Chapter 15
(Beca & Chloe)
Given the hardships of most of the holiday season, the two couples decided to do their own things for New Years. Beca wanted nothing more than to stay in for the three-day weekend after two rough weeks.
Friday, the morning of New Year’s Day, Chloe was up first, Beca having turned off her alarm for the day. She snuggled her back closer against her partner, who tightened her grip out of habit even fully asleep. The ginger wanted to do something extra nice for Beca, but hadn’t come up with anything yet except to spoil her all weekend. She listed ways to do so until Beca yawned as she woke up.
“You stayed in bed,” the brunette observed sleepily, kissing her shoulder.
“I wanted you to sleep as long as you could.” She rolled over for a soft good morning kiss. “This weekend is for you, Becs. Whatever you wanna do.”
Beca smiled and kissed her again. “First, I’d like to stay in bed with you a while longer.”
“Sounds good to me, love.” Chloe rested her hand on Beca’s hip as she brushed a lock of red hair from Chloe’s face. The ginger gazed into her partner’s deep blue eyes, the bruising from the attack mostly faded now, and saw more peace than she’d seen in a long time. Beca had been sleeping more reliably the past week, too. Perhaps the ordeal was fading into memory.
Beca met Chloe’s sky blue gaze, quickly losing herself and spacing out until Chloe tapped her. “Babe? You okay?”
“Yeah, I just zoned out.” She smiled. “You know how I can get lost in your eyes.” The redhead blushed, and Beca caressed her cheek. “I love that I can still make you blush as if we just met.”
“You say the sweetest things, Becs.” She drew her into a long, deep kiss that Beca leaned into. Chloe buried a hand in her hair and pulled, the kiss becoming aggressive as Beca growled her enjoyment. “I want you, Beca,” Chloe whispered.
“Take me, whatever you want, I belong to you, Chloe,” Beca replied the same way. Chloe dragged her teeth over Beca’s lower lip before surging forward, forcing Beca onto her back. She claimed a fierce, but brief, kiss.
“Clothes. Get rid,” she instructed, and they both tossed their pajamas to the floor. Chloe knelt over Beca to assail her ear and neck with lips and teeth, eliciting quiet, deep groans from the brunette. Chloe kissed and nipped a slow trail down Beca’s body, pausing to tease each hardened peak before continuing until her tongue quested for and found its mark. Beca gasped and tangled her hands in Chloe’s hair. Tongue still stroking and circling, Chloe sank her fingers inside her partner, earning her a load groan as Beca lifted her hips to meet her strong thrusts. Soon, Beca was growling and writhing as she came.
Chloe laid beside Beca and gathered her into her arms as she panted. “I love you, Beca Mitchell.”
“I love you, Chloe Beale,” the brunette replied breathlessly. Minutes later, she was pulling Chloe into another demanding kiss, raking her nails down the soft skin of Chloe’s back. Chloe hissed with pleasure and arched against her.
“Again. Harder, babe,” Chloe coaxed in a murmur. Beca clawed again, and Chloe moaned quietly. She pulled Beca into a frantic kiss. “Fuck me, Becs. I need to feel you. Please,” she added in a near whimper. Beca bit down on her shoulder as her finger stroked gently. As slowly as she could, she brought Chloe to the edge, then back off, time after time, until Chloe fisted her hands in her hair. “Babe, please…” she begged hoarsely. Beca obliged her, her thrusts strong and slow. Chloe threw her arms around her to score her back with her nails.
“Come for me, Chlo,” Beca whispered in her ear. Moments later, Chloe threw her head back with a ragged cry, clutching Beca close.
“Holy fuck…” she breathed as Beca gathered her in her arms tightly. Beca smiled and kissed her forehead. They lay quietly as Chloe caught her breath, her head pillowed on her partner’s shoulder while she rested her hand over Beca’s heart, zoning out to the strong, steady rhythm. After a minute, she shifted her head to listen to her heartbeat closer.
“Chlo? Everything okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just interesting.” She put her head back on Beca’s shoulder.
“What’s interesting?”
“Well, you live and breathe music. So, it’s interesting that even your heartbeat is musical.”
Beca blushed, deeply touched. Her life did largely revolve around music; hell, it was music that had brought the two of them together in the first place. “That music is only for you,” she said softly, leaning down for a kiss.
The need for caffeine finally made them move, pulling on robes and slippers against the January chill. Chloe skipped the drip coffee entirely, going straight to lattes for both of them, settling in Beca’s lap when hers was done. “What else do we want to do today?” Chloe asked.
Beca snaked an arm around her waist and sipped her drink. “I’d be content to lay in bed for the day. We haven’t done that in a long time.” She pressed a kiss to Chloe’s shoulder. “Just you, me, and coffee in bed. Now that’s what I call a holiday.”
