Alright, alright! This story is going to start moving very quickly following this chapter, and I hope it lives up to your expectations!

Thank you for the support on Chapter 18; I hope you enjoy this one and I can't wait to hear what you think :)

Chapter 19

"You guys are still coming tomorrow, right?"

Laying with her phone pressed against her ear, her fingers absentmindedly drawing patterns on the comforter that's covering her, Beca lets out a light laugh. "Yes, I promise, we are still coming." It's not the first time that Chloe has asked her if she is still planning on attending the annual Beale Christmas get-together. She had extended the invitation a few weeks ago, practically begging Beca to come, and of course, Beca hadn't been able to say no.

Chloe can't help but grin at her response. "Good. What time do you think you'll be here?"

"I get out of work at three… so maybe a little bit after four? Four-thirty at the latest?"

"Are you sure you don't want me to pick you up?"

Beca nods to herself in the darkness of the room. Macy went to bed a little while ago, and shortly after, her phone was ringing with a picture of Chloe smiling up at her. What began as a celebratory phone call discussing the end of midterms and the beginning of winter break, gradually turned into a conversation that neither girl wants to end. They've talked about everything and anything that has popped into their minds, neither one of them wanting to stop talking to the other. "I'm sure. Thank you, though."

"I'm so excited that you guys are coming; and my parents can't wait to see you and Macy again." Chloe can't believe how well things have been going with Beca over the last two weeks. Ever since the anniversary of her parents' death – which seems like an odd place to mark a shift in their relationship – it's been almost painful for the redhead to leave Beca's side. When she's not with her, Beca is all she thinks about. When she is with her, the time passes by so quickly because she is completely captivated by the sheer beauty and grace that is Beca Mitchell.

Chloe is falling hard and fast, and what bothers her most of all, is that she doesn't know how to take that extra step away from friendship and into a relationship. Because, as much as she has finally come to terms with what she is feeling, she still has no idea if Beca feels the same way.

There have definitely been moments that would suggest that the feelings are mutual. Moments when the two of them are alone and they lock eyes for a little longer than they should, or a hug feels like a little more than just one between friends. There are moments when one will brush up against the other, and both are aware of the goosebumps that rise at the touch. There are the times where both girls are so content with each other's presence, that the entire world seems to disappear from around them, or when they fall into a fit of laughter at a joke that's only been shared between the pair.

But what's heartbreaking for Chloe, is that if they lock eyes for a little longer than they should, one of them always looks away. If their heart beats faster and they feel a flutter in their stomach while hugging, one of them always breaks it up. If one of them gets goosebumps from the other's touch, neither of them calls attention to it. It's incredibly frustrating, waiting for someone to make the first move, but also not knowing if they should be.

It makes Chloe want to pull her hair out, but it also just makes her want to be around Beca even more, waiting for something – anything – to happen.

"We're excited, too. Although, you might want to prepare your dad; Macy was not happy with the ending of his last book." Beca tries to keep her voice at a whisper, not wanting to wake up her sister or her foster father, but in reality, her nerves are through the roof.

Okay, maybe 'nerves' isn't the right word. Butterflies are more like it. Or is it? These days, Beca has such conflicting emotions when she's around Chloe, that she doesn't know what she's feeling half the time.

One thing that she knows for sure, is that, if all of a sudden, Chloe were to suddenly disappear from her life, Beca would be completely heartbroken and utterly devastated. The effervescent redhead makes Beca feel like nothing she's ever felt before. When she's around her, she's happy, and excited, and completely mesmerized by the person that is Chloe Beale. There is no one – not in her seventeen years of living – that has ever made Beca feel the way Chloe makes her feel.

Does that mean she's in love? Potentially. But that prospect just terrifies Beca even more.

Although Chloe is unlike anyone she has ever met, the idea of moving past the safety of 'friendship' and into the dangerous territory known as 'dating', makes Beca's stomach churn. As much as she would love something more, and as much as she would love to tell Chloe how she makes everything in her life better – Beca can't.

