A/N: And here is chapter 10! So as I've said before, I'm working hard for daily updates until chapter 12. I might take a little break after that to focus on work though. The chapter is mostly sticking with Chloe this time, but we do get a small bit with Beca at the end. We get to see a few of the Bellas pop up too, so there is that.

Songs featured are 'Better in Time' by Leona Lewis, and 'Back to You' by John Mayer.

I don't own pitch perfect.

It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Chloe sighed. It was another long day at work and she still had some papers to grade. She settled down on her couch, laid out everything she needed on the coffee table and wasted no time and getting ready for a long evening ahead of her.

And then she made the mistake of checking the date on her phone.

It was exactly a year ago today. Beca's accident.

The day Chloe liked to call the 'the day she started to lose Beca'.

But she shrugged the thoughts away as quick as they came. She's there, she was always there. In her thoughts, in her dreams, in her subconscious. She still wasn't sure she's made it as far as she had without the tiny brunette.

She was the music to her soul, and lately Chloe's been learning to dance without music. It did help that she had great friends from her work too, to get her by, and Aubrey was always just one phone call away.

Luke too, whenever she'd get a hold of him. He's been awfully busy lately and last she heard, he's been flying to New York a lot in the past few months.

Then there was Eli of course. Perfectly good and kind Eli who has been patiently trying to mend her broken heart.

Chloe felt the need to check her phone again. It was still the same date, and she wished the day would just get over soon. She didn't want a reminder. She didn't want to remove the bandages and uncover the scars.

She was moving on. She should be fine now.

She will be fine.

She was.

At the very least, she kept repeating those same things over and over again to herself.

Going coming thought I heard a knock
Who's there no one
Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I really didn't know
If you didn't notice you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'm gonna be OK

A few hours later and a mountain of papers that she managed to power through, Chloe was restless. It was an anniversary after all, one of a painful memory that she had wished to forget. So, she settled for doing something about it.

It was around twelve midnight, and Chloe hoped that Aubrey wasn't too busy at nine o'clock on a Thursday.

"Chloe! It's been too long!" Aubrey said as soon as her face popped up on the screen of her laptop.

"Bree, I talked to you yesterday." Chloe said with a chuckle as she curled up on her couch with a cup of warm tea.

"That was on the phone Beale. The last time we Skyped was last Christmas and for barely five minutes mind you."

"Sorry, you know how it is when I go home for Christmas." Chloe replied with a shrug.

"How is your family?" Aubrey then asked with a smile, dropping her upset best friend act.

"They're doing good, thanks. How are things there with you and Stace? Where is she by the way?"

"Oh, um…" Aubrey said sounding quite unsure. "She's out with friends." she decided to word carefully but Chloe chose not to press on it. "You know how it is sometimes. How about you? Doing okay there?"

"Yeah." Chloe replied. "Yeah, I think I am. I saw Luke the other day but he was kind of in a rush. Catching a late flight to New York, if I heard correctly. Do you know anything about that?" Chloe asked with genuine curiosity. Aubrey looked at her suspiciously, not sure if she was just fishing for information about Beca before giving in. "From what I hear, Luke's met his match in terms of charms and personality. Found herself a girl who can resist him and who he can't resist? I think that's how it is at least."

"Cool. So, who's the girl?" Chloe pressed on before Aubrey placed her hand on her head. Rubbing her temples she sighed.

"Chlo…" Aubrey warned before biting her lips, looking conflicted. "It's someone's assistant." she heard Aubrey say.

"I'm not a fragile child Bree, I can handle a name." Chloe then noted.

"Really? I wasn't sure you can. The last time I said the name you were crying your heart out."

"The wounds were still fresh then." Chloe then said. "I'm okay now."

"I'm not sure…" Aubrey started to say and Chloe immediately cut in. She didn't want to hear Aubrey rationalizations on her current state of love life.

"Yes, I am. I'm moving on. I'm an adult and I get it, things were falling apart and it was the only way…. But, nevertheless. She's in New York Bree, it's not hard to figure out that you'd run into her one way or another. We have common people we know. Truth be told, I'm guessing Stacie's with her now." Chloe then deduced. She found it odd saying that she was fine. That she can hear a mention about Beca and be totally fine with it and not fall apart anymore but she couldn't even bring up her name herself.

Like if she said it too many times, the pain and the sadness of it all would threaten to come back. And Chloe wasn't sure if she was still too vulnerable about it.

"Well, you're not wrong there." was Aubrey's reply.

