A/N: Hey guys! Here is chapter 22 featuring a Bellas meeting, the brief return of a familiar face, another person finding out who the Midnight DJ is, and the inception of Beca's brilliant idea.

Next chapter won't be until the end of the week.

I don't own pitch perfect.

Aubrey smiled, at least Chloe was receiving her in her hospital room. She decided to show herself that afternoon after Chloe had woken up for sure. The redhead was still a bit groggy but nevertheless was already up.

But that's not the reason why Aubrey was smiling, no. It was because Chloe couldn't speak at the moment and therefore had no choice but to listen to her.

And listen to her she shall because Aubrey had a lot to say.

"Look, I'm not going to start this conversation with anything other than I'm sorry. I might have pushed it a little bit the last time. I just want you to know Chlo, I care about you and I worry, okay? And everything I said, they all still stand, but at the end of the day, it's your decision on what you want to do."

Chloe nodded and asked Aubrey to move from to where she was standing by the doorway, patting the space by her hospital bed. Aubrey obliged and the two hugged it out, and Aubrey could feel herself being pieced together again. She didn't even realize she was broken.

Chloe smiled weakly, trying to wipe away a few tears threatening to escape. They've had bad fights, really bad ones in the past, but it doesn't matter who starts it, or who ends up crying first, but it was a known fact that the redhead always cries.

"There's quite a bit more. There was an envelope from UCLA. It was a small envelope although I guess you might've gotten the email." Aubrey said careful with her words in case Chloe haven't found out the news of it. Chloe nodded looking disappointed before typing something on her phone. Aubrey's phone buzzed and she read the message out loud. "Applied last minute. Wasn't really expecting good news but can't help but hope."

Aubrey set her phone aside for now and saw Chloe smiling sadly yet again. "This has something to do with Beca, I presume?" she asked and her best friend nodded. "She was here you know."

Chloe looked at Aubrey with a questioning glance and mouthed 'Beca?'

"Yeah, I called her. But she had to go leave soon." Chloe nodded looking disappointed. "Not because of Swanson." Aubrey then said with a sigh. "Look, I was right about the Treble boy but I was wrong about Beca, and you know it's for real because I don't really admit I'm wrong easily."

Chloe smile d a little as she nodded. "But she still broke your heart and I hear you broke hers too. I don't know how though, but that Swanson kid is persistent in clearing things up and admits he was an idiot and that the two of you should get it together." Aubrey continued and Chloe simply nodded yet again.

"You love Beca, right? Still hasn't changed?" Aubrey asked and Chloe gave her a look that told her everything. A look that conveyed every bit of emotion she held in her heart for the tiny brunette. "Well, I'm not one to stand in your way of happiness then." Aubrey shrugged and Chloe smiled back at her weakly before sending her another message.

"But how do we even find our back to how things were?" Aubrey once again read out loud before she sighed. "If you ask me, things sucked the way they were before, considering you were just pining away for her."

Chloe gave a nod before mouthing 'that's enough for me'.

"Yeah, well, not for me Chlo. You deserve so much more and I think if you talked to Beca you'll be able to figure out a better way for how things ought to be." Aubrey said. She saw a flash of worry in Chloe's eyes as she looked away.

"But enough about your hobbit, we have something else more pressing to talk about and I honestly need your help with this because I don't think me crawling on my knees to apologize will be enough." Aubrey then said as she opened up a message on her mail app that she had received. A follow up to an earlier phone call.

Chloe's eyes widened with the delightfully unexpected news, a broad smile settling on her lips as she could barely contain her excitement. In the end, she launched herself towards Aubrey and hugged her as tight as possible, their dreams of winning Nationals a possibility once more.

But at the moment all Aubrey could think of was how long she's missed the smile on her best friends face.

That all will change. This misery will end soon. Aubrey thought to herself.

They were on their way to fulfilling their dreams and turning them into reality.

Cynthia Rose couldn't help but notice how the diner had become their ideal place to meet whenever they have important things to talk about. It was more of an unofficial meeting place.

It did help that the diner was the only place open until two in the morning and it was already a quarter past midnight. The Bellas all looked tired, wanting to just go to bed in preparation for the return of classes the next day. All were present except for Beca who Cynthia Rose kept insisting Amy and Stacie to bring.

Halfway around the world
Lies the one thing that you want
Buried in the ground, hundreds of miles down
First thing that arises in your mind while you awake
Is bending you til you break
Let me hold you now

"She's got a radio show, remember?" Stacie pointed out as she tried to stifle the yawn. The Midnight DJ was currently on air, starting her run with a slew of songs that were always on point.

Baby close your eyes
Don't open til the morning light
Baby don't forget
You haven't lost it all yet

"Right." Cynthia Rose said just as their server brought them their coffee. "So I assume you all got Aubrey's message." Cynthia Rose herself could remember it vividly, receiving Aubrey's text while at a poker game. A part of her had been instantly excited about it, but another half incredibly cautious with the way things had gotten out of control from regionals.

They were all still reeling from it after all.

