Chapter 21

"Marry me,"

The question rings in Chloe's ears. It's like a million alarms all going off at the same time but when she focuses right back at the kneeling Vanderbilt heir in front of her she realizes that the incessant ringing dissolves into a deeper sound, her heart beat. She looks at the beautiful ring, diamonds sparkling as he slips it on her finger. Her mind going blank as thoughts begin to crash on top of each other in her head.

When he gets up there's a smile is on his face before he leans towards her. He moves to kiss her but Chloe turns her head the other way, unable to do it. Not when she still feels Beca's lips against hers, the after taste of cinnamon and whiskey still lingering at the tip of her tongue. She just couldn't. That's like erasing Beca from her system and she doesn't want that. She refuses to allow that to happen.

Tom frowns down at her, confused at the rejection. Chloe has never rejected a kiss from him before. She feels him look at her intently as she shakes her head.

"Tom, I'm sorry," she softly says, her voice shaking as she moves to take off the ring. But Tom stops her, clasping her hands so she would be unable to take it off.

"You must still be in shock," he says and there's a hint of uneasiness in his tone that he tries to cover up with a tight smile, his grip on Chloe's hand tightening.

She shakes her head several more times, "I can't,"

He hushes her immediately, clearly unwilling to listen to her as he puts his free arm up. "You're tired. We'll talk about the preparations tomorrow," he pushes on, ignoring her rejection. His grip on her hand getting painful as the ring digs further on her skin.

"I don't want to marry you," she cuts him off, looking him straight in the eye. "I'm sorry,"

It's too direct and Chloe knows it's also harsh but she's done lying. She's done pleasing people. She's had enough of other people trying to tell her what to do and who to be with. She has her own dreams and ambitions. Her heart has its own choice and it has chosen.

It chooses freedom.

"Enough!" Tom bursts out, making Chloe flinch at the angry tone. The fury in his eyes suddenly making her scared. She'd never seen him like this. She had seen him on edge and frustrated before but never like this.

"You will marry me!" he snarls at her, fangs showing.

He yanks her hand towards him and she whimpers in pain. Her body pulled against his and it felt horrible. She wanted nothing more than to run and escape, to come home to the arms that had held her safe and warm only an hour ago. To feel happy again.

It's so ironic, she realized, that only a couple of hours ago, she felt more comfort in rumbling thunders, in between the swirl of danger and at the edge of cliffs. It was so much better than this.

Tom hushes her, as if suddenly remembering to put a veil in order to cover up his earlier outbursts. He caresses the back of her head and Chloe bites her trembling lips, scared that if she says one wrong word he'd explode again. His grip is still tight even if it has already lessened as her fingers and wrist still continue to throb from the pain.

"We'll pretend that you didn't say anything," he says in almost a whisper, his lips near her ear.

It all felt wrong, his arms around her and the close proximity they have. His attempts of assurance all falling short in her ears. He tries to kiss her again and when she turns away, he forces her to face him, one hand at the back of her head while the other tightly grips her face. He kisses her and the tears that had been threatening to fall from fear finally roll down her cheeks.

She had never felt so disgusted. That, mixed with the sinking feeling of having the sweet aftertaste of her earlier high erased by such abominable act. It was like stomping on the beautiful memory of Beca's lips against hers. Beca, the woman whom Chloe knows her body, heart and soul truly belonged to. She was Beca's and Beca's alone. She doesn't belong to anyone else, that, she is now absolutely sure of. She didn't want to become someone else's girl.

Her instincts kick in, fuelled by the fact that no one else should have such right over her so she pushes him away hard before slapping him on the face.

Only a second later does she realize her actions and the effect that would soon follow. But it was too late. Tom's face was now filled with rage and disbelief. Her fear comes ten times stronger than a minute ago and there's a split second that her brain screams at her to run. But it also only takes a second for Tom to grab her harshly by the arm and drag her with him inside the manor.

"Let go of me!" she screams at him yet her desperate cries fall in to deaf ears as he continues to roughly pull her along that her arm might as well be bruised from the tight hold. She tries to fight against him but he still remained physically stronger.

They were only a couple of steps from the grand staircase when strong arms grab hold of her from behind and with a swift move, separates her arm from Tom's grip. When she turns her head, she finds Scott moving to stand in between them. "Stop it! You're hurting her!" her cousin angrily yells at Tom.

