A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, favorites, and follows! They brighten my day. I'm posting earlier so I don't have to worry about fitting it in on Thanksgiving Day. To all of those who celebrate it, Happy Thanksgiving! To all of you who don't, I hope you have a fantastic day! And I hope you enjoy the new chapter. It was certainly fun to write.

/+/+/

Chapter 9

They wound up going to this small hole in the wall pizza place that Beca was addicted to. She ate there at least twice a week and, if it weren't for Chloe being around so much going on about healthy diets, she would probably eat there every day. Beca made sure that they were sat at a table. Normally she would have requested a booth, liking the privacy and security the high backed enclosed seats brought, but she figured a table would be better. Then there wouldn't be that awkward moment where Beca had to decide whether or not to sit next to Chloe or across from her. The latter would result in Jesse sitting next to her and an interrogation like setting, both of them looking intently at Chloe as Jesse peppered her with questions because Jesse would definitely have questions. The first option would involve a handsy Chloe and a lot of suggestive remarks from Jesse, leading to weeks worth of jokes at her expense. So a table was definitely safer. There were four sides and no two people would be directly sitting side by side. It was the safest option.

Beca and Chloe were there before Jesse. Of course Chloe chose to sit on one side of Beca, her back to the door. They both pretended to go over the menus, well at least Beca did. She already knew what she wanted. The whole time Beca tried to ignore how strangely silent Chloe was, usually having some remark about something, no matter how small. Then the bell over top the door chimed and Beca instantly looked up, happy for the distraction.

There was Jesse already acting like an idiot, far too excited for what was supposed to be a casual lunch between friends. But no, in Jesse's mind it was something much more that had a specific movie reference that sprung to mind. All of those scenes involving fathers meeting their daughter's boyfriends playing through. So he had dressed the part. He had slicked his hair to one side, put on his nicest dress shirt, tucked his shirt into a black pair of well fitted dress pants, and topped the look off with a pair of sunglasses hanging from the top of his shirt that had one more button unbuttoned than needed to be. Beca had no idea what look he was going for, but it came off as a cross between a classic 50s sitcom dad and a douche-y business man. She just glared at him as he approached, knowing he was already screwing this up. He was completely oblivious, giving her two thumbs up and motioning that he had her back. Beca was just happy Chloe couldn't see him… yet.

He finally made it to the table and sat down. At the new presence, Chloe had beamed at him only to do a double take, trying to hide the amusement and confusion at Jesse's strange appearance. Beca just continued to glare at him, trying to telepathically tell him not to do anything else stupid, but of course then he had to speak.

"I'm not afraid to go back to prison," he blurted out. Trying to come off natural, but failing. Both girls just stared at him.

Beca spoke first, chastising him. "Dude, you've never been to prison."

Jesse just shrugged, looking pointedly at Chloe. "I'm just saying, I'm not afraid." He took a sip of his complimentary water before barreling on with the next thing he wanted to say. "So Chloe, what do you like about Beca?" he narrowed his eyes at the girl sat across from him. Chloe just pursed her lips, clearly confused by the question, looking from Beca to Jesse and back again. Beca ground her teeth, trying not to go off on Jesse at the table.

Instead she turned to Chloe and spoke through gritted teeth. "Will you excuse us for a second?"

Beca did not wait for a response before digging her nails into Jesse's arm and pulling him out of his seat towards the hallway in the back where the bathrooms were.

"Ooooow! Beca you're hurting me." Jesse whined.

They came to an abrupt stop between the doors for the male and female bathroom. Beca roughly shoved Jesse away from her before seething in a hushed voice. "What the fuck are you doing out there!?"

Jesse eyes went wide, perspiration starting to form on his forehead. "Helping?"

"How are you helping? You look ridiculous and you just spouted some nonsense about prison and now you're giving her the third degree! What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Jesse looked offended, smoothing out his shirt. "Hey, this is high quality craftsmen ship." He reached for his sunglasses, as if by putting them on it would make the whole look better.

Beca slapped his hand, knocking the sunglasses to the ground. "Hey!" he proclaimed, offended. She ignored him, still seething. "I don't give a shit! I agreed to you coming to lunch with us." He was going to interject that technically he had to bribe her and then beg her to let him come with, but the glare she gave him shut him up pretty quickly. "Against my better judgement and you're not helping. You're screwing it up."

