A/N: Alright, just a little background in how things work in my universe (I know they probably don't work this way in real life…deal with it, I need it this way to make my chapter work ). Music producers (in my universe) work like a commissioned sales person…they get a base salary plus a percentage of the record sales of what they produce under their contract with the studio (their 'commission'), in addition they can work out a contract individually with an artist instead of the studio contract (i.e., when the artist want to work with a specific producer rather than what the studio 'assigns' them and then the artist pays the producer directly from their cut and pays studio fees separately). The latter is the type of contract Beca is under with Emily. Also, royalties are paid semi-annually here. I know…TMI.
And yes, that did happen. Sorry (but you have to admit, it really does fit these two in this storyline).
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or make any money off of this.
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Beca's producing career was really taking off, her first single with Susie had done really well on the charts (not Emily good, but good enough to make it into the top 20). Michael had really high hopes for a couple singles she was working on with other artists as well. Then there was Kelly Clarkson. She wasn't joking about wanting to work with Beca. The tour wasn't over but a week when her manager contacted the studio about working with Beca. She was set to go out to LA for a couple of weeks the first part of the new year to flush out the two or three songs she would be working on and then Kelly would fly to Atlanta later in the spring to record them.
While Beca loved Emily with all of her heart (her badass image was going right out the window any time Emily was around), the younger girl was starting to drive her crazy. The tour had pushed into September, so rather than starting classes late (and because her album had done so much better than she thought it was going to), Emily decided to take at least the semester off. This meant that outside of the occasional meeting with the label and her writing, she didn't have much to do. Which of course meant that she got bored fairly often, and when she was bored she wanted Beca.
Beca was stressing out over the latest track she was working on. The label wanted to release the album mid-January which only a little over a month away and the last track was not working for her. She had already sat down with Michael twice but it still wasn't where she wanted it to be. She had less than a week before everything had to be in place for 'printing' and packaging the album.
Emily stopped in the doorway to Beca's office, watching her girlfriend tapping out the beat of the song playing through her headphones with the pencil between her fingers. Emily couldn't get enough of watching this Beca, the Beca that was immersed in the world that she loved (even if she could tell it was frustrating her at the moment).
Beca noticed movement in the doorway and raised her head to find Emily staring at her with this look on her face, the closest description would be a look of amazement. Beca slipped her headphones around her neck, leaning back in her chair and letting out a small huff and raising her eyebrow at her girlfriend. Emily looked a little sheepish as she gave an awkward wave, "Hi!"
Beca sighed, "You know I love you Emily Junk, but what are you doing here?"
A little pout formed on Emily's lips, "I missed you."
Beca sighed, waving the taller girl over to her, "But you just saw me a couple of hours ago."
Emily plopped down in the smaller girl's lap, sighing contentedly as Beca's arms wrapped around her, "I know, but I got bored. The writer's block is still going strong and I couldn't find anything to do."
Beca sighed, "The Bellas?"
Emily shrugged, "Classes and practice."
Beca tried again, "Red?"
Emily glanced down, "Out doing Chloe stuff."
Beca sighed, "The aca-Nazi?"
Emily chuckled at the name, "Working."
Beca glared up at her, sweeping her arm out indicating her desk covered with paperwork and mixing equipment.
Emily leaned down and kissed her, "Yes, but you're my girlfriend. I get to bother you at work." Beca huffed into the kiss.
When they finally broke the kiss, Beca looked at her watch, "You are so lucky you're cute. How about I break a little early and take you to lunch." Emily clapped her hands together, a wide grin on her face. Beca reached up and stilled her clapping hands, "But you let me get back to work after." Emily nodded with a grin. Beca scowled, "Promise?"
Emily held up two fingers together, "Scout's honor."
As Emily got up Beca gave her ass a little slap, "Why don't you wait for me in the lobby, I've just got one thing to finish up quick."
Emily jumped a little at the slap, giving the blush Beca was hoping to see, "Fine, but hurry up."
As soon as Beca couldn't see her girlfriend any more she picked up the phone. She dialed a number from memory and after the second ring heard, "Aubrey Posen."
Beca growled into the phone, "Would you please, for the love of God, find my girlfriend something to do. Really, anything."
Aubrey laughed into the phone, "Awww, what's the matter? Is your girlfriend bothering you?"
Beca sighed, "I love her to death, but she really has to let me work."
Aubrey tipped her head to the side, holding the phone between her shoulder and ear as she rifled through her planner. She found what she was looking for, "Well, I get the next draft of the contract back early next week and hopefully they'll agree to our terms, since we compromised on a couple of their demands."
Beca nodded even though the blonde couldn't see her, "Is there anything else she can do in the mean time?"
