A/N: Hello Readers!

Yes, it's an update.

I'm really, really sorry.

I am very sorry I took so long to update. To be honest I got lost in this story, and I found I can only really work on one multi-chapter story at a time, and so I finished 'Know When To Hold 'Em'. When that story was finishing, Pitch Perfect 3 came out in theaters, and I REALLY felt the need to rewrite that movie, which I've since done with fellow writer BechloeIsLegit. I hope you have a chance checked out 'Pitch Perfect 3: Bechloe is Legit';I'm really happy with how it turned out.

So BechloeIsLegit and another amazing writer Sa0621 have helped me get this back up and going. I am truly thankful for their help. If you have never read them, please check out their work. You won't be disappointed.

We have a few chapters left. Hopefully you will enjoy the ending.

As always, I do not own Pitch Perfect or any of the characters, but I do love them.

Chapter 23

***Day of Training***

Beca's life is chaos. She runs from her job to rehearsals for Amy's show and back again at a breakneck pace that she is fairly certain will one day kill her. This morning she had had a studio session with one of J-Michael's newest finds, spent all day kissing ass and pretending the artist's music was decent, and was now running late to the damn rehearsal that she didn't really even want to go to but was anyway. Because she was in love.

Right?

She sighed heavily as she plopped into the back seat of the Uber on the way to the rehearsal location. This is the only time she had spent alone other than to go to the bathroom in the past 10 days. And even then, she wasn't really alone. The Uber driver kept peeping in the rearview mirror at her. It was kind of creepy, which didn't help her mood in any way. She was so on edge, and about one more glance away from telling him to fuck-off. Which she almost did when he turned fully in the seat, but luck for her she held her tongue, and he told her she had arrived. Beca was embarrassed that she was in such a state that she failed to realize that he had pulled to a stop just outside of the NBC studio lot. She was going to apologize, when she caught him leering at her again, so instead she flipped him off, slammed the door to the car, and definitely didn't give him a tip on her Uber app.

This day was already turning pretty shitty, and she didn't need to be ogled like some prize piece of meat. With a huff, she marches up to the gate and flashes the young guard her badge, and he waves her through. It was only after she steps past the gate, smiling awkwardly at the guard, who seems nice enough, that she realizes there is no shuttle waiting for her and—fuck her life right now—she is going to have to really hustle across the lot to get to rehearsals if she still wanted to not hear another lecture from her boyfriend this afternoon.

So, she begins the long, and for her, arduous trek. Half walking, half jogging with awkward coordination of her too short legs on this midsummer day in Southern California. The DJ groans loudly at the heat of the day because, despite the fact that she loves LA, it's ungodly hot.

And the longer she walks in the sun, the more she regrets not taking the Uber directly to her and Chloe's air conditioned apartment where she could be drinking a beer on her couch in nothing but a bra and pair of loose fitting shorts and—God, the things you do for love.

She was exhausted having had another DJ gig the night before and no time to recharge. As much as she loves being a DJ, she realizes the lifestyle requires ample time to recharge her batteries and having a day job or day hobbies weren't exactly supportive of her ability to do that. She's really regretting saying yes to this TV gig. And she wishes she could go back in time and kick herself for saying yes in the first place.

But the memory of why she said yes to it suddenly flashes before her eyes. Bright baby blues begging her for one more chance to sing together.

And—fuck.

It's not like she was even going to be singing with the Bellas. The thought of it catches her more off guard than she's ready for as she continues to melt in the billion degree LA heat. She feels her eyes tighten in their corners and shakes her head free of the guilt that she has been harboring.

Guilt that she faced every time she saw those forgiving pair of baby blue eyes. Guilt every time her boyfriend pulled her a little closer, and her heart traveled just a little farther and—okay! She needed to stop thinking such things. She was just tired.

And sleep deprived.

