Work Text:
To Claus A Scene
BECA
Experiencing Christmas in Charleston was comparable to traveling back in time. Gullah spirituals and Christmas carols accompanied the garland that had been passed down from generation to generation as the city's streets were decked out for the holidays.
There was no shortage of Christmas-themed events throughout December to help you get into the festive mood. And since Chloe loved Christmas, Beca agreed on a trip to Charleston, where their former roommate also happened to have moved this year after her almost two-year-long world trip.
With the knuckles on her left hand turning white from clenching the wheel so firmly, Beca kept her eyes fixed on the road as she nibbled on the loose skin of one of her free hand's fingertip. While she gazed out the window, she could see the Charleston skyline unfolding before her eyes, with cars smoothly navigating the festive streets.
They got off the exit for I-26 in Charleston, South Carolina. The trip to their former roommate’s house from the international airport, where Beca and Chloe had picked up their rental car, took approximately half an hour.
They had planned a few activities with the girls later in the afternoon, so Beca knew she needed a nap first. Otherwise, she was going to be cranky throughout the whole thing.
“Bec…”
Beca’s eyes glazed fleetingly to a smiling Chloe on the passenger seat beside her. “Yeah?”
“You look nervous. What’s wrong?” Chloe reached for Beca’s hand and placed it on her lap.
“Nothing.” She squeezed Chloe's thigh.
“Hey, look, seeing the girls again will be exciting. And Bella. Gosh, the last time we saw her was before she turned two.” Chloe let out a giddy squeal as she clutched Beca’s hand.
“Yeah, we've been spending every Christmas with our families, and it's the first time we've spent it with our friends.” Beca breathed out slowly. It was her first Christmas with Chloe, too. “God, I hated spending the holidays with my dad and Sheila. That woman was determined to teach me how to make her family’s traditional Christmas stuffing,” Beca grumbled. “Maybe I’ll make it this time for you. It’s really yummy.”
“That would be fantastic,” Chloe cheered.
“It’s been three years,” Beca continued, returning to the road decorated with two million dazzling lights. “Time flies. And it’s been a whole year since we last saw Aubrey and Stacie, too. Oh, and also, since Fat Amy moved to South Carolina last year. We’ll have a lot of catching up to do.”
Chloe giggled nervously. Beca could feel Chloe's rather distracted hands caressing her fingertips one by one. “You know, it’ll be fine…” she said slowly, more assuring herself than Beca, “We’ve been ‘roommates’ for five years now and never dated anybody else. I bet they’ve already figured out what’s going on.”
“Chloe, that we both haven’t dated anybody serious wasn’t because of us being together,” Beca reminded her. “We’ve been dating for a few weeks now.”
“Yeah, two months and four days. But it feels like we’ve been together for so long,” Chloe said cheekily.
Beca laughed; her head felt suddenly warm. “I know, right?”
“So, do you think it’s too early to tell them?” Chloe asked. It wasn’t the first time since they’d boarded the plane this early morning, two days before Christmas.
Beca had been so nervous about this that she barely slept last night. Chloe also had trouble sleeping as she held Beca’s hand tight, occasionally kissing the back of her hand and sighing.
“I wasn’t this nervous when I told my dad and Sheila, or my mom, about us,” Beca rambled on, taking her hand back from her girlfriend’s grasp to rake her fingers through her wavy hair. “Or when I met your parents on Thanksgiving.”
“You were a nervous wreck,” Chloe corrected her; her sweet chuckle belied her genuine fondness for that statement. “But I know what you mean. I suppose we care a lot about what our friends think of us, even if we shouldn't because they love us.” This time, Chloe placed her palm on Beca’s thigh and pinched it lightly, making Beca jolt. “You’re so jumpy, babe.”
Rolling her eyes playfully, Beca groaned at her girlfriend’s desire to touch her constantly. And she still hadn’t gotten used to Chloe calling her “babe.” Hearing it from Chloe, addressed to Beca, seemed like a dream come true—there might be no other peaceful or dreamlike place than being with the love of your life.
It was like being in love for the first time when the atmosphere between them was still packed with both excitement and nervousness. Beca never had this with any of her exes before.
Which was why it was frightening at the same time…
“Maybe we can test the waters first,” Beca suggested, voicing out her thoughts while biting on her bottom lip to smile weakly.
She’d been thinking about a plan to “come out” to their friends because she didn’t want to keep her relationship with Chloe a secret. But her nervousness on the matter had somewhat worn off on Chloe, too, who was usually cooler when it came to revealing who she was currently hooking up with.
There used to be Tom, whom Chloe had dated for a few months and lasted until he graduated, and Chloe did not. She’d dated a few other dudes after him, whose names weren’t important enough for Beca to remember, as they each made Chloe feel miserable at some point after it ended. And it didn’t matter to Beca whose fault it was; she’d always take Chloe’s side. Chloe also had been with the army dude, Chicago Walp, whom she met on the Bellas’ USO tour for a few months before they broke up. As it turned out, Chicago had a wife and a child in Kansas.
This time, however, Chloe wasn't dating or merely hooked up with some dude.
This time, she was dating another woman. Her best friend and roommate for years.
Even though they’d known each other for so long, everything still felt new. So many things to discover about each other that their platonic relationship didn’t give away.
The only dude whom Beca had dated long-term was Jesse. Until they both decided a few months after graduating from college that a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work out. It didn’t come as a surprise to her when there wasn’t really much of a fight on Beca’s end when they called it off while on FaceTime. As if the three years they’d been together had never meant anything to Beca.
If ever, then she was relieved because what she never told Chloe or anyone else was that Jesse had given her an ultimatum: that she move to Canada with him and give up on her career if she truly loved him.
And of course, she stayed. But not because of her career…
As Beca covered Chloe’s hand to interlace their fingers, she knew she made the right decision.