Aubrey laughed again, "Don't worry hobbit, I'm working on a few things."
Beca sighed, "Thanks Bree. Now I've got to go take my girlfriend to lunch."
Aubrey's chuckle bubbled through the line, "You go have fun with that." Beca responded by hanging up on the blonde.
It turned out Beca didn't have to wait long for Aubrey to find something. When she got home that evening she was met by a very excited brunette. Emily pulled Beca into the living room and pushed her down on the couch, dropping down next to her and bouncing on her knees. Beca smirked at the excited girl, "Why don't we have you housebroken yet?"
Emily scowled, "That joke's getting a little old."
Beca suddenly moved to push Emily back, straddling the taller girl's thighs, "Maybe, but your reaction to it never gets old." Beca made up for it by leaning down and greeting her girlfriend properly.
When the girls broke the kiss, Beca slipped off of Emily's legs, letting her sit properly. When Emily had gotten situated, Beca curled against her side, wrapping her arms around the taller girl, "Okay, so what has my beautiful girlfriend so excited."
Emily wiggled deeper into the embrace, "Aubrey called a little bit ago and wants to meet with us on Saturday, so we are going over there for supper. Apparently the contract came in earlier than she was expecting and she said something about another potential offer for me." That was the best news Beca had heard all week.
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Saturday morning Beca was trying to placate a very upset girlfriend. Emily whined, "But Beca, it's Saturday. I've barely seen you all week and this is supposed to be my time."
Beca pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back lightly, "I know baby and I'm so sorry but this album needs to be finished by Monday and the last track isn't quite finished. I'll make it up to you by not working at all next weekend, I'll turn off my phone and everything."
Emily sniffed against her shoulder, "And take off early on Tuesday so you can take me out somewhere nice."
Beca trailed a line of kisses up the brunette's neck, "Okay, I'll take off half the day on Tuesday and we'll go someplace nice. Maybe we'll take a trip out to that little vineyard you like."
Emily sighed as Beca kissed her neck, "Fine. You can go in today then."
Beca nipped on the taller girl's ear, "Plus, I'll show you how much I missed you today when we get home tonight." The thought made Emily shiver in response. Beca pulled back, tugging Emily's face down to kiss her nose, "I even made plans for you while I'm at work today. Red is going to take you out shopping."
Emily looked at her confused, "Ummm, not that I'm complaining about going shopping, but what am I shopping for?"
Beca tipped her head and looked at her like she was being silly, "I was thinking you should start looking for something to wear to the Grammy's."
Beca was getting smarter, or being trained much like Pavlov's dog, because she covered her ear as she finished her sentence. Luckily she did because Emily let out a squeal that was loud, even for her, "Oh my God Beca, did you hear something already?"
Beca laughed, "No baby, they won't tell me anything. But given that your debut album is well on its way to becoming multi-platinum, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that you'll be in the Best New Artist category. That also puts it in the territory for Best Album. So no, we won't officially hear anything until Tuesday when the announcements are made, but let's just say I have a good feeling about it."
Emily squeezed her girlfriend, kissing her soundly on the cheek, "Fine, I'll look. But I'm not buying anything until you see it."
Beca whined, "But that's why I'm sending you with Red, so I don't have to go dress shopping. You know it gives me hives." Emily just glared at her. Beca huffed, "Fine." At her capitulation, Emily's smile returned.
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Beca kissed Chloe on the cheek as she moved past her through the door the redhead had just opened for her. She moved to the couch without saying a word, plopping down on it with a tired sigh. Emily stood over her a few seconds later, holding a beer bottle out to her. After Beca had taken it from her girlfriend and taking a sip, the taller girl slid into her lap and wrapped her arms around Beca's neck, "Bad day?"
Beca rested her head against Emily's shoulder, "Just long. And I missed you."
Emily kissed the top of her head, "I missed you too. Did you get the song finished?"
Beca nodded against her shoulder, "Yah, I'm finally happy with it."
Emily nudged Beca's head with her shoulder. When the smaller girl looked up, Emily dipped her head down to brush her lips over Beca's, "I knew you could do it."
Beca leaned her forehead against Emily's chin, relaxing for the first time since she left her girlfriend's arms that morning, "Thanks Em, you don't know how much that means."
The girls pulled apart slightly when they heard a cough. Beca glared at the coughing blonde, "We were having a moment Bree."
Aubrey just shrugged at the brunette, "Have your moment after we talk."
Beca sighed and leaned back into the couch while tugging Emily around so she was sitting more comfortably on her lap. Emily leaned into Beca, reaching down and taking the beer bottle from her hand and taking a sip before handing it back. When they were situated, Beca nodded at Aubrey, "Alright blondie, talk."
