Reminder that I've added flashbacks in italic font, separated by a break. Thanks for all the reviews so far, I really appreciate them!

The trip to Copenhagen is long. Like, twelve-hours-total-flying-plus-a-five-hour-layover-in-Heathrow long.

Normally, Chloe wouldn't mind. It should be fine. They've traveled for Bellas performances before, and Chloe's even flown internationally before, so in theory, it should be fine. She's brought a book, has her headphones and phone for music, and even has a sleep mask to cover her eyes.

And yet. There is one miniscule detail keeping the flight and travel from being not fine.

That little detail – though she'd never let anyone call her little – is sitting in her usual spot next to Chloe. Beca keeps twisting and fidgeting in her seat, trying to get comfortable enough to sleep, and it's distracting Chloe and making her feel antsy.

Still, Chloe feels pretty lucky to even be sitting by Beca; she hasn't missed how weird Beca has been acting lately. She's been withdrawing more and more, and with how she acted about the drive to the graduation ceremony, Chloe can't help but wonder: if they hadn't booked tickets and seats months ago, would Beca have still elected to sit by her?

It's confusing and actually kind of painful. She'd thought that the retreat had fixed everything, but apparently, it hadn't. And, given Beca's plans for leaving to LA in only a couple more days, Chloe's not sure they have the time to fix anything at all.

Beca again fidgets in her seat, groaning a little in the back of her throat in annoyance. Chloe has to hold back an annoyed sound of her own. If Beca would just lean her head on Chloe's shoulder and pass out like she normally does, they could both be comfortable and fall asleep for the duration of this stupidly long plane ride over the Atlantic.

But no.

Instead, for some unknown reason, Beca is stubbornly refusing to find the obvious solution. Rather, she seems to prefer to contort her body in seemingly any configuration other than leaning against Chloe, huffing loudly when she becomes uncomfortable.

Finally, after over an hour of this incessant, irritated huffing coming from the seat next to her, Chloe looks over pointedly.

"Bec, you could just… you know, lean on me."

Beca glances at her uncomfortably but doesn't move; Chloe clicks her tongue and leans forward to repeat herself – maybe Beca hadn't heard her the first time – but the second her upper body crosses over the armrest dividing them, Beca scrabbles at her own seatbelt, releasing it with a click and jumping up from her seat.

Chloe stares up at her in shock. Across the aisle, Flo (with an eye mask of her own) twitches in her sleep and Emily blinks over at them with bleary concern.

A pale blush rises into Beca's cheeks, coloring them a light pink. Eyes darting around the cabin, she stammers, "Um, uh, I – bathroom."

"Oh," Chloe blinks, not entirely sure she believes that. "Are you –"

But before she can finish the "okay?" Beca's gone, headed down the aisle to the bathroom at top speed.

Just like that, Chloe's left alone with only the aching understanding that Beca doesn't want to touch her anymore.

Beca is always on the edge of things. Chloe wonders if she even realizes what she's doing, or if she just naturally migrates to the outside margins of life.

Chloe's seen her do it from the instant she first laid eyes on the "alt-girl." She watched Beca dodge around people at the Activities Fair, not letting anyone even come close to touching her or bumping into her. During Bella initiation, Beca had stood on the edge of the group, and then later remained on the outskirts of the action at the Hood Night party.

Beca lives life by sitting on the outside and looking in. Chloe isn't sure if it's some kind of defense mechanism, if Beca's just really introverted, or if Beca even knows that she's doing it. No matter the cause behind it, Chloe feels sad that someone would choose to live their lives without the comfort of another's touch. It makes Chloe wonder how long it's been since Beca allowed someone to touch or hug her.

It's that thought that makes Chloe reach out and pull her close at Hood Night. Well, that, and the large amount of alcohol she's already consumed. It doesn't hurt that she's more than a little attracted to Beca, either.

Beca responds favorably enough to that; at least, she doesn't slap Chloe or shove her away. In fact, it kind of makes Chloe think she's broken through that hard exterior. But then, the next day at her first Bellas rehearsal, Beca sits in the back corner of the group, and Chloe realizes it's going to be harder to pull Beca in from the edges than she'd thought.

The first time she can remember Beca ever wanting to be in the middle of the group is after the final notes of "No Diggity" fade from the empty pool. It's also the first time she thinks she's really seen Beca smile – a real smile, not the tight, sarcastic, "fuck you" one she throws at Aubrey.

