And then it was you

Chloe was surprided with the level of the other Academies. They were great. She knew Emily and Jessica were good, but she wasn't sure if it was enough to win. Jake and Brooke were sitting together and behaving like real angels. For what she's learnt from the little blonde, she loved music, and Jake was her son after all. There wasn't a day that they wouldn't sing together. So she was sure they were enjoying themselves.

"And next we have a little raising Academy. That not only are they new at this competition but they're also doing an original song. Ladys and Gentlemen, 'Mitchell's Academy'" That was Beca's Academy. The students started to appeare on stage and Chloe could recognized all of them. But there was someone missing. Jessica was nowhere to be seen.

Emily sang like an angel. Chloe had to admit that if she would have had her on her acapella group back at univesity, they might actually have had possibilites to win for a chance. Chloe looked at Jake and saw him looking at Emily completely mesmerized. 'Aww my little boy has a crush' She thought to herself. Emily finished and everyone clapped at her. Mostly Jake. She saw how all of Beca's students were looking at something behind the stage. It was then when Beca walked slowly to the stage. Chloe couldn't look away. Beca looked stunning. She was wearing a black dress that fit her perfectly and her hair was curly for once. She missed the look of her new friends looking at her. Beca was standing in front of the microphone. "That's aunty Beca" Brooke screamed and Chloe looked just in time to see Aubrey covering her daughter's mouth with her hand and Jake chuckling at his friend. The music started and Chloe couldn't believe it. She thought that Beca was going to announce the next song...not to sing it herself. This was her song. 

Beca started to sing and Chloe focused on her voice. She listened to the lyrics. The song...Beca wrote it for her....because of her. She felt Jake's little hands reaching to her face.

"Mommy are you crying?" She looked at her son and smiled. She saw everyone looking at her.

"Because it's a beautiful song sweetie" Jake seemed pleased with the answer and Chloe looked back at Beca. She didn't expect to see Beca looking straight to her. She wasn't sure if Beca could see her with the stage lights but she could swear that Beca was indeed, looking right at her, singing, to her. She was full on crying and she could hear someone sniffling near her. 

"Jesse stop crying you sap" Chloe heard Stacie talking to Jesse. The song was ending and Chloe could see how hard it was for Beca to keep herself from crying. That woman had put her heart in that song. She was sure, now more than ever, they were meant to be together. Beca felt it too. Since day one at the park. It was like every tiny puzzle piece got into its right place. She loved Chicago. She knew how she felt at the beginning of their story, but this?, this was something she had never felt before. 

She watched as everyone got up of their seats and gave Beca the ovation she deserved. She saw Emily taking her off stage.

"Chloe are you alright?" Aubrey asked sweetly. Honestly Chloe didn't know. How was she suppose to feel after something like that? Happy? Sad? 

"I think I need to go to the bathroom" She got up "Can you keep an eye on him for me Bree?" She said with her hand on top of her son's head. Aubrey nodded and she moved carefully not to push anyone on her way. She looked for the bathroom door and went inside.

She couldn't believe her own eyes. It was Beca. She couldn't move. Before she could realize what she was doing, her mouth opened. "Beca..." it was almost a whispper. For a moment she thought the other woman who was giving her her back didn't hear her but then she turned around. Beca's face was utter shocked. Non of them move or speak for what felt like hours. Neither of them expected to run into the other so soon. Beca opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"There you are" Emily spoke next to Chloe. She then looked at her. "Oh! Chloe, wasn't it?" The younger woman said smiling brightly at Chloe who nodded and smiled to her. "Did you like our performance?  I think we were awesome" Chloe breathed and looked at Beca who hadn't moved.

"Yes, I think you were perfect" She didn't lose eye contact with Beca the whole time. Emily looked between the two women and noticed that once again she had interrupted something. But she was there looking for her teacher.

