For a moment Beca had no idea where the hell she was - which was strange because even 'drunk Beca', was pretty good at getting herself home - usually. Then she realized, wait, she was home...just in the wrong part of the house…which was strange but perhaps not overly so. She shifted a little, clenching down tighter on the shirt that was balled up in and wrapped around her fists, burying her face in the side crook of the knee she was pressed against. Why was she in the living room? Why were there so many people snoring? Sleepily, she pressed her nose in tighter, trying to remember what had happened the night before.

Hash oil. She remembered hash oil. That shit had been impossible, but she had fucking found it.

Her clenched fists pulled to her chest and the shirt she was cuddling covered her face. She sighed, slipping back out of consciousness for a minute.

Who was she lying on? Gotta be a Bella...She burrowed deeper again, taking in the scent. Oh, okay, it was just Chlo. Duh. She knew the scent of her anywhere, plus only Chlo would wear jeans this tight.

It was funny how many times she had woken up on this woman for never having been her lover.

She yawned into the thigh, not ready to let herself wake up yet, still groggy, her brain still barely functioning.

'You kissed me'. She felt herself groan internally. That's right, that was a thing. Was it really out in the open now? Did Chloe really know about her…feelings? Her, err, former feelings?

Her brain started to pick up speed and she slowly peeled back one eye. The sun shot razors into her head and she groaned, burying her face again. Nooooo, mornings sucked.

Soft fingers trailed across her eyebrow and a gentle voice, a very close gentle voice asked, "How are you feeling?"

Beca's eyes flew open.

On Chloe. She was on Chloe. Why the hell was she on Chloe? The fuck, this wasn't five years ago, this was now and she was on Chloe.

By magic Beca was suddenly on the other side of the couch, almost trampling a sleeping Emily. The fuck?

Chloe was curled up across from her, all of the Bellas strewn around the room, snoring. Why had they all slept in the living room? Chloe's lips slowly curled into a warm smile and Beca nearly choked on her pounding heart. She hadn't been thinking. Why - why the hell - why was she - she could see the front of Chloe's shirt was stretched from Beca's cuddling, from her stretching it to use like an eye mask. The sight was too much and Beca tipped forward, her stomach rocking as she let her aching face fall into her hands.

What was happening?

"Here." Through one squinted eye she saw Chloe holding out her sunglasses to her. "You got them before you fell asleep."

Fell asleep on Chloe.

Oh god, what had she said?

"Err, thanks." Beca slipped them on and instantly felt just a bit better, "Don't know why I live in a place with so many windows."

"Mmm."

She cracked an eye. She didn't want to but she couldn't not stare. So she let herself; she stared at Chloe, trying to turn over her rusty brain, scowling deeply.

Chloe just looked back, giving her time to process.

She just - she - ugh, nope. She reached for the bottle on the table. Not doing this. Not doing this. Just going to do my hair of the dog, best way to get rid of a hangover and then - just as her fingers close around the neck she felt Chloe's fingers close gently around her own. Beca froze.

"Bec…"

Ugh, Beca hated how much she loved that sweet look on her face. She hated how much she loved the way her mouth naturally pouted, it would be so easy to kiss, her lips were naturally the perfect shape for it – whoa, Beca, hold on!

"I like to think that the reason you begin your mornings with alcohol is to help the hangover but maybe," Chloe bit her lip hopefully, "let me make you something instead?"

Beca was pretty sure there was nothing better for a hangover than a little more to drink. And a shower. Shower, yes, she would take a shower. She didn't realize she had let go of the bottle until Chloe set it back on the table with a tiny pleased smile.

It's cool - that smile wasn't - totally - no big deal - okay - she watched out of the corner of her eye, her eyelashes fluttering as Chloe unfolded herself and stood. Why - why did she feel - why were her eyes damp?

Chloe stopped just outside of the room and turned, waiting.

Beca groaned, low in her throat and pulled herself to her feet but not to follow Chloe to the kitchen. Instead she went up the stairs to take a shower.

It took her a while to gather the courage to come back down once she was clean and changed. She could hear something, some type of grinding that sounded like the juicer she bought the year before in a bout of I'm-gonna-get-fucking-healthy and then only used once.

Curiosity eventually won over, though, and she tiptoed down.