Maybe she should just back out? She could always back out, right? The promo hasn't officially launched and she doubts anyone would actually miss her. Fat Amy and Bumper actually did an amazing job of recruiting, and there were a ton of other more talented people and teams that were competing to draw the expected crowds and viewers.

It's only as she enters the building and makes her way to their assigned rehearsal space that her eyes find the talent that she's agreed to be a part of. Upon seeing them, she feels her heart drop. Sighing heavily because her "team" is pointedly waiting there, tapping their feet rapidly against the floor with their arms crossed and checking their expensive, oversized watches on their wrists.

All of them were waiting for her. Maybe she wouldn't mind the teasing so much if she didn't think the majority of her team is a bunch of annoying, douchebag, frat boys.

Hell, the Bellas had teased her at almost every rehearsal she went to over their years together. But they were different. They were her friends. She didn't need or want to make new ones.

But Beca puts on the mask she had been mentally crafting over the last month or so. The one she had long ago perfected in assuming the art of unimpressed nonchalance.

Never in her life had it been more challenging for her to practice it than since she started these rehearsals with the USC Boys.

Jesse had been trying. He'd been making every effort to make Beca and Emily feel as much a part of this new team as he could.

But how can you join a new group when you still feel like a piece of you—the best piece of you—is left behind with your other group. The thought quietly breaks her heart. Still she had made her choice and had to live with the consequences.

She was doing this for Jesse.

He really wanted this.

And what better way to prove her love than to just—sacrifice the one thing she loved more than anything on this earth—

"Glad you could finally join us."

The patronizing in his tone makes Beca want to punch him where he stands. But she's confused and doesn't quite remember the name of the asshat who said it. Was it Mitch? Or Jody? Her eyes flit back and forth between the two because she can't really tell them apart.

And to be quite honest, she doesn't really care. They're both total douches.

"Ease up, Mitch."

So, douchebag number one.

Beca's eyes narrow in quiet consideration of the one called Mitch; so she can mentally swear to herself to loathe him for all eternity. She turns her head towards Jesse, allowing a thankful smile to flash across her lips. A smile thanking him for having her back.

"She'll make it on time next time."

Beca's mask momentarily cracks as she quickly turns her head to face away. She can't look at him or she might lose it.

She doesn't allow her face to fall. Not all the way. But there's enough hurt behind her tightened dark blue eyes to cause the furrowed concern between Emily's dark brown own.

Beca swallows the lump she didn't know she had in her throat. Maybe she's being thin skinned. Maybe she's being too sensitive. But she expects more from her boyfriend.

Shouldn't she expect more from her boyfriend?

The boy she likes—maybe even loves?

Does she love him? Fuck…She's right back at square number one.

"So, Beca, how ya doin'?"

Beca tightens even more as she feels the one called Brad drop his elbow on top of her already tense shoulder.

It's one thing to get hit on in a bar by a bunch of jackasses. It's another when it's right in front of her boyfriend who stares at the anger in her eyes with a quiet look of question. She rolls her eyes. Feeling even more on edge as she tries her best to be cordial.

"Fine, I—guess?"

"I'm sure you're late because you were busy. Tell me about what you do," he says, flashing his too perfect smile.

Beca dips her shoulder, dropping it away from his elbow perched on top of hers, and grinds her top and bottom rows of teeth together to avoid a slip of her tongue.

"You don't want to hear about that."

"Sure, I do."

She can't help but stare at him with narrowed annoyance in her brow. He's really going through with this pickup attempt; unbelievable.

"I produce music…which is one of the reasons I'm late. I had a meeting, so it took me longer to put this together, but I created a set list for us to practice."

Brad's eyebrows twist up quizzically as he reaches for the USB flash drive in her hand.

"Oh. Uh, well thanks Beca, but—you know—Jodie, Mitch, Jesse, and I already took care of that. But thanks for trying."

And it's at this moment that Beca Mitchell thinks she is going to break. Her eyes snapback to look at her boyfriend, who stares at her with a sheepish smile on his face, and she can't help the reflexive bite of her tongue as she expresses her incredulous thoughts to Jesse.

