For Tumblr prompt - Stay Awake. PP3 doesn't exist because I low-key forgot about it. If you don't want your heart torn out, stop after 11!
1. After Movie Night
"I can't believe you agreed to watch 'Psycho' with them," Beca said sternly, her hands on her hips as she stared at the lump under the covers – under her covers.
"It's a classic," came Chloe's muffled reply.
"But you hate scary movies!" Beca huffed, throwing her arms up in the air. "And 'Psycho' is, like, the scary movie. It's Hitchcock, for Christ's sake!"
A low groan filled the air and the lump on Beca's bed seemed to shrink; Beca pictured Chloe curling even more tightly into herself under the covers. She sighed.
"And you're in my bed because…?" she asked, already knowing exactly how the night was going to go.
"Mmph."
A mixture of annoyance and pity washed over Beca. She'd been looking forward to getting a good night's sleep after the long week she'd had, but by the look of things, that wasn't going to happen. On the other hand, she hated seeing Chloe in distress. Even if it was kind of her own fault.
Well. There was really only one option from here.
"Whose idea was it anyway?" Beca asked in defeat as she reached for her pajamas and started to change.
"Amy's," Chloe replied, her voice small.
Beca tugged her pajama shirt over her head and glanced over at her roommate's empty bed. Leave it to Amy to bail after making the other Bellas watch one of the freakiest movies of all time. Amy knew full well what scary movies did to them all, especially to Chloe.
Beca had only escaped the torture by being out on a date with Jesse. She hadn't gotten back until well after the movie had ended and had made a beeline to her room, only to discover a pajama-clad Chloe Beale pacing around outside her door. The instant she'd opened the door, Chloe had shot under the covers of her bed and curled up.
Beca finished changing and walked over to the door, intending to turn off the light.
"Wait!" Chloe squeaked, and Beca glanced over to see her forehead and eyes peeking out from under the comforter. "Leave the lights on!"
"Chloe," Beca sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I can't sleep if the lights are on. We'll be okay."
Chloe's eyes widened. "Well… at least lock the door," she pleaded, her voice quivering.
Beca resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Chloe seemed seriously freaked out, and maybe dismissing her wasn't the best way to handle things at the moment. So, to make Chloe feel better, she put on a show of locking the door and jiggling the handle, looking back at Chloe to make her point.
(It really was all for show – the lock on the door didn't work anyway, as she and Amy had discovered most unfortunately when Beca had accidentally walked in on her and Bumper. Now that had been scary.)
"Better?" Beca asked.
Chloe nodded gratefully, revealing more of her face from under the covers.
"Okay, well. I'm still turning off the light." And before Chloe had a chance to object, Beca flicked the switch and plunged the room into darkness.
"Beca?" Chloe's scared voice resonated around the room immediately.
Beca hummed and said, "I'm right here," as she navigated the familiar space to her bed. She heard Chloe sigh quietly once she found the bed. She lifted a corner of the covers, feeling some resistance from Chloe's death grip on them, before sliding under them and next to Chloe.
It was snug. The bed was really meant for one person, and they were both trying to keep to "their" side. It was awkward.
Since Beca and the others had moved into the Bella house with Chloe at the start of the school year, Chloe had forced Beca to share a bed with her exactly twice. Once was on Beca's very first night in the house, when she'd realized she'd forgotten to pack her bedsheets and had to have her dad bring them the next day. The other was following a wild party they'd hosted, where some Treble had actually thrown up on Chloe's bed, meaning she had needed to sleep in someone else's. Beca had most reluctantly volunteered after a pointed look from Amy.
So now they were at number three in terms of bed-sharing.
It was so awkward.
Beca felt Chloe shift next to her and knew she was still wide awake. Chloe hated scary movies. It stemmed back to something about her senior prom night, but Beca couldn't remember exactly what it was.
Chloe shifted again, closer to her and the center of the bed. Beca fought the urge to move away. She stared up at the ceiling, debating. Should she…? It would be more comfortable, probably. And it would make Chloe feel better.
She blew out a breath, puffing her cheeks, thinking.
After some internal debate (is it weird? It's weird), she said softly, "Do you… want me to, like, you know, put my arm out? So you can – so you have room?"
"That might be nice," Chloe whispered back. She lifted her head slightly, allowing Beca to slide her arm under the pillow so they could move closer together.
Beca heard Chloe's breath catch when their sides pressed together, but she figured it was in relief from not having to worry about falling out of bed. And having Chloe pressed up against her felt okay, much less awkward than she thought it would. It was actually kind of nice.
She closed her eyes and was just starting to drift off to sleep – it had been a long week – when she heard Chloe whisper, "Stay awake."
"What?" Beca groaned, somewhat groggy already. "Why?"
"Because I'm still scared, and I need you to distract me."
"Chloe…"
"Please?"
Beca knew she'd lost. Of course she'd stay awake for Chloe. That's what friends do. That didn't mean, though, that she couldn't tease a little.
"You know, if you can't sleep, maybe you can try a shower?" Beca suggested, holding back her laughter. "That might help calm you down?"
She felt Chloe stiffen. "What, so the psycho can come kill me like in the movie? I don't think so!"
Enjoying her newfound power immensely, Beca quipped back, "Well, you don't have a problem attacking people in showers."
Chloe gasped so dramatically that Beca was surprised there was still air left in the room. "That was different!" she exclaimed. "I had to know who was singing!"
"And you couldn't have waited for me to finish showering?" Beca responded, knowing exactly what Chloe was going to say next. They'd had this discussion several times before.
"You know I'm impulsive. I couldn't help it!" Chloe fired back.
A wave of affection for Chloe washed over Beca; Chloe's voice was back to normal, and for the first time in hours, she didn't seem to be thinking of creepy murderers in motels.
"I bet you could have," Beca replied, happy to keep their conversation going if it meant Chloe wasn't scared anymore.
From the huge huff Chloe emitted at her statement, Beca knew she was in for it.
It was going to turn into a long night of talking. Beca was only a little surprised to realize that she didn't mind.
2. After the Welcome Party
Treble/Bella parties were nothing new.
What was new, though, was how absolutely smashed Beca allowed herself to become at one. She had never been much into getting so drunk she couldn't remember the events of the night, but it seemed that her senior year was a good time to turn over a new leaf. It was her last year at college, so why not take advantage?
Or, maybe it had more to do with the horror of Muffgate and the ensuing Barden Bella ban. Whatever the reason, Beca was no longer above drinking her body weight in whatever questionable concoction Amy shoved into her hand. Plus, her new internship (and hiding it from Chloe) was kind of stressing her out. A lot.
