Chapter Thirteen

After that night, they actually tried. Jesse started meeting Beca at work more often to pick her up and they'd go to dinner. She'd actually make more of an effort to stay awake during her movie-cation (although, Star Wars did absolutely nothing for her and she passed out asleep within the first ten minutes). She hadn't slept in her own bed since that night, either. They haven't slept together yet, because she was still scared, but Beca loved waking up in the mornings and having Jesse's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. She never thought she'd become that girl, but she did. Which is a problem, since their six months is almost up.

"Jesse," she whispered in his ear when she woke up.

"Jesse's sleeping, Beca should be too," he said sleepily as he rolled over, pulling her with him.

"Beca has work," she laughed.

"Don't go to work," he said, waking up a bit more now and moving so he was hovering over her.

"Gotta go," she said, scrunching her nose a bit. Jesse found it adorable whenever she did that and couldn't stop himself from placing a kiss on her nose.

"We have a few minutes, I suppose," he said, leaning down and pressing his lips against her neck. She squirmed a bit and laughed breathlessly as he kissed her.

"Jesse," she whispered as he ran his hands up and down her sides, slowly pushing up her shirt.

"Beca," Jesse half sighed, half moaned as her fingernails scratched up and down his abs gently. "Don't go to work."

"I have to," she said, looking up from under him. "Bad timing, I guess."

"Tonight?" he suggested. "I mean, obviously if you don't want to."

"We'll see," she said with a smirk as she kissed him once more before moving away from him.

Jesse was the happiest man alive. Things were actually going well between him and Beca, and he never wanted it to end. He's been trying to think of ways to ask her about possibly not going through with the annulment, but he wasn't sure of the best way to ask her to stay his wife, since he knew she was dead set against marriage.

"Beca, are you dressed?" he said, knocking on the bathroom door so he could brush his teeth. He heard what sounded like an 'mhm' come from her, so he opened the door and froze when he saw her standing there in the same black bra and boyshorts she was wearing the first time they saw each other half-naked. He knows it's the exact same set because he's had that image of her ingrained in his mind. "Uh, I can wait?"

"No, it's fine," she said, moving over by the sink so he could brush his teeth.

"It's like we've finally become an old married couple," he joked, but hoping this was a good opening to the conversation he wanted to have with her.

"We're not old," she said, shaking her head.

"But we're a married couple."

"Obviously, nerd," she said, rolling her eyes. "Where have you been the last six months?"

"Not six months yet."

"Two more weeks and it's over," she said with a small nod. "Surprised we lasted this long."

"Think we could last longer?" he tried.

"Don't know. Guess we won't know," she said with a tiny shrug. Jesse felt his heart sink a bit. "You done? I got to finish getting ready for work."

"You can take off," he said, bumping her with his hip because he didn't think he could control himself if he actually touched her while she was wearing minimal clothing. "Then you won't have to finish getting ready."

"Out, nerd," she said with a smile as she pushed him out the door.

Jesse sat on the bed and waited for Beca to come out. When she did, she was dressed in a black pencil skirt and a dark purple button up shirt. She slipped on a pair of heels and walked past Jesse when he pulled her on top of him.

"Jesse," she laughed. "I'm going to be late."

"Have a good day," he whispered against her lips before kissing her. Her hands went into his hair as his wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.

"I don't want to go to work," she said breathlessly when they pulled away.

"Gotta go," he repeated her words from earlier, kissing her one more time before letting her go. "See you later."

"Why are you so happy this morning, Flatbutt? Someone spike your coffee?" Fat Amy asked when Beca came into work.

"No," she said, trying to contain her smile, since any type of smile – especially in the mornings – was extremely unusual for Beca.

"It's because of Jesse, isn't it," Chloe said knowingly, smiling widely as she saw Beca blush and avoid her gaze. "I knew it! You're so happy with him, Beca. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy before."

"I don't think I've ever been this happy," she said quietly as she organized her desk. "It's just easy with him, you know? He doesn't push me and we get along really well lately."

"I knew you two were meant to be! I'm so happy," she said, but stopped. "The annulment is in two weeks."

"I know," Beca nodded. "I guess we'll just go from there."

"What if you don't go through with it?"

"I don't know," Beca said.

"What do you mean? Just stay married. You'll both have the money and you'll be living the life. Together. As husband and wife."

"Maybe," Beca said, thinking about it. She didn't want to have to leave Jesse after this, and staying married would just make sense, because that would be weird for them to start dating after all of this.

"It's the best thing to do," Chloe said with a smile. "Talk to Jesse about it later."

"Yeah, I think I will."

Jesse was singing quietly as he walked around the apartment, cleaning it a bit. He couldn't wait for Beca to come home so they could talk, maybe decide that this really was working and they could stay together. Even if she still wanted to go through with the annulment, he would come up with someway they could stay together. He didn't want to lose her.

He heard a knock on the door and paused for a minute to look at the clock. It was still early, and Beca wouldn't knock, so he wasn't sure who it could be.

"Jesse!" Marissa said as he opened the door, throwing her arms around his neck to hug him.

"Um, hi?" he said, pulling her off of him. "Why are you here?"

"Well, I've been calling, but you've been ignoring my calls."

"Can't imagine why," he sighed as he looked at her. "Listen, I don't really have time for this."

"I miss you, Jesse," she said, getting straight to the point. "You were the perfect guy and I let you get away, and I'm sorry. I was stupid."

"Really?"

"I want us to try again."

"I'm married."

