Beca looked amazing, relaxed and confident in her tailored business suit and low heels. Chloe couldn't help but let her eyes roam over her as she opened her briefcase and pulled out a thick document to place it on the table.

Jesse, also present in the conference room, had a copy sitting in front of him and, if Chloe could explain the look on his face, it would be something like the cat that got the cream.

Beca was the picture of calm, her nerves only visible by the slight bouncing of her leg under the table as Joan brought them, and their prospective new client, a cart of coffee and pastries.

Then the CEO was on her feet, fingertips pressing lightly into the tabletop. "Rick," she smiled, voice velvet and almost purring. "I can't tell you how glad we are to have you here today. We've been looking forward to this meeting all week."

Beca and Jesse nodded their agreement.

"Well, Chloe," the man replied, tipping his Cattleman hat. "I've heard good things about Beale Advertising, so I wanted to come up here and see for myself what all the hoohaa was about."

The veteran smiled a little, the client's Texas accent reminding her of a friend she served with.

"Let me introduce you to my team," Chloe said. "This is Jesse Swanson, Chief Operations Officer and co-founder of the company, and this is Beca Mitchell. I brought Beca on about eight months ago to overhaul Beale's business, sales, marketing and operational plan. She's been working very closely with myself, and Jesse and I have to tell you, Rick, I couldn't be prouder of this new model and the work she's done." She looked at Beca and smiled adoringly, then schooled her face when Beca lifted an eyebrow at her. "So... I'm pleased and excited to tell you that you're the first prospective client to..."

Rick held up a hand and Chloe paused. "Let me be a straight shooter with you, Chloe," he said. "I'm already in talks with Franklin and they're offering a very good price on a complete advertising deal that'll meet our needs."

Beca had gotten to her feet and was slowly circling the table. Then she took a seat next to the Texan. "Rick," she said with a smile. "Franklin can't meet their deadlines. I can promise you that."

The man leaned back in his chair, a surprised look on his face as he shifted his hat back on his head. "And just how d'you know that, Young Lady?"

"Because I used to work for them," the veteran replied. "That and from the fact that I spoke to a recent client of theirs who told me that Franklin has been a week or more late with almost everything they've delivered and, in this day and age, Rick, with the speed things move, it ended up costing them more money overall in sales unrealized than they'd hoped."

Rick folded his arms and nodded slowly. "Is that so? Tell me more."

Beca smiled as Jesse got up and took his laptop to a table near a TV screen. "Beca's been working on this contract model for a while now and she's streamlined it into a template we're going to be using as a standard offering for each new contract… a starting point, if I may." He brought up a presentation of bullet points and streamed it to the TV. "Let's keep it simple. The items in this list are commonplace for an advertising contract but, what Beale will guarantee is..." He hit his down arrow to move to the next slide and display a new graphic. "We will deliver on time one hundred percent." He looked at Beca who got up and moved to stand next to him, pointing at the graphic labelled The Beale Method.

"What we've determined is," she said. "Franklin's model works off a "pile it on" methodology. In other words, new clients get added to the pile of work their teams are already trying to do. They don't allow for ANY expansion of staff or infrastructure. So, when the teams are overwhelmed, the deadlines slip, and the client ends up eating an unknown cost in sales loss."

The client nodded, pursing his lips thoughtfully. "You don't say," he murmured.

Beca nodded with him. "Beale's new model and contract fee will already include a precalculated expansion cost based on the work we're asked to do. So, if we determine we need new headcount or infrastructure to dedicate to the project, we pre-charge fifty percent of that to the client and bring those resources on board immediately at start of project. That way, we can guarantee on-budget, on-time delivery with no risk of unknown extra costs cropping up due to tardiness."

Chloe was just relaxing in her chair, sipping on a cup of coffee as she let her team make the pitch. Then, as the presentation wound down, she got up to join Jesse and Beca.

"Rick," she said. "I understand you're close to a deal with Franklin but please give us a chance to bid. I'm not going to promise we'll be cheaper but maybe... just maybe... we'll be better value in the long run. The facts we're putting forward about Franklin not allowing for extra resources is easily checked. Just look at their contract offering."

