A/N: So the dream form chapter 9 is revealed here as a memory that Beca recollects out loud.

Yeah. This might be my last chapter 'til Friday or Saturday, so hang tight.

Sorry it's going to be a bit of an up and down battle.

The song Beca sings a verse form is called "Gallery" by Mario Vasquez, I thought it would perfectly sum up the way Beca sees Jesse treating Chloe.

I don't own pitch perfect.

Beca was alone for the next two days.

For the most part.

She decided to work at home, mostly meeting only with Emily. But on that particular day – day thirty nine – she had her penthouse all to herself.

The wait was maddening, even more so than before. She had been keeping her schedule incredibly light, as promised, so that she can accommodate Chloe whenever she planned to meet-up.

But still no word.

She was lying on her couch, headphones on, singing softly along to the current song playing as she tried to rest and clear her head.

Jesse was so lucky to have Chloe, and it was still bugging her that her beloved redhead was with this version of Jesse.

It was just not fair.

Chloe deserved better.

And while she's not exactly the perfect definition of 'better' for Chloe, Beca was so damn sure she'll do whatever it takes to prove to the redhead that she deserves to be with her.

Because Chloe simply makes her better too.

So yeah, the fact that Chloe's about to get married within less than a month or so wasn't exactly appealing and it's driving her nuts. She heard from Aubrey that she's been engaged to Jesse for a good eight months before the wedding date.

She could have had eight months of trying to vie for Chloe's affection.

But apparently whatever it was going on between Aubrey and Jesse – Stacie couldn't stop but emphasize just how much they actually hated each other – was enough to postpone the search for a DJ until the whole situation had happened and the opportunity presented itself.

Or for that matter, seeing each other again.

Thus, she had a little less than a month

A little less than a month to try and fight for the promise made by little children not so long ago.

And considering this reality's Chloe has never seen Beca in person for ages makes it even harder. Because if people change over weeks or months of not seeing them, how much more when its years that's keeping them apart.

Yep, the odds are stacking up against Beca.

And she hates that something intangible such as Fate and love, and the ideals of being soulmates or 'the one' for each other are all that's keeping her hopes up.

But even though Beca wasn't exactly a believer of 'happily ever after' or 'soulmates' she does believe in one thing, that she loves Chloe.

And that Chloe loves her too.

Somehow, some way.

Beca was still singing along, a little bit louder now as she got up pacing around in her own living room as she tried to think up of a way to show Chloe exactly how she feels.

I can't take seeing you with him
'cause I know exactly what you'll be
In his gallery
Just not fair
and it's tearing me apart
'cause you're just another priceless work of art
In his gallery

"Yo' Shawshank! Hope you don't mind us dropping by!" Amy greeted, Bumper right behind the blonde with what looks to be take-out food from Beca's favorite café.

Beca stopped mid-song a little surprised at the sudden visit, but a little bit curious at the nickname Amy just used.

Especially because the Australian had no reason to call her 'Shawshank' in the reality she's in at the moment.

"Shawshank?" Beca asked as she followed Amy and Bumper into her kitchen, the two easily settling down as they prepared the food.

"Yes. Amy seems to think it's fitting since you broke us out of the seminary and the convent." Bumper answered in place of Amy.

"So what's with the visit?" Beca asked, not that she was complaining. Having company was somewhat nice lately, it keeps her from going insane with her current situation.

"No reason shorty, just haven't seen you for a while is all." Amy then said, handing Beca her share of the meal.

Beca wasn't sure how but somehow the conversations and the company flowed out easily and carried over for a solid two hours as they moved into the living room.

She didn't even mind having Bumper's company around.

Which she knew was a totally and completely weird thing to say.

"Didn't know you were having a party Beca." Aubrey said as she walked into Beca's penthouse a little amused.

And Beca was thankful that she was totally not alone.

"Amy? What are you doing here? And Bumper too?" Chloe said amused.

"Hey Red, just visiting the DJ here. And oh yeah, we're totally buddies." Amy replied.

"Am I the only one not connected to the DJ here?" Chloe then remarked as she walked into the living room, taking in the sight of the open floor plan of the penthouse – totally missing Aubrey's teasing smile at Beca and the tiny DJ nudging the former fearless leader of the Bellas. "You've got a sweet place Becs."

