Boy, this was a monster to write. I can't begin to tell you how many times I rewrote certain scenes, and this is the closest to what I wanted it to be. Hopefully I won't disappoint you too much.


Beca's category is up next. Chloe takes a deep breath and grabs one of the cushion next to her on the couch, clutching it to her chest as they announce the nominees. She laughs lightly when Beca smiles awkwardly at the camera, blushing from the unwanted attention.

"And the Grammy goes to..." Her heart leaps as the presenter opens the envelope and speaks into the mic. "Beca Mitchell!"

Chloe squeals a little bit from her couch in Manhattan, New York, and covers her mouth in amazement as she watches Beca hug Jesse and walk up to the stage. The short brunette accepts the Grammy and stands before the crowd.

Chloe's first thought is that Beca absolutely absolutely beautiful. Forgoing the dress, she chose to wear a grey blazer over a tight lacy black top, and it suits her. Chloe's ears are ringing from the excitement that she barely registers what the brunette is saying. The audience laughs at something she says, and Chloe figures she must have made a joke.

She thanks Jesse, and the camera focuses on him, but he remains humble, smiling and nodding, obviously appreciative of Beca's words. She can imagine how proud Aubrey must be of him. Then Beca thanks her label, her dad and a bunch of other people from the industry that Chloe doesn't know.

What she says next though, has Chloe suck in a breath and tears fill her orbs. The brunette is looking right into the camera, her eyes boring into Chloe's soul. When Beca finishes her speech, a sob escapes the blonde's throat and she buries her face in her hands, hot tears slipping down her cheeks. She suddenly hates herself for every time she's ignored Beca's calls or texts, or any other attempt made to get into contact with her.

An ugly feeling settles in her stomach as she recounts the last four years in her head. She lists off all the things she's lost. The Bellas, her family, her confidence.

Realization comes crashing down on her like a ton of bricks. She doesn't have any family in New York, only Greg's. She doesn't have any real friends here, only Greg's coworkers' wives. Her whole life revolves around her husband, his job and his circle of friends.

She breaks down right there, lying on her couch in she and Greg's big empty apartment in NYC, far away from the people who matter the most. The last four years come crashing down onto her shoulders and they shake with the weight of her sobs. She cries until her eyes hurt, and eventually it turns into hiccups and shudders. The glare of the screen pulls her attention back to the TV and she remembers she has yet to congratulate Beca.

She grabs her phone from the coffee table and sends a quick text to the brunette, knowing that she will probably not see it right away.

Congratulations, I'm so proud of you. Enjoy your night, you deserve it. xx

When Chloe wakes up the next morning, her husband is already up. She stretches and sighs; before getting up and going toward the kitchen. Greg is at the kitchen table, working on his computer while sipping coffee.

"Morning," she greets, running her hand along his shoulders before moving to the counter to pour herself a cup of coffee. She takes a sip and hums in enjoyment.

"Say, you never used the card that Beca Mitchell gave you, right?"

Her husband's cold voice makes her choke on the liquid, and it almost scalds her throat.

She's glad she has her back to him, because she knows her surprise is showing. Inhaling deeply through her nose, she turns around. "No, I told you I wouldn't use it."

"Right." Greg sits back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. "I thought you had lost touch with her."

Chloe's pulse begins to race; she can feel his jealousy all the way across the room. She grinds her teeth and tightens her grip on her cup of coffee. "I have. Why?"

"Really?" he pushes his computer toward her, "Then I guess they just photoshopped you with her in these photos, huh?"

Chloe's breath hitches, her heart now hammering in her chest. An icy chill runs the length of her back and she shudders. She slowly walks to the table, sits on a chair and sets her mug next to her, before reaching for the computer with trembling hands. A People window is opened, featuring several photos of she and Beca on one of their lunches when the brunette was in New York, and another one shot at the airport in LA.

Her eyes skim over the article, her face crumpling as she gets to the bottom of it.

