The Reclusive Music Producer and The Journalist

by areaderofmanythings

Chloe is Rolling Stone Magazine's newest intern, she's left Atlanta to start life over in San Francisco. Beca's a cute regular who she befriends at the part time job she has until getting hired on at the magazine. What happens when Beca isn't straightforward about who she is and Chloe refuses to talk about her past? Will Chloe ever get the cover story she's dreamed about for years?

8. Chapter 8

I'm back pitches! Once again I know I suck, like big time for being gone so long, but I've been crazy busy with family and work since a week before Thanksgiving. In any case, I come bringing an early Christmas gift (and peace offering) in the form of an extra long, extra fluffy, chapter!...Things may seem to be taking forever in this fic, but trust me it's all for good reason and I want things to feel realistic. It's key to remember that things are building, emotions are building, things are being kept hidden and it's all for a reason, so hang with me!

On a side note to the "guest" who left the following review and I quote "update bitch update" on my fic 'A Series of Hilarious and Cute Events' I want to say I HAVE NOT ABANDONED THAT FIC. I love that fic and I plan on picking it back up after this one is done. I'd love to be superwoman and write both at the same time, but I can't, quality would suffer on one or both of these fics and I don't want to compromise that on either. So I haven't given up, I promise, that version of Bechloe is just so much fun to write.

Anyways with that said and before I send you along your fic reading way, I want to give a huge THANK YOU to sugarlandaddict23 for working her awesome beta skills and getting this back to me faster than anticipated! Also if you get a chance check out her new story 'Fallen' it rocks

Disclaimer: Look I still don't own PP1 & PP2 therefore no ideas, quotes or songs I happen to mention are mine! However what is mine is all the mistakes!

Anyways off you go and enjoy! Like I said this is a long one, but it's all for good reason...

---

"Are you sure people do this shit for fun?"

"Yes."

"What if my kayak flips?"

"Then you get back in."

"What if a shark attacks me before that?"

Chloe laughed, "Trust me they're more afraid of you, then you are of them."

Letting out a grunt, Beca struggled to inch her kayak across the beach, "Ok then what if I end up in a school of killer jelly fish instead and they…"

"Beca!" Chloe yelled looking over her shoulder as her girlfriend tripped over her own two feet sending sand in all directions, "Calm down, you're going to be fine."

"I hope so because I didn't sign up for this death trap with a paddle," taking a couple of deep breaths Beca steadied her legs and pulled the tow rope tighter against her shoulder. Digging her feet into the sand she continued to trudge along, "The only good thing so far about this scenario is that I get to watch your ass give your wetsuit a workout."

"You know for someone on vacation," dropping the end of the kayak near the water's edge Chloe flipped around, "you sure are stressed about the very first activity we're doing."

Beca's sunglasses were sliding down her nose and the rope was creating a divot between her neck and shoulder but she didn't dare adjust either out of fear of losing her grip and dropping the kayak, "I love you Chlo, I really do, but couldn't we have paid someone to set all this shit up for us?"

Placing her hands on her hips Chloe held back a laugh, "Yes, but there's no need, kayaking and canoeing were my activities at the summer camp I volunteered at during college."

"So you're a pro?"

"I'm a pro…"

"Fucking sand," Beca mumbled before looking up and seeing her super hot girlfriend smugly smiling at her, "How are you so perfect? I mean seriously you were a camp counselor and a straight A student all at the same time. And now you have an awesome job and one hell of a rockin' body. Why the fuck are you with me?"

"Simple…you're entertaining," Chloe bit her lip as she was glared at from over the ridge of a pair of sunglasses, "and the sex is beyond good, so yeah there's that too. Oh," she snapped her fingers and pointed, "plus you're super cute!"

"No, I'm super badass." Beca playfully gave her the finger, "Now turn around and quit laughing at my struggles or get your ass over here and help."

"I'm only watching this train wreck to make sure you don't die," Chloe countered. "You know, it's much easier if you slide the kayak rather than try and carry one end."

"Well gee Camp Counselor Beale, why didn't you tell me that ten minutes ago?"

Chloe just shrugged, "I told you to follow my lead."

The kayak was instantly dropped, smacking onto the sand with a pop, and Chloe's silent giggles bubbled over when her girlfriend let out a string of curse words and kicked her flip-flops off. For as much as Beca said she was down for anything on this vacation, Chloe wasn't exactly prepared for the child like reaction this activity got. She'd added this last minute and it seemed like a good idea, but it didn't elicit the excited banter she dreamed of. Instead what she got was worried grumbling for the whole two hour drive down here.

"I don't buy it," Beca yanked on the rope and as much as she hates to admit it, sliding the kayak was a much more efficient option, "I doubt you've ever done any of this, I bet you're paddling blind just like me."

"I swear I've done this!" Chloe grinned when Beca made it over to her and tossed the rope aside with a huff, "Babe trust me, this will be fun."

"But," lifting the sunglasses to the top of her head Beca took in a couple gulps of air as she looked out at the water, "if this is so popular where is everybody?"

"Kayaking, but who cares, less people means they won't cramp our style…" All Beca did was stare at her and Chloe pursed her lips and shrugged, "Look the guy at the rental place gave us a map and pointed out good stopping points and wildlife viewing areas. You won't be paddling all the time or far from shore…"

"Are you sure this is safe?" Beca was about to chew a hole in her bottom lip, "I don't want anything to happen to Billie or Gizmo."

Stepping closer Chloe took a hand in hers, "They'll be fine, the guy even gave them life vests."

"But what if a tsunami unexpectedly hits," Beca didn't know why she was worrying, Gizmo loved the water, in fact she is probably going to have a hard time keeping him in the kayak because he'll try to go swimming, "that could be disastrous."

Chloe playfully rolled her eyes, "That's not gonna happen, the water is like glass and it's a beautiful day," just to prove her point she pointed up to the sky, "see no clouds."

Beca let out a puff of air, "Yeah, but you never know smooth water can turn into ripples and ripples can turn into waves and then bam," she kicked the water at her feet making it splash Chloe's legs, "a tsunami hits and we are swimming for our lives."

The cold water made Chloe jump, but then she just laughed and kissed a cheek, "You've been watching the Discovery Channel too much, there haven't been any offshore earthquakes lately, so a tsunami isn't going to happen."

"But we live in California."

"And?"

"And?" Beca taunted raising an eyebrow, "Dude the San Andreas Fault is like miles away and it's only a matter of time before," placing her hands on Chloe's shoulders, she gave them a shake, "the big one hits."

Chloe laughed as she planted her feet firmly in the sand to keep from falling over because tsunamis didn't quite work that way, "Well if today is that day, then I love you and it's been fun."

"It's been fun? I think I need to reevaluate my plans of picking out an engagement ring and popping the question before the big one hits. You know since what we've been doing has just been 'fun'." Beca used air quotes as she took a step closer. She really tried to look offended, but she just couldn't with a girlfriend like Chloe and she ended up laughing too.

"You ahhh," Chloe instantly sobered after registering what Beca said, "you've thought about," she nervously shook out her hands, "marriage…with me?"

Holding up her hands, Beca's eyes went wide at the question, she hadn't even realized what she'd said until just now. It was true she had thought about it, but nothing beyond the point of fanaticizing about calling Chloe her wife or how amazing it would be to come home to this beautiful person and their family on a daily basis. She'd be proud to be married to someone like Chloe, someone she can give the world and all her love to, because there's a future there.

"I…yeah I have," Beca honestly said scratching the back of her neck, "but like not right now, that's not why I asked you to come and spend the next month with me at my beach house."

"Ok…" Chloe nodded in relief, she wasn't at all ready for that yet, "I know, I just want us to wait, I don't want us to rush into anything until we're sure."

Beca hasn't let her thoughts about marriage progress any further than just thoughts, they have a lot to discuss and one of those things being her humungous secret. Once she found out Chloe wanted to go kayaking she knew that would be the perfect time to reveal everything, because there would be no interruptions. It's part of the reason why she's been so jumpy today, she couldn't prolong the inevitable anymore, she needed to tell Chloe everything and she needed to do it now.

"I agree, but have you at least thought about it?" Beca doesn't know why she asked or even if she'd get an answer, but she did in the form of a simple head nod and a smile, which she easily returned, "I'm glad, because I want that…at some point."

"Me too."

"So like," just then the horn on Beca's SUV's started blaring making them both turn their heads and laugh because they could see Gizmo and Billie in the front windshield. Pointing at her car she grinned, "I better go get them before the cops get called."

Chloe stepped up beside her girlfriend and stopped her from leaving, "Hey, we probably should talk more about marriage if you want. I'm not scared," she reassured, "I was just surprised by the comment that's all."

"I'm not worried," rubbing an eye, a shy smile slipped on Beca's face, "but before that, we need to have an open and honest discussion about something that could significantly affect our life."

Judging by Beca's twitchy nature, there was only one thing that could mean, and Chloe knew had to deal with DJ Titanium. She's ready for it and for the first time ever, Beca seems ready for it too and deep down she knows everything will be ok.

Wrapping her arms around her girlfriend Chloe smiled, "I love you and I promise whatever we need to talk about, won't make any difference to me or change how I feel about us."

"Really?"

"Positive."

Chloe's look was weird, hard to read, and almost knowing, but it gave Beca a sense of security and reassurance. Resting her hands low on Chloe's hips, she leaned forward and pressed their lips together. She didn't hesitate to deepen it and it seemed to totally catch Chloe off guard if the surprised hum of approval and the tightening of arms around her neck were anything to go by. They took it slow as she trailed her hands higher and damn just as she went to pull away, Chloe did that sexy lip biting trick that always drives her nuts, making her dive back in again. She is putty in this girl's hand and she couldn't get enough, she loved Chloe Beale.

Out of breath Beca pulled back and rested their foreheads together, "You are so good at kissing."

"I love kissing you, it's one of my favorite things."

"It is pretty fucking awesome…"

Chloe giggled, her mind was reeling, the more their relationship progresses the harder she falls, "I could stand here kissing you all day, but I really want to go kayaking."

"You sure, I can easily call and see if our hotel room is ready," Beca questioned hopefully wiggling her eyebrows, but all she got was another peck before Chloe stepped out of the embrace. Shrugging she chuckled, "Ehhh trying to entice you with sex was worth a shot."

Kneeling down Chloe started checking her kayak and laughed, "Later…"

The car horn blared again making Beca groan up at the sky, "Damn dogs, they're gonna get me a ticket."

"Bec go get them, they're just excited," lifting her paddle Chloe gently swatted her girlfriend's ass, "Hurry up slowpoke, we have Monterey Bay to explore and sea otters to see!"

Beca began backing away rubbing her sore spot, "Why didn't you tell me sea otters were involved, I love sea otters."

"Babe the guy pointed to pictures on a wall of what we might see," Chloe stood and moved over to Beca's kayak, "didn't you listen?"

"No, I was preoccupied with the deathtrap you were about to strap me in," Beca wildly gestured to their bright red boats, "But whatever, I'm excited now."

"Well ok," Chloe grinned as Beca started enthusiastically jogging across the sand and over to the SUV parked close by. The door was flung open and their dogs hopped out and barreled towards her as she patted her hands on the sand, "Come here guys!" Lifting her eyes she saw Beca slam the door, "Don't forget our life jackets, dry bags and snacks!"

"I'm on it!"

---

It took about twenty minutes of instruction and a couple of slight mishaps, but eventually Beca got the mechanics down on how to balance her and Gizmo in the kayak. Although wadding in cold water resulted in her freezing from the waist down, Chloe was ecstatic her girlfriend had picked up kayaking so easily and she couldn't be happier to see the smile plastered across Beca's face.

When Chloe was comfortable that Beca wasn't going to flip over she made her way out of the water and over to Billie, who was patiently waiting from her designated spot in the kayak. After double checking Billie's tiny life vest, Chloe then slipped on a light long sleeved t-shirt and buckled on her own life vest before pulling her kayak out into knee deep water.

So far today has been a much needed distraction because Chloe's mind had been on overload after everything that happened yesterday. What she did was right, Rolling Stone wasn't going to use her relationship to get an interview and she wasn't going to use Beca's fame as a way to gain advancement. The way they went about the whole situation was hurtful, disrespectful and borderline infringing on their rights. If they'd just come to her and simply asked rather than making demands and using paparazzi type pictures to break her down she might have been a little more inclined to go to Beca. Yet they didn't, they'd done everything they claimed they didn't stand for and never batted an eye.

What's done is done and Chloe wouldn't change a single thing that happened, she's just glad she saw Rolling Stone for what they really were before it was too late. The only problem now is when and how to tell Beca that she quit her job. She'd love to say, "Oh hey lets road trip to the wine country after our stay at your beach house because I quit my job and don't have another one lined up," and not have it questioned, but Beca won't let something that huge slide. And she just can't say she left her dream job to work for the San Francisco Chronicle arts and entertainment division because it was a better opportunity. Although it was a very real option, she'd found the job posting late last night on the newspaper's website and already filled out the online application. So she had a backup plan, it was a decent job with a reputable newspaper, still doing what she loved and Beca wouldn't be able to find any fault in that.

"Ok Billie, you ready to see the sights with Bec and Gizmo?" Billie just happily wagged her tail at the mention of her girlfriend's name as Chloe picked up her paddle and climbed in their kayak. "Alright now we're ready," she excitedly stated watching Billie perch herself in the middle of the kayak, "All that's left if is to catch up with the love of my life."

Easily paddling out, Chloe smiled and gave a wave as her picture was taken, "How do you feel? Are you up to venture out a little further or do you need more practice?"

"No, I'm ready for an advanced lesson," Beca answered sealing her phone back in her dry bag. Pulling at the wetsuit collar she tried to let in some fresh air, she'd seriously underestimated how uncomfortable this thing would be out of the water. She should've taken Chloe's advice and only rented the pants instead of the full body suit, "This is hot, I'm all sticky and sweaty."

