Beca was just walking into the kitchen the next morning, her laptop bag over her shoulder as Aubrey was hanging up her phone. She was dressed in her typical work attire. A nice cream-colored pants suit, her hair pinned back in curls. Her brief case on the island next to her coffee thermos. It almost seemed like a normal morning. The tension that filled the room, though was thick.

Aubrey looked like she was about to explode into tears or rage or a combination of the two and Beca stopped just short of fully entering the room. She debated back out of the room completely. Unsure if Aubrey had even seen her. She didn't get a chance though.

Aubrey looked up at her and tried to control her expression but failed. "Well, that was my dad. I'm sure you can imagine how that conversation went." She said and slapped her phone down on her briefcase. Beca flinched and Aubrey saw it.

"I'm sorry." She sighed. "I'm not angry with you, I'm just frustrated, that's all. Please, come here?" She asked and reached out her hand. Beca knew Chloe would be coming down the stairs anytime now, as she had heard her talking on her phone when she passed the guest room door. She didn't want her to think anything was going on, especially after Aubrey's abrupt exit the prior afternoon that never got an explanation.

She set her bag down and walked over to her and took her hand, closing her eyes as she was pulled into a hug. She wrapped her arms around Aubrey and snuggled into her chest, breathing in the scent of her favorite perfume. She felt a warm sense of security wash over her. For the first time in weeks, she felt safe in her wife's embrace.

XXXXXX

"I know that. I'm just telling you what I heard." Chloe spoke softly into her phone. "I never thought so either, but really how often are you around them anymore?"

She was sitting on the guest bed, looking out the window, talking to Stacie on the phone. Stacie lived about two hours away in the North Georgia mountains, selling real estate and hadn't been down to the city much in the last couple years. She saw Aubrey and Beca at Thanksgiving and she hosted Christmas, but other than that she didn't see them often throughout the year.

Chloe sighed as Stacie asked her again, exactly what she heard.

"I heard Beca ask her, why she hits her. I heard Aubrey admit to doing it, and promising too never do it again. But it doesn't sound like a one-time thing and Beca has a nasty gash on her hand, she needed thirteen stitches. Aubrey said she tripped while drunk and went through the glass table but I don't know if I believe that anymore. I mean I've never seen Beca have more than one maybe two drinks." She said glancing toward the door.

She listened as Stacie tried and failed to find a way to explain what Chloe had heard. But, like Chloe, she hadn't been around enough to know if anything like that was going on. After graduation, they all went their separate ways. Except Beca and Aubrey who got an apartment together before getting married and buying a house. Even Amy had left the area, deciding she preferred her home country of Australia.

If something was going on, and Aubrey really had been hitting her wife, Chloe was glad to be moving back. She didn't want to believe such a terrible thing about her best friend, but she couldn't deny what she heard. If Beca needed help, she wanted to be close by.

"I think I found an apartment; I'm going to look at it today and if all goes well, I will be moving back within the next month or so." She said looking down.

"Okay, talk to you later. Thank you, Stace. It was nice to hear from you. Okay, bye."

She hung up the phone and stood up. She had heard them walk by the door and wanted to be around in case she was needed. So, she made her way downstairs and was slightly surprised to find them in a tight hug in the middle of the kitchen.

"Hey, Chlo." Aubrey smiled as she walked in.

Chloe plastered on a fake smile as Beca pulled away from Aubrey and looked at her. She looked okay. She didn't look upset or worried, and this calmed Chloe's nerves a little.

"Morning, guys." She said and sat at the island.

"Coffee?" Aubrey asked.

"Oh, no thanks, I was gonna see if Beca wanted to grab some coffee with me before she heads to the label. I'm going to look at an apartment today." She smiled.

"Oh really? Nearby?" Aubrey asked, securing the lid on her coffee and picking up her briefcase.

"Two blocks away." She spoke.

"Really? I don't have to be at the label until this afternoon, I could come with you if you'd like?"

Aubrey shot a look at Beca but she missed it as she was excitedly looking at Chloe.

"That would be great, thanks Becs."

Aubrey picked up her things. "Okay, well you two have fun. Let me know if you like the apartment." She said and kissed Becas cheek.

"Bye." She called as she left the kitchen and walked into the garage.

"What time are you supposed to view the apartment?" Beca asked and Chloe look at the clock.

"Not until eleven." She smiled. "Want to get some coffee and breakfast?"

"Sounds good, and if you'd like after we see the apartment, you can come see my studio. You've never been there before."

"That would be awesome." Chloe said as Beca grabbed her keys and followed after Aubrey into the garage.

XXXXXX

"So, how have things been? I already talked to Aubrey and got caught up on her end but what is going on with you?" Chloe asked as she stirred some cream into her coffee.

They were at a small table in Becas favorite coffee shop. One she used to frequent when they first moved to the area.

"Things have been good, yeah." She said, lifting her coffee to her lips and taking a sip. "Really good, I mean I got to help out with that Billie Eilish album and I think she has mentioned to her agent that she would like to collab on her next album as well, so that's a good feeling."

Chloe's eyes grew and she had to stop herself from slapping the table in excitement.

"Holy shit that is amazing! I knew you helped with her current one, but Bree didn't mention anything about this!" She said setting her coffee down.

"Oh, well, I haven't told her yet. I was hoping to make it a surprise if and when it actually happened." Beca said.

