Word of their engagement spreads like wildfire, and soon, their phones are ringing off the hook with people wanting to interview them. Anna's agent calls her with the list of people wanting to talk to her. "They want both of you, you and Skylar together," she clarifies. "Think of it as promotion for the movie."
"People are going crazy over you two," Skylar's agent informs him, "Especially after that kiss at the premiere. That photo is in every major celebrity magazine."
They sit down with the list and decide on a few of the shows, since they can't possibly do them all. "I want to do Conan," Anna tells Skylar, "Because he's sort of the underdog in late night TV, and he's always so nice. And Ellen too, and maybe Good Morning America. What do you think?"
"Yeah, Conan's great," he agrees, "And I'd love to be on Ellen's show. Sure, if we can fit it in, let's do Good Morning America."
She only has a few days before she has to return to Canada for the movie, and those days become jam packed with interviews. All of which require new outfits, makeup, hair, and accessories, and Anna's stylist takes care of both of them. While Conan O'Brien and Robin Roberts keep the interviews pretty straight forward, it's Ellen DeGeneres that asks the questions that everyone wants answered.
They walk out together, hand in hand before walking over to Ellen, who hugs them warmly. The crowd is cheering wildly as they take their seats. "So," she says turning to Anna, "It's a very exciting time for you both, you're recently engaged and you have the much anticipated sequel to Pitch Perfect coming out this week."
"Oh yes," Anna replies, "And Skylar's show Ground Floor is really taking off too."
Skylar squeezes her hand affectionately as Ellen continues, "I have to admit," she says to him, "That when you were with Anna Camp I thought to myself, Jesse and Aubrey? No, that's just wrong. But this, this is a match made in heaven. So how did you two finally end up getting together?"
Skylar looks momentarily embarrassed, but he quickly composes himself and smiles at Ellen before replying, "Well, Anna and I had worked together on the first movie, and we got along great, but the timing just wasn't right for us then. So when we started Pitch Perfect 2, we were already friends but it gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better. And what can I say? We fell in love."
There's a resounding "Awww" from the crowd as Anna continues, "Yes, we found that our on screen chemistry translated off screen as well," she says, raising her eyebrows at the audience. Some people whistle and catcall loudly as Ellen gears up for her next question.
"You two are just both so talented. Skylar, what an amazing singer and performer, and Anna hits the trifecta of singing, acting, and dancing. And you both are just so beautiful! Your children are going to have some crazy good genes. Have you made plans for the wedding yet?"
"We're still talking about it," Anna answers, "Since we just announced the engagement and I'm currently in the middle of a filming project. We want to wait until we both have time to sit down together and really plan things out."
"Ah, that's understandable," Ellen nods, "So I saw Pitch Perfect 2 last night and it was amazing. What was it like filming this time with the same cast?"
Skylar answers that question, but Anna's mind is reeling with thoughts of children running around with his eyes and her hair, and suddenly she feels very anxious. She manages to keep her cool for the rest of the interview, and when they return backstage he looks at her questioningly. "What's wrong?" he asks.
"Nothing," she replies, "I think that went pretty well, don't you?"
"Yeah definitely," he says happily, "This is fun, being here with you."
On the car ride home he rambles on and on about how exciting everything is, and she remains quiet for the most part. She doesn't want to talk about children with him, just yet. And she knows she has more at stake when it comes to the decision, because Skylar could carry on with his career during the pregnancy and newborn stages, whereas she'd have to put everything on hold. She's not sure if she's the type of person who can hire a nanny and leave her child's care up to a stranger. And then she's wondering why she's agonizing over all of this all because of one comment. All she knows is that she needs more time to think about it alone before she wants to discuss it with him.
She heads back to Canada the following day, this time for a two month stretch. Skylar asks her again what's wrong before she leaves, and she tells him she's sad about being away from him for so long, which is also the truth. The whole plane ride there, she thinks about having children. Many of her actress friends have had children and still managed to work afterwards, but it isn't that thought that has her worried. It's whether or not she'd want to return to work after becoming a mother that's upsetting her. She's worked really hard to establish this career trajectory. Should she willingly give it up?
When she arrives in Canada, her schedule is so busy that she barely has more time to think about it. Skylar calls every night and they talk about their days and how much they miss each other, but it's easier for her to hide from him from hundreds of miles away. She's happy for the time alone to really think things through, knowing that when she returns to Los Angeles she'll be ready to sit down and have a serious conversation about all of this. For now, she doesn't want to worry him.
But Skylar is already worried. He noticed a change in Anna since her last weekend home, and he can't put his finger on what happened. He thinks maybe it's the events with Camp that might be bothering her, or perhaps the fact that their engagement went public and she's typically a very private person, but whatever it is, he wishes she'd just talk to him.
It's about a month since he last saw her when one night they're talking on the phone. She's being very quiet, as she has been lately, while he talks about his day on the set of Ground Floor.
"Anna?" he questions when she doesn't comment on what he's just said.
"I'm still here," she replies, "Sorry. I'm just really tired."
"I know, you keep saying that," he says, "But I think there's something bothering you, and for some reason you're not talking to me about it. You know you can tell me anything."
"I know," she answers quietly, "It's really stupid though."
"Just tell me," he whispers, gripping the phone tightly, assuming the worst possible scenario.
"So you know how Ellen made a comment about how our kids would be really talented?" she begins.
"Yeah," he answers.
"So I got to thinking, about our kids that is. And I know it's way too soon to be thinking about it, but I can't help it. I'm just not sure if I'll be willing to give up my career to have a family. And I want to be able to give you everything you want."