“We’ll tell them, Chlo,” Beca said, more resolved now than a few minutes ago, “and they’ll be thrilled, I’m sure.”
“I have no doubt about that,” Chloe giggled, “but I’m not looking forward to seeing Fat Amy’s ‘told you’ face because she’d been right since your freshman year. She’s been teasing us that we’re going to end up together someday. It’s…” she paused and stared out the window, “it’s Aubrey’s reaction I’m a bit worried about. I haven’t told her. And we literally tell each other everything.”
“Literally everything? Well, obviously not,” Beca teased her.
“Ugh. She’ll be upset… or disappointed.” Beca couldn’t see her girlfriend’s face, but judging the tone of her voice, Chloe sounded sad.
“Disappointed because you’re dating another woman now?” Beca asked, incredulous. “Imagine living in 2020, and you still encounter homophobia.”
“No, not Aubrey, Bec,” Chloe tutted, giggling in amusement. She pinched Beca’s thigh through her jeans and explained, “I mean… I don’t know… she’s always had a certain expectation of me and my relationships. At our respective weddings, we have always dreamed of being each other's maids of honor, while our future husbands were also best friends. When she envisioned all that, I don't suppose she thought I'd be with another woman.”
Beca scoffed. “That woman needs to suck it up, then. Seriously, man. I fucking love you, Chlo. With or without Aubrey's blessing. And if it makes her happy, then fiiiine, I don't mind befriending her future husband, too.”
“I love you, too, babe,” Chloe said fondly, her voice now devoid of any traces of worry.
*
AUBREY
“Let’s get you out of there, munchkin. You didn't sleep, huh?” Aubrey unbuckled the harness of the three-year-old girl, who reached her small hands out to grab Aubrey’s arms.
“Bwee, look! Look!” Bella squeaked, pointing behind Aubrey across the street, “Puppy! Over there!”
“Oh, yes,” Aubrey confirmed, “a cute puppy,” she dropped her voice into a whisper as she added, “I’m trying, okay? Your mommy still doesn’t want us to get a puppy. But I’m trying.” She kissed Bella’s face and held her tight in her arms, making the little girl giggle more.
“What are you two conspiring behind my back, huh?” Stacie asked as she exited their rental car, unloading their luggage in front of their friend’s modern-day Cape Cod mansion. Just as they had imagined their oddball friend would choose to live in, having two steep roof buildings bound in the middle by a flat roof section and shingle-clad exteriors. “Ames sure knows how to impress, this filthy rich bitch.”
“Fiffy rich bitch!” Bella repeated with huge eyes, despite not understanding its meaning.
Half-giggling, half-gasping in shock, Aubrey covered the little girl’s ears as much as she could. “Stacie! Would you please watch your language? You know your daughter keeps repeating what she hears like a parrot.”
Stacie rolled her eyes, looking guilty. “Oopsies. Bella, honey, we don’t say that, okay?” She walked to her daughter and pecked her cheek, then kissed Aubrey on the lips.
Aubrey tensed up and shot her eyes up the windows of their friend’s house that faced the street. She was sure Fat Amy wouldn't be waiting by the windows, but she couldn't help but feel a little paranoid.
“Did you tell her we’re here?” she asked Stacie, who retracted two suitcases out of the trunk and set them in front of the gate. Aubrey grabbed Bella’s backpack and swung it over her shoulder. “Let me help you. I’m putting her down in her trolley.”
“It’s fine. I got this,” Stacie said. “We can unload the other luggage later. Maybe the girls will help us. Let’s just get Bella’s stuff inside. Do you think our two elves arrived before us?”
“Beca and Chloe?” Aubrey giggled. “They took an earlier flight. I don’t know. I couldn't reach Chloe since she turned off her phone. But look over there. Looks like another rental car. Could be theirs.”
“Hmm… driver’s seat pulled up close to the wheel,” Stacie analyzed the car from across the street, “yup, could be theirs,” she giggled. “Let’s go. I’m excited to see them… be-hatches again.” Mischievously, she sneered at Aubrey as she managed to catch herself in time.
“And that’s better?” Aubrey laughed.
Before Stacie took another step toward the house, Aubrey snatched her arm. “Wait, Stace. Just… hold on a second,” she said warily. “What do we tell them?”
Stacie stared back at her, needing a second to understand what Aubrey meant. “Bree, it’ll be fine. We’ll wait for the right time and just spill the beans. They’re our friends; I’m sure they’d be thrilled for us.”
“We should’ve given them a small warning, you know?” Aubrey took a deep breath as she rocked Bella in her arms, who rested her head on Aubrey’s shoulder.
“What are you worried about? We wanted to tell them in person and not over Instagram,” Stacie remarked sarcastically. She set the two suitcases down again and cocked her head to the side. “Are you having second thoughts now? About us?”
“What? NO!” Aubrey exclaimed, startling the little girl in her arms. She stroked Bella’s beanie-covered head and kissed her temple. “Sorry. Sleep, munchkin.” She dropped her voice again and spoke through gritted teeth, “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m more certain than ever. About us. I just think it would’ve been fair if we'd given them a small warning. You know Chloe—she’ll think we’re not taking our friendship seriously. That we excluded her from our lives for keeping such news from her. She’ll be heartbroken and think I failed her.”
“Well, a lot of things came up,” Stacie reminded her matter-of-factly, “and every time we wanted to tell them, some shit happened.”
“Shit, mommy said shit,” Bella mumbled, trying to fight her sleepiness.
Aubrey glared at Stacie while resuming to stroke Bella’s back.
“How does she even know what a bad word is?” Stacie asked, incredulous as she glowered at her daughter's back.
“Because you keep cursing all the time,” Aubrey chided her, “and that’s what she picks up. You’re unbelievable.”
