And then it was you

Chloe was running around trying to get everything ready on time. People would start arriving in an hour. They decided it would be best to have the party at Chloe's parents house. It was bigger than hers and they also could use the patio. She was in the kitchen with her mother getting all the sandwiches and snacks ready.  Jake was having a nap so he wouldn't get cranky at the party. Chicago was with Chloe's father outside on the patio getting all done. 

"You guys seem fine" Chloe's mother said without looking at her daughter. Chloe sighed.

"I guess we are but I don't wanna talk about it now mom. Not today" Her mother lifted her hands in surrender.

"Ok, just asking" Chloe looked at her mother and smiled at her.

"I will tell you but I want this party to be great for him ok? We can focus on the rest another day" Chloe's mother nodded and smiled.

"You're right dear. Just know that I'm here when you need to talk" Chloe hugged her mother and went to leave the sandwiches at the patio's table.

It has been an stressing week for her. Beca hadn't talk to her at all. She wouldn't answer her texts or calls. She at least need it to explain everything to her. She remembered her talk with Chicago the day after he arrived.

*A week ago

Chloe hadn't sleep much. She spent the whole night thinking how was she going to tell him everything. I mean there was not a good way of saying 'I don't love you anymore'. She didn't love him anymore and there's not much he can do about that. She was drinking her coffee in the kitchen when she saw him. She smiled the best she could at him and he smiled back.

"Morning beautiful" He walked behind her and hugged her. 

"Morning" She moved away and sat in one of the stools. It was now or never. It was better to have this conversation when Jake was still sleeping. The sooner the better.

"Jaky sleeps like a log" She nodded to him as he poured some coffee in his favourite mug. "I can wake him up today and then we can all go for a picnic at the park. How does that sound?" Chloe smiled sadly at him. He did wanted to try.

"I think it's a good idea but I think we need to talk first" Chloe was ready. She looked at him and saw how realitation crossed his face. 

"Are you...ending things?" He said barely above a whisper. Chloe got closer to him and hold his hand.

"I think it's best for both of us..." He looked at her. He had tears in his eyes and so did Chloe. "I love you Chicago, but I'm not in love with you anymore" She looked to the floor.

"You haven't even let me try..." He shook his head. "Give me time Chloe please" He begged her. "Let me prove to you that I'm worth it" He cried.

"Chicago you're worth it" She looked at him. "But it's not about that..the love I felt for you..it's gone. I think it's been gone for a while" He nodded.

"I knew this day would happen eventually" He chuckled sadly. " I just hoped I would be able to fix it before it happened" They were both crying. "So what now?"

"I don't know, I guess we should get a divorce..." He nodded."But I don't want any lawyers who tell me when do we get to see Jake" He nodded in agreement. "I think we can handle that ourselves." 

"Yeah, I don't want that either. If that's what you want Chloe. We'll do it. I just want what's best for you" He touched Chloe's face. "Always will"

Chloe hugged him tightly. He was indeed a great man. "Me too Chicago"

*The present

Chicago was laughing with James Beale. Chloe's father was trying to hung the piñata without Chicago's help. Chloe was looking at them and smiled. 'He will be fine' She thought. The doorbell rang and she ran inside the house to get the door. She new who she wanted it to be. As she opened the door two little arms hugged her legs. She looked down and saw the blonde girl looking up at her with a grin. "Hello Brooke" She smiled at her. She looked up and her smile faltered when she saw that it wasn't Beca. Aubrey and Jesse were the first ones to arrive. Aubrey noticed the dissapointment in her new friend's face but didn't say anything. "Hello guys, thank you for coming! You're actually a bit early" Chloe chuckled and thought about all the things that she still has to do.

"Thank you for inviting us" Jesse said smiling. "We can help out with anything you need" Chloe smiled at him. She could see the resemblance between the two siblings.

