APOV

Beca went back to work a few weeks after she got home. Chris, Danny, and I had chipped in to replace her studio equipment. It seemed wrong for her to not have it. The mixes she had been making lately were pretty dark, but they were some of the best she had ever made.

Life slipped back into a routine. Beca going to work, me to school. It seemed as though things were finally on track. One night I got a call from Luke.

"Luke? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. I just want you to talk to your bullheaded girlfriend. She's refusing to take a gig. A huge one." he sighed.

"How huge?" I asked. Every gig to Luke was huge.

"It's a movie release after party in New York. I was called by the organizers and they specifically want Mighty Mouse to play it. This is the kind of shit that will get her noticed. Can you convince her by tomorrow morning? I need to have an answer for them."

"Yeah, I can try. She hasn't played live since she got out. It's been a long couple months for her, but I'll see if I can talk her into it." I replied

"Thanks Aubrey. You are the greatest. It really is a big thing for her."

"I know. I'll see what I can do."

I went down to her studio room, and sat beside her. She put her finger up, indicating she just needed a minute. I wasn't complaining. Watching her work always captivated me. She finished what she was doing and pulled her headphones off, leaning in for a kiss.

"What's up baby?" she asked.

"Luke called me." I started slowly.

"I don't want the gig, so don't even start." she tried ending the conversation.

"Why not? Talk to me Beca. You can tell me what's going on."

"I'm scared. My music's different. Also I had to change my name, cause some other guy was Mighty Mouse first. What if no one likes it? What if I've lost it? If I don't do it I can't fail." she looked at the carpet.

"You fail 100% of the time when you stop trying Bec. You are an astounding artist. Your music is genuinely one of the greatest things I have in my life. The way you hear it and manage to combine two completely different songs into one beautiful piece of art. Just like you did with us. You are so talented, you just need to wake up and see it! As for the name, use your old name. I liked it better anyway."

"Chaos Mitchell? There's a reason I left that name behind Bree. Who's going to look twice at that?"

"What about Chaos Zone?" I offered, thinking a moniker featuring chaos would be very fitting of Beca Mitchell.

"That sounds like a club, not a DJ." she laughed.

"I don't know then." I sighed. "DJ Frustrating! Sometimes when I try and help you it's like I'm talking to concrete."

"I've got it!" she yelled. "DeadEndz. Lately it feels like that's all I'm hitting. It's darker, more of the style of my new stuff. I'm using it for sure."

"So you're taking the gig?"

"Yeah, fuck it. What's the worst that can happen? I don't do well and come home to the radio station? I suppose that's not a bad worst case." I rolled my eyes. "Plus there was this bit in your speech where you said I was amazing and as long as you believe in me, that's the only fan I will ever need." she straddled my lap. As usual when we touched my heart started racing and my breathing got shallower and faster. She knew what she did to me too because she immediately smirked and leaned forward to nibble on my ear. I moaned a little, and pushed her back.

"Baby, not here." I got up and grabbed her hand, dragging her with me to our room.

3 months later

Beca pulled the gig off flawlessly. She was asked by so many daytime hosts to perform that we ended up extending our trip, then flying to LA to do a few more. For days after we got back Luke was getting call after call about DeadEndz. People trying to book her for performances, people looking for meetings to set up contracts, fan girls every thirty seconds. The only one she wanted to hear from was Big Beat. She knew there had been reps at the show and every other appearance we made was broadcast. She was an overnight sensation. She had told Luke not to accept any label meetings until they were certain Big Beat was a no go.

Beca and I sat down with Chris and Daniel and talked about progress made and our next steps. They agreed that it was safe for us to be on our own again and that Beca had been doing phenomenally the last while. We moved in with Luke. It gave me an extra set of eyes to watch her, plus he already had a studio and Beca adored it. All she had to do was move his laptop and plug hers in and she was working.

Luke kept booking her gigs all over the country. He had promised me he would watch her, and that they would only do a few days at a time. It was while she was gone that the booking phone rang. Luke had given me explicit instructions to answer and take any messages, so I picked it up.

"Aubrey Posen."

"I'm looking for Mr Luke Bryant."

"Mr Bryant is away for a couple days, he should be back tomorrow afternoon. May I take a message?"

