"Go ahead, Chloe, turn around slightly and lean on my shoulders to get up slowly."

"Ok, three. Two. One..." Chloe struggled out of the car with a grimace and Beca held her up just before she fell eyes were too close to see each other properly but Beca could see the pain in her teammate's eyes.

"Does it hurt ?"

"No, just the stitches pulling and I'm having trouble breathing."

"So you're still in pain."

"It'll be fine, Beca, it doesn't hurt more than usual." Chloe grabbed the crutches that now accompanied her everywhere and for at least the next six weeks.

She was finally going home. She couldn't wait to return to the Bellas' house, to its charismatic smells and sounds. Beca followed her after grabbing her suitcase from the trunk.

Seeing Chloe approaching the steps, she rushed to help her. Chloe smiled at her before leaning on the brunette's shoulders so she could put an arm under her legs and lift her up.

"I never thought you would be capable of doing that." Beca set her down at the top of the three steps, out of breath and red in the face.

"Me neither."

After the two days in the hospital, they had learned to function out of bed had been the first put on had been the go-to person for take a shower without destroying the cast that surrounded Chloe's , Aubrey had been the one to stay in the bathroom with was way too embarrassed by the Bellas had visited Chloe several times but Beca had been the only one to stay at the hospital to it was only natural that she accompanied her to the Bellas' house.

Beca opened the door and stepped aside to let Chloe in, who passed very slowly on her crutches. The cast took the entire length of her leg, forcing him to limp.

"The girls aren't here yet?"

"No, they're practicing. They're supposed to teach Flo the choreography by the time I get there." Chloe looked at her watch. It was late afternoon and practice was almost coming to an end.

"You should hurry up. There's barely half an hour of practice left."

"No, we'll get you settled in first."

"It's okay, Beca.I can do it on my own."

"There're steps everywhere here and you can't even put your pants back on after going to the bathroom without being in know what to do without me. I'd rather know you're safe."

Chloe looked at her determined had forgotten how much she loved it when Beca was confident in her decisions. She nodded.

"Okay, then I would like to go upstairs if it's possible." Beca nodded and they headed up the stairs.

"Are you ready?" Chloe asked, one eyebrow raised. She could clearly see Beca's hesitation at the number of steps to climb, but the brunette didn't give up.

"Let's go !" Beca grabbed Chloe like a princess and trudged up the first few steps.

Chloe found herself breathing in Beca's perfume on her purple plaid shirt. She didn't prefer to look. They mustn't fall, otherwise they would aggravate Chloe's injuries. Once upstairs, Beca placed Chloe gently on the ground but kept her hands on her hips to make sure she was balanced.

"I'll get your crutches."

"No, come on" Chloe held her back."I will lean on you." The redhead put an arm around her friend's shoulders and they took the hallway that led to Chloe's the bedroom, Chloe settled on the bed while Beca arranged the sheets around her.

"Do you need anything?"

"Uh..." Chloe pretended to think, then reached out to Beca with a mischievous look.

The brunette rolled her eyes but smiled and took the hand extended towards her. She lay down next to her and they both looked at the ceiling.

"I have to go back to the radio" Beca said felt a pang of jealousy at the idea of Beca being close to Jesse but she didn't show had also become accustomed to this feeling of couldn't control every bit of Beca's life.

"Jesse will be happy to see you."

"Yes, he'll probably spend the evening asking me ten thousand questions to find out where I was."

"He's just worried about you." Chloe saw Beca sigh and turn her face to hers. "I know."

Chloe could see Beca's eyes darting between hers.

They looked at each other for a few minutes. She missed Beca's storm-colored eyes. The emotions she saw there disturbed her. She didn't know how to interpret them. She stroked Beca's cheek with a tender hand.

"You have dark circles."

"Always charming, Beale" the brunette scoffed, trying to escape the subtle question.

"No, Beca, I'm serious. You look worried. You can talk to me, I'm here."

"You have enough worries as it is. I'm not going to add mine to yours."

"It's an excuse and you know it." Beca sighed again, resigned.

She placed her forehead against Chloe's.

