A long silence descended upon the two young women standing on top of the Barden University music conservatory, a lengthy silence following the bombshell revelation Aubrey had verbalized. For Aubrey, it was the first time she had actually said the words out loud and made it real, and for Stacie, she needed to break down everything that Aubrey had said and really think about what it meant.

And could only come up with questions, struggling to comprehend the full implications of what Aubrey had just said.

"You quit?"

Aubrey took a deep breath, and nodded. "Pending an official letter of resignation, but yes."

"Why?"

Aubrey paused, and leveled a look of incredulity at Stacie. "Seriously?"

"I'm trying to understand why you'd quit."

"Stacie, there's no place for me in Oversight in the North American region. They're giving me England so they can keep me in their roster." Aubrey pointed out. "I go where they tell me to. And if I want to keep my job, my only option is to go to England. There are no options to this."

Stacie shook her head, trying to understand, because she knew how important Oversight was, and Aubrey's role in it, and tried to argue, "But your boss likes you, maybe—"

"She's the one who told me about this," Aubrey interrupted, perturbed, unsure as to why Stacie was reacting the way she was. "Why are you asking these things?"

"It's your job!"

"That's not the point." Aubrey shook her head. "There are other jobs."

"Are there?" Stacie challenged. "You keep on saying that there aren't a lot of companies who would pay you what your current job does."

"Yeah, but you told me recently that it shouldn't be about the money."

Stacie cringed, because hearing that was a reminder of how naïve she tended to be when related to Aubrey, especially now that she was facing the fact that the reality was a whole lot more complicated than just believing a job didn't have to be about the money. "Aubrey, think about this."

Aubrey shook her head, fending off what Stacie was trying to argue. "Stacie, I don't have a choice. I can't move to England."

"Why not?"

Aubrey's jaw dropped, incredulous, because was Stacie serious right now? And she had to ask it out loud: "Are you serious right now?"

Stacie just gave her a look, obviously expecting some kind of an explanation.

"How about the fact that I don't want to?" Aubrey replied. "Or that I have friends here, my family. Everyone I care about is here. My mom and I only just started being able to have a conversation like normal people again. I have projects that have nothing to do with my job that I'd like to continue, that I'd like to handle personally."

"But your career—"

"Stacie, do you want me to go England?" Aubrey cut in, trying to figure out where Stacie was coming from, and trying to cut to the chase because Stacie was not reacting the way Aubrey had expected her to.

"You're not saying it, so I will," Stacie told her. "Aubrey, you can't give up your career for this relationship."

Aubrey stared at her for a full beat, letting Stacie's statement sink in, and when it did she couldn't hold back the wry laugh that escaped. "I put a red flag on my personnel file, practically jeopardizing my career, to sleep with an intern. Or have you forgotten that already?"

Stacie looked down, chastened.

"In fact, how many stupid comments do you think I get on a regular basis, from the people I work with, about the fact that my girlfriend's still a college undergraduate?" Aubrey asked. "I don't have to travel as much as I do, but I do it, because otherwise you could end up being just another relationship I neglected until you got fed up."

"We can survive you working in England." Stacie said softly.

Aubrey shook her head mournfully. "But what if we can't?"

Stacie looked at her, because while they've argued about the circumstances of their relationship before, Aubrey had never verbalized such a death knell before. "Bree, I know it looks bleak, but you shouldn't give up career opportunities like this for the sake of a relationship that's barely a year old."

"That's not what I'm doing."

"Isn't it?" Stacie challenged. "Because from where I'm standing you're sacrificing a lot."

"Sacrifice?" Aubrey repeated. "You think me choosing to stay where I want to be is a sacrifice?"

"No, that's not…" Stacie shook her head. "Will you please think about this?"

"Why do you sound so against this?"

"Because I don't understand!" Stacie exclaimed.

"What's to understand?" Aubrey asked. "I don't want to go."

"Why not?" Stacie asked desperately. "Aubrey, I love you, but I don't want you looking back on this moment years from now and blaming me for what you're giving up."

What came next, to Stacie's surprise, was not an impassioned explanation, or a defensive outburst; she would even have welcomed a scathing response. Instead Aubrey fell silent, as if she had retreated from the argument, but the way her gaze remained on Stacie, getting a measure of her, an array of emotions fighting to be conveyed through her gaze, told Stacie that the confrontation wasn't over.

