#two years on

[jaredwalkersam]

walker 1.02 vs 3.08

[magpies-in-a-mischief]

This week marks the two year anniversary of HR fucking up so completely I lost three amazing jobs in the space of one week so feeling bitter af right now

[aleyannadenton]

Remembrance

Alex,

Happy birthday from me, Nikki, Gregory, and the Cartwrights. I know it’s a brief message, but we’re probably going to visit soon so you can see the latest bundle of joy. Until then, be well.

Regards,

Aleyanna Denton

As she sent the letter off to be mailed to the Jardin Estate, she couldn’t help but sigh. A dark anniversary was here, spread out over the course of a few days. Two years ago, that horrific bombing at Lake Doric that almost killed her best friend, a valued colleague, and other assorted allies. And that led to her former beloved taking her life amidst all the suspected guilt and thoughts of her death in Kryta.

She couldn’t help but sniffle slightly as she silently walked out of the town and over to the Doric docks. So serene now, and it was hard to believe that war had scarred it just recently. But she could still feel the pain from everything that transpired that Zephyr. As the tears started to roll down her cheek, she wondered if her latest happiness would just be taken from her in an instant with her unable to do much if anything.

But as she looked over at the signs of rebirth and life, she had to smile. Even in their pain, they found a way to move forward. Always moving forward, even when the odds were against them. And she knew that she would keep going forward. And no matter what, there would always be love and support for her.

“You and I...we’re so alike. Broken, beaten, scarred, but we still press on with a smile,” she quietly remarked as she spent the evening just sitting and reflecting.

[mayayayayayaya]

chanting the chorus to Shin Megami Tensei V OST - Battle - Da'at in my head over and over again to drown out the overwhelming sensations of incongruity with my own body. because the only thing i can do here is Try Not To Think About It

[thedogbard]

on a scale of 1 to 10 how scandalevil is it to celebrate/commemorate someone's death anniversary with fish and chips

[asweetmelodytrickling]

Two Years On - Chapter 66

Epilogue XXXXVI - Choosing A Name

Striding out of the room and into the corridor, Beca let out a huge shaky exhale, tears still very much present in her eyes. She grappled for her phone, immediately drawing up her father’s number, and dialled it. She hadn’t informed him Chloe had gone into labour. Hadn’t informed him that she and Chloe were up at the hospital.

“Hi Beca,” came Cal’s familiar voice, sounding a little tired, and it only just occurred to Beca that she’d probably woken him up, “everything okay?”

He sounded concerned, and because of that concern Beca found her heart thumping a little faster, while an overwhelming urge to burst into tears struck her. He cared about her. He actually cared about her. More now than he ever had done in her memory.

“Yeah.” Beca replied, a tired smile sweeping onto her face as her nose tingled, “Yeah Dad, I was just calling to tell you that you’re now officially a Grandad.”

Read More on AO3

[asweetmelodytrickling]

Will we get to see Chloe’s brothers reactions at hers and Beca’s baby shower? I always loved the moments between Beca and her brother-in-laws (and Chloe always getting roasted by them 😂)

Hello anon! You know what? I’d literally just ‘finished’ the next chapter of Two Years On when you sent this and thought I’d absolutely love to tag a little interaction with Beca and her brother-in-laws on the end 🥰 so thank you so much for suggesting it!

Two Years On

(Chapter 65) Epilogue XXXXV - Labour Stress

Beca had been stressed before. Many times before. Like the first day of kindergarten, and the first day of middle school, then the first day of high school. The early days of her father’s relationship with Sheila - back when the woman had been a total stepmonster (which, on reflection, Beca now realised had been more of her own teen judgement rather than Sheila’s actual personality). The days in college when she’d been dating Jesse and had been expected to meet certain expectations that his parents had had of her. In fact, it’d been stressful trying to meet his expectations too..

Work got stressful. There were often tight deadlines that needed to be met. Difficult clients to work with. And then there used to be the days when Beca had needed to be in LA and Chloe had been back in Brooklyn and Beca would often get stressed because she’d missed her fiancée so much and wanted to get back to her but couldn’t because of work commitments.

But all the stress that Beca had experienced before, collectively, was nothing compared to the stress she felt right now. Now, as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking down anxiously at her wife who moaned uncomfortably in the bed.

The moment they realised this was not a drill, Chloe had swiftly informed Beca that she didn’t want to be touched - which had resulted in Beca promptly removing her hand from rubbing circles around Chloe’s back. Now, four hours on, Beca felt more stressed and more useless than she’d ever felt before in her whole entire life. Because her wife was officially in labour with their baby…

“Heyyy, thanks for making it up here so quickly.”

Beca said in a tired voice, holding the front door open and, admittedly, letting the cool November air into the warm house.

“It’s never a problem, Beca.” she heard her mother-in-law reply in a kind and calm tone. Her tone alone brought a slight wave of peace washing over Beca’s body, and the young brunette smiled gratefully as her in-laws stepped forward and enveloped her in a group hug.

