If tea parties bring truths and weddings bring promises, what do babies bring?

Saturday evening, Aubrey stopped by the store to shop for what she could to prepare for the tea party. She texted Chloe and learned that Bella loved peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches and pimento cheese sandwiches. Beca said Stacie would eat anything but hinted that she, herself, could be interested in something a little fancy like shrimp or egg salad. Aubrey got the ingredients for the sandwiches and bought a small fruit tray, a small vegetable tray, and an assortment of dessert cookies on the way to her house.

After taking the food back home. Aubrey went out in search of some actual tea pots, tea cups and saucers. Despite Aubrey's prim nature, she knew that finding matched tea sets on a Saturday evening would be near impossible, and despite her love for tea, she didn't have enough cups for four adults and a child. After visiting three second-hand stores, she was able to put together several mix-matched tea sets. She found three tea pots and six tea cups and saucers, each one being different than the other which made for an eclectic selection for tea. The best part is that two cups and saucers and one tea pot had an Alice in Wonderland theme. She hoped Bella would love them.

Chloe showed up bright and early Sunday morning help finish the food preparation and decorate. After spreading a table cloth over the table, she began tying balloons on the backs of the tables. "So 'Bree…" The redhead was being nonchalant as she began to probe for information. "You've met Bella?"

"Yup," Aubrey replied. "Yesterday, at the park. And we went to have ice cream." She wasn't very forthcoming with details as she was trying to decide how much to share with her best friend about the new direction her dream had taken.

She and Chloe had made an assortment of sandwiches, carefully removing the crusts and cutting the sandwiches into fourths. Aubrey had found a tiered set of serving plates on which to arrange the sandwiches. They then carefully arranged pasta salad, the veggie and fruit trays on platters. Aubrey had placed sugar cubes and milk on the table, ready for the tea party.

When Beca arrived, she brought Bella's booster chair so they could all sit at the big table. Aubrey's face fell when she saw it. "Oh." The tall blonde looked at Beca nervously. "You and Bella… ummm… have places at the kiddie table." She motioned into the living room to a small, child-sized table which was set up for tea.

"Seriously?!" Beca was incensed. "Just because I'm short…" She stopped when she noticed her wife and Aubrey giggling. "Wait, are you messing with me Posen?" She went into the dining room and saw the large table set for five.

"The small table is for Bella and dessert," Aubrey said. "Chloe thought it might be funny to tease you though."

"Very funny Chlo, very funny." Beca gave a mock glare at her wife as she set up Bella's booster chair. When the doorbell rang, everyone looked towards the front of the house. Beca was the closest and went to let Stacie and Bella in. She gave her best friend a hug and bent down to greet Bella.

Bella raced past Beca and past Chloe, making a beeline for Aubrey. "Miss Awbwee! Hi Miss Awbwee. Are we really going to have a tea party?" She latched on to the tall blonde's legs.

Aubrey squatted down in front of the brunette child with bright and shining blue eyes to hug her. "Yes Bella. We are." The smaller version of Stacie clapped her hands in delight.

Stacie reached over and closed Beca's mouth which was hanging open. "Stacie – she ran right past me, like she didn't even see me." The taller brunette laughed. "What's going on here Stace? I'm supposed to be her favorite."

"Jealous much Becs? She's four. And Aubrey is new. Bella hasn't talked about anyone or anything else since she woke up from her nap yesterday."

Bella's teapot had apple juice, but she was ecstatic that the adults were all drinking actual tea – just like the Queen of England – from actual teapots as they dined on tiny sandwiches and other snacks. When it was time for dessert, Bella was tickled to move to her own little table in the living room where she immediately placed her stuffed rabbit and stuffed bear in two of the chairs.

"Aunt Beca, will you have dessert with us?" Beca looked quite pleased to be back to being Bella's favorite and immediately agreed. She bypassed sitting in the tiny chair and took a seat on the floor. As a reward, she poured Bella some actual tea and doctored it up with lots of sugar and milk.

Chloe began to clean up the kitchen, making herself scarce so Aubrey and Stacie could talk.

The pair were sitting on Aubrey's couch, Stacie had her arm around the blonde. "Stacie?" Aubrey's voice was quiet as she snuggled into the brunette. "Tell me about your dreams?"