Stacie took a deep breath, but Aubrey beat her to it.

"I know you think you're trying to be helpful," Aubrey began. "But I just told you I quit my job – a job you already know means a lot to me, and the only thing I really had for the better part of over a year – and that I'm quitting for a whole lot of other reasons both personal and professional; and you think you telling me we can work through it will change my mind?"

Stacie sighed. "That's not what I'm trying to do."

"Well, that's what I'm getting from you." Aubrey told her. "I'm not going to England. When I get to New York, I'm turning in my resignation. And I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop trying to talk me out of it."

"Aubrey-"

Aubrey's phone cut off Stacie's response, and as testament to how Aubrey felt about the conversation, she answered the incoming call. "Aubrey Posen's phone." Pause. "Hey, Dave. No, that's real." Pause. "Barden." Pause. "Okay, I'll see you in twenty." She laughed, and hearing a genuine laugh from Aubrey sent a pang of guilt through Stacie because she doubted she'd be on the receiving end of one anytime soon. "Yeah, whatever. You're paying. I'll see you."

Stacie watched Aubrey end the call but continue using her phone, and asked: "Dave knows?"

Aubrey looked over at her, and deadpanned, "I guess my boss is taking me a lot more seriously than you are."

"Aubrey…" Stacie sighed wearily. "Don't be like this."

Aubrey shook her head, clearly unwilling to continue the argument, and consequently dismissed Stacie's gentle plea. She closed the app she had been using, and said curtly, "I'm meeting Dave for lunch. I'll see you later."

"Aubrey, come on. I'm just worried."

Aubrey turned to her, her annoyance evident. "Stacie, think about who you're talking to. I've clearly thought about this." Aubrey pointed out. "And if you're so worried, you could have at least asked what I'm going to do, now that I've quit."

Stacie fell silent, because Aubrey raised a good point.

"So I'm gonna go, and have lunch with Dave." Aubrey informed her. "Because he wants to know what my plans are now, and he has stuff he thinks I might want to look into. You know, like someone who supports me would do."

Stacie sighed in exasperation, this time because her girlfriend could be such a bitch sometimes. "I am being supportive. I just want you to really think about what you're doing."

Aubrey shook her head, and sharply declared: "We're done with this conversation."

Reluctantly, Stacie nodded, because even she could recognize that the girl she was currently facing was the same Aubrey from two years ago, the girl who refused to listen to any suggestion to make any changes to their dated ICCA set, the girl who had made up her mind and would not be swayed from it. So they both knew Aubrey needed to go and see Dave, not only to make their appointment but for Aubrey to have an outlet she could adequately vent on; to take a break from her conversation with Stacie and get an outside perspective, and maybe understand where Stacie was coming from.

At Stacie's obvious retreat, Aubrey relented a little, and softened her tone as she reached out to touch Stacie's hand in feeble attempt at reestablishing a connection. "I really have to go see Dave now; but I'll see you later, okay?"

Stacie looked at her, and nodded briefly.

Aubrey hesitated, wanting to move closer but knowing neither of them were in a place for that kind of physical intimacy. Instead, she led Stacie to the door, and they went back inside the building they used to get to the Music Conservatory's rooftop; walking in an awkward silence until Aubrey finally said, "I'm sorry I sprung this on you."

Stacie frowned, and glanced at Aubrey before she shook her head. "No, don't be. This… I'm glad you came here."

Aubrey glanced at her.

"It's nice not being the last person to know something about your job," Stacie admitted. She hesitated, unsure if what she wanted to ask would spark Aubrey's ire once more or continue the resigned exasperation, but before she could make a decision, they emerged at the building's entrance, where a car was waiting.

"This is mine." Aubrey said, taking a step towards the car before she hesitated, and turned back to Stacie. "Um, do me a favor?"

Stacie glanced at her inquiringly.

Aubrey looked at her. "Don't do anything stupid and recklessly selfless and try to force me into taking England."

Stacie frowned, unsure of what Aubrey meant.

Aubrey seemed to take Stacie's confused silence as acquiescence, and nodded, leaning forward to quickly kiss her cheek. "I'll see you later."