But then the Vanderbilt heir silences him with a punch on the face, the sickening sound of fist connecting to cheek echoing across the manor's walls. Scott stumbles down to the floor and Chloe cries out his name, kneeling down to his side.

Tom takes an intimidating step towards them and Chloe is ready to punch him right back when Aubrey steps in front, blocking them from Scott. The Vanderbilt heir pauses, his breathing deep and loud.

"You stay out of this, Aubrey," he says lowly but she doesn't budge.

Aubrey shakes her head in defiance, eyes piercing right back at him. "You're going too far, Thomas, and when my cousins are involved that instantly makes me a part of this," Aubrey replies, her tone calm yet firm. Her brother, Arthur, looking back and forth between them worriedly. Like Claire, Arthur does indeed have a soft spot for his sister despite their usual sibling wars. Whatever he may say against it, Chloe believes he still cares.

Tom raises a finger up at Aubrey and Chloe is afraid that he'd hurt her as well. If Aubrey was nervous or scared, it didn't show and she'd surely stand her ground as long as she wills it. At the side, the threatening gesture makes Arthur's fists ball up and clench hard. The Posens, even before they started migrating to America to intermarry with the other Vanderbilts, do hold such high importance in the elite society. It is a fact that they hold such great influence all over Italy ever since the earliest of times and are much respected until this day. Thus, they are already genetically engineered to not back down easily or lower themselves even if faced with the highest authority.

Nobody dares point fingers up insultingly at a Posen, even if you happen to be a relative.

Tom lets out a breath of frustration and to Chloe's relief, lowers his hand down. He tears his eyes off of Aubrey and finally it drops down at her, "We will marry as soon as possible. Until then, you are not to leave this house unless I say so. You dare take a step outside these walls trust me, nothing good's ever going to come out of it!" he strictly imposes before lowering his tone even more.

"You are mine," he reminds her in a dangerous tone before storming off up the stairs.

When Chloe follows his path, her eyes catch the look of hate from Claire's face as she stands up the stairs, hands crossed in front of her chest, lips mouthing an 'I told you so' which makes Chloe believe that whatever brought about the despicable act has something to do with the photos of her with the Du Pont she longed to be with. Add in Chloe's adamant rejection, things just blew up into a much bigger mess.

Now, Chloe is a prisoner in her own home and her cousins are getting caught in between all of it. She looks down at Scott, lower lip bleeding as she begins to help him up but then Arthur steps forward and offers his hand. Scott takes it and he is up on his feet in seconds. The younger Posen then glances at his sister, Aubrey, who only now breathes out a sigh of relief, proving that she had been indeed scared of Tom's rage but stood strong to defend her cousins.

"You alright?" Arthur mumbles and this would mark the first time he openly showed his concern for his sister.

"I survived having you as a brother for years, of course I am," she replies haughtily but there's gentleness in her eyes and the small curve of Arthur's lips only meant that he understood the underlying message.

When Aubrey places her focus right back at Chloe, the older Vanderbilt quickly wraps her arms around her. She feels Scott's hand softly rubbing her back and it all finally pours back in again. She bursts into tears, knowing that she didn't have to explain anything more.

"This marriage is bullshit, I know," Aubrey softly says. "I hate this part of our family too," she admits.

The older Vanderbilt gently strokes her hair, "This isn't what love looks like. It's supposed to be beautiful, exciting and making you shout out in happiness at the top of your lungs. Love is freedom. It's a right. It's a choice. Love is…" she trails off as she releases Chloe to wipe away her tears.

"Love is constant. It's something even death can't stop and nobody should take that right away from you," Aubrey says slowly as she smiles weakly. "At least, that's what I've been told," she adds.

"Have you been hanging out with the ghost of Shakespeare?" Arthur comments.

"Oh yes I have, we do more than hang out actually. We do it real passionately with so much of my heart that none is left to protest," she counters, British accent and all, while Arthur makes a look of sheer disgust that even Chloe can't help but smile.

"Do spare me the details of your intimate activities. My ears are bleeding," he says in a regal tone, rolling his eyes as he heads up to his room.

With Arthur gone, Aubrey returns her gaze back to Chloe, "We need to do something,"

"But what?" Scott asks, exhaling heavily as he paces a bit. "He is the heir,"

"Yes he is, unless," Aubrey interjects before taking a deep breath, "Another Vanderbilt challenges his worthiness," she lets out and Chloe is already shaking her head with the idea.

