Your Love is a Symphony

by HypersomniacPhD

Beca has reached it, that famous happy ending people all dreamed of. She's got her dream job, her dream gal, and the future ahead of them. But every ending is just a new beginning, and the story goes on. But what happens next when your story becomes unwritten? Would you keep on writing it? Would you write a new one instead? Or would you forget all about it? (M for serious tone)

23. Serenade

A/N: Hey guys! Here is chapter 23 featuring a free for all riff off with the Bellas, beach house shenanigans, thunder clouds a rollin', and a whole lot of songs namely: 'Rocketeer' by Far East Movement; 'Take Your Sweet Time' by Jesse McCartney' 'Let's Stay Together' by Al Green (with a version by Maroon 5); 'Meant to Be' by TLC; 'Don't You Remember', 'Love in the Dark', and 'All I Ask', by Adele; 'Still' by Brian McKnight; 'Come Back to Me' by David Cook; the end part of 'Back to You' by John Mayer; 'Promising Promises' by Jon McLaughlin; 'Never Told You' by Colbie Caillat; 'Where You Want Me' by Blue; 'This Love' by Maroon 5; 'Part of the List' by Ne-Yo; and 'Unbelievable' by Craig David. All songs are definitely worth checking out :3

Anyways, enjoy.

I don't own pitch perfect.

It's been two weeks since the 'café incident' as Amy dubbed it and Emily has never seen Beca as worried for her life, so to speak, not like the last two weeks that is.

They were currently on their way to a beach house in Malibu, to a place owned by one of Beca's more famous friends. A 'summer house' so to speak. Beca's friend offered the place up when she mentioned that the Bellas had been dying to have a mini-vacation with each other, it's been a long time since they really had a good break from life and all, just a good old fashioned vacation.

And of course, Beca, on the last minute had to clarify to Chloe that no, it was not the leader of DSM who owned the place but some British actor.

She had to do that over and over and over again.

Truth be told, Emily has seen Chloe mad quite a few times already. Particularly her freshman year of college. Funny how most of them involved the same people. Chloe, Beca, and a certain German Valkyrie that apparently flustered Beca and turned her into a compliment machine. Those days were long gone, true, but it was always the same. Beca could never really articulate anything well and Chloe would be mad for days on end and Beca would pull of some grand gesture that would appease her anger.

This, however, was not the case.

Beca has shown up at Chloe's apartment, sometimes outside her workplace, with a cup of coffee that was immediately thrown out the trash, a teddy bear that got bloody murdered by the redhead, a bouquet of roses that also got thrown out to the trash, and a USB drive with mixes that was smashed against a wall.

Yep, Chloe has never been that mad.

The USB drive being the clear cut sign that she's really hit the tipping point about something.

And Beca's been wanting to just talk it out with her but it would seem that the 'misunderstanding', as Beca called it, was getting out of hand. But Chloe had ignored her, and Emily honestly thought that if Chloe was really mad then it would be best to let her calm down a bit first, how else would they ever be able to talk to each other sensibly?

Beca only started to agree when Aubrey told her the same thing and so, despite really just dying to talk to Chloe. Emily had asked why the need was so great but Beca only started muttering incoherent responses that she just couldn't make anything out of any of it.

Sure, Emily's all kinds of confused on the why, the how, the why, seriously, why, and honestly how on earth part of Beca and Luisa being friends. More shockingly was the fact that Luke doesn't mind at all while both Stacie and Amy were giving Beca the hardest of times.

Aubrey too at first, but she was a little more forgiving – again, quite the shocker here – than Beca's two best friends. When Emily asked the blonde, Aubrey simply shrugged. "From what I heard from Amy, Beca could talk normally with Luisa, that she wasn't getting flustered at all. I think that means something. I just think what it means got easily misinterpreted. I mean, the hobbit only ever got flustered by that German devil and Chloe. Mostly Chloe. If she's no longer flustered by the DSM leader, then I don't think there's anything to worry about." Aubrey had said. At the time Emily simply agreed despite not really following Aubrey's rationale.

"You traitor!" Ashley and Jessica shrieked rather melodramatically when they both Emily and Beca got to the beach house, the other Bellas already settling in. They were teasing Beca, partly at least, but they were also partly mad.

Hell all the Bellas were confused with the same things Emily was confused about.

