Chloe's point of view

One month later

Since Ryan and I got kicked out of our last apartment months ago, we've been staying at Nina's. I thought it would only be for a few weeks, but those weeks turned into months. Ryan and I have been living here for almost nine months. Nina took us in so she wouldn't be so lonely. Well, that's what she said, but I think she was just trying to look out for Ryan and I.

Luckily Nina doesn't mind Beca coming over and the anger she used to have towards her is gone because Beca comes here every day after she finishes work at Republic Records.

Last month I tried to give her an out because she still had doubts about her feelings in terms of Ryan but I'm glad she turned that down. Those two are the cutest when they are together. Maybe I should talk to Beca about moving in?

I'm taken aback a little by two arms around my waist.

,,What are you thinking about?" I smile and turn around in her arms.

,,You." She raises her eyebrows.

,,Why? If you wanted to be with me, you should've come back to bed." She gives me a wink. Our relationship has grown so much since we got back together, maybe even beyond where we left off.

,,Last night was amazing but you have to finish an album and I need to be there for Noah when the baby is born."

,,I know." She sighs.

,,What's wrong?" I know what every sigh means by now and not only in a sexual way.

,,It's just not fair. Why did the police let Chicago go? He tried to kill Ryan and now you're allowing him to watch Ryan all day?"

,,It's not my choice. You heard Yelena's explanation. Chicago didn't kill anyone, he just attempted. He got out on bail and now he wants to show me that he can be a good father."

,,But he isn't. You said so yourself."

,,Becs, I can't do anything about the jury's verdict. Chicago still has custody for now, so I have to let him see Ryan or Chicago can threaten to try and get full custody."

,,You can't lose Ryan." She kisses me. ,,I will go and you should go too or you'll be late." I nod. Nina already left to make it to the hospital for Noah, so it's just me, Ryan, and Beca.

Once Beca is dressed, she kisses me goodbye and then quickly leaves. She doesn't want to be late and she doesn't want to be here when Chicago comes, which is understandable since he tried to kill her. I walk towards Ryan's bedroom and see him taking his time getting dressed. Normally he's pretty quick, but not today.

,,Ryan, sweety, what's wrong?"

,,Why do I have to stay with Chicago?" He still doesn't say 'daddy'. ,,I don't like him."

,,Because he wants to be a part of your life."

,,But why now? He's never wanted to before."

,,Because like it or not, he's still your father." I sit next to him on his bed. ,,Sweety, I don't want to leave you with him but I have to. If I refuse, he can take you away from me." His eyes widen when I say that. I never wanted to say that but Beca said that it was only fair to Ryan that he knows what's at stake.

,,No!" He yells and throws his arms around my neck. ,,I want to stay with you and mama." My heart still warms hearing Ryan call Beca 'mama'.

,,Can you promise that you will be a good boy today? We can go for ice cream with mama after, okay?" After hearing that Ryan nods happily and I help him to get ready. I'm still worried about trusting Chicago to watch after Ryan because I don't like Chicago either.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by the doorbell, telling me that Chicago is here, so I walk into the hall and open the door. Chicago walks in like he owns the place and he's trying to show his dominance. I walk over to him after closing the door.

,,You're late." I cross my arms, just as Ryan appears too.

,,Calm down, Chloe. I'm here like I promised, right?" I roll my eyes.

,,Listen I didn't even want to allow you here in the first place so don't start acting like you actually care now. Next there is a list of important phone numbers on the counter of the kitchen if you need anything." He grabs the list and I can see a questioning look on his face.

,,Why is Beca on here?"

,,Because, unlike you, she's very important to Ryan and me. Not that it's any of your business." He rolls his eyes, annoyed. ,,Ryan's lunch is already made and in the oven, you just have to turn it on and give it to him when the time comes." He looks at Ryan. ,,His nap time is between 2:30 and 3:30 PM. Do not let him sleep longer than that or he won't sleep tonight." I try to continue but Chicago cuts me off by laughing.

,,Chloe, he's a toddler. I'm pretty sure I can handle it." I glare at him.

,,If anything happens to Ryan while I'm gone, I will make sure you are punished." Chicago seems to understand that I'm serious. He gives a quick salute and tells me to have fun and that everything will be fine. I kneel to Ryan. ,,Be good for Chicago. Remember the ice cream." I give him a wink. He smiles. ,,Now, give me a kiss." He throws his arms around my neck and kisses my cheek, after which he walks towards the TV. I say my goodbye to Chicago and quickly make my way to the hospital. Gwen should be in labor by now. I can't wait to see my niece!

