AN: Every song is cut down dramatically so before you yell at me… cause I know most of these duets pretty well – it's deliberate. If I had like 2 duets full length we'd be here forever. Picking one of the duets was extremely hard just sayin'. I settled on a cliche cause I'm so cheesy like that.


Chapter 7: The Christmas Showdown


Justin has created a new challenge but this one is Bellas and Treble's specific. It's mainly to fuel the tense rivalry for the enjoyment of others. He decides to name it the Christmas Showdown and the two groups gather in the pool to find out the rules. The usual crowd of aca-fans gather around the poolside.

"Rule One: One member from one of the teams will come forward and pull the name of their opposition out of the hat." Justin begins to the groups. "Rule Two: The selected opposition will then pull the name of a duet out of the other hat. They must sing this duet without any conferring. Each group – of course – will back them up. Try and sing together… it sounds better. The team who sang the best on pressure will be decided by the crowd. "

They cheer on cue and both teams nod.

"What if one team doesn't know the song?" Melissa asks nervously.

"Well it sucks to be them then doesn't it?" Justin responds. "Bellas, pick your first victim."

They collectively decide they should open strong and it's agreed Jenn has a good music knowledge. She's pushed forward and selects Mark, a relatively quiet Treble. He selects Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars. He's lucky he watched the Grammy's and took interest in the catchy country tune. Jenn sighs with delight as it happens to be one of her favourite songs. Both teams believe they know the song well enough to back it up.

"Oooooooh."

Both teams are surprised when they open on perfect pitch. They expected a bum note or for their octaves to clash.

"Ooooooooh."

Both teams begin their back-up and surprise each other again as they open perfectly. The girls take the guitar while the boys attempt a walking bassline. The song is mostly man led so Mark opens solo.

"I'm a dead man walking here,

That's the least of all my fears."

Jenn knows the song like the back of her hand and joins in where she needs to.

"Oooh, underneath the water."

Mark takes over again.

"Did that full moon force my hand?"

Jenn joins in again.

"Or that unmarked hundred grand?

Ooh, underneath the water.

Ooh, please forgive me, father."

Jenn takes the female solo. Both groups seem to know exactly how it goes.

"Miles and miles in my bare feet.

Still can't lay me down to sleep.

If I die before I awake,

I know the Lord, my soul won't take."

Jenn kills the high note at the end and the crowd react generously. Mark handled it well enough but he looks defeated as he leads.

"I'm a dead man walking.

Oh, I'm a dead man walking…"

Jenn smirks and joins in again.

"You keep walking, running, running for miles

Keep walking, running, running for miles

Keep walking, running, running for miles

Ain't going back to Barton Hollow

Devil gonna follow me 'ever I go

Won't do me no good, washing in the river

Can't no preacher man save my soul."

They finish and the crowd cheer around them. Justin steps forward and grins.

"Alright aca-people." Justin starts. "Cheer for the Trebles."

The cheer is agreeable and the boys look somewhat pleased.

"Cheer for the Bellas."

Their cheer is clearly louder and the girls dance in victory.

"First duet goes to Bellas. Treble's? Pick your next victim."

...

The standings have the Bellas at four and the Treble's at four. Fat Amy had just finished her duet with Kolio and the girls cheered as her kick ass rendition of "Endless Love" saw them get five.

Only one Bella remains and it's Beca. However, she has the choice of four Trebles. Jesse, Austin, Unicycle and Peter (a freshman). She steps forward to the hat and pulls the name out.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" She exclaims and shows the Treble's her paper. "Jesse."

Everyone laughs loudly and the crowd cheer. Jesse smirks and walks towards the song hat.

"You're The One That I Want." Jesse reads and everyone bursts out laughing. Beca literally face palms. They watched Grease a few weeks back and the annoying ending song had only stuck in her brain cause she hated it so much.

"This is a dumb challenge!" She groans and shakes her hands. "Let's get this over with."

The girls start off with the bass line. The boys take the piano and it comes Jesse's time to sing.

"I got chills they're multiplying

And I'm losing control

'Cause the power you're supplying

It's electrifying."

Beca can only describe Jesse as Jesse when he sings. He gets into every song and Beca finds it so god damn endearing. She grimaces and begins her part.

"You better shape up 'cause I need a man

And my heart is set on you

You better shape up, you better understand

To my heart I must be true.

Nothing left, nothing left for me to do."

The girls are successfully doing the "doo-doos" in the back and Beca turns slightly to smile at them. The girls give her a look that says "Take advantage of this, bitch." Beca looks back at Jesse as they begin the chorus.

"You're the one that I want

You are the one I want

Ho, ho, ho honey

You're the one that I want

You are the one I want

Ho, ho, ho honey

You're the one that I want

You are the one I want

Ho, ho, ho, the one that I need

Oh yes indeed..."

Everyone would be lying if they said Beca and Jesse didn't sound amazing together. Beca winks at Jesse before beginning her solo.

"If you're filled with affection

You're too shy to convey."

She's moving around him - some strange part of Beca thinking that totally deravelling Jesse will help her in this - and feathers her fingers over his shoulders as she goes. She sings the next section next to his ear, adopting a sultry tone.