She can't bring herself to be that vulnerable again. She can't bring herself to put herself in that situation again. And, as much as she's had this internal battle pretty much since she laid eyes on Chloe, she just can't do it. And it breaks Beca's heart.

That being said, Beca also can't bring herself to just shut off everything that she feels when she's around Chloe. So, she's been trying to relish in it, before it blows up in her face.

"Oh, he has a whole list of other books to give her for break. Half the time when he's in his study, he's looking for things for Macy to read and doesn't get any work done."

Beca smirks at this. She knows how hard it was for Macy to continue the book exchange with Chloe's father, undoubtedly feeling as though it was tainting the connection between reading and their own dad. But, after a little bit of persuasion on Beca's part, as well as the fact that the books that Kevin Beale has been suggesting are pretty much all Macy reads, she's come around to it. "I'm sure she'll love it."

Chloe can't help but feel her heart swell when she talks about Macy. That girl has made quite the impression on Chloe. "How's she doing tonight? Any problems?"

Beca subconsciously glances at her open bedroom door, as if Macy is standing there, listening to the conversation. She has yet to say anything else since that bus ride home from dinner at the Beale's about her and Chloe, and Beca would like to keep it that way. "She's good. She hasn't had a nightmare in a couple of weeks."

"That's awesome. She seems like such a different person than who she was when you guys first moved here."

Beca can't help but agree. Over the last month or so, Macy has been opening up more and more. She's happier than she has been in months. She's spending more time with Benji, and she's been spending time with Chloe and CR at Fig's. She's starting to act like a kid. "She's doing a lot better. She still has her days, but who doesn't."

Chloe hums in agreement, her eyes drifting over to the clock on her bedside table. "Holy crap, Beca…"

Beca's eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What? What's wrong?"

"It's two-thirty in the morning."

A grin breaks out on Beca's face. They've been talking for almost four hours and neither of them had any idea. "Are you serious?"

Chloe, too, finds herself giggling. Regretfully, she knows that tomorrow is going to be a big day for both of them, and that they need as much sleep as they can get. "As much as I don't want to end this…"

Beca sighs. "I know. We should probably get some sleep. Talk to you in the morning?"

"First thing. Sleep tight, Bec. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Chlo."

Christmas time is Chloe's favorite time of the year. Between the Christmas carols, and the movies, and the lights, and the decorations, and the fact that everyone seems to be extra kind to each other, how can she not love it?

It also means that she gets to spend more time with her friends and family, which is perhaps Chloe's favorite part.

Her family started hosting their annual Christmas party when the boys were younger. At that point, it was mostly colleagues that attended. But, as the kids got older, the guest list quickly grew, now including the friends of their sons and daughter, their families, neighbors, more friends from the hospital, and whoever else may have heard of the party through the grapevine.

Chloe has been helping her mom set up the house all day for the party, and around three, when everyone starts showing up, she is giddy with excitement. She plays hostess well, greeting people at the door, taking their coats and directing them to the food, and only occasionally breaking off from her duties and chatting with Aubrey and Stacie who are sitting on her couch; but there's only one guest that's on her mind – well, two if you count her little sister.

Humming along to the Christmas music that is coming through the house's sound system, Chloe can't help but have a grin on her face. She talks with Stacie and Aubrey's parents and says 'hello' to their little siblings. She greets Bryan, Kelly, and Ella when they arrive, and coos over both JJ and baby Mia when they come in with their parents. She avoids Caleb as he makes his rounds (Dominic won't be able to make the party this year). She helps her mom set out more appetizers and jokes around with her dad, who has his Santa hat firmly on his head. But, as the time approaches four o'clock, and the doorbell once again rings throughout the house, Chloe practically runs to the door, wanting to make sure that she is the one that opens it.

"You made it!" She pulls Macy into a hug, before throwing her arms around Beca's neck, and grinning into her curls. "Come in, come in! How was work?"

After recovering from the welcome hug (and wishing that it didn't end as quickly as it did), Beca steps into the front entryway of the Beale house, Macy slipping her hand back into her own. Even if she has been doing better, that doesn't get rid of the fact that Macy's normal level of anxiety is always present when she's in large crowds and tasked with meeting new people. "It was fine," she meets the piercing blue eyes staring down at her, feeling a smile grow on her face just by Chloe's presence. "Sorry, we're a little late."

