I was up a couple of nights ago on tumblr and I saw that people were recommending my story. Like, I seriously cried and I don't cry over really anything. Like seriously, I came into this fandom and you guys are all just great and accepting and all that jazz and I really just want to thank you all for reading and reviewing. Like seriously, I wish I could give you guys something in return for what you've guys given me in terms of confidence in my writing but since I'm a poor college student, I can only offer a thanks and another chapter.

Update: So I thought I'd uploaded this chapter before I left but it turns out I only uploaded it my account and didn't actually add it to the story. I didn't even realize it until I got a review asking me to update and I saw I still only 17 chapters on this story.

Love and Fragility

The door opened and Jordan looked up. The smile on Katlyn's face faded to concern as she looked into the face of her long term lover. Jordan stood, a small smile on her face, it usually lit up with her smiles, this one hardly touched her face never mind her eyes. Katlyn stood to one side and let Jordan inside, watching as the younger woman went to pass her. Katlyn dropped a light kiss onto Jordan's lips and scrutinized her face.

"You ok?" She asked.

Jordan nodded mutely, fighting tears she had been fighting for days, not knowing why, simply knowing that if she did not cry at some point, she would fester beyond all reason. Katlyn took her hand and led her into the living room. Putting her bag down Jordan took off her shoes and jacket and turned to face her lover. Opening her arms, Katlyn waited as the younger woman stepped into them and was immediately wrapped in love and concern. It was like opening the flood gates. She stood and the tears flowed.

The women stood in silence, Katlyn's arms tightly holding Jordan as she silently broke her heart, she felt as though she would never stop, she simply took comfort in the warmth and care around her.

Katlyn moved and took Jordan's hand.

"Come on you, upstairs." She said.

Jordan followed in her wake, allowing Katlyn to take charge, needing to let go, to stop fighting and simply be. Katlyn walked into the bedroom and turned to Jordan. She bent and kissed her gently, softly. She moved across her face, kissing her tears, her cheeks, her nose and finally her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Jordan whispered sniffing.

"Hush." Katlyn answered gently and reached down to grab a tissue from the box at the side of the bed. She handed it to Jordan and smiled. Jordan took it with a crooked grin and blew her nose hard. Katlyn handed her another one and watched as Jordan finished blowing her nose and trying her face.

"Better?" She asked.

"Yeah, no, maybe, I dunno." Jordan answered with a shrug, another tear rolling slowly down her face.

"Don't worry, I'll wait all night if I need to." Katlyn smiled as she lifted her hand and wiped away the tear with her thumb. She gathered the younger woman into her arms again, kissing the top of her head and laying her cheek against it as she felt Jordan's arms come around her.

Jordan stood and breathed in deeply, the smell of Katlyn was so distinctive, perfume and body lotion, clean clothes and clean skin. She ran her hands gently around Katlyn's waist and tightened her grip, holding as though her life depended on it, as though if she let go, she would lose everything she had ever known, had ever held dear.

"I'm tired of hiding, Kay. I'm tired of pretending I don't love you…"

Katlyn sighed as Jordan held her, her own fingers gently moving over the shorter woman, instilling comfort. She lifted her hand and ran her fingers lightly over her head, trailing through her hair softly. Jordan lifted her head and looked at Katlyn who bent her head and kissed Jordan softly. A long deep breath left Jordan as Katlyn kissed her, it was like being home. Katlyn's hands moved over Jordan with gentle care. One by one clothes dropped to the floor until she was left standing in her underwear. Jordan lifted her head and the two women kissed once more, Katlyn's tongue sliding across Jordan's lips as she responded. As they kissed, Jordan's hands deftly undid Katlyn's clothes and they joined hers on the floor. Katlyn moaned softly as Jordan bit her bottom lip, tugging on it slightly before going back to take and capture Katlyn's tongue. The two women stood, bodies pressing together, the warmth of their skin passing between them. Katlyn pulled away.

"Bed." One word, softly spoken.

Katlyn turned and moved onto the bed, Jordan followed and curled into Katlyn's arms once more. She lied with her head on Katlyn's breast, hearing her heart beat, her fingers moving slowly over the younger woman's skin. Katlyn trailed her fingers up and down Jordan's back, running like water trickling in a brook over pebbles worn flat with age and time. Jordan closed her eyes and breathed in deeply once more. She wished she could stay in this cocoon forever, closing the world and all its pains out, the hurt that had built over time forgotten, the pain currently locked away until she could stand it no longer and it had overflowed and spilt over everything she held dear, everyone precious in her life. Katlyn's hands continued to move and Jordan welcomed the calming sensation that surrounded in her own personal bubble wrap as she quietly drifting off to sleep in the arms of someone who truly cared, truly loved.

"Jordan?"

Jordan looked up from where she'd been aimlessly scribbling gibberish on her notepad. "Huh?"

Paulie smirked, "Are you even listening to anything Eli said?"

