[A/N]: Warning! Heavy fluff, cheesiness and (unrealistic?) queer happy endings on the horizon. Take cover. You're ready? No? Too late.

a.k.a. the world is cruel (this year especially) and we can all use some queer happiness, am I right?

Thanks for sticking with me. I started writing this because I turned to fanfiction again when I was in a dark place mentally and I wanted to give something back, so… maybe I got this right somehow. Stay safe everyone. And wear a mask in public! :]

Here's the Spotify PL again (finished): playlist/62JeKrKNAwgzgI9IBhfLBY?si=7Aogu_ssSpaRdePf8PKF-A

Leave a review. Or don't. Be happy and free :)

Chapter 17 - Encore (epilogue)

.

Two weeks later

Emily wiggled in her airline seat and leaned over to Beca, sitting next to her. "My stars, I almost forgot-", she shoved the flyer in the small brunettes face and tipped her finger on a picture, "we need to get up the empire state building!"

Beca startled and sighed. "Em, we will do all of this, if you'd just let me sleep for a few minutes, please?" The tone of her voice was a bit whiny and indicated that this was not the first time Emily interrupted her peace. Also not the second time.

"Sorry, Becs. I'm just so excited! I mean hello? New York, baby! But I'll let you get some rest now. Long night?"

Beca had already closed her eyes again and hummed, head propped up on a small pillow which was stuck between her seat and the small window. "Chlo thought I could sleep on the plane, so we stayed up pretty late."

"U-huh…"

Beca snorted, eyes still closed but able to make out the teasing anyway. "There's this new streaming service called Netflix. Chloe wanted to check it out and we kept finding shows and movies she'd like to watch," she elaborated, voice drowsy.

It was quiet for several minutes while Emily turned on the little display on the back of her front seat and looked for signs of this new host. Unfortunately, the airline didn't have it; all she could find was a mix of movies that came out last year and the newest sitcoms. She turned to Beca again and whispered.

"So what shows are on this Netflix?"

"Em!" Beca groaned. "Please, just shut your little mouth and let. Me. Sleep. Urgh, I'm also really hungry… Why don't they serve food on this flight?" Beca mumbled and turned away from Emily, facing the window with its blind closed now.

Emily giggled softly and readjusted the blanket over Beca's feet. "Maybe because it's just about two hours long?"

"Two fifteen if there's headwind."

"Sorry again. I'll be quiet as a mouse now."

Fifteen minutes later, the board crew loudly announced the final descent.

We are happy to inform you that we are now beginning our landing approach. Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts,…

"Seriously?!" Beca huffed and sat upright. Emily pouted pitiful and handed her some chocolate she picked up earlier in the waiting area, which caused Beca's face to soften as she eagerly took the sweets.

Emily turned around to look a bit down the aisle, where Jesse and Benji were sitting (where was Lilly again?). Jesse looked drowsy, only waking up now, while Benji grinned brightly and waved at her. She grinned and waved back. Hard to believe they were actually on their way to the big apple…

Two weeks earlier

After the lights went out for good, the Trebles were met with applause and whistles. It had taken some time before most of the crowd had disappeared and they could begin to gather their important stuff; the rest would be locked up in small containers they had lent from the opera Beca's mom had connections to.

"Okay guys, the van is stuffed. Anything left?" Beca shouted while closing the two doors at the back of her car.

"We're clear. I'll take my guitar back to my apartment; it needs new strings anyway…" Jesse replied.

"Make sure to cut the overhangs this time, it looks ridiculous to have those loose ends hanging there like bad curled locks," Emily remarked sniggering.

She closed her guitar case and put it over her shoulders, ready to join the others on the picnic blankets again. Turning around, she saw two figures approaching them. One was wearing a sweatshirt with a baseball cap under the hood, while the other - tall and athletic - apparently accompanied the first.

"Can we help you?" Emily asked skeptically.

