"I can't believe you dragged us out of bed to stand in line" Beca complains as she struggles to cover her yawn, getting amused looks not only from her girlfriends but from several of the people in line around them. And she knows she's being slightly unreasonable, but it really is far too early to be standing around not even inside the restaurant yet.

"I know, but I promise it'll be worth it" Chloe says with a giggle, leaning in to kiss Beca's cheek. The brunette rolls her eyes but accepts the gesture without comment, knowing it wouldn't do any good anyway. "And I didn't know it'd be this packed this early, I thought we left early enough to miss the crowd."

"It's half priced specialty day" the gentleman behind the explains when he hears, smiling at the three women when they turn to look at him. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. I've just been coming here for years now, and I have their deal schedule sent to my phone. Is this your first time?"
"Yeah, I read about it online and knew we just had to stop here" Chloe says with a warm smile, waving away the apology as she turns to talk to him properly. Leave it to Chloe to make friends in the restaurant waiting line. Not that Beca minds, seeing her girlfriend be so enthusiastic about even the littlest things is something she'll never grow tired of. "We're on a road trip for our anniversary" she continues, and the man smiles back.

"Well this is definitely the place to go to make memories" he says, looking between where Chloe and Beca stand. "How long have you two been together?"

"This is our first anniversary with the three of us" Chloe says, and Beca tenses as she sees the man's smile slip, feeling Aubrey do the same next to her. She can tell the man had somehow missed that Aubrey was part of their group, not that she can see how when she's been leaning equally on both her girlfriends as she tries to stay awake.

"The three of you?" he asks after a moment, and Chloe is already reaching back with both hands to grab Beca and Aubrey, she knows they're likely to go off on him if he starts in with any judgement. Probably Beca in particular given her current state of grumpiness, but the brunette knows Aubrey wouldn't be far behind.

"Yep, the three of us" Chloe says, not losing her smile as she stares him down, if anything seeming more enthusiastic about talking to him. And Beca reluctantly stays quiet rather than tossing out the retorts she'd love to voice, knowing that as long as he doesn't get rude about anything Chloe is probably the best to talk to him.

If he says even one thing about either of her girls though, all bets are off and he'll be hearing exactly what she thinks of him.

The line moves before he can respond, and Beca shoots him a glare over her shoulder as they move up, silently daring him to even try saying something. He doesn't seem to notice though, looking down at his feet with a slight frown as he steps forward. Oh well, as long as he stays quiet she'll let him get away with that much.

"We're being nice and happy on our anniversary trip" Chloe whispers into Beca's ear before turning and presumably repeating it to Aubrey, and Beca rolls her eyes even as she nods reluctantly in agreement. They're supposed to be having fun, not giving intolerant idiots verbal smack downs. And definitely not actual smack downs, though Beca knows that temptation will probably be even harder to resist than yelling at the man if he says something. It's hard to think of the right words to say, but a solid punch says a lot all on its own.

"I'll behave if everyone else does" Beca whispers back, just loudly enough that Aubrey can hear her as well, but not the people around them. And it's enough to make Chloe giggle as Aubrey shakes her head in mild exasperation, because even when she tries to behave it's not always the easiest thing to manage.

"Beca, let's not end up with you in jail for assault again" Aubrey says after a minute, speaking as quietly as Beca had to keep anyone around them from hearing and getting the wrong impression.

"Dude that was totally called for" Beca points out, rolling her eyes when Aubrey doesn't look convinced. "And anyway, it wasn't for assault, it was for property damage. And Amy helped pay the fine, so it's not even a big deal on my record anymore."

"But it is still on your record" Aubrey points out logically, and Beca reluctantly has to agree. "His opinion doesn't matter anyway, isn't that what you two kept telling me for weeks after that bitch at graduation said I needed two soulmates because I have so many issues no one person could ever deal with them?" Aubrey continues as Chloe nods, obviously remembering that time.