"Tell him Big Beat would love to have a meeting with his artist, DeadEndz. We've seen her a few times now, and she is exactly what we are looking for. Tell him to give Jarvis Wells a call." he hung up.

BPOV

Walking in the door that afternoon, I could hear Aubrey singing in the shower. I know it is cheesy but literally hearing her voice warmed me up on the inside. I dropped my bag in the porch and walked towards the bathroom.

"Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go"

I undressed in the hallway and silently went into the bathroom. I slid the curtain open a little, quietly stepped in behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Jesus Christ!" she jumped.

"Not quite. Beca Mitchell. I missed you so much Princess." I doted on her. Lately I spoiled her endlessly. She deserved it after all my shit.

"How's my little rockstar?" she turned around to face me.

"I am not that little! Better now that I am home with you." she leaned forwards and kissed me. I'm not sure how long we were under the running water kissing, but I know I was light headed when she pulled back for air. She rested her forehead on mine staring into my eyes. "Marry me Aubrey." I whispered to her.

"Promise you'll never leave me?" she squeaked, her eyes fixed on mine. I could see her eyes rimming with tears.

"I swear. Aubrey... What more could I need in this world but you?" I asked her.

"Okay. Let's do this. Let's get married." she smiled.

Later that night.

"Really Beca? You proposed to her in the shower?" Stacie laughed at me. "Aubrey, you seriously need to rethink this whole Hobbit union."

"Shut up Conrad. We kissed in the shower, and something inside me was like 'Mitchell, do you ever plan on leaving this girl?' and I snap was like 'Fuck no'. So when we pulled away and were staring at each other trying to catch our breath I knew it was time to let her know that. Besides the ring was hidden in the bathroom so I hopped out and showed her. Then jumped back in for a while and showed her what the moneymakers are capable of." Aubrey smacked my arm.

"Play nice baby." she said standing up. "Does anyone need anything from the kitchen?" she took my glass, "More juice?" she asked.

"Yeah please. Thanks love." I kissed her on the cheek.

Stacie made gagging noises. "Fuck sakes you guys. It's worse than senior year."

"I don't think it's possible to be any worse than senior year. They were like two little rabbits all over each other. Practically screwing in the halls. It was terrifying to be honest. I didn't know people could do it that much without dying." Donald laughed.

"We weren't that bad you guys. Also, how you would know this is far beyond me because I recall you two spending a lot of time locked in the costume room." Aubrey retorted. She couldn't hide her blush though. We had been super physical in school, more so than now.

I got up and excused myself to the patio to have a smoke. I sat down in my favorite chair and lit it. I sat there taking in the quiet of the small yard. I heard the crunching of gravel walking up the path and snapped on the light.

"Chloe? What the fuck are you doing here?" I snarled.

"I just want to talk. To you, and then to Aubrey." she said quietly. She didn't have that cocky air about her so I texted Aubrey and sat down in my chair, and motioned for her to join me.

Once she had lowered herself to the chair she looked at me in the eyes. Hers were sober eyes. New eyes.

"I am really sorry for what happened between us. I can't accept the full blame because you made your own choices, but you were so incredibly right about what we were. I went out of control trying to impress someone who only wanted me as a back up plan for a flawless first attempt. The pair of you were always meant to be together and I see that now. By the time I got you, I was addicted to coke, and when I saw you going out of control too and remembered how it was Aubrey's condition that you stayed sober... I chose to pressure you and drag you down with me. It was wrong. I am so sorry and infinitely ashamed." she choked out between sobs.

"I played my own part in it too Chloe. I forgive you. Did you get help like I said?" she nodded. "You look clearer and more aware. I'm proud of you Chlo. Make sure you keep your appointments on track. They really are helpful." she nodded again and pulled herself back together.

"Would you get Aubrey for me, please? I have so many apologies for her." I hesitated. Leaving Chloe and Aubrey alone together spelled disaster for me.

"I genuinely just want to talk to her. I promise, I'll play nice." she smiled at me. I went in the door and Aubrey was pulling me off to the side.

"Tonight of all nights? This tramp has a knack for shitting on our happy moments Beca." I kissed her fingers.

"Just hear her out. She's sober now. She just wants to talk. She said she'll be nice." Aubrey gulped and went outside.