First she checked the living room, but every single one of the Bellas were still comatose, drooling into Beca's couch cushions and making terrible dinosaur snoring noises.

Okay. So.

She hovered for a minute just outside of the kitchen, watching as Chloe shoved a stalk of celery through the machine, humming happily when a stream of pale green liquid shot from the juicer and into the glass beside it.

Okay so….walk away? Sit down? Walk away? Sit down?

She was sitting before she had decided, pulling her laptop across the counter and opening it to check her emails.

She was not, you know, there, she was just, errrm, her computer was there and emails and - stuff. You're not in here because she's in here. Nope. Just, don't look up. You're alone, it's fine. Just - try to remember what you fucking said last night and how you ended up latched onto her like a fucking Koala because that would be good, remembering is good…or very…bad, toss up really.

Her email program opened and just like every day she had a bazillion of them. She clicked on the first one, something about a retro dance party but she wasn't looking at the email, she was sneakily looking up under her lashes at the woman who was gliding around her kitchen, her head bouncing a little to a song that Beca could not hear.

Hooow? How the hell had she - a small memory popped into her mind. Okay...she had cried...great...she had cried. Awesome. And...hesitantly, she searched harder. Chloe definitely now knew that she was in love with her...you know...back then...but...she glanced back up at Chloe's cheerful face, she seemed pretty okay with it...I mean, that Koala thing happened…so….

"Did you sing me to sleep?" Beca suddenly blurted, a strong memory washing over her of wrapping herself into Chloe, her face resting on her chest as Chloe sang some light pop ballad. Her hands convulsed on either side of the laptop as she remembered brushing away a fiery lock that was tickling her nose and wrapping her arms around Chloe's waist.

Chloe's grin flashed as she clicked the juicer off, "I always sing you to sleep when you're upset, Bec."

"Wha-" Beca stumbled through a few unintelligible sounds. She freaking said it like years hadn't passed! Like they hadn't been running from one another - okay, maybe Beca was just running from her - since she got there. She freaking said it like nothing could or would ever change with them, like they had passed out on the couch together after a really good Hood Night party. She didn't know if she wanted to hug her or groan in exasperation so she just let her head fall into her hands, ugh god, get out of my head, you magical vixen.

Chloe turned and placed a glass of the strange colored liquid beside her laptop, an expectant look on her face.

Beca scoffed, "If you wanted me to drink that then you shouldn't have let me see you put celery in it. Celery does not go with fruit, Chlo."

Chloe just gave her a half-shrug that Beca didn't buy for a second and turned to the sink, rinsing out the machine.

Beca tried to turn back to the computer, but she noticed that Chloe was already halfway through her drink. Not to be outdone, Beca quickly choked it down when Chloe wasn't looking, her whole body shuddering with the general disgustingness of it all. Again she tried to turn back to the laptop, her fingers hovering over the keyboard but instead, she watched Chloe pull some eggs from the refrigerator. She didn't even know she had eggs. Who the hell had stocked her fridge? She was big on take out and … mustard … or… whatever, she didn't cook a lot unless she had a reason to. Ugh. Her stomach was quickly calming; taking the juice better than it ever took the alcohol. Damn it. She wasn't going to tell her. No way. She could already see the smug look that she knew would follow.

She watched her crack the eggs, discarding all of the yolks but one and began to whip them into a frenzy.

"Since when have you been such a health nut?" It came out as a sharp accusation more than a question and she supposed that wasn't totally fair or accurate. Chloe had always been in pretty decent shape and she had always been somewhat healthy. She was one of those freaks that liked to work out, which she did almost daily...and that had always been really obvious in her dancing, the way she moved - aaaaand that was exactly where her mind was not supposed to go. Anyway! Chloe had basically been the one to train all of them, including her. But she had always been able to get down with and enjoy a pizza and beer night, just like the rest of them too.

Chloe's lips turned into a thoughtful pout, ignoring Beca's rudeness, "I don't know really, Nick and I have had some - fertility issues and I guess my diet was something I felt like I could control to - help."

Well fuck.

Beca cleared her throat, blinking fast. That had been incredibly honest and her sincerity had just knocked her clean off her feet. Keeping Chloe - over there - was easier with a slight attitude, but that, "I'm uh, I'm sorry to hear that." She cleared her throat and this time did turn back to her computer, focusing on the email.