The client sighed and looked down at his hands. "I know this is probably going to sound all kinds of sexist," he replied. "But I never could refuse a pair of blue eyes like yours, Chloe Beale." Then his face sobered. "Seriously though, I don't know whether or not what you said about Franklin is true, but I'm curious to see what y'all come up with. You've got your chance to bid. I'll have my team email the specs of what we're looking for."

Chloe moved to the client and held out her hand. "Thank you, Rick. Beale Advertising appreciates the opportunity and we're looking forward to seeing your requirements."

Rick shook her hand firmly, then nodded at Beca and Jesse. "I have to run to another meeting across town but this sure was a pleasure."

"I'll have Joan show you out," Beca said, moving to the door to beckon to Chloe's assistant.

Joan immediately came to the door. "Mr. Steele," she said. "If you'll follow me."

"Yes, Ma'am!" the client exclaimed. "I'm right with you."

The man ambled out of the room and Joan winked as she closed the door behind him. When Chloe was sure they were out of earshot, she turned and looked at her staff. Then she went to Jesse to hug him hard. "We did it," she said softly.

"We couldn't have done it without Beca," Jesse replied, hugging her back. Then Chloe released him and turned to look at her girlfriend.

"Thank you, Beca," she said as she gently grasped the brunette's face between her palms and kissed her chastely. "I love you so much."

Beca smiled and eased back, leaving her hands on her lover's hips and glancing at Jesse self-consciously. "I love you too. Chlo... but what happened to the 'no office canoodling' rule?"

"She had to make an exception," Jesse sniggered. Then he made kissy noises at them.

Chloe rolled her eyes at his antics. "I did. You guys totally nailed it. I have a good feeling about this. Steele Ironworks would be a real win for us in Texas. A lot of business is word of mouth down there."

"And beating Franklin for once wouldn't be half bad either," Jesse grinned.

The women nodded and then Beca elbowed him gently. "You should go tell Joan the good news."

The COO's face lit up. "I absolutely should!" He kissed Chloe, then Beca on the cheek and practically ran out the door.

"That boy," the redhead laughed, shaking her head. "I haven't seen him this excited about someone in a long time. I'm glad she said yes when he asked her out. I think she'll be good for him."

"I don't think I ever asked you how you met Jesse," Beca said with a purse of her lips.

"Weird story actually," Chloe chuckled. "We met in college. We were in an a capella group together when I was a senior and he was a sophomore. After a very short-lived and failed relationship, we ended up really fast friends and then realized we worked exceptionally well together too so, when we graduated, we started Beale Advertising together. I used some of my trust fund to get us off the ground."

"Then why does he report to you? Because you put up the capital?" the brunette asked.

"Somewhat..." Chloe replied slowly. "But he doesn't really report to me. We make major decisions together. But... he wanted to be COO rather than CEO so we just settled into that. I guess he had his reasons."

"You like to be in charge though, Babe," the veteran teased gently.

"I do," Chloe chuckled. "I think it's because I move at such a fast pace all the time, I like being able to make decisions and move on."

"Speaking of moving on," Beca said. "Now that I've finished this initial project, what do you and Jesse want me to do?"

"Uh..." Chloe smiled a little sheepishly. "Can we shelve that question for the moment? Jesse and I are still discussing that."

"Sure," Beca smiled. "Your wish is my command." She took Chloe's hand and squeezed it, then headed back to her desk with a grin over her shoulder. "Got some stuff to wrap up. Seeya later."

Xx

Aubrey was going through a document when her phone rang, and she smiled as she picked up. "Beca, hey, nice to hear from you. How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks," the younger woman replied. "Hey, listen, um... I... I need to ask you something. It's a personal favor."

"Ok," Aubrey said gently. "What is it?"

"I need a lawyer and I wanted to see if you could help, or if you knew someone who might be able to."

The blonde smiled a little as she nodded to herself. "I guess the first question is... what do you need a lawyer for?"

"Now that I'm starting to get back on my feet and I have life insurance and a 401k and all that stuff, it kinda struck me that I should you know... um... get a will done and... and... medical power of attorney and stuff, you know?" Beca chuckled softly. "All the grownup stuff."

"Definitely a good idea," Aubrey agreed. "I'm a corporate lawyer, but I think I can help with that. It's pretty easy stuff to organize."

