A/N: Two more chapters and then the Epilogue and this story will be done; hope you enjoy how I wrap it all up.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, Pitch Perfect, or any songs used.
Chapter 6: Wash Away the Fears
It had been a long few days since being eliminated from competition and knowing that Chloe and Aubrey lost their last chance at glory. Beca didn't blame herself, not really anyway. She knew that even though she surprised her teammates and it could've ended badly; it didn't. She knew her added part caused the judges to sit up and notice… and it was just that her efforts weren't enough; none of their efforts were enough. The other two teams were just better.
But knowing that- and thinking logically- didn't stop her from feeling bad for the team, for Chloe… and even for Aubrey. Add on top of that her first class freak out where she was a horrible friend and outed Jesse's feelings.
And when she was a horrible girlfriend if they were ever actually dating that is… and where she was just an all-around asshole.
She couldn't even fully enjoy her first real DJ-ing gig as she sat in the studio and held back the tears.
This should've been her moment; Chloe should be there with her or at home listening and supporting her and so should Jesse and Quinn. Actually she knew that Rachel and Quinn were listening… or sleeping but with the show on in the background.
But she really missed her best friend and her girl.
She got up from her chair and started to look through the CDs; that was when she noticed one in particular. She pulled it out of its rack and stared at the cover: The Breakfast Club Soundtrack.
She was instantly brought back to the day that they all sat around watching it and teasing her about her dislike of movies.
She really missed them all.
With a sigh she slumped back into her chair with the CD still gripped in her hand.
/
Later that night- morning actually- Beca stumbled into her room. She was glad that Quinn was out because she just really needed to be alone. She opened her laptop, found the movie, and for the first time in her life she watched and fully paid attention to a movie… beginning to end.
And she cried.
She cried over the friends she made and then lost; she cried over the girl her mom hoped she'd meet, and did meet, and then lost.
She had never had any real friends- especially not girls and those girls were real.
She missed them.
And when the credits of the movie were done rolling over her screen; she closed her laptop and cried some more… until she fell asleep.
Jesse was right… the ending is the best part.
When she woke up the next day, she knew she needed to find a way to make things right with everyone. And she needed to start with the very first person she pushed away.
Mr. Mitchell was certainly surprised when Beca knocked on his door early on Sunday morning but it was a more than pleasant surprise.
"Hey Bec," his smiled widened at the sight of her. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm not sure… I guess- I guess," she stammered. "I'm trying to make things right with all of the people I have hurt by pushing them away; and that starts with you," her dad's smile spread even bigger and he held the door wide open for her.
"Come in."
Moments later she found herself sitting at her dad's kitchen table with a coffee and a bagel in front of her; while she tried to find the words.
The words to explain all that had happened, all that she wished she could take back… she just wanted to find the words that said everything.
All she found were two.
"I'm sorry," those two words were all it took as her dad's face flushed with happiness.
"You don't have to be sorry Beca," he told her honestly. "All you have to do for me is, be happy."
"But that's just it dad… I was… and then I ruined it, like how I ruin everything."
"How did you ruin it?"
"I got mean and defensive… I pushed everyone away but the thing is… I really liked those girls, I really like Jesse too. He's a great friend," her dad nodded knowingly. "And I think I may have loved… her," she continued.
"And what… you think they don't love you back?"
"They're mad at me, I know that."
"Okay," he sat down across from her, covered her hand with his own, and met her eyes.
"You were mad at me for a very long time," he could see a tear in her eye as she nodded. "But do you love me any less?"
"No," she could feel the tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Your friends still love you Beca… they just need time." That was when she began fully crying again and her dad did something that he hadn't done since she was five and skinned her knee; he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. Then he soothed her until she felt better.
And when she left his house she did feel better.
When she left her dad's house she had a plan… a plan to fix things with Jesse, her team, and especially her girl.
"I can't believe it Quinn… I can't believe we're actually here again," Rachel said to Quinn who was a few steps behind her as they walked through the beautiful scenery; before finally coming to a stop near the fountain in Central Park. They had decided to go to New York for spring break. It wasn't their original plan, but several things factored into the change of plans.