"You asked me to create a playlist."

Jesse walks closer to her, nodding his head. Glancing around at the up quirked eyebrows of his new USC friends.

"Um, yeah, babe. But we—we decided to go in a different direction. Are you mad?"

Yes, she is.

She's furious.

She's angry.

And peeved.

And ready to walk out of rehearsals altogether when the thought of why she's there in the first place suddenly hits her.

She turns around and snatches the USB out of Brad's stupid hand. Twisting back around to look at Jesse as she makes eye contact with her boyfriend.

"No. I know someone who will appreciate it."

She turns around quickly and walks towards Emily who sits next to Benji holding hands in the corner of the room.

"Alright! I think we've wasted enough time," Jody shouts. "Let's do this! Go! Go! Go!"

Beca doesn't even fight the urge to roll her eyes as she makes her way towards the younger brunette and Benji in the corner. The three of them have tended to gather in the corner and keep themselves separated.

"When did we join a freaking fraternity?," Beca asks under her breath. Eyes glancing towards Benji who doesn't bother to hide the dejected look in his eyes.

"I guess when Jesse did."

-o0o-

Beca crosses her arms in front of her; not for the first time. Again, fighting the urge to roll her eyes every 5 seconds that one of the USC boys yells STOP or argues over who gets to solo.

Beca's just happy enough that she's in the back of the room, where they put her singing backup in the arrangement, with Emily and Benji. It had already been 3 hours, and they had barely gotten through the first 3 lines of the circus show that was their rehearsal. She feels herself even longing for Posen's tightly controlled, over-managed rehearsals, from her Freshman year.

Warily Beca watches Mitch, or— is that one Jody?—mosey his way towards Benji. Though his eyes, the entire time, hold firm on Emily.

And Beca can't help but feel her posture straighten to a slightly more guard like attention. The man looks like a total prick and, if she were reading into the way he was staring up and down like a hyena at Emily, a total fucking masochist. Because Beca would undoubtedly cut his balls off if he ever tried anything.

"Hey Benji, can you use some of your magic and conjure us up some sandwiches and drinks?"

The kind boy gives him a gentle smile.

"Yeah, no, I wish."

"Well then, could you…go get us some?"

Benji's eyes furrow slightly. But he shrugs.

"Uhh, yeah sure, I guess…"

"Great, I'll take an Italian," Jodie says.

"Make mine a club with bacon," Brad says.

Jesse calls out his order from across the room where he is busy writing down the arrangements, and soon Mitch follows.

"I guess I'm on sandwich run," sighs Benji.

"Don't worry Benji, I'll go with you," Emily volunteers.

"Oh come on," Jody slides up next to Benji, throwing his arm around him. "Benji here can handle the job."

"Yeah, Emily, we were thinking we could go over the parts you and Beca will be singing," Brad says.

"Good idea," Jesse agrees. "Benji, you don't mind, do you?"

And Beca's eyes narrow disbelievingly at her boyfriend's words. Ready to stop the entire circus show of abusing Benji's kindness, before she feels a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looks up to see Benji directing his response more to her than to anyone else.

"It's okay. I'll go."

But the DJ is having none of it. Standing her ground as she continues to stare at her boyfriend in disbelief.

"I'll go with you."

But despite her unwavering tone, Benji shakes his head.

"No, Beca. Thanks, but I—," he flicks his eyes towards Emily. "I really need you here."

Her eyes tense. Sharing a moment with the kind boy who gives her an appreciative smile. She turns her head and watches him leave. Wondering what it was like to be so giving and self-sacrificing as him.

Hearing the door to the studio close and whipping her head around to see the hyenas that were the USC boys had already descended on her dear friend Emily while Jesse stood busily scribbling on the arrangement at the far end of the room.

Beca's dark blue eyes widen as they catch the discomfort lighting up Emily's own dark brown. The younger Bella silently screaming at her for help. Beca reacts immediately and starts walking with a purpose towards the vultures who are circling the poor college Junior.

