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Beca the Guardian Angel

Disclaimer: This fic deals with child abuse. This chapter also has graphic violence. If that makes you uncomfortable, please do not read this. Go do something else you enjoy, please.

Chapter 4- Settling In and Meeting the Bellas

Beca woke up Saturday morning to tiny fingers gently running through her hair. She cracked an eye open, blue meeting brown, and Beca smiled.

“Morning Beth. Did you sleep alright?” Beth nodded as Beca sat up and stretched, popping her body in several places.

“Wanna go downstairs and get some breakfast?” Beth nodded, so Beca scooped her up in her arms.

“I’m thinking after breakfast, we can head over to our new apartment and start getting things set up. What do you think?”

“Our?” She asked in a small voice, as usual. Beca smiled softly and nodded her head.

“Our new home, sweetie.” Beth had a small smile when she nodded. They ate cereal for breakfast, they both had a soft spot for Cinnamon Toast Crunch, they learned, after Beca had given her a bite of it and Beth found out how amazing it is. When they finished, Beca took them both upstairs to get dressed for moving and painting. She put on an old t-shirt of hers and some jean shorts, then dressed Beth in a pair of her own sleep shorts, so they were big on Beth, and an old t-shirt that fell to Beth’s knees.

“Perfect for painting, right Beth?” Beth nodded, then Beca packed her laptop bag up, deciding to get the mixing equipment later. She slung her messenger bag, now with her laptop in it, over one shoulder, and put Beth on the opposite hip. The drive was spent comfortably listening to music. It was only ten minutes before they arrived at the apartment complex. Beca grabbed her messenger bag, Beth, and the bag with the two cans of paint. She walked up to the front door, and was greeted by a man at the door.

“Hello, you must be Sheila’s step-daughter?” Beca winced a little at the title. No. She is not their daughter. She wasn’t when Hank left or when her mother died, so why would she be now? Granted they had been trying, the most Beca could ever imagine seeing them as were like an uncle and an aunt. They’re not your parents, by any stretch, but they are an adult family figure you love. She may be able to come to that point. Eventually.

“Uh, I’m Beca, nice to meet you.”

“You too. My name is Louis. Welcome to the building you two,” he said with a pleasant smile as he opened the door for her. Beca walked to the room Sheila had told her to go to, so she could meet the guy who owned the complex. She walked into a nice looking room that had the name “Mr. Fletcher” written on the door.

“Hello?” She called out. A man, who must be in his late 50’s or early 60’s, came into sight from a side room and smiled at her.

“You must be Ms. Mitchell. My name is Harold Fletcher. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sheila’s told me a great deal about you.”

“Nice to meet you. Sheila told me I could get my keys from you?”

“Ah, of course. Just one moment.” He went to a filing cabinet and fished a set of keys out. The ring had two keys on it.

“Here you are. You have two keys, but it you need another, please feel free to ask.”

“Beth, can you take the keys from Mr. Fletcher please?” Beth carefully took the keys from the man’s hand, and he smiled at the two of them.

“Welcome to the building ladies. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks for this, Mr. Fletcher.”

“No problem, Ms. Mitchell. Sheila is an old friend, and she explained the basics of the situation to me. Your room is on the third floor, and please, call me Harold.” Beca nodded, and they left his office, headed for the elevator.

“Beth, can you hit the up arrow button?” Beth stuck her hand out and pushed the button, then again hit the number “03” button when Beca asked her to. When they arrived at the door, Beca took a deep breath.

“Are you ready Beth?” Beth nodded, so Beca taught her how to unlock the door using the key.

“Ok, stick it in that thingy above the doorknob, twist it the the left until it clicks.” Beth did as Beca said, and it clicked.

“Now open the door.” Beth turned the doorknob and the door swung open. Beca looked inside to see a fully furnished living room. It had a couch with an entertainment system across from it. She blinked a few times while it registered with her. She took a couple steps in, had Beth get the keys, closed the door with her foot, and started walking. She stepped into the open kitchen, and something popped, raining confetti on her and Beth. They both startled from the sound, but when Beca tightened her grip on Beth, the little girl relaxed in her grip. Beca had to fight the fuzzy feeling trying to take her over and refocus her eyes. She couldn’t let that happen now.

“Surprise!” Hank and Sheila said together.

“You guys did this?”

“We figured we could set up the living room and the kitchen for you. We’ve stocked the fridge and pantry with things we know you like, and we left the bedrooms because you wanted to paint them, right?” Beca nodded as she teared up a little bit. She set the paint down and looked at Beth.

“What do you think of our new home sweetie?” Beth had a look of awe in her features. She looked at Beca and had a small smile when she nodded.

“You like it?” She nodded again.

“Are you… excited to live here with me?” Beth nodded again, her smile getting a bit bigger, then she wrapped her arms around Beca’s neck. Beca kissed the top of Beth’s head.

“Alright, you ready to paint?!” Beth nodded again, and Beca smiled.

“Hank and I can paint yours while you two paint Beth’s?” Sheila suggested.

