Chapter Text
As important as all of the planning for the wedding ceremony was, both Beca and Chloe knew the reception was the part that needed to be great. It’s their own little thank you to all of the people that they love, for joining them today, and for being in their lives.
They decided to keep everything outside. Off to the side of the property there is a giant tent with the bar set up underneath. A large dance floor and tables are just beside it, decorated with lights and colorful wildflowers.
As soon as she can, Lucy sneaks off from where they’ve taken their pictures, to go find the Bellas.
Instead, she finds,
“Anderson, hi.”
“Hey Lucy, you looked pretty good up there.”
Lucy giggles and does a little spin.
“That’s a dope suit.”
“I thought you might like it.” She points at him, “I see that you dressed exactly the same as you always do.”
“Hey now, I switched out my tie. I thought this one was more fun.”
“It’s very… pink.”
He laughs and takes a sip of his beer.
“Beca’s going to be happy that you’re here.”
He takes a step back and nods. She walks by him and finds Emily, standing with Keegan and Maeve.
“There’s the Maid of Honor.” He says.
“Here I am.”
“Hi Lucy!”
Maeve almost knocks her over completely when she jumps up and wraps her in a hug.
“Hey Maeve.”
Emily wraps an arm around her and Lucy can already smell the wine on her breath.
“Do you have a minute to talk?”
Lucy shrugs, “I’m not doing anything.”
Emily gives a look to Keegan that Lucy can’t quite decipher before she pulls her away.
“So I have something to tell you. It’s pretty big news actually.”
“What is it?” She squints one eye, “You’re not having a baby, are you?”
“Oh, God, no. Um, so you know how I’m going to be the one bringing you back to New York?”
“Mhm.”
“What would you say, if I told you I would be staying for a while too? Like for the rest of the summer.”
Lucy doesn’t react right away. She seems to take the time to process what this means before she asks,
“You took that job?”
Emily nods, “I did. So it seems like I’ll be hanging around.”
Lucy does her best to pretend like she doesn’t care. She nods, slowly, and purses her lips.
“That’s cool I guess.”
Emily laughs. She knows exactly what she’s doing. Lucy breaks only a few seconds later.
“Who am I kidding? This is the coolest thing ever.” She shouts. “There is so much we have to do.”
“You can show me it all. I promise.”
Their attention is pulled away when Beca and Chloe walk over, hand in hand. They’ve decided to skip over any announcements or fancy entrances.
“Beca, why didn’t you tell me Emily was moving to New York?”
Beca is shocked by the volume of her sister’s voice.
“So, you told her.”
“I couldn’t wait anymore.”
Emily takes Beca into a hug and then Chloe.
“Congratulations. The ceremony was perfect.”
“Mhm,” Beca says, “nice and short.”
Chloe pulls Lucy into her side and kisses her head.
“You’re terrible.”
“What? I just wanted to be married to you already.”
Beca leans over and kisses Chloe. Lucy groans and moves away from them.
“Aren’t you used to us kissing by now?”
“Yeah, just not right in my face.”
She walks off. Beca notices that she’s already barefoot. Her hair has started to come out of the elaborate twist Hillary put in it. She looks freer here and it pulls at Beca’s heart.
Chloe laughs, a full, deep, belly laugh. Beca looks over at her and can’t help but stare. It’s as if there’s a light surrounding her; a glow that’s always been there but tonight seems extra bright. Chloe looks over and smirks.
“What is it?”
“Just wondering how I got so God damn lucky.”
“I wonder the same thing all the time.”
Beca kisses her again before there’s a clearing of the throat. They both turn to find Stacie staring at them.
“I know it’s your wedding day and you get to be mushy and gross all night, but I have something more important.” She pulls two drinks from behind her back, “Your first round.”
“Of course.” Beca says, with a roll of her eyes, but she takes the drink anyway.
“Congratulations, I can’t think of two people more perfect for each other.”
“Thanks Stace.”
Bella toddles over and lifts her arms up, when Stacie tries to pick her up she squirms away and moves over to Chloe. Chloe picks her up and cuddles her to her chest.
“I can’t believe you two are going to have one of those soon.” Stacie says.
“God, dude, can’t we get through the wedding first?”
“You’re seriously going to tell me you’re not excited to see Chloe doing that with your own baby?”
Beca doesn’t answer. She doesn’t need to, they all know it’s true.
Lucy is sitting at a table with Mrs. Reed when Beca and Chloe walk over. Dinner has come and gone and they’ve been busy making their rounds. Mostly everyone is a few drinks in by now. They’re all on the dance floor; all but Lucy and Mrs. Reed who seem content to be in quiet conversation off to the side.
“There you two are.” Mrs. Reed says, she struggles briefly to stand, but Lucy jumps right up to help her.
“Hi, Mrs. Reed, thank you so much for coming.” Chloe greets her, brightly.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Beca can tell, by the tone of her voice, and the smile on her face, that she means it. She keeps a hold of Lucy’s hand and Beca can tell that Lucy is holding on to her just as tight.
“Thank you for letting us borrow the hairpins. They’re beautiful.” Chloe says, lifting one hand up to her hair.
Mrs. Reed chuckles, “Walter hated them.”
The admission shocks both of them.
“He said that the pearls were cheap fakes. When I told him that I was wearing them for our wedding, his eyes rolled so hard I thought they might roll right out of his head. Little did he know they’re real.”
Beca’s eyes widen and Chloe laughs. Lucy has a gentile smile on her face; she’s heard the story before, many, many times.
“Walter was the one true love of my life. I know that you’ve found the same thing in one another. I’m honored to have been a part of today. I wish there was more I could have done to help out.”
“You’ve done so much already.”
“Oh Scout,” Beca says, interrupting the conversation, “I almost forgot, Maeve was looking for you.”
Lucy nods and gives Mrs. Reed’s hand one more squeeze before she walks off to find her little friend. As soon as she’s far enough away, Mrs. Reed speaks again,
“She is so happy for you both. I don’t know if she’s come right out and said it, she can be shy when she wants to be.”
Both Chloe and Beca nod.
“I know you’ve probably heard it a million times, but what you’ve done for her, and the way you love her, is more than most people could ever imagine doing. I hope you are proud of what you’ve made.”
“We are.” Beca says.
Chloe looks at her face. The way she stands up a little taller when someone talks about her family is something Chloe has noticed before. It’s one of the million things she loves about her. It’s one of the countless things that make her heart melt.
“If I could have everyone’s attention over on the dance floor, please,” The DJ says, loudly in between songs, “the Maid of Honor would like to say a few words.”
Beca looks at Chloe with confusion. They’ve finally taken a moment to sit at the small sweetheart table in the corner; it’s gone unattended most of the night.
“Aubrey already gave her speech, if she’s going to make another one I need more to drink.”
Chloe shakes her head and points, over to where Lucy is standing in the middle of the now empty dance floor, holding a microphone.
“Did you know she wrote a speech?” Chloe asks.
“No idea.”
They both straighten in their chairs and listen, intently, as Lucy starts to speak.