Friday morning, as they were having breakfast, Johnny said, "I'm so excited to see Daddy again!"

"You're going to be with me this weekend."

"Why?"

"Daddy had to cancel and he's sorry," said Beca.

"Oh," said Johnny. "Are we going to see Miss Chloe?"

"Not today."

"Why not?"

"She's busy."

"Oh."

"We'll find some fun stuff to do, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

Johnny was quiet on the way to daycare. He had a long face when she took him out of the car.

"You're disappointed, aren't you?" Beca asked.

"Yes," he said.

"I know. But these things happen."

"When will I see Daddy again?"

"I'm not sure. I'll let you know when I find out. I'm sure it will be soon."

"Okay."

"Let's get you inside. I know you're going to have a great day today, okay? Think about what you want to do with me this weekend, and we can talk about it after I pick you up."

Her son brightened. "Yeah!"

The work day dragged for Beca. She texted Jesse to ask when the next weekend was that he was taking Johnny, and she was more than a little put off when he didn't answer. She knew she should try and talk things over with Chloe, but she didn't know what to say. So, she took the coward's way out and didn't try to talk to her.

Beca was thrilled when it was time to cut out of work for the day. She didn't have much work to do that day, making things seem to go even slower.

Beca picked up Johnny, and he said he wanted to make his own pizza for dinner. Beca took him to the grocery store on the way home to buy the ingredients. He suckered her into buying a package of Oreo cookies as well.

They made their pizzas for dinner, watched some superhero cartoon on Netflix, and Beca felt so lonely after she'd put him to bed.

She drowned her sorrows in wine and Oreos while watching some reality show she'd found on one of her streaming services. She checked her phone, and neither Jesse or Chloe had texted her. She was disappointed in both of them and mad at herself, too.

The next morning, Johnny was up early.

"Mommy! Can we have french toast?" he asked.

"Only if you can help me," said Beca, yawning.

"I'll help! I'll help!"

"Let me just start some coffee first."

Once Beca had the pot of coffee brewing, she got the ingredients and let her son mix the eggs.

They shared some french toast, and Johnny asked to go to the library and get some books and maybe a movie. Beca told him that sounded like a great way to spend the afternoon.

Beca called Chloe once she had her son occupied.

"Hey, Beca."

"Hi, Chloe. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"Yeah. I don't exactly have anything to do."

Beca cringed. "I'm really sorry that I had to cancel."

"I get that your son has to be the most important person in your life, but I don't get why you just let Jesse cancel on you like that."

"It's complicated, okay?"

"Help me understand why you won't just take him to court and make him keep to the custody arrangements. I'll even pay for you to talk to an attorney."

"I knew you'd do that," said Beca. "You just think you can throw money at me and fix it!"

"That's not what I was trying to do."

"Just, forget it," said Beca. "I have to go." She ended the call before Chloe could respond.

Beca took Johnny out after lunch. They headed to the children's area, and he saw that they had a storytime. Beca encouraged him to sit down and join the group. She thought she saw a few parents looking in her direction and whispering, but she figured someone was judging the young mom in the room. Beca was nearly twenty-four years old, but she looked like a teenager, especially when she was casually dressed with minimal makeup.

Beca let Johnny choose a few books to take home, and he also asked to check out a small video player that was preloaded with kids' shows. She made him promise to be really careful with it before agreeing.

He asked to go out to eat that night, and Beca couldn't turn him down. She still felt lonely and depressed, and cooking was the last thing she wanted to do.

They sat down at the local IHOP. The server looked at Beca for a few extra beats before taking their order.

"What can I get you?" she asked.

"I would like the Halloween pancakes, please," said Johnny.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Mommy, can I have Sprite?"

"Yes." She rarely let him have soft drinks, but once in a while wasn't going to hurt.

"Okay, then I want Sprite, please."

"And, for you?" she asked Beca.

"The Classic with bacon, please, and a regular Coke."