“And you think Beca or Amy will watch their language?” Stacie huffed, throwing her arms up as a sign of surrender. “They swear like sailors. Besides, I still believe that Amy despises children, so she's not gonna watch her mouth at all.”
“Why would you say that?”
Stacie shrugged. “She just doesn't give off that vibe that she likes kids,” she said, “and also, I know from the many times she told us how she hates kids. Remember all her stories?”
As Aubrey sighed heavily, she turned her gaze away from Stacie and onto the massive domicile that stretched out before them. An innate need to protect the little girl in her arms overwhelmed her. While the Tasmanian, a former mermaid dancer, had no intention of ever hurting Bella, Aubrey felt a surge of unease with the knowledge that some people had a problem with children.
Of course, not all people like children, and that's completely okay. It didn't mean that Fat Amy was a terrible person. That woman basically took it upon herself to parent her seven younger siblings, meaning she had to learn responsibility at an early age and never got to enjoy her childhood.
When the Bellas wanted to see photos of her siblings, Amy said that a wildfire had destroyed all her family photos. The fire also damaged their home, which was located on the edge of the woodland.
The fact that Fat Amy would somewhat alter the storyline with each new telling made the whole thing seem ridiculous and funny. Last time, she claimed that a kangaroo had stolen the only photo album that featured all of her five–not seven–siblings.
Stacie placed an arm over Aubrey’s shoulder, causing the latter to tense up again. “If you're worried they might not take the news well,” Stacie said, with compassion underlying her voice, “we can tell them when you’re ready, alright? So be it if it’s not today or tomorrow or during our entire stay here.”
Aubrey gave her a small nod of appreciation. “You’re the love of my life, you know that?”
Stacie winked at her. “I know.”
They walked together to the main door and rang the doorbell. After a few minutes of waiting, a rumbled sound, a yelp of pain, and a loud thud followed, then the lock was being removed from the latch.
Fat Amy greeted them, out of breath, dressed in a pink sweater and black jeans as expected, as if she wasn’t a millionaire. Beca and Chloe were right behind her, greeting them excitedly.
“BELLAS!” the rambunctious Tasmanian cried out, her arms held out for them. “Bloody Christ, look at you three! Like an actual lesbian family!”
Aubrey burst out into a forced, high-pitched fit that went on for almost a minute before regaining her composure. Everyone gave her a concerned glance.
Furrowing her brows, Fat Amy first hugged Stacie, who placed their luggage down and almost had her body snapped in half. Then she gave Aubrey a side hug and patted Bella’s back rather awkwardly.
“That's the same maggot from three years ago?” she asked Stacie and Aubrey. “Holy shit. She's grown.”
Bella shied away and hid her face in the crook of Aubrey’s neck.
“Ames, she's not a maggot,” Chloe chided, stepping forward to greet Aubrey and Stacie. “Just look at her cute curls.”
“Careful, Ginger!” Fat Amy warned, grimacing as she rubbed her side. “I may have a broken hip now.”
“God, what happened?” Aubrey asked. She hugged Chloe and kissed both of her cheeks while listening to Fat Amy's explanation.
“We made a bet on who gets to the door first,” Beca explained while rolling her eyes. “And Fat Amy tackled me.”
Aubrey grunted. “When will you girls ever grow up?”
She felt the little girl’s arms wrap around her tighter as she flinched. Aubrey cooed her while stroking the girl's back to comfort her.
“That's Bella?” Beca asked. “Hey, cricket. You may not remember us since it's been a year since we last saw you.”
“She’s a little shy because of so many people at once.”
“I feel yah, buddy,” Beca laughed awkwardly.
“Bella, honey, want to say hi to Fat Amy, Beca, and Chloe? Look.” The little girl peeked up and turned her head slowly.
“Hi…” Bella said quietly when she first looked from Aubrey to her mother, then the other three women. Chloe beamed the brightest, making Bella smile back at her. Her rosy cheeks turned redder as they entered the warm and toasty mansion.
Fat Amy rounded on Aubrey again. “Why's she so clingy to you? You, her new momma now?”
“She's a child, Amy!” Stacie rebuked her. “She'll eventually warm up to you, guys, too.”
“But she's not gonna call me momma, I'm sure.” She nudged Beca’s side, making them both giggle.
Fat Amy showed them around her new home and the guest rooms where they would stay over Christmas. And by the looks of it, Fat Amy—or her homeboys—had only just begun decorating the Christmas tree, as it was still pretty naked. Putting up the tree may have been Fat Amy's impromptu decision, given that a child was planned to stay over, Aubrey hopefully mused.
“Bells, honey,” Stacie spoke softly to her daughter, “I’m sure Bree’s getting tired from carrying you. C’mere, sweetie.” She held her hands out, but Bella let her head rest on Aubrey’s shoulder and rubbed the tiredness in her eyes.
“I’ll lay her down,” Aubrey suggested. “Could you get the portable crib from the car?”
“Let me carry the bags inside first, woman!” Stacie said with her chest protruding, imitating a caveman's low grunt.
Aubrey let out another awkward giggle, smacking the other woman's arm lightly.
As they ascended the stairs and excused themselves from the others, Aubrey could have sworn that their friends' dubious gazes lingered long after them.
*
CHLOE
“What in the name of Bejeezus was that?” Chloe incredulously asked while pacing the guest room that she and Beca were sharing.
The room was compact, furnished with long-lasting teak wood, and decorated in soft pastels and whites. Also, reading task lighting was provided by table lanterns placed next to the bed. Beca was lying face-down next to it, playing with the switch as her ocean-blue eyes sparkled.
Chloe was again reminded why she was in love with this woman, a child at heart who enjoyed small things and being happy with almost anything.
“Do you think they’re an item?” she asked Beca.
“Who?”
“The mailman and Fat Amy,” Chloe said sarcastically, “who do you think I mean?”