So at least Stacie knew she and Aubrey were going to be OK, if they had returned to a place where they freely gave small gestures of affection; but Aubrey's request nagged at Stacie, leading her to confide with her friends.

At least eight of them.

And since they had a standing invitation to attend an afternoon pool party over at the Treblemakers' house, she had to condense the narration a little, hoping she didn't miss anything in the details.

"What did she mean?" Flo asked curiously, hoping that those who had known Aubrey for a longer period of time would have an explanation.

"What counts as stupid and reckless, though, because it's Aubrey and I don't trust her with what counts as stupid." Fat Amy intoned. She paused, and then added, "Or reckless."

"I think the important part in this is the selfless," Beca noted. "Because that's weird."

Cynthia Rose furrowed her brow and looked at Stacie. "Help me out: is she, or isn't she, staying because of you?"

Stacie shrugged helplessly. "She says it's not, but I have to think it, right? At least a little."

"Would you have wanted her to go?" Denise asked.

"Does it matter?" Stacie asked wearily. "She doesn't think our relationship would survive the distance. As if our whole relationship isn't about surviving distance."

"It's different when you're an ocean apart," Jessica pointed out.

"It won't be as easy to just show up because she wanted to see you," Ashley agreed. From Beca's side, Lilly noted how much harder it was to sneak onto aircrafts than getting rides on buses or trains.

"Okay, fine, that's true," Stacie conceded, "But what's that whole thing about doing something stupid? Like, what does she think I'm going to do?"

There was a moment of collective silent deliberation among the group, until Chloe noted from behind them, "Don't any of you watch romantic comedies?"

The group turned to her, but they all remained confused.

"When did you get here?" Beca asked curiously, but her query was ignored.

Chloe looked at them expectantly. "Teen dramas? ABC Family? The CW?"

Nothing.

Chloe rolled her eyes in exasperation before addressing Stacie. "You think she should take the job, she doesn't. And if you've seen the same movies me and Aubrey have, you'd know what we know."

Stacie stared at her blankly, as did the other Bellas. "Which is…?"

"You think it's just about your relationship and that she should take the job anyway. And you'll do something stupid like break up with her, or do something even more dumb to make her think you're not worth it. And she's telling you not to."

"Dumber than them breaking up?" Beca asked.

Chloe frowned at them. "You really don't know?"

Confused looks all around.

Chloe sighed. "Sometimes breaking up isn't enough, because that can be read as the relationship needing to be worked on."

"So the option is…?" Fat Amy drew out, prompting Chloe to continue.

Chloe looked at Stacie. "Something reckless."

"Like…?" Several of the Bellas pressed.

But Stacie already understood, because now that Chloe was spelling it out, it was kind of obvious, given what Aubrey considered was the most telltale sign when a relationship was beyond repair. "Does she really think I'd do that?"

"No, I don't think so." Chloe admitted, shaking her head. "But if she thought for even a second that you would think that it could be the one thing that would force her to choose her career?"

Stacie frowned, but nodded to acknowledge what Chloe was saying. While she hadn't really thought about what Chloe was suggesting – what Aubrey had implied – she had to admit that as a last resort, if she had been so desperate to prove Aubrey wrong about her decision not to accept the job in England, she couldn't discount the possibility that she might have made the mistake of doing something so drastic.

She'd live to regret it, but that was probably what being "recklessly selfless" would be like.

Fat Amy frowned, and glanced at her friends. "What are they talking about?"

The group only shrugged.

Since this new understanding gave Stacie something to think about, and Chloe wouldn't elaborate for the rest of the Bellas – some things were still held sacred between her and Aubrey, despite their strained relationship – understandably, they were both distracted at the Trebles' party, especially considering Aubrey had not yet returned from lunch, and had not sent a single message or call since she left Barden.

When Chloe eventually made her way back to their house, finding the ever-present conversation topic of people's upcoming finals and graduation requirements tiresome, she slowed her steps when she recognized the girl sitting on the front steps, looking so much like the girl she'd once known, that it legitimately gave her pause and made her conflicted on how to approach Aubrey.

So instead of saying anything, worried that her opening line would be wrong, she sat down beside Aubrey, both of them facing out in the direction of the curb, and let silence fall between them.

