A/N: Hey! Thanks for the great response :)

Disclaimer: Don't own Pitch Perfect or Foolish Games by Jewel which is the song in this chapter. Make sure to look it up.

Alright Beca, game time, Beca thought to herself, trying to force her usual sarcastic smirk to cover the genuinely happy smile at knowing today she'd be spending the entire day talking music with Chloe. Her phone beeped twice, distracting her from her thoughts as she set up her studio for the day. Twitter and a text. She checked Twitter first.

"Stocking up on artificial energy b4 bmitch puts me thru my vocal paces #albumday1"

Beca's smile returned at the attached picture of Chloe holding two coffees. It was clear that one said 'Chloe' and the other said 'Beca'. Chloe was bringing her coffee. Beca opened the text next, laughing when she saw it was also from Chloe.

Chloe: Hope you like caramel lattes or things are gonna start awkward today.

Beca replied quickly.

Beca: As long as it's from you, I'll drink anything.

Chloe: Challenge accepted.

Beca frowned but before she could reply Chloe was walking through the door, two coffees in hand and a large smile on her face.

"That wasn't a challenge," Beca greeted as she happily took her coffee.

"Sounded like one," Chloe laughed as she pulled a pile of papers, notebook and CD from her bag.

Beca shook her head and decided to let it go. "What is this?"

"My songs."

Beca frowned again. "You made your own CD?"

"Mmhmm," Chloe nodded, spreading the sheets in front of her.

Beca could see they were hand written music sheets full of notes, chords and lyrics. She picked up the one closest to her as she sat down. "You know generally this is my job."

Chloe shrugged. "I've always been an overachiever, sorry."

"OK," Beca said, feeling a bit disappointed. This would make her job much easier but also much quicker which meant less time with the redhead.

Chloe seemed to sense the sadness in her tone. "There is a still tonne to do. I'm pretty sure I want violins on everything, a full backing band maybe. Or an orchestra. Live I think."

Beca widened her eyes and dropped the sheet she'd been looking at, missing the teasing glint in Chloe's eyes. "Violins? For an entire album? Chloe that's crazy, it'll take forever." Why was she arguing with this?

Chloe laughed. "Beca I'm kidding."

"Oh," Beca blushed. She picked up the sheet again. "Chloe these lyrics are amazing."

"Thanks," Chloe said, easily accepting the compliment. "You just seemed upset that I came prepared for some reason," Chloe said, hiding her assumption that Beca was actually upset about the lack of time they'd be spending together.

Beca shrugged. Her first instinct was to lie but as soon as she made the mistake of looking into Chloe's eyes the truth poured from her mouth. "When this album is finished you'll be going back to New York. I was just hoping it was take longer rather than shorter. I've only known you- in person- for a day but…" Beca trailed off, having already shared more than she'd intended.

Chloe smiled slightly. "I never said I was going back to New York, I said I didn't know where I was going next. Besides, I only have ten songs here, we need at least four more, maybe five."

Beca smiled back, nodding, hopeful that Chloe would somehow find herself staying in LA for a very long time. "So," Beca started, shifting the focus back to work, "Have you got a theme or something connecting these songs together?" Beca knew that Chloe was very talented and knew a lot about music so she knew that she'd be planning an album that flowed, just as her first had.

Chloe nodded and bit her lip, somewhat nervous. "Actually… I'm trying to tell a story, sort of."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Like, my side of the last few months. Writing is my therapy and this," Chloe gestured to the sheets, "Are my feelings. All of them. Being cheated on, hurting, breaking up, picking myself up and starting over. There are so many people who have experienced what I did and I'm hoping this album will give them hope. Does that sound stupid?"

"No. That sounds amazing."

Chloe beamed. "Thanks. I just don't know how to finish it."

"Maybe that's because your story hasn't finished yet."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

Suddenly the air around them thickened with the same electricity as the afternoon before at Beca's house. They both began leaning towards each other, eyes focused on each other, seeing a deeper connection that was building.

"Chloe! There you are!" Aubrey practically yelled as she barged through the door. "I went to your house this morning and nothing. What are you doing here?"

Chloe sighed as she pulled away from Beca, glad Aubrey was to preoccupied to notice what she'd just interrupted. "Bree, I am here working on my album. It's why I'm in LA, remember?"

Now it was Aubrey's turn to sigh. "Chloe we haven't even signed the contract."

"That's not my fault. I want to record here. It's your job to make that happen. Was there anything else cause Beca and I are kinda busy?"

