A/N - Honestly, I don't know what this is and I'm not sure if it'll go into a story at all or remain a Fic Tease for life.
This iteration of it is currently set 6 months before Nowish. Could change. Still not sure if i like it.
Oh, it's also fully unbeta'd, so none of this is @tiny-maus-boots fault.
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~A~
Saturday, September 24, 2016
“Never have I ever… had sex in the auditorium.”
Turning from Stacie’s wickedly pleased grin, Aubrey watched, absolutely fascinated, as Beca’s expression went perfectly still, her smile dropping away and taking all the color in her face with it. Then Chloe gave a hum of pure satisfaction, taking a drink of her wine as Beca’s cheeks flared in a very impressive blush.
The four of them were celebrating Beca’s 23rd birthday – albeit a few days late. Aubrey had made Beca’s favorite dinner, Chloe had taken care of dessert and now they were lounging on the sectional couch in the Posen-Conrad living room.
Beca steadfastly refused to look at anyone as she drained the glass Stacie had just filled. Clearly pleased with herself, Stacie picked up the bottle and filled it again before settling back on the couch next to Aubrey.
“You did what in the auditorium?” Aubrey didn’t know if she was scandalized or amused. “That’s – you…” A mix of both, she decided, unable to stop smiling at Beca’s obvious discomfort. But really, the auditorium?
“Don’t give me the ‘It’s a sacred Bella space’ speech, Bree.” Beca rolled her eyes and looked up, ignoring the blush still high on her cheeks. “It’s just a room on a college campus with a bunch of horny young adults.”
Aubrey blinked – that had been exactly what she’d been about to say out of pure reflex, but it surprised her that Beca knew her well enough to anticipate it.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Becs.” Chloe bumped their shoulders together. “I’m sure countless generations have snuck in there for the same purpose.”
“Ew.” Beca’s face twisted. “Why would you say that?”
“You’re the one who said it, Beca.” Stacie topped off the rest of their glasses and shook the bottle. “Going to need another, I’ll be back.”
“Doesn’t mean I thought it through.” Beca shuddered as Stacie went into the kitchen. “Now I need a shower.”
“Need a hand?” Chloe blinked wide innocent blue eyes when Beca just arched a brow at her.
“Wait.” Aubrey looked over at her wife when she came back in the room. “How do you know about it and I don’t?”
“Chloe’s got great volume.” Stacie set the bottle on the table to let it breathe a little. Beca groaned and grabbed one of the throw pillows and tried to smother herself. To Aubrey’s shock, even Chloe started to blush through her grin. “I happened to be outside.”
“Pure chance. Mmhmm, right.” Aubrey looked at the three of them. “There’s more to this story, isn’t there?”
“No!” Beca’s yell was muffled from behind the pillow. “I am not drunk enough for this conversation.” She let the pillow fall to her lap. “I will never be drunk enough for this conversation.”
It was a testimony to how much she trusted the other three that not once did Aubrey become worried that she wasn’t in on the joke. While Past Aubrey and her insecurities weren’t entirely gone, she trusted the women in this room with her life and knew they would never keep anything from her with any malicious intent.
Besides, she knew eventually one of them would spill the details, they always did.
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This definitely came about purely from "You did what in the auditorium?!" popping into my head yesterday before bed. Not quite the direction I saw it going once I had it down, but thought I'd throw it out anyway.
A very overdue second chapter of random glimpses into the lives of my favorite girls.
This was meant to be a short, fade to black ficlet while I tried to remember how to do this words thing. Close enough.
Thank you to everyone who has ever left me a comment on AO3 (I owe so many responses over the last 3 years) or sent me a message on Tumblr, encouraging me to continue after all this time. I’m really hoping to finish a few things next year as I still owe everyone a Staubrey origin and cliffhanger reveal.
For @tiny-maus-boots and @kimmania. I honestly don’t know if I’d be here without your unending support and encouragement in life as well as writing.
And for Rylee, who somehow convinced-slash-hoodwinked me into thinking about the Mitchsen chapter, which in turn reminded me I needed to get this one done first.
Words: 3600ish (aka the 2nd shortest thing I've ever written.)
Rating: Mature/Explicit
Chapter 1 (and the whole Nowish Universe) on AO3
Master Post for Tumblr
And just because, the Spotify playlist that helped me write pretty much every Pitch story.
A Pitch Perfect Lifetime
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~S~
Wednesday, October 11th, 2017
“Is it dumb that I’m nervous?”
Stacie turned to look at Aubrey who very clearly was avoiding looking at her. Which meant she missed the loving smile that Stacie aimed her way.
