A/N: I just want to thank you again for sticking by this story since I haven't been doing a good job of updating regularly. Life gets in the way and I appreciate your patience. I honestly wasn't sure what was going to happen when Beca woke up the next morning and I was fighting a block for a long time. With this chapter I know what direction the story is headed in as I prepare to wrap things up. As always your feedback is greatly appreciated, a review or comment here or a message on Tumblr (shesamarshmallow) always helps.

The sun was practically blinding Beca as she lay in bed; a hangover had her head pounding. She stayed like that for a few minutes, the light definitely wasn't helping the pain in her head but she didn't want to move. It wasn't until her phone rang a couple seconds later that Beca remembered last night. She hopped out of bed, her head still throbbing and grabbed her still ringing phone off the nightstand. She answered before they could hang up without even checking to see if the number matched the one from last night.

"Hello?" Beca said, almost as if it was a question. She didn't have any idea who might be calling her this early unless it was Chloe.

"Hi Beca, it's Aubrey."

Beca sighed into the speaker before speaking, "please tell me she didn't ask you to call and reject me again for her?"

The line was quiet and the longer it was the more nervous Beca became. She was sure that video would work but at this point it seemed like it hadn't.

"Aubrey, you still there?"

This time it was Aubrey who was sighing into the phone, "yeah, sorry."

"I'm calling because Chloe's in the hospital. We went out last night to get a few things at the store and a truck…"

Aubrey stopped there unable to continue.

"I'm on my way," Beca hung up the phone and ran out of her condo practically tripping over her still sleeping friends in the living room.


As she made her way down to her car Beca checked the number Aubrey had called from to see if it matched the one from last night. When it did Beca's heart sunk. Aubrey had been calling to tell her this last night. Aubrey had called her right after it happened so she could be there and she wasn't. Aubrey would only call her if Chloe wanted her there and Beca didn't even bother to answer the phone. She couldn't beat herself up about this right now, she had somewhere to be but she was pissed at herself. She could have been there for her already but instead she went to sleep.

Beca made it to the hospital quickly but wasn't quite sure where to go when she arrived. She sent a text to the number Aubrey had called from and hoped she would answer quickly.

Beca's phone buzzed and she had her answer.

Room 46B

Aubrey was standing outside the room waiting for her when she arrived.

"I'm sorry," it was the only thing Beca could think of to say when she saw the other woman.

Aubrey took a deep breath, "she was going to call you today."

Beca wasn't sure if that comforted her or made her feel worse about the whole situation.

"Can I see her?" Beca asked hopefully.

"Beca I'm sorry I didn't know how to tell you this on the phone. Chloe hasn't woken up since the accident; she's in a coma. I was in the car with her but the car that hit us swerved and hit us on an angle, she was driving and the car impacted on her side. She was in the middle of telling me how excited she was to see you again."

Aubrey's eyes were filled with tears as she finished speaking and Beca could feel tears forming in her own eyes. It was a few seconds later and Aubrey had her arms around the shorter woman. They weren't close or even friends really but they had Chloe in common and Beca didn't shy away from the embrace.

As Aubrey pulled away Beca looked up at her and considered her face. She noticed things she hadn't when she first arrived at the hospital. She had scratches and scars that weren't covered by her blonde hair. Beca assumed they were from the glass of the shattered windshield. Other than that though the woman had obviously been lucky. Chloe was lying in a coma and Aubrey was standing in front of her almost unscathed, at least physically.

Aubrey could obviously sense what the brunette was thinking.

"I was incredibly lucky. It happened so fast and all I can remember is walking out of the car and seeing her still trapped in the car as the rescue workers fought to get her out. She wasn't screaming, she wasn't moving; it was like time stood still. I just stood there and watched and then I remembered…"

Aubrey stopped again, not sure if she should continue with what she was going to say.

"I remembered Chloe's daughter was in the back seat. I looked toward the back of the car but she wasn't in there. I yelled out her name and walked around the scene, there was glass and metal on the ground and there was blood and Beca I have never been more scared in my life."

Beca's jaw was visibly hanging open; she hadn't expected to hear Aubrey's addition to the story. She was speechless.

They stood in silence outside of Chloe's hospital room. Beca had a million questions swirling in her brain. This was too much information for her to process in such a short period. She didn't know what to think, what to say, she almost wanted to run out of the hospital and go back to bed. Maybe if she could just get home and pull the covers up over her head all of this would go away. It was shocking and it hurt and Beca's world had been turned upside down.

