A/N #1: I know it took me a month to post this final chapter and it really did suck for me too. I had a lot going on in life and not really any time to write. It is officially done now! It will be a while before the second story is posted because I want to get some chapters done first. There may be an epilogue to this story before the second one starts. It will be under the series name "Perfect Percentage". The title for the sequel for now is either "Back to Perfect" or "200% Perfect". Let me know which you all think would be best.
Chapter Nineteen – Final Curtain Call
Lexa
Lexa couldn't figure out why everyone laughed at her question. She had no clue how the game ended or how she got here. All that would come back from before she woke up was that they were in the top of the ninth inning and had just successfully pulled off their secret play they had been working on perfecting all year long. She looked at Clarke with utter confusion on her face trying to convey her feelings. It must have worked because the second they locked eyes Clarke's face fell.
"You don't remember?" Clarke asked and Lexa shook her head. Clarke asked her what she did remember and she answered truthfully.
"It is very common for people with concussions to not remember their accident if it is the same degree that Lexa's was." Dr. Kane assured them. Clarke, Chloe, and Beca made quick work of relaying the event to everyone else in the room.
"I stood up? After I jumped?" Lexa asked rather dumbfounded.
"Yeah, then your eyes rolled back in your head and you collapsed to the ground. It was really scary dude." Beca proclaimed. Lexa couldn't remember any of that and it honestly scared her more than she could say.
"Don't be concerned about not remembering, Lexa." Dr. Kane started in again. "It is extremely common for people to lose part of their memory with injuries like this. Most of the time people can lose hours or even the whole day itself. You have nothing to be afraid of. These things happen and you may never gain back the memory of the accident but you haven't lost anything else in the process. You will recover fully and you will be able to be exactly how you were before this." His words were reassuring and they made her feel a little lighter than she had been previously.
The doctor left not long after he gave Lexa the all clear to be released after breakfast, which was only about nine hours away. Chloe had taken up residence on the couch in the room seated next to her aunt and uncle, while Beca and Clarke never left her side. Turning onto her back was painful, more so from the fact that she was stiff from not having moved for so long than from her actual injuries, but she did it anyway. Lexa had asked where everyone was after she was comfortable again, Clarke made sure to let her know that they had all come from the game with them but only family (and those that her uncle put his foot down about) were allowed back. That was when Lexa noticed the four bags sitting on the floor by Chloe's feet. She instantly knew who was staying with her and she was more than fine with that.
She finally let herself relax back into the pillow behind her head and released a sigh, she was more than ready to get out of this bed tonight. Aunt Sheila and Uncle Rick left the girls not long after that saying that they would be back in the morning when she was getting released. Abby stopped by to check on them all about an hour after that, none of them had slept yet and it seemed as though they wouldn't be doing it any time soon. Lexa received both a hug and a kiss on the top of her head from Abby before she left the room and Lexa decided to wince as she kissed her just to mess with her. Abby gave her an unamused look but laughed nonetheless. As she watched Clarke hug her mom and tell her they would all take care of her Lexa noticed the necklace hanging around her neck. As the door to her room closed behind Abby she spun on her sister.
"You told her?" Beca was shocked and confused, she had no clue what Lexa was referring too. "The rings, you told her?" Beca glanced at Clarke and finally put the pieces together.
"No, I didn't tell her. You need to do that, I just took them off of you and since I was getting in the ambulance with you I told Clarke to keep them safe because you trust her." Beca defended.
"She didn't tell me what they were, Lex." Clarke moved back to sit in her chair on her right side, Beca had moved hers to her left side closer to Chloe. "But it wasn't that hard to figure out. Beca had told me back during your scrimmage game that you had good luck charms but that I should ask you what they were. I had figured you would tell me about them in your own time but then shit happened and now we are here. Lexa, I would never hold this against you for keeping close to you when you play. I wear this every day no matter what." She lifted her left wrist to lay across Lexa's stomach. An old worn out watch was fixed around her wrist. "It was my father's military watch. It is one of the few things that I will always keep with me no matter what happens."
"I've never told anyone about them before. Beca knew because I needed her too."
"It's okay, babe. I understand but I would like to know about them someday." Clarke moved to take the chain from around her neck.