"Just how I like you," Chloe grinned, "but after a distinctly different activity."

"Cheeky," Beca retorted with an annoyed huff, "I'm ok, I'll just deal with it, let's go."

"No, come here," reaching out Chloe grabbed the end of Beca's paddle and gently pulled herself closer. She wanted Beca to be comfortable, she'd heard enough bitching for one day. "Set the paddle at your feet and take your life vest off," she quickly did the same in order to help, "Now lean forward and I'll unzip the back."

"Geez Beale, I never thought I'd be undressed on a kayak," Beca heard a quiet laugh as fingers worked the zipper down and cool air finally hit her skin, "is this on your bucket list?"

"Getting you naked is always on my bucket list…"

Pealing the neoprene away from her girlfriend's back Chloe let her fingers trail along the equalizer bars tattoo. God it was so sexy, just like the flower on Beca's right shoulder, and the three matching quotes in identical slanted script on her girlfriend's collarbone, ribcage and forearm. Hell everything about Beca was sexy, she just gets sucked in her with those charming and understanding eyes, while those thoughtful smiles make her heart melt. She's never been so physically attracted to someone like she is Beca and it was kind of scary, but the good kind of scary, the kind of scary that's exciting in so many ways.

"Find something you like," fingers stilled and Beca wanted to kick herself for disrupting the easy patterns against her skin, "you didn't have to stop." Turning her head she smiled, "I like the way you touch me, it's nice…calming."

Clearing her throat Chloe began pushing the wetsuit off Beca's shoulders, "Sorry, I just…your tattoos, I like looking at them."

Chloe could spend hours running her hands along that body and she plans on doing an extensive exploration over the next month. In fact, the first time it rains and they can't leave the house she plans on spending the entire day naked, touching and becoming more familiar than what she already is.

"You can ask about them, I know you want to."

Chloe's thoughts were interrupted and she concentrated on working the wetsuit down, "You told me I'd understand the quote once I found the third tattoo and I have, but I still don't get it. I just figured they were too personal to ask about."

"Chlo, all tattoos are personal otherwise why would I get them," Beca smiled, "but that doesn't mean you can't ask. How about this," she sat up hoping to convey that questions about her life were ok, "from now on, you can ask me anything and I'll answer."

"Ok."

Stripping her arms out of the wetsuit Beca sighed in relief then stretched, "Fresh air is so much better than being trapped in a giant plastic thermal heater."

"Fuck you're so hot," Chloe clamped a hand over her mouth as grey-blue eyes flipped to hers and sparkled in amusement. She can't believe her inner thoughts slipped out so easily, but she wasn't prepared for Beca in that black bikini top, she'd somehow missed it when they were changing earlier.

"You know," opening her dry bag with a smirk Beca pulled out a t-shirt, "you've seen me in a whole lot less."

Letting out a sexually frustrated groan Chloe dropped her hands, "I'm sorry, it's just you're hot, like it's ridiculous, and sometimes I can't believe you're real."

Popping her head through the neck of the shirt Beca laughed, "It's ok, don't apologize or be embarrassed…I should be embarrassed, I'm not used to having people give me compliments like that." Pulling out her splash jacket she fed her arms through it as Chloe smoothed it down in the back, "Growing up I was the odd kid, the loner, kids in school didn't give a shit about me." She was picked on a lot and to an extent it still hurt but she's able to look past it now. Zipping up the jacket she reached for her life vest, "It wasn't until college that people took any interest in me or cared what I had to say."

"But you're a beautiful person," Chloe said dropping her hands to her lap, "you're amazing and the kindest and most talented person I know."

"Yeah well kids suck and they're mean when you excel at something they don't understand," Beca fiddled with the clips of her life vest without so much as a glancing at her girlfriend, "I had Jesse, he stuck up for me, he was the only one, and I had my mom, who could somehow always make things better."

"Is that why you spent so much time together?" Chloe asked remembering what she'd read in the obituary for Elizabeth Richardson.

"I think so," Beca finally looked over with a sad smile, she misses her mom so much, "I also think it's the reason she pushed for me to start college so young, because people there would understand me."

"So it was good and bad at the same time," Beca nodded looking away again and Chloe knew she shouldn't pry anymore.

It was heartbreaking to know Beca was ostracized because she was different, because she excelled at something as simple as music, but Chloe is glad Jesse was there. She easily saw why Jesse was Beca's most trusted friend, he saw a great person and disregarded what people said. So in a way that revealed a lot about Beca and gave Chloe a little more insight as to why her girlfriend shies away from fame.

Putting on her life vest Chloe stopped before she buckled it, glancing over she saw furrowed brows and downcast eyes as Beca rapidly tapped rhythmic patterns with her fingers against the paddle handle. It was weird they had similar experiences growing up, except instead of kids tormenting her it was her parents. She was lucky though, she was sent to boarding school and had friends who didn't chastise her for being different. She can't imagine what it was like for Beca to walk the halls of high school or sit in the few classes she did attend and listen to whispered comments and be gawked at on a daily basis.

"Come here you," Chloe held out her hand and it was quickly taken making her smile, "Anyone that really knows you, knows how great you are…" She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around her girlfriend but at the moment it was kind of difficult so she did the next best thing, held their hands a little bit tighter, "And you're mine now so it's their loss because I see you and I love who you are."

"You always know the right things to say to make me feel better," Beca constantly struggled with being accepted, but being with Chloe made her feel like she didn't need to worry about that anymore, "I love that about you."

"The feeling is mutual," Chloe smiled giving their joined hands another quick squeeze, "Now you ready to start moving?"

"Yes," Beca nodded, "but can I get a kiss first?"

Dropping their hands Chloe lightly braced one on the side of Beca's kayak and gave a quick peck, "How was that?"

"Perfect, just like you," Gizmo took the opportunity to stand and put his front paws on Chloe's kayak making the side of Beca's precariously dip further into the water, "Hey dude sit your ass down!" He just looked at her, wagged his tail and continued his journey making her panic and reach for the back of his life vest, "I know you like her better because she gives you apple slices and frozen watermelon," she wasn't supposed to know that, but Chloe's quiet laughter confirmed everything, "but you're with me for the time being bro."

"Bec's he's ok," Chloe said watching in amusement as her girlfriend struggled with Gizmo, "I have plenty of room, besides he just wants to hang out with his best friend Billie."

"I know, but he just needs to chill we're on vacation," Beca added after getting her damn dog back in their kayak.

"Baby…" Chloe threw her head back and laughed at how ironic that statement was, "That's what I've been saying to you all morning," she pleaded.

"Whatever," in an instant Beca was scooping up a handful of cold water and pelting her unsuspecting girlfriend with it. Chloe froze and her laughter immediately halted and she smiled in triumph, "Are you done, because we're waiting on you."

"Almost!" Picking up her paddle Chloe sent a huge splash of water at Beca, whose face changed from smug to surprised in an instant, "Payback's a bitch…" Digging her paddle into the water she easily distanced herself from the stunned brunette. "Let's go," she yelled paddling at a slow pace pulling further and further away, "we're burning daylight."

"Hey, wait for me!" Beca was quick to recover and after a few minutes of zigzagging through the water she had caught back up. Looking over her face paled, "Dude what the fuck?"

"What?" Chloe asked at the shocked statement, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Beca pointed to Chloe's chest, "Buckle your life vest, it won't save your life if you don't wear it properly."

"Sorry I forgot a tsunami might hit," Chloe winked setting her paddle in her lap.

"You laugh," Beca's voice rose higher in pitch, "but it could happen!" She let out a thankful breath when she heard the clipping noise, "And don't give me any bullshit that you don't need to be proactively cautious because you were once a lifeguard."

Chloe just shrugged giving the last strap a final tug to tighten it, "Well I was, it was part of the requirements of working on the lake at the summer camp."

Of course Chloe had been a lifeguard at one point in her life, is there anything Chloe Beale wasn't good at. She probably ran down the beach in one of those tight little red bathing suits carrying a plastic red life preserver in one hand as she slung the leash over head before diving into the water to save people. In what she imagines to be total Baywatch slow motion style, not that she ever watched Baywatch, she'd just heard about it, because she was way to cool to watch a lame ass show like that.

Beca dropped her sunglasses back over her eyes in annoyance, "Maybe I will fake my drowning later so you can give me mouth to mouth."

"I won't be opposed to that," Chloe grinned and winked, "I think we both win in that scenario."

---

Kayaking wasn't something Beca ever thought she'd do, but now that she's doing it she can say it's one of the best experiences of her life. She's seen all kinds of things, from seals to sea otters to holding this huge bright orange starfish they found on a rock. Then there is the town of Monterey and how beautiful it looks from this vantage point. The rolling hills highlighted the buildings and coastline in front of them making everything seem to naturally cascade into the water. For her, a view like this puts things into perspective and reiterates that this is exactly why she is taking a year off, to have experiences like this and to get her life back on track.

"You're being quiet again," Chloe smiled as they glided along.

"I'm just thinking, this is peaceful," Beca fought to find the right words, "the whole rhythmic repetitive motion thing, the views, I don't know it just…"

"Clears your mind?" Chloe answered, because she knew the feeling.

"Yeah…thanks for dragging me into it."

"I knew you'd love it."

It's been a nice day and for once Beca isn't focused on anything but enjoying the moment and spending time with her girlfriend. She's actually relaxing and up until five seconds ago she hadn't thought about work or music all day and that was a beautiful thing. This is what she's needed.

Slowing her kayak Beca maneuvered around so that they were facing the Monterey Bay Aquarium, "I know we talked about making it to a beach, but can we break for lunch here?"

"I don't see why not, I was starting to get hungry anyway," looking over the side of her kayak Chloe peered through the clear water and down to a couple of scuba divers weaving in and out of the kelp bed they were floating above, "this is a perfect spot."

"Yeah…"

They were a good distance away and had a perfect view of the aquarium and the hotel they were staying at for the next few days. She'd been here once when she was three or four with her mom and even though she doesn't remember much, she remembers that aquarium. She remembers seeing all the brightly colored fish and how neat it was to see them inches away from her face and how they'd reminded her of cartoons. She had loved it and she knows her mom loved it too. It was one of the many good memories they had shared together.

That aquarium holds a special place in Beca's heart, yet she has never been back. It's ironic because each time she goes to LA she purposefully drives through Monterey just so she can pass by the aquarium and reminisce, but the minute Chloe wanted to vacation at the beach it was the very first place Beca wanted to stop.

"Bec, is something wrong?" Chloe quietly asked taking a sip from her water bottle. She'd been silently watching Beca just stare out at the buildings with a somber, yet somehow still happy expression, "You know you can tell me anything…"

Beca turned from the aquarium and gave a reassuring nod, "I'm good, great actually."

"Good…" Leaning forward Chloe scratched Billie's belly and laughed because other than alternating between napping and lifting her head to look around, Billie hadn't moved. Reaching into the dry bag again she pulled out two tightly wrapped sandwiches, "Ready to eat?"

"Yeah, what did you bring me?"

"Two choices," Chloe held up her left hand, "homemade turkey avocado club with Swiss, hold the mayo or," she held up her right, "a pressed Cuban with extra pickles."

Both were tempting offers, but ultimately Beca went with her gut, "The Cuban please, simply because you know the way to my heart."

"Extra pickles does it every time," handing the sandwich over Chloe laughed, "I know your orders like the back of my hand."

"Fries?"

"Nope," unwrapping her sandwich Chloe laughed at the pout, that's right Beca Mitchell was pouting, "because they'd get soggy and cold, I did bring us a bag of BBQ chips though."

"See, I knew you were my favorite waitress for a reason!"

"Why because I put up with your shit?"

"No," Beca took a bite, "because you always get my order right," she said between chews, "Plus you're the prettiest and you slip me free beer refills, even with the dictator tells you not to."

Chloe laughed taking a bite of her sandwich, "I do it all for your tips, telling me to quote 'shake that ass more' had to be my personal favorite."

Beca swallowed, "And here I thought it was that make out session in Aubrey's office."

Oh man Aubrey would kill them if that little fun fact ever got out Chloe thought, "You're crazy."

"You loved it, I know you did," Beca countered as Chloe leaned over and kissed her cheek making her heart skip a beat.

As they ate in silence for Beca contemplated her next move, it was time to come clean to Chloe. Sure she was nervous, she couldn't help that, but it really wasn't the type of offsetting nervous that usually puts her on edge anymore, because the more she thought about it the more she realized this was just Chloe, her Chloe. Chloe is like the most understanding and accepting person in the entire world and can handle whatever life throws at her. Beca is just hoping that Chloe can handle this, because fame and having a celebrity status is an entirely different beast compared to the little alt girl who couldn't handle her mother's death.

Life hasn't been complicated these past few months with Chloe it has been significantly enhanced. Although she still has a distaste in her mouth for the paparazzi and the scrutiny they will bring to her life, Beca is ready to reveal everything and not just to Chloe, she's just going to start there. It's the right thing to do, even if it means hearing unwanted comparisons to her mom's talents and legacy or false news stories about the things going on in her life. She doesn't want to be famous, she wants to be the homebody who cooks and reads and lounges on the couch watching Netflix with their girlfriend, but it's not fair to Chloe or their friends to expect them to keep this secret anymore.

Beca never thought she'd have a need to divide her personal and professional life, but she likes how normal she's felt these last few months by doing it. Music used to be her life, and to a certain extent it always will be, yet learning to leave work at work is one of her biggest obstacles. It'll take time to break old habits, but finding that balance while supporting and loving her amazing girlfriend is what she needs to focus on most.