Things didn't get easier for the rest of the day with Chloe purposefully ignoring Beca and giving her the silent treatment.

"Do you have any idea, insider info, anything about all of this mess?" Cynthia Rose then asked Emily while the Bellas prepared for something to eat as an early dinner.

Emily sighed. "No, I think Beca's main concern is getting Chloe to listen. She has a bad tendency of having a one-track kind of mind if you haven't noticed."

The Bellas were all on duty for one thing or another, setting the table, cooking, cleaning up after the mess. Chloe was handing a stack of plates to Flo when Beca came up to her once more. "Chloe just, give me a second already." she said. Emily could tell that Beca was starting to become very desperate at getting Chloe's attention. Maybe a little frustrated that Chloe had finally reached the point where she would never budge.

"Chloe please." Beca reiterates and stops her from turning to leave, grabbing her hands lightly and trying to pull Chloe towards her direction so that she would face her.

"What?" she asked coolly, finally acknowledging Beca, and Emily knew that at that point all of the other Bellas stood frozen and silent still, not wanting to miss a beat of what would happen next.

"We-well…" Beca stuttered, she wasn't expecting Chloe to actually acknowledge her this time.

"Out with it Mitchell. What's your excuse this time?" Chloe then asked, her tone rising. Yeah, she clearly hasn't cooled off.

"Excuse?" Beca asked confused. "Chloe I'm not giving you an excuse. All I want is to explain."

"Explain why you're fraternizing with the enemy?"

"This isn't war Chlo." Beca sighed. Emily noticed Stacie almost dropping a fork having seemingly realized something but looking a little confused too when Emily turned to look at her.

"It kind of is though. Maybe not anymore, but she ridiculed the Bellas at some point. Belittled you, us, and our ability to win the Worlds. This is a woman who got a kick at teasing you and making fun of you…"

"The nicknames, as irritating as they are sometimes, is just really her ways of endearment. She thought, still does really, that it's fun to tease me or you."

"Of course, and now you're defending that." Chloe commented after Beca cut her off, rolling her eyes while saying it. "So what other terms of endearment did she call you while you were cozying it up in Nice or Marseilles or wherever the hell in France?"

"Is that…? Chloe, she's just a friend, we're friends. She's actually a good person, has a funny way of showing things, but… Ah! What am I even saying?" Beca rambled on, hiding her face behind her hands before sighing deeply. She ran a hand through her hair and looked Chloe straight in the eyes. "Chloe, just… I… it's not what you're making this out to be."

"Really? 'Cause why else would she just put on display how much she adores you, call you her little mouse or elf or whatever? Why else would you go off gallivanting to Paris with your 'friend', while I…"

"While you what?" Beca dared ask.

"Oh gee, I don't know Beca, you were the one who said you promise to come home and I don't know what you mean by that then but I thought it meant wait, for whatever it was that I should wait for. While I struggled with my decisions of… you don't even…" Chloe started rambling off. "While I was here." Chloe eventually settled on. "While you go leave me, like always, and you go off having a time of your life. And then let's not forget me having to deal with the fact that the person who very nearly got me to believe that I can ever move on from you turned up being a psychopath. I was here breaking my heart, suffering, living in a steady state of anger and sadness and… you… You were off to London, living the life of a famous music producer, then off to Paris with tall intimidating… she was always trying to steal you and… well clearly why else did you drop off the radar when you went to Paris with not so much as a peep coming from you? Huh, Beca? Tell me the truth."

Emily and the rest of the Bellas remained silent as Chloe unburdened some of her long held onto thoughts and feelings.

This time none of them spoke not because they wanted to eavesdrop, it was because there was nothing really left to say.

Beca took a deep breath and stayed silent for a minute. "You want the truth?" Beca simply asked, her voice wasn't even shaky or rising. It was calm. "The truth is, Chloe, that maybe I don't have much of a right to complain. I have everything. Except for that one missing thing, the one that is the most important of all. The one that gives meaning to everything else and I was in London working my ass off a 'sentence', so to speak, that maybe in the end turned out to be a blessing for me too, all while dealing with my own heartbreak. The truth, Chloe, is Luisa ran into me at a bar with my own friends back in London teasing me and asking for you and when she found out about what happened, she actually wanted to help me. The truth, is that when your psycho ex-boyfriend – and I still swear if I ever see him I will bloody murder him – told me a lie that you were going to marry him I just lost it, lost all hope, and got very drunk and stumbled around London because what I lost, I knew, I thought then, I lost forever. And stumbling around brought me to Thames and my drunken logic almost got me drowned."