"Um yeah, I was just…just thinking." She lied, flipping to a clean sheet in her notepad. Everyone sat gathered in a circle for their weekly group therapy session. The empty chair remained because no one had the heart to move it.

Jane cast a look at Paulie, both aware that she lied. "Um, ok, next person. Beca?"

She looked over to the brunette and watched her adjust her position in her chair uncomfortably.

"What do you want me to say? I have no more tears left…"

Aubrey looked at Beca and pleaded silently with her to just cooperate. She knew that Beca only felt comfortable talking to her but she wasn't a trained professional, Jordan was.

Beca looked at her girlfriend before sighing and turning back to Jordan, "It hurts…he was the closest thing I've had to a best friend."

Jordan scribbling a few notes on her notepad before asking, "Did you have a lot of friends?"

Had it been a week ago, Beca wouldn't have been forthcoming but ever since Benji's death, everyone, in this group in particular, became a lot closer. More so, following their trip back to Atlanta to celebrate Benji's life since his father refused to have a funeral for him, even Eli tagged along and Jordan didn't hesitate in agreeing when they asked her to keep the gate unlocked. Everyone in this room was hurting in some way and she knew she wouldn't be viewed as week if she was open with the therapist.

"No…I—I had Chloe and that was all I needed. She was my best friend. I had Unicycle but he was like the brother I never had and although I could tell him a lot of stuff, I didn't dare tell him certain things."

Jordan nodded and moved onto the next person, Cynthia Rose. She asked her the same question and tried her best to ask follow up questions when appropriate. However, not long after she began, Jordan clutched her notepad in her hand, struggling to stay focused on the session because her mind kept wandering to Benji and how she'd failed him. She took great pride in the fact that the suicide rate dropped from an average of two a summer to zero in her time working here. She just didn't understand how she failed to see that Benji needed her help and she didn't deliver it.

That night she went to the only person she knew would comfort her, Katlyn, and the fact that the older woman lied with her for hours as she cried really put things into perspective for her. She was in love with Katlyn and no amount of deprogramming or electric shock therapy could change that.

"And I—" Cynthia Rose paused at Jordan suddenly standing up and walking to the back of the room. Everyone watched her remove something from behind one of the bookshelves and shared a gasp when they realized she had a tape recorder.

"You've been recording us the whole time!" Jane yelled. Jordan remained quiet, silently pressing stop on the tape recorder before coming over the group and taking her seat once again.

"I—I haven't been honest with you all and—and I just…just dealing with Benji and knowing that I failed him in some way. I'm just, I need to tell you all the truth." She sighed and wiped at a tear that fell down her face. "I'm gay." She whispered with a shrug. Finally braving a look at the teens in front of her she took in their surprised looks, of everyone except Beca. "I—I know that I'm constantly telling you guys that something's wrong with you all, but Beca is right. There's nothing wrong with any of you. None of you are broken or—or sick or damaged. I—I just wish I could have been honest with Benji to let him know that he wasn't the problem…"

Eli looked at her and softly asked, "How long have you known?"

"Known what? That I'm a lesbian?" she chuckled to herself and wiped at her eyes, pondering the question.

"I don't know. Maybe since I was thirteen."

"Does your mom know?" Paulie asked, still reeling in shock at the therapist's sudden revelation.

Jordan scoffed, "Does she know? She had me shipped off to this place as soon as she found out. Except this place was a completely different place back then, when lobotomies were still common practice." Sighing, she moved her hair out of her face and turned to reveal the side of her face to the group where a dark symmetrical circle was permanently scorched into her skin.

"What in the hell is that?" Paulie asked, pointing to the mark that everyone stared at in shock.

"It's a burn mark." she paused at the loud gasps shared by many of the kids before sighing and replacing her hair where she'd carefully styled it to hide the mark. "Although they are rare in electroconvulsive therapy, back then they didn't have the most trained professionals administering the treatment…they still don't."

"You—you had ECT?" Eli asked. He bit at his nails awaiting her response. He had the procedure for the second time two weeks ago and was still reeling from the affects. Remembering the pain he went through, he knew there was no way the doctor overseeing knew what he was doing.

"Yeah, after…after my mother discovered that I was in a committed relationship with a woman while here. " She explained, speaking slowly to try and sort out what she wanted to reveal and what she wanted to keep to herself.

"I—that was around the time where I started to 'behave' and do what she wanted. It wasn't easy but that procedure…it broke me. I lost four teeth, four of my molars cracked from me clenching my jaw so hard during the procedure and I still suffer from a mild apnea, thank god it's not worse."

"What's apnea?" Beca asked softly but loud enough for Jordan to hear.

Aubrey turned to her and responded, "It's a suspension of breathing."

Beca looked at Jordan in confusion, "So what, you just stop breathing all of a sudden?"

"Yeah. Most people when they're giving the treatment, if you could even call it that, only receive one or two sessions of it. I had fourteen over a course of two weeks…I guess that's the perk of being her daughter, huh?" she laughed bitterly and wiped at a tear resting on her lower eyelid.