IS GRAMMY WINNER BECA MITCHELL PINING OVER A MARRIED WOMAN?

It's no secret that DJ Beca Mitchell likes women. The artist even has the reputation of being a bit of a womanizer. Yesterday, however, when accepting her award, Mitchell thanked Chloe Beale, who was part of the DJ's acapella group back in college, for believing in her all those years, and said she was lucky to have her in her life. The two women were spotted together in NYC a couple weeks ago, going for lunch or coffee several times over the week, and then again at LAX airport just before the Grammy's. A source says that Mitchell and Beale were 'inseparable in college' and that they had a 'strong bond'. It's safe to assume that the two women might be more than friends. Beale is married to New York County DA Gregory Logan.

"Greg..."

The laptop is shut with a loud clap, causing her to jump in her chair, and Greg is suddenly hovering over her, one arm bracing his weight on the table while the other is draped behind Chloe's back. She shrinks under his furious gaze, "When we met, you told me you had experienced a bit in college. Was it with her?"

Chloe is supposed to go back to Florida tomorrow. The adventure with the Bellas is coming to an end, but on the good note: they've just won the Worlds. They threw one last party with all the girls plus the Trebles. Chloe has been trying to keep her emotions in check for the past few hours, but it's getting harder as the party dies out.

Chloe's sitting by the pool, feet tracing patterns on the water surface as she nurses a drink. She feels Beca's presence before she hears her, and the shorter girl plops down beside her on the edge.

"You okay, Beale?"

Chloe nods absent-mindedly, orbs looking up toward the sky to try and keep the tears at bay. "Just a bit emotional. I can't believe this is the end."

Beca sighs and grabs her hand, "End of college maybe but definitely not the end of the Bellas. I mean, it's not like we're gonna fall out of touch. I'll deny it if you tell anybody this, but you're pretty important to me and there's no way I'm letting you go."

Chloe flashes her a megawatt smile, and knows there's no stopping the tears now; they topple over to slide down her cheeks.

"Oh, shit, don't cry," Beca exclaims hastily, wincing as she pulls Chloe in a side hug. "I'm not good with that!"

Chloe lets out a watery half-chuckle, and reaches up to dry her cheeks. "Sorry."

She feels Beca press a kiss to her hair and tries but fails to ignore the rush of electricity it sends all the way down to the tip of her toes. "Beca?"

"Mmm?"

"I'm gonna miss you," she whispers, because her voice seems to be stuck in her throat. "I'm gonna miss all of the Bellas but you're my best friend."

"Okay, hush, my reputation wil forever be ruined if I start to cry, too."

Chloe scoffs, "We all know you're a softie. There's no more pretending, Bec."

Chloe starts to hum a song as she plays with Beca's fingers. At some point, Beca joins her. Harmonizing with Beca has always been a huge turn on to Chloe. Their voices fit together perfectly, and it pulls something in Chloe's stomach. When they hit the last note of the song, they are staring at each other, and Chloe catches Beca's eyes flicker to her lips.

"Beca," she whispers, leaning in slowly, stilling her movements far enough for Beca to pull away if she wants to.

Beca doesn't say anything; instead, she closes the reminding distance between them and fuses her lips with Chloe's. It takes Chloe a beat to respond, and then it gets urgent and passionate; far from what Chloe imagined their first kiss to be like. Because yes, she has played out her first kiss with Beca several times now. It's a bit sloppy given their state of inebriation, but Chloe doesn't care; she wants more. She needs more.

They break apart, long enough for Beca to say something about going up to Chloe's bedroom, and then they are off, Beca's hand clasped around Chloe as she drags the redhead inside, dodging the group of Bellas and Trebles playing Twister in the middle of the living room and sprinting up the stairs.

Chloe doesn't really register what's happening, until her back hits the now shut door and Beca's lips are kissing their way down her neck and chest.

"I want you," she murmurs against Chloe's lips, pulling away briefly so they could catch their breaths.

