A/N - Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all. Thank you for all the continued support with this story :)

I had a great weekend with the folks (in Spain), they were completely surprised and very overwhelmed with me turning up unannounced on Saturday morning, to join them for a cuppa tea! I was supposed to be 1600 miles away! The look on my lovely Mum's face will keep me going for quite some time. I got some much needed family time... and plenty of cake too!

Hope you've all had a great weekend too. xx

.oOo. Chapter Thirty One .oOo.

"What did Chloe say about the job?" Luke asked, around a mouthful of cheese and pickle sandwich.

"Um... she...um, I guess she... yeah, she's okay with it."

Luke paused mid chew for a moment, hearing the catch in Beca's voice. They were sitting in their office, as usual, catching up over a quick bite to eat, in between meetings. The morning had been frantic, with the first drop of the new Kendrick Lamar album. The artist had co-produced it but had asked Luke and Beca to 'give the album a final once over'.

So far things with the album had been resoundingly positive. The test group had loved the upbeat, fresh feel of the songs and so far, there had only been minor changes requested from the rapper.

Luke knew Beca had poured her heart and soul into the album, but it was just one of the reasons she looked so tired as she sat on the sofa in the office with a cold towel pressed against her forehead. She'd claimed it was a bad headache from working so late though Luke knew the real reason for her week-long headache was the job offer from senior management.

"You didn't tell her yet, did you?" He asked, with an exasperated sigh.

"No," Beca replied truthfully, sighing with purpose a second later.

"Why not?" His voice was gentle, probing, but not pushy.

"Because she'll tell me to go for it."

"And? What's the problem with that?" Luke raised an eyebrow in her direction as he tucked the rest of his sandwich into the corner of his mouth and reached for his hot tea.

"Are you serious?" Beca snapped, lifting up the damp towel that covered half of her face and fixing a death stare in his direction.

Luke put his hands up in mock defence before taking a glug of his drink. He studied Beca over the top of his mug while he watched her internally struggle with the conversation he had had with her a week ago. He'd been nervously waiting for her to return to their shared office for well over an hour by the time she returned. He was mildly surprised when she refused to talk about it, and then completely shocked when she abruptly left work early. Beca never left work early.

Fearing the worst news, and that she had been let go by Universal, he'd gone round to her apartment that evening to find out what had happened. He found her in quite a state, laying on the floor in her now completely empty apartment.

"Where is your sofa?" He'd asked, as he shut the front door.

"Sold it," Beca snapped.

"Why?"

"Because I needed gas money," The monotone response echoed around the beige walls.

"Bec..."

"Don't 'Bec' me, you know my life has turned to shit lately. I'm spending everything I've got on going to Chloe's to see the kids. And I don't need shit from you about the state of the rest of my life!"

"Okay, okay..." Luke said, taking a big step backwards. "I'll just go and when you pull your head out of your arse, you can tell me what's going on. However, I'm not going to be a punching bag for your temper right now."

"Just go..."

Luke turned and left the apartment without saying another word. He was almost back at his car when his phone rang. Seeing her name on the screen wasn't unexpected but for a fleeting moment, he debated whether to answer her call. Of course he did answer, he would always answer Beca's calls; even when she was acting like a complete twit.

"I'm sorry," Beca said softly as soon as he put the phone to his ear.

"It's okay, but I'm only trying to help."

"I know, and I was being a total shit."

"Well yeah," Luke smirked, "You want to talk about what happened?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Okay, I'll see you in the office."

"Sure."

He'd hung up without saying goodbye but drove home with a heavy heart, citing the only real reason she was acting like that must have been down to Universal letting her go. He knew there would be no point in him trying to say something to anyone senior. He knew Beca wouldn't want him doing that, firmly knowing she wanted to do everything under her own steam.

He really liked working with Beca; enjoyed their mutual respect for each other, and he had so much admiration for her incredible work ethic and mad skills with music. She was one of the best people in the industry; she just had never had that lucky break she so desperately needed to get a leg up in this incredibly competitive field. He also liked working with her as a friend; she was fun to bounce ideas off of, work out a complication or to simply discuss their workload.