"I still think you should have let me punch her too" Beca says, a little louder this time as she remembers how angry she'd been that someone had dared to criticize her girlfriend, especially at graduation. She doesn't realize how much louder she'd been until Chloe is shushing her, and then she notices the strange glances they're getting from the people around them. "Sorry" she says with an embarrassed smile, trying to shrug nonchalantly at the group in front of them before they start judging too harshly.

They stand in silence for a minute after that as they wait for the looks to stop and the curiosity to die down, none of them wanting to say anything while someone might be trying to eavesdrop. After a minute though Chloe is back to gushing about the restaurant, peering through the window they've finally reached as she comments on how amazing the food looks, and how cute the décor is. It's familiar and normal, and Beca can tell Chloe has already mostly forgotten about the potential negative reaction from the gentleman behind them.

"They put those lights in about a year ago" he comments after Chloe mentions them, and Beca can almost hear the apology in his voice. "And I'm sorry again, for eavesdropping a second time and for upsetting you a bit ago" he continues, actually voicing the apology they'd heard in his tone, and Beca's respect for him raises a bit. She'll still deck him if he says the wrong thing, but she has to admit it takes courage to apologize like this.

"Oh, it's no problem" Chloe says cheerfully, and Beca can't help the small laugh that escapes her at that, refusing to turn and look at the man. Of course her girlfriend is willing to forgive him that easily, but Beca isn't feeling that charitable. He'll have to do a lot more than say sorry for upsetting them before she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because the one thing Beca has zero tolerance for is someone judging her girlfriends or their relationship. If she's gone through everything she has and has still reached the point where she's not only okay but happy in the relationship, then everyone else can damn well be okay with it too.

"Beca, be nice" Chloe chides gently when Beca laughs, nudging her lightly until Beca turns with a sigh. "No harm done, right?"

"No, she has every right to be angry with me" the man says with a grimace, and Beca softens a little. Just a little though, because this still isn't making up for the look of disbelief he'd given them earlier. Only the fact that it hadn't had any disgust is saving him at this point. "I'll admit it took me by surprise, but you three seem happy, so there's not much else to say, is there?"

"No, I think that pretty much sums it up" Aubrey finally chimes in, and the look she gives the man over her shoulder is about as cold as Beca's seen her lately. The blonde is clearly on the same page as Beca as far as forgiving him, and Beca finds that reassuring. They might be overreacting, but at least they're overreacting together, right?

Apparently Chloe thinks that's enough of the conversation, because with a shrug and a vaguely apologetic look at the gentleman for their chilly reception of his apology she turns back around, Beca doing the same a second later. She goes back to commenting on the restaurant until they're inside, and when the smells hit them Beca has to admit Chloe might have a point about waking up early enough to get here. Especially after their long wait in line without coffee or food, she's ready to eat.

Chloe looks smug as Beca breathes deeply, and Beca just gives her a look. "Hey now, you didn't let us stop for coffee before making us stand in line for thirty minutes, I'm allowed to soak in the caffeine any way I can."
"I don't think it works that way" Aubrey points out, and Beca shifts the look to her. "I'm just saying, I don't know if caffeine can be carried through the air, or absorbed in any way that gives you a benefit even if it is" she continues rationally, and Beca gives in with a roll of her eyes.

"Maybe not, but my brain thinks it can" she defends her point; she really does feel more awake after walking in. She may not be any more caffeinated that she was before, but she at least feels more alert. Maybe she's just like one of Pavlov's dogs, when she smells coffee she wakes up even if she hasn't had any yet.

"Don't worry Beca, we'll get you fed" Chloe says with a laugh as they approach the hostess stand to give their names and find out how much longer they have to wait. Thankfully it isn't too bad; people seem to be eating quickly, no one lingering over long on their meals, realizing how many people are waiting on their table.