The brunette kissed the top of the blonde head belonging to the woman curled into her side. "Dreams? How did you know about that?"

"Chloe told me you'd been having them, too."

"Too?" Stacie shuffled around, pulling Aubrey closer in to her. She felt Aubrey nod her head. "Well my dreams – dream actually – started about a week or so before your interview."

"That's when I moved to Atlanta," Aubrey murmured.

Stacie went on to explain the unforgiving mist which would never allow her to fully see the woman repeatedly in her dreams. "After we met at the party, I had a few nights of clarity and was certain you were the woman from my dream. Despite your rejections and my dreams taking a turn for the worse, I have always been convinced she's you."

"I've been having dreams, too. Very similar in fact." Aubrey felt a strong need to come clean with the brunette. "When I was fighting this incredible urge, this pulling towards you – my dreams were becoming excruciatingly miserable. My so-called mist was nearly impenetrable." She quieted as she thought about her dream of the previous evening. As much as she wanted to lay everything on the line for Stacie, she was still holding back for some reasons.

She was saved when Bella came running up, cookie crumbs clinging to her cheeks. "Mommy, Mommy, Aunt Beca wants to know if I can spend the night again."

The taller brunette had a feeling she knew what her friend was up to. "Hmmm, she did, huh? I don't think she did," she said as she brushed the crumbs from her daughter's cheeks.

Bella's eyes widened as her voice got serious. "Mommy, she did, I pwomise. Aunt Chloe asked, too. They said it's okay that it's a school night that sometimes we all need special nights."

Stacie's green eyes twinkled as she leaned forward. "If Aunt Beca really wanted you to spend the night, she would have sent you with cookies for Mommy and Miss Aubrey." The child went racing off and returned with two handfuls of cookies and shyly offered them to Aubrey and her mother. Stacie tasted one and pretended to think. "These will do. Okay, can stay with Aunt Beca and Aunt Chloe. Go in the kitchen and help Aunt Chloe pack your lunch for tomorrow."

The women both stood and followed the young girl to the kitchen where she was orchestrating what all tea-party leftovers she wanted for lunch the next day. "Are you sure Chlo?" Stacie didn't want her daughter to overstay her welcome at her friends' house.

The redhead just rolled her eyes. "You two need another night to talk. The rest of the leftovers are in the fridge. Maybe you can take them to the office tomorrow? Those gals will scarf them down."

Before the evening got too far past Bella's bedtime, Beca announced time had come for them to go home. Something about a cartoon to watch. Chloe had Bella's lunch in one hand and the trio headed to the door. Bella turned, hand still tucked into Beca's. "Miss Awbwee?"

The blonde smiled at the young girl as she squatted down in front of her and adjusted her light wind breaker. "Yes Bella?"

"You looked pretty last night." Stacie looked at her daughter questioningly. "In my sleeps," she said as a matter of fact. The child gave Aubrey a kiss on the cheek then turned and continued out the door with Chloe and Beca.

When their friends had left, Aubrey and Stacie stood staring at each other, shocked by what Bella had said. "I feel like I'm getting sucked into the Twilight Zone." Stacie said. "First we are both having dreams Now apparently my daughter is dreaming about you." She ran her fingers through the top of her hair. "Is this real Aubrey or am I just insane?"

Aubrey pulled Stacie back to the couch so they could get comfortable. There was no escaping her sharing her latest dream, not after what Bella had just said. "Stacie, I've been struggling with my dreams. Just like you, they cleared up some after Chloe and Beca's party. Then the more I fought my attraction to you, the worse my dreams got, like the universe was punishing me for not giving in to the inevitable."

She grasped Stacie's hand, intertwined their fingers, and softly kissed her skin. "Last night I dreamed again. This time my dream didn't fade. In fact, it was clearer than it had ever been. The ever-present fog blew off quickly. I could undeniably see who was walking towards me. It wasn't just you Stacie; it was you and Bella."

"Wow," was the only words that came from Stacie, at least for a bit. After she recovered a bit, she spoke. "Aubrey… do you believe in soulmates? Not the love-at-first-sight phenomena, but like gravity moving." Aubrey didn't respond. "When I see you Aubrey, it's not the earth holding me here anymore. It's you." She heard Aubrey swallow.