“Bree.” Aubrey didn’t turn, merely slid another hanger to the side and intently looked at the clothing behind it, which was exactly the same style and color. “There is a list of things you are not, and dumb is definitely on it.” Stacie resumed going through the rack in front of her, deciding this was one of those times that Aubrey needed to pretend they weren’t having a discussion about whatever was bothering her. She knew they’d eventually get to the heart of it. “Were you nervous with Chloe?”
A pause. “No.” Another few seconds filled with the sounds of hangers sliding along metal racks. “Chloe is home.”
“Are you saying Beca’s less?” Stacie grinned even though they still weren’t looking at each other.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.” Very snooty, very amused but then a longer pause. “But my history with Beca is more…”
“Spicy?” Stacie looked over her shoulder and saw Aubrey’s beautiful smile in profile.
“I suppose that’s one way to put it,” Aubrey agreed wryly. “But that’s not quite what I meant.”
Stacie looked around them and lowered her voice even though there was no one else near them in the shop. “You guys have been alone before.”
“Not like this, no. Not since…” Aubrey’s voice was even quieter and Stacie had to strain a little to hear it. “You and or Chloe have always been in the house or within minutes of getting home.”
“Really?” Stacie turned and rested one elbow on the rack. “I’d have sworn…” She thought for a minute, watching Aubrey’s hands as they ran down lacy fabric. Their movements were graceful but precise. Controlled.
Chloe had a convention she wanted to attend the following week and it was Stacie’s turn to go with her, leaving Aubrey and Beca at home to hold down the fort. It was something they had done many times before, but it was the first time since beginning their new shared life together.
The nerves were making a kind of sense now, Stacie mused, reaching out to run her hand down Aubrey’s back before moving past her to another rack of lingerie. She didn’t know yet what exactly was going on in her beautiful wife’s head, but since Aubrey was at least dancing around the subject, it hopefully wouldn’t be too long before she could help work through it.
Briefly she wondered if Beca was nervous before deciding that of course she was. The two women were far more alike than either of them usually admitted to. In fact, she’d almost be willing to place a large sum of money that whatever was setting off Aubrey’s nerves was at least partially in Beca’s mind as well.
“Bree?” Stacie waited until Aubrey turned and held up a random negligee. “What about this one?”
“Hmm?” She turned, eyed it narrowly from top to bottom and pursed her lips before giving a single dismissive shake of her head “No.”
As she turned away, Stacie sighed and hung it back up before moving to stand next to Aubrey and flip through the same rack, though she wasn’t paying any attention to the clothing in front of them. “Are you turning your nose up at everything in every store we’ve stopped at today because you can’t find anything you think will make a good impression on the woman who already loves you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Another precise sliding of hangers from right to left.
“You’re using your high voice, Bree.” Stacie nudged her gently with her elbow. “The denial tone doesn’t work on me anymore.” She’d used to think it was just haughty and dismissive – and okay, sometimes it was – but now she knew that it usually hid uncertainty and a need to look in control when Aubrey felt anything but. “You could wear the Bella uniform and she’d still think you’re one of the three hottest women she’s ever seen. She’d be dying to rip it off you.”
Aubrey snorted. “That last is true – mostly because of the PTSD it would cause.”
“Ooh, yeah. That’s probably true.” She waited a moment, trying to figure out the best way to help. “It’s true though. She loves you and when I asked if you wanted to pick up matching lingerie, I didn’t mean to make you think you needed to dress up.”
“No, I know.” Aubrey glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “And I know I don’t, but…” She bit her lip in a very Chloe manner that made Stacie smile. “I want to make it special.”
“The fact that you exist makes every day special, love.” She leaned over and kissed Aubrey’s cheek. “For all of us. What’s really going on?”
With a sigh, Aubrey finally turned to face her, sheepishly meeting her eyes. “I have a lot to make up for.”
“What do you mean?” Stacie’s brow furrowed.
She wondered if there was something else she was missing, having obviously not realized that the two women had never been fully alone together before. Sure, she and Chloe hadn’t yet either – a circumstance they were happily changing next weekend as well – but that was more random luck than anything. She knew how they all felt, knew them better than herself some days, and it had never occurred to her that any of them would be hesitant. Not with how much they loved and trusted each other.
Then again, she reminded herself, they were only three months into their new phase of life. A fact that she found hard to accept since it felt like they had been together for years this way. Plus, Aubrey and Beca were built a little different. More prone to listen to their darker fears even knowing they shouldn’t. Not anymore. And now that Stacie was thinking about it that way, things started falling into place.