Once they're seated they stay mindful of the same thing, once the food is delivered they don't exactly hurry through it but they do keep conversation to a minimum as they enjoy the food. The pancakes are amazing, the specialty menu turning out to be dozens of different ways to make pancakes. Beca loves pancakes almost as she loves music, so she's in heaven.

She of course ends up eating far too much, insisting on a large stack even when the waitress tries to explain how large that is, then refusing to give up before she's finished it all. That does mean the guy from behind them in line is gone by the time they finish, but Beca still feels a little guilty for the extra time eating for a moment as they leave, looking back at how the line still stretches a ways down the street.

"So what's next?" Aubrey asks as they reach the car, Beca gratefully taking the opportunity to stretch out in the backseat and relieve a bit of the pressure on her stomach. She can tell her girlfriends find it amusing, and when she catches Chloe smirking at her sticks her tongue out. Even if she is too full for comfort she doesn't regret eating as much as she had, not when the pancakes had been that awesome.

"Well, I have a few options but nothing set in stone" Chloe says as she pulls out of the parking space. "There's a science center here that has some interesting exhibits, including a planetarium. Then there's the Parthenon replica, it's supposed to be a must see trip destination and a great museum. Or there are some tours of famous recording studios, but those are mostly for country stars so I wasn't sure how Beca would like them."

"Yeah, as much as I love music studios and the thought of spending time in them, I'll pass on the country music tour" Beca says instantly, earning laughs from the front seat. "And the Parthenon thing sounds cool, but won't it be packed on a Saturday if it's a big attraction?"
"It might be" Chloe admits from the front seat. "But I don't know. There is an entrance fee, so a lot of people just visit to look at the outside of the building and that might keep the crowds down inside."
"Well, what about that science center?" Aubrey asks, and Beca voices her agreement from the backseat. Science might not really be her thing, but that doesn't mean she finds it as boring as she does her math classes. And the planetarium sounds like it could be pretty awesome.

"It might be a little packed too, but that'll probably be in the exhibits designed more for kids anyway. There are a few that are geared towards adults that should be fine even on a Saturday." Chloe says after she thinks about it for a minute. "And I think there's a movie about sharks that you buy tickets to watch, so that won't be bad no matter what."
"So you want me to spend part of our anniversary trip watching not only a movie, but an educational movie?" Beca teases, knowing both her girlfriends know how much she loves sharks after the earlier trip to the aquarium where she'd spent almost thirty minutes watching the different species in their individual tanks. So they won't be fooled, but she can't pass up the opportunity to comment on being expected to watch any kind of movie.

"Becs, the description makes it sound like you actually feel as if you're diving through the water after a shark" is Chloe's only response, and Beca has to fight to keep the disgruntled expression on her face. Because seriously, that sounds awesome even if it is a movie, and it's not like this one will have a plot for her to get bored with within five minutes of figuring out what will happen.

"Well we all know Beca votes for the science center now" Aubrey says with a laugh, not even remotely fooled by Beca's attempts at keeping her excitement from her face, and with a sigh the brunette gives up. "I think it'll be fun no matter what, between the planetarium and the movie it'll be a good way to spend some time before whatever else you have planned for us" she adds, and Beca agrees once again, dropping any remaining faked reluctance.

It turns out that the center is more entertaining than they'd thought, even the children's exhibits, because they don't end up making the first two showings of the shark documentary. There are just too many cool things to distract them, too many interactive exhibits that draw them in no matter what their intended age range. After all, who can resist digging for 'fossils' when a worker waves them over, adding them to the group already listening to her descriptions of dinosaurs that had once roamed the planet.

And the exhibit on the study of color is interesting as well, far enough from a color museum for the three of them to be comfortable, focusing instead on what science has been able to learn about changes in brain waves and such when colors become visible. There aren't any clear answers, and Chloe mentions a few times that she doesn't think science will ever be able to explain just what happens when part of your soul meets what's missing, but it's still interesting to read about. And it seems fitting, even if this trip isn't the anniversary of their meeting it's still a celebration of bringing color into each other's lives.