"Wait, is that why Luke keeps…" Emily then interjected, she couldn't help it.

To which all the Bellas sent a glare towards her direction.

Except for Chloe.

Chloe looked like she was too busy processing everything Beca had just said.

"Banning me from all types of bodies of water? Yep." Beca replied, still acknowledging Emily's stupid question. "Luke was essentially too late. I nearly fell into the river. And I would have if Luisa wasn't looking for me too. If she didn't stop me, I'd be fish food. So yeah, Chloe, we're friends. That's all. I went to Paris for a few reasons, nut mostly for myself." Beca then said. "I wasn't there for anyone but me. Not with anyone at all."

Beca took another deep breath and everyone remained silent. "I think I need some air." Beca then said, excusing herself from everyone else.

And rightfully so, at least from how Emily saw it.

Beca's mind went to a very dark place that night in London. And Emily was shaken by it.

She lost all hope, and for whatever she was thinking – hopefully, it was to swim to Chloe and win her back, she needs to get that clarified with Beca – she still very nearly died.

And she could see it was hard for Beca to admit that. It would be for anyone whose thoughts got too clouded or dark. And it was just as hard for Chloe to understand.

Really, if Beca would just open up and talk about things, this wouldn't be a problem.

But Emily also knew the things Beca had gone through that stops her at each and every turn.

So personally she was torn.

She could only guess that Chloe was too.

But the Bellas… they looked more scared?

And clearly Chloe picked up on that.

"You lot knew about this, didn't you?" she pretty much growled and the Bellas pretty much scrambled up to Aubrey for her to come up with a good enough justifiable defense for it. Thankfully Emily remained an innocent.

She would hate to be at the receiving end of Chloe's wrath.

---

The Bellas had a silent dinner after very narrowly escaping with their lives from the wrath of a certain Chloe Beale. Thankfully, Aubrey was clear at explaining to Chloe that they didn't know the DSM she-wolf saved Beca. They knew what happened from Luke but they didn't tell her because she was already going through her own ordeals. Then of course was Beca's return when they started to get seated and no one wanted to bring anything up and…

…well.

It was a tense evening.

That's why after getting everything cleared up Amy came up with a brilliant plan.

"We always do this though? Must we really?" Denise complained as the Bellas marched off to the beach, Aubrey and Chloe bringing up the rear as Amy lead the way. It was a beautiful and clear night, it was kind of windy, but beautiful nonetheless. At least to Amy.

"We are, were, whatever, acapella singers. And it's just a fun game." Flo responded while Cynthia Rose was preoccupied explain the rules of the game to Beca.

"Come on, don't you even miss having riff offs?" Jessica then seconded, excited about just bringing it back to the good old days.

"Yeah, and no categories. Same rules, sure, but just cutting in with any song? It's a fun chaotic twist." Ashley chimed in with a wide grin.

"Okay, no teams, just this time, whoever wants to jump in, jumps in. Winner doesn't have to wash the dishes during the entirety of our stay here.

"Fine, I suppose you're right." Denise then said, finally giving in. "So who goes first?" she asked just after the Bellas settled down, making a circle on the sand while Cynthia Rose started a fire in a fancy looking fire pit to keep them all warm.

Amy shrugged, as she sat down next to Beca. No one volunteered for a while until Lilly cleared her throat and stood up, starting to whisper the words to the song.

Here we go, come with me,
There's a world out there that we should see,
Take my hand, close your eyes
With you right here, I'm a rocketeer

Let's fly

Emily, who was right next to Lilly and thus one of the people who could actually hear her, decided to cut in at that moment. She stood up and as soon as she started singing, Lilly sat back down.

fly
With someone else's wings, I know
Wherever you go

Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime

I

And while Emily's efforts were clear, sneaking a glance at Beca and Chloe, who sat opposite each other, as she sang, Amy thought that that wasn't enough.

So Amy stood up. Picking up on the Legacy's idea, she should be the one to drive home the subtle message.

I, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you

They say since, baby, since we've been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue

Let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or

Jessica then picked up on the hidden and secret category that Emily started and Amy continued, jumping in.

or right
We will always there
Sharing this love, sharing this life

'Cause we knew, said we always knew
And no matter what would've come
That we were
Meant to be

And it ain't going to be easy
And no matter what baby we're meant to be
We ain't never had known if
We were

Ashley then decided to take her turn, standing up and singing ever so passionately.

were in

I know I have a fickle heart and a bitterness
And a wandering eye, and a heaviness in my head
But don't you remember, don't you remember?
The reason you loved me before
Baby please remember me once more

Amy smiled, all the Bellas seemed to be getting the message. She took a sneak glance at Chloe who kept her focus on the fire, biting her lips, while Beca did the same thing, smiling lightly. Amy turned over to Stacie, who seemed to immediately pick up on what Amy was thinking. So Stacie was preparing herself to stand up to cut into Ashley's song.

When was the last time you thought of me?
Or have you completely erased me from your memories?
'Cause I often think about where I went wrong
And

But in the end it wasn't Stacie who jumped in.

It was Beca.

---

To Stacie's surprise, Beca beat her to the punch. So, Stacie happily stayed seated in her place next to her girlfriend and gave the floor – or technically sandy beach – to Beca.

And so Beca sang, keeping her eyes, no longer trained to watch the flames in the fire pit, but looking straight into Chloe's eyes

And think
Times goes faster than you blink
Nothing's ever like it was

But girl we've got a special thing
All the happiness it brings
Is more than enough

Stacie looked at Beca with a smile before turning to where Amy was and shooting her a subtle wink. She gave a confused looking Legacy a thumbs up, before turning to see Chloe's reaction.

I know it's hard to believe
You're still the biggest part of me
All I'm living for

Beca continued and Chloe finally looked up, training her features to be unreadable as she looked straight back into Beca's eyes.

I still think about you
I still dream about you
I still want you
And need you by my side
I'm still mad about you
All I ever wanted was you
You're still the one
You're still the one

Aubrey gave her a nudge and Stacie looked over at her. She gave a subtle nod at Beca. "What is she playing at?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"Does it look like I know?" Stacie replied.

"You looked like you were having a breakthrough earlier." Aubrey pointed out.

It's hard to breathe when were apart
You're like sunshine in my heart
I keep you here inside

"I just noticed something. That was all." Stacie simply said.

You've been everything to me
You've been and always will be
The apple of my eye

And

Aubrey was about to ask Stacie to elaborate, she could tell, but then things got interesting.

Because Chloe got up.

And Beca remained standing as she sang.

And when you see what you need to see
When you find you come back to me

Take your time I won't go anywhere
Picture you with the wind in your hair
I'll keep your things right where you left them
I'll be here for you

Stacie exchanged looks with Aubrey who shrugged before looking over at proud and giddy Amy.

Oh and I'll let you go
I'll set you free
And when you see what you need to see
When you find you come back

The rest of the Bellas looked giddy, in fact.

And when Beca jumped back in, they knew the game was over for all of them. This was Chloe and Beca's stage now.

Back to me
I know that it comes
Back to me
Doesn't it scare you
Your will is not as strong
As it

Beca started singing, but Chloe, who was also still standing shook her head. With a smile on her face she changed her tune and started singing a different song, cutting Beca off.

it morning already?
I hate the sun for setting on yesterday
When I wrote my feelings
On the walls and ceilings
Like drugs I'm dealing and you just walked away

The trees all sway and swing
The wind and I are both singing

"How about Chloe?" Stacie asked Aubrey in a whisper.

"What about Chloe?" Aubrey asked back.

I was giving you everything I had to give
Wasn't it enough?
All those promising promises were on your lips
But you wouldn't give them up

"Well, she's clearly trying to get a point across." Stacie pointed out.

"It needs to get across." Aubrey replied with a smile.

"I'm not saying it shouldn't either." Stacie then immediately replied. "But…"

So let me just say for the record
That you can spare me the lecture
'Cause ever since I

But before Stacie could finish her sentence and Chloe finish her song, Beca jumped in.

I miss those blue eyes
How you kiss me at night
I miss the way we sleep

Like there's no sunrise
Like the taste of your smile
I miss the way we breathe

Beca sang, as if trying to placate the angry fire that was stirring in Chloe's soul. As if trying to apologize and soothe her pain and scars.