Chloe waves off her concern, "No worries. I'm just glad you could come."

Beca smirks, knowing just how excited the redhead has been about this party. She doesn't think that she would ever live it down if she didn't come. "We wouldn't have missed it, right, Mace?"

Macy gives Beca a small nod, her eyes already darting around the house and taking in all the people. She doesn't see Chloe's parents, or Aubrey or Stacie, which pretty much covers all of the people that she knows. She tries to keep her heart rate down, relying solely on the grip that Beca has on her hand to keep her grounded.

Chloe, after spending so much time with Beca and Macy, almost immediately recognizes the fear in the younger girl's face. "Don't worry, I promise you won't have to talk to all of these people. Most of them are from my parents' work, anyway."

This seems to bring a slight sense of ease to Macy, who offers Chloe a hesitant smile. Beca peers around Chloe's shoulder, "There are quite a few people here."

"Eh, I guess… Aubrey and Stacie are in the living room; do you want to go say hi?"

After receiving a confirming nod from both brunettes, Chloe takes Beca's hand in hers, leading the sisters through a small cluster of people who are standing at the threshold of the living room, and over to where Aubrey and Stacie are sitting on the couch, sharing a plate of chips.

Both girls stand when they see Beca; Stacie wraps her in a tentative hug – nowhere near as intimate or comfortable as the one Chloe had given her only moments earlier – and Aubrey waves hello to both her and Macy.

Things have been okay between the four senior girls ever since Chloe told them the truth about what was going on. They have no problems talking with Beca at school or spending time with her even when Chloe isn't around. Stacie is definitely still more personable than Aubrey is, but there hasn't been any tension in the group in a long while.

Stacie brings her attention to Macy, whose eyes are still flitting between person to person. "Are you happy that the semester is over, Macy?"

It takes a second – and a slight tug from Beca – for the twelve-year-old to realize that the question has been addressed to her. She looks up at the taller brunette; they've talked a few times, but she is nowhere near as comfortable around Stacie and Aubrey as she is around Chloe. "Um, yeah, I guess. I'm going to miss my friend, though."

Beca smiles down at her. Her and Benji have practically become inseparable over the last couple of months. Whenever Beca sees her on campus, they are always together, and she can't remember the last time that Macy didn't have a story to tell her about what she and Benji did during the school day on their walk over to Fig's. They haven't tried a sleepover since the first one, but Macy has spent a couple of afternoons over at the Applebaum's while Beca was at work. "We'll set something up so that you can see Benji over break. I promise."

Aubrey watches the sisters carefully. Their dynamic still amazes her even after knowing them for months at this point. Aubrey and her sister, who is only a few years younger than the seniors, are nowhere near as close as Beca and Macy are. At this point, Aubrey isn't even sure if she should be referring to the Mitchell girls as sisters. It's very clear that there is something much more maternal about the way Beca cares for Macy. It's kind of beautiful, and a little bit sad, all at the same time. "Do you guys have any fun plans for break?"

Beca shakes her head. Jack had mentioned something about having a low-key Christmas, which is fine by both Beca and Macy. Beca did what she does every year and purchased a few small gifts for her sister, just in case "Santa" doesn't decide to show up like he hasn't in the past. They'll hang around the house, they'll spend time with CR and go to Fig's, and, hopefully, Beca will get to spend a little more one-on-one time with a particular redhead. "Not really. What about you?"

"My grandparents are coming up from Florida for the holiday. But, other than that, not much."

Stacie groans, "Uh oh, Nana and Papa Posen are in town?" At Aubrey's eye roll, Stacie once again addresses the Mitchell sisters. "These two are the most anal-retentive people you could ever meet. Her grandmother irons her socks."

Beca quirks an eyebrow, stifling a laugh as she looks at the other brunette. "You're joking."

Aubrey sighs, shaking her head. "No, no she's not joking… they're my dad's parents, so it's pretty obvious where he gets it from."

