A/N: I swear to God and to you all, this is the second to the last angsty chapter I'm going to post in this heartbreak of a fic because of the rather cliffhanger-y thing happening at the end. The last one will be chapter 19, and it has A LOT of things happening there (it'll be up in a week).

But anyways, here is chapter 18 with Luke's amazing gift, a Chloe and Eli moment, the short reappearance of a 'charming rich ass' and the reason you'll hate Eli for sure? Yeah, he's still going to be in the next chapter, and we'll pick up immediately where we left off with Beca and with stuff going on with Chloe to get clarity on a few things.

Some notes below…

No songs this chapter, but the title is inspired by Tamia's 'Almost'.

I don't own pitch perfect.

He knows, he should have done this earlier, but Luke was going back and forth on the idea.

This was just him really not wanting to wait on the sidelines anymore. He wanted something to happen. He wanted to make things happen.

Chloe was at the coffee shop, already sipping on her cup of tea when Luke got there. "Hey." Chloe immediately greeted as he pulled up a chair.

"Hey to you too. Haven't seen you in a while." Luke commented.

Chloe shrugged. "Yeah, I know. Got really busy. But so have you I heard. Beca told me how you guys are doing with the club."

Of course she keeps in touch with Chloe. More constantly than she does her won step-brother it would seem, why am I surprised there? Luke thought to himself.

"So, uh, how's thing's with Eli?" Luke awkwardly asked. "Really giving it a try then?"

Chloe shrugged again in response but said nothing.

"He's not trying to keep you in a relationship you no longer want, is he?" Luke then asked and Chloe immediately looked up blurting 'No'.

"It's not like that Luke. He's nice and he's trying after he's mess up. I think there's this awkward tension after that but, things are going back to the way things were with us. Things with Eli… I really care for him. I want to give it an honest. He's my friend too, it's never my intention to hurt him Luke. So I want to see what's really there."

"But you don't… do you?" Luke then asked.

"I…" Chloe started to say before she sighed. "There are things that never just go away even when you try to convince yourself they would, I guess." Chloe replied honestly.

Luke nodded and placed the item he came there to give to Chloe in the first place. "I don't know whatever is holding you back. I know you were hurt Chloe, and a thousand other reasons could potentially also exist, a person's heart is a very fragile thing. You can go after what you really want and risk it all or go back to something safe. But whatever you decide that's up to you. This though, this is for you. It can mean a lot, it can change everything, it can keep things the same, I don't know. I just know you've been through enough and maybe taking a step forward to wherever you want things to be is the way." Luke explained, pushing the envelope towards Chloe. "You gave Beca a ticket to her dreams before… but this one isn't on a question of when but if you want to."

Chloe took the envelope and peered inside before looking up at Luke with and understanding of what he said.

Once upon a time Chloe gave Beca a ticket to LA, to reach her dreams when she was ready, and chase them until it turns into reality.

And now, Luke was giving Chloe a ticket to London, for a flight that leaves along with him and Kaelyn tomorrow.

-break-

No, she hasn't made up her mind exactly, but she was very tempted to go.

However, Fate seemed to have other plans.

Chloe had kept the envelope with the ticket inside the drawer of her desk at their apartment. She wanted to talk to Eli about possibly leaving for London for a few days and then she realized that that conversation wouldn't really make sense unless she's clear with why she's going to London.

She cared about Eli. She treasured his friendship. He made her smile and laugh when she thought it would never be possible to even try ever again. He made her feel the possibility of entertaining romantic notions, even for whatever temporary moment that she could convince herself that she could move one and forget about Beca. But of course, that was all before she had started to rebuild a friendship with Beca. That was before she realized she couldn't exactly live without her in her life.

After that, things just got all kinds of meddled in her mind. She told herself that friendship was all that she could offer to Beca, and that was all she could potentially offer back. They had it all then lost in all, and Chloe had to face dark uncertain days unknowing if she would ever cross paths with Beca again. And once she did, the uncertainty stayed, of just what they could be and what they now meant to each other.

The rekindling friendship was their safety net. And for as long as they didn't think about what's next and what could be they were fine. Chloe thought the sanest thing to do was keep moving on.

But then Beca… she had to just go say those lines, make that promise of coming back to her, of returning to Chloe.

After all of this London nonsense is through that is.

And while they did talk, they kept in touch, but they didn't talk about what Beca meant. That was left to the future. Chloe found herself being incredibly terrified of that. The heart is what keeps us alive, but the heart is such a fragile thing.

But on the topic of the ticket… it wasn't there. Gone.

She spent most of the night before looking for the stupid ticket and essentially missing the flight she wasn't sure she should go on anyways. Eli left early next the morning, claiming he's going to be running errands and Chloe continued the futile search.

Really, Beale, the fact that you're turning this place inside out should be very telling, Chloe thought to herself finally giving up the search sometime in the afternoon. Eli had been gone for most of the day, leaving her time alone for herself to think.

Think about what on earth she's been doing with her life.

She knows, her heart knows what she wants but she's scared. She's scared of falling again without anyone catching her. But what's life without any risks?