It began to dawn, so she could only really see their faces when the strangers stepped into the blaze of the small headlight that was on the side of the stage. She didn't know the tall one; female features, blonde hair to a ponytail and impressive biceps visible even under the suit jacket they were wearing. She recognized the other face though; she'd seen it often enough on MTV.

"You're Brendon Urie…" Emily stammered and made a step backwards.

Beca and Jesse turned around.

"Yeah, hi there!" The figure lifted its cap and made a waving motion at the group. "So, this performance you gave tonight was really impressive. You don't happen to already have a potential label, do you?"

From then on everything went fast. Benji and Lilly joined them and they all chatted for a bit, exchanging names and contact details. Brendon had a casual character and joked around with them, while his security guard Kara remained silent and stoic. At some point their better halves came over to see what took them so long, but they hung back when they realized what was really going on. At the end of the evening, the Treblemakers were richer by a business card and a promise for further details about their upcoming travel to New York...

After a quick break in the hotel to freshen up, they drove straight to the given address. Albeit it wasn't as wealthy as the big players in the industry, the label insisted on providing them with a personal driver. While they were familiar with a big city like Atlanta, none of them had ever been to New York, and they stuck to the windows of the black van like excited children, pointing to various buildings, flashing lights, and everything worth a look. Lilly eyed the driver suspiciously and made suggestions which route would be the fastest, but none of the others were brave enough to investigate why she should know something like this.

The meeting was better than the last they had in this context from every point of view. Similar to their first experience, they also used the little in-house studio to present some of their songs (although this time, Jesse did bring his own guitar. With clipped strings.), which were received with great enthusiasm. No one wanted to change their appearance, their music style, or their personality; actually, Brendon and Jon, the current bassist, showed a great interest in their lyrics.

Three days after their initial meeting, many conversations, and a fast-as-lighting skim through the contract by Aubrey, the Trebles sat down with Brendon (and the still stone-faced Kara) for burgers and beer in a cozy diner and toasted to what seemed an exciting future.

.

About 1.5 years later

The sequin imprint on her snapback reading "Sky Blue FC" reflected the flood lights of the stadium in various colors - it was a unicum which existed thanks to Chloe's persuasion skills. Beca took it off and swiped her forehead; the warm air of the day had accumulated in the arena and made her hair stick to her face. The first game of "The Beez" in the new founded Women's Professional Soccer League clearly would remain in her memory. She took a swig of her iced tea and got comfortable in the stadium seat.

Next to her, Stacie fanned her face. "So, New Jersey, huh?" she asked with a smirk.

"Yeah… it's cozy" Beca shrugged, concentrating on the game.

"Cozy?"

"Yup. We have a nice neighborhood, nice neighbors… and it's not like we're living in the south, right? We just need like, 40 minutes to get to this tasty diner in Manhattan?"

"If there's not much traffic."

"Whatever, dude. I like our house. We need space, okay? Chloe needs the garden and the gym and I need space for my drums and stuff."

"No need to get all defensive, Beca" Stacie laughed and put her hand on Beca's shoulder. "I didn't mean to mock you. Well, not that much." She winked. "I'm glad you're happy, though. You do realize that you're the ones who'll host upcoming Treble-events and barbeques, right?"

"Because the town house you two are sharing with Bumper and Benji isn't large enough?"

"No, because you have a garden. I can't imagine dragging all the required stuff out to public barbeque places, and I want to be able to tan half-naked if I'm in the mood for it. No need for some needy New Yorkers to see more of this body than necessary."

Stace readjusted her sunglasses and shot Beca a smug look, who seemed to think about that suggestion for a minute.

"I don't think I'll have a problem with that."

"My, Ms. Mitchell! Your girlfriend is down there, playing her ass off!"

"She'd agree with me."

"I know, she would. One day, I'll get one of those, too."

"A girlfriend?" Beca asked, sticking her tongue out.

"Ha-ha. A garden, stupid."

