Saturday arrived with a bright sun and a pounding headache for Beca. All of the crying and tension of the day before had left her with an emotional hangover - even though she hadn't been drinking the previous night. Her initial thought was to go to a bar and get shit-faced. But she knew that wouldn't accomplish anything, other than putting her at risk for all kinds of bad outcomes. So she wandered around. She couldn't honestly say where all she went - just that she had covered a lot of territory. Her aching feet were testament to that fact. She laid flat on her back and stared at the ceiling for a bit, trying to sift through the cacophony of thoughts swirling in her head. Then she realized that she was alone in her bed. Though she felt foggy about the night before, she did remember that she fell asleep wrapped up by Chloe. She sat up, noticing the Advil and glass of water on her nightstand. She gulped the pills down and drained the glass. She wanted to stay in bed, to hope she could avoid the inevitable painful conversation with her friend. Honestly, she had no clue what to expect. Chloe had been sweet and helpful the night before. But Beca remembered just how cruel she had been, the things she had accused Chloe of doing. In the new light of day, Beca wasn't sure how gracious Chloe would be. She figured she needed to face the music, so she threw her legs over the side of the bed and got up.

Entering the living room, Beca smelled coffee and breakfast. Chloe was seated on the living room sofa. She turned and smiled when she heard Beca enter the room."Heysweetie. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," Beca rasped, her voice still thick with sleep.

"I made coffee and waffles," Chloe announced."Youmight need to heat them up a bit."

"Thanks," Beca said. She shuffled into the kitchen and got her food and coffee. Then she wandered into the living room and dropped down into a chair. She realized she was starving, so she quickly got to work on a waffle - eating it without syrup. Chloe sat quietly on the sofa, sipping her coffee while Beca ate. After the brunette had her fill, she set the plate on the end table and looked over at the redhead. Beca's heart raced. She was overwhelmed with shame over her behavior the day before. Equally, though, she was overwhelmed with … affection? love? …. towards Chloe. She thought of just how incredible the other woman was - something she had taken for granted more often than she cared to admit. All of it brought tears to her eyes. She chuckled as she reached for a tissue."I'msick of crying," she offered.

"I can imagine," Chloe answered.

The awkward silence resumed until Beca finally spoke up."Um… I guess … we should talk about yesterday … "

"Probably so," Chloe replied. She wasn't being snippy, but there was a definite chill to her voice.

"Uh … so, again … I want to apologize … for how I acted yesterday," Beca began"Andfor the things I said. Which I know were untrue and unkind."

Chloe tilted her head and answered,"Youapologized last night, Beca. I forgave you. You don't have to keep apologizing."

"It seems like you are still upset," Beca mumbled.

"I am still upset," Chloe confirmed."Ican still be hurt and upset even though I forgave you. Apologizing doesn't make the pain go away."

Beca nodded and then leaned back in the chair."Igrew up in a very conservative home. We were in church several times a week. We weren't allowed to watch a lot of movies or tv. And we were told all the time how homosexuality was wrong. It was actually, like, the worst thing you could do. So everybody went overboard to not even look remotely gay. My dad left when I was 13 - which was perfect timing," Beca's face had turned scornful."Iwas becoming a teenager, having new feelings, and then I also had to deal with my parents' divorcing. My mom got even deeper into religion. It was awful; she was hyper-focused on anything that seemed remotely wrong. I would feel drawn to other students at school and church.. Both boys and girls. But I couldn't take about that. I knew that liking girls was wrong, so I had to convince myself that I didn't actually like them. I ended up pulling away from people, closing myself off. When I got to college, I kind of acted out. I hooked up with guys, partied, made dumb choices. Jesse stabilized me. But through it all, I never let myself entertain the feelings I would have for women. I never experimented with them. I just tried to ignore the pull."

Chloe listened attentively, not interrupting. She felt deep compassion for Beca, and what she had been through. When she could tell that Beca wasn't going to continue, she finally spoke."Thanksfor sharing that. Truly. I know it isn't easy to open up and share those things." After a pause to consider what to say next, Chloe asked,"CanI ask you what changed?"

Beca blushed."Um… you." She looked up anxiously at Chloe."Iwouldn't normally be just spilling all of this, but … uh … Jesse already kind of told you that."

Chloe's heart pounded in her chest. This wasn't about starting anything with Beca; they needed to repair their friendship first. But the redhead couldn't deny that Beca's statement struck deeply in her heart."I'm… gonna need … some clarification on that."

After sighing, Beca spoke - despite being horribly embarrassed at the entire line of conversation. She looked everywhere but at Chloe."Ugh… I always knew you … were beautiful … but I started feeling things … more than just physical attraction. I was physically attracted to you, and I couldn't deny that. And I felt a pull to you … that was more than just friendship. I kept trying to deny it like I had always done, but I couldn't. It was crushing me. It messed with my head. I finally got to the point where I had to accept it. That started a whole new set of problems. What do I tell Jesse? How is he going to respond? I guess we figured that out," she groused."Howwould this affect my friendship with you? Obviously, the big questions about what my parents would do and say. I feel like I've been a wreck for a long time."