Aubrey glanced at Beca, as if noticing for the first time that she was in the room. "Ms Mitchell," she said formally.

"Ms Posen," Beca mocked straight back, finding her sarcastic smirk easily.

Aubrey sent the small brunette a glare. "May I have a moment alone with my client."

Beca crossed her arms over her chest and raised a brow, silently refusing Aubrey's request to leave the room.

Aubrey tsked and sent another glare before turning to Chloe. "A moment. Outside." She didn't wait for confirmation before she left the room, letting the door bang behind her.

Chloe rolled her eyes at the dramatics. "Sorry, I'll be one sec."

"Chloe you don't have to talk to her if you don't want to, I know she hurt you yesterday."

Chloe smiled and reached an arm out to touch Beca's. "We need to sort things out, she's not just my manager. I'll be back soon, OK?"

Beca nodded, the feeling of Chloe's had distracting her from her concern. Soon Beca found herself faced with an empty room so she sat, waiting for the redhead to return.

Chloe found Aubrey standing awkwardly at the end of the hallway, facing the wall. She cleared her throat to let the blonde know she was there without needing to be the first to speak.

Aubrey kept her eyes on the wall. "Stacie said I was out of line yesterday and I owed you an apology."

"And what do you think?"

"I think I took my anger out on the wrong person."

"Why are you angry Bree?"

Aubrey turned towards Chloe and Chloe gasped when she saw the tears in her best friend's eyes. Aubrey never cried, ever. They'd known each other their entire lives and Chloe hadn't even seen Aubrey cry watching Titanic.

"I'm angry because I made someone a promise and I failed. They will never forgive me."

Chloe took Aubrey's hands in her own, squeezing tightly. "Who won't forgive you?"

"Dana."

Chloe frowned. "My mum?"

Aubrey nodded and bit her lip, trying to hold back the sobs but failing. Chloe pulled her into a tight hug.

"Shh Bree, it's OK, shh."

"No Chlo," Aubrey hiccupped, "it's not OK. I promised her."

Chloe pulled back slightly to look into Aubrey's eyes. "What are you talking about Aubrey? My mum died when we were fourteen. What promise did you make her?"

Aubrey sighed. She'd hoped to never need to tell Chloe about this conversation.

11 years ago.

Aubrey walked softly down the carpeted hallway towards the bathroom. She was working on her homework with Chloe after school. Normally they did their work at Aubrey's house but Chloe had wanted to be home with her mother while her father was out of town. Aubrey glanced at the room to her left, right next to the bathroom. The door was cracked open but she couldn't see inside. Curiosity got the better of her so she slowly pushed the door open wider. Chloe had told her that her mother was dying, a rare lung disease, but she hadn't been able to talk about it in detail. Aubrey's eyes took in the beeping machines that measured breathing and heart rate. Her eyes stopped on the small figure in the bed. Dana Beale had always been a strong woman, confident and assertive. Chloe had the same confidence but her sunshine outlook of life was inherited from her father as Dana was much more serious and pessimistic.

"Aubrey?" A weak voice croaked from the bed.

"I'm sorry. I was… I'll leave."

"Wait Aubrey, I want to talk to you."

Aubrey, ever the obedient teen, quickly moved to the chair beside the bed, sitting primly with her hands folded in her lap and ready to listen.

"I'm glad Chloe has you. You are good for her. You keep her grounded and she needs that with the amount of time she spends in the clouds."

"Thank you Dana. I promise she will always have me."

Dana smiled. It was weak and her lips were cracked. "I'm worried about Chloe. She needs a mother. She is too kind and caring and people are going to take advantage of that. They are going to see how beautiful she is and she will get hurt. Aubrey I'm scared that the world will break my daughter's heart and take away what is so precious about her. I'm scared that my death will be the first crack that will leave her vulnerable. I need you to promise me that you will protect her. Promise me that you will keep away the people that intend to damage my little girl. Please Aubrey, promise me."

Aubrey tightened her jaw, feeling a weight press down on her shoulders. "I promise Dana."

Present

"And I failed you Chloe. I was too late. By the time I realised that Tom was no good you were already too far gone. I wanted to say something, to stop you but it was written all over your face. You're hurting and I didn't protect you."

Chloe was crying just as hard as Aubrey by now. "I am so sorry Bree. She never should have put that on you, that's not your burden."