"See. You shouldn't lie to me Bree." Chloe chastised. "Or try to hide the truth at the very least. We're both moving on, besides, I'm sort of seeing someone new." she added. No, she hasn't exactly brought up Eli before but she felt like she needed to tell Aubrey soon enough and it was as good a time as any.

"Oh?" Aubrey asked sounding a little skeptical.

"Oh?" Chloe threw back. "And what does that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing Chlo, just that the last time you tried moving on, you ended up crying in my arms after your date because you couldn't."

"This is different." Chloe said adamantly and Aubrey sighed, conceding.

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

Chloe was still partly annoyed by what Aubrey had tried to point out to her. It's been a year since her relationship with Beca essentially started to die out.

She was moving on.

And things were different from when they were back in college. She has had time to let her relationship go, she's had time to heal, to deal with the aftermaths. She was moving on.

But then again, if Aubrey didn't have a point why was she so affected by hearing Beca's name a whole week after she gave her best friend her schpill about how hearing her name won't affect her much.

Jessica and Ashley were both in town for the week, Ashley's brother getting married over the weekend. Meanwhile, Flo was in town for something work related. Despite the hectic schedules, the girls managed to schedule a time to get together and hang out at this new club in LA that everyone's been raving about. Luke knew the guy who owned the place and with a quick phone call they were in without a hitch.

And that was how she heard Beca's name again said out loud for the first time in months.

Flo had initially been talking about Emily's group message about meeting up for Nationals in New York when Ashley jumped in talking about how she's heard about Beca from a colleague who visited a club where Beca spins on the weekends. A side gig she seemed to enjoy and love. Then Jessica mentioned how she's heard that Beca was developing new talent and was working with the best of the best in the country's music scene.

"Sorry Chlo, didn't mean to get carried away with the topic." Jessica then said after she realized that Chloe's been silent for a little too long."

"No, no, don't be." Chloe then said reassuring her friends. "I'm fine. I'm glad that she's doing okay."

"Are you sure? If, you know, you need anything or just…" Ashley then started to mumble, not sure if it was still a sensitive subject for the redhead.

It was. But Chloe couldn't let her friends on with that secret. She's moving on. She has to be fine with it.

"But you are coming to New York, right? We have to support the current Bellas this time around with Nationals." Flo then said.

"Of course I am." Chloe replied fixing a smile on her face.

Despite knowing that there was a creeping feeling coming from the pits of her stomach. Was it dread? Anticipation? She wasn't sure. What if she runs into Beca there?

She wasn't sure how she'd handle it.

But she still had time to think about that before the moment comes so she pushed the thoughts away for another day.

I couldn't turn on the TV
Without something there to remind me
Was it all that easy
To just put aside your feelings

Chloe just got home after another busy day at work. She was supposed to go out with Eli that night but she wasn't exactly feeling good about it.

She just heard on the radio while tuning in to Luke's afternoon run that her favorite new single from one of her favorite artists was produced by the one and only Beca Mitchell, and she wasn't ready for it. Just knowing that tidbit of information was enough to throw her for a loop. Five days ago she almost had herself convinced that she would be fine. Beca, if they bumped into each other, would be just another ex.

Except she wasn't and Chloe knew that.

Besides, the depth of the song, the emotion it carried, there was a sense of familiarity about it. Something that felt like home.

It was a love song for crying out loud.

And as the pieces of the puzzle fell right into its place, it made sense that it felt familiar, welcoming. A song that was like a kiss through the airwaves, a warm hug, a shelter from the storm.

Because that's what she felt listening to all of Beca's old mixes in the past.

And now she couldn't help it but wonder if the brunette had been thinking about her when she produced the song. When she co-wrote the words.

Chloe wanted to be mad. Real mad. But she couldn't.

Instead she found herself leaning on the wall and sliding down as silent tears started to crawl down her cheeks.

She shouldn't be crying, she shouldn't be overwhelmed. What was she expecting? Beca was chasing after her dreams in full force now. It was to be expected. She should have known that sooner than later she'll hear something that Beca had made and she had to be okay with it.

She shouldn't feel the yearning or the aching.

If I'm dreaming don't wanna laugh
Hurt my feelings but that's the path
I believe in
And I know that time will heal it
If you didn't notice boy you meant everything
Quickly I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'm gonna be OK

A full day of acting funny and rescheduling her date with Eli. Chloe found herself at home once again, waiting and hoping that Aubrey was within reach. That she'd answer the video call.