The kitchen went quiet as Chloe continued to cook and the longer it was silent the more Beca's head swam, filling with things that it shouldn't be filled with; memories from the night before, memories of her lifetime with Chloe, memories of Chloe's shining face as she said 'I do'. Suddenly Chloe's presence was too large, too much. Always, always, always too much. Chloe was here - in her kitchen - making her breakfast - smiling at her – she had sung her to sleep the night before. It all...ow... "So. How's Nickie?" In her sudden desperation not to think of any of that - ever again - the question came out thick and nasty, thicker and nastier than she meant it to.

She saw a look register on Chloe's face, a look that told her plainly that Beca had just kicked her in a sore spot - kind of exactly like Beca had intended it. No, she didn't intend it, but she had known it was about to happen. Her mind let out a long groan and she was off the stool, closing the computer - getting out of there as quickly as she could. "I uh, I have work."

'****'

Chloe wasn't super excited to be going back out to The Royal that night, even if she had to leave, even if she would be back in Henderson by morning, even if this was her last chance; she wasn't entirely sure she was thrilled about it. She had no idea how Beca did this every night. She had even missed the night before and still she was starting to feel tired. No, that wasn't right. She was tired. She was very tired.

Physically yes, but also emotionally. She had been chasing Beca for days. She had been chasing her and getting nowhere. 'Sober Beca' was no kinder to her, no more interested in knowing her than she had been on day one. Being in this situation now, Chloe couldn't fathom how she had done this for so long when they were younger, chasing her, breaking down her walls. Perhaps Beca's walls were just thicker now because Chloe was getting nowhere.

No, Chlo, she reminded herself sternly, that wasn't true. Beca had stayed in the kitchen with her for almost a half an hour this morning and that was huge!

The problem was, she had been spoiled the night before. Last night had been amazing, without any competition the best night of the trip. The last thing she had expected when she tried to pull the crying woman to her was for her to actually come but Beca had, meekly, teary eyed, and openly vulnerable. She had crawled right into Chloe and Chloe hadn't missed a beat, holding her head against her chest so she could wordlessly soothe Beca's tears.

It had been hard, it had hurt. Beca's tears, they were over her. They were because of her and knowing that had been difficult. But it had also felt supremely wonderful, she missed her physical connection to Beca so much. It was true she was kind of a touchy feely person in general; she loved a good hug and a good kiss was even better but it was different with Beca. Cuddling close to her, brushing out her hair, rubbing her nose against hers, holding her hand; it had always filled something inside of her, something she had never found anywhere else. Her Beca-cuddles glass had been depleted for a long time now and she needed a refill.

Apparently though, one night was not going to be enough to do it.

The Bellas had all stumbled in while they were still like that, clinging close, Beca's face damp. Emily had paused, just inside the door, showing open surprise to see them on the couch that way and Chloe had been sure that the moment Beca saw it, the drunken enchantment would break. But Beca hadn't moved, as a matter of fact, Beca hadn't moved from her until the following morning excluding the one moment she had gotten up and ran to get her sunglasses, yelling that her spot had better still be there when she got back. Chloe remembered thinking then that no one could ever take it. Beca had come charging back into Chloe's arms a minute later, literally charging and something amazing had happened then; Beca had come flying across the room, hitting Chloe like a bag of boney bricks and Chloe – had laughed. It had startled her because the laugh felt foreign, not at all like the laughs she had gotten used to as of late. It had been such an honest, joyful little thing that it had warmed Chloe's hard inside and out.

Instead of the spell breaking when the Bellas returned, Beca had just watched, from Chloe's willing embrace, as they settled onto the couches and floor. They had all talked in low voices for a while, despite the late hour. There had been another small bout of tears - from all of them - when they discovered that they only had one evening left, and not even a full one. Most had early flights Tuesday morning and therefore were planning an early evening.

Chloe was fairly sure that Beca didn't remember any of that, though.

Her stomach churned again.