"You're getting an annulment though, right?"

"Well, yeah," he said, trailing off. "That's not the point though. How do you even know about that?"

"I overheard Bumper talking about it with someone," she said. "Sounds like a train-wreck of a marriage if you ask me."

"Fucking Bumper," Jesse groaned.

"We can try again," she said, taking his hands in hers. "After the annulment."

Beca had reached the door to their apartment and grabbed the doorknob, about to swing the door open until she heard a female voice tell Jesse they should try again. She peaked into the apartment as much as she could without alerting them to her presence.

"Marissa," Jesse sighed, and Beca's stomach dropped. His ex-girlfriend. His ex-almost fiancée. "I was hoping you would say you wanted to try again for so long."

"Really?" she said and Beca wanted to vomit. She shut the door quietly and walked down the hallway, trying not to cry. She didn't want to hear anymore. She couldn't handle hearing anymore.

"But then I realized how much better off I am without you," Jesse said, taking his hands from Marissa's. "I don't miss you anymore. I did, a lot, the first two months after you dumped me on my ass for your boss's son. Then I met Beca, and we drunkenly got married and were forced into this marriage for six months and I realized how much better I am with her."

"You don't mean that," she said.

"No, but I really do. I think you should leave. Beca will be home any minute," he said, showing Marissa to the door. "Thank you, though."

"For what?"

"For breaking up with me. Best decision you've ever made," he said as he shut the door in her face and feeling satisfied with himself as he sat down on the couch.

He wasn't so satisfied with himself anymore when he realized he's been waiting for Beca to come home from work for an hour already. He was getting a little worried, so he called her.

"What?" she said when she picked up.

"Hello to you too. Are you coming back to the apartment any time soon?"

"I'll be back in a little bit. I have to start packing up my stuff anyway."

"What, why?" he said, a little surprised since things have been going great. This was an unexpected turn in the wrong direction.

"We have two weeks left of our arrangement. I've been looking for apartments, so I'll be out of your hair soon."

"You don't have to leave so quickly. I really don't mind you being here. You know I want you here more than anything, Beca."

"No, I wouldn't want to be a burden, especially when your ex comes over. Well, I guess she's not really your ex anymore," Beca said, and Jesse could hear the sharpness of her words.

"My ex? What are you talking about?"

"I know Marissa was at the apartment today. I heard you two talking. You're going to get back together. Congratulations, you're a bigger idiot than I gave you credit for."

"Beca, I'm not back with Marissa."

"I know what I heard, Jesse. Don't bother. It's fine. We go back to our normal lives after this, the both of us just a little bit richer."

"Beca," he sighed.

"I don't know how I could have ever been so stupid to think this could actually work. I feel like such an idiot, and I don't like being seen as the idiot."

"You're not an idiot. Beca, I swear, I'm not back with her."

"You promised, Jesse."

"Beca," he tried again, but he heard beeping on his phone and he knew she hung up on him. Well shit.

"All right," Judge Finch said. "We've made it to the six month mark. Dr. Rose, what is your professional opinion on this couple?"

"They both have a lot of issues that need to be worked out, and I swore at one point I thought Beca was going to kill him," Dr. Rose said and Jesse couldn't help but smile a bit, until he looked over at Beca and saw the pain in her eyes and the smile was gone. "They're completely different in every way, but I think they're a real couple."

"Well, look at that. A little hard work and TLC, we have a happily married couple," Judge Finch said, obviously oblivious to the discomfort both Jesse and Beca were feeling. "So, what are we going to do?"

"Your Honor," Bumper said. "My client has decided it will be okay to split the money," he sighed. "Equally."

"We've come to an agreement as well. This is fantastic. Mrs. Swanson, is that okay with you?"

Jesse looked over and saw Beca whispering something to Stacie, who looked shocked as she stood up.

"Uh, no, Your Honor, it's not okay," Stacie said and looked at Beca one more time before continuing. "My client just wants the annulment. She wants nothing to do with Mr. Swanson anymore."

"Okay," Judge Finch said, confused at the response. "Well, then I grant the annulment and the $5 million to Mr. Swanson. Court adjourned."

"Beca, Beca wait," Jesse said, chasing after her, but she didn't turn around. He just watched her walk out of his life, for possibly forever.

"Dude, I won!" Bumper said excitedly as he jumped on top of the table. "I'm lawyer, bitches!"

"Jesse," Stacie said awkwardly. "She wanted me to give this to you."

Stacie held out her hand, and in it was Beca's ring. Jesse stared at it before taking it from Stacie.

"Uh, thanks," he said.

"Give her some time. She just needs to sort through everything in her head right now."

"How much time?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Listen, I don't really know you and I want to cut your friend Bumper, but for some reason, Beca let her guard down around you. It'll work out in the end."

"I hope so," he sighed, looking down at the ring in his hand. "I didn't want this."

"I know. And for what it's worth, I don't think she did either," Stacie said, placing a hand on his shoulder before walking away, leaving Jesse alone with nothing but a ring and his thoughts.

I know, not the ending everyone exactly wanted. However, there are three more chapters to go, so make of that what you will lol. I hope you all liked this chapter, though. Let me know your thoughts and reactions :)

Oh, I'm wondering if any of you watch Homeland on Showtime. I just finished Season 2 and I'm wondering if I'm the only one who was hoping Carrie and Quinn would end up together and that she'd get over Brody. If you don't watch it, are old enough to watch it, and have Showtime, then I highly recommend it lol.