"No don't!" Everyone in the room froze and looked at her with wide eyes. "Keep them until I get out of here please. I know they are safe with you." Lexa took a deep breath as Clarke put the chain back where it had been residing before. Time to come clean. "I wear them whenever I do something important. Games, tests, meetings…dates." She mumbled the last one hoping Clarke would miss it.
"Did you just say dates?" Fuck!
"Yes, I did." Lexa took Clarke's hand and looked her in the eye, ready to be completely honest with her girlfriend. As she opened her mouth Clarke spoke.
"This was the super long necklace you wore on our first date?" Lexa nodded before speaking.
"And every date after that." Tears were suddenly clinging to the corners of both of their eyes. Clarke moved first due to Lexa's obvious injuries and closed the space between them in a passionate but soft kiss. "I love you, Clarke."
"I love you too, Lexa. You need to try and get some sleep. It's been one hell of a night for all of us." Lexa nodded as she watched Beca move to lay with Chloe on the couch out of the corner of her eye. "Plus there are a lot of people who want to see you tomorrow." Lexa knew her team would be worried as would just about everyone else that was in the stands watching as she fell, only there wasn't really a place she could go and have lots of people come visit her comfortably.
"Everyone is going to come to the Bellas house tomorrow, Lex. Aubrey already made arrangements for everyone." Chloe answered the question floating around in her head from her position on the couch. With everything basically already settled they all fell asleep. Beca and Chloe cuddled on the couch and Clarke in a recliner at her bedside. It took longer for Lexa to actually let sleep take her over but when she did it was blissful and safe as she held on to Clarke.
The next morning she was released and her family came to see her off. The four girls piled in Chloe's car and headed toward the school. Lexa forced her to take a detour to pick up her bike on the way back. Clarke instantly hopped on the back with her and Chloe followed them to the Bellas house just in case. The Bellas were all there when they arrived and Lexa was instantly enveloped in a group hug, one that she actually felt safe in and Beca was desperately trying to escape from.
The delinquents showed not to long after that. Anya was of course with Raven and Monroe had come along with them all too, both of them saying the majority of the team were on their way. Samm and Cam showed next both of them hugging Lexa and then Clarke to show their support. By lunch everyone that Lexa was close to was in that house. It was crazy and of course they were college kids and they were hungry. Aubrey had already taken this fact into account and that poor pizza delivery boy will never be the same.
The Bellas apparently couldn't go more than a few hours without singing because another (Lexa was told about the one in the waiting room) riff-off had started. This time though her other friends were prepared and though they may not have been as well versed in the art of acapella as the Bellas that didn't stop them from at least singing lyrics. Some of the Bellas picked up with their background music to help them out. Lexa spent the entire day on the loveseat with Clarke protectively wrapped under her right arm, though the only time Clarke would ever let her get up was when she had to go to the bathroom or she physically needed to move because she was hurting, and she couldn't have been more happy with that spot she was in. Watching all those people she cared about coming together seamlessly and sincerely enjoying each other. She took one look at Clarke and saw her own revelation reflected in her eyes. Lexa placed one finger under Clarke's chin and drew her gaze up toward her. "I love you," and then kissed her, never wanting the moment to end.
Clarke
Clarke was pulled from her dreams by the feeling of something pressing and brushing across the back of her neck and shoulder. In her dreams it had been Lexa trying to wake her softly from her slumber with soft kisses, the very thought made her smile. In reality…it was Lexa trying to wake her from her slumber with soft kisses. The smile on her face grew at the realization of literally her dream coming true. A soft hum of contentment slipped from her throat.
"Good morning, beautiful. It's time to get up, we have to be at the airport in just under an hour." Lexa spoke softly in her ear pressing more kisses around it. The notion of having to leave this perfect space knocked the smile from Clarke's face and made her grimace and groan, it also might have been the fact that Lexa's voice had no trace of her being tired or having just woken up either. With her groan she rolled over to face her girlfriend and peered at her with one eye, she had clearly showered and looked ready to start her day. Clarke glanced at the clock behind her head, it was only 4:30 in the morning.
"It is not fair that you can look like that this damn early in the morning." Clarke complained and inwardly cringed at the rasp of her own voice. Lexa only chuckled at her and reached for something that was on the desk above Clarke's head.
