Can you feel the love tonight….well, half of you can and the other half of you will be planning a mutiny. It's like when people were fighting over whether they thought Snape was good or evil before book 7 was released :) I love reading all the reviews and PMs declaring your allegiances. I feel like we should make team shirts! *bouncing up and down*

I know some of you are concerned friendships might be ruined by this awkward triangle of feels. And I want to promise you, I do have a plan and an idea as to how to have our heroes escape with only….minor….scrapes and bruises ;) I'm a big ol' fan of everyone getting what they deserve at the end of the story and all three of these lovely ladies don't deserve to be ruined by this.

But anyway...now onto the fluff (literally).

Chapter 10

"Really." The brunette turned and looked a the redhead next to her questioningly.

Chloe looked back at the smaller woman next to her and smiled innocently.

"Really?" Beca asked again quirking her eyebrow in curiosity as she rotated her head back to the building in front of her.

Rolling her eyes, the former Bella took the smaller girl's hand and interlaced their fingers. "Really." The woman stated as she gently tugged the brunette forward with her. "Now come on, we're running late."

"Well if someone hadn't insisted on watching another episode of My Little Pony…" Beca shook her head at the excitement emanating off her companion and shuffled her feet forward to keep up, lest her arm be pulled off.

"Oh don't even try it missy!" The redhead spun and faced her crush in mock anger. "If I remember correctly, you were the one that was adorably singing along to ALL of the songs and I couldn't pass up another 30 minutes of that utter cuteness." Chloe giggled as she pinched the younger girl's cheek mockingly.

Bashfully, Beca swatted the redhead's hand away. The heat that travelled up her chest and splashed on to her cheeks was burning the DJ, so she lifted their joint hands and dragged the older woman back towards the building they were headed to. Grabbing the handle, she held open the door and motioned for Chloe to head in.

"Just because I've agreed to this, in no way means we will be leaving here with a plus one." Beca said as she followed the other body into the shelter.

Chloe rolled her eyes in response. "Don't pretend you hate everything that lives and breathes, Becs. I know you're a big softie in there." She commented as she poked the brunette in the side with her finger. The brunette grimaced at the taller woman, but was unable to stop the smile that broke through.

The glimmer in Chloe's eyes was just contagious and the brunette felt undoubtedly drawn to the body in front of her. Moving closer towards this source of energy seemed like the only thing Beca possibly could do. Wanting to be near her...touching her...came as naturally as needing to breathe or blink. Gazing into the brilliant azul eyes, the brunette felt enraptured. The redhead lovingly squeezed their still joint hands and smiled at the shorter woman, causing Beca to want to reach out with her left hand and just touch Chloe. She imagined what it would be like to be able to caress her face, how easily it would be to lean in and gently kiss her…her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, her lips…Beca thought.

"Chloe! I was concerned you weren't going to show." A high pitched voice broke the young DJ from her trance. Quickly jumping back from the redhead, Beca grabbed her hand back and brought it up to scratch the back of her neck.

Shaking off the disappointment she felt when Beca retreated from her, Chloe turned towards the old woman at the front desk.

"I would never miss this, Mrs. Webber! I brought A friend with me, I hope that's okay?" The redhead asked sweetly.

The grey haired woman peaked up over the desk from her chair with a wide grin. "Oh of course honey. We're lucky enough that you come each Saturday and volunteer your time. I swear half the people who come in to adopt say you were the ones that brought them here. And now you bring more hands to help? You're an angel dear!"

Chloe blushed and looked at her feet. Before the elder could compliment her anymore, the redhead leaned over the desk and grabbed a set of keys along with a pair of leashes. "We'll be out back if you need us, Mrs. Webber."

"Alright dear." The woman said as she returned her head to the library book in her lap.

Looping her arm through Beca's, the redhead briskly led her through a door back behind the desk. As the metal door closed behind them and they made their way down the hallway, Beca slowed her pace forcing the redhead to turn her head towards the shorter woman. "What?"

"Every Saturday?" The DJ asked with an eyebrow raised.

Shrugging, the redhead released her arm and began to unlock a cage. "They need the help and I have the time. Plus, dogs are amazing. They can always make you feel better. They always return your love." She mumbled as she clipped a leash onto one of the energetic dogs before moving to the next crate.

Beca stared pensively at the woman in front of her. Confusion crossed the brunette's face at the thought of the former Bella feeling unloved from someone, of all people.

"Chlo, you are like a love magnet!" Beca paused and brought a hand up in front of her. "Okay that came out wrong…but you are like the sweetest, most beautiful, kindhearted person I know. How could everyone not love you!"