Feeling out of sorts, he debated on cooking or ordering in some dinner when he got home. For a spell, he just stared moodily at his phone, browsing Facebook videos on how to peel a pineapple when a message notification caught his eye at the top of his screen.

message from beca.m, to luke.b - 19.54 - I'm a jackass, aren't I?
message from luke.b, to becky.m - 19.55 - Yes.
message from beca.m, to luke.b - 19.55 - I'm sorry
message from luke.b, to becky.m - 19.56 - It's okay. Try not to push me away ALL the time. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?
message from beca.m, to luke.b - 19.58 - Are you free to talk now?
message from luke.b, to becky.m - 19.59 - Call if you want to, I'm just going to order myself some dinner.

The light tapping on his door brought a smile to his face. Despite her snark, she was his closest friend and he'd do anything for her. He should have known she'd show up once she'd thought everything through. He quickly made his way across his lounge and pulled open his front door.

"Hi," Beca said sheepishly, leaning against his door jamb. He could see that she'd showered and changed in the time he'd driven home but hadn't lost the pained expression behind her eyes.

"Hi yourself."

He held the door open for her and she stepped in, ducking under his outstretched arm. Beca stood awkwardly in the small hallway for what felt like the longest moment before Luke shut the door. He gestured towards his living room, and with a silent nod Beca followed him to his sofa. She kicked off her shoes and tidied them away in the corner of the room, dropping her purse on top of them in an easy move.

"Are you hungry?" Luke asked, not looking up from his phone.

"No."

"I'm ordering Chinese."

"I'm okay, thanks. You go ahead," Beca said, waving her hand around to encourage him.

"You want your usual?"

"I'm not hungry."

"That will be a yes then," Luke ignored the huff that came from Beca's mouth and quickly placed the order for delivery from Chuckling Chow Mein. "Drink?"

"Is there any point in me saying no?"

"Nope. Beer?"

"Please."

Beca took a seat on the sofa as Luke returned from the kitchen with two beers in his hand, quickly popping the tops of both of them before handing her one.

"Thanks."

"So..." Luke began, as he took a seat next to her. Subconsciously, Beca moved towards him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"So..."

"Was the news not good today or has something else happened?"

"No, it was good. Amazing. Unbelievable in fact."

"Okay, and you're behaving like a petulant child because...?"

"Because I've just been offered the absolute job of a lifetime, literally everything I've ever wanted, with more opportunities than I could have dreamed of and... I've got to turn it down."

Luke lifted his arm up and wrapped it around Beca's shoulder, pulling her in a little tighter.

"You want to start at the beginning?" He asked and felt Beca nod as she tucked herself into his side a little more.

"So the suits called me in, offered me a job working with brand new artists who haven't got their lucky break, and signed artists will support them through their journey. Perfect for me, right?"

"Right," Luke was a bit guarded in his response. This definitely wasn't what he had been expecting his friend to say.

"I get my own studio, the chance to work with professional artists who are donating their time to get this project off of the ground. I get a six-figure salary, the chance to manage a team, state of the art equipment, transport, travel allowance and all the good stuff that comes from a contracted position with Universal."

"Okay," Luke's response was a little more combination of puzzlement and growing excitement at the list of what had been offered to Beca.

"I mean, they said I could pick my own team for the studio and my first thought was that we could carry on working together and that made me so happy. You gave me a start and I could give you a boost too and work with you, rather than for you... even though technically I'd be your boss."

"Which you'd love, I'm sure," Luke smirked. He was having trouble containing his happiness for his best friend.

"Well, yeah... as much as I am sure you'd love to ignore everything I said to you."

"True. So, what's the issue?" Luke asked; truly puzzled by Beca's response now.

"Oh, and there'd be a housing allowance too and new equipment for me to have in a home studio too which, as you know, is my dream."

"I'm not understanding the problem here," Luke took a swig of his beer. "It really does sound like the perfect job for you. What's the catch?"

"Well, the studio is going to be situated in New York."

"New York?"

"Yeah. East coast, New York. Different time zone, New York. A million miles away, New York."

"Ah," Luke nodded, finally understanding Beca's problem.

"Yeah."

"How often would you be able to fly back and forth?"

"I can't be that far away from the kids."

"Ignore that part for a moment."

"I can't Luke. Jessie... look, I know Jessie isn't mine but she still needs me. Chloe's picking up superfast on everything she likes, doesn't like, needs and all that, but I'm still her Mom. And Alex, I'm just starting to make good headway with her. She comes to me and shares her scribbles with me, or a plushie, and then wants to sit in a corner and play on her toy piano with me. She's starting to ask about me more and has accepted that I'm not going anywhere. If I up and leave now, we'll lose the fragile connection we've created."