She knew she couldn't keep moving forward, marching on, when her heart had stayed at the same place after all this time. The box she had kept buried deep in her mind, stuff full of memories and feelings she knew she could never outrun.

Chloe closed her eyes shut, slumping down the couch, tired.

She knew what she had to do.

After all, even when it was too late, she was desperately clinging on to the one thing that meant seeing Beca again. Desperately searching every nook and cranny of their apartment, even the hallways outside and the parking lot. Essentially, everywhere she knew she's been.

But it won't be easy. Eli was…

Wait. Chloe thought. Wait. And she immediately got onto her feet searching for the one place, one area, she didn't think of.

No, it wasn't on Eli's desk or the drawers of her desk. But after going through the contents of his paper shredder she did find it. In pieces.

They never really talked about Beca, she did mention that she really loved the last person she had been with. It was why she was reluctant to start something with anyone at all. But he convinced her anyways, promised everything would be alright. She never said it was Beca.

But it looked like he knew.

Chloe was anxiously waiting for Eli's return when he finally showed up with a bouquet of roses in his hand and some grand plan. He urged Chloe to get dress while saying such sweet words and his charming smile and kind ways.

But a storm had been building up from inside of her.

If he knew anything, why didn't he say anything? was the first thing in Chloe's head.

The second was why on earth did he shred the ticket, throw it away without Chloe knowing?

"Why aren't you getting dressed? Chloe, is anything wrong?" Eli asked, his voice gentle, but Chloe couldn't help but wonder if the man before her was the same person deep inside.

"Why did you shred it?" Chloe asked coolly.

"Shred what?" Eli asked back, stopping on his tracks.

"The ticket Eli." Chloe answered, trying to keep her voice calm.

"I thought it was trash." he lied.

"You had no right to go through my things." Chloe started to say, but Eli was quick to try and de-escalate the situation.

"Look, I was just cleaning out. You ever mentioned anything about going to London or anything, so I threw it out." he explained calmly. "If you really want to go to London, we can go there for a vacation sometime. Maybe on a special occasion?" he then added, his voice sickly sweet.

"Eli…" Chloe reasoned, she was still confused. But this time confused about whether to trust what he was saying.

"Look, I was going to do this tonight…" Eli started, feeling for his pockets before once again opening the black velvet box with the engagement ring. "It doesn't have to be soon Chloe, I'm willing to wait forever. It's more of just a promise…"

"You're not listening." Chloe then said in a whisper. "My answer is no, Eli."

"Yes but we talked about this, it's too soon and fast and I…"

"It's still too soon and fast, and Eli, I can't." Chloe then said, cutting him short. "I'm sorry, but I can't. Eli, you knew, I told you. I loved someone before and…"

"I'm not that someone." Eli said firmly.

"Yes, but I think that's the very problem. You asked me to give it a try, and I every time I'm scared to do so, you managed to convince me to just hang in there, have faith in you, not give up on us by letting the past haunt me forever. But… Eli… I can't. I'm not holding onto the past, I know that now. Not anymore at least. I just…"

"Just what Chloe?" Eli asked, his voice and expression stoic.

"I tried. But I can't give you all of my heart, it's always going to be with someone else." Chloe replied with all honesty. "I care about you Eli, I just… I can't love you the way you wish I did. I'm sorry."

Eli stood there for a moment unflinching. "Chloe…" he started to say in an expressionless tone.

But he was only met with Chloe's immediate words. "I'm sorry. But this, this is it Eli. We can't go on like this. It'll be unfair to both me and you, mostly you. You're a great guy, I'm just not the one for you." she said.

Chloe felt like a weight had lifted from her chests. She reached out to touch Eli's hands, closing the box with the ring and giving it back to him. She gave his hands a squeeze, his left cheek a kiss and gave him the space to think and process everything, leaving their apartment for the very same reasons. She promised she'll be back, she promised they'll talk it through. But for now, Chloe's thoughts were just catching up with the decisions she's made with her heart and she undoubtedly needed time too.

She's also still mad about the ticket, deep down inside that is, and she needed to cool down from that before they sort everything out. She knew, she'd have to move, she'd live alone again, but somehow she knew it wouldn't be as lonely as it did before. She wasn't alone anymore, she had her friends now.

Chloe closed the door behind her and took a deep shaky breath. She knew she did the right thing.

But with everything that had just happened, the things she didn't exactly plan and the things she knew were coming, she had forgotten her phone…

…unknowingly missing a very important phone call.

They were at the VIP section of one of the hottest clubs in London and Beca was on the moon.

It was done. The deed was done. Matter of fact, they were having a party to celebrate the news. The spotlight was, of course, mostly on the upcoming artist that Beca had worked with the last couple of months. Still, it was a victory for her. Beca had finished the album.

Luke and Kaelyn showed up the other day, the two sharing the good news with Beca and started their celebrations a day earlier that their actual last day of work. The pair had been missing from the party so far, Luke having been invited for dinner with some cousin who lived in the city. Of course Beca was invited, but she's always been a little distant to the family she had somewhat ended up sharing with Luke when their parents remarried. In her defense, she had a reasonable excuse for the night.