"Meditate in my direction

Feel your way."

She kisses his earlobe and moves back to her spot. Jesse's lucky his brain has taken over and sings his next bit as his body may be acting up thanks to Beca's efforts.

"I better shape up, 'cause you need a man."

Beca smiles as she can see she's got to him. He shakes his head as Beca joins in.

"I need a man who can keep me satisfied."

He mimicks the coat movement he used at their freshman riff-off and Beca grins.

"I better shape up, if I'm gonna prove."

Beca blows him a kiss again as she takes her line.

"You better prove that my faith is justified

Are you sure? Yes I'm sure down deep inside."

Both groups are extremely into it and they're dancing along. Fat Amy occasionally makes gestures towards the boys.

"You're the one that I want

You are the one I want

Ho, ho, ho honey

You're the one that I want

You are the one I want

Ho, ho, ho honey

You're the one that I want

You are the one I want

Ho, ho, ho, the one that I need

Oh yes indeed."

The groups round it off. Beca and Jesse remain in the centre smirking at each other.

"Cheer for Trebles?"

The cheer is loud and Beca doubts they'll get any louder.

"Cheer for Bellas?"

The cheer sounds exactly the same and Justin frowns.

"That was a draw guys. One point each."

They should of seen it coming. It's like fighting fire with fire.

...

The three remaining Treble's duet with the first three girls who went to make it fair.

The final score says Treble's win and the girls groan. Beca sighs and gathers the girls into the circle.

"Come on, girls! That was awesome! They won by ONE point and this is the first time we've done this." She grins. "Now, go back to your dorms and get ready for Christmas vacation. If I don't see you before you go, I love you awesome nerds."

They group hug which makes Beca mock gag.

"When did we get so cheesy!" She laughs and the girls say their goodbyes before parting ways.

She turns to find Jesse smiling devilishly at her.

"Don't rub it in my face, Swanson."

"I wasn't going to!"

"Yes you were! What's that face about then?"

"If you must know, Benji is going back to the clubhouse with the boys so the dorm is free." Jesse smiles. "I was wondering if you wanted to..."

"I'm away to find Jenn. Wait here." Beca kisses his cheek and finds Jenn speaking to one of the spectators.

"Oh hey, Beca." Jenn grins. "I'll walk back with you..."

"I'm going to Jesse's actually." Beca laughs. "Just telling you so you don't like..."

"Wait up?" Jenn smirks. "I won't. Go get em' tiger."

"What?" Beca asks astonished.

"Girl, you were undressing him with your eyes during that duet. Now, go do it with your hands."

Beca guffaws.

"You're terrible, Jennifer Thomson."

"I know." She shrugs and winks.

...

She's sitting on his bed in his plaid shirt from the night and he is wearing a pair of lounging pants. Her hair is pulled up and she's relaxed lazily against his chest.

"You get along with Jenn." Jesse notes and kisses her temple.

"She's great." Beca replies and smiles. "She reminds me of Chloe."

"You miss her don't you?" He asks and caresses her arm.

"Yeah. She was one of the first people to try and befriend me here - apart from you of course."

"You're visiting her and Aubrey during the holidays right?"

"Yeah. In the second week." Beca yawns and turns around to face him. "I'm spending Christmas Day with Dad and Sheila."

"Cool." Jesse swallows and looks at her nervously.

"What is it Jess?" She asks, worried.

"Em, well my mom called and asked if you'd like to come to visit during the break but you're busy so..."

"When?"

"After Christmas at some time I don't know...

"I'd love to."

"I'll call her and let her know you... seriously?" Jesse asks, surprised.

"Yeah." She shoves his shoulder and grins. "I want to meet your family. I mean we have been dating for like... 9 months."

Jesse smiles brightly and kisses her deeply. She nips his lip and pulls away.

"Oh no you don't." He grabs her waist and tickles her. She shrieks.

"Jesse, stop it." She's hysterically laughing and attempting to shove his chest. "Dude I'm so ticklish this isn't... funny!"

He looks at her laughing and sucks in a great breath.

"I love you, Beca." She halts laughing immediately and looks at him with wide eyes.

"What?" She whispers, her voice catching.

"I've known it since you rapped No Diggity, really. But there's something about actually getting to be yours that makes the love grow and yeah. I love you, Bec."

She swallows and exhales. She thinks this will be hard. She's psyched herself up since she realised it all that time ago. She thinks that she'll chicken out. She doesn't realise her brain has taken over this fight and she's already said it.

"I love you too, Jesse."

It wasn't hard at all.

He kisses her passionately and sooner rather than later, their clothing is shed again.

...

AN: I thought fluff was needed. I like fluff. It's so fluffyyyy!

I should be getting ready for my musical theatre group but instead I'm writing. God damn see what I do for you people! I LOVE YOU ALL REALLY.

Songs I Listened To:

The Guilty Ones - Spring Awakening / 212 - Azealia Banks / Dance, Dance - Fall Out Boy

Songs Mentioned:

Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars ( Awesome song) / Endless Love - Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross / You're The One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Hannah.