"Hear me out..." Luke said hesitantly after absorbing what Beca was trying to say. "... plenty of people have to work away from home, and it will just be like that. Maybe every other weekend you can fly from New York to Los Angeles and maybe Chloe can bring the girls out to you every now and then."

With a defeated sigh, Beca shook her head.

"You know the work involved with starting up a new studio. It will be twenty-four seven for weeks with very little downtime. I'd have to work around the named artists who are donating their time so there would most likely be a lot of evening and weekend work. I can't give that my all if I've got to think about travelling back and forth all the time."

"Do you think Chloe would consider a move to New York?"

"You are kidding right? Why would she do that? Her whole life is here. Kate and Alex's dad... Jessie's dad... David is here too. Her work is based here. Besides, I have no legal right to even ask her to consider doing something like that. I shouldn't even be seeing the kids as much as I do as our petition for extra time still hasn't been signed by the courts."

"How about going to New York for a month and seeing how it works before-"

"-I can't leave my kids."

"It's only for a few weeks-"

"-Look, I was abandoned by both of my parents; I don't really know why my dad left but he gave up on me and as for my mom... God, I know she wasn't well, but she was absent for most of my life and then just up and left one day. I've not heard from her since. I don't even know if either one of them is still alive. There's no way on Earth I'm going to leave my girls behind, especially after the last few weeks when so much has happened."

Luke nodded and unwrapped his arm from around Beca's shoulder, sitting upright in the chair. He rubbed his hand over his face before turning back to her.

"This is a massive, massive opportunity," he said, sensibly.

"I know."

"And you would be a fool to pass it up."

"I know."

"And if you turn it down, you'll not be offered this advantage again."

"Yeah..."

"Does it have to be in New York?" Luke asked.

"Yes. Something to do with a Def Jam Recordings empty building and LL Cool J being one of the sponsors and co hosts of the podcast they want to release each week."

"I see," Luke nodded again. "A huge company like Universal and they can't find anything closer than New York?"

"I know, I asked the same thing."

"And what did they say?"

"I was just told that they could move onto the next person if I didn't agree to their terms. It's likely that other locations will open up depending on the success rate of the New York setting but I wouldn't be invited to take part in that."

"So it's all or nothing?"

"Pretty much," Beca's voice revealed a touch of resignation.

"And if you turn down this role, what happens to your position at Universal?"

"As it stands now?" Beca asked.

"Yep."

"I would just continue to be an intern until a job opening came along," Beca explained.

"But the likelihood is that you'd be passed over for that."

"Exactly," the hitch in Beca's voice was heart-breaking.

"When do you have to decide?"

"They've given me a week," Beca sighed. "Although I can let them know before then, if I make a decision."

"So what are you going to do for now?"

"Now... I'm going to hang out with you for a few hours, then start working on Lamar's finishing touches."

"Are you going to talk to Chloe about it tomorrow?"

"No, I'm not," Beca said adamantly.

"Bec..." Luke began but was interrupted by a knock on his front door. He returned a couple of minutes later and laid the bag of Chinese food out on his coffee table. "Eat here or in the kitchen?"

"I'm pretty comfortable here," Beca smiled weakly. She could sense Luke's frustration with the situation.

"No problem."

Luke retook his seat and reached into the bag for the two boxes, one of which he handed to Beca. He dipped his hand back inside and pulled out a pair of cheap, throwaway chopsticks and passed them to her.

"Thanks," She said.

"You're welcome. You want to talk some more or watch something on the goggle box?"

"No more talking, let's just eat."

"Okay... why are you looking at me like that?" Luke asked, noting Beca's confused face at the same time she was pulling open her food box.

"What the fuck is a goggle box?"

"It's the television, you uneducated swine!"

.oOo.

Chloe closed the fridge door with her foot, turned and placed three juice boxes on the kitchen counter. She had a headache but didn't want the girls to know, and was desperately trying to drown out their exuberant singing and playful behaviour. She was mentally calculating if it was too early for a glass of wine or if it was worth getting the girls ready for bed super early or letting them watch a movie for a couple of hours so she could have a nap or call Freda and see if she had some free time for a massage.