“Sorry, wasn’t paying attention,” Beca grumbled as she rubbed her tired eyes and rolled over on her back. “Oh, shit, I smudged my makeup. Fuck it.”
“They looked so close, Bec,” Chloe said excitedly, “and just look at Bella. She adores Bree. And that would mean that she’s spending a lot of time with Stacie and her daughter.”
“Or the scary witch is just good with kids,” Beca commented.
“Don’t be mean, you love Aubrey,” Chloe said and laid down beside her girlfriend, an arm draped over her stomach.
“Yeah, sometimes.” Beca received a smack on her thigh, making her yelp in pain. “Fuck, Chlo. That hurt.”
“And sometimes you love that,” Chloe teased, leaning down to kiss her girlfriend passionately.
*
STACIE
It was the day before Christmas Eve. After taking a rest from their trip, they drove down to Folly Beach in the afternoon, which featured floats, marching bands, and an Arts & Crafts Show at the Community Center. Unique gifts you won't find anywhere else could be found there, so Stacie picked some cute souvenirs for her parents and got a unique frame for a photo she had of Aubrey and Bella.
They headed down to Folly River Park after the parade to receive goodies from Santa.
Bella loved the day so much, taking short naps between the trips and glowing with excitement every time she woke up.
Much to Stacie's and Aubrey’s surprise, Fat Amy's behavior towards Bella was both worrisome but sweet at the same time. It was as if Fat Amy treated Bella like she was one of the older Bellas—like a best friend.
Aubrey had given up rebuking Fat Amy to watch her language, and Bella, having noticed that the adults stopped responding to the foul language, had also stopped repeating them. Fat Amy treated Bella like she was an equal, and not like she was a child. She squatted down to Bella's eye level whenever she was talking to her, and Bella always paid with great attention and awe.
The outdoor market Christkindlmarkt showcased handcrafted items from vendors around Europe and even Nepal, and the five former Bellas, along with little Bella, paid it a visit. From the biergarten, Beca and Chloe had eggnog, while Aubrey opted for alcohol-free beer, Stacie went for a cocktail, and Fat Amy drank local beer. They ordered hot chocolate for the child while sampling Glühwein (mulled wine) and appreciated the taste.
They decided to have some mouthwatering Southern food at an award-winning restaurant in Charleston, Fat Amy had taken them out to.
Conversely, Fat Amy's bonding moments and interactions with Bella radically contrasted with Chloe's. Like a kindergarten teacher, Chloe would break down complex concepts into simple terms.
Stacie had always held these two qualities in high regard: Aubrey, for example, could be a devoted friend and an educator to Bella, in addition to being a responsible mom who profoundly cared for her child.
“What’s vetinanny?” Bella asked Chloe from across the table, her voice soft and curious.
“A what?”
“A vetinanny,” Bella repeated slightly louder, her cheeks turning red. “Bwee sayed you're a vetinanny.”
Chloe smiled in awe at the cute term. “A veterinarian? Or short: a vet. Well, it's a doctor for animals, sweetie,” she explained in words the preschooler could understand. “Yes, I am, but I'm still a vet student. I get to treat them when they are sick.”
“And you get to pet them and play with them?” Bella inquired, looking shyly at Chloe.
“Yeah, sometimes I do that. But they are sometimes too shy or afraid of new people, so it’s normal if they don’t want to play.” Chloe cocked her head and smiled emphatically at Bella. “And that's fine, too. It's fine to be scared of new things.”
Eventually, Bella climbed down from Stacie’s lap and wobbled over to Chloe, looking up at her and wanting to sit on her lap. Chloe didn't hesitate to scoop her up, looking proudly as the small girl lost her shyness towards her.
“Fat Amy sayed we go to Aquarium and look at sea animals,” Bella said excitedly, “there are baby sharks and turtles and lots of jellyfish!”
“I've only been there once, but it was really cool,” Fat Amy said.
“Do we have to book the tickets online?” Aubrey asked her. She tapped her iPhone, which was lying in front of her on the table. With one finger, she punched the name of the Aquarium into her browser.
“Already got ‘em!” Fat Amy retrieved five tickets for the adults and one for Bella. “That's my only Christmas gift for you, pitches. So, no complaints.”
“Ames, that's so sweet,” Chloe swooned. She placed an arm around the other woman and pressed their cheeks together, cuddling her.
“Gross, now I got Shortstack’s juices all over my face!”
“AMY!”
Everybody gasped in shock; Chloe and Beca looked very flustered.
“What? She's literally drinking orange juice there, and you sipped from her cup. You know how orange juice isn’t for me!” Fat Amy clarified. “What's wrong with you pussies? Get your heads out of the gutter!”
Stacie exchanged a suspicious look with Aubrey, who gave her a slight shake of her head before she averted her gaze back to her iPhone on the table, scrolling through the Aquarium website.
“Y’know, cricket, what a wise vet once told me?” Beca said to Bella in a conspiratorial voice to change the topic quickly, “Keep your friends close and your anemones closer.”
Stacie thought about the joke her daughter didn't get and laughed as she compared Beca to the weird kid next door.
“Are you Beca’s mommy?” Bella asked Chloe instead, who giggled at the question.
“What? No, sweetie, Beca and I are… um…” She threw Beca a questioning look before she proceeded, “we’re friends. Like Fat Amy is our friend. Or your mommy and Bree.”
“Nuh-uh,” Fat Amy guffawed maniacally, “I’m not into that kind of ‘friendships’ you lezzies are into.”
The four other women only looked at the Tasmanian devil and tried to force out some awkward laughter.
“What’s lezzies?” Bella giggled, too, mimicking their amusement.
“It means…” Fat Amy started.
Aubrey coughed in her fist to draw Fat Amy's attention.
“Ask Aubrey, she’s an expert in that field.”