Beca knew it was probably a stupid decision, really. Excessive alcohol consumption can be incredibly dangerous, and almost always leads to excessive embarrassment. However, as she threw back her seventh (eighth?) shot of the night and sipped on some more of whatever the hell Amy had shoved into her other hand as a "chaser" (there was definitely vodka and rum in it), Beca couldn't care less.
She was safe. She knew almost everyone at the party, and had even met the new Legacy chick, Erica or something. The Bella house was next door. Jesse was around, though she'd lost track of him some time ago. And Chloe was keeping an eye on her.
In fact, Chloe was right by her side, no longer drinking, but helping Beca navigate the throng of dancing college kids. Her clothes had mostly dried from her time in the pool, though the memory of her jumping into it – hazy as it was – still made Beca giggle. (Vodka makes her giggle. It had nothing to do with Chloe's hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the Bella house.)
Wait.
"Why are we going home? I'm not done yet," Beca tried to say, though she wasn't sure how much actually made it out of her mouth. Her ears were too cottony to be of any help.
"I don't know what you just said," Chloe replied, looking a little worried, "and that tells me I'm making the right decision. I'm cutting you off."
"Whaaaat? But Chloeeee," Beca slurred, stumbling slightly, only to feel Chloe's arm wrap around her waist completely. She sighed happily, thoughts of the party already fading from her mind, and leaned into the hold; Chloe wouldn't let her fall.
"Come on, Drunko. Watch your step," Chloe said as she opened the front door and helped her into the house, where they stopped in front of the stairs. "Right. Think you can make it?"
Beca stared in silence at the daunting sight of the steps in front of her. If they weren't moving so much, it wouldn't be a problem.
"Uh…"
"We're gonna try, okay?" Chloe asked. "Look at me real quick?"
Beca had no idea what was happening, but she couldn't say no to Chloe. She turned to meet familiar bright blue eyes and felt herself smile dopily.
"Yeah…" Chloe stared back at her, eyes flicking between her own. "You're gonna sleep in my room tonight, okay? Next to the bathroom."
"Hmm," Beca murmured, beyond caring.
Chloe led her to the stairs, and they began the climb. It required all her concentration (and Chloe's support) to stumble up the steps without falling on her face. Miraculously, though, they made it without injury and Chloe steered Beca down the hall into her single room.
Chloe took her to the bed and guided her hips down until she was seated on the edge. "Stay there," she said sternly, pointing into Beca's face before moving away again.
Beca only dimly registered what was happening as Chloe dug through her dresser and flung a T-shirt and shorts in her direction.
"Change into those," Chloe commanded, walking into her closet with her own set of pajamas to change into.
Beca clumsily kicked off her shoes, tugged off her shirt, then peeled away her skinny jeans, laughing vaguely when they got caught around one ankle. It took her a while, but she eventually managed to finish changing into the outfit Chloe had tossed at her and lay back on the bed, the room starting to spin around her. She was definitely sleepy now, and was thrilled to find herself on a nice, soft bed.
"Beca. Open your eyes. You have to drink water."
Beca forced her eyes open – she hadn't known she'd closed them – and lay blinking at the ceiling light. Chloe had changed already and was staring down at her.
"I'm up," Beca whined theatrically, vaguely offended by the amused look on Chloe's face. Wordlessly, Chloe handed her a water bottle – where had that come from? – and Beca obediently tipped it back to chug. When Chloe looked satisfied, Beca proudly lowered the bottle and handed it back to her, triumphant at only spilling a little on herself.
Chloe placed the bottle on the floor at her side of the bed and walked around the bed to climb in next to her. They sat for a moment with their backs against the headboard. Beca's body felt very fuzzy and her eyelids became increasingly heavy.
"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked quietly. "Do you need any food?"
"I'mmokay," Beca sighed, wanting nothing more than to sleep. She looked down to see Chloe's fingers laced with her own. She wasn't sure when that had happened, but she liked it.
"Okay. You want to sleep?"
Beca nodded, then scooted awkwardly down in the bed. She was sad when it meant Chloe had to stop holding her hand, but then her head hit the pillow and she forgot all about it, eyes closing.
"Hey, no, sleep on your side tonight, okay? So you don't choke." Chloe's voice made her eyes open again reluctantly.
Blearily, Beca turned to lay on her side, her back to Chloe. She grumbled a little, but it was all for show. She'd do anything Chloe asked.
"Thank you," Chloe whispered. "I want you to be safe."
Beca sighed, sleep already creeping into her mind. She really loved how good Chloe was to her. She really loved Chloe, actually.
"I really love you," Beca mumbled into the pillow. "Like, more than anyone else."
She felt Chloe shift beside her, then heard her voice as if from far away. "Beca? Did you just… Beca?"
Beca only hummed, her body relaxing into the bed. She dimly wished Chloe would hold on to her, like Jesse did sometimes.
"Beca, stay awake for a sec, please. What did you just say? Beca?"
But she'd already drifted off to sleep.
3. After They Became Champions
"Chlo. You have to stay awake. We just won Worlds! It's party time!" Beca shook Chloe's shoulder, doing her very best to keep her co-captain conscious. The Worlds competition had finished wrapping up moments before, and the Bellas had stepped off stage to sit together on the grass and celebrate their win.
"Seriously, Chloe, you were all aca-crazy on us this whole year, the least you can do is buy us shots," Amy added helpfully from Beca's other side. The other Bellas whooped in agreement ("Just don't tell my mom!" cried Emily anxiously).
Chloe blinked around at them all blearily. Beca knew she really had herself to blame; she'd known how jet lagged and exhausted Chloe still was, the stress of the year finally having caught up with her. She shouldn't have let Chloe sit down for even a second, because getting her back up was going to be a challenge.
"I don't know, guys," Chloe said, stifling a massive yawn. "I might go back to the hotel…" A chorus of protests met her words, making her flinch.
Beca shushed the others, leaned forward, and said softly to Chloe, "A victory party won't be the same without you, Chlo. Do it for me?"
She knew it was a cheap move; Chloe could never say no to her, as she'd discovered relatively recently. But then, Beca figured, she could never say no to Chloe, so it was fair.
Sure enough, Chloe looked at her with a mix of amusement and something she couldn't quite figure out. Before she had time to guess at what it was, though, Chloe looked back at the others and said, "Okay, fine, let's party. It's not every day we become world champions!"