Soon, just five minutes were left to play and Beca got nervous. It was a tie, 1:1 Beez vs. Boston Breakers, and she wanted nothing more for Chloe than to win her first real professional game. Sure, she had played a few friendlies and was substituted for a couple of times at the end of some games. This time though, she played from the beginning, being one of the top defenders.

The opposing team started their attack, coming over the left wing, dribbling its way through the midfield. Suddenly, the attacking player was before Chloe, who stood her ground and managed to snatch the ball away. She jumped over the foot trying to trip her up and looked over the field, spotting one of the two strikers multiple yards away.

Aiming, run-up, deep breath, shot.

The ball flew through the air, landing almost perfectly in front of her team member Hannah, who dashed to her left and, with a successful feint, shot as well, placing the ball in the left corner of the goal.

The small stadium exploded and Beca jumped up, throwing her hands in the air. On the field, Chloe copied her move and ran up to Hannah to jump in her lap. After several seconds of cheering, everyone got back to their positions, but Chloe saw someone at the bottom of the grandstands waving a Sky Blue scarf like a maniac. On their head, the light glistened in various colors.

"Baby you did it!" Beca screamed at her when Chloe jogged close. A bright smile manifested on her face.

"There a still three minutes to play you crazy monkey!" Chloe answered and stood on her tip-toes, grabbing Beca's face to kiss her. The surrounding fans got their cameras out and flashlight hit the pair.

"You know this will be on the tabloids tomorrow?" Beca mumbled against Chloe's lips and grinned.

"Hmm," Chloe hummed and pressed her lips on Beca's again. "I hope they got a good picture of us being gal pals," she winked and stepped down again, expecting the whistle of the referee.

"Hurry up babe, they're waiting!" Beca shouted and shushed her away, right when the referee's whistle piped up.

Just a few minutes more.

.

About 2 years later

Benji and Beca sat in front of the large mixing board and mumbled something, before the drummer pressed the button on the intercom to talk to Brendon standing in the record booth. "Hey Brendon, when you do your first line, don't tiptoe in; sing it like bam, here I come, okay?"

"Yeah, got ya"

"Alright let's give it a go", she answered and started the music with Jesse's lines partially recorded.

…on a passenger plane, passenger plane…

Brendon waited for his cue and chimed in. "Permanent jet lag… please take me back, please take me back… I'm a stray dog sick, please let me in; the mad key's tripping, singing vows before we exchange smoke rings"

The music stopped a few bars after.

"That was really good!" Benji shouted from his place at the board.

"Yeah dude, that was great, I think we're through with this part" Beca agreed and pushed several buttons and levers. "So have you decided yet if you wanna have one microphone or one for you each?" Her look switched between Brendon and Jesse, who sat on the couch across them.

"Well, I mean, I don't know about you, but do you think these two inches could make a difference?" Jesse asked, gesticulating in Brendon's direction, who still stood in the booth.

"Don't be so full of yourself, Jesse" he laughed. I think they'll hardly make a difference. Maybe you should start singing while sitting for a change?"

Jesse turned to Beca, smirking. "We'll use one mic together then."

.

About 4 years later

"Alright you guys, the next song has been in my head for a long time. But, you know, life needed to happen; good things, exhausting things, challenging things, happy things. Happy things most of the time I'm lucky to say. This one's for the two most important people in my life, I love you so much!"

Jesse pointed smiling to his side somewhere in the large concert hall and put the microphone in the stand. Beca counted loudly by hitting her sticks together and started the song, playing her fast drum riff while joined by Emily.

"Life's just a pace-car on death, only less diligent,

and when the two collide, it's no coincidence

the lights are on and everybody's home…

The only thing suicidal here is the doors,

we had a good run, even I have to admit

life's just a pace-car on death - only less diligent…

Hell or glory, I don't want anything in between,

then came a baby bean with long eyelashes

and daddy said, 'you gotta show the world the thunder'

whoaa oh oh, the thunder…."

Aubrey swayed back and forth on her seat to the beat, cradling the small bundle that was pressed tightly against her torso. The large ear protectors on the child's head pressed in her face when it turned its head around to look at the stage.