She had spent the morning with Aubrey, begging her to take a later flight so she could have one more night with them. It had been nice to spend the day with her in Beca's empty condo while she waited for Beca to return, but she wasn't ready to let her go again, she wasn't ready to let any of them go again, and - she wasn't ready -

She and all of the Bellas were on the couches again, talking. They had been talking for hours and the topic was not a pleasant one. Beca and her bottles. Hunny and her powders. It would seem that Chloe wasn't the only one who felt she needed to step in but also felt powerless to do exactly that. What could they do with less than twenty-four hours left? Was it their place to do anything at all? They had listened again as Emily swore the biggest problem for Beca was that she was tired and rundown – and maybe was a little lonely - not that on occasion she drank too much or sometimes even took a few bumps of this drug or that.

The Bellas' point was only exacerbated when Beca finally came home, stress lines deep and walked straight to the bar, cigarette smoke curling around her haggard face.

"Rough day?" She asked from her spot on the couch.

Beca just shot her a look and gave a noncommittal shrug. "I dunno, something's weird - P.J. is being weird. I dunno, anyway, guys, so - I gotta go out to The Royal - again - tonight, but it should be fun. I'm attending an event for my boss so I should be, you know, a bit more available."

Chloe looked away, not surprised by the brush off. She shouldn't have expected it to be different today. Beca had been her old sweet self with her the night before because she had been drunk, because for a few minutes Chloe had been able to wiggle her way under that shield that Beca had been keeping up. It wasn't because she forgave her for not knowing.

She had been working hard to let it all slide off her back all trip, and she had, but each level stare, each time she openly ignored her, each time she sat somewhere other than beside her - it got just a little bit harder.

She would give just about anything for another chance at it, another vulnerable moment so they could talk.

She was leaving tonight.

She kept telling herself that last night, that was her night, that was what she got - and it had been so good to forget for a while, to pretend as she cuddled her best friend to her. That needed to be enough. That needed to be her goodbye to something that once was.

Chloe could feel sadness pulling at her from somewhere deep within. She could tell if she wasn't careful she would spend her entire drive home tonight in tears not only over Beca, but also because it was her last night and tomorrow she would be back in Henderson.

Beca flopped down on the couch across from her so Chloe clicked on her smile, hiding her semi morose thoughts.

"I'm glad." Amy gave her a big smile and patted her leg, "One last drink for the road."

"Huh?" Beca's head turned so quickly she almost took her tumbler with it. Her eyes went wide and Chloe could see her doing some quick math, "What day is it? It's Monday? What? When did it get to be Monday? Where did Saturday and Sunday go?"

Beca's front door opened and Hunny came in, grinning, "Heeeeey, Barden Bellas."

They all greeted her with a little less enthusiasm than normal. Perhaps it wasn't just Chloe who was feeling the underlying sadness – or perhaps it wasn't just Chloe who was still thinking about their talk earlier and wondering about Hunny's part.

"Hunny, it's Monday."

"Aaaand?" Hunny took a seat beside Beca, frowning at her sad face.

"We're all leaving," Chloe answered for her.

Hunny gave a start, "You're here!"

Chloe frowned. Oh, and had she mentioned that Hunny had let herself in very late the evening before? It had been so late that the sound of her arrival had scared Chloe awake. Hunny had only stayed a few minutes, though. She had let herself in, gone upstairs only to come down again, take one look at the crowded living room, scoff toward Chloe and Beca and leave.

Chloe was starting to wonder if perhaps Hunny was ready to have her girlfriend back.

"I thought you were staying with the angry one!" Hunny finished.

"Do you mean Aubrey?" Beca asked, laughing from beside her, "Maybe I'm just old-fashioned Hun, but once you've, you know, had your tongue in their mouth, you should probably know their name."

"Nooooo!" Emily hissed.

Chloe scowled.

"You made out with Aubrey?" Stacie cried, her jaw hanging open. She jumped when she realized her friends were staring at her. "What? It's uh, interesting." Stacie threw a coltish leg over the other and began checking her nails.

"Hey, shouldn't you be cuddling with your teddy bear right now, House Bex?" Hunny fired back, ignoring Stacie completely.

"Errr-"

"You were balls deep and snoring last night."

Beca flushed scarlet as Hunny gestured to Chloe, "I uh, um, what?"

Defiant annoyance twinged through her as Chloe felt her cheeks rising to match Beca's. She wouldn't look away; she would not be embarrassed. She would have held any one of them the night before if they had needed it - even Hunny.

