Iām so glad you liked seeing a bit of a Fat Amy backstory in the last chapter (and how it was used to help Beca) š
Just one chapter to go after this then weāre into Christmas fic territory š
Bechloe - 24hrs (part 38)
Becaās mindful, as she takes slow steps up to the front door of Chloeās parentsā house, that this is a really big moment for Chloe. That once they enter through that door, Chloeās life is going to change again. And this time not for the better.
Itās been four weeks since they started dating. Three weeks since Beca quit her job. Three weeks since she started her new job (of which is loves). Three weeks since Amy had worked out that Beca and Chloe had started dating. Three weeks since The Bellas had (of course) found out. Everythingās felt as though Beca and Chloe have been trapped in this perfect dreamy bubble. A bubble that, now theyāre at Chloeās familyās home, is close to bursting.
Because once through this door and into this house, Chloeās going to see her mother. And neither she or Beca know the true extent of how bad Mrs Bealeās dementia has become. But theyāll find out very soon.
āIām here.ā is all Beca finds herself mumbling, her fingers briefly wrapping around Chloeās wrist to give it a supportive squeeze before snapping her hand away just as the door clunks open. Chloeās been freakishly quiet the entire journey down here. But Beca knows her girlfriend. She knows this is Chloeās method of trying to prepare herself mentally. She knows that Chloe knows that Mrs Beale is still deteriorating. And from what Chloeās Dad has said, the woman is deteriorating faster than before.
āHeyyy girls.ā Mr Beale welcomes in a calm voice, a tired smile on his face as Chloe steps up to him to give him a big hug. Beca feels a tightness in her chest as the man squeezes his eyes closed, clearly relishing in a hug heās needed for weeks. The relationship Chloe has with her father is one that she low-key wishes she has with her own. Thereās a warmth between them that Beca just knows she could never recreate with her father. And thereās an acceptance too, to a certain extent, between Chloe and Mr Beale. Mr Beale accepts that his daughter wants to live away and eventually become a vet. Accepts that anything is possible if his daughter works hard enough for it. On the flip-side however, itās unlikely his acceptance would stretch as far as welcoming the news that his only child is in a gay relationship. Which is why Beca refrained from holding Chloeās hand on the doorstep.
āBeca, thanks so much for driving her down.ā she hears her āfather in lawā (not that he knows that he is) say to her, while Chloe unpeels herself from her fatherās embrace. Beca offers him a small polite smile. She would move heaven and earth for his daughter, but sadly she will probably never be able to tell him this.
āOf course.ā she responds, bringing her hand to the back of her head to scratch it awkwardly. Itās only been four weeks, but already sheās not used to going somewhere with Chloe and not being able to stand close to her. Not that her girlfriendās asked her to keep away per say. But, as always, theyāve shared an unspoken agreement that while they love each other and theyāre committed to each other, they canāt let Chloeās father work out that theyāre in a romantic relationship.
.
āCome in come in.ā Mr Beale beckons, taking a step back and motioning for the two young women to enter the house. Beca and Chloe do so, Beca swallowing loudly once the front door is closed behind her. To say sheās nervous is an understatement.
āCome in come in.ā Mr Beale beckons, taking a step back and motioning for the two young women to enter the house. Beca and Chloe do so, Beca swallowing loudly once the front door is closed behind her. To say sheās nervous is an understatement.
āCome in come in.ā Mr Beale beckons, taking a step back and motioning for the two young women to enter the house. Beca and Chloe do so, Beca swallowing loudly once the front door is closed behind her. To say sheās nervous is an understatement.
āCome in come in.ā Mr Beale beckons, taking a step back and motioning for the two young women to enter the house. Beca and Chloe do so, Beca swallowing loudly once the front door is closed behind her. To say sheās nervous is an understatement.
The last time she was here was around two years ago. Helping Chloe pack for the move up to Brooklyn. And Beca remembers Chloeās mother being so kind, chatting to her while Chloe made decisions on what to pack and what to leave back home. It had been a really nice couple of days.
The Mrs Beale back then had been sprightly and full of life. Warm and caring. Kind, with an endearing mischievous side to her too. The Mrs Beale now, howeverā¦ Becaās not too sure if she feels comfortable seeing Chloeās mother if the womanās mental capacity has deteriorated as much as theyāve been told it has.