"Who's there on the stage, huh little bug? Daddy and your aunties and uncle making music! Daddy's singing for us," she whispered grinning, fully aware that the kid wouldn't be able to hear her wearing the protective headgear, but rather feeling the vibrations of her voice.

"You're sure Taylor's ears are safe?" Chloe asked over the music, leaning in to ruffle the few dark blonde hairs on the little head.

Stacie answered for Aubrey, "They're bulletproof Chloe; I've read several articles about it and tested them in the lab. It may look stupid but it's perfectly safe."

"Hey! Taylor doesn't look stupid!" Aubrey shouted pouting and kissed the child's cheek. "You don't look stupid sweetie, don't listen to mean Aunt Stacie."

Stacie laughed and bumped Aubrey's shoulder playfully, while Bumper leaned in. "Sure you don't, you are the cutest little bean on this planet, aren't you?" he cooed and earned a smile from Taylor after they turned around, recognizing the familiar grimacing face of Bumper.

After the song, the small group went inside the VIP box behind them and Stacie and Chloe rushed to the buffet to refill their plates with finger food. Aubrey and Benji remained at the windows, watching the concert with a now muffled sound.

"You wanna hold them, don't you? I can practically feel those parenting vibes evaporating from you," Aubrey said, already handing over the small child to Bumper while effectively removing the large ear protectors.

"Heeeyy Tay! How's it going? Do you like the big stadium? You're here with us like a grown up now, aren't you?" Bumper asked and let Taylor grip his pointer finger.

Aubrey laughed, her heart growing several sizes seeing Bumper with her child. "It's about time you get your own, otherwise you're going to spoil them to death later, I swear… How is it going with the adoption process? If you need someone to look at the paperwork again, you know you can call me!"

Bumper smiled thankfully, teetering the kid in his arms. "Yeah, well, I mean the bureaucracy is killing me, but I think Benji showed you everything important. I'm glad he takes care of that, I'm just better at furnishing the nursery."

"I see." She smiled. "Well remember, it really isn't an effort at all. I mean the Trebles contract is in the bag and I have enough time before I go back to the office."

"Thank you, we might take you up on that. But first of all, I have a very important question for you, little bean." He looked at Taylor. "Would you prefer green or yellow paint for your soon-to-be-bestie?"

Taylor looked at him with wide eyes and put their hand in Bumper's face, giggling.

"Huh, I guess that means I don't care Uncle Bum, fucking choose yourself!"

"Bumper!"

"What? It's not as if they understand it yet…"

.

About 5 years later

"…I don't want anything in between, then came a baby bean with long eyelashes and daddy said you gotta show the world the thunder…"

"TUNDER!"

Benji chuckled and kissed Spencer's cheek as he lifted them out of the baby seat in the car. "Yes chipmunk, thunder! Whoohoooo, the thunder…"

"Uuuhh, tunder!" the kid answered Benji's singing; shouting the last word across the parking lot.

"Keep this up and you'll soon replace me as background singer, won't you?"

"Singer?" Spencer seemed to think about the word for a few seconds. "Papa singer," they stated and pointed at Benji's nose with the whole hand.

"Right munk, I do! You're so smart, aren't you?"

"Mart! Dad singer too?" the kid asked, waving with a big lollipop looking rattle.

"Sometimes, u-huh! Dad sings you lullabies sometimes. And now we're going to pick dad up from work and then we'll get something for dinner together, what do you say?" Benji took Spencer in his arms and pointed to the building in front of them, while he walked up to the secondary entrance to avoid having to use the main entrance. "Dad waits for us in there! Do you know where we're going?"

Spencer shook their head no.

"This is a hospital. Hos-pi-tal… When people are sick, they come here and get well again!"

"Dad sick?" Spencer's eyes widened, apparently at the thought of one of their dads not feeling well.

Benji laughed but recovered quickly when he saw that his child was seriously worried. "No, Dad's not sick. I'm sorry chipmunk, I didn't want to scare you. No, Dad takes care of sick people. He makes them feel better again!"