"I'm sorry but Miss Mitchell we have to go to stage. They're announcing the winner" Chloe looked how Beca snapped out of whatever she was thinking and nodded to Emily.

"Let's go" Her voice sounded weaker than she remembered. Beca walked and stopped in front of Chloe for a second. Much like before, she opened her mouth and closed again. She then left with Emily by her side. Chloe stood there thinking what the hell had happened? How can someone write a song like that and then not being able to talk. Chloe washed her face and looked at herself in the mirror. 'What am I doing?'  She thought. She walked back to her seat and saw that all 6 Academies were on stage. 

"I think Beca is going to win mommy. She's the best" Chloe smiled fondly to her son. 

"I think you're right little man" Jesse said and fist bumped him.

Beca wanted to punch herself. How could she be so ridiculous? She tried to speak twice to Chloe and nothing came out. It was obvious that the woman had been crying and it was probably her own fault and nothing, she couldn't speak. Totally smooth. She was on stage with the other Academies and Emily was holding her hand. She could feel the girl's nerves so she kept holding her hand. 

"And the winner of the 2020 Academy's music competition goes to...." The whole theater went silence. "Mitchell's Academy!" The man screamed. Everyone erupted in applause. Beca looked at Emily who was in tears. They all hugged each other. The man got closer to Beca and gave her the huge trophy and pointed at her with the microphone. 

"Em...hi! I'm Beca Mitchell, owner and teacher of Mitchell's Academy and I think I can speak on behalf of my students and myself when I say that we are really thankful. So yeah, thank you very much and we will see you next year" She pointed to the other Academies when she said the last part. They all went behind the stage and started to get their stuff. "You are amazing guys" She said to her students who were all in happy tears.

"Thanks to you, Miss Mitchell" Cynthia said. "You singing before saved our asses" They all laughed and nodded.

"Guys! This is a group thing. It wasn't only me singing out there. It was you playing as well." She prefered not to think much about the song.

"We are going to have a drink, are you joining us Miss Mitchell?" Emily said hopefully.

"I think I'll have a raincheck on that" She laughed "I'm exhausted. I forgot what it was like to perform" They all laughed at her. "You guys go and enjoy yourself. You deserve it"

Her students left leaving her with a huge trophy to carry to her car. She was trying to figure out how she could take everything in one trip when someone spoke behind her. 

"Need a hand with that?" Beca turned around and saw everyone there. Jesse was smirking at her. "Being small has to be really difficult" Beca rolled her eyes at her brother but smiled at him. She wouldn't dare to look next to Aubrey. She knew she was there looking at her.

"Oh shush! like you're so much taller" They all laughed and Aubrey kissed her husband's cheek. It was then that Jake and Brooke got closer to Beca. She looked at them with an eyebrow raised.

"This is for you" Jake said and gave Beca a folded paper. She opened it and it was a drawing. "That it's you" She looked at where he was pointing and you could see something that resembled a person with grey and blue hair next to another with pink hair. "And that's mommy" Beca looked up and saw Chloe trying to pick a look at the drawing. "That's Brooke and that's me" There were two mini versions of the same two...let's say people, on the drawing. "We are trolls" He grinned at her.

"Wow that's awesome bug" His smile grew if it was even possible. Beca looked at Chloe and she was looking back at them. They locked eyes and it was like in the bathroom. Not a single word came to her lips.

"Why don't we all go and have ice-cream?" Aubrey said. "I can take the kids and Stacie in my car. You guys can share Beca's"

Before any of them could say anything they all left leaving them alone once again. "Let me help you" Chloe said reaching for Beca's bag. They  walked in silence to Beca's car and jumped in. Beca started her car and turned on the radio. She tried to control herself and she could do it if she kept her eyes on the road. "Sorry, Aubrey picked us up from my house"

"It's ok" She could talk again. "Is there something wrong with your car?" She focused on the road.