"I think their having a conversation the best way they know how." Stacie then simply whispered into Aubrey's ears, reaching for her hand and interlacing them.

"You know, I don't remember much about psych 101, and even if I do, I don't think our particular case with Bechloe here could be analyzed with simple general psychology, but I think you're right." Aubrey replied.

But I never told you
What I should have said
No, I never told you
I just held it in

Stacie hummed in agreement but she kept her eyes trained on both Beca and Chloe. Something was definitely happening.

Particularly with Beca…

And now,
I miss everything about you
Can't believe that

But while Stacie was keeping her eyes trained on Beca, Chloe jumped in again, cutting her off with her own song.

that you're about to pull me in to deep
The more I try to walk away
The harder it gets to believe that I don't need you

You've got a hold on me
Got to find the release

Why do I feel so weak
When you are near me
You've got me in too deep
So help me baby
You're living in my dreams
You're always with me
You're the dark in my light
You're the black in

And before Chloe could get far with her song, Beca jumped back in.

in my heart

Yup, those two are definitely having some weird conversation with music.

This love has taken it's toll on me
She said goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice 'cause I won't say goodbye anymore

I

And it was probably the nerdiest and most romantic and cheesiest thing Stacie could think of happening at the moment. She noted Beca's smirk on her face, the DJ starting to relax a bit just as Chloe jumped back in, singing as passionately as ever.

I can't love you in the dark
It feels like we're oceans apart
There is so much space between us
Maybe we're already defeated
Ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah everything changed me

You have given me something that I can't live without
You mustn't underestimate that when you

And Beca sang with just as much passion as Chloe did when she cut in.

You stare
As if you see, right through to my soul

It's your left hand and the way
That it's not quite as big as your right
The way you stand in the mirror,
Before we go out at night

Stacie hummed once more. There she is again, she thought to herself.

A quiet time, your beautiful mind,
They're all part of the list
Things that I miss,
Things like your, funny little laugh
Or the way you smile or the way we kiss

The songs Beca were singing also had a hidden meaning to them. A subtle message.

Reminisce, miss, dreaming about past things and memories…

What I noticed is this,
I come up with
Something new, every single time
That I sit an reminisce

Then there she was earlier, doing something she's never done in a long time. She hasn't called Chloe 'Chlo' when her memories disappeared. Not that Stacie could recall.

The way you sweet smell
Lingers when you leave a room
Stories you tell as we lay
In bed all afternoon

I

But before being able to think deeply about the matter, Stacie's attention was brought back to the present moment when Chloe cut in.

I ask is

If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
'Cause what if I

But once again, Beca didn't let Chloe get far. It was as if she was constantly saying 'Message received' and soothing Chloe's fears with sweet nothings and hope for love.

I would know where to find love
Always thought I'd be ready and strong enough
But sometimes I just felt I could give up
But you came and you changed my whole world now
I'm somewhere I've never been before
Now I see
What love means

They were bearing their souls and the thoughts and deepest of feelings and truths of their emotions using the words of a song.

Like how once upon a time Beca took over the Barden radio station and sent her messages to Chloe through song upon song.

But this time, Chloe was able to send replies.

And Beca answered too, keeping things flowing between them

It's so unbelievable
And I don't want to let it go
It's something so beautiful
Flowin' down like a waterfall
I feel like you've always been
Forever a part of me
And it's so unbelievable
To finally be in love
Somewhere I never thought I'd be

Then something cut Beca off.

No, not Chloe this time.

It was thunder. Really, really loud crashing, rumbling sounds.

And before they knew it. The Bellas were all scrambling back to the house as storm clouds came rolling in.

---

After the whole 'the gods have answered us' moment at the beach, as Amy kept yelling, the Bellas pretty much started to disperse into their own rooms. Beca lingered for a while at the kitchen with Chloe but before the two of them could even talk Chloe's phone started ringing and it was a call she couldn't ignore. Work related, one of her little projects at school.

And if there is anything that Aubrey knew for sure, other than Beca, the kids Chloe work with and help out are always on the top of her priorities.

"So munchkin, what is your plan?" Aubrey then asked after being left at the kitchen alone with Stacie and Beca herself.