"Of course we all did!" Amy then said excitedly. "We're going to Nationals pitches!"

"That and we're going back to hell camp." Denise grumbled.

"Yeah, but Nationals." Amy argued. "What do you think Lilly?" she then asked turning to the girl seating right next to her who simply shrugged.

Don't know what you're made of
Til the one thing that you want
To come in with the dawn and suddenly changes
Monday, syndicate meets everyone the same
But all we've lost to the flame
Listen to me now

"I think we're just concerned at what kind of train-wreck of a performance we're going to put on next." Jessica said a little apprehensive.

"Or maybe we can actually win this time." Stacie pointed out. "Look, Bree gave us a chance to make up our mind on this until Friday afternoon, I say we take our time to decide."

"So you're back to calling her Bree now, huh?" Ashley the noted.

Baby close your eyes
Don't open til the morning light
Don't ever forget
We haven't lost it all yet

"And what does that supposed to mean?" Stacie asked a little annoyed.

"It just means you're quick to forgive her." Jessica then said in defense.

"Come on guys, people make mistakes, we all did." Amy piped up. "I mean, if Beca can forgive us for our mess up, can't we forgive Aubrey?"

All we know for sure
Is all that we are fighting for
Baby don't forget
We haven't lost it all yet

"Stacie and Amy have a point guys. This is our chance, but I think we all agree, we can't do this if we're incomplete. The Bellas have to enter Nationals as a whole." Cynthia Rose said, bringing up a critical point. They needed to be whole.

They needed to be a family.

Which meant they can't do this without Beca.

Beca was running a little late for her first class of the day. Deciding to fight for Chloe was one thing, trying to come up with ideas to fight for Chloe was another.

Luke, Stacie, Amy, and even Jesse were her current committee members in coming up with a plan. All of which they scrapped.

Meanwhile, all their ideas were a little too complicated, farfetched, or the movie reference just simple missed by Beca that she didn't agree to any of them.

And so she made no progress at all.

Because standing outside Chloe's windows with a boom box is just not Beca. And rallying the Bellas had been already done.

Because roses are too clichéd and flowers aren't really Beca's thing.

And because Beca knew, that something too grand, too over-the-top and in your face wasn't her and Chloe's thing.

All their special moments were in private and Beca wants to change that in some ways. She doesn't want to hide what she felt or deny it any longer.

It had to be something special, something that meant a lot. Something that she can do to show Chloe, prove to her that she's giving full rein of her heart to her. That she trusts her completely. That she can give the same love and support Chloe herself could give. Something to prove to her that Beca was worth it. Worth the risk. Because Beca knows for sure that Chloe is.

Just something…

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

Beca reasoned to herself that the reason she never runs was exactly because she didn't want to just randomly bump into people. But in the end she ran. And in the end she bumped into someone, her notes ended up flying everywhere, her ear buds getting tangled up with all her things as she tried to rush and pick things up.

"Oh, hi Beca." the girl greeted as she helped Beca pick her things up.

"Oh, yeah, I know you. You're the girl who wanted to join the Bellas before, right? Flo?"

"Yeah, that's me. How's it going? How's your girlfriend?"

"She's not my… I mean, she's a girl, she's my friend… wait I didn't even tell you… how did you…" Beca started rambling.

"Oh, is she not? I just assumed, sorry. When you said you had girl problems…"

"It's a lot more complicated than that." Beca mumbled trying to untangle the knots that her earbuds formed.

"Ah, but you do like this girl?" Flo asked as she handed Beca her notes.

"Yes. But stuff happened and…"

"Sounds like you're overthinking things. Don't do that, you'll burn yourself out. At the end of the day, you're you and she is her. Be yourself and do the most natural thing you can think of to uncomplicated things. At least that's something my father will say."

"Uh, yeah, thanks." Beca muttered from the unexpected advice. "Uh, got to go to class. Nice running into you, you know, not literally, but you get it."

Flo laughed. "Right, see you around." she called back at Beca who started running once again.

But this time as she was running, her frustrations were disappearing, being left behind with every step.

This time she was running with clarity slowly sinking in.

She knows how to fight for Chloe, it's now all up to delivery.

"Hey everyone, it's your favorite Midnight DJ signing on. The past couple of days have really been woozy and I promise to stop it with the sad songs and celebrate love instead. Yes, I'm doing a one eighty. At any rate, here's a song for a lovely lady out there, I'm hoping she's listening." Beca said as she did her intro. The booth looked alive with her in there, like she perfectly belonged and for once Aubrey could see what Chloe could, that special air of magic surrounding Beca when all that mattered was music.

if I give up on you I give up on me
If we fight what's true, will we ever be
Even God himself and the faith I knew
Shouldn't hold me back, shouldn't keep me from you

Aubrey smiled, Beca seemed to be in her own world managing what she would assume the recently launched social media account for the Midnight DJ – she knows about it she's interacted with Beca online a few times already – and Aubrey couldn't help about how they could actually be friends based on their interactions.