“I know,” Beca mumbled, eventually pulling from Sue and Jerry’s warm embrace, “but this is like the fourth time you’ve driven up here and the previous three times have been false alarms.”

It was true. Braxton Hicks contractions had been plaguing Chloe Beale for almost two weeks now. And each time they’d reared their ugly head, Beca had panicked and called Chloe’s parents.

“All the more reason for us to continue coming up here.” Jerry added kindly, “One of these days it’s not going to be a false alarm.”

Just as Beca opened her mouth to respond, a recognisable loud groan of discomfort filtered through from the lounge area. Sue and Jerry continued to smile kindly at their daughter-in-law, noting how anxious the brunette looked. She left them at the door, dashing back through to the lounge. And there she found her wife exactly where she’d left her when going to answer the door: laid on her left side on the couch, her knees tucked up while her arms were outstretched on the arm of the couch. Faithfully sat on the floor against the couch sat Alba, usually the first to dash to the front door when someone visited but instead firmly believing her duty was with the owner in labour.

“Hey baby,” Beca said in as soothing a voice as she could muster, “your Mom and Dad are here.”

She reached out, smoothing her fingers through Chloe’s red hair - something Chloe had said she loved. And just as Sue and Jerry Beale stepped into the room, having closed the front door behind them, another loud groan of discomfort fell from Chloe’s mouth.

“They seem stronger than last time.” Sue suggested with a slightly furrowed brow.

“They feel it!” Chloe barked angrily, breathing somewhat erratically. Beca looked to her in-laws with an apologetic wince. But Sue and Jerry Beale had been there before: Sue in Chloe’s position and Jerry in Beca’s. So they continued to smile sympathetically while Chloe continued to groan.

“Have they been getting more painful as the time’s gone on, sweetheart?” Sue asked softly, moving over and kneeling beside Alba, just before her daughter’s bump which hung off the side of the couch. Her hands delved into Alba’s white fur while she watched Chloe’s expression carefully, fully aware that this was likely not a false alarm this time.

“Uhuh.” Chloe grunted, her eyes squeezed closed while she nodded slightly. Sue took a deep intake of breath through her nose and looked up at her daughter-in-law.

“I think it’s the real-deal this time.” she said in a calm quiet voice. And in an instant she saw the colour drain from Beca’s face.

“I’ll go and get the bags.” Beca heard her father-in-law say, and she watched as he calmly left the room. How could they be so calm?? Chloe was in labour! The hospital was at least forty five minutes away. What if Chloe gave birth here at home? Or worse, in the car?? Beca wouldn’t know what to do!

It wasn’t in the plan to have Sue or Jerry come with them to the hospital. The plan was for it to just be Beca going with Chloe and being by her side for the birth. But…now they were about to leave, Beca wasn’t sure if she was enough for her wife during such a momentous occasion. Perhaps she could see if Sue could come along too? Leave Jerry to look after Alba as had been the plan all along.

Another groan rumbled from the back of Chloe’s throat and Beca swallowed loudly. That was a louder groan. Which meant it was a stronger contraction.

“Can I do anything to help, babe?” Beca asked her wife softly, her hand having snuck down to rub gentle circles around Chloe’s back. An hour ago the redhead had hummed in appreciation at this action and had told her that it’d felt nice. Now however..

“Ugh you can stop stroking me, I’m not a fucking dog!” Chloe snapped. Beca pulled her hand away immediately, trying not to take her wife’s words or tone to heart. Chloe was in labour. Beca didn’t know what that felt like, but given Chloe’s current state - and the state the woman would likely get in - Beca had a feeling Chloe’s reaction just now wouldn’t be the worst words she’d receive over the next however many hours before their baby would be born.

“You’re progressing well, Chloe.” the doctor between Chloe’s legs said confidently, wheeling back on the stool and removing her gloves while looking over the redhead’s bump with a smile, “Three centimetres dilated now.”

Beca’s eyebrows shot up to her forehead. Only two centimetres more? In four hours?! She immediately turned to her wife just as Chloe’s head fell back onto the pillow with a heavy thud.

“Ugh you have got to be joking!” Chloe grumbled, her hands having flopped onto her forehead while she closed her eyes, “I’ve been at this for hours!”

The doctor seemed amused by the pregnant woman’s reaction, rising from the stool with a light chuckle.

“Well,” she replied while throwing the used gloves in the trash, “it’s not unusual for mothers going through their first labour to experience a very long labour.”

The explanation elicited a loud groan of dismay from Chloe’s mouth, and Beca used all of her self control not to reach out and take her wife’s hand. So instead she picked at her cuticles, still shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

“Ask your Mom.” the doctor continued as she headed for a nearby desk to write in Chloe’s notes, “I bet her first labour wasn’t quick.”

Sue winced while she sat patiently beside her daughter’s hospital bed. No, her first labour hadn’t been quick. In fact it had been around twenty seven hours and far from pleasant. But there was no way she was ever going to tell Chloe that. Or Beca.