“I wasn’t nervous with Chloe because she’s been my home for years. But with Beca…” Aubrey continued, looking down and then back up through lowered brows. “I worry she… It’s just that, the first year I was so terrible.”
“Aubrey.” Stacie very much wanted to reach out and hold her but didn’t think it was the place even if it was the damn time. “You’re both so far past that –”
“Rationally I know that!” Aubrey raised her hands in frustration but kept her voice low. “Or tell myself I do.” She signed softly, shoulders slumping. “But does she know?”
It was said so plaintively that Stacie pulled her into a hug, potential audiences be damned. “Know what, love?”
“That she’s as necessary to my continued existence as you and Chloe.” Aubrey pressed her face into Stacie’s shoulder, the words muffled but the worry coming through loud and clear.
Stacie thought about the way Beca would sometimes watch Aubrey in their quiet moments – while one or the other was working quietly on a laptop on the couch; when Aubrey was taking pictures of her garden, trying out her artistic angles while sober – her eyes so filled with peace and love… Chloe had confided to Stacie that on at least one occasion she’d had to make up some excuse and leave the room because it had moved her to tears.
“Oh… I’m very certain she knows.” Stacie kissed the side of her head. “But I’m definitely behind Project Woo Her if that’s what you want. I will never say no to looking at all these sexy outfits and picturing you in them.” She leaned down and whispered in Aubrey’s ear. “And to imagine Beca slowly removing them from you.” There was nothing more beautiful in Stacie’s mind than the image of any of them being together.
With a laugh, Aubrey stepped back, her smile genuine and more than a touch wicked. “Don’t think you’re going wind me up and lure me into the dressing room, lover.”
Relieved at the teasing, Stacie lifted her chin at the challenge. “Don’t think I’m ever going to give up trying.” She turned Aubrey around and patted her on the ass. “Now, let’s find you something that’ll make Beca’s legs weak before you even lay one silken fingertip on her skin.” Aubrey flashed a wink over her shoulder and Stacie felt some of the tension drain from her. It was likely only temporary, but she’d just do her best to draw the rest of it out or, at the least, keep Aubrey distracted for the next week.
In part she supposed that’s why she had made the suggestion that they go shopping for the non-boring sleepwear that Beca said they should bring over. Both because she wanted to reaffirm, once again, that this was all okay and she was one million percent behind this amazing new life they were making as a foursome. But also, that she expected Aubrey and Beca to enjoy any and all of their moments alone just as Aubrey was encouraging Stacie to do with Chloe. Sure, it might be a little strange to just be two bodies instead of three or four, but they all knew each other inside and out – puns absolutely intended – and she couldn’t imagine it feeling awkward for any of them.
It certainly hadn’t phased Aubrey just a few weeks earlier when she and Chloe had finally realized what had been growing between them for years.
Then again, the rest of them didn’t have the contentious history that Beca and Aubrey did, and the last thing she wanted to do was dismiss Aubrey’s worries and make her feel worse about them. Maybe she’d just have to have a talk with Chloe to see if there was matching nerves and anxiety at the Beale-Mitchell household and see what they could do to help their partners relax. She smirked to herself as she continued that thought and realized that even if she and Chlo failed, once the other two were past the first few minutes they would help each other relax just fine. Repeatedly.
After a couple more minutes of perusing, holding up various outfits up to each other and dismissing them, Stacie pulled a white bustier and panty set and held them up. It was satin and lace, zipped down the center and it was solid with none of the peek-a-boo cutouts that she normally bought. Simple and yet it called to her to try it on.
“Hey Bree? I’m going to go try this one.”
“Oh?” Aubrey turned and Stacie held it behind her back. “Seriously?” She pouted and Stacie laughed.
“You’ll see soon enough.” The pout deepened and she relented. “I won’t make you wait until we’re home – you’ll get to decide if we buy it or not.”
“Oooh, I’m in charge today?” Aubrey’s eyebrows rose in delight.
“For now.” As Aubrey laughed behind her, Stacie made her way to the fitting rooms and found most of them unoccupied. Taking the one against the left wall, she locked the door behind her and quickly stripped, knowing that Aubrey would be drifting closer as she looked for the perfect outfit.
The straps over the shoulder were adjustable and fit comfortably and when she zipped the top closed, it wasn’t constrictive. The front of the bustier came down to points that would pair perfectly with nylons and garter straps if one were so inclined.