"Thank you so much" She let them in. "Brooke you can go upstairs and wake Jake up if you want"

They all went inside and Brooke ran upstairs. The three adults laughed at the girl and went inside. Chloe introduced Aubrey to her parents and Chicago and told them what was missing. Between all of them they had everything ready just in time. Jake's friends from his daycare started to arrive and he would introduce them to Brooke who was always by his side. The adults gathered around the food and drinks. Chicago was talking to Aubrey whose father was as well in the army. Everyone who Chloe invited was there. Everyone except for Beca. 

"She'll come" She turned around and saw Jesse there smiling at her. "She had things to do first but she'll come" Chloe was about to refused everything but she thought otherwise and nodded to him. He winked at her and left to play with the children. She decided to sit for a second. There was a spot next to her father so she took it. 

"You did great sunshine. He is having the greatest time" Chloe's father said looking at Jake who was playing catch with the rest. 

"Thanks dad" He touched her knee and smiled. 

"Chicago told me" She froze. "It's ok. I actually think you did the right thing. He will be fine" Chloe didn't know what to say. Her father didn't talk about this kind of stuff with her. "Let me help that pour mother of yours in the kitchen" He got up and kissed Chloe in the head. He didn't give her the chance to respond. She knew her mother wouldn't like that her father knew before her but it wasn't her fault after all. She looked at were Chicago was talking to Aubrey and he looked back at her. He gave her a sad smile and resumed talking to Aubrey.  She looked at her son and everything faded away. He was ecstatic. She saw him looking at the door and running to it. 

"Beca!!"He screamed and jumped to the girl who picked him up straight away. Chloe stood there watching her son in the arms of the woman she's missed so much. She was so focus on them that didn't catch Chicago looking at her and then to Beca. 

"Happy Birthday bug!" He laughed and hugged her. "How are you doing? Are you having fun?" He nodded excitedly. She put him on the floor and he run off to his friends again. Chloe saw Beca introducing herself to her mother.

"You must be Beca" Beca smiled and shook the woman's hand.

"Guilty. And you must be Misses Beale" 

"You can call me Denisse" Beca smiled at her and then her eyes found Chloe's. "Jake hasn't stop talking about you" Beca nodded but couldn't look at the woman. There it was again. That pull. Denisse looked at where Beca was looking and found her daughter looking at Beca the same way. "I see" She said to herself. Chloe started moving without noticing she was doing it and she found herself in front of Beca. 

"Hi" Chloe said breathing like it was the first time since she saw her.

"Hey" Beca answered and gave Chloe a bag. "I thought he would like that" Chloe took the bag and smiled at Beca. 

"Thank you Becs, he is gonna love it" Beca put her hands inside her pockets. She didn't want to do anything stupid. "Want a drink?" Beca nodded and followed Chloe. Denisse stood there watching them and smiling to herself. "You've been avoiding me" Before Beca could respond Chloe raised her hand up to shush her. "I get it. No need to explain yourself" Beca smiled at Chloe. 

"Sorry" She said and Chloe gave her a cup with beer in it. "I've been busy though" Chloe stood next to her and waited for the other woman to continue. "I've finished the song" At this Chloe almost choke.

"You did?" Beca nodded smiling proudly. "I thought you were going through a hard time with it" Chloe felt complete again with Beca with her. It has been an awful week without any kind of contact with the woman.

"Yeah..I did. And the class...they love it" Chloe nudged her shoulder with Beca who chuckled at that.

"Of course they do. I'm sure it's an amazing song" They looked at each other. "I can't wait to hear it" At that Beca froze.

"Hear it?" Chloe laughed like it was the silliest of things.

"Of course you idiot! Oh!" Realization hit her. "Only if you want me to...if not that's ok"

Beca fidget a bit "We'll see" 

"How long 'till the competition?" Beca was nervous. She felt Chicago's eyes on her.

"Emm..Less than a month" She looked to where she was sure he was and she was right. Chicago was talking to Aubrey and Jesse but his eyes were focused on them. "Hey, I think I'm going to mingle for a bit" Chloe looked dissapointed at Beca. She wanted to grab her hand and tell her everything. Tell her about the divorce. Tell her, well, too many things but at the same time she knew that it wasn't the right place and it was too soon to tell Beca...well..those many things, so she nodded at her and watched how she walked away from her.