"I had time to get you your favorite coffee too." She pulled a giant travel mug from its spot and presented it before her. Clarke smiled and opened both her eyes fully.
"Keep this up Woods and you just might end up joining the mile high club." With a flirtatious wink Clarke pulled herself up and took the coffee from her and took a big gulp while eyeing the red creeping up Lexa's cheeks and the blown pupils of her eyes. She closed the space between them (being satisfied that her mouth would taste like coffee and not morning breath) and kissed her firmly. "I love you, Lex."
"I love you too, babe." After another quick kiss Clarke made her move off of the bed.
"Lexa, I need your help." Chloe basically whined from the doorway to the room. All of the Bellas had stayed at the house together over night so they could all get up and off to the airport together. Since Clarke's ticket was with Lexa's she got to stay by extension, not that any of the Bellas would be arguing against it if she wasn't flying with them. "Beca won't get up."
"I told you it was nearly impossible to do! Did you take coffee?"
"Yes."
"Did you try all the cute ways you wanted to?"
"Yes."
"Is everyone else already awake?" Chloe just nodded. "Alright then, Clarke I'll be back in a few minutes. Your suitcase is already downstairs by the front door." Clarke nodded as she started to change into her travel clothes as Lexa followed Chloe out of the room. Having taken a shower before going to sleep, Clarke threw on her yoga pants (that she never used for yoga) and Lexa's softball hoodie before pulling on her socks and shoes. She threw her hair up into a messy bun and said 'screw it' to her makeup. As she made her way to the closest bathroom to finish up she heard a loud thud followed by familiar yelling.
"DAMN IT! FUCK YOU LEXA!" Followed closely by laughter and the sound running footsteps nearing the hallway. "QUIT LAUGHING CHLOE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY SIDE!" Beca boomed as her steps followed after the others. Clarke looked down the hall to see Lexa flying toward her. Lexa wrapped her arm around her waist and pulled her into the bathroom and shut and locked the door behind them both. Within seconds there was banging coming from the other side. "Lexa open the damn door!" Lexa was just laughing doubled over at the waist.
"What did you do to her this time Lex?" Clarke asked in a whisper as the banging on the door continued. "Just a second Beca."
"I swear Clarke I will get in there!" Beca must have slammed her back against the door if the loud thud was any answer.
"Now what did you do?" Clarke turned back to Lexa.
"I tried to wake her nicely I really did, but when nothing worked…" she paused to laugh again. "I dumped her on the floor out of bed and she finally woke up. It was pretty funny! Chloe laughed too." Clarke rolled her eyes as she was putting on her deodorant and perfume before she got ready to brush her teeth.
"Go apologize Lex."
"What? Clarke are you serious?" Lexa pouted like a child who just got told it was time to leave Disney World.
"Beca I'm gonna open the door." Clarke called through the wood and heard a shuffle. "Now say you are sorry to your sister because I'm not dealing with this through this flight or this trip. I love you but I want to have a good time and we have to stay in the same room as them." Lexa drooped a little and rolled her eyes but went out in the hall and said she was sorry to Beca who in turn slapped her across the arm in payback then stomped off. Clarke watched with her toothbrush in her mouth. As Lexa turned back to her she gave her a smile and Lexa kissed her on the forehead.
Lexa went downstairs to load everyone's luggage in the mini bus as everyone got rounded up. Clarke grabbed both her and Lexa's backpacks that they would be carrying on the plane with them before making her way down. It was less than two hours later that they were in the air on their way to New York. They were in their own row just behind Beca and Chloe who were behind Aubrey and Stacie. Cynthia Rose and Denise were across the aisle from them. Ashley and Jessica were across from Chloe and Beca. Amy and Lily were in front of Ashley and Jessica across from Stacie and Aubrey.
The flight was anticlimactic for mostly everyone. Clarke spent a lot of time either sleeping on Lexa's shoulder while she read or watching the world pass by from the window. Lexa was either reading or studying for the finals she would be taking after they got back. When she asked Clarke why she wasn't doing the same Clarke's answer was that if she didn't know it by now she wouldn't know it by the time they got back. Plus she only had one final to take after the trip anyway.
