A/N: Okay, this chapter was a little longer that I thought. I thought it would just be 3,000 words but it's actually closer to 4,000. I have a self inposed minimum limit of 3,000 word min after the first 2 chapters. I am going through and editing my A/Ns cause the whole 'late' thing is irelevant now. (This A/N was originally ridiculously long) So I am just going to tell you what paired reading is, which was originally mentioned, purely because it may be metioned later. Basically on Tuesday and Thursday during their lunch from 12:45-1:25 a year 7 or 8, in my case 2 per lunch time, read to a sixth form student to improve their reading. (I'm in sixthform which is year 12 and 13, which is optional, and am 18, year 7s have just come up from juniors/primary school, still compulary. For anyone who doesn't know how the UK school system works. I know I don't really know much about the American one so...)

There is another quite intimate bit near the bottom again, no one complained last time and again it just seemed to fit. It's an all Jesse and Beca chapter. So let me know what you think the babbling is done so, I hope you enjoy the chapter.

disclaimer: (I nearly forgot) I do not own Pitch Perfect or characters etc.

So on with the next chapter...

Chapter 11

Beca had found an empty room. It was dark and she didn't bother to switch the light on. A big flat screen TV was stuck on the wall giving off the only light in the room. It still had something on but it had been muted most likely from when everyone gathered for the movie. In the middle of the room there was a sofa sat facing the TV. On the sofa sat Beca; only the glow of the TV lighting up the room alerting a passerby to her presence. She was curled up in the middle. Once again she had tears running silently down her cheeks. She hadn't cried this much since Barden. She was never the crying type but these last few days she couldn't seem to stop. It was driving her mad but that didn't seem to stop them falling. She always thought tears made you weak, that showing them was a weakness. That showing emotion was both weak and dangerous because it could get you hurt. So it seemed somehow ironic that it was the exact opposite that had really hurt her in the end. It had been her walls and lack of showing emotion that had caused her to lose, or at least not get back, the one person she loved most. Still knowing this didn't make allowing him to see her this way any easier. The only sound in the room was the quiet sniffling. Even in the near silence Beca didn't hear the door open. She was in her own world. She had decided to forgo dinner, she wasn't really hungry and clubbing was not her thing. Besides she didn't feel like seeing all those people. She jumped when she heard a voice.

"What's up weirdo?" A very familiar voice said softly.

"I remember the first time you said that to me." She said as he sat down beside her.

"Me too."

"That's when you came up with that stupid movication." She said it half laughing half crying through her tears. He put his arm around her and pulled her to him so her head rested on his chest tucked under his chin. She clung to him unable to stop herself as her gently stroked her back as she let it out. She didn't know when she became this person but she just couldn't turn the tears off. All the ones she had saved up for the 7 years in L.A., the one she hadn't cried to Benji on his visits, the one she refused to cry in front of the girls, in front of him, they were all pouring out of her now it seemed and she was powerless to stop them. She had never really cried in front of him before. She wasn't sure why she hadn't let herself cry in front of him. It wasn't like he would judge her badly for it. If anything it probably would have made them stronger but she just wasn't like that. She just couldn't let him in that far. She was aware that at least part of her reason to shut him out was an attempt to not give him anymore ammunition to hurt. Not that he did it intentionally, but the more she let him in the more it would hurt if he left. In the end it didn't matter, trying to limit the potential damage had been what had indirectly caused all the damage and the hurt anyway. She was still destroyed by it and if she had just let him in rather than opening up for more pain it would probably have been avoided all along. She knew this now, so she let herself cry, not that she could stop it, but she stopped fighting it.

As her tears slowed down and her breathing started to even out she felt Jesse move. He loosened his grip on her and lifted his chin from her head. Still she didn't let go of him, perhaps afraid that if she did she would never get him back. She did lift her head slightly though to face him. He looked down at her and wiped her tears away with his thumb; his hand resting and staying on her cheek.

"Don't leave." She said quietly, it was somewhere between a demand, a question and a plea.

"I'm not going anywhere Beca, don't worry." His voice was still soft and comforting as he tightened his arms around her again. He wasn't used to comforting her. She had never allowed him the chance before. Now she was and while he wasn't used to it, and was prepared for her to bolt when she suddenly decided to close off, he allowed his instinct to guide him.

"I'm sorry" she suddenly spoke up.

"For What? Crying?"

"Not exactly, more for never letting you see it before."

"I know I may have said this before but you really have changed Beca. In a good way."

"You have, but thank you anyway. I'm sorry about earlier."

"Which part? The movie, or..."

"I should have mentioned the movie before but that's not what I was sorry about."

"You have nothing to apologise for Beca. I was the one who blew up at you, you were just telling the truth, about the past too. You're right we can't change what has happened Beca, only learn from it."