"It's actually Chicago's" Beca nodded and felt the now common pain in her insides. "I usually walk or take the bus so we decided he should keep it now that he is living not so close" 

"Oh, has he been destined around here?" 'Peachy' Beca thought.

"No, but his new house takes about 20 minutes by car so..." Beca arrived at her Academy and park the car at her usual spot. Beca didn't understand and Chloe sighed frustrated. "Beca look at me" Chloe commanded and Beca did look at her. 

"Look Chloe I know what you're going to say ok? There's no need to say anything" Chloe looked confused to her. "I know. I crossed a line with that song and I'm sorry. I do want to be your friend if you give me some time"

"What?" Chloe rolled her eyes at Beca. "Are you seriously...ugh" Beca was looking at Chloe shocked at the woman's reaction "Have you listened to what I've told you?" Beca nodded.

"Yeah, you're saying that Chicago has a new house and he needs the car" Beca then thought about what she said. "Wait...why are you saying he has a new house?" Chloe smiled sweetly at her.

"Because we are not living together anymore" Beca hold her breath. "We are not together anymore" Beca let her brain process the information slowly. If they weren't together...it meant...Chloe seemed to know what she was thinking and nodded smiling.

"You're not together anymore..." Beca then wanted to slap herself "Oh man...I'm a horrible person" Chloe who didn't expect that from the brunette frowned. "I'm a homewrecker" Beca put her hands in her face.

"What? No, Becs no" Chloe took Beca's hand in hers. "Look at me" And she did. "You've done nothing wrong." Beca was about to protest but Chloe put a finger in her lips to quiet her down. "Me and Chicago. That had nothing to do with you." Chloe then put her hand in Beca's face. "I promise you that" Beca nodded. She couldn't do much more. She could hear her own heartbeat in her face where Chloe had her hand. "But there is something though" Chloe removed her hand from Beca's face and hold her hand again. "I know, well, we both know" She pointed to both of them "there's something here right?" Beca nodded again. "Right. The thing is, I want to do things right"

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean..that...if you don't mind to wait for me...I need to give Chicago some healing time before I could...you know" Beca smiled for the first time since they started to talk.

"I would wait for you my whole life" Both women had smiles on their faces and Beca was slowly getting closer to Chloe's face. She could hear Chloe's breathing getting faster the closer she was. They looked at each others lips and just before Beca could reach Chloe's lips she moved and kissed her cheek.  "I think we should get this inside and meet the rest at the ice-cream shop" She pointed to the trophy. She looked at Chloe who was blushing and smiled. 

"Thank you Beca" Beca only nodded and got out the car.

"You can wait here and I'll leave it inside" Chloe nodded and Beca went inside. Once she was inside and out of sight of Chloe she let her emotions out. Chloe just told her she and Chicago were over and she had said she wants something to happen with her. It was all too good to be true. She would wait for Chloe. She would wait an eternity if it meant that at the end they would be together. She let the trophy in the class and she saw Chloe inside the Academy. Beca got closer to her. "We can go now" Beca reached for the door knob but Chloe took her hand and pulled her to her. Before Beca could realize what was happening, Chloe's lips were on hers. It was short but both of them were breathless. 

"Sorry, just needed something to hold on to" Chloe said and smiled at Beca.

"Anytime" Chloe chuckled and winked to Beca. Both women walked out the Academy and to the ice-cream shop were their friends were waiting.

Beca's been keeping her promise and Chloe is thankful for that. It seemed that Beca had more control than herself. They haven't kiss again since that day a few weeks ago. She knew she shouldn't have done it. But she couldn't resist herself anymore. It was meant to be a kiss to keep her sane until the time was right but it was like it had the opposite effect. Now that she knew what it was to kiss Beca...she was craving for more. That was something that never happened to her before. To feel the need to have someone as close to you as possible. Like the other person was the air you needed to breath. That was all new to Chloe. They've gone back to their daily talks and texts. They decided not to tell anyone about it and promised that they wouldn't see each other alone. Chloe didn't trust herself to be alone with Beca anymore. 