"Thanks Chlo." Beca mumbled. She was still adjusting, taking in the sight of Chloe.

Because Beca knew, she realized with their time apart, that she could only keep still when Chloe was around.

She could breathe.

She could rest her mind.

She could feel her heart beating again.

All because Chloe was all that Beca knew she needed.

"Maybe you should go and talk somewhere private, yeah? I mean I did bring Chloe here to get you guys on planning for music and mixes and stuff for her wedding." Aubrey then said while giving the DJ a nudge, breaking the reverie that had taken a hold of Beca while Chloe was briefly catching up with Amy and Bumper.

"Oh, yeah. Definitely. My studio's this way." Beca started to say as she pulled on Chloe's hands.

"You have your own studio at home? Wow." Chloe commented but Beca didn't hear it. She realized that this was the first time in months – not counting the obligatory 'I missed you' hug Chloe gave her back in her world – she could actually feel Chloe, the warmth of her skin, her touch. It all sent butterflies flying in the pit of Beca's stomach.

Beca showed Chloe around her home studio. They talked a bit about what Beca had in mind for the wedding and all but most of the time the two of them just talked about pretty much everything.

Chloe asked about a lot of things, from current projects and plans to how she met Aubrey because apparently the blonde was simply brushing it off, like meeting the Beca Mitchell wasn't such a big deal. Beca gladly answered the questions she knew the answers to, still not accessing every single memory this world's Beca had.

The DJ in return learned a lot about Chloe too. Her life at Barden with Aubrey and all of the Bellas, how she met Jesse – which Beca fought to consciously block from her memory for the most part since it sounded like the Treble initially only pursued her to annoy the hell out of Aubrey and mess with her head to throw the team chemistry off with the competition in mind, what with the Bellas pact and all.

Beca felt a little uneasy with the questions regarding her current love life – because by then everyone knew that the infamous lady killer DJ has been laying low, prompting rumors about possibly finding someone – and Chloe could tell there was truly a story behind it.

And Beca had to laugh, finding it only too adorable how this reality's Chloe was just like the Chloe she knew from her world. She was curious, Beca was being all coy about it, only making the redhead wonder even more about what Beca could be hiding.

But before Chloe could press her with any other questions her phone rang.

Jesse was looking for her.

Dinner plans again.

And so Chloe left.

Possibly taking with her Beca's ability to breathe.

And maybe a bit of her sanity too.

The next day was bit busy for Beca. She wasn't expecting any other run-ins with Chloe, and she knew Aubrey and Stacie were both busy for work.

So Beca decided to do actual work for a while, asking for Emily to come over to work on her upcoming album and make good progress on their work.

"I'm totally sorry, didn't know you had company today." Chloe said as she walked with Flo into Beca's home studio.

"Chloe! Oh, uh, no. It's fine. Didn't know you'd be dropping by."

Both Flo and Emily could notice that there was some sort of tension in the air. The two exchanged looks, and by the way Beca was trying to act cool and not totally flustered made them realize who the redheaded beauty could possibly be. "Sorry, I'm the one who insisted to meet with Beca here, the name's Emily." Emily said as she introduced herself to Chloe.

"I think I should be the one to apologize." Chloe then said a little embarrassed.

"No worries, we're pretty much done for the day anyways." Emily quickly said. "See you around Beca. Thanks for everything!"

Beca watched a little amused but mostly dazed as Emily and Flo quickly showed themselves out, giggling and silently muttering between themselves like high school teenagers.

"Are they okay?" Chloe asked amused.

"Sometimes I wonder that myself." Beca answered with a smirk.

Before long the two were back to their usual flow.

With the oh-so totally obvious tension between them only growing stronger.

Beca decided to show off a little, realizing weeks ago that she actually had some mad skills in the kitchen, as she prepared lunch for the two of them. Chloe volunteered to help a little, the two constantly bumping into each other on the way to get something out of the fridge or get something from one of the cupboards.

The DJ couldn't help herself but notice the little exchanges, the twitchy behavior after a brief brush of skin, the nervous smile that always broke out when they kept catching each other's gazes.