“That sound good to you sweetie?” Beth nodded again.

“Alright. I’ll take the blue, you take the grey. It’s paint and primer in one, but I’m not sure if we should do one coat or two yet.”

“One should be fine,” Hank said as he looked at the paint.

“Alright. Can I ask what all is in that?” She asked, flicking a thumb over her shoulder at the set up across from the couch.

“There is a TV with Google TV, a DVD player, and the TV has bluetooth setup and an HDMI cord if you want to plug your laptop directly into it.” Beca nodded appreciatively at Hank’s explanation.

“That’s… seriously amazing guys. Thanks for that.”

“It was no problem Beca. I know I wasn’t there for you before… but if you’ll let me, I’d like to be here for you now, both of you. I know it doesn’t make up for anything, and I’m not asking for you to forget it either. Sheila and I would just like to be here for you both now, however we can.” Beca nodded tearfully.

“Yeah, I think we can… we can see how his goes.” Hank and Sheila smiled, and Beth frowned as she wiped away Beca’s lone tear.

“It’s a happy tear, sweetie. I’m just really happy that me and you are gonna get to live together.” Beth smiled again and nodded her head.

“Alright, I’ll set my laptop up with some music, and we can get to painting and setting this awesome new house up!”

Painting with a five year old didn’t sound like the easiest task to begin with. Now, this five year old made Beca believe it would be easier than with just any five year old. Well, she was damn right, because, “Beth is just that awesome Hank, get over it.”

Anyway, it had started peacefully. Beth sitting down going along the baseboard that Beca taped off with a little tin of paint, while Beca started going along the taped off ceiling on the ladder. They worked like that for awhile; it was peaceful with the music playing in the background. Beth and Beca had both made their way completely around the room. It was all good, then Beth dropped her paintbrush on her shirt. It was one of Beca’s pajama t-shirts, which really, who cares about? But Beth looked about ready to cry, so Beca, without thinking, drew a big line on her own shirt, then smiled at Beth.

“It’s just paint sweetie. No big deal…” she trailed off as she stuck her fingers in the paint bucket next to Beth, it was one of those little ones, then wiped the blue paint on Beth’s nose. Beth looked at her for a moment, then Beca did the same to herself, so Beth could see the blue streak on her nose. And she giggled. It was the most musical sound Beca had heard, so, long story short, they ended up with a lot of paint on them, and only the edges on the walls painted by the end of Saturday. Beca and Beth, mostly Beca, stand firmly by the assertion that it was a much better use of not only the paint, but their time, because that’s probably one of the first times Beth has been able to do something like that. Something like playing. And Beca was fairly proud of herself for being the person to play with the girl. Because like she said, she and Beth have a lot in common.

Needless to say, Saturday, after they cleaned up and had dinner, Beca and Beth had to go to Home Depot to get more paint. Beca had just told Beth it was worth it with a wink, and it earned her a cute smile, so yeah, it was worth it.

By Sunday afternoon, they had successfully painted both rooms, and set up mattresses and gotten their clothes moved in. Beth’s room had a nightstand with a lamp, and had a nightlight plugged into the wall, and Beca’s room had all her mixing stuff set up in the corner. The kitchen was stocked to both Beth and Beca’s tastes, the bathrooms were ready to go, and they had officially moved in. Sunday night, Beca and Beth had a celebratory dinner together in their new house. They were sitting at the dining room table with Beth in Beca’s lap rather than a chair by herself.

“A toast,” Beca said, holding her cup of Coke up and waiting for Beth to hold up her chocolate milk.

“To family, and new beginnings, right?” Beth nodded with a smile and tapped her glass to Beca’s lightly.

When Tuesday morning rolled around, Beca sent the email to Aubrey and Chloe saying she was slammed with work, which wasn’t a lie, and promptly ignored her ringing phone. She had taken to working with Beth though, so it made her more motivated. She had gotten a few basic educational books for her to learn how to write the alphabet, simple counting and basic math, and a few children’s books that they read one chapter of every night before bed, to help improve Beth’s reading and vocabulary, but it was mostly because it’s what Beca had wanted as a kid. She wished she had had a parent, or even a parental figure, to curl up with under a fuzzy blanket and be read to, but she never had that. Beca is actively doing everything she can to prevent Beth’s remaining childhood from being any more similar to hers. Plus, Beth likes it when Beca reads to her, and Beca can’t think of anything she wouldn’t do for her.

Sleeping, however, was a mess. Beca had compromised with Beth that she had to try to sleep in her own room. Beca would stay up because, obviously, it wasn’t long before Beth would have a nightmare. In the past three nights, the record was 10 minutes before Beca went in to wake her and bring her into the master with her. The fastest was two minutes.

Monday, Beca had talked with a social worker over the phone about Beth. The social worker asked her a lot of questions. Why do you want to be a parent, what makes you think you would be a suitable parent at your age, the phone number for her therapist she sees every other week, address, what her plans were for a career, if she was sure she was financially secure. At the end of the call, Beca was both completely wracked with nerves and a little apprehensive. They asked a lot of questions, and some of her answers probably weren’t what they were looking for. When Beth had finally fallen asleep, Beca had gone into the master and turned on the shower.