They were originally going to go to Florida to get the full spring break college experience and Santana and Brittany were going to meet them there. But they had to stay in New York because Brittany had gotten a job that she not only couldn't take time away from; but she also didn't want to because she loved it. She and Santana suggested that Rachel and Quinn come to New York instead.
Rachel and Quinn were still going to go to Florida but tickets to New York were actually cheaper; and after being eliminated from competition and losing the chance to see New York at the finals… fate seemed to be telling them to go to New York.
And they didn't want to tempt fate.
Plus Rachel Berry was more than okay with New York City.
Here they were for the first time since their Nationals loss back in eleventh grade.
Rachel missed everything about it… the sights, the sounds, the smells… all of it.
"Gosh… I love New York," Rachel squealed with glee and Quinn stared at her girlfriend with adoration.
Girlfriend- Quinn loved it. How it sounded, how it felt to say it, how it felt to know Rachel was hers.
Things had been progressively heating up between them since their very first kiss and Quinn was about ready to explode. It was getting to the point where she was insanely turned on and completely soaked every single time Rachel would touch her; and she was fairly certain that Rachel felt the same way.
They had yet to take that step; they had been going slow because Quinn wanted to be sure Rachel really wanted her for her and not because she had Quinn cast in the role of her collegiate lesbian fling.
But Quinn was definitely sure now of Rachel's intentions and of her feelings.
When Rachel asked her to be her girlfriend she knew the girl's feelings for her were real; she could feel it. Technically she could feel it all along because Rachel was so loving and tender with her… she was just afraid to trust her own feelings.
Now… she wasn't afraid anymore.
She wanted more and she hoped it would happen soon… very soon. But right now, in this moment- her thoughts were only about making sure Rachel was having the best time in her favorite city.
But of course Rachel wasn't touching her at the moment. So her feelings on that may change if and when she did.
"Hey," Rachel's voice pulled her thoughts out of naughty land and then Rachel was touching her. Quinn peered down at the girl who was now fully wrapped in her arms and she couldn't fight the smile. "What are you thinking about?"
"Just…" she trailed off as her cheeks blushed red and her mind went back to all the things she wanted to do to Rachel, and with her. Rachel noticed this and her smile turned into a smirk.
"Quinn Fabray," she squealed and tapped her girlfriend lightly on her upper arm in a scolding but teasing tone. Quinn merely shrugged.
"What can I say, my girlfriend is hot… and she is all I think about," Rachel felt butterflies flutter through her.
"You're all I think about too Quinn," Rachel promised and Quinn nodded. She didn't doubt Rachel anymore, she actually never really did; she just needed to be careful with her heart. "A-And you're um… so are you um…" Rachel stammered before finally forcing the words out of her mouth. "A-Are you ready?"
She felt like such a boy asking that question but lately things had changed between her and Quinn; like a switch was flipped and the heat was turned up… to full blast. It was hotter, it was sexier, and it was a lot harder to stop; but she did.
She always did.
She'd stop as quickly and as often as Quinn needed her to; for as long as Quinn needed her to. But then Quinn nodded and she breathed a metaphorical sigh of relief.
Thank Barbra- she thought.
"I-I-I think I am," Quinn was also stammering and it made Rachel feel better about herself, and her nerves.
"You think?" Rachel arched her eyebrow. She didn't want Quinn to have any doubts or reservations. She wanted the next time that they both have sex to be perfect and completely wanted by them both. She wanted her first time with Quinn to be all the magic her first time should've been, but wasn't.
"I-I know," Quinn said with a sultry tone and then she cleared her throat. "I am sure Rachel," she continued with much more confidence this time. She knew Rachel needed to hear her say this; just like she knew she needed to say it out loud. "I-I was afraid you had me cast in the role of your lesbian fling," Rachel nodded because she knew this already. This was the reason she was trying to prove herself to Quinn; the reason why they were taking things slowly.