"Sure thing," said the server as she walked off toward the kitchen.

After they put in their orders, Beca said, "Hey, your order just reminded me of something. What do you want to be for Halloween?"

"I don't know. Maybe Marshall." Marshall was the firefighter dog from Paw Patrol. Beca figured she could probably find that at a store. She pressed a little further, though, making sure she had a backup plan.

"That's pretty cool. What else? Just in case I have a tricky time finding a Marshall costume."

"I could be Spider-man. Or Buzz Lightyear."

"Those are both great ideas."

"Hazel said she's going to be Elsa. And then Bella got mad and said she was going to be Elsa. My teacher said they could both be Elsa. They're so silly. I don't care if everybody at school wants to be the same thing."

"That's a good thing, dude. And, you're totally right. Anyone can dress however they want for Halloween, even if it's the same costume as someone else," said Beca.

The server appeared with their food, looking scrutinizingly at Beca again. Beca wondered what was going on with her. She assumed it was another judgemental person wondering how old she was. She ignored the woman, choosing instead to focus on her son's smile as he bit into his pancakes.

They headed home, and Johnny took his video player to the playroom. Beca checked her phone, finding nothing from either Jesse or Chloe.

The next morning, Johnny asked if they could go to the aquarium. Beca readily agreed, but she suggested they go costume shopping first. She figured it would be best if she just let him choose a costume if they didn't have what he wanted in his size. He asked if Chloe was going to be with them, and Beca had to swallow a lump in her throat before telling him that Chloe couldn't make it.

Beca got them tickets for a 2:00 entry, so they had an early lunch and headed to the store. Beca was sure she heard people whispering and noticed some staring at her, but she convinced herself she was just being paranoid. She'd made sure to throw on some extra makeup so she wouldn't look like a teenager. She figured the previous day's weirdness must have been messing with her brain.

Lucky for her, she easily found Johnny the costume he wanted in his size. She grabbed a few bags of candy for trick-or-treaters and then headed to the aquarium.

They enjoyed a fun afternoon, going to both the sea lion and dolphin show. Her son even managed to convince her to buy him a stuffed sea lion from the gift shop. The cashier seemed to take an extra beat to look at her debit card, but she had her ID handy in case anyone asked questions. She was a little surprised when the woman went ahead and swiped it without asking for one.

They grabbed some dinner at a drive-through on the way home, and Beca let Johnny eat it in the living room while watching Paw Patrol.

That night, after she got Johnny to bed, Beca did some thinking. For one thing, she probably needed to curb some of the spending. She'd just gotten out of debt, and she'd spent way more than usual in one weekend. She knew she needed to talk to Jesse soon. It wouldn't be long before their son asked her again when he'd get to see his dad.

As far as things with Chloe went, she probably needed to swallow her pride, stop being stubborn, and apologize. It wasn't Beca's fault that Jesse had canceled, but it wasn't fair of her to take out her frustration on Chloe. Chloe had certainly had a valid reason to be upset, and, maybe Jesse was walking all over her. She decided she'd try and talk to her the next day. This weekend of hardly speaking to Chloe (and that conversation resulting in another argument) had been awfully lonely.

The next morning, Beca walked into work and noticed her coworkers immediately getting quiet.

"What?" Beca asked. She knew she didn't have a new mark, since she and Chloe hadn't seen each other for the entire weekend.

"You don't know?" Theo asked.

Beca shook her head.

Fat Amy turned her computer monitor to face Beca.

Beca felt the color drain from her face when she saw the article. It showed a picture of her walking out of the record label's office, and it was headlined: "Anonymous Source Claims This Woman Is DJ Reggie!"

Theo showed her another article. "DJ Reggie Is a Woman!"

"What the hell?!" Beca was shocked.

"So, you didn't know about any of this?" Theo asked.

"No," said Beca. She looked again at the article. It was dated on Saturday. "Why didn't someone tell me?"