After the riff-off, as the other girls follow Aubrey from the pool, Chloe drags Beca aside and pulls her into a hug, wrapping her arms around Beca's waist securely and hooking her chin over Beca's shoulder. Beca gasps in surprise and stiffens to a board in Chloe's arms. Chloe holds her even more tightly, trying to convey as much care as she can. When Beca still doesn't hug her back, Chloe wonders if she should maybe back off before she's brought up on assault charges. But then, Beca's body relaxes slowly and arms rise to tentatively pat her back. By the way Beca starts to lean into the touch with a soft, almost silent exhale, Chloe gets her answer: it's been a long time since Beca has been hugged by anyone.

Chloe immediately vows to never again let Beca go so long without touch.

Worries about Beca's sudden refusal of physical contact plague Chloe from the moment their plane touches ground in Copenhagen all the way until they arrive at the World's stage. From there, Chloe's every other thought is driven out by DSM and how stupidly, annoyingly good they are. Their choreography is perfectly coordinated, their music artfully arranged, and their voices in total harmony. It's so annoying.

Chloe knows their set is better (not just any a cappella group can manage to put more than forty people on a stage, but the Barden Bellas sure can) and she trusts in Beca's arrangement completely, so there's no real question in her mind about who is going to win. So, really, DSM being very good at what they do is not the annoying part.

No, the annoying part is how Beca is obviously watching Kommissar during the entire DSM performance. She's not being subtle about it, either. Chloe doesn't know what Beca's problem is, or why she's been harboring this weird year-long fixation on Kommissar, but it would be great if Beca could get over that about now, thanks.

And it really, really doesn't help that Kommissar seems to enjoy every second of it.

An enjoyment that is currently on full display as DSM finishes their set and Kommissar turns to smile directly at Beca, completely ignoring the thousands of people chanting for them in the audience.

Chloe swears she sees Beca's throat bob up and down.

It's annoying. And it's pissing her off.

Before she can smack Beca upside the head to get her to stop drooling, however, DSM makes their way off the stage. Kommissar, predictably, makes a beeline directly for Beca, dabbing nonexistent sweat from her neck.

"Hear that?" Kommissar purrs, addressing Beca and Beca alone. "They chant for us."

"Yeah, well –" Chloe starts, only to cut off abruptly when Kommissar reaches to rest her hand on Beca's jaw.

"Now, don't cry too hard when you lose, alright?" Kommissar says as if Chloe isn't even there. "Makes eyes puffy," she emphasizes her point by stroking her thumb across Beca's cheek.

Beca doesn't pull away.

(That stings more than it should.)

"Your hands are so soft," Beca whispers reverently.

The sudden rush of jealousy blindsides Chloe and snatches the air from her lungs; she has to fight to school her expression and squash her initial reaction, which is to slap the smug look from Kommissar's face and demand that Beca pay attention to her instead. She knows how irrational it all is – it's not like Beca is, was, or ever will be hers – but Beca's response to Kommissar's touch twists knots into Chloe's insides.

The intensity of her own anger is such that she loses track of things for a few seconds. By the time Chloe recovers enough to catch up, Kommissar has pulled back from Beca.

"Everything must come to an end, even the Bellas," says Kommissar imperiously. And now Chloe's back to being totally pissed off because how dare she speak to them like that? Doesn't Kommissar realize who she's talking to?

It's only made worse when, as DSM files away, Beca lunges forward to yell after them, "Ha! Your sweat smells like cinnamon!"

Jesus Christ.

"Damn it!" Beca groans, turning back to the Bellas. At least she realizes how she sounds.

She's not the only one.

"Um, Beca, I don't know how to tell you this," Amy begins, "but that was very… homosexual."

Beca freezes, her expression shutting down.

"Yeah, you trying to make Chloe jealous?" Cynthia Rose calls.

Chloe's stomach lurches. Beca's refusing to look at her, though her cheeks are turning pink.

"She's hot, I don't blame you," adds Stacie, with an apologetic half-smile at Chloe.

"No, nothing will interrupt Bhloe," Amy protests loudly, though she was the one to start everything.

Beca stands mutely, her eyes widening with every word said. The sight makes Chloe desperate to end this line of conversation before Beca actually implodes or something.

"Okay, that's enough," she says loudly, drawing everyone's attention to herself. "Let's focus on the set. Everyone feel good?" she stares down the Bellas, making purposeful eye contact with each one until they nod. Beca's the last in line, and her eyes skitter away from Chloe's before finally meeting them resolutely. She nods.