"What time is Mommy Beca coming?" Alex asked as Chloe nudged one of the drinks towards her.

"Um, she said she'd be along after work this afternoon," Chloe smiled at the little brunette. She'd gotten used to Alex calling Beca 'Mommy' and almost didn't notice the name change but the other subtle differences were more than obvious. Alex asked about Beca constantly; how many sleeps it would be until she saw her again, would Beca like the leaf she found in the back yard and Chloe noticed, without malice, that all of Alex's scribbles and drawings were saved for Beca now and not put on the fridge with the others. "Are you excited to see her?"

Alex nodded enthusiastically, her two little pigtails bouncing up and down as she grinned up at Chloe, and began to push the straw into her juice box. Chloe ruffled her hair a little and began to help Kate with her straw, watching over the top of her daughter's head that Jessie was managing on her own.

Deciding that some fresh air, and a couple of Tylenol, might be her best option, she ushered the little gang outside, and towards the newly acquired swing set. It was a gift from their grandparents that the girls adored, and used any chance they got. As the girls ran towards the set, Chloe asked them to play quietly. All three nodded eagerly, and while there were giggles, all three did as asked. Chloe dragged the parasol over towards the sunloungers, and laid back on one of them, pulling her straw hat over her face to aid against the headache. She closed her eyes, keeping an eye out for the girls and mentally ran through the conversations she'd been having over the last couple of days.

"Mommy is here!" Jessie called out as the familiar sound of the front gates rolling back echoed around the back yard, making Chloe jump. She sat up in a hurry, losing her hat to the side of the sunlounger, and looked at her phone to double check who was at the door. She was amazed to see that an hour had passed since she'd sat down. Thinking she must have fallen asleep, she immediately felt a little guilty, but knew that the girls would have woken her if there was a problem.

"I get her!" Alex yelled as she ran back into the house, towards the front door.

She heard Beca's knock on the door and then Alex opening it immediately. There was a muffled greeting, and Chloe watched the other two girls jump off of the swings and run towards the front of the house. Chloe smiled as listened to lots of excited chatter. The smile grew as she heard Beca returning their enthusiasm as they walked out towards her.

"Hi," Beca said, smiling at Chloe as she came out of the patio doors, carrying Jessie in her arms. Chloe could see she looked exhausted, and her heart jumped for a second. This was something that happened more and more often when the petite brunette was around; a fact the redhead chose to not dwell on. Alex was, for some reason, doing a little happy dance around Beca's feet, before grabbing Jessie's hand as soon as Beca set her down on the ground.

"Hi," Chloe nodded back, noting Beca's eyebrows shooting into her hairline at the lacklustre greeting.

"Beca, up!" Kate called out, reaching up towards Beca with her arms. Beca scooped up the little girl, easily slotting her onto her hip and cuddled her tightly to her. "Where's you been?"

"I was at work."

"You hasn't been here for days."

"It's only been a few days!" Beca laughed, bopping Kate on her nose. "I've had to work super, super hard on some music for a very good artist so it kept me busy. But more importantly Miss Kate, how are you?"

"I is good. Me and Jessie and Alex got dis," Kate explained, gesturing towards the bright pink swing set sheltered under the large Coast Live oak tree.

"Oh my goodness. That is awesome." Beca enthused. Chloe could hear the genuineness in Beca's voice. It filled her with happiness.

"It gots a swing for me and a swing for Alex and a swing for Jessie and a slide we has to share."

"Who swings the highest? Do you go really high?"

Kate shook her head enthusiastically from side to side.

"Nope, Alex goes super high. But Jessie and me, we go little high," Kate smiled.

"Well, I think that's very sensible," Beca grinned at the little girl. "Why don't you run along for a minute so I can catch up with your Mommy... then we'll play in a bit, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Chloe asked, her mouth set in a thin, hard line as she watched Beca set Kate down on the nearest patio seat. She hadn't meant to blurt it out but she was like a shaken up bottle of pop.

"Tell you what?" Beca blinked, as Kate joined her sisters on the top of the steps.

"About the job offer from Universal," Chloe snapped as she got up from the sunlounger.

"Oh..."

"Yes, 'oh'."

"Who told you?" Beca asked. "Was it Luke?"

"Does it matter?" Chloe crossed her arms in front of her.