Bella’s bright green eyes snapped to Aubrey, a wide, expectant smile on her face. Aubrey gave Fat Amy a stern glare, then smiled at the little girl on Chloe's lap.
“It’s when two women love each other, honey. They spend time together a lot.”
“Oh, like you and mommy?” Bella asked as she sipped from her sippy cup, round eyes demanding confirmation.
Letting out a squeak, Aubrey’s face blanched. Stacie felt a kick against her leg below the table.
To do something!
Stacie shot up, picked Bella from Chloe's lap, and smooched her face repeatedly. “Hey, Bells, what do you think if we baked some cookies for Santa? How does that sound?” She sat back down with her, Bella on her lap.
“YAY! Can we make rainbow cookies?” Bella squealed.
“God, she really is your daughter,” somewhat amused, Fat Amy muttered into her beer glass.
“How can we make the cookies like a rainbow? Like yellow, and gween, and blue?” Bella inquired with genuine curiosity. She looked at Chloe again, pointing at her hair, “and red, like Chowee’s hair?”
“Well, we make the dough first,” Chloe gently and lovingly taught the small child about baking, “divide the dough in separate portions, and use food coloring, so we can dye.”
Bella let that sink in, her lower lip began to quiver as she looked back up at her mother. “B-But I don’t want to die.”
Stacie and her friends couldn't help but burst into gentle laughter, delighted by the toddler's innocence.
In the late afternoon, they went to the South Carolina Aquarium just as Fat Amy had promised–“Aquarium Aglow”–where they enjoyed the light show.
*
BECA
It was Christmas Eve. They didn't plan anything except to bake cookies for Santa around noon and finish decorating the Christmas tree together.
“Yesterday, that should’ve been our cue to tell them,” Beca told Chloe, who was wrapping Christmas presents at the last minute. She bought those additional gifts on their shopping spree at Folly Beach.
Beca pumped herself up in the bathroom, in front of the mirror, by performing mental shadow-boxing of some type. “We’ll tell them during dinner. It’s just Fat Amy, piece of cake. Easy-peasy. She’s been teasing us for years, and I’m pretty sure she already figured it out, anyway. I don’t worry much about Stacie, though. She’s cool ‘bout that. And well, Aubrey…” she trailed off, adding a small chuckle, “she can be a bit close-minded.”
“Did you say something, babe?” Chloe called over to her.
With a grumble, Beca rolled her eyes and walked back to her girlfriend, sitting behind her with her legs stretching on either side of Chloe. Leaning her chin on Chloe's shoulder and her arms encircling her waist, she repeated, “I said we’ll tell them during dinner.”
Chloe giggled as she leaned back into Beca’s arms. “Sounds like a plan,” she said. She cupped Beca’s face and kissed her.
“We still have time before dinner, though,” Beca said against Chloe’s lips, wagging her eyebrows suggestively.
“I have to help Aubrey cook, though.” Chloe leaned away from the kiss to adjust her position.
Beca pouted. “We can be quick.”
“You naughty girl!” Chloe surrendered.
As Beca carefully lowered her girlfriend to the floor, they couldn't help but giggle.
Unbeknownst to them, the door softly slid open as Chloe passionately returned the kiss, her arms wrapped around Beca's neck to draw her closer. Their moment of intimacy was interrupted by a gasp from the doorway, causing both Beca and Chloe to break apart quickly.
“Oof!” a soft voice came from the door, followed by a thud when the door closed again.
Beca’s gaze shot to the door. She extracted herself from her girlfriend, stood up and walked to the door.
“Oh, God! What was that?”
“Shit, I think Bella saw us!” Beca said in a panic.
“What?”
“I heard her. She came in.”
Chloe fixed her shirt and sat upright, her eyes moving from the door back to Beca as if not believing her. She got up and went to see for herself. “Are you sure?”
“Y-Yeah, I’m sure it was Bella! Who else?” Beca opened the door carefully and looked down the empty hallway.
Chloe stood behind her, peeking outside, too. “Is she even big enough to reach the doorknob?”
“She’s Stacie’s daughter,” Beca remarked gruffly, closing the door again, “she’s big for her age. Oh, my God! What if she tells her mom?”
“So? It’s going to be okay,” Chloe said soothingly, trying to calm Beca's nerves. With a dismissive sigh and a vain attempt to reassure Beca, she reached out to her flapping arms. “What do you even think she’ll tell her?”
“I don’t know, Chlo! She’s a preschooler; what could she have possibly seen?” Beca panicked. In frustration, she ran her hands through her hair, leaning against the closed door. Even if she’d made up her mind to tell their friends finally, she didn’t want a three-year-old to spill the beans for them. “Oh, my God! She’ll tell Stacie. And Stacie will tell Aubrey. And Amy will be pissed because we didn’t tell her. And the rest of the girls will never forgive us!”
“Do you think they’d believe a three-year-old?” Chloe smirked; she seemed more composed about the situation than Beca was. “Maybe she thought we were only talking. Who knows?”
Beca swiped her hand over her face. “Talking? With our mouths glued to each other? Shit. I’m gonna puke.”
“Thanks, babe.” Chloe rolled her eyes at her. “Loving that romantic side of you!”
*
AUBREY
“Maybe we should wait.” Aubrey paced up and down the room, her mind scattered, “or… get it out and over with… No, wait, we’ll wait. It’s too early to tell them.”
“Bree, please!” Stacie mumbled as she covered her face with a pillow. She was lying on the bed. “We don’t have to tell them yet!
“Where’s Bella?”
Stacie removed the pillow from her head and looked around the room. “She was playing on the floor with her toys a moment ago, then went outside. But I heard Fat Amy talking to her a minute ago. Let me check.” She got up and walked to the door. “BELLA, SWEETIE? YOU THERE?”