Shaking her head with a small tight smile, the redhead thrust a leash into the brunette's floundering hand and led her furry friend out of the crate. "Come on, let's get these guys some exercise."

Baffled at the lack of response, Beca jogged to catch up with her companion only to be stopped by her right arm not moving forward. Looking behind her, the brunette was faced with a stubborn looking white and brown American Staffordshire Terrier sitting just out side of her crate. Grunting at the dead weight behind her, Beca tugged at the leash.

"Come on mutt." She grumbled. The dog let out it's own grunt in response and didn't budge. Sighing, the tiny woman walked back to the dog. "Look, you move and we get to go outside. You can run around and not be attached to me and I can go talk with Chloe. It's a win-win situation for both of us."

Beca stood back up and stepped towards the door Chloe had exited through, which she guessed led to a yard. Slowly the dog stood up and followed behind the brunette at her own pace, clearly still making up its mind about the woman leading the way. Relieved she wouldn't have to carry the temperamental dog outside, that would be embarrassing, Beca pushed the door and held it open so the dog behind her could get through.

As soon as her eyes adjusted to the light, Beca took in the sight in front of her. The fenced in yard had what looked like a play set for the dogs to climb and play on to the one side and open field for yards and yards behind. What caught her eye though was the redhead who was bent down in front of a playful Goldendoodle. The dog was energetically licking the laughing woman's face. Beca was so captivated by the carefree smile across the other woman's face, she nearly missed the dog by her side perking up at sight of the smiling woman and wagging it's tail uncontrollably.

Smirking at the dog's reaction, Beca squatted down and patted the dog as she unhooked the leash. "I know, she makes me pretty happy too buddy."

Once she had stood back up, the brunette expected the dog to run towards the pair in front of them, free of it's constraint. The pup looked back up at the DJ expectantly. Confused by the animal's weird behavior, Beca began to make her way across the field only to find it keeping pace beside her. Smirking at her new apparent friend, the Bella glanced over to see Chloe tossing a tennis ball landing on the other end of the yard for the Golden to chase.

"I see that Monkey likes you." The redhead said turning to the approaching duo. Smiling sweetly, she bent forward and patted her thighs with her hands and Beca's new friend abandoned her and bolted towards the other woman.

"Traitor." Beca mumbled at the dog as it put its front two paws on Chloe's legs and wagged its tail.

"She's a stubborn one, Monkey. Already been here more than a few months and doesn't seem to have any hope of being adopted. A little rough at first, but she opened up to me just fine." Chloe told the brunette as she scratched behind both the dog's ears causing her tongue to lap out of her mouth. "I swear Mrs. Webber only keeps because she knows how much I love her."

Beca was almost envious of the attention the dog was getting from the redhead. Monkey had somehow managed to roll onto her back and was getting her stomach pet by a very attentive Chloe.

So enamored by the sight in front of her, the brunette almost forgot that she still wanted to talk about what the redhead had said just before they came outside. "Don't think you being all cute with a puppy—"

"Dog. She's already four years old. Aren't you girl? Yes you are. Yes you are." Chloe said in a singsong voice.

"Yea dog whatever…don't think that's going to make me forget your comment from inside." The younger girl stated, pointing an accusing finger at her friend who was now sitting on the ground with two dogs vying for her attention.

Chloe's smile dropped and she shrugged in response.

"Does this have something to do with Brian?" Beca inquired.

"Brad."

"Whatever!" The brunette cried out in frustration. Taking a few steps to close the distance between the two, Beca bent down and picked up a rope toy. Successfully engaging both dogs, she was able to let go as they entrained themselves and sat down next to her favorite redhead. Gently she asked, "Does this have something to do with Brad?"

Chloe shook her head as she looked at her hands.

"Did he break up with you? If he upset you, I'll hurt him." The DJ stated seriously as she unconsciously formed a fist with her left hand.

Agin Chloe shook her head. "It's nothing to do with Brad. He and I both kind of realized I wasn't very…interested in developing anything with him."

"Oh…well...you know you can talk to me. Is it someone else? Cause anyone who can't see how awesome you are Chloe definitely doesn't deserve your time or thoughts." Beca firmly said. Seriously how could someone not be attracted to her! Her smile alone could cause anyone to melt…

"No…well yes." Beca wasn't used to Chloe sounding so small and unsure of herself. Still keeping her eyes down at the tennis ball in her hand, Chloe continued. "It's just, well, I do like someone…"

"What, did he turn you down?" Shocked at the thought, Beca placed her hand on the taller girl's shoulder. "The bottom feeder is probably a total douche. Probably doesn't know what beautiful is if he walked face first into the original Starry Night!"

Chloe let out a small chuckle, shook her head, and muttered to herself with a small smile, "Adorable."