Beca has heard some stories about General Posen, not many of them very good.

Chloe laughs along with her friends, before turning back to Macy. "Speaking of dads, I think mine has another book for you. Should we go find him?" This time, a genuine smile appears on Macy's face, bringing some relief to Beca, who has been worried about how she was going to act tonight.

At the smile, Chloe gently takes Beca's hand again, and they make their way out into the kitchen, where even more people are standing and mingling.

Macy tightens her grasp on her sister's other hand as they are led through crowds of people, Chloe never once hesitating to greet her guests. She's always been amazed at how Chloe is constantly cheerful and welcoming. But, then again, after meeting her parents, she understands where she gets it from.

"Dad! Look who's here!"

Kevin Beale turns away from one of his colleagues, a grin quickly appearing on his face as he sees the Mitchell sisters standing beside his daughter. He hasn't seen them since the dinner, but Kevin has been keeping in touch with them through books that go through Chloe to get into Macy's hands. "Well, hello, hello! So glad you guys could make it!" He can see the nerves on both girls' faces, the same ones that were there when he first met them. "Macy, I think I have a few books that you might like for over break. Do you want to come see them?"

The hesitation is clear on the girl's face as she looks from Kevin – the bright, spirited man who Chloe clearly gets some of her personality from – to Beca, who is waiting for her to make her own decision. Upon seeing Macy's uncertainty, Beca nods, gently loosening the grip that she has on her sister's hand. "Go ahead, munch. I'll be right out here."

It takes another small nudge for Macy to eventually follow Kevin. But, once they are behind the closed door of the office, Chloe turns to Beca with a grin.

Beca just laughs at her expression. "What?"

"Can I introduce you to my brothers now?"

Fear quickly replaces any other emotion on Beca's face as her eyes widen. "Now?"

Someone, Chloe's face brightens even more. "Yeah! Only three of them are here, so, technically, you aren't meeting all of them at once. Pleaseeee?"

Beca suppresses a groan but finds it physically impossible to say no to Chloe when she's giving her those puppy dog eyes. "Fine."

"Yay! Come on!" Still not letting go of Beca's hand – not that either one of them is complaining – Chloe drags her through the kitchen, only stopping when they get to a group of four adults. The two males most definitely have the Beale eyes and the Beale smile, and one of the women has an incredibly small baby in her arms. They stop talking as soon as Chloe stands in front of them. "Guys, this is Beca. Beca, these are my brothers Bryan and Christian, and their wives, Kelly and Natalie."

Beca offers all four of the adults a small smile, still finding it hard to believe that they are so much older than her and Chloe. Bryan, who Beca remembers is her older brother, has darker hair than his sister – his red locks are nowhere near as vibrant as Chloe's. He has his arm wrapped around her wife, who has a red turtleneck on and is holding a glass of wine. Christian, too, resembles both his brother and his sister, but undoubtedly has the same kind smile as his mother. Natalie is the one with the baby, standing with herself tucked into Christian's side.

Christian is the first one to extend his hand, "Nice to meet you, Beca. Do you go to school with Chloe?"

Returning the handshake, Beca nods, wondering whether or not she should be offended that Chloe hasn't told her brothers about her. "Likewise. And yeah, I transferred to Barden a few months ago."

Bryan eyes Beca suspiciously, allowing his gaze to flick down to where her left hand is still linked with his little sister's. "Oh really? Where did you transfer from?"

"Lincoln High. It's on the other side of the city." She feels Chloe give her a reassuring squeeze, which settles her nerves somewhat. "Do you guys still live around here?"

With Beca focusing on the older Beales' answers, Chloe looking between her brothers and Beca, and the four adults focusing on answering Beca's question, none of them notice a certain strawberry-blonde three-year-old running up to them until he lets out a shrill, "Auntie Chlo!"

Chloe barely has time to turn around in the direction of where her nephew is calling her from, before JJ is launching himself onto the teen. The force of his small body is enough to knock Chloe over, causing her to stumble into Beca's arms as she tries to catch him.