"So it was Luke. I'm going to kill him!" Beca cast her eyes around the patio, noting the three girls were looking a little concerned at their interaction. "Should we put a pin in this for later?"

"That would probably be the sensible thing to do but hey, nobody does anything sensible around here anymore, do they?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh there are many things I could talk about right now."

"Then why don't you go ahead and get them off your chest," Beca sighed and took a seat on one of the patio chairs that faced the large magnolia tree and pool. She took a deep breath, quickly understanding that this was not going to be the quiet night at Chloe's that she thought, and hoped, it would be. "Girls, why don't you go and play in the sand box for a bit, huh?"

Kate and Alex gave hesitant looks to Chloe as Jessie looked like she wanted to run into Beca's arms. They could sense the tension and were reluctant to move away from their parents.

"Go on girls, it's okay. We just need to have a little chat, and then we'll be over to join you," Beca said in what she hoped was a reassuring voice.

They both watched as all three girls slowly trailed down to the sandpit, looking back over their shoulders as they began to dig around half heartedly in the sand. Beca sighed and turned towards Chloe, waiting for her to speak.

Chloe cantered her weight onto one hip and fiddled with her watch strap a couple of times.

"I don't get it," she said, breaking the silence.

"What don't you get?" Beca cricked her neck a couple of times, trying to ease the familiar headache she felt creeping up the back of her neck.

"Why you didn't talk to me about it?"

"It doesn't have anything to do with you?"

"Oh wow, that's charming!" Chloe snapped.

"What's the problem here Chloe?"

"You should have discussed this with me."

"Why?" Beca asked. "I've never discussed any of my personal life with you before."

"Oh, don't I know it!" Chloe's voice was quite shrill and it cut through the ache in Beca's head quite considerably.

"Okay, okay, do you, maybe, want to take it down a notch or two? Geez, what is the matter with you?"

"The matter with me is you are in a partnership now! And you need to discuss important matters with me!"

"Um, first of all..." Beca began, pushing the sleeves of her shirt up past her elbows. Anyone who knew her well would know this was her 'I've got a fight on my hands' stance. "... we're not in a partnership. I have no idea what that even means. Secondly, I don't recall you discussing your private shit with me."

"Well, no, as I recall, you never answered my calls or texts, did you?"

"Annnd we're back to that."

"Yes, we're back to that. Because this is the same thing!"

"How in the Holy hell have you managed to make this the same thing as custody of my daughter?"

"My daughter!" Chloe seethed.

"You know what? I'm not getting into this with you," Beca said, standing up in a flourish. "I have no idea why you are so upset right now but I'm not going to be the punching bag for your bad mood."

Beca turned back towards the house just as she heard the sunlounger scrape across the tiled floor. Defensively, she put her arms up in front of her as she turned back to see what Chloe was doing, thinking she was coming at her.

Chloe, to her credit, took in Beca's demeanour and the scared, angry and downright defeated look she had about her and felt a rush of emotion flood her as she came to realise what a bitch she was being.

"Beca, wait. I'm sorry for getting angry. Please, forgive me," Chloe cried out. "I'm not myself today and... I'm sorry. Please, let's talk."

Beca dropped her arms to her sides and took a couple of steps back towards Chloe. She didn't retake her seat but noticed how wobbly Chloe was on her feet. She'd never known Chloe raise her voice or be as angry as she was in that moment and feared there was more to the story than what was happening in front of her.

"Please?" Chloe begged.

"I'm staying, all right?" Beca answered, before she watched Chloe sit down with a thump on the wall that ran around the patio. Beca glanced over Chloe's shoulder to see the three girls eyeballing the interaction and gave them, what she hoped, was a happy wave. It seemed to do the trick as they turned back to their sandcastle fairly quickly. It was obvious to Beca that they didn't see or hear Chloe in any other way than her usually bubbly self very often either.

Chloe rubbed her face with her hands and Beca could see she was trembling.

"You should have talked to me," Chloe repeated quietly, through her fingers before she stood up. Beca had never seen Chloe act so strangely, fidgety and nervous, angry and out of control.

"What is there to say?"

"I don't know, maybe that you got an amazing job offer from Universal and you are thinking of not taking it. How you are passing up an amazing opportunity like this. Throwing away the dream job you've always talked about having."

"There's more to it than that."

"Which is why you should have come to me... and we could have talked."