"Is she okay?" Beca spoke up finally, "Chloe's daughter. Is she okay?"

"Thalia," Aubrey clarified, "yes, thank God. She was sitting in a safety seat in back on my side of the car and not Chloe's. Chloe keeps the child seat on the opposite side of her car so she can see her more easily. She would have been crushed if she had been on the driver's side of the car. She's traumatized and scared obviously, but she's asleep right now."

"Chloe never mentioned her," Beca spoke up.

"It's complicated."

"I'm sure it is but I can't help but feel like I don't know her at all."

Aubrey didn't feel like it was her place but Beca had questions now and she was the only one who could answer them.

"Beca don't be upset. She likes you a lot. Her life is messy, she has a lot going on and she's been through a lot. She just thought that if she told you the truth, you wouldn't want to be with her. Chloe was just protecting her heart, it's been broken before and she couldn't fall apart again Beca. I hope you understand."

When Aubrey finished Beca couldn't help but feel mixed emotions. Why did Chloe feel like Beca would reject her? Had she done something to give her that impression? Beca was working herself up. She needed to calm down, the situation was already high stress and she didn't need to make it worse. They only knew each other for a week; she tried to keep that in mind. She was crazy about the red head but it was still just one-week, an amazing week, but one week nonetheless.

"I don't understand but I will. I just wish I could talk to her."

"Me too."


"Do you want a coffee or something?" Beca asked Aubrey who had probably been up all night and was running on fumes.

Aubrey nodded, "I'll come with you to grab it. I need to go for a walk."

As they walked through the halls of the hospital all the questions Beca had were still crowding her brain. She had more questions today than she had in all the weeks she had been at home thinking about Chloe. Chloe had a daughter she never told her about and who knows what else Beca didn't know about her life. All Beca wanted to do was talk to Chloe but that was impossible. Worst still Beca didn't know how long it would be until she could talk to the other woman, if ever. That thought hit her like a punch in the gut. What if she didn't wake up?

Beca stopped in the middle of the hall way and it was a minute before Aubrey noticed and turned around.

"Are you okay Beca?" she asked, the sudden halt worried Aubrey.

"Is she going to wake up? Did the doctors say if she's going to be okay?" Beca was practically crying, the desperation in her voice broke Aubrey.

The tears were pouring out of her eyes as she answered Beca, "they don't know. They're hopeful but they don't know. They are hoping she wakes up in the next few days. So do I."

"I have to talk to her again Aubrey. Kiss her again. Tell her how much I care about her and that no matter what she has to tell me I still want her."

Aubrey was silent. Not the kind of awkward silence that often falls over people but an understanding silence. There was nothing either of them wanted more than for Chloe to wake up and just be okay.

"She knows," Aubrey said finally, it was almost a whisper but Beca heard it.

Beca wasn't sure she believed her, but she smiled anyway. She needed that thought to carry her through. If she was going to make it through however many days or weeks it would take for Chloe to wake up she was going to need some hope.

At least an hour had passed between the time they left for coffee and when they got back to Chloe's room. The door was still closed; Beca hadn't seen her yet. She wasn't sure how she would react if she went beyond the threshold. She didn't know if she could handle seeing Chloe lay there. She knew it wouldn't be the bright and bubbly girl she met on the boat, but that girl was in there somewhere. Beca knew that was the girl she needed to keep it together for. That was the woman she needed to hope for.

"Beca, I don't know what your work commitments are like but do you want to stay here with her tonight?"

"I can put work on hold. I can stay," Beca's voice was quivering but she was sure.

"I'm going to take Thalia back to my place and I have to call her family. I was just in shock and I didn't know how to tell them. You were the first person I thought of and I knew she wanted to see you again. I know it doesn't work like this but I guess I just thought maybe she'd wake up if she could feel you here."


Aubrey opened the door to Chloe's hospital room and Beca waited for a few seconds; she needed to collect herself before she stepped in. She wasn't ready but she would never be ready for this. It wasn't easy; it wasn't something you could ever know how to do.

Beca broke into tears when she saw Chloe lying in that hospital bed, still. She was covered in bruises and scars. Beca couldn't imagine how much pain she would be in when she woke up. Her body was damaged and to Beca it was almost like Chloe wasn't there at all. She was there physically but she felt so distant. Like she could be anywhere else and it wouldn't matter, Chloe didn't know she was there. It was disheartening but Beca moved in closer.