Beca has always liked having the badass reputation, and has done a few things to earn it, but she knows she should be calm and collected during this confrontation. She knows that's the mentality that is expected of her. That it's what has been expected of every woman who doesn't want to come across as the crazy bitch to a group of new male strangers that her boyfriend calls his friends. She knows that losing it might cause more trouble than it's worth. She's also grown up now, she needs to handle things with maturity.

That all goes out the window, the moment she watches Mitch slip his hand onto her sweet innocent Emily's thigh. In the fraction of a second, the small brunette DJ loses it.

She storms over to the group. "Hey, mother fuckers, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Beca has always had a mouth on her. Her mother used to wash her mouth out with soap about twice a week, trying to get Beca to have a 'clean' mouth. Beca has always felt a good curse word can communicate so much. Yet she has always refrained swearing in front of Legacy. Something about Emily's innocence, Beca has always wanted to protect. Which is why she's mad enough to forget the 'No Cursing in Front of Emily rule.

She yanks Emily up and away from them by her outstretched hand.

Brad holds up his hands feigning innocence.

"We're just trying to get to know our teammate here…" He smirks at his buddies, and then lets his eyes roam over Emily, "better."

"Yeah, you know for team morale sake," adds Mitch with a chuckle, as if he has said something witty. The rest of the USC Boys must think he has, because they all share a bit of a chuckle.

Beca scowls at the group of men in front of her as she tucks Emily tightly behind her body. The taller girl seems small, the situation one she isn't ready to face. The look of relief when Beca showed up, all the evidence she needs that she's right to have stepped in.

"Fuck your morale, Mitch. If you ever touch her thigh like that again, Hell, if you ever touch her again, without her consent, I'll ruin your sex life."

"Whoa, Beca, is it that time of month?," Jody asks. This again elicits guffaws from these boys, posing as men.

Did he really just say that? Beca feels her body tightening with tension at the twist in events. She's ready to punch Jody for such an asinine question. Daring one of them to so much as challenge her in her annoyed, sleep deprived state.

Jesse comes rushing over from the other side of the room. "Whoa, whoa, Becs, what's going on?" He seems completely oblivious to what has been going on.

"I think you're overreacting, Becs," Mitch says.

Beca's eyes snap towards Mitch, who at least has the brains to step back, then over to Jesse, just in time to see her boyfriend holding up his hands, palms facing everyone. Jesse makes a pushing motion, as if imploring everyone to back-off.

"She's overreacting, Jesse," Jody backs his best friend.

And it's here that Beca really loses her cool.

"Yeah, Jesse!" Beca snarks sarcastically. "I'm just overreacting to the way fucking Mitch here, fucking started feeling-up Emily's thigh the moment your best friend stepped out of the room."

Jesse's eyes widen and turn to take in the group of men standing across from his girlfriend. Saying nothing. But simply blinking as he glances between the guilty expressions on his new USC friends' faces and the hurt expression on Emily's own.

The petite brunette isn't sure what she expected, but she had hoped Jesse would have instantly had her back. The look of confusion, and his indecisive response just adds to her frustration. "You know what? I'm done. Come on, Emily."

Beca wraps a protective arm around Emily's waist as the two women walk away from the group in front of them.

The small brunette hears the weak holler of her name from her boyfriend's mouth but doesn't turn around.

She's still trying to figure out what she meant by telling her boyfriend I'm done.

They make it into the main hallway. Beca still fuming from the previous interaction. Feeling her body still so highly on edge but also wanting to cry at the very same time.

It's only when they make it to the edge of the long hallway near one of the other doors to a studio that she pauses. Turning around and pressing her body against the wall and tilting her head back against it as she closes her eyes. A few minutes pass where she stands in quiet, but not lonely, silence because the youngest Bella Emily stands right next to her.

"Thank you, Beca."