"Please don't mention anything? I've had a hard time surprising her lately." Her voice held a hint of sadness that didn't go unnoticed by Chloe.

She chose her next words carefully. She wanted to know more about what she had overheard the night before but she didn't want to scare her or make her shut down.

"And, uh, how are you and Aubrey?" She asked picking her cup back up, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

"We are doing well." Beca said, busying herself with tearing her napkin into small pieces. Something she didn't realize, but Chloe knew she used to do when she was anxious.

"Yeah? That's good to hear. I've missed you guys."

Beca looked up at her. "We have missed you too, Chlo. I'm really glad you're moving back." She said, and Chloe could hear a hint of something in her voice that didn't sit quite right in her stomach.

"Me too."

XXXXXX

Beca was just unlocking the door to her studio to show Chloe around after they left the apartment showing when her phone rang.

She pushed open the door and gestured for Chloe to go in as she answered it.

"Hi, love." She said walking in behind Chloe, turning the light on.

Chloe's eyes grew as she took in the sight of a massive room, that wasn't at all like she pictured.

She assumed Becas studio would be like the one at her house. With low lighting, darker colored walls and candles that set just the right mood. But, no. The control room was well lit by a beautiful light fixture that made the elegant gold color of the walls, which she realized was papered in gold crushed velvet, glow beautifully. Along the back wall were large white sofas, a coffee bar that doubled as an actual bar made up the side wall. Above the bar, were large photos of Beca with various artists. She recognized, Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg and another producer whose name she couldn't place. Right in the center of all of them was Beca and Aubrey's wedding photo and she couldn't help but smile. They looked so happy. To her right was the large window into the actual studio and she got giddy thinking of all the people who had recorded her favorite songs in that room.

Beca could see Chloe was in her own world, with bright eyes as she looked around the room, and figured she shouldn't rush the call with her Wife.

"Beca, are you listening to me?"

"Yeah, I'm here." She spoke.

"We have a big problem. As soon as Chloe goes back to home, we are going to have to make some serious changes."

Beca froze, glancing at Chloe who was marveling at her pictures.

"Okay, um, is-is everything oka- "She was cut off.

"No. No everything is not okay. I am on my way home. Did you guys go see that apartment?"

"Yes, we saw it. We just got to the studio." She said setting her bag down at her control table. She felt hot and cold at the same time. There was something in Aubrey's voice that was scaring her. Something was wrong, and that was made clear, but she worried about what might happen when Chloe left.

XXXXXX

Chloe and Beca were in a tight embrace. It had been two days since they went to see the apartment. She had applied for it and had been approved so she was heading home to get things in order for the move. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary that day when they got home. Aubrey was there and had prepared dinner. She didn't act any differently toward Beca than she had been since their conversation the night Chloe had heard them talking unbeknownst to them. Even alone, Aubrey didn't mention the call or even acknowledge Becas uneasiness.

"Hurry back." Aubrey smiled as Beca stepped back and she took her place.

"I will. I can't wait to be so close to you guys again. I'm going to aim for two weeks!" She said excitedly as they pulled apart. She was fully aware that something was wrong, that there was tension in the house but she didn't want to make it worse for Beca by mentioning it right as she was about to leave. She was going to do her best to get back as quickly as possible.

"Okay, well have a safe flight and let us know when you land back in Portland." Aubrey said as Chloe looked towards security.

"I will, I love you guys."

"Love you too." Aubrey smiled.

"I love you, Chlo." Beca said and Chloe could see tears swimming in her eyes. She wanted so badly to believe she was just sad they were parting, but she couldn't be sure.

They watched her walk up to security and waited until they could no longer see her before they headed back to the car.

Aubrey was completely silent and Beca could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up. She wasn't sure what to think, or what to expect. Now, as the got back to the car, she caught sight of her wife's dark gaze over the top of the car as they got in. Something was screaming at her not to get into the car. Something in her gut, was begging her to not get in, but she did.

XXXXXX

They hadn't made it ten feet into the kitchen, when they arrived home before Beca felt a vice grip on her arm and she was yanked around to face the cold, angry eyes of her once loving wife. She was already shaking, and she knew Aubrey could feel it. She knew something like this was coming. She hoped and prayed to a god she didn't believe in, that it wouldn't. No such luck.

"You selfish, spoiled, arrogant little bitch." Aubrey growled and before she could even register the hateful words, the back of Aubrey's hand was coming down hard across her face.

She cried out and tried to reach up, to protect herself from anymore blows, but Aubrey had her by the right arm, and her left hand was still in a wrap. Aubrey pushed it down and reached up, grabbing her jaw tightly.

Tears were already streaming down her red, burning cheeks and she closed her eyes, not wanting to face the hatred in Aubrey's blue orbs.

"You ruined everything!" She screamed, squeezing her face tighter. "You- "

Beca pulled back hard and was able to free her face from Aubrey's grip. "Aubrey, stop!" She cried.

"You promised!"

Aubrey yanked her closer. "You and your demands, cost me my job." She hissed in her face. "I don't give a fuck what I promised." She said reaching down and grabbing her bandaged hand, lifting it and smashing it down on the counter.

Beca screamed in pain, trying to free herself from her wife's grip. She succeeded and stumbled backwards, hitting the fridge and her legs gave out. She crumpled to the ground; a place she was getting used too. She looked up at Aubrey walking toward her and willed the floor to open up and take her away.