āSo uhā¦ā Chloeās father pauses, letting out a heavy sigh, and Beca keeps her eyes focussed on her girlfriend. Chloeās staring at the staircase, clearly aware that climbing them will take her to her mother. Or at least the woman sheād once known as her mother.
āā¦did you want to go see her?ā Patrick Beale asks, and Beca notices the way Chloeās throat contracts with a loud swallow. After a moments hesitation, the young redhead nods slightly. And Beca letās out a heavy exhale through her nose.
āāā
Chloe feels her breath held in her throat, her heart thumping away while she stands anxiously outside the door of her motherās ārecreational roomā. Her father stepped inside moments ago, with the intention of preparing the older woman for āguestsā. Heās never had to do this before when sheās visited. So already this whole situation feels different. Uncomfortable. Scary.
Again she feels Beca gently taking her wrist, squeezing it softly, as if relaying to her that sheās present if needed. And Chloe couldnāt be more grateful. Her girlfriend is the best.
The sound of her fatherās footsteps approaching on the other side of the closed door sets Chloeās nerves alight, a feeling thatās not helped by Beca immediately letting go of her. She knows itās because her father doesnāt know about their romantic relationship. Sheās somewhat terrified about how heāll react when she eventually tells him. But thatās not something at the forefront of her mind right now.
The doorknob is twisted and her father is soon revealed. Again, Chloe keeps her breath tucked into her lungs while she peers past him and into the room. There, sat in an armchair by the window, is her mother. Looking frailer than Chloeās ever seen her mother look before.
She knows her fatherās struggled to get her mother to eat over the past few days. Apparently it can occasionally be common with those suffering with dementia. It doesnāt make it any easier to come to terms with though.
Her mother looks pale, with a distant expression on her face as she looks out the window. And Chloe feels an urge to launch herself into the room and into her motherās arms. She desperately wishes her mother would hold her like she used to. That sheād at least recognise her. But she knows thatāll never happen.
āBeth, theyāre coming in now.ā Chloe hears her father say, and she swallows loudly while taking a few slow steps into the room. Her heart is thumping at a rate of none, her mouth going dry as she hears her father quietly close the door - closing them in the room to give them some privacy. Despite her nerves however, the presence of her girlfriend following directly behind her gives her strength.
Beth Beale turns to look at the guests, her eyes meeting Chloeās. And Chloeās struck by how dim those eyes now look. No longer the bright tropical blue theyād once been. Itās as though her motherās eyes look lifeless. Hopeless. Empty. Lost.
āAre you hear to wash me?ā the woman asks with a low and unimpressed tone. Each word feels like a punch to Chloeās gut. Itās spoken with such little affection that Chloe feels as though her motherās becoming unrecognisable. Like a whole different person. And Chloe finds herself coming to a realisation that sheās never going to get her mother back. A realisation that brings tears to Chloeās own eyes.
āWould you like me to wash you?ā Chloe eventually finds herself replying, wishing her voice hadnāt broken mid-way through the sentence. Because sheāll do it, sheāll totally wash her mother and clean her hair if itās what the woman would like. Anything to be close to her. Anything to be able to care for her.
Itās at this point she feels Beca step closer to her. Step up to her side. Itās at this point she feels Becaās index finger hook her pinky finger, a subtle message of solidarity. And itās at this point that Chloe suddenly sees her motherās face shift. Bethās eyes twinkle ever so slightly, and Chloe finds her breath hitching in her throat.
āBeca!ā Beth Beale bursts, and the hugest smile spreads across her face. Chloeās mouth drops open in shock, her heart still pounding as she sees her motherās entire demeanour almost change in an instant. Her motherā¦recognises Beca??
She turns to look at her girlfriend who is equally stunned. Becaās eyes are wide, her mouth hanging open. And Chloe notes the way her neck contracts with a swallow.
āUmā¦hi Mrs Beale.ā Beca manages to reply slowly, cautiously. Her eyes flicker momentarily over to Chloeās, and Chloeās heart (which had once felt so broken upon arriving here) begins to soar. If her mother remembers Beca then perhaps thereās a chance she can remember her too. Somewhere deep in her memory.
āOh look at you.ā Beth cooes, reaching her hands out to beckon Beca over to the chair positioned directly beside her own armchair. Chloe sees her girlfriend hesitate. Feels her girlfriend hesitate. But she knows Beca neednāt worry. This is a good thing. It has to be.