And it kept going on all day as Chloe settled in with Beca in the living room while the DJ was making some changes on her mixes for Chloe's wedding.

Did it hurt every time she remembered the phrase 'Chloe's wedding'?

Like hell it did.

But having the redhead stare at her amazed and in wonderment as she worked her magic was enough to soothe away the pain.

Being in incredibly close proximity to each other also helped. If anything, Beca could tell, based on the lingering gazes, on the restraint that Chloe was trying to demand of herself to try not to be her touchy-feely self, that there was definitely something there. Because, yeah, whenever she's with Aubrey and with her brief interaction with Amy, Beca could tell she was just as affectionate as her Chloe.

Like the chemistry was always right.

And something changes in the air, in the atmosphere, whenever the two of them were right next to each other.

At first, Beca thought it was just because they just met. Chloe probably didn't want to behave inappropriately around someone as big and famous as Beca.

But right then, when it was just the two of them, Beca could feel it.

She could hear it.

Both their hearts were beating at the same time.

They were beating as one.

Creating the most beautiful rhythm.

"What?" Beca said with a smirk as she caught Chloe stealing yet another glance.

"We never did get to the bottom of your mystery girl."

Beca closed her laptop and set it aside, getting up from the couch to stretch her legs a little. She's been huddled with Chloe for a good two and a half hours working on mixes and stuff, showing her how to do it. She didn't even notice how easily they tangled themselves up with each other, as if it was how they were supposed to be at every given moment.

Beautifully tangled.

Exquisitely intertwined.

"Let it go Chlo."

"I'll let it go if you show me around your place, still haven't really appreciated it in all its glory."

"There's nothing really much to see." Beca argued but Chloe pouted and it did wonders on her.

Beca reluctantly agreed, she really didn't have much of a choice. She walked Chloe to the terrace showed her the view of the city form there. They went back to Beca's studio, making it a pit stop in their grand tour of 'Casa la Mitchell' before heading to Beca's studio. They settled down there, with Beca shifting uncomfortably in her own chair, spinning her swivel chair from side to side, under Chloe's intense gaze, she still wanted to get to the bottom of Beca's mystery girl.

So she settled for giving her a shrug.

This, of course, only made Chloe even more persistent and the DJ found it funny how easily they've settled into the usual swing of things that was the norm for the two of them in whatever world she finds herself in. "Oh come on Beca, who is it? Is it some famous celebrity?" Chloe asked as Beca shook her head, her trademark smirk plastered on her face, only annoying Chloe even more.

The DJ was very much tempted to say "You" but she decided to hold off on that.

Instead Beca sighed, leaning on the backrest of her chair. She had an idea. "You'd think it's silly."

"Come on, try me."

"It's stupid, trust me."

"Beca!" Chloe protested shooting her the most adorable pout with the matching puppy dog eyes.

Sometimes Beca wonders why she even tries.

She always gives in to what Chloe wants anyway.

Always.

Beca sighed. "I met this girl." she started to say sounding a little hesitant at first upon giving in to Chloe's demands. Chloe squealed like a little girl, feeling incredibly happy that Beca had decided to trust her with her little secret.

Boy if she only knew.

The redhead placed back the book she had picked up as they entered from one of the bookshelves, trying to play it cool as she proceeded to pretend to browse Beca's small library of books. "Hey, I'm still listening you know." she commented.

Beca smirked. Of course she was.

"I haven't seen her for a long time. I think, you know, I've always had feelings for her. It's just stuff happened. Life happened." Beca started as she found herself staring on the floor, not quite having found the strength to look at Chloe.

She had to remind herself to speak, her heart racing a little too fast for her to keep up.

Because if she proceeds she'll end up telling Chloe her little secret.

That she was in love with her.

And there was no turning back from that.

The fear of how Chloe might react was taking hold of her, paralyzing her.

But she reminded herself that the last time she let fear take hold she ended up a little too late.

And waking up in a parallel universe to her own.

Beca sighed. "Anyways, I met her when I was like five or something. At a playground of all places. There was a group of boys around her age, which basically meant older than me, and they were teasing her. So, being the 'badass' little version of me, I punched one of the boys in the face and he ran crying to mommy."