Beca smirks down at Chloe, who has – just about – fallen into her arms. She helps to steady her friend, allowing Chloe to get a better hold on the toddler and lift him onto her hip, while Bryan and his wife exchange a quick glance, wondering if they had seen the same interaction between the two girls that the other did. There is definitely something going on there.

Natalie shifts baby Mia in her arms, narrowing her eyes at her son. "JJ, what have we told you about jumping on people?" She turns to Chloe and Beca as the three-year-old grins sheepishly at his mother. "Are you okay?"

Chloe brushes off Natalie's question, and instead, hoists JJ up a little further. "What's up, little man?"

JJ, though, has other questions on his mind. He turns away from his aunt and points a slightly chubby finger in Beca's direction. "Auntie Chlo, who's that?"

Chloe grins, "This is my friend, Beca. Can you say hi?"

Beca gives the boy a small wave. She's decent with kids that aren't her sister; obviously, Macy is a different story. She's been in a few foster homes where her foster siblings were younger, and those are normally fine. But still, some of the super hyper ones – which Chloe's nephew definitely is – freak her out just a little bit. She does have to admit, though, that the photo Chloe sent of him on Thanksgiving doesn't do him justice. He's pretty adorable.

JJ, though, isn't put off by her hesitation. "Hi. I'm JJ. I'm three."

Beca nods, appreciating the information. "Hi, JJ. It's nice to meet you."

"Auntie Chlo, can we go play now?"

Chloe chuckles, "I don't know bud, why don't you – oh, Macy!" While talking to her nephew, Chloe catches a glimpse of a smaller head of chestnut curls, swiveling slightly as she scans the kitchen for her sister.

Macy turns in the direction of the voice, letting out a small sigh of relief when she sees Beca and Chloe smiling and waving at them. Macy cautiously approaches the group, eyeing the adults standing behind her sister and her friend, as well as the child that is sitting contently on Chloe's hip. She takes Beca's hand as soon as she's at her side, Beca introducing her quickly. "Mace, these are Chloe's brothers, Bryan and Christian, and her sister-in-laws, Kelly and Natalie. This is my little sister, Macy."

Again, while the adults definitely are kind and greet her in a similar manner to how they greeted Beca, all four adults are intrigued as to what is going on between Beca, Chloe, and now Macy. Macy definitely looks younger, and she's clinging to her older sister like there's no tomorrow, but both Beca and Chloe are looking at the girl with an extreme sense of adoration.

Beca looks down at her sister's head, tugging her hand slightly so that she pays attention to her question. "Where are your books?"

Macy shrugs, "Kevin said that I could leave them in the study until we leave. He's letting me take three again."

"That was nice of him."

"Who are you?" JJ, apparently, does not like the course of the conversation, because he interrupts rather loudly, looking accusingly at Macy.

Macy offers him a small smile, being much more comfortable around the toddler than the other people at the party. "I'm Macy. What's your name?"

JJ grins. "I'm JJ. Do you want to play?"

Macy's eyebrows furrow slightly, turning her attention from Chloe's nephew to Beca, back to the boy. "Play what?"

"I have my cars downstairs! Come on!" Before Macy has a chance to object, JJ is squirming out of Chloe's arms, sliding down to the floor, and reaching his hand out for Macy's. Macy takes it hesitantly, looking back at Beca for confirmation, and, after receiving a nod, allows herself to be dragged downstairs into Chloe's basement.

Chloe finds this absolutely hilarious – and adorable - turning to Beca with that same gleam in her eyes. "Look at her go!"

Beca snorts, forgetting that the older members of the Beale family are there. "She must find him less intimidating than everyone else."

The two seniors exchange a brief, yet sentimental smile, before Chloe turns back to her brothers. "Okay, I have to go find Caleb and Mom. I'll be back around later." She takes Beca's hand, and they're off again, Beca barely having a chance to say goodbye to the first group of people.