"That's right!" shrieked Emily, leaping – actually leaping – into the air. "We're champions!"
Around them, the Bellas erupted into cheers and shouts of joy, but Beca really only had eyes for her tired (but happy) co-captain.
4. After The Move
Unpacking was a bitch.
Beca looked around at their new Brooklyn apartment with mild horror. It wasn't much – it was the size of a closet – and half-unpacked boxes were strewn haphazardly around the space, much of their contents spread on counters or on the floor until finding a permanent home. They needed to get a shower curtain for the toilet, and there really needed to be some kind of partition set up between Amy's bed and the pull-out couch bed. And, oh yeah, the fact that she and Chloe were going to have to share that teeny fold-out bed. It wasn't ideal.
She wasn't really sure how her life had gotten to this point.
Chloe had been thrilled about every step of the way, because of course. She'd cheered them as they lugged box after box – they surely didn't need all that stuff – up rickety stairs and into the apartment. She attacked open boxes with an alarming fervor, insistent that they unpack as much as possible the first night. She had even started an Excel spreadsheet about where they put everything, in case they needed to find something quickly.
At one point, Beca had stopped to take a quick breather, only for Chloe to immediately yell at her to get back up and keep going. It was about then that Amy had conveniently mumbled some excuse and left the apartment, abandoning Beca to Chloe's overenthusiasm.
Not sure what else to do without getting screeched at again, Beca slit open yet another box, ignoring the ones she'd already opened. Unfortunately, Chloe chose that moment to squeal loudly over a group photo of the Bellas she'd just extracted from a box, startling Beca and making the knife in her hand slip onto her opposite thumb.
"Ouch, fuck, shit," she swore, dropping the knife to suck on her stinging cut.
"Oh no!" Chloe exclaimed, looking up from the photograph. "Are you okay?"
Beca took her hand from her mouth and examined the cut; it didn't look too deep, and the bleeding had already slowed. To be fair, she wasn't sure how much blood she had left; she'd already cut herself three times and had gotten a number of carboard paper cuts.
"It's fine," Beca muttered. "But can we be done now?" She heard the exasperation in her own voice, and half-expected Chloe to whip out the Pitch Pipe and chuck it at her head, but to her surprise, Chloe's expression softened, and she nodded.
"Yeah, let's call it a night," she said. "We've done a lot today."
Beca let out a huge sigh and turned to throw herself on her – their – bed. "Thank God!" she said, flat on her back, one arm tossed over her face to cover her eyes.
Chloe laughed, then reprimanded, "Oh, it wasn't that bad."
Beca held her cut hands out over her body and said dryly, "I almost bled out from the box opener."
With a tut of her tongue, Chloe muttered, "That was your own fault," as she nudged aside a box and started toward the bed.
"Hmpf," grunted Beca as Chloe sat next to her, looking down at her face. "Wanna watch Netflix?" she asked, sitting up to lean against the "headboard" next to Chloe. Sharing a bed might be awkward for a while, but it was nothing they hadn't done before. Besides, if Beca'd had to pick one Bella to share a bed with, it would have been Chloe.
"Sure," said Chloe, grabbing her laptop from her nightstand and moving it to rest between them. "What should we watch?" She pulled her lower lip into her mouth, her eyes narrowing as she thought. Beca couldn't stop her eyes from flicking down to Chloe's lips and back up.
"I'm feeling some Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," she finally said decisively, glancing at Beca for approval.
"Perfect," Beca nodded.
"Pitch Perfect?" Chloe asked, looking at her out of the corner of her eye.
"What?"
"Never mind," said Chloe, a corner of her mouth twitching in amusement. Beca really needed to stop looking at her mouth. "Let's just watch the show."
The familiar intro music played ("Can you believe people actually skip the song?" Chloe asked, scandalized), and Beca shifted to a more comfortable position on the bed. It had been an excruciatingly long day for multiple reasons. She closed her eyes for just a moment to rest.
She didn't realize she was starting to nod off until Chloe's elbow jabbed into her side.
"Oof, what –"
"No, you have to stay awake!" Chloe said earnestly. "It's our first night in the apartment together!"
Beca shook her head, trying to wake up a little. She glanced at the laptop screen and saw she'd missed several minutes of the show.
"Right," she said, clearing her throat and glancing at Chloe's pleading eyes, "okay, I'm up."
She shifted in bed, trying to prop herself up. She glanced at her phone. Nothing from Jesse yet. She looked back at the laptop, only to see she again missed several seconds of the show. She tapped her fingers nervously on her leg.
"Hey, you okay?"
Beca looked up to see Chloe watching her closely, clearly concerned.
Beca blinked in surprise; she hadn't been planning on talking mentioning anything, but… she took a deep breath.
"Yeah, it's just… I broke up with Jesse," Beca said softly, feeling her face warm at the admission.
Chloe's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She gaped at Beca in disbelief for so long that Beca wondered if she'd had some kind of stroke. After several moments, she recovered enough to gasp, "Shit, Bec, what happened?"
Beca shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant about it. She didn't see why it was such a big deal. "He just didn't get why I came here with – he just didn't get it," she said in a rush, hoping Chloe didn't notice the near slip-up. In truth, Jesse hadn't been happy that she and Chloe were going to be sharing a bed. And Beca was tired of him constantly questioning her feelings (completely platonic, of course) toward her best friend.
"Oh… I'm sorry," Chloe said, a strange expression on her face. Beca tried not to read into it too much; most likely, she was trying to refrain from asking a ton of questions.
"It's okay, really," Beca replied, only slightly surprised to find that it actually was okay. "I think we both knew it was coming for a while."
A corner of Chloe's mouth quirked up in sympathy, and she leaned forward. Unconsciously, Beca mirrored her, leaning in. Again, she couldn't stop her eyes from flicking down to Chloe's lips. What was wrong with her?
"Do you need a hug?" Chloe whispered. "I won't tell anyone."
Beca laughed a little. She couldn't help it. The whole thing was just so Chloe. She dragged a hand through her hair, and, still smiling, whispered back, "I would like a hug, yes."
Beaming at her, Chloe leaned again to envelop Beca in her arms. Beca squeezed her eyes closed and inhaled Chloe's familiar scent deeply, her own arms rising to rest around Chloe's waist.
Yeah. She could get used to their new home.
5. In Case of Emergency
Chloe hummed as she cooked. Beca didn't think she even knew she did it, but that made it even more adorable.