"Stacie, I asked Chloe if she believed in soulmates. She just smiled and reminded me of what she had with Beca. Even though I've been fighting this since I saw you at the party, there is no denying our connection now." Aubrey had pulled her legs beneath her and had pulled Aubrey's arm into hers and was holding on for dear life. "I know I battled you, struggled against this but after last night – and after Bella – I need no more proof Stacie. You are indeed my soulmate."

Aubrey had her bare feet pulled up onto the couch and was leaned into Stacie whose arms were wrapped around the blonde. Conversation between them was easy while the periods of silence were comfortable. While the previous night had been one of longing and passion, tonight was one of continuing to get to know each other on a more intimate level.

"The mild weather seems to be blessing us with her presence. Would you like to go on a walk?" Aubrey stood and pulled Stacie to her feet. After offering her a light windbreaker which Stacie refused, the couple left the house.

They meandered along the route Aubrey had taken the previous day towards the park. The old oak trees with their thick trunks which lined the street looked like bodyguards, protecting those who chose to wander along the way. Much of the concrete was displaced, balancing on the roots of the century old trees which had broken through the ground. Dusk had passed and most of the people had cleared out of the park where Aubrey had spent the previous morning and where Bella had unknowingly played matchmaker.

Aubrey stopped to face Stacie, gathering the folds of her shirt in her hands and pulled the slightly taller woman into her. She stretched up on her toes to kiss Stacie before folding her arms into her torso to allow the taller woman to again wrap her arms around her. Aubrey laid her head on Stacie's chest feeling safe and comfortable.

"I'm glad we've moved past our issues." Stacie kissed the top of the blonde's head as she swayed back and forth. "This feels… right."

After a few moments, Aubrey stopped the perpetual motion She gently pushed Stacie back a bit so she could see her eyes. A slow blush was creeping up her chest to her face. She gulped a huge breath of air and dropped her eyes to the dirt. Then she solely lifted her eyes with an awkward look on her face. Stacie sent a comforting smile to Aubrey as if she could already detect the nervousness flowing through the blonde's veins.

"I… ummm… need to ask you something." Aubrey was in full-blown flush mode. "I… errr…" She shuffled her feet back and forth and seemed to be unable to find the right words.

"Bree, it's okay. Just ask."

"Bella stays with Beca and Chloe a lot?" Stacie nodded. "And does she have a room there?" Aubrey hoped Stacie would understand what she was asking so she wouldn't have to ask her question out loud.

"Of course. She loves her little room." Stacie chuckled. "She's a strange kid and has recently gotten into old school Scooby Doo and 'spooky adventures'. A few months ago, she made Beca move her bedroom to the basement…" Stacie stopped, and her face blanched as realization hit her.

Aubrey's nervous giggle must have set Stacie off since she looked down and began to laugh. The longer Stacie laughed, the more uncomfortable Aubrey became. The blonde finally swatted Stacie's arm. "It's not funny," she exclaimed. By now Stacie was doubling over but nodding her head. "It's not!"

Stacie caught her breath and stood back upright. "She's my kid Bree, and I think it's hilarious." She kissed Aubrey again. "If Beca ever makes that connection, I probably won't ever hear the end of it. I can hear it now, Damn Conrad, you even shagged her in your daughter's bed."

Three months later

Beca adjusted the veil on Stacie's gown. "Stop fidgeting Legs. You're going to get poked by one of these pins."

"Becs," Stacie whined. "What… what if she's changed her mind? And Chloe has absconded with my fiancé to hide her away."

The shorter woman chuckled. "For one, that sounds as though you are suggesting that Chloe is leaving me for your fiancé. Second, Aubrey loves you, you big dork. I'm not sure why, but she does."

Stacie turned left then right, examining herself in the mirror. "Does this gown make me look fat?" Her wedding dress had a low scooping neckline with long sleeves; the chest and sleeves were made of lace. She was quite beautiful indeed.

"Oh, for crying out loud Stacie. No! You could be wearing a potato sack and be the second most beautiful person in my life." She looked at Beca with a look of horror on her face. "My wife will always have you beat, Legs. Sorry. Here." She gave her friend a flask of whiskey. "Take a belt from this to settle your nerves."

