Pitch Perfect One-Shots

Chapter CLXV: Staubrey - Don't Make A Beggar Of Me (Part 2)

Stacie nearly fainted when she heard that her college sweetheart was under the care of her daughter. Stacie had never heard anything so bizarre come from her daughter but she knew the woman wouldn't lie to her about something so serious.

"Aubrey..." Stacie uttered, her memories of the woman flashing before her eyes.

"What happened between you two?" Bella asked.

The older woman peered up at her daughter and sighed.

"Aubrey and I had a falling out. I wanted to settle down but she didn't. She was the love of my life and I wanted to have a family with her. I wanted it all with Aubrey but she was too focused on her work to want anything else. Soon enough, she didn't have much time for me anymore. We grew apart and I told her that I couldn't live with her anymore. She didn't even really fight for me when we broke up and that's what hurt the most. I was hurting for a long time until one night I decided to get rid of it the best way I knew how and that was by resorting to my old ways of sleeping around and I did and that's when I fell pregnant with you - the best thing that has ever happened to me. You made me pull my head in and get on with my life. You helped me forget about her."

Bella was stunned. She didn't have any words. She just looked at her mother who shared the same pain and heartache as Aubrey did. Even though Stacie said that she had forgotten about Aubrey and had moved on, Bella knew her mother didn't. She could see that in her eyes. Stacie missed Aubrey despite what she did. She knew her mother still loved the blonde.

"Is that why you never got married?" Bella asked. "Because you were still in love with Aubrey?"

Stacie paused, peering up at her daughter. It never ceased to amaze the older woman by just how intuitive Bella was. Stacie couldn't get much past her at all. It was both a blessing and a curse.

"I suppose so," Stacie answered. "Plus, I could never trust anyone again after Aubrey. I had never felt so strongly towards anyone other than Aubrey. I knew I couldn't find that again with anyone else. Plus, I had a daughter to think about and I didn't want to put her at risk either by having people coming in and out of her life. It was safer for both of us if I didn't meet anyone or go back into the dating world."

"But, mom..."

"It's fine, sweetie. I was quite happy it just being the two of us. I really was."

"But what about now, mom? Aubrey is missing you and she wants to make amends with you."

"I don't know, Bella. So much time has passed and Aubrey has always been so stubborn..."

"Yes, but she still loves you and it's obvious that you still love her - you've always loved her. Why don't you just meet with her? She's getting out of hospital next week and once she does, she's going to want to meet with you, especially now that she knows who I am. She asked me to talk to you for her."

"I bet she did."

"Mom, Aubrey is a good woman, and the way she talks about you... she still loves you. She regrets treating you so poorly and she wants to make up. That doesn't mean get back together but just putting all of that awful stuff behind you. I know you want that but you're scared."

Stacie turns to her daughter and sighs. "Why do you have to be so wise?"

Bella chuckled. "Because who else is going to be when you're so stubborn?"

"Oh, shut up," Stacie pushed her daughter, laughing with her.

"Come on, what do you say? Are you going to meet with Aubrey? She is going to pester me all week about it if you don't."