A/N: Just popping in a quick note to say that I got a review that just blew my mind. It was from a guest so I can't respond privately. I just want whoever that person was to know that your review made my day and I read it over and over and over. Thank you.

Ch 12

The first few days after the news broke about the newest Hollywood couple were interesting to say the least. Chloe found herself with double the paparazzi than she'd gotten used to. There were always at least three photographers outside her apartment building. They'd even found the back entrance that Beca used and started camping there as well, much to Beca's extreme annoyance.

Going to work was no different. Every time she stepped foot on set after it was out there, it felt like every eye was permanently on her. Not to mention the looks and whispers that came whenever she and Beca were within ten feet of each other. What bothered her most was that none of them would just man up and just ask her about it or say whatever was on their mind about it.

The tension it caused Beca was flying out of her from every pore. She wanted to comfort her with something as simple as a hand on her arm, or God forbid a kiss, but was wary of drawing more attention to them.

On top of everyone else's behavior, John seemed to take this as an excuse to be even more of an asshole during takes; being extra critical, especially of Chloe's performance.

After the eleventh time of him halting the same attempt at a scene, demanding to know if she'd ever been on a real set in her life, the others let out audible groans and sighs of frustration. Chloe turned away from them all; looking down and taking a deep breath while shaking her hands out to try and keep from losing it in front of everyone.

She heard footsteps quickly approaching from behind and before she could turn to apologize to whoever it was, she felt Beca's hands – and she instantly knew they were Beca's – on her cheeks. She lifted Chloe's face to hers and covered her lips with her own. It was soft and strong simultaneously, only lasting a few seconds before Beca pulled back and touched their foreheads together.

"Ok?" she whispered.

Chloe nodded, unable to wrap her head around the fact that Beca had just done that. The most private person she'd ever met, Beca, had just kissed her in front of everybody. With Chloe's simple response, Beca ran a hand over her head in one more gesture of comfort before standing straight and facing the rest of the room.

"Anybody have something to say?" she challenged and looked from face to face, daring anyone to say something. When no one did, she nodded once, "Good. Let's get this shit done."

John's jaw clenched a moment before everyone got back to work. When they were finally done for the day, Chloe didn't think anything of grabbing Beca's hand in hers as they left.

"Thank you for what you did in there," she said as they walked through the parking lot.

"It was nothing," she dismissed with a shrug.

"No, I know how much you hate people in your personal business. That couldn't have been easy for you."

"Honestly?" Beca said, pausing their steps and facing her, "For you, it as the easiest thing I've ever done."

Chloe grinned at the blush deepening Beca's cheeks as she said so. She tapped her finger to the tip of Beca's nose.

"So cheesy," she winked.

"Yeah, well," she shrugged again.

Chloe wrinkled her nose before stealing a kiss. This one lasting longer than the one Beca had given her a few hours ago. As they were basking in the taste of one another, an obnoxiously loud throat clearing stole their attention. Beca looked back over her shoulder and saw Angela standing beside a running car.

"Of course," she muttered as she dropped her head. Lifting it back up, she turned around completely, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, is that how you greet me now?"

Chloe looked from one to the other and wondered about the obvious tension between them. She'd noticed it the last time she'd been in a room with both of them, back at Aubrey's office. She couldn't help but be curious about why Beca kept the woman around since she clearly didn't care for her very much. And honestly, Chloe felt the same after seeing how the woman treated Beca.

When Beca didn't respond to the question, Angela just tilted her head towards the waiting car behind her.

"Get in the car, Beca."

But Beca just grabbed Chloe's hand at her side and smirked, "I've got plans."

Angela's eyes zeroed in on their joined hands; something in her face ticking momentarily at the sight.

"Not tonight," she declared and then repeated herself in a sharper tone, "Get in the car."

Beca looked to Chloe and for a moment she thought Beca was about to tell her goodnight and leave. However, she only quietly requested, "Give me a couple minutes?"

"Yeah. I'll go get the car," she nodded and Beca gave her another quick kiss before they parted. Chloe kept her eyes on Angela as she walked off until she couldn't anymore. For some reason not feeling great about leaving the women alone.

Beca watched her go and ran a hand through her hair as she approached her mother.

"What?" she asked, holding her arms out, "What do you want?"

"What I've always wanted," she answered, "To protect you; your future. A future you've rapidly been losing sight of because of that…girl."

Beca scoffed, "My ass."

"Don't be crude."

"The only think you've ever wanted to protect is your bank account."

Angela didn't let her surprise show at the directness of the statement. Instead she just chuckled and shook her head, "Beca- "

"No, stop it. Stop acting like I'm stupid," Beca snapped, "You think I don't know? You think I actually believe you've been looking out for me all these years?"

She took a step closer, wondering where her brazenness was coming from but not upset about it either. It felt good to finally pop her bubble.

