December 30th.

8:01 AM.

"Hi, I came as soon as I could— whoa, okay," Jesse said as he got pulled by his coat by Beca the moment he stepped inside her house.

"I watched Magic Mike with Amy last night," Beca explained before she pressed her lips against his. "I thought I'd just take care of it on my own but it's not enough," she said between kisses. "I need you inside me." She pulled away to unzip his coat.

"Where is everyone?" he wondered as he tossed his coat away.

It was 7:20 in the morning when Beca called him wondering if he could drop by her house sometime during the day. She assured him that it wasn't urgent but he went to her place right after hanging up anyway because he could tell that she needed him and was being weird about asking him to go over to her place.

"Still asleep," she answered.

Jesse picked her up. "Let's wake them up," he grinned.

"Bec, give me heads up when you decide to watch the sequel," Jesse said as he ran a hand over his face. "You know, to clear my schedule?"

"Noted." Beca leaned against him when he threw his arm around her.

"Have you eaten?" he asked as he rubbed her arm.

"No, not yet," she answered.

"Me neither," he said. "I got dressed and put some food in Bender's bowl and came racing over here," he told.

"Good thing you remembered him." She started making patterns following his chest hair.

Jesse glanced at his watch then said, "Babe, you're late for work," he told her.

"I'm not going." She shrugged. "I'll tell Christina to reschedule my meetings sometime next year. And, she'll bring me work home."

"Who are you and what have you done to Beca?" Jesse asked in mock-shock. (Beca was a bit of a workaholic and rarely ever played hooky.)

"Shut up," she chuckled. "I deserve some time off," she shrugged.

"That you do," he agreed and placed a kiss on top of her head. "I should go make you breakfast," Jesse said.

"No, stay." She clung to him.

"Believe me, Bec, I don't want to move either but you ought to eat." He held her chin up and pecked her lips.

"You're really cute when you do that," Jesse said once she pouted.

"You know I hate being called that."

Jesse tucked her hair behind her ear. "You're fucking cute and you know it and you really have to stop denying it." He grinned at her glare. "Own it, Bec."

"I'm not calling you after I watch Magic Mike part two," she told him and rolled on her other side giving him her back.

Jesse sighed then leaned in placing a kiss on her rose tattoo. "You don't really mean that," he wrapped her in his arms spooning her.

"Oh, no, I really mean it, Jesse." She snuggled up to him because despite being irritated with him she liked cuddling.

"You know you're probably the only person on this planet that gets mad when referred to as cute, right? Unless cute is an insult in another language." Jesse held her close to him and rested his cheek against hers when she tried to pull away from him.

"Who's picking up Chloe later?" Jesse asked resting his palm on her belly as he spoke.

"I am," Beca answered.

"Bec, you sure you're okay to be driving? Your episodes are very random. One minute you're fine the next you can't see right," he said in concern.

"Jesse, I learned to roll with these episodes," she sighed. "I just pull over and wait." She shrugged. "I'll make Bumper come with me," she added when she felt him tense up.

"Or he could go and pick up Chloe while you stay home," he suggested.

"No, I won't give in to it. As long as I can move I will." She clenched her jaw.

Jesse placed a kiss on her cheek knowing that there was no point in trying to change her mind. She hated feeling powerless.

December 31st.

6:40 PM.

"When's the baby shower?" Beca faintly heard Chloe ask.

"I don't think I'm throwing one," Beca answered as she rinsed her hair.

"Why?" Chloe wondered as she stood in front of the mirror.

"Oh, well, you know?" Beca paused. "I'm sick and could go into preterm labor any day?" she deadpanned.

"Doesn't mean you shouldn't throw a baby shower," Chloe shrugged.

"I don't wanna jinx it, I guess," Beca said as she turned off the shower faucet and put the showerhead back in its holder.

"And since when you're superstitious?" Chloe reached for her friend's bathrobe and handed it to Beca who was standing behind the curtains.

"Thanks," Beca accepted the bathrobe then wore it.

"Do you need help getting out of the bathtub?" Chloe asked watching Beca draw the curtains.

"No, I got it," Beca assured her and held on to the wall before she stepped out of the tub.

"So, no baby shower?" Chloe checked.

"Probably," Beca nodded.

"I'll get it into Jesse's head and he'll convince you," Chloe shrugged making Beca chuckle.

"Funny," she said and looked at Chloe. "That's his strategy to talk me into things," she told her and made her way to her wardrobe. "Talk to you to convince me."