"Then take me," Beca actually growls upon hearing those three words, her eyes darkening with lust. Before long, Beca is walking her backwards to the bed and straddling her lap.

Chloe swallows. There's no point in lying now. "Yes, but it didn't mean anything."

His fist comes down on the table, and Chloe jolts, trying to pull away from him, but he's gripped her arm, rooting her in place. She casts her eyes down to the wooden surface, wringing her hands together. Greg exhales loudly through his nose, his breath warm against Chloe's cheek, before he takes a step back and starts to pace around the room.

"Do you realize how bad this is for my career?!" he spits out, turning back to face her. "I'm running for Attorney General, for God's sakes. I'm gonna be the laughing stock at work if this rumor gets around that you're cheating on me. Even worse, with a woman."

Chloe's eyes snap up at his comment. But she knows better than to say anything. She recoils when he approaches her and places both hands on her shoulders, squeezing her flesh. She feels so small and utterly alone as his tall figure casts a shadow over her shorter frame. She folds in on herself while her gaze remains fastened on the table.

"But that's not even the worst part," he bends down to murmur in her ear. "The worst part is that you lied to me about how you spent your time, you lied to me about who you were going to see in LA, and I recall telling you when we met that I hated dishonesty more than anything in the world."

Chloe whimpers as she feels another squeeze to her shoulders, this time a bit stronger.

"Now I'm only going to ask this once, and I want you to tell me the truth. If you lie, I'll find out sooner or later, and I'm not sure I'll be able to keep my cool, Chloe."

His hands travel down her arms, then back up, his fingertips grazing her skin, causing goosebumps to appear in their wake. He grabs a handful of her blonde hair and pulls her head back just a bit.

"Did you cheat on me with that bitch?" he asks, tone low and articulate.

Chloe shakes her head quickly, as best as she can given the fact that he is still holding onto her hair. "No, I swear. She's just a friend."

"Good. Did you kiss her?"

Again, she shakes her head.

"Are you going to see her again?"

Headshake.

"Marvelous." He lets go of her hair and seizes her arm, swiftly lifting her off the chair. "Get up."

Chloe yelps, "Let me go!"

"You don't get to tell me what to do!" He shouts at her, and Chloe's head swivels when the back of his hand connects with her cheebone. Chloe gasps, cowering away from her husband.

"Remember Chloe, I'm a powerful man in this city," he whispers into her ear. Chloe's head is swimming, her vision struggling to settle. "I will make your life a living hell if you so much as try to contact her or anyone else who knows her. I will track you down if you try to leave. You don't have any friends or family here. No one wants you. You're just a girl who stayed in college for seven years just to be in her precious acapella group. Then you failed vet school and settled for a worthless, part time high school teaching job that doesn't even pay rent. You should actually be thanking me for supporting you."

If Chloe has managed to remain strong-willed up until now, it all comes tumbling down upon her husband's verbal beatdown. A sob escapes her throat, and his only reaction is to smirk.

"Let me go," she says, hating the sound of her voice breaking. He cocks his head to the side. "Please."

"I will make you pay if this article costs me my career," he says, and pauses. She meets his eyes and there's an evil glint in them. "Come to think of it this Beca chick is better off without you. You would probably ruin her career, too."

Chloe wants to crumble and roll herself into a ball on the floor. She's suffocating, her breathing coming into ragged intakes of air.

He lets her go then, Chloe exhaling in relief when his hands leave her body. She waits with bated breath for the front door to click shut, before she slowly slides against the cupboard until she is sat on the tile floor. She brings her knees up to her chest and tucks them under her chin, rocking back and forth against the counter to calm herself down.

She calls in sick for the day and sulks around the apartment, the walls to her prison reappearing brick by brick until they get to a point where the escape is not reachable.

Beca calls later in the afternoon. Chloe is sitting on the couch, numbly staring at the TV while nursing a glass of gin.

The numbers on the screen glare at her. It keeps buzzing, taunting the tip of her fingers.

She's better off without you.