She ended up staying in the shower for two hours, the water lukewarm the entire time. Turns out Beca’s fears and worries about not being able to take care of Beth, or not even being given custody rights, had gotten to her. She had dissociated in the shower, lost in her thoughts, her body succumbing to the rhythmic patterning of the water hitting her skin. When she finally got out, she spent the entire night awake, alternating between watching Beth sleep and mixing, trying to distract herself from her overactive mind.

By Tuesday, Beth had worked through the entire writing booklet, and was already on the math one. She was certainly working faster than Beca was. She had been given the writing assignment in an email Saturday and was only a quarter through it. It was just assigned, but she had Beth pick the order to do all of her week’s assignments in, and she chose English first. Beca resents that choice, because she is currently trying to analyze fucking Shakespeare, and it’s hurting her brain. Beca was broken from her thoughts when her phone rang. Again. She considered ignoring it, again, but it’s not like she was getting anywhere with her paper, so she just answered it without looking, already knowing who would be on the other line.

“Hello?” She answered absently.

“Rebeca Avery Mitchell. Where are you?” Beca scowled at the use of her middle name, but didn’t comment. She figured it was warranted with how she had been avoiding them recently. The only reason, only reason, they know her middle name is because Chloe stole, yes stole, her driver’s license to find it.

“I’m writing my paper?”

“I said where, Mitchell.” Beca sighed. Aubrey was a very stubborn woman.

“I’m at home. Why?”

“Because we need you to help us make the arrangement actually work with the girls, and Chloe and I cannot find you anywhere. I checked your dorm, which you failed to mention you moved out of, and Chloe checked your dad’s place, so wherev-”

“How does she know where Hank lives?”

“That’s not important. We need you, Becs. And… we’re a little worried. We have no idea where you disappeared to, and all of a sudden you don’t live in your dorm or with your dad? You know you can talk to us, right?” Beca sighed.

“I know that Bre.”

“Ok, well, where are you?” She asked carefully. Beca bit her lip, then glanced at Beth, who was peacefully working on her addition problems. Her tongue peaked through her lips, perched between her teeth, and it was absolutely adorable.

“I’m… at home, like I said. I… got an apartment.”

“You… got an apartment. On your own. As a college student,” she said slowly, her confusion evident. She was glad she was speaking to Aubrey right now as opposed to Chloe because Aubrey would be much quieter about it, at least. She certainly wouldn’t be calmer, but Beca wouldn’t have to deal with squealing or shrieking.

“Uh, yeah. It’s a 2/2. I’m… I’m really happy with it, Bre,” she said softly, looking at Beth with a smile.

“And… you didn’t think you could tell me or Chlo about it?” There was pain in the blonde’s voice that killed Beca to hear. She sighed again. Beca got out of her seat and sat next to Beth, taking a pencil and writing on a blank sheet of paper.

“Look Bre, it’s… It’s complicated. It’s not about you guys or whatever, okay? Is that all you were calling for? Because I really am writing a paper right now.” Beca heard Aubrey say something about manners in the background. She saw Beth slowly writing her response to her question. She had learned so quickly how to write, though not all of her response was spelled correctly, it was close enough phonetically for Beca to know what she meant, and gently showed her how to correctly spell them with a scrunched up nose, so that Beth didn’t take it hard, which she didn’t. She just studied the word, then wrote it again on her own with the proper spelling. She had such curly, adorable little handwriting.

“Becs! Finally! Are you sure you can’t come to practice?” She could feel Chloe’s energy in her words, and it made rejecting going to practice just… so much harder. All Beca had to do was look at Beth, who was looking up at her now, and she could make her decision. Because no matter how much she likes Chloe and Aubrey, Beth will come first.

“I don’t know if I can come, Chlo.” She smiled brightly at Beth’s answer. Then wrote another question, which the girl nodded to hesitantly. Beca smiled softly and kissed her forehead, then mouth an “I love you,” which earned her a small smile.

“Bre and I could meet you for lunch after practice?” She asked hopefully. Beca sighed and looked at Beth.

“I’ll let you know, okay?” Beca could hear Chloe’s pout.

“Okay. Talk to you soon.” The line clicked, and Beca looked back to Beth.

“So, you’re sure about… wanting me as your mom?” Beth nodded, and Beca teared up. She hugged Beth to her tightly.

“I love you, Beth.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, making Beca’s heart swell.

“Did you hear me talking to my friend?” Beth nodded.

“Well, my friends Aubrey and Chloe run a singing group.” Beth pointed at her.

“No sweetie, I’m not in it. I’m helping them though. They want to meet me for lunch in a little while.” Beth looked at her for a moment. Beth bit her lip in contemplation.

“Sheila?” Beth asked quietly.

“You want to stay with Sheila while I go?” Beca asked, completely taken aback. Beth ducked her head.