After finding Caleb – who is chatting up one of the younger nurses that works under Lisa in the Emergency Room – and introducing him to Beca, they find Lisa herself still hovering over the oven in the kitchen. Lisa greets her with a hug, chats for a few minutes, before saying that she has to finish heating up the next round of appetizers. But, as Chloe and Beca are about to leave, Lisa asks for her daughter's help, leaving Beca to fend for herself, at least for a little while.

She assures Chloe that she will be fine and begins to mindlessly wander through the first floor of the Beale's house.

There are so many people here, all of them decked out in their Christmas attire, talking amongst themselves like they haven't seen each other in years. Beca makes her way through the living room, stopping briefly to say 'hello' to Aubrey and Stacie again, before moving on. She walks through the front entryway, towards the dining room, all the while taking in how happy everyone is.

And for the first time, in a long time, Beca doesn't feel out of place among them.

She and Macy are safe. Jack is a little strange, and he still rubs Beca the wrong way occasionally, but he hasn't done anything that endangers her little sister or herself. School is good. She likes most of her teachers and she has yet to have a problem with any of her classmates. She still has her job with CR, and Macy is returning to her normal self. It's almost as though everything is falling into place for them, and, the cherry on top, is that Beca has Chloe.

She isn't constantly looking over her shoulder, preparing herself for whatever horrors she is destined to encounter. She isn't up at all hours of the night, taking care of Macy and worrying about whether or not she'll ever get some sleep. In all honesty, she's acting more like a teenager than she has in, what feels like, forever.

And she's happy.

It's an odd feeling, especially considering she has spent such a large portion of her life trying to ensure that her sister is the one that is experiencing that state of contentment. Beca normally doesn't care if she's absolutely miserable, as long as Macy is okay. But now, thinking about everything that has happened over the last few months, she realizes why she's always wanted Macy to be happy.

Because it's an amazing feeling, and she's missed it.

During her lap around the dining room, only after plucking a pretzel from a snowman bowl, Beca finds herself staring at the closed door of the study. She's sure it's closed for a reason, and she's sure that Kevin and Lisa don't want people going in and out of a room that has so many expensive things, but something pulls her towards it. Some force draws her into the study, slipping through the door, and closing it over slightly behind her.

She's left staring at the piano in the corner.

It looks so ominous, sitting there, the cover still over the keys; like it's barely been touched in years. The light from the lamp on Kevin's desk doesn't quite reach the instrument, keeping it under the cover of darkness as Beca stands in the middle of the study, her feet practically glued to the floor. She's lost in her own mind, battling back and forth, and trying to will herself to move just a few more steps.

It's been seven years. Seven years since she's felt this urge. The urge to pour herself into a variety of notes and chords, the urge to express her happiness through the pure sound of the black and white keys. She tried forcing herself to play once, but it wasn't the same then. This time, it's like her body wants to – needs to – feel the piano underneath her fingers. To hear the music in her ears.

Beca sighs, running a hand over her face, before covering the short distance that is separating herself from the bench. She carefully sits down, staring at the piano that is now only inches away from her.

She gulps; ignoring the words in her mind that are berating her for being such a baby, while other words of straight fear try and overpower them.

She hasn't played in years. She probably doesn't even remember how to play. How does she position her hands? Where do her feet go? How is she supposed to sit? Everything seems so foreign to her, yet eerily familiar.

Beca ignores the shaking in her hands, slowly pushing the cover up off the keys, and revealing a long row of white and black. It blurs as Beca looks at them through her tear-filled eyes.

She can't do it.

She readies herself to slide the cover back down, preparing herself to never look at them again, before a voice comes from beside her, causing her to jump in her seat.

"It's not gonna bite you, you know."

With her heart pounding in her chest, she turns her attention to the doorway, where Chloe is standing, with that god damn smile on her face. Those eyes peering into her very being. She slides into the study, closing the door behind her, as Beca sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I – uh – I'm sorry, I was just –"

"You don't have to apologize; I'd love to hear you play."

Beca scoffs, thinking to herself, yeah, you and me, both. She shakes her head, bringing the cover back down over the keys. "I don't think so."

