Hi everyone! So FFN was down sometime last week, which (of course) was also the exact same time I decided to update and post chapter 8. It should be okay now, I hope? It's been very frustrating but finally here it is. Enjoy!:)

CHAPTER 8

Chloe was disoriented when she woke up the next morning with the sun shining bright through her windows. The last thing she remembers was Beca holding her to sleep. Instinctively, she reached for the other side of the bed but it was cold and empty. She must've been really tired cause she didn't even feel Beca leave. She can't help but wonder if Beca stayed over or just waited for her to fall asleep before leaving.

"It doesn't even matter." Chloe mutters to herself stretching a few more times.

Then she reached for her phone to check the time and was happy to see among other things that Beca left a message. She saw her reminders of a couple of things she needed to attend to today and a few messages from her dads; they had a scheduled catch up call a little before lunch.

Chloe rubbed her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a minute before willing herself to get up. She was on her way down when she received an incoming call from the hospital.

"Hello yes this is Doctor Beale."

Chloe tucked her phone in between her ear and shoulder as she refilled the kettle to make herself coffee. She's not used to eating breakfast so coffee will do.

"Yeah. That sounds good to me. Do you mind holding for a minute? I'll just double check my calendar to make sure there are no conflicts."

She was going through her calendar on her phone when something shiny sitting on a note on the counter catches her eye. She slowly tilts her head squinting at the shiny silver metal… key?

She doesn't take her eyes away from it as she spoke "Thanks for holding. Yes that is okay for me. Thanks for calling to let me know."

She ended the call and reached for the note Beca left her.

I figured you should have a spare key to my place as well. You know the rules don't lose it. Have a great day at work.


Beca arrived just in time for work. It was hard to get out of bed that morning but she had to leave extra early to go home first and get ready. She did leave Chloe a text message and a note. How she wished she could see the look on Chloe's face when she finds the spare key she left her with.

She was cooped up in her office most of the morning reviewing a couple of contracts when her office phone rang. She looked up and saw it was from reception.

She put it on loudspeaker without looking up from the documents. "Yes Katie?"

"Miss Mitchell I have James Corden on the phone for you." Beca suddenly looked up to the phone and dropped her pen. She could tell Katie was trying so hard to keep her cool and stay professional. "I know you're busy but. Should I put him through or take a message?"

Beca chuckled at that. "Put him through please."

James was a good friend of Beca's. They met years ago when she won the Grammys and James was the one hosting it that year. But with that said, she still wasn't expecting his call or to be hearing from him this morning.

"Hi this is Beca. Who's this please?" Beca was biting her lips.

"Hello Rebeca, James here."

"James Franco?"

"Very funny." This was a running joke between them.

"James McAvoy?"

"Not that one." He was playing along now as he always does.

"James Arthur? James Bay?" Beca was already laughing unable to stop herself anymore.

James laughed with her. "Alright stop it. You've had your laugh. How have you been my friend?"

"I have been very well my darling. And you?"

"I could be better. Now you're probably wondering why I'm calling. Well you have been uncharacteristically, may I add, been all over my timeline. And that song you released not too long ago, I loved it. It's been stuck in my head."

Beca could tell where this was going. "What do you want James? Just spit it out."

"You. This Friday. Live on late late, please? And maybe before our little chat, we can have a little bit of Everglow from you?"

"You want me to perform?"

"Yes please. Among other things."

"Today is Friday so do you mean next week's Friday? Isn't that a little too soon?"

"Is that a yes? We're going to make room for whenever suits you. Do you need two more weeks? I can give you the Friday after. And I trust you're not appearing in another late night show are you?"

"No of course not before I go on yours. And yeah we'd appreciate the two weeks." Beca suddenly had a light bulb moment. "But how about this I come to your show in one condition. You know Emilia right? We've been working on her album and we're looking to release it some time this year. We're also releasing a brand new single of hers this weekend. Let her perform that live and you interview us together. How about that?"

"Can't the both of you perform?"

"I really want her music to be the headline. I don't want to take any of that away from her."

James considered it for a second. Beca was in demand after all whether she admits it or not and he didn't really want to pass up this opportunity. He also wanted to support Beca's projects. "Okay deal we can do that. But can I ask about your new old friend then? I swear just one or two."

"I already know you're going to and I really wanna see you try to get some answers out of me."

"Sorted. Challenge accepted. I will see you next Friday, Mitchell."

"Great I look forward to it. Oh and coordinate with Miss Conrad everything you need for promotion and teasers."

"I will have my team ring her. I can't wait to see you. Ta."

"You too James. Bye."

When she was sure the call has ended, she let out the breath she knew she was holding. She'll never admit it to James cause she loved their banter but she'll never get used to being invited to late night shows.

"Oh my god that just fuckin' happened."

Beca calls Emilia and the rest of the team for an emergency meeting right away. They had less than two weeks to prepare for this appearance and every second counts.

Chloe was playing with the spare key Beca left her with. She was in the lounge with her laptop ready on the coffee table waiting for her parents to call her.

She put her feet up and leaned back. Chloe had Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and it had been a while since she's updated any of them. So she grabbed her phone and decided to check on her socials. She saw she had hundreds of requests on Instagram and hundreds of new followers on Twitter, which was currently on public.

Chloe was in the middle of trying to figure out how to make her profile private but then decided it's a little too late now so she left her twitter on public. That's when she came across a trending topic and tapped.

A picture of her and Beca during their younger years popped up on her phone. It was taken before they even started to actually date.

"Come on Chlo, don't be such a wuss. Just kiss me already." Beca said to her tapping herself on the cheek.

"This whole thing's stupid. Why are we even playing flip cup with these guys?" Chloe huffed.

One Friday, their neighbor, Tina, casually invited them to come over to her apartment to celebrate with her friends the end of their O-Week. Chloe and Beca figured it could be fun and besides if it sucked and they hated it, they literally lived next door.

"What's the problem? It's just a dare." Beca was trying to not make a big deal out of this.

"You're enjoying this." Chloe squinted her eyes at Beca.

"Of course I am. And I can see that you're not wow, way to break it to me gently."