By then Beca dared to steal a glance at Chloe and she saw the read head intently listening to every word she was saying. Her body tensed, eyes locked on the page of a different book she had picked up.

And if Beca allowed herself to believe it, she could tell that Chloe stopped breathing right then and there.

Just like she did.

But Beca had to continue, despite fully knowing she was treading on very fragile ground.

It hasn't even shattered yet, but Beca could already feel the pull of gravity.

"We became best friends then. Incredibly fast friends. She was there only for a few weeks to visit family, then she had to leave. It was strange, I was younger but she was the one who started crying on our last day together in the park. So I did what I thought was the most sensible thing to do. I pulled some of the loose threads from my red shirt and tied one around her ring finger. I asked her to do the same and she looked at me with a knowing smile as I promised that we would meet again. That nothing can separate us and that one day we'll find a way back to each other. She promised she'll always visit and she repeated everything I said before." Beca said slowly, Chloe was still frozen with the book she was holding as she took a deep breath, not daring to glance back at Beca. The DJ knew the rest would be harder to say. She took a deep breath and looked away, not sure she could had the strength to see how Chloe would react.

"Then she told me she loved me, kissed my cheeks and said that we were practically married. I said not yet. So I asked her to marry me someday properly and we made a promise to marry each other. It's so stupid, we were kids and technically I had no idea what I was saying. But I still made that promise because it was the truth of how I felt. And somehow I guess I've always held onto that promise. Don't get me wrong, that promise got buried underneath the crap life threw my way. The anger and pain and all of life's bitterness took me over. Music was my only lifeline, it was the only thing that kept me alive and so I chased after it, trying to fill the void that was all I had left other than music with other things. But I still remember that promise, and on some days I wonder if I'll ever meet her again. Because I didn't get the chance to tell her then that I loved her too."

Beca thought it amusing, how easy it was to tell the truth when we were younger. How easy it was to tell someone they loved them.

Despite what the world thought.

Like somehow the innocence of youth allowed us to see that it didn't matter, nothing else mattered when it came to love.

Love was love. Simply that.

No rules can contain it.

Not even logic could explain it.

In the wise words of a particular famous writer 'Love simply is'.

And she wondered why she let that chance slip away, as the memories came flooding back to her.

The memories of two versions of Beca intermingling.

She loved Chloe Beale from the very start.

She just didn't realize it sooner because life made it harder to see.

Overthinking made it harder to accept.

But now Beca could see it.

It was the simplest truth in her life.

"I still do. Love her, I mean. I think I simply always did."

Beca chanced to look at Chloe again saw the silent tears trailing down the redhead's cheeks as she tried to contain a sob breaking through.

Chloe closed the book and placed it on the self, her hands quickly wiping away the tears. "Do you remember what she looked like?" she then asked Beca, her voice sounding shaky.

"Blazing red hair, like yours. Brilliant blue eyes, like yours too." Beca replied slowly, almost in an inaudible whisper.

But Chloe didn't miss anything. "But no scar, right? Yeah, I got that two years later in a biking accident."

"Chloe." Beca muttered as she stood up from her chair, uncertain if she should move towards the redhead and close the distance or not. Chloe simply looking back at Beca, glassy eyed with a broken smile, like she was torn about something.

"I looked for you." Chloe began to say.

"Chlo." was Beca's response, daring to take one step closer to Chloe.

"Beca, I can't." the redhead replied in a low whisper before she ran out of Beca's study, thousands of thoughts coursing through both their minds, emotions taking over them.

And Beca could have decided to let it be just that.

Surely her response meant she chooses Jesse, right?

But no.

Chloe said that she can't.

Not that she won't.

Not that she doesn't feel the same way.

So somehow Beca managed to find the strength and ran after Chloe.

But the redhead was gone.

Yet instead of feeling the despair of possibly losing Chloe for good, she felt something different.

From the way Chloe looked at her.

From how her voice sounded so confused.

There was hope.

She was holding onto that promise too.

It was just life also decided to happen for Chloe and she chose to live it, even when Beca wasn't there in the picture.

That's why Beca settled on letting Chloe go for now, she needed her space, she needed time to think.

So even if she felt like she was falling down.

Slowly.

Endlessly.

She held onto that hope.

Onto that promise.