"You know, I-I have this picture hanging at my house of my father and I. I look at it every single day and I cannot find the memory of us taking it although I was thirteen when the picture was taken. The only reason I even knew that much was because I was holding a balloon with the number 13 on it."

Jane turned to look at Jordan and angrily asked, "Then why are you here? Why would you agree to work in this horrible place when you know firsthand what happens here…what they do to us?"

"This place takes toll on you, Jane. Some of you have been here for three summers in a row. I was here for five. My last year of high school and all through college. When I got here, I was so proud of whom I was and I knew no matter what she tried she wasn't going to change me." She paused and looked around the room taking in that she had the full attention of everyone. No one was angry at her after finding out that their previous sessions had been recorded. They were sympathetic…empathetic even of what she'd gone through because they were currently experiencing it.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and continued, "But, the second year, after—after I lost someone special to me and my mother signed off on all this extensive treatment, I tried so hard to change. She would have had no problem lobotomizing me and I knew that so I thought it would be easier to just fix whatever she said was wrong. I was so tired of hurting and being hated that I started to believe that I was the problem. I went out sleeping with random guys, trying to feel something…be something…and in the end I became a shell of who I was, disgusted with myself."

Aubrey listened on to what Jordan said, staring straight ahead as she listened to what sounded like a step by step account of her life. Jordan understood and the idea that she wasn't alone in the stupid decision she made was comforting.

"I—I know it's probably too late to tell you guys all of this but after really taking time and evaluating what part I played in Benji's death, I realized that I need to let you all know this. Benji's death really made me question whether or not we are doing more harm than good and I'm really beginning to believe that we are only harming you all. There's nothing wrong with any of you. You're perfect just the way you are. I hope that what I'm telling you can be kept in confidence but if it isn't…maybe it's time the truth does come out…that I come out."

\***/

"Were you surprised by what Jordan said?" Aubrey asked. Beca had wedged a chair under the door knob so that the two could lie together in Aubrey's bed without the fear of a counselor barging in. Aubrey comfortably lied on Beca, her head resting on the brunette's chest loving how Beca's calloused hands were gently running through her hair. A calming action that she'd never allowed anyone to do since Amanda.

Beca sighed and looked down at Aubrey, "No, not really."

Aubrey looked up, "What do you mean? Did you know?"

"Um, yeah I did. She was crying one day when I went in for my session and we talked. She's just as screwed up as the rest of us. I'm starting to think someone's got it out for us with all of us having messed up parents."

Aubrey sat up, resting her head on her hand, "How come you never talk about them?"

"About who?"

"Your parents." Aubrey elaborated. "You never talk about them and whenever Jordan brought them up, you got angry and left the room."

Beca shrugged, folding her hands above her head, "I—I just don't like talking about them. It's hard thinking about it and I just—I don't know… it's easier that way."

Aubrey bit her bottom lip wondering if she should ask her next question. She knew how much her girlfriend hated talking about these things but it was only fair that Beca shared as much as she had. "I know you don't have a good relationship with your mother and stepfather but what about your real dad?"

Beca sighed and looked at Aubrey, "Thanks to Jordan, you all know the truth about that coward."

Beca scratched her forehead nervously, "I absolutely hate that fucker for what he did to my mother but sometimes, when I'm really depressed or pissed at Liam I sometimes wonder if he would have been better than Liam. Look, I don't want to talk about it anymore." She adjusted her body so that she now mirrored Aubrey's body position before asking, "Can you sing me a song?"

Aubrey looked at Beca prepared to so no but the playful pout the small brunette have her broke her resolve and she giggled lightly. Sitting up she leaned against the wall her be was positioned against and said, "I knew I should have never told you about my talent."

Beca smiled and said, "Why not? I love your voice, Bree. It's soothing and—and comforting. It makes me feel safe."

Aubrey rolled her eyes playfully before biting her lip. After a few seconds of trying to pick a song to sing, she opened her mouth and her voice filled the small room.

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And the worst part is there's no one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Aubrey opened her eyes slowly and stared at Beca waiting for the small brunette to say something.

"I've never heard that song before."

Aubrey shrugged, crawling to straddle Beca's hips, "You wouldn't have since it's my song—my poem actually…Amanda was a very talented piano player and she came up with the music."

Beca looked away, trying not to hide the hurt in her voice and mumbled, "So you wrote it about her?"

"I never finished the poem until last week." Aubrey leaned down so their faces were early inches apart and whispered, "It's about you Beca. It's about loving you. I'm in love with you."

Beca smiled widely and quickly reached up to pull Aubrey on top of her, connecting their lips immediately. Aubrey shrieked in surprised but soon gave into the kiss, enjoying the gentleness of Beca that she only saw when they were alone. Smirking as the brunette moaned in dissatisfaction when she pulled away, Aubrey reached down and laced her hands with Beca's.