They do finally make it to a showing after lunch, and they enjoy it as much as Beca had thought they would. Anything about sharks or ocean animals is almost automatically considered cool, but there's no denying that whoever put together the documentary put a lot of effort into making it as engaging as possible. Chloe had been right, the way the screen is set up you feel like you're diving through the water, and Beca almost expects a splash when the camera view first plunges into the ocean.

The planetarium is just as amazing, though none of them know the constellations very well it's still beautiful to look up at the stars. It reminds Beca of their dinner under the stars a few nights ago, but there isn't any regret like she'd feared she might feel. She still wishes she could promise her soulmates everything, every bit of her love and every day of her life, but she knows they're both right. After finally getting the relationship she'd never thought she wanted, she isn't about to ruin it by rushing into any decisions like that. She'll graduate soon enough, and then they can talk.

After they spend some time in the planetarium they decide to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner that night, not seeing anything else they particularly want to spend time doing in the science center. They've already been through so many of the exhibits that there isn't much left anyway, and this way they won't have to rush getting ready.

True to the pattern for the trip Chloe refuses to tell them what the plan is for the night while they dress, smiling mysteriously whenever they try to guess. With it being the last night she isn't threatening to switch plans around, but she's clearly happy with the secret she has planned for the night. Beca can tell just by looking at her girlfriend that she's looking forward to whatever it is, her bright blue eyes sparking with excitement whenever she thinks about it.

If she didn't trust her girlfriends as much as she did the sheer anticipation in Chloe's demeanor would have her worried about what was coming, a secret that anyone is looking forward to this much has never turned out well for Beca before. Her father had thought she'd be excited to meet his new wife; her best friend had been excited to move overseas to study abroad and left Beca alone to face high school with no close friends; her mother had thought a surprise birthday party was a better idea than a day of solitude in Beca's mind. None of those had gone over well, and it's only Beca's love for Chloe that lets her get over the faint apprehension she'd been feeling since she'd gotten so excited.

She knows that her girlfriends have noticed, but she's not sure how to bring it up and they seem to sense that as well. They're just unfailingly cheerful as they dress; making sure that she's kept laughing and distracted rather than left alone in her head again. It makes Beca feel both incredibly loved and a little self-conscious for needing that care so much this trip, but she manages to keep from adding that to her pile of insecurities for the night. Like Chloe had said earlier, they're happy and on their anniversary trip right now, and she won't ruin that by overthinking things.

It's almost surprising how easy it is to accomplish that, but the sheer volume of both noise and people at their destination help immensely, Beca doesn't have time to overthink anything as she worries about navigating through the press of bodies without losing either of her girlfriends. It doesn't help that she's so small, though she'll never admit that aloud. The second she does her girlfriends will be on it, teasing her until they think they've gotten enough mileage out of the slip. She sees Aubrey smirk as if she's planning on commenting anyway as they dodge around a group of drunken boys in cowboy hats and Beca nearly ends up lost when she goes left and her girlfriends go right, but the comment never comes.

By the time they finally reach the restaurant Beca is happy just to be out of the crush of people, a little surprised at how packed the street had been. Then again it is a Saturday night in one of the biggest tourist destination of the South, and college is officially over for the semester, so maybe the crowds shouldn't be a surprise after all. Maybe she's just surprised that Chloe had picked the place for their last night.

The restaurant is a little higher end than some of the ones they've passed along the road, but still fits with the general atmosphere of the stretch of clubs and restaurants it sits in the middle of. And in keeping with the city's reputation everything about the décor is music inspired, from tables with piano keyboard designs, to cased instruments along the walls, to what look like album certifications hanging on the walls themselves. It could have easily crossed the line into tacky and overdone, but something about the setup seems to exude class rather than cheap gimmicks.