"I haven't heard from Jesse since Benji and Emily's wedding," Chloe said and sat down on the bed.

"Yeah, well, it used to be his go-to way," Beca shrugged. "Remember that time Jesse wanted another dog?" She glanced at Chloe while picking what to wear. "He called you, didn't he?"

"Yeah," she affirmed. "You were really against it," Chloe recalled.

"That's because I really didn't want another dog running around the apartment!" Beca reminded her. "And, I know, Jesse, he stops using his brain when cute animals are involved. I'll be the one stuck taking care of the thing once the realization that he has two loud breathers to take care of sinks in."

"But puppies are adorable, Beca," Chloe pouted at the thought of puppies.

"Are you gonna leave so I could change?"

"No," Chloe curtly answered and smiled when Beca looked at her.

"Cool. I knew you weren't," Beca paused. "I was just checking." She held her underwear in her hand. "Great having you around, Chloe." She walked to the bathroom.

"What are you gonna wear tonight?" Chloe asked when Beca walked back into the room with her robe left open after she wore some underwear and towel dried her hair.

"Something comfortable," Beca shrugged and watched Chloe jumped off the bed and walk to the closet.

"This is cute. Wear it," Chloe pulled a white sleeveless maternity shirtdress. "And you could throw a cardigan over it," she added as she looked inside Beca's closet and pulled a crew neck black cardigan.

Beca eyed the clothes Chloe was holding then nodded. "Okay."

Chloe smiled, pleased.

"When are people gonna start showing up?"

"Around 8." Beca took off her robe then sighed when Chloe extended her hand placing it on her belly.

Beca took a power nap and was ready to stay up past 10 in the pm, her usual bedtime.

"Hey there, buddy," Chloe bent to get on eye level with her tiny friend's belly. "Mommy doesn't wanna throw you a baby shower, kick some sense into her, please," she said while rubbing her hand then smiled when she felt a movement under her palm.

"Are you done?" Beca asked when Chloe looked up.

"Just consider it." Chloe straightened up letting Beca begin to wear her clothes. "It could be fun."

"Chloe these parties are thrown like a month before the due date." She took the shirtdress from Chloe. "I don't know if I'll make 'til then," she mumbled as she wore it. "I probably won't," she added as she smoothed it down.

"Why are you so negative?" Chloe frowned. "Yeah, you're sick but you're being monitored by your doctor. I can't believe I'm the one telling you this: Beca, you need to relax."

"I can't relax. I developed this shit too early according to my doctor and I have it bad, Chloe. The meds are barely working." She ran her fingers through her damp hair and cleared her throat then inhaled deeply to control her emotions before she looked at Chloe.

Chloe rubbed her arm and gave her a small smile. "C'mon, I'll help with your hair and makeup."

Sitting half asleep on the couch, Beca tried to shake off sleep and took a sip from her lemonade. She sighed and shifted a little because sitting was becoming a source of discomfort.

Her friends were somewhere getting fucked up after Bumper showed up with bag full cannabis: they followed him like chicks following their mother because they couldn't exactly smoke weed near their, 5 months, pregnant friend.

Beca was a little envious of everyone at her house. They seemed to be having fun.

Jesse was late. He texted her telling her that he got invited by some work friend of his to a party and that he'd come in a few hours.

A few hours had past and he wasn't there yet.

Beca was taking a picture of the glass of lemonade she was holding and the few alcoholic drinks that were on the coffee table in front of her when Christina sat down next to her.

"What are you doing, boss?"

"I'm taking the subject of my first Instagram post," Beca answered as she clicked the picture.

"You should Instagram a selfie holding your drink instead," she suggested.

"Ay, ay, social media guru," Beca deadpanned as she tapped on the front camera icon.

She held the lemonade up and pouted before taking the picture.

"Thought of a caption?"

"Yep." Beca nodded. "I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad. I got sunshine in a bag," she said as she typed the lyrics from Gorillaz's Clint Eastwood as a caption. "Hashtag no hangover for this guy tomorrow or the next few months."

Christina shook her head in amusement as she sipped from her root beer.

"How are you holding up?" Beca asked after posting the picture on Instagram and making sure to share it on Twitter as well.

Christina shrugged as a reply.

"You know you don't have to stay 'til the ball drops," she reminded her. She didn't need psychic power to tell that her PA was uncomfortable surrounded by alcohol when she's trying to kick her bad habit of excessive drinking.

"I know. I like it here. You weren't kidding about Matt and throwing awesome parties."