As she looked down on her smiling face she thought of what to do next. Her finger moved over Beca's lips, tracing the shape. Keeping her green eyes opened, she closed the distance between them and her tongue slipped out to take the path her finger had moments before caressed. She licked the upper lip of her lover, then the lower, eventually she slid her tongue over the seam.

Beca opened her mouth, begging Aubrey to come in and devour her, relinquishing control if only for a second. Her body tingled in anticipation with it being the first time they've had sex without either of them angry at the other. Aubrey wanted her just as she wanted the blonde and that fact alone made it hard for her to breathe. Her tongue came out and licked the taste of Aubrey on her skin.

Beca pulled pack, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of Aubrey's hair behind her ear, "You're beautiful."

Aubrey smiled softly and whispered back, "I love you."

Beca quickly reengaged the kiss and took the opportunity flip them over so that she was now on top of Aubrey.

Quickly pulling Aubrey's pants down her legs, Beca took very little time remove Aubrey's clothes. It had been so long since she'd felt Aubrey and she couldn't wait any longer.

"Say it again." She instructed, her hand making its way into Aubrey's underwear.

Aubrey stared at her in confusion before she realized what Beca was referring to. Reaching up to pull Beca's head back down, she kissed her deeply before pulling back and declaring, "I love you."

Beca sighed heavily and slipped her fingers inside of Aubrey. It was the first time she could make love to Aubrey without the fear that the blonde would push her away. In the light of the day, she could see the love in Aubrey's eyes as she came undone beneath her. No hesitation…No shame…no fear.

Just love.

"I love you too." She whispered and slipped another finger into the girl beneath her. Aubrey gasped, her body jerking tightly and her fingernails digging deeply into Beca's back. With skilled ease, Beca brought Aubrey to the edge before slowly leading her back down, only to bring her back there once again and after a long while of this teasing game, Beca leaned down and kissed Aubrey again, increasing the speed of her hand.

The color of the sunset erupted behind Aubrey's now clenched lids. Oranges blended with reds, gold slammed into sliver, and black violated white. Her entire body went now as she held Beca to her in a vice like grip. Trying not to scream out and rouse the suspicion of a counselor, Aubrey bit down on Beca's neck, not realizing what she'd done and too far gone to even care.

Beca looked down at Aubrey's face. She looked so peaceful and dazed. Her eyes were closed, her mouth soft and slightly open. Her hair was a mess around her head, fanned over the pillow and stuck to her neck and shoulders, all dewed with the sweat that glistened on them both. Her eyes opened very slowly, dreamily and they stared at one another. Beca marveled that she had ever thought those beautiful green eyes were cold—they were so warm, so inviting and full of love as she looked up at the girl that held her.

Beca raised one lead-weight arm to brush the hair back from Aubrey's face and after a moment, Aubrey did the same for Beca. Taking an infinitely long minute to move, Beca slowly brought her lips to Aubrey's. Her lips parted immediately beneath Beca's, warm and soft and they shared another kiss.

Pulling her head right back, Aubrey rolled Beca onto her back and broke their kiss, moving down her throat, biting first lightly and the more deeply, wanting to illicit a response, any response from her girlfriend.

Beca became so lost in the kiss that she neglected to notice that Aubrey was flipping them over so that she was now on top, straddling Beca's still clothed body with her naked one and pinning Beca's hands above her head. It wasn't until she felt the restriction of her hands did she stop Aubrey.

"Stop."

Aubrey looked down at Beca, and after realizing what she had attempted to do, she quickly pulled away. "I'm sorry. I—I didn't realize—"

She was cut off by Beca placing a hand on hers, "I—I want you Aubrey, I really do…"

Aubrey looked down at Beca and placed a soft hand on her cheek, "I—I understand, Beca. I'm willing to wait as long as you need."

Beca shook her head in frustration, "I—I'm just so scared." Beca choked out. She quickly reached up and wiped away a tear, "I—just don't hold my hands like that…please."

Aubrey nodded, taking in the vulnerability in the girl underneath her. She looked so open…so exposed.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, I want you…I need you."

Aubrey gazed at her lips before pressing hers slowly to Beca's. At first, their mouths feel like feathers, nestled softly together but soon it erupts into a kiss so full do need that their tongues collide and battle to decide who is the master and who is the slave. Aubrey pulled her mouth from Beca's and let her tongue graze over Beca's swollen lips.

"I won't hurt you," she whispered and even she could hear the hesitation in her voice, knowing that for the first time Beca was fully relinquishing power to her, despite the fear coming from her eyes.

"I know…I trust you."

Aubrey's stomach fluttered at this confession and power rolled through her body. Her hand moved from beside Beca's body and she paused, moving to ask once more if Beca is sure. But when she looked down at Beca, she couldn't help but smile at the feeling of seeing the need she had for Beca reflected in the small brunette's eyes. Beca was waiting for her; waiting for her touch. Aubrey's hand cupped Beca's face and slowly caressed her cheek, letting her fingers move to her jaw line to trace its fine structure. Her other hand touched her arm, feeling the muscles move as she flinched under her touch.