“Or is it that you’re scared to meet Aubrey and Chloe?” Beth nodded.

“I don’t have to go.”

“It’s okay,” Beth said quietly. Beca bit her lip. She had to start trying to acclimate Beth to being around other people.

“I promise I won’t stay gone too long, okay? Aaaaand you can bring Repa with you,” Beca said, referring to her own stuffed red panda, hence the name re-pa. Beth’s eyes lit up.

“I’m serious. Repa was my friend when I was your age. She helped me be strong when I was scared, so now she can do it for you when I’m not there. Okay?” Beth nodded happily, then hugged Beca.

“I love you,” she whispered. That was very quickly becoming Beca’s favorite thing to hear, and she’s not sure it would ever change.

“I love you too baby girl.”

It had taken Beca 15 minutes to actually leave Beth with Sheila Tuesday afternoon. She walked into the family restaurant and spotted the two seniors sitting at the booth. Usually the two rotated sitting with Beca, but today they were the on the same side. Beca slid into the booth opposite them and greeted them.

“Hey nerds.”

“Hey Becs!” Chloe greeted with a mega watt smile, though Beca could see something was off. Aubrey’s brows furrowed when she sat down.

“Are you okay Beca? You look a little… run down?”

“I haven’t been sleeping too well lately. No biggie,” she said with a shrug. There was a moment after that where they all scrutinized each other. Beca was taking in the nerves that were pouring off of the seniors, and the two of them were taking in Beca’s run down appearance. She seemed more tired, but clearly… happier? She seemed like she was genuinely happier, like her dark broody cloud had moved away, and Beca was finally getting the sun. A waitress came up before any of them spoke.

“A white chocolate frappuccino for her, a chai tea latte for her, and a black coffee for me please,” Beca said, ordering for Chloe and Aubrey in turn.

“Alright.I’ll bring those right out.” Beca gave her a smile.

“Thanks.” She turned back to the two girls, who were eyeing her. She cocked an eyebrow.

“What?”

“It’s… you seem really… happy. Like… I don’t know. It’s like your whole aura changed.” Beca simply shrugged at the redhead’s words. They wouldn’t understand how finding Beth could have made her so… happy. She finally felt like all her pain could be used to help someone. It… being around Beth, seeing her so strong and brave… it was making Beca strong and brave.

“Something wrong with me being happy?”

“Of course not, Beca. We’re glad you’re happy, we just… we’re wondering why? Is there… is there a boy?” Beca mentally face palmed.

“Ah shit,” she sighed under her breath. She noticed both Chloe and Aubrey heard her. She shifted uneasily. Her hands began to shake she became so nervous. She had never told anyone she was gay. No one. And it was psyching her out a little.

“Beca? Are you okay?” Aubrey asked worriedly. Beca nodded her head, then pulled her phone out. She just sent them both a text. It read “GAY,” in all caps. The two seniors’ phones chimed, and they checked them. Realization dawned on them.

“Is that what just got you so worked up? Beca, sweetie, neither of us are straight.” Beca’s head snapped up at Chloe’s words.

“Huh?” Aubrey shook her head.

“I’m bi, Chloe’s gay.” Beca nodded, then sighed in relief.

“Beca, we wouldn’t have reacted poorly even if we were both straight. You know that right?” Aubrey asked softly. Beca shrugged again.

“I… I’ve never told anyone that before,” she whispered. Aubrey and Chloe’s eyes widened with understanding.

“Thank you for telling us Beca. That means a lot,” Chloe said. Beca nodded, then the waitress brought their drinks. Beca thanked her as she set them down.

“Actually Beca… there was something we wanted to talk to you about.” Beca looked up at Aubrey, who had spoken, and nodded.

“You see, Chloe and I were talking, and… we both came to some… realizations.” Chloe nodded her agreement. Beca narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering where this was going.

“You see, Chloe and I… well… we both like you.” Beca’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“Beca… Aubrey and I both like you.” Beca looked at Chloe, then back at Aubrey. She blinked a couple times. She sighed heavily and rested her forehead on the table, laughing humorlessly. Because of course after she decided to adopt a child they confess to her. When she stopped laughing, she sat back up, a sad smile on her face. The two seniors looked worried.

“Beca do… do you feel the same way?” Aubrey asked slowly. Beca sighed.

“I can’t… I can’t do this.” They both looked at her confusedly.

“What do you mean?” Chloe asked with tears in her eyes. Beca bit her lip, not sure what she wanted to share just yet. She took her phone from her pocket. She refused to be ashamed of Beth or her decision to have taken her in. Because that little girl is the best thing she’s ever had in her life, and she’s pretty proud of her little girl. She opened her camera roll and selected a picture of her and Beth she had taken when they were covered in paint. She showed the seniors her phone.

“Her name’s Beth. She’s five.” Aubrey and Chloe looked confused as they handed the phone back.

“You… you have a child?” Aubrey asked, hurt clear in her voice at the thought of Beca having hidden a five year old child from them. Beca shook her head.