"Monday!" Beca finally cried, grasping at the words as though she were trying to run over a banana peel.

"Right. Yeah, that came up quickly!"

"It usually does." Flo frowned, studying her feet.

"Well hey," Hunny sat up, her face shining, her eyes pointedly skimming over Chloe. Hmm, she and Hunny had spent the previous few nights enjoying one another, dancing and laughing. It looked as though that was over now. "Let's really make it a night then, okay? One for the scrapbook." They all shared a small smile, unsure but willing. "Which reminds me, Bex -"

Where did 'Bex' come from? Chloe's jaw tightened a bit as she watched Hunny turn to Beca. She didn't really like 'Bex'; it was too - I don't know, something. It wasn't sweet enough. Then again, maybe Hunny didn't know how sweet Beca really was. They didn't seem to have a very serious relationship.

"I just got off the phone with EZ, I told him about the party and he's totally bringing a whole crew tonight. And,"

"What?" Beca had only just leaned back against Amy but now she was upright again. "No, no, no, Hunny, you didn't! Noooo!" Chloe watched Hunny's face grow confused and then annoyed. Hmmm, Chloe liked everyone, that was just who she was...but maybe….yeah, maybe she didn't like Hunny so much. Beca grabbed her cigarettes and lit one, pulling in an impressive amount of smoke. "Why did you do that?"

"He wanted somewhere to go, what was I supposed to tell him? He was bored. Isn't keeping him entertained kind of your job?"

Surprise registered on all of the Bellas' faces at that, each looking away in turn; awkward.

"God damn it, Hunny!" Beca groaned, pulling herself up and stepping over Emily. "You should've - freaking - asked me."

Hunny followed her, stomping up the stairs and though they didn't want to, the Bellas had no choice but to sit and listen to them fight for quite a while after that.

No. Chloe didn't like Hunny. She watched for the next hour as Beca flitted around the condo, getting ready to go, Hunny trailing after her, pouring and pouring. She hadn't been sure she disliked Hunny, hadn't been positive she wanted to waste so much energy on something like that, create so much negative energy within herself. Then, just as everyone was ready, she watched as Hunny pulled Beca aside. At first, she hadn't been able to tell exactly what was happening. Were they kissing? More fighting? Then she heard distinctly, "Hunny, I don't wanna, I don't - no, I want to function - no, I don't - ugh fine. No, not that much. No. Fine. Fine!"

Chloe watched, furious as Hunny all but fed Beca the party favor.

Her jaw was still hanging open when Hunny sauntered over to the door, "You know, Chlo, that dress - it's so - cute."

So it was going to be war then. Chloe's eyes narrowed. She happened to love this dress.

"It just, it isn't really L.A., you know?"

Chloe opened her mouth but Beca appeared in the doorway, gathering her keys, "Don't be a dick, Hunny, not everyone has a personal stylist specifically for L.A. fashion."

Beca just blew by her, out the door, not a look, nothing but still, Chloe felt her lips twist, her quiet smile still on her face when they arrived at the club.

The night was the same as all of the others. Pounding music, liberal drinks, laughter, and dancing, so much dancing. The Bellas really seemed to understand that this was their last hoorah and they were going to make it count. Within an hour Chloe's dress was plastered to her back, her breathing hard, her curls noticeably limp.

"Girl, you on fire tonight!" Chloe grinned over her shoulder. They had been joined somewhere along the way by the rapper that Beca was working with. He seemed nice enough but she didn't really like the way he watched her ass as she moved.

She was on fire tonight. She was on fire because she was dancing away all the thoughts. Every time she remembered that she was supposed to be in the car soon and on her way back to Henderson - she danced. Every time that she appeared at Beca's side, ready to ask for at least one dance - Hunny swooped in, scooping Beca off to a friend of theirs or a client - Chloe danced. Every time she remembered that little bump that Beca had taken before they left the condo - she danced.