Aubrey could feel Beca trembling under her and she made sure to take care in how gentle she was with the brunette. As she moved her fingers up Beca's arm to her should, she could feel the shaking of said arm under her and she could feel the restraint. Beca was holding back and trying not to give into taking control like she normally did. The idea that she was doing this for her touched Aubrey and she leaned into kiss Beca softly on the neck.

Her tongue moved in circles against her skin and she could feel her pulse beat faster beneath its thin protective shell. Beca's hands pull Aubrey to her, one hand playing with her blonde hair while the other gripped her hips, pushing the blonde's body deeper against her. Aubrey smiled inwardly that Beca was giving in and relaxing and the feeling of Beca's hips moving, arching themselves upwards; Aubrey could hear her growl of want and desire.

Aubrey whispered in Beca's ear, telling how much she loved her and letting her breath tease her skin. She knew how nervous Beca was and she was going to make this experience as pleasurable for her as she could. This was something she never had the chance to do with Amanda and she was going to take this opportunity to explore Beca's body in the way she never could with Amanda.

Beca inhaled deeply, her eyes closed trying to enjoy the new sensations Aubrey made her feel. It wasn't that it didn't feel good because that was far from the truth but there were so many negative images and experiences associated with being this vulnerable that she didn't want to experience.

But it wasn't fair to Aubrey. She knew how much she loved her and Beca knew it would be unfair to Aubrey to let the blonde open up to her so much without her being equally as forthcoming. So with a sigh, she opened her eyes and tried to focus on the girl placing delicate kisses on her one her abdomen. The way Aubrey touched her, the way her hands ran lovingly across her stomach under her shirt, like she were handling an injured dove, it was making it a lot easier for her to forget and remember that Aubrey was here, not him.

Aubrey's lips left small kisses down the center of Beca's body as she listened to Beca's soft moans of pleasure, the foreign sound of Beca's moan making it hard to focus. Her hands reached further under Beca's shirt and took each of Beca's bra covered breasts in her hands. When she heard another moan from Beca she smiled and proceeded to brush her lips back and forth across Beca's tiny belly button.

Beca's hands trembled as she reached down to pull the obstructing piece of clothing over her head before throwing it aside. With a relieved sigh, she looked up at Aubrey through hooded eyes as the blonde worked her jeans down her legs, pausing at the sight of her the bold vine tattoo that circled her waist. Beca's fingers dug into the sheets below her, the tightness in her belly, taught and nervous, overwhelming her. The softness of Aubrey's lips on her skin made her body quiver with heat, a liquid pool of lava running though her veins. The difference in the room temperature became even more apparent the more aroused she became. The coolness from the window and the heat of Aubrey's hands, all these things propelled Beca into the moment and the only thing she could focus on was Aubrey.

Aubrey looked up into Beca's eyes and for a moment Beca couldn't breathe. She inhaled large gulps of air as she watched Aubrey slowly lower her underwear.

Her hands pushed the fabric down further, past her knees to her ankles while her mouth followed. Beca bit her lip to suppress her moans as Aubrey kissed her thighs, the outside of them before proceeding to the inside. Aubrey smiled to herself as she remember that it wasn't long ago that her own clothes were being abandoned with no care at all in Beca's pursuit to make her feel as good as possible.

The moment Beca's patch of brown hair came into view unobstructed, glistening with her excitement, Aubrey paused, staring up at Beca nervously. Luckily, Beca's eyes were closed or she would have seen the hesitation in the blonde's eyes.

It wasn't that she didn't want to do it but she had never done it. She didn't want to mess up and make Beca regret ever giving her such a gift, but she couldn't stop now. She wanted to connect with Beca on this level and if she stopped now it might have been her only opportunity that she'd wasted. If Beca's moans were any indication, she was doing something right so maybe, if she just tried to focus on Beca and her sounds, then maybe the brunette could lead her through this.

"Are you ready?" she whispered. She looked up at Beca and was awed by the look of complete trust and respect Beca had for her. And, in that moment Aubrey knew that if she changed her mind at that moment, told her that she couldn't do it, Beca would accept it. She was stupid to ever think otherwise.

"Yes…" Beca breathed out.

Closing her eyes, Aubrey let her sense of desire take over and be her eyes for her. She lowered her head between Beca's legs and ventured down a path knew she could never turn back from. It wasn't like she wanted to anyway.

\***/

Beca lied on her stomach, smiling lazily at how happy she was at the moment. A happiness she never thought she'd feel again. The feeling of Aubrey resting partially on top of her comforted her and the softness of the blonde's nimble fingers as she lightly ghosted them down her spine, she'd never been more content than she was in that moment.

"What made you choose this tattoo?" Aubrey asked softly, continuing to trace her hand along the ink that formed the dream catcher on Beca's back.

"It was actually Chloe's idea. I got it to cover my surgical scar."