"I'm not-"

"-Tell me about the job now," Chloe sighed. "I'd love to hear what they've offered you."

"I turned down the job this morning."

"What the hell..."Chloe's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Perhaps if you sit down and stop looking at me like I kicked your puppy, I'll be able to explain why."

Chloe huffed a little and looked like she wanted to argue with Beca a little longer before she took a seat but after a few moments staring intently into Beca's eyes, she sighed and took a spot on one of the sun loungers.

"So, yeah, I was offered a job with Universal. They wanted me to run a new studio, which would have been pretty cool. It had all the perks and benefits that I've only dreamed of. But it's not for me. It's not something I can do right now."

"If you are worried about not being around so much to see the girls, we can work out a different schedule," Chloe offered. "I'm due to start filming soon, but there's always a way to make it work. Though not ideal, we can get a part time nanny if need be, or I could ask Stacie to come in a little more."

"It's not that. The job would take me away a lot. I mean, I'd be based in New York anyway, but I'd be on the road quite a bit on the east coast."

"Wait? New York?"

"Yeah. Luke didn't tell you that bit, huh?

"He called me. I'll admit that. He was worried you were throwing away great prospects. But no, he didn't tell me it was three thousand miles across the country"

"Yeah, well, I've done it now. I'll likely not work for Universal ever again but that just means I have to go out and make it somewhere else."

"We could have worked it out." Chloe huffed.

"What do you mean?"

"You being in New York. Us being here."

"How?"

"Off the top of my head..." Chloe paused for a moment as she racked her brains. "... you could have travelled back once a month, we could have travelled to see you. Maybe we met in the middle somewhere, combined with a trip to see my in-laws. There's video calling..."

"But that's not what I want," Beca sighed. "I know how incredibly lucky I am to be allowed to see my kids. You don't have to let me spend as much time with them as I do. I said to you weeks ago that I wouldn't be doing anything against the law so that I could see the girls and I meant it."

"I know you did."

"I shouldn't even be here. I was granted one hour every two weeks and I almost see them every day at the moment. I was used to spending every single waking moment with Jessie when I wasn't working. I still to this day consider that a privilege. Not every parent gets to do that as they have so much else going on. I don't know how to exist without my child, I don't know who I am without her anymore. I got a second chance here and no job... no job... is worth giving up the chance to see my girls on a regular basis."

"I wouldn't stop you seeing them and would still encourage you to have a relationship with them, even if you were on the other side of the country."

"Okay, an example... the night after your barbecue and Jessie had the tummy ache and was just really sad-"

"-Yes, and I called you, I remember. I could still call you even if you were in New York," Chloe explained.

"I know, but I couldn't get back if there was a problem."

"I understand that, but I would have managed if you'd said you wouldn't come over."

"But my heart won't let me not be here for her... any of them."

"It might be difficult for a little while but we'd have managed. Yes, they'd miss you but we'd sort out-"

"-I'm not a part time parent. I know I had to leave Jessie with my friends when I had to work but everything I did was so I could be around. I worked nights when she was asleep so she didn't miss me," Beca tried to make Chloe understand.

"I just want the best for you."

"Why?"

"Because you mean a lot to me Beca," Chloe rubbed her hands over her face again. "In the short time we've spent together, you've become part of the family and... I like having you around. You should have told me about the job."

"You don't get it, and that's okay."

"What don't I get?" Chloe asked.

"Me," Beca tried to explain. "I've raised myself since I was a little kid. I've made my own decisions about everything I've ever done and don't need to rely on anyone for anything. Alex, Jessie and Kate mean more to me than a job and that's the decision I came to last night so that's what I told Kirk and Sammy in my meeting today."

"If you'd talked to me, we could have worked out something though," Chloe repeated. "I know it's easy for me to say this and hard for you to know what I'm saying but David and I made sacrifices for each other all the time. It's what you do in a relationship."

"But... we're not in a relationship, or a partnership or whatever you called it earlier."

"We kinda are, Beca. We... you and me... are the parents of three wonderful little girls and that's a partnership."

"Huh," Beca huffed out, catching on to what Chloe was trying to say.

"We could have moved to New York with you for a year if you'd given me time to think about it," Chloe muttered quietly.

"And uproot the girl's lives? Jessie is just getting settled here."

"But she'd be with the both of us."