"But do you want to? Earlier you said-"

"I know what I said Beca, and it might take some time but maybe we could get past it."

"I hope so. I don't want to spend another 7 years like the last 7."

"Me neither, I may have enjoyed it more than you but I don't want to live the rest of my life that way."

"What way?" She asked. She knew the answer but she wanted to hear him say it.

"Oh, you know, avoiding L.A., I always wanted to go- Hey!" She scolded him playfully with a light slap to the arm as she moved herself to sit on his knee whilst her upper body remained leaning against him. She no longer felt the need to be comforted but she did not want to lose the body contact either. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this comfortable, safe and relaxed but she predicted it was the last time she was in this position with him. She glared at him, trying not to smile, at his response. "Without you. I don't want to spend the rest of my life without you." He finally admitted, his voice and his face sincere.

"I don't think I could spend any longer without you either." She too admitted. Finally getting it out and feeling like a great weight had been lifted.

"Who are you and what have you done with Beca Mitchell?"

"Ha ha, very funny." She glared at him. Her face changed again, became more serious. "I guess I should tell you what happened after. The secret I got Benji to keep."

"Okay" He nodded.

"After we broke up, properly, I shut myself off from everyone. I only left my room to go to class and for practice. I spent all my spare time in my room, sat in my bed, watching movies." She paused to look at him. He looked shocked and a little in awe so she continued, "Especially 'The Breakfast Club'. It always made me cry, like it did after we fought in freshman year, I didn't tell you that either. Benji came to see me. Everyone else I had ignored and they went away but he let himself in instead. He caught me watching movies. They were covering my bed. I made him promise not to tell anyone, especially you. He thought it would have made a difference."

"He may have been right, I don't know. It was a long time ago but I wish you had let him tell me. I didn't know."

"I wish I had too. But I didn't want you to see me like that back then. So I decided to try to get you back at the finals, like the first time. Benji tried to warn me it may not work but I didn't listen." He nodded and she could tell he was thinking back too.

Second Year at Barden

Once again the Bellas and the Trebles shared a bus to the ICCA's. Beca and Jesse sat at opposite ends, their break up clear to everyone but only the Trebles knew why. They weren't about to tell and Beca was grateful for that even if they weren't doing it for her. Donald and Bumper were also coming to watch the finals. Donald was there to cheer both. Naturally Bumper was there to cheer the Trebles and boo the Bellas. Beca had prepared the set list. She had not had much time to finish it but she was happy with it. The trip to Lincoln Centre was uncomfortable but everyone else did their best to pretend there was no awkwardness.

When they finally arrived they split their ways to get ready. The Trebles went first again, their set seeming even better than last year Beca thought, if that was possible. They may not have won last year but she still thought they were amazing as she had watched them. As they finished Beca had the great urge to run on stage and kiss him. For obvious reasons she had to refrain. As the Trebles took their seats in the audience the Bellas were called to the stage. They started out their set list. The beginning like always mirroring the old Bellas, almost like they were paying their respects to them, then after a few lines they all came to life. Soon it was her turn, she would sing to Jesse. Like before he was trying to look away. She started to sing 'I Have Nothing' from The Bodyguard; a film that Jesse had insisted that although it was a long film it was a must in her movication. She watched him as she sang it. He recognised it. Instead of responding as he had last though he ran his hands over his face and through his hair. He got up and walked down the side aisle and outside. Beca watched him go. That was it. Now she knew it was over. She felt defeated as she watched his back until he disappeared from sight through a door. She still managed to finish the set list and the crowd cheered in appreciation. She felt none of it. Nothing but alone. She should have listened to Benji.

"Why did you walk away?" She asked. She never understood why he just walked off instead of just ignoring her.

"I couldn't watch. I would fall in love with you every time I heard you sing. It was so much worse when you sang directly to me, it was too powerful, but I knew music couldn't fix it this time it was too late. It was too big but I knew if I stayed I would get back with you and I just couldn't. I couldn't get over what had happened. We wouldn't have worked. Things would have gotten worse."

"You mean worse than they got?" She asked, slightly teasing, obviously wondering how things could have gotten worse than they did. He answered her question although she didn't say it.

"We probably wouldn't have been sat here now. We'd be just as hostile towards each other as everyone else is."

"You think?"

"It worked out for the best Beca" He assured her.

"I trust you." He didn't say anything, just nodded and held her tighter as she buried her head in his chest. "I knew you didn't do anything. I always knew. It just wasn't who you were. I just couldn't believe it. It was easier to believe what I saw rather than what I knew. So I did, and regretted it ever since."