Each room had tri-fold mirror on one wall so shoppers could get a better idea of how everything looked from all angles and after a couple minutes of turning this way and that, Stacie decided she approved. She’d also decided that Aubrey would look utterly fucking delicious in this same outfit in black and definitely with nylons. Satisfied with how it fit her, she opened the door and found Aubrey only a little way away, holding up another bustier and panty set that was all silk, lace and almost matched the color of Chloe’s eyes.
“We’re definitely going to have to get that one for her,” Stacie said softly, leaning against the doorframe.
“Yeah?” Aubrey tilted her head as she eyed the outfit. “I think so too.” She finally turned her head and toward the dressing rooms. “I thi –” She stopped mid word, her eyes widening and her hands going slack, suddenly nerveless fingers losing their grip on the hanger and letting it fall to the ground, utterly forgotten.
It immediately brought to mind the night she’d proposed; Aubrey had reflexively dropped the rib that she’d been eating when Stacie had brought out the ring. It almost shamed her to admit it, but her ego purred under the immediate desire that lit Aubrey’s face, even as she marveled that this beautiful and complex woman was hers to love forever.
Then Aubrey was moving, a not-quite-casual swift power walk that bordered on a charge. Stacie was unprepared as her wife pushed her back into the fitting room, closing the door behind them. Stacie started laughing as Aubrey’s hands began to run over her hips and thighs; the amusement at the best reaction she had ever gotten in public from Aubrey filtering the slow building sizzle as the touches burned with serious intent.
“Bree?” The chuckles still bubbled up but they were followed quickly by the urge to moan as Aubrey’s fingertips dipped just under the edge of the panties and slid back and forth.
“Can you be quiet?” Aubrey’s lips were busy pressing kisses to her exposed upper chest and Stacie took an involuntary deep breath, lifting herself closer and it was Aubrey’s turn to chuckle against her skin.
“Me?” Stacie found herself in the unfamiliar position of having her mind short circuit and having to sprint to catch up with her normally restrained in public spouse. “You’re the loud one.”
Aubrey’s head snapped up, indignant. “I am not!” To her credit, it was whispered and not shouted like it usually was at home. The corner of her mouth twitched. “That’s Beca.” She slowly backed Stacie up until she was against the wall.
“Oh, right.” Stacie licked her lips as Aubrey’s hands resumed their wandering over her body. She flicked a look at the door and was grateful to see that even in her rush to get them in the room, Aubrey had locked it behind them. “You’re going to get us kicked out of here before we can buy these, aren’t you?”
“Not if we’re quiet.” She paused, just the slightest bit, giving Stacie the opportunity to stop things before they got too far.
As if.
“Well, I did say you’re in charge…”
With a familiar wicked glint in her eyes, Aubrey’s fingertips once again dipped under the edge of the panties but this time she pushed, her palms skimming down and taking the fabric with them until they fell to the floor. Her nails ran back up the outside of Stacie’s thighs and up her sides to trace the edge of the bustier, tickling as they barely grazed her skin. “God, you look amazing, Stacie.” She flattened her hands and ran them over Stacie’s breasts to her stomach, curving them around her ribs before retracing her steps. “You feel so good.”
It was unspoken that they would need to be quick as well as quiet. There had only been a handful of times that Stacie had been able to coax Aubrey into anything even half as risky and all of them had been at night and most with alcohol. She knew without being told that if she hadn’t come before Aubrey reached whatever timer she had going on in her head, Stacie would have to wait until they got home.
Aubrey’s fingers were on the zipper of the bustier and Stacie could tell she wanted to do it slow, teasingly, but they just didn’t have that sort of time. She pulled normally, as if this were any normal trying on of outfits, but the second Stacie’s breasts were free, her lips covered one nipple and sucked lightly.
Stacie’s head rebounded lightly off the wall as she jerked in pure reaction and she winced at the small thump, hoping it didn’t carry. She tried to say something, anything, to keep anyone from asking if she was okay, but even a simple “Oops” wouldn’t pass her lips when Aubrey’s hand slid down and cupped her center.
“I think that one looks great, Stace.” Aubrey’s voice was shockingly even for someone who’s lips brushed Stacie’s nipple as she spoke for the benefit of an audience that might not even exist. “Try the other one.” As if her middle finger wasn’t slightly stroking Stacie’s clit in all the right ways to make her whimper even though that was definitely not in today’s rules.
‘Let’s hear it for Posen control,’ she thought giddily, her legs parting to give Aubrey a little more room. But even as she really hoped Aubrey didn’t expect her to answer, she looked down and saw Aubrey’s eyebrow lift in challenge.