"And what about their playdate thingy's... all that Tutu Tuesday Twirling shit you take them too."

"I'm pretty sure that they have dance classes in New York."

"And your work?"

"I can take time out if I need to."

"Just like that? You'd just not do your movie. I guess that's what having money in the bank is like for people."

"No, I've made a commitment to film for the next three months, but we could have followed you out afterwards. Why don't you consider it?" Chloe asked.

"I've already said no to them."

"Well unsay no, then."

"It doesn't work like that," Beca explained.

"Why not?"

"They'll have already offered it to someone else," Beca explained.

"Luke?"

"No, he's already on a contract with them, but I could have taken him with me if he'd wanted to go."

"I'm so mad at you for turning this down."

"The girls come first," Beca stressed.

"I could revoke our arrangement and not let you see them. Then you'd have to go."

Beca bristled in her seat and immediately felt her whole being begin to sweat.

"Sometimes..." Beca said gingerly. "... it really feels as if you are holding all the power and playing me like a puppet."

"No, Beca, that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to support you in your career. I got a lucky break, got into acting so fast, but it was still more luck than judgement. I want the same for you."

"So you can feel a little less guilty?"

"Guilty?"

"Well, you got the kids, I got nothing. I think you feel guilty about it."

"Of course I do," Chloe exclaimed." I feel guilty every second of my life! I've never said I don't."

"And if I'm off across the country, you get the kids to yourself."

"That's not why I want you to have this job."

"I'll sell my soul to the Devil himself if I have to and take you back to court if you even try to deny me access again!" Beca said through gritted teeth.

"Beca, I'm not going to do that."

"I'm fucking telling you-" Beca hissed.

"-Calm down!" Chloe bit back. "You'll frighten the girls."

"Don't you dare try and take them away from me again, you fucking bit-"

"-Beca! Enough. Jesus Christ! Get out of your head. This isn't about denying you seeing the children. I said I could revoke our agreement, but I didn't say I would."

"What are you saying then?"

"I'm trying to make you see that you are giving up a huge opportunity because you think you are being moral and courageous when in reality, there could have been a work around. A couple of years in a different part of the country isn't the worst thing to happen if we are all together, is it? Especially when we've both been through the mill the last few months!"

"Why do you keep saying 'we'?" Beca hissed the question.

"This is your future and your career, and that does also include us...I mean, the girls."

"Mommy?" Jessie called out, but she was looking directly at Beca when Chloe turned around.

"Yes, Bug?"

"Come here?" Jessie called, beckoning Beca with her hand.

Beca pushed herself off of the seat, glared at Chloe once more for good measure and made her way towards the sandpit, just as Jessie straightened herself up and brushed the sand from her dress.

"What's up baby?"

"Am I not like Mommy Chloe no more?"

"How do you mean?" Beca asked the little girl.

"You is angry with her," Jessie pouted, her bottom lip jutting out.

"We're just talking sweetheart."

"But you is cross. And Mommy Chloe is cross. You need me to no like her no more?"

"No darling girl. You can love Mommy Chloe as much as you like. It's okay. We're just talking about some boring grown up things."

"Are you going away?" Jessie asked.

"No, I'm staying right here. Okay?"

Jessie nodded.

"I've got to finish up with Chloe, okay? And I've got to go soon but I'll come back in the morning, okay?" Beca said, kissing each of the girls in turn. "Now, who's up for making an even bigger sandcastle than the one you've started here, huh?"

She looked down to see three downcast faces but she knew she needed to finish up her conversation with Chloe, even if it meant sacrificing her time with the girls.

"I need to start dinner for the children. Are you staying out here?" Chloe asked as Beca joined her back on the patio.

"No, I'd better go."

"You can stay, if you want to." Chloe's voice conveyed hope.

"No thanks, I've got no appetite. I'll be back in the morning, if our agreement still stands, to take them to the park," Beca's words were clipped and more formal than usual.

"Of course our agreement still stands, nothing has changed in that respect and it won't. I didn't mean anything by what I said, I was just trying to get any sort of reaction from you. Just tell me what you need to make you believe me here."

Beca remained silent, shrugged her shoulders and collected herself for a moment before turning towards the house without saying another word. She was mad at Chloe for speaking to her the way she did and mad at Luke for telling Chloe in the first place. But, as she pulled on the front door, she was more mad at herself because they were both right.

.oOo.