Clarke could see most of the girls were studying or sleeping throughout the journey. Beca had been sleeping on Chloe when the flight started but now she was mixing on her laptop while Chloe had her headphones in and her fingers lightly drifting over any and all of Beca's skin she could reach. Aubrey and Stacie had to go to the bathroom a total of five times between the two of them (the reasons for the trips were unknown but the look on Aubrey's face both times she got up said it definitely had something to do with Stacie). Once they landed in New York they all filed of the plane and toward baggage claim, the majority of them dragging and still tired. Once all of their bags were accounted for they headed toward their hotel which was across the street from Lincoln Center and where all the other groups should also be staying.
The group checked in and all split off into their respective rooms. Chloe and Beca claimed the bed closest to the window in their room. "We are safer if Lex is by the door so if someone breaks in she can kick there ass before they get to the rest of us." Was Beca's logical answer for them getting that particular bed. After they got themselves settled in, and they all four took about a two hour nap, the Bellas had another practice scheduled. Clarke was still forbidden from seeing the performance before the actual competition so she headed toward the pool until it was over and they all headed out for dinner. Tomorrow she and Lexa would be getting up and heading to meet her mom and friends at the airport and then all of them were heading to Time's Square before it was time for the Bellas to make "Acapella History" as they all like to say.
Beca
This trip to New York had been packed full of shit that everyone wanted to do. They spent all of yesterday just in Time's Square seeing sights and shopping…and WALKING! Beca officially hated walking. At one point though Chloe suggested they take a bicycle rickshaw since they were pressed for time and to be honest that was really freaking cool! The guy would press right between cars and up on the sidewalk just to get them through traffic, there was a time where they both were clinging to each other because if the both stuck out their arms on the outside of the rickshaw they would have been able to touch semis on either side of them. It was scary but totally awesome at the same time. Well aca-awesome if you asked Chlo.
They all went up to the top of the Empire State Building and took pictures and had a good experience until Amy tried to get Lily to climb the protective fence around the viewing platform and she almost did it. Broadway was an event in itself. Of course all of them wanted to see a show but it isn't possible to get tickets last minute to anything good anyway. So they resolved to taking pictures of themselves under the sings and trying to see if any cast or crew were nearing the street to take pictures with. Beca noted how Chloe kept looking back at the theater where Wicked was playing and made a mental note to get her to a show at some point in the future.
Future. Beca has recently started to hate that word. Because "future" was unfortunately something she was having trouble seeing now. Not that she couldn't see hers or what she wanted it to be at least because she could…totally could…it was just…hard to see it now. Lately her future was filled with music, family, friends, and a redhead whose graduation was just around the corner and Beca was scared. She was scared that they just got back together and now Chloe was going to graduate and leave her here, not you know leave her like as in breakup, no Beca knew that wouldn't happen. Yet Chloe was going to physically leave and not be by her side all of the time and she wasn't exactly sure how she really felt about that. It was hard to see any part of her future now without Chloe, who she loved more than anything. Beca knew there was really no way around what was going to happen she just wished that Chloe could still live in the Bellas house with her and the others and that they could sleep together every night because Chloe had officially broken down and now she constantly needed cuddled by her girlfriend, if anyone ever asked Beca was always the big spoon…ALWAYS! You know unless she was really super drunk or she had passed out before Chloe was officially in the bed with her, then they tended to wake up with Chloe pressed against her back wrapping her in her arms. See she needed this in her future and she was terrified that Chloe wasn't going to be there physically as much now, the thoughts already chilled her to the core.
Beca pushed the thoughts aside as she finished tying her shoes on and Clarke walked out of the bathroom. "Am I going to get in trouble for seeing you in that?" Clarke asked in an over dramatic whisper which caused Beca to not only roll her eyes but also let out a light laugh.
"No I just think Lexa likes to keep you guessing. You really do know everything about her now, she is out of secrets." Beca paused for a moment running Lexa's life through her brain trying to pinpoint anything her sister missed. "Yeah aside from embarrassing childhood stories from before her parents died, you know it all. Don't worry though dad will have fun telling you those stories once he has you and your mom in the audience with him tonight. I'm sure the Beales will be hearing all about my moody, rebellious pranks I pulled on his various dates when he first started dating." Clarke laughed as there was a knock on the door. Clarke checked through the peephole relaying to Beca that it was just Raven and Octavia here to take her down to head to Lincoln Center.
