The Bellas were huddled in Beca's dressing room when Theo came to give Beca her 15-minute warning before she had to go see the sound guy and the band one last time before her performance.

The girls spent the last hour teasing each other, talking, laughing—just all around being the Bellas they are that they had forgotten where they were. They forgot for just one second that it was officially time to let one of their sisters go—it was time to set Beca free. Suddenly, as soon as Theo closed the door, the room felt heavy with silence, and all eyes were on Beca. It took a moment before Chloe spoke up because she couldn't handle the lack of noise—she had to say something or else she'll burst into tears, and she knows she can't do that now especially not after what happened earlier.

"So… this is it, Bec."

"Yeah, I guess it is."

Beca was sitting on the couch earlier, but when Theo came to give Beca her warning, it was as if someone had lit a fire underneath Beca's seat that she could no longer stand being sat on the huge couch with the Bellas. She started slowly pacing while only looking on the floor, so Chloe stood up and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder hoping that it would ease her best friend because it looked like Beca was about to have another panic attack. When she felt the hand on her shoulder, she looked up and as soon as she saw that it was Chloe—the woman who had just confessed her love for her—Beca felt calm. Suddenly, everything was fine again. Just like earlier, Chloe was able to soothe Beca just by being there even without saying anything because Chloe's mere presence was enough to make Beca feel safe—to make her feel at home.

Beca was broken out of daze by Aubrey's voice.

"Don't worry Beca. You got this. I believe in you. We all do. So, go knock them dead, Alt Girl!"

Everyone laughed at Aubrey's reference to her old nickname to Beca, and it definitely didn't fail to make the little "Alt Girl" smile and reminisce.

"Got it Sergeant Posen! Aka 'super pain in the ass'."

Aubrey's eyes grew wide and feigned offense at Beca's dig on her past behavior when she was their captain.

"Bitch! That was you!"

"Oh right. Let me rephrase then: 'super bitch with a stick up her ass'!"

Now everyone was really laughing with Beca and Aubrey smiling intently at each other. When their laughter started to die down, Emily was the first to break the silence—she was smiling, but there was still some sadness in her eyes.

"I'm going to miss this. I'm going to miss all of you."

Beca couldn't believe what Emily was saying. She thought things were already clear between everyone, but as it turns out it wasn't everyone because their youngest Bella still has some unresolved feelings about Beca's new journey.

"Em. What are you talking about? This doesn't change anything. We'll all still be friends. We already talked about this. Nothing is going to change."

"Yeah, I know, but for some reason I still feel like this is the end."

Chloe gave Emily a comforting smile as she also put her arm around her as she did with Beca at some point.

"It is the end, Em. This is the end of the Bellas as a group, but it's the beginning of the Bellas as a family. And you don't leave family behind. We'll always be there for each other no matter what, and that's a promise."

Every single Bella agreed with Chloe's statement—especially Fat Amy.

"Yeah, you got that right, Red! You heard that, Shawshank? You don't leave family behind. So, why don't you take us to Hollywood with you. I mean we're already packed, so it's no hassle at all."

Once again, everyone was laughing because of course Amy would say something like that. However, it was cut short when they heard a knock on the door; this time they knew it was Theo and their 15-minute warning is over.

"Beca, it's time."

"Yeah, I'll be there. Just give me a second."

The Bellas all huddled in the middle of the room to say their final good luck to Beca before she goes off to the stage. They did their best to stop themselves from crying because they all knew that if they cried now they wouldn't be able to stop, so they just hugged Beca good luck, and Aubrey initiated their Bellas tradition before every performance. Aubrey looked at every single Bella and at Beca last smiling.

"One last time for the road?"

Everyone placed their right hand in the middle and on top of each other as Aubrey counted to two.

"one… two…"

And all together, the Bellas yelled…

"Screw it you can do this!"


The Bellas bid their goodbyes and good luck to Beca and made their way to their seats. Meanwhile, Beca was trying to recompose herself in front of the vanity mirror when Theo broke the silence between them.

"You ready?"

She looked behind her to where Theo was and gave him a small nervous smile.

"As ready as I can be, But uhmmm slight changes..."

Beca was a little hesitant to continue her next words, but she was also determined to do what she wanted to do, so she continued.

"... I want to sing a different song."

Theo's eyes grew wide in shock.

