covers holding each other close.
---
“Aubrey is coming by later”, Chloe announces after they have been lying next to each other for a while.
“What have you told her about us?”
“Nothing”
“Nothing, as in ‘nothing about possible feelings and dates and such’ or nothing as in ‘forgot to mention I ran into Beca again’?” Beca checks, because she knows that look on Chloe’s face.
“The latter”
“You let her come to my apartment and you haven’t even mentioned me? That’s going to be interesting…”
“Well, Bree and I don’t really talk talk that much anymore, it’s more text and emails these days, but that didn’t seem the right way to tell her. I was going to tell her yesterday, but I got the feeling she was also hiding something from me, so I was too busy investigating.”
“Yeah, right, so Sherlock, have you found out what she’s hiding?”
“I think she’s met someone in Europe.”
“Why would she keep that from you?”
“I don’t know, maybe he’s famous, or, oooh no, maybe he’s royalty. They totally have that in Europe right?” Chloe gets a little excited
“Or he’s with the mafia, they have that in Europe too.” Beca offers. “Where in Europe was she again?”
“Oh, she’s been setting up lodges in various countries, but the last thing I heard she was in Paris.”
“Well we’ll probably find out soon enough. What time will she get here?”
“At twelve.”
“Well then you better hurry, because it’s a quarter to twelve now. And if I remember correctly a Posen is never late.”