Aubrey frowned and sat up slightly to examine her girlfriend's ack. When she found no evidence of a scar, she laid back down. "What surgery did you have?"

Beca sighed, choosing not to answer right away. It was a very difficult thing to talk about but in this moment she trusted no one more than the girl currently lying on top of her.

"When I was about 10 or 11, I was riding my bike and I guess Liam called my name. I didn't hear him calling me, I swear I didn't. I just remember him storming over to me with this look in his eye and he pushed me off my bike—hard. I fell and I broke my tail bone. I had surgery like a month later when my mom finally realized that I wasn't lying about the pain in my back. After years of being self-conscious about it Chloe suggested I get a tattoo and I did."

"But why a dream catcher?"

"When I was eight years old, Unicycle stole this lock for me and made me promise to put it on my door at night. When Liam saw it he got really pissed but I didn't take it off. He'd been trying every night for a week to get inside my room, constantly taunting me that he would break it one day when this one nigh the got really drunk. I could hear him stomping around and knocking into things. I remember running to lock my door and hiding in the closet.

"Rebecca…Rebecca"

Beca bolted up in bed at the sound of her stepfather stomping down the hall to her room for the third night in a row. Quickly jumping out of bed, she grabbed the small step stool from out her closet and used it to lock the master lock Unicycle helped her place on her door.

She nearly fell of the stool at the sudden loud banging on her door, "Rebecca…o-open the door."

The way he slurred his words confirmed what Beca already knew, he was drunk and usually when he was like this her mother was on the receiving end of his fist. Quickly putting the stool back in its place, she grabbed her pillow and made her way to her closet, burying herself under her clothes before shutting the door quietly behind her. All she had to do was wait until he got tired like he'd done the two nights before, but it didn't make waiting any easier. The way he called out to her, saying her name in that perverted innocent tone, she knew from that day on she never wanted to be called 'Rebecca' again. Clenching her eyes shut, she prayed for God to help her, to wake her mother so that she could get Liam away from her door.

The banging on her door got louder and louder as time passed, Liam growing more frustrated as he tried to break through the door.

"Rebecca, open this damn door!" he growled, using his shoulder to try and break through the wooden door.

Beca remained quiet, placing a hand over her mouth to muffle the sounds of her nervous pants. Then there was silence. No more banging, no more shouting.

Just silence.

The closet door swung open, revealing the tall man staring down at her with an evil gleam is his eye, "There you are…"

"Did he manage to get in your room?"

Beca stared down at the floor where she'd been dragging her fingertips along the hardwood floor.

"So I got the tattoo because the nighttime became my biggest fear. When Chloe and I were in 2nd grade I told her about what how he used to hit my mom and me and she wanted to tell the teacher right away. I couldn't let her do that because like him or not, he stopped us from going hungry and ending up in some shelter. So she made me this huge dream catcher that we hung up above my bed. She said it would keep the monsters away at night. It was just yarn and twigs glued together but every night, I looked to that thing as a life line begging to just get me through the night."

Aubrey remained quiet taking in what Beca says, choosing not to sit on the fact that Beca avoided her question.

"Did you love her?" She whispered.

"Yeah I did. I loved her so much. But I realized that maybe I needed her more than she needed me." She answered, trailing off. The two were quiet before Beca realized what she said and how quiet Aubrey became as a result. Quickly turning over, she placed a hand on her cheek, "Hey, what I felt for Chloe and what I feel for you are two different things. I love you Bree. I love you so much."

Smiling at Beca's confession, she lied back down in her arms, sighing at the comforting feeling of Beca running her hands through her hair, an action she learned calmed the blonde from the days that she held Aubrey through her nightmares.

"What are you going to do after the summer is over?"

Beca kissed Aubrey lightly on the top of her head, responding, "I'm going to go to la to make music. Who knows, I may even marry you and take you away from your terrible father."

Aubrey looked at up to where Beca was staring up at the ceiling, almost as if daydreaming, unsure of what to say. She opened her mouth to respond but the sound of Mackenzie's voice in the hallway caused both of them to sit up abruptly in the bed. Beca quickly jumped out of bed, grabbing her clothes off the ground and running to the door to pull the chair from under the knob. Mackenzie's voice was getting louder, meaning she was getting closer to their room and just as Beca ran into the bathroom managing to shut the door, Mackenzie opened the door to their dorm. Aubrey quickly pulled her blanket over her body to cover her nakedness just as Mackenzie walked inside.

Mackenzie looked at Aubrey, surprised the teen was still in bed, "Good morning Aubrey."

Aubrey faked a yawn, pretending to just be waking up, "Good morning."

Makenzie looked at the teen skeptically, "Aubrey why are you still in bed?"

"I—I wasn't feeling well."

Makenzie stared at her, trying to read the weird behavior of one of the camp's best. "Oh, well um, you should hurry and get dressed. Morning Prayer starts soon and I know you like to attend." Stepping into the room further, she looked around, "Where's Rebecca?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes, and pointed at the bathroom door, "Beca is in the bathroom."

