Aubrey hurried down the sidewalk, sparing a quick glance at her watch to confirm the time. She was late. She was never late. The ten minutes she had spent deliberating if she was even going to show up were probably a contributing factor.

She was still silently debating with herself if she had lost her mind for agreeing to this, when the sign for the restaurant came into view. Her steps faltered, and she came to a stop. She dimly heard the muttered curse of the person that had been walking behind her, but she was too distracted to offer even a half-hearted apology. If she was going to bail, now would be the time to do it. Drawing a deep, steadying breath, she moved forward.

Posens didn't run.

Decision made, she resumed her march forward with her head held high and shoulders back. She may be about to make the biggest mistake of her life, even bigger than the time she had let Delia Reynolds talk her into that spiral perm in middle school because Aubrey thought she had a nice smile, but she refused to show up looking as defeated as she felt.

She was just meeting the woman. It's not like she was obligated to actually take her to the wedding. She could just go alone. It would be fine. Her mother would get over it. Eventually.

Entering the restaurant, Aubrey slid her sunglasses off, and spared a tight smile for the hostess. "I'm supposed to be meeting my friends. Last name Beale."

To say that Chloe had been excited when Aubrey had called her about getting Stacie's contact information would be a massive understatement. Chloe was always happy and upbeat, but this had been on another level altogether. She had been over the top ecstatic.

Chloe had insisted that she and Beca be present, and Aubrey hadn't fought her. Not even the Becca part. Truthfully, she was thankful for the buffer. This meeting was guaranteed to be awkward enough already. The fact that she knew that Beca would be almost as miserable as she was, was the one small, silver lining to this whole awful situation.

"Your party has already arrived. If you'll follow me." The perky blonde turned, grabbed a menu, and started to lead Aubrey through the crowded dining room. Aubrey almost told her not to bother; there was no way she was going to be eating anything. She may have outgrown her unfortunate childhood (mostly) stress vomiting phase, but she wasn't one to tempt fate.

Aubrey spotted Chloe first. Her red, wavy hair standing out like a beacon in the crowd. Her eyes scanned quickly for Beca, but the only other person sitting with Chloe was a stranger. A very attractive stranger.

Aubrey frowned.

"You made it!" Chloe exclaimed happily, when the hostess pulled out the chair and motioned for Aubrey to taker her seat. Aubrey remained standing. "Aubrey, this is-"

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Aubrey cut her off quickly, glancing toward Chloe's companion before darting her gaze away. "Alone."

Chloe frowned, but nodded, sending an apologetic smile towards her brunette dining companion. Once Chloe was on her feet, Aubrey grabbed her arm and dragged her a short distance away. There wasn't much room to maneuver, as Chloe had insisted on meeting at one of the most popular brunch spots in town.

"What is the matter with you?" Chloe hissed, trying to keep her voice low. "First you're late, something which you never are, and then you drag me away from the table before I can even introduce you? Why are you being so rude?"

"I told you no escorts," Aubrey hissed back.

Chloe recoiled, looking at Aubrey in confusion. "Who's an escort?"

Aubrey laughed, humorlessly. "Right. As if that's Beca's friend. I may be desperate, but I refuse to pay for companionship. That would be the only thing potentially more humiliating than the situation I'm currently in."

"That is Beca's friend," Chloe said, annoyed. "That's Stacie Conrad."

Aubrey peeked over Chloe's shoulder, and saw Stacie looking back at her with a small smirk. Aubrey looked quickly away, feeling exposed by the amused look in the other woman's eyes. "That's Beca's friend?" Aubrey asked, disbelief coloring her tone.

"Yes," Chloe confirmed. She crossed her arms. "Why are you finding that so hard to process?"

"Because she's," Aubrey floundered, looking for the right word, "gorgeous. And hot. And Beca is...well, Beca."

Chloe smacked Aubrey on the arm. "Excuse you. That happens to be my girlfriend."

Aubrey shook her head. "You have to admit she," Aubrey motioned her head towards where Stacie still sat," is a bit of an outlier from her friend group." Aubrey had had the misfortune to socialize with the people Beca considered friends on a few occasions. None of them were anything like the woman waiting for them back at the table. The table, Aubrey saw, where Beca was now sitting and talking to the other woman.

She sighed, admitting defeat. She could acknowledge, even if only to herself, that maybe she had just been looking for an excuse to call this whole thing off.

"Let's go back to the table," Aubrey said, abruptly. "I don't want her to think I'm rude."

"Little late for that I think," Chloe muttered.

When they arrived back at the table, Beca looked at Aubrey, one eyebrow slightly cocked. "Posen, you decided to show up after all. I guess I owe Cynthia Rose twenty bucks."

Aubrey bit back her instinctive desire to snap at Beca. It was pretty much reflex at this point. Instead, she smiled tightly, pulled out her chair, and sat down. "Sorry I was late. Traffic on the 405 was an absolute nightmare." She chose to ignore Beca, she didn't deserve an apology, and directed her attention instead toward Stacie.