"Thanks, Aubrey," Beca replied. "I talked to Chloe about some of it and she's cool with being my medical proxy and stuff but there's one thing I didn't really tell her about because... we're only together nine months and I don't want her to feel like I expect anything from her in return." She swallowed. "I don't have much, but I want everything to go to Chloe if something happens to me."

The lawyer sat back in her chair. "Beca, are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I don't have any family other than her and... she's it for me, Aubrey. Chloe is the love of my life."

Beca's voice was so quiet and serious that it almost made Aubrey cry and she nodded silently for a moment. "I'm so glad you found each other," the blonde finally said.

"Me too," Beca whispered. She cleared her throat then. "So... what do we do next?"

Aubrey looked at her calendar. "Why don't you come over to my office at lunch tomorrow and we can talk about it in more detail. Then I can get the documents ready for you to come back and sign."

"Sounds good," the veteran replied.

"Hey, Beca?"

"Yeah?"

"I was just wondering if you get any veteran benefits? I could help with..."

"I don't want anything from them," the brunette replied tersely, and Aubrey knew immediately to back off.

"Ok, well, if you change your mind, let me know."

Beca's tone gentled. "I appreciate that, Aubrey."

"Sure. See you tomorrow, Becs."

Aubrey hung up and then called a colleague of hers. "Hey, Paulie. I have a friend who needs a will, living will, power of attorney, the whole shebang. Can you send me over the templates please?" She listened for a moment. "Nah, I can handle it. I remember the process." She listened again. "This afternoon, perfect. Thanks, Paulie. Talk later."

She hung up and smiled to herself as she got up to get some coffee. Chloe was the love of Beca's life... and she had the feeling that her best friend felt the same way about Beca.

Xx

"Chloe, Rick Steele."

"Good morning, Rick, what can I do for you?" Chloe said with a smile as she leaned back in her chair and switched her phone to her other ear.

"I wanted to address something with you," the prospective client said, tone even.

"Of course," the redhead replied. "How can I help?"

"Well, just so happens that the account manager for the Franklin bid remembers your girl, Beca. He has quite a story to tell about her. Apparently, she got herself fired by punching her boss in the nose. Do we have any concerns about this behavior?"

Chloe was stunned for a moment, but she managed to recover quickly. "No, Sir. I have no concerns at all. Beca has been nothing but professional and a huge asset to our team since joining Beale Advertising."

"How'd she lose the leg?"

Chloe was stunned all over again. "Rick, forgive me for being blunt, but I don't believe that's anyone's concern but Beca's."

"Cool yer britches," the Texan chuckled. "I just want to know if she's ex-military. If she is, I can put one and one together, Young Lady."

"Beca is a Marine Corps veteran," the executive said after a moment of indecision.

"Hoorah," Rick murmured softly. "I get it. Thanks for your time, Missy." He hung up the phone without giving Chloe time to reply and she just shook her head and hung up her own handset. Then she got up and ambled over to Beca's desk.

"Hey," the brunette said with a smile as she pulled her earbuds out.

"Becs." Chloe sat on the edge of her lover's desk and looked around to make sure they were alone. "Um... did you get fired from Franklin for punching your boss in the face?"

"Ah," Beca replied, a little smile on her lips. "That's what they're saying, huh?"

"You don't seem overly concerned about that," Chloe chuckled.

"No, because it's not true," the veteran replied. "Well, the getting fired part is true but the punching my boss in the face part wasn't." Chloe's eyebrows lifted silently. "He was six-foot-four, and I couldn't reach his face, so I nut punched him after I caught him making a pass at a teenage intern. Poor kid was only seventeen and he put his hand up her skirt when she was bent over a printer."

Chloe's mouth dropped open in horror. "No! Seriously?"

Beca nodded. "Yeah, best decision I ever made, honestly. He was a prick and he hated me anyway because I turned him down a time or two myself."

"Jesus," Chloe muttered shaking her head.

"There are a lot of misogynistic assholes in the good old boys' clubs of the advertising industry. It's one of the reasons why I love working at Beale so much. There's none of that bullshit here." Beca paused and tilted her head. "Is... is there a problem? I mean... did someone say something?"

"Rick Steele called. Apparently, someone at Franklin remembered you and told him."