"What?! Beca... you're performing in 20 minutes. We're literally on our way to the band right for your last minute sound check. It's kind of too late to change."

"I know."

Beca was supposed to sing a mash up of Sia's "The Greatest" and "Alive." It was a mash up that she created herself, and she's had it in her back pocket for a while. It's been approved and praised by DJ Khaled, the Bellas, and Chloe herself—Beca has rehearsed it with the band, but she has a plan and it no longer involved those songs.

"I mean... the band... who knows if they even know your new song."

"They probably do. But if they don't it's cool too. I'll improvise."

Theo gave Beca an incredulous look as if he disapproved of her plan. But then he's a label executive, so of course he did.

"What I mean is... I have a plan, Theo. I'm gonna use the riff I did at DJ Khaled's studio and then some. I got this. Trust me, alright? Besides, it was that riff that got me this gig in the first place right?"

Theo who was still a little hesitant approved.

"Yeah, okay."

And of course, that made Beca very happy because SHE has a plan.

"Good. Thank you."

"Yeah of course. I'm sure Khaled will be surprised, but Billy is also quite the surprise, so... I guess we'll deal with it."

"Again, thank you, Theo. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Beca was genuinely grateful for Theo. She knew that he liked her when they first met, and she had already told him it's not possible, yet Theo still became instrumental in the life changing event that's happening in Beca's life right now. He still helped her become DJ Khaled's opening act and get a contract with a record label despite knowing that he doesn't have a chance with Beca. After seeing all that, Beca realized that Theo was genuinely a good guy who actually wanted to help, and she appreciated him for that. Beca thought they could actually be friends—if she believed in friendships outside of the Bellas and Jesse.

"So what's with the sudden change of mind?"

Beca smiled at the thought, "someone very special helped me realize something, and I want to honor that."

"Got it. Well, fingers cross the band knows your song. If not, I'm sure you'd still be able to pull it off."

"I hope so..."

Theo raised his eye brows, and Beca smiled and changed her response.

"... I know so."


"Here we are the final show, the conclusion of the USO tour in the South of France coming to you from the Citadel. What a gorgeous setting here tonight under the stars" announced Gail, the less annoying of the two a cappella commentators that has been following the Bellas throughout their journey.

Meanwhile, John was not so impressed responding with sarcasm. "Isn't this beautiful? Doing a musical presentation in a bunker."

"In the South of France. I mean it's so romantic here."

The two commentators continued their commentaries for their documentary in the background as the Bellas took their seats in the front row. Theo made sure that the Bellas got the best seat available and that Beca would easily see them during her performance like she requested.

Chloe anxiously sat between Aubrey and Emily.

"Chloe, what the hell?"

Chloe did not realize that she has been constantly tapping her foot until Aubrey pointed it out.

"Hmmm?"

"You're nervous. Probably more so than Beca. Relax, Chlo. She may be as small as a hobbit, but she has more talent than her tiny body can handle. She got this."

Chloe smiled at her friend and truly appreciated the hand squeeze Aubrey gave her.

"Yeah, she does."

Chloe felt even more at ease when she felt Emily's hand grab her left one and also gave it a squeeze. She got one of Emily's sweet smiles, and Chloe couldn't help but smile back.

"We just have to aca-believe in her—and I know we all do because she's aca-awesome!"

The three women were laughing when the lights began to dim.

"It's starting," whispered Aubrey. "Don't worry, Chlo. We'll be here for you and for her."

The announcer's voice started roaring through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen let's give it up for DJ Khaled."

DJ Khaled walked out the stage in his light blue suit and began his own speech.

"First of all, I want to thank all of the troops for coming out here. It's about you. We salute you. We praise you and thank you, but tonight I have a surprise. I'll be introducing you to a new star a superstar. Somebody that I have cosigned. I introduce you to, Beca Mitchell."

The lights turned off only leaving a very bright single spotlight on the stage which created a bright pathway for Beca to walk on. It was a well-deserved spotlight Chloe thought. Then Beca walked out the stage to the microphone and began to sing.


Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

(layered vocals)

Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn't know what I wanted to be

Beca thought of her first day in Barden-move in day—the point in her life when she didn't want to be in college.