“I… I only have temporary custody of her.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s not mine, biologically.” Both Chloe and Aubrey only became more confused.

“I’m in the process of adopting her.” There were several beats of silence.

“I found her Thursday after my shift. She was… she was in really… rough shape, guys. She had run away from home,” Beca said quietly, looking down at her lap.

“Her parents, if you want to call them that, they’ve been beating her her entire life. That’s why she ran away from home Thursday. She hadn’t eaten in a few days, had a broken leg, cut open head. It… it was awful.” There were a few more moments of silence.

“Beca… I understand wanting to help her, but-”

“No. No, you don’t understand it, Aubrey,” she snapped angrily. The two seniors were surprised by that.

“You have no idea what that little girl went through. Having her own parents put their hands on her? To be treated like she was… nothing? You have no idea what that’s like. It is the worst fucking feeling in the world. So don’t you dare tell me that I’m making a mistake by taking her in. Because that girl is the only good thing I have ever had in my life besides you two. She is smart, polite, and caring, and I love her. She’s making me better in ways that you wouldn’t understand. So don’t you dare say that you understand, because you have no clue what the fuck you’re talking about, Aubrey.” Beca’s fists were white knuckling her jeans, and her jaw clenched tight when she finished. Aubrey and Chloe sat there, completely flabbergasted by the anger radiating off of their friend, both in her tone and in her posture.

“Beca… how do you know what she feels like?” Chloe asked slowly. Beca averted her eyes and didn’t answer, but the anger she had dissipated just as quickly as it came.

“Beca, please answer me.”

“I am doing everything I can to make sure that Beth has someone in her life who loves her. I’m making sure that she gets the childhood she deserves. Because I love her, and that’s what family is supposed to do.” Aubrey and Chloe had softened quite a bit while Beca was speaking, and thankfully they dropped the question she hadn’t answered.

“So… you’re saying you won’t try to have a relationship with us because-”

“I’m a mom, Chlo,” Beca said with a smile, interrupting Chloe.

“Why exactly does that mean you can’t try this with us?” She asked. Beca looked at her like she was crazy.

“I… I don’t know if you heard me, just then. I now come with child. One that is fairly codependent on me, might I add. She can hardly speak to me sometimes, and definitely not with strangers. So that means I can’t go out without her almost ever. This is the first time since Thursday that I’ve left her for longer than a shower. I need to focus on her. I’m not staying out late, not going to go on regular date nights, can’t randomly see you guys, at my place or elsewhere, and anything physical would be pretty much off limits because Beth sleeps with me most nights.”

“And if Chloe and I were okay with that?” Beca cocked an eyebrow.

“Then I don’t know. But you can’t just decide that you’re okay with this in an instant. Think about it. If you still think you want to try something, then I’ll talk to Beth about meeting you. Her opinion is going to be a huge factor. She… she has to come first. She will come first.” Both Aubrey and Chloe nodded.

“We can do that.” Beca nodded, then her phone rang. It was Sheila, so she answered it with a sorry look thrown to Aubrey and Chloe. Beca stayed in her seat when she answered.

“Hello?”

“Thank god. Beth isn’t doing so well without you. I’m gonna give her the phone, okay?”

“Of course.” Beca heard rustling, then heard light sniffles.

“Beth? Sweetie?” Beth sniffled quietly into the phone.

“Hey, hey now. Are you upset because I’m gone?”

“I’m scared.”

“Baby girl, do me a favor. Get Repa.” Beca waited while she heard movement.

“She has her,” came Sheila’s voice, obviously the phone was on speaker.

“Okay, hold her to your chest really tight, okay? Pretend she’s me. Hug me really tight sweetie.” Beca took a deep breath, then sang Lego House softly. It was the song Beca sang her to sleep with; it did wonders for calming her down. When Beca finished the chorus, she heard the phone get picked up.

“She fell asleep. I’m not going to move her, I’m afraid I’ll wake her up.”

“Yeah, not a good idea. She usually has nightmares, so if she starts moving around just run your fingers through her hair. It will do until I can get there.”

“Alright. When are you coming back?”

“I’m headed back soon,” Beca said, finally glancing back up at the seniors, who had shocked expressions.

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye Sheila.” Beca hung up, then looked at the two girls across from her.

“You can sing!” Beca shrugged.

“I’m okay.”

“Okay? If you’re okay, Chloe and I sound like crap.” Beca blushed.

“I totally don’t get why you didn’t audition for the Bellas,” Chloe said, clearly upset. Beca ran a hand through her hair nervously.

“I… I’m stage fright,” she said quickly, not wanting to tell them that she has anxiety. She closed her eyes, half expecting them to laugh.

“I get that. It’s a bit… overwhelming. Performing on stage,” Aubrey said. Beca snorted.

“Yeah, yeah a little bit.”

“You’re really amazing with her Becs. I can tell already,” Chloe said sincerely.

“Thanks, Chlo.”

“Who is Repa?” Aubrey asked amusedly. Beca blushed again as she answered.