"It's not that. I just really really hate losing."

Beca smirked. "I wouldn't classify this as losing."

"Oh shut up."

"Just do it already so we can play some more. Look." Beca pointed at the phones ready to take their pictures in front of them. "They're waiting."

"Ugh I swear sometimes." Chloe rolled her eyes but proceeded to put an arm over Beca's shoulders, closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss Beca on the cheek.

"See that wasn't so hard now was it?" Beca teased when Chloe pulled back. She's not entirely sure how her arm ended up wrapped around Chloe's waist.

"Oh shut up." Chloe rolled her eyes at her again.

"That was a stupid dare by the way." Chloe said to their newly found friends on the other side of the table as they handed their phones back to them. "Alright, no more joking around, we're just a little bit rusty. Let's play again. Best of three this time!" She said biting her lips and rubbing her palms together.

Chloe loved this picture of them two. It was one of her favourites; she didn't think she'd see it again. Part of the dare was to post it on both their Instagram accounts. Unfortunately Chloe was a firm believer of out of sight out of mind and deleted all of their pictures together in all of her accounts when they broke up.

Chloe scrolled through and saw more pictures. "Oh my god." She didn't know what to feel exactly but she had a smile on her face. The whole thing was like walking down memory lane.

It was the sound of her laptop that made her look up from her phone again. It was her dads calling.

"There she is. We've been waiting for you to pick up. It's so good to see you honey."

"Hi guys. I miss you two."

"And we miss you. But we've gotta say we've been seeing a lot of you lately."

"Oh god." Chloe tried to hide her blush. Her parents were not exactly the subtle type.

"Now we have been following the tabloids."

"Getting straight into it are we?" Chloe crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at her parents.

"I hate to say I told you so Jim, but I told you so. Do you believe me now?" Chloe's dad James said turning to her other dad.

"Do you know how much I hate it when your dad's right?" Jim says to Chloe through the screen.

"What are you two on about?"

"You and Beca being back together."

"How – I uh. When –" Chloe couldn't even deny it. All she could do was shake her head. "How do you guys do that? Surely you can't tell that by just looking at me. We're barely five minutes in!"

"You're our Chloe. We know you best. Now we're not her biggest fans at the moment but we trust you. So if you've given her a second chance, who are we to question it."

"Thanks dad. I appreciate that I guess."

"Why do you sound so unsure? Come on Chlobear, we're all adults here."

Chloe nodded slowly. "Uhuh."

"But before anything else, we're planning to visit."

"Really? When? Wait I'm not sure what to feel about this, you find out about me and Beca and you decide to visit me. That's not suspicious at all. I've been here for almost a year. You've never visited me before."

"We swear it's just a coincidence. Besides if we don't visit you now, we might not see you 'til Christmas. It's been too long."

"It's barely August dad but okay. Let me know of the details. So I can work around your schedule."

One thing Chloe knows for sure is that there are no such things as 'just a coincidence' when it came to her parents.


At the end of their meeting, everyone left Beca's office one by one but Stacie. She stayed behind and sat across from Beca waiting for them to be alone.

"What is it?" Beca asked as soon as they were alone.

"Have you seen these?" Stacie hands her phone out to Beca and waited for her reaction. Beca's breath hitched when she saw them.

From the time Chloe had been 'outed' the fans have done their own detective work and a lot of pictures of Beca and Chloe resurfaced. Beca was being tagged in most of them, especially now that they had a ship name, #bechloe.

There were pictures that Beca has not seen in years, some she's forgotten even existed and some she remembers perfectly the exact moment they were taken. She was so tempted to tweet to the fans that she was absolutely living for these pictures and that they should keep them coming.

Then she was also being tagged of pictures of just Chloe. Like back in med school, or some event or party she attended or whatever club she was in. Pictures she's never come across before. And it makes her realise how much she has missed out on Chloe's life. She doesn't even recognise most of the people Chloe's with in the photos.

Stacie doesn't say anything right away and left Beca to her thoughts for a bit. She knew how overwhelming it could be for Beca seeing all those photos of them. The ultimate blast from the past, as they would say.

She cleared her throat to get her attention eventually. "You have that meeting with Charlotte in an hour. It appears their post this morning of the two of you together sparked that posting spree."

Beca nodded but kept her eyes on the photos scrolling through them one at a time. She even chuckled at some while Stacie just waited.

"About that." Beca finally said. "Cancel it."

"You sure? Everything okay?"

"Yeah. I don't think I'll gain anything from meeting up with her anyway don't you think, especially with our upcoming late night gig. I mean these are all harmless photos and I really want to focus on the music. I can handle the paparazzi. If they want a story, they're not going to get anything from me."

Stacie nods while she thought about it. "You're right. I agree. I'll keep monitoring them anyway but yeah let's focus on the music."

It wasn't until Beca saw Chloe on what Beca presumed to be her graduation day standing in front of the stage with her diploma with her dads that she sort of panics.

"Hey Stace, I have to make a call real quick. Is there anything else you need?"

"No sure, go for it. But about later, we're going to grab a few drinks after work and I assure you I got it all covered. No paps, very intimate, secured exits. Emilia is coming too, it'll be awesome for you to join us now that we have a couple of things to drink to."

Beca thought about it. Chloe was working tonight and Nate was still with Jesse. "I'll think about it. I'll talk to Jesse maybe he wants to join you, I'll offer to watch Nate." She shrugged.

"He already said he wasn't going. He said it could be an impromptu girls night out." Stacie really wanted Beca to join them. "Come on Becs, don't make me drag you to the bar cause I will. You know I will."

Beca just looks at Stacie. She did have a point. It has been a while since she went to have drinks with them. "You know what fine, count me in."

"Great. I'll come get you later boss." She gets up to leave salutes to Beca before she changes her mind.


Charlotte stood up when the door opened. She's been looking forward to this meeting. Beca has avoided her like the plague for god knows how long now and though Charlotte may be over Beca, she never lost hope that one day they will become friends again.

Charlotte was sure she has moved on from Beca but it doesn't mean that writing that article about Beca and Chloe didn't hurt. She hated how people were clamoring for them. It was a race now between other outlets and providers since they had not been spotted together in LA or anywhere else and the competition in Hollywood gossip was fierce.

