Prompt: "Established Bechloe – They are in the middle of separation because Beca is a workaholic and doesn't make time for their marriage."

So if I slightly changed this prompt, does it still make it a prompt? Hmm...

Established Bechloe, they aren't married and it's before they "separate"/break –up. Sorry, #teamhilarioustrex ...

The Ultimatum

Upon leaving college, Beca remained at Residual Heat and slowly made her way up one promotion at a time – which wasn't many. Eventually after four years of fetching coffee, answering phones and 'warming up' vocal booths, the DJ finally walked away with two of the company's former employees, opening her own recording studio and launching a new label.

After a year of managing all of the business duties mostly singlehandedly, Beca thought she maybe out of her depth. The money was slowly drying up and countless hours were spent organising recordings, scouting for talent, advertising, as well as working on her own music – it was safe to say, Beca took her work home with her every night and it didn't go unnoticed by her girlfriend.

"Beca, are you even listening to me?"

She heard those words a lot recently, without paying attention to the previous ones uttered before them.

"Yes, of course."

That was no longer a sufficient answer.

After an emotional love confession two weeks shy of graduation, Chloe and Beca had left college as a couple, moving into their already organised apartment and starting their new relationship. As far as Beca was concerned, the moment she had uttered those three words to her best friend after a Bella's practise, her life was perfect. There was no more need to worry about feelings being reciprocated or fear her own impulsive actions and desires; Chloe Beale was someone she could finally call hers and know for sure the other woman was as in love with her as she was.

Chloe was nothing but supportive when Beca decided to take a huge risk and face potential "career suicide", helping her to remain positive and pursue her dreams. Chloe had a trust and belief in Beca and her talent she had never experienced before and if it wasn't for her, the DJ never would have had the courage to take the leap and actually pursue it.

"No, you're not because you never listen anymore. If you're not here, you're at work and when you are here, you're mind is still at work!"

Chloe was looking at Beca expectantly, causing the younger woman to falter under her gaze.

"Chlo, you know I've got a lot on my plate" she sighed, unable to look the visibly angry redhead in the eye.

"That has been your excuse for the past eleven months. You don't talk to me anymore and you never listen. Why can't you understand I want you to put me before the studio, just fucking once?"

"C'mon, you know it's not as simple as that."

"But it is! I'm not asking you to stop the overtime or reduce your workload, all I'm asking for is you pay me some attention for a couple of hours. I've supported you the moment you told me about the label but where's my support, Beca?"

"I'm sorry, I know the current situation isn't ideal but I've come too far with this to fail now. I just need to get the word out and find some new talent to generate some noise about the studio and the label and I'm so close, so close I can almost touch it! I just need a couple more weeks and it will be better; I'll be better - for you and for our relationship."

Chloe stopped pacing and her expression softened. She spent a few seconds still and unresponsive before she joined Beca back on the couch with a long sigh. The brunette picked up her phone from the cushion and waved it in the air.

"I'm turning this off for the whole evening. You're going to make the popcorn whilst I put the movie on. Then after that we'll just talk; about you, your day, what you had for lunch, which kid you hate in your class, I want to know everything!"

The redhead cracked a smile at that, before nudging her shoulder, "I've told you so many times I don't hate any of the kids in my class."

Beca smirked, "Yeah and I keep telling you I don't believe you."

She placed her arm around her girlfriend's shoulders and pulled her nearer, enjoying the feeling of closeness she hadn't experienced for a while. She knew Chloe was right, work always came first; their relationship was everything and she had promised back in Barden that she would be the best possible version of herself, because Chloe deserved that, but right now she was lacking.

"Forget the movie and popcorn; can we just sit here for a while?" Chloe asked quietly.

Beca hummed in agreement and whispered a genuine apology against Chloe's skin, placing a soft kiss to her temple, as they both relaxed further into the embrace.

XXX

A couple of weeks after she had told Chloe she needed time to close the deal with a potential new artist, the contract signing had fallen through, leaving Beca high and dry and strapped for cash to put back in the business. After a quick brainstorm, the DJ decided if she couldn't find new talent, she would have to do it herself, resulting in Beca slumped over the desk in her home office working on yet another mix.

It felt like it did back in college to begin with, but the added pressure of the success of her company, Beca was a much harsher critic of her own work and regarding every track as unworthy and mediocre.