“DON’T WORRY!” Fat Amy called from somewhere on the lower floor. “SHE’S WITH ME. I’M TEACHING HER TO CARVE SO SHE DOES IT LATER WITH THE TURKEY.”
“AMY! YOU’RE NOT SERIOUSLY LETTING MY DAUGHTER USE A SHARP KNIFE, DO YOU?” Stacie let out a groan, shaking her head.
“Uh… NO?”
“WE’LL BE DOWNSTAIRS IN A MINUTE!” Aubrey called back, exchanging a concerned look with Stacie.
Stacie returned to Aubrey, taking her in her arms and kissing her. “You worry too much about nothing.”
“Stacie, this is stressing me out. It feels like we’re lying to them.”
“But you’re not ready yet. And I can wait.”
“Okay, I know. I’m so sorry.” Aubrey let out a sigh. “You know what, we’ll tell them during dinner. Final decision.”
“Final decision?”
With a smile on her face, Aubrey stroked her belly. Looking up again, she nodded.
“Final decision!”
*
CHLOE
Chloe was about to head downstairs to start preparing dinner with the girls, collecting the presents she’d finished wrapping to carry and place them by the Christmas tree.
Fat Amy had told them she’d be giving her homeboys a day off over Christmas; after all, her girlfriends would be coming over, and “they’d be thrilled to cook.” That was rather thoughtful of their former roommate, had it not been for her follow-up comment that she’d be saving a few dollars that way.
Fat Amy texted them in the group chat, ‘Emergency meeting!’
“What could she possibly want?” Chloe asked Beca, who was right behind her.
“God, I bet Bella told her.”
It was dark downstairs.
The ceiling light in the living room had been switched off. Aside from the spruce Christmas tree, which was illuminated with lights and sparkly decorations and featured a brilliant star atop. It threw a warm glow in the vast living room.
Candles were placed on the window sill and tables, adding warm light to the atmosphere. Charming kangaroo ornaments draped from the magnificent tree, which held a joey in its pocket. A tree skirt adorned the ground with a pattern of snowflakes in a royal blue shade. A vintage train chugged around the edge of the tree skirt, passing by some medium-sized square boxes encased in golden wrapping paper.
“Hey guys!” Stacie greeted them from the bottom of the stairs. Aubrey beside her. “Have you seen Bella?”
“No,” Chloe said, looking around her, “didn’t Ames say she was looking after Bella a while ago?”
“Yeah, but even she is nowhere,” Aubrey said. “And why is it so dark? AMY? WHERE ARE YOU?”
“Is this a blackout?” Beca inquired, trying to switch on the ceiling lights, but it remained dark. From the far back of the living room, the fire fizzed and spat.
“Then the Christmas lights wouldn’t be working,” Aubrey argued, “unless they are battery-operated.”
“Why would Amy turn off all the lights, then?” Chloe wondered out loud. She looked out the front door; the world outside was silent, still and deadly. Their friend’s limousine stood in the carport. “Her car is outside.”
They each looked in every room on the first floor, calling for their friend, who seemed to have disappeared. What freaked Stacie out the most was that she couldn’t find her daughter.
“BELLA?” she called out. “BELLA? WHERE ARE YOU?”
“I’m calling her phone!” Aubrey told them, her pale features gleaming in the nearby candlelight.
A music ringtone went off from Fat Amy’s study room—the only room they hadn’t checked yet. The four women ran quickly in that direction and opened the door.
It was dimly lit in there, too, save for the desk lamp illuminating the room or, most specifically, illuminating the massive office chair at the center. Tucked up in a corner was another Christmas tree, smaller than the one in the living room. Standing tall and majestic with its beautifully snow-dusted limbs.
“I see you found us,” said the familiar voice from the office chair.
The chair swiveled around, very dramatically slow, revealing their blonde-haired friend, who was dressed differently than usual. Her attire consisted of a trimmed velvet dress with a decorative apron and a mistletoe decorated headband, black boots and jewelry—Fat Amy was dressed as Mrs. Claus.
On her lap, Bella Conrad matched Amy’s festive outfit. She wore a charming verdant cap and a tunic, a red-and-white striped jumpsuit beneath, and pointy elf shoes as she played the duty of Santa's Little Helper.
Amy must have dressed her. The whole scene was whimsical and silly, but the four women were awed by the sight. It seemed like the two had something in store for everyone present in the room.
“Amy, what the heck?” Aubrey spoke first, her initial concern overtaking her. “We were looking for you everywhere! God!”
“What’s Bella wearing?” Stacie asked, trying to step closer to have a better look. “Where did she get that?”
“My name is not Bella, mommy,” the girl said grimly, at least she tried. “I’m Fat Bella.”
“Oh, okay?” Stacie said, smirking. “Fat Bella. Look how cute you are.”
Aubrey raised a brow, seemingly awaiting what their friend and the little girl had in store for them. Beca hid a chuckle behind her hand because she was used to this—she’d been through something similar. Chloe found the whole scene and the little girl's outfit just too adorable and merely stood there in awed silence.
“Damn right, kiddo! She’s Santa's Little Helper,” said Amy, then she turned to the other women again, a warning in her voice. “Stay where you are!” She sneered at each of them. “You lying pieces of… shizzles, stay where you are.”
Bella wiggled on Fat Amy's lap as she watched the four women curiously, trying to look as serious as a three-year-old could muster.
“Yeah, stay where you are!” Bella told them, pointing a finger at them. But she was more or less trying to shape a finger gun at them. “Pea shizzles!” she giggled, covering her mouth with her small hands.
Fat Amy high-fived the girl before she said in a serious tone to her friends, “I heard through the grapevine that some people in this house haven’t been quite honest with me.” Her lips were pursed, eyebrows drawn together, and her voice had a heavy undercurrent of disappointment as she spoke.