"I will tell you. Soon. But not today." Chloe nodded against her forehead. They were good. Comfortable and warm. Then the front door slammed to the floor below and you could hear the Bellas chatting loudly. The reality was bitter. Beca cleared her throat and pulled away.

"I've got to go." Beca stood up and kissed her forehead. Before leaving the room, she turned, pointing to her phone."

"If you have a problem, you call." Chloe nodded but said nothing. She sank deeper into bed and sent a message to Stacie asking her nicely to bring up her earphones. She just wanted to listen to music. And think.

Beca strode into the basement occupied by the was put her things in a room seemed deserted but nothing had moved apart from the piles of records which had sized up from a distance the boxes of CDs that needed to be put away and rolled up her she grabbed the first crate, Jesse appeared from behind a jumped.

"Wouldn't that be Beca Mitchell! Or her ghost? Or her double!" The brunette rolled her eyes but started to tidy up. The young dark-haired man followed her.

"Hi, Jesse."

"Hello, Beca! Rumor has it that our dear co-captain of the Bellas had an accident."

"Yes, Chloe is fine. She came home today."

"Yeah, I know. Besides, thank you for warning of your absence. Luc is pissed and you're going to have to work overtime until at least Christmas before he forgives you."

"Fantastic." Beca continued to tidy up without even giving Jesse a glance and the young man was starting to despair at seeing his friend so withdrawn.

Jesse could boast of being one of the only ones capable of making Beca open her mouth for anything other than insults or taunts. Well, not as much as Chloe but Beca sometimes confided in him, especially when it came to the Bellas or Chloe.

"And how are you doing?" The boy was putting the records away in front of hoped that by showing disinterest, the musician would open up a little more.

"I'm fine. Do you know when Luc arrives?"

But that was without counting on Beca and her ability to avoid all questions.

Jesse didn't lose sight of the objective, however.

"He's not coming this evening. It's up to us to run the radio. That's why he's mad at you. He will retire soon."

"What? Seriously?" Beca had dropped everything to look at Jesse dumbfounded. Jesse had spent hours analyzing her expressions. The curves of her face, the color of her eyes. He had fallen for Beca from the first moments they worked together. But as soon as he met Beca with Chloe, he made up his mind. Beca would never belong to him.

"Yes, he wants you to take his place."

"I'm hallucinating, it's great!"

"Don't act like you didn't expect it. You are talented, that makes sense."

"That means I should work more often in the evening."

"Yes, but that shouldn't be a problem for you, you're a night owl." Jesse was worked nights most of the time because she was more productive that way, but now that Lucy was coming back into her life, her rhythm would change.

"I can't accept." The tone was definitive.

Jesse turned sharply to Beca to see if she was real and if it was really her who said those words.

"You're joking! You've been waiting for this since we started here!"

"That's not true, radio isn't my thing anyway, we have to talk too much." Jesse walked forward quickly and grabbed her arm.

"Hey!"

"Okay, tell me what's going on. You disappear for a week and then you tell me that. Never in life would you have turned down an opportunity like this a month ago."

"I have nothing to tell you." Beca pulled her arm out of the hug but kept her gaze hard, her expression closed.

Jesse knew she was hiding something. He always felt like Beca could be a lot happier if she allowed herself to be. But because she believed she was protecting those around her and herself by putting up walls around her heart, she was sad all the time. And he decided to tell her exactly that. Because he was tired of trying in vain and angry at always being pushed aside.

"Stop lying. It shows. Do you think no one sees through your eyeliner and badass looks? Do you think we don't know that you have a heart? You think you're succeeding in hiding but I have news for you: everyone sees it. Besides, the more you try to hide under layers of makeup and dark clothing, the less you go unnoticed. One day you will find yourself alone because you trusted the walls that protect you more than the friends who try to help you, and that day it will be too late."

Jesse punctuated his words with a pointed look then went back to his own corner of the room to put away the records he was taking care of just before. Beca stood there contemplating her choices for several minutes. She wanted to tell Jesse everything right away. To be able to free herself and show him that she cared about him, that she trusted him. But Beca wasn't made like , she headed towards the booth where they could play the music. A preset playlist was playing but the song was coming to an end. Beca took the opportunity to take the hand. She activated the button which broadcast the waves throughout the room, in addition to the campus.