“Uh…it’s a stuffed animal I had as a kid. It’s a red panda.” Chloe giggled softly.

“Anyway, I need to go. Beth isn’t doing very well without me apparently. I’ll… see you guys later,” she said unsurely. Both seniors smiled reassuringly and stood with her.

“Of course you will. If you need anything, let us know.” Chloe nodded her agreement, and Beca hugged both of them goodbye, then left.

It took Beca 10 minutes to get to Sheila and Hank’s place, traffic laws be damned! She didn’t even knock on the door before Sheila opened with door with a relieved expression.

“Hey. She’s alright. Still asleep, thankfully.” Beca nodded. She knows Beth needs to learn to be around people who aren’t her, but it doesn’t stop her from worrying. She had been gone a total of an hour, and she was proud of Beth for being so strong. Beca moved into the living room and smiled softly. Beth was cuddling Repa while she slept on the couch. Beca quickly took a picture of the girl who, for once, was sleeping serenely. She carefully scooped Beth up bridal style so she could bring her home. Beth stirred slightly, just enough to latch one of her hands in Beca’s shirt.

“Thanks for watching her Sheila,” Beca said quietly.

“No problem. Call if you need anything.” Beca nodded, then went to put Beth in the car. She turned the radio on quietly and drove them home. She carried Beth inside and placed her in her bed with the nightlight on. Once Beca made sure that she was tucked under the doggy comforter with Repa, she left Beth’s room and made her way to her own bedroom. She sat down at her desk and started composing emails and sending them. She was very briefly explaining her situation to her teachers to make sure it was okay that she brought Beth with her to classes next week when she returned.

When she finished, it only took her half an hour, she got up and checked on Beth. When Beca peaked inside, Beth was just sitting up, rubbing at her eyes with one hand while the other clutched Repa to her chest. Beca padded into the room and sat down next to Beth. She brushed some of Beth’s hair out of her face.

“Hey there sleeping beauty. Did you have a good nap?” Beth nodded, then crawled into Beca’s lap. Beca kissed the top of her head.

“Thanks for letting me see my friends, sweetie. I had fun.” Beth looked up at her.

“I had fun, but… I think I’d rather have been with you.” Beth buried her face back in Beca’s neck. Beca sat there for a few minutes before she spoke again.

“My friends want me to go to their practice Thursday.” Beth looked up at her.

“Can I come?” Beca looked at her softly. Beth was really a smart girl. And it turns out that Beca’s original judgement had been correct, she does have a great grasp on the language.

“If you want to come with me, we can go together. If you don’t want to go, I’m not gonna go. I don’t want to go two and a half hours without you.”

“I’ll go.” Beca smiled and kissed Beth’s head.

“Okay. We’ll go together.”

Beca was currently standing outside the auditorium holding Beth on her hip with her messenger bag over her other shoulder. She was wearing skinny jeans, a black tank top, and a light purple flannel with her black Converse. Beth had on a pair of jean shorts, a t-shirt with “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” written on it in swirly font, and one black Converse with blue laces. Beca had painted Beth’s nails black, at her request. Beca had also texted Chloe beforehand.

“Is it okay if I bring Beth with me to practice?”

“Of course! I can’t wait to meet her!”

Now that she was actually standing in front of the double doors with a five year old child on her hip, she wasn’t so sure. Suddenly, Beth gave her a thumbs up with a tiny nervous smile, and that was all she needed. If Beth could be brave, then she could be too, for both of them. Beca pulled open the door with a deep breath.

A few girls had looked up when the door opened, and were currently gaping at Beca and Beth, then promptly hit whoever was closest to them so they saw it too. The only two who hadn’t noticed were Aubrey and Chloe, who were at the piano discussing who knows what. Beca strode over to them confidently, Beth having buried her face in Beca’s neck at the attention. Beca cleared her throat behind Aubrey and Chloe, who spun around. Their faces were priceless. Beca decided that no one was going to ask her any questions, because she didn’t feel like talking about Beth with her literally right there. She also wasn’t comfortable sharing the situation with everyone; it’s Beth’s life, not some story Beca can just share with anyone she wants to.

“Hey, I’m here,” was all she said as she took her seat with Beth in her lap. She opened her laptop and pulled up the arrangement. This is what she always did when she came to the practices, only this time, she has Beth with her. She looked up at the room full of flabbergasted women.

“Uh, short stack? Who’s the kid?” Amy asked. Beca simply glared at her before returning to the arrangement. Her glare was… nasty. She only used half power, but no one had the guts to press her again after that. She plugged some ear buds in, putting one in her ear and the other in Beth’s. She started working, and everyone seemed to get that she wasn’t talking about it. Aubrey quickly started practice, respecting that Beca didn’t want to overload Beth. Beca let the arrangement play one full time for Beth to hear, and when she got a nod and tiny, almost unnoticeable, smile of approval, plugged them into her phone so Beth could play the new spelling app Beca had gotten. There really is an app for everything. She took her headphones out and put one cup on while she worked. She watched Beth and herself work, and noticed, yet again, how incredibly smart she is. She just spelled the word “pineapple” correctly. And she just learned to write over the past three days.