"Because you told me you were going to be out of town with your girlfriend over the weekend and that I'd better not disturb you," said Theo.

Beca sighed. "Right. Well, we didn't go away because my stupid ex can't be bothered to keep his promises. I thought people were looking at me funny all weekend. I just thought it was the usual 'she looks too young to be his mother' type of shit I've been dealing with for the past four years."

"So, you have no idea who might have revealed your secret?"

Beca shook her head.

"So, I take it things aren't going well with the ex or the girlfriend?" asked Theo.

"Not good with either of them," Beca admitted. "What do we do?"

"Someone from the law firm that wrote the NDA's is coming at 1 to meet with you and the big wigs," said Fat Amy.

"You should consider maybe formally revealing your identity," said Theo.

Beca ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know right now. I'm going to my office. I need to be alone to think."

With that, Beca walked into her office, shut and locked the door, and collapsed against the door in a fit of tears.

Beca finally grabbed some tissues, blew her nose and wiped her eyes, and then headed to her bathroom to freshen up. She sat down at her computer. The headlines were all over the celebrity gossip sites. The basic details were the same - an anonymous source said that DJ Reggie was a young woman living in Atlanta. The same shot of her walking out of the office, cell phone to her ear, looking preoccupied. Her name hadn't been mentioned in any of the articles, but she figured it wouldn't be long before her name was out there.

Her first thought was about her son. Nobody had said anything at daycare that morning when she dropped him off. She wasn't sure whether that was because nobody she saw that morning had seen the articles, or if it was because she hadn't been awake enough to notice anything odd. She hadn't slept well in three nights, and she'd been on autopilot getting her son ready.

She thought about the possible identity reveal and how it might affect her son. She didn't want anything to change for him if people learned who she was.

Her thoughts then began to move to try and guess who might have leaked her identity. The one time she'd talked to Chloe since Thursday night hadn't been good, and Jesse hadn't bothered to respond to the text she'd sent asking when he'd see their son again.

She first called Jesse.

"Hey, Beca. What's up?"

"Why did you do it, Jesse?"

"Why did I do what?" he asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.

"Someone leaked my identity to the press. Haven't you seen the headlines?" she asked.

"No, I spent my weekend priming and painting my house."

"Well, what was your girlfriend up to? She just had to wreck things for me, right?"

"Amanda was helping me paint, and she doesn't know who you really are."

"So, you didn't tell her?"

"No," he said. "Wait a minute. You think because we fought that I went and blabbed to my girlfriend who went to the press? Why the hell would I do that?"

"I…"

"Beca, think about it. I don't want Johnny affected by your fame any more than you do."

"Then, why haven't you answered my text? Johnny is asking when he gets to see his dad again."

"Hold on," said Jesse. "Shit, Beca. I must have missed it. I'm sorry. I'll take Johnny this weekend. I promise. I can even take him a day early if you both want."

"Thanks," said Beca. "I'll tell Johnny after I pick him up. I'll let you know if I want you to take him early."

"So, you believe me?"

"I think so, but I don't know what happens when I see the attorney this afternoon. I'm sure they'll want to talk to you."

"I have nothing to hide," said Jesse. "And, I'm sorry someone spilled the beans, but I swear it wasn't me."

"Okay," said Beca, ending the call.

She thought about the conversation. What Jesse said had made sense. He'd signed the NDA after they'd divorced, and he'd been in total agreement that it was best for their son if nobody knew who his mom was.

Beca called Chloe next.

"Hi, Beca."

"Hi." Beca paused, not knowing what to say.

"Beca? Are you still there?" asked Chloe after Beca hadn't spoken for at least a minute.

"Are you still mad?"

"Maybe a little, especially since we got into another fight the one time we spoke over the weekend."

"You could have contacted me, you know."

"I figured you needed space, so I gave it to you," said Chloe. "I spent my time studying for midterms."

"That's all you did?"

"Yeah, why?"