Jesse looked like a kicked puppy. "But I'm just trying to help you out. Be the father or older brother feeling things out to make sure she's worthy of you. Confirm she's into you."

Beca softened slightly at the admittance, her anger subsiding. Really Jesse always had good intentions. He was a good guy. There was never a situations before where there was someone she liked that he was meeting and she appreciated that he was willing to come off like a complete manic in order insure her happiness, but this was not one of those situations. Chloe had a boyfriend for one and they were just friends. Hence why the lunch was supposed to be a lunch among friends. Not whatever Jesse was turning it into. She placed a hand on his shoulder, the closet she got to a comforting gesture when not drunk.

"Dude, I like totally appreciate it and everything, but I don't need an older brother or dad figure right now. I just need my best friend to hang out with me and my childhood best friend."

Jesse smiled softly at her. "I can do that."

"Great!" She slapped him on the arm and retracted her arm back to her side. "Just one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Can you like do something with your hair? I'm not going to be able to take you seriously with that Leave it to Beaver doo."

Jesse was all smiles, back to his usual self. "Can do!" He immediately started to ruffle his hair into its normal boyish style.

"Let's go I'm starving." Beca stated.

"You're always hungry."

"So, I'm growing."

Jesse snorted. "Where? Out? I'm pretty sure you stopped growing vertically when you were eight."

Beca just punched him in the arm. On the way back to the table, Jesse placed his hands on Beca's hips to steer her away from colliding with a waitress carrying out a plate of pasta. He left his hand on her lower back until they were back in their seats to make sure another collision did not occur. Normally Beca would have pushed or shrugged off his hand, but they just made up and she really didn't want to spend lunch with a moping Jesse and an abnormally quiet Chloe. She tried to ignore the pair of bright blue eyes watching them as they came back from their talk. By the time they got back to the table they were all smiles, everything back to normal. Chloe seemed slightly put off, looking between the two of them, spending extra time looking at Jesse's messed up hair, but Beca didn't think much of it. She just figured she was still upset with Jesse's earlier comments. Then it was like a switch and she had that smile reserved for Beca in place, leaning towards her.

"So Becs, what are you thinking about getting?"

Before Beca could answer, Jesse cut in, smirking. "A supreme, minus the green peppers, right? The biggest pizza for the tiniest person."

Beca shot him an unappreciative look, grumbling. "Always the short jokes."

Chloe just squeezed Beca's knee, getting her full attention. "Well, it is one of your many adorable features."

The combination of Chloe's hand on her knee combined with that smile made Beca blush instantly as she struggled to stammer out a reply. "Uh-um… tha-thanks Chlo." She was berating herself as soon as she was done speaking, annoyed she hadn't protested the compliment like normal. The bright smile Chloe sent her way almost made her feel like it was worth it, almost. She didn't dare look at Jesse, she could just imagine the stupid grin on his face.

Sure enough it was there, clear in his voice as he decided to put his two cents in, mocking her knowingly. "Adorable, huh?"

Luckily the waitress chose that moment to drop by for their drink order. She was one of those veteran waitresses with just the right combination of friendly banter and no-nonsense attitude if you got out of line. The type of people Beca understood.

"So, what can I get you to drink?"

Chloe cut in first, smile slightly to enthused and calculated to be normal. "Oh, I'll take an ice tea and Becs here will take a Dr. Pepper." She looked pointedly at Jesse as she said the next part. "It's one of her favorites." Then she looked to Beca, genuine smile in place. "Right Becs?"

"Right…"Beca said hesitantly. She wasn't quite sure what happened. If she didn't know any better she would have said Chloe just glared at Jesse, but that was crazy because Chloe did not glare at anyone. Not even people that were extremely rude. Instead of over analyzing Chloe's expression. She just shook off the notion, giving Chloe a small smile.

The waitress turned to Jesse. "And what can I get you hun?"

"Oh, I'll just stay with water." He smiled kindly at the waitress.

They spent the next few minutes deciding how many pizzas to get and what to put on each one. Finally, they just decided on getting three individual pizzas, each wanting something different and not agreeing to only eat one fourth of a pizza when another got half of a pizza. Well Beca being the one to mainly have a problem with it, not wanting to share. When their drinks came they put in their pizza orders. Then conversation turned to things outside of pizza and food.

"So how's Beca doing as a Bella? Does she just sit in the corner and pout the whole time?" Jesse smirked.