Beca chuckled. "Is this you asking me what my intentions are again, Posen?" Beca replied before shaking her head. "I'd say I'll never hurt her again but clearly even when it's not my intention to, I keep doing it anyways. I don't really know what my plan is, Aubrey, but I want to fight to be someone who deserves to be with Chloe. That much is clear."

With her little reply, Beca Mitchell excused herself and went to bed.

The next day was just as dreary as the night before, although with less scary thunder and lightning. Beca kept trying to ignore phone calls the whole day through, eventually stepping out of the living room and back into her room every time she got a call she just couldn't miss.

But Aubrey couldn't really hate her.

All of the Bellas, including herself would take time to check emails and send quick replies if they were important work-related things. Grown-up life sucked sometimes.

At some point during the day the Bellas started playing board game after board game from the massive stock pile available to them at the beach house. Beca soon decided to turn her phone off claiming she was starting to have a need of just throwing it against a wall because she actually gets tired of work too, and joined in with the many games they played.

Chloe excused herself just as Beca joined. Emily had started to come down with a fever herself, out of fatigue, maybe? She wasn't caught in the rain the night before so Aubrey assumed she was just getting really tired and overworked. Chloe appointed herself as the mother hen and decided to take care of the Legacy for a while, help her get some sleep, although Aubrey thinks she volunteered herself as tribute for the task to avoid talking to Beca.

Honestly, the whole dancing around was getting on Aubrey's nerves that she was starting to develop an obsessive-compulsive desire of just getting them locked up in a room to talk things through. But one look at Chloe and Aubrey knew, a part of her was still mad and another was ready to forgive Beca. She was torn. She was cautious but willing to move forward. And after everything she's been through, she couldn't really blame her.

Chloe deserves the heavens and the skies above and if Beca's not willing to step up and meet that, then even Aubrey doubted they can make it through their storm.

"Ah, that's another game of me winning." Amy the satisfied after another successful round of Clue. "Hey, I have an idea, maybe we should play a live action game for the next round, you know, have someone moderate the game and someone play the victim and all. The house is big enough for it too."

"I can moderate, quite frankly I don't trust any of you not to pull any shenanigans." Aubrey then said with a sigh.

"Can I volunteer as the dead body? I'm not really up to exerting that much effort into playing this game." Beca said.

"Oh, I can already imagine who the murderer could be." Aubrey then teased.

"You would, wouldn't you?" Beca replied with a smirk.

And so the Bellas set to the task of making their own Clue game, scrambling around the house to bring potential murder weapons and all, even leaving a rather confused Chloe staring at the Bellas as they took and brought back ladles, forks, and pans from the kitchen where she was making soup for Emily. They also made 'cards' for them on a pieces of paper before shoving random ones of each of the categories – murder weapon, room, killer – in brown envelope. The storm outside seemed to start to calm down, which was a good thing considering playing a live game of Clue with a storm going on outside just seemed to be asking for trouble.

When everything was set, Aubrey called for Beca into the living room while dismissing the rest of the Bellas and before they knew it, the game was on their way. After 'examining' the living room for clues the Bellas dispersed and went their own way around the house to look for the other hints and clues Aubrey hid around the house.

Fifteen minutes later Beca got up from laying down on the floor turning to face the sliding door that led outside. The rain had temporarily stopped. "How long do you think they're going to take?" she asked Aubrey.

"Maybe an hour more or so." Aubrey then replied simply.

"Cool, mind if I take a walk outside for a bit?" Beca asked.

"Don't stay out too long. It still looks a bit dark out."

"Yeah, but we went to the beach to enjoy the beach. It sucks if we only stay inside. I'll be back before they figure out who killed me." Beca then replied with a shrug.

Aubrey chuckled. "You suck at being dead Mitchell." she said as Beca got up and stretched a little.

"You can call me a zombie if anyone asks." she replied with a smirk before disappearing outside.

---

Beca took a deep breath. She was trying to keep it cool while lying down on the living room floor but something about pretending to be dead actually jogged some of her memories.

Her therapy was really working in retrieving those still missing pieces.

But the accident that started all this mess in her life was definitely something she wasn't looking forward to remembering.

The memories of lying in the cold hard ground as flecks of snow took their time to fall from the heavens above.

Beca closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She focused on hearing the waves of the water, she was trying not relieve the pain or sadness. No, she didn't want to remember the despair she was left in. She was trying, with every inch of her will, to fight the panic that was trying to take a hold of her.