Had she simply turned into a prude in her weird suburban life? Was that it? Beca seemed fine, honestly. She had been watching with an eagle eye for any sign that she should do something, that she should - she didn't know. But Beca's dance moves were exact, perfect even. When she was whisked away she ran up and down the stairs with impressive focus, seeming far less tired than she normally did. Soooo, maybe Chloe was a prude. No, she wasn't a prude; she had never been a prude. How could anyone think that of her? Not with the things she was willing to do in bed when properly motivated, not with the kind of secret thoughts she had. I mean, come on, she had happily walked in on Beca naked less than a day after meeting and it hadn't even occurred to her to be embarrassed until Beca had been. No one could call her a prude, it was just - it's Beca and Beca- perhaps she had always had a shitty attitude but this had never been her thing. And the smoking! That poor beautiful voice!

So Chloe danced and Chloe watched Beca be fine - for about an hour. Then Chloe noticed that Beca was starting to slow.

Then she was starting to lean.

Then she was barely moving, looking as though she could fall over at any time. She kept taking sips from drinks, pouring herself a shot here and there - but she was lagging. And it was scaring Chloe.

Hunny apparently noticed it too.

She watched Hunny pull her away from the rapper and she knew what she was doing. She was offering her more.

No.

Chloe couldn't just watch as Hunny gave it to her again. Beca was barely conscious. This - no! It wasn't her decision, it wasn't her business but - for a moment she felt Beca in her arms again and she reacted before she thought.

"Hey guys!" She grinned, sliding an arm around Hunny's waist, "So when am I going to get my dance?"

Hunny's hand disappeared into her pocket as she flashed Chloe a smile, "Errrm, not at this moment, 'kay Chlo?"

Chloe sighed, pretending to think about it, "So, Hunny. Is that your real name?"

"No. It's my Hollywood name. Like Cher."

She frowned, "But Cher's name is Cher. It's Cherilyn…Cher for short."

"Yeah, well, Hunny is short for Megan. Hold on." Hunny disappeared toward the bar and Chloe took her chance.

Her hands closed tightly around Beca's, "Bec, what are you doing?"

"What? Nothing." Beca pulled back but Chloe didn't let her go.

"Beca, this is dangerous. You could get addicted. You could have too much, you could,"

"God, stop trying to tell me what to do, Chloe! Fuck! Just because I cried doesn't mean anything is different." She pulled away harder this time, shoving away and glaring at her.

"Beca, I'm being serious."

"So am I, Chloe!"

Chloe watched Hunny envelop Beca, dragging her to a group of their friends, far from the Bellas.

She knew it was not Hunny's fault, not really, Beca was an adult who could make her own decisions, but she hated Hunny because of this. At least, she assumed that was why she hated Hunny.

There were so many reasons that it was hard to say.


The teary goodbyes started a few hours later.

Beca had perked back up again; Chloe didn't want to think about how. She had spent the last two hours mimicking their first night at the club. A skinny blonde had appeared around eleven, as well as a man in a suit and Beca had been moving since then. As a matter of fact, Beca had been running her little tail off, which was almost impressive given her earlier state and the huge amount of whiskey she had seen Beca drink.

Finally, Amy had caught her on the way back from the bathroom and told her that she and Lilly were going to head back to Beca's as they both had the earliest flights in the morning.

Chloe had made it through that one without tears, only just. But when the rest of the Bellas found her a bit later, tears already on their faces she hadn't been able to make it. She had held them tight, promising to call more, promising to come visit. When they tried to pull away she hadn't been able to let them go.

"Seriously, Chloe," Cynthia Rose said, sniffing, "Every summer. I want to do this every summer."

"Okay." She nodded, pulling her close again.

How had the days gone by so fast?

"Did you guys say bye to Beca?"

"Yeah, tried to. Girl is busy. Amanda runs her hard, doesn't she?"

"Yeah well," Stacie sighed, "It will all be worth it if Beca gets to put her name solo on her album."

"Solo? Her boss would do that?" Why would he retract his name? That was a strange thing to do.

"Apparently."

"Uh-oh guys, the Uber is here. We gotta go." Jessica frowned, a few more tears falling as she looked up from her phone.

"Oh god. Be safe you guys. Let me know when you all arrive home. I love you all."

She watched them all make their way from the club with a heavy heart.

When would she see them again?

She pulled out her phone and glanced at the time. It was well after eleven. She had told Nick she would be back very late tonight or early in the morning. That meant it was time for her to go too...instead, she went to the bar and ordered another seltzer.

Just one more hour.