I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me
To win the race, a prettier face
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll TV

She remembered the argument she had with her dad about moving to LA. It was the same argument when her dad insisted that she involved herself in school. "I need to move to L.A. and get a job at a record label and start paying my dues.""Ah here we go again. You know Beca DJ-ying is not a profession; it's a hobby." They haven't seen each other for a while and that was a great typical 'welcome father daughter' argument for them—back then at least.

But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way

She thought of the college fair—the day she met Chloe. Chloe had that bright look on her face that blinded Beca so much it scared her but turns out not enough to run away from her because 7 years later here she is singing to her.

I think I'm gonna get me some happy

She thought about everything that Chloe said. About her. About her and Chloe. About her and the Bellas. They were all true. They will always be there for each other. Because it is not the end regardless of where her choice took her. They were a family and family is forever. She knew they'll stand by her no matter what.

She has been looking at Chloe for confidence since she started, then she finally decided to bring her up to the stage along with the rest of the Bellas.

I think there's something you should know
(I think it's time I told you so)
There's something deep inside of me
(There's someone else I've got to be)
Take back your picture in a frame
(Take back your singing in the rain)
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true, somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah

Freedom, I won't let you down
Freedom, I will not give you up

She thought of their time at The Lodge of the Fallen Leaves and her fight with Chloe

Freedom, gotta have some faith
Gotta have some faith in the sound

She remembered the way the Bellas rediscovered their sound during their retreat, and how they beat Das Sound Machine because of it.

Heaven knows we sure had some fun, boy
What a kick, just a buddy and me

She thought of every party and every Bella practice they've ever had.

We had every big-shot goodtime band on the run, boy
We were living in a fantasy

She thought of every riff-off they never won

We won the race, got out of the place
Went back home, got a brand new face for the boys on MTV

She thought of all the regionals and finals they've won, and the time they became world champions.

But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah
Now I'm gonna get me some happy

I think there's something you should know
(I think it's time I stopped the show)
There's something deep inside of me
(There's someone I forgot to be)
Take back your picture in a frame
(Don't think that I'll be back again)
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true, somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me

She thought about their graduation.

Freedom, I won't let you down
Freedom, I will not give you up
Freedom, gotta have some faith
Gotta have some faith in the sound

I think there's something you should know
(I think it's time I told you so)
There's something deep inside of me
(There's someone else I've got to be)
Take back your picture in a frame
(Take back your singing in the rain)
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

Eh eh eh... (I will not let you down)

eh eh eh...

She remembered all of their Bella pre-show huddles, but the ones she could never forget were their first ones during her first year where they could just never get it right until Aubrey broke and just said, "screw it!" because the Bellas were just THAT impossible to teach. But she looked at them now, and here they are doing their pre-show huddle in front of the whole world—if only senior year Aubrey Posen could see them now.

Freedom
Freedom
Freedom (Freedom, freedom)
Gotta have some faith in the sound

Have some freedom (Have some freedom, oh)
Freedom
Freedom (Freedom)

All we have to do now (All we can do)
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me (Freedom)

I won't let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
I will not give you up
It's the one good thing that I've got


Beca sang about freedom, and although it was like she was singing about freedom from her Bella family, Beca knew that was not the case because they'll be friends—correction—family forever. She was glad she had the chance to bring them up the stage and sing with them one last time. She was glad she had the chance to sing with all of them because if it weren't for any of the Bellas—and of course, Chloe—Beca wouldn't be where she is now, nor would she be the person that she was today.

After she finished her emotional performance, the Bellas started running towards her led by Chloe with her arms wide open ready to hug Beca. She hugged Chloe back and once again, everything became clear, she was no longer letting her any moment pass them by—she's going to grab it and take her chance with Chloe, but now wasn't the time though because as much as she wanted to shout her love for Chloe on the roof tops, Beca also wanted them to have a private moment—a time between just the two of them before they "have to share everything with the whole world" to quote Chloe.

Beca and the Bellas enjoyed the stage for a while before they were asked to exit for DJ Khaled's performance. However, their excitement didn't die down even after they exited the stage. They were all still on a performance high especially Beca. She still couldn't believe she was able to do that—if only her family was there to see her perform. The Bellas were once again engulfing her in a suffocating hug, but Beca didn't care because she loved each and every one of, one more than the rest of course—that being Chloe.