"That would require a challenge in intelligence, influence and strength," Aubrey recalls and Scott stops his pacing to face her.

"So one of us has to propose the challenge," he says before quickly adding. "Well, I can do it,"

This time it's Aubrey who shakes her head. "You know little of our politics, Scotty. No offence. You'd lose the debate," she points out.

Scott sighs and nods in understanding, "Alright, well then who? Arthur?"

Aubrey quickly scoffs at the idea, "Art is the last person to want the Vanderbilt high seat. He'd make an awesome lawyer not leader," she says before deciding.

"It has to be me,"

"And you'd win in intelligence, there's no doubt that you'd crush him with that. You also have the influence. You can get a lot of votes in order for the challenge to be official," Scott supplies before hesitating a bit, "But you know how this ends. Smarts and popularity aren't enough to win this,"

"Death. I am highly aware of how it ends," Aubrey finishes for him and it seems like she has already made up her mind. "It's been centuries since a challenge for the high seat has been demanded and it's because you are required to fight it out to the death. Brutal and definitely very medieval but that's the ancient rule," she says, shrugging her shoulders and Chloe has had enough of the conversation at that point.

"Nobody is dying!" she says in finality, giving both her cousins a warning look. "Not for me and not for a stupid seat, alright? If I end up losing any of you then I'd rather get married to Tom. And besides, if anyone where to challenge his position that would also be me," she argues, looking pointedly at Aubrey.

"And again, you might have both the intelligence and influence but still, death will be waiting for one of you in the end of the line and Tom's quite a good swordsman," Scott says, his shoulders deflating at their predicament.

"Death seems better than marriage at this point actually," Chloe says, smiling lightly at the options in front of her.

"Oh god, you and her majesty are totally meant to be together," Aubrey groans as Chloe perks up her head, eyes looking at her cousin in surprise.

"Yeah, I agree, she tends to say that a lot too," Scott adds with a look of grimace and Chloe gives him the same look of surprise.

"What? How did you both—"

"It doesn't matter," Aubrey quickly cuts her while Scott eagerly agrees with her. "The thing we have to focus on is getting you out of this marriage," Aubrey emphasizes as Scott nods. They fall into silence for a moment until the youngest Vanderbilt's face suddenly lights up, a hand slowly raising up as an idea seems to start forming in his head.

"I think I have a temporary solution," he slowly says. "This way, at least you can be protected from him,"

Chloe looks at him expectantly, hope rising out of her chest for the first time that night.

Chloe anxiously wrings her hands as she walks back and forth inside Aubrey's room. The sun has just gone down yet she hasn't even had a wink of sleep. The plan has been made and despite her earlier protests about its flaws, she had been outvoted by both her cousins. As a matter of fact, she still isn't entirely sure how all of it is going to go or if it'll work but Aubrey was right, they at least had to try. Besides, if anything goes wrong, Chloe will just have to do the right thing.

Noble and very dumb, that's probably what Beca would say.

The thought makes Chloe smile lightly, a calming feeling coursing through her veins and the longing feeling in her chest grow. Even unconsciously, Beca had been sending calming warmth, chasing away her anxieties and fears.

In the middle of her thoughts, the door opens making her almost jolt in surprise. She looks up to see Aubrey striding in, looking ready for her classes today. Her usual style, never failing to be chic and classy from head to foot. Her cousin could probably go to war and still look like she'd attend some international summit. Somehow, thinking of their conversation last night it makes her imagine how perfect of a leader Aubrey would've been. If only the blonde was born earlier than Tom, how different everything would've went.

But then now is not the time for unfortunate stories.

"I told them you've lost your appetite," Aubrey says as she lifts up her hand bag, letting it hang on her arm as she stands in front of her. "Scott's about to go to his class," she reports before putting a comforting hand over Chloe's shoulder.

"Are you alright? You didn't sleep," she says, looking at her with concern.

"I'm fine, just a little nervous," she replies truthfully as the door opens again to reveal Scott. The young Vanderbilt enters, carrying a tray of food with him which is a really good excuse for him to enter the room without raising suspicion.

"We have to go," he tells Aubrey whose eyes haven't left Chloe, seemingly feeling the exact same way Chloe has been feeling at the back of her head.

Without words, Chloe stands up to hug Aubrey, "I love you guys so much. We're family, no matter what happens," she says, her voice wavering as the emotions rush out from inside her chest. Memories filling up her head, the beautiful and the sad.