Finishing off her sandwich Beca reached for her water bottle and chugged half of it, "So, I know we've briefly talked about this," recapping it she set it down near Gizmo, "but I'm serious, I'd like to take you on a date tomorrow night, a nice one. You know show you I'm capable of romance or whatever."

To Chloe it wasn't about flowers or gifts, it was more about the little things. Like random texts messages filled with emojis that make her laugh or finding Beca had prepared her favorite pasta dish and left it in warming in the oven before she got home from work to flash drives filled with her favorite music or finding things like candy or notes stashed in her art supplies or a jacket pocket. There were reasons behind everything Beca did and it wasn't just to win good girlfriend points or to make others envious, no they were all done solely for her, to see her smile, to make her happy. And because of that and so much more, Beca was probably the most romantic and passionate person she'd ever met.

"You know you're a lot more romantic than you give yourself credit for," Chloe teased as a blush ran up her girlfriend's neck, "I'm an extremely lucky girl."

Beca cleared her throat and deflected, "So you wanna go on a date with me?"

"I'd love to." Chloe still got butterflies when Beca, all nervous and cute, properly asked her out, it usually meant the date had been painstakingly thought out, "What do you have in mind?"

"Well we'll still stick to the brunch and seventeen mile drive around Pebble Beach we already planned," Beca didn't want to change that, she was just going to tack some stuff on at the end, "After that we can spend rest of the afternoon wandering the city until we need to get ready."

"So no aquarium?"

Beca flashed a grin, "I've decided to use that as part of our date."

"Oh! Well," Chloe rolled her hand in a forward motion, "continue, this sounds exciting."

"After we're ready, in our fancy date clothes," Beca added to get her point across, "we'll hit up the aquarium late afternoonish." Once the morning crowds died down the place, hopefully, would be relatively easy to navigate and they can take their time. "After we're done we'll go to dinner, no rush just us spending a nice night together."

"I like how that sounds," Chloe already had the perfect dress in mind and she couldn't wait to show it off, "So is this kind of a celebration to the start of our vacation?"

"Umm…"

In a roundabout way yes it was, but Beca also wants to use it as an open opportunity for Chloe to ask her anything about the fame side of her life, provided her girlfriend doesn't dump her first. Making their date tomorrow will give Chloe a chance to sit on this new information and think about how it affects her and their future life together. Beca knows there will be thousands of questions about virtually anything Chloe can come up with and she's prepared to answer.

"Bec what's wrong," the silence was concerning and Chloe wasn't sure how to interpret the shift from happy to scared that she saw, "Don't want be upset, we're having a fun day."

Beca's eyes shifted back to the aquarium in an effort to prolong the inevitable as her pulse quickened to almost heart attack levels. She's never done this before, told somebody who she was, most of the time people just figured it out or in Fat Amy and Stacie's case by total accident while bringing her food late one night at the studio.

"So like…" Beca ran her hands down her face in frustration, "I need to tell you something about my life and it's kinda important, like game changing important." Biting her lip in worry she looked over at her girlfriend who didn't seem at all suspicious and it made her stomach unpleasantly churn, "And I'll understand if you don't want to go on that date or even date me anymore after I tell you."

Chloe grabbed Beca's paddle and pulled her kayak closer, "Tell me."

"It's hard and kinda a lot to take in."

"I can handle it," Chloe said in a confident, yet understanding, tone, "Whatever it is tell me, it's just me, we're alone."

"Can you promise me something?" Seeing a nod Beca took a breath, "After I tell you if you want to go home I'll take you, no questions asked." That earned her another nod, she was one step closer to just ripping off the band-aid, "Ok so other than saying I'm sorry first, I have no idea where to begin."

Chloe didn't want her next thought to sound prodding, because Beca needed to do this on her own, in her own terms. Reaching over she took a nervously tapping hand in hers, "Why don't you just concentrate on what's most important, you can fill in the blanks for me later."

"I can do that…" This was a huge moment in Beca's life because she couldn't handle Chloe walking away from her, yet she if it happened she had no one to blame but herself, "So…I'm kinda not a studio musician and I kinda don't just own Hyde Street Studios because it was my dream…" She took a deep breath in an effort to keep the incisive rambling that she knew was coming at bay, "Well it has always my dream to own my own studio, but it's also serves as a way for me to hide from the public, it's a massive front for what I really do."

"It's ok…" Chloe reassured.

This was difficult for Beca, there was tension in her shoulders, in her hands and all over her face, and it made Chloe feel bad that she couldn't say anything yet. Her girlfriend was struggling but she needed to get this out on her own, without any outside influence.

"No, it's not ok, I should've told you that night you surprised me at work or before we went backstage last weekend or on any of our dates and I definitely should've told you before we slept together," Beca rushed out, the guilt of all Aubrey's reprimands for not saying anything sooner weighing down on her, "It's just that Chloe, I've won Grammy's."

"I know…"

"And I'm a producer and a songwriter."

"I know…"

"I have double platinum albums and more top ten hits than I can count."

"Beca, I know," Chloe easily smiled, but it was clear her girlfriend wasn't listening, "I know who you are."

"And like being a musician is all I know how to do, it's everything I've known since I was little, I can't do anything else. Producing and songwriting is something I fell into," Beca took a deep breath running her free hand through her hair, "Chloe I…I'm famous…" Closing her eyes she didn't want to see the reaction her next revelation got, "I'm DJ Titanium, I'm the person Rolling Stone Magazine and every newspaper, talk show and tabloid want an interview with."

Placing her other hand on top of their joined ones, Chloe ran soothing circles along Beca's skin. That took a lot out of Beca and although her girlfriend's face was flushed and her breathing was hard and fast, she could tell Beca was relieved to have it off her chest, but still scared it would change things. What Beca doesn't realize is that none of what she just said matters to Chloe and never will.

This is the most vulnerable Chloe has ever seen her girlfriend, Beca looked so small and defeated. All she wanted to do is crawl into the other kayak and safely wrap her arms around her girlfriend and whisper how everything would be ok. It would all be very similar to her breakdown last weekend and how Beca had held her and given her so much support. She wanted to give that back, to be that supportive, but she was hindered by damn kayaks and freezing cold water.

"Can you please say something?" Opening her eyes Beca felt tears stinging them but she refused to let them fall, "I know I'm a horrible person and you deserved to know, but I just didn't want you to treat me different."

"Baby…" Chloe lifted their hands and kissed the back of them couple times, then leaned over and softly pressed her lips to a cheek, "Bec calm down its ok, I'm not mad."

"How can you not be? It was a dick move to keep this from you." Letting out a steady stream of air Beca didn't know how to interpret Chloe's calm nature, "You're being so nonchalant, like it's no big deal. Most people would either be angry or fan girling over me right now, Stacie did, it's the only time we've ever kissed."

Chloe playfully arched an eyebrow trying to lighten the mood, "You've kissed Stacie? I think I should be more concerned about that and less about how you're DJ Titanium."

Dropping their hands Beca rubbed her eyes with an uneasy laugh, "It's not what you think, she claimed she'd never kissed a celebrity, she shoved her tongue down my throat. I was just the unsuspecting victim and then she," her hands hovered in circular motions around her chest, "she felt up the goodies, if you know what I mean. I swear Stacie is like my sister, I didn't kiss her back or touch her."

"You better not have," Chloe winked when Beca's nervous eyes glanced over, "all that's my territory now."

They were silent for two solid minutes as Beca unbuckled and buckled a clip on her life vest just to give herself something to do. She wasn't sure what was going on, Chloe was making jokes and practically laughing, either she wasn't believed or she was making a big deal out of nothing because Chloe was cool with this.

A hand stopped her restless fidgeting and Beca finally spoke, "Chlo, you know you can yell and scream at me, I wouldn't blame you."

"No, there's no need," Chloe said with sincerity, "because you didn't pay attention to any of my responses."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I know Beca, I figured it out," Beca didn't need to know how Chloe found out, just that she did, "There were little clues and I pieced them together."

"But…" Beca's mouth hung open in astonishment as she stared at that beautiful smile that always calmed her nerves, "Wow ok, I just…wow," she had worried for months for nothing, "How long have you known?"

Chloe briefly debated about telling the truth, but ultimately decided it was better to fudge it just slightly, Beca was already concerned so there was no sense in stirring the pot. And she definitely wasn't going to tell her girlfriend that everything was confirmed right before she quit her job yesterday. It wasn't her smartest idea, but it is what she felt needed to be done in this moment.

"A few weeks, maybe a month," putting her hair back up in a loose bun Chloe smiled, "it doesn't bother me, when I look at you I don't see DJ Titanium."

"No?"

"I don't know anything about DJ Titanium except your music, I do know all about Beca Mitchell though." Relief washed over her girlfriend's face and Chloe knew that was exactly what needed to be said, "But if you want me to get fake angry and flip your kayak I can do that," she joked, "just give me Gizmo first."

Beca laughed, "I'd rather not swim to shore right now, I just ate."

"Saving all your energy for that tsunami?"

"Yeah," Beca laughed harder, she was never going to live that down, stretching forward she scratched Gizmo's belly, "So you're really ok with me and my…status?"

"I mean, I have questions."

"Ask whatever you want," Beca interjected, "I want to be completely transparent with you, I want you to be comfortable with this."

"Overall it doesn't intimidate me," Chloe honestly stated. She'd thought a lot about it, at times probably too much, but there really she had not reason to be upset. "At first I was confused and worried that you didn't trust me," gently placing a finger to her girlfriend's lips she smiled, "but after a few days I figured you had your reasons and it wasn't my place to confront you about it."

Beca sighed letting the tension drop from her shoulders, "You're amazing, I don't know what I've done to have someone like you in my life…I want you to know me not telling you was all my fault, it had nothing to do with you or us."

"I know, if there's one thing I've learned from being with you it's that you don't want to hurt anyone. Your friends love you, they love you enough to never mention your secret around me," lacing their fingers together Chloe felt the warmth spread through her body, "Even Fat Amy kept quiet and she constantly blabs about her secret love affair with Bumper."

Their ragtag group of friends were quirky and loved to gossip, but they were loyal and that was one of the things Chloe loved most about them. Each one protected Beca in their own special way, they were this uniquely dysfunctional family that looked out for each other and it weirdly worked. The really hilarious part was that Aubrey just assumed the role of mother and much like children do, they loved to push her best friend's buttons. They are probably the closest thing to a family as Beca can get, so they're treated like it.

"I'm just really sorry, I've been worrying about your reaction for months and I don't know, I was scared of losing you." Beca's eyes shifted back to the water, "Some people can't handle the pressure and baggage of being with someone like me. Every day I try to live a normal life, it's what I strive for. I want us to have a normal relationship, I swear I'll try my best to give you that, but being a musical prodigy and famous might sometimes prevent that."

"I want that too. You know we're not that different," Chloe had struggled her whole life feeling ashamed of the direction she'd chosen, but with Beca she doesn't anymore, "my whole life was planned out for me. I had to pursue my dreams behind everyone's back, I even lied about being in law school."

"Did your parents get angry?" The mood shifted and the hand in Beca's tensed and almost felt cold, "I mean my mom always encouraged me to do what I love and you love writing and art but your family wasn't supportive, you've even told me that."

Chloe nodded, although angry was an understatement "They were disappointed I lied."

For the few short months leading up to that night, Chloe can remember how great it felt to finally be doing what she wanted and to be herself around people. However, since that night her life has changed again, except now she carries around the guilt of what happened to her family. Maybe if she'd just gone to law school things would've turned out differently. Maybe they would've gone out for a nice family dinner instead of getting in that argument and her parents and crying sister leaving for the airport.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Beca quietly asked. Usually Chloe was an open book, but when it came to family it was firmly closed. Frowning when that didn't get a response she decided to drop the subject, "I understand and I…"

"My point is that I haven't lead a normal life either," Chloe curtly interrupted. She saw hurt flash over her girlfriend's face and it was a punch to the gut, "I've had things to hide too, to be one thing for my parents and someone completely opposite for everyone else."

"Are you like that with me?" Beca questioned playing with their fingers, "because up until five minutes ago everything I've ever told you has been all me. DJ Titanium doesn't define who I am, it's just my job."

Chloe didn't hesitate to shake her head no, "I haven't needed to put up a front…Bec being with you is the most stable I've felt in my entire life, I can be myself with you."

"I'm glad, because I can too, I love that about us, we're just easy," Beca smiled. There were still pieces of Chloe's life that were missing, she'd have to push for information later though, "These last few months I've had a semblance of normality that I haven't had since my mom died. I can see us having a great life together…I mean if that's what you want from me?"

Chloe heard the uncertainty in the shaky voice as her eyes flipped to grey blue one's, "I want a future with you Bec, I love you, you make me feel safe and happy, so don't ever think I'm here to play games. Let me be the one who gives you what you need."

Beca would be happy living in a dingy apartment with no cable or internet as long as they were together, "You get through to me when nobody else can, I just need you."

"Well you have me," Chloe simply stated, "and I'm not going anywhere. I'll fight for us Bec, I'll fight to make sure we're each other's priority," she knew that was the key to success in any relationship and one they'd both been doing since the beginning. "We can't forget that we need to keep us and our relationship first, it'll keep us grounded."

"I agree."

"For the first time in my life I feel like I matter to somebody and I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either…"

Seeing a grateful smile Beca returned it, finally feeling better about how this whole situation turned out. Chloe seemed to have a firm grasp of the type of pressures that will affect them, but only time will tell. Being involved with someone in the spotlight will test them, but she knows if they continue to put their love first they'll succeed.

"Being with me won't be easy sometimes," Beca stated. She hated to be a downer, but she needed to emphasize a few things, "Music isn't something I can just shut off, it'll hit me at odd times and I'll just need to get it out."