They'd lived in the Brooklyn apartment for almost two years, and yet, Beca had still failed to master the kitchen. Over time, it had really become more Chloe's domain anyway; she loved everything to do with cooking, baking, and kitchen things in general. Beca, on the other hand, had what she considered a healthy mistrust of the oven, and Amy was never home at dinnertime. ("My Fat Amy Adams impression isn't going to give itself.")
Beca sat on the bed, pretending to work on her laptop while actually watching Chloe sway her hips in time with the tune she was humming. Something had changed. Beca wasn't sure when, or how, but something had changed between them for the better. Chloe had somehow become the most important person in her life, and maybe it should have scared Beca, but it didn't. It felt as natural as breathing.
Which is why the sight of Chloe suddenly doubling over, clutching at her stomach and crying out, shot terror through Beca's veins like ice.
"Chloe!" she shouted, shoving her laptop aside carelessly to launch herself into the kitchen.
Chloe fell to the ground, still grasping at her abdomen. "Fuck, Bec, it really hurts," she groaned, surprise underlying the pain in her voice.
Beca sank to her knees next to her, stunned at Chloe's swearing. Chloe never swore.
"Chlo, what – tell me – what can I do?" she tried to keep her own voice steady, tried not to show how scared she was.
Chloe's brow furrowed, and she curled more tightly into herself until she was in the fetal position. Instinctively, needing to help but not sure how, Beca reached out and placed one hand on her hip, the other brushing Chloe's hair away from her face.
"I need – hospital, now," Chloe managed through gritted teeth.
Beca's heart dropped and she felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach. "Uh, okay," she said, looking around frantically for her phone. "Do you want an ambulance?"
Chloe laughed harshly and choked out, "We can't afford that and you know it." She winced and her body jerked under Beca's hands.
Panic started to rise in Beca's throat. She could drive them, but she didn't know if Chloe could make it down the stairs, and then they'd be caught in rush hour traffic… and Chloe was in so much pain…
"Right," she said, trying to remain calm for Chloe's sake, "but Chloe, the traffic – "
Chloe interrupted her with a groan of pain, her eyes squeezing closed momentarily. "Fine," she gasped, "call the damn ambulance."
Beca sprang up from the floor instantly, her eyes scanning the apartment. Where did she put her damn phone?
Finally, she spotted it on the floor near their bed. She lunged for it, knocking over a chair at the kitchen table in her rush. She scooped it up, then threw herself back across the apartment to Chloe. She fumbled with the phone, hands shaking too badly to punch in her PIN correctly. After three tries, she finally managed to unlock her phone and dialed 911.
It rang twice. She didn't understand why it took that long. How dare it take that long when Chloe couldn't even stand?
"911, what's your emergency?" Beca almost sobbed in relief when the dispatcher answered.
"Yeah, it's my – my roommate," Beca managed, Chloe's eyes fixed on hers as she spoke. "She collapsed and she's in a lot of pain, you need to get here now!"
"Is she conscious?"
"Yes! And she's in a lot of pain and on the floor and you need to be here, okay?" Beca said in a rush. Didn't this person – she had no idea if they were male or female, she just cared about them sending an ambulance – understand that they needed to hurry?
"Breathe, Bec," Chloe whispered. Beca could have cried. Chloe was trying to calm her. She settled for blinking rapidly and reaching down to take Chloe's hand in her free one.
"We need your address, and we need you to stay calm."
Beca grit her teeth but inhaled deeply and told the dispatcher their address. Chloe's hand squeezed hers tightly and she shifted uncomfortably on the floor.
"Okay, an ambulance is on the way. Where is the pain coming from?"
"Um…" Beca pulled the phone away from her mouth. "Chlo, where does it hurt?"
"My right side," Chloe managed, her voice scarily quiet.
Beca repeated the information to the dispatcher, not taking her eyes from Chloe's face. Her body felt numb and her head a little floaty.
Jesus. The last thing they needed was for her to pass out.
"Has your roommate had her appendix removed?"
A brick slid into Beca's stomach. Of course. What else could it be?
"Do you still have your appendix?" she fired at Chloe, who nodded, eyes widening.
"Yes, she still has it. Do you think that's it?"
"I need you to apply pressure gradually to her side, then pull back all at once. If the pain gets worse, it's likely the appendix."
Beca closed her eyes. She could do this.
Chloe was watching her closely, face still twisted in pain and eyes overly bright. "What did they say?" she asked, voice tight.
"I need to touch where it hurts," Beca replied, trying not to think about how much pain Chloe might be in soon.
Wincing, Chloe nodded and unfurled slightly, moving her arms to give Beca access to her stomach. Tenderly, Beca reached down. She hesitated for a second before slowly pressing into Chloe's right side, keeping her gaze locked on Chloe's face. She pressed further, then pulled back all at once.
Chloe's eyes slammed shut and she cried out, a horrible, gut-wrenching noise that tore at Beca's soul.
"I'm sorry, Chloe, I'm so sorry!" Beca said desperately, hating herself.
Suddenly, Chloe rolled to her other side, turning away from Beca, and was violently sick.
"Shit, fuck, ah –" Beca fumbled with the phone in her hand, rubbing small circles on Chloe's back with the other. "She's throwing up now! What's happening?" she spat into the phone.
"It sounds like appendicitis. The medics should be there at any moment, and they will take her to the hospital."
Chloe rolled back to face Beca, pale and sweaty. Beca watched, horrified, as her eyes drifted closed and her breathing turned shallow.
"No, stay awake, Chloe, please," she murmured, her throat tight, as she wiped at Chloe's mouth with her own sleeve.
Opening her eyes a crack, Chloe said softly, "I'm not going to sleep. Just hurts. It's okay."
"You'd better be okay, damn it, because –" Beca's voice caught in her throat. There was no coming back from this.
In that moment, she realized what had changed between them.
And if she told Chloe, it would change everything. And if Chloe didn't feel the same, it would destroy her.
But then, Chloe twitched again, agony written over her face, and Beca was seized with the need to tell her, to let her know, just in case she didn't get another chance.
Fuck it.
"Because I love you!" she finished, needing Chloe to understand.
Chloe frowned at her. "I loved you too, Bec, but –"
"No," Beca cut her off, "I mean… like. I'm – I'm in love with you."
Bright blue eyes flew open in shock and amazement; Beca watched as Chloe's face put on display a range of emotion, from surprise to confusion to fear and, finally – remarkably – to complete happiness.