Aubrey shook her head. "Even if she hadn't asked I would have still tried. Chloe the world needs people like you, people who believe in magic and unicorns. There are too many tattooed, eyelinered, sarcastic monsters in the world. I don't want this to change you and stop you from being your shining, affectionate, loving self."

"It won't Aubrey, I'm stronger than that. I'm bulletproof. Titanium."

"Good cause you just may be Tinkerbell's last hope so clap hard."

Chloe wiped away Aubrey's tears and pulled her into another tight hug. "I will never stop clapping, I promise."

Aubrey smiled as she pulled back, copying Chloe and wiping away the other woman's tears. "Good. So promise me that there is nothing happening with you and that hobbit."

"Bree-"

"Please Chloe. She is bad news. I can't see you get hurt again."

"Friends, that's all, I promise. But one day soon you will see that you have her pegged wrong and we can have this conversation again."

"We'll see."

"We will. So let me sign the contract?"

Aubrey nodded, feeling the 11-year weight finally lift from her shoulders. Chloe would be fine, as long as she kept her away from that midget with her ear monstrosities.

Chloe smiled as she re-entered the studio and saw Beca focused on a laptop with large headphones covering her ears and a good chunk of her face. She tiptoed behind the brunette before dropping both hands to the producer's shoulders causing Beca to jump and jolt as her headphones pulled her back. Beca quickly pulled the headphones off.

"Jesus Christ Chloe, are you trying to kill me?"

Chloe shrugged, dropping into a chair that she moved much closer to Beca than it needed to be. "What ya doing?"

"Oh," Beca glanced at her laptop and scratched her neck. "I know I should've been starting on your songs but it's Josh's birthday this weekend and I wanted to check I have some songs to play at his party."

"You're a nice big sister."

"Yesterday you said I was mean," Beca pointed out. "Besides I feel pretty bad for the kid. Ma does a really good job but it's pretty hard for her to swing big birthdays. Usually it's just the three of us, which was always fine with me cause I'm a bit of a loner but Josh has a tonne of friends so she always feels bad never being able to do much."

"So what are you guys doing this weekend?"

"Barbeque with a bunch of his friends."

"Sounds nice."

"Yeah," Beca scratched her neck again. "Hey, um, do you wanna come? I mean you don't need to if you're busy but I think he'd really like it. Actually never mind, it was stupid, of course you don't want to come to some random fourteen year old's birthday party. I don't know why I even-"

"Beca," Chloe cut in. "It's much easier for me to say yes if you pause before uninviting me."

"Yes?"

"I'd love to come." Suddenly an idea formed in Chloe's mind. "Would it be alright if Aubrey and Stacie come too? I think Aubrey needs to get to know you better."

Beca scrunched her nose. "You sure know how to crush a girl's enthusiasm."

Chloe laughed. "She'll be on her best behaviour."

Beca sighed. "As long as your there then fine."

"Thanks Bec," Chloe squealed, pulling Beca into a hug.

Beca felt a familiar goofy smile spread over her face at Chloe's nickname and touch.

"So, are you ready to get started?"

"Yeah, where do you want to start?"

Chloe scanned the sheets still on the table in front of her before pulling out one of the oldest. "From the beginning."

Beca and Chloe spend the rest of the day working on the song and were quite proud of their work so when Aubrey and Luke stopped by for a run through they were more than happy to show off. First Beca played the newest version of Dancing On My Own before Chloe headed into the booth to give them a live viewing of their newest creation.

"This is the sad breakup part of the album," Chloe explained as Beca pressed played.

Chloe closed her eyes as the gentle piano instrumental started, pushing herself into the place of pain of a few months prior.

You took your coat off and stood in the rain,

You're always crazy like that.

And I watched from my window,

Always felt I was outside looking in on you.

You're always the mysterious one with

Dark eyes and careless hair,

You were fashionably sensitive

But too cool to care.

You stood in my doorway, with nothing to say

Besides some comment on the weather.

Chloe couldn't help the slight smile as the violin added to the music. She'd convinced Beca to add it in for this one song. She quickly refocused, pushing an image of Tom to the forefront of her mind.

Well in case you failed to notice,

In case you failed to see,

This is my heart bleeding before you,

This is me down on my knees, and

These foolish games are tearing me apart,

And your thoughtless words are breaking my heart.

You're breaking my heart.

Chloe replayed the moment when she confronted Tom about the video, hearing his words so clearly in her mind.

You're always brilliant in the morning,

Smoking your cigarettes and talking over coffee.