"Shit," Beca sighed. "So, it IS a problem?"

"Actually no," Chloe chuckled. "He had a few questions that I answered, and he seemed happy. Don't worry about it. BUT..." She poked her girlfriend teasingly. "Is there anything else I should know about, from a firing perspective?"

Beca's face dropped. "I'm not hiding anything from you, Chloe, I swear."

"I know," the older woman replied softly. "And I know I've never asked. If you say there's nothing else to know, then I trust you."

"There's nothing else to know," the veteran replied seriously.

"Cool." The redhead slipped off the desk and squeezed her girlfriend's shoulder. "I dunno about you but I could do with some lunch. Free?"

"I'm going to see Aubrey about the legal stuff," Beca said as she slid her MacBook into her briefcase. "I told Jesse I'd finish up the day at home."

"Right," the redhead replied, snapping her fingers. "Sorry, I forgot. I'll see you at home this evening." She leaned in automatically to kiss her girlfriend, but Beca just smiled and patted her cheek.

Chloe sighed and closed her eyes. "Sometimes I hate the no office canoodling rule," she muttered. Then she watched Beca's ass as it walked away in tight pants. "But I ain't angry about THAT," she grinned.

Xx

"Told you I don't have much," Beca said quietly as Aubrey made a list on a legal pad. It was indeed a pretty short list.

"Becs," the lawyer replied with an affectionate smile. "It's not the amount that matters. It's the thought. You know Chloe doesn't need the money. She already has enough for five comfortable lifetimes that she never touches. Knowing you love her so much you want to leave her everything, would mean SO much more to her than any trust fund."

The veteran nodded. "I know it would but... my leaving her a few thousand dollars doesn't... it could never take care of her if something happened to me." She looked down. "I want to... ugh... why is this so hard?"

"Just say it, Beca," Aubrey said in her no-nonsense lawyer tone.

"I want her to be my wife but it's too soon and she probably wouldn't say yes and it's too scary to ask her. I mean, I could ask her someday but why would she marry me? I'm... I'm... nothing... I..." She trailed off and Aubrey chuckled softly.

"Beca," she said. "How can you be nothing when you're everything to Chloe? You're being ridiculous and a little overdramatic, don't you think?"

Dark blue eyes rolled. "Gee, thanks, Aubrey."

"Sometimes we need to hear the truth. Beca, yes, it's too early to ask Chloe to marry you but only because you need to take the time to find out who YOU are before you take that step."

Beca sighed and nodded her agreement. "Yeah."

"There's no doubt that Chloe loves you, but you need to know who Beca is on her own before you become Beca and Chloe. You need to be able to believe that you ARE someone before you can fully be Chloe's person." Tears spilled down Beca's cheeks and Aubrey leaned over to touch her hand. "I think you're incredible, Beca, and I'll be so happy when you realize that you are, for yourself."

The veteran nodded again, wiping at her eyes. "I'm working on it. I made an appointment with a therapist for this week. I was going to tell Chloe tonight."

The lawyer smiled and squeezed Beca's hand. "Can I just make one more suggestion and it's ok if you want to tell me to mind my own business?"

"Sure," Beca replied. "I value your opinion."

"Be open and honest with Chloe and let her support you emotionally when you're working through things. All she wants is to be there for you. I'm not saying don't take time for yourself when you need it... but tell her. Don't just disappear and leave her guessing. Jackie did that to her and it made her feel so alone."

Beca totally got it and she nodded firmly. "It's hard for me to open up sometimes but I promise I'll try."

"That's all I ask," the blonde replied. "Now get your butt home. I'll call you when the docs are prepared and ready for your signature."

"Thanks, Aubrey," the brunette replied. "I really appreciate everything and bill me whatever's appropriate."

"Don't worry about that," the lawyer replied with a smile. "It's on me."

Xx

Beca was standing at the stove when a pair of warm arms encircled her waist, and gentle teeth nibbled at her neck. "Hi, Babe," Chloe said softly.

"I thought you'd never get here," Beca replied. She turned the heat off under the pot she was stirring, then leaned back into her girlfriend, sighing softly.

"Miss me?" the redhead asked in a cutesy voice.

"You have no idea." The brunette turned in Chloe's arms and wrapped her arms loosely around her neck. "I love you."