Chloe was in her kitchen making some coffee when there was a knock at the door. She checked the time and it was still early for Jake to be back. She opened the door and saw Chicago's parents there. She was sure she wasn't expecting them. "There's my beautiful daughter-in-law" Chicago's father said as he hugged her.

"Hello Matt, Alison" Chicago's mother hugged her as well.

"Don't you look bright as day! You look wonderful dear, are you pregnant again?" Chloe was used at her exmother's-in-law comments by now.

"Alison please...let the poor woman alone" Chloe didn't know what to do. She needed to talk to Chicago, and fast. "So, where's my son?" 'Shit' Chloe thought. If someone had to tell him it was him. 

"Let me call him. He is out doing some errands." She took her phone and dialed Chicago's number. "Come on...pick up, pick up" 

"Hello?" 

"Hey you! What's taking you so long?" Chloe looked at Chicago's parents who were looking back at her.

"What do you mean? Did I have to take Jaky today? Shit!" 

"No no, nothing like that. Don't worry about that and come back home. We have a visit" She tried not to sound too annoyed at the fact that he hadn't told his parents after almost two months. They were going to sign the divorce papers in a few days and she would be able to be with Beca. 

"Chloe are you alright? What are you talking about?" She sighed frustrated.

"Chicago, your parents are here" There was silence at the other side of the line. "Can you please hurry up and come back"

"Em..yes I'll be there in 20" 

Chloe hunged up the phone and smiled. "So, how are you? Everything alright in Atlanta?" Matt nodded.

"All good" She nodded. "Where's our little Jake?" She looked at Alison looking around the house.

"He is in a playdate and will be here in a few hours." Alison looked back at her and judged her.

"All on his own? Shouldn't you or Chicago be there with him?" Chloe saw Matt trying to stop his wife from saying anything else.

"He is with someone I trust deeply so you don't need to worry" Chloe forced a smile.

"I don't think Chicago is ok with this" Chloe was exhausted of this woman.

"Alison...let it be" Matt said trying again.

"No, I won't let it be. My grandson is out there with who knows who and she is here by herself" Chloe wasn't having it anymore. She used to just ignored the woman for Chicago's sake. But now? She didn't need to.

"Let me stop you there before you say something you regret Alison" Chloe spoke clearly to the woman who was taken aback by Chloe answering back. "Jake is my son. Mine. And I've raised him all on my own" She pointed a finger to the woman. "Your son wasn't here. It was always me and Jake. So don't think you have a right to say in whom I trust to leave my son with" Alison was shocked by Chloe's words. "Now, would you like some tea or coffee while we wait for your son?" 

"Yes, thank you Chloe. Tea would be great" Matt said softly with a kind smile. Chloe knew Chicago was like his father. He was a good man.

Chloe made tea and showed recent pictures of Jake to them. Alison didn't say a word until Chicago arrived. "What a surprise!" He said entering the house with the key he had for emergencies. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you call?"

"We will next time. It's clear that we are not welcome here" Chloe rolled her eyes at the woman and sighed.

"Don't say that mom, you're always welcome here, right Chloe?" He walked next to her and put his arm around her.

"Sure. Can I talk to you for a second?" Chicago nodded. "Excuse us" They walked to the kitchen and Chloe clossed the door. "What the hell Chicago?" He looked down.

"Look I know...I should have told them but...it's just...it's really difficult Chloe" He sighed "You know how mom is...I thought I would see them in 3 months for Christmas"

"You were going to wait until Christmas to tell them?" Chloe whispper screamed to him. "You have to talk to them" He touched the back of his head. "What?"

"How long are they staying?" Chloe shrugged.