When Beca looked away from Chloe she could see Aubrey in the corner of the room, a still sleeping little girl was now in her arms. She knew this wasn't the way Chloe had ever envisioned Beca finding out about her kid, if she had ever imagined it. It wasn't ideal but Beca couldn't help but smile at the sight of the young child. She was beautiful, so small and she looked so much like Chloe. Beca's heart broke for her, she looked to be around 4 years old and this would be difficult for her to understand.

Aubrey walked in her direction and Beca could tell that the little one was stirring in her arms.

"Where are we?" Thalia asked Aubrey, her voice was so small and she was obviously scared.

"I don't know if you remember anything but when we went out to the store last night we got into an accident. We are at the hospital now Thalia."

"Is mama okay?" Aubrey dreaded this question. She didn't know how to tell her. She had never in her life imagined something worse than giving Thalia this news.

"She was hurt in the accident Thalia, very badly. Her body is in a lot of pain so it went to sleep while it tries to heal. She will be sleeping for a while but the doctors will help her and then she can wake up."

Thalia looked at her mother in the hospital bed and started to cry. She was young but Beca could tell that she knew that Chloe was in rough shape. She was visibly hurt and this wasn't lost on the child.

Aubrey rubbed Thalia's back as she held her hoping to offer any comfort she possibly could.

"Thalia I'm going to take you to my house while the doctors help mama. Is that okay?"

"I want to stay with her," Thalia cried out. Aubrey hated this; she didn't know what to say.

"I know you do baby but the doctors need some time to help her. She would want you to come home with me so I can take care of you, okay baby?"

Thalia just nodded.

In all the hurt and confusion Thalia hadn't even noticed that there was someone else in the room.

"Thalia, this is Beca. She's going to stay with your mama for a bit so she won't be alone. We will come back tomorrow."

The introduction was slightly awkward but Beca smiled at Thalia and was relieved when the little girl returned the smile.

"Hi Beca," came her little voice, "please call Aubrey if mama wakes up."

Beca nodded, "I will. You make sure Aubrey gets some sleep okay?"

"Okay," Thalia agreed.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Aubrey informed the brunette, "call me if anything comes up."

"I will."


Beca curled up in a chair next to Chloe's bed as Aubrey and Thalia left the room and the door closed. It was another hour before a nurse showed up. She didn't even ask Beca who she was or what she was doing there. She figured they weren't about to kick someone out who was just trying to be there for their loved one in a coma. She was sure they had rules at this hospital but in this case perhaps the staff were willing to bend them. Beca didn't even know what she would say if anyone were to ask who she was. Their relationship was complicated at best and at worst they didn't really even have a relationship. They were acquaintances with a certain affection for one another who hadn't spoken in weeks. Beca resolved that she wouldn't say that to any nurse who asked. She would just say they were a couple; it wasn't as if Chloe would protest.

No matter how hard she tried Beca couldn't get comfortable in the chair. She wasn't sure if it was just her emotions that had her restless or that she was physically uncomfortable.

The hours passed like this, silently. Chloe wasn't able to say anything and Beca didn't know what to say. She had seen enough medical dramas on TV to know that they always said you should talk to coma patients.

"I've missed you so much you know," Beca started, feeling almost silly talking to someone who couldn't respond.

"When I met you that first day of the cruise Jesse was the one who pushed me to talk to you. I wasn't going to and that confident swagger, totally fake. I didn't think such a gorgeous woman would ever be interested in me. I'm so glad I listened to him. You kind of set my world on fire that day and that fire hasn't gone out since. I've never stopped wanting to see you again," Beca continued, still unsure.

"Please wake up so that I can tell you all of this all over again. I really care about you and I really want that second chance. I want you no matter what that entails. Please wake up Chloe."

Beca wiped the tears that were flowing out of her eyes with her sleeve and rolled over in the chair. Chloe hadn't stirred and Beca was getting tired. Her headache from this morning had returned and the day had been emotionally draining.

The brunette hadn't prayed in a long time but she found herself asking the man upstairs for some solace. She prayed that Chloe would wake up and she prayed that she would be okay. Beca prayed that she would hear her voice again soon. She wasn't sure why, she wasn't really a believer but it gave her some relief to think that maybe someone was listening.

Her lids were heavy and it wasn't long before she was asleep. Tomorrow was another day and Beca could only hope it would be better than this one.