A/N: Shorter chapter this time. Beca's finally getting a grip on things, so look out for that.

Beca turned off the alarm on her phone. She had woken roughly 10 minutes before it rang and was thinking about the dreams she had as she stared at the ceiling.

One of them was with the Bellas at Aubrey's camp. For some reason, they were back there to 'find harmony' again. Only this time, Beca was no longer under pressure or stress to get a demo out to her boss. She actually enjoyed the activities and Chloe beamed at her the entire time as the ginger had paired up with her for every team-building exercise Aubrey had them go through.

It made her happy to see Chloe so jovial, and even happier still that she's teamed up with the only person who wouldn't make her wince during close physical contact. Chloe is the only one she's comfortable being close to for an extended period of time. Not even Jesse could touch her for over 5 minutes without her feeling so extremely awkward that she would find some excuse to push him away.

It worried her because she and her boyfriend had never been physically intimate. She knew how college kids couldn't wait to have sex, but the notion of sleeping with Jesse petrified her. She felt guilty because all the Treblemakers seemed to have plenty of action and so did some of the Bellas. Yet, she had given nothing to Jesse.

Sometimes out of guilt, she would kiss him, and she sensed how he would want to take it further if their kiss went longer. She would then stop and pretend she had something to do or somewhere to go. Jesse had been respectful and never forced himself on her or even suggested they get it on, which she was extremely grateful for and why she tried her very best to work things out with him.

It's not that she was disinterested in sex, she got turned on once by Luke, the station master at college where she worked part-time for 2 years. But he was capable of turning on any girl on campus with his British accent, good looks, and a formidable six-pack. Jesse had managed to turn her on once but it got awkward very quickly as soon as he started caressing and fondling her.

But the time that made her actually wanting to go all the way was when Chloe barged into her shower, completely nude. She had not meant to ogle at the ginger until the redhead made her sing, then sang along with her. Chloe's voice somehow calmed her jitters and as soon as they finished their brief duet, Beca's eyes couldn't help glance at the perfect feminine form before her, to the part where her eyes had been averting. Chloe Beale couldn't look more beautiful with her flawless skin, and a figure that any woman would die for. It took only a millisecond but it was enough, Beca was momentarily dumbstruck. She felt a hot rush shooting up her head and then spreading all over her body till it all rested between her legs, and she quickly looked away biting her lip.

As if sensing the girl's embarrassment returning, Chloe said, "Oh yeah, I'm pretty confident about all this." "You should be." Beca replied as coolly as she could, taking one more look at the perfection before her as she tried to hide her arousal. Chloe turned around to hand her a towel, forgetting that the girl had not showered yet. "I still need to shower." Beca was praying a cold shower right that instant could wash away whatever she was feeling, but the redhead continued to look on admiringly, not planning on leaving until a man's voice interrupted them.

Chloe had also been mesmerized by the short Brunette herself that she had completely forgotten he was there, and Beca was too stunned and aroused from the sight that she did not think to question why a guy was in the ladies' room. Realizing he was Chloe's boyfriend though did finally kill Beca's fantasy, even if Chloe never mentioned Tom again after that semester. But Beca remembered the episode clearly. It came to mind whenever she felt something similar but she tried convincing herself it was merely an individual incident, that Chloe was her best friend, and she herself was in a straight relationship with Jesse.

Beca's second dream was also about Chloe Beale, who somehow found her way back to Tom, they had sent her a wedding invitation. Beca's first reaction was complete disappointment and disgust. WTF! Gross! What the hell does Chlo see in that guy? Tom was not bad-looking, a typical jock, but he wasn't always looking out for Chloe nor shared her passion for things. Somehow, it never felt like he was a real love interest whenever Chloe talked about him. Outwardly they looked to be a great match, but Beca knew better. It all felt like her former co-captain had decided to settle for this dude just to get married and it made Beca sick.

To Beca, not even a royal prince deserves Miss Beale, but again, who is she to say to whom the redhead should marry. Chloe's 27, she's of good marriageable age and she is not looking to advance her career as Beca did. In the dream, Beca could only think of crashing and halting the wedding and getting the bride to escape with her. She would rather take care of Chloe for life than to see the ginger settling for some unworthy guy. In fact, Beca realized that she didn't look forward to seeing Chloe marry off at all now with this bombshell of a wedding invitation laying in front of her. It sounded ridiculous but Beca's more protective of Chloe than all other Bellas. Again, she didn't know why. Beca had surmised that the bubbly redhead was always too nice, too gullible, and kindhearted that the DJ would be wary of people taking advantage of her.