Beca looked so busy right now and she would leave without a few minutes of her time.

So Chloe hung back, watching Beca work, dancing with a few strangers. Her enthusiasm was low, however, and mostly she sat by the bar waiting for the moments when Beca would come whizzing by, ordering a drink for her possible client, for P.J.'s client in the suit or taking a drink herself.

She had heard about the night before with the folk singer, heard about how she had treated Beca. It must have been going better this time because though Beca was looking tired, she was smiling.

The hours began to lengthen, eleven turning into midnight, turning into one. She knew she needed to go, knew that there was no way she would be able to get enough sleep for her drive but...she just couldn't seem to make herself do it. She had put down her water glass who knew how many times, readying herself but she always just picked it back up again.

She...she didn't want to go. That was the problem. For all the reasons in the world, she didn't want to go.

She knew before she had come to this weekend that she wouldn't want to go home but - it was so much harder than she had imagined and her worry for Beca was only helping to glue her butt to her chair.

It was true that 'Sober Beca' pretty much hated her but - just not yet. A little longer. She would go soon.

But soon the club was beginning to thin. Patrons were filing out with their catches of the night or looking mournfully at those who had been caught, the music was beginning to slow and eventually the shout of 'last call, get 'em while you can' echoed through the pounding bass.

Still Chloe couldn't go.

Beca was still running, gathering people, gathering the rapper and Hunny, the blonde and the man in the suit for a few more shots before the night was over.

Chloe watched her power through two, cringing. Beca - apparently had a talent. She could put back an awful lot but - maybe she should stay long enough to drive her home. She wasn't sure if once Beca was done working she would stay on her feet long enough to call a cab and there was no way she could drive.

So Chloe continued to wait.

The club continued to empty.

Eventually, Chloe watched Hunny leave with a gorgeous hunk of a man, tossing Chloe a gross smirk as she did.

Beca was starting to slow again.

"Aren't you two dating?" She called; hoping that Beca would notice she was still there and give her a minute.

Beca just glanced toward the door as though she could see Hunny through it, "Yeah, it's not - it's - we're not like that." But then she was gone again, making Chloe's teeth grind.

Finally the music was switched off as the DJ called, "Okay everyone out! We love you, we're happy to see you, but now our beds are calling to us. We wish you all a good night."

She couldn't put it off any longer.

She felt her breath hitch into a gasp as she realized that it was time. She - she didn't have a choice anymore. She had checked out of her hotel room that afternoon. She had waited for Beca all night. It was after two in the morning and she had to go - back to her life - back to Henderson and away from -

Her thoughts were distracted by a high scream followed by a peel of drunken laughter.

Beca and the blonde were sitting at the foot of the stairs, arms tossed over one another.

"Toooooony!" Beca cried to the bartender behind Chloe, "We've fallen and we can't get up!"

"I see that!"

Chloe rose, unsure if her help would be welcome. "My goodness!" Thankfully it was the blonde who took her hand first. She pulled them both to their feet and trying her best to swallow down any and all emotion, she followed behind them as they started for the door.

Beca and the blonde trying to help one another through was something like the blind leading the blind. They stumbled and fell, only just managed to get to the car that was waiting for the blonde, in one piece.

Beca was a ball of drunken sunshine and Chloe would have loved it - if she knew how she was getting home.

Finally, after some rather impolite shoving, the blonde was in the back seat of the car, flopping onto her back and groaning.

"Okay Mr. Pete!" Beca saluted the driver, "Take her away!"

"Will do, ma'am."

"This was the best night ever!" The blonde yelled making Beca cheer and wolf-whistle.

"I told you House Bex knows how to do it!"

Chloe rolled her eyes, a smile tinting her lips as she sighed.

Beca turned to go back inside but stumbled when she realized that Chloe was beside her. "Whoa, god. That's right. Errr, hi. Um."

"Hi." With a determined sigh she grasped Beca's shoulders, pushing her backward toward the shadow of the awning, trying for some vague semblance of privacy.

"Ooooh shit, walkin' backwards," Beca cried, clutching tightly at Chloe's hands so she didn't fall.

"Bec. I have to go."

"Hmm?"

"I have to go, Bec, I was supposed to leave like five hours ago."