Stacie smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "No worries. Chloe has been keeping me stocked with mimosas, so I'm in no rush."

"Aubrey, this is Stacie." Chloe belated introduced them. "She's the one Beca and I have been trying to set you up with for months, but you keep saying you're too busy. Thankfully, she has chosen not to take offense, and is still willing to help you out."

"To be clear, I had nothing to do with this," Beca interjected. "I want nothing to do with potential matchmaking schemes. This is all Chloe." Beca pointed her finger at Chloe accusingly. "So when it all blows up in your faces, which, I fully expect it will, because really, how can it not, make sure you direct all blame and complaints to her."

"Nothing is going to blow up," Chloe protested. She smiled reassuringly, a little too reassuringly, at both women, and for one of the first times that she could remember, Aubrey found herself agreeing with Beca. Aubrey was sure this could only mean one thing; this was going to be a disaster.

Stacie didn't seem to share her trepidation, since she was smiling, seemingly without a care or concern in the world. Then again, who knew how many mimosas she had already had while waiting.

"It'll be fine," Stacie said with a dismissive wave. "It's not like we're promising to spend our lives together. It's just a date." Stacie took a sip from her glass. Aubrey made a mental note to flag down the next waiter she saw. Just because she didn't plan to eat anything, didn't mean drinking was off limits.

Aubrey thought about correcting her; this was not a date. However, since the other woman hadn't actually agreed to help her yet, she decided it may be best not to risk correcting her. "Chloe explained that it's not just the ceremony right? That my sister has this whole wedding weekend planned?"

Stacie nodded. "She filled me in." Stacie leaned forward, giving Aubrey a front row seat to her impressive cleavage. If she was looking. Which she absolutely was not.

This woman was potentially going to do her a favor. It was little more than a business transaction. Though, not an actual business transaction, because then they would be back to the whole escort thing. No. It was just a favor for a friend. Well, a friend of a friend, but regardless, it would just be asking for trouble to let her long dormant sex drive out of the deep freeze.

Aubrey realized she was still staring and jerked her eyes upward. To her mortification amused green eyes were smiling back at her. Shit.

"The full weekend, Thursday to Sunday, won't be a problem?" Aubrey pressed on, determinedly. "I hate to have to ask you to miss work." Aubrey's regret was sincere; she hated missing work. At the same time, hoping the woman actually had a job. One could never be too sure with Becca's friends. Half of them were self-styled "musicians" that Aubrey was pretty sure had never worked a day in their lives.

"Not a problem," Stacie said again. Aubrey wasn't sure if she was envious or annoyed by the woman's laid back attitude. At the moment, she was leaning toward annoyed. "I'm self employed, so I can shift things around if needed."

"Oh, that's convenient," Aubrey said with a slightly forced smile. Great. This was LA, where 'self-employed' was often code for 'unemployed'. Aubrey bit back a sigh. Beggars can't be choosers, and it wasn't like this was a real date.

"It has its perks," Stacie said with a smile. If Aubrey didn't know better, she would almost think the other woman was flirting. When Stacie ran her eyes over Aubrey deliberately, Aubrey began to think maybe she didn't know better. She really hoped the other woman wasn't expecting a hookup out of the weekend. Casual sex wasn't really Aubrey's thing. Or, lately, any sex.

"See, it's like it was meant to be." Chloe clapped happily, looking between the two of them like a proud parent.

"Oh yeah, a regular love story for the ages," Beca quipped. "Something they can tell their kids."

"Would you both stop," Aubrey snapped, at the end of her tether. This whole situation was stressful enough without Beca being...well, Beca, about the whole thing and Chloe looking between Aubrey and Stacie with hearts practically shooting out of her eyes.

"Stacie has kindly offered to do me a favor." She turned and mustered a smile for the other woman, who was looking at her silently, lips slightly pursed. "Something for which I am extremely grateful."

Aubrey turned her attention back toward her friend. "However, that's all this is." Chloe shoulders drooped, looking for all the world like a kicked puppy. "Chlo, I know you mean well, but your excitement really isn't helping."

Chloe opened her mouth to protest, "I was just trying to-"

Aubrey held up a hand, cutting her off. "I know. I really do. But I really need to just focus on getting through this. I appreciate your help, truly, but please, can we just...not...turn this into something more than it is?"

Chloe looked like she wanted to argue, but finally, she nodded her head in resignation, shoulders slumping. Beca wrapped her arm around Chloe's back, rubbing her hand up and down her arm comfortingly, and shot Audrey a dirty look. Chloe leaned into the touch, resting comfortably against her girlfriends side.

Aubrey took in the action and felt a twinge of envy. As much as Beca sometimes, okay, often times, got on her nerves, her devotion to Chloe was unquestioned. It almost made the small brunette tolerable. As much as Chloe adored her, Beca adored her back in equal measure. So, no matter how much the other woman could test her patience, she would always love her for that.

Unless, of course, she ever hurt Chloe, and then Aubrey would happily kill her, bury the body, and never give it a second thought.

