Author's Note: I am so sorry about how long it's been since I updated, I've been enjoying the last summer holidays until my GCSEs as much as possible. But I'm back now, with another Triple Treble fanfiction already in the works, but don't expect too many updates, I'm getting close to a year full of studying for finals that can make or break my career plan.

"You what?" To say Aubrey was slightly pissed off was an understatement. The blonde was seated on the couch, her leg propped up on a footrest and a mug of coffee in her hand; but none of that stopped the death glare that was burning right into Beca's scalp as the brunette attempted to explain to the captain what they had done whilst she was being sorted out. "You just invited yourselves back into the Bellas!" It wasn't phrased like a question, but with the blonde's current attire - sleeping shorts and a t-shirt declaring a national long-distance win - Beca couldn't really take her seriously, a chuckle teasing at the fold of the brunette's lips.

"Basically, Bree, we held a vote-"

Chloe was cut off by the recently injured captain, "whilst I was under general-fucking-anaesthetic? What the hell is wrong with you!"

"We understand you're annoyed, baby, but this really isn't the best time for you to get stressed." Beca's ears pricked up at Chloe's words. She knew the redhead had been staying in Aubrey's room with the blonde, making sure that their 'fearless leader' didn't injure herself anymore than she had already, but was she the only person who hadn't connected that word, Chloe and Aubrey together? "You probably ought to get some more rest..."

"No." The blonde folded her arms defiantly, "I will do no such thing. Show me the choreography."

Beca's eyes widened slightly, "w-what?"

"If you two are so good with The Bellas, I want to see it." The injured Bella slowly stood up, grabbing her crutches and sliding her slender arms through the cuffs. "Come on then, let's go."

Beca and Chloe exchanged a look, one too worried and paranoid than they had both hoped. The choreography had barely been started, let alone ready to show to the ever annoyed captain, whose sister would be - no doubt - at the regional competition in two weeks. Six weeks too early to even consider putting their captain into the number.

"Bree please sit down, the doctor said you weren't to excessively move." Chloe's hands went instinctively to the blonde's shoulders, attempting to tether the captain before anything major happened to the recently repaired knee joint.

Beca looked over at the other Bellas, the women trying to escape from the room without their captain ripping their heads straight off. They weren't one hundred percent sure/satisfied with their choreography so far, and Beca wasn't about to risk their confidence taking a blunder because their captain was pissy due to the fact she and her sister had a fall out.

"OW!" Aubrey stumbled into her room, swatting at the Bellas behind her with one of her crutches. "Get away from me, all of you!" Beca and Chloe exchanged a look at the turn of events they'd expected from the beginning of their journey to the house from their auditorium. "Beca, I want you to email me that mix so I can listen to it again, your laptop's lack of base ruined it a little."

"Yeah, of course Bree."

Chloe smiled at the small locket her mother had clasped around the twelve year old's neck. "I love it mom, thank you so much."

Caroline smiled at her daughter, "I know it isn't exactly the same as Aubrey's, but we tried our best, okay?"

Chloe understood, her parents always tried their absolute hardest when it came to birthdays and Christmas. They wanted Chloe to be happy with who she was and what she could have. Sure, anything they gave her couldn't compare to what Aubrey's parents gave the blonde, but even they could tell that the sheer amount of gifts Chloe's best friend received was an attempt to make up for the lack of love and affection they gave their daughter; who was more insecure than Chloe.

"I'm so grateful that you spend money on me… I know it's tight at the moment mom…" The sadness that clouded over Chloe's eyes was upsetting to her mother, it really made her upset that the redhead was worrying so much about the family's finances. "I love this necklace, I'm so lucky to have family like you, I know there's people out there with less than me." The redhead looked down at her lap, "I think Aubrey's at the track, can I go and run with her?"

"If that's what you want." Caroline smiled at her only child. "Be back by six, tell Aubrey that she can come around for dinner if she wishes."

Chloe had already made her way to the front door, "okay mom!" She quickly made her way outside and began the short walk towards the running track where the high school team trained, Aubrey often joining them.

As Chloe approached the track, she smiled at the sight of the familiar blonde hair dancing in the breeze as Aubrey began another lap, her coach jotting down a note or two about her technique. There was few things Chloe didn't know about her best friend, one of them being the mystery behind why Aubrey would rather run lap after lap than spend time in her family home, Chloe would kill for a house like the Posen's mansion, she just couldn't understand it.

"Chloe!" The redhead smiled as Cassie picked her up, spinning the younger girl around in her arms, "happy birthday Chlobird!"

"Thank you, why are you here?"

"Dad wants to make sure she's ready for nationals, that's all. It's her last year running as a preteen, next year it goes to shit." Chloe nodded, trying to put space between herself and the older Posen daughter. Cassie wasn't a nice person, no matter how hard she tried to persuade the redhead otherwise.

"Oh…"

"She needs to choose a distance to run, one hundred, four hundred of one thousand five hundred. She can't run them all with the amount of training we can schedule." Aubrey made her way over to Chloe, sipping carefully from her water bottle.

"Happy birthday!" Chloe smiled widely and hugged her best friend tightly, completely oblivious to the sweat that seeped through the synthetic fabric of Aubrey's running top.

"I love you." The words were but a whisper, gently travelling from Chloe's mouth to Aubrey's ear.

"I love you too Chlo, forever and always." Aubrey's words were just as quiet, the syllables falling from her tongue like a harmony the redhead never wanted to stop hearing.

"I love you Bree." Chloe's arms were wrapped securely around the blonde, her fingers running over Aubrey's abdomen as they lay in bed together, savouring the few moments they could share.

"I love you too Chloe, what would I ever do without you?"

"Don't tell me you're in love Aubrey-Rose! You won't love anyone but the man I present to you. You're not gay, you're not 'bisexual'." His air-quotations standing by to accentuate his point. "And you will never marry a woman, do you understand? Being gay is a sin, and God will punish us all because of it."