"This place is amazing" Aubrey says when they sit down, hands coming up to rest on the keyboard design as if it were real, an unconscious grace to her movements that distracts Beca for a moment. She's heard her soulmate play few times, but not since she'd graduated and left the Bellas. As Beca watches the blonde's fingers move slowly to the remembered notes of some song, she wonders if she misses it.

"It really is" Chloe agrees with a smile as she looks around, taking in the almost eclectic mix of musical memorabilia around them. "There were a few others along the way that looked nice too, but this one just seemed right."

"Thank you for this" Beca says before Chloe or Aubrey can continue, earning a nod of agreement from the blonde as their girlfriend blushes slightly. "You've thought out every step of this trip, and it's been amazing. From beginning to end, I haven't had this much fun in a long time" she adds sincerely, smiling as Chloe's blush deepens. She wants to make sure her girlfriend knows how much she loves the effort put into making the trip as perfect as possible, and that's enough to overcome any desire to seem badass. After all, isn't it just as badass to show feelings and hug kittens as it is to punch annoying shits and lead a group of any kind to national victory?

She'll ignore the part of her mind that's still yelling that a capella has nothing to do with being cool or badass, because after two years now she knows that's the furthest from the truth it could possibly be. They may all be nerds, but they're awesome, totally badass national champion nerds.

"I just wanted it to be special" Chloe finally says, trying to shrug off the praise. "I mean we made it a whole year actually together, that seemed like something worth celebrating."

"Yeah, we definitely deserve some kind of reward for putting up with Beca for a whole year" Aubrey teases gently, and Beca can tell she's trying to keep the mood from turning too serious.

"Excuse you?" Beca asks with an exaggerated air of offense, doing her part to help Aubrey. Tonight is their last night of fun on the trip, keeping things light sounds like the best plan to her as well. "What do you mean 'put up with' me? I seem to vaguely remember you both doing your best to get me to move in with you for an entire month." That had been a fun time, the two of them not wanting her to feel like they were pushing, and Beca still worried that asking to officially move in would end up with her getting between them. In the end they'd managed to realize they were all dancing around the same issue, but there had been a few awkward moments along the way.

"I feel like anything I could say to that would be bad luck considering we're celebrating our anniversary" Aubrey says with a laugh after a moment of thought, and Beca joins in after a second. Because she doesn't know what Aubrey might have been thinking, but her inner asshole can think up a few things that would have been well out of order, even in jest. And while she's gotten a lot more confident in the relationship the past few months and especially since getting their soulmate bands, Beca knows hearing Aubrey say any of the things that have crossed her mind would probably be hard on that comfort.

"No bad luck" Chloe says firmly, and they're saved from responding when the waiter appears to take their orders. After that discussion switches to more usual topics, mostly focused on what they're planning once they get back from the trip. Chloe and Beca are lucky enough to have a few days off once they're back home, but Aubrey will have to go to work Monday morning, without a chance to rest or recover.

"That doesn't mean you need to stay an extra five hours to catch up" Beca points out as their food arrives, seeing Aubrey flush slightly, obviously having planned on doing just that. Maybe not a full five hours later, but definitely longer than she needs to. "You'll be able to catch up without working yourself into the ground, and your boss loves you anyway. There's no reason to stay past six." Aubrey doesn't argue, just looks sheepish as she eats, and Beca thinks the point has been made.

After dinner they walk along the sidewalk taking in the clubs around them, and Chloe just smiles as she leads them along. She doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get to whatever club is their destination, and Beca has to admit she's enjoying the leisurely pace even with the crowds still packing the street. It's a beautiful night, and it's nice to take the time to just enjoy it.

They do eventually reach the intended destination of course, and Beca has to admit she's impressed by the sounds she hears from outside, whoever is in charge of the music has a good ear for effects and styles. It's not until they get inside that she realizes why Chloe must have picked this club though, the large signboard advertising karaoke night starting in about forty-five minutes mixed with the mischievous grin are dead giveaways, and Beca has to stop herself from shaking her head immediately.