And she did. "How's it going Chlo?" she asked, setting down the folder whose contents she had been busy reading. "What's up?"

But as soon as Aubrey asked her question, Chloe realized she couldn't find the words to say anything. She didn't even know what to say or begin.

She had a panic attack about a song Beca had produced. How on earth does she explain that to Aubrey?

"Nothing much, just miss you." Chloe then found herself saying which wasn't a complete lie, it just was not the true reason why she called.

"You okay Chlo? No trouble in paradise I hope." Aubrey said, switching her full attention to Chloe.

"No. Just wanted to chat. You were the one complaining about the lack of video calls." Chloe replied. They were thousands of miles away and yet she could still feel Aubrey's eyes studying her face closely for any sign that she was in fact not okay.

"Well, thanks for calling. So how's your week been?" Aubrey asked, and Chloe was just thankful that she let it slide.

It's been a year or so since the accident. And here she was acting all crazy about a thing she should be forgetting now.

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

A few days later and Chloe felt like she was back to being her old self again. And by being her old self, she totally meant her old self after Beca.

It's funny how she could essentially classify her life now into three distinct parts. Before Beca. Life with Beca. And After Beca.

"Are you okay? You seem a bit tense?" Eli asked, placing down the menu on the table at the restaurant they were in.

"Yeah, just a lot my mind lately. Nothing to be worried about." Chloe replied and that's when she noticed that Eli looked a little tense himself. "Although I feel like I should be the one asking you that question?"

"Um yeah, uh." Eli started rambling on. "Look, I was planning to do this after dinner…" he started to say, feeling something from his back pockets.

Which totally made Chloe feel nervous about the entire ordeal. They were at a nice restaurant, not on the level of fancy or romantic at all, but the way Eli was acting was making her entirely nervous.

"Look Chloe, I like you a lot and, well, I don't know if this is moving too fast or not, but…" Eli said, fumbling with something in his hands before setting it down the table. It was key, and Chloe felt like she could breathe again. "Um, well, essentially I'd like to ask you to move in with me Chlo, but you know. We can slow down a little. I still want you to keep this key though, like a key to my place. You're welcome anytime you want even if you don't want to move in with me."

Chloe stared transfixed at the key for a minute or two before blinking away and smiling back at Eli.

Since there's no more you and me
It's time I let you go
So I can be free
And live my life how it should be
No matter how hard it is I'll be fine without you
Yes I will

Three weeks later and Chloe found herself packing, having accepted Eli's offer of moving in together. All of a sudden it felt like she was clearing cobwebs in her mind. She told herself, the best way of moving on is by letting go completely, it was unfair to wait forever, it was wrong to hold on to something that'slong gone. And unhealthy. She needed to be happy and find happiness again.

The box she had long but forgotten filled with Beca's forgotten things was left unopened. She called Luke the other day asking him if he'd want to pick it up or if she should mail it to him instead. Luke, of course, offered to pick it up, asking Chloe for one last drink at the bar near their old place for old times' sake which of course she had accepted.

They were all moving on, moving forward. And Chloe knew it was time to let go.

Time for a fresh start.

She kept telling herself, she's moving on. She's moving on with Eli and she's going to be happy.

Love can be found again after so much heartbreak.

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

And yet somehow, no matter how hard and strong she believed in the words she repeated to herself, she knew.

She knew it was all a lie.

Back to you
It always comes around
Back to you
I tried to forget you
I tried to stay away
But it's too late

It was one of those days where Beca found herself just too tired to work that she had Kaelyn take over some responsibilities for her, deciding to take the day off. No she wasn't burning out. No she wasn't sick of it.

In some ways though, the newness of all the success she's been getting never seemed to fade, her name becoming something of a brand name to current and new artists alike. They all wanted to work with her, have their songs the 'classic Mitchell touch' to it. Yes, it was an honor, and some days she still couldn't believe it. She had wanted it for a very long time and now, well now, she was living her dreams. Turning them into reality and living in it.

It was such an amazing feeling.

If only there wasn't an emptiness gnawing from inside her.

Beca found herself at Bryant Park again, spending some time at the rink before it closes from public access. She was skating round in circles when she say the huge Christmas tree, its presence still lingering through the remaining weeks of winter. For some reason she thought she saw Chloe skating somewhere in front of it, moving gracefully, a warm feeling emanating from deep inside her when all of a sudden it was gone, replaced by the chilly breeze that had graced her with its presence at that exact moment.

She was feeling better. She was finding her ground and she knew it. The frustrations were gone, the confusion, the pressure to conform.