"Lex?" Clarke called though their room. Chloe was currently in the bathroom finishing her hair and Lexa was hiding from Clarke.
"Yeah?" Was a muffled response from behind the closed door that separated the bedroom from their little sitting/living room type thing (they ended up getting upgraded due to overbooking that forced them on a separate floor from all of the others).
"O and Rea are here so I'm leaving now." Lexa called through the door her goodbye. "Are you really not going to let me give you a good luck kiss? Don't you want to see me in my Bellas' shirt?" Clarke threw a wink at Beca as there was a groan from Lexa's side. Beca watched as Lexa opened the door and strode out and right into Clarke's waiting arms. Beca started on as Clarke raked her eyes over Lexa's chosen outfit. She was in tight black leather pants with a yellow button down with the sleeves rolled up past her elbows and an old Bellas "flight attendant" jacket that had been expertly crafted into a vest (Thank you Jessica) over the top of it. Her Bellas scarf was currently hanging out of her front pocket, more than likely to be tied around her wrist like Beca's own was going to be. Her hair was braided back but the majority of it hung in waves down her back and the whole thing was finished off with the matching shoes they all were wearing (and her good luck charms).
While all of this checking out what happening Lexa's eyes didn't leave Clarke's chest which was covered with the Bellas logo of her t-shirt. They both smiled and said "you look so hot" at the same time, causing Beca to roll her eyes again. Their goodbye was shorter than their normal ones and Clarke was out the door after another round of knocking from her friends. Lexa strode over to her sister and pulled her scarf out of her pocket and handed it to Beca. She silently wrapped and knotted it around her right wrist, then pulled her own from the bed and Lexa returned the favor. As soon as she was done Lexa clasped her right hand around Beca's right forearm so their scarves were parallel. They heard a sniffle from the other side of the room and turned to see Chloe attempting not to cry at the precious sister moment.
Within what felt like mere moments they Bellas were all walking backstage and being handed microphones. The Treblemakers were already there (sans Bumper, thank god) and both Beca and Chloe wished Jesse good luck. Beca had finally confessed to Chloe about her lesbro relationship with him and Chloe laughed but thought it was cute at the same time. They all watched from backstage as the Trebles broke into a damn good rendition of Bright Lights, Bigger City. Beca almost cried as Benji walked out from behind a curtain ready to join them for his first time. She gave him a big smile and a double thumbs up as he headed out and with that she turned back to her girls.
Chloe had been by her side the whole time, their hands intimately wound together, the others looked at her as they closed in the circle knowing she had something to say. "I love you awesome nerds!" So she wasn't exactly sure where the term came from but it definitely fit them all to a T. It also got Chloe to kiss her on the cheek so that was a plus.
"Yeah, you guys are the best. I know most of you are pretty thin but I think that you all have fat hearts and that is what counts." Amy stated almost teary from beside her.
"Fat Amy is right, you all have great hearts." Lexa spoke from the other side of Chloe. "That day you all could have said no to helping me win Clarke's heart back but you all took the chance to help me and found my heart again in the process. You sure as hell didn't have to let me become a Bella either. I believed in you guys way back during Regionals. You can do this…we can do this. Our sound is flawless and our moves are hot, but if we are going to win then we need to enjoy our performance. The crowd will feed off of our own energy. We will make history today Bellas, we will!" Aubrey flew across the circle from her spot under Stacie's arm and threw a hug around Lexa. After she returned they heard the announcer introducing them.
"Okay let's just smash this!" Amy said as they all turned and strode out on the stage to shouts of applause and Beca distinctly heard her parents yelling for her, Chloe, and Lexa. Their three names filled the majority of the space.
"THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND!" Was the last thing they all heard before the crowd died down and Beca blew the starting note into the pitch pipe (that did indeed have a bleach bath) and counted Aubrey into her solo potion of Price Tag. Beca thanked whatever higher power made Lily's voice like forty times louder when she beat boxed than when she spoke because the Bellas were off and running and the crowd was loving it.