The party was a complete success. Jake was opening his presents. Mostly toys. He opened the last one and Chloe recognised the bag. It was Beca's gift. He opened and saw a superhero costume. She looked at Beca and saw her smiling at Jake who was jumping up and down with his costume. Beca then looked at Chloe who mouthed 'thank you'  and Beca smiled at her. The guests started leaving one by one and Chloe made sure that Jake thanked everyone with her. The only one lefts were Jesse, Aubrey, Brooke and Beca who were helping to clean everything up. Once everything was clean they got ready to leave. Both kids were asleep in the couch.

"Thank you so much for helping us. It was really kind of you" Denisse said smiling. "Please come back anytime" They all nodded.

"Thank you for having us. Brooke had a great time. She always does with her best friend Jake" Aubrey quote her daughter. "We'll see you another time"

"He loves her too" Chloe smiled at the two children. Jesse picked Brooke up carefully not to wake her up and walked out the door.

"Well, I better get going as well" Beca said pointing at the door. "It was really nice meeting you Denisse and James" She smiled at them.

"Oh the pleasure it's all ours dear. You can come anytime you want" Denisse hugged Beca.

"I better get this one to bed" Chicago said and picked up Jake. "See you soon Beca" He smiled weirdly at Beca who waved at him.

"Ok....see you soon." She left and closed the door behind her. Aubrey and Jesse were driving off and just when she was about to climb into her car Chloe came out of the house and run to her. "Hey, what are you doing out here?"

"I just wanted to..." She wasn't sure what to say. She wasn't even sure why she ran out of the house after her. So without a thought she jumped into Beca's arms and hugged her tightly. Beca was astonished but fast enough she hugged the redhead back. Beca thought that it was wrong. She knew it was only a hug, but that hug meant something more to both of them than a regular friendly hug. She knew it but at the same time she didn't want to let go. Chloe's hair smelled like lillies. She decided that that was going to be her favourite smell from now on. Chloe moved but didn't let go of Beca. "Thank you for coming" Beca could only nod. She was trying not to look to Chloe's pinky lips. 

"You should go back in" Beca moved a bit so they weren't touching anymore. "They must be wondering where you went to" Chloe looked to the house and saw her mother looking through the window and chuckled. She felt like a teenager with her mother eavesdropping on her. 

She watched Beca driving off and went inside. Her mind was in cloud 9. She didn't know what just had happened but she couldn't let go of her. Her mother was waiting for her next to the door. "Chloe dear..." She recognised her mother's worried voice.

"What is it?" Her mother took her hand and looked up the stairs before speaking softly to her daughter.

"I don't think that's a good idea right now" Chloe looked confused at her mother.

"I don't understand what you mean" Denisse sighed.

"Look, I know that there's something going on between you two" She said referring to Beca and Chloe.

"There's nothing going on mom" Chloe looked away. She wasn't lying to her mother. There was nothing going on between them. Not really. "But even if there was...you should know that Chicago and I are getting a divorce so it wouldn't be like I'm cheating on him"

"I know dear. Your father told me" Chloe rolled her eyes at herself. Of course her father told her. "It is fine that you are...feeling things again." She smiled sweetly to her daughter and Chloe was about to speak but her mother stopped her. "I could see your face since the moment that woman entered the house" Chloe looked down. "What I mean is that it might be a little too soon for that" Chloe understood what her mother meant. "I know that for you it's been a long time not feeling things for Chicago...but for him...everything happened last week" Chloe nodded. She felt terrible. She was only thinking on herself. She didn't think twice about how must Chicago had felt. She had been so consumed about the idea of Beca...she has to wait. She owes that to Chicago.

"You're right mom. Thank you. You always know the right thing to do" Chloe hugged her mother.