As she laid on her bed, she realized how atypical her relationship with Chloe had been. Beca had gotten so used to having Chloe around that when the DJ moved to LA, she reverted back to the closeted life she had before college. Jesse and some of the new friends he made in LA were pretty much her entire social life until she started growing more distant from him as well.

Outside of work, she did not feel the need to interact with anyone and she was too busy to feel lonely. When she needed advice, Chloe is the first person she would think to ask. But as time wore on, Beca felt a sense of guilt each time she chatted Chloe up, it's seemed like she's calling to ask for help only. Of course, the ginger was more than happy to give her exactly what she needed but the DJ couldn't help but feel bad she couldn't do likewise for her. Chloe did live a pretty straightforward and simple life and had everything well put together, she was more interested in listening to Beca's work, and what Beca had to say than to talk about herself, claiming her life to be boring and less dreamy than the DJ's; which in a sense was true. Chloe was less ambitious and was leading a more solitary life.

Beca crawled out of her bed, not feeling too pleased about the bad dream she had but decided to focus on the demo she needed to send out that night. And only Chloe could save her now from being stuck in brain blockage for days. She checked the time in Atlanta, noon fifty. Chloe's at lunch so now is a good time to call. Beca rang up the girl.

"We're sorry. You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. Please check the number and try your call again." What the hell? Beca was certain she dialed through her stored contacts, it's impossible she dialed the wrong number. She was about to try again when she received an incoming call. It was Fat Amy.

"Yo, Amy! What's wrong with Chloe's phone, I gave her a call just now and her number's no longer in service."

"Beca, listen to me. You won't reach Chloe with that number any longer."

"What? Why? What's happened to Chlo?" Fat Amy heard a stroke of panic in the DJ's voice.

"Well, it's why I'm calling you, Big BM." Fat Amy continued, "I'm sending you a recording. You listen to it. I cannot tell you anything beyond that, I've been sworn to secrecy."

"I've got no time for games, Amy! Just tell me what is going on!"

"Look, if you ever really cared about Chloe, you listen to what I just sent you. If you're as awesome as I think you are, you'll figure it all out without me tellin' you. I'll be in Atlanta on Monday. Beca, don't disappoint by not being there."

"You're creepin' me out already and now I need to be in Atlanta in 3 days?! What the heck for?"

"Just stop talkin' and listen to the recording, okay? I trust you'll get it. Really cannot say any more. Chloe wouldn't let me. Good luck, Beca." Fat Amy hung up. Beca couldn't believe what was happening. Why is the Aussie suddenly so cryptic? And what is this recording?

Her phone had a new notification indicating she received a message. Fat Amy had indeed sent her a sound file.

Beca played it directly from her phone, pushing the volume to the max.

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye

It was unmistakably Chloe's voice and Beca recognized the song immediately. She kept listening.

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo,
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here

By the time Chloe finished, Beca had a fresh trail of tears running down her face. She had not cried since watching the Breakfast Club, a movie portraying the futility of non-conformity. Her dad, Aubrey, Jesse had all expected her to conform to their expectations or to societal norms. Yet the Bellas proved to her otherwise, especially Chloe (and later even Aubrey). They had embraced Beca's quirkiness, her alternative side, and what she was good at. All of it. All of her! They showed her that she could still be a basket case or a weirdo and she didn't need a makeover to shine. The endings are not always the best part. This she realized even before breaking it off with Jesse.

There was deep sorrow in Chloe's singing, but what was most disheartening was the lyrics. Why would Chloe be singing this? This was very unlike her. The words were nothing that Chloe would say to her, yet it sounded like she's speaking for herself and THAT triggered the heavy feeling swelling up inside the DJ. "I don't belong here?" That's like the antithesis of Miss Beale. The redhead had always been inclusive, approachable, and openhearted. She wouldn't tell Beca she didn't belong, she wouldn't tell herself that either, not with the way Chloe had behaved in the four years at Barden!

Beca also noticed something strange about her voice and breathing, it was lower pitch than normal, a certain hoarseness to it, she sounded raspier, and the DJ did not miss the cough midway through the song, something that Chloe would never do (or she would at least try muffling). Something is terribly wrong.

Fat Amy had said there'd be clues as to what was going on with Chloe in the recording, so the DJ stifled her tears, wiped her face with her hand, and pressed replay. She listened to it really carefully once again and took extra care to run through the lyrics word-by-word.

