CHAPTER 2

JESSLEY

Jessica and Ashley had flown below the radar during college, and likely would have finished their 3 years quietly if it hadn't been for the Bellas. This fantastic group of girls had formed a family, filled with girls, each as pivotal in the group and their performances as the girl standing next to them. Ashley and Jessica were no exception to this, despite not having any major solos during their competitions it would be an insult to claim they were any less important than the other voices around them because without them Beca's alto voice would've lacked the boost that came from Ashley, the other Alto in the Bellas, and Chloe's acquired bass notes wouldn't have had as great a contrast without Jessica's soprano (the girl being able to reach the highest note of all the Bellas)

After graduation the pair had decided to move into a flat of their own where they grew closer, something neither had thought was possible as they had been attached to each other's hip since their second year at Barden together.

Ashley had graduated with good grades in English & media, while Jessica had obtained equally impressive marks in primary school teaching "I don't know how I even managed to go to class with all Chloe's random emergency practices" Jessica joked to Ashley. "I know I couldn't have done it without you, despite how distracting you are" Ashley replied, a small smile forming on her lips and a quick wink before Jessica had leaned across to capture her lips, portraying the emotion the girl had felt from their time in college and how much she loved the brunette.

However, with elementary teaching jobs hard to come by and Ashley trying her hand at being a freelance writer while writing her own novel at the same time, Jessica had been forced to go into childcare temporarily. However this hadn't worried the blonde as she had a natural instinct when it came to children and was enjoying her life working with kids and coming home to her beautiful girlfriend.

To ensure the girls spent time together doing something they both enjoyed on Saturday mornings and afternoons the pair volunteered at an animal shelter where they fed, walked, and generally cared for animals that had been left.

What made this volunteering so special to the girls was that when Ashley saw Jessica interacting with the animals she couldn't help but smile and a quick "you're so freaking adorable you know that right?" directed at the Blonde as it was like seeing a glimpse into their future and this thought never failed to bring a tear to Ashley's eye.

On the other side, when Jessica got to watch Ashley outside of her normal state of concentration Jessica couldn't help herself make a quip about if Ashley was "sure there wasn't a different type of leaf in the tea this morning" to which Ashley simply rolled her eyes and allowed the other girl to make the comment.

Jessica's heart never failed swell when she saw Ashley in the animal shelter, and that's when she decided she had to have this girl for the rest of her life. So the following Monday, following her childcare duties Jessica went ring shopping, spending an hour deliberating between her final two choices before one caught the corner of her eye and it just screamed Ashley, she knew instantly it was perfect.

The following Saturday when they were finishing up at the shelter Ashley noticed Jessica had been particularly quiet that morning and was worried about her Blonde. "What's wrong Baby, you've been totally checked out all day? " Smoothing Jessica's hair back allowing her arms to fall around the other girl's waist to hold loosely.

"What? No I haven't" Jessica tried to act casually but failing to meet Ashley's eyes in case the other girl would be able to tell and ruin the surprise. "You tried to put a collar on a bunny earlier cause you thought it was a super fluffy teacup Yorkie" Ashley laughed lightly, not wanting to upset the girl but not being able to fight back the hilarious memory of Jessica essentially wrestling with a bunny before giving up, drastically (and unnecessarily) throwing the collar Into the box they were kept in.

Seeing the brunette laugh calmed Jessica down and she regained enough composure to smile heartily and agree with the girl "yea, I guess that would've been funny if it wasn't me" a roll of her eye followed by a quick wink and the two embraced each other before pulling apart with a quick peck.

Ashley began to leave before Jessica pulled her back into the room they spent most of their time when volunteering, Ashley giving Jessica a questioning look. Jessica's hand began to shake a little but she held her ground and lifted her head to meet Ashley's eyes.

"I love you" Jessica had started before Ashley cut in "I love you too baby" a cute smile forming on her face until Jessica held one finger up to indicate her to remain quiet until she was done.

"I love you, and I knew from the moment I saw you and heard your voice that if I could only see and hear one thing it would be you" Ashley's eyes began to tear up knowing the exact same was true for her when it came to Jessica

"And these past few years getting to live with you, first in Barden and then in our own wee home made me realise I couldn't live without you, and that is why" Jessica began to drop to one knew as Ashley's hands went to cover her mouth and the tears that had threatened to spill out were beginning to fall down her face.

"I wanted to know if you, Ashley Jones, would want to marry me?" Jessica's eyes held such emotion that she felt she would die if Ashley were to say no, however this was short lived as the brunette started nodding her head frantically and pulled the blonde onto her feet capturing her lips in a searing kiss filled with emotion, showing how much they loved each other.

When Jessica regained her senses she broke the kiss to take the neat ring with a small diamond on top of it and placed it on Ashley's finger. The brunette gasped at how beautiful the ring was before Jessica used her finger to lift Ashley's chin, soaking up her reaction. From the tears that had fallen, and those still threatening to fall to the broad smile that had formed and refused to move for anything in the world.

"Is Bublés Baby it's cold outside playing? " A temporarily distracted Ashley queried, smile still firmly on her face. "Oh, yea it is, I know it's your favourite Christmas song" Jessica replied placing her forehead on Ashley's "you do know it's only October babe" Ashley poked lightly at Jessica's side, to which the girl simply replied with a huge nod, her eyes showing that she didn't care if it was the middle of summer, if it was her girl's favourite song she would sing it any day.

When the girls woke the following morning they set their plan of reuniting the Bellas into acting, Jessica calling her father to tell him the news to which he immediately offered the resort he had owned to the girl's if they had wanted to hold a party, "as long as it's no sooner than 2 weeks time you can have it whenever" the deep voice floated through the phone and Jessica ensured him that would be perfect before a swift "love you" from either end and a promise from Jessica that she would sent her mother pictures of the pair and their ring, the location had been sorted.

It was up to Ashley to decide how to get all the Bellas to the resort and she decided the best way to get their attention was with wedding like invitations. (with the exception of Fat Amy maybe, but she was sure that Chloe would ensure she would be there)

It was Jessica's idea to send Beca and Chloe's together after Ashley had stated "it feels weird sending them separate invites, they've been like 2 halves of the same person for years" a small furrow forming in her brow, when Jessica returned, kissing in off her head and suggesting writing Bechloe, the girl's would understand it and if nothing else the engaged pair had a sense of achievement.

The feeling had arose because every Bella who they had shared a house with knew how the pair looked at each other, yet somehow the fiery redhead and petite brunette seemed oblivious to the others glances and touches.