"And there she is!" Fitz said. Beca didn't even notice his presence until now. A part of her still just really, really wanted to punch the guy, but she manage to restrain herself. "Look Beca, I can tell you still hate my guts, but you can't lie, London did you some good."

"Maybe." Beca replied with a smirk. Yeah, it really did.

If only Chloe had been here to share the moment with her.

"I know that look." Fitz then said. "That's the look of someone dying to just call the most special person in their life to share whatever good news they have. That's the longing look of just wanting share the happiness we feel with said person. So where's the lucky guy? Why isn't he here?"

"Girl." Beca corrected.

"Ah, never really had a chance then." Fitz then commented. "I know we're not on the best of terms Beca, but I wish you well. And I wish you happiness. I want you to know the reason why I sent you here is because I wanted you to grow more in this business – and if I heard right, your buddies with the one and only Simon Cowell right now, so I guess I did the right thing. But anyways, I know the deal I made with you. I'm here to personally say that I release you. You're free of your contract."

"Thank you. You're still an ass though." Beca then replied with a chuckle.

Fitz laughed. "Yes, but at least I know. Go, share the god news with your girl."

"She's not my girl." Beca replied.

"Huh. But do you want to?"

Beca stayed speechless for a moment or too. "I want to fight for her but she's with somebody else."

"Fight for her anyways." Fitz then said with a shrug and Beca smirked.

She's got her old high school friend back.

Taking his advice Beca slipped out for a moment, the cold spring breeze greeted her as she stepped out of the club. She wanted to let Chloe know.

She was coming home.

The relief washing over Beca completely. A lot has happened since she was gone, and though nothing new of note has happened with her memories, although nothing new had popped up in her mind, she had found hope. There was hope with Luisa's help. There was hope of her getting back to Chloe, and giving her all that she deserved. There was hope with her future plans, plans she had only discussed with the man who had been guiding her as her mentor, a certain Mr. Cowell who had developed an interest with her with all of her potentials, the past few months.

Things were falling into place. Somewhat, and nothing in this world would stop Beca from fighting for Chloe's heart once she's back.

And Beca had been anticipating to hear Chloe's voice only to hear Eli's on the other end of the line.

"Um, hi?" Beca replied.

"Beca Mitchell." Eli said a little too stoic for Beca's taste before she heard him chuckle on the other end of the line. "Good timing." he then said, his voice picking up his usual cheery tone.

"Uh, yeah, where's Chloe? Can I talk to her?"

"She's… busy. How are you doing Beca, we never really got the chance to talk. How's New York?" was Eli's response, continuing the conversation in his usual jovial tone.

"I don't know. I'm London, have been for a while. Where's Chloe? I've got some news for her."

"Huh." Eli replied. "Oh, she's busy, like I said. I just proposed again, after all." Eli then said.

"Oh." Beca then said, her voice dropping low as she waited in trepidation for what's coming next.

"Would you believe it? It's really crazy. She finally said it you know." Eli said, but Beca didn't know he was purposefully misleading her with his half-truths before telling the actual lie. "She finally said 'yes'."

"Oh. Alright. Um, yeah. Bye." Beca awkwardly replied as she rushed on hanging up her phone and shoving it in her pocket. Her hands were shaking… well… technically she was shaking through her very core.

She was late. She was very much too late.

PS: I know I said I'll take an indefinite break but after talking with a few friends, rediscovering 90s RnB (what happened to RnB?), and having a long conversation with a person who recommended an anime to me last summer and revisiting said anime, I've come up with a few new fic ideas (not all in the same lengths based on rough outline drafts I have). And no, no more recycled 'what if' scenarios from my other fics… But anyways... They're all spaced out to give me time.

The first of the four should drop around December and short (it'll be around 10 chapters) like 'The Red String of Fate'. Humor and Romance for this one ;)

The second (it's an AU), should be around spring (probably around April… because, reasons…) based on an anime that made me bawl my eyes out after watching this summer (this is probably the only highly angsty one, the rest would have a small amount but will be lighter for sure). I've been tempted to write it before (I think I might have mentioned it in notes while updating the last fic) but chose not to because I can't decide how much creative input I want to do with it or if I'd stick with the original ending or not. After talking to the person who recommended the anime to me in the first place, I'm giving it a try. Initials are YLiA for the English title, SwKnU in Japanese, and it has something to do with piano and violins and a musical child prodigy. If you figure out the title and haven't watched it before, go watch it (it's on Netflix and only 22 episodes), I highly recommend it. But be prepared with plenty of boxes of Kleenex… Anyways, fic would be somewhere between a short one and my usual length for fics.

The third will be around summer (hint for it is st. peter, gates of heaven, essentially a pp2 rehaul, and beca's getting something like a guardian angel… of course there's a villain from hell too/an emissary of hell?… make what you want of that if you will…) Expect my usual length with this.

And the fourth (another AU) based on another anime I love for its light and insane comic moments…plus gender-bending is always fun (initials of the anime title are OHSHC; I think this one is obvious and depending on my productivity on my research work, this might come out first). The premise would be the same but to fit the world of pitch perfect I'll have to do major changes. It would also be a short one.

More details to come. :)