"Of course," Aubrey replies and Chloe feels her struggle not to break down at that moment. "No matter what happens," the older Vanderbilt repeats after a long pause to quell down her tears.

From over Aubrey's shoulder, Chloe glances up at Scott, her cousin looking at them sadly as he quickly wipes away a tear threatening to fall with the back of his wrist. Extending her arm out towards him, Scott quickly walks over to them, hugging them both.

"I'm going to miss you guys," she sniffs, taking a deep breath before continuing, "But don't worry, we're going to see each other again, I promise," she sincerely says as she hugs them both tight.

When she releases them, Aubrey digs into her inner coat pockets to take out a USB and hand it over to her. "Arthur made that. It's just compilation of photos and videos of us, you know, whenever you feel particularly lonely and sad," Aubrey explains and Chloe is just almost at the brink of bawling her eyes out.

"Although he also said that a warm body at night would also cure some of that and that if ever you need a lawyer in about five years, you know who to call," Aubrey adds, shaking her head as she recalls her brother's words.

Clasping the USB in her hand, Chloe nods with a sad smile before looking up at her cousins.

"I'm ready,"

Her words serve as their cue to go straight to the plan as both her cousins nod and head out of the room. Left alone, Chloe could clearly hear their footsteps leaving the manor. She could also hear Tom's men, standing guard along the doors of the manor. Their presence makes the plan even trickier to do. As planned, she turns on Aubrey's laptop, choosing a song and plugging it on to the speakers as M83's 'Midnight City' plays loudly on repeat.

Now the wait begins.

So, she does everything to keep herself busy. Choosing what to wear, what to bring and what else to do. It's even funny how it all seems as if it's her last day on earth even though she does know exactly how that feels and there's an obvious difference between the two. Honestly, this feels like she's about to start a new beginning. There's the excitement and eagerness to exploring beyond what she has grown up to but on the other hand it's like her whole world is about to fall apart. She's never felt so much in just under twenty four hours that she's surprised her heart hasn't yet experienced a malfunction from all the emotions she had been running through.

In what felt like years, Scott finally returns and Chloe could hear his voice downstairs exaggeratedly mumbling about forgetting something important. But rather than head to his room, he walks straight into Aubrey's bedroom. The room in the manor with the perfect location for an escape—and Chloe wonders if Aubrey had already been doing some secret escaping when she came up with this plan. An honestly absurd thought knowing Aubrey Posen but still, a possibility none the less. Her cousin does have a secret 'pre-planned' rebellious streak deep down. It's like being a rebel but calculatedly knowing the appropriate time to become one without getting caught—and which anyone could actually find out about if you know how to decode the hidden message in Aubrey's seemingly ordinary diary. Because yes, they may be perfect in the outside but it doesn't mean that they are perfect little angels in the inside. Vanderbilt teens just need to creatively find ways to let loose.

Scott enters the door and Chloe could already feel the adrenaline start to rush in her system. He takes her bag and as quietly as possible, opens the balcony window of Aubrey's bedroom. But then to Chloe's surprise, he looks down for a moment before dropping the bag down the ground. Which would have caused a loud thudding noise and alerted the guards. Except it didn't and as Chloe looks down she is greeted with Emily's smiling face below, Chloe's duffel bag in her arms.

When she looks back at her cousin, Scott meekly smiles, "I brought the cavalry," he says.

"You know that Beca is going to kill you for bringing Em into this," she whispers in disbelief. His answer however, surprises her.

"I think she will but it would be because I lied to her about taking Emily to the book fair. Also, there's been a change of plans," he says, his words rushed and hurried as he adds in the last part.

"What?" Chloe hisses in surprise and Scott looks at her guiltily. A look that could only mean that this change had been the original plan all along.

"There's only one place you can be safe, Chlo, one where Tom could never touch you and it's definitely not outside of this university," Scott finally confesses and Chloe already has a feeling where exactly that place could be. She takes one look down at Emily who is currently being on the lookout for the roaming guards.

"The Du Ponts," Chloe mumbles and there's just a million ways this could end. There's no doubt Beca would agree to this but the effects of this act could become explosive. A Vanderbilt being kept in Du Pont territory would be scandalous indeed. Beca already has a lot of scandals tied to her name, being the most unconventional crowned royalty that she is, and Chloe just doesn't want to add any more to it.