"Good evening everyone, this is Beca, welcome to Barden University radio. This evening, between two pieces of music, I would like us to talk about whatever you want, without judgment. The switchboard will be at your service until 10 p.m. then my co-pilot, Jesse, will take charge until 2 a.m." Beca peeked through the glass to see Jesse continuing to put the records away without paying any attention to her. Yet she knew he was listening.

"To be continued, the latest music from Imagine Dragons but first, confession , I'm not going to lie to you, I never rarely hear me when I'm the one , I hurt a friend because I don't know how to talk to him.I would like to tell him everything that is I do not know if he fled?" Beca was caught up in her speech, her eyes fixed on the hearing numbers that kept climbing without her really seeing she couldn't have heard Jesse open the door and take the chair next to her.

"I look stupid telling you all this. That's why I never speak. Even if it makes me lose the people I care about."

"Thank you for sharing, Beca. Right away, Imagine Dragons. Stay with us." Jesse had come to rescue Beca in her confession. He appreciated the gesture but he heard that Beca didn't know what else to say.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it. I didn't tell you to talk to the whole Earth either." Beca smiled at him but looked down. She was definitely clumsy about everything. Her phone vibrated. It was Stacie who answered her. The little brunette frowned. The change did not escape Jesse.

"A problem?"

"No. Well, it's Stacie. I asked her if everything was okay with Chloe, she told me that she was in good company since Tom had stopped by to see her."

"Tom like Tom Agronski, her former boyfriend?"

"The brainless hockey player, yes, himself."

"I see." A wide smile lit up Jesse's could see Beca's jealousy from a mile was going to take advantage of it.

"Do you think he came to get her back?"

"What ? No, I think he just came to see how she was doing."

"Hmm, or maybe he's looking for a new girlfriend because he's been single for two weeks..."

Beca opened her eyes as wide as saucers and quickly wrote to Stacie to keep an eye on Tom while she finished work. Stacie simply responded with a laughing smiley face. Jesse watched as she bit her thumbnail, her knee bouncing, worried as she was about Chloe being with Tom. He was amused by the situation.

"You know, Chloe is probably in the same state as you when you come here."

"What? What do you mean?" Jesse didn't have time to song was coming to an end and the switchboard received its first call of the evening.

"And we have a listener who wants to share. Good evening to you, we're listening to you."

"Hi Jesse, hi Beca. My name is Morgan," a thin voice introduced itself. "Hi Morgan," replied the two hosts. "I'm calling because what Beca said really affected me. I'm a bit the same, actually." Jesse and Beca looked at each other, surprised. They didn't expect to have success tonight after Beca's intervention.

"It sucks not knowing how to talk to people. I was like that before I met my boyfriend. He was the one who helped me open up," Morgan said.

"That's great. How long have you been together?" Jesse asked.

"It's been two years. But we've known each other for a very long time."

"Oh yes, it's serious."

"Downright ! All that to say, Beca, don't give up. One day it will be worth it to open up to the right person."

"Thank you, Morgan" The brunette said half-heartedly.

"Thanks for your call, Morgan, have a good evening" Jesse continued.

"Thank you, don't change. Bye !" Jesse introduced the next song and muted the microphones to turn to his colleague. Beca was on her phone again, lower lip between her teeth.

"Still Chloe?"

"What ? Uh no. I just received an email which I should've never opened." The young filmmaker was stunned by so much sharing. He leaned down, elbows on his knees, ready to be pushed away.

"And you want to talk about it?" Beca looked at him and sighed. She glanced at the time and then at the mixing board in front of them. There was a minute and a half left in the current song.

"It will be long. We'll see on the next song."

"Yes, or you start now and I'll remind you where you left off in the next song." Jesse smirked at knew she was trying to stall for decided to talk to him but she had to start at the very beginning of the story.

"Okay, but first, I have to tell you about Lucy." Jesse frowned.

He didn't know any Lucy. Maybe she was a new member of the Bellas.