"And?" Rachel bit her lip, sucked in a breath, and waited.
"And… I'm not afraid anymore," Quinn told her with a wink and this time Rachel exhaled a real breath of relief.
"Good because," she paused briefly. "The only role I've cast you in is… the role of my forever."
"Wow, that was fucking gay Berry," Santana's sounded from behind them and both Rachel and Quinn rolled their eyes; and turned to see Brittany and Santana a few feet away.
"I thought it was sweet," Brittany told Santana.
"So did I," Quinn husked in a tone that sounded super sexy. The tone of her voice had Rachel's eyes snapping back to meet hers.
"Yeah?" Quinn didn't answer the question with words; instead she nodded and then Quinn's lips were on hers and Quinn's tongue was in her mouth.
It didn't matter that they were in the middle of Central Park; it didn't matter that they were on public display, and it didn't matter that Santana and Brittany were standing right there.
Quinn pulled Rachel tight against herself and she slid one hand up Rachel's back to her neck and the other slipped down and over her ass. Rachel moaned quietly into Quinn's mouth; so low that Quinn didn't even hear it… but she felt it. Rachel's hormones were taking over any embarrassment she was feeling- which wasn't much- and she wrapped her arms around Quinn's neck; tangling one hand in her hair and holding the back of her head to keep her in place.
Santana looked over at Brittany with a mixture of confusion and disdain on her face, complete with a disgusted lip curl.
"Make them stop," she pleaded but Brittany was so happy that Rachel and Quinn had finally figured their feelings out; she wasn't bothered by it at all.
"Shh San, they're kissing."
"I know… make it stop!"
"Shh," Brittany cut her off with a hand wave.
Rachel was lost in Quinn's touch; she never knew what this could feel like. It had never occurred to her to look at Quinn in any other way than with friendship. It wasn't until Quinn revealed that she was gay and Rachel found herself overcome with jealousy that she realized… there always was something about Quinn.
Rachel had always had feelings for her.
And now she was pretty sure that she loved her.
She was in love with Quinn Fabray.
"UGH! I can't anymore! Can you two fuck off already?!" Santana shouted and it seemed to break the spell that they were under. Rachel pulled out of the kiss and Quinn took a step back from her. It was for cautionary purposes as they were both convinced if they didn't put some distance between them they'd end up making out again, in public, and in front of their friends.
"Thank fucking god!" Santana was pleased that it had finally ended. "The ducks were about to get sick," she pointed to some ducks that were nearby and Rachel rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry about that… uh… display, Santana." Rachel tried to apologize.
"I'm not," Quinn said with a wicked gleam in her eyes. Her smirk was so hot, and Rachel couldn't help but smile at her beautiful girlfriend. "It was hot!"
"Yeah it was," Brittany agreed.
Yeah it was- Rachel thought.
"No it wasn't," Santana said. "It was like watching elephants mate," again her lip was curled.
"Have you ever watched elephants mate, Santana?" Brittany asked. "It's so weird and the male elephant has the biggest-"
"Okay," Santana cut her off. "C-Can we go to dinner now, before you all make me sick?"
"Yes," Rachel and Quinn said at the same time, while Brittany nodded. Santana reached for her hand and Brittany tangled their fingers together.
As they walked, Brittany was the first to speak.
"All I was trying to say before was that Rachel and Quinn kissing was WAY hotter than watching elephant sex," Rachel laughed, Quinn giggled, and Santana rolled her eyes with a love struck grin in place on her lips.
She loved Brittany… more than anything.
But Rachel and Quinn hot? Ugh… No!
They were seated in the restaurant and catching up on what Santana and Brittany have been doing.
Santana was attending NYU and majoring in physical therapy; while Brittany was at Julliard. She loved dancing but now that it was required of her it wasn't as much fun… she liked her job better and wanted to do that forever.
"How's school?"
"It's fine," Santana said with a huff. "My calculus classes are a bitch but it's going to pay off in the end… and I have my math genius girlfriend to help me if I ever get lost," Brittany smiled proudly.