However, Scott places both his hands on her shoulders, making her look at him, "We don't have time. You have to go, now," he ushers her towards the balcony and Chloe carefully climbs over it. She holds on to the blanket Scott hands over to her while he holds on to the other end of it. Giving her cousin a final squeeze on the hand, Scott begins to slowly lower her down the ground using the blanket. She clings to the cloth, hanging until her feet finally meet the ground.

She hasn't even fully gathered her bearings when she quickly pulls Emily down with her. The footsteps of one of the walking guards edge closer to the glass window near them. They crouch down underneath it, holding their breaths and hoping that the wind doesn't blow the cloth towards the direction of the window, until finally he passes by.

Sighing in relief, Chloe finally gives the Du Pont a hug before slowly making their way out of the Vanderbilt premises and it had to be the most anxiety inducing fifteen minutes of her life. They had to stop every now and then whenever one of the guards make their rounds around the area.

Holding Emily's hand, they finally make it out to the street where Chloe's loudly beating heart starts to calm down. And it is really supposed to be relaxing back to a normal beat when she hears the voice she least expects.

"Chloe!" Tom's voice booms from behind and it makes them both freeze in their tracks.

Instinctively, as she turns around, she pulls the Du Pont behind her protectively while Emily holds on to her arm, gulping at the sight of the Vanderbilt heir.

Behind Tom, a group of his guards slowly step towards them. They both take a couple of steps back, trying to maintain the distance.

"I think it's time to call Beca now," Emily says under her breath and just by hearing Beca's name Chloe finds strength in it. So she slowly pushes Emily away.

"Go, run. It's me they want," she urges on and she could feel Emily shake her head at the words.

"I'm not leaving you with him, Chlo!" the Du Pont argues, not budging even a bit.

"Do you really plan on shaming this family?" Tom angrily says. Behind him, Chloe could see Aubrey coming but she doesn't get close as her brother holds her back and Chloe silently thanks him because having Aubrey get even more involved in this mess would only make her feel worse.

If somebody has to be punished then let it be her and her alone.

"No, I plan on changing this family," she replies and it's fuelling Tom's rage. "I'm tired of it, all of this and for what? Reputation? A pure bloodline? Why should we keep living like robots? Why can't we be free to be who we want to be? You don't have to live like this, Tom. We don't have to live like this! This marriage would only make us both miserable. I care about you and I still do but I don't love you that way. I'm not the woman who can make you happy," she says.

"And I'm sorry. I really am. I've tried but I just can't. Because my heart… already belongs to someone else," she admits and it only deepens the frown on Tom's face. His balled up fists shaking with anger, his jaw hardening and his eyes turning red.

He loosens his necktie, craning his neck to the side as if trying to stop himself from having his anger explode.

"You leave me with no choice then,"

His men step forward and Chloe is already trying to think of ways to distract them away from Emily when they all abruptly stop, uncertain eyes wandering to the direction behind them.

"So, why aren't we initially invited to this party again?" Stacie's voice casually cuts through the tension.

"Shame, we would've brought a lot of booze. Like, c'mon! Anybody ever heard about the word 'fun'?" Jesse adds in and Chloe could already tell that he was giving out his charming boyish grin as he speaks.

"And maybe some music too. It's too boring here," Stella groans sarcastically.

The Du Ponts stand next to them and if Chloe thinks that Emily brought back up, she's surprised to know that Emily actually had nothing to do with it.

"How did you guys know we're here?" the younger Du Pont asks, relief obvious in her voice as she turns to Stacie who, for some reason avoids the question.

"Well, I've got… connections," the taller Du Pont simply replies but when her eyes stray for a second too long behind Tom, Chloe suspects that the answer to her earlier thoughts about Aubrey's possible late night escapades might just be the long legged female next to her. If her cousin had anything to do with asking help from the rest of the Du Ponts her blank expression doesn't let it show. The way she grips on her phone however, has Chloe assuming otherwise

"You Du Ponts stay out of this!" Tom growls. "This is between our family and ours alone,"

"Is it?" Stella asks mockingly, arms crossed in front of her chest as she looks at the Vanderbilt heir with annoyance. "Because this is considered a public area and whatever you're doing here is turning out to be public disturbance which also means," she emphasizes as Jesse clicks his tongue, shaking his head disapprovingly at them.

"That her highness would certainly not approve of any of this happening. The queen is actually taking a nap right now and god forbid does she wake up to find out about this because I'm pretty sure none of you are going to survive her wrath," Stella finishes and it reminds Chloe of all those equations the younger Conrad would easily explain. It's all just too simple for her.