At the hospital, I'm waiting with Zoey, Nina and our parents for Noah to come out to get us once the baby is born.

,,Who is ready to meet the newest member of the Beale clan." Noah comes out with a big smile on his face. We all get up and follow him inside the room and see my baby niece in Gwen's arms.

,,She's beautiful." I whisper and smile at Gwen. ,,What's her name?" Noah and Gwen look at each other before giving me the answer.

,,Everyone, meet Elena." They say at the same time with big smiles on their faces.

,,She's gorgeous." Zoey says and looks at Elena full of love.

,,Chloe, where's Ryan?" Noah asks.

,,Well you see, he's at home, with Chicago." Their mouths fall open.

,,Why would you do that?!" Zoey asks. ,,He doesn't even like Ryan."

,,I don't have a choice, Zoey. He's still Ryan's father, and the court mandated it."

,,But he tried to kill Beca and Ryan."

,,I know but if I refuse, Chicago can try to file for full custody, and then I will lose Ryan."

,,You're going to regret this decision. Couldn't Beca watch Ryan?"

,,Beca had to work."

,,And what about Emma, Kara, or Liam? You know Ryan loves all of them."

,,I had to give Chicago a chance." I feel tears in my eyes and can't hold back a sob. ,,I left Ryan with someone he doesn't even like. I'm a terrible mother." Nina quickly comes over and pulls me into a hug.

,,Chloe, you are an amazing mother to Ryan! I'm sure Ryan and Chicago are fine. Is Beca coming back after she's done working?"

,,Yes, she promised, we have dinner plans with Emily, Yelena, Kara and Lena."

,,When are you two finally moving in together?" Zoey now asks and I'm a little taken aback.

,,I would love to live in one apartment or house with Beca, but it's up to her."

,,Well, I think she will come to her senses eventually. She loves you." I look at my siblings and feel very loved. I can't wait to come home and be with Beca and Ryan alone. I miss them even though I saw them two hours ago.

Beca's point of view

Emily and I have been in the studio since early this morning because we want to finish recording her album, so we can just focus on the little details and release it soon. Emily has been so excited about getting to work with me, to get her music out, that I've been trying to keep her happy and get it ready as soon as we can.

Tonight Emily and I are going to have dinner with Ryan and Chloe. Yelena is coming too and so are Kara and Lena, and we all agreed to meet at Nina's apartment.

Emily is currently in the booth finishing off the vocals for the last two songs on the album when I get a message from Chloe.

Chloe 💖: Nina and I are on our way home. The baby is so cute and her name is Elena! 😁🥰 See you soon?

Beca 🏍: Emily and I are almost done. We'll be there soon. Have you heard from Yelena?

Chloe has Yelena's number because of the research she did when I disappeared. Yelena helped Chloe find me by using her research, and she kept in touch with Chloe.

Chloe 💖: I can't wait to see you and I bet Ryan misses you too. Think of yourself and don't work too hard. I love you! 😚 And yes, Yelena is on her way.

Beca 🏍: Don't worry about me. I love you 2! 🥰

Emily and I continue to focus on the last touches of her songs and finish quicker than we thought.

,,It's going to be amazing, Em." I tell Emily when she's out of the booth.

,,Do you think Yelena will like it too?" Emily asks nervously. I smirk.

,,You got it bad, huh?" She nods and plays with her hands nervously.

,,Our first date was great but it was a month ago. We have kept in contact through messages but she hasn't asked me out again. What if she didn't like me?" I grab both her hands now.

,,Emily, listen to me." I look deep into her eyes. ,,Yelena likes you. We all could see how she looked at you in the hospital. Stop being so insecure."

,,Weren't you insecure around Chloe the first time?"

,,Of course, I was. Chloe was a senior, way too good for me. At least, that's what I thought but Chloe and I spent a lot of time together. Our relationship grew. Maybe that's what Yelena wants too. Maybe she wants to build a friendship first before jumping you."

,,Jumping me?!" Emily's eyes widen and a deep shade of red appears on her cheeks.

,,Don't act like you don't want that. Everyone takes that step once in their lives." I give her a wink. ,,Seriously, Yelena likes you so much, and I'm sure things will pick up soon. She has been busy at the precinct lately." I look at the clock and see that it's time to go. ,,Now, let's go. Our girls are waiting for us." Emily nods, I save the song and then we walk out of Republic Records, to Nina's apartment.