Lexa was right, the more they just let go and had fun being all together up there the louder the crowd got. As Beca lead them herself into Don't You (Forget About Me). She caught sight of Jesse laughing in the crowd knowing she had broken down and watched the movie. Well Chloe broke her down and forced her to watch it after she didn't get the reference from their hospital waiting room riff-off. The group dropped the beat and Lexa broke into Give Me Everything as all the Bellas crowded together in the middle of the stage and Chloe let her new found range fly free and clear. Stacie and Cynthia Rose broke into their potions with abandon and Amy's section actually ended with all of her clothes still in the same place. As the Bellas came together again to get ready to finish off the song Beca and Lexa perfectly harmonized the tiny section dedicated to the bus ride, blended with a tiny bit of Beca's solo song. While the others covered the octaves of Party In The USA behind them. They ended with their signature Bellas handshake, that actually worked every time now, and Beca had never felt a crowd like that before. Everyone was on their feet, the Treblemakers were casting them all looks of approval as they stood with their arms around each other across the stage. Clarke and their extended section of family could be heard shouting for them and Clarke was still clinging to her line.
Just as the girls were ready to head off stage Beca felt a tug on her arm and turned to have her lips smashed into Chloe's in a passionate kiss, the whole theater erupted again. Even the Bellas were cheering, well not Aubrey and Stacie they were kissing too, and Beca for once wasn't afraid of the word Future.
Chloe
After finally deciding to pull herself off her girlfriend they made their way to their reserved row of seats behind the Trebles who had applauded them the whole way. Jesse gave Beca a round of "I told you so" yet hugged her all the same. As they were finally getting ready to actually sit down a blur of blonde was seen throwing itself into Lexa's lap. Chloe laughed at Clarke clung to her with the look of pride mixed with what Chloe was sure was desire in her eyes, she never ended up going back to her seat after that. Lucky for them there were only a couple groups after their performance before the awards ceremony because Chloe was already freaking out and Beca's hand was starting to lose feeling.
As the trophies were set in the center of the stage and the announcer started to read off placement of each group the girls clung to each other's hands. Clarke to Lexa to Beca to Chloe to Aubrey to Stacie to Cynthia Rose to Lily to Fat Amy to Denise to Ashley and finally to Jessica. Chloe couldn't watch so she shut her eyes tight and laid with her face in the crook of Beca's neck, praying for their name to be the last one called. The closer it got to the National Champion title the more she shook. Until finally that damn announcer, who seriously had worse pauses than horribly timed commercials, named them the ICCAs National Champions and the first ever all-female group to hold the title. There was screaming and cheering and hugging and kissing (which surprisingly Beca initiated this time around), and that was all before they even made it out of their row to get their trophy (which was almost as tall as Beca, they have pictures to prove it).
After the shock had died down and they were able to coral themselves and their families out of the theater to the lobby of the building there were more hugs. To Chloe's delight her parents, brother, and Nate and Bryan were standing with Beca's parents and Clarke's mom. She bounded over in true Chloe fashion and threw her arms around her parents who engulfed her on both sides.
"You girls deserved that trophy, you were perfect Chlo-pop!"
"Thanks daddy." They released her only to pull Beca in their embrace which she didn't shy away from and it made Chloe beam.
"So I think I have been pronouncing one of your nicknames wrong 'Lo." Calvin noted as he walked up beside her and gave her a small hug while Beca was released by their parents and went to her own. She rose her eyebrows at him in question waiting for him to elaborate. "Well I called you 'Loe but I'm pretty sure that it now has to be 'Low E' due to that vocal range of yours!" Her whole family laughed at the pronunciation and Chloe swatted his arm but smiled because it was true. That what when all of the adult (Abby included) started to head for the doors together.
"What's going on?" Chloe asked looking at each parent in turn.
"Well we all sat together during your performance and decided that we would all like to have dinner together." Rick answered from where he hand one hand on Beca's shoulder and the other around Sheila who had her hand on Lexa's shoulder (Chloe thought it would have made a cute little family picture).
"We are calling it our first unofficial family dinner." Abby answered while looking from Clarke to Lexa and back.
"The four of you are going to end up tying us all together anyway." Connie piped up from in front of her.
"Might as well start trying to get close now so holidays will be easier. Abby already laid claim to hosting Thanksgiving and we are basically stealing all of you girls for Christmas next year to go up north." Calvin claimed as she wrapped an arm around Chloe's shoulders. She let her eyes flit to Rick again.
