They reach the end of the song and the silence is thick and electrifying. Chloe's blue eyes burn into Beca's with a ferocious intensity, and Beca finds herself falling once again into the deep, swirling depths of her gaze. Chloe leans in slightly, and her proximity – the way her breath tickles the tip of Beca's nose – drives all other thoughts from Beca's brain. She's trembling from the effort of holding back, and when Chloe places both arms on Beca's shoulders and pulls her in, Beca's heart flip-flops itself into oblivion.
Chloe closes her eyes and gently presses her lips to Beca's. Beca makes a small grunt of surprise as her heart lurches into her throat; but it doesn't take her long to close the remaining space between them and deepen the kiss, her hands pressed to the back of Chloe's neck. Chloe's lips maintain a natural rhythm against Beca's even as the urgency builds – Beca's hands run down the length of Chloe's body, down past her waist to rest firmly on her hips. Chloe's tongue traces the line of Beca's bottom lip, asking for permission to enter – and Beca parts her lips without a moment's hesitation, breath hitching as Chloe's tongue sweeps in and caresses her mouth with strong, gentle strokes, as if this has been hers all along.
The kiss doesn't let up in intensity or passion, and they're both surprised how badly they want this – how badly they need this. Chloe's hands have moved to cup Beca's face and her blue eyes are open now, locked on to Beca's, both of them panting heavily between kisses.
Chloe's gaze moves downwards, hungrily taking in the curve of Beca's chest. Then her hands are moving downwards too – and her palms slide across Beca's chest and Beca gasps, letting out a small, strangled breath. Chloe's fingers move deftly in rhythm to the kiss, and Beca has to lean heavily on Chloe to keep her knees from buckling.
Beca presses her leg between Chloe's thighs, and a quiet moan escapes the redhead's lips. When they eventually pull apart, Beca's breath is coming in short, shallow gasps. Chloe's resting her hands on Beca's shoulders, panting and trying to regain her breath. They're both grinning like idiots. "That was – uh, I. Wow." Beca smiles up at Chloe, slightly flushed and still buzzing with an incredible high.
Chloe laughs and cups her chin gently, planting a soft, sweet kiss on her lips. "That was wow," She agrees, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement. She's falling right back in love with her and all the feelings and memories she'd tried so hard to bury are coming back up to the surface and there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
There's still a niggling doubt in the back of her mind that this is a bad idea – that loving Beca, giving her heart away like she did the last time, will lead her down that road of pain that she's only just escaped from.
But tonight, under the navy blue velveteen sky, is for dreaming – it's about the earnest promise she sees reflected in Beca's eyes – and Chloe leans in for another unforgettable kiss amongst the stars.
...
They're walking back to the train station, bodies still tingling with electricity. The air is fresh and crisp, and it feels like a new beginning, and Beca feels alive and honest and free for the first time in forever.
Chloe reaches out and slips her hand into Beca's. It's cold, and the wind bites at their fingers and howls through the gaps in the trees, but Beca only tightens her grip and smiles softly into the distance. It's only when they get into the train that Chloe breaks the comfortable silence between them. "I had a wonderful night, Beca. Thank you," She says, eyes shining with happiness.
Beca cocks an eyebrow cheekily. "Tonight hasn't quite ended yet," she points out, winking. Chloe flushes a deep crimson, and Beca bursts into laughter. "I'm just kidding, Beale." She smiles. "I had a wonderful night too."
...
Beca knocks on Chloe's door after they've both showered and changed into their PJs. Chloe's breath spikes in spite of herself and there's a slight quaver in her voice when she says, "Come in!" She's thinking about Beca's tonight hasn't quite ended yet, and can't quite stop the blush from creeping up her cheeks.
Beca enters the room, and settles awkwardly on the foot of Chloe's bed. Chloe frowns and moves forward to sit cross-legged in front of her. "What's up, Mitchell?"
"I know you're not sure about this – about us. And uh – we don't have to – rush into things." Beca's brow is furrowed, and she looks so sweet and earnest and adorable that Chloe feels a rush of affection for her. "Whenever you feel like you... you're uncomfortable with anything, or you don't want to do – this – anymore, just tell me, and we'll stop. Okay?" Beca pauses and clears her throat. "And Chloe?" She waits until Chloe meets her gaze. "I uh – I really like you."
Chloe nods and blinks away tears. Beca gives her a crooked half-grin and plants a kiss on her forehead. "O-okay. Goodnight, Beale." She turns and heads for the door, but Chloe grabs her arm. "Beca, wait-"
Beca turns around and pauses. Chloe hops over and presses a kiss to her lips. When she pulls away, Beca's heart is thumping and it takes every ounce of her will power to stop herself from kissing her again. "I really like you too, Beca." Chloe is smiling one of those rare, bright smiles she reserves for special moments with special people, corners of her eyes crinkling and turning Beca's insides into mush.
"Uh, well g-good," Beca says. She gives Chloe one last lingering look before reluctantly dragging herself back to her bedroom. She tries to force all inappropriate thoughts out of her brain, but she can't stop a million thoughts from ping-ponging through her mind. She's way too jittery to go to bed, so she starts up her laptop and settles into her bed.
Chloe switches off the lights, pulls the covers over herself and closes her eyes. She keeps replaying the kisses they've shared tonight and shivers involuntarily. She can't erase the memory of Beca's lips pressed on hers, can't forget the feel of Beca's body warm and snug against hers.
Chloe loves easily. She loves quickly and selflessly. Her heart is the size of a continent and there's enough space in it for most people. But she guards it well, keeps it safe – she knows that once she gives it away, there's no taking it back until it's lying in pieces on the ground. Because when Chloe falls in love with someone, she throws everything she has into her love and holds nothing back.
The first time she falls in love, the boy breaks her heart and she cries herself to sleep every night for a month. Her mom told her never to love anyone she doesn't trust, and never to give away her heart unless she's completely sure it won't get broken.
Chloe doesn't quite trust that her heart won't get broken, but she does trust Beca. Besides, Chloe decides that Beca has broken her heart so many damn times over the past six years that one more time really won't make any difference at all.
And Chloe's an eternal optimist, soft and tender even in the places where life has broken her; and she truly believes that one day things will work out.