Her husband's voice rings in her ears and her urge to pick up flies away. Beca's successful, while she's a nobody. She doesn't fit in Beca's life.

Chloe reaches over and silences the phone, turning it upside down on the coffee table. She downs the rest of her glass and grabs a cushion, hugging it to her chest before turning over and letting sleep take her. Sometimes, the demons don't follow her there.


It's been a week. Nothing major has happened, and Chloe went back to her daily routine. Tonight are the results of the election. Chloe has just finished getting ready, and goes to the kitchen to pour herself a glass.

She's just situated herself at the table when her phone rings. She knows without having to look that it's Beca, and when she turns her eyes to the device, she's surprised to see it isn't.

Frowning at the unknown number, she picks up her phone and accepts the call.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Chloe recognizes Beca's voice immediately and feels a chill going through the length of her body. She feels stupid for picking up without thinking, and yet, part of her thinks it might be what she needed.

"Beca, hi."

She hears the brunette clear her throat. "I figured you might pick up if I called from another number. Care to explain?"

"I, I've been busy."

"Chloe…" Beca sighs into the phone, and Chloe feels guilty because she's the reason for the disappointment she can hear in Beca's voice. She doesn't mind being disappointed by others, but she can't stand being the reason behind it. Especially when it comes to Beca. "Why have you been ignoring me for the past week? I thought we were okay."

"We are," Chloe's voice is rushed. "I just, I couldn't answer the phone. Last week was hectic."

"Why couldn't you answer the phone?" Chloe knows Beca's onto something and she's torn between feeling relieved or scared. "Are you okay? I saw the article on People, that's why I've been trying to reach you."

"I'm fine."

"Chlo, please be honest with me."

Chloe takes a deep breath, straightening in her chair. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to tell me that you need help." Chloe opens and closes her mouth several times, but no sound comes out. "Chloe, is he hurting you?" Beca's voice is so soft, but Chloe can't help but dread every word. She doesn't know what to say. She could lie, she could hang up the phone and block the number, but she's tired of it. Beca's insistence in reaching her over the past week and her speech are proof enough that the brunette cares about her and wouldn't let her down should she come to the decision that has been wracking her brain for the last couple of days.

"Beca, I can't-" She hates the way her voice wavers.

"Please don't hang up," Beca requests hastily. "Please hear me out." Chloe doesn't say anything, and it must prompt Beca into continuing, "I want to help. I want you to be safe and I need you to be okay. If he is hurting you and you are stuck, I can help. I will help, you have my word. Chloe, I just want you to be fucking safe. He's not a good person."

"Shut up!" Chloe snaps, slamming her hand down on the table. Her own outburst startles her and she lets out a sound; halfway between a sob and a whimper. Her hand shakes as she pushes her hair back from her sweating forehead. The end of the line is eerily silent. "Please, stop saying that."

"Tell me he has never abused you, physically or psychologically, and I will drop it." Chloe doesn't say anything, because she can't. "Oh my God."

Her heart clenches painfully when she hears Beca's sob through the phone, and she wills her brain to ignore it because she might crumple herself, and Greg is bound to come home any minute. Her heartbeat accelerates and she feels a trickle of cold sweat down her back, "It-it's not that simple, Beca."

"You're not alone, Chloe. I'm here. Stacie and Aubrey are here. Aubrey can help you take that son of a bitch down."

"I can't get out," her voice enventually cracks and her shoulders sag. "He won't let me. I can't go to the police, he's the DA, Beca." Finally, she admits it, "I need help."

And suddenly, the three uttered words are the key which unlocks the prison doors. Chloe feels like the oxygen she's has been deprived of the last few years come surging into her, and she can finally breathe again. It's overwhelming; and ironically, she starts to hyperventilate, as if her lungs are trying to make up for lost time.

"I'm here, Chlo." Beca's voice is soft and calm, and it settles Chloe's erratic breathing, the words lifting the crushing weight off Chloe's chest. "I'll help you." Chloe nods several times, even though Beca can't see her. "Is he working tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Can you take a taxi to the airport?"