Chloe turned her head once again towards her clock radio which read 9:50 p.m. Since her return, she had rested for an hour and a half after Beca left and then Tom had arrived with great fanfare. He was dressed in a red Teddy Smith polo shirt that he wore with the collar turned up, gray straight pants and polished dress shoes. He looked like the boy from a good family that you would expect in TV series where the rich boy who was good at football always won the girl in the end. Chloe hated these politically correct boxes. Her parents had forced her enough to fit into the mold that was predestined for her. So she went out with Tom, who was reassuring. Tom, who suited her parents. And that suited her too until she met Beca Mitchell. And her world collapsed along with her mother on her father's shoulder when Chloe told them that she didn't like boys. That she loved Beca.

"And this year, I hope to win the championship to be able to show the trophy to my next recruits."

Ever since he arrived, Tom had been talking about sports, hockey, and Chloe was pretending to be interested.

In truth, she found the time long. She was tired and yawned regularly but Tom didn't seem to get the message. Pain was starting to flare up in her leg. Soon she would have to take her medicine but she didn't want to ask Tom to give it to her. Despite their good understanding, she remained stubborn and proud. He had always seen her as a trophy to be displayed and whose reputation depended on him so she had promised herself never to depend on anyone to that extent again.

Luckily, heaven or Beyonce had heard her. Beca entered the room without pushed the door ajar with her foot and was carrying a tray with bottles of tablets and two steaming cups which she placed on the had seen Beca's face twitch at the sight of Tom.

"It's time to take your medicine, Chlo." The brunette was already taking out the different tablets from the bottles.

She had her back to them, which completely displeased Tom. "Good evening, Beca," the hockey player said pompously, standing up straight to show that he was there.

Beca raised a hand distractedly. That was all the attention he would get from her. Chloe knew the scene by every interaction between Tom and Beca, she had to play referee. She wanted to press her hand against her face but that would have caused more pain than relief.

"You're interrupting, we were just talking." The brunette laughed. Chloe watched Beca's shoulders heave with jolts.

"No, you were talking to yourself, as always, Agronski." Tom gritted his teeth.

Beca had a knack for bringing out the easily frustrated little boy in Tom. She turned to give him a smirk.

"You should leave. Don't you have any other girls to conquer? Chloe is not interested."

"Chloe knows how to talk without you intervening."

Chloe rolled her eyes. It was time to put an end to this pointless discussion, otherwise it would last for hours.

"Chloe is tired and would like to take her medicine to go to bed," The redhead said which closed the chatter of the two wrestlers in front of her. Tom got up from the end of the bed and placed a kiss on Chloe's forehead.

The redhead saw the gesture twist Beca's face into a pout of disgust.

"Take care of yourself, Chloe."

"Yes, thanks for stopping by, Tom."

The hockey player stopped in front of Beca to look at her then walked out. Chloe rolled her eyes at the scene. These two never knew how to get along. Fortunately, Chloe and Tom had separated very quickly after the meeting between the two girls. Chloe couldn't bear to watch them fight for her.

"So how was work?" She asked Beca who was leaning against the dresser with her arms crossed.

"Good, then bad." Beca frowned at the memory of the email she had received. She turned to grab one of the two cups of hot chocolate she had prepared and brought it over to Chloe, along with the painkillers that would allow her to sleep for at least a few hours tonight.

"I have a lot of things to tell you.I received some bad news just girls already know.I have to tell my 's going to be furious." Chloe understood that Beca was thinking out took a sip from her cup of chocolate and sank further into the tried to listen to Beca who, for once, finally, had decided to talk to her.

"I'm going to have to hire a lawyer to defend myself. I'm not going to let this go. No way !" Chloe sniffed her approval but her eyelids were feeling heavy.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Becs" she reminded. Beca realized she had locked herself in her mind. She turned a tender gaze on Chloe. She heard the fatigue in her voice.

"I'll explain to you tomorrow." The musician came and sat down next to her best friend and put her arm around her. She felt Chloe slowly sinking from fatigue and the effect of the medication.