"Okay!" Jesse concludes, smiling and clapping his hand once as he looks at the Vanderbilts. "Now that we've all got that settled. I guess it's time to leave this little meet and greet before Beca rains hell fire all over the place," he reminds them in a light tone before adding in a small voice.

"And I don't want to be anywhere near a very scary Becaw. Violence isn't really my thing," he grimaces.

Stacie gently takes Chloe by the arm, pulling her away with them to the direction of the Du Pont manor when Tom yells out again.

"You take one step further and you're no longer a part of this family!" he threatens and Chloe stops. Her eyes trail over to Aubrey, Arthur and Scott, who had finally caught up with them. Aubrey gives a small nod of understanding, willing Chloe to go where her heart wants to go, before looking down to blink away the tears threatening to spill out.

Chloe then looks back at Tom, underneath his hardened expression there's panic in his eyes and Chloe's almost certain, the he already has a feeling about what her decision might be.

"Maybe, even from the very beginning it was already so clear that… I wasn't destined to remain a Vanderbilt," she sadly says.

"Or maybe I just couldn't be what you and everyone else wanted me to be. I can't be who I'm not,"

With one last look, she finally turns around, walking away with the Du Ponts as Stacie puts an arm around her. Emily who is standing in her opposite side, squeezes her arm in silent support.

After a couple of minutes, with the Du Pont manor's roof already visible from where they were, the twins rush over to them, swords and kitchen utensils in their hands.

"Where is the insufferable bastard?!" Nick asks out loud, nostrils flaring and body ready to charge at any direction they would point to. His sword already unsheathed as he bangs it against the lid of the pot that seemed to be serving as his shield. Nate, on the other hand is swinging his spiked bat in the air, the pot itself used as a helmet over his head.

"You're late to the party," Stella mutters before walking around them and heading straight to the house. Jesse follows her but stops in front of his brothers to shake his head at them in disappointment. Stacie on the other hand, takes both of them by the arm and drags them back into the house like disobedient toddlers, spitting out a ton of French curse words at them.

"Beca's not at home. Where is she?" Chloe immediately asks Emily, already knowing that the Du Pont she has been looking for isn't in the manor. She couldn't feel her presence nearby.

"I guess she went back out after Scott and I left," Emily answers, looking at Chloe curiously. And this time the Du Pont doesn't seem like she wants to hold back the question hanging at the tip of her tongue.

"How do you…" the younger Du Pont starts, careful with her words as she leads Chloe inside. "How do you always know that Beca isn't home?" she finally lets out after a moment and Chloe tries to decide if she's ready to divulge the biggest secret of her life. Having to keep things quiet about them has naturally been ingrained in her brain since she was young, thus, the uncertainty.

"I mean, we can all tell if someone's around. It's just not this specific though and Beca, she also kinda' knows… exactly where to find you," Emily continues and pauses, seemingly trying to grasp the right words to say. "It's like you two are… connected," the young brunette lets out a small laugh, probably out of absurdity.

"But that's just, you know, impossible. You two would have to be soul..." she trails off before shaking her head awkwardly. "I'm sorry, just forget it. You know me, I say stupid things all the time,"

Stopping the Du Pont as she holds on to her arm, Chloe gives her a small smile, "No, it's alright. I also think that after all that's happened, I don't think I have to keep it anymore," she takes a deep breath before finally speaking.

"Remember that childhood friend I told you about? The one I loved so much. The one I had regrets with. The one who drifted away because of my mistake," she closes her eyes, letting it all sink in before laying it all out completely.

"It was Beca,"

The eyes that meet hers when she opens her own look at her both with sadness and understanding instead of scrutiny.

"It's you," Emily's words follow and this confuses Chloe. The younger female's tone was akin to that of awe and her eyes lighting up at the truth Chloe had just admitted.

On the other hand, she tries to comprehend what exactly could it mean so she replies uncertainly, "It's me?"

"We have to find, Beca!" Emily suddenly says before calling Stacie's name at the top of her lungs only to have the twins rushing right back at them, swords and pots ready as they resume their threats against Tom. Jesse groans about another apocalypse and Stella complains about someone forgetting to restock the fridge.

However, at the same time it's just occurred to Chloe that she's just jumped into unknown waters and now the gravity of all that she had just done comes crashing in full speed right at her.