"Anna," he says, the relief evident in his tone, "This is what has been bothering you? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to worry too. And it's not even something we have to decide now," she replies. "And it was stupid for me to obsess over it like I've been doing."
"It's not stupid at all," he responds, "You've worked really hard for your career, but what makes you think that you'd have to give it all up just because we had a child?"
"I wouldn't have to," she answers, "I'd want to."
"Oh," he says, finally getting her meaning.
"I can only imagine how much I'd love our child, and I can barely handle being away from you for weeks and months at a time. How would I leave our child?" her voice breaks, and his heart breaks along with it.
"You know some actresses bring their children along with them wherever they go," he suggests.
"So I'd be taking our baby away from you? No, I won't do that," she pauses. "I was going to wait until I got home and talk to you about this in person. And then I thought I could handle things better on my own, but I was wrong."
He hears her sniff into the phone, "Anna? Are you crying?" he asks. He's never seen her cry, ever, and the thought is unnerving.
"No," she practically whimpers, and he wants to go through the phone and comfort her.
"Sweetheart," he says soothingly, "It's going to be ok. We'll figure it out. We're in this together, remember? You don't have to handle anything alone anymore."
"I know, I'm sorry," she sniffles.
"Shh, try to get some sleep, ok baby? I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you," he tells her.
"I love you more," she answers before the line goes silent.
The next day, she wakes with a headache from crying, but she feels a little better still knowing that she talked to him about things. Thankfully, she's not expected on the set until around ten o'clock, which gives her a little more time to get herself together before heading to work. When she arrives, she heads straight to her trailer to change into costume before heading over to hair and makeup. She opens the trailer door and sees a huge vase of flowers sitting on the table, a note perched among the blossoms. She opens the note and reads.
Good morning my love,
I wish I were there to hold you, but since I'm not, I've set up a little scavenger hunt for you. The goal is to make you smile. Is it working yet?
So first, get to work. You'll find your next clue somewhere along the way…
XO Sky
She smiles, picking up her phone to text him.
I love you.
He doesn't reply immediately, so she gets ready for the day. They film a long scene before lunch, and as she heads to the buffet table she spots another note sitting in front of a plate of burritos, one of her favorite foods.
You'll find your next clue in the place where you can find something I might like to see you in (or out of) once I can get my hands on you again.
She blushes at this one, and is anxious to get to the wardrobe closet for her character as soon as possible. She heads over there at her next break, and finds a note pinned to the sexiest set of black lingerie she's ever seen.
Put this on for me, and let yourself feel like the amazingly sexy and beautiful woman that I fell in love with almost one year ago. Nobody will know it's under your costume except for me. Your next clue will be in the place where I like to sing the most.
She thinks for a moment, since he likes to sing everywhere, but the car comes to mind. She has to wait until the film wraps for the day before changing back into her clothes and heading back to the hotel. There's another note in her trailer before she leaves.
Don't even think about taking off that lingerie. It's yours now. Don't worry, I got permission.
She blushes again. She doesn't want to think about what the wardrobe lady thought of Skylar's request that she keep it. She walks to the car, and sitting inside of it on the driver's seat is another note.
"How the hell did he get into the car?" she wonders aloud. She unlocks the door and picks up the note.
Now go to the place where I wish I were with you right now…the place where you've been falling asleep and dreaming without me for the past month. The place where I wish I were with you now, running my hands down your body, kissing your soft skin…
Her body flushes yet again, and she thinks how unfair it is of him to turn her on when he's so far away right now. She climbs into the car and drives back to the hotel, eager to see what's on her bed waiting. She's missing him so much her body actually aches to be near him.
She opens her hotel room door and practically runs to the bed. It's covered in red rose petals, and in the middle of the mattress is another note.
Now you've reached the end of this little adventure, and waiting behind the door is your favorite guilty pleasure. It's the thing you say is only acceptable in the privacy of your own car at midnight. Take a guess what it is?
I hope this made you smile. I love you and miss you!
She runs to the door and flings it open, and there in front of her eyes, is Skylar holding a Taco Bell bag out to her. She throws herself into his arms.
"Oh my god!" she exclaims as she pulls him into the room. "How did you do this? How are you here?"
He smiles widely at her, "I made some calls," he says simply. "You needed me, and so I'm here."
"You mean you've been here all day and you didn't tell me?" she says incredulously.
"Not all day," he replies, "I got here a few hours ago." He kisses her softly on the lips before pulling her into another hug. "I've missed you so much, Anna."
She buries her face in his neck, inhaling his scent as they stand there for a long while, just holding each other. "Hey," he says, pulling back to look at her, "I need you to promise me that the next time something is bothering you, you won't keep it from me. We're a team now, and I'll always be here for you."
"I know," she whispers, "And I know we have plenty of time to talk and make decisions. I just sort of freaked out a little. I mean, I'm so tired of us being apart, and I just don't know how much more I can handle. I think Ellen's comment just pushed me over the edge."
"I know what you mean," he says, "I think we're both a little on edge being apart all the time. But we love each other, and we'll get through this."
She takes his hands in hers, backing into the room and towards the bed. "So," she says, biting her bottom lip, "I've got a little surprise under here waiting for you." She looks down at herself, and he involuntarily licks his lips. He kisses her then, slow and sensuous as she makes work undoing the buttons of his shirt. He pulls off her top, emitting a low growl when he uncovers the black lacy lingerie underneath.
"I have excellent taste," he grins against her lips as he lowers her onto the bed and tugs off her jeans. She's lying there, dressed only in the lingerie and he in his boxers, as she reaches up to cradle his face in her hands.
"Thank you for being here," she whispers, "I love you."
"I love you more," they whisper in unison, before he lowers his mouth back to hers.