"I know and what's the one thing I've always told you?" Chloe asked giving a gentle smile

"That you'll never stop me from creating music," Beca answered and her face brightened when Chloe nodded, "I'm going to strive to work normal hours, but crazy schedules and short deadlines are going to happen."

Chloe understood the type of person she was involved with and how their relationship will be different from people like Aubrey and Jesse's. She liked the way they were, how they both have these creative sides and encourage each other to pursue them. Most people would get frustrated having their girlfriend spend the entire time they were supposed to be watching a movie seated at the kitchen table writing music, but she doesn't and it's happened a few time. She embraces Beca's passion, just like Beca embraces her artwork and photography, and she thinks it's part of the reason they work so well together.

"A little warning is all I ask for," Chloe didn't want to sound like she was nagging, but they both needed to put in the effort, "If you can't leave work, I'll come to you. I'll bring you dinner or I'll sit on the couch in your studio and watch you work. I'm not asking for much, just that we spend a little time together so we don't forget what's important."

Beca can't believe she has such an amazing girlfriend, nobody except Chloe Beale would ever be this understanding, "I can do that, I want to be there for you and for us. So that's why I'm significantly cutting back on my workload once I go back next year."

"I think that's a great decision Bec…"

"Gail won't like it, but I don't care. I want to come home to you at a decent time, to meet you for lunch whenever I want or take our dogs to the park on the weekends or hit up the farmers market like we're used to," Beca honestly said. "I like being in a relationship and having a life outside of work, so crazy hours will only be on an as needed basis from now on."

"You've really thought this through haven't you?"

"Completely, I'm changing my life, reevaluating what's important and prioritizing what I think should come first," Beca firmly stated. "I can't run myself ragged anymore, it's not healthy."

Beca's doctor had told her to spend the first few months of her time off relaxing and doing exactly what she just told Chloe. Things were going to be different once she was ready to go back, she was going to be different, she wasn't going to take every fucking opportunity that Gail or Luke thrusts at her anymore. She has gotten to a point in her career where she can hand pick who she wants to work with and artists were either going to work at her pace and on her schedule or they weren't going to work with her at all.

"I think that's smart," Chloe said, "and I'll help in any way I can."

"I want to start working out or running," Beca blurted making Chloe giggle, "I think that'll help with the whole sleeping thing, at least that's what I've read."

"It will, it helped me a lot after my family died," Chloe added, "We can start this month if you want?"

Beca nodded, "I need to get workout clothes and shoes and shit."

Leaning over Chloe kissed a cheek, "We'll sort that out later babe, but for now let's concentrate on having fun for a few days."

Beca held Chloe's hand tighter, not letting it slip away, "One other thing and I'm sorry for flipping subjects so rapidly…"

"It's ok, you have a lot to get out," Chloe laughed giving another quick kiss.

"Once the world knows who I am," Beca paused because it was still surreal to be thinking this way, "whether we want it or not, you and our relationship will be shoved into the public eye."

"Baby I'm well aware, it was the first thing that crossed my mind after I figured everything out. I'd like to say I'm ok, but I'm nervous," Chloe was all too aware of what it was like to have people poking and prodding into her life. She never had the paparazzi level intrusion, but living in a small town with affluent, high profile lawyer parents kind of shoved the attention on her, even when she picked up a coffee at Starbucks.

"It's ok to be, so am I," Beca reassured, "I loathe the thought of photographers following us."

This was the perfect opportunity for Chloe to tell Beca what Rolling Stone knew, but she didn't want to make waves just yet, "After working for a popular magazine I know first hand how they'll look for anything to drive up article sales."

Beca let out a huff of annoyance, fake stories will be inevitable, especially because she has a very pretty, out of her league, girlfriend. People will love to spread rumors of her infidelity or that they've broken up, when in actuality none of that is true.

"They do and I'd like to say I can protect us, but I can't, it's going to happen. The internet loves to speculate on everything and will no doubt over analyze why we aren't holding hands sometimes," Beca rambled while rolling her eyes, "The only thing we can do is not believe everything we read."

"Is that why you aren't on social media and don't watch much TV?"

"Basically yeah," Beca shrugged, "although I've never watched a whole lot of TV," she joked making them laugh, "I'm just…"

"A quiet person?" Chloe interjected.

Nodding Beca liked how Chloe just seemed to get her, "I don't need to read things about my music or who I'm supposedly sleeping with."

Lightly elbowing her girlfriend Chloe wiggled her eyebrows, "Well, we both know who you're sleeping with."

"God do I ever. Seriously Chlo, best sex of my life," leaning closer Beca's kayak tipped slightly as she wet her lips, "and that's saying a lot because we've only had a sex life for a little over a week."

"The experience can only go up from here."

Chloe Beale is fucking perfection in every sense of the word and Beca can't get over how she didn't have to do anything but be herself to snag this girl. For once Jesse's advice actually paid off because she's the one who gets to call Chloe Beale her girlfriend and she's the one who has been walking on cloud fucking nine since the day they met. She didn't know it was possible to be this insanely happy again after her mom died, but she has been proven wrong, oh so wrong.

"Actually I'll be going down on you later but whatever same difference," Beca whispered with a grin.

"Can't wait," Chloe murmured back brushing their noses together, "now kiss me."

"Don't gotta ask me twice…"

They met halfway and as soon as their lips connected Beca was easily granted access and they began another slow kiss. If they weren't in the middle of the ocean and she didn't fear her kayak flipping over, her hands would be all over Chloe pulling her in closer, tighter, so she could properly guide this kiss in the direction she wanted. Instead all she could do was grip her paddle harder and hold on for dear life as her kayak dipped precariously into the water, because the intensity of what was happening was out of this world. It's leaving her all tingly and giddy and lightheaded and it was awesome.

Slowing things down Beca eased back, before fully pulling away she absorbed the feeling of Chloe's rapid breaths against her lips, "So did I finally achieve the wow factor?"

A full on belly laugh came deep from Chloe's gut at the reference to their very first kiss, it was perfect timing, "With a capital W."

"Yes!" Throwing her hands up in triumph Beca made her kayak wobble and Gizmo immediately stand and look at her, "Did you hear that Giz? I've finally given the perfect kiss."

"Oh my god," Chloe flushed in embarrassment as she laughed at Beca's gloating about head angles, tongue placement and yes swapping spit, "I shouldn't have said anything…" Reaching for her water bottle and twisting off the cap she raised it to her lips but couldn't suppress her grin, "Every kiss with you is perfect, because you're perfect."

"Now you tell me," Beca held Gizmo's face in her hands as his tail happily wagged, "now she fucking tells me dude! After I've been kissing her for months, months," she screeched scratching behind his ears as Chloe continued to giggle beside her.

Beca was finally able to relax, Chloe was unbelievably calm about this whole thing and it wasn't what she expected. She anticipated a worst case scenario type thing, one with angry voices and maybe even a slap across the face, but what she got was the complete opposite. In a way, Chloe piecing together information and discovering this alone was the best case scenario. It gave her girlfriend the opportunity to make a decision about what she wanted without any influence.

After their laughter subsided Beca tapped her fingers on her knees, "So, I just want to make sure you're cool with me being," she waved her hands around, "you know famous or whatever."

Connecting their eyes, Chloe nodded, "Yeah, I'm cool with it."

"So, you're not breaking up with me?"

"Nope."

"Thank god!"

"I love you too," Chloe grinned as she pulled sunscreen from her dry bag, "I'm still gonna ask questions, lots of questions."

"Ask away," Beca quickly replied.

After squirting a small amount of sunscreen into her hand Chloe closed the cap and hesitantly asked, "Are you going to make me sign a confidentiality agreement," as she applied it to her face. Much to her surprise she was answered with a firm no, "I thought everyone did?"

"Not my friends, I trust them, just like I trust you," Beca's only exceptions were Emily and Jesse, because they worked at Hyde Street Studios and everyone there signed one, "Besides friends don't ask friends to sign contracts to be friends, that's shady."

That would be weird, Chloe thought, so Beca had a point, "So does that mean I can hold one of your Grammy's?"

Beca burst out laughing, "Yes, but don't tell Jesse, he's not even allowed to breathe on them after he scratched one of my platinum records."

"I feel so privileged," Chloe joked packing away the sunscreen and their trash from lunch.

"Well, we are sleeping together…" Beca deadpanned.

Chloe clutched a hand to her heart, "Damn, you figured out my angle to your Grammy's."

"And here I thought it would've been to get me to agree to a Rolling Stone cover story," Beca teasingly shifted her eyes to her girlfriend who wasn't moving and looked scared, "Although I can't wait to see what you'll do when you find out I'm taking you to the Grammy's."

"Real funny babe…" Pulling the map out of her bag Chloe froze when she didn't hear any laughter, "Quit kidding around."

"I'm not," Beca's tone was calm and even, although she was internally freaking out over what she was implying, "I'll be nominated in multiple categories this year and I'll need a date…"

For a few brief seconds Chloe stopped breathing as those words replayed in her mind, "You want me to go with you?"

"Of course, you're the center of my world and I want everyone to know that. I want to show off my girl," the reaction Beca got wasn't what she was expecting, she thought Chloe would be ecstatic not petrified, "I want people to see just how much I love you and how in love we are."

"I…ummm."

"If you don't want to go I understand," Beca shifted uneasily in her kayak, "Aubrey or Stacie will probably jump at the chance."

Resting a hand on her girlfriend's arm Chloe sighed, she hated seeing hurt written all over her girlfriend's beautiful face, "No, Bec I want to go, I'd be honored to go with you, I just…I don't want you to reveal yourself just because you think I want to go to the Grammy's."

"I know and I'm not."

"I'm perfectly fine with you staying anonymous for as long as you want," Chloe doesn't want to ever be the reason Beca gives up her normal life, "I'd be happy watching them on TV while eating pizza and drinking beer on the couch."

"I appreciate that, but this is something I've been thinking about a lot," Beca adjusted her life vest because she was finding it hard to breathe, "I'm not like going to step out tomorrow if that's what you think. I need to make sure this is what I want and is what's best for me."

"So you're not making this decision right now?"

"Nope, I want wait until I'm fully into my break and my life is going the way I want before I pull that trigger," Beca did a gun shooting motion with both her hands, "because there's no going back after I do. Once my face is out there, it's out there."

The best thing Chloe could do was to be supportive in Beca's decisions, reaching for a hand she joined their fingers, "I'll be with you every step of the way."

"Thank you, because I'll need you more than ever," Beca weakly said, "The initial hype will be outrageous but I know you'll keep me grounded until things settle down."

Beca hopes the transition will be smooth and relatively painless for everyone involved. She'd talked to her doctor extensively about this and he felt that telling close friends and family her intentions would help her enter the fame side of her life easier, because she'd have multiple avenues of support. Although she still feared the consequences and the scrutiny that will no doubt come, she also wants to honor her mom's legacy and the only way to accomplish that is to embrace that side of her life.

"Whatever you need me to do, all you have to do is ask," Chloe easily stated again reiterating her dedication, "I love you."

"I love you too," Beca kissed the back of their joined hands a couple times, she is so lucky have this woman in her life. "Now I know you have more questions, but our first day of vacation is drifting away, no pun intended. So can we focus on that for a little while?"

"Sure," leaning over Chloe gave a couple quick kisses, "Can I ask one more though?" Beca just nodded with a smile, "You promise this won't affect your time off?"

"I promise," Beca quickly answered, "relaxing, having fun and working on myself are my main priorities. And you of course," she winked and those blue eyes staring into hers twinkled with delight, "there's a whole bunch of you I want to concentrate on both fully clothed and naked."

"Well it sounds like you know exactly what you want."

Beca let her eyes freely roam, "Hell yeah I do…"

Lifting the map from her lap Chloe used it to fan herself, because damn a look like that just inched the hotness factor up to level eleven. Eventually the map was snatched away by a seductively laughing Beca Mitchell and held between them.

"So where to next?" Beca casually asked knowing full well what that flush on her girlfriend's cheeks meant.

"Well…" Chloe cleared her throat pushing away the dirty scenarios currently running through her mind, "we've explored these piers and a few kelp beds," she pointed to each place on the map, "we can go back or…"

"Look Otter Cove," Beca excitedly interrupted, reading the description, "How far away is that place?"

Using her finger as a ruler Chloe did a quick calculation, "Not far, maybe a twenty to twenty-five minute paddle from here."

So far they'd only seen two sea otters, but Beca wanted to see more including some babies and preferably in the act of sleeping or eating. They won't be as cute as red pandas but it would be a close second and she wanted to get lots of pictures just for comparison.

"Can we go there?" Beca tapped the map with her finger, "I want to go there."

Chloe laughed as she folded the map and tucked it under her life vest for easy access later, "See, now we have a plan!"

"Vacations are the shit, I should've taken one years ago," Beca stated lightly pushing off from Chloe's kayak so she could start paddling away, "Oh can we stop at Lovers Cove on the way back? I'm sure Gizmo and Billie want to stretch their legs, plus my homie loves the water I know he's dying for a swim."

"We can do whatever we want..." digging her paddle into the water Chloe gave it a couple strokes and easily caught up to Beca, "Hey since we're doing the aquarium tomorrow, what's the plan for the afternoon?"

"Don't know, haven't thought about it." Beca smiled as they glided along at an easy pace, "You got any ideas?"

"I was thinking hamburgers and beer at a cool local spot after we check in to our hotel," Chloe tossed out and she easily got a thumbs up, "Then late this afternoon how about a couples massage at the hotel spa?"

"Sounds fantastic," after this morning's upper body workout, they'll probably need it and Beca couldn't wait, "We can hit up the whirlpool afterwards and drink wine while we watch the sunset."