Aubrey threw a playful glare at Beca before starting, "Alright, first thing is that the contract is finished. I'll go through the final details with Emily a bit later and then I'll put together your contract Beca for producing her next two albums. That should be pretty straight forward as Emily would like to have essentially the same contract with you, if that's alright?" Beca nodded. Aubrey continued, "As for something to do before you start recording again, a major cosmetic brand would like Emily to appear in one of their commercials. If they like what they see and their market testing pans out, they are talking about the potential to be one of their official spokespeople."
Beca growled at the blonde, "When I said find her something to do I meant here in Atlanta, not across the country Aubrey."
Aubrey smirked as Beca realized what she said, her face forming an 'oh shit' look as Emily turned to her scowling. Emily groused, "You told her to find me something to do? What the fuck Beca."
Chloe giggled into her hand, "Beca's in trouble, Emily swore."
Beca leaned around her girlfriend to glare at the redhead, "So not the time Beale," before moving back to look up at her girlfriend, "Ems, I just knew how bored you were and it was getting to both of us. I love spending time with you baby, but I needed to work so I wanted you to have something you would enjoy doing."
Emily looked slightly mollified with the explanation, "Fine, but I'm still a little mad that you told her to find something for me to do."
Beca leaned up and kissed her, "Baby, if I wasn't trying to finish up these last projects quickly so we can start on your next album right away I wouldn't mind spending all my time with you." That earned her a smile and Emily laying back with her head against Beca's shoulder again.
Aubrey smirked at the two, "All better now? Because I'm not done with you two." Emily just nodded her head against Beca's shoulder for her to continue. Aubrey held out an envelope, "Emily's royalties from the album sales came in earlier this week and her accountant worked through the numbers."
Emily sat up with a shocked look, "I have an accountant?"
Aubrey laughed, "Yes, Emily you do. I hired her as soon as your album went gold."
Beca raised her eyebrow, "You can do that?"
Aubrey smirked, "Of course I can. I worked it into my manager contract to set up anything related to the business side of Emily's career. Your contract has a similar clause related to the production side. Didn't you read your contract?"
Beca shrugged, "I knew you and Emily wouldn't screw me over."
Aubrey smirked, "Well, as I was saying, Emily's accountant worked through the numbers and here's your cut of the royalties." Aubrey handed Beca the envelope.
Beca took the envelope and kissed Emily on the cheek before opening it. When she looked at the check she suddenly stood up, dropping Emily on the floor, "What the fuck. This is way too much money." Emily glared up at the brunette from the floor but Beca just shrugged a sorry at her.
Aubrey shrugged, "You should have read your contract before signing it."
Beca glared at the blonde, "Why the hell am I holding a check for over $900,000? Explain. Now."
Aubrey glared right back, "As I said, if you would have read your contract you would have realized that Emily split everything with you right down the middle. You both get 40% of the album sales royalties and 50% of the writer's royalties, minus any expenses that might be incurred such as hiring an accountant and my fees."
Beca started pacing, "No, no, no. This is Emily's money. I didn't do anything to deserve this much." Beca stopped and looked at her girlfriend, "Why would you do this Ems?"
Aubrey looked at her girlfriend, "I think these two need a moment alone, let's go grab some coffees or something." Chloe nodded her agreement and held out her hand for the blonde. Beca and Emily just looked at one another until they heard the door latch behind their friends.
Beca repeated her question, "Why Ems?"
Emily stood up and walked over to Beca, taking her hand in her own. She lightly swung them back and forth as she thought about how to explain it. Finally she started, "I did it because I knew that if my album was a success that it would be just as much your doing as mine."
Beca looked at her incredulously, "Are you kidding Ems, you are so talented that you could have done all of this with just about anyone."
Emily sighed, "Do you really think that Beca Mitchell? Nobody, and I mean nobody could have made this album like we did, together. We are partners in this, split right down the middle."
Beca realized something then, "But we weren't partners when this started, I mean we weren't dating and you had no reason to think that we would be."
Emily looked down at her hands, "Umm, yah, maybe I was already thinking about dating you and had been for a while, and was really hoping."
Beca looked at her shocked, "Like for how long?"
Emily dropped one of Beca's hands, rubbing the back of her neck with it, "Ummm, maybe since right before Copenhagen."
Beca stroked Emily's cheek, "Well, just so you know, I was thinking about it then too." Then she scowled at the taller girl, "But that doesn't change things. And what about this split of the writing percentage?"
Emily scowled back, "The contract states it's fifty percent of any songs you help me right. How many of my songs were finished when we started?" She didn't let Beca respond as she continued, "None. That's how many. And how many did you help finish? That's right all of them. None of those songs would have been record worthy without your input."