Mackenzie nodded, turning around to walk back over to the door, of which Aubrey was grateful because although Beca had grabbed her clothes, she hadn't grabbed Aubrey's and if the counselor saw her clothes, particularly her underwear lying on the floor, she was definitely know what was going on between the two. "Ok, well I came to tell you both that breakfast will be starting a little later today at 9 instead of eight."

"Ok, I'll be sure to tell Beca."

Mackenzie cast one last look at the bathroom door before leaving and closing the door. Aubrey sighed, falling back down on her bed. After a few minutes Beca came out the bathroom, dressed in her tank top and underwear with her tooth brush in her mouth, laughing soundly.

Aubrey threw a pillow at Beca and distraughtly exclaimed, "We almost got caught!"

Beca dodged the pillow, giggling uncharacteristically and returned to the bathroom to spit out the toothpaste suds.

Returning from the bathroom a few seconds later, Beca walked over to her, taking a seat on the bed. She placed a hand on the side of Aubrey's neck, her thumb lightly ghosting over Aubrey's collarbone as she leaned in a placed a light kiss on the blonde's lips. "Do you trust me?"

Aubrey was silent for a moment, her eyes closed backing in the feeling of Beca's skin on hers. She slowly nodded her head, "Yes, Beca. I trust you so much that it scares me how vulnerable I am to you."

"Well then you have to trust that I'll protect you against them."

Aubrey nodded her head, biting at her lip as she watched Beca jump up and walked over to her closet.

"C'mon let's go eat before breakfast is over. Who knew the innocent church girl had such an insatiable sexual appetite."

"Oh, shut up, Beca." Aubrey said, reaching down to pick up her discarded underwear off the floor. The two dressed in silence, wanting to get to breakfast before it ended. Beca looked up from where she was slipping her belt into the loops on her pants over to where Aubrey was doing her hair. Quietly tip toeing behind the blonde; she slipped her arms around her girlfriend's waste, planting a soft kiss on her shoulder. Aubrey dropped her hair brush on her desk and turned in Beca's arms, slipping her arms around Beca's neck. Beca leaned up to kiss her again, this time on her lips.

Aubrey pulled away, giggling lightly, "We're never going to get to breakfast if you keep this up."

"So? I have another idea of what would be equally as satisfying as pancakes." She said, wiggling her eyebrow suggestively. Aubrey shook her head and lightly pushed Beca away, "Get dressed."

Beca kissed her once again, this time Aubrey allowing the brunette to get her way, if only for a second. One of her hands dropped, running down Beca's stomach through her opened flannel, before circling her waist. Beca reached up and pulled Aubrey's shirt out of where she'd tucked them in her pants and Aubrey took that as her que to stop before it got to heated,

"Go." she said, watching as Beca sighed and acquiesced, she stepping away and walking back into the bathroom to fix her unruly hair.

Aubrey watched Beca walk away in her mirror before reaching down to pick up her hair brush. However, before she could even do anything, Beca called out to her.

"Bree?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes, "I'm not coming in there so you can distract me again."

"No, Bree, it's something else." Aubrey turned at the distraught tone of Beca's voice. The brunette quickly walked over to her.

"Look."

Aubrey looked up to where Beca was exposing her neck and gasped.

"Is that—"

"A hickey? Yes." She walked around Aubrey to the mirror by the blonde's closet and looked at the mark again. Turning around to face the blonde, she smirked, "Not that I mind being marked, I just don't think Westmore will feel the same way."

Aubrey slapped her arm lightly, placing her thumb and index fingers on Beca's chin to turn her head so that she could get a better look at the brunette's chin. "Stop joking around. We need to cover that."

"With what?"

Aubrey looked around the room trying to find something, anything to cover Beca's neck when her eyes landed on the yellow bandana on Beca's arm. Grabbing Beca's arms quickly and pulling the scarf from Beca's wrist, she declared "With this."

She quickly tied the bandana around her girlfriend's neck, taking care to cover the purple bruise.

Beca stepped around Aubrey to look in the mirror, "I look stupid."

"Well it's going to have to do. Now come on, we have to get to breakfast before they come looking for us."

Beca rolled her eyes and allowed Aubrey to lead her out the room and across campus to the dining hall. Luckily for them they managed to walk in just as the counselors were walking in behind the other campers. The two quickly made their way down the dark corridor that lead to the main room of the dining hall.

Aubrey reached out to grab the door but before she could pull it open, Beca pulled Aubrey to her, stealing a quick kiss. Aubrey giggled, reciprocating the kiss before pushing Beca away.

"Behave." She reprimanded halfheartedly.

"I need something to hold me over while you're in there sitting with Winston Churchill," Beca answered, reaching down to lace her fingers with her girlfriend's.

Aubrey rolled her eyes playfully, "Are you making fun of the fact that he's British?"

"Why, yes I am." Beca said.

Aubrey laughed and rolled her eyes "You're an idiot."

"So? You love me anyway."