"Didn't you learn anything from The Santa Clause?" She looked up and rolled her eyes, trying to hide a smile before her face turned serious again.

"I don't want to live with regrets anymore Jesse." He looked at her for a long moment, deciding what to say, choosing the right words.

"You shouldn't regret it Beca. I think it made you stronger. I know the last 7 years must have been hell for you, hell, the last 9 years but it made you into who you are today. It sounds cliché I know but if it hadn't happened I doubt we'd be sat here talking about our problems, your real feelings. You would still have all your walls up to me. I personally think you are stronger now to be able to allow people to see you this way, to allow me to see you this way. As hard as those years were, I wouldn't change them if it meant losing this." She smiled slightly at his speech.

"What is this?"

"Now, talk about role reversal." He joked.

"I'm serious." She said slapping him lightly in an affectionate yet scolding way. He laughed.

"I don't know exactly Beca but I'd like to think it'll stick this time."

"Me too." She agreed as she leaned up to kiss him. It was a quick gentle kiss but it meant the world. It was nothing but pure love. It wasn't a heat of the moment, get caught up in the moment kiss, it was one with true meaning. A silent agreement. They would work this out. They would be okay.

She wasn't sure how long they had been sat there but she knew it was long enough that they had missed dinner and the silence told her everyone else had gone to the club. They were alone it seemed. It wasn't until Beca's stomach rumbled that she realised her plan to miss dinner hadn't been her most inspired idea.

"You wouldn't happen to be hungry, would you Miss Mitchell?" She groaned. He was back to himself it seemed. When she didn't say anything but her stomach made another noise he laughed. "Alright, let's go search for some food." He suggested. She really didn't want to move but she could feel him about to make a comment about her being clingy now and wiggled off his knee before he could say it. He stood then offered her a hand to help her up.

As she stood up he wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped her around his neck and he pulled her in for a kiss. This one was full of passion, she felt him running his tongue across her lips asking for entrance with she gladly gave. They stayed there for several moments until they broke for oxygen and he pulled back slightly.

"As much as I would love to stay and do this we won't find any food this way, and you get grumpy when you're hungry." He added on the end. He received a glare from Beca.

"I do not!" She said indignantly. He just raised an eyebrow in a 'need I say more' gesture. Before she could protest again he grabbed her hand and dragged her out towards the kitchen. It didn't take them long to come to the conclusion that there was no way they were getting any food from there. The fridge and cupboards had padlocks on, obviously to stop anyone getting in them but a little excessive in Beca's opinion. Suddenly an idea popped in to her head and she turned to Jesse.

"There's food in the Bella kitchen." He looked at her for a second before,

"No Way! I am not going in there!" He protested loudly.

"Oh come on, it's perfectly safe. Everyone's out." She said as she approached him, she voice taking on a hint of a seductive tone. She ran her hands up his chest and brought her hands together behind his neck as she pulled his head down a little, "Please, do it for me. I've been in the Treble house." She whispered, their lips almost touching. She knew he would cave. He did.

"Fine." He sighed as she kissed him happily. Every successful relationship requires a little innocent manipulation. Besides, she had to get him back for letting her wake up in their house, and she knew just what she was going to do.

As they reached the Bellas house Beca took a quick peak in to make sure it was empty before dragging Jesse in after her. He wasn't exactly fond of this idea but hadn't been able to say no to her. They headed straight for the kitchen and Jesse proceeded to start to cook for them. She couldn't cook, or at least she never had the time and was therefore a little rusty at it. Jesse however seemed perfectly fine with cooking while Beca sat and watched him. It never ceased to amaze at how he seemed to excel at everything her tried. It was also quite infuriating because she had never found it so easy. She wasn't sure how he came to me so good at, well everything it seemed, but she had to admit she did envy it a little bit. At least until it dawned on her that if he could do things like cook so well then she would never need to... She shook her head of these thoughts. They hadn't even really talked about the future yet. There was a lot of past to get through first. They sat and eat comfortably, she pretended to not like his food and complain about it, until he threatened to take it away and then actually picked it up when she didn't believe him then she had to beg him to give it back which he did. Eventually.

After they had finished and cleaned up; a task Jesse made Beca join in with, they headed for the lounge. Beca could tell Jesse was itching to get out of there. He didn't want to deal with 30 angry Bellas finding him in their house, quite understandably so. His wanting to get out of there however messed with Beca's little payback scheme. It was pretty harmless really but she couldn't wait to see his reaction. Besides, it wasn't as if it wouldn't be worth it.

"So, I'm thinking we have 2 options: Sit here and watch a movie," she watched as his face froze, his shock apparent.

"Beca Mitchell, watching two movies in one day!" She rolled her eyes at him and did her best to hide her smile. She had missed this, she had never really met anyone else who could keep up with her.