"No fair" she eventually says, half glaring at her girlfriend. "Karaoke is bad enough when I'm too drunk to be embarrassed, without even a shot, there's no way you're getting me up there."

"Oh come on Beca!" Chloe coaxes, her eyes begging in a way that Beca will always find hard to refuse. "If everyone else is drunk, then it's just as good as you being drunk."

"That logic makes no sense" Beca says with a deadpan expression, knowing she'll probably end up giving in anyway but not willing to make it easy for the redhead.

"Beca, you know she's going to get you on that stage no matter what" Aubrey says, bringing a quick end to Beca's stubborn attempts at refusal. She at least sounds as resigned to the situation as Beca feels, but the brunette knows that's probably as much of an act as she's putting on herself. Karaoke in strange bars might not be either of their things, but making Chloe happy definitely is. And it's not like either of them have stage fright or a dislike of performing to hide behind anyway. Beca might not be entirely comfortable singing on her own without a few shots to lose a bit of her embarrassment, but that doesn't mean she won't do it anyway.

Even without saying anything in response to Aubrey Chloe seems to know she's already won, smiling widely in a way that almost makes giving in worth it. Not that she's actually given in yet, though that's more a matter of pride than anything else. Even if she knows she's going to end up on stage singing whatever song Chloe will likely end up picking out for her, that doesn't mean she has to admit it to herself just yet.

Beca has to laugh when Aubrey orders something stronger than her usual, though she is starting to get a little nervous about trying to sing in front of everyone here without a drink of her own. She'll get over it though, by the time Chloe drags her onstage they'll have been dancing long enough for her to lose her doubts and loosen up without the alcohol.

That doesn't stop her from taking what Chloe deems 'an unnecessary amount of time' looking through the song booklet because as her girlfriend puts it, 'you already know what you're going to sing, so just let yourself accept that so we can put our songs in'. Which to be fair, Beca does know, had almost known from the moment she saw the banner and figured out what Chloe had planned. But she still has to convince herself that she'll survive the embarrassment of singing it onstage, and that takes some time.

Chloe has her song picked within seconds, which isn't surprising when she's had this planned for weeks. Beca wouldn't be surprised to find out that her girlfriend had spent hours searching for the perfect song, and she'd probably then emailed the club to make sure it was in their music library. Hell, she'd probably had a list of four backups as well, and a list for Beca and Aubrey in case they couldn't find a song.

Once their songs are picked and they're waiting their turn, Beca's nervousness starts to shift from singing in front of people to letting her soulmates down. She knows that's ridiculous, that this is just a fun activity that Chloe has planned for them to enjoy to close out their trip, but it seems like more than that. What if her song isn't romantic enough, what if it's too over the top or too serious for the night?

Even with the new set of worries spinning through Beca's mind, she manages to forget them as they dance. Their soulmate bands seem to be enough to keep most of the college boys looking to score away, and Aubrey's glare does the trick for the rest. It's amazing how welcome the sharp look is when it's not being directed at her, Beca manages to think as she focuses on not laughing the second time the blonde sends someone on their way.

By the time Chloe gets called onstage Beca has managed to loosen up completely, unreservedly enjoying herself as they dance and she laughs at the drunken antics around them. Now she's just excited to see what song Chloe has picked, expecting it to be super romantic to round out the trip.

She certainly wasn't expecting the redhead to start singing a top 40's hit whose sole nod to romance is a line about 'how good yo ass look in them blue jeans' or a delivery that's almost downright suggestive. Chloe certainly has the attention of everyone in the club now, a feat that none of the other singers has managed tonight, and Beca is seriously considering stealing the remains of Aubrey's drink to try and drown her growing embarrassment.