"I love you too," the redhead whispered in return. Their lips met and countless moments later, Chloe's butt was pressed to the island counter.

"I want you," Beca murmured against the redhead's kiss swollen lips. "Please... can I..."

"Bed," Chloe rasped. "Now."

The brunette grinned as her girlfriend kissed her again, ushering them blindly toward the bedroom and tumbling them both onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.

"I'm sorry," Beca said quickly as her prosthetic hit Chloe's knee and forced a little yelp of pain out of her, but the redhead just laughed and went back for more kisses, lacing her fingers into her lover's hair and tugging a little as the veteran freed her residual limb.

"No pain, no gain," Chloe grinned, tugging a little harder and pushing her thigh between Beca's making her gasp as arousal crashed over her.

"Jesus, Chlo..."

"Mmm..."

Shirts and bras and pants and underwear were discarded onto the floor next to the bed and then Beca was inside Chloe, loving her moans of pleasure as she teased her slowly and deftly. She put her mouth close to the redhead's ear and spoke softly to her. "I've never loved anyone the way I love you," she said. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You're amazing, Chloe; so smart and kind and brilliant and so fucking beautiful, you wreck me."

Chloe gasped and her hips lifted. "Beca..." she groaned.

The brunette curled her fingers, dragging them torturously slowly along Chloe's walls inside as she worked her thumb gently against her clit. "I never thought I'd find the love of my life; never thought it would be someone so perfect. You're everything I've ever wanted in a woman and being inside you like this, making love with you, is a privilege, Chloe."

"Beca," the redhead whimpered. "Oh my God." Her right hand curled around Beca's neck, holding her against her ear as her left hand pressed between her lover's shoulder blades. "Please..." Her body was vibrating, bowing upward, teetering right on the edge of orgasm. "Please," she begged, hazily wondering at how quickly Beca had pushed her to the edge.

"You're SO fucking sexy, Chloe..." Beca growled huskily, biting at her earlobe. "Now... come for me." And with that, she roughly flicked her thumb against Chloe's clit sending her right over the edge with a cry of pleasure at a volume she'd never heard from her lover before. Beca winced a little as the redhead's nails left red welts down her back but if she were being honest, it just turned her on more and she groaned into Chloe's ear. "You're so amazing. I love you so much."

Chloe's whole body was still shaking as her muscles began to unlock and her grip on Beca began to ease. "Jesus, Baby," she whimpered as the brunette eased out of her and they turned onto their sides, going chest to chest. "I've never... that was... oh my God." She swallowed, just gazing at her lover for a long span of breaths. Then her fingertips pressed delicately against Beca's face as she looked right into her soul. "I heard you," she said. "And you're the love of my life too."

"Chloe," the brunette choked out in surprise. "You don't have to..."

"It's the truth," the redhead interrupted quickly. "I think I've loved you since the day I found you in Central Park busking and then being a prickly bitch to me."

"You mean, the day you said 'come to my apartment or don't come. I don't care'?" Beca grinned. "And you're calling ME a prickly bitch?"

Chloe nodded, her smile a little sheepish. "The day I prayed you'd chose to come over."

"There was never a choice for me," Beca murmured. "I was already yours."

"You were? After like a couple of days?"

"I tried to fight it for weeks afterwards but, yeah."

"Me too. I didn't think you felt anything for me."

"I felt EVERYTHING for you, Baby. That's what was so terrifying. I was afraid of opening my heart again but I'm SO glad I did."

"Me too," Chloe whispered.

They lay quietly together for a while, just touching and kissing lovingly until it was no longer enough and then it was Beca screaming Chloe's name as the redhead feasted between her thighs.

Later, after dinner in bed, Beca cuddled Chloe close and kissed her forehead. "I made an appointment with a therapist later in the week. I want to work on me, work on my PTSD, so I can be a good partner to you."

"You're already a great partner to me," the redhead smiled. "But I'm glad you're doing this, Becs. I just want you to be happy."

"I don't remember the last time I was this happy," the veteran nodded. "But I think I need to deal with the past before I can fully look to the future and I'm going to need your help and support, Chlo."

Chloe nodded. "I got you, Baby. Always."

And Beca just held her closer because honestly, she never wanted to let her go.