Beca's voice sounds so far away as Chloe's mind jumps back and forth between possible scenarios following the possibly wrong decision. Her brain is on overdrive, and it struggles to keep up with Beca's questions. Images of what might happen if Greg finds out flood her mind. "I-I don't think I have enough money."

"Okay, okay." There's pause, and then she speaks again, "I'll come to New York. I'll be there ASAP, and we can do this together, alright? Is there any place you can stay tonight other than at home?"

"Tonight's the election, I have to be there." Keys turn in the lock and Chloe looks over her shoulder in panic. "I have to go."

Before Beca can respond, she's hung up and tossed the phone away from her. Her hands are still shaking and she downs her drink, wincing as the alcohol stings her throat. Her heart is still beating wildly against her ribcage and she's not sure she's able to stand.

"Chloe baby, you ready?" Greg's voice fills the apartment, and Chloe dabs at her cheeks and straightens her dress before tentatively getting to her feet. She walks out of the kitchen on unsteady legs and her husband greets her a with a kiss, tells her he just has to change and that they will be hitting the road any minute now.

As she waits for him by the door, Chloe feels like she's standing on a thin thread that can break any second.

You're not alone.

Beca's words ring into her ears and it eases the fear eating at her stomach.

Before she can think further, her husband is by her side, and presses a lingering kiss to her temple.

"Let's go."

Greg loses the election.


"Beca?" Beca registers Jesse calling her name, but can't find it in herself to reply. She's staring at the phone in her shaking hand. Chloe hung up a few seconds ago and she has no idea if she's safe. She hears his footsteps coming closer, and feels his hand set between her shoulderblades. "What's going on?"

Beca keeps staring at her professional cell, which she used to call Chloe. Eventually, she snaps out of her daze and looks at him, "I have to go to New York."

"What? Why?"

"It's Chloe." She's up and moving a few seconds later, her body on automatic pilot as she tries to find the stuff she'll need. It's useless though, because her vision is blinded with unshed tears and her brain doesn't seem able to work properly. "Have you seen my purse?"

"Whoa, whoa," Jesse moves in front of her, seizing her upper arms gently, "Take a breather. What's going on?"

"She's in danger. I'll explain more on the way to the airport. Right now I need you to get me a ticket for a flight to New York ASAP."

While Jesse gets on with his task, Beca races upstairs to get her passport and change into comfier clothes. As she fumbles through her drawer, she tries to call Chloe again, but it goes to voicemail. She curses under her breath and goes back downstairs, almost missing the last step in her haste.

"I bought two tickets for a flight that leaves in two hours from LAX. Arrives in La Guardia at 1 am."

Beca frowns, "Two tickets?"

"All I heard was Chloe and danger, and I'm not about to let you go there alone, whatever it is you plan on doing." Jesse says as he grabs his keys, phone and jacket, and Beca manages to push away her grim thoughts to smile at him in gratitude.

The 5-hour-flight is probably one of the longuest Beca's ever experienced. When it touches down and slows to a cruising speed, she unfastens her seatbelt and jolts from her seat to grab her and Jesse's bag.

"Do you have an address?" Jesse asks as they make their way out of the plane, and Beca's determined steps falter. She doesn't. All she knows is Chloe's school, which is closed at this hour. She grabs her phone to try and call Chloe again, but it chimes awake with an incoming call from an unknown number.

She holds up a finger to Jesse, before picking up. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Beca Mitchell?"

"Yes. Who's this?"

She's confused; nobody save her friends and family have her personal cell number.

"This is Lower Manhattan New York Presbyterian Hospital. I'm calling about a Chloe Logan?"

Beca's blood runs cold, dread creeping into her limbs as she waits for the inevitable; Chloe's hurt.


Yikes, I'll be hiding behind a corner now.

This chapter was already too big, I had to stop it somewhere, and I guess I couldn't resist a little cliffhanger. Promise I won't keep you hanging too long.