"Beca, I lo –"
"Um, this isn't a great time, but you should know that the ambulance has arrived." The voice of the dispatcher was jarring in Beca's ear. She'd forgotten she was still on the phone.
At that moment, there was a booming knock on the door: the medics. Beca dropped her phone, flew across the room, unbolted the door, and flung it wide to let in several paramedics, who were at Chloe's side instantly, a stretcher held between them.
One of the medics, a kind-looking woman, pulled Beca to the side and out of the way in the cramped apartment.
"You called?" the medic asked gently.
Beca nodded, her eyes on the men lifting Chloe to the stretcher.
"She'll be okay," the medic said, noticing where her attention was. "We see this a lot."
"She'd better be," Beca breathed. "She's my everything."
6. After Their First Time
Chloe rolled off of Beca, only to cuddle into her side, hand on resting on Beca's stomach and head at her shoulder.
Their bare bodies remained touching at every point possible; Beca used to hate cuddling after sex – it had felt suffocating – but even being in this much contact with Chloe wasn't enough. If she could, she would pull Chloe into her very skin.
They lay there, breathing hard, as Beca stared at the ceiling. Her body still tingled, contentment coating her insides. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so happy. And it was all because of the woman next to her.
Finally, Chloe broke the silence. "That was…"
"I know," Beca said. It had been completely perfect.
Beca closed her eyes and relived the past few hours. Their fourth date… arriving home to the empty apartment… the kissing that had turned into much, much more… watching in awe as Chloe revealed herself… hardly daring to believe that Chloe was letting her touch her body… tracing over the fading scar on her right side to caressing her breasts, to dipping lower and into heat… and then having Chloe do the same for her.
Their first time had been utterly astounding.
Beca felt like she was glowing. Actually fucking glowing. Her chest felt all tight and full. She was so happy it was gross.
Chloe's finger prodded at her cheek gently. Beca opened her eyes and took in Chloe's wild hair, swollen lips, flushed face, and darkened eyes.
She'd never seen anyone so beautiful.
"Stay awake, Bec. Or did I tire you out?" Chloe added teasingly, biting her lower lip.
Beca grinned back, a knot already starting to form low in her stomach.
"Hardly," she replied, shifting to swing a leg over Chloe's hips and leaning down to capture her lips. Chloe sighed into the kiss and wrapped her arms around Beca's back, pulling her close and lifting her hips up into her.
Beca moaned, her hand already slipping down between them.
It was going to be an unforgettable night.
7. At the Murder Cabin
Beca lay stretched out on her side, eyes zeroed in on their bedroom door. She spun her engagement ring around her finger nervously, ears straining for the sound of splintering wood or the click of a door handle. She'd definitely locked the front door. Right? She'd checked three times already.
She heard the pattering of rain on the roof, then the unmistakable creaking of the trees outside. Was that a twig snapping?
Maybe she should check the lock again.
A sudden scraping noise filled the room and Beca jumped violently; she bolted upright in bed, only to see a branch trailing across a window, steered into the cabin by the howling wind outside.
A hand landed on her back, smoothing up and down over her pajama shirt. "It's okay, Bec," Chloe mumbled from beside her. "It's jus' the wind."
Beca swung around to stare at Chloe incredulously. "Why did Aubrey feel the need to stick us in some – some creepy backwoods murder cabin?"
Chloe sighed. "Oh, calm down," she said, blinking up at Beca blearily, "it's charming."
Beca snorted, feeling near hysterics. "It's like something our of a horror movie."
"Oh, shush."
"Chloe," said Beca seriously, "I feel like if I don't stay awake, someone with an axe will break in and brutally murder us both."
"Beca," Chloe said, mirroring Beca's serious tone (Beca rather thought she was being mocked), "The other Bellas are nearby in their own cabins. We're here because Aubrey and Stacie invited us to celebrate with them, remember?"
Beca stiffened. "Oh my God," she breathed.
"What?"
"Lilly is going to murder us."
"Beca," Chloe reprimanded with a laugh that made Beca smile grudgingly, her unease fading. "Go to sleep. Or no sex for a week," she added, looking triumphant.
Beca stared at her, offended by the too-pleased little smile on Chloe's face. Two could play that game. Smirking, Beca replied cockily, "Ha, like you could last a week without my tongue between –"
A pillow flew up out of nowhere to hit her squarely in the face.
"Go to sleep!"
8. After Their Wedding
Beca never thought that life would take her to this point. She had never planned on having a wedding, not really. She wasn't opposed to marriage in the slightest, but she never saw the appeal of having a hundred people staring at her and her partner as they read each other mushy love stuff and promised to spend their lives together. It hadn't made any sense to her.
Until, of course, Chloe Beale had gotten down on one knee (Beca had immediately pulled her up back to standing).
Well. Chloe Mitchell, now.
And as Beca walked down the hallway of the hotel, hand-in-hand with her new wife (wife!), she couldn't think of a single thing she would change. It felt as though everything in her life had been leading her to this point. If a meteor were to fall from space and demolish the earth, she would die happy.
The ceremony had been small but perfect. The Bellas had all gone, of course, as if that was even a question. Beca had done her very best to ignore the "It's about time" sign that Amy had held up following the vows. Both their parents had been there, too, with their respective fathers walking them each down the split aisles to one another. Beca had never seen her dad cry before, but he assured her it was all happy tears.
Beca hadn't cared about any of their guests, though, not really. They could have had no one show up and it wouldn't have mattered. The only person in the world she cared about was the one she was marrying.
Chloe had looked utterly radiant in her dress. It was gorgeous, white, lacy top, and flowing bottom, but beyond that, Beca couldn't remember any details. What she did remember was the shine in Chloe's eyes, the beauty of her face, and how her hair had been twisted into an elegant up-do.
Beca had worn a dress too, also white and relatively simple. She'd asked Aubrey to do her hair, which she later regretted when Aubrey used the time together to unload multiple death threats "case in you ever think about hurting Chloe."
As if.
The entire ceremony had been perfect, and their reception full of laughter. She had loved seeing the Bellas having a good time, and the sight of Aubrey and Stacie dancing nearby had sent a wave of affection for them all washing over her.
The Beca Mitchell of years ago would have laughed at her. She didn't care.
She and Chloe reached the door of their room, Chloe digging in a small clutch for the key. She found it, unlocked the door, and Beca was about to start in when Chloe stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"I know it might not work," Chloe said in response to her questioning look, "but I'd really like to carry my wife over the threshold."