Goddamnit.
She licked lips suddenly gone dry and took a deep breath. “Sure, Bree.” She was rewarded by Aubrey’s mouth on her breast once more, tongue swirling to match the motions of her middle finger.
Stacie could already tell it wasn’t going to take long, the sheer fact of Aubrey – her unbelievably sexy but usually-proper-in-public wife – taking her in broad goddamned daylight, even if they were in a locked room, was enough to throw her halfway to orgasm; she could hear people talking in other rooms for fucks sake and Aubrey was still touching her and showing no signs of stopping.
With an ease brought about only by familiarity and deep trust, it didn’t take long for Aubrey to have Stacie wet and writhing against her. She swallowed the gasp as those long, skillful fingers filled her in a way guaranteed to reduce her to a trembling mess in their bed. Except she was plastered to a wall and had to lock her knees to keep herself upright as Aubrey took her in complete silence, their eyes locked together.
She would have thought it was the images of them in the mirrors that surrounded them that would have done it, but it was Aubrey’s gaze softening from wicked determination to sensual devotion – a distinction and emotion Stacie had never known before Aubrey – that pushed Stacie to the peak. She reached down with her hand and gripped Aubrey’s wrist, pulling up until Aubrey understood what she was after and thrust deep within, her palm tight to the curve of Stacie’s body; letting her set the pace and take what she needed. Her eyes closing involuntarily, Stacie rolled her hips, rising and falling, chasing her release until Aubrey leaned forward and raised ever so slightly on her tiptoes to whisper in Stacie’s ear.
“Come for me, mon Soleil.”
Her body surrendered instantaneously. She pulled harder on Aubrey’s wrist, her hips driving downward in rocking spasms as she rode Aubrey’s touch. Eventually her body slowed and she realized she had no idea how much time had gone by, though she was very aware she didn’t have enough time to sink into the blissful lassitude spreading through her muscles in the aftermath. They had to pull themselves together – or apart as the case may be – and clean up. There was also no way they were leaving without buying the garments that had been so gleefully stripped from her.
In several variations.
Leaning against the wall, she kept her eyes closed for another few moments, enjoying the languor before she had to hustle back into her clothes. Except she heard another zipper and looked around to find Aubrey digging into her purse one handed. She couldn’t help it; she started laughing as Aubrey pulled out a pack of wet wipes.
“Always prepared, aren’t you, love?” Just one of the legion of reasons she had fallen in love.
Despite the hint of rose in her cheeks, Aubrey handed over several. “Never know when they might come in handy.” In a lower aside, she half muttered, “Besides, it’s not like I’m going to go walking through the shop with you all over my hand.” A pause. “You’re definitely going to go pay and I’ll meet you in the car.”
Stacie merely smiled. “’Kay.”
It didn’t take long to clean themselves up and for Stacie to get dressed. When Aubrey left the room, power walking like a champ, Stacie took another moment to rearrange the outfit on the hanger and hopefully make it less obvious the room had been very occupied.
When she went back to the rack, she kept an unobtrusive eye on other shoppers but no one seemed to be paying any special attention to her. Deciding to stop worrying about it, she picked up the same outfit in black in Aubrey’s size, as well as a red outfit of similar design that caught her eye. It took only another moment to find the blue lingerie Aubrey had been holding and bring all four outfits up to the counter.
Finishing the transaction without the cashier giving her any sort of knowing look, she pushed her way through the door and out into the bright sun, wishing she’d brought her sunglasses with her. Lengthening her stride, she headed down the block to where they’d parked the car, anticipation singing through her veins like champagne. She couldn’t wait to get Aubrey home and in bed to return the gift she’d just been given…
And maybe later they’d invite Beca and Chloe over and see who was louder once and for all.
The insanity that went through me when I saw a post update >>>
This is the type of response everyone (probably not so) secretly hopes for and rarely gets, so thank you for soothing my insecurities and feeding the need - wait, that sounded dirtier than I intended.
Sorry it wasn't a longer bit. I'm trying to convince myself I can still string words together in a pleasing arrangement.
Hoping to have an actual Days in the Life chapter done Soonish™.
Even though I’m a little early for the day of your birth, I’m 84 years past due on my Staubrey origin story. In an attempt to appease you, I give this likely unsatisfactory fic tease of a single scene as a poor attempt at an offering.
Aubrey visits and stays with the girls for their final Thanksgiving in the Bella house and causes a certain brunette a wee bit of confusion. Takes place during my as yet unwritten PP2 story, “About Damn Time” aka “Rise of Staubrey”.