When Stacie finally comes over, Chloe's world already seems to be spinning and if she doesn't hold on to something she'd certainly fall. Fortunately, she was quick to grab Emily's hand.

When she comes back into focus, she finds herself at the Du Pont living room with Stacie kneeling down in front of her, telling her to breathe and Emily right at her side, ready to offer a glass of water as she looks at her worriedly.

If they expected tears, they surely won't get them because all that comes out of her lips is laughter. She's probably looked like she's lost her mind. She probably already has. It's been quite a ride up until now and Chloe doesn't really know where she'd end up after this. It was sad, exhilarating and scary all at the same time.

Maybe that's what suddenly being free feels like.

"So, I just got disowned," she says with a melancholic smile. "I got disowned and I'm in love with my childhood best friend,"

She clears her throat, straightening up as she decides what she has already thought over and over again ever since yesterday night, "I can't stay here,"

Stacie quickly opposes. But then Chloe holds up a hand to stop her.

"Me being here already complicates everything. Beca's reputation is on the line and believe me, I know all about reputation. It damages people and blurs lines. Add in politics and it's all messy, especially if you're the queen," she explains.

"But if I'm leaving without telling Beca what I feel for her then I might as well go back and marry Tom. I want to tell her. I have to… even if she might not feel the same way. I just need some time, if that's okay?" she says before looking up at Stacie.

The long legged Du Pont smiles. "Oh honey, you can have all the time you want. You're pretty much welcome to stay here as long as you like. You're family now," Stacie warmly says and Chloe lets her mind run with the beautiful thought of how happy it must be like if the circumstances were different.

But for now, that's just how it's going to be.

A beautiful thought.

"I need to tell you something,"

In her nineteen years of life, Chloe had lived with everything that had led up to this moment. It already feels like she had lived up to a hundred and it's crazy. She had brushed past death, spread her wings for the first time to fly up into the unknown and now she's about to finally lay her heart bare to the woman she loves.

It took her hours to get herself together and now that Beca is standing right in front of her, she suddenly feels like those hours weren't enough. Her feelings are splattering all over the place, her mind a mess and her heart racing a mile per minute. The look of concern in Beca's face is enough to let her know that the Du Pont feels the hurricane she has been trying to suppress deep down.

On her way to the Beca's favourite spot, she has already thought of turning back around and thinking twice about it almost a million times. But then the thought of all those eight years of internal suffering pushes her forward. Both of them deserved this, the truth. The conclusion they've put on hold for so long needs to be finally given.

So, Chloe swallows down the hesitation and fear.

Holding Beca's hand close to her, she struggles through, "Tom asked me to marry him the other night,"

The second she utters the words Beca's face is unreadable, however, holding the Du Pont's hand, Chloe feels a slight twitch in her fingers. It's small but it's enough to lift her hopes up.

"I said no," she continues, confidence building as she goes on. This time, her words garner a reaction out of the Du Pont. The shock in Beca's eyes was clear and Chloe steps forward, the distance between them lessening.

Seeing the confusion etching across Beca's features, Chloe takes the final step and plunges down uncharted depths, this time prepared for the consequences.

She's always believed that loving someone is such a brave thing to do, more so when you offer your heart whole without even knowing whether that someone would take it or leave it shattered down the floor.

"I can't marry someone I don't love. I can't marry him knowing that my heart belongs to someone else,"

"It always has and I was a fool for constantly trying to fight against it, out of fear, out of other people's expectations, all the stupid rules," she looks down, shaking her head.

"Then I realized that by letting that fear take over me, I was robbing myself from the happiness and freedom I desperately sought. I guess losing everything doesn't really mean the end. I guess it just means that I've finally broken the shackles that have stopped me from becoming who I want to be, from who I'm supposed to be, and now I'm just taking the first few steps in what could be the beginning of another chapter in my life. And I still have so much to learn actually," she smiles before looking into those stormy blues she loves so much.

"So, this is me, trying to tell you that, I love you," she finally confesses, her heart bleeding everything out into words.

"And you don't have to love me back, you don't have to say anything else," she adds quickly. "I just wanted you to know that,"

"But even if I wish that nothing's going to change between us as friends, I know me telling you all of this still changes something. I just hope that you'd still allow me to stay by your side in the future. And if this is all too much or I don't know, uncomfortable for you then I can wait. I will wait because no matter what happens if you need me, I'll be right here for you, always and until the end," she promises, voice pleading and wavering as she feels a new batch of tears coming. Yet, she continues to search into those eyes and finally she gets a reply.

