DISCLAIMER: The "Pitch Perfect" screenplay was written by Kay Cannon and the movie franchise is owned by Gold Circle Films. The song "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" was written by Patty Smyth and Glen Burtnik. The author of this fanfiction does not profit, in any way, from the story. All creative rights to the characters and titles belong to their original creator(s).
AUTHOR'S NOTES: The vacuum broke.
Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
"The calm before the storm." - unknown
The sun shone through the unshuttered window, warming Stacie's face. She opened one puffy eye, glared at the window, and stretched. When she felt an arm tighten around her waist, she blushed at the memory of crying in Aubrey's arms until she fell asleep.
"Good morning," Aubrey softly said.
"Good morning," Stacie answered without turning around.
Aubrey gently turned Stacie around to face her.
"Better?" Aubrey lovingly smiled.
"Yes. Thank you for letting me get it all out," Stacie answered.
"Anytime you need my shoulder, it's here for you," Aubrey assured.
Stacie wrapped her arms around Aubrey and hugged the blonde. She glanced at the clock on Aubrey's nightstand and realized they were running late this morning and pulled away.
"Shoot! We're late," Stacie said and began to get out of bed.
Aubrey pulled her back down onto the bed, "Considering how late you and Beca returned, I doubt she and Chloe are up yet. If they are, so what? They are big girls and can make their own breakfasts."
"Aubrey?"
Stacie suddenly found herself underneath Aubrey, who was sporting a rather wicked smile.
Downstairs, as Aubrey surmised, Beca and Chloe were still fast asleep. Only the compound's newest resident was interested in breakfast and wondering why no one else was awake. After waiting an hour for anyone to show up, Chicago decided to make his own breakfast. Several minutes later, the smoke alarm in the kitchen screamed throughout the compound, shocking Beca and Chloe awake.
Beca, still dressed in her sleepwear, bolted into the kitchen, "POSEN! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN HERE?" she screamed over the smoke alarm.
When she saw who was the cause of the commotion, Beca instinctively grabbed the cast iron frying pan off the stove and yelled, "ARE YOU TRYING TO BURN THE WHOLE FUCKING PLACE DOWN?"
Beca extinguished the grease fire by throwing a cover over the pan. Chloe ran and began fanning the smoke alarm to clear it. Once the alarm stopped blaring, she turned her attention to the other kitchen fire…Beca threatening Chicago with a meat tenderizer.
"What the hell were you doing in here?" Beca growled.
Chicago defensively held up his open hands in front of him, "I was trying to make breakfast since no one was around."
"Where the hell is Posen?" Beca asked no one in particular.
"Right here," Aubrey answered as she entered the kitchen.
"Why are you late?" Beca asked.
Aubrey glared at Beca in response, noticed the meat tenderizer, and grabbed it out of her hand, "I'll take this."
Stacie entered the smoke-filled kitchen and sighed, "Beca? Were you trying to cook again?"
"HEY! It was not me this time! He…," Beca pointed at Chicago, "…caused this mess!"
The tall exasperated brunette looked at Chicago, silently asking if what Beca said is true.
"No one was here and I was hungry," Chicago defended.
"That is no reason for you to burn the place down," Aubrey said from the stove as she cleaned up the burnt mess splattered on the formerly clean stove.
"Sorry," Chicago apologized and sat at the kitchen table.
"Once we get the kitchen cleaned up…," Stacie said as she turned on the stove fan, "…we'll make…," she pointedly looked at the clock, "…lunch. Until then, Chicago, please start your daily chores."
"But…," Chicago began to inform Stacie he did not have any set chores.
"Do a perimeter check," Stacie cut him off.
"Got it!" Chicago smiled and left the kitchen.
"You two, go get dressed," Stacie instructed Beca and Chloe.
Once the kitchen was cleared out, Stacie sighed, "So this is what having kids is like."
"Yes dear," Aubrey giggled from the stove.
Stacie laughed and began cleaning up the kitchen.
A couple of hours later, Aubrey called everyone to lunch. Beca, Chloe, and Chicago stampeded into the kitchen and sat at the table. Aubrey and Stacie served lunch. While everyone was eating, Beca noticed a red mark on Stacie's neck and decided to mess with her friend.