"Yeah. It's his calling. I told him he should make a career out of it since he likes it and most importantly excels at it."

The two tilted their heads hearing a loud thumping sound followed with cheering.

"When did that happen?" Beca wondered as she eyed a blindfolded guy strike a Piñata.

"No idea." Christina shrugged.

"Ten bucks that Piñata is filled with drugs," Beca said then took a sip from her lemonade.

"You're on."

"Told you," Beca said once the man managed to break the Piñata and small plastic bags full of illegal drugs fell on the ground.

"Damn," Christina laughed and reached in her pocket.

"Dude, are you really going to give me ten bucks?"

"You called it." She shrugged.

"I would very much prefer you give me that root beer instead," Beca told her. "I really don't wanna make a trip to god knows where the root beer is being kept."

Christina handed her the bottle. "You're nothing like I thought you'd be," she confessed as she watched Beca use her palm to 'clean' the bottle before she brought it to her lips.

"I give pretentious vibes thanks to the media," Beca nodded. She got a lot of shit press for avoiding the media.

"No." Christina paused. "Jesse made you sound like an asshole," she said.

"He said that about me?" Beca arched her eyebrows in surprise.

"No. He didn't. That came off very wrong." Christina sat up. "The night I ran into him, he talked about how frustrated he was with his pregnant ex-girlfriend. He didn't say you're an asshole. I thought you were."

"Yeah. But you wouldn't have if he didn't hint at it," Beca clenched her jaw.

"Beca, he didn't," Christina said, calling her boss by her first name, which she never did.

Beca took a sip from the root beer as she frowned. "I'm gonna go check on Chloe," she said then got on her feet.

Chloe confessed to her that she hadn't partied in ages and asked Beca to watch out for her, aka make sure her hangover wouldn't be so bad the next day. Also, Beca knew she had to get her mind off the annoyance she was feeling so chasing Chloe around to keep her hydrated sounded like an awesome way to occupy herself.

"Beca," Chloe grinned spotting her best friend then made her way to her. "I was looking for you."

"Oh yeah?" Beca sighed when Chloe hugged her upon reaching her.

"Yeah, Stacie just suggested a game that you could play. It's not physically demanding." She pulled away and grabbed Beca's hand.

"What is it?" Beca asked as she took Chloe's lead.

"I forgot how it goes." Chloe shrugged. "C'mon, Stacie will tell you."

"Guys, I think I'm gonna call it a night," Beca said after stifling a yawn.

"You can't go to bed now. It's 11:20," Chloe told her. "New year is in forty minutes."

"Perfect. I'll take a thirty-minute nap then," she shrugged then managed to get up.

"You okay?" Stacie asked when Beca rested a hand on the wall and held her head.

"Yeah, I just stood up too fast," Beca said.

"You're really gonna go nap?" Chloe stood up as well and held on to the wall for different reasons.

"I'm tired."

"Stay until midnight then go to bed?" Chloe gave her puppy eyes.

Beca sighed then nodded. "Okay." She smiled once Chloe grinned.

"Awes." She paused. "Where are you going?"

"Bathroom," Beca answered then started making her way to the closet bathroom.

On her way, she spotted Jesse who she had been ignoring ever since he got there. She was still very annoyed. She tried to let it go. She told herself it wasn't worth getting mad. But it didn't work. The fact that he complained to a then stranger Christina about her and made her out to be an asshole was irksome.

So, she just decided to ignore him until she calmed down.

"Fuck," she muttered when he saw her.

"Beca," he called as he made his way to her. "Beca, wait!" She heard him say as she continued to walk to the bathroom.

She tilted her head and pointed at the bathroom she was a few feet away from and he nodded.

Beca entered the bathroom knowing she'd have to talk to him once she got out.

"Are you still mad about yesterday morning?" Jesse frowned when he noted her facial expression.

"What? No."

"Then why are you ignoring me?" he asked as he blocked her way.

"I'm not ignoring you," she denied.

"I'm pretty sure you are," he disagreed. "So, what's up? What did I do?"

She didn't reply.

Jesse rubbed his face. "You complain about the lack of communication between us then you go and shut me out when you're mad."

"I am not shutting you out," she said defensively.

"Then tell me why you spent the last hour ignoring me."

"Why does everything have to be about you?" she asked as she rubbed her temples.

"Um. Not everything is about me." He paused. "But in this case, it is about me otherwise you wouldn't be ignoring me."