"Sing for me, please." Beca smiled and started Ocean Eyes by Billie same song that had brought them together at the hospital a few days before. Yes, she would explain everything the next day. But for now, Beca preferred to lose herself in the two oceans that were Chloe's eyes.

The pieces of toast crunched under the jaws. The smell of coffee hung in the air. Beca would have gotten up in a good mood that morning if she hadn't had to deal with her problems so early in the morning. Her father had apparently received the same email as her. This famous email which informed them that Lucy's father's family also wanted her back. David had called Beca too soon to discuss their plan to fight back.

"We're not going to let this happen, Beca. There is no way these madmen are going to take your daughter away from you."

"I agree with you, Dad. I have a meeting with Quinn's friend tomorrow to decide how we will respond. And I'm seeing Mrs. Olivarez this afternoon, I'll talk to her about it."

"They can't take her. Not so easily."

"I hope not."

"In any case, it won't make the procedures for getting her back easier."

"No, that's what annoys me the most. It is unfair. She deserves better."

"We'll do whatever it takes, Beca. I promise you."

"Thank you, Dad. Let's call each other tomorrow."

David nodded, his voice wasn't sighed as she hung placed her phone against the kitchen island and scrubbed her face could her life be so complicated?It wasn't 9 in the morning and she had already taken a shower and had her father on the hadn't slept needed entered the room as she poured herself a mug.

"Oh, fresh coffee." Beca automatically pulled out another cup and filled it then handed it to Stacie. The young woman thanked her, surprised.

"I thought it would be for Chloe." She said, bringing the cup to her mouth to hide her smile. The musician blushed.

She knew she had made a habit of serving Chloe, and only Chloe, in the morning when she was awake before the others. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Everyone changes, it seems."

"Have you had any news about your daughter?"

"I'm seeing a lawyer tomorrow and I'm seeing Lucy later."

"When can we meet mini-Mitchell?" Ashley asked as she entered the room in sportswear. Beca smiled at the nickname. Usually, she hated anything the Bellas came up with in terms of nicknames. Amy was the worst of all for had lost count of the nicknames she had just for herself.

"I don't know yet. I would like to introduce her to you as soon as possible but I'm not the one to decide. And I still have to talk to Chloe."

"Talk to Chloe about what?" The redhead asked as she entered slowly the kitchen on her crutches. Everyone watched her walk, stunned. She wasn't supposed to be able to come down. Stacie had rushed to help her.

"Did you come down alone?" Beca worried.

"No, on the back of a unicorn. Yes of course. I'm not going to stay cooped up in my room, I'm going to go crazy." The redhead sat down heavily and confined the cup of coffee Beca had made for her in her hands. She inhaled the vapors of her drink over her cup.

Chloe had used irony. It was never a good sign. She never used irony. It was Beca's thing. A prickly and acerbic Chloe meant she was in a bad mood. The girls opened their eyes wide after her retort and Beca saw them making excuses before quickly disappearing like two eels.

"So, what do you need to tell me?" The redhead repeated.

"You shouldn't go down alone. Imagine if you had fallen."

"Don't change the subject. I went down on my butt, there was no risk."

"You risked opening your wounds."

"Beca, what do you need to tell me?"

What followed was a battle of stubborn glances. It was up to the one who was going to give up first. Beca never gave up. The competitor in her refused to lose a challenge. But it was Chloe she was facing so she rolled her eyes and leaned even heavier on the counter.

"A lot of things. First I have someone to introduce to you. I just hope your view of me doesn't change after that." Beca looked down and bit her thumbnail. It was a risky bet, she knew it. But after witnessing the Bellas' reaction, she could bet at least a platinum that Chloe wouldn't change her mind. She just hoped nothing would change between them.

"It's all very mysterious," Chloe said before realizing how embarrassed Beca was.

"You know, unless you killed somebody or hid a husband from us in your closet, nothing will change." The brunette raised an observant look. Chloe understood that she was observing possible traces of a lie. She let Beca figure it out without saying anything else. The brunette ends up clearing her throat.

"Have you taken your medications?" Chloe rolled her eyes as liked it when Beca took care of her but discussing her health wasn't the subject she was excited about or the most important to her.