"See you're getting the hang of planning a vacation…"

---

Pushing the door of their hotel room open Beca let Gizmo and Billie off their leashes and watched them happily trot inside and over to their water bowls. She'd taken them for a short walk to stop her impatient fidgeting so Chloe could finish getting ready for their date. Having to share a hotel bathroom with someone, even when it's a suite, means way less space and constant bumping of elbows as they brushed their teeth. It didn't take long for Chloe mention that and how date outfits should be kept a surprise, as she kicked Beca out of the bathroom.

"Honey I'm home," Beca joked tossing the leashes and room key card on a table, "You ready?"

"Five minutes," Chloe's voice echoed from behind the closed bathroom door, "I'll be right out."

Picking up her book, Beca flung herself onto the couch and cracked it open, "Take your time, I'm gonna finish this chapter."

Beca didn't really read anything she just kind of stared at the first few paragraphs the whole time. What she couldn't stop thinking about was how she hadn't written a single lyric in days and how her songbook was still tucked away in her bag along with her laptop and headphones. Music is still hanging out in the background of her mind, it's always there, but she's been so preoccupied the last few days that she hadn't felt the need to jot anything down. Although she's only officially been on a break for a couple weeks and vacation for three days, she's beginning to understand that work and life balance everyone talks about and she's actually enjoying it.

Hearing footsteps and the flip of a light switch Beca lowered the book so the edge rested below her eyes and as soon as she saw Chloe, her breath caught in her throat. Chloe's knee length dress was loose, but still snug enough to accentuate her girlfriend's curves in all the right places. For as dark as it was, it shimmered in the light just slightly and was fancy, but not the formal party type fancy, it was just right for tonight.

"Babe, I'm ready…" Chloe laughed as she slipped on a set of gold bangle bracelets hearing Beca's book fall to the ground.

"Wow you look…wow."

"Gorgeous?" Chloe grinned predicting the usual greeting.

"I was going to go with stunning, but," sitting up on her elbows Beca ran her eyes up and down Chloe's form, "yeah gorgeous works too."

"Thanks," Chloe bent and picked up the book up, closing it she set it on the table, "Is it too much?" She gave a little twirl, "I bought it with Aubrey a couple weeks ago and have been waiting for the right occasion to wear it."

Beca shook her head no, "You look pretty, I feel so underdressed now, I think I should change."

Holding out her hands Chloe helped her girlfriend stand, pecking their lips she took a step back and surveyed Beca's outfit again. Beca had gone simple, a sheer dark purple shirt unbuttoned dangerously low, black skinny pants and a black leather jacket. It was accentuated with just the right amount of makeup and accessories to make it all come together, but still with a touch of edginess. Beca could make a t-shirt and jeans look good, but damn classing it up a little like this always made Chloe all hot and bothered. In the words of Stacie Conrad, "Beca Mitchell was one sexy motherfucker and she doesn't even know it."

"You look good, trust me. This…" swirling a finger in Beca's direction Chloe winked, "I approve of all this, you look hot, delicious in fact."

Absentmindedly smoothing out her shirt Beca's cheeks flushed, "Like I still don't know how you see that in me."

"I'm not kidding," Chloe stated.

"Well, you're still the arm candy in this relationship."

"Hey," using a finger Chloe lifted Beca's chin. Stepping closer she connected their lips and gave a lingering kiss. "You're everything I want," she whispered after pulling back slightly, "you're beautiful and I love how you're blatantly unaware of how attractive you are."

"I-I-I…ummm thanks?" Beca squeaked out, that tone and fingers trailing down her neck were doing things to her, fast. Then add in Chloe's face and how she's never had a girl look at her like she was someone's entire world, well holy shit she was now a full fledged blubbering mess. Swallowing the lump in her throat she desperately tried to regain some sense of words, "I like this, you're damn," she franticly shook out her hands, "you make me feel things lots of things."

Chloe ducked her head so that her lips barely touched Beca's ear, "Like love?"

All Beca could do was nod, letting out a weak, "Yes…"

"Like you just don't know what to do with yourself? Like your head is spinning out of control. Making you wonder if you're ever going to be the same again after the person you love touches you," Chloe very lightly pressed their bodies together, "or gives you this tiny lopsided shy smile." Shifting her head she saw the very one she was talking about, "The one that melts your heart, turns your insides to mush and makes you fall in love all over again."

"God yes…"

"Good, because that's how I feel every time I see you step into any room," And with that Chloe drifted over towards her purse, leaving Beca stunned and slack jawed. Placing her phone and the room key card inside she glanced up and smirked, "You ready?"

Beca just raised a single finger in the air and let out a slow breath as she closed her eyes.

"I'll give you a minute…" Damn Chloe hadn't pulled a trick like that in a long time, it was nice to know she can still leave someone speechless without using anything except words. Just to send the message home she added, "Although the last time you said that phrase to me you'd just given me the orgasm of my life in the shower and I couldn't think about anything except what just happened for a good twenty minutes."

Beca's eyes flew open and she watched her girlfriend purposefully move to the door, as she tried to figure out what the fuck just happened, "That was one of the hottest things anyone has ever done to me and I'm not even sure you did anything."

Opening to door Chloe smiled, she knew exactly what she'd done, "Baby let's go, it's time for you to wine and dine me."

"Jesus," if anybody other than Chloe called her that, Beca would be verbally reprimanding them, but listening to the way baby rolled off Chloe's tongue was better than music. Hurrying towards a sexy redhead, she whispered, "You're going to be the death of me one day."

---

"Seriously Bec, this is the best aquarium I've ever been to," Chloe could've traveled the world three times and never seen what they've seen in just a few hours. Currently they were standing in an oval shaped room with a school of fish swimming circles above their head, "And that's saying a lot because I've scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef."

"I knew you wouldn't be disappointed," Beca replied in an I-told-you-so type air.

"I totally hit the 'girlfriend who likes to do fun things and take me to awesome places' jackpot," Chloe beamed. Her eyes traveled away from the fish and over to Beca and she had no idea how one person can be this amazing and attentive, "Why hasn't anybody snatched you up before me?"

Swinging their joined hands Beca didn't bother looking away from the fish, "Easy, because I was waiting for the right girl, I don't fit everybody's mold you know."

"Nope, you kind of break it, at least mine you did," tugging on their hands Chloe made Beca playfully tip sideways so she could press a kiss to a cheek, "Even if you freaked out holding that sea cucumber."

Beca's head whipped to the left and she instantly felt her face warm from embarrassment, "Hey! I didn't know it would be that slimy and slippery."

"Babe, little kids were laughing at you."

"Only because we were the oldest people in the kid zone touch pool thingy," Beca defended, "which you wanted to do in the first place."

They'd been wandering Monterey Bay Aquarium for a couple of hours and Chloe doesn't remember ever having a date like this in her past relationships. One where both parties are having a great time together and laughing a lot, but that's how dating Beca Mitchell has gone and she loves it, loves how easy it is to just have fun together. All they've really been doing is navigating the exhibits at a casual pace and except for a few random times Beca has rarely let go of her hand. And that's counting the time she got a little too enthusiastic over the tanks that housed the Nemo and Dory lookalike fish. A playful eye roll was clearly visible in the fish tank glass as Beca grumbled about how they were supposed to be sophisticated adults on a fancy date, but then tired to inconspicuously snap cell phone pictures when she thought nobody was paying attention.

"You are so adorable," Chloe laughed, firmly planting her lips on Beca's to silence the rambling. Behind them she heard someone mumble things about a cute couple and she felt a smile reluctantly grow against her lips. Wrapping her arms around her girlfriend she sighed in happiness, this is what being in love is supposed to feel like, "See I told you, we're a cute couple, doing cute couplely things."

"Yeah, yeah so you love to tell me," Beca protested, "Only for you Beale…"

Chloe knows Beca hates the term "cute couple" but hey that's what they are, there's no denying it, everyone tells them that, especially Jessica and Jessica loves to tease Beca about it to no end. Beca may not outwardly admit to it, but Chloe also knows they both wear love struck looks on their faces and get those warm and fuzzy feelings just by thinking about each other. This relationship has been immensely good for both of them. The stability of a happy and healthy romantic relationship was something they've both been in desperate need of for a long time. Chloe is in a place she never thought she'd be able to get to again, she is comfortable enough to be open and in love with somebody and have it returned. Her love and actions are no longer one sided or taken for granted like her last relationship and that's a great feeling.

"Chlo you ok?" The halting of their easy banter and the faraway look on Chloe's face made Beca nervous, but then it was gone and replaced a loving smile, "You kind of drifted off there for a second."

"I'm just thinking about how much I love being with you," Chloe bit her lip at her unexpected admission, but it's what she's feeling.

Beca chuckled, "You're pretty great too," giving another quick kiss she slipped her fingers through Chloe's again, "Now you want to swing by the otters one more time before hitting up the kelp bed exhibit then head to dinner?"

Swinging their hands as they began walking Chloe nodded, "Sounds like a plan, I'm getting hungry."

"Me too…"

"Oh look Bec," stopping in front of a floor to ceiling glass window Chloe held back a laugh watching Beca's eyes go wide in the reflection, "Here's the killer jelly fish you were so scared of yesterday."

"Shut up," Beca shifted uncomfortably on her feet. If she actually wanted to drop their hands she'd be folding them in indignation across her chest right now, but she liked the warmth their joined hands provided. Instead she opted to scoff and roll her eyes as Chloe fucking cackled beside her, "Whatever dude, I am not scared of them, I could've sliced them with my ninja paddle skills."

As Chloe was dragged away from the exhibit and onto the down escalators she was full on laughing. If at all possible Beca was like ten times cuter when all flustered and blushing like this while trying to maintain a microscopic shred of badassery. Chloe couldn't help it, that was such an easy opportunity to slide in a jab and she couldn't pass it up, they'd literally walked right into it.

"Beale!" The laughing ceased and Beca felt herself fight to not to smile, but she wasn't going to allow Chloe the satisfaction of knowing she found the whole thing absurd too. "If you want any part of this," she trailed her free hand suggestively down her body, "for the next month, I suggest you cool your jets woman."

"Please," Chloe snorted out as they stepped off the escalator, "you and I both know I can go years without sex and you can't."

Beca's forward movement briefly faltered, in hindsight she hadn't anticipated that response, but it was totally legit. She was a very sexual person, Chloe was right in that aspect, she loves sex, but she especially loves sex with Chloe. Granted they'd only been going at it for a relatively short period of time, but she has a long term girlfriend now and she's looking forward to all the benefits a healthy sex life has to offer. The last thing she wants to do is screw that up, because she knows what it's like going through dry spells or resorting to hooking up with one night stands and using Stacie or Fat Amy as her wingman.

"Yep, totally won that battle," Chloe mainly said to herself, but also just loud enough so that Beca heard.

"I am only conceding defeat because there are children around and I really, really…" pausing Beca slowly let out a breath, "don't want them to hear the highly inappropriate and suggestive things that have been swirling around my head since I saw you in that fucking dress."

"But I love it when you talk dirty…"

"Yeah well," Beca's eyes shifted to a family with a stroller not far from them, "parents of kids and babies wouldn't be a big fan."

"Speaking of fans," Chloe smiled seeing the same little boy she'd spotted an hour ago, "Follow me."

Taking the lead Chloe maneuvered them over to the far side of the two story kelp forest exhibit. Turning so that it looked like they were observing a couple of fish swim by she was finally able to confirm what she thought she'd seen earlier. The boy, who was maybe about seven, had his jacket off, but even from this angle and distance the logo on the t-shirt was unmistakable, DJ Titanium. It was monogrammed in giant white spray painted letters along the dark blue shirt in the same font and style as the Hyde Street Studio's logo and anything officially released by DJ Titanium.

Stepping behind her girlfriend, Chloe lowered her hands on a set of slender hips then rested her chin on Beca's shoulder and whispered, "Don't look right away, but there's a kid about halfway down the glass wearing one of your branded t-shirts."

"Ok," turning slightly Beca pecked Chloe's lips and as she twisted back into place she saw him. She remembered him, he looked a little older than last time they'd met and she couldn't help but smile, "I know him and yes that's my one and only official t-shirt."

"I've never seen it before, where did he get it, because the last time I checked you don't even have an official website," Chloe continued in a whisper.

Without saying a word Beca quickly turned and lead Chloe to a semi-secluded area next to an emergency exit where people weren't lurking around. She didn't want to do this here, but she really didn't have any other choice. There wasn't anything left to hide from her girlfriend and she wasn't going to hide this, because this was just as important to her as her music.

Early in Beca's career, Gail came to her with a marketing plan and a merchandising team that were prepared to sell anything from t-shirts to posters to even fucking bedspreads of her so called "branded material" so that they could to continue to capitalize on her success. She hated the whole idea, that wasn't what she was about, and sitting for hours discussing color schemes, fabric materials and design costs took her away from her music. It was too much to handle so she nixed the whole thing, even the professionally designed website that was ready to go live that afternoon. Instead she got up and walked out of the meeting never giving any of the people in the room or the idea a second thought. Except when Gail came to her a couple years ago with one request she couldn't refuse.

"Ok so I don't market myself," buying stuff at concerts was one thing, because people also got an experience and a story to tell, but Beca loathed how other musicians sold forty dollar t-shirts online just to make a profit, "I let my music speak for itself."

"That's what I figured," Chloe tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear before casually crossing her arms as she lightly shivered.

"Here…" Slipping her jacked off Beca draped it over her girlfriend's shoulders, "Better?"

"Much," Chloe inwardly swooned at the small action and how Beca didn't even hesitate, "Now how does that kid have one of your shirts?"

"I have a few boxes laying around the studio," Beca just got an inquisitive look because of her vagueness. "Gail ummm, she was approached by a very…persistent cancer foundation that she couldn't turn down," it's funny because this was the first time she actually found out her manager had some semblance of a heart. "One of their terminal patients was a huge fan and wanted to meet me. Gail prolonged approaching me about it for a month, because she thought I'd get mad."