Spencer raised an eyebrow skeptically, which made it harder for Benji to keep his serious façade. "M'by kisses and cuddles?"

"No Spence, other people get medicine. Only you and I get treated with Dad's kisses and cuddles!"

That seemed to be reasonable enough for the kid and it closed its mouth, nodding thoughtfully. Benji grinned secretly and walked through the corridors, Spencer on his right hip. He entered the respective ward and greeted two of Bumper's colleagues who emerged at the same time.

Spencer pressed their face in Benji's body, shying away from the strangers, which made his father patting their back protectively. "Don't worry, we'll be home soon again." He arrived at the nurses' lounge and knocked at the door that was slightly ajar, before pushing it further open. "Hello? Anyone there? Hey Spence, why don't you call dad?"

"Daaaad!" Spencer shouted into the room and a moment later, Bumper opened the door, accompanied by a soft aaaww from his colleague sitting on a couch.

"Is this my favorite little person picking me up from work?" he greeted Spencer, smiling brightly when he took them from Benji's arm. "It's so good to see you little one, how are you doing? Did you bring papa, too? That's so nice of you!"

The child giggled as Bumper blew raspberries on their cheek before he kissed Benji hello. "Hey handsome! I'm almost done, I just have to stop by Fuentes' office, earlier she said she'd have a proposal for me."

Benji furrowed his brows. "Oh, okay; did something happen, or…?"

"No, actually she sounded pretty relaxed." Bumper shrugged and gave the kid back to Benji. "It won't take long."

"Daddy home, dinner," Spencer stated indignantly when they sensed Bumper was going to leave again.

"Don't worry chipmunk, I'll be back soon and then we go home okay?" Bumper smiled at the little sigh that escaped the child and left the break room after a little tap on Spencer's nose. Benji watched Spencer looking after Bumper before he turned to the couches and pressed his lips to the temple of his child.

"Dad just needs to talk to his boss for a bit and then we'll go home. You're in the mood for potatoes, carrots and fennel?"

Spencer processed the words and grinned when they understood the meaning of them. "Yes!"

"Yeah, I know, you're always in the mood for food, right?"

When Bumper came back, he had already changed and wore his street clothes instead of his scrubs. He found Benji and Spencer in the break room, talking to his co-worker Denise.

"…have to meet Lilly some time then, she's an absolutely lunatic when it comes to bikes. I'm sure you'd get along perfectly!" He turned around at the sound of the door and his face fell. "Oh, hey babe, are you alright? You look like a ghost actually…"

Bumper sat down next to Benji and Spencer and turned to Denise. "Hey, could you maybe give us a minute?"

"Of course, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Ben, bye Spencer!" She waved in a big gesture and smiled affectionately when the kid waved shyly in return. Benji waited for the door to close after Denise before he talked again.

"Is everything okay?"

"Dad sick?" Spencer asked, reaching for Bumper's face to pet him.

Bumper swallowed and shook his head. "No I'm fine, everything's fine." He exhaled. "I just… uh, actually I think I've just been offered the ward managing position. Flo's going to climb the ladder as well and she wants me to be the next in line."

Benji's face widened in surprise. "Oh my god! That is so awesome!"

"That means no more shiftwork and no work on weekends and higher salary… I mean I'll have more responsibilities, too, but…" Bumper stared into space while he listed up the new benefits and a small smile formed on his face. "We can have family time every weekend and don't have to worry about a babysitter when you're going on tour next year…"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but yes, it definitely makes things easier," Benji agreed with a bright smile. "I'm so proud of you, you know that?"

"Thank you," Bumper replied and kissed him gently. "I'm so lucky to have you… both of you of course." He leaned his head against Spencer's and fondled their dark hair. "Hey Spencer, wanna go home and get some food?"

"Loooooveee food! Tatoes!"

"You're always hungry, aren't you chipmunk?"