While Beca did her best to quietly cheer up her pouting girlfriend, Aubrey turned her attention back toward Stacie, who was looking at her appraisingly over her half filled mimosa glass. Seriously, where was their waiter?

Aubrey felt a slight stain of embarrassment heat her cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go off like that. I'm just still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation. It's all very strange, and I'm a little stressed out about how all this is going to work. I don't like unknowns."

Stacie shook her head. "No need to apologize. It's a lot to take in." Stacie put her glass down, running her ringer idly around the rim of the glass. "Can I ask you something? Feel free not to answer."

Aubrey hesitated a moment, before nodding. If Stacie was willing to pretend to be her girlfriend for a weekend, Aubrey figured the least she could do was answer a question.

"Why are you doing this?" There was no censure in her tone, only genuine curiosity. "Why not just tell them the truth?"

"Pride?" Aubrey sighed. "Or maybe stupidity?" Aubrey blew out a frustrated breath. "I was prepared to tell my sister that I wouldn't be needing the plus one, but then she just sounded so, so confident that there was no way I would need it, that I just snapped." Aubrey smiled ruefully at Stacie. "I may have been known to make rash decisions when I'm angry."

Stacie grinned at her, eyes full of mirth. "Like making up a girlfriend that doesn't exist?"

Aubrey laughed, nodding her head. "Yes, exactly like that." Aubrey paused. "God, I don't know what I was thinking. Actually, that was the problem. I wasn't thinking. I was reacting." Not seeing a waiter anywhere in the vicinity, Aubrey grabbed Chloe's mimosa and took a large sip.

"Don't get me wrong. My family loves me, and they mean well, but sometimes…" Aubrey shook her head. "Sometimes they drive me to the edge. I know they have my best interests at heart, and they just want to see me happy, but they act like being almost 30 and single is some horrible, tragic, illness. I've tried to tell them that I'm fine, but they just won't listen. I just wanted to be able to go to one family gathering where I wasn't the object of well meaning pity and concern."

Aubrey looked at Stacie, embarrassed at having spilled so much personal baggage on this virtual stranger. "I'm sorry. You must think I'm crazy."

"No, not at all," Stacie said immediately. "I think you sound like someone that is frustrated about not having her family listen to her. We all have our break points, and this one was yours."

Aubrey considered Stacie's words. "I never really thought of it that way before," Aubrey admitted. "That's very insightful."

Stacie tipped her head to one side in a one shoulder shrug. "Occupational hazard." Seeing the question in Aubrey's eyes, Stacie answered, "I'm a therapist."

Aubrey's eyes widened fractionally. Aubrey almost wished she were actually unemployed after all. "Oh god, you really do must think I'm crazy."

Stacie laughed, shaking her head. "I don't. I promise. Plus, we don't really use the c-word ," Stacie teased gently.

Aubrey flushed. "Right. Sorry."

Stacie waved off the apology. "No need to apologize. It's a common turn of phrase. And I promise, I really don't think you're crazy. Was the decision a little rash and impulsive? Sure, but sometimes it can be good to shake things up every once in awhile and keep yourself from getting complacent. To just act without thinking. Let your instincts take over."

Aubrey nodded, looking at the other woman thoughtfully. "Is that why you're doing this? I mean, I know why I'm agreeing to this ridiculous plan, but why on earth are you?"

Stacie shrugged, taking another sip from her glass. "It sounded like fun."

"Fun?" Aubrey questioned her incredulously. "You think attending the wedding of the sister of a total stranger, on the other side of the country, all while pretending to be her girlfriend sounds fun?"

"Sure," Stacie replied easily. "It's not something I've ever done before, and like I said, it can be good to shake things up every now and then."

"Still, this seems a little extreme. Can't you just get like...bangs or something?"

"The Hunter gets bored easily." Aubrey started at Beca's voice. Honestly, until she had spoken, Aubrey had almost forgotten that she and Chloe were still at the table with them. Aubrey was relieved to see that Chloe seemed back to her normal, happy self, and was once again smiling.

"The Hunter?" Aubrey asked, looking back and forth between Beca and Stacie.

"Old college joke," Stacie answered quickly. "It's not important." That part was directed at Beca with a mild look of reproach.

"Did you decide?" Chloe asked, looking between the two. "You seem to be getting along okay." Aubrey tried to detect any hidden meaning behind the statement, but Chloe seemed to just be stating the obvious. She and Stacie had been getting along pretty well. Aubrey didn't always hit it off right away with new people, but she found Stacie surprisingly easy to talk to.

"I was always in," Stacie replied easily. "I'm happy to help a friend in need, and I trust that you and Beca, well, mostly you, wouldn't ask me to do something I would totally hate."

"Gee, thanks buddy," Beca groused.

"Plus, I've always wanted to see Georgia."

The three women turned to look at her, and Aubrey realized they were waiting for her to say something. Ultimately, the decision to go through with this hare brained scheme was hers to make.

"Do you prefer window or aisle?" Aubrey asked with a nervous smile.