"Oh shush, go to sleep" Chloe nodded and was about to start walking up the stairs when her mother called her back. "And Chloe?" Chloe looked down to her mother. "When the time is right. Don't let her go away" Denisse winked at her daughter who grinned at her. She went upstairs and checked her son's room that was her old room. Chicago was sleeping next to his son. Both of them peacefully. She smiled and closed the door. Everything would work out ok.

 The next weeks passed in a blink of an eye for Beca. She spent most of her time in the Academy. She would wake up and work at home and leave to the Academy before Stacie arrived. Chloe and her texted a few times but they didn't call. They asked each other how everything was going which both of them would answer with a 'good thank you'  and that would be the end of the conversation. Beca thought that Chloe was probably embarrased about the night at her parents house. That shouldn't had happened. Jesse and Aubrey had been a pain in her ass. They've kept talking about how she should meet with Chloe and talk. She refused of course. She decided that it was best to spend all of her time on the competition ahead. She decided to have Emily singing the first song and Jessica the new one. They tried and tried to make their voices like there was only one but Beca decided against it. They were completely ready. They got it in their pockets. The competition was 3 days from now and she was at the Academy finishing all the paperwork for it. She gave the tickets to Aubrey, Stacie and Jesse, including little Brooke, she had two more tickets. She knew who those tickets were for. She was the one asking for 2 more tickets so they could assist. But that was before, well, everything. She decided not to give the tickets to them and hid them in her room. 

"Aunty Beca!" Beca looked up from her desk and saw her favourite blonde running to her. She picked her up and sat her on her lap.

"What are you doing here?" She looked at the door and saw Aubrey coming inside the room with a pissed look on her face.

"Brooke Marie Swanson" Brooke looked terrified at her aunt and then to her mother. "What have I told you about running off like that?" Beca chuckled. That little girl always running off. Brooke looked to her shoes.

"I'm sorry mommy" Aubrey sighed and looked at Beca.

"What are you doing here?" Beca asked Aubrey who shrugged.

"We were on the park and decided to see if you were around here"  Brooke looked at her aunt and smiled.

"I was playing with Jake" Beca was surprised by that.

"Were you now?" Beca looked at Aubrey who had a guilty face.

"Yes and he said that he misses you" Beca felt her heart break a little at that. She loved that kid already. How could she not when his mother was the most amazing woman she's ever met. "His daddy is fun too" Beca was hit by reality. Chicago. Chloe was still married.

"Did you guys meet there or what?" 

"He texted me that he was going to the park and asked us if we wanted to tag along" Beca looked confused at Aubrey. She didn't know she had any contact with Chicago. "Chloe gave him my number" Beca nodded. "Speaking of Chloe..." Beca rolled her eyes at her "She said you guys haven't talk much lately?" 

"Not really. I don't really want to bother her now that Chicago is back" 

"You should take your head out of your...you know where" Brooke looked at them "I gave her the tickets"

"You did what?!" Beca's was shocked. "First of all, how dare you do that?" She put Brooke on the floor "And second how did you even know where the tickets were?" Beca was trying to control herself. She didn't want to make a scene with Brooke in front of her. 

"Stacie told me where you put them" She shrugged. "And I'm actually doing something you should've done yourself" Beca scoffed.

"Whatever you say Bree. I actually have to keep working so if you don't mind..." She signaled to the door.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn midget?" Brooke looked between the two women.

"No fighting" She said with tears starting to fill her eyes. Beca sighed.

"Sorry chipmunk. We are fine ok?" She smiled to the little girl who nodded. With one more look from Aubrey they left the Academy. Aubrey knew her friend and how she was feeling but she also knew that Chicago and Chloe were not together anymore. 