Meanwhile, in another room across the church, Chloe was trying to calm Aubrey's concerns as well. "Bree you have nothing to worry about. Stacie loves you and is excited about marrying you as you are about marrying her." Beca had offered her wife a flask for the blonde bride, but Chloe had refused knowing that Aubrey would want a perfectly clear mind so she wouldn't mess up the vows – as if that was even a remote chance.

Aubrey's mermaid style, gown ball featured a strapless sweetheart neckline and dainty lace detailing. Chloe had swept her hair up in a 1940's style hair-do which tucked perfectly under her veil. The blonde dared not move an inch until time for the ceremony in fear even one of the hundreds of bobby pins holding her hair to a perfect look would come loose. This tension made her nervousness even more obvious.

"Aubrey, you know that Beca and I don't share much to each other about what you two say to us as friends, right?"

The blonde gave a quiet, "yes".

"And you know how much I adore Beca and how head over heels she is about me, even after being married for half a decade, right?" Aubrey nodded. "One day when all this started, Stacie was talking to Beca about her dream and you and trying to figure out what it all meant. Know what she said to Becs?" Aubrey shrugged. "She said 'I think I've finally found my Chloe'."

Chloe knew that Aubrey needed to hear that but regretted the tears that almost sprang from her friend's eyes. "I didn't tell you that to make you cry Bree. I told you that so you would know how much she loves you. Even way back then, she knew she loved you as much as Beca loves me."

Despite both brides-to-be concerns about the other being a no-show, everyone arrived safely to the ceremony, and Stacie and Aubrey were standing in front of the crowd of friends and family who had come to honor their union.

"I understand you have each written vows?" The minister asked.

The brides nodded. As they turned to face each other, Stacie motioned for Aubrey to begin.

"Stacie, as confusing and difficult as life may get, the only thing I am most confident in moments of doubt is you. Because I know you are never going to let me down."

"Aubrey, I look for you in every woman I see only to again be reminded how rare you are and how lucky I am to have found you."

"You are the one person who constantly meets me halfway, and it never feels difficult."

"Even the thought of something happening to you shakes up my world so dramatically."

"You are my rock."

"My confidant."

"My best friend."

"My loudest laugh." Everyone in the audience laughed at this.

"You are my confidence in moments of doubt."

"My strength in moments of weakness."

Stacie's eyes were glued on her fiancé, soon to be wife, mesmerized by the woman in front of her when she was brought out of her trance by a tugging on her dress somewhere down by her knees. She looked down to see the flower girl looking up at her. She bent slightly, unsure of what her daughter wanted. "Yes Bella?" Her voice was patient, as always with her daughter.

"Aunt Chloe said you and Miss Awbwee are making your pwomises." Stacie nodded and told her daughter they were saying their vows. "May I make a pwomise?"

Stacie's heart plummeted because she hadn't even considered her daughter might want to be a more prominent part of the wedding. She looked up at Aubrey to see she was smiling, dabbing the tears with her white, silk handkerchief. "Yes baby." She guided her child to stand between the two brides, each of them holding one of her hands.

"Miss Awbwee? Do you pwomise to always make my Mama happy?"

Aubrey certainly couldn't stop the tears now. "Yes baby, I promise to always make your mama happy."

"Then I pwomise to be the bestest daughter my mommies ever could imagine." Her vow to the two most important women in her life may have not seemed significant to everyone, but to Aubrey, hearing Bella say that she now had two mommies, the child comprehending the entirety of this marriage, was worth more than anyone could say. Both the adults squeezed Bella's hands and kept her with them.

They then each took a turn in repeating the traditional vows before the minister pronounced them wife and wife. Stacie lifted Bella up after kissing Aubrey so that Bella could kiss Aubrey's cheek then passed 'their' daughter to Aubrey so she could hug her as well.

As if weddings alone were not enough to make people cry, there certainly wasn't a dry eye in the house after either woman's vows and Bella's 'pwomise'.

Epilogue

Bella sidled up to Aubrey with her arms behind her back and looked at her with big blue eyes. "May I?" Her eyes shifted to Aubrey's stomach. "Mommy says I should ask nicely. That sometimes you get tired of people assuming they can touch your belly." Aubrey smiled at her step-daughter. "What does assume mean?"