Jesse wasn't mad. He just learned his lesson. The main reason they differed apart was the lack of communication, which was mainly his fault, and he was trying to fix it. He wasn't going to back down despite knowing that it could end in a fight, which he really hate.

"You okay?" He watched lean against the wall for support.

"Jesse, I can't see," she told him as she blinked.

"What?"

"I can't fucking see!" she exclaimed.

"Okay, calm down. I read about it. It's not unusual for someone with severe pre-eclampsia," he assured her as he tried not to freak out himself.

"It'll pass, Becs," he told her and reached for her hand.

"This never happened before." She took his hand and held it tightly.

"Try to calm down." He pulled her to him and hugged her. "Do what you usually do when you get dizzy or see double," he told her while stroking her hair.

She closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, inhaling deeply and exhaling in an attempt to calm herself while he whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

"Did it pass?" he asked when Beca pulled her head back and opened her eyes.

"Yeah," she said in relief.

"Good," he smiled and cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb against her cheekbone then placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Where are you going?" she asked when he removed his arms from around her.

"I'm making you're angry. And anger isn't good for you." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Come find me when you're no longer mad at me," he told her then turned on his heels.

"Beca." Beca heard Stacie call so she tilted her head. She saw her make her way to her. "You wouldn't believe who just showed up," she said.

"Who?" Beca wondered.

"Your nurse," Stacie chuckled.

"My what?"

"The nurse dude you went on a date with. I just saw him. How does he know where you live?"

"I got dizzy and he offered to drive me home," Beca told her as she scratched her head. "Who are you texting?" she wondered as she watched Stacie type on her phone.

"Andrew. He just finished his shift. He's here. I told him he could come."

"Wait what?" Beca dropped her hand. "Stacie, level with me," she held her friend's shoulders. "There's a shit load of illegal drugs here. And, he's a cop."

"I should go keep him from coming up?" Stacie guessed after a beat.

"Yeah," Beca nodded. "Don't let him come up."

Beca watched Stacie make her way to the elevator then started looking for Rafael who she didn't remember inviting.

"Beca, hey!" Rafael said once she found him.

"Hey," she smiled.

"You look gorgeous," he complimented after eyeing her from head to toe.

"Thanks." She rested her hands on her belly.

"I was around the neighborhood then I saw that you're throwing a party and thought I'd come and say hi and now I just realized that I shouldn't have because I'm basically crushing your party," he clicked his tongue.

"You happened to be in the neighborhood. That's quite the coincidence," she remarked.

"Okay, fine. I wasn't in the neighborhood. I was clubbing then I happened to check twitter and saw that you uploaded a picture on Instagram."

"How did you come to know that it's here?"

"I didn't. I drove my friend to another party nearby then decided to take this way because there's less traffic," he explained. "Then I saw that there's a party."

"Okay, creepy," Beca nodded not buying a word he said but not caring enough to argue with him nor kick him out. "Can I get you a drink?" she shrugged.

"No, I'm driving," he declined.

"There's soda if you want," she told him.

"Yeah, soda sounds great," he smiled stuffing his hands in his pockets and followed her lead.

"Thanks," he accepted a coke can from her. "So, how's it going?" he wondered as he popped the can open.

"Okay, I guess," Beca shrugged.

"Um, I didn't hear from you," he nervously said.

"Yeah." Beca leaned against the wall.

"I thought the date went well despite the part where I creeped you out."

"It did go well." She paused. "But, we didn't plan a second date, did we?"

"Nope," he admitted.

She smiled tightly at him then glanced at her watch to find that's 11:55 pm. She knew she had to get away from him because she really didn't want to end up kissing Rafael. She found herself wondering when that tradition started as she thought of how to leave.

"I need to go find my friend," she told him.

"Oh, okay," he nodded and watched her walk away. "I can help you find your friend," he followed her.

"No, it's okay. I got it," she glanced at him.

"I don't mind," he told her and sipped from his soda. "What does your friend look like?" he asked.

"Redhead. Her eyes are baby blue like yours," she told him.

"What is she wearing?" he wondered as he looked around.

"White shirt and a black skirt," Beca told him then looked around the room. She frowned when she saw Jesse and Christina on the terrace looking like they were arguing and felt a little guilty thinking it was her fault because of what Christina told her.

Beca decided to go and find out what was happening then looked up feeling a hand on her shoulder.

"Beca the ball is about to drop," Rafael told her as he looked at the TV screen.