Tease me, by holding out your hand
Then leave me, or take me as i am
And live our lives, stigmatized

The song, Aubrey was certain of it, was for Chloe, and yet somehow she couldn't help think of her own predicament. It was funny how easy she could find a way to relate to what Beca felt for Chloe, how she could understand her fears and insecurities. It was hard. Hard to be true to who you are and what you could potentially feel for someone. It was tough enough to love someone with all your heart, it was even harder when what you feel is something that society often times scrutinized.

I can feel the blood rushing through my veins
When I hear your voice, driving me insane
Hour after hour day after day
Every lonely night that I sit and pray

And yet Beca seemed to have found the courage to slowly embrace it. In part, Aubrey was jealous. She was jealous of how Stacie was so nonchalant about it, she was jealous of how easy it was for Chloe to accept it. She was jealous of how Beca seemed to be finding strength from it.

And somehow the song that was for Chloe and Chloe alone became a song that everyone going through the same thing could relate to. Aubrey has never felt that way for another girl before, and she was sure Beca never felt anything for anyone either. She should be more terrified and yet, as they walk their parallel lines, she could see Beca Mitchell emerging ahead of her. Not that it was a race, but if anyone should inspire confidence in someone else, shouldn't it be the other way around?

Perhaps Aubrey could be brave too.

We live our lives on different sides,
But we keep together you and I
Just live our lives, stigmatized

Perhaps she could do the right thing.

She was torn by the own paths ahead of her. She had been lecturing Chloe about her future when her own was being dictated for her by her father. And Aubrey realized what she had been doing to the Bellas wasn't exactly different from what she's been through, the irony drawing a chuckle out from her, finally attracting Beca's attention.

We'll live our lives, We'll take the punches everyday
We'll live our lives I know we're gonna find our way

Beca looked up surprised to see Aubrey of all people at the station. She nevertheless opened the door and stepped out of the booth. "I'm shocked to see you here Posen."

"Yeah, well, I was looking for you all day, and you haven't exactly answered my calls. I asked Luke where you were and surprise, surprise."

"Sorry, my phone died hours ago and I've been kinda busy. Surprised that Luke led my murderer to where I am so easily though."

"Oh, I was interrogated first on my intentions." Aubrey commented taking a few steps closer to where Beca was standing. "The song's for Chloe, I assume?"

What kind of question is that? 'Course it is. Every song is always about Chloe." Beca replied. "But why are you here Posen?"

Aubrey shrugged. "Just wanted to check on your progress I guess. I can't believe I kept on calling to speak to you with song requests."

"Yeah, imagine my surprise when I found out you knew songs from this century." Beca quipped.

"Why haven't you told Chloe? You haven't, have you?"

"No. I… it's just… Chloe kept calling, we had this weird… we…"

"You were basically flirting on air, she opened up to you slightly through her song requests, and you got to know Chloe in a way you weren't expecting." Aubrey said, hitting the head on the proverbial nail judging from Beca's rambling and blushing.

"Y-yeah, well… whatever Posen…"

"Who gave you that thing to change your voice?"

"Stacie built it." Beca simply replied.

"Why am I not surprised?" Aubrey remarked with a smile.

"How's your own progress? With Stacie?"

"I-I never said..." was Aubrey's stuttered reply.

Beca groaned a little. "Don't make me give you advice on your love life Posen."

"Never in a million years Mitchell. But to the point of why I'm here."

"Chloe, she's right Beca. We need you. You make us better." Aubrey said, her comment catching Beca off guard, the look of surprise on her face quite evident. "I'm sure you've heard we're going to Nationals and I think this time around we need to compete and do things right. We need you Beca. You are a Bella. And I'm sure Chloe needs you too. We're meeting Friday, same place, after classes. Please come."

"I… I'll think about it." Beca replied a little confused to what exactly just happened.

"That's good enough." Aubrey said. "And your efforts to woo Chloe?"

"Why are you obsessed with that word? 'Woo'?" Beca asked and Aubrey shrugged.

"Now don't change the subject midget. It would be nice if you make whatever grand gesture you're planning before Friday. Don't delay it any longer."

"Hey, I'm doing my best okay?" Beca replied. "Hey Aubrey."

"What?"

"Thanks for trusting Chloe to me."

"You make her happy." Aubrey shrugged. "I hope you make it Beca." she said as her parting words and Beca nodded thoughtfully.

What lies ahead was still uncertain, it was a bit of an uphill battle, but for once in a long time Aubrey could breathe fine.

And somehow she knew, everything would be alright.

Songs in this chapter: 'Syndicate' by The Fray; 'Wherever You Will Go' and 'Stigmatized' by the Calling (seriously check out 'Stigmatized' if you haven't heard it, you won't regret giving it a listening to)

PS: So the story is starting to reach its end point. Just a reminder, no endings shall be rushed. We'll still get to see the Bellas prep for Nationals (and some shenanigans mostly regarding Staubrey), and then there's some stuff after Nationals that I wanted to do :) Again, this fic will be 30 chapters long. So more fun times ahead and some more songs but I promise to make it worth it!

PPS: Something big of sorts definitely happens in the next chapter ;)