"They didn't say"

"It would be probably for only a week..." Chloe was shaking her head no. She knew what he was implying."Come on Chloe, we could pretend for a week"

"Chicago...are you out of your mind? We are signing the divorce paper in 3 days" Chicago kneeled down and took her hands. "What are you doing? get up"

"Chloe please" He gave her his puppy eyes and she chuckled. It was like seeing an older version of their son. "This would be the last thing I ask you to do for me" Chloe thought about it. "Please"

"What if they're staying more than a week?" He got up from the floor. 

"Then I will tell them on the spot. Promise" She looked at him and sighed.

"Fine. But no kissing" He laughed and nodded. He looked better already. 

"Sure" He hugged her and grinned at her. "Thank you!"

They went back to them and Chicago was right they would be staying for a week. Thankfully they would be staying in a hotel. Someone knocked at the door and Chloe knew that it was probably Aubrey with Jake. So she went to opened the door. She was right about something, it was Jake, but it was Beca who was there standing with him asleep in her arms. Beca smiled at Chloe and Chloe forgot about everything that was going on around the house and hugged her carefully not to wake Jake up. "I missed you" Beca whispered in her ear which gave her chills from her toes to her head. 

"I missed you too" Beca's smiled dissapeared when she saw and heard Chicago. 

"Who is it babe?" Chloe looked to Beca and couldn't read the woman's face.

"Beca, it's not what you think" Chicago arrived next to Chloe and smiled at Beca.

"Hello Beca. It seemed like he had a great time huh?" Chicago took Jake from Beca's arms. "I'm gonna put him to bed and you two can talk" He winked at them. Chloe looked back at him confused. 'Does he know?' She thought.

"So are you guys back together? It's fine. I'll just fuck off. It's fine" Beca started to move away from the door and Chloe went outside with her and closed the door. 

"No we are not back together Becs. Relax and don't do that" Beca frowned at her.

"Don't do what?" Chloe pointed to Beca's crossed arms.

"Don't put your walls up and let me explain" Beca didn't move. Chloe raised an eyebrow at her and she sighed and unfolded her arms. "Good" Chloe smiled. "Long story short, Chicago's parents are here and they didn't know about the divorce."

"And why didn't you tell them?" Chloe sighed

"You see..Chicago's mother is...how can I say this..." Chloe tried but couldn't find a better word "she is a bitch" at this Beca raised her eyebrows and chuckled. Chloe didn't like to use those kind of words. "So Chicago asked me if we could fake it till they're gone next week. And then he would tell them alone at Christmas in Atlanta" Chloe looked at Beca to see her reaction. Beca looked like she was thinking about it and finally nodded.

"Ok" She nodded. "I can do one more week"  Beca smiled and Chloe jumped into her arms. She hugged her.

"Thank you for understanding Becs" She let go of her and Beca nodded.

Chloe was relieved that Beca was ok with the whole situation. She didn't want to hurt the other woman. They said their goodbyes and went back inside. Chicago was coming back down from upstairs and smiled at her. "Was Beca ok with it?" She looked at him with surprise. "What? Do you think I'm blind?" He chuckled. Chloe didn't know what to say. "Chloe, it's fine. I told you. I only want what's best for you" He smiled fondly to her. "She seems to make you happy and that's what I want for you"

"I don't know what to say" Chicago hugged her.

"Not gonna lie Chloe...it hurts a bit but I'm ok" She teared up a bit. 

"I didn't want to do anything before you were ok...before we were officialy...you know" She didn't say the words in case Chicago's parents appeared. 

"I know. Thank you for that" He put his arm around her again. "Now let's have dinner" They went into the kitchen and sat with Chicago's parents. Chloe was happy. Despite everything, she was happy. Chicago was ok with her being with Beca and he was fine. Or getting there at least. Only one more week and she would take Beca out on a date. Just both of them. The week would be over before Chloe realized. She smiled at her own thoughts.

"You call this a proper dinner?" Chloe snapped back to the world and looked at Alison looking with disgust to her plate. Chloe rolled her eyes at the woman. Maybe this week would be eternal.