Beca felt her face split into a wide grin. She was never going to get tired of that word. Wife.
"Let's try it," she said. She'd agree to anything at this point.
Chloe smiled and bent her knees; Beca looped her arms around her neck, then lifted first one leg for Chloe to scoop up, then then the other, and suddenly she was situated comfortably in Chloe's arms.
"God, I'm glad I work out," Chloe grunted playfully. "You weigh, like, a million pounds."
"Shut up. And don't whack my head on the doorframe," Beca warned, eyeing the doorway.
"Don't tempt me," Chloe replied as she eased forward, turning slightly to the side to fit them through the door.
Beca held her breath and did her best to think light thoughts, but Chloe managed it without a hitch. Before she knew it, they crossed the threshold and the door swung closed behind them. Beca leaned forward and pecked Chloe's lips before Chloe could set her down; there was just something about Chloe carrying her that she adored.
Chloe did set her down eventually, though, making sure Beca had her balance before stepping away slightly to look around the room. They had spared no expense; it was a suite, with a king-sized bed, a kitchen area, and a large bathroom, complete with jacuzzi-sized bathtub.
The amenities didn't matter to Beca, though. She only had eyes for Chloe, who was watching her just as intently.
"You look beautiful," Beca whispered, wishing she were better with words. "Beautiful" wasn't nearly enough to describe how absolutely stunning Chloe looked.
Nevertheless, Chloe's cheeks tinged pink and she glanced down before meeting Beca's eyes again. "You look better," she said quietly.
Beca couldn't help but snort at that; there was no comparison.
"I'm serious," insisted Chloe, as if she knew what Beca was thinking. And then, her expression so tender that it almost hurt to look at, she said softly, "Thank you for making me the happiest person in the world."
Beca frowned and said, "That's not true."
Chloe tilted her head, clearly confused.
"I'm the happiest person in the world," Beca clarified, "and it's all because of you."
A smile flitted across Chloe's face. "That was cheesy."
Beca nodded in agreement, then raised a finger threateningly. "And if you tell the Bellas, I'll –"
"Please, babe," Chloe cut her off with a wave of her hand, "they already know. They knew before we did."
Swallowing her threat, Beca moved her hand to rub at the back of her neck. "Yeah," she said, "they're pretty smart, aren't they?"
"Uh huh," Chloe agreed, then turned around. "Help me with the zip?"
"You know I love unzipping your clothes," Beca said, wigging her eyebrows as she moved forward.
"Wow, aren't you forward?" Chloe teased, sighing when Beca pressed her lips against the back of her neck as she dragged the zipper down.
Beca didn't reply, only let her fingers trail along the revealed skin of Chloe's back. She couldn't get over the fact that Chloe had chosen her over everyone else in the world. It didn't make any sense.
And yet, when Chloe turned around to capture Beca's lips in a searing kiss, Beca thought that maybe it did make sense, in a weird way.
"Your turn," Chloe mumbled against her lips, gently grabbing Beca by the shoulders and turning her around to ease the zipper of her dress down.
Beca closed her eyes at the feel of careful fingers at her back, tracing down her spine as the zipper fell. Once it was unzipped, Chole stepped back so they could both take off their dresses. Careful not to wrinkle the material, Beca hung it up delicately in their enormous closet, in which their suitcases had already been placed.
She turned around to see Chloe, clad only in matching white lace bra and underwear, eyeing up and down her body.
"Did you plan this?" Chloe asked, gesturing to Beca's own white lingerie set. "The matching?"
"Nah," replied Beca, "I just figured…" she trailed off, distracted by the massive yawn Chloe tried (unsuccessfully) to hide behind her hand. Beca didn't blame her; it had been a long day, and they certainly hadn't slept much the night before….
But still. It was their wedding night, for crying out loud.
"Oh, hey, none of that," Beca said, gesturing vaguely toward Chloe. "I need you to stay awake."
Chloe arched an eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. "Are you propositioning me?" she asked, her voice low and scandalized.
Beca felt her own eyebrows jump up in surprise. She hadn't been thinking about that at all. Well, maybe a little, but not really. "For once, no, actually," she started. "We have our entire lives for that. I just… I really want to talk to my wife on our wedding night."
Chloe's lips parted in surprise, only for her expression to immediately shift into one that Beca had finally learned to recognize as her "I love you" face. The care with which Chloe looked at her filled Beca's chest like a helium balloon, until she felt she might actually float away.
"I knew I married you for a reason," Chloe whispered, her voice tight.
Beca could only smile back.
9. On the Plane
"Stay awake, we're about to land," Beca nudged Chloe awake in the seat next to her. She was not about to carry Chloe off the plane.
"I'm up," Chloe mumbled, not opening her eyes.
Beca elbowed her again, tutting her tongue. "I know it's early, but it was the only flight I could get to make it in time to his –" she cut off and looked at the seat in front of her, a weird lump in her throat.
Chloe did open her eyes then, staring at the side of Beca's face. Beca felt her gaze but didn't look. If she did, she might start crying, which would be horrible.
"It's okay to be sad, Bec," Chloe said softly, reaching over to slide her hand into Beca's. "He was your dad."
Beca shrugged and looked up, blinking. Sure, they hadn't always had the best relationship. But they'd mended it, and for him to just suddenly not be there – because of a stupid heart attack – was surprisingly painful.
She swallowed hard, pressing her lips together.
Chloe waited, her thumb smoothing over the back of Beca's hand.
Finally, with a deep breath, Beca looked back at her wife. She nodded, then said, "Yeah. It sucks. I – I'm going to miss him. And I really, really hate funerals."
Saying it finally made the tears come; she did her best to wipe them away with her free hand before anyone else saw and started asking questions, but she couldn't hide them from Chloe.
"I won't leave your side the entire time," Chloe said sincerely, her fingers tugging on Beca's. "I promise."
Beca nodded and took another deep breath. She managed a watery smile at Chloe as their plane descended further, preparing to land.
10. The New Arrival
Beca really hated the smell of hospitals. She hated the harsh white lighting. She hated the unnatural sterility of everything. She hated the busy, distracting bustle of nurses and the doctor in the room. Above all else, though, she hated that the entire medical team had their backs to her, concealing from view the one thing in the world that mattered to her and her wife in that moment.
"You did so well, baby," Chloe murmured from next to her, smoothing a hand between her shoulders. "I love you so, so much."
Beca's lips twitched up into what she hoped could pass for a smile. She was exhausted and achy, her body begging for sleep. "I love you too," she replied distractedly, eyes fluttering a little.