"I took the painkillers when I got up."

"I'm talking about the ones you're supposed to take since you were twelve." The remark was spicy. Chloe frowned and clenched her jaw, almost angry that Beca would dare bring up this topic.

For years, Chloe had gotten into the habit of not talking about it. It was taboo with her parents. They never asked how Chloe was doing or if her medication was still working. Never worried about whether she was taking care of herself as her condition required. Chloe had come to understand that their son's death was more important than their daughter's life.

Beca saw Chloe's face change. She had very rarely seen the redhead angry or upset. Suddenly, she tensed up and her face, already tired and bearing the marks of her accident, took on a pout of disgust as if talking about it really made her sick. Beca walked around to place a hand on her shoulder. Chloe gave her a hard look back.

"I prefer that you not remind me of these things. I'm big enough to handle it."

"But Chlo…" Chloe turned her discussion was over. Beca huffed and removed her hand.

"I have to go to class. Will you be alright?"

"Yes, I'll be fine." Chloe no longer looked at her to speak.

Beca was sad about how the discussion had turned out but as usual, her sadness came out in anger.

"Perfect. Don't do anything stupid" She said dryly before grabbing her bag, slipping on her jacket and leaving. Chloe put her face in her hands. She felt so stupid for her reaction but so angry at the basis of that reaction. She hated having to take these medications.

For ten years, she had undergone treatments, medical examinations, and the stress of seeing a new illness appear.

All this for a brother who was no longer even there to see how trying to save him had ruined her life. She took a deep breath and grabbed her crutches. She wanted to wash herself, put on clean clothes and most importantly, she needed to apologize to Beca. But first, the stairs.

Beca had arrived last in Spanish class but she was also the first to day, she had done nothing but look at the really interested her in her classes, studied to please her only somewhat interesting course revolved around , she liked to ask herself existential questions about life and try to resolve them using texts from different liked how she found herself in certain allowed him to take a step back from her own problems and approach life differently.

But today, she had no philosophy. She arrived out of breath in front of the Bellas' house where Maria Olivarez was waiting for her. She didn't have the car, that day it was Cynthia's turn to use it. So she had to run.

"Beca! I'm glad you're here. Our little greedy girl is starting to get impatient, it's snack time." Beca smiled at Maria Olivarez and took her daughter from her arms to cuddle and kiss her.

"Sorry, sweetie, I ran as quickly as possible." The two women and the child entered the Bellas' house.

It was empty at this time. Well, normally, but Beca knew Chloe was waiting for them. Chloe who had apologized by text message. Chloe who had been asking Beca throughout the day when she could meet this mysterious person. She wasn't going to be disappointed.

Sitting on the couch, Beca positioned Lucy between her and Maria before getting up to get a spoon. On the way to the kitchen, she sent a quick text to Chloe to let her know she was home. The redhead would surely come down soon. Beca figured that after their discussion that morning, and despite her apologies, Chloe probably needed some space so she wouldn't mind going down the stairs on her own.

When Lucy saw Beca open the plastic jar of applesauce, she bounced happily on her little smiled and quickly dipped the spoon into the greeted the first spoonful with gurgles of delight.

"I can tell it must be good." Maria said. "She's really hungry," Beca laughed.

"She's set like clockwork." The two women remained silent.

Lucy enjoyed her snack while moving her arms, her eyes observing each new thing they passed.

"It's a good idea to have us come here, Beca. She can get used to her future home." Maria said. "My friends are dying to meet her but for now, seeing the house empty is good enough." Maria nodded without adding anything. Beca heard the stairs creak and tensed in anticipation.

"Well, almost empty." She muttered. Chloe appeared in the living room archway, leaning on her crutches.

Beca had her back to her but she could see her daughter's attention immediately drawn to the new person in the room. Maria opened her eyes wide as well but it was Chloe who was heard reacting.

"Oh but who is this little ball of cuteness?" The redhead asked in her sweet and honeyed tone that was only reserved for children. Beca laughed at the expression. Lucy stopped eating when Chloe appeared in front of her. The young woman stood with difficulty on her crutches so Maria offered her her place on the sofa.