"But you didn't? You broke your own protocol and met them didn't you?" Beca nodded with downcast eyes and Chloe knew she'd just found out a little more about the type of person this amazing woman is.

"The thing I got mad about was because she didn't bring it to me sooner," it was really hard to put into words how humbling it was for Beca to know that meeting her was someone's dying dream, "You can't say no to that, my mom would kill me, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I turned down a sick kid."

Something tells Chloe that in situations like this Beca would never deny a fan, "Do they come to you?"

"Yeah, the foundation pays for their travel expenses and I take care of everything else while the family is in San Francisco." That's if it was medically feasible to travel, Beca has flown once to visit a kid in Michigan, "We spend the day in the studio, giving tours or playing instruments, just you know having fun. Sometimes if I have an actual recording session going on I make them my assistant for the day or the band, for some reason it's always Maroon 5, makes them an honorary member," her smile grew because those guys were great and they really go out of their way to make the day special, "Then Emily arranges a BBQ at my house for the family, Aubrey even shuts the deli down and everybody, including Lilly, willingly joins in."

"Beca that's…" the simple story made Chloe want to cry, "that's incredible and so sweet of you."

"I let them be a part of my world, meet my friends, so that even if it's just for a day they can forget about their problems," Beca shrugged, it was rewarding on a level even music couldn't even touch, "It's actually one of the rare highlights of my job."

"So where does the shirt come into play?"

"Oh, Emily gets a care package together for their trip home," Beca's face brightened. "She's extremely crafty, they always have some special theme and are done to perfection, even Aubrey is in awe of the creativity. Along with whatever else she adds she also puts a few autographed CD's and a couple t-shirts, one of them being my official one."

"And the families, what do they say?" Chloe asked.

This side of Beca's celebrity persona intrigued Chloe, it's a complete one hundred and eighty degree shift from what she expected. She always pictured DJ Titanium, well Beca, to shy away from everything fame had to offer, including meeting fans. This however was a gracious celebrity putting their fears and personal demons aside to fulfill someone's wish. It also kind of falls in line with the whole music foundation that's set up in Beca's mother's name, because Aubrey wasn't joking a couple months ago when she said, in passing, that Beca was a very generous and gracious person. In Chloe's opinion, a vast majority of the celebrity world could learn a lot from Beca Mitchell's outlook and realize that fame and recognition goes well beyond top ten hits and millions of dollars.

"They're great, they respect my privacy because they just want to see their kids happy." Shuffling around on her feet Beca wasn't one to openly discuss this part of her life, she always equated it to bragging and she hated that, "I don't make them sign anything that says they can't talk about me or whatever if that's what you're going to ask next."

"No I wasn't, it never even crossed my mind. Bec you make someone's dream come true," Chloe quietly said. Reaching out she took Beca's hand in hers and ran a thumb along the headphones tattoo, "I never imagined you'd do anything like that, it's inspiring."

Beca glanced over at the kid then back to her girlfriend, "This is something I don't ever want getting out, I don't meet kids with terminal diseases for fame or because I'm rich and need to do a good deed."

"That's not what I meant," Chloe softly interjected.

"I know, I just needed to establish that…" Beca shrugged it off and decided to be completely honest, "Although our circumstances are drastically different, I know just as good as them what it's like to not really be a kid."

"Music took away some of your childhood didn't it?" Chloe simply asked.

"Basically yeah," Beca nodded, "I mean…I had this gift that even my mom didn't fully understand and she was a musician. What she gave me was the creative outlets I needed to express myself." It was the right thing to do, she'll never argue with that, her mom helped her achieve all of her dreams, "Unfortunately it also took me away from being a normal kid, just like I imagine their diseases do."

Chloe is starting to understand why Beca is speaking with so much passion about this and why it's such a sensitive subject. Giving back like this didn't just help children it also helped Beca acquire and experience the things she missed out on growing up.

"So is that," Chloe tilted her head in the direction of the little boy currently standing with his hands on the glass staring up at the kelp beds in amazement, "one of the kids you met?"

Seeing that kid smile Beca did too, "Yeah a couple years ago, he had an older brother who wasn't going to make it. They were from San Diego, I think, and one of the first families I ever met with."

The two brothers lived with their grandparents and Beca can remember very accurately how much the whole family smiled during the time they spent together. The grandparents even commented on how Jonathan, the oldest, hadn't been this happy in months as they played Call of Duty on her PlayStation. She also remembers Gail telling her a couple months later that Jonathan had died, but when she called the grandparents to offer her condolences all they could do was gush about how happy Jonathan had been since the day they met. She'd always been the outcast and loner and never in a million years did she think she could impact someone's life like that, but that day on the phone taught her otherwise and to never take her fame for granted.

"Is it weird that we're seeing them here?" Beca asked out of the blue finally spotting the grandparents sitting on a bench off to the side, "Like do you think it's some kind of sign?"

An arm wrapped around Chloe's waist and pulled her a little closer, "I don't know, I'm not sure what to think actually."

"Me either," Beca lightly laughed giving a quick kiss.

It kind of seemed like karma was telling Beca this would be the perfect opportunity to slip into the spotlight without it being a big deal. For some reason having a photo show up on the internet of her and the kid wouldn't be a bad thing. Except she couldn't do that to the family, so she was going to keep this meeting low-key and figure out another way later.

Letting out a breath Beca sighed, "I want to go talk to him."

"Then go, I think they'd like to see you," Chloe reassured although she could feel the tenseness in Beca's body grow, "You don't have anything to worry about, the place is practically empty."

"You're right," slipping her hand to the small of Chloe's back Beca started moving them forward, "Lets go."

"Bec, I think this should just be you," it's not that Chloe didn't want to, she just didn't feel it was her place, "I'll browse the gift shop, I want to grab a new sketchbook anyway."

Removing her hand from Chloe's lower back, Beca intertwined their fingers, "I realize that, but this is the celebrity side of my life and I'd like to share it with you, it's one of the more rewarding aspects." She flashed a quick smile, but Chloe still looked petrified, "Chlo what's wrong, tell me?"

"I don't know," Chloe bit her lip in worry, "I just feel like I don't belong, like DJ Titanium is your world and Beca Mitchell is mine."

"And that's my fault," Beca said, trying to convey her guilt and put all the blame on her, "this whole conversation could've been avoided if I'd been honest with you right from the beginning."

Chloe shook her head, "I'm just over reacting."

"You're not…"

"Then why does it feel like my life is suddenly going to be placed under a microscope and people will judge me again?"

"Look at me…" that got Beca no reaction and she had no idea how to interpret the again tacked on to the end of the question, but she decided to focus on the other parts first, "Fuck what other people think about us, I don't care. I love you, you're my girlfriend, that's all that matters to me."

This is the first time Chloe will be seen as DJ Titanium's girlfriend in public and it was so daunting that it made her head spin. For some reason red carpets and television interviews didn't worry her, but encounters with fans did, because she can see the judgment as they interact. Plus meeting with a fan where Beca single handedly made their dream come true was nerve wracking and she was afraid she wouldn't make a good impression.

"Babe take a breath." Beca cupped her girlfriend's cheeks, she knew this was overwhelming and she understands the apprehension, "I don't want to force anything on you, if you need more time to digest my fame that's OK…I didn't plan on introducing you to this side of my life today, I wanted to ease you into it."

"I know Bec, it's just…" Chloe closed her eyes briefly collecting her thoughts, all of the sudden everything was hitting her all at once, "up until three minutes ago, I was just Beca Mitchell's girlfriend. Now I'm also DJ Titanium's."

"I understand," Beca's hands started slipping away but Chloe firmly held them in place in an effort to keep herself grounded, "this is a lot to take in, but I want you to be comfortable with that title," god she really hated that term, "because at times like these it's the reality of the situation."

On the inside Chloe is freaking out and she has no idea why, she is ok with Beca's fame and has been since the day she found out. This has to do with expectations and the unwanted pressure she's putting on herself for probably no reason at all, it's what she's always done since she was little and realized she was never good enough for her parents. It's hard to move past that, but looking at Beca, who is being so understanding and so sympathetic to her feelings, kind of makes all her worries wash away. Beca is confident in her, so she should be confident in herself too because being DJ Titanium's girlfriend is just a title. There's no reason she couldn't do this, she can easily navigate this world, because in her heart she'll always be Beca Mitchell's girlfriend, and Beca Mitchell will be the one by her side.

"I'm sorry," Chloe sucked in a couple calming breaths, she hadn't felt that helpless since the day the court case involving her family's death had been closed and she decided to run from her problems. Except this time she didn't run, for once she was staying in someone's loving arms, "I kind of had a mini-meltdown over something stupid."

"Chlo, it's not stupid, your feelings aren't stupid to me." Beca emphasized, trailing her hands down her girlfriend's neck and eventually down so they were holding hands again, "It's ok to be weirded out and overwhelmed, anybody in your position would be. But you're different, it's almost like you've dealt with this before. Are you sure you haven't secretly dated a celebrity before me?" That earned her a small shove and a giggle, "See there's that smile and confidence I love."

"Well you're being," Chloe laughed accepting a quick kiss, "you're goofy adorable self, I can't help but smile at that."

Beca nodded feeling just a little bit better, "That's me, that's who I am, who I will always be with you. The famous side of my life is just for appearances and right now we need to play that part."

"I told you I'd be there for you," Chloe is going to push her newfound fears aside and dive right into her new role, it's the only way to get past these feelings, "that I'll be what you need me to be."

Tugging on the hands Beca stepped closer, effectively closing the gap between them, "I just need you to be you. Wherever we are and whatever we're doing," Chloe needed to know nothing will change between them, "I'll still be Beca and you'll still be Chloe, and in the words of Fat Amy, together we're Bhloe."

Every time Fat Amy sees them together that's how they're greeted and Chloe just laughed at the reference and rhyme, "Well everyone loves a little Bhloe."

"That they do, just like I love you…" Standing on her tiptoes Beca gave a chaste kiss, "Now if you still want to go to the gift shop I completely understand." Helping Chloe slip her arms into the jacket she smiled, "I still need to speak with the Vogel family though."

"No, I'd like to come with you," Chloe reassured, it was nice knowing that Beca understands this fear, which came out of nowhere and was stupid to begin with, and still puts her feelings first. She's never had someone care so much about her, "I want to see you be a celebrity."

Beca chuckled smoothing out the jacket, "Trust me, she's more boring than what I am now."

"Somehow I doubt that," Chloe grinned, "you're prettying boring. In fact, you're the most boring person I know."

"Not true, Aubrey Posen is the queen of boring people," Beca quipped back.

"Babe be nice…"

"Dude, she listens to eighties music and is married to Jesse," in Beca's book those reasons alone would sway any vote, "she's super lame."

Chloe rolled her eyes pressing a kiss to a cheek, "So am I lame because she's like my best friend."

"Nope, you just drop a couple cool points, but easily gain them back when the she devil isn't around you," Beca grinned as they began moving away, "Now, shall we my love?"

Chloe felt her heart soar when she moved to follow Beca and a hand was held out, waiting for her to take it. Those simple thoughtful actions are what she loves the most, "We shall, do I look ok?"

Glancing to her right as they walked Beca lifted their hands and gave them a kiss, "Gorgeous, just remember to be you and that you don't need to impress anybody, because I already love you…I promise this will be quick and we'll even have time to stop by the gift shop before we go to dinner."

Chloe put on a smile watching Beca gave a tiny wave as they approached the family. Leaning closer she whispered mischievously, "Good because I've also decided to buy you a stuffed sea otter, you know for memories."

Beca kept her smile firmly locked in place as her girlfriend shook with quiet laughter, "Ok but please don't mention how I smacked my forehead on the glass while I was trying to get a closer look ever again."

---

The restaurant they were in was nice, extremely nice, like waiters-stay-away-from-your-table-and-let-you-eat-in-peace nice, and Beca's glad they took the hotel staff's advice for their romantic night out. The restaurant wasn't huge, but it was spacious with tables and booths spread out just far enough from each other that conversations wouldn't be overheard. Their table was, in their opinion, the best the restaurant had to offer, because they were seated in front of a large set of windows and were able to watch the sunset over Monterey Bay as they ate. It was perfect, the ambiance was sappy rom-con movie romantic chic and she couldn't help but kind of never want the night to end.

Sure they'd been on dates before, tons if they count their not officially dating dates, some were even fancy like tonight, but Beca can't remember any of them being this intimate. Call her cliché, call her sentimental or even call her corny, she didn't care, because she'll own up to the fact that she actively participated in making lovey-dovey eyes from behind wine glasses or between forkfuls of food and that she initiated handholds across the table that consequently led to them playing with each other fingers between courses. God romantic dates were the shit and she'll never, ever, tell Jesse he is a sap for planning elaborate dates with Aubrey anymore. She'd give her right pinky to have all their dates like this.

The woman across the table from Beca made her feel a lot of things, loved, respected and worthy, along with a whole other slew of adjectives that she can't possibly conjure up right now. Chloe gives her this confidence that she hadn't found in any other place or person except maybe music and it was all done so effortless that she almost missed the shift. She wasn't jittery speaking with the Vogel family and she could care less that she took a couple pictures or signed an autograph in public. This time last year she wouldn't have done any of that, she would've chatted with the family then politely excused herself before slipping out the nearest exit. The difference now was that Chloe was by her side, that Chloe is the best thing that has ever happened to her and that Chloe makes her a better person, in all aspects of life.

"Soooo," Chloe broke the comfortable silence setting her empty wine glass aside. Beca turned away from the window and towards her with a smile, one of those lopsided adoring smiles that pretty much makes her fall in love all over again.

"Soooo," Beca exaggerated making them both chuckle, "what are you thinking, love?"