"Conrad? Are you having a mosquito problem upstairs?" Beca asked, the picture of innocence.
It took Stacie less than a second to know exactly what Beca was insinuating, "Yes…rather large ones."
"I guess we should pick up an industrial-sized can of bug spray on our next supply run," Beca stated.
"Put it on the list," Stacie played along.
Beca and Stacie resumed eating lunch.
A few minutes later, Beca said, "I'm not sure what type repels "Aedes aegypti."
Stacie immediately got the joke and choked on the food in her mouth. Aubrey began patting Stacie on the back.
After lunch, Aubrey told everyone to leave the dishes to her, so they scattered to begin their daily chores. Stacie was the last one to leave. As she was heading out, Aubrey stopped her.
"What was so funny about mosquitoes during lunch?" Aubrey asked.
"The Aedes aegypti transmits yellow fever and only the females of the species bite," Stacie laughed.
"Damn that Beca!" Aubrey growled.
Stacie laughed and headed to the security room. When she arrived, she knocked on the door.
"Come in," Beca answered.
Stacie entered, closed the door behind her, and asked, "Where did you learn about the Aedes aegypti?"
"It was on a biology test," Beca laughed.
Stacie smiled, "How did it go with Chloe?"
"We talked and worked it out. She's just friends with G.I. Joe," Beca answered.
"Are you two…?" Stacie insinuated.
Beca flashed back to her and Chloe on their bedroom floor and blushed to the tips of her ears.
Stacie laughed, "You don't have to answer. Your blush answered my question."
"Damn it, Conrad," Beca huffed.
As Stacie left the security room, she said over her shoulder, "I'll add dental dams to the list."
She laughed after she heard something thud against the closed door and went looking for Aubrey. After the meticulous blonde finished cleaning the kitchen, she went to start laundry duty because this was her week.
Stacie entered the basement and found Aubrey. She was rinsing out Beca's bloody clothes and cussing out the little brunette for putting them in the washing machine without rinsing them out first.
"Aubrey?" Stacie called out so she did not startle the agitated blonde.
Aubrey stopped her tirade and looked in Stacie's direction.
"Did Beca soak in a vat of blood?" Aubrey growled.
"Pretty much…yeah," Stacie answered.
"How many did she kill?" Aubrey asked as she threw Beca's rinsed clothes in the washing machine.
Stacie pondered, "Can you call killing something that is already dead…killing?"
Aubrey huffed, "Don't get philosophical with me Stacie Conrad. For lack of a better word…how many zombies did Beca kill?"
"I lost count after ten," Stacie answered and helped Aubrey load the washing machine.
Something fell out of the pile in Aubrey's arms, so Stacie bent down to pick it up. She immediately dropped it when she realized it was Chicago's boxer briefs.
"You're doing his laundry too?" Stacie asked.
"Of course. He's currently a resident of the compound," Aubrey replied and picked up the item Stacie dropped.
"Oh," Stacie muttered.
Aubrey finished loading the washing machine and started it before turning her attention to Stacie.
"I do yours as well," Aubrey cooed in Stacie's ear.
Stacie experienced her first full body blush. Aubrey leaned in for a kiss.
"I AM GOING TO KILL HIM!" Beca grabbed Ethel from where she was drying.
Aubrey stopped and looked at Beca. After they realized what was happening, Stacie and Aubrey ran after Beca.
"I AM GOING TO KILL HIM!" rang out throughout the house as Beca stormed towards the door.
Stacie caught up to Beca just as the furious brunette was stepping out the door, "STOP!" she demanded and grabbed Beca's arm.
Beca turned and glared through Stacie. The tall brunette saw the terrifying blue flames in Beca's eyes and knew she had to prevent her from getting to Chicago.
"What happened?" Stacie asked.
"He grabbed Chloe again," Beca growled and fought to get out of Stacie's grasp.
"We'll go see what's going on, but first, give me Ethel," Stacie demanded and held out her hand.
Beca refused and shook her head.
"The longer you refuse, the longer Chloe is…," Stacie began threatening Beca.
"FINE!" Beca interrupted Stacie and held out Ethel.
They bolted out the door towards the chicken coop.