"I figured you out a long time ago Angela," she spat, "For a while I thought you actually cared; that you were doing all of this for us. But I can tell you the exact moment I realized the truth. That this has all, always, been for you. Do you want to know when it was? Hm? You want to know when I figured out you were using me for your own selfish shit?"

Angela just stared at her until Beca continued.

"I'll give you a hint," she started, "I was fourteen."

"Beca- "

"Fourteen!" she shouted, her fists clenching at her sides as her eyes blurred, "You bought me that red dress, remember? I felt so special," she laughed a watery, humorless laugh, "Because you got me a stupid dress and told me how pretty I was. Do you remember that? Do you remember how happy I was? You said we were going to an important meeting. And I stood there, proud as an idiot, because you never brought me to any of your meetings. We rode in the nicest car I'd ever seen to a fancy hotel."

She saw her visibly swallow.

"Yeah, you remember," she stated sharply.

"I don't have time for this," she dismissed and opened the car door to leave.

But Beca wouldn't let her leave without finishing; she couldn't. She darted forward and slammed the door shut; nearly catching her fingers in it. Standing close, she continued to recall the memory.

"The whole ride over you were telling me how important it was. You kept telling me you needed me to be a big girl."

"Stop this. We'll talk when you've- "

"Be a big girl tonight, Beca," she said, her face centimeters from her mother's as she felt her breath catch in her throat and choked through her words, "Be a big girl and do what he says. You took me to that room, and you left me there. You left and- "

Her words finally halted when Angela's hands found her shoulders and shoved her back hard enough Beca stumbled a few steps. They stared at each other, Beca breathing heavy from the emotion she'd brought up.

"You remember."

Angela looked away from her as she fixed her hair and readjusted her blouse and her composure. Clearing her throat, she spoke.

"When you're ready to be smart about things again," she began and stiffly pulled out a small bottle from her purse, "When you remember who gets you what you need," she shook the bottle to rattle the pills inside, "I'll be ready to hear your apology for this behavior."

Beca glared at her as Chloe pulled the car up and idled it nearby.

"Fuck your pills. Fuck your pretty dresses," she shook her head and said in a voice laced with resignation, "And fuck you."

With that said, she turned and headed towards Chloe's car. Hearing Angela's voice come from behind her as she did.

"You need me, Beca. You're nothing without me," Beca felt her shoulders begin to curl inward under her words, "Don't worry. I'll be waiting."

Beca threw herself into the car and slammed the door, causing Chloe's concern to magnify.

"Are you all right?" she askes softly, reaching over to lay her hand on Beca's leg as she sat with her head in her hands.

"Just take me home, please."

"Oh," Chloe voiced in surprise, but tried not to let her disappointment show, "Home like your hotel?"

Beca shook her head and finally looked over at her.

"No. Home."

Chloe gave her a sad smile; reading how upset and exhausted she was. It was a polar opposite to the Beca she'd walked away from just minutes ago. Whatever happened between them while she was gone must have been rough.

"Ok," she said gently, "Let's go home."

Chloe drove them to her apartment, a part of her jumping for joy that Beca had called it home. A larger part, however, knew this wasn't the time to acknowledge that. They walked by the men waiting with their cameras, this time, Chloe was the one telling them to back off. Not as colorfully as Beca would, she merely declared, 'Not tonight. Not now.' as she protectively walked Beca to the door.

Once they were inside, Chloe watched Beca carefully. She moved almost robotically through the living room, removing pieces of clothing as she did so. Chloe followed the trail comprised of her jacket, boots, bracelets, and shirt until she was in the bedroom with her.

She didn't bother turning on the light either as Beca slid out of her jeans and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. She just walked over to join her, but instead of sitting beside her, Chloe lowered to her knees on the floor in front of her. She slid her hands over her bare things.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Beca just shook her head and the two remained silent for a while. Chloe content for now to just be a presence for her. The silence stretched on, doing nothing for Chloe's worry, until Beca opened her mouth.

After a few false starts, her words finally came.

"Can we just go to bed?" she asked and then struggled to clarify, "Not to…can we just…would you…?"

Chloe recognized Beca's still remaining issue with just saying what she wanted, or in this case, what she needed.

Wordlessly, Chloe stood up and quickly removed her clothing down to her underwear. She circled the bed and got in, pulling down the other half of the covers after she was laying down. Lifting her arm, she simply answered.

"Come here."

Beca did so. Climbing in and immediately pressing her body flush against Chloe's. Letting her arms wrap around her as she continued to pull herself as close to her as she could. When she finally accepted that she couldn't get any closer, Beca buried her face into Chloe's neck and let herself breathe.

Chloe didn't know what happened, but she held on as tightly as she could, sensing how much Beca needed it. Swallowing her own emotions, she pressed a kiss to the side of her head as she held her.

"I've got you," she told her passionately, "I've got you."

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