Chloe exchanged a look with Beca, while Aubrey and Stacie did the same.
“In what sense?” Beca asked first.
“You tell me, shortstack,” Fat Amy said, “we’ve been best friends for so many years now. I’ve never lied to you and–”
“I don’t fully agree, but okay…” Beca mumbled.
Again, Amy held up a hand to shush her. “You shut your pie hole… it’s our turn to speak, right Fat Bells?”
“Yeah!” Bella agreed.
“My little buddy here shared something very interesting to me. And I’m shook!” Amy gasped, clasping her chest dramatically. “I… I feel betrayed. You lying pieces of Skittles! I thought we were friends.”
“Amy, we can explain,” Aubrey and Chloe said in unison. Chloe's perplexed expression was mirrored in Aubrey’s face as they both patiently waited for the other to continue speaking. “After you?” Chloe said, giving her friend an uncertain smile.
“N-No, after you, Chloe.” Aubrey offered, presenting a half-smile.
“Oh, God!” Stacie whispered.
Beca sighed and stepped forward. “I think I may know what you know,” she said, looking all confident at first until her features deflated when she looked over to Aubrey and Stacie, who looked expectantly at her, “alright. B-Bella saw us, um, me and Chloe. W-We’re kind of… together, guys,” she stuttered, then dropped her head.
“God, and what exactly did my daughter see?” Stacie asked in shock.
Chloe wrapped an arm around Beca’s waist, kissing her cheek.
“She saw us… kissing, nothing more,” Beca told her, chuckling nervously.
Silence followed this awkward confession.
Fat Amy groaned and rolled her eyes. “Ugh. So?”
“Congratulations, guys, that’s exciting news!” Aubrey spluttered, folding her hands together in front of her. “Anyone hungry?”
“I am!” Stacie clapped and extended her arms for her daughter. “You coming, Bells? I mean… Fat Bella?”
Bella looked at Fat Amy, who shook her head. Bella mimicked the gesture.
“Wait, you guys aren’t surprised?” Chloe asked the group. She didn’t expect this reaction, especially not from Aubrey, who rather seemed evasive. “Bree? You aren’t mad?”
“Why would I be mad?” Aubrey dug her fists into her hips, looking affronted. “I’m happy for you. I kind of knew it, to be honest.”
“Really? How?” Beca asked, taken aback.
“I thought it was obvious.” Aubrey shrugged, giving them a scrutinizing look. “You seem happy. Different, but happy.”
“Bloody Christ, those two have been together since college without being aware of it, screw that!” Fat Amy exclaimed, her arms thrown in the air.
“No, we weren’t. And what?” Beca laughed, all nervous and fidgety. “We’ve only been dating for two months.”
“That’s when you guys started fu–” Amy started but was cut off by Aubrey, who gave a non-verbal warning.
“–What?” Amy groaned irritably, “I was gonna say ‘fucking’.”
Aubrey pinched the bridge of her nose.
Chloe placed a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder, making her look at her. “I thought you’d be mad, Bree, because we kept this a secret from you guys. Beca and I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“I’m surprised you didn't tell me sooner, but not mad, silly,” Aubrey told her earnestly. “Now, let’s all start with cooking dinner.”
“Yeah,” Stacie agreed.
“Hold. On. Tight. Miss Sneaky Pants!” Fat Amy exclaimed. “Why in such a hurry, hey?”
Turning on her heels, Aubrey stiffened. Stacie crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the bookshelf behind her. “Oh, dear Lord,” she mumbled.
“What about your confession?” Amy demanded the corner of her lips turned up.
“N-Nothing!” Aubrey looked beseechingly to Stacie, who shook her head slowly, mouthing something to her only Aubrey could understand. It didn’t suit the proud, very confident former Bella captain to be so nervous about a confession she was being accused of.
“Bwee is my new mama!” Bella said, followed by her tiny hands clasping over her mouth.
“WHAT??!”
Chloe, Beca, and even Fat Amy, who always caught on to anything—looked taken aback.
Stacie went to her daughter and scooped her up. “Who told you that, sweetie?”
“Aww,” Aubrey cooed, her eyes turning glassy. “My sweet girl.” She walked to Bella, cradled in her mother’s arms to brush her face and kiss each of her cherub cheeks.
“What did she mean?” Beca asked. Now, it was her turn to cross her arms and look confused.
“Are you guys… together?” Chloe tried to catch Aubrey’s eyes, but the woman merely turned away, dropping her gaze to the floor. “Bree?”
“Aubrey and Stacie? No way?!” Beca gasped.
“Guys,” Fat Amy chimed in, “she meant the two got secretly married, and they never told us. They didn't invite any of us.”
Once again, the room resounded with a collective gasp, albeit this time, the sounds varied in intensity and meaning.
“What?” Aubrey shrieked, facing Fat Amy with a reddened face. “How did you know?”
“Ugh,” Fat Amy spoke slowly with a nonchalant shrug, as if the reason was so obvious except to the ones present in the room, “because you’re expecting? You look a bit puffy, honey lemon.”
“WHAT??!” Beca’s and Chloe's jaws dropped.
“Amy! For God’s sake!” Stacie exclaimed. “How on earth…?”
Aubrey covered her face with her hands. In the dimly lit room, she looked paler than usual.
“You guys didn’t know?” Amy leaned back.
“You got all that from a three-year-old preschooler?” Beca asked her former roommate, flabbergasted and shaken to the core about the turn of events.
“Seriously, Beca?” Fat Amy retorted.
“That… can’t be true, can it, Bree?” Chloe asked in the suddenly quiet room. The only voice that filled the air was the sweet, innocent voice of a child.
“Bwee and mommy make kissy all the time,” Bella commented gleefully.
“Honey pie, psshh!” Stacie hushed her daughter.