She's found herself, so to speak, despite living with the memories of five whole years gone.

Beca would like to call it a win still. She's getting the success others could only dream and wish for, after all. And she was thankful for it too. But she knew it all meant nothing, all because she also knew that something was definitely missing in her life.

Over you
I'm never over
Over you
Something about you
It's just the way you move
The way you move me

The weekend rolled in soon enough. It was during a walk around the neighborhood – okay, Beca wasn't going to, rumor was there was a legendary released somewhere in their neighborhood and Beca's been wasting her spare time playing a stupid phone game, tracking it down – when she bumped into two familiar faces.

No, not Aubrey and Stacie. Although the thought about the two still hasn't left Beca for a while considering two weeks ago she was finally invited for dinner by the blonde herself after meeting Stacie at their usual pub. That was a weird and awkward evening, but Beca was just glad that things seemed to be moving forward, somewhat.

She bumped into Cynthia Rose and Denise this time around, they were on a mini vacation in New York, and before she knew it they were at some local café nearby.

Beca was actually pleasantly surprised to run into people from her past, hearing stories about how they've been since they last saw each other at the beach house. Denise seemed to be pretty excited about coming back to New York in a few months for Nationals and it occurred to Beca that Emily had been going on and on about how all the Bellas were planning to come to support their new team for their second championship.

Which meant that there would be a chance to meet Chloe yet again, see her after all the chaos and the turmoil she had caused her.

"You okay Shorty?" Cynthia Rose had asked just as they were about to head out.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just realized I forgot something." Beca then said, trying to shrug it off.

"Look Beca. I'm not Stacie or Amy or Luke, but if you need anything, if you need to talk to someone even if it's in the middle of the night or anything, just give me a call okay. We care about you, a lot, and trust me when I say that the Bellas are all proud of your success." Cynthia Rose said and Beca nodded, taking it all in.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Beca said before parting ways with her old friends.

I'm so good at forgetting
And I quit every game I play
But forgive me, love
I can't turn and walk away

"So how's that Chester guy? You know, your new talent? How's the album coming up?" Stacie asked at some point during their conversation the following Thursday night and Beca couldn't help in but be lost, her mind on something else completely. "Earth to Beca? Are you Listening?" Stacie asked.

"Yeah, sorry. Just a little bit preoccupied." Beca admitted sheepishly.

"I can see that. Anything wrong?" Stacie then asked after sipping a bit of her drink and stealing a fry from Beca's plate.

"Hey Stace, was it easy?"

"Easy to do what?"

"Forgive me." Beca then said with a sigh and Stacie looked at her confused. "I hurt her Stacie. She was your friend too."

Stacie took a deep breath and adopted a stern voice before addressing Beca. "Beca, I know you. You acted on what you thought was best. It would be so easy to hate you if you were some other guy or gal, but the thing is I know you. Hurting Chloe is the last thing you'd ever want to do, whether you're aware of it or not. It's not a question about forgiving you or not. We're also you're friends Beca. You did what you thought you should in your given circumstance. And, if this is your way of asking me if you think Chloe would ever forgive you, it's not my position to speak for her. If she hasn't then maybe one day. But only time could tell."

Beca sighed again and nodded. She closed her eyes and listened to Stacie's words with all her heart. "I think the better questions is if you forgive yourself." Stacie then commented. "Because you really should. You shouldn't carry that weight in your heart forever."

"Ask me that question again in a few years." Beca commented. "I don't really have an answer to that one yet."

"Beca…" Stacie started to say but Beca turned around and smiled. "How about... well, do you think that there are people in your life that stay forever?"

"I think there are people that are inescapably a part of our lives. How else could I explain running into you here after months of radio silence?" Stacie then said, trying to lift the overall tone of their conversation with a bright smile on her face.

Beca chuckled and nodded. Stacie's attempts somehow reaching her.

Back to you
It always comes around
Back to you
I walk with your shadow
I'm sleeping in my bed
With your silhouette

That night, Beca slumped down on her bed with a huff. She was tired, not burned out. It wasn't her creative energies being spent.

It was her emotions that were.

Her thought hasn't left Chloe all day, and her she thought she was getting better and moving on with her life. She managed to push Chloe to the back of her mind the last few months, basking in her glory, focusing on building her life now.

But in the end she knew things could never be bottled up forever.

And so Beca drifted off to sleep with one thought in her mind.

Why, just why, couldn't she release Chloe Beale from her heart?