On our way, Emily loops her arm in mine.

,,But enough about me, how are things going between you, Chloe, and Ryan?" I look at her with a smile.

,,With Chloe, it feels like we are getting close to where we were before I went missing, so that's great. As far as Ryan, you know I had my reservations about him but I've been learning to care about him. I want to keep him safe and protected as I do for Chloe." Emily smiles down at me and nudges me slightly.

,,I told you so, he's such a sweet kid. You can't help but like him."

,,I'm getting used to him." I say and smile, but that smile fades when we get closer to the apartment. Sirens from a fire truck pass us and we can see black smoke in the sky. Emily and I look at each other first before taking off towards the apartment complex. When we arrive we see the whole building on fire, not only Nina's apartment but also the other apartments. My eyes widened because Chloe and Ryan could be still inside. I start to look around for Chloe in the madness. Emily realizes what I'm trying to do and pulls her phone out to call Chloe to ask if she's safe. Emily puts her phone on speaker and right before it goes to voicemail, Chloe answers frantically.

Emily, where are you guys? I found Kara and Lena but I can't reach Chicago and I think Ryan is still inside.

Chloe lets out a sob and without thinking I start running into the building. I distantly hear Emily yelling my name but I block everything out and focus on getting Ryan.

Once in the building, I'm assaulted by smoke right away so I put the collar of my flannel over my mouth to let me breathe a little easier. I make my way to Nina's apartment to find the door unlocked so I run in then start crawling to see through the smoke, yelling for Ryan. I hear faint coughing coming from the living room so I follow the sound and find Ryan holding onto his red panda tightly, looking terrified and crying. I get closer to him and move my shirt so he can see my face.

,,Ryan, it's me Beca. Are you hurt anywhere?" He shakes his head. ,,Can you walk?" Ryan just looks at me with tears and starts shaking. I grab him into a tight hug. ,,It's all going to be, okay? I'm going to get you out of here I promise, okay? Don't worry, you're safe now." He cuddles into me, so I quickly pick him up and walk us to the bathroom where I grab a towel and soak it with water before wrapping Ryan in it. He protests at first, saying it feels weird. ,,You need it to be safe." He understands. I quickly stop in Chloe's room and grab my red panda, handing it to Ryan so he is now holding two. ,,You are now protected by not only me but by the power of the red pandas." That makes him laugh and relax which is my point. I don't want him to panic even more.

I start making my way back out of the apartment when we start to hear loud crashes and bangs from the building collapsing.

,,Hold on tight, keep the towel over your face and body and close your eyes, we will be out shortly, okay?" He nods at me before I drape the towel over his face and start running as fast as I can down the stairs toward the front of the apartment building. It takes a while because Nina's apartment is on the fourth floor. I have almost made it to the front when I hear another crack. I look up and see a part of the ceiling coming down. I jump to the side with my right arm around Ryan, but can't prevent a brick from falling on my left arm, and causing me to fall on the ground with Ryan on top of me. I scream out in pain and look at my arm which is crushed by a big piece of the ceiling. I look around us and see there is an opening big enough for Ryan to crawl between. That way he can get out. I look at Ryan. ,,Ryan, I need you to be a big boy now and crawl through that hole." I point to the hole. ,,That way you can get out of here. Can you do that?" He just looks back at me and shakes his head on the brink of crying. I rub his back with the arm that I can still use. ,,Remember you have the power of the pandas to protect you. All you have to do is hug them close, keep the towel on you and walk out of the door."

,,But what about you?" He asks me, crying now.

,,I'll be fine. Now, can you be a big boy for me and walk out to go find mommy?" As soon as I mention Chloe, he nods his head like crazy. I help to wrap the towel around him. ,,You can do this. I'll see you outside, okay?" And with that Ryan crawls through the hole, keeping his towel tight around him. The fire is getting stronger, so I need to be quick now and try to get out of here. I attempt to free my arm, but I can't move it. The smoke is getting even thicker and I feel like I can't breathe. I can't move and there is fire all around me.

,,Beca?" I suddenly hear and let Yelena know where I am. I can see her face appear from the other side of that tiny hole Ryan climbed through. ,,Beca, are you okay?"

,,My arm is stuck and it hurts like hell. I can't move." I honestly tell her.

,,I have to talk to the fire department so they can move away the bricks and release your arm. I'll be back, okay?"