Beca sighed, "But Ems, fifty percent?"
Emily gave a frustrated sigh, "I just wanted you to know how much I appreciated all of your help and work."
Beca returned the sigh, "And I'm supposed to be the one taking care of you. I don't want to be taking your money."
Emily dropped Beca's hands and started pacing herself, "Is that what this is all about? Taking care of me? Taking care of you? My money, your money? How about we just get a joint bank account so we don't have to worry about whose is whose? How about what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine?" She stopped pacing and stalked over to her purse, muttering under her breath, "Dammit Beca, this is not how I was planning this." She rummaged around in it for a few seconds and then turned around with a velvet box, "I was hoping to plan out something far more romantic for this, but it seems like I need to let you know how serious I am about you and that I could really care less about any of the money."
Beca just looked at the younger girl, stunned for a second. When Emily started walking towards her with the velvet box, it broke her out of her stupor, "Oh hell no Junk, you don't get to do this now." Beca turned and walked rapidly into Aubrey's office with a panicking Emily following. Emily stopped in the doorway as she watched her girlfriend digging through one of Aubrey's desk drawers. Beca stood up and turned around holding a very similar velvet box, "You do not get to do this when I had it all planned out. On Christmas Eve I was going to take you to that little restaurant you took me to on our first date and I already had it arranged for the Ferris wheel to stop at the top so I could propose where we had our first real kiss."
Emily stood there staring at her girlfriend with tears in her eyes, "Really?"
Beca walked over to her smiling, wiping a tear away with her thumb, "Yes, really."
Emily shrugged as the tears continued to fall, "Sorry."
Beca shrugged back, "It's alright, sorry I was such a shit about the money, it just took me by surprise. And you're right, as long as I have you, nothing else matters." Beca looked pointedly at Emily's ring box, "Together?" Emily smiled and nodded.
Beca got down on one knee in front of Emily. When Emily just stood there looking down at Beca with an awed expression, Beca raised her eyebrow. Emily shook herself and let out a small laugh before kneeling in front of Beca. Beca held out her ring box and opened it. Emily let out a small gasp at the gorgeous princess cut diamond sitting there, then she opened her box. Beca smiled as she took in the smaller round cut diamond solitaire ring in Emily's box, knowing that she picked it not because she couldn't afford something bigger but because Beca didn't like bigger rings. Beca looked into Emily's eyes and nodded.
"Emily will you marry me?" "Beca will you marry me?"
Emily nodded back.
"Yes, I'll marry you Emily Junk." "Oh my God, yes I'll marry you."
Beca took the ring out of her box and slipped it on Emily's outstretched finger. Then she held out her hand, a smile splitting her cheeks as Emily slipped the ring onto her finger. Then she dropped the box she was holding and brought both hands up to cup Emily's jaw, bringing her fiancé in for a long, slow kiss.
After enjoying Emily's lips for a few minutes, she broke the kiss, stroking the backs of her fingers along her fiancé's cheek, "We should probably head back out, the girls will be back soon."
It turned out Beca was spot on as Aubrey and Chloe walked through the door just as the two girls walked back into the living room. Aubrey looked at the redness of Emily's eyes and the grin that wouldn't leave Beca's face, then she looked down at their hands, "Fuck, you two couldn't even wait like normal people, could you?"
Chloe looked at Aubrey like she had lost her mind but Aubrey just pointed at their hands. Chloe squealed, "Oh my God, congratulations! When you asked me to go ring shopping Emily I didn't think you were going to ask her today."
Beca chuckled, "I don't think she was planning on it either Beale."
Emily shrugged, "So I got flustered and it was the only thing I could think of to get Beca to stop worrying about the money."
Aubrey pointed at Emily's hand, "Well that doesn't explain that."
Beca sighed, "So I panicked a little when I saw the ring box and I saw my whole plan go out the window. So I essentially ran away. Granted it was to get the ring from your office."
Chloe looked at Aubrey, "You knew she bought a ring? And you didn't tell me?"
Aubrey kissed her girlfriend, "You know how bad you are with secrets baby. Beca made me promise not to tell you."
Chloe huffed, "I didn't tell Beca about Emily's ring."
Aubrey laughed as she wrapped her arms around the redhead, kissing her cheek, "It had only been like three hours."
Chloe scowled at the blonde before turning in her arms to look at the other two girls again, "So who asked who?"
Beca smiled and brought Emily's hand to her lips, kissing the back of it softly before responding, "We asked at the same time."
Chloe giggled, "That is so cute…and so you."
Aubrey kissed the back of Chloe's neck before stepping back, "I guess this means we should celebrate, or in the case of Emily, mourn."
Beca laughed as she responded, "Fuck you Posen."