Aubrey recovered from the mortification she was put through. Squaring her shoulders, she said, “Yes, Stacie and I are… we’re together. We’re… married.”
“Oh God!” Chloe gasped again. She reached for Beca’s forearm, squeezing it. “Why didn’t we know? How… when…?
“It’s a long story,” Stacie told her, then looked empathetically at Aubrey, “you sure ‘bout this?”
“Oh, fiddlestick, yeah!” A long sigh from the tall blonde. “I, uh…” Aubrey looked at Bella, who seemed distracted by the bells on her pointy shoes, so she said quickly, “…am pregnant,” averting her eyes from everyone again as she cradled her still flat abdomen.
“You have a bun in the oven?” Beca exclaimed in shock.
“I found out over Thanksgiving. Everything happened so fast; I freaked out and didn’t know what to do. Then, Stacie proposed we could raise the baby together; Bella could have a little brother or sister. I was delighted and hormonal, and before we both knew it, we got married.”
“Without us?” Chloe cried, unsure how to feel about this.
“It went so fast, Chloe; I’m so sorry,” Aubrey said apologetically.
“I’m your best friend! And your longest best friend! I mean, congratulations and all,” Chloe argued, “but how could you guys get married without letting us know and how so fast?”
“We got a marriage license online, alright?” Aubrey blurted out. “Oh, God!” She bit her knuckles and began pacing the room to hide her embarrassment.
“Online? Is that even legal?” Beca asked.
“Chloe, Beca,” Stacie said, shifting her weight on her other foot as she squeezed Aubrey’s—her wife’s—hand, “you’re one to talk. You guys have been dating without telling us, too.”
“But that’s literally nothing compared to what you guys have been keeping from us!” Chloe snapped, bewildered at the accusation.
“Thanks, dude!” Beca groaned.
“Sorry, babe,” Chloe rectified quickly, “you know what I mean. Aubrey’s pregnant. They got married. And she’s adopting Bella! All we kept from them was that we’ve been dating for two frickin’ months! Did-Did you get married because you're pregnant or because you're in love with each other?”
Aubrey and Stacie exchanged a look that didn't require any further explanation.
Bella gasped, her round eyes wide. “What’s pweg-nant, mommy?”
“It means, Aubrey has a baby in her tummy,” Fat Amy answered for her.
The little girl gasped again, looking a little concerned at Aubrey. “Did you ate the baby?”
“No, I did not eat it, honey,” Aubrey told the girl, amused about the question. She looked at each of them. “Girls, this may be a topic we better not discuss in front of a child.”
“But how did it get in your tummy?”
An awkward silence filled the room.
“Ames, how did you know all this?” Beca asked.
“Our Captain has been using the bathroom so frequently that I actually considered charging her with the bills,” Fat Amy explained. “And c’mon, there’s a print of a missing wedding band on Aubre's ring finger while Stacie's wearing hers as a necklace.” She sneered, her features turning soft. “But what gave it away was how Aubrey treated Bella. Like a true, loving mom treats her child. Not that I know for sure since my mom died way too soon but…”
Overwhelmed with emotions, Aubrey began to cry. She walked to Amy on the office chair and flung her arms around her.
“No, Posen! Spare me with your hormones!” Fat Amy protested.
Chloe walked to her two friends and hugged them, too.
“Congrats, you guys! I love you both so much!” Chloe sobbed.
“Thanks,” Stacie said, looking smug.
“But who’s the father?” Beca asked.
Chloe turned behind her, then looked back at Aubrey, who withdrew slightly from the group hug.
“Well,” Aubrey stammered. She turned her head over her shoulder, looking at Beca, “I may have attended the Treblemaker’s reunion party a few months ago and may or may not have unprotected… s.e.x.”
“You naughty bitch, you got knocked up by some random bloke?!” Fat Amy uttered.
Aubrey dropped her head in shame. “All I wanted was to let loose and have some fun for once. And there was that guy Stacie and I both liked…”
“No way!” Chloe gasped.
Fat Amy blinked rapidly once the meaning of it dawned to her. “You mean to say, ‘three-way’!” she guffawed.
“I don't get it!” Beca said, confused.
“She and Stacie had a ménage à trois at a Trebles’ reunion party, Beca, what's there not to get?” Fat Amy explained with a groan. “So that's what Bumper meant with ‘Alex was the lucky bastard that got a freesome.’ His cousin. Aww… we're going to be a huge family, pitches!”
“A what?” Chloe giggled.
“A freesome, ginger,” Fat Amy said, “when two women…”
“Amy, don't…” Stacie tutted, adjusting her daughter in her arms.
“Wait a second… Alex is your fiance’s cousin?” Aubrey drew in another gasp of air, shell-shocked and all.
“Well, his 1st cousin once removed, but still.” Amy examined the other couple, cocking her head to the side. “Alex moved back to England. Does he know he got you knocked up?”
“He doesn't,” Stacie answered on her wife's behalf. “But now that we know who the baby-daddy is, we might get in touch with him now. What do you think?”
Aubrey shrugged. “I don't care, to be honest. He has the right to know, sure. But we don't need his financial support or anything.”
“He's broke and a total douche, so don't bother.” Fat Amy checked her phone and informed the girls that Bumper was on his way home from his business trip.
“Guys, we should start cooking,” Stacie suggested to soothe the tension in the air as she set her daughter down and took her hand. “The turkey must be almost done. Are you excited for Christmas tomorrow, baby?” she asked her daughter.
“Yay, Chwiss-mas!” Bella squealed.
“Ames,” Beca said, turning behind her to their Tasmanian friend, “what's the costumes even for?”
“Oh, this,” Fat Amy gestured down her body, “Just wanted to… claus a scene. Got it? Anyway, let's hurry the fuck up. Because Santa Claus is coming tonight if you know what I mean.”
Bella cheered again!
Ende.