"How I like that," Chloe saw the questioning face, "I like when you call me, love or my love, it's…" she anxiously played with the edge of her napkin. She was embarrassed to be even be admitting this, but earlier her face had flushed bright red when Beca introduced her to the Vogel family as my love, "I don't know it's just different from your 'hey gorgeous' greetings, it makes my stomach erupt in butterflies."

Resting her elbows on the table Beca leaned a little closer, her heart beating rapidly, "You are my love, I've never had someone I wanted to call that," she shrugged, "it just kind of slipped out one day and I liked using it."

"Well I love it," Chloe smiled, "so don't stop, ever."

Beca gave a quick wink, god she loved Chloe Beale, "Yes ma'am."

Resting a hand in the middle of the table Chloe wiggled her fingers, "How are you so perfect?"

"I'm not, that I can assure you…"

"To me you are," Chloe confessed as Beca's hand found it's way into hers, "To me all your quirks and idiosyncrasies are what makes you perfect."

Beca lightly laughed, "But I'm complicated, set in my ways and moody."

"I know, but I also know that's a front because you're different with me." Tracing the lines of Beca's palm Chloe felt like she could easily walk through life with this person, "You're very…gentle and understanding with me, loving. You put me and us above everything and I realize how significant that is, especially now that I know," she glanced around the restaurant, "things about you."

"You, I don't know, you make me want more, want you…constantly and in multiple ways." Beca said feeling her cheeks heat as she trailed a finger up to trace the ladybug tattoo on Chloe's wrist, "It's funny Stacie talks about how she has a constant wandering eye in relationships, but I don't see how that's possible for me when I'm with someone like you. You hold my attention and have since the very beginning."

"That's a good thing," Chloe knew Beca was a very passionate person and needed more outlets than just music to express that, "And trust me," she stilled the flowing finger against her skin, "you definitely hold my attention too."

"Well," Beca looped her hand around and tangled their fingers together, "I'm glad because I plan on being with you for a very, very long time."

They kind of have this undeniable sexual chemistry that is always there, simmering just below the surface, and it does things to Beca. She's never been so fucking attracted to a person like she is Chloe Beale and that jacks with her mental state, but in a good way. She fucking loves Chloe, loves everything she stands for, the strength she exudes and the graceful way she carries herself. Chloe is like that unattainable hot girl from the cover of Maxim Magazine, the one with the ridiculously perfect body, gorgeous smile and sultry eyes, the one that everybody is pretty sure only exists on those glossy printed pages. Except her dream girl is sitting right across from her and is way more attractive in person and on so many levels.

"Have you enjoyed tonight?" Beca immediately blurted a little too loud making Chloe giggle, "Because I've loved every second of it, I never thought dating someone could be like this."

"Me too…" Chloe softly answered, "but all our dates, even the ones to grab a burger at In-N-Out have been great." They lightly laughed, but the sentiment she implied was reflected back to her in her girlfriend's eyes, "Although ones where I get to dress up and we spend the evening…"

"Being grownups, doing grownup things," Beca joked with a smirk plastered across her face, "and I don't curse?"

Playfully rolling her eyes Chloe couldn't help but love that answer, "You can take the girl out of the jeans and Converse, but you can't take the jeans and Converse out of the girl."

"Aww you love me," Beca winked.

"Unfortunately I do," Chloe sighed, "I love you a whole lot."

Clutching a hand to her heart Beca gasped, "Don't sound so excited about that Chlo."

At the animated tone, Chloe's mind drifted back to their earlier interactions with the Vogel family and how it had revealed a lot about Beca's character. She's only ever seen Beca interact with friends or random people like grocery clerks or waiters, but to see Beca with fans was eye opening. Beca had a different kind of swagger, one that was confident and poised, yet still a little reserved in an adorably awkward charming sort of way. Beca had been great, easily chatting with the family then getting down on Andrew's level to speak to him and perform a secret handshake that had the small group laughing. It was crazy because the whole time they were standing there Beca was a celebrity, this larger than life celebrity with adoring fans that was easily seen in the way the family looked at her girlfriend, but at the same time Beca was the same Beca she fell in love with.

Beca even lovingly answered questions about where they met, how long they'd been dating and their vacation plans for the next month. Chloe had been nervous the whole time, but the reassuring hand that had rested on the small of her back and the thumb massaging soothing circles during the whole conversation silently told her that her first foray as a celebrity's girlfriend had gone smoothly.

In a pleasant way, the whole interaction of them as a couple with the Vogel's felt domestic and it brought Beca's brief mention of engagement rings and popping the question back to the forefront of her mind. At the time she'd been blindsided, mainly because she'd been preoccupied with how to tell Beca she quit her job and not make it sound as bad as it really was. So, her response kind of made her seem indifferent and scared, when the truth was she had imagined what it'd be like to be married to Beca. Beca's erased her thoughts of inadequacy and has showed her what it means to be loved and cared for and that makes her want marriage even more. She desperately wants her own family, she wants kids and to be an invested parent who gives them all the love and support that she never had growing up and she sees Beca right there with her. The only thing now is for them to have that conversation, except Beca hasn't mentioned it again and Chloe feels responsible for that.

Leaning part way across the table Chloe smiled when Beca quickly met her for a quick kiss, "Mmmm I almost think that is better than the dessert we're about to have."

"Debatable, because I'm really looking forward to that vanilla crème brulee," Chloe's face scrunched up in confusion making Beca laugh, "I'm kidding, your kisses are way better than food."

Plucking the wine list from the side of the table Chloe opened it, "I swear you are such an ass sometimes."

"Ohhh feisty, I love it!" Beca grinned as she used a finger to tilt the wine list in her direction so she could see Chloe's beautifully smiling face behind it. "So gorgeous, what are we going with next?" Trying to read the menu she let out a huff, it was all foreign to her, but Chloe had a knack for choosing great wine, "You pick, I'm complete shit and 0 for 3 so far tonight at pairing."

"This looks interesting," resting a finger at the bottom of the page, Chloe read off each of the wine names, "What do you think?"

"I've had flights of beer before, but never wine so," three ounce pours of each wasn't much to split between them Beca thought, "what the hell, why not?"

"I thought we weren't cursing," Chloe laughed closing the menu.

Beca grinned, "Sorry, I meant crap and heck."

Signaling the waiter over, Chloe quickly ordered and they were told that their dessert would be out be out soon. Beca politely smiled at the waiter when Chloe said they were in no rush because they were perfectly content eating, drinking and chatting until the place closed down.

"Can I ask you something?" Chloe asked once the small wine glasses were set in front of them.

Picking up the first glass, Beca gave it a sniff then placed it back down and did same for the second and third before ultimately choosing the second, "Anything, you know that."

"Yesterday when you were talking about revealing yourself," Chloe bit her lip, she didn't want this to sound as invasive as it seemed, "you never told me really why you're doing it?"

Beca gently set the glass down and looked up at Chloe, "It's time, you know, I can't stay hidden forever. Don't get me wrong, I like being unrecognizable, I prefer it actually, but it's also a major pain in the ass having to constantly cover my trail and watch what I say all the time."

"Is it equivalent to being confined within your mind?" It was a legitimate question and one Chloe has been dying to ask.

"Yeah in a way I guess," Beca rested her chin in the palm of her hand, "It's stressful, I'm constantly concerned that someone who knows will slip up, that I will slip up and say something unintentional." Letting out a sigh she smiled, "But on the other hand it's nice, we can have dates like this…" She briefly glanced around the room to the other couples absorbed in their own conversations, "No one bothers us, there's no fans asking for autographs and no photographers waiting to snap a pic of me walking down the street or us kissing."

Chloe froze, because little does Beca know she has a whole folder full of pictures of them doing random things, even kissing. She fully understands Beca's apprehension and has gotten her own little glimpse into the things Beca is most scared about. She knows she should say something, that Beca should know right now, but she still doesn't think it's the right time, it's just going to have to wait until they get to LA.

"I see." Reaching for a wine glass Chloe took a quick sip, "Is it hard trying to pick and choose who knows and who doesn't?"

Beca brightly smiled, surprisingly that was the easiest thing to do, "No, I can pretty quickly identify who is real and who is fake, it's actually one of the rare social cues I can read without any help." Holding up a finger she stopped the next question because she already had the answer, "The hard part is overcoming my anxieties about people's reactions, sometimes I get so scared that I'd rather not say anything and I know that's bad, but it's how my complicated mind works."

"If people were music would it be easier?

"Yeah, I wish everything was as simple as music," Beca frankly stated, "but life is a fickle funny thing. I'd be a rock star if I could navigate both."

"Bec you are a rock star," Chloe laughed reaching across the table.

Dropping her hand into Chloe's, Beca couldn't help but join in the laughter, "Touché…I need to come out of hiding, not just for me, but for us." Seeing a weird look she followed up by adding, "In order for me overcome some obstacles in my life," and in her head, "I need to accept the one thing that I've constantly run from. I didn't run from you and the emotions you brought out of me were enough to scare the shit out of me."

"Same here," Chloe confessed not looking up as she played with the other girl's fingers, "you're not alone on that one."

"I faced one of my biggest fears by putting my heart on the line with you. You could've smashed it and walked away at any point," placing her other hand on top of Chloe's fidgeting ones Beca waited for their eyes to venture back together, "Being emotionally connected to people is the hardest thing for me, it's why I only have a handful of friends and never really had a long a term girlfriend before."

"But I've changed you?" Chloe asked and Beca just nodded, "So let me get this straight," she smiled, she's never impacted someone's life before and it felt really good to be that person for once instead of a let down, "you don't think it'll be that hard to tell the world who you are because, to a certain extent, you're not emotionally invested in them."

Beca gave the question a few seconds thought, "I guess yes. My fans, they only want to see what's on the surface and to put a face to a name. While you and our friends want to see what makes me tick, you guys care about what happens to me, the fans just want me to keep producing hits."

Picking up a glass Chloe swirled the contents, "That's an amazing outlook."

"Trust me, it took a long time to come to that conclusion," picking up a glass Beca held it up and they clinked them, then took a sip. After savoring the red wine taste, which she found she enjoyed, she decided to turn the tables, "Ok, so now can I ask you something?"

"Yep, ask away…"

Beca knew she should keep this neutral and was stepping into shaky territory, but they'd been totally honest with each other the last few days that she thought it'd be ok, "Your family…"

Chloe tensed and carefully set her wine glass down, "What about them?"

"I know they're hard to talk about." Blue eyes flipped to Beca's so fast that it almost made her flinch and sit back in her chair. She could sense the hurt and sadness behind them, she'd seen it before during Chloe's break down and on other occasions where funny family stories were being told, "Do you have any good memories?"

Running a finger over the rim of the glass Chloe eventually turned her head and looked out the window, "None…My little sister was the best part of my life."

"Tell me about her then," Beca quietly and cautiously urged, "what was she like?"

"Innocent, a very loving kid who worshiped the ground my dad walked on, but he wouldn't give her the time of day." Chloe's answer came out in a low monotone voice, "She wasn't a boy, she was just another disappointment, like me."

"I get that," setting her glass aside Beca let out a slow breath, this conversation was going nowhere, Chloe was shutting down like always. Despite her better judgment she pressed on because she wanted to know about the one family member that held some significance in Chloe's life, "but I want to know why she's special to you. Clearly she means something," reaching for a hand she twisted the ring that never left Chloe's thumb, even during showers it was there, "because you wouldn't wear this every day if she wasn't."

Wiping under her eyes with a napkin Chloe could see Beca's face reflected in the glass, "My parents were always busy working, we had a nanny for a while but once I got old enough it was just us. We did everything together, we cooked, celebrated birthdays and holidays alone."

"Chlo, I'm sorry, I didn't know." Beca's voice wobbled slightly.

Beca was well aware of how her girlfriend was treated growing up and the expectations she faced, but it still hurt her heart knowing how people, parents, could be so cruel to someone as amazing as Chloe.

"Look you want to know and I'll tell you, it's no secret my parents had money," Chloe bitterly began, "but they were still shitty parents who opted for yachting in the south of France every Christmas and New Year's while we were left at home. Do you know what it's like to have a five year old ask why mom and dad aren't helping decorate a Christmas tree or having to sign birthday cards and buy presents every year because they forgot? I'll tell you what it's like, it sucks and it hurts in ways I can't even explain. But I'm never going to be that kind of parent when I get the chance."

"What was her name?" Beca's heart was aching and she felt guilty for pushing, so she tried to put things back on a happy subject.

"Claire," Chloe breathed out sadly as her heart rate began to slow, "She was this little ball of energy, she just had this charm that could always make me smile."

"Kind of like you, you have that ability too you know."

"I really, really miss her, she was my best friend."

The best times were Saturday mornings when Claire would shuffle into Chloe's room with uncooked strawberry Pop-Tarts, two juice boxes and a blue stuffed rabbit tucked under her arm so they could watch cartoons together. That was Chloe's favorite memory and the one activity she still misses the most every weekend. Even when they were in boarding school together, every Saturday, without fail, they ate Pop-Tarts and drank juice.

Holding tightly to her girlfriend's hand Beca knew Chloe was on the verge of tears, "When was the last time you saw her?"

"An hour before she and my parents died," Chloe bluntly stated, tone turning icy as Beca's face dropped. She shouldn't have been so harsh, Beca was just asking questions that she should've answered without being a bitch.

"Did you get to say goodbye?"

"No," dropping their hands Chloe violently wiped away her tears, "the doctors tried to keep her alive so I could say goodbye but by the time I got to the hospital she was already gone."

Taking her girlfriend's hands again Beca held them tight, "Chlo, it's ok to be upset, to be angry. I was…"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," moving her hands to her lap Chloe stared down at them and rapidly twisted her thumb ring, "I don't like talking about what happened."