They were back in Beca's dressing room hanging out once again when Theo showed up and started talking to Beca. He wanted to congratulate her for her performance, and in that conversation, Beca also thanked him for letting her do what she wanted to do and for helping her pull it off. What Beca didn't know was that while she was talking to Theo, Chloe had excused herself to get some air.

On her way to the balcony, Chloe was stopped by Chicago.

"Chloe, we need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about, Chicago. I already told you. We're done."

"I know, but aren't you even at least willing to give us a chance? Another chance?"

Chloe and Chicago were in a relationship back in New York, but it didn't last long. Chloe broke up with him before he joined the army, and because she's Chloe, she managed to make sure that they were on good terms before she ended their relationship, that's why there was no bad blood between them when they saw each other during the USO Tour.

"You know I can't do that."

"Why not? I mean… these past few days… I thought we were…"

"What? Headed somewhere? No, we weren't doing anything. Chicago, all that was… was us being friends. Nothing else. I'm not going to say 'I'm sorry' that you thought wrong, but it really isn't my fault that you misinterpreted my friendship."

"I know. I should be the one who's sorry. I apologize. Whoever you end up with is one lucky person. I'll see you around. Best of luck, Beale."

Chloe just chuckled.

"Thanks, Walp."

Once she excused herself, Chloe headed to where she wanted to go, and after a long walk, Chloe made it to the balcony that overlooked the Citadel's rose garden. She saw that balcony early that morning when they came in for Beca's rehearsal and thought it was beautiful. Right now, it was just as beautiful. The rose garden was dimly lit by garden lamps, but it was still visible because it was illuminated by the bright stars and the full moon.

Chloe didn't know how long she had been staring at the sky, but as she enjoyed the breeze, she heard a familiar voice speak up behind her.

"You like what you see?"

Chloe smiled, and without turning, she responded.

"Very much so, but I'm 100% positive you look a million times better."

Beca was now laughing next to Chloe.

"Flatterer."

Chloe finally turned her head to look at Beca.

"I only say what I see."

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Always know what to say."

Chloe smiled and responded so quickly as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Easy. You bring it out of me."

For a songwriter, Beca didn't know what to say. Chloe left her speechless. She just intently looked at Chloe's baby blue eyes and hoped that somehow it would give her the words she wanted to say. Beca was nervous, but she has been waiting for this moment for a long time, and she wasn't about to let anything stop her from doing this.

"Have I ever told you how much I loved your eyes? Because if I haven't well I'm stupid because they're beautiful—so fucking beautiful. I've always thought they were beautiful ever since I met you—since the college fair, and I didn't even know your name at the time…"

Beca chuckled at her own thought, and Chloe did the same. She gave Chloe a sweet heartfelt smile as she continued.

"I've always loved your eyes, Chlo. Just like I've always loved you. I didn't get a chance to tell you that earlier. But I love you, Chloe. I'm in love you. After all these years, it's always been you."

Chloe had a smile brighter than the stars, but her heart was pounding. She had been waiting for Beca to say that for 7 years. She had been dreaming to hear those words from Beca for years, and now that it finally happened, it was better than Chloe could have ever imagined. It was simple, but it was beautiful because she knew how much Beca meant it. She felt the sincerity. She felt the weight of Beca's words—the weight of Beca's years of love—years of longing, and Chloe hopes that she could return the favor.

"I love you too, Beca."

At last, after being interrupted by their own friends, Beca was finally able to lean in and kiss Chloe. They slowly closed the gap between them hoping with all their might that no one would interrupt, and once their lips finally met, it was as though time had stopped, and the world around them ceased to exist. The kiss was so tender yet passionate at the same time. It was the sign of the years that they have longed for each other, and neither could have imagined the moment happening the way it did.

If they had a choice, Beca and Chloe would choose each other over breathing, but alas, they knew oxygen was also important. Chloe and Beca looked at each other with so much desire and love for one another.

"Took you long enough," said Chloe

"I've wanted to do that for years."

"Well, thank God you finally did because who knows what would have happened if you didn't."

"Ah. What is that supposed to mean?"

"Just be glad we don't ever have to find out."

Chloe winked, and Beca laughed.

"I feel like we did this the wrong way."

"Wrong way?"

"Confession? 'I love you's'? I literally just kissed you, and I still can't believe I did that. But… All that in a span of 2 hours."

Chloe chuckled at Beca's disbelief.

"Oh baby, where have you been? It hasn't only been two hours. It's been 7 years."