Benji scrunched his face, nodding at Bumper. "Yeah, we had a similar situation earlier. They're going to be a hole without a bottom in their teens, I can sense it."

"Then we have to make sure to drop them off at Jesse's and Aubrey's often enough, let them take care of the two little monsters then." Bumper stated with a wink and took Spencer again when they got up to drive home.

.

About 6 years later

"What if she says no?"

"She won't say no, Stace."

"What if?"

"It's not going to happen!"

"Oh my god, it's too soon." Stacie whispered and gasped. "She's too young; she'll regret not having played the field long enough before committing; I'm going to cancel this, blow out the candles, everyone! Guys, you can all go home and-"

slap

"You hit me!" Stacie shouted and held her cheek.

"Yes, I did, because you're being hysterical!" Chloe answered with a pointy look on her face.

Behind her, Beca took a step out of the bushes in the garden where she and the others hid. "Hey babe? I'm sure it brings ill luck at least in some culture to hit someone who's about to propose."

"I remember someone hitting me before I asked you," Chloe answered, smirking.

"Uh, okay? Should I be worried-" Beca started, but got pulled back by Jesse. "Do them let their thing, Bec!"

Chloe turned to Stacie again. "Consider us even and pull yourself together!" When she saw the devastating look on Stacie's face, she sighed and continued with a soothing voice, not wanting to make things worse. "Hey… Emily loves you." She hugged the woman in front of her tightly. "Be honest; do you want us to leave so you can have your privacy? We'd all understand."

Stacie hugged back and buried her face in Chloe's neck. She shook her head no and exhaled. "No, stay. I need my family around to do this."

"You got this, believe me."

Behind them, Lilly stuck her head out of the bushes. "She's coming."

Stacie and Chloe looked at each other confused, but a few seconds later a door slammed shut and Emily's voice chimed up from inside the house. "Stacie, I'm back! Where are you?"

Stacie got nervous. "Okay, come on, go go go!" she whispered and pushed Chloe into the plants where the others hid, ran to the garden table and grabbed the box on it.

"I'm outside, Em!"

While she waited for her girlfriend to step outside, she heard brabbling behind her, apparently Bumper shushing little Spencer, who started getting restless in their hideout.

"Guys, I need you to be quie-eeeyy baby! Glad to see you're home!" Stacie managed to save herself and smiled brightly when Emily appeared in the doorway. The younger one tilted her head looking around but saw nothing apart from Stacie standing plainly in their garden, her arms behind her back.

"Err, yes? What's going on? Anything happened while I was away for like 10 minutes to get those chips you wanted?" She looked down on the path leading to the back of the garden, on each side of which stood several tealights, illuminating it like a runway in the approaching night. "Babe what's with the candles?"

"Em, I need you to shut up now."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry." Stacie cringed and coughed. "Em, I'm really nervous and I prepared this whole speech about how much I love you and how you managed to turn my life upside down, made me accept myself and my flaws. I think there was something in it about how much it means to me waking up to you every day, well, at least most of the days when you're not out there performing for thousands of people-"

Out of the bushes they could hear a small harrumph, which made Emily looking past Stacie with a raised eyebrow.

"-anyways, maybe I should have written it down, now that I think about it." She caught her breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Okay. So, I know you're still young; we are still young but… Emily you make me a better person and exceedingly happy every day and I can't imagine not being yours forever anymore. Will you let me be… your player two?"

Stacie opened the box, which held a small replica of a SNES controller in it. Around the cable coming out of it sat a golden ring, holding a small diamond.

Emily's jaw fell down. She looked at the box, at Stacie and at the box again.

"You're… proposing?"

"Well, yes Em." Stacie chuckled nervously.

"You can't tell me she didn't know where this was going?!" Aubrey whispered confused to Benji behind the leaves of a great plant. He was concentrating on holding up a digital camera to record the proposal and just turned his face and glared at Aubrey in return, effectively shutting her up.

Seconds in silence flew by.

"I guess this would be the part where you answer?" Stacie stated when Emily still looked at the box.