She’d certainly been surprised when Beca had asked her to join them at the hospital. Surprised but honoured. And while the past few hours hadn’t exactly been the most enjoyable - seeing Chloe uncomfortable or in pain wasn’t a nice thing for either Chloe’s wife or Chloe’s mother - both Beca and Sue had found solace in one another’s presence in the labour suite that Chloe had been invited into after they’d arrived.

Just as Chloe had requested several weeks ago, Beca had set up the little galaxy projector in the corner of the room and had displayed many printouts of positive quotes to hopefully keep her wife motivated and calm during active labour. And Sue had admired Beca’s ability to keep very attentive towards Chloe’s needs whilst also keeping herself busy.

“Mom?”

The hope in Chloe’s voice had Sue’s heart melting, just as it always had done for her only daughter. She looked into those bright blue eyes, wishing she had some scrap of optimism to share that would make this ordeal bearable. But she had none. Because her first labour had felt like hell.

“Just give me the druuuugs!!” Sue screeched, her eyes squeezed closed while she gripped a huge fistful of the front of her husband’s shirt. Jerry stood by her beside, his eyes wide in fear as he looked over at the medical professionals at the foot of the bed.

They called out to Sue, trying to encourage her by assuring her that the baby’s head was crowning. But Sue didn’t give a crap about what stage of labour she was now in. All she knew was the past couple of days had been the hardest, longest, most painful of her life. And there was no way she was ever, ever going to have another baby after this one. This would be their one and only child.

“Um…it certainly had its moments.” Sue replied tactfully, relieved when her daughter’s eyes fluttered closed to endure another strong contraction. Hopefully that was the end of Chloe’s questioning. The young woman didn’t need to know that it was only going to get worse. And Beca didn’t need to know either.

“I know it’s easier said than done Chloe,” the doctor began while heading towards the door, “but just try to relax and you should continue to progress beautifully.”

Beca’s mouth hung open in shock at the doctor’s use of words while they stepped out of the room and, unsurprisingly, no sooner had the door closed behind the doctor, her wife had something to say.

“Is she fucking serious??” Chloe snapped, “Relax?? How the fuck am I supposed to relax?!”

Chloe rarely swore. Which was probably the best indicator to both Beca and Sue at how uncomfortable the young redhead was. Beca flinched as she felt Chloe snatch her hand, and she looked down at her wife who looked up at her pleadingly.

“I need a bottle of water.” she requested with a bit of a whine. Beca glanced across at the collection of full water bottles that had come ‘complimentary’ with the room. But as soon as she did she felt her wife’s nails dig into the back of her hand because she was gripping it so tight.

“A cold bottle of water.” Chloe specified.

Beca knew better than to suggest that maybe the expectant mother would be okay with room temperature water. Not least of all because her brothers in law had all shared plenty of advice and wise words prior to this moment.

“Just…whatever she wants, you get for her.”

A resounding hum of agreement came from the three other men around Beca, and she took a long swig of juice from the glass that had just been handed to her by her father in law. She glanced from the fire pit before them, over to her left, at her eldest brother in law who had just given her some sound advice about how best to support Chloe during labour.

“Whatever she wants?” she asked, wondering how far she would have to go to get Chloe something. All four men - Michael, Johnny, Ryan, and Jerry - nodded.

“There’s no way you can know what she’s going through.” Johnny added, “So whatever she wants, you just go and get for her.”

“It keeps you busy.” Ryan mused.

“And in the good books.” Jerry said, and his sons chuckled. Beca swallowed loudly. She’d always gone above and beyond for Chloe anyway. But from what her brothers in law had been saying, it sounded as though Chloe might be even more demanding once in labour. She knew the men of Chloe’s family were just being kind, trying to prepare her for what was to come, but while Beca was feeling more prepared, it also terrified her.

What if she couldn’t get something that Chloe wanted? Would Chloe throw her out of the hospital room? Would she miss the birth of their first child because of it?

“I remember when Claudia was in labour with Eva, she told me to get her a bag of grapes.” Michael began to reminisce with a chuckle, “But they had to be warm grapes.”

Beca smiled along with her in-laws, her eyes peeled on her eldest brother in law, enjoying how relaxed these men always made her feel. Even when the scary topic of childbirth was in conversation.

“I genuinely never appreciated the temperature of grapes until I got to the fifth bag of chilled grapes in the hospital’s little store.”

Beca could picture it now. The despair Mike must’ve felt when he’d struggled to find exactly what his expectant wife had requested.

“What did you do?” she asked, keen for any tips if she found herself in a similar situation.

“I bought a cup of hot water and dunked each grape in it to warm them up.” Michael answered with a grin, his brothers and father erupting with laughter despite having heard the story before. Beca thought he was a genius.

“Unfortunately, after all that, by the time I got back she didn’t even want the grapes.” Michael added and again the Beale men, now with Beca too, roared with laughter.

“A cold bottle of water.” Beca repeated in a determined tone with a nod, confirming that she had heard her wife’s exact request, “On it.”

With a chaste kiss to Chloe’s forehead, Beca dashed out of the hospital room to find her wife’s much needed refreshment. Anything to try to help. And anything to keep busy and useful. Besides, how hard could it be to find a cold bottle of water?