Chloe frowns, shuffling over to where Beca is sitting on the bench, and sliding in beside her. She can see the sadness in her best friend's face. She can see that something isn't right, and she doesn't like it one bit. "What are you talking about? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just, I haven't played for a while, and –" she starts to stand, wanting to escape the room that suddenly seems much smaller, with the walls closing in on her, but a light hand grasps her wrist.

Chloe looks up at her with her wide, cerulean orbs, speaking only when she successfully guides Beca back onto the bench. "Hey, talk to me. What's going on?"

Beca lets out a small laugh, tears starting to swell in her eyes once more. "Nothing. That's the problem."

Chloe's head tilts slightly, "What do you mean?"

Despite every effort on Beca's part, a small tear rolls down her cheek. She angrily wipes it away, groaning and hiding her face in her hands. "God, I am being such a baby."

Chloe reaches out to her, laying a gentle hand on her thigh. "Just because you're upset, doesn't mean you're a baby, Bec. Do you want to talk about it?"

Beca keeps her face covered with her hands for what feels like forever, before she lowers them, wiping the tears off her cheeks as she does so. She avoids looking at the redhead sitting beside her, the hand on her thigh both calming her racing heart and speeding it up all at the same time. She takes a deep breath, attempting to form her thoughts into a coherent sentence that doesn't come out in a blubbering mess. "I haven't played the piano since my parents died."

"Okay," Chloe keeps her voice soft, trying her best not to scare Beca back behind the walls she so easily hides behind. "And you wanted to play today?"

Beca shrugs, still avoiding Chloe's eyes because she knows full well if she doesn't, she's going to break down into a puddle of tears. "It just felt right. I don't know how to explain it."

"So, what happened?"

Staring at the closed piano, Beca mumbles, "I sat down and remembered why I don't play anymore."

Chloe slides closer to Beca, moving her hand from her thigh, to grasp Beca's hand that seems to be shaking from where it's sitting. Chloe takes her fingers in her own, never once looking away from the brunette. "And why's that?"

With even more tears threatening to spill over, and her throat burning with the emotions that are fighting so hard to escape, she barely has a chance to answer. "Because it's lonely. Lonelier than it's ever been."

Chloe tightens her hand around Beca's at the sound of her broken voice, doing everything in her power to show her that she is here, she is listening, and she's not going anywhere. "What do you mean?"

Beca's lip starts to tremble, the cherry wood of the piano blurring as more tears fall. "They were always there. My parents. They would always listen. But now, now they're not and they can't, and I just don't see the point anymore."

When Beca played, there was never doubt in anyone's mind that it was her and the music. She used to block out everything else in the world and it would just be her and the notes and whatever feelings arose from the songs. But, when she stopped, and when she looked up, someone from her family was always there. It didn't matter what time of day it was. Her mother would drift in and out of the living room to listen to her, her father would grade papers and sip his coffee while she played, and even Macy would sit quietly behind her keeping herself occupied, just to hear the magic that came from Beca's fingers and her voice.

It was always so enchanting to watch her, and the presence of her family is something that Beca has missed more than words can describe. She misses the pride in her parents' faces when she finished a particularly challenging part. She misses the way her mom used to gently rest her hand on Beca's shoulder when she came into the room to watch. She misses the way that her father used to peer over his glasses at her while he sat on the couch. She misses them and for so long, she's associated playing music with her parents, and even seven years later, she still can't make that distinction.

Watching her friend completely open up like this is heartbreaking, and Chloe really isn't sure what to say. She doesn't want to say the wrong thing, but she also knows she has to say something. Chloe hesitates, stopping herself from wrapping Beca in her arms and trying to take away all of her pain – even though she knows full well she can't – before saying, just above a whisper, "Don't you think that your parents would've wanted you to keep playing?"

A snort escapes Beca's mouth. Her mom, especially, would be pissed if she knew that she stopped playing the piano. "It's not like they can doing anything about it now."

Chloe allows a small smile to stretch across her lips. "No, but I think that they're still here, somehow. I don't think they ever left you, Bec." She uses her other hand to brush a few more tears from Beca's skin, "And, I think that if you were to play, they'd still be here. Same as before."