Her main task at work was not only to get the scoop about them and ideally have them together in one room, but also to get more information on Chloe. For some reason and Charlotte will never admit it, Chloe entranced everyone.

Her smile falls when a man enters the room instead of Beca. He simply hands her an envelope, which she takes, and leaves the room.

She sits down and reads the note inside.

Sorry for cancelling last minute and for wasting your time.

That's all. And after reading the note over and over again, Charlotte may not have feelings for Beca anymore but boy did this hurt too.

She keeps her poker face on and puts on her sunnies before walking out of the restaurant with her head held high.

Since Stacie's left, Beca's been waiting to talk to Chloe. She stops herself from rushing to Chloe's work again and instead she sends a text asking if she was free to talk. Chloe replied simply she'll call her as soon as she can.

As soon as her phone rings Beca answers it.

"Oh hey." She heard a surprised Chloe on the other end.

"Hey. Sorry about this."

Chloe was laughing. "Well this can't be good if you're opening with an apology."

Beca starts to relax only a little. "Have you gone online recently? A lot of our photos are resurfacing and I came across a couple of photos of you with your dads."

"What about them?"

"I don't know. I was wondering if I could give them a call or something. I'm sure they hate me but I just wanted to fix things with them."

"No need to call them. They told me earlier they were visiting me soon so you can just talk to them in person then."

"You don't think they're visiting because of what's happening do you?"

"Honestly I don't know. They've never gone to visit me before. But they said it wasn't so." Chloe shrugged.

"Great. I'll start to mentally and emotionally prepare for it then especially for your dad James. Oh god, he's gonna kill me."

"Don't worry I'm pretty sure my daddy Jim won't let him."

This does not at all reassured Beca. "And what about you? What are you going to do about it?"

"Sorry I don't think I can help you there babe."

Beca couldn't respond right away. She missed Chloe calling her that.

"Anyway, I have to go." Chloe continued. "See you when I see you?"

"Yeah of course. Call me when you can or when you're bored at work or something. I hope to see you sooner rather than later?"

"Don't miss me too much. Bye Bec."

"Bye Chlo."

They ended the call and Beca was still staring down at it smiling. She looked up as soon as she heard Stacie.

"Don't tell me you're still looking at those pictures. But if you are, I'm not gonna judge. To be honest I don't blame you."

Beca put her phone away. "What's up?"

"It's after five Becs. Time to go."

"Oh, yeah right right. Give me a few minutes to pack up."

"Alright, meet you at reception."


Emilia, Katie, Cynthia Rose, Stacie and Beca were all seated around a round table. They have not been there very long but Beca was already starting to feel the alcohol in her system. There were many factors to this. First is she has not eaten properly today so she was drinking with an empty stomach. Second it's been a while since she's drank this much. And finally Stacie made sure to keep the drinks coming.

When they were all running low again, Emilia beat Stacie to it and offered to get the next round.

"I got next round! Be right back." Emilia was walking to the bar before anyone could protest.

Beca was seated in between Stacie and Cynthia Rose when Cynthia Rose nudged her on the shoulder. "Look at you having fun."

"Yeah I'm actually really enjoying. I missed this. Thanks for inviting me guys."

"We always do, you're the busy one." Stacie said.

"Speaking of. What have you been up to these days anyway?" Cynthia Rose asked. "We barely see you outside work, you don't go home, you only slept at Jesse's with Nate once ever since the paps camped outside yours and you have that weird vibe going on."

Beca only hummed in response. She knew where this was going.

When it became apparent Beca wasn't going to say anything. Cynthia Rose continued. "Okay. Let's start with where you're staying, where have you been staying?"

"Oh you know, here and there."

"No we don't know. Where's here and there?"

"Friends." Beca was panicking. "Actually no! I stay with my parents sometimes too."

"Hm-hm. Do you wanna try that again?"

"Not really. I don't really know how to save this. Can we talk about something else?"

Stacie and Cynthia Rose both knew they had Beca cornered. They could already smell a confession coming.

Beca reached for her drink and downed the rest of it. "Anyone else need a refill?"

"Emilia's got it covered." Stacie said pointing to where Emilia was standing.

Beca looked to where she was and saw Emilia was talking to someone. Before she could stop herself, she was already looking at this stranger, who had her back facing them, down from head to toe.

"Woah woah woah. Who's she talking to?" Beca had to ask as her curiosity grew.

Everyone else on the table turned to look at the bar where Emilia was standing.

"That's our friend. I guess she's just arrived." Stacie shrugged.

"Oh I didn't know someone else was coming." Beca took a long look at the newcomer almost tilting her head.

"I think you'll like her very much. I hear she's single too."

That's when Beca looked away. "Meh not interested."

She then busied herself by making conversation with Katie. But she couldn't help but steal another glance at the bar again and all of a sudden the new girl Emilia was talking to was turning around to their table and she choked on her water. It was the worst time to be having a coughing fit. Stacie who was next to her started patting her on the back.

"You good?"

"I think it went through my nose. You guys are assholes." Beca said to her friends in between coughs.

"Oh come on Bec. She was available so I invited her." Stacie shrugged.

Chloe felt so bad. She saw Emilia first at the bar and she introduced herself. Emilia remembered her and they waited for her order together before leading her back to their table. Beca started coughing nonstop the moment their eyes met. She actually kept on coughing until Chloe and Emilia reached their table.

"Hey guys. Look who I found."

Cynthia Rose and Katie were already standing to greet Chloe. She gave everyone hugs and kisses on the cheeks.

Cynthia Rose offered her seat but she declined, she was already crashing their party. She went around the table to greet Stacie too.

When Beca finally calmed down a little, she looked up to see Chloe smiling down at her.

"Hi." Was all Chloe said.

Beca despite only having slightly recovered from her fit, stood up anyway to give Chloe a hug earning all sorts of looks and smiles from everyone in the group.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were working?"

"Someone wanted to swap with me so here I am. Surprise." Chloe didn't sound so sure now.