Your philosophies on art, Baroque moved you.

You loved Mozart and you'd speak of your loved ones

As I clumsily strummed my guitar.

Chloe used her anger to fuel her emotion for the next verse, adding a rough quality that broke the hearts of the three people listening.

Excuse me, think I've mistaken you for somebody else,

Somebody who gave a damn,

Somebody more like myself.

These foolish games are tearing me,

You're tearing me,

You're tearing me apart,

And your thoughtless words are breaking my heart.

You're breaking my heart.

Chloe couldn't help the way that her voice cracked over the line, her mind was enveloped in the memory and the pain felt so immediate.

You took your coat off,

Stood in the rain,

You're always crazy like that.

Chloe whispered the last word and slowly opened her eyes, only now realizing they'd been closed the entire time. She was shocked to find three open mouths and watery eyes, surprised how affected they all were by her song, especially Beca who had heard it endlessly for the last few hours.

"Wow."

Chloe fiddled with her necklace as she looked at the house in front of her from the driver's seat of her rental. She took a moment to consider the fact that she was overstepping before brushing it off and making her way to the front door. She knocked firmly and waited patiently. She didn't need to wait long because soon Grace was pulling open the door.

"Chloe! What a surprise!" Grace greeted, ushering Chloe straight inside.

"Hello Grace. I'm sorry to just show up but-"

"Nonsense, you are always welcome. Good timing actually, I just got back from work and I have a few hours until my night shift."

Chloe frowned. "You're working to shifts today?"

Grace nodded, her usual smile still on her face. "It's Josh's birthday this weekend so I could use the extra money. We're having a barbeque. Oh, you're more than welcome, Josh would love it if you could make it."

"Actually Beca already invited me today. That's why I'm here actually."

"Oh?" Grace asked, leading the redhead towards the lounge room to sit down on the couch.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way but Beca mentioned how hard birthdays can be."

Grace sighed, her smile slipping. "All I've ever wanted is to be able to provide for my children. It's a mother's job to give them what they need. I hate failing them."

Chloe shook her head and placed a soft hand on Grace's forearm. "I know I haven't known you for long but I admire the mother you are. It is so easy to see how much you love your children and they know that. That's all children need and you have two fantastic children. Beca is… different than anyone I've ever met and that's all you."

Grace's eyes watered at Chloe's sincere tone. "Coming from a woman like you, that means quite a bit. I know your mother must be proud."

"I hope so," Chloe smiled sadly.

"Is she not with us anymore?" Grace asked softly.

Chloe nodded. "She had a lung disease." Chloe shook her head, forcing a large smile back into place. "But that's not why I'm here. I was wondering if I could help Saturday."

"Help?" Grace asked unsurely.

Chloe leaned forward and told Grace her plan, beaming as she saw Grace fall in love with the idea. They had a lot to do before Saturday.

Beca grunted as she pushed open the door to the apartment she shared with Jesse and Fat Amy. It was a small three-storey walk-up that was barely affordable, even with all three of them chipping in for costs. She dropped her laptop beside the couch and flopped onto it, too tired to make it to her bedroom even if the cheap couch was extremely uncomfortable.

Her eyes closed and she was almost in a dark oblivion when the door opened again, Jesse and Fat Amy arguing loudly as they entered. Beca growled from her position, her face still pressed into the couch, trying to make Jesse and Amy shut up without taking the energy to form words.

She was met with laughter.

"Ginger tired her out, poor little tacker," Amy laughed, poking Beca's cheek with the toe of her sneakers.

"Gross," Beca muttered, pushing her face further into the couch.

Jesse began to poke Beca as well, using his finger instead of his foot (thankfully). "I guess that coffee I saw on Twitter didn't really help much."

Amy forcefully pushed Beca's feet from the couch so that there was room for Jesse and Amy to sit down.

"Leave me alone," Beca growled, rolling onto her back and out of the uncomfortable position Amy had created.

"Not until you tell us how it went. We missed you last night and this morning. What's she like?" Jesse pushed.

"Please tell me she is a bitch. I don't think I could handle it if she was as nice and bubbly in person as on TV," Amy begged.

Beca sighed heavily, knowing her flat mates wouldn't let her sleep until she gave them at least a little piece of information. Maybe she could even get some food out of the deal. "Pizza for my thoughts?"

Jesse rolled his eyes, standing to grab his phone. "I'll dial. But don't share while I'm gone!"

Beca closed her eyes for a slight reprieve until Jesse returned.

