A/N: Wow the reviews for last chapter were amazing guys, thank you and I know what you mean. My heart hurt for Beca too, but all those terrible things that she's been through weren't meant to break her, they only made her stronger. After everything that happened, she'll know to cherish what she has now and not take things for granted. She's just waiting, learning and getting better, so when the opportunity presents itself, she'll be ready. And I know it may not seem like it right now, but she'll have the whole world someday. :) ps. Don't worry, Beca wasn't all alone in LA, I'll tap more into her LA years later. But was it an ex-girlfriend? Hmm we'll see… ;)

As for Chloe, others may think that she had it all in those 8 years, but deep down she was still hurting, trapped in the belief that Beca was the one who gave up on them first, without any explanations. And all these years, she wasn't actually healing, she just pretended she was okay and kept convincing herself until she was starting to believe it. So now she's a much more complicated person, and I'm really excited to write about how she would cope with all her inner conflicts and struggles in the future.

Lastly, it's indeed quite heartbreaking to see that they had everything all planned out at the beginning, then life just sort of happened and slowly tore them apart. But luckily, they found each other again. Sure, their relationship won't be all cupcakes and rainbows, and they still have their own issues to deal with since both of them have changed over the 8 years. But they are not alone anymore, you'll get to see how they learn to be there for each other, fight for each other and support each other. And I think they'll be just fine this time :)

pipitz009: LOL! Absolutely! I love jealous and protective Chloe as well so… we'll see this side of Chloe in the future ;)

ale0488: Yes! Definitely a LOT of fluff coming up!

depressedhunter: Of course, they still have a long way to go, and Chloe will fight for Beca, Beca will also fight for Chloe. I don't think they'll make the same mistake again you know? :)

Chapter 18

Beca had been tossing and turning in her bed for 2 hours. She groaned, turning yet again to lie on her back and stare at her ceiling thoughtfully, finally giving up on trying to force herself to sleep.

Chloe and Stacie had been acting really weird these past 2 days, and Beca felt like she was getting so paranoid that it was starting to drive her crazy. The day after Stacie's visit, she and Chloe took the tall brunette to do some sightseeing around the city, but something seemed off between them. Something felt off about Chloe. The redhead looked like she was being bothered by something. Beca was getting a little worried, so she subtly asked the redhead a few times but was getting nothing other than a simple "I'm fine Beca." In addition, Stacie was dodging her eyes most of the time, looking stressed and somewhat guilty. And Beca also failed to gain any clues even though she basically grilled her best friend when she drove her to the airport earlier today. The tall brunette just wouldn't say a word. Beca got a feeling that something happened the night when Stacie went to catch up with the redhead at the bar, yet she just couldn't figure out what it was.

Beca let out a frustrated sigh, deciding she should stop thinking before she completely drove herself crazy. She got up and went to the kitchen, figuring that she might as well use the time effectively. She had asked Jesse for a night off at the bar and the restaurant was closed today as well. She decided to use this free day to finally bake Chloe her raspberry pink velvet cake. She gathered all the required ingredients she bought yesterday and put them on the kitchen island, before rolling her eyes in annoyance. They were all so… pink. And she could feel her badassness slowly drifting away just by standing next to the pile of pink.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Chloe, this is for Chloe. She chanted internally before slowly reaching out a hand to pick up the pink food colouring. She planned to surprise Chloe with the cake later in the evening, since it was the redhead's birthday. She knew she probably wouldn't have the luxury to spend the whole day with the redhead and she figured Chloe would most likely go out with some of her friends, so the least she could do was to bake that cake and pretend to casually drop by the redhead's apartment to give it to her.

"Please, Becs! For me? Please? Pretty pleeeeease?" Chloe was kneeling on the ground with her chin resting on the brunette's lap, looking up at Beca with her infamous pout and puppy dog eyes.

Beca threw her head back slightly, groaning loudly and feeling her resolve begin to break, "No! Chloe! Why can't we just go and buy a cake? You know you can't use that pout and those eyes to get everything you want! It's not fair!"

"Come on Becs! It's just… next year, I'll be in New York and you are probably not going to be there with me on my birthday and I really want today to be perfect." Chloe pouted even more and nuzzled into Beca's stomach.

Beca's inside melt at how cute her girlfriend was being and her brain completely lost all functions. However, Chloe apparently took Beca's lack of response as in she needed more convincing. So, before Beca even blinked, the redhead moved up and was straddling her lap, leaning closer to Beca and basically purring in the brunette's ear, "And who knows, we may find some other ways to make use of all those extra whipped cream and icing that I made." She finished, nibbling the brunette's ear.

Beca involuntarily shuddered, swallowing hard. Her face was now a deep shade of red. "You… you…" She stuttered.

Chloe smiled, pulling back to look into Beca's now darker eyes, "Please, Beca? I really want to bake my birthday cake with my super-hot girlfriend." She whispered, their lips almost touching.

"Fine." Beca answered a little too quickly and she mentally chastised herself for not having enough resistance power towards the redhead.