She let out a sigh, rubbing circles into her temples in an attempt to soothe her thoughts and fend off the tiredness. A pair of hands were wrapping themselves around her shoulders and pulling the headphones off her ears.

"Babe, come to bed."

Chloe's breath was hot on her neck and the huskiness to her voice caused the corners of her mouth to turn upwards. She closed her eyes for a second, breathing in Chloe's familiar warmth and scent.

"I need to finish this" she whispered, her lips finding Chloe's hand.

"Beca, just come to bed with me..."

The impatience and annoyance was audible in Chloe's tone. Beca wanted to close her laptop and follow her girlfriend to bed more than anything but tomorrow's workload was busy enough as it was, she needed to work out these kinks in this track tonight and finally lay something down in the studio.

"I really need to get this done for tomorrow, Chlo."

The redhead instantly removed her arms, the coldness harshly rushing through Beca's body.

"You said you'd try and this..." Chloe slammed down the lid of her laptop "...isn't you trying."

Beca took a deep breath before turning her chair. The piercing blue eyes staring back at her appeared glassy and damp, making Beca feel even worse.

"I know but if I don't come up with something soon I'm not going to have any money to run the studio. I've told you already, failing is not an option."

"Failing isn't an option when it comes to your career, but failing in our relationship, that's OK is it?" Chloe shouted storming out of the office and down the hallway not even waiting for a reply.

Beca was on her feet and following her path to their bedroom, stopping once she caught sight of Chloe, sat turning away from her on the other side of the bed.

"Is that how you feel? I'm failing us- you?" she asked unable to keep the vulnerability out of her voice.

"Yeah, Beca, that's how I've felt for a while but you haven't even noticed" the redhead sniffled, running a hand through her hair.

"Chloe, I-"

Before she could continue, the phone stuffed in her back pocket was vibrating, the ringing filling the once quiet room.

Chloe turned sharply, before shooting Beca a look.

"Don't answer it."

Beca pulled the device from her pocket, her eyes roaming over the screen and widening at the name. It was unusual for her assistant to be calling this late.

"Beca, please just ignore it and talk to me. Just sit down and actually listen to how I feel, please" she begged, moving from the bed and in front of the shorter woman with a pleading look in her eyes.

"It's not like Kate to call out of the blue" Beca reasoned.

"If you answer that, we're done, Beca. I mean it; I can't be second to your job anymore."

The younger woman took one last look at Chloe, her eyes filled with sadness and a hundred apologies before they rested back to the screen.

"Hey, Kate, can this wait until tomorrow? I'm kind of in the middle of something?" she spoke into the receiver.

Chloe smiled bitterly, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"What? When did this happen?"

And with that Beca was rushing out of the bedroom and back to her office, leaving a distraught Chloe sat on their bed.

When Beca returned twenty minutes later Chloe had already packed the majority of her clothes. The redhead gave the zip one last tug before she was lifting it from the bed and dropping it to the ground. The sound of the wheels clanking on the hardwood flooring had a sense of finality that made Beca feel uneasy. Her throat was dry and it was suddenly impossible to form words.

"I meant what I said. I can't love someone that doesn't put me first anymore. I hope everything works out with your label, Becs, I really do but I hope one day you realise what you lost in order to get it."

Beca followed Chloe down the stairs, her eyes filling with tears as she frantically reached for her arm, "Chloe, please don't leave, I'm sorry, OK? I can't let you go, I love you!" she urged, standing in between her girlfriend and the door.

"Beca, please move" her voice was shaky, a look of beseech on her face. The tears were spilling from her eyes now as she pulled her hand back and out of Beca's grip.

"No, Chloe-"

The redhead was pushing her aside almost forcefully before pulling the handle and rushing out of the door. Beca watched as the woman hoisted her bag into the car and drove away down the street. There was a tightening in her chest and a crushing feeling coursing through her body. The world she was standing in seemed to be falling apart around her.

This time last year, the younger woman would have put Chloe above everything, why had she been so stupid these past twelve months? Why did she drive the love of her life away?

A recording studio and a record label didn't even come close to the love of her life. So why had she let it come between them?

The tears were spilling free, loud sobs wracking her body, Chloe was gone and Beca had a horrid feeling she wasn't going to come back.

XXX