So? Is she a diva?" Amy asked, a bit too excited.

"Sorry Amy, she is even nicer and bubblier in person," Beca replied, not noticing the smile that covered her face as she spoke about the redhead. Amy and Jesse did though.

"But I bet she's ugly, right? Or needs heaps of make up?" Amy tried, smirking at Jesse.

Beca shook her head. "She's physically flawless. Even without make up. She has these blue eyes-no, blue isn't a good enough word. Bluer than blue, bright, like stars in her face. Her hair is this really soft thing that smells like… happiness. She has this little scar on her forehead that you don't see in movies. That's my favourite part of-"

Beca stopped suddenly as Amy and Jesse burst into laughter. Beca reddened. She really needed to sleep.

"So… pretty?" Jesse joked through his laughter.

Beca glared and stood from the couch, storming into her bedroom. "Enjoy the pizza dickheads," she yelled as she slammed her door.

"Beca, we're sorry, we were kidding!" Jesse pushed out between bouts of laughter.

The pair eventually calmed down when they realized Beca wasn't coming back out.

"What do you say to a sneak attack tomorrow? Judge this girl for ourselves?" Amy suggested.

Jesse nodded, agreeing quickly. "I need to see the girl that has turned our Beca into a cheese ball romantic."

Chloe arrived home in a happy mood, which vanished when she saw an angry Aubrey in her kitchen.

"Where have you been?" The blonde snapped.

Chloe stepped around Aubrey and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "Hey Bree, I don't remember you getting a key?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes, grabbing a bottle for herself. "I copied it yesterday. Where have you been?"

"I should know better than to leave anything of mine in your position by now." Chloe held her hand out for the key. "Aubrey," she pushed when the blonde didn't hand it over.

Aubrey turned and headed towards the couch. "I need it for emergencies. This is the last time I will ask. Where have you been?"

"Dinner. After today I was hoping to see a kinder, happier Aubrey," Chloe said, sitting on the couch next to her best friend.

"And I was hoping to see a more responsible Chloe."

"That's not fair Bree."

"Not fair? Chloe you have been god knows where all afternoon. We left the studio at the same time so imagine my confusion when I turn up here to take you out and you aren't here."

"Sorry Bree, I had plans."

"With who?"

"No one you know," Chloe answered quickly, avoiding looking at Aubrey's face.

"Beca?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me."

"Grace," Chloe supplied.

"Grace is who?"

"Beca's mother," Chloe said quietly, hoping Aubrey wouldn't hear.

"Her mother!?" Aubrey exploded, standing and pacing in front of the redhead. "Less than 12 hours ago you promised me 'just friendship' and here you are having dinner dates with her and her mother."

"No. Just her mother."

Aubrey twisted her face in confusion. "You went over to Beca's mother's house for dinner without Beca, the girl you only met yesterday."

"Yep."

"Chloe that's weird, even for you."

"It's Josh's birthday this weekend and I'm going to help."

"Who the hell is Josh?"

"Beca's little brother."

"You are helping with Beca's little brother's birthday this weekend?"

"Yep. And you and Stacie are invited."

"Chloe? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Chloe stood and grabbed Aubrey's arms, stopping her friend from pacing. "Aubrey, calm down. I am not doing anything that you wouldn't approve of. I like Beca, as a friend. I'm trying to be a friend."

Aubrey raked her hands through her hair. "You're going to give me premature grey hair Chloe."

Chloe placed her hands on Aubrey's shoulder and began to massage them from the front. "Do I need to call Stacie to relieve some of this tension? She was so good at that when you two were together."

Aubrey blushed and pulled away. "Well we're not together anymore so don't bring it up. Let's watch TV."

Chloe sighed and sank into the couch, letting Aubrey pick what they watched. Five minutes later Chloe pulled Aubrey into her arms when she heard the blonde swallow loudly, knowing it was the typical sound of Aubrey stopping herself from crying. One day Aubrey would explain what happened with Stacie but in the meantime she'd be a shoulder to not-cry on.

A/N: So originally I planned for there to be a second couple but it wasn't going to be Staubrey but after reading your reviews I decided to maybe change that plan. I watched a show this week that I have loved for all six seasons and suddenly they killed off a character that had been there since the beginning with no emotion and barely a goodbye. I hated it. Most fans hated it. Fan fiction is the place where fans get to decide so I am more than happy to include what you guys like to read and wish to see in Pitch Perfect 3 in my story. Love you guys, peace.