"And how is Julliard?" Rachel wondered.
"It's okay," Brittany huffed as she pushed her food around her plate. She could see that her friends were concerned so she continued. "I mean I love dancing but now that it's work I'm kind of getting sick of it… I don't think I want to be a dancer as a job."
"Oh," Rachel said and took a sip of her drink. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to be an animal doctor."
"A veterinarian," Rachel said with a grin; Brittany would be amazing at that.
"No Rachel, I like meat too much," Brittany told her and before anyone could say anything to correct her she continued. "But I love seeing the doctors make the animals feel better at my job now," Rachel nodded. She knew Brittany was a receptionist at a vet's office. "But I want to be the one that gets to help them feel better."
"So why don't you transfer ?" Quinn asked and gained Brittany's attention.
"Huh?"
"You could find a school with a good veterinary program and then transfer. If dancing isn't making you happy anymore; and if being a dancer is ruining your love for it… I say stop."
"Just stop?" Brittany asked as if it were that easy.
"Yeah, I mean why not?"
"Yeah babe," Santana joined in. "And I could help you find schools that have the program," Brittany's smile widened.
"I'll help too," Rachel added.
"You really think I can do this?"
"I know it."
"Of course."
"You can do anything," Rachel, Quinn, and Santana said respectively; Brittany beamed.
"Maybe I will," she agreed already feeling better about the dancing situation.
As the night went on they talked more about the future and Santana brought up the Bellas not making it to the finals.
"I'm sorry about that… and if you ask me, that Foot Note kid sounded like he was still going through puberty but then again Lady Hummel still sounds that way and he is in college so…" Santana trailed off and Rachel couldn't help but laugh.
But then- as if on cue- Rachel's phone rang and she looked at the caller ID.
"Hm."
"What is it?" Quinn wondered with concern.
"It's Aubrey," Rachel answered before she covered one ear and answered the call against the other. "Hello."
They all waited as Rachel listened.
"Are you serious?" Her tone was excited and Quinn couldn't help but become anxious to find out the reason. "Oh my gosh!"
Good news at least- Quinn thought.
"Okay… yes we will," she paused as Aubrey talked. "Okay bye," Rachel ended the call and her excited eyes met Quinn's.
"That was Aubrey."
"Well that was fucking obvious before the call Rachel," Santana said but Rachel ignored her and continued talking to Quinn.
"She said the judges from the ICCA's called… the Foot Notes were disqualified and since we had come in third we're now in the finals," Quinn's smile widened. "We're going to the finals at Lincoln Center!"
"Oh my god… that's amazing," Quinn was shocked and excited.
"Will you guys come see us?" Rachel asked Santana and Brittany.
"Of course," Brittany answered for them both.
"As long as those fucking sock puppets won't be there," Santana agreed causing all three to giggle.
"Wait… why was the other team disqualified?" Brittany wondered and Rachel could tell that Santana and Quinn were interested as well; Rachel chuckled at the irony.
"Funny story actually… the judges received a tip that the main singer of the Foot Notes was still in high school, they investigated and it was true," Quinn and Brittany laughed but Santana spoke.
"See… like I said. That boy's balls haven't dropped yet," with that Rachel laughed too.
All the calls had been made, everyone on the Bellas had been contacted, and they all knew when to meet at the Bellas rehearsal space; having been granted this lucky break.
Everyone else had been called by Aubrey… except Beca.
Chloe did that but she didn't want to have to talk to the girl so she sent her a text.
At first there was a huge fight as Aubrey and Chloe fought. They fought because Chloe finally stood up for Beca, for the rest of the group, and for herself. Beca showed up during the fight and beamed with pride having arrived just in time to hear her girl (ex-girl) defending them all.
She had spent the entirety of spring break- other than DJ-ing- watching movies and crying at all the wonderful- and still mostly predictable endings. But she was done with that now… she was done with feeling sorry for herself.