About 15 minutes into the practice, Aubrey began cardio, and Beth had looked up at Beca. She spoke to Beth, not noticing that right when she opened her mouth, all of the Bellas’ eyes fell onto the pair, the cardio completely forgotten.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” Beth held the phone up with a small frown. She was trying to spell the word fantastic, but she put a ‘k’ at the end.

“Think about the ending sound. Is there any other way to make that sound than with ‘ck’?” Beth looked at it, took the ‘k’ off, and got it right.

“See, Ms. Smarty Pants. I’m so proud of you,” she said with an affectionate kiss to the crown of Beth’s head. It would be then that Beca noticed a definite lack of footfalls, and looked up at the Bellas.

“Aubrey this is a great new routine you guys have got. Really got the ‘drop my f- jaw to the floor’ down pat.” She had stopped herself from cursing, adding emphasis to the word ‘jaw’ instead. Everyone blinked at her distinct lack of the use of the “f” word.

“Beca, we… we’re not trying to be rude or anything. We’re just… taken aback by… well, the girl in your lap,” Aubrey said carefully, earning several nods of agreement, minus Chloe who winked.

“I told Chloe I was bringing her with me. She told me it wouldn’t be a problem.” All eyes turned to Chloe, then.

“It’s not a problem. She’s not disrupting anything,” Chloe said evenly. Beth looked up at Beca sadly then.

“She’s disrupting my focus!” Amy yelled indignantly. Beth had tensed at the raised voice, and Beca sprang into Angry Mama Bear instantly.

“Stop yelling. I will not let you yell around my daughter,” she said with an eerily calm yet angry tone. She saw Beth’s eyes light up when she claimed her as ‘her daughter,’ but the rest of her features remained emotionless for the most part. Beth turned her body to face Beca, so her back was to the Bellas, and curled into her. Beca noticed she was shaking slightly then.

“I’m here sweetie, I’m not going anywhere,” she said quietly as she gently rubbed Beth’s back. No one seemed to have anything to say to that. Beca was glad that they at least weren’t yelling and interrogating her. Stacie was the first to collect herself, since Aubrey and Chloe trying to keep the girls semi quiet. The leggy brunette approached them slowly, and Beca looked up at her. Stacie calmly knelt to Beca’s right so Beth could see her.

“Hi, I’m Stacie, one of Beca’s friends. We didn’t mean to scare you, we’re just a little confused.” Beth didn’t respond, to Stacie or to Beca. She shook her head apologetically at Stacie, who nodded understandingly as she moved back to the group. Chloe walked up next. She was standing about one stride in front of Beca, the curiosity written over her features.

“Hey sweetie, I’m Chloe, Beca’s friend. I’m sorry about the yelling.” Beth had calmed down significantly since Beca had started cradling her, and looked up to Beca, who smiled softly as she brushed some hair out of Beth’s face.

“You’re okay, I’m right here,” she said again. Beth turned a little so she was sideways in Beca’s lap, both of her hands still gripping Beca’s shirt for safety. Her eyes stayed glued to the ground.

“Chloe, this is my daughter Beth. Can you say hi to Chloe, sweetie?” Beth glanced at Chloe, then timidly waved one hand at her, it going right back to gripping Beca’s shirt. Chloe smiled brightly and waved back.

“It’s good to meet you, Beth. This is our friend Aubrey,” she said, gesturing the blonde to approach. She did, and knelt in front of Beca next to Chloe, who had crouched down to be more eye level with the girl..

“Hi Beth. I’m Aubrey, but you can call me Bre.” The little girl offered a small nod.

“I’m so proud of you Beth,” she whispered into her hair. Beca nodded at the seniors, who resumed practice then. Everything was going great. The practice went smoothly, Beca having helped instruct the girls how to do the arrangement. It was perfectly fine until the end. Beth was sitting on the bleachers, slumped over asleep, and Beca was packing her things up. There were a few girls to her right who were packing their things as well. Beca’s eyes went wide as she heard the all too familiar sound of a leather belt being pulled off. That was one of her triggers. Really? She just had to take off a belt? Beca’s body went rigid as she was suddenly locked in a flashback of something she didn’t want to remember.

Beca knelt in the center of her room, waiting like she was told to. The door opened, and she padded into the room.

“I told you. I told you, Rebeca!” Beca just nodded.

“I guess you just don’t remember, do you? I’ll just have to punish you, since you refuse to listen to me.” Beca heard the tell tale sound of her leather belt being slipped off. Beca was confused when it didn’t hit the floor, but then it did. But… it was heavier than usual… oh no.

“Please, not the buckle,” she whimpered out. The woman moved at her with a raised hand, belt clenched tightly, and not by the buckle. The buckle hit Beca in the right shoulder, leaving a two inch long laceration in the skin. Beca’s body fell to the side with the force of the blow. She wrapped her arms around herself futilely. The buckle fell again, this time in the right side of her abdomen.