"or we could," she paused looking for the right word, "retire for the night." He caught her insinuation immediately. She watched him for a moment before she narrowed her eyes. 'Oh he wouldn't'

"Don't you dare..." She started as he smirked at her.

"Now Beca, your movication is important. Who knows how much you may have regressed since we stopped it. We need to do damage control. And there's no time like the present." He grinned at her. She knew he was teasing her but she also knew they were watching the movie first. She wondered if he had caught on to her little plan.

As it turned out the movie wasn't actually that bad. She sat on the sofa in the Bella house curled into his side while they watched it. She had nearly fallen asleep a few times but the poke in the ribs that she got each time kept her awake. She also had to admit she had missed this. Watching movies with him, or watching him watch movies as he mimed the words and mimicked some of the actions. That was often her favourite part about watching movies with him, and definitely the most entertaining. She watched him do it again and shook her head fondly, 'What a nerd' she thought.

"But I'm your nerd." He answered. She looked at him surprised. Had she said that out loud? With a second look she could see him smirking and laughing a little at her and she wasn't sure that she actually had said it out loud after all. He seemed to have an almost unsettling ability to know what she was thinking. Still, she wouldn't want him any other way. "Back at you" He whispered.

"Okay, I know I definitely didn't say anything that time!" He smirked and laughed again shaking his head a little. She would have to remember that for the future. The movie had finished by this point and he got up to put it back in its case, pulling Beca out of her musings. He looked at her as he put the DVD case down and raised an eyebrow, obviously thinking back to option number 2 now.

"What if you're too late? Maybe the offer has expired." She feigned.

"Hmm. What to do? Change your mind or return to the Treble house and ruin your little plan?" He smirked and laughed again as her expression changed to one of shock. She quickly gathered herself, if she still wanted her plan to work even though he knew about it either he had to allow her it do it or she had to distract him. She slowly walked up to him.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said as she once again ran her hands up his chest locking her hands behind his neck. She pulled him in for a chaste kiss then pulled back before he could respond. She began to back away towards her room slowly as she unbuttoned her top one by one. He watched her mesmerised and started to follow her like a puppy. As she reached her door he caught up with her, pressing her into the door as he took possession of her mouth, his tongue forcing its way into her mouth. She managed to open her door and they tumbled in. He pushed her top off her shoulders. The feel of his hands on her bare skin set her on fire and she forgot about her plan and everything else. She didn't waste time in removing his t-shirt, as they sought to rid each other of their clothes. Somewhere in her haze she recognised that he had won that one.

They lay in her bed; her settled in his arms again, she never wanted to be anywhere else. It was the first time they had been together in over 9 years when it actually meant something more, something other than a drunken act that would be the cause of awkwardness in the morning. She could feel him shift slightly beside her and she thought he may be getting ready to leave before the Bellas arrived back.

"Don't go." She whispered, her voice showing her vulnerability, her plan didn't matter anymore. She just didn't want him to leave.

"Don't worry Beca, I don't plan to." He said as he held her tighter to him. She let out a sigh of relief as she let her head rest on his chest and snuggled into him. Her plan didn't matter anymore, but it was a perk. The fact that he had let her do it took the wind out of her sails a bit but right now she didn't care. She pressed herself closer to him and settled off to sleep. She had no doubt it would be the best sleep she had had in over 9 years.

Okay, (That's starting to get annoying now but I can't think of another word) I hope you enjoyed it. So yes they have made up. They have still got a lot to go through witth the past so no doubt there's still some arguments to come but... I wasn't sure about the song in the flashback. I love the song and the film isn't bad I just don't know if it fitted, this is what happens when I'm let to my own devices, and why I don't tell you what songs they are singing. I have had a song suggestion, so thank you. I finally listened to it and I like it, it's perfect I just have to decide where it should go, past or present. I know in past chapters I have put the characters in pain but I do believe that if they can be in such pain and can be hurt so much by or about each other than it just shows how much they love each other. Maybe it's just me but that's part of why I do it, the other part is just a little sadistic and likes to see people suffer, I love to see people's reactions. The flashback is quite short. I intentionally left out who won for the next chapter. I want to know who you think won first, Te-he. Also the Trebles and Bellas were getting on fine on the bus so how does a war suddenly start out? I love Beca and Jesse's facial expressions when they watch each other sing so I put that in there. Most of this chapter was happy, I finally gave you something, there is hope. Enough babbling now anyway, I finished writing before 11pm and it's now nearly 20 past so I have babbled on for too long. I hope you enjoyed it, let me know what you think, I have noticed a correlation between mentioning reviews and getting reviews so while I won't ask for them... Well, see you in the next chapter. (*smiles*)