"Stay awake, Bec," Chloe rubbed harder at her shoulders. "I know you must be exhausted. But we have to meet her together, okay?"
Beca nodded, her attention fixed on the doctor's back. Why haven't they turned around yet? "Don't worry," she said to Chloe. "I won't miss this."
They waited another agonizing moment, anxiety starting to press on Beca's chest. She gripped Chloe's other hard more firmly. Then, the most beautiful sound Beca had ever heard filled the room. It flooded her veins with a kind of fire, and the pressure on her chest lifted instantly.
No music she had ever sung, created, or heard before compared to the first sound of their daughter's voice.
The doctor turned then, a pink little body wrapped in a blanket in her arms. Beca and Chloe gasped simultaneously, both reaching out automatically. The doctor handed the squirming bundle to Chloe first, who gazed down at the small features in wonder. She looked up at Beca, her eyes full of tears and smile wider than Beca had ever seen it.
Shaking her head wordlessly, as if her voice had failed her, Chloe leaned down to place their daughter into Beca's arms, where she settled and paused her crying.
The first look into huge blue eyes was everything. She was perfect. Beca focused on the small nose, the pink lips, the chocolate-colored tuft of hair. Then, she reached out a finger for a tiny fist to grasp, and she counted: five perfect little fingers on one hand, five more on the other, which was flailing through the air. Beca had never seen anything so beautiful and precious. She'd thought she'd known what it was to love; her love for the Bellas, her love for Chloe, and her love for the fluttering and moving that had grown within her for the past nine months. Yet, in an instant, the little being in her arms showed her that she'd known nothing of love until then. It wasn't that she'd lost some aspect of the love she'd felt before; rather, she was swept away by an almost painful expansion in her chest as she felt her heart double in size.
She didn't know she was crying until she felt Chloe's delicate fingers wiping at her cheeks.
"What do you think?" she asked, glancing up into Chloe's equally wet eyes.
"I think it's perfect for her."
Beca nodded, exhaled shakily, looked into their daughter's eyes, and said, "Hey there, Piper Leigh Mitchell."
Chloe laughed, a happy, bubbly sound that made Piper look around for its source, her face scrunching and relaxing while she tried to decide whether or not she liked being out in the world.
"She looks like you," Chloe said contentedly.
Beca pursed her lips doubtfully. "It was your egg, Chloe."
"She still looks like you."
Beca didn't really care who she looked like. (That's not true. She wanted her to look like Chloe.) All she cared about was that they finally got to meet their perfect, healthy baby girl.
"Bella will finally have her playmate," she said absentmindedly, now brushing a finger along a soft cheek.
Chloe hummed and leaned to press a kiss against Beca's temple. "I'll call them all and let them know," she said, also stroking along Piper's cheek. "They'll be so anxious to hear."
"It took twenty-eight hours," Beca said dryly. "I'm sure the excitement wore off."
Chloe rose to stand upright, her eyes still on Piper. "Well, Bec," she said, "you're small. I don't know what you expected. I'll be back soon, okay?"
It seemed to cost her genuine effort to tear her attention away from the baby in Beca's arms, but with one final kiss, Chloe spun and exited the room to make calls to the Bellas and Chloe's parents.
Beca smiled down at Piper. "Welcome to the family, kid," she whispered. "You're in for a wild ride."
11. Before the Play
"Stay awake!" an elbow jammed into Beca's side, jolting her out of her doze. "And stop rubbing your eyes!"
"Fine then. You rub my eyes," Beca grumbled back. It had been an exhausting week, the school auditorium seats were comfortable, and they were sitting in the semi-darkness. It did nothing to help her wakefulness. Or lack thereof.
"What?" huffed Chloe. "That's weird. I'm not doing that."
"Yeah, well… I'm tired."
Chloe sighed loudly. "Beca, your daughter worked very hard in this play."
Beca sat up in her seat, shaking her head in an attempt to wake herself up. She whispered back, "She's a tree, Chloe. A tree. And she's your daughter, too."
Chloe crossed her arms over her heavily pregnant belly stubbornly, though the angle was awkward. "She looks like you."
Exasperated, Beca turned to look directly at her wife and hissed, "Your. Egg."
Chloe turned back to her and opened her mouth, likely to argue back, but then the lights in the auditorium dimmed and the curtain started to lift.
"Shh, it's starting!" Amy shushed them both from Chloe's other side; Beca glanced up to see her, Emily, Aubrey, Stacie (with Bella on her lap), and Lilly watching them with deep amusement.
Beca rolled her eyes at the smug expression on Chloe's face, but turned her attention to the stage. A ton of kids she vaguely recognized from other school events ran on stage, but she only had eyes for the one dressed as a tree. There, toward the back for some reason, was Piper, face lighting with happiness at the sight of her two moms and her "aunts" in the audience.
She'd grown beautifully; she still had brown hair (though free from the gray streaks Beca had noticed lately in her own hair), but her eyes and facial features were all Chloe, though of course less lined. Beca grinned proudly back at Piper, feeling the stress of the week melt away into nothingness as she sat back to enjoy the play.
Piper was the best damn tree that had ever been in any play ever. For all time. Beca was sure of it.
12. And Later
The years had been kind to them.
They'd been married for forty-three years, had two children, several dogs, a few cats, and a home full of laughter. Chloe had loved being a teacher and Beca had found her own success in the music industry years ago. She had managed to remain friends with Jesse and his wife. Of course, the Bellas had remained close, friends even to the end. (Stacie's funeral had been the worst day of Beca's life.) It was much more than Beca ever could have asked for.
She only regretted that she wasn't going to meet their grandchildren.
Beca never thought Chloe would be the first to go. It felt wrong. Unnatural. Somehow, she'd thought that someone with that much sunlight couldn't be extinguished. She'd just never imagined having to live in a world without Chloe.
(She knew she wouldn't be far behind. It wasn't an option.)
(Cancer kills, but so does a broken heart.)
Their kids would be okay. Piper and her younger brother, Jamie, were both fully grown, both with kids of their own on the way. Beca was beyond excited for them; she remembered well what that anticipation felt like.
Chloe sighed softly in the hospice bed, turning her tired (but still beautiful) eyes to Beca. Beca smiled at her tightly from a chair she'd pulled up to the bed, smoothing her thumb over Chloe's knuckles, the skin feeling papery and fragile under her touch.