Her dark blue eyes snap open. Taking in the kind, humble adoration behind Emily's own.

"I'm sorry I got you into this, Em."

Beca can barely utter the words as she feels the choked emotion behind them.

She watches as the tall girl shrugs. Shaking her head with a quiet smile as she steps closer and wraps her arms around her smaller captain in front of her.

"We're Bellas…We always have each other's backs."

Beca can't help the lonely tear that escapes her eye as the fear and insecurity of the past few weeks threatens to suffocate her.

"Are we still Bellas?"

Emily pulls away. Resting one arm around Beca's shoulder and looking at her captain with a light furrow in her brow. But before she can say anything, dark blue eyes flick over towards the distinctive voice that sounded like the perfect mixture of honey and her worst vice.

"Guten Tag, meine süße Maus."

Beca can't help but sigh as she stares at the blonde woman in front of her. Even for just a day of rehearsals, the woman is immaculately dressed, and completely put together. If Legacy's arm wasn't around Beca, she might have just slumped to the floor.

Beca groans, dropping her eyes to the floor, and bringing her hands to massage her temples. "And just when my day couldn't get any worse, you show up. Is my misery really that loud or are your ears just that perfect at hearing?"

Kommissar brings her hands to her ears. "You think meine ears are perfect? I always think they are too big."

The DJ rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "They are flawless. Just like the rest of you."

Beca's eyes glance over to meet the sudden questioning glance behind Emily's eyes causing her to cringe as she directs her question to the younger Bella.

"I just said that, didn't I?"

It doesn't help that Emily's face now shows disappointment in her as she nods. Flicking her dark blue orbs back to see the amusement lighting up Kommissar's face.

"Oh, meine sehr kleine maus, I have missed you. I look for you in the Bellas' rehearsals, but forget you are no longer a Bella."

Beca's face deflates even further, but Emily's twists up in defiance.

"Hey, she will always be a Bella. We will always be Bellas."

Kommissar shrugs, though her smile continues to light up her face. "Oh, meine kleine maus, I did not mean to offend. I simply meant, you have sacrificed the competition because of love. How utterly foolish of you."

Beca's eyes twist up angrily.

"What do you know about it, you flawless vixen? Dammit!"

Kommissar's smile only gets bigger. Emily groans audibly.

The German woman looks down on the petite brunette with a condescending smile, "I know, that I would never give up something I truly love for a... man." She shakes her head, and clicks her tongue, in a tsk, tsk, manner that Beca finds quite demeaning, "Nein mein Maus, I would never let what I believe to be love pull me away from where I truly belong."

"Have you ever actually been in love?," Beca asks. "Has anyone ever made you feel-"

Beca's voice falters as she senses her presence before she actually sees her. She glances off to the left of Kommissar and sees her standing, rigid. Her red hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and the faded scar along her best friend's forehead more evident than at any other time. Her gaze unwavering from the sight in front of her.

She hears a noise to her right causing her to tear her eyes away from Chloe and look in that direction. There she sees Jesse and his USC buddies coming out of their rehearsal space. Jesse stops when he sees the 'standoff' between Kommissar and Beca. He also notices Chloe standing down the corridor watching, and his face tightens.

Seeing where Jesse's gaze falls, Beca looks back at Chloe and doesn't know if she is relieved or more anxious to see the redhead is still standing as she was a moment before. Beca looks down at the ground unsure of what to do or where to look. She finally fixes her gaze on the blonde Amazon standing in front of her.

Kommissar glances at Chloe and then at Jesse, where her gaze lingers a bit longer. She takes a small step forward and whispers in Beca's ear, "The real question is, have you?"

o0o

A/N: Again, I'm sorry for the sabbatical from this story. I will admit it grew too large for me and I needed a break. Then as I wrote back and forth with some of my writing buddies, I realized I'm not as far away from the conclusion as I thought. I have rightly been accused of the SUPER Slow Burn, but I promise that the payoff is coming.

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