"Are you sure about this?" Chloe was in line with the rest of the group waiting to enter the theater. She was nervous. She hadn't seen Beca since the party. Almost a month ago. After that night she promised herself not to make any move with Beca until her divorce was signed and official. She at least owe that to Chicago. He's been great about everything. She thought that he would actually try to talk to her again about it, but no. He spent most of his time with Jake who's happy his father is back for good. He still sleeps in the house but he sleeps with Jake. Sometimes Chloe would sleep with Jake so Chicago can have a good sleep. It was actually harder than she thought to not act on her feelings so she decided to have some distance from Beca until she wouldn't need to control herself.

"Don't worry. If I know her, and I do. She would probably run away through the back door after the competition's finished." Jesse said and laughed while Aubrey slapped his arm. "Ouch. Why was that?" Stacie and Brooke laughed at him.

"I wouldn't worry too much" Aubrey put her hand on top of her friend's shoulder reassuringly. She then watched Jake who was in his mother's arms moving her hand away from Chloe's shoulder. 

"Jake..." Chloe warned him. He was getting better but sometimes he wouldn't let people touch her. He wouldn't do it anymore with Chicago and that was progress. "Sorry about that" Not with Beca though...not once.

Aubrey laughed it off as the door swung open and people started to enter. They got to their places and Chloe thought that it would be nice to have those lights when she was at the acapella group. The lights on the stage didn't allow the people on there to see the audience. Everyone sat on their places and a man announced the start of the competition. She took a breath as the first group appeared. 

"What do you mean she is not coming?!" Emily was speaking really fast and Beca couldn't understand what she was saying. "Emily! Look at me" She motion with her hand how she breathed in and then out. Emily followed Beca's breathing and calmed down. "Now tell me what happened"

"Jessica...she is not coming. She is ill and she's lost her voice" The whole group started to freak out. 

"Guys! GUYS" Beca screamed so they could all heard her. They quiet down and looked at their teacher. "Let's calm down for a second here. Let me think"

"But Miss Mitchell...we are next after that group" Cynthia pointed to the group that was already singing their first song.

"Look one of you has to sing. They won't allow Emily to sing more than one song. That's the rule so one of you has to do it" They all looked at each other with worry.

"Why don't you sing with us?" Emily said. "There's no rule about that. And it's your song after all..." They all beamed at her.

"Yes! Come on Miss Mitchell" Before Beca could think about a reason not to do it. Her Academy was called. 

"Ok. Let's do this" They all went outside except for Beca. Emily's song was first and that would buy her a bit of time to composed herself. She looked to the audience but couldn't see anyone clearly. Emily sang her song and everyone cheered at her. They all looked inside to where Beca was and signaled to come out. That was it. She was about to sing a song which she wrote for someone who was more likely there. She walked to the microphone and breathed. She then heard a little voice "That's aunty Beca!!" That was all she needed to relax. She nodded to her class who started playing the song.

Why do you look at me like that?

Your eyes saying things that they can't take back

Feels good, feels right, it don't help

Every night when the quiet gets loud

Hate that I know what you're doin' right now

Your arms around someone else

She sang feeling the words like the first time she wrote them after she saw him with her. She took a breath and let herself get lost in the lyrics of her own song.

She took a deep breath and sang the last part.

You would have loved me

If you met me first

Oh, you would have loved me

If you met me first

The whole theater erupted into applause. Beca stood there. She wasn't able to move. All the sounds around her it was like everything was slow motion. She could feel Emily hugging her and taking her inside. They were all jumping out of excitement but Beca was still in a daze . There was no possible way that Chloe wouldn't know about her true feelings now. They were not going to be able to be just friends after this. She wanted to run. 

"Miss Mitchell? Are you alright?" Emily looked worried at her teacher.

"What?" She looked up and saw Emily there looking at her. "Yes, I just, I think I need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back" She started to walked and turned around "Well done guys" She smiled at them the best she could and gave them both thumbs up. She looked into the mirror and saw how red her eyes were. She splashed some water on her face and took paper to dry it off. She heard the door of the bathroom opening but didn't look. 

"Beca..." It couldn't be. She looked to the door and there with her red hair falling nicely on her shoulders and with her eyes red and puffy...was her.