Chloe giggled at her declaration. “Then a day in bed it is. And I’ll make sure there’s plenty of coffee and cider.”
“I’ll help with that. You don’t have to be the only one getting up.”
“I want to spoil you this weekend, love,” Chloe replied. “It’s been a rough couple of months for you. Will you let me?”
Beca nodded. “I’ll do my best, babe. Though you may have to remind me.”
Chloe beamed at her. “I can do that. Now, what do you want for breakfast before we go back to bed?” Beca decided on breakfast sandwiches and sat back with her latte to watch her partner cook.
“Have you heard from Aubrey since the Simon incident?” Beca asked when Chloe sat to eat.
“Yeah. She understands it isn’t Emily’s fault, though she thinks she still feels bad about it.”
Beca nodded. “I think only time and Aubrey’s love will fix that. I could see the terror in her eyes that day. Part of her is probably waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“Yeah, apparently she tried to tell Bree she would understand if she wanted to leave her over it.” Chloe sipped her coffee. She felt bad for her friends; Emily would never do anything to hurt Aubrey, and Aubrey would never hold Emily accountable for someone else’s actions. She figured Beca was right; time and love was what they needed. She was glad they had arranged a night out for the following weekend.
“That bad, huh? Now I kinda wish I had gotten him fired.”
Chloe took her hand. “No, you did the right thing. If he was that star-struck when he met you, keeping him from working with you is a longer-lasting punishment. Also, you want to be respected, not feared. Don’t give yourself a reputation for being impossible to work with.”
Beca nodded. “That’s a good point.” She squeezed her hand. “Thanks for keeping me on track, babe.”
The ginger kissed her hand. “Anytime, love. Shall I make lattes to take to bed?” Beca nodded again as her phone went off with a text from Emily.
“Can we get a recording booth this week?”
“Sure, I’ll text Theo. How big?”
“Just me and my guitar.”
Beca’s bow went up. “I’ll set it up. Explain Monday?”
“Yes. And thanks.”
Looking up, she found her mug refilled with steaming espresso. “Emily wants to record something this week,” she commented as Chloe waited for the second latte.
“New song?”
“I don’t know. She said the booth only had to hold her and her guitar, which makes it sound like she intends to sing as well as play.”
Chloe turned with a surprised look. “Is that even allowed? I mean, because they haven’t signed her for vocals?”
Beca shrugged. “Personally, I don’t care. No one told me anything like that yet, so screw it.” She sent Theo a text asking him to book the booth, then stood with her latte as Chloe’s finished. They headed back to bed, shedding robes and slippers to slide under the covers and sit against the headboard.
Chloe slid her hand into Beca’s, lacing their fingers. Beca kissed her hand and picked up her phone to turn on some music. They sat in companionable silence as they drank their lattes. Chloe subtly observed her partner as they sat; Beca looked more relaxed and at ease than she had since before Thanksgiving and her bout of bronchitis. She smiled slightly, her heart warmed seeing Beca so peaceful.
“What’s that adorable little smile for?” Beca asked.
“Just enjoying seeing you relaxed. You look better today than you have since before the holidays.” Chloe glanced at her, wondering if she should have mentioned the second part.
Beca squeezed her hand. “I’m sure that’s true. It was an… eventful holiday season.”
Chloe kissed her cheek. “Next year will be better, babe.”
Beca’s phone announced an email and she rolled her eyes. “I swear, it never ends.” She picked up her phone, read the email, and set it back down, sipping her coffee.
“Well, what was it?”
“An office announcement. Apparently there’s a big annual party coming up at the studio.”
Chloe grinned. “Are you going?”
“Only if you go with me. I’m not staying late on a Friday if you’re not there.” Beca didn’t much care if they went at all, but she knew Chloe would like the opportunity to dress up, go out, and socialize. She could endure one party to see Chloe that happy.
Chloe set her mug aside to throw her arms around her partner. “This will be epic. You can show me who’s who so I know who you talk about. Oh, and Emily and Aubrey should be there, right?”
“I imagine, if they decide to go. I’ll ask Emily on Monday.”
The ginger snuggled closer and kissed a trail down Beca’s neck and across her shoulder. Beca chuckled, set her latte aside, and pulled her into a long, deep kiss.
***
Saturday, Beca found herself awake before Chloe, unusual for a weekend. Remembering Chloe’s desire to spoil her this weekend, she resisted the urge to get up and make coffee for her. Instead, she held her snugly and laid still so she wouldn’t wake the redhead.
It was only 20 minutes before Chloe yawned and rolled over in her arms. “You’re up early,” she observed.
“Only a little, it hasn’t been long.” Beca brushed some stray hair from her partner’s face, and Chloe turned her head to kiss her palm.