"Chlo', this is Maria Olivarez." The two women greeted each other with a smile and Chloe thanked her when she finally managed to sit down. The little brunette who was previously devouring her applesauce remained speechless and followed Chloe's slightest movement with her eyes.

"Hello, young lady" Chloe said, lightly tickling Lucy's stomach. The child observed the gesture, suspicious. Her big storm blue eyes, like Beca's, analyzed Chloe to see if she could trust her. She finally turned to her mother who smiled at her.

"It's Chloe, sweetie, everything is fine. "

Beca stroked her daughter's hair tenderly. She had dreamed of this meeting dozens of times. She hoped deep down that the two most important people in her life would get along perfectly. Chloe was amazed at the child. Her brown hair, her blue eyes, her hard and hesitant gaze. Then the memory of the ultrasound in Beca's box of secrets. She didn't need any more clues to understand.

The redhead held out her hand towards the baby and Lucy, after one last look at Beca, happily high-fived Chloe while blabbering.

"She is very precious. So cute I could eat her."

"Ah, we don't eat babies, Chloe." Maria joked.

"But have you seen those little cheeks." Chloe couldn't stop touching the little girl, stroking her hair. Her skin was so soft. She was so happy to meet a little piece of Beca. That was one more thing she knew about Beca. Beca, who was trying as hard as she could to finish Lucy's snack.

"What's her name?"

"It's Lucy." Beca took her eyes off Lucy to watch for a moment as her friend gave her food, mimicking the gesture with her had never looked so smiled looked relaxed and if all her fears, everything she held back had evaporated.

"Will Lucy live with us?" The redhead asked, her gaze once again fixed on the baby. Beca suddenly tensed and Maria cleared her throat.

"It's still to be decided. We need to talk about this topic, Beca" Maria replied. The brunette in question nodded and placed the empty pot of applesauce and the spoon on the coffee table. She thought about the email again. This decision which could change her life and her daughter's.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about last night when I got home." Beca started towards Chloe. The musician wiped her daughter's fruit-smeared mouth and took her on her knees.

She gave her a plastic giraffe to distract her.

"Lucy's father, my ex boyfriend, died a few months ago. I've started the steps to regain custody of Lucy but it seems that I am not the only one who wants her." That was already a lot of information to take into account for Chloe who arrived in this situation without knowing the details.

"You will explain to me later how he got sole custody. But who on Earth would want to stop you from getting your daughter back? It's disgusting!"

"Her grandparents. Julian's parents." Chloe understood from Beca's changing face that she would have to remember her questions and not ask them all at the same time. She remembered how hard it had been for Beca to tell her about the beginnings of her problems with this boy. She could well imagine how hard it was to recount her past to every person who asked.

"But you will be able to contest, right? There must be a way. They can't take her from you like that!"

"No, they can't. But I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure they don't get custody of her. It's out of the question. Court or no court for that matter."

"It will be your words against theirs but we will fill out the necessary forms" Maria finishes. The atmosphere quickly darkened with the subject of their discussion.

Only Lucy, spared by her innocence, babbled with her fist in her mouth. Beca was starting to feel the wetness on her shoulder.

"Is she teething?" Beca asked to the social worker. "That's what I was told. She's not always with me, you can imagine" Maria added for Chloe to help her understand.

"A home specially designed for young children has welcomed Lucy since her father's death" Beca continued.

"And we see each other at least twice a week now." She turned her gaze towards Maria who confirmed. Despite the increasingly frequent visits and the fact that Maria was speeding up administrative procedures, Beca found that it was not enough. Until she could bathe Lucy, read her bedtime stories, or play music to calm her, it wouldn't be enough. Until she had her completely, nothing would be enough.