She had probably been there for a while, trying to focus on some of the happy memories she made and she know remembers. She tried so hard to focus on remembering Chloe instead, and things with Chloe, and some with the Bellas too. But yeah, mostly those happy days with Chloe.

That was when a drop of water had hit her face, causing her to blink a few times. She looked up, the clouds looked ominous as the rain started to fall down on her on a steady rhythm before coming down harder with every passing minute.

Beca laughed.

Of course it was just her luck.

But instead of taking it as her misfortune, she simply smiled and decided to let all the negative feelings out and free, let the rain wash it all away.

And in some sense, it did make her feel lighter.

She stood in the rain for a while, unwilling to move. Summer was ending, fall was closing in for sure. Another season coming to pass as another year was coming to an end.

She took a deep breath. New images pop in her head. Images of Chloe running in through the rain after she had offered her an umbrella. Beca's hands automatically reached for her lips.

Right, that was the first time we kissed, she thought.

And that was the night at the radio station too.

How she wished she could just go back and relive that moment with Chloe.

"I don't suppose you're volunteering to be a lightning rod this time?" she heard Chloe say, causing Beca to snap back to reality. The redhead stood a few feet behind her with a disgruntled look in her eyes, waiting with a big enough umbrella for two. "You're going to catch a cold Mitchell. And we already have Emily down for the count."

"How is she?"

"Sleeping peacefully." Chloe simply replied. "Come on, let's go back inside." Chloe added nodding towards the direction of the house and motioning for Beca to come underneath the shade of the umbrella.

Beca chuckled. She was already drenched anyways, no need for an umbrella, and so she ran back to the house enjoying the rain.

Right behind her was Chloe shaking her head, choosing the protection of the umbrella.

Once inside, Chloe shut the sliding door from the patio to the kitchen and huffed as she set the umbrella down. She already had a towel waiting for Beca ready by the kitchen counter.

Wait, does that mean…? Did she see me go out? Was she watching me the whole time? Beca thought, not daring to as Chloe herself.

"You should've ran straight back when the rain started." Chloe grunted, wrapping the towel around Beca and trying to dry her off.

Beca smiled a little. Chloe was mad, still, not really like before but she's still upset.

But Chloe cared.

Chloe would always care. She's Chloe, that's just who she was.

"I don't know. I kind of liked it. Refreshing in all." Beca replied and Chloe gave her a look.

But Beca never really noticed what that look meant. Her head flashing back images of the night back at the radio station. Chloe running into the station, cutting her little declaration off just as she was about to say it.

All her mind could focus on was the fact that Chloe stood so close to her, the closest they've been for a while since they got back to LA, and Beca was painfully aware of just how close her lips were…

And Beca's mind raced back to that night in New York, she really should have kissed her then. Maybe things would have turned out differently?

And they both didn't have to suffer for long?

Or did the things that happened really had to happen?

"You need to take better care of yourself." Chloe then said, the softness in her tone was not missed.

And it hit home.

The hypnotic spell shrouding Beca like a need. She missed her, so much. And she really just… she just wanted…

Beca closed the distance. Throwing all caution and though to the wind as she crashed her still damp lips with Chloe's own. Her heart felt relief as she kissed Chloe Beale, finally, after all the time that had passed. The longing had seized. It was relief. It was warmth. It was home.

A shelter in the storm.

It was where Beca belonged.

And all Beca could really focus on was how her heart was beating loudly against her chest as Chloe Beale kissed her back.

---

It started out slow. A kindling flame. Innocent and gentle. But soon it felt like a dam had finally gone down and all the feelings Chloe had held back, all that she hid in that box and kept in the deepest and darkest corners of her mind, they came tumbling and crashing out, flooding all her sense.

Beca's lips were on hers and the soft flame had turned into wild fire.

The need, the want, the passion, all of it, taking over as they kissed hungry for each other's touch and affection.

But wild fire was dangerous. It was untamed.

And the last time it got Chloe burned real bad.

But she couldn't help but feel it to be right. She was home again.

She was back to where she belonged.

But before anything escalates, Chloe pushed herself away from Beca, and with perfect timing too because Aubrey had very nearly stumbled upon the two of them kissing in the kitchen.