She wanted to make things right.
She wanted her friends back, she wanted her team back, she wanted her best friend back, and mostly she wanted her girl back.
One step at a time- she told herself.
Up first… her friends and her team.
After the fight ended; Beca was pleasantly surprised when after laying all of her feelings on the line; everyone else followed suit.
Including Chloe.
And eventually Aubrey.
After explaining why and apologizing for her controlling ways she got to her feet and looked at Beca.
"Hey Beca," she called the girl closer to her as everyone talked and healed.
"Yeah," Beca walked closer.
"Look, I could apologize as much as you need but I'm hoping one heartfelt and true I'm sorry," she met her eyes as she said it. "Will be enough?" And when Beca nodded; her smile widened. "Can we start over?"
"Yes," Beca agreed without hesitation knowing that part of their issue was jealousy. "I know I gave you attitude since day one because I thought you were into Chloe and I well… I mean-"
"You're with her," Aubrey finished for her and Beca nodded.
"I assure you Beca that Chloe has only ever had eyes for you since the first day she saw you," Beca nodded knowingly and if she wasn't such an ass she might still have the girl. "But I do understand because I was awful to you for the same reason," when she saw confusion she continued. "I mean Jesse."
"Right… well that was never a thing, I mean he fell for you the first time you snapped at him," Aubrey's face flushed with embarrassment and she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. "And I am really, really gay so…"
"I'm just sorry Beca."
"Me too."
"And I was hoping maybe you could talk to Jesse for me?"
"I would but he's not talking to me because of what I did," she saw Aubrey frown but she knew she understood. "But I do have an idea," Beca said as she literally came up with a perfect idea for their final performance. "If you're willing to finally change things up with our routine?"
"I'm ready," she agreed with a nod. She tossed the pitch pipe to Beca who missed the catch and it rolled into the vomit from the fight earlier.
"Maybe not here," Beca said and again Aubrey agreed with a slight nod.
"Where though?"
"Um…" as the Beca thought about it; the perfect idea hit her. "The pool!"
"Awesome idea."
"Okay… you round everyone up and I'll meet you there in a few. I gotta fix one more thing." Aubrey was going to ask what but instead she followed Beca's gaze and saw that it was on Chloe. She ducked her head and then went about her task as Beca walked toward the girl.
/
Chloe was standing off to the side with her arms crossed over her chest; while the room emptied leaving them alone.
"Hey," Beca said softly as she stopped a few inches away from her.
"Hey," Chloe tried and failed to hide her smile at the sight of the girl she loved.
"I'm sorry," they both said at the same time; and then they both chuckled.
"C-Can we… can I… I-I mean can this be fixed?"
"Yes," Chloe answered abruptly but with all the confidence that was needed for Beca to believe her.
"C-Can we talk after rehearsal then?"
"Of course," Chloe promised with a shy grin and as the two girls followed the rest of the team out of the rehearsal space and into the empty pool they both knew they'd be okay once they worked things out.
And it was a wonderful feeling.
"Oh," Beca said remembering that Chloe had just had surgery. "Are you okay from the surgery? I wish I had known," Chloe was beaming.
"Yeah… I'm fine," she replied. "I can't hit the high notes but everything will be fine and I'm no longer in pain.
"I'm so glad," Beca told her and as they walked Chloe swooned when she felt Beca's fingers graze against hers; she interlocked their fingers and they walked the rest of the way joined together.
That was also a wonderful feeling.
"All right, let's remix this business. Um, Aubrey… would you pick a song for us please?" Beca waited a few beats as Aubrey was clearly thinking.
"Bruno Mars, Just the Way You Are."
"Okay," Beca agreed as her mind was already trying to come up with another song to mash it with. "Um, Chloe… are you okay to sing the lead?" Chloe nodded once with a flirty smile playing on her lips.
"Yeah," was Chloe's husky answer and Beca shook her head to keep her focus; she needed to come up with a routine for the finals right now; she could flirt with Chloe later.
