Chapter Text
We’ll Make It Through
Prologue
Had our share of the pain
Of the clouds, and the rain
Lean on me, and I’ll lean on you
And together, we’ll get through
We always do
We always do
I know you’re scared, ‘cause you can’t see the light
You toss and turn through the night
Holdin’ me, and I’m holdin’ you
And together, we’ll get through
We always do
We always do
I know you’re scared, can’t see the light
Gotta believe it’s gonna be alright
Lean on me, and I’ll lean on you
And together, we’ll get through
We always do
We always do.
xxxx
“Dance with me.”
Chloe looked uncertain. She finally met her wife’s gaze and felt her breath catch. Aubrey was smiling patiently, one hand outstretched, beckoning her closer without pressure. She was already swaying gently to the music playing over the speaker. Chloe felt tears biting at her eyes but she reached and took the blonde’s hand.
Aubrey’s smile widened as Chloe took her hand and stood. “Do you remember this song?” The blonde asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Chloe nodded and allowed Aubrey to pull her closer. She could feel her wife’s breath ghosting across her neck and shoulder as they stepped into each other's space.
“This was the song you’d play for me when the world seemed to be at its worst.” The blonde continued softly. “You’d play this song, sometimes sing along, and you’d ask me to dance. When Howie dumped me, you played this song. When I lost the ICCAs for us junior year, you played this song. When my father kicked me out, you played this song. After you proposed, you played this song. When I didn’t get the COO job the first time around, you played this song. This was our song…before there even was an ‘us’.”
“I re…r-re-member.” Chloe replied, just as softly.
Neither noticed as the space between them closed and their arms loosely circled the other. They swayed to the music gently.
When you kissed my lips, with my mouth so full of questions,
My worried mind, that you quiet
Place your hands on my face
Close my eyes and say
Love is a poor man’s food, with no proper side.
“This is all I need.” Aubrey whispered. “This…just you and me.”
I could hold you, in my arms.
I could hold you forever.
Chloe sniffled and let her chin fall to Aubrey’s shoulder. She turned her face slightly and inhaled the familiar scent of Aubrey’s shampoo. It seemed so normal. So simple. All the horrifying shit of the past months faded away. She gripped the back of Aubrey’s shirt tightly in her fist as they swayed.
I could hold you, in my arms,
I could hold on, forever.
Aubrey smiled and hummed along to the music, relishing in the feeling of being so near to Chloe. It seemed the only time she was allowed to wrap her arms around her wife was to comfort her and ease her out of her panicked fear.
The song started to fade but Chloe pulled back slightly in surprise when the song began to play again from the beginning.
Aubrey shrugged with a timid grin. “Like the song says…”
Chloe met Aubrey’s steady gaze. Aubrey, who had been with her, stayed with her, through the worst thing life could throw at her. Aubrey, who refused to let the redhead push her away. Aubrey, who had held on. Chloe’s heart swelled with an aching love. She didn’t feel worthy. But she damn sure wasn’t going to give up now. Because Aubrey wouldn’t. Aubrey hadn’t. And Aubrey deserved Chloe’s best attempts at some kind of healing, normalcy. Not the normal they had lived…but maybe a new normal. There was love in both.
“I f…fucking love you.”
Aubrey’s smile widened as Chloe pulled her closer and threw her arms around her, pulling her in for a crushing hug, their whole bodies flush. “I fucking love you too Chloe Posen-Beale…We’ll make it through…together.”