A/N: I'm sorry this has taken so long and I'm sorry it's so short. But I'm building to something, so please bare with me :)

I do not own Pitch Perfect or any of its characters


"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked Beca as she waited outside the classroom to take her sign language test with Aubrey.

"A little nervous," Beca said.

"How can you be nervous? You communicate with a deaf child every day," Chloe said, shaking her head.

"Aubrey kinda hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," Chloe said, with a small laugh. "She's like that with everyone."

"Why can't you do the test?" Beca said, pouting slightly.

"Conflict of interests," Chloe said, kissing away the pout. "And besides, I never do the tests. Aubrey thinks I'm too easy on them."

Fat Amy left the classroom, arms raised in triumph.

"Crushed it," she said. "You're up short-ass."

"Wish me luck," Beca said.

"You don't need it," Chloe replied, kissing her on the cheek. "But good luck anyway."

Needless to say when Beca left the room fifteen minutes later, she was grinning.

"Well?" Chloe asked.

"Passed," she said with a shrug. "100% actually, but I'm not going to brag."

"I should think so," Aubrey said from behind her. "You've been signing for, what, four years? I should hope you'd 100% the beginners course."

Beca's shoulders slumped slightly before Aubrey nudged her.

"I'm kidding," she said with a smile that you could describe as warm. "You've really improved."

"Thanks," Beca said, her smile returning. "Are you still coming over later?" She asked, turning back to Chloe.

"Yep," Chloe said. "I could bring wine? Since we're celebrating."

"Sounds good," Beca said.


A week later, Beca had another meeting with Gail.

She was convinced her social worker would be proud of her for acing the sign language course and for actually meeting people and socialising with them, but Gail had a grave expression when she arrived at the apartment.

"Hey," Beca said, cautiously as she let her into the living room. "Why do you look like you're about to drop a bad news bomb?"

"I kind of am," she said, sitting down.

"Okay," Beca said, also sitting, "what's going on?"

"Do you know a man by the name of Luke Banks?" Gail asked.

"He was my boss at the bar I used to work at on Saturday nights," Beca said, her hands clenching slightly as she spoke.

"He has contacted my boss," Gail said, pausing. Beca had never seen her look so angry. "He has contacted my boss saying that you are in some... "grotesque" lesbian relationship, which he thinks is damaging to your son. I promise you, these are his words, not mine."

Beca couldn't believe what she was hearing. She felt Sam tugging at her arm and she picked him up, still staring at Gail in shock.

"Why might he have done this?" Gail asked.

"Luke and I... We had a thing. Nothing serious, but I ended it with him when I started dating Chloe. He... He wasn't happy. He tried..." She trailed off, tears springing to her eyes. She shook her head slightly.

"Beca..."

"It doesn't matter. But that's why he's doing this," Beca said. "So, what happens now? I mean, you know there is nothing... grotesque, about my relationship with Chloe, right?"

"Of course I do," Gail said. "But my boss is old fashioned... I've tried to talk him out of it, but he insists on meeting with you, and inspecting the apartment. He's also going to talk to Sam about it. I'm sorry, Beca, he's going to make this difficult for you."

"Why me?" Beca said, tears filling her eyes now. "Why does he have it in for me so badly? I know I messed up when Sam was born, but how can he still be holding it against me?"

"I don't know, Beca," Gail said, wanting more than anything to be able to tell her it was going to be alright. "If I'm being honest, he shouldn't be working with us anymore. His prejudice against single mothers has become ridiculous. But he has a lot of experience and a lot of sway with the board. He's hard to get rid of."

"You told me if I took that stupid class, he would leave me alone," Beca said, furious. "I took the stupid class and things have gotten worse. I didn't mean to fall in love-" the words slipped out of Beca's mouth before she could stop herself. "I didn't mean to fall in love with her," she repeated, in a much softer voice. "I need you to help me fix this, please. I just want to get on with my life."

"Look, you aren't doing anything wrong. So just meet with him, be polite, don't rise to anything he might say, and you'll be okay. I'll be there the whole time. It'll be okay," she said. "You're a fantastic mother, and nothing will change that."

"Can you promise me this will be okay?" Beca asked, looking at her dead in the eyes.

Gail sighed. "No," she said. "I can't."

After Gail left, Beca called Chloe to explain the situation. When she hung up, she just stayed sitting on the sofa, staring blankly ahead.

Sam watched her, unsure what had happened to make her upset. He walked up to her before tugging on her sleeve.

What made you sad?

She wiped her eyes with her hands.

Boring grown-up stuff.

He sighed, biting his lip as he thought. Can I help?

Something seemed to shift in her heart as she looked at him, desperate to help her, looking eagerly up. He was growing up quicker than she'd realised.

You could give me a hug?

He nodded eagerly, climbing onto her lap and hugging her as tight as he could.

"I love you mommy," he said, taking her by surprise as he always did when he spoke, his words muffled by her chest. She kissed the top of his head and squeezed him that bit tighter.

After a few minutes there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Beca called. Chloe came in and looked sadly at the tiny brunette on the sofa.

"Hey," she said, sitting on the sofa, and letting Beca lean into her. Chloe put her arms around them, pulling them both into a hug. "It's going to be okay," she said.

Beca closed her eyes, allowing herself to be taken care of. Soon she'd have to be in control again, but right now, she didn't have the energy.