Aubrey smiled, "Yes I do," before leaning in and kissing Beca again.

Beca gestured to the door with a head nod "I guess we gotta go inside now, huh?"

Aubrey sighed, sharing Beca's dread about separating, "Yes, we do."

Beca bit her lip and looked at the door sadly, not wanting the moment to end. "Just—just promise me that you won't leave me again…that you're not going to change your mind again."

Aubrey smiled sympathetically at her girlfriend, bringing their laced hands to her lips, kissing them lightly. "Beca, I meant everything I said. I love you, okay? No one's going to change that."

With a final kiss, the two went inside, giving each other a final look before parting ways.

Beca shoved her hands in her pockets as she walked over to the breakfast line waiting for her turn to pick her breakfast.

Paulie spotted the two entering the room first, and the smile on Beca's face was a clear indication that the two were back together. She quickly excused herself from the table where she sat with Eli and made her way to the breakfast line, she snuck up behind Beca and whispered,

"Maybe Aubrey shouldn't leave love bites in such visible places." She laughed at the sight of Beca's hand flying up to her neck to make sure her scarf was still secured.

Once she was sure the bandana was still covering her bruise, she turned around and frowned at Paulie.

"You're an asshole."

"It's what I do best." she reached around Beca and grabbed an apple out of the fruit bowl, winking at her before walking away. Beca shook her head and grabbed a bowl of cereal before joining Cynthia rose, who's now partner-less and Jesse.

"Good morning Be-caw."

Cynthia Rose rolled her eyes at Jesse before turning to Beca "'Sup Beca."

"Morning…" she said, taking a seat and immediately taking a spoonful of cereal into her mouth. She didn't bother acknowledging Jesse and instead she looked at Cynthia Rose, "Please tell me today's schedule is clear."

"Nope, we have a seminar on motherhood and raising families."

Beca rolled her eyes, "God this place is so queerballs."

Jesse looked at Beca, upset that he was being ignored by the small brunette. He thought that by now she would have been over whatever had upset her and they could go back to the way it was before.

"Beca are you still mad at me?"

Beca rolled her eyes and dropped her spoon back in her bowl "Um, I don't know. Are you still an insensitive asshole?"

He looked at Cynthia Rose before turning to look at Beca with a confused chuckle, "I'm sorry about what I said the other night. I just really think that if we gave us a shot, it would really help us get out here."

Beca couldn't stand this anymore. She was feeling really good after all that happened with Aubrey and finally hearing the blonde acknowledge what was between them. She wouldn't let Jesse ruin that for her. "Fuck this, I don't have to listen to this." Getting up abruptly, she took one last sip of her coffee, before grabbing her food, "See ya later CR."

"C'mon Beca, don't leave." Jesse pleaded but Beca continued to ignore him and in her efforts to get away quickly she didn't notice the woman standing directly behind her. Luckily for them both, she stopped just in time to avoid spilling her half eaten breakfast over Mrs. Westmore.

"Rebecca." She said condescendingly.

"Mariam," Beca retorted sarcastically. Mrs. Westmore narrowed her eyes before she caught sight of the yellow cloth wrapped around Beca's neck.

"Fabric such as the bandana around your neck is forbidden," And before Beca could stop her she snatched it from around Beca's neck. Beca tried to cover her neck, but it was too late. Mrs. Westmore had seen it. Her eyes budged at the aubergine bruising on Beca's neck.

"Who put that mark there?"

By now everyone in the room was watching and Beca took this opportunity to discreetly look over to Aubrey who was watching nervously. Beca looked back at Mrs. Westmore and shrugged defiantly.

Mrs. Westmore looked at Jesse, pointing at him accusingly.

"Did you put that mark on her neck?"

Jesse looked up in surprise and instead of getting the hint from all the kids in the room signaling him to lie, he stuttered out a quiet no.

Mrs. Westmore turned back to Beca, "You are going to tell me right this moment who is it that left that ungodly mark on your body."

Beca crossed her arms and smirked, "Why, I don't know, it looks like I have a secret admirer who may be sneaking and having their way with me." Everyone in the room laughed at this causing Mrs. Westmore grow red in anger. Growing angrier at Beca's condescending nature and how she was personally undermining her authority, she did something no one expected, and slapped the teen in front of her.

Beca's hand flew to her face, caught off guard by the older woman's attack.

"Who is the dyke you've been fornicating with?"

Beca looked at her though enraged eyes and seethed "Go to hell!"

Mrs. Westmore stared at her in rage and yelled, "If that's the game you want to play, than fine. Caleb, Abraham, take Miss Mitchell away now. I'm ordering hydrotherapy immediately."

Beca didn't put up a fight and followed the counselors, everyone watching as she was escorted out of the room. Beca glanced at Aubrey silently telling her she'd keep her promise.

That she'd suffer this and any other punishment they inflicted if it meant protecting her. Love was delicate and Beca would do whatever it took to preserve the fragile bond between them. No matter the cost.