Bechloe - One For My Baby

Chapter XXXVIII

It had been several days since the trial of Randall Beale and Chloe was still coming to terms with it. She honestly thought that the man would be put away, as did everybody else, but she was reassured by her lawyer that he would be constantly monitored and he would not be able to go anywhere without the police knowing about it. That gave Chloe some reassurance but it wasn't the punishment she would have liked. Deep down, she still loved her father but she didn't want him to be a part of her life anymore and she wanted him to be punished for everything he did to her. At first, Chloe was in shock but then she was angry and upset. She cried a lot and she was rather snappy and unfortunately, she took it out on Beca but she always apologised and ended up in tears soon after.

It was hard on everyone, even Beca and Mark who were just as angry as Chloe. Mark spoke to the lawyer and even the judge to see if there was any way to change Randall's punishment but it was already set so there was nothing he could have done. He wasn't happy about it but he did everything he could so that's what he focused on as did Beca and Chloe. There was nothing more they could have done. Mark spent hours with Chloe and the lawyer discussing her father and his illness. It hurt Chloe to learn what kind of person her father truly was. It was a shock. Everything Chloe knew was ripped out from under her and she had no idea what to do. Her whole life she believed that her father did what he did out of love, even if she didn't like it. Her father was all she had and she trusted him as any girl would have.

Chloe felt like an entirely different person. She wasn't sure who she was anymore but Beca and Mark told Chloe that she was a part of their family now and that she was going to be well looked after. Chloe appreciated it and loved them for it but the family she once knew was gone and that was a shock to her. It took a long time for the brainwashing to come undone and it was still coming undone. It was a hard process since Randall really instilled into Chloe's mind all of the sick, twisted things he did to her was normal and acceptable. Chloe was confused when she learned that it wasn't and that it was a serious crime and it upset her to her core when she realised that her father didn't love her the way she thought he did. His version of love was twisted and evil and that's what really broke the redhead's heart. All Chloe wanted was to be loved by her father but he wasn't what she wanted him to be, what she needed him to be. He would never be what she needed him to be and that was the hardest part.

Chloe was on her way home with Mark after having a quick meeting with the lawyer who talked about the final things they needed to know about Randall's punishment. Thankfully, it wasn't very long and all Chloe wanted to do was get home. Beca stayed behind saying that she needed to study for an upcoming test. Chloe wanted her girlfriend to come but she knew how important getting good grades was for Beca so she said that it was fine. Even though they weren't apart for long, Chloe wanted to fall into her girlfriend's arms and forget about everything and once she got home, the first thing she did was head upstairs and into her room. However, when she opened the door the room was different.

The bed wasn't clad in dark sheets but instead with a colourful pattern. At the head of the bed frame was a string of fairy lights wrapped around it. On the sides of the mirror on the wall was a bunch of photos of Chloe and Beca together and them with their friends. One side of Beca's desk was cleared off and had a small pot with a pink flower, a white cup of Chloe's pens, and a bunch of Chloe's textbooks sitting neatly in the middle of the new space. Even the smell of the room changed. It smelt like sugared blossom and Chloe recognised it immediately. She and Beca went shopping a little while ago and the redhead mentioned how much she loved the candle but didn't get it. Chloe was speechless. The room was neat and tidy. There was no mess. The curtains were wide open as were the windows, allowing natural light to flood the room as well as fresh air. It was so un-Beca.

"Oh, Chlo!"

Chloe turned around and saw Beca enter the room, shocked to see her girlfriend.

"You're back!"