A little louder, the redhead sighed and dropped her shoulders slightly. "No, I'm pretty sure she's into someone else and just doesn't see me in that way."

The older woman was so caught up in her internal struggle, since the focus of her affections was sitting right next to her, that she didn't even realize the pronoun slip. Beca, however, caught it right away. Shocked at the revelation, the brunette's hand fell from the redhead's shoulder which caused the girl to look up from her hands and redirect her attention towards her companion. Realization, crossed Chloe's face and she quickly began to panic. Turning her body to face the tiny woman, the redhead placed her hand on the girl's arm.

"Becs…I uh…don't freak…" Chloe began to worry at the now silent girl next to her and she bit her lip in apprehension.

"Not freaking." Beca stated, but had yet to move or change the look of shock on her face. "This isn't me freaking. This is me processing. I just thought…"

"It's not that I was hiding it, well I mean…I just have never had feelings for a girl before and I didn't, well, don't think anything will come of it so I figured what was the point in saying anything?"

The brunette finally turned her head and tried to mask the hurt expression on her face at the redhead's words. Lifting her own hand and covering the redhead's hand that was still on her arm, Beca gave the older woman a comforting smile.

"Chlo, I'm always here for you and you can always tell me anything. Even if you're crushing on a girl…especially if you're crushing on a girl. It's what best friends do."

Breaking out into a relieved smile, Chloe tried to ignore her brain repeating best friends over and over and instead leaned into the smaller woman and put her head on her shoulder. "Love you Becs."

"I love you too Chloe Beale." The brunette was glad the redhead couldn't see her face as she responded. She was positive that the pain she felt in that moment was painted across her face. Beca loved the woman leaning against her, but could never tell her that she is in love with her. And some idiot was causing the woman she loved this much pain…it hurt the brunette to see her like this and it made her angry. "There is one problem here though."

The redhead lifted her head and looked at the younger woman curiously.

"I can't hit a girl. Even if she's broken your heart. It just goes against my code."

Chloe let out a laugh and shoved the small girl with her shoulder. "You're such a dork."

Beaming at the now smiling redhead, Beca spoke up. "As long as I'm still badass." Just as she finished saying that Monkey came bounding over to the pair and jumped on top of the brunette, sufficiently knocking her on her back to receive slobbery licks from the dog. "Come on mutt, ughh, stop! Fine fine! I give up!" She yelled as she began scratching the dog and rolling around with her.

"Oh yea, you're totally badass there, cupcake." Chloe giggled at the adorable scene in front of her.

Beca opened the passenger door to Chloe's old pickup truck and hopped in. "Yeah I don't think the university would be cool with me housing a dog in my dorm, Chlo."

"But you two are like kindred spirits!" The redhead practically whined as she closed the door and started up her truck. "You could totes just hide her from your RA. Monkey's really quiet, they'd never know she was there!"

Chuckling the brunette shook her head as she rolled down the window and leaned out into the cool early fall air. "Hate to break it to ya babe, but she's like 50 lbs. There's no way I'd be able to sneak her in and out of the building every day without getting caught."

Chloe blushed at the term of endearment the smaller woman let slip and tried her best to remain focused on the road in front of her. Sneaking a glance beside her, the redhead decided the DJ had no clue what she had called her and dejectedly returned her gazed forward.

Beside her, Beca remained frozen with her body turned and her head hanging out the window. Babe had just rolled so naturally off her tongue, she hadn't realized what she said until the name was already out there. Figuring the safest thing to do was to remain in her current position, the brunette waited for the blush on her cheeks to fade.

After a few moments of silence, Beca cleared her throat and spoke up. "Alright Red, now that you've had me volunteering for hours, where are we off to?"

Chlo playfully glared at the brunette, who smirked back. "Honestly, you make it sound like I tortured you! If I do recall, you were the one who refused to put Monkey back in her crate. We had to keep her out while we exercised every single dog! I thought I was going to have to leave you there."

"You'd have come back for me."

"Yea, only because I couldn't put poor old Mrs. Webber through that!"

"Hey!" The brunette lightly smacked the mocking woman on her arm.

"Hey back! Driving here!"

Beca rolled her eyes and laughed at Chloe's antics. Putting her hands up in surrender, the brunette leaned against the car door and watched the redhead as she focused back on the road. The radio played softly in the background as the former Bella harmonized softly, completely unaware of the habit. Smiling, Beca took in how carefree Chloe seemed today. It was a Chloe she only saw when they were alone. Hair tussled in the wind blowing through the windows, one arm hanging out the side; it looked like the redhead could stay like this forever and not once have a single regret about it. Yup, I'm screwed. I am completely in love with this woman. What am I going to do?