"Great," Chloe continues firmly. "So let's go out there, and let's aca-rock this."

"Right," Beca adds, apparently finding her voice. "We've got this. We're going to top Worlds."

Amy clears her throat loudly. Cynthia Rose smirks.

Chloe glares at them.

Amy seems to wilt a little before standing up straighter. "Let's crush it!" she says loudly, throwing her arm forward.

The rest of the Bellas follow suit, stacking their hands on top of each other's in the middle of the circle. Like always, Beca's and Chloe's hands are on top of the pile; Beca's hand twitches when Chloe places hers over it.

But then the announcer calls for the Barden Bellas and Chloe forgets about everything except winning Worlds.

She trusts Beca's arrangement completely. Of course they'll win.

They win.

After, Beca doesn't throw herself into Chloe's arms like she normally does. Instead, she initiates an impromptu group hug. It's nice, but not the same.

Chloe tries not to let it bother her.

(She fails.)

Chloe stands at the drink table haphazardly constructed in the middle of the Worlds field in front of the stage. She stares down at it, not quite sure what she should go for next: a vodka cranberry, or a Malibu and pineapple.

"Hurry up," Stacie moans from behind her in the line. "I want to go meet those hot Canadians."

"I'm thinking," insists Chloe. She draws her lower lip between her teeth, eyes flicking over the available bottles. She's just reached a decision and is reaching for the pineapple juice when a loud, "Becaw!" surprises her and makes her jump.

Her attention flies upward to see Jesse wading through the crowd, head swiveling, obviously in search of Beca. Chloe's stomach sours, and suddenly, she's not sure she wants anything to drink. She supposes she could help him; she happens to know that Beca is at the bathrooms, but she doesn't really feel the need to tell Jesse that. He can keep searching.

"Oh my god you're taking too long," Stacie nudges her aside, reaching for the rum.

"Sorry," Chloe mutters. "I'm not thirsty anymore, anyway."

Stacie nods silently as she makes her drink, but when she turns to leave the table with her rum and coke in hand, Chloe doesn't miss the slight softening of sympathy around her eyes. They've never really talked about it, but they don't have to. Stacie's more observant than people give her credit for.

Stacie is replaced by a happily swaying Aubrey an instant later. She spills a fair amount of her drink – a vodka cranberry of her own – on the ground, and Chloe has to reach out and steady her.

"Maybe that's enough for now," she laughs, steering Aubrey to a spot off to the side away from the drink table.

Aubrey merely smiles at her dopily. "You know, I never thought something like this would happen."

"What? Us being the best in the world?"

Aubrey's eyes widen. "God, no, not that!" she waves a hand. "I already knew the Bellas would be the best."

Chloe smiles a little at that, because of course Aubrey would just assume the Bellas are the best a cappella group in the world. Which, she supposes, they kind of are now.

Over Aubrey's shoulder, Chloe sees Beca emerge from the crowd to wave down Jesse. He spots her and smiles so widely that it's impressive his face doesn't split in half. They start to move to each other, dodging around drunken international a cappella singers.

"No," Aubrey continues, slurring slightly. "I meant I never thought Beca would care enough about the Bellas to do something like that. To come clean, swallow her pride, and follow through like this."

Behind Aubrey, Jesse and Beca reach each other; Jesse sweeps Beca into his arms, both of them laughing. It makes Chloe's chest hurt and she forces herself to look back at Aubrey.

"Yeah, well, we should know by now that Beca cares more than she lets on," Chloe shrugs. "About a lot of things, apparently," she adds because only a few feet away, Beca's laughing in the arms of the boyfriend she barely spent any time with all year.

She hears the bitterness in her own voice; it makes Aubrey turn to look at where Jesse has his arms looped around Beca's shoulders as they talk to each other quietly.

Beca doesn't seem to have a problem with Jesse touching her.

Why would she, though? She and Jesse have been together for three years; he's touched Beca in ways that Chloe never will. That's all this is, Chloe realizes with a dull pang to her chest.

Beca's finally remembered that she's dating Jesse and set to move to LA with him in less than a week, and so she's pulling away and shutting down. It's what Beca does when she's faced with emotional loss; she protects herself. This time, Beca's protecting herself by not letting Chloe touch her anymore.

Aubrey turns back to Chloe with a quiet hum that might be either indifference or disappointment. "Apparently the hobbit does care." She hesitates, then adds softly, "Chloe, are you okay?"