Not having the energy to answer the inquisitive five-year old's question, she reached down and took her step-daughter's hand and put it on her bulging abdomen, moving it around until she found just the right spot. As they both felt the baby kicking, the little girl let out a squeal of enjoyment and Aubrey laughed. "You sound just like Aunt Chloe when you do that." Bella looked up to make sure her sounding like Aunt Chloe was a good thing.

"Mommy said that Josie might be here before Christmas."

Aubrey nodded. "That's what I'm hoping."

"But Christmas Eve is tonight. She'd better hurry," Bella said matter-of-factly. "This is our first Christmas as a family, and I want Josie here." Bella kept her hand on Aubrey's tummy a bit longer as she could never tire of feeling her soon-to-be-born baby sister kick. She then cautiously looked at Aubrey as if she was unsure as what the answer would be. "Mommy said I had to ask you if we could open one Christmas present tonight. Just one." She held up a single chubby finger.

Aubrey looked at the tiny Stacie who peered up to her with hopeful eyes. "She did, huh? Do you normally open a present on Christmas Eve?"

Bella shrugged. "I don't remember. I'm only five."

"What do you think we should do? Should we each open a present?" Bella nodded her head furiously. Aubrey loved that her wife had Bella ask her, like she could say no to the child. Of course, Stacie was the one who wanted to open a present early. She was sure of it.

Aubrey was several days past her due date and miserable. But nothing could dampen Bella's spirit on Christmas Eve. After a brief discussion, they decided that Aubrey could pick the present for Stacie to open; Stacie could pick for Bella; and Bella could pick for Aubrey.

Stacie opened hers first, and her gift was a thin gold chain with an infinity symbol charm. She and Aubrey promised each other on a regular basis that their love for each other was never ending, so this piece of jewelry had a special meaning. Aubrey wasn't moving from her chair, so Stacie went to her and kissed her on the forehead.

"It's perfect Aubrey. Just like you."

Next was Bella. She opened a 'My First Science Kit' by Scientific Explorer. Aubrey raised her eyebrows at her wife who shrugged. "Mommy, Mommy, I love it. I wanted to be a scientist when I grow up." Her proclamation was resolute.

"Not sure where she got that gene from. I'm more the creative type," Stacie chuckled.

After looking at the box for her science kit for quite some time, Bella scrambled off the floor and shyly handed a flat package to Aubrey. "Merry Christmas." Aubrey couldn't quite figure out why the little girl had turned timid.

The blonde unwrapped the package to find an envelope inside. She opened the envelope and dumped out a card and a file folder. She held them up to see which Bella wanted her to open, and the little girl pointed to the card. The brunette child was clinging onto Aubrey's knee like it was a life raft. As she read the card, a cloud of confusion crossed her face.

"I don't want you to be Miss Awbwee anymore." Bella was almost crying. "I want you to be my full-time Mama. And I want Josie to be my real sister. And if I'm not your real daughter, Josie can't be my real sister." Everything was so confusing for the little five-year-old's brain. The child had struggled for the past year on what to call her mother's wife. Sometimes it was Mama; sometimes it was Miss Aubrey. Stacie was convinced she was getting a bit of bullying at school, a few students teasing her about her parental situation.

As difficult as it was, Aubrey managed to pull the little girl into the chair next to her to comfort her. She then opened the file folder, then everything fell into place. Petition for Step Parent Adoption, State of Georgia. "Bella look at me. No matter what any paper says, you will always be Josie's sister."

"B-b-but…" Bella was now crying so hard she was hiccupping.

"Baby, if you want me to be your Mama, I'll be your Mama. In fact, if it's okay with Mommy, how about I just start being your full-time Mama today?"

Bella's eyes brightened. "Today?" Aubrey nodded. "Then when Josie gets here, she can be my real sister?"

"Right, when Josie gets here, she will be your real sister."

Bella threw her arms around Aubrey. "I wuv you Mama." She waved for Stacie to come over and pulled her into the hug. "And I wuv you Mommy. Now we are a real famiwy. Well when Josie gets here."

A/N: What a ride this week has been. I'd like to thank Another Bechloe Shipper for getting me interested in doing this week and letting me bounce all sorts of insane ideas off of her. SecretNerd18 – what would I do without your challenging me on things I never saw! Ha ha Thanks for those who read the story through its convoluted chapters as I attempted to make this week a cohesive story.