"What?" The redhead curiously spoke without turning her attention from the road.

"What what?" Beca half smiled in response.

"You're staring." Chloe said with a smirk.

Unashamed, the brunette left her gaze on the woman beside her. "No, just appreciating."

The redhead blushed in response but didn't saying anything, not wanting to ruin the moment. Finally, Beca broke her fixation when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.

"So where are we headed? Will there be food? Please say there's gonna be food because I am starving. Look, it's 2pm already!" She held up her phone to show Chloe the screen to prove her point.

Glancing next to her, the redhead took a peak at the phone and quickly diverted her gaze back in front of her mumbling, "Uh you have a text from Aubrey…"

The brunette turned her phone back to face her and read the lit screen: Bi Bree (2 new iMessages). Beca had changed Aubrey's contact info in her phone the night before. After an entire tub of ice cream, two bags of chips, and some bonding time with the former captain, the DJ had found it hilarious to change the blonde's name in her phone to Bi Bree. Not quite as amusing at the moment, though. The brunette embarrassingly swiped her finger across the screen to open the messages. Definitely blaming it on the ice cream. I mean, an entire tub! That shit can make you do crazy things.

Bree: How's CABAAD going?

Bree: Have you internally combusted from idiotically spending all day alone with your crush?

As the DJ read the texts, a new one popped up underneath.

Bree: I swear this was the epitome of ignorance. How do you expect to get over our redheaded best friend if you have a "date day"?

Bree: Beca Mitchell, I swear if you are ignoring me…this pitiful excuse of a friendship is over!

Beca chuckled and rolled her eyes at the hyper reactive blonde. Typing out a response and not breaking her gaze from her phone, the brunette called out to Chloe. "Sorry, so where are we headed?"

Beca: Good. Horrible…I don't know! She and Brad aren't seeing each other anymore - good. But she has a crush on some else - bad. But this crush is a GIRL - good? right? cuz I might have some form of a shot? so good?

Bree: Wait wait slow down, what?!

Beca: Ugh, I know right! Bree please can you come join us? I don't know if I can take this by myself. I don't know what's worse, this or sitting through you berating our horrible attempts at choreo last year? ;)

Bree: Take that back hobbit.

Beca: Make me.

Bree: Okay. I'm not going to meet up with you guys.

Beca: Argghh fine! I rescind my previous comment. Just please come?

Chloe tried her best to ignore the text conversation that was going on next to her as she replied. "I was thinking we could have a picnic by the pond over on East Campus. It's right by my apartment and I might already have a basket of food prepped. Got it when we planned out original date—uhhh hangout night…"

Beca glanced up from her phone and smiled. "Sounds perfect, Red." After a brief pause and a couple more texts, the DJ looked back up. "Mind if Aubrey joins us for lunch? She has some time to kill before some thing she has to go to later."

Sighing softly, the redhead put on a fake smile that felt more like a grimace. "Of course she can, who am I to stop her from joining."

Beca nodded and looked down at her phone, texting a quick reply to the blonde. "Cool. I'll let her know to meet us there. I think she said she was just walking in that direction."

"Aca-awesome." The redhead responded in a less than heartfelt tone. "I'll just drop you there so she doesn't have to wait by herself and I'll go grab the food from the apartment." Chloe sighed, at least this way she wouldn't have to be there when Beca and Aubrey greeted each other. Are they being open about their relationship? Is it even official? Well, this way I won't have to be there if there greeting is more PDA-y…The redhead shook her head to rid the thoughts in her mind as she pulled her truck over and stopped next to the curb. "Well, this is as close as I can get you. I'll be back in like 15 minutes."

The brunette had hopped out of the car and was standing next to the driver side, Chloe hanging out of the window to talk to her. Beca nodded and mumbled a quick 'cool' in response. Before the redhead could retreat back into the window, the DJ stood on her tiptoes and lightly pressed a kiss to the side of the older woman's cheek. Walking backwards away from the truck, Beca gave a small wave.

"Hurry back, Red."

Okay so I had to cut the chapter there because otherwise it would just be too long. Next chapter will be the second half of CABAAD! I'm a sucker for dogs and I'm pretty sure even badass Beca would turn into a happy kid around puppies. I made my avatar a picture of how I envisioned Monkey in case you're curious.

Now, how do you think Beca's conversation with Aubrey will go before Chloe gets back? And is this picnic going to be a total disaster? Will Aubrey crash the rest of their date day? Where to after the picnic? So many ideas of how this can go down! Hope you're enjoying this still ;) In case I haven't mentioned, I seriously love every single one of you!

Signing off!