"Oh, right! God, I'm sorry Stace, of course I'll marry you!"

"You do?"

"Yes, of course silly!" Emily shouted and ran up to Stacie, hugging her tightly. "You're so cute, oh my god look at this tiny thing!" She grabbed the mini controller and held the cable so Stacie could remove the ring and put it on her finger.

"For the record, I meant the controller, not the diamond." Emily added and kissed Stacie deeply. Behind the two of them, the rest of the group emerged from their hide-out and applauded, Taylor and Spencer shrieking happily.

CR was tapping an IPA as the door to Jeffrey's opened and four figures entered the room. They finished tapping and put the full glass on a tray already holding other drinks.

"Hey, we're having a private party tonight. Sorry, can't let you in."

The patrons stopped a second before turning on their heels, leaving the pub disappointed.

"…could've just looked at the sign at the door, smarty-pants…" CR muttered and took the tray off the counter. They went further into the bar and approached the table where the initiators of the private event were seated.

"CR, you wonderful human being!" Fat Amy stood up and raised both arms as if they hadn't seen each other a few minutes ago.

"You know you're the only person who calls me that?" CR answered and put the tray on the table. "You can drop the charade; I know it's all about the booze for you."

"But it doesn't hurt to hear it from time to time?" Fat Amy answered.

"…and she's right! You getting our drinks just reinforces your characteristics as a wonderful human being! And what are you doing standing there, come have a seat!" Jesse agreed, lifting his glass from the tray.

"I've a feeling you're in speech mode already. You didn't have a little warm up while watching the kids have you, baby?" Aubrey asked Jesse playfully, but made eye contact with Beca and Bumper nonetheless.

Beca scoffed. "Please, they were disgustingly cute with them as always. If anyone should have been drinking, it would've been me," she stated and lifted her coke in a cheers gesture, but her staged eyeroll was recognized by Chloe anyway. She got slapped on her shoulder.

CR chuckled while they took a seat on the large table. "Where are the little munchkins anyway?"

"My parents watch them. They don't get to see them that often and volunteered." Emily replied happily. "We all stay for the weekend while they spoil them rotten."

"Yeah funny, 'cause you don't have to deal with the consequences. I'm already scared of Sunday evening." Benji gave Bumper a desperate look. "You remember last time? I think the sugar high didn't went down until three days later…"

Bumper took Benji's hand and squeezed it. "It won't be that bad, I think. I had a talk with Erik and they'll try to reduce the candy intake from now on. It was Christmas after all and they wanted them to get the whole experience!"

"Well, that doesn't justify the need to put candy canes into every meal they had; I mean when we-"

"Okay guys, can we maybe not talk about the kids for two seconds?" Chloe interrupted Aubrey, who looked as if she was ready to share her detailed knowledge about appropriate child nutrition with the whole table. "You all know I love those two endlessly, but we're here so you four," she pointed at the two couples with children, "can have some grown up time and to celebrate Stacie's new job!"

Stacie tossed a small whohoo in and sipped at her wine.

"… and to finally be in the pub again where it all started?" Beca asked with a small voice.

"…and to have a drink at Jeffrey's again; yes you dork." Chloe added, pushed against Beca's snapback, and kissed her cheek.

"Have you ever been to the secret dungeon below the building?" Lilly asked into the round.

"You mean like a Dungeons & Dragons one or like a secret sex dungeon?" Chad asked back from his seat in the corner, but Lilly just answered by moving her eyes from left to right.

Amy looked at her suspiciously. "Yeah you know, I really don't get what you mean by that, does any of you guys…?"

She was met with shaking heads.

After an awkward silence, Chloe raised her glass. "To Stacie being the new head scientist at Bioconsults!"

"To my lovely wife!" Emily shouted and touched glasses with Stacie.

"To Stacie!" the others chimed in.

"… and to the Treblemakers, saving rock and roll!" Jesse added after everyone took a sip from their drink.

"Dude! We should totally name an album that!"