Also on AO3
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~S~
Stacie carefully carried the giant brimming mug of coffee up the attic stairs, deliberately stepping on the one that creaked; it was something she usually avoided purely because scaring the shit out of Beca by materializing behind her was one of her favorite past times. But when she reached the top of the stairs, the figure was still asleep, half on her stomach at the edge of the bed, one hand drawn up to rest under her cheek. Stacie set the coffee down on the small table in the center of the only open floor space and made her way to the bed where she knelt and gently moved a blond lock of hair that was draped over Aubrey’s nose.
It was weird. This was a wake up process she had done a million times with Beca or Chloe over the past two years, but she found she was nervous. She told herself that it was because she didn’t know if Aubrey would be mad, which was true, but it was because she really was trying to do everything in her power to not make Aubrey uncomfortable this trip. It was the longest that Aubrey had spent at the house in over a year and they’d never been alone in it like they were this morning.
Not anything was going to happen. They’d had their moment years ago and Aubrey had made her stance clear, no matter what Beca and Chloe sometimes let slip when they were in a drunk Bella pile in this very bed. It was a declaration that Stacie had been more than fine with for almost a year and a half. But recently she’d felt something inside her changing, a wistful feeling that twisted through her when she’d find Chloe at the center table in the kitchen talking to Aubrey over Skype. She was doing her damnedest to ignore it but now Aubrey was here in the house for a week and Stacie was nervous for the first time in her life.
Realizing that she’d been staring at Aubrey, taking in the edges softened in sleep, Stacie forced herself back to the task at hand. If Aubrey woke up and caught her leering like a creeper, Stacie would never forgive herself.
“Aubrey.” She waited but all Aubrey did was purse her lips for a second before they went lax again and Stacie decided it was the most adorable thing she’d ever seen. (It edged out a sleepy Beca blindly grabbing the finger Stacie had been using to bop the end of her nose and cuddling it to her chest.) She used her tried and true method and gently ran her finger from between Aubrey’s eyes and down along the tip of her nose. “Aubrey.”
“Mfph.” Aubrey’s lips pursed again and she wrinkled her nose, making Stacie almost coo at how fucking cute she was.
Stacie hated to wake her for a variety of reasons, but she was under strict orders from Chloe on when it was to be done. She leaned closer, like she was afraid of being overheard. “Bree.” She ran her finger down Aubrey’s nose again, lightly tapping the end of it like she would a stubborn Beca. It was a nickname she used sparingly even in her own mind, bringing up memories of her dorm room and a single night behind closed doors. Without thinking she let her fingertips graze Aubrey’s cheek and cup it gently, something she could never do while Aubrey was awake and definitely shouldn’t be doing while she was asleep. Even as she went to pull her hand away, Aubrey’s hand slid from under her to cup the back of Stacie’s neck and tug gently. Startled into freezing she jerked her eyes up and found sleepy green ones smiling at her.
Too shocked to stop it as Aubrey pulled her down into a soft kiss.
Just like she had that morning after, before they were once again Captain and Bella. Soft lips, warm breath against her face from an even softer sigh as Aubrey pressed close. In the back of her mind Stacie realized she had been chasing kisses like this since then – in a general sense as she rarely had a ‘morning after’ anymore - but no one had ever made her feel like Aubrey had.
Like she was making Stacie feel right now.
Too overcome with feelings she thought didn’t exist to stop herself from closing her eyes and returning it for several long heartbeats before guilt slammed into her.
Trying not to jerk herself violently out of temptation range – the sudden urge to slip between sheets warmed by Aubrey’s body almost too strong to ignore – eased herself back to find Aubrey’s eyes were closed again and her breathing on the way to evening out. She was thankful she had a moment to pull herself together even as she berated herself for her kneejerk acceptance of the kiss. She knew it wasn’t something Aubrey would’ve done if she was awake. Hell, she didn’t even know if Aubrey really knew it was Stacie she was kissing.
What it would mean for either of them if she had.
Or what it would mean to Stacie if Aubrey thought she was someone else.
She sat back on her heels, trying to calm herself before she reached out to gently shake Aubrey’s shoulder. Arm’s length was better. Arm’s length would let her pretend until she was in her room and could sort out the maelstrom of her thoughts.
“Aubrey. You’re late for practice.” If she’d known the reaction she’d get, Stacie probably wouldn’t have picked that particular phrase. But it worked.