"Okay," she began making music with her mouth; the others joined her and Chloe began singing.
"Oh her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining," she and Beca stared at each other and the sexual tension was palpable. "Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying. She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day," she was staring at Beca who began singing a different song. Half the group continued with Chloe and they others joined in Beca's song.
"Uh, Uh, I was thinking 'bout her, thinking 'bout me, thinking 'bout us… open my eyes it was only just a dream…"
"…think that she don't see what I see… but every time she asked me do I look okay…"
"…it was only just a dream…"
"…When I see your face…"
This was when Aubrey joined Beca, "So I travelled back down that road, wished you come back no one knows, I realized it was only just a dream…"
"… cuz you're amazing… just the way you are…"
As they continued; the two songs fit together perfectly and everyone nailed their parts. They all knew that this was going to win them the championships.
Also as they sang; Beca and Chloe stared at each other with pride, want, and love.
When the song ended; Beca and Chloe forgot about everyone around them.
"All right," Aubrey began with a genuinely happy smile for the first time in as long as she could remember. "Hands in," she continued but before anyone could do as she had instructed Beca stepped into the middle of the group at the same time Chloe did.
Beca's hand cupped the back of Chloe's head and Chloe's hand pressed against Beca's cheek as their lips came together in a bruising kiss.
Beca forgot that everyone else was there the moment her lips were against Chloe's… it was like everything was right again.
Chloe parted her lips and welcomed Beca's tongue as it pushed through her lips.
"Mmm," she moaned softly against Beca's mouth and for the first time since their stupid fight; she felt home. Their bodies were pressed together, and so were their lips as they held each other tight. Their passion was finally overcoming all the hurt, all the anger, all the doubt; and for the first time in forever Beca knew she was loved… unconditionally and without question.
And not just from the girl in her arms, but from her dad, and her mom, and all the girls around them.
Around them.
With that thought; her eyes popped open; she pulled out of the kiss, and away from Chloe so fast that it took Chloe a second to realize Beca wasn't there anymore.
She's so cute- Beca thought as looked at her girl.
Chloe's eyes popped open a second later to see that Beca was several inches away from her now. Her confused expression went away when she focused in on all their friends standing around them; some of them with their mouths open in surprise.
"Oh…kay," Stacie said.
"Wow," was Cynthia Rose's impressed response.
"HOT!" Fat Amy shouted and Quinn and Rachel agreed… hell even Aubrey agreed.
"Okay," Aubrey clapped her hands together. "Let's try this again," she looked between Chloe and Beca and smiled. She was glad her best friend was happy- a little envious- but mostly happy for her. "Hands in… sing Ah on three," she tried again and this time they all put their hands in.
And this time they finally got it right.
Also this time Chloe's voice was a LOT deeper than it had ever been before; she covered her mouth with her hand as soon as she heard it.
"What the hell was that?" Fat Amy asked her.
"I-I don't know… my voice has never done that before."
"With your messed up vocal chords you can hit those low notes," Cynthia Rose said. Chloe nodded with a smile and everyone joined the happiness.
Aubrey felt like they were going to win; for the first time since becoming a Bella... and it was such a perfect feeling.
"Okay we have a few days until we leave for New York City," Aubrey said with a renewed sense of desire to win, for different reasons this time. "Beca is going to come up with some kickass songs… and we're going to come up with a great routine," she noticed that Lilly's hand was in the air.
"Yes Lilly," she asked and then each of them leaned closer so that they could hear her but she spoke in a normal tone; and they all backed up.
"I have an idea."
"Whoa bitch… no need to shout," Fat Amy joked and they all walked away as they listened to Lilly's ideas.
"Have you guys heard of a mash-up?" Beca asked and both Rachel and Quinn groaned because not only had they just sung one; they were very, very, familiar with them.
They thought they had escaped mashups when they escaped from Mr. Schue.
Rachel met Quinn's eyes and they shared a smile.
A/N 2: The chapter title comes from the song Come See About Me by The Supremes; and by the Glee Cast.