"Don't look at us, we don't do a lot for holidays. We will be happy to provide the venue for New Year's and Fourth of July though. We just bought a lake house that would be perfect for the patriotic holiday!" It was weird to hear her own father agree to something with Beca's dad…it was like they were getting along…like they were friends now. Oh God, they are starting to become in-laws already! Well that might not be such a bad thing in all honesty. I'm sure as hell not letting that little shit get away from me any time soon. Her own thoughts caused her to smile as she moved from under her father's arm and over into Beca's as their newly formed family headed for the front doors.
"OH MY GOD!" Chloe has never heard that level of happiness come from Aubrey's voice ever. She and all the others spun to see Aubrey moving quickly across the space toward a very tall balding blonde man in a military uniform. "DADDY!" Aubrey cried as she flung herself toward her father and Chloe watched him instantly open his arms and catch her in them. It shocked her to say the least to see the open display of affection from the man due to the many stories, and oh-so-wise advice, she had heard Aubrey say he had given her. Yet there they were hugging as if they hadn't seen each other in months, years even. That suddenly made Chloe wonder if they actually hadn't.
Without giving them the command, Chloe's feet were moving her closer to her best friend while pulling Beca along behind her. In their time with the Bellas, Chloe had met Aubrey's father (General Anthony Posen) maybe three times. All of those times were within her freshman year and he had always been very much the General his uniform said he was. As they got closer Chloe could see that Aubrey was crying and clutching to her father. His own cheeks had a few streaks down them as well but they were hidden mostly by Aubrey's hair.
Before they could get to close, Stacie strode up next to them. "You're right." The soft tone of her voice instantly stopped Chloe's feet. She turned and gave her a questioning glance. "I can tell what you are thinking and you are right. He has been gone for the last year and a half, she told me just after New Year's when we started dating." Chloe smiled softly and nodded in response.
"I'm so very proud of you Breezy!" Anthony had pulled back from their embrace and held his daughter at arm's length by her shoulders. "It's about time you stopped listening to all the stupid fake advice I gave you!" As he went to pull her back in she stepped back quickly.
"What do you mean 'fake advice'?" Aubrey asked with a bit of bite in her tone and actual air quotes.
"Sweetheart, all those things I told you were obviously horrible and never made any since. You always listened to everything I told you, you never rebelled, you never argued, and all I wanted was for you to do just that." He gestured around him. "This right here shows me that you finally have. When at first you didn't succeed, you didn't get the hell out of Kuwait. You tried and tried again, you made your own success and I couldn't be happier!" This time Aubrey rushed him back. Beca let out some snarky comment beside her and Chloe nudged her shoulder and told her not to ruin the moment. Once they pulled back again Anthony wore a teasing expression, "Now how about you introduce me to that girl you were up there kissing?"
Stacie started to saunter her way over to them when Bree looked back over her shoulder (slightly terrified) at her. Once she was close enough Stacie took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze and turned to smile at her father. "Umm…yeah okay. Dad, this is Stacie Conrad. Stace, this is my dad, General Anthony Posen." Aubrey's voice cracked over her father's title giving away her fear. Yet true to normal fashion Stacie turned to him with a huge flirty smile and put of her hand for him to shake.
"It's nice to meet you Anthony, I finally can see where Aubrey gets her good looks from." She even had the audacity to wink at him.
"Well aren't you a gorgeous young thing! Good job Breezy, I think this one might just be a keeper!" Aubrey blushed and Stacie just put her arm around her waist and pulled her in to kiss her cheek. Chloe watched from her spot until Stacie's parents and Aubrey's mom finally made their way into the picture and they all headed for the door.
Beca had pulled against her hand and lead her back to their extended family members and their first official family dinner. Their dinner was actually really nice, all the adults got along swimmingly when they started sharing horror stories about each girl. Lexa's were even thrown in from the (apparently) hundreds of phone calls Beca's mom had gotten from Lexa's mom. The stories about Lexa and Beca once they had become siblings were finally found to be funny instead of mournful like they had originally been. Clarke's mom may have only had one child but that didn't lessen the stories she had about Clarke, who in fact once thought she was actually a long lost princess and had blamed her parents for kidnapping her from her kingdom in the sky. Lexa found the story amusing and made sure to file it away for a later date.
