Chloe's eyes closed and she squeezed them tightly as she felt Beca push her body away. Once she was again at arm's length away she opened her eyes.

"I'm so angry with you" The words fell out of Beca's mouth. It was raw and it was honest and it was surprising to even Beca that they came out unforced.

"I know. I don't know how" Chloe whispered.

"No. Listen" Beca said forcefully. Chloe closed her mouth and tried to prepare herself for whatever Beca was going to say next. Beca braced herself against the counter. "I'm so angry with you." She repeated. "We were so close Chlo. So close to everything I thought I'd never have. So close to being what everyone" she paused as the words came to her, "always wanted us to be" she finished slowly.

Chloe blinked slowly as she listened.

"Always what you wanted us to be." Beca said softly. "And what I wanted us to be. But right now. I can't be that. I don't want to be that. I don't want to be the one who always comes back. I don't know what it is about you that makes me just overlook things. Things I wouldn't allow from others. But I let you do whatever you want. And you're not horrible and you're not mean but you do these things." Beca took a breath as the words were impossible to stop from coming out. "Today was supposed to be the best day of our lives. We were supposed promise ourselves to each other but you've done that before. I kept trying to push it away and not think about it but you've been married before. You promised yourself to someone else right after you promised me that you only wanted to be with me." Beca paused to watch the way her words were affecting the redhead. It was obvious that they hurt her. "You make a lot of promises Chloe."

"Beca" Chloe begged for mercy, "please stop."

"No." Beca whispered. She was determined to get this out. "You were gone for two years Chloe. And yeah, I didn't try to call you either so that's on me too, but then you just walk backstage one night and I'm supposed to roll over and thank my lucky stars that you decided I'm the one you want to be with, for now."

Chloe tried but she couldn't hold the tears. One rolled down her cheek.

"Just forget everything because you came back. Because you said you love me. I know you do and I love you too. You know that and that's what makes this so fucking hard." Beca swallowed. "You always put me second. After we got back together we fell right back into that same old routine. The only reason it wasn't quite as bad is because you were working here. I know I should have told you what was bothering me instead of assuming you knew but I didn't so yeah, that's on me, but you didn't even care enough to ask me what was wrong with me. How were we going to have any type of lasting relationship, a real relationship, if we can't even communicate?"

The realization of what she just said hit her hard and she laughed at herself. "Ironic right? I'm the one asking for communication when I keep everything to myself."

Chloe hadn't moved a muscle the whole time Beca spoke. She was paralyzed and she felt her heart rip in two at each word. Rip one millimeter at a time but she forced herself to feel it. She deserved it.

"You were right, I was going to break up with you." Beca admitted. "I hate Tom. I hate that he is your friend. I hate that he's slept with you. I hate that you knew him before you knew me. I hate that you didn't see him for the asshole that everyone else did. I hate him and I don't know how you don't. You know" Beca thought. "If you would have done the right thing a year ago and told me the truth about what happened, I don't know what I would have done." That was a lie. "Actually, that's not true. I would have broken up with you. Immediately." Beca said honestly.

Beca took a step back. She needed space. Being two feet away from Chloe who was crumbling before her was too much now. Beca knew her words were hurting the redhead and a part of her wanted to hurt Chloe and make her feel the way she had been feeling for last few days.

"And we wouldn't be here right now, in this kitchen." Beca looked around. "In this home." Her words softened. "With this life." She cleared her throat. "We wouldn't have her."

They both know who she meant.

Chloe watched Beca slowly turn and walk away. She watched as Beca's head hung low as she walked toward the stairs. She watched her slowly climb until she was out of sight. That's when Chloe allowed the sob to finally escape. Her shoulders bounced as she gave in and release the cry she had been fighting. She turned her back to the counter as she finally let her legs give way. She slid down slowly until she hit the floor.

Beca felt exhausted. More tired than she could ever remember. She stopped at the first room on her right and opened the door. She walked over to the desk and pulled open the bottom drawer. She starred at her name on the top of the envelope, slowly reaching down to pick it up. It had been a while since she read the letter. She opened the flap and removed the paper. Beca walked over and sat on her piano bench. She unfolded the paper and held it in both hands. Beca took a deep breath.

Beca,


AN: ...