Chloe chewed her lip as she listened. She decided it was finally time to let Beca in fully."I'mreally sorry that you had to carry all of that for so long. I want to remind you that you are not alone. Even if you have nobody else, you have me. And I understand what you're dealing with - probably better than you realize. You've known me for a while now. Have you ever heard me talk about my family? Or have I ever gone home for a holiday?" Beca thought back, realizing that she never had heard Chloe talk much about her past at all. She shook her head."Ihad a falling out with my family back in high school. I came out to them, and they disowned me. I had to stay with a friend as I finished high school. Then I moved away for college and never went back. I haven't talked to my parents in over five years. My older brother keeps me updated on family news, but that is the extent of my interactions with them."

"That's awful," Beca gasped."I'mso sorry." She started crying."Thatis what I'm afraid of. That my family will write me off."

"There is that chance," Chloe replied."Mytherapist once asked me,'Theydon't include you in their lives. But do you really want that kind of toxicity in yours?' Turns out that I don't. I'm not saying it doesn't hurt. Every birthday, every holiday. There are stabs of pain. But I decided that if they couldn't love me … the whole me … then they weren't the kind of people I needed to pursue."

"I can't believe anyone couldn't love you," Beca mumbled.

Chloe still heard. She sparkled as she said,"Thanks,Becs. I love you too." The redhead allowed a few moments to pass before she continued."Asfar as … us … goes." This was the part Beca was nervous about. She wasn't sure if Chloe could really get over their unpleasant interaction the day before. Or would the confession of how Beca realized she was bisexual freak Chloe out? She took a deep breath and tensed up. Chloe laughed as she noticed."Oh,Becs, unclench. Things are fine. I know why you freaked out. I wish you hadn't attacked me. That felt shitty - like you didn't know me at all. But you weren't really thinking straight. Haha. Pun."

Beca rolled her eyes, although she was thankful for the tension relief."OkBeale, stay on track here."

"Right right," Chloe agreed."Weare going to be fine. I'm sure it isn't a secret that I have more than a crush on you and have for a while. And while I would want nothing more than to explore that, I really think the best thing is for you to get comfortable in your own skin first. I'll be right here as your friend, your coworker, your roommate, your confidante. We will just need to put anything of the romantic nature on hold for a while. Does that sound like a good plan?"

Beca nodded, relieved that Chloe still wanted her to stay. She also felt a thrill at Chloe's confession of a crush. Beca agreed there was work to do first, but she was excited that maybe something could develop later."Thatsounds … great."

"Now, as to the work rumor," Chloe said. Beca tilted her head and furrowed her brow, not sure where this was going."Idid some digging after you … took off yesterday." Beca began to speak, but Chloe held her hand up."Nomore apologies. Now, do you know someone named Benji Applebaum?"

Beca's eyes widened."Yes,Benji is Jesse's best friend. We all used to hang out in college. How do you know Benji?"

"I don't," Chloe answered."But,apparently Emily does. They're dating."

"Whaaaaat?" Beca asked, her jaw dropping open."Howdid that dork land a hottie like Emily?"

"Hmmmm," Chloe observed."ApparentlyI'm not the only woman in the office who caught your attention." Beca blushed a dark red color."Don'tfeel bad. She's hot. To answer your question, Emily is surprisingly a big fan of close up magic."

"Oh God," Beca groaned."They'reboth dorks."

Chloe shrugged."Toeach their own. Anyway, It seems that Jesse ran his mouth about your breakup to Benji, who then ran HIS mouth to Emily, who talked to the wrong person here. Well, talked AROUND the wrong person here. Bumper overheard her, and … well … it's Bumper."

"That dickhead," Beca growled."AndI'll have to deal with Emily next week."

"Take it easy on her," Chloe encouraged."Shealready felt terrible when she realized what happened. She's just naive." She looked over at Beca. The woman looked tired - and understandably so. She had been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders for months. She realized her ex was a dick, went through an ugly breakup, had to move, got outed twice, and had her crush revealed to the object of that crush - in addition to the fear of losing her family and losing Chloe."Howare you doing?"

Beca shrugged."Itdoesn't feel like anything is solved or finished. I know where the rumor started, but I still have to live with the consequences. I may not be alone in all of this, but I still have to figure stuff out about my life for myself. And I still have to decide what to do when about my family."

"Take it one step at a time, sweetie," Chloe suggested."Thereis a lot you have to do, but you can only do one thing at a time. Plus, you get to actually be yourself now! That will be a great feeling."

"I supposed," Beca said. She stared at the floor for a while. Then she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and hesitantly spoke."Uh,Chlo … I know you said that we need to wait to … be romantic." Chloe nodded."Canwe still … you know … hug?"

Chloe laughed."Comeover here." Beca hopped up and scampered over to the couch. She curled up next to Chloe with the redhead putting her arms around her body."Hugsare always okay." The two women sat like that, feeling secure and loved for quite a while. Beca knew that she still had a long journey ahead of her, but - for the first time in months - it felt like the clouds may not be as dark.