Beca glared at him, but Chloe was the one to answer with a kind smile. "No she's actually really good! Her choreography is sometimes a little off, but I'm helping her. So she should get it in no time." She smiled fondly at Beca.

"Really?" Jesse stated, smiling knowingly at Beca. Chloe's brow furrowed at the comment, her mouth starting to open to ask him about his statement.

Beca's eyes briefly went wide, quickly working through what Chloe said, looking for a new way in which to direct the conversation. Knowing Jesse would most likely reveal her crush while subtly trying to hint at it. The boy was as subtle as a jackhammer at 1 am. The first thing that came to mind, would definitely distract Chloe, but she really shouldn't be bringing it up in front of Jesse. She hadn't told him about it, but Chloe's mouth was quickly starting to form words and it was the only thing she had. So she went for it, scoffing. "Really? With my private audition, you didn't think I'd be good?"

Chloe of course went for it, a perfect moment to embarrass and fluster Beca laid out for her. Her whole demeanor turned flirty as she answered. "Well I may have been distracted by other things." She winked. Beca's cheeks turned a light almost unnoticeable pink. If the look on Chloe's face was any indication, the other Bella definitely noticed.

Jesse cut in clearly confused. "You tried out with everyone else?"

"Well, we kind of bumped into each other in the showers. Great acoustics!" Chloe winked at Beca again before giving her full attention to Jesse.

"Wait… So you, like met in the showers and…" he pursed his lips hoping someone would fill him in.

Chloe seemed a tad over joyed to be the one to do it. Beca just sat there sipping her Dr. Pepper, pretending she was invisible. It wasn't working.

"Yeah, Becs has the most beautiful voice." Chloe took the time to send a beaming smile Beca's way before turning back to Jesse. "She was singing. So I just invited myself into her shower stall. It was pretty aca-awesome. It's not everyday someone sings your lady jam."

Beca choked on her soda. Chloe instantly placed a hand on her back, patting it. She then rubbed soothingly up and down the length of Beca's spine. It felt really nice, warmth filling her chest, almost worth choking to death on soda.

Chloe worriedly asked her, as if nothing she said could have caused the reaction, "Are you okay?"

"Yep, completely fine. Just almost died drinking soda." Beca's voice was strained.

Jesse ignored the whole thing, in slight shock. "Wait… So you guys were in a shower together? Singing?... Like completely naked, singing?"

"Yep!" Chloe replied, seeming far too pleased with herself. She kept rubbing soothingly over Beca's back for a few more minutes before retracting her hand. Beca missed the warmth, which was ridiculous, but true.

There was a glint in Jesse's eyes. She knew he was going to say something embarrassing. She just knew it. So Beca tried to redirect the conversation. "I wonder where our pizzas are? It's been a while, huh?"

It was weak. She knew it was weak and she really couldn't blame Jesse for barreling right through it, but she could definitely be mad at him for what he said next.

"What is it with you and showers?" He jostled Beca's shoulder. She just grumbled, not amused. "Remember that one time in high school when that girl with the really big-"

Beca's eyes went wide, blushing a deep red. What was Jesse doing? He wasn't supposed to be embarrassing her or telling possibly inappropriate stories. So she did the only thing she could think of. She stomped down on his foot. That shut him up. Well kind of.

"OOOOW!" He glared at Beca. She just casually took a sip from her drink, acting completely innocent.

Chloe sent them both another confused searching look. Then the smile was back, acting mildly mock offended as she spoke. "Are you saying I'm not Beca's first shower buddy?"

A smirk immediately showed its self on Jesse's face and he was just about to say something when he caught Beca glaring at him. He closed his mouth and gulped, rethinking what he was going to say for the sake of his toes. "Nah! Just you."

Chloe smiled nudging Beca playfully. "Well I got to see the goods, right? And that's all that matters. Totes made my day." Beca could feel her face warming to new levels, she couldn't look at either one of them.

"Good that they certainly are." Jesse said off handily, like it was his name he was reciting. Beca instantly kicked him in the shin, mouth agape. Chloe's smile had fallen slightly and her body had visibly stiffened at the remark. Beca did not take notice, too busy hitting Jesse, but the treblemaker certainly did.

"OOOOW!" Jesse let out, rubbing his shin.