It throws Chloe for a second; she'd half-forgotten how direct Aubrey is. "I – yeah, we just won Worlds!" she enthuses. "I'm great!" she adds slightly manically, throwing Aubrey the brightest smile she can muster.

By the way Aubrey's eyebrows lift and her lips purse, she knows she hadn't fooled her in the least. Aubrey twists, sparing one more glance over her shoulder to where Beca's starting to fidget under Jesse's arms, then looks back at Chloe. Her eyes soften unbearably, and Chloe already knows what she's going to say.

"Chloe. I'm really, really sorry that nothing ever –"

"You know, I've gotta go, sorry Bree. There's, uh, there's something…" Chloe looks around, desperate to make some kind of excuse to get away, and even though she's really trying to not look at Beca, her eyes are naturally drawn there. Beca's shrugging away from Jesse's embrace, very obviously tired of his clingy tendencies, and yet he still keeps trying to draw her into another hug.

Perhaps irrationally, Chloe's mind launches into overdrive at the uncomfortable look on Beca's face, even though she knows Jesse would never do anything to hurt Beca. Still, Beca appears to be looking for some kind of escape, so Chloe impulsively calls out, "Hey, Bec, can you come here for a sec?"

Beca's face snaps around to look at her, and for a moment she looks happy, maybe even relieved. She turns to Jesse and says something Chloe can't hear, and then she turns and walks toward Chloe and Aubrey. As she draws nearer, though, her expression shifts to become more guarded. Behind her, Jesse stares at Chloe as if she'd kicked his puppy.

"Be careful," Aubrey warns, too quietly for Beca to hear.

Chloe nods once, her lips drawn into a tight smile, and then Beca's standing right there.

"Beca," Aubrey says formally.

"Aubrey," Beca mimics, equally stone-faced.

Silence.

Chloe has to fight to keep the grin off her face.

Aubrey buckles first with a small smile. "You did really well."

"I know," Beca deadpans back. Then, she smiles. "Thanks for coming, though, Cap. Couldn't have done it without you."

Aubrey shrugs. "Of course."

A huge crash and several screams sound out from a large group of people nearest the stage. Chloe, Beca, and Aubrey all jump, startled, and look toward the source of the sound; craning her neck, Chloe sees that Amy is attempting to hoist herself back onto the Worlds stage with no less than seven bottles of liquor in hand.

"Christ," Beca mutters.

Aubrey clears her throat. "If you'll excuse me," she says, "I have to go stop Amy from doing… whatever that is."

"Mmm," Chloe agrees, now watching Amy perform a sort of revised mermaid dance involving balancing three of the seven bottles of liquor on her hip.

With one last overly formal nod to Beca, Aubrey bustles away with remarkable speed for someone recently cut off from booze.

Beca stares after her in amusement, until she seems to realize suddenly that she's alone with Chloe. Her expression closes, suddenly becoming the neutral mask Chloe hasn't seen since Beca's freshman year. She shuffles her feet on the ground, looking down and around as if the grass under their feet is more interesting than conversation with Chloe would be.

For the first time in a long time, Chloe doesn't know what to say to her. All she can think about is the looming deadline – Beca, leaving – in only about a week. It seems much closer this side of Worlds, and panic rises in Chloe's chest at the realization, filling up the space in her lungs and forcing words from her mouth.

"So… Jesse's here," she manages after several seconds of silence, hearing the strain in her own voice.

"Wh – oh, yeah," Beca huffs, crossing her arms and running her tongue over her front teeth.

Another beat.

"Did you know he was coming?"

Beca shrugs, glancing up at her. "Uh, not really. He didn't – well, we haven't really been – it's, I mean, uh, it was a – kind of a surprise."

Chloe stares.

"Oh."

Beca nods awkwardly and examines the ground further.

Chloe's mind races, flooding with ideas she doesn't want to let herself hope for, mingled with the familiar dampening guilt because what the hell kind of best friend is she when what she wants more than anything is for Beca to tell her that she and Jesse are fighting, that she's not going to go to LA with him, that instead she's going to stay in the Bella house with the rest of them until August.

It's Chloe's wildest dream. She's been waiting for this to happen for three years but she tries to dampen down her excitement because clearly Beca's hurting over something and yet here she is, getting all excited about what it might mean, and dear God what's wrong with her that she wants her best friend's long-term relationship to crash and burn? But then Beca's hunching her shoulders, drawing into herself, and her eyes dart around under her furrowed brow and suddenly Chloe knows what she's going to say before she says it.

"Bec, are –"

"I'm going to break up with him."