But Beca reassured her right away. "No, of course. I'm so glad you're here. Sit sit."

Cynthia Rose was about to stand up again to offer her seat but Chloe put a hand on her shoulder.

"No please. It's okay, I'll sit there."

"No no I insist. Please take my seat and besides, Beca won't allow it." Cynthia Rose moved to the empty seat in between Katie and Stacie.

"She's right. Just take it." Beca has fully recovered now and cleared her throat one last time.

"Okay then." And Chloe took Cynthia Rose's original spot. She was now in between Beca and Emilia.

Stacie took one of the shots and raised it for everyone to do the same.

"Chloe it's always good to see you and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we're really glad you're here. Cheers!"

"Cheers." Everyone around the table echoed and clinked their glasses.

No one said it out loud but everyone noticed the difference with how Beca and Chloe were interacting with each other. They were not cold nor distant nor tense. Katie especially remembers the last time she saw Chloe was when she barged in their office fuming and her walking away and Beca acting like a crazy person trying to go after Chloe.

But looking at the Beca and Chloe that was before them now, they were almost familiar. They automatically gravitated towards each other with their knees and shoulders touching from time to time. They all noticed the way Beca's whole demeanour lit up and how attuned she was to Chloe without even knowing it. Katie could see it now, the magic everyone talked about.

Beca looked to Chloe and Chloe did the same when she saw Beca turn to her. "So did you –" Beca started but Emilia cut her off.

"Your day off huh?" Emilia asked, which made Chloe look away from Beca and turn to her instead. "Is being a doctor really as hectic as they say it is?"

This made Chloe laugh. "Wherever did you hear that from?"

"Internet?"

"Don't believe everything you read online. It's actually worse. I'm surprised they let me out." They shared a laugh. "But hey, I hear being a pop star is just as hectic. Congratulations by the way with everything. I'm excited for you."

"Thank you. I owe it all to them."

They talked a little bit more. Emilia then reached for a bottle of beer.

"Beer?"

"Oh yes please thank you." Chloe said politely.

Cynthia Rose then speaks over everyone. "Hey Becs, why don't you tell Chloe who you were on the phone with earlier."

Chloe turned expectantly at Beca. They haven't been able to properly talk today because Chloe had been avoiding her not wanting to ruin the surprise.

"Oh it was not a big deal. Just James Corden inviting us to his show."

Chloe grabbed Beca's arm in her excitement. "The James Corden? Wow. Oh my god when is it? Make sure to put it in the calendar."

Stacie nudges Beca when she hears 'calendar' but Beca ignores her completely and keeps her attention on Chloe.

"I still haven't gotten my head around how famous you actually are."

"Emilia will be coming too. She's going to be performing her latest single live."

Chloe raised an eyebrow remembering that song was something she should be looking forward to hear. "Oh really?"

She then turns to Emilia. "What song is it? Have you released the song by any chance?"

Emilia shakes her head. "Not yet. It comes out tomorrow. 1pm?" She asked around the table, to which earned nods from the table. "It's called Who's Got –"

This time it was Beca cutting Emilia off. "It's a surprise actually. You should just tune in tomorrow. We have a listening party at mine."

"Oh. Aww. I have actual work tomorrow. Like for real. But I'll definitely take the time to listen to it."

Katie then jumped in. "Sorry if I'm gonna sound creepy but I am internally freaking out right now. So I'm just going to let it all out. I'm fangirling just seeing you two together after seeing all your photos online. You two look really good together. And Chloe the red hair, no wonder I didn't recognise you."

"What do you mean?" Chloe asked Katie. "Didn't recognise me where?"

"Don't you remember we met all those years ago?"

Chloe was just looking at Katie trying to remember. She understood what Katie meant cause she felt the same. Katie looked so familiar to her but she still couldn't place her. So she kept shaking her head. She felt bad that she couldn't remember.

"At the hospital when Nate was born."

Chloe sat straight and went wide-eyed at the realization as it all came back to her. "Oh. Oh my god." She puts a hand over her mouth. "That was you." She says pointing to Katie.

Katie was nodding enthusiastically at Chloe. "That was me." She repeated proudly.

"Wait wait wait." Beca interrupted the both of them. "Katie what do you mean at the hospital? As in when my Nate was born?"

"Yeah. Chloe was there on the night you gave birth to Nate." Katie said without thinking.

When it suddenly got quiet, Katie realised the gravity of what she just said and put her hands to cover her mouth. "Oh my god." It was too late to take it back now; she said it loud and clear repeatedly.

Everyone kept quiet and was looking back and forth alternating at Beca and Chloe. Beca leaned back to her chair letting this new information sink in and slowly turned to Chloe. Chloe kept her eyes at the shots in the middle of the table and couldn't get herself to look at Beca. It's not that it was a secret but.

"You were there?" Beca finally asked tenderly.

Everyone then turned to Chloe who has not taken her eyes away from the middle of the table avoiding to make eye contact with Beca for as long as she could.

Chloe closed her eyes and sighed. She looked at Beca when she opened them again and saw a lone tear rolling on her cheek.

"Oh Bec." Chloe reached for Beca's face in an instant and wiped her tears with her thumb. The last thing she expected was for Beca to cry. Beca let her wipe her tears and waited for Chloe to elaborate.

"At that time your pregnancy was all over the news and it was reported that you were already confined and then complications were also mentioned in the reports. To be honest I wasn't sure whether the reports were true but when I heard about a possible complication, I just knew I had to go. So I left and literally got on the next flight out of New York."

Beca put a hand over Chloe's and leaned into it.

"All I know was that I wanted to see for myself you weren't going to go through it on your own and that you were okay. It wasn't planned or anything and I didn't actually see you but I don't know I just waited there." Chloe continued. "Then I found myself waiting by the nursery room and that's when I met Katie. I was only able to leave the hospital after talking to Katie there cause then I was sure you were okay and that you weren't alone."

Beca held on to Chloe's hand, even when she was reaching for tissues she didn't want to let go of Chloe.

"And true enough, on my way to the airport all the way to getting on the plane back to New York, I read reports about how you were doing well and was currently in recovery and how you gave birth to a healthy baby boy." Chloe smiled. "Your Nate." She finished.