Chloe felt Aubrey's gaze fall upon her for a long, measuring second, before Aubrey looked away. Wordlessly, Aubrey handed Chloe the paper bag beside her, and Chloe peered into it long enough to see what was in it. She couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't think you're supposed to hide champagne in a paper bag."

"It's supposed to be celebratory," Aubrey admitted. When Chloe raised an eyebrow at her, she shrugged. "I'm undecided."

Chloe nodded in understanding, and took the bottle. After taking a sip, she handed the bottle back to Aubrey. "That shit's good."

"Isn't it?" Aubrey agreed.

Chloe glanced at Aubrey. "Stacie said you'd quit your job."

"I did." Aubrey nodded.

Chloe glanced away briefly, but returned her attention to Aubrey. "What are you gonna do now?"

Aubrey exhaled, the heaviness of her sigh a testament to how she felt about some of the things that question meant. "I don't know."

Chloe nodded, and took the champagne back.

Aubrey glanced at her, and knew how to look for the signs of frustration that Chloe could hide so well. She thought well of the current crop of Barden Bellas, but she wasn't sure any of them knew how to look past the surface when it came to Chloe, or what to do if they did. "How are you, Chloe?"

"Oh," Chloe smiled, but it wasn't the same smile Aubrey knew. "You know me."

Aubrey did, but at the same time she knew that the Chloe with her at that moment wasn't one she really knew, and instead of pressing, like she once could have done, could only ask: "Do you want to talk about it?"

Chloe's smile wavered, but she replied the same way Aubrey had, hours earlier when Aubrey had first shown up in Georgia and she'd asked something similar of Aubrey. "Not really."

Aubrey nodded, and they fell back to silence, this time a little less awkward than when they Chloe first sat down beside Aubrey. There was once a time when just being around each other compelled both of them to talk, to confide in each other and verbalize what was bothering them – or at least try to find the words to explain it – that despite the comfortable silence they had lapsed into, there was an awkwardness in knowing they just weren't able to talk to each other anymore.

Which was how most of the Barden Bellas saw them when they returned, and if they wondered why one of their captains was drinking with their former captain, and from a bottle inside a paper bag, no less, nobody asked it out loud.

Seeing the pair together, reminiscent of when the Bellas had perceived Aubrey and Chloe as a single, co-captain unit, the Bellas' volume of conversation lowered slightly, possibly in deference to their current and former leader, or possibly because the somber mood could be read even in their inebriation. They only nodded their acknowledgment of the two; even if there was a moment wherein there was some hesitation on whether or not they could join them at the steps, but ultimately most of them opted to head inside and leave them alone.

Bringing up the rear, formerly in conversation with Beca and Jessica, Stacie drifted off from it when she saw who was seated in front of the Bellas' house. If it weren't for the facts that Aubrey was obviously having a moment with Chloe, and Stacie herself was a little on the alcohol-laden side of the sobriety spectrum, she would have launched herself towards Aubrey; whether to embrace her in passion or to fulfill a need to berate her for having been incommunicado for the better part of the afternoon, she wasn't sure, but Stacie admittedly felt a need to re-establish some kind of connection.

Chloe took note of the Bellas entering the house, noticing the absence of both Denise and Flo, and nodded to herself, knowing she had at least two options of where she could be sleeping that night. She took notice of Stacie, whose gaze was fixed upon the girl beside Chloe, before she glanced at Aubrey inquiringly, whose equally burning gaze upon Stacie flickered for just a second to nod briefly at Chloe.

Nodding, more to herself than to acknowledge Aubrey, Chloe called over her shoulder, "Who wants leftover champagne?"

"Is it any good?" Jessica asked.

"Aubrey brought it."

It was a little concerning, if albeit amusing, that more than a few Bellas took her up on her offer, emerging from the house and joining her on the steps. Amidst the throng of people, Aubrey got to her feet, taking the hand Stacie held out to her, and they walked into the house together.

Beca, who had been closest to the door and witnessed the silent interaction, couldn't help but observe, "It's like she wants to keep doing laundry forever."

Fat Amy laughed, discarding the paper bag the champagne bottle had been in and handing it to Beca as she retorted, "We know it's not really laundry she wants to keep doing."