"Go?" Beca shifted a little so she was leaning against the wall, "Wait, as in go - go?"

Chloe's heart started to slowly swell when she saw a look of complete confusion on Beca's face, as though it never occurred to her that Chloe would eventually be leaving again.

"But - but you just got here." Those deep blue eyes blinked slowly and Chloe watched as a familiar hurt came crashing through them.

She hated it. She wanted it to stop. Why did it feel so much like she was abandoning her?

Suddenly Beca grabbed her arm. Chloe jumped, thinking that perhaps Beca was falling over but Beca just squeezed tightly, "You can't!"

"But I have to, Bec."

"But…" Beca looked quickly away, her face blank, still holding tightly to Chloe's arm.

"Bec?"

Beca just blinked slowly, her jaw tense, refusing to look at her.

"Beca?"

Still no response, none but a small sniff.

"Bec, I -"

"I'm sorry that we didn't really talk. I should have taken advantage of the time or something instead of – being stupid."

She heard the wounded child in Beca's voice, the one that knew it had done wrong and was desperately looking for any way to rewind time, to roll back the clock and make it right, take it back.

"Hey." She ducked her head, trying to make eye contact with Beca, but the tiny brunette ran from it. A tear fell from Beca's eye and pain crashed through her at the sight of it.

Ooooooh, noooo. No Beca, no more tears, no more pain, not over me. God, she never wanted her to have pain because of her.

"Hey." She finally cupped Beca's cheek, caressing it with her thumb until the fly away girl could do nothing else but reluctantly look back. Chloe sank in the moment they connected. "I've got my ticket for the long way 'round."

Beca's nose twitched, a tear splashing onto Chloe's wrist as she rolled her eyes. She sniffed and, "Two bottle whiskey for the way."

She let out a laugh, a small, happy laugh as Beca sang back, her stomach flipping as she felt her own tears threaten. Beca. God, she didn't want to leave her again, she didn't want to step away.

She knew that Beca was only this way with her right now because she was drunk but she would take what she could get.

"Bec." She pulled her in close, needing - just one more time.

Beca's arms closed tightly around her, crawling in like it was life and making Chloe rejoice in the contact, in the backbreaking grip that was suddenly around her.

She sighed, everything feeling better as Beca's face fell into her throat, sniffing loudly.

When was she going to see her again? Oh god, was she going to see her again? There was a good chance that this was it; that they would part tonight and become distant memories.

Chloe's chest heaved and she cuddled tighter, a tear breaking free.

She couldn't stand the thought.

This might be it.

Tomorrow Beca might be - gone.

She might never feel - this again - this warmth that was radiating from her belly, this contented feeling that if she could just stay right here everything would be okay.

She loved this unnamable feeling, this feeling she had come to associate with Beca in the last few years of their friendship. It was like the first sip of hot coffee on a very contented, snowy winter morning where all you had to do it sit around and drink it and read the paper with someone you love. It was like -

She was holding her close, yet it seemed as though the closer she held her the more she needed.

Beca sniffed again and though it was muffled against her skin she distinctly heard, "I love you, awesome nerd."

The words make her laugh...and cry.

Why was she crying?

Beca pulled back a little and Chloe cupped her face again, needing her to hear what she had to say, through the inebriation, through the pain and the baggage, "Will you do me a favor? Please."

"What?"

"Will you call me? It doesn't have to be all of the time, I know you don't want me in your life that way, but will you just call me, please? Like once a month? Please don't - please don't make me go through this again."

Beca's face grew nervous but she nodded.

"I'm worried about you, Bec."

Beca let out a messy scoff, "Me? Psssh, don't worry about me. I'm Beca, I'm awesome, I'm always like super awesome." But the bravado wouldn't stick. Soon Beca's face fell again, her eyes bouncing between Chloe's. Her hand came up to rest on the hand over her cheek and there was this strange pulling inside of Chloe, strong and desperate. She watched Beca's face, her brows furrowed, "So uh, you gotta go, right? How are you getting back to your car? Want me to drive you? I uh, I -" Chloe's fingers pressed lightly against her cheek and Beca fell silent again.

She didn't know how it happened, what happened, suddenly Beca was tight against her, lips meeting hers in a soft, light kiss and Chloe had no idea how it happened or who it was that started it.