Beca never took her eyes from Chloe and listened intently throughout. "Why didn't you ever tell me this?"

"It honestly just never came up." Chloe shrugged. "And I didn't really think you needed to."

"It would've been nice to know."

Chloe scrunched her nose. "Well now you know."

Beca brought Chloe's hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. "I know we're supposed to be keeping this a secret. But god I fuckin' love you." She tugged on the same hand she was holding then held Chloe's face and leaned into her to kiss her full on the mouth.

There was an audible gasp from everyone around the table and Chloe was just as surprised as everyone else at first but then eased into the kiss. Then Beca wrapped her hands around Chloe's neck and just settled with an embrace.

All the while everyone was cheering and sniffing. One second they were crying and the next they were like high school girls squealing.

"I knew it!" Stacie jokingly threw tissue at Beca and Chloe. "I fuckin' knew it but fuck yes. Our golden couple is officially back together! I cannot be happier. Let's drink to that!"

"You sneaky bitch." Cynthia Rose said to Beca while dabbing tissues under her eyes.

"Holy shit." Was all Emilia could say; her jaws were still on the floor.

Katie just squealed some more and clapped her hands together. "Oh my god."

Beca then pulled back from Chloe. "I'm sorry I couldn't resist."

"It's okay." Chloe said shaking her head. "We're telling friends and family anyway, right?"

Then they both looked to everyone with that the same smug look and grabbed their own drink as everyone did.

"I can't believe you two. To bechloe." Stacie raised a glass to everyone.

"To bechloe!" And their glasses clinked together.

Everyone had their own questions after that. Beca and Chloe entertained as much as they could and tried to bring everyone up to speed to what has happened the last few weeks.

"You guys are good, paparazzi's been dying to see you out and about together."

"Just got lucky I guess." Chloe answers for both of them. "And we haven't actually been out and about anyway so really good luck to them trying to take photos of us together."

"I have to say, I'm really terrible at picking up the cues. I had no idea. But in retrospect it does make sense." Emilia said nodding.

"Hindsight is truly a wonderful thing." Beca says to her.

"And there's no unseeing it my child." Stacie would add.

Everything was just what Beca expected as to how they would react when they'd find out about them and she was pretty pleased.

"You know James Corden is gonna grill you right? Have you thought about how you're going to be deflecting him when he starts asking you questions about Chloe?" Cynthia Rose suddenly asked.

Beca just shrugged. "I don't know yet. I'm seriously considering telling him we are dating to get it over with. I mean come on." Beca moves her hand up and down as if presenting Chloe. "But then I don't really want anyone else to be in on this."

Chloe buries her face in her hand shaking her head. Beca was obviously really loosening up with how she was rambling now.

"So you're never going to confirm it?" Stacie asked.

"Nope. What do you think Chlo?" Beca asked and her words were starting to slur. "I think if we just come forward and confess, it should end their obsession but then I don't really want to do that."

Chloe shrugs again. "Yeah like I said I'll go with whatever you end up saying. We just have to settle a few things then you can tell whoever you want."

Beca laughed at that and reached for her drink again but tipped the glass beside hers. Chloe's quick reflexes caught the glass just in time to steady it and only spilled a little on the table.

"Nice save." Emilia said to her while everyone nodded.

"Cat-like reflexes." Chloe smiled at her. Then turning her attention back to Beca. "Alright I think we should call it, let's get you home before you make a bigger mess."

"Just one more please? Let me just finish this drink and we're still having so much fun." Beca pleads to Chloe while hugging her glass with both her hands. "I mean right guys?"

They all nodded. Only Stacie was brave enough to speak and she spoke for everyone. "How about let's do one more round for the road then call it a night?"

"Alright at least let me get this last one." Chloe downed the rest of her drink. "I'll be right back."

"No no no. You're our guest. Beca's got it." Cynthia Rose said with a wink holding up a black credit card.


They were both pretty tipsy when they left the bar but a quick taco bell drive thru did the trick. Fred looked behind at them once they were parked outside Chloe's house.

"Do you need help Miss Chloe?"

"I'm good. Thanks again for the ride."

"Rude Fred. I'm fine thanks for asking." Beca says to Fred.

Fred just chuckles. They've obviously worked together for a really long time now and we're very comfortable with each other.

"And your car Miss Chloe?"

Chloe was hoping he wouldn't mention it in front of Beca. "I'll just deal with it tomorrow."

"Wait. What about her car?" Beca was confused. She was looking at Chloe first then Fred when she doesn't speak. Fred in turn looked at Chloe.

"I drove earlier." Chloe finally said. "I wasn't expecting to drink that much."

"Oh. Why didn't you say so? That's okay. Fred can drive you in the morning. Easy. You start work at 9, right?"

Chloe looks at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Shared calendars." Beca liked knowing.

"Such a stalker."

"It'll be my pleasure Miss Chloe. I'll be here at 8am sharp."

"Thanks Fred. I'll see you tomorrow then." Chloe smiles at their driver before stepping out.

"I'll wait for your call in the morning Miss Beca. Have a good night."

They remained silent walking to the front door. Chloe was surprised it was only barely 11 when she checked the time. It definitely felt later than it actually is. Beca hung back a bit and let Chloe walk ahead to unlock the door for them.

Chloe held the door open for Beca and locked up as soon as they were both in. Beca walked past Chloe this time and waited for her by the foot of the stairs.

"After you." Beca gestured for Chloe to go up first. Chloe doesn't say anything and just smiled at Beca.

They both try to ignore the tension ever since they got in the car. Chloe clears her throat when she enters her room. She drops her purse and keys on the dresser and turns around to Beca, who was leaning on her doorway.

Chloe keeps her distance and with both hands on her hips finally decides to break the silence and confront her. "Bec. Stop it. Don't think I haven't noticed you've been looking at me like that all night."

Beca slowly entered Chloe's room taking one step at a time towards her. "Like what?" Beca says without breaking eye contact.

"Like that." Chloe points a finger at Beca. "And I know why. It's not that big of a deal and it was such a long time ago." Chloe says turning away from Beca and faced the mirror to remove her earrings.