It's probably a good thing that Aubrey beats her to it, tossing back the last of the mixed drink as if it's a shot before Beca can do more than look at it longingly for a second. "I love her, but god I was not expecting that" the blonde says when she finishes the drink with a wince. Beca can only nod in agreement as Chloe makes her way back to the table with a mischievous grin she's making no attempt to hide.

"The energy on that stage is incredible" she says as she slides into her seat, grin turning to a smirk as she takes in the looks on her girlfriends' faces.

"I think half that energy was from you" Beca says under her breath, trying to avoid the stares they're getting from the people around them now that Chloe is back at the table with them. She's trying very hard to keep from blushing, slightly uncomfortable at the attention the song has gotten them.

"Sometimes you just have to let it out, you know?" Chloe says with a wave of her hand, the attempt at innocence undermined by the smirk still on her face.

Thankfully Beca and Aubrey are saved from needing to answer when the announcer calls Aubrey to the stage for her song, and Beca breathes a sigh of relief when the music starts playing and she recognizes the song. It's one of the songs by the band they'd seen earlier in the trip, and while it's a little outside of Aubrey's usual style, it still fits the mood of the night and the trip in general. And from the way Aubrey is belting out the lyrics without even a glance at the screen in front of her, Beca can tell her girlfriend knows their work better than she'd thought.

"We still need to talk about how I didn't know you liked them" Beca says as Aubrey sits, grateful that her trouble finding a song means several others will be going before her turn. She's starting to get nervous about performing again, especially now that half the bar knows she's here with the redhead who sang the hottest song of the night.

"I think we have a lot of things to talk about after this last week" Aubrey counters with a shrug as Chloe nods in agreement. "It's a good thing though, getting away from everything and everyone to just be together. I love that it's let us find out all the things we have about each other."

"We'll always have something new to learn" Chloe adds with a soft smile, earlier smirk gone entirely as they talk about this, love shining through every word in a way that not long ago would have had Beca scoffing at how cliché it was. Now she knows better though. There's nothing cliché about the three of them, no matter what it looks like to the outside world. There is no pattern to their love, no guaranteed storyline that promises a boring and traditional ending. They just are, and that's all that matters.

They all seem to feel that's all that needs said on the matter, and with soft smiles and gentle touches they turn their attention to the singers on the stage while waiting for Beca's turn. And suddenly her choice doesn't seem too romantic, or cheesy, or anything else. Not for them. And if anyone disagrees, Beca doesn't care. She isn't singing for anyone but her soulmates.

Finally it's her turn, and despite the tingles of stage fright she can never manage to completely shake off before a performance, Beca is remarkably calm as she takes the stage. She's aware of the setting, the rest of the patrons of the club looking up at her as the music starts, but it's all in the background. They don't matter right now.

All that matters is the song, and her girlfriends, and for the moment Beca lets herself forget all about their decision to put off any promises about the future. And as she sings about living each moment in love, she can tell her soulmates know she means forever, that this is her promise.

No matter what they eventually decide, Beca knows they'll decide it together.


I debated adding another chapter, but it just seemed right to end it there. It would have only been the drive home anyway, so I don't think there's anything that another chapter would really add to the story. I'm sorry if this chapter in particular seems to jump around or feels disjointed, I've got a new position at work and my writing time has been taking a hit as I learn a completely new area of the business. It's settling down though, so hopefully I don't have that problem with future works.

I'm also currently working on two other stories in this 'verse, as in I've written a few paragraphs of each to snap myself out of writer's block as I tried to get this chapter out. Both will be one shots, and neither should take me all that long (though I've probably just jinxed myself), so if you have any prompts feel free to send them my way. I have a few vague ones that I can fit in with a wide range of storylines, and a few specific ones that I just need to be in the mood to knock out.

And as always, feel free to hit me up if you want to talk Pitch Perfect or Triple Treble, I'd love to have someone to talk to about either. I'm here and on AO3 as Ashton09, and on tumblr at always-atyour-side.