Aubrey’s eyes shot open and she flung the blankets back. Her feet were already swinging for the side of the bed and Stacie had to scramble to avoid them. She awkwardly crab-walked backward until she could get her legs out from under her but they still tangled together and she fell with a thump to her ass. Aubrey halted, wobbling at the suddenness of her get up and go becoming a hard stop, and looked down in confusion.
“Stacie?” She blinked as if Stacie would vanish. “Why are you in my room?” Stacie started to laugh and let herself fall back to the floor, needing the outlet for a variety of reasons. Aubrey looked around the room, the confusion still lingering. “This isn’t my room.”
“Nope.” Stacie crossed her hands on her stomach. “I’m sorry.”
Aubrey sat back down on the bed heavily, blinking at her. “For?” She shook her head. “What’s going on?”
“I’m an asshole.” Stacie sat up and crossed her legs. “I tried waking you up and when it didn’t work, I told you that you were late for practice and you practically kicked me in the face getting out of bed.” She looked up under lowered lashes and eyed Aubrey, wondering if she remembered that first attempt or not. And if Stacie should tell her if she didn’t.
“Oh.” Aubrey blinked at her then yawned. “Yeah, that’d do it.” She stretched and Stacie averted her eyes, not trusting herself with an Aubrey clad in an old Barden shirt and a pair of shorts. There was a lot of leg on display and the memory of them wrapped around her back was too close to the surface. “Holy shit!”
Stacie winced, sure that Aubrey had remembered the kiss. “Look, before you say anything…”
“I overslept!” Aubrey said it indignantly, her eyes locked on the clock beside the bed that said it was 9:30. “I never oversleep! The alarm is usually a ‘just in case’ factor. I’m always awake by 7.”
Stacie let out a breath and hoped Aubrey didn’t hear it. “That’s Chloe’s fault.” Aubrey looked at her, one brow high and Stacie grinned at the indignant familiarity of it. “She turned off your alarm when she got up for her early class and gave me strict instructions to wake you now if you weren’t up sooner.” She held up one hand as Aubrey gave out a grunt of annoyance. “She said you never get to sleep in as a fancy Director at the lodge, cause someone’s always needing something from you. And you’re on vacation and going to start it right.” She hesitated, her lips pursing. “And since you did sleep until now, I’m going to say she’s not wrong. You needed the extra rest - especially since we were all up semi late last night.”
Aubrey sighed, shoulders that had been ramrod straight relaxing. “She’s right. You’re both right.” Her lips twisted in a way that reminded Stacie of Chloe. “I hate it when that happens.”
“When people other than you are right?” Stacie felt on more solid ground with the teasing. It was familiar. Safe.
“Yes.” Aubrey said crisply then grinned. “Especially you two. The only way it’d be worse is if Beca was right too.”
Stacie rolled over and pushed herself to her feet. “Then you’re going to love this.” She took the coffee from the table and handed it to Aubrey. “Beca told me that if we’re going to let you sleep late, I need to bribe you with coffee so you don’t make us do cardio over the holiday.”
Aubrey laughed and carefully took the mug in her hands. “I hate how well you all know me.” She took a sip and her eyes closed in bliss. “Okay, no I don’t.” She opened one eye. “You got my blend, didn’t you?”
Stacie pulled out one of the two chairs at the table and sat down. “Beca did.” Distance.
“Chloe tell you how much cream and sugar?” Aubrey let her eye close again as she took another cautious drink.
“She didn’t have to,” Stacie shrugged. “I remembered.”
“You did?” Aubrey didn’t look up and Stacie tried not to wonder if that meant something.
“Sure. It’s how I take mine.”
“Oh.” Aubrey said again, this time sheepishly. “I forgot, I guess.”
“You’ve been running an entire lodge,” Stacie laughed. “You’ve got a lot of things crowding your brain.”
“I’ll say,” Aubrey muttered behind her cup before looking back over and smiling. “Thanks. For the coffee and letting me sleep in.”
“You’re welcome, Bree.” Stacie bit her lip much too late to stop the nickname from coming out. “They’ll both be back before lunch and the others later in the afternoon. Chloe thought we could all drive into town tonight for dinner instead of cooking, since we’ll be making so much on Thanksgiving.”
“That sounds great.” Aubrey set the mug down on the bedside table. “I hope I’m not keeping you from anything just to let me sleep in.”
“Nah.” Stacie shook her head. “I’m done with classes till after the holiday. Thought I’d keep you company.”
“Oh.” Aubrey said a third time and this one had the least inflection of them all and worried Stacie the most. Then Aubrey smiled and Stacie’s mind settled before it could race down a path that would lead her to thinking Aubrey would rather die than be alone with her. “Just like old times.”