"Of course it's a big deal." Chloe met Beca's gaze through the mirror as Beca helped her remove her necklace. Then she slowly wrapped her arms around Chloe and hugged her from behind. "Seriously I don't know why these things still surprise me. Everyday I just find myself literally falling in love with you all over again." She says as she brushed Chloe's hair to one side and start to trail kisses on her jaw down to her neck.

Chloe not being able to take the compliment tries to laugh it off and ignore the way Beca is still kissing her. "That's very sweet but I think that's the alcohol talking."

"Hmmm." Beca moans through her neck still kissing Chloe. Chloe leans back into Beca and closed her eyes and tried to even her breathing.

Beca's hands roamed under Chloe's shirt. She's been wanting to feel Chloe since she realised it was her in the bar. Chloe bit her lips to keep a moan from escaping.

"What are you doing?" Chloe was finally able to say even though it was just a whisper.

Beca meets Chloe's gaze again through the mirror and whispered back into Chloe's ear. "I must've been out of my mind to be holding back from you."

Chloe then turns to face Beca and kisses her gently on the lips. Beca doesn't move her hands on Chloe's bare back and deepened the kiss again as Beca pressed their bodies together. She was already unclasping Chloe's bra.

With all of her self-control left, Chloe pulls back from their kiss. "We don't have to do this if you need more time, it's okay."

"Like what you always say right, don't start anything you can't finish." Beca leans in again but Chloe turns her head to the side to avoid the kiss.

Chloe was biting her lip and Beca almost quivered. "Please don't make me beg. You know I'm not above begging."

Chloe's eyes went dark as soon as she's processed that Beca is finally ready to be intimate with her again. Chloe's the one leaning in for kisses now but she's not giving Beca any opening. "I still wanna hear it."

"Always a tease." Beca says stepping back away from Chloe, pulling her own shirt over her head and threw it to the ground.

"Wow." Chloe breathes out. She wasn't expecting that and Beca doesn't stop there. She then unclasps her own bra and undid her pants and threw those as well to the growing pile on the floor. Chloe bites her lips while watching Beca undress in front of her. She stared at Beca with only her panties on before her with her mouth slightly open. If Chloe wasn't feeling it earlier, she was definitely aroused now. She was about to pull her own shirt over her head but Beca stopped her.

"No, let me." Chloe dropped her hands when Beca said it.

"You're full of surprises this evening."

Beca smirked at that and without hesitation stepped back closer to Chloe. "Shh."

She held Chloe's face and captured her lips once more. Beca's kisses becoming more assertive by the second and her hands busy getting rid of Chloe's clothes.

Chloe doesn't pull away this time and allowed herself to sink into Beca's kisses, their tongues finding a rhythm. Beca found a way to also flip their positions and started pushing Chloe towards the bed.


Beca woke up very pleased with how sore her body was as she recalls what happened last night. With so much build up and sexual tension between them, they both didn't last long the first few rounds. Beca remembers them falling asleep after a climax only to wake up again to more, like a literal heavenly cycle. Beca found herself squeezing her legs close at the thought.

She jumped when she heard Chloe step out of the bathroom. Chloe was wrapped with only a towel with her hair up in a bun. She watched Chloe get ready for work and didn't even try to be subtle about it. Chloe would glance her way from time to time and roll her eyes playfully.

"Hey Chlo?"

"Hm?" Chloe asked with her back to Beca.

"I was thinking about what you said." Beca started. This made Chloe turn around to look at her. "You know the one where we've never actually been out and about."

Chloe thought about it and nodded. "Oh?" Then she turns away again and went back to getting dressed. "What about it?"

"Did you want to?"

"What was that, Babe?"

Beca caught herself. For the life of her, she will never get used to Chloe calling her that. So she starts to ramble, which is what usually happens when she gets flustered. "When we're both free, did you want to have dinner with me? I can make reservations and stuff."

Chloe just looks at her and chuckles then returns to getting dressed. Beca scoffed.

"I'm asking you out on a date here." Beca was sitting up now but kept the blanket wrapped around her since she was still half naked. "Like a proper one. Babe."

Chloe ignored Beca and looked at herself one last time in the mirror and walked towards her, who was already looking up at her expectantly.

"You know like something similar to last night but just the two of us. I'll organize something and make sure there are no paparazzi around."

Chloe just smiles down at her and leans in for a kiss. Beca responds of course and Chloe wipes the smudged lipstick she left on Beca's lips.

"So what do you say?" Beca tries to get her attention. "Chlo?"

"Shh. You're overthinking. Let's just try to get through this weekend, okay? Let's tell family first then we can plan all sorts of other things."

Beca pouted but conceded cause Chloe did have a point.

"And as sexy and as enticing as you look right now naked on my bed, I have to go to work."

"I hope you don't mind if I stay here for a bit?"

"Oh no, please stay for as long as you need. You have your key?"

"Yeah. You go. I'll see you tomorrow. Let me know, maybe I can pick you up or something."

"Don't worry about me, I'll drive to your parents'. I'll just see you there. Talk to you later, love you." Chloe said on her way out and blew Beca a kiss.

"Have a good day at work, love you too!" Beca called out to her.


Chloe's not usually the self-conscious type. But maybe knowing what happened last night and how people are greeting her now was making her a bit paranoid. She tries not to show it though and greeted everyone back.

"Doctor Beale." Scott called to her making Chloe stop and look at him with a smile. "Something came in for you yesterday." He hands her an envelope.

"Looks fancy. Thanks Scott."

Scott was looking at her as if he wanted to say something more. "Anything else?" Chloe asks.

"Uhm not really but we just wanted to say thank you for the coffee and muffins from earlier this morning. I also left some for you on your desk." Scott said.

"Oh. They're not from me. But thank you."

"We know." Scott said. "Just see for yourself Doc."

"Okay. Thanks Scott."

Chloe enters her office and smells the coffee first. There was a note that came with it and she literally snorted when she read it. Of course they're from Beca.

"When did she even have the time to organize this?"

Chloe dialed Beca's number and put her on loudspeaker so her hands were free to open the fancy envelope Scott handed her. It appears to be an invite for something.