Chloe squealed and went to peck Beca on the lips before standing up, despite of the brunette's protests. She smirked at Beca's flustered state, secretly loving that she was able to have that kind of effect on the brunette. She pulled Beca up by her hands and led them into her kitchen, "Awes! Now let's get started then."

"Wait, what do you have in mind for the whipped cream and the icing?" Beca perked up and looked at Chloe expectantly.

"Well I was thinking we should also make some cupcakes you know? I love—" Chloe answered in all seriousness, wanting to tease the brunette as much as possible.

"What? That's not…" Beca exclaimed, cutting the redhead off.

"Why?" Chloe looked at Beca questioningly, "What were you thinking we'll be doing?" She was trying really hard to hide her giggles.

"N-no, nothing. I was thinking of nothing. Cupcakes are good, super good." Beca was blushing furiously, trying to shake all those inappropriate images out of her head.

Chloe couldn't hold back her laugh anymore, "Oh, babe, you are too easy!"

Beca realized Chloe had been teasing her all along and glared at her girlfriend, "You are the worst! I don't know why I put up with all your teasing this long."

"You love it!" Chloe said in a sing-song voice, "Besides, I can't help it! You are just too adorable when you are all flustered."

"What? I'm not adorable!"

"Yes, you are! You act all tough and cold, but actually you are the biggest softie and the cutest human being in the whole world babe."

"I'm not a softie or cute! You take it back!" Beca demanded, taking a step closer to her girlfriend near the kitchen island.

"Nope, Miss cutie pie, I will not take it back! I have the most adorable girlfriend in the world, and you better embrace yourself." Chloe winked at the brunette.

"Take it back or you'll regret this!" Beca tried one last time and after seeing that the redhead wouldn't budge, she dipped her fingers into the bowl of whipped cream on the kitchen island and got a handful of whipped cream, before smearing them on the redhead's face.

Chloe jumped, letting out a shriek, "You. Did. Not. Just. Do. That!" She gasped, mouth falling open.

"Yep, that's payback for calling me cute and adorable." Beca answered smugly, satisfied with her handiwork.

"Oh, really?" Chloe challenged, slowly stepping closer towards Beca, whipped cream all over her face.

Beca eyed the redhead suspiciously. She pointed a finger at her girlfriend, "What are you doing?" She started to take a few steps back.

But before Beca could even react, Chloe surged forward and began to place kisses all over the brunette's face, smearing the whipped cream from her face onto Beca's face as well.

Beca squealed, trying to wiggle out of the way but Chloe's hands were gripping her hips so hard that she couldn't get away.

After Beca finally escaped from Chloe's firm grip, she took a few seconds to catch her breath before she looked up, seeing the redhead was now using a towel to clean up her face, she suddenly had an idea, "Ouch… I think I sprain my back, it hurts." She scrunched up her face, adding a few whimpers while pressing her hands on her lower back.

Chloe quickly dropped the towel. She was in front of Beca in an instant, concerned, "Babe, are you ok? Can you move?"

Beca shook her head, looking up, "I think… I think I just need a few kisses from my GIRLFRIEND!" She raised her voice at the end of the sentence and went to grab the redhead. But the redhead was quick this time, she swiftly dodged Beca's attack, fleeing to the living room while laughing,

"Nice try Mitchell. And it's low to fake an injury you know!"

Beca chased Chloe back to the living room and tackled the redhead onto the couch. She straddled the redhead, bending over to kiss her girlfriend thoroughly, until her own face was almost free of whipped cream.

Chloe struggled to keep her face from the brunette, but eventually just gave up and kissed Beca back passionately, not caring if she completely undid all her previous facial cleaning.

Finally, they broke apart, both breathless and laughing hard. And when they calmed down, Beca looked into Chloe's sparkling eyes, "Happy birthday baby." She whispered under her breath. I love you. She thought but didn't say it.

But somehow Chloe seemed to sense it. She gazed into the stars in Beca's eyes, feeling like she could get lost in there for eternity. I love you too. She thought, and leaned up to kiss Beca again.

Beca was standing outside Chloe's apartment door nervously, with the raspberry pink velvet cake in her hands. She looked down at the cake and suddenly having second thoughts about her actions. Is it appropriate for me to come here? I'm not overstepping any boundaries, am I? I mean friends bake each other cakes all the time, right? Right… and… how will she react? After all it's the same cake that we baked on her 18th birthday… but hey, she's the one that brought it up the other day…

Beca shook her head to get rid of all those thoughts, I seriously need to stop with all the ramblings! Okay, I can do this. So, with a deep breath, she brought up a hand to knock on Chloe's door, waiting anxiously while biting her bottom lip.

A moment later, she heard footsteps getting closer and closer to the door and her heart rate picked up. Within a few seconds, the door swung open, and she saw Chloe standing in front of her, in a royal blue onesie with tiny white elephant patterns on it and a pair of fuzzy hedgehog slippers, surprise in her eyes.

"Happy Birthday." Beca said.

A/N: Oh boy, something BIG is happening!

... And of course I'm posting 2 chapters today :)