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul

Beca paused the playback. Chloe was shutting out everyone and she was taking drastic measures to do so, and these lines couldn't be clearer as to why. Something is wrong with Chloe's body or health and it must be damn serious. Beca opened her laptop and googled "hoarse voice, shortness of breath, coughing". There it was, the 5th and 6th search results caught her eye immediately, cancer. Either lung cancer or laryngeal cancer. Beca did not major in medicine but she knew well enough that cancer could be severe and deadly. Fuck! Could this be it? Is this what Fat Amy couldn't tell her outright?

Thinking for the worse, and uncontrollably shaking once again, she grabbed her phone and typed a message to Fat Amy.

"Cancer?"

It took 5 seconds for the Aussie to reply with a solemn "Yes."

At this point, Beca could no longer hold back her tears, and began sobbing hysterically. She never thought of the possibility that her favorite redhead could be dying and Chloe was such an angel. How could this be happening? How could life be so unfair to someone as loveable as Chloe. She felt angry, hurt, and heart-broken. She rather it'd be her that fate toyed with than her former Bella co-captain.

Her phone buzzed again notifying her of a new message from Fat Amy.

"She wouldn't let me tell you or the rest of us. Found out only when I tried to surprise visit her. I know this news is hard to take, Beca. Just stay calm, it's still early stage and not life-threatening, only thing is, she'll lose her singing voice."

Beca did not know if this new information helped any. There's a sense of relief to know Chloe won't be dying but she knew how much Chloe's voice meant to the ginger, losing it might as well be a death sentence for the girl. She could see why the redhead had decided to isolate herself, the whole song made sense now. Yet Beca couldn't agree with any of it.

Another buzz from her phone.

"Beca, reply me for fuck's sake. Don't do anything crazy or dumb. Chloe needs you and you need to stay strong. PLEASE!"

"Heading to Atlanta right away." Beca quickly replied.

"Deal with whatever unfinished business first, if you're going, you need full focus on Chloe, you got me? No distractions." The DJ understood what Fat Amy meant, the Aussie has never sounded so serious ever.

She recalled the time at the camp when she had been so pressured to produce something original for her boss at Residual Heat. She was growing increasingly frustrated by the minute as Aubrey got them to do various activities, all seeming to last forever and none actually helping the Bellas on their set for the Worlds. The camp was in the middle of nowhere, and there were no power outlets for Beca to plug in her laptop or equipment to get down to business. She had to come up with everything inside her head which was immensely difficult. Whenever Chloe sang, her voice was so impactful it cleaned out everything that was in her mind and Beca had to plug her ears to try to shut it out. That ended when she cracked under all the stress and fought with Chloe. There will absolutely be none of that this time around.

"Ok." she reassured the Big Bella. I need to stay strong, I need to put my shit together and be there for Chloe.

She opened the work-in-progress demo due that night and started to piece something together. Somehow, the shocking revelation had given her a surge in productivity. Even in distress, Chloe Beale managed to indirectly save the day. Beca finally knew why.

She never wondered how the other Bellas' voices hardly affected her, none but Chloe's, until now. Chloe had always been singing to her. Every song she sang outside of Bellas' set was directed at Beca Mitchell;
- Miley Cyrus 'Party in the USA' on their way to ICCA semi-finals (because Chloe knew of Beca's dream to go to LA)
- Bruno Mars 'Just the Way You Are' during their pool mash-up (because Chloe thought Beca was great the way she is, and she sang it so frequently that it got into Aubrey's head as well)
- Natalie Imbruglia's 'Torn' at the retreat (because Chloe wanted to be a little more upfront about her feelings but got blown off by stressed-out and agitated Beca)
- Beca's 'Cups' audition song at the campfire (because Chloe knew Beca would be leaving her)
and now Radiohead's 'Creep' (because Chloe is saying goodbye to Beca as she felt she wasn't good enough for her anymore).
Beca Mitchell finally got the message Chloe had been trying to convey all these years.

I've been a bloody idiot! I've been so blind! She wiped the tears that continued to stream from her eyes with her forearm. The clarity in all the flashbacks and dreams and feelings she had in the past six years are now apparent, they were all pertaining to a certain redhead. Beca couldn't believe she had been so sidetracked by her career and her obstinacy in making Jesse's relationship work that she had not seen how everything pointed to one singular point and fact. I am in love with Chloe Beale.

A/N: Yay, Beca's finally coming to terms with her feelings! We'll see how she'll handle the situation now and hope she doesn't mess up again. Fat Amy's POV for next chapter, the Aussie is really a big help and is more ingenious than what the movies let on.