Lucy, in a burst of excitement, threw her giraffe into the air and the toy landed near Chloe. Instinctively, the redhead grabbed it and handed it to her. Lucy looked at Chloe like she held the universe in her hands then surprised everyone by holding out chubby hands for Chloe to hug. Chloe laughed and shifted a little on the couch, her cast hampering her movements, so she could pick her up without much effort. Beca and Maria watched the interaction, completely flabbergasted. It wasn't so much the fact that Lucy wanted to be with Chloe that shocked them but rather the speed with which this bond had been created. Lucy was quite shy and didn't interact much with other people. It had never happened that she let herself go with people she met for the first time. Chloe was an exception.

Chloe, who had not noticed the astonishment of the other two women, continued to cover Lucy with kisses and child laughed as hard as she a few minutes, they calmed down and Chloe came out of the bubble she had created with Lucy to look two astonished faces stared at her without saying anything.

"What's the matter? I've done something wrong?"

"No, not at all ! It's just surprising that she came to you so quickly" Beca explained. Chloe's attention returned to the baby sitting on top of her and then she smirked.

"All the Mitchells fall under my spell, what do you want!" Maria laughed and Beca blushed.

Indeed, thought Maria who had seen Beca's reactions change since Chloe's arrival, few people escaped her charm.

"Thank you for welcoming us, ladies." Maria said on the doorstep.

"Your welcome. If only I could keep her longer..."

"I know, Beca. With the forms completed, we should move forward. I'm going to push the judge's assistant so that she can process your file as quickly as possible."

"Thank you Maria." Beca kissed Lucy's cheeks one last time, who already had tears in her eyes from having to leave her mother.

Maria placed a compassionate hand on her shoulder then walked away with the child in the stroller. Beca slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, her hand covering her eyes. She had great difficulty holding back her sobs. Every goodbye was heartbreaking.

"Oh, Beca," Chloe breathed. There followed the sound of crutches clicking against the wooden floor and then Beca felt arms surround her.

She grabbed Chloe around the waist and buried her face in her neck. If a perfume could console her as much as that of her daughter, it was Chloe's.

"We'll get her back, I promise." Beca took a deep breath and then finally let her tears fall.

Chloe showered her with caresses of her hair and kisses on her temple and cheek. The brunette felt overwhelmed by everything she had to deal with, by her emotions, by Chloe. Her feelings were in disarray. The despair of never having Lucy near her was eating away at her. The fear she had felt of losing Chloe was fading. All the memories of her ex boyfriend, of the harm he had done, came flooding back. The lack of support, the fear of losing everything she cherished, the feeling of loneliness. Everything was mixed up.

Without really noticing it, Beca placed small kisses on Chloe's neck. It moved up to her jaw quickly. Chloe held her breath when Beca kissed the corner of her lips. She pulled away without letting go of Beca. The brunette followed the movement, eyes closed, nose caressing Chloe's cheek. The latter turned her head slightly and it only took them a few seconds of restraint before diving. Chloe kissed Beca or Beca kissed Chloe. They had thrown themselves at each other by mutual agreement. Beca held Chloe by the hips as if her life depended on it. Chloe didn't care about her cast and her lungs which were already feeling tight. She held Beca by the back of her neck, one hand pressed against the door. It was rushed and languorous. The little restraint had already been shattered. Lips burned. Tongues were intertwined. Beca started to push to take more. Without realizing it, her mind foggy, she leaned more and more on Chloe who was struggling to keep her balance.

"Becs…" But Beca didn't leave room for any words.

She insisted and pushed more and more. Chloe finally grabbed her shoulders with both hands and pushed her away for good. Beca looked at her with wide, dazed eyes, breathing short.

"My leg, you were pushing too hard," Chloe hastily explained. She was as surprised as her friend about what had just happened. The brunette ended up nodding slowly, completely elsewhere.

Chloe was still holding on to her, her crutches long forgotten on the ground. Beca ran a hand through her hair then picked up the crutches and gave them to Chloe awkwardly.

"I have to go upstairs. I have essays to finish…"

Chloe heard her take the stairs two at a time. She didn't really know how to react to this development either. And staring at the front door like she did certainly wasn't going to give her any concrete answers. She had to call Aubrey.

A/N: Alright ! Finally, those two get at it. I think I couldn't resist any longer, my bad x) Hope you liked it though. As always, thanks for reading, feel free to tell me what you thought about it. Take care.