Thankfully, that was the exact moment the waitress brought their pizzas. Beca couldn't be happier to let the current conversation die. "Oooh! Look pizza!" was her exclamation to put a final end to it. They all spent the next few minutes eating in awkward silence. Beca had the strange feeling that Chloe was slowly moving closer to her throughout the meal. When they were all done, their waitress came back around and Chloe kind of aggressively stated Beca and her would be on one bill, before asking for a hot cup of tea. The tea quickly came, Chloe took a few sips and then asked Beca if she wanted any with the sweetest tenderest smile in place. Beca politely declined, her own fond smile intact. They remained just looking at each other. It was nice, like they were in their own little bubble. All fond smiles and soft eyes directed at each other. Just the two of them. Beca couldn't think of anything more perfect, her eyes beginning their journey down to Chloe's lips. A journey they seemed to be taking a lot more often recently. Then the bubble popped. Jesse's scoff at the whole thing, which Chloe did not appreciate, pulling their gazes from one another. Turning a curious gaze to the boy.

"What?"

"It's just… Beca hates tea."

Chloe smiles warmly, a mild superior air mixed in. "No, Becs loves tea. We drink it all the time together." she turns her smile on the girl in question, smiling fondly at her. Beca can't stop herself from returning it. Wanting to sink into the world they were just in, just the two of them, moments ago.

"Ha, sure. I wonder why."

Both women turned to Jesse at his statement. Chloe mildly offended and Beca trying to tell him to 'shut up' with her gaze alone. "I don't know what you are implying, but Beca drinks tea all the time. She has a cupboard full of tea. Right, Beca?" Chloe shifted closer to her, placing her hand on Beca's thigh and lightly squeezing. Both pairs of eyes turned to her. She just stared owlishly at them, not exactly sure what to say. Jesse obviously knew the truth. Finally letting out sheepishly, "Um…yeah." She then took a long sip of her Dr. Pepper so she wouldn't have to talk anymore.

Jesse mumbled under his breathe, "That's really convincing." Beca sent him a pointed glare and he instantly shut up. Chloe narrowed her eyes at him before scooting closer to Beca.

Then she directed her full attention to Beca again, her smile back at full blast, her actions bordering on flirty as she trailed her fingers up and down Beca's forearm. "Did you want to watch a movie after this? You totes owe me from before."

Beca rolled her eyes good naturedly and was going to reluctantly concede, but Jesse cut in before she could reply.

"Beca hates movies."

"No she doesn't." Chloe moved even closer to Beca, looking pointedly at Jesse.

"Yes she does." He looked smug as he tacked on, "She's hates them so much she's never seen one to the end. She always falls asleep or gets distracted by her mixes when we watch them."

It was Chloe's turn to scoff, shifting just a little closer to Beca. "We used to watch movies all the time as kids. We had marathons every Friday."

Jesse was starting to get defensive, after all he knew Beca. She was his best friend and if she liked movies he would know. It was his thing and he shared it with Beca. "So! I bet she fell asleep during all of those too."

Chloe's volume rose and stare hardened a fraction more, as she placed a possessive arm around Beca's waist. "No, we watched a shit ton of rom coms and she loved them. She saw all of them to the end."

Jesse leaned across the table, his own volume rising. "Ha! That's the genre she hates the most. They're too predictable."

Chloe pulled Beca impossibly closer into her side, so she was practically sitting on Chloe's lap. "Maybe you just picked the wrong ones because we used to watch them all the time."

"Oh, yeah well maybe she was lying to you."

"Well maybe you just have horrible taste in movies."

Jesse gasped as if he had been slapped. "Take it back!"

"No, Beca tell him." Chloe eyes didn't leave Jesse's, challenging him.

"Yeah, tell her Beca." He fired back, glaring at Chloe.

Beca just sat there gaping like a fish, Chloe's body pushed up against her's not helping, not sure what to say because they were both right. As a kid she loved movies and she had seen them to the end. As an adult she hated them and, yeah, she had lied to Jesse about having never seen a movie in its entirety, but for good reason. She had never wanted to see another one from beginning to end. The endings were the worst. It was always the part were the main character went on to their happily ever after and the friend was left behind. She didn't want to be reminded that she would always be left behind. She was reminded of the fact in real life enough as is. It wasn't necessary for her to sit through two hours of predictable lead up to just learn what she already knew. So yeah she hated movies, but she loved movies when she believed Chloe was her's. Well in the sense that anyone is ever really anyone else's. No matter what she said it would be a lie and the other person would know it. They would be hurt. So she just sat there, not able to form words, let alone enjoy the feeling of being essentially claimed by Chloe Beale.