“Please stop,” she whimpered. It fell again, hitting her right elbow. Only this time, it didn’t just leave a cut. Beca heard a nasty crunch that came with a sickening pain, causing her to cry in pain.

“Stop! Please!” She was rolled onto her back by a rough shove from the woman’s foot. She looked at Beca with distaste.

“And just why should I listen to you? You don’t listen to me, so why should I listen to you?” With that, the foot that had rolled her over fell onto her chest, knocking the wind out of her. The woman pushed the heel of her stiletto into Beca’s sternum.

“Tell me you’re sorry.”

“I’m sorry ma’am,” she said, not forgetting the woman’s title.

“Sorry for what?” she asked, twisting the heel on Beca’s chest.

“I’m sorry for missing class. And for making you look bad. And for not listening to you. I promise, I’ll be better. I’ll be better. I’ll be better. I’ll be better-”

-------

“Beca!” Beca snapped her head up.

“Yeah?” She asked, hoping she could pass it off as nothing. She looked into Aubrey’s concerned gaze and gave a weak smile.

“You spaced out and kept muttering under your breath. Are you okay?” She asked worriedly. Beca noticed that everyone but Chloe and Aubrey had cleared out.

“Yeah, I’m good. What did I say?”

“You just kept saying that… you’d be better?” Chloe said, voicing her concern as well. Beca shrugged.

“Not sure. I was thinking about a mix.” Aubrey eyed Beca for a moment. She clearly didn’t believe Beca’s lie. Having a friend who is a med major has it’s downsides sometimes. Beca smiled weakly at her friends as she gathered her sleeping daughter in her arms, resting Beth’s head on her shoulder.

“So, you moved into an apartment,” Chloe said, trying, and failing, to hide the hurt in her voice.

“Yeah, just this weekend. To be able to get Beth placed into my custody I had to have a place of residence. It’s nice. I never really… had a place to call home before and… and now I do. It’s… it’s really nice,” she said with a shrug. She was trying to share things about herself with them, but it was hard. Her therapist says that… Oh shit, her therapist! She has an appointment this week, and she totally forgot! She was so focused on getting this week off from work and school and taking care of Beth that she forgot about her bi weekly appointments.

“Hey are you guys free?” Beca asked before either of them could ask what she meant by what she had just said. It was close to five, so it was about time for dinner.

“Yeah, why? You wanna do something?” Chloe asked hopefully.

“Well, if you guys wanna come by our place that’s cool. I think it’d be good if… ya know, you guys and Beth spent more time together or whatever,” she muttered the last sentence, but Chloe had on that megawatt smile, and Aubrey had one of her own that Beca had rarely seen. Maybe… once before.

“We’d love to spend time with you and Beth, Beca. If you text us the address, we’ll go shower and change and bring pizza in like half an hour?” Aubrey suggested.

“That sounds great, thanks Bre. Can you switch my half to cheese though? I’ll split it with Beth.” Aubrey smiled softly at her.

“Of course. We’ll see you in half an hour then.” They parted ways, Beca buckling the still asleep Beth into the backseat and driving them home. When she got home, Beth had woken up, so she settled her in the living room with a coloring book and some TV.

“Sweetie, my friends are gonna come over with some pizza. Is that okay?” Beth looked up at her, and Beca could tell she was worried about how many friends it was gonna be.

“It’s just Bre and Chloe.”

“The pretty ones?” Beth asked. Beca chuckled.

“Yes, sweetie, the pretty ones.” Beth nodded hesitantly, then and went back to her coloring. Beca stood and went into the kitchen so she could make her call and still see Beth. It rang four times.

“Hello, hello!” Came the woman’s always excited voice.

“Hey Doctor Taylor, it’s Beca.”

“Beca! How is my favorite patient?”

“I’m… I’m actually doing really well. But, uh, something happened this weekend that I need to talk to you about before I come in tomorrow.”

“Of course. What’s going on?” She asked, the mirth having left her tone.

“I, uh… kids are… allowed to come, right?” There were a few beats of silence.

“Well, yes. Will you be… bringing one with you tomorrow?”

“I… I actually will, yeah. Spark Notes version is that I’m adopting her. Her parents… she’s been through things that I understand, okay? And I couldn’t… I couldn’t let her go in the system, Hannah, you know that.”

“So, let me get this right, you are adopting a child.”

“Yes.”

“And how did you meet her?”

“Her name is Beth. I… I found her outside my work. Her parents were a lot like… a lot like Lucy. I can’t… she’s just so amazing and she didn’t deserve the things they did to her. But… god, I love that little girl so much Hannah. She’s… she’s my baby girl,” Beca offered as an explanation.

“This… this is amazing, Beca. I can already hear the positive effect Beth is having on you, and I’m sure the same can be said for her about you. Now, we can talk about this more tomorrow. I’ll let you get back to her. See you tomorrow Beca!”

“See ya tomorrow, Dr. Taylor.” Beca hung up just in time for her doorbell to ring. She sighed. This was going to be a long afternoon.

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