,,Okay." I say and start coughing. I see her disappear again. I need to get my arm loose! I try once again to remove my arm, but it doesn't work. It's getting harder to breathe, so I cover my face with my flannel again before I hear another crash. I look up and see more pieces of the ceiling fall. I put my arm that's not crushed over my head to protect myself, but I'm unsuccessful because everything turns black.

Yelena's point of view

I'm walking to the apartment, where I'm having dinner with Emily, Beca, Chloe, Kara and Lena. They're not here yet, but I can see smoke coming out of the building. I ran towards the building to see Chloe already there.

,,Yelena!" She says to me. ,,Have you seen Chicago or Ryan outside?"

,,No, but I'll go check what happened." Chloe nods while she grabs her phone that had started to ring. I walk towards the officers to get information. ,,Officer, can you tell me what happened?"

,,A fire has been started in the building but there are still people trapped inside."

,,Who is still in there?"

,,We don't know yet." The officers don't want to say anything more, so I walk back to Chloe, who is talking on the phone.

Emily, where are you guys? I found Kara and Lena but I can't reach Chicago and I think Ryan is still inside.

I can hear Chloe say, so Beca and Emily are here? I look around to try and see them when I spot Emily. I tell them I'll be right back and walk towards Emily who looks startled.

,,Hey, what's wrong?" I ask her and grab her hands.

,,Beca went inside to get Ryan out." She tells me on the brink of tears.

,,What?" I say. ,,But doesn't she know how dangerous that is?"

,,Beca loves Ryan and she will do anything to make Chloe happy. I'm not surprised she did go in." Now she hugs me, while tears stream down her face. I hold her and take her with me back to Chloe, Kara and Lena.

,,Did you get any news?" Chloe asks me.

,,Yes, a fire started in the building and there are still people trapped inside but the building is starting to collapse." Chloe starts crying.

,,Did they say who was trapped?" I shake my head.

,,No but they are trying to figure that out." I look at Emily, gesturing that she needs to tell Chloe that Beca went in. She nods.

,,Chloe, Beca went inside to go get Ryan."

,,What?!" Chloe and Kara yell together.

,,I'm going inside, don't worry." I tell her.

,,Please be careful." Emily says and kisses me on my cheek. I nod and then make my way to the front. I'm startled by a small figure with a towel over his body. I walk over to him, asking his name.

,,Ryan." He tells me. ,,Where is my mommy?" I look over toward Chloe.

,,She's over there." I gesture to an officer and tell him to bring Ryan over to Chloe. I watch them hug before I go inside. It doesn't take long for me to come upon an obstacle. There's a tiny hole inside so I call out for Beca. Luckily I hear a response so I look through the hole.

,,Beca, are you okay?"

,,My arm is stuck and it hurts like hell. I can't move." She honestly tells me.

,,I have to talk to the fire department so they can move away the bricks and release your arm. I'll be back, okay?"

,,Okay." She says and starts coughing. I walk out of the building again, back to Chloe.

,,Did you find her?" I look at Chicago now, who has appeared on the scene with what looks like his newest girlfriend.

,,Chicago? What are you doing outside? Shouldn't you be spending the day with Ryan?" I'm confused.

,,I just went out for half an hour. Ryan was busy, I didn't think it would matter."

,,You know this goes against the terms of your parole by endangering a child." I say, crossing my arms. Chicago starts stuttering now.

,,What? But I didn't start the fire. How am I at fault?"

,,You left a minor unattended in an apartment for an undetermined amount of time, that is child endangerment and abandonment. Now, I will go over and get one of the officers to take you in because I don't have time to deal with you now." Chloe looks between us.

,,If you think I'm ever letting you watch Ryan again, you are delusional and I'm going to file for full custody." I gesture for an officer to come over.

,,Arrest him, he is in violation of his parole, by willingly endangering a child, along with child abandonment." The officer nods and handcuffs Chicago. Chloe goes back to her question now.

,,Yelena, did you find her?" I nod, ignoring Chicago further, letting him be taken away by the officer.

,,I did and she's alive but she's trapped. I'm going back to try and help." I make my way back to the building, but have to make a quick turnaround because the building collapses with an explosion. As I'm running I can see Emily looking at me with tears in her eyes, while she's on the ground on her knees. It takes a small moment before smoke is surrounding me and I try to keep running but I'm suddenly hit by something on my back, causing me to fall. I roll on my back and groan in pain. I try to get up, but the smoke is too thick so I decide to stay still. I'm feeling tired and then close my eyes. I keep breathing until everything turns black.