"Hey Chlo, are you at the hospital already?"

"Are you trying to bribe my whole department or something?"

There was a pause. "I don't know what you're talking about." Beca finally said.

"Beca."

"Fine. Is it working? I'd bribe the whole hospital if I have to."

"Why do you feel the need to have to bribe anyone?"

"I don't know. I just want them to like me, you know?"

"I think they already do like you. I'm pretty sure a lot of them if not all of them are fans of your music."

"I didn't mean like that. I mean like me for you."

Chloe laughed but was not able to respond as she read the invitation.

Save the date!

Please join us to celebrate

OUR WEDDING

Jessica + Michael

Saturday 31 October 2020

"Hello? Chloe you there?"

"Hey yep, sorry I was just reading something." She smiles down at the invitation and notes it in her calendar. "So is the listening party still happening?"

"Changing the subject but okay. Yes a hundred percent. Everyone's coming over to mine sometime around lunch. Hopefully next time you can join us."

"Yeah I'd like that too. By the way you still owe me your version of the song. Don't think I've forgotten."

"Don't worry. I'm working on it. Anyway I'll let you go, wouldn't want to disturb you. Nate's also back with me tonight so I might not see you until tomorrow. We are still on for lunch at my parents' tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, if all goes well here I should be home before midnight. One last thing." Chloe was cut short by a notification on her phone. Ashley was calling her.

"Yeah?"

"Actually Bec, can I call you later? I just have another call I have to take."

"Of course. Bye."

"Bye."

Chloe ended the call and picked up Ash's right away. "Hey Ash! Oh my god I can't believe it, Jessica's getting married!"

"Oh goodie you got the invite. I know you're a busy doctor now, but we would really love it if you could make it. We would all love to see you."

"Of course. I'll make sure to be there. I'll sort it out as early as now."

"Even if you don't make it to the bachelorette, we will understand."

"Now hold up. Are you kidding? At least tell me when it is before you count me out."

"I'll send the final details to the group chat. So far we're looking at the weekend of October 3rd."

"Okay noted." Chloe put that in her calendar too. "How exciting!"

"I know. Anyway, I won't keep you. I just called to make sure you received the invite."

"Yes I got it for sure."

Ashley then cleared her throat. "Also me and Liv know about you and Aubrey's little misunderstanding. You guys better make up before Jessica's wedding! Don't make us go there! I'm also organizing a group call, we are so due for a catch up. So stop lurking in our group chats and reply properly."

"I will I will." Chloe laughed at that. "I'm sorry. I keep forgetting to respond once I open the messages and the notifications are gone."

"Okay good, I'll let you go for now. We miss you Chlo!"

"I miss you guys too."

Chloe pocketed her phone and downed her coffee. She put on her white coat and put her stethoscopes around her neck. Before stepping out of her office to do her rounds and report at the ER, Chloe made one last check that she had her pens in her breast pocket.


Chloe's 12-hour shift was coming to an end and she was in her office getting ready to leave when Scott enters her office looking grim. Considering that it was close to 9pm, she was surprised he was still in the hospital.

"What are you still doing here?"

"Doctor Beale." Scott never usually calls her that in that tone. "Aubrey Posen is on line 3 for you. It's urgent."

Chloe picked up line 3. "Aubrey? What's going on?"

Aubrey breathed a sigh of relief. "Good you're still here. CHOC called. Remember the big pile up earlier? They're sending eleven kids down our way. ETA 35 minutes."

"Eleven? Oh my god." Chloe almost paled. "Have you contacted Doctor Harrison?"

"He's already on his way."

"And the interns?"

"All done Chlo. We're as ready as we can be."

"Okay, can we accommodate all of them?"

"Yes we have the beds available. I've also asked their emergency department to send me their charts. I'll print them out when I get them, which should be any minute now."

"Okay okay. I'm on my way down. I'll see you soon."

Scott was just watching Chloe; unsure of what to do. He then starts to roll up his sleeves. "What are you doing?"

"I can't leave now Doctor. Let me help. Tell me what I can do to help."

Chloe just nodded. "Okay, but if at anytime you are not comfortable or if you have to leave just let me know and you can go."

"I know Doctor." Scott after all was a nurse first and foremost.

"Alright then let's go, follow me."


It was close to midnight and Beca still has not heard from Chloe. She was really looking forward to what Chloe thought of their new song. She remembers Chloe telling her earlier that if everything goes well she should be home by now.

"Maybe something came up or maybe…" Beca was already thinking the worst. She shook away the negative thoughts. "You'll see her tomorrow. Stop overthinking." She continued to scold herself.

Beca eventually gave in to sleep only to wake up an hour before her alarm goes off. She grabs her phone to check the time but really she only wanted to see if she's heard back from Chloe.

"Nothing."

Beca held back on calling her. The last thing she wants is to wake up Chloe. She barely gets any sleep as it is. She settles for a text and tries to go back to sleep. After tossing and turning, she gave up on that too and got up. She might as well get some caffeine in her system.

She was going through all the reports Stacie has sent her about Emilia's song. It was doing so good. It made her heart swell with so much pride.


Beca and Nate walked down her parents' driveway hand in hand. She rang the bell and didn't have to wait long.

Her mom opened the door for them. "There's our favourite Grandson."

"But Grandma, I'm your only grandson."

"Doesn't make you any less my favourite. Come here, give me a hug."

Beca was following closely behind. "Hey mom, where's dad?"

"He's at his usual spot glued to the TV." Linda says and Nate goes to where Ben is to say hello.

Beca was about to walk past her mom but Linda stopped her. "Hold up." Linda grabbed both her shoulders and really looked at Beca. "You look…" Then she started laughing. "I see what's going on. So there is some truth in the tabloids."

"Mom!"

"Am I wrong?"

Beca sighed. "No but." Beca doesn't know why she was suddenly getting shy.

But she was more surprised when her mom hugged her. "Oh. I'm so happy for you."

"She's actually joining us today. She wanted to be here for the 'announcement'."

"How lovely. I can't wait." Linda saw Beca glanced at Nate.