If Stacie’s chuckle held more relief than amusement, Aubrey didn’t react. “Except this time I won’t have books spread across the counter while you make amazing pasta sauce from scratch.” She paused, considering. “I don’t suppose you’d give me the recipe for that?”
Aubrey sniffed. “Posens do not reveal their family secrets to just anyone, you know.” She lifted one brow as she narrowed her eyes. “Are you worthy of that trust? Many have tried. All have failed.” She was clearly trying not to smile and it was infectious.
Feeling giddy, Stacie lifted her hands. “I mean, I think so.” Aubrey hummed thoughtfully as she stood up and stretched again, her shirt riding up slightly on her stomach before Stacie could look away. Though, to be fair, it had been directly in her line of sight and surely she couldn’t be blamed if she made a comment about Aubrey’s tan, right? She cleared her throat and sighed dramatically. “Okay fine. I’ll settle for you making some before you leave so I can freeze the leftovers.”
Aubrey laughed. “That’s a deal, at least.” She turned toward the suitcase that was sitting on top of the dresser against the back wall to pull out neatly folded clothes. “I’ll think about the other.”
“I can live with that.” Stacie stood up and moved toward the stairs. “I’ll figure out your weaknesses later and bribe you with them.”
“Good luck,” Aubrey called after her. “I’ll come find you after my shower; you can tell me how things are going with the rest of the girls.” She looked over her shoulder when Stacie stopped at the top of the stairs to look at her. “Chloe and Beca have kept me updated, of course, but Chloe’s only a few steps away from a freak out and Beca…” She frowned, looking for the right word. “Beca’s distracted. It’s weird. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“You don’t think there’s anything wrong between them, do you?” Stacie knew her best friends were fine as a couple, but Aubrey also wasn’t wrong. There was definitely something else going on in the DJ’s head that Stacie hadn’t been able to figure out.
“No.” Aubrey said it immediately and with as much confidence as Stacie had in the fact. “But there’s…”
“Something.” Stacie finished for her. “Alright, I’ll be downstairs. No rush.” Aubrey smiled at her then turned back to the suitcase as Stacie made her way down the stairs.
For the moment, she had decided not to tell Aubrey about the kiss. Knowing her former Captain and one-time lover as she did, Aubrey was guaranteed to react with extreme embarrassment. It would likely make her uncomfortable in Stacie’s presence if she didn’t outright leave - and that was if she didn’t hold Stacie responsible for it. Stacie knew she’d confess what had happened at some point, it was the right thing to do.
But maybe not until she had worked through it herself.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
First in a series of chapters that show the different bonds between my Bellas Squared.
As always, none of this would be possible without @tiny-maus-boots as my beta.
Chloe and Aubrey spend the day lounging in bed, reaffirming their friendship in new ways after Chloe finally brings up the two things that have been on her mind.
1. Aubrey’s confession that she used to hear Chloe at night.
2. What happened the night Alice tried to kiss Aubrey all those years ago.
Words: 25600
Rating: Mature/Explicit
Also on FFN.
Master Post
A small teaser:
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“Why did you never tell me?” She said it softly, not wanting to sound accusing. But it was a question that she had been waiting to ask for a few weeks.
“About Alice or the… other?” Aubrey asked, her voice also hushed as if it was before dawn and they were trying to avoid waking anyone. Except the sun had been up for hours and their girls had already kissed them goodbye as they were both forced to work the early part of the day. She pulled Chloe tighter against her right side.
“Both, eventually.” Chloe said after only a moment’s thought. “I should’ve asked about Alice before now, but I was too… angry.” She realized she was starting to tense and forced herself to relax. She wanted to look at Aubrey’s face and find the peace there that she always had, but it might be an easier talk for her best friend if she wasn’t. “Am... Angry. But - for now - I meant the other.”
Aubrey was quiet but Chloe was willing to wait however long it took her to organize her thoughts. It still caused her a pang of sorrow to think of Aubrey alone in her room, listening to whatever sexcapades Chloe had been in the middle of. It was also hot and flattering, but always with a layer of sadness.
“At the time… Because I never thought there was anything to tell.” Aubrey finally said. “And it felt…” she hesitated. “Intrusive. Or, god, I felt like a creeper.” She shifted and Chloe knew she was fighting the urge to fidget. “How even would that come up in conversation normally? ‘Good morning, you sounded amazing last night and I came twice just listening to you. Would you like coffee?’” Aubrey gave a familiar depreciative laugh that pulled at Chloe’s heart. “That was never going to happen.”