"So, you didn't see the headlines about me?"

"No, let me look." Beca heard Chloe tap a few buttons on a computer keyboard. "Oh, no. Oh, Beca. I'm so sorry!"

"So, it wasn't you?"

Chloe gasped. "How could you say that? Why would I do that to you and your son?"

"We both know the penalty for violating the NDA is chump change to you."

"That doesn't mean...you think I'd go running to TMZ the first time we argued?"

"Well, your first solution to the Jesse problem was to throw money at it," said Beca.

"I was trying to help. That's all. Your ex owes you and your son the time."

"No, not really."

"I don't understand."

"You wouldn't."

"What aren't you telling me, Beca?"

"You remember how I told you I had that big loan I just paid off?"

"Yes."

"Well, when my son and I had an apartment, I obviously didn't have a recording studio. If I had to work on a weekend, I had to do it in the office. I couldn't take my son with me, so I would have Jesse take him on weekends I worked. We tried to make things even, but I'm sure my ex has taken our son for more weekends than he was supposed to."

"Okay, but that doesn't mean he gets to just cancel on you at the last second whenever he wants."

"He took our kid with minimal notice on a lot of different weekends, so…"

"I don't think it's fair, though. I really don't."

"What I did wasn't fair to my ex, either."

"He's the one who ran up the debt!"

"Well, in the court's eyes, it was our debt."

"I still really think you should speak to an attorney."

"We're going to have to agree to disagree on that one."

"Fine. I promise, though, that I didn't go to TMZ or whoever else and leak your identity. And, it really hurts that you'd think for even a second that I would."

Beca felt like shit hearing those words. "Theo put the idea into my head."

"Do you believe me?"

"I do, but I might as well tell you that the label has an attorney coming this afternoon. I'm going to guess they'll want to speak to you."

"Of course," said Chloe.

Beca paced back and forth after ending the call, trying to think. She couldn't think who might have gone to the press. It was possible that Jesse or Chloe was lying, but she didn't think they were.

Beca was finally interrupted from her pacing and thinking when Amy knocked on the door.

"What?"

"I brought you some lunch. It's Taco Bell!"

"I'm not hungry."

Fat Amy walked in, dropping the bag on Beca's desk. "You have to eat something."

Beca's stomach had been in knots since she saw her picture online. She shook her head.

"I'm not leaving until you eat something."

Beca looked at Fat Amy, who was wearing her most determined expression. She rolled her eyes as she opened the bag. She really wasn't interested in eating anything, but she took a bite of a burrito. Amy continued to stand there until she'd finished it.

No sooner had Beca downed the last bite when she was sprinting toward her bathroom.

"Oh, damn, Beca," said Fat Amy as Beca continued to vomit the burrito and probably some of her breakfast. "I didn't realize-"

"It's okay," said Beca, wiping her mouth with a paper towel.

"Do you want to use some mouthwash? I have some in my desk drawer."

"Thanks. Wait, why do you have that?"

"In case one of my boy toys wants to get a smoothie after work," said Fat Amy.

"I'm sorry I asked."

After Beca had rinsed her mouth out, she sipped some ice water, put on her headphones, and played herself some relaxing music.

Fat Amy knocked on Beca's door just before 1:00 to tell her the attorney had arrived.

Beca couldn't believe her eyes as she entered the room. The attorney was Chloe's sister-in-law, Beth. She had her hair pulled back into a bun and was wearing a power suit, but it was definitely the same woman with whom she'd been bonding over parenthood just over a week ago.

"Beca, this is Bethany Beale," said Theo.

"Oh, we already know each other," said Beth.

"Yes," said Beca.

"Is that going to be a problem?" asked one of the big wigs.

"Not at all," said Beth. "I was under the impression that we were all on the same side. I can promise you that I have Beca's best interests at heart."

Beca was impressed to see that Beth's comment had satisfied the big wig, whose name she finally remembered was John.