"Are you worried about how he'll take it?"

"I'm actually worried I'll fuck it up and not only will Chloe hate me – again mind you – but Nate will too for sure."

Linda chuckled then simply said. "Then don't fuck up."

Beca was left open-mouthed. Her mom does not swear often and it is not something that she will ever get used to.

"So she's on her way?"

"Oh right." Beca reached for her phone. "Let me just try to call her."

Beca excused herself to call Chloe. She was getting really worried cause Chloe still wasn't picking up and she kept going straight to voicemail. Beca was tempted but she really didn't want to use her VIP status to find out where Chloe is.

"Oh it was so terrible, Honey. See that pile-up? I think it's the worst I've seen in years. They say it was a drunk driver." Ben was telling Linda.

"I heard about it this morning. Terrible."

Beca overheard her parents talking about current events when she rejoined them. Nate was on his spot on the couch next to her dad.

"What was that?"

"Oh Rebeca, you should really be watching the news more, aren't you supposed to be keeping up with what's happening."

"I have Stacie to do that for me. Now what was that about a pile up and a drunk driver?"

"Last night at the freeway. Eight cars, a truck and gosh a school bus was involved. It's terrible. I know I keep saying that but it is. Just heartbreaking."

"A school bus? At night? Were there kids?"

"Reports said they were on their way back from a field trip."

"Which hospital were they taken to? Did they say?"

"I think they said it was the Children's Hospital at Orange. Why?"

"Is it possible that some of them were taken to –" Beca didn't need to finish her sentence. Her mom had the same look of realization.

"Excuse me again for a bit." Beca said again as she quickly grabbed her phone.

After a few calls, Beca only got a hold of Scott. He confirmed that some of the kids involved in the accident were brought to the hospital and that Chloe was still at the hospital too.

"Did you want to leave a message Miss Mitchell?"

"No that's okay. I just wanted to know. Thanks Scott and sorry about this. Bye."

"No no that's okay. It's my pleasure."

Beca remembered Chloe's boundaries with work. She didn't want to overstep again. So she just decided to send her a text.


The whole thing's been a blur from the moment Chloe heard the sirens of the ambulance signaling their arrivals, the sounds of stretcher wheels on the floors, the sounds of curtains being pulled open one at a time, the cries, the frantic phone calls, some of the kids were unconscious, some were in pain while some were in shock. Chloe's never experienced anything like it.

"Doctor Beale what are you still doing here?"

Chloe didn't even hear her office door opening.

"You and I both know we've worked longer shifts than these. Heard anything new?"

Doctor Harrison only shakes his head. "Normally yes but not as draining as that. No news yet. How are you holding up? You showed such poise last night. I would never have believed it that it was the first time you've been in that situation."

"How do you keep doing this? Do you eventually get used to it?"

"I can tell you that when I was a young doctor like you, I wasn't as composed. You handled yourself well. I couldn't have done it without you."

"Thank you Doctor. And it's the other way around. I couldn't have done it without you."

Doctor Harrison sighs and takes a seat across Chloe. "I know you're tired cause I am too. We're both only human and we're not doing anyone favours if we don't take care of ourselves. I need you 100%."

"I'm fine Doctor. It's nothing a short nap can't fix."

"Okay. And to answer your question, no it doesn't get any easier. We did everything that we could to save that kid. You can't put that on you, there was nothing more that you could've done."

"I know. It's just. If only I saw it earlier."

"There was no way. Don't beat up yourself for it. We saved lives today."

"But we lost some too."

Doctor Harrison only nodded. It was never easy losing a patient.

"How about this. We do alternating shifts. I'll stay here for the rest of the day and you relieve me tomorrow morning."

"But what if something happens?"

"I will be here and you will be on call. It'll be okay. So please go get some rest."

"Why can't I do the first shift?"

"Technically, you've already done the first shift cause I've already gone home."

"Really?"

"Yes. So please go." Doctor Harrison is standing up now. "I'm serious. The next time I go down here later, you better not be here."

Chloe chuckles at that. "Fine. I'm going to be out of here in half an hour I promise."

"Very good. I'll see you tomorrow then. Hopefully."

"Thank you Doctor."

Chloe gave out a long sigh once Doctor Harrison was gone. She saw the day and time and took out her phone right away. It was almost 3:30 in the afternoon. She's suddenly remembered it was Sunday and she was supposed to be having lunch with Beca's family.

Her heart sank when she saw several messages and missed calls from Beca.

From Beca: I heard about what happened. Don't worry about lunch. You can join us next time. And don't worry about me, you can call me whenever you finish. Let me know if there's anything you need. Please don't skip your meals. Love you.

Reading the last message from Beca gave her the motivation to get up to prepare to leave. Besides, Doctor Harrison was right as he always is. She may not say it out loud, but she was exhausted. She sent a text to Beca to update her finally and to apologise for missing lunch and for being MIA.


Beca was driving Nate home when she received a message. She had been itching to grab her phone to read Chloe's text but it would have to wait 'til they got home. She glanced at Nate who didn't seem to notice.

When they got home, Nate announced he was going for a nap.

"Have a quick shower before you do. Should I wake you up for dinner or you're good?"

"I think I'm good Mom. I'm still so full from lunch."

"Alright. I love you Bud. Thanks for being so cool about this."

"Tell Doctor Chloe she owes me lunch."

"Remember I don't think Jamie knows yet and Doctor Chloe would really like to be the one to tell him the news."

"My lips are sealed I promise." Nate then yawns. "Night Mom. Love you too."

Beca watched him drag himself to his room and shake her head. "Don't grow up too fast Bud." She whispered to herself.

Then she remembers Chloe. She grabbed a wine glass and poured herself some wine as she settles on the bench outside on their balcony. She puts her phone on the table facing up and takes a sip trying not to stare at it for too long.

Only the sunset got her to look away from the phone. When it rings, she sees it's from Chloe and she answers quickly.

Beca takes a deep breath and exhales still staring at the sunset.

"Hey you."


Endnotes: I know and I'm sorry I held back on the smut there. I thought about it though. Something to look forward to maybe? And what is it with me and ending with hey yous?