"Yeah," she nodded and shrugged his hand off and didn't tear her eyes off Jesse and Christina. "Look, I gotta go," she looked up.

"Wait!" he said. "I know I keep on doing things that qualify for red flags but it's just 'cause I like you so much I hardly ever think before I act. And I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Yeah, it's okay. No worried. I get how crushes work," she assured him turning to look at him.

"Thank God," he sighed a sigh of relief. "I really thought I blew it," he grinned.

"Oh, no, that's not what meant," she said then grimaced when people started doing the countdown.

"Beca, I can't hear you," Rafael loudly said.

"I said, that's not what meant," she repeated, leaning up so he could hear her. "I don't want to—"

Rafael cut her off with a kiss once the ball dropped.

Beca pulled away almost instantly and pushed him away from her.

"Shit, I messed up again, didn't I?" He ran his fingers through his hair and blew a breath. "Beca, I'm—" he cut himself off when she held a finger up and turned on her heels.

Beca looked at the terrace and didn't see Jesse nor Christina. She looked around until she found Jesse. He was looking at her and he had a hurt look on his face, which let her know that he saw her kissing Rafael.

She was about to go and explain what just happened but didn't when he started to pace away, headed to the elevator.

Jesse rested his head against the elevator wall and closed his eyes willing himself to not think about his personal life and be a good sponsor and friend to Christina because she needed him.

He nodded at the doorman as he walked towards the entrance, hoping to catch up with Christina.

"Hey, did you see which way Christina went?" Jesse asked finding Stacie leaning against a police car while a police officer stood next to her.

"Beca's PA," he added.

"You mean the five foot six woman wearing jeans and leather jacket that just paced out of the building?"

"Yeah, her," Jesse nodded.

"She went that way," Andrew gestured with his hand.

"When did you notice all this?" Stacie wondered.

"Part of my job," he shrugged.

"Thanks, officer," Jesse thanked him and began running down the street.

"Christina, wait," Jesse called when he spotted her. She glanced at him and continued to walk. He ran even faster and caught up with her.

"Jesse, it's okay, go. I can handle it," she assured him as she slipped her phone into her pocket.

"Who was that on the phone?" he asked. "Why did you pick up?" he wondered as he ran his fingers through his hair figuring who had called her when she avoided eye contact.

"I appreciate the help but I can handle it. Back off," she said in irritation.

"No. I won't back off," he shook his head then tilted his head hearing a motorcycle pull over near them.

"Is this him?" Jesse asked.

He got his answer when the man got off the motorcycle and said, "cmon, Chrissie."

"She's not coming with you," Jesse stood in front of Christina to keep her from going.

"Who is he?" the unknown man asked Christina.

"He's none of your business," she said and walked past Jesse.

"Christina, I can't believe you're going to throw everything you've accomplished away," Jesse said in frustration.

"Spencer, let's go," she grabbed his arm when he kept looking at Jesse.

"Christina, think about how things were when you spend Christmas with your godfather," Jesse continued to say.

"Is he the one that's been keeping you sober?" Spencer wondered as he shrugged Christina's hand off then made his way to Jesse. "Stay away from her," he spat.

"I'd say the same to you," Jesse shrugged not feeling threatened by the man who wouldn't even take off his helmet.

"I understand that you won't stay away?" he checked. Jesse nodded.

"You will now," he said and quickly pulled a gun and shot Jesse in the stomach.

Jesse looked down at himself in shock unable to move for several seconds before he could register the fact that he just got shot.

Jesse tried to move and he fell to his knees and began jerking as he began to feel the intense pain in the shot area.

"What?" Spencer said when he looked at Christina who was too shocked to move.

"You're insane," she mumbled then paced to Jesse getting on her knees.

"He'll be fine. Just call 911 and let's get going."

"You're insane," she repeated as she looked at Jesse not knowing how to help him.

"Are you kidding me right now?" he said in disbelief.

"I'm so sorry, Jesse," she apologized hearing him stutter a bunch of incoherent words.

"NYPD." They heard Andrew say as he ran their way while holding his gun. "You're under arrest."

Spencer shook his head disbelief and got on his motorcycle and took off.

"Did you catch the license plate?" Andrew asked her as he got on his knees and proceeded to give Jesse first aid.

"Ma'am?" he looked up after lying Jesse on his back. She shook her head and watched Andrew call for an ambulance while putting pressure on the wound.

AN: dun, dun, dun! Hit me up with your thoughts on what I just made you read. How do you think this would affect Beca?