"So, should we get started?" asked John.

"Absolutely," said Beth. "Okay, first off, I have to ask if there is anyone you have personally told about your identity as DJ Reggie that did not sign the NDA?"

"No," said Beca. "My father doesn't even know, much less my stepmother." Beca squelched the urge to call her the stepmonster.

"Does your mother know?" she asked.

"No. We're not close."

"Anyone at your son's daycare?"

"Definitely not. They know I work for the label, but they don't know what I do."

"Okay," said Beth. She turned to Theo, John, and a female executive. "Theo, John, and Gail, I need a list of current and former employees who know Beca's identity. I trust you will let me know of anyone who may have had a good reason to go to the press."

Theo tapped a few keys on his laptop before sending something to the printer. He used the phone in the room to ask Ashley to bring in the papers once they were done.

Theo took a highlighter to the papers. "Here are my best guesses," he said. "This is her personal assistant. She's great, but I could see her blabbing to someone, especially after a few drinks."

"I don't think Fat Amy would…" Beca trailed off. "Well, not on purpose…"

"Exactly," said Theo. He pointed out a few other names on the list, and Beth said they'd have their private investigators start with them.

"So," said Gail. "We were wondering what you'd like to do next. We could try and deny things, but the cat is out of the bag. You may want to consider formally revealing DJ Reggie to the world."

Beca felt her stomach drop. She'd really enjoyed working under the radar. "I don't know. I like people not knowing who I really am. And I don't know how this is going to affect my son."

"You can't hide forever," said Theo.

"I certainly wanted to try," said Beca.

"Beca, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk with you privately before I head back to the office," said Beth.

"This matter is the whole label's business!" exclaimed John.

"It's Beca who is being affected. DJ Reggie's label was never a secret. I promise we won't be discussing anything that will affect this case. I wanted to speak to her as one mother to another," said Beth.

"Go right ahead," said Gail.

Beca led Beth to her office. "I hope you don't mind that I'm working the case. When I saw you were the producer whose identity had been revealed, I insisted on taking charge."

"I'm actually relieved it's you. Theo is okay, but I barely even know John and Gail," said Beca. "What do I do? What do I tell my son?"

"What does he know about your job?"

"He knows that I make music and that sometimes I have to be in my home recording studio on weekends. Sometimes, I have to travel and he stays with his dad."

"Has he heard any of your music?"

"He has, but he doesn't know it's mine."

"You could start there," said Beth. "I know a lot of your stuff plays on the radio. You could tell him that you helped make the song he's hearing."

"But, what do I do if I reveal my identity? The people whispering over the weekend were unsettling enough. How is he going to handle people actually talking to me?"

"Tell him the truth. You make music that a lot of people like, and a lot of people are really excited about that."

"I don't want his face all over the place," said Beca.

"That's where a publicist comes in. They can help you with that. A lot of celebrities have children, and quite a few of them hide their faces. Have you ever seen Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell's kids' faces?"

"No."

"Exactly. They don't even post their kids' faces on their own social media."

"Right. I'll have to think about it."

"I'm pretty sure this will die down soon. I'm sure once some other celebrity gets arrested or the Kardashians do, well, anything, that they'll be the next big thing."

Beca laughed.

"I have to get back to the office. We'll get this straightened out, I promise."

"Thanks, Beth."

"It's my job."

After the meeting, Beca sat at her desk again, listening to the relaxing music. She still had plenty of thinking to do. Her decision whether or not to publicly reveal her identity had a lot to do with the next steps the label would be taking.

She looked at her phone and discovered a text had come in from Chloe during the meeting.

C: Can I come over tonight?
C: I'll bring dinner

Beca texted back.

B: That would rock

Chloe immediately responded

C: Chinese okay?
B: Yup
C: Your usual?
B: Please
C: What does Johnny eat?
B: His favorite is chicken lo mein with fried rice
C: Great
C: 6:30?
B: Perfect