After dessert had been had they all headed out to their respective hotels for their last night in New York City. As they entered the lobby they heard the sounds of laughter and music flooding from one of the banquet rooms that had been reserved for the winning group of Nationals. Without even entering Chloe knew that the other Bellas had insisted on every group coming and all of Clarke and Lexa's friends were in there as well, yet the four of them headed toward the elevators to head to their room to at least change.
Chloe couldn't help but notice how strange Beca had been acting since the end of their meal. She had gone quiet and was staring down at her plate, though every time Chloe reached for her hand she let her take it, every squeeze she gave was returned and included a smile, but there was something under the surface that Chloe couldn't quite figure out. So as the door to their room shut behind them and Beca started toward their bed to flop down, Chloe opened her mouth.
"Bex? Babe, are you okay?" She kept her voice soft and smooth not wanting to set Beca off with any play in her tone. Beca wheeled around and the expression on her face made Chloe's stomach feel like it was going to fall right out of her. She looked pained, scared, worried, and…heartbroken. Chloe instantly was on the verge of tears, what was Beca feeling? She started to move toward her and Beca's eyes started to search her own. Clarke and Lexa had slipped into the other part of the room leaving them alone. After they apparently finished their search Beca's eyes dropped to her feet as she sat down on the edge of the bed. Chloe moved to sit beside her and wrapped her arms protectively (and soothingly) around her body. "Talk to me Beca. What is running through that head of yours?"
"The future." It came out slightly broken but it came out. "The future is running through my head. What does it hold? What is going to happen?" She looked back into Chloe's eyes and this time the tears were running down Beca's face. "Are we going to make it?" Both of them let out a sob and Beca put her head in her hands trying to force the drops back to their hiding place. Chloe didn't know where this was coming from but she knew she needed to fix it. Wait you do know, you haven't told Beca the news!
"Bex, look at me." Those steel blue eyes shot to the ceiling collecting themselves before settling on her own. "I'm not going anywhere. I love you more than anything and we are going to make it because I'm not going anywhere!"
"But Chlo, you are graduating."
"No Bec, I'm not." Beca's face flooded with confusion yet hope at the same time.
"Explain." Chloe didn't want to tell her the real reason just yet, she wasn't sure if she would make it anyway. She had to give her something though, so she thought of a lie that would at least get her through the night if not until the start of next year. Chloe gave her shoulders a shrug and tilted her head a little to the side.
"I failed Russian Lit." She let out a giggled and Beca smiled. "Oh and maps too." Beca laughed harder.
"Don't you mean Geography?"
"Well maybe that will explain why I failed!" They were both laughing and Beca scooted closer to her and wrapped her arm around her waist.
"So you are staying?" Chloe nodded. "With me?" More nodding. "And the Bellas, in the Bellas house, for another year?" Chloe just kept nodding until she got to that last part.
"Well maybe more than another year, I really suck at Russian Lit. I mean its Russian Lit and I live in America why should I give a crap about it?" Beca just laughed and leaned over closing the space between their lips. "I love you Bex, I could never leave you."
"I love you too Chlo. I'm really, really glad you aren't leaving." Chloe bridged the gap this time and just before they started heating things up Lexa and Clarke came back in the room reminding them that there was a whole room of people waiting on them to party. With one final kiss and a rather poorly hidden fist bump between sisters they four headed out the door together and down to the banquet hall with their fellow sisters and acapella enthusiast. All Chloe could think about was how she was going to keep up with her lie for the next three years, well that and how much it would take to get Clarke and Lexa out of their room so she could properly celebrate with her girlfriend. That could wait though because as far as Chloe was concerned they had the rest of their lives together.
A/N #2: So there you have it the final chapter…maybe. Yes Chloe has a secret. I kinda hated the fact that they made Chloe purposely fail a class three times to stay a Bella so I am doing something a little different. Feel free to drop me a line with anything you want to see in the sequel, obviously it will be very Bechloe centric because Clexa shall rain supreme for the rest of their days! Yes it will still be written in their four perspectives and there will be much less angst in it. No more break ups in the next…my poor heart can't take it. Like the idiot I am I rewatched season 3 of The 100 and I still cried. Thank you all for reading and giving feedback it means more to me than you will honestly ever know! I had never found the courage to let people read things that I have written before but with everything that I got back from you all I honestly don't know what my problem was. See you all soon with the sequel!
S.C.