Jamie stood on the other side of the bed, looking down at his moms with a sadness Beca hated to be the cause of. She knew Chloe must feel worse, and gently squeezed her hand.
Beca glanced at the clock. Piper was running late. She and her husband had had to drive from over three hours away, she knew, but she'd have thought Piper might step on the gas a little more this time.
She looked back at Chloe, fear slicing through her soul when she saw how hard it was becoming for Chloe to keep her eyes open.
"Chlo, just stay awake a little longer, okay?" Beca pleaded softly. "Wait for Piper."
Chloe struggled. After much longer than Beca liked, she finally forced open her eyes. "Bec…" she whispered, looking strained.
"I know," Beca's voice cracked. "Piper is almost here."
Chloe stared into her eyes with so much love and trust that it made Beca want to cry. She couldn't do that, though, because it would only make Chloe sad. So, instead, she just squeezed the familiar hand in hers, ignoring the arthritis in her own knuckles.
They sat in silence then, just looking at each other. They'd already said all they needed to say. They'd had a lifetime to say it.
Beca knew what Chloe felt, and Chloe knew what Beca felt. That's all there was to it.
There was a sudden flurry of sound from outside the door; a second later, it was flung open and their daughter rushed in (pregnant belly first), hair wild and eyes wide. The young woman scanned the room frantically, until her eyes landed on Chloe. Instantly, her shoulders relaxed and she tipped her head back, running a hand across her face.
"Mom," she sighed, relief clear in her voice, "I'm here."
Beca watched Chloe's face light up at the sight of Piper. She sat up a little in bed, wincing slightly but doing her best to hide it from their children. Beca noticed, though. She always noticed.
"Hey, Piper," Jamie said quietly, reaching to hug his sister. He had inherited Beca's eyes and brown hair, having come from her egg. She wished that one of them had had Chloe's formerly red hair, but maybe there was some hope for Piper's future child.
"Patrick is parking the car," Piper said, looking between Beca and Chloe. "He said he'd give us some privacy."
Beca nodded. Piper's husband Patrick had always been considerate.
"Thanks for coming, honey," she said, leaning forward to hug Piper with one arm, her other hand remaining locked around Chloe's.
"How much longer?" Piper whispered in her ear, so quietly that Beca wasn't sure what she'd said at first.
"Not long," Beca breathed back, turning her face into Piper's neck so Chloe couldn't hear.
She felt Piper stiffen before she pulled away. Piper glanced to Jamie, who was watching solemnly. Beca hated that look on his face; he used to laugh constantly. Piper had been more like her as a child, a little harder to reach, but Jamie was like Chloe through and through.
Together, the siblings turned to Chloe. Beca let her mind wander a little as they said what they needed to their mom. Chloe smiled gently at them, reaching out her free hand to hug them and touch their faces. The sight made Beca's chest hurt, so she looked away. She still had some time with their kids – though not much – so she would talk to them then. Chloe whispered to them, her once-powerful voice now strained and weak.
The hand in Beca's squeezed tighter, Chloe's fingers stroking her palm. Beca risked a glance up to see that Chloe looked happy, normal, and calm, but by the way her fingers fiddled with Beca's, Beca knew she was in pain. She was just hiding it to keep Piper and Jamie calm. Beca's mind flashed back to a kitchen floor and an ambulance call, a whispered "Breathe, Bec," and she had to look away again.
Her eyes fixed on the adjacent wall, Beca let herself remember. Fiery hair and blue eyes at the Activities Fair; a shower, then auditions; countless movie nights at home with their best friends; becoming world champions (Piper and Jamie had loved that story); the first night in their apartment; their first time; their wedding night; and every day since. Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, constant and in love with her.
How had it all gone by so quickly?
Much, much too soon, the hand in hers gave a gentle tug. Beca looked back at the love of her life and saw it there, in her eyes. It was close.
"Beca…" Chloe whispered, looking afraid for the first time.
"We'll…" Jamie had to stop and clear his throat. "We'll step out."
Beca nodded, seeing the relief in Chloe's expression. Beca knew she'd wanted Piper and Jamie's last memories of her to be while she was alive.
Chloe reached up, hugging Piper and Jamie one last time, drawing them close and squeezing her eyes shut. Beca felt her throat start to close; she swallowed, forced it to relax. If Chloe could do this, she could, too.
"I love you both with everything I am," Chloe whispered, her voice filling the room.
Jamie's face twisted; Piper's lips slammed together.
After a moment, they said their final "I love you"s and slowly, reluctantly, looking back the whole way, left pulled back and left the room, closing the door with a click behind them.
Chloe stared at them the whole way, nothing but pride in her features. When the door finally closed, she stared at the wood as if she could see through it to them.
"We did really well," Beca said softly, knowing it was what Chloe needed to hear. "They'll be okay."
"I know they will," Chloe murmured, looking back at Beca. "Will you?"
Beca felt her own face twist and she had to blink against the sting in her eyes. No. She wouldn't be. But Chloe didn't need to know that now.
Instead, she swallowed hard and ran her thumb again over the back of Chloe's hand. She lifted her free hand, gently touching Chloe's face, seeing the girl she first met all those years ago hidden under lines and age spots.
"Thank you for bursting into my shower," she said, forcing her voice not to shake.
Chloe looked at her tenderly, reaching out to Beca's face with her free hand. "Thank you for auditioning," she replied, then had to pause to cough violently. Beca waited, each rasping breath Chloe took stabbing into her heart. Finally, Chloe recovered and looked at Beca determinedly.
"'Cups' was always my favorite song," she said.
Beca let out a little laugh at that. Of course it was.
"I love you, you know," she said, finally unable to stop the tears from spilling out of her eyes.
Chloe's thumb wiped away Beca's tears, her own eyes filling. "I love you, too, Bec. Always have."
Beca leaned forward, pressing her lips to Chloe's. She could tell by the way Chloe kissed her back, they both knew it would be their last.
Beca never wanted to pull away.
But Chloe had to.
They separated, Beca frantically searching Chloe's eyes. Her heart sank at what she saw.
She knew then. It was time.
Chloe knew too.
Chloe stared and stared, her eyes jumping all over Beca's face, until her eyelids seemed to fall closed of their own accord. She leaned back slowly against the pillow, her fingers still moving weakly against Beca's palm.
Beca started to sing softly, her voice not quite what it once was, but still decent, even with all the cracks.
I got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle 'a whiskey for the way
Chloe's lips twitched upward once at her song choice, then relaxed.
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow, wha-do-ya say?
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Chloe's fingers stilled.