To Beca's surprise, she lets her eyes be tugged back in the direction of the piano. Chloe notices this almost immediately, because she slowly releases Beca's hand, and slides the cover back, revealing the keys once more. "Go ahead, Bec. They're here. So am I."

Beca can hear her heart pounding in her chest as she stares at the keys in front of her. The blood rushing in her ears. Her palms are clammy, and her fingers are shaking, but that familiar feeling of dread that normally pops up in her stomach at the mere mention of her parents, is absent.

She brings her fingers to the keys, laying them gently on the smooth surface, and surprising herself when she doesn't jerk them back. Beca takes a deep breath. She can do this. She wants to do this.

She applies pressure to the keys, a chord resounding through the room.

It takes everything in her not to sob as the sound vibrates through her soul, not being able to fathom how much she has missed it.

Tucking her lip between her tooth, the same expression of concentration that she always wore when she played seven years ago appearing once more. Beca flexes her fingers, before playing another chord. And another. Before too long, her fingers are moving across the keys in a precise manner, with the same confidence that ten-year-old Beca had when she last played.

Chloe watches in awe as Beca seems to disappear from beside her, completely becoming consumed by the music that is coming from the piano. It's unlike anything that she has ever seen before. She looks so invested, so committed to the sound, that Chloe is almost certain that if an explosion were to go off, Beca won't even hear it.

And the music. Beca is playing with such passion and talent, that Chloe is sure she has never heard anything like it before. She doesn't even think she's playing a song, but the sounds that are coming out of the piano are perfection. It's magical, and she can't bring herself to look away from the brunette. She doesn't want to look away.

Beca pauses, just for a moment, before her fingers start moving again. This time, Chloe picks up the song almost immediately. She hasn't heard it in years, not since it came out on the radio, but even so, the way Beca is playing it, is beyond anything that Chloe could ever dream. It's so beautiful, that Chloe can't even stop herself from letting her voice mold with the sound of the piano when it gets to the right point.

I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose

Fire away, fire away.

Ricochet, you take your aim.

Fire away, fire away.

Beca's fingers still at the sound of Chloe singing, the majestic and melodic tone of her voice practically yanking her from her trance. She turns her head slightly, only to have her navy blue orbs meet Chloe's piercing baby blues and allowing her fingers to begin moving on their own, as Chloe keeps singing.

Shoot me down, but I won't fall.

I am titanium.

Beca shifts her eyes back down to the keys, and, surprising both girls, Beca's voice emerges from her parted lips, joining the redhead for the last verse; her voice blending beautifully with Chloe's, as if they have always been meant to go together.

You shoot me down, but I won't fall.

I am titanium.

The last note fades into the silence of the room, Beca carefully lowering her hands from where they were poised over the keys and turning slightly in her seat to face Chloe. The redhead has tears in her eyes, and stares at Beca with her jaw slightly open in amazement. "Beca, that was beautiful."

Beca, though, can't bring herself to answer. Besides being completely overwhelmed by the fact that she just played the piano – and sang – for the first time in seven years, Chloe freaking Beale just sang with her. And, even if Beca was focused on the piano, she knows full well that what they've just created, is one of the most amazing sounds she has ever heard.

Chloe's voice is one of the most amazing sounds that she's ever heard.

And that's because Chloe is perfect. A perfect soul, a perfect personality. Perfect hair and perfect eyes. A perfect smile and a perfect face. Chloe Beale is so freaking perfect and she's sitting right next to her, only inches away, and Beca has never felt anything as powerful as the connection she is feeling right now.

Chloe watches as Beca stares at her. Not in a creepy why-in-the-world-did-you-just-start-singing way, but something much, much different. Chloe can feel Beca's stare in every fiber of her being, and it makes her heart race in her chest. It makes her stomach flutter and her breath quicken.

And it draws Chloe in.

It draws Chloe in until the two seniors are mere centimeters apart.

Until they can both feel each other's breath on their skin.

Until their lips connect in a kiss so hesitant, yet so passionate and with such longing, that it's unlike anything either of them has ever experienced before.