“You ready for coffee love?” Chloe asked.
“Hmm, not yet. I want to cuddle you more.” Beca pulled her closer and held tighter. “If I had my way, I’d never let go.” Chloe smiled and nuzzled her face in Beca’s neck. She loved when Beca was in a particularly cuddly mood. Not that she was stingy with her affection; the ginger simply enjoyed the extra loving on days like this.
Eventually, though, they did need coffee. Beca insisted on getting up, too, and they settled in the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. “Any ideas for the day?” Chloe asked over pancakes and eggs.
“I wish it were warm enough to go walking. When the nice weather comes back, I want to go for walks more often.” Beca sipped her coffee. Part of her missed wandering around the Barden campus with any combination of friends. Her expression was wistful. “Remember walking around campus at all hours, just out to be out, talking and having fun?”
Chloe smiled. “Yeah, we had really great times at Barden.”
Beca nodded. “We should get the Bellas together this summer, just to hang out. We’re never all in one place anymore.” Her expression became thoughtful. “I think I’m gonna plan that. A Bellas reunion. What do you think, babe?”
“I think it sounds fantastic. And you know I’ll help with whatever you need.”
***
Monday morning, Beca texted Emily to meet her in her office. Theo had booked the booth for Wednesday, meaning they had two days to nail down whatever Emily had in mind. The younger woman arrived ten minutes later, guitar in tow.
“Hey, Becs. Thanks for doing this,” Emily said after closing the door behind her.
“What exactly am I doing?”
Emily sat across the desk from her friend. “Helping me make a recording for Bree. Unless there’s a reason we can’t.”
“Not that anyone has told me. I assume it’s an original?”
“Yup. Just put the finishing touched on it last week, though I’ve been working on it since… well, it’s been a long time.”
Beca raised a brow, but didn’t pry. “So, you want me to produce it?”
“I don’t trust anyone else to do it, Becs. I’m not looking for fame and fortune, here. I want one nice track that Bree can have, from me.” She bit her lip and looked down.
“What is it, Em?”
Emily sighed. “I feel like I need to make a grand gesture, after what happened last week. Finishing a song for her seems like a good start.”
“A start? I’d say it’s a helluva gesture on its own. What else are you planning?” She immediately held up a hand. “Wait. You don’t have to answer that. I’ll produce the track for you. Want to sing it for me?” Emily nodded, sipped the coffee in her hand, cleared her throat, and sang her newest piece.
Beca was impressed. “That’s some evocative music, Em. When did you start it?”
Emily blushed a bit. “The music started that weekend at your place. The words started a week later.”
The older woman smiled. “I think she’ll love it. Alright, let’s see the sheet music.” They spent the morning working on the song, Beca keeping notes for Wednesday. At 11:30, Beca sat back in her chair. “Alright. I think we’re set for Wednesday, and I’ll try to have it for you by Friday. But at the moment, I have a lunch meeting.”
Emily stood up. “Thanks again. I really appreciate it.”
Beca came around the desk for a hug. “You got it. We’ll talk soon, Wednesday at the latest.” Emily headed out, leaving Beca to her meeting.
***
Friday afternoon, Beca knocked on the door of Emily’s office, going in when Emily answered. “I think I have something for you.” She held up a thumb drive. “Wanna hear?”
Emily jumped up. “Oh my god, yes!” She grabbed the drive and plugged it into her laptop. Beca leaned against the wall next to the desk so she could watch Emily’s expressions as she listened.
When Emily had played it three times, Beca chuckled. “Do you like it?”
Emily was on her feet again for a bear hug. “Becs, it sounds amazing. It’s better than I thought it could be. Thank you so much!”
“You’re very welcome. When’s the big reveal?”
“Tonight, I think. I guess you’ll be able to tell if she liked it when we do dinner tomorrow.” She looked suddenly nervous.
Beca saw what was coming and put her hands on Emily’s shoulders. “Don’t get caught up, Em. Aubrey Posen is your single biggest fan, and I’m sure she will love this.”
Emily took a deep breath. “You’re right. This is quality work. She’ll appreciate that at least.”
Beca looked at her. “You’re still worried about the Simon thing.” It wasn’t a question, she could sense it was true. “If she were leaving, she would have already. Em, things happen, and sometimes they make things hard or complicated. But you have to be willing to work through them. And give Bree a chance, too. She loves you more than life; let her.”
Emily looked down. “I would do anything for her. And I still feel like I hurt her, even though she swears I didn’t do anything wrong. How do I make it go away?” she asked quietly.
“Try the song. If her reaction doesn’t convince you, talk to her about it.” Beca gave her a hug. “Come on, it’s time to go. I’ll walk you to your car.”