"So you love to tell me." Beca nodded, leaning forward she sternly whispered, "I understand, I just want to know about that aspect of your life, so I can help. You try to hide the pain, but I can see it and it kills me because I don't know what to do to make it better."

"Bec, I appreciate your concern and understanding but…" using her napkin Chloe dried her eyes again and she could see her girlfriend restraining her thoughts, fighting to continue to listen to her and not get upset, "that's in my past, it can't be changed, so there's no need to discuss it."

Beca's shoulders slumped and she felt defeated, she can't get anything out of her girlfriend. Hell it took her this long just to get the name of Chloe's sister, other than that she knows next to nothing. Yes the circumstances are tragic and painful, but so was what happened to her mom and Chloe knows pretty much everything surrounding that night. Chloe is great with supporting her, listening to her ramble on and on about her mom and giving words of advice when it's needed the most, but she can't return any of it. It simultaneously breaks Beca's heart and makes her mad because she doesn't like being left in the dark, she just wants to give Chloe the same kind of comfort she gets.

"Chlo, that's not the point," Beca let out a frustrated sigh as she tapped her fingers along the tabletop, "I just feel like this aspect of our relationship is a little one sided you know? I'm trying my best, but I don't know what to do if I don't know how to help."

"I'm fine, I have to live with the outcomes of what I caused," Chloe shot back trying to keep the anger at bay and her voice neutral, "It's the cards I've been dealt."

"What do you mean what you caused?" Beca urged, but immediately got a death glare, "Chloe what happened?"

"My family hated me and my choices," Chloe really didn't want to start an argument, especially since they'd been having a great night. Throwing her hands out in aggravation she stated, "How else do you want me to explain it?"

"Ok, I get it," fiddling with the edge of her napkin Beca didn't dare look up because she didn't want Chloe to see her heartbreak, "You don't want to talk about it, I'll drop it and never ask again."

Chloe dropped her shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief, she just wasn't ready to discuss what happened, it still hit to close to home.

"Thank you," Chloe weakly whispered, feeling a tear run down her cheek again.

Beca gripped the arms of her chair and looked up to stare across the table, she really shouldn't say this, but her words were already slipping out of her mouth before she could stop them, "You know sometimes I just I don't know how to read you and it makes me feel like I suck at being your girlfriend."

So far in their entire relationship this was their only source of friction and they hadn't really argued about it, Beca usually backs off, but she can feel a big fight building. It's part of the reason why she wants to start asking more questions, otherwise things will explode later on down the road.

"Babe no," Chloe finally reached out, but when her hands weren't taken, she realized she'd really screwed up. Beca wasn't doing anything wrong, just asking for little insight and she wasn't providing it, "You're an awesome girlfriend and you help me even though you don't realize it. I just put up a wall because I'm not used to having people care about me."

Beca wasn't sure how to read that look, it was a mixture of sadness, yet complete understanding, "I've told you and showed you in a hundred different ways that I love you and I care about you, I just don't know what else I need to do to prove it," tentatively reaching out she grabbed Chloe's hands and they smiled at each other as the tension in the room dropped, "I just want you to know you don't have to be in pain alone, you can talk to me, because I don't want you to feel like you have nobody. I know what that's like and thankfully Aubrey and Jesse and Stacie pretty much saved me."

"And I've never had family or friends like that."

"You do now."

Chloe gave their hands a quick squeeze, because she hadn't realized until now how true that was, "I love you and I'm sorry I got so upset, but family is a painful subject."

"And I'm sorry I pushed." Beca gave a smile, silently telling Chloe how much she was appreciated, "I'm here for you so please don't shut me out."

"I'll try not to," Chloe smiled.

"That's all I ask for."

"Are we ok?"

"Yeah we're good," Beca said, standing slightly she leaned over and gave a kiss, expressing how much she loved and cared for Chloe. Pulling back she joked, "I think we survived our first mini-fight."

Chloe just laughed, loving the way Beca could effortlessly sway a conversation and make her feel better, "We did, but I'm sure we'll have more."

"Oh for sure…"

The waiter wandered over with their crème brulee and they both gave quick thanks as he set two spoons down in front of them then moved away. As Chloe took her first bite she marveled in how hard, yet easy it was to talk to Beca. Yes, she fought what little information she gave tooth and nail, but she'd said more about her family in the last few minutes, than she had in years. And Beca hadn't backed down or ran when she got frustrated, instead she kept pressing, but in a very caring and noninvasive way. There's so much she needs to tell Beca, about her job, about why she quit, about her family, but for some reason she can't fully open up, she just shuts down and that's bad. She's giving everything she can to this relationship, but at times she still feels lost, even though she's found a home and life with Beca. Maybe it's time for her to seek professional help in dealing with things from her past because in the words of Beca Mitchell she wants to get her "shit together" too.

"This," Beca used her spoon to point to the dessert a few minutes later, "is fantastic, I can't believe I've never had it before."

Covering her mouth Chloe giggled, "It's simple to make, I can teach you, I took a cooking class in France one time and we made it."

"I'd like that, I love cooking with you," Beca said before taking another bite, "You know I've always wanted to go to Paris."

"Well you have a whole year off, you could hop on a plane tomorrow," scooping up another spoonful Chloe winked, she'd love to take Beca to Paris it's kind of the epicenter of romance for couples, "and be at the top of the Eiffel Tower for sunset the next day."

Licking her spoon clean Beca set it aside, "Is it pretty?"

"It's honestly too beautiful to even describe," Chloe gushed, "you wouldn't believe me, you just need to see it for yourself."

"Yeah, but I'd need a tour guide, a very hot and very redheaded, tour guide."

Chloe reached for one of the wine glasses and finished it off, "She's expensive…"

"Don't I know it," Beca grinned from behind her own glass, setting it aside she gestured around the table with a hand, "I mean this dinner alone is going to cost me like three weeks worth of groceries, but…" she let out a regretful sigh, "she's worth every penny though."

Laughing Chloe brightly smiled, "Think of this as a trial run, like a business dinner, you know testing out the merchandise."

"I don't think this tour guide would want to hear what I think of her or want to do to her," Beca shot back in a sultry tone, making Chloe's eyebrow arch in interest, "Unless she's into more of the one on one tour guiding thing, where all services are included?"

"I'm sure if you take her to nice French restaurants and stay in luxury hotels she'll provide whatever…" Chloe licked her lips, "service…" then pulled the bottom one between her teeth and released it watching Beca's eyes darken, "you may need."

"All inclusive, that's doable and hot, just like you," the room suddenly got warm and Beca reached for her water glass, "Damn I like the way you work it."

"No diggity…"

Beca shot a wink and a sly smile and felt the slightest bit victorious when Chloe's neck flushed, "No doubt."

After taking a sip of water, Beca set her glass down and sat back in her chair in thought. The whole Paris and tour guide thing was purely coincidental, but a good leeway into what she'd been toying with since she signed the contract for the James Bond movie.

"So Miss Beale, in December I need to go to London for a few days," letting out an anxious breath Beca put on a reassuring smile after the abrupt subject change, "a week at the most, do you want to come with me?"

"Beca I…"

Grinning Beca could see the excitement and she felt it too, "We can go to Paris for Christmas, someone just told me it's beautiful."

Chloe didn't know how to respond, because the last few Christmas's she's spent wrapped in a blanket watching holiday movies all day. Considering how many question were asked just planning their month getaway to a beach house Beca owned, she didn't really think Beca was much of a traveler, but it seems like her girlfriend is fully embracing her newfound freedom. And well Chloe loves to travel, so she'd be stupid not to jump at this chance to travel to one of her favorite cities with the love of her life.

"I'd love to go with you," Chloe's excited face mirrored Beca's, but she still couldn't help to ask, "But don't you usually spend it with Aubrey and Jesse?"

"No, they go to their families, I'm always invited, but I feel awkward and out of place. I usually just hangout at home with Gizmo," Christmas was a hard time for Beca, her mom loved it and it's never been the same since she died, "Sometimes I go eat dinner with Emily's family. Last year was weird for some odd reason, Fat Amy was in town so we went to a fancy buffet downtown and got totally shitfaced on champagne Christmas Eve. Coincidently that was the time Amy blew chunks in Cynthia Rose's SUV."

"Gross…"

Beca indifferently shrugged, "Probably was, glad I don't remember."

"Anyways," Chloe smiled, not wanting any further details of those two's escapades, "let's go to London and Paris."

"Awesome," Beca held out her hand for a high five, "I'll talk to Gail and all you need to do is figure out how many days off of work you get and she can arrange the plane tickets and shit. We'll do the hotels…"

Oh man work, Chloe thought, that really wasn't an issue anymore, but she didn't want to be a buzz kill right now, so she improvised, "Time off won't be a problem, I can work from anywhere, plus London has a great music scene I can write about. Why are you going there anyway?"

"Ohh that," Beca waved a hand like it's no big deal, "I have one song to record and the London Royal Philharmonic won't travel to me and..." She paused for effect fighting back an exciting grin because even she knew how killer this song was going to be, "Neither will Adele."

"Oh my god," Chloe's jaw dropped, Beca was confirming everything she'd read on Tumblr a couple weeks ago. Placing both hands on the tabletop Chloe leaned forward, shifting her eyes around the room she animatedly whispered, "Are you really doing that song for Skyfall?" Beca's eyebrows just rose in amusement, "Holy shit are the rumors true?"

"Yes and yes," Beca confirmed with a smirk, "How'd you know that?"

"People at Rolling Stone have been speculating since Adele sent that cryptic Tweet last month," except that was a lie because Chloe only searched Adele's Twitter after she'd read that uber fan's Tumblr page, but now everything has just been confirmed by the source, "Beca you could get nominated for an Academy Award, almost every James Bond song has?"

"I know, Jesse's already working on my acceptance speech." Beca didn't need the constant reminder it just added even more pressure, even though the possibility it was exciting, "I've already started working on the music…" Composing symphony arrangements, writing lyrics and producing, was a huge undertaking and she wanted to make sure she took her time, because this was going to honor her mom's legacy it needed to be perfect, "I'll tell you like I told Aubrey, this is my one and only project I'm taking on during on my time off. It's an opportunity I couldn't pass up, my mom would've killed me."

"Can I meet her?" Chloe bounced in her seat making Beca laugh, "She is like one of my idols."

"Yeah of course, we've spoken a few times, I told her you might be coming," there was a squeak of surprise and her girlfriend's excited movements stilled making Beca laugh even harder, "What?"

"You mentioned me to Adele?"

"Yes…"

"Adele knows my name?"

"Yes, she wants to have dinner one night before we start recording…"

"Holy shit, holy shit, she and me and us," Chloe rapidly pointed back and forth between herself and Beca, "I…oh wow, I need to start shopping for an outfit like yesterday."

Beca finished off their last glasses of wine as Chloe practically hyperventilated across the table, "Is this what your celebrity freakout looks like?"

Placing a hand to her forehead Chloe grinned in astonishment, "Yeah sorry, she's just, she's fucking Adele, Beca."

"Jesse said the same thing," folding her napkin Beca set it on the table then motioned for the waiter for the bill, "don't worry, she's cool."

"Precisely, that's what's intimidating about this entire situation," Chloe took a couple calming breaths while fanning her face, "Nice celebrities are the most intimidating."

Fishing a credit card out of her wallet Beca didn't even bother to look up while asking, "You didn't freakout like this when we were backstage at Outside Lands or when you found out who I was?"

"Because you're you," Chloe waved her hands in Beca's direction, who playfully reeled back, "you're like my pocket sized cutey who is all adorable and cuddly and funny and someone I just love so much."

"And?"

"And she's Adele, like the Someone Like You, Adele."

"I've won Grammy's too Chlo, more than her actually."

"Yeah, but…"

"Ok, ok, I get it she's cooler than me," Beca handed over her card not even bothering to check the bill, instead she just laughed at her stuttering girlfriend, "you're like one of those crazy super fans aren't you?" She narrowed her eyes as a blush just rolled up Chloe's cheeks, "I get it and I love you, but you can't act like a spaz when we meet her so you got a few months to get it out of your system."

"I can be cool," Chloe took in a couple breaths and let it out, "Can I take a picture with her?"

"I don't see why not, but you need to ask her first," Beca loved seeing Chloe this amped up.

"Oh babe! When we get back to the hotel can we watch a movie?" Chloe didn't know how to interpret Beca's weird facial expression, "It's a great way to end our date night with our fur babies at the foot of the bed, I'm sure room service can bring us popcorn."

"How much have you drank tonight? You're flipping topics faster than pancakes," Beca probed, even though a movie sound like an awesome plan "But seriously lets do it, you can even pick."

"Will you stay awake?" Chloe asked standing.

"Can't guarantee it, but there's a high probability I'll pass out, you've liquored me up real good tonight with all this wine," Beca rolled her eyes when Chloe playfully frowned in an over exaggerated silent movie type of way, "We can still snuggle though."

Chloe's face brightened as she straightened her dress, making her way around the table she smacked a loud kiss on a cheek, "Thanks you're the best girlfriend ever! Ok, I'm going to run to the ladies room, meet you at the front?"

"Sure." As Chloe moved away Beca once again realized how lucky she was to have this amazing woman in her life, "Hey love?" Chloe turned and flashed a heart stopping smile, "FYI, you're the best girlfriend ever too."

Pressing a hand to her lips Chloe blew a kiss, "Love ya…"

---

Thanks for reading!

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Ok I know I totally suck a responding to reviews, I have no excuses other than I suck because I haven't been on here very much in the last month, but I can tell you I did read each one! I loved every single one and can't tell you enough how much they meant to me. So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Life has been crazy this past month and I hope once the first of the year hits, I'll be able to get back to a normal schedule and be able to respond to you guys...

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Until next time...