"Mitchell, games' about to end and need you back playing dead… and why on earth are you soaking wet?" Aubrey asked all sorts of confused.

"Long story." Beca mumbled as she pursed her lips and stumbled out of the kitchen. Leaving Aubrey to look for an answer from Chloe.

And boy did Chloe not want to give the answer at the moment, she was still reeling in from the kiss and she really needed to get her mind on the matter. Not just her heart.

The next day was the last day at the beach house. She and Beca had pretty much kept to themselves for the most part of the past evening and morning. Emily was feeling better but Stacie volunteered to drive their car back with them, Beca still all kinds of iffy about driving.

Chloe decided the night before that she needed to be clear with Beca. Yes, she loves her, she has feelings for her and care for her. Always will. But she won't just be there wasting her life and dreams away, waiting for Beca forever.

If Beca wanted her back. Then she needs to work for it.

She's tired of chasing after her. She's the one always chasing after her after all.

Chasing if not moving away from her with all futility.

She found Beca at the patio, a beautiful day waiting outside, closing her laptop shut just as she ended a Skype call with a woman with a French accent.

"Before you say anything that was a doctor. I doctor I'm seeing. I mean, a doctor I'm talking to. I'm her patient." Beca immediately mumbled.

"I wasn't going to say anything." Chloe replied, her angers and frustrations gone. She just really want to set things straight with Beca. "But you're seeing a doctor?"

"Yeah." Beca replied. "A specialist on amnesia cases. She's a friend of Luisa's and she helped me get in touch with her. That's why I went to Paris."

"Oh." Chloe then said.

"I did promise to make my way back to you." Beca then replied. "But you wanted to talk…"

"…yes, about last night." Chloe finished for Beca. She took a deep breath and adopted a stern tone. "Beca Mitchell, you do not have the right to come and kiss me, or for that matter say all those stupid things you keep saying, making promises like making it back to me, and keep sending me mixed signals. If you want me, fight for me. Chase me. Show me you love me. No more grand gestures. No more simple sweet nothings. I want it all Beca. The actual all and entirety of you. Because I've given you more than all of me and I went through hell for it. Actual emotional hell Beca. I deserve nothing less than that. Because it's unfair, you know? It's unfair to love you so much and give up so much of me, understand you always, when you're not doing the same thing. I can't always be the one who gives. I know I'm not perfect, I have my faults too. But all I ask Beca, is if you really want to be with me, show it. Prove it. Because I don't think my heart could take it if you break it again."

Chloe took another deep breath after finishing what she said. She was ready for Beca to say something, sway her off her feet with words she couldn't possibly realize had the effect of sending Chloe's heart into a frenzy.

But Beca didn't say any of those grand statements. Instead she simply said "I know."

"What?" Chloe asked to clarify what Beca said, getting a little bit thrown off.

"I know." Beca repeated. "Chloe I'm not perfect either. And truth be told I don't even think I deserve you, not the way I've been or the way I am now. But I won't ever stop trying to become that person who deserves you. I get it now. You deserve more Chloe. The way you love… the way you haven't… you know, given up on me… You deserve the world. And I'm not ever going to stop telling you and showing you how I feel about you. Even if. Even if one day we'll find our way back to where we were before, I'll never stop, never be complacent about things. I'll chase after you, serenade you, woo you, every single day of my life." Beca then added, every word ringing true.

But Chloe wouldn't let herself believe those words just yet. "It's not going to be easy Mitchell."

Beca shrugged. "I'd go through hell over and over again for you."

"Those are just words." Chloe pointed out. "You'll have to work for it."

"Relationships do need work."

"Again, those are just words right now Mitchell." Chloe repeated. "And I'm not saying yes Beca. Not yet."

"Then let me make them true. Besides Chlo, if you're willing to wait for me, believe that I'll wait for you too." Beca said with a smile, standing up from where she was sitting. "And, Chloe, about the whole Paris thing, there's mo – "

"Hey Beca, we're ready to go." Stacie then said, walking out into the patio. "Oh, uh, sorry guys. Clearly you're…"

"No worries, you didn't interrupt anything." Chloe said with a smile as she walked back inside. "See you Beca."

"See you." Beca replied back. The two of them still stubbornly refused to say the words 'goodbye'.

The storm has passed. Chloe has said what was on her mind.

It's all up to Beca now.