So she gives Beca a tiny nod and a flicker of a tiny smile. Then she watches as her girlfriend takes a deep breath and cautiously approaches the older woman. Beth takes both of Becaās hands in her own, her smile broad and her expression warm - just as it always had been before sheād fallen ill. And Chloe takes the time just to remain in one place and watch on in awe while her girlfriend takes a seat beside her mother.
āHowās my daughter?ā is the first thing to come falling from Bethās mouth. Chloe feels her stomach sink. Her motherās words are a stark reminder that the woman doesnāt recognise her anymore, and it kills her a bit inside.
āSheās okay, Mrs Beale.ā Beca replies cautiously, glancing fleetingly at Chloe, obviously uncomfortable with having to refer to her girlfriend as though she wasnāt in the room.
āPlease, call me Beth.ā Chloe hears her mother insist, and the kindness to her motherās tone causes a warmth to radiate gently across Chloeās body. This is the woman she remembers. Not entirely physically. But her personality, absolutely. This was her to a tee. Kind, gentle, welcoming.
āBeth.ā Beca replies, looking back at the older woman and pausing to clear her throat, āRight.ā
Chloe knows that her girlfriendās met her mother on several occasions in the past. And during all of those occasions, at no point had Beca been in a relationship with Chloe. A strong friendship, yes. But the romance they share now is still fresh and new and exciting. Andā¦scary. At least, scary while theyāre both here. Because theyāre having to act as though they arenāt in a relationship and that they arenāt in love and they canāt let anyone figure out the truth. Who knows how Chloeās father will one day react.
āSo my baby girlās okay.ā Beth checks, āAnd sheās still happy living in New York with you?ā
āSheās really happy!ā Chloe finds herself bursting, desperate to tell her mother how safe and happy she is. But the sound of her voice appears to make her mother jump, and Bethās head turns suddenly, her eyes snapping over at her, her smile having dropped in an instant. Chloe can tell her mother still doesnāt recognise her. In fact, itās quite possible that her mother hadnāt even realised she was still in the room. Chloe shifts uncomfortably on the spot.
āSheās happy, Beth.ā Beca offers in a calm voice, and Chloe notices the way her girlfriend gently squeezes her motherās hands to regain her attention. It appears to do the trick, and Beth Bealeās face relaxes, a broad smile (this time of relief) spreading once again while she turns to look back at the young brunette.
āWell of course she is.ā Beth replies, āAnd youāre taking care of her like you promised me you would?ā
Chloeās heart leaps into her throat. Beca had promised her mother sheād take care of her? When? And in what context? Obviously not a sinister one. But likeā¦in a romantic way? One day? Maybe?
āIām trying to.ā Chloe hears her girlfriend reply. Sheās tempted to speak again, this time to assure her girlfriend that she absolutely is still taking care of her. Even more-so now theyāre in a romantic relationship. But she refrains, and instead waits with baited breath in case her mother inadvertently reveals anything more.
āI know I shouldnāt be telling you this,ā Beth begins, and she gently tugs at Becaās hands, leaning towards her as if ready to share a secret, ābut Chloe has feelings for you. Romantic feelings.ā
Several things happen all at once. First Chloe find her heart skips a beat. Then a soft smile sweeps onto her face. She notes the way Becaās cheeks flush a light crimson colour, the womanās eyes flitting over to her own momentarily while Beth leans back. And after a beat, a calm smile settles on Becaās face as she resumes her focus on Chloeās mother.
āI have romantic feelings for her too.ā
Chloeās heart thumps against her chest again, this time in excitement. And her smile broadens as she sees and hears her mother let out a squeal of delight.
āOh you have to tell her, Beca.ā Beth bursts, āYou make her so happy. Being with you makes her so happy. And seeing her happy makes me happy too.ā
Tears begin to build in Chloeās eyes as she watches her girlfriend peer over at her with a relaxed smile on her face. And she finds herself being able to read Becaās mind. She makes Beca happy too. She knows she does. In a way, this interaction is a step towards The Bealeās accepting them as a romantic couple. And it fills Chloeās heart with a light flurry of hope. Perhaps her father wonāt react to things as badly as they expect him toā¦
C, 1, 4, E, 5, 7, 8 (Apple Cider only for the drinks and not the hard stuff because I don't drink alcoholic beverages and absolutely do not like pumpkin spice lattes). I'm all about warm comforting foods when it comes to Fall.
Tagging @anotherbechloeshipper, @softforgays, @rejection-isnt-failure, @chakram12
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