Apparently she was taking too long because they both turned to her, exclaiming, "Beca?"

She yet again had to thank their waitress for her impeccable timing. Their waitress choosing that exact moment to stop by with their checks. Beca quickly scrambled for them, slipping out of Chloe's grasp, heading for the register. The only thing she said before she left was that she would pay for them and she'd meet them out front. That's exactly what she did. When she went outside Chloe and Jesse were still glaring at each other, but at least they weren't spilling anymore of her secrets or asking her to confirm anything they said. She tried to put on an air that nothing was out of the ordinary, but it just made her come off more awkward than she already was. Then Jesse was saying goodbye and Chloe immediately interlaced their fingers, pulling Beca along after her at a pace slightly quicker than a comfortable walking pace.

Chloe was fuming all the way to Beca's dorm room, seeming to cool down the closer they got. When they came to a stop outside, she finally looked at Beca, softening. The older girl suddenly became shy and vulnerable, only briefly meeting Beca's gaze before redirecting her eyes to Beca's hand she was playing with.

"You would tell me if you didn't like movies, right?"

"Of course."

Chloe met her eyes, searching. "Beca, do you like movies?"

It was Beca's turn to look shyly away before meeting Chloe's eyes again. In that instant she let a small part of her walls be chipped away. Her eyes sincere and face softening, fear just at the edges. For once she answered Chloe completely honestly. Chloe knew. "I-I like watching movies with you."

Which was true. Chloe made the stories seem real, probable even. With Jesse it wasn't like that. It had nothing to do with him having bad taste in movies, like Chloe suggested. He just reminded her of her role, 'the friend'. She had never seen him in or felt any other way towards him, even when they were dating. Where Chloe had made her feel everything, sometimes all at once. She was the only one. So when she watched movies with Chloe anything felt possible because the idea that Chloe actually existed seemed impossible. Yet there she was right in front of Beca.

That was the problem though. Chloe made her hope for more. Believe in more. In that instant, a small hole in her walls for Chloe to take a peak in, she wanted to kiss her. Tom and all other obstacles were forgotten because Chloe was seeing a small guarded part of her and was still standing there. Chloe's hand was still in her's and it would be so easy to pull her in and connect their lips. So incredibly easy. Before she could make a choice, Chloe made one for them both. Using their linked hands she pulled Beca into her, but not for a kiss, for a hug. It was one of Beca's favorite hugs, Chloe slowly sinking into her body, nose nuzzled into the crook of her neck taking in a deep breath. Beca hugged Chloe just as tightly back for once, letting her eyes close and body fully relax into it, surrounded by that scent that was so Chloe. She needed that hug and wanted it. She wanted it to be a forever type thing she could fall into whenever she needed that warm comforting hope. Beca knew better, knew it was temporary. But she didn't care. She would take what she could get until there was no more. Until Chloe left just like the rest. They always left, after all. Why would she be any different.

Then there was the muffled second question. "Do you like tea?"

Beca hesitated for a moment, her breath hitching in her throat. They were so close Chloe could feel the breath knock around in Beca's chest before it settled, she just nuzzled in further. "It's okay," was what Beca settled on.

Chloe voices seemed smaller than before, more fragile. "You don't have to make it anymore."

"But I want to."

There was a pause. All the unspoken words that she could tack on hanging there in the air. Beca feared for a second that she said too much. That she revealed too much. She figured Chloe would be letting go of her any second now, but she didn't. She just pulled Beca closer. Beca was quick to reciprocate, nuzzling into Chloe's collar bone, pressing her nose into the soft material there. The scent of spring and warm summer days, of Chloe, filling her nostrils. She felt so incredibly safe and cared for in her friend's embrace. Chloe was still there. She was staying in her arms. She wasn't leaving yet.

"Thank you," was what Chloe finally said.

They stood there interlocked for what felt like forever, lulled by the gentle movements of their bodies moving to just keep existing. Even though Beca knew Chloe was destined to leave her, it was okay. In that moment it was okay. She could do this, whatever this was. One minute feeling like an eternity in Chloe's arms. But somehow, on its own when Beca was alone, an eternity was never enough.

+/+/+

A/N: The "I'm not afraid to go back to prison" and line about what Chloe thought about Beca I took from online articles about what to do when a father meets their daughter's boyfriend for the first time. I wanted to originally find clips from movies for inspiration, but couldn't find any. So I found these instead. I think they worked well. Hope you liked it!