"I can't do this,"

Beca's words weren't entirely unexpected but still it pierces her chest mercilessly. It's understandable and Chloe smiles faintly in spite of the tears. She nods, looking down, "It's okay"

"I understand," she assures and she really does mean it.

Now knowing that this moment could be the last, Chloe lifts up Beca's hand and presses it against her lips, kissing it tenderly because uttering the words 'goodbye' was too hard and too painful for her to say.

Slowly, she starts to let go, stepping back and turning away. Her fingers slipping away from Beca's but not completely as the Du Pont suddenly tightens her grip, making her stop. She turns to find those very pair of stormy blues looking right back at her. There's conflict within them. It's rare and Chloe wishes to take it all away. She never intended to place such heavy weight on Beca's shoulders or torment her with guilt but then Chloe needed to do this, for the both of them.

"I can't do it anymore," the Du Pont repeats, the struggle audible in her tone. Chloe would've continued to assure her that she had nothing to worry about if only Beca hadn't beat her to it.

"I swore to myself I would protect you and if it means keeping my distance then so be it but damn it, Beale, you're making it too hard to do," Beca lets out, the frustration palpable.

"I can't," Beca trails off, the façade she constantly wore slowly crumbling apart in front of Chloe. It's that exact look that painfully reminds her of that day she lied and broke her heart, ending their friendship. It's like they're back at that moment again but this time it's Chloe waiting on the other side, waiting for Beca to finally open the door.

"I can't—I can't help it, loving you, wanting you and needing you so badly," Beca says desperately. "And this love of mine is going to bring complications, chaos, disasters and much, much more danger so please, I beg you, save yourself because at this point, I don't think I can stop myself from making you mine and once you're mine, you'll have to kill me first before I let you go,"

Chloe nods again, retracing back her steps until she finds herself right where she stood moments ago. She takes another step closer, the space almost inexistent.

"Then let me make it easier for you," she says softly before moving forward to capture Beca's lips with hers. It was soft yet full of meaning, of silent promises and much awaited beginnings. She parts from Beca but doesn't move far away, lips only inches apart as wipes away a tear from Beca's cheek and whispers,

"Now, I'm yours,"

Her words, quiet and soft yet is strong enough to set fires a blaze and bombs exploding off as Beca surges forward, cupping her face before kissing her, deeply, desperately, passionately and possessively. The small gasp Chloe makes is quickly silenced and she loses herself in the moment, hands tightly clinging to Beca, keeping her as close as possible. None of them wanting to part, lips meeting again and again in between gasps for air. Words of love whispered back and forth. In between it all, something inside Chloe clicks, their souls connecting even tighter than before. She could feel Beca's emotions coursing through her own and becoming one.

Chloe will never understand alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.

Not when kissing Beca is this addicting.

How could anything else possibly top this kind of high?

And now here comes the chaos

Author's Note:

I'd like to dedicate this chapter for the lgbtq+ community. For those who still struggle to be accepted. For those who silently suffer and are unable to express themselves for fear of rejection, discrimination and being disowned by their own families. For those who can't be with who they love because they are told that it's wrong and sinful. I wish that, when you are ready like Chloe you may be able to spread your wings and fly towards your heart's desires. The present may look bleak but I'd like to believe that the future will be bright for you. Stay strong. You are loved. You will be loved.

Why would I be planning a 'Toe' (Tom + Chloe) wedding? What type of out of this world crap is that? Why the hell am I writing this 'Bechloe' fic for then?

If Chloe ending up with Beca isn't your cup of tea then this story isn't the story you want to read on your free time or in between your important daily activities. If it frustrates you or stresses you out, please, for the love of all that is good, beautiful, shimmering, shining, splendid in this world, unfollow this story instead. I swear, no hard feelings on my part, absolutely zero. Stop wasting your time here. I'm saying this for your own good because I care about you. Don't even type a single word, that'd also be a waste of your energy, physically and mentally. But if you still want to pursue this hate/pessimistic fest then good luck with that. Gonna' be moderating reviews then.

This fic will only be filled with hope, optimism and love.

Anyways, moving on, yep you guessed it right! Guest wedding singer will be my beloved wife, Camila Cabello. First to the wedding buffet table is Parziwolf. Congratulations wolfy!

Thanks for reading!