Chapter 9

Hello everyone Thank you for all of your follows and favourites! It makes me super happy when I get an email. I know it's been a couple of weeks, but at least it is less than a few months this time! I'd like to apologise in advance for this chapter… I promise the next chapter will be up within a week and a bit. Lots of love, Em xx

The next morning Chloe awoke to a gentle tickling sensation on her chest. She fluttered her eyes open to find a peaceful Beca staring straight back at her. Her brown hair cascading over her smooth shoulders and her eyes were so soft and welcoming, she couldn't help but sigh in contempt at how lucky she was.

"Good morning beautiful" Beca whispered.

"Hey you" she smiled. "Sooo, how long have you been creeping on me Mitchell?"

Beca feigned a look of hurt.

"So am I not allowed to admire my sexy girlfriend now?!" She moved to get up. "I guess I'll just go then.."

Chloe lurched towards her pulling her back onto the bed. She straddled her and tickled her relentlessly. Beca shrieked with laughter and tried to push her off, but it was no use, Chloe just pushed down harder. As usual she was under the control of doctor Beale.

"Ok, ok! I'll stay!" She whimpered breathlessly. Only then did it become apparent that their current position was somewhat erotic. They both stared at each other silently communicating a spurt of morning lust, but unfortunately time wasn't really on their side.

"We can't..." Chloe breathed. "I have to get to work, and so do you!"

"Awwhh but work sucks." Beca whined as she tried to pull Chloe down harder on top of her.

"I know it does baby, but we can always continue this little sexcapade later" she stroked one finger down Beca's body and she winked before clambering off the brunette and making her way to the bathroom. "But you can always come a save water with me by sharing the shower..."

Safe to say Beca had never gotten out of bed so fast in her life.

The morning had been sweet, but eventually they had to separate in order to avoid getting fired. But now they were apart, the guilt about Stacie was seeping back in to Chloe's mind. She knew that she should have told Beca about it straight away, and now she realises that Beca would have understood, but she didn't have the guts. Sure Stacie was beautiful, but she didn't love Stacie and they definitely weren't right for each other. After arguing with herself about it for the entire morning, she decided to talk to Aubrey about it in her break. She already knew all the horny details, but she hadn't really talked to Chloe about a solution yet.

"Chloe, you have to tell Beca. If you don't, Stacie definitely will." She said softly.

"But Bree, what if she hates me and never wants to see me again? I can't lose her now, not after everything that's happened these past few weeks."

"If she finds out later that you didn't tell her now, it will hurt so much more" She took Chloe's hand in her own. "That girl is absolutely crazy about you and although she isn't anywhere near what I would have picked for you, I have to admit that you two are a good match." Chloe smiled sweetly at her best friend before pulling her into a tight hug.

"Thanks Bree" she whispered and pulled back. "Ok... I'll tell her tonight. I just need to figure out how..."

"Beca will understand, just do something simple… maybe tell her over dinner?"

"I don't want her to think I'm softening her up though… maybe I could just get taco bell on the way home… But what if Stacie says something to her at work, she's not really a bluffer"

"I don't think Stacie would do that, it wouldn't be in her best interest to ruin your relationship at this point. Don't think about it Chloe, you'll just get worried about it and you won't be able to function properly."

"You're right. Thanks Bree. I'll tell her tonight and come clean."

"That's my girl."

As per usual, Beca was being punished for being late to work and was busy stacking the records with an equally punished Jessie in the basement. What she didn't know was that Stacie had been watching her from up above for an hour now. Stacie was a new intern at the station and was only just learning the ropes. She hadn't met Beca yet and she wasn't exactly sure how to approach the small brunette. She studied her interactions with Jessie for a while before picking an ideal moment to approach her. Beca grabbed a box of scratched records and went to take them into the "closet of shit" as Luke liked to call it - it was now or never.

"Jessie, just taking these to the shitty closet" she yelled as she lugged the box into another room. Little did she know that Stacie followed her in.

"Hey there..." The tall brunette hummed as she pulled the door shut behind her. Beca jumped out of her skin.

"DUDE! What the- you scared the shit out of me!" She breathed heavily as she leant against the wall.

"Oh I'm sorry" she pouted. "I just couldn't help but follow you in here, you're pretty hot for a shorty" she winked.

Beca blushed profusely and went to push past Stacie out the door, but the taller brunette wasn't having any of it.

"Heyyy, I don't bite! Where are you going?" She wined.

"Uhhmmm" Beca blushed. "I'm flattered but I'm kinda seeing someone.." She tried to move past her again but Stacie blocked her path with a large smirk on her face.

"Oh really? That's cool. What's her name, maybe I know her?"

"Chloe.. Chloe Beale.."

"Ooo, the little redhead. Score!" Beca shuffled uncomfortably.

"Oh.. So you know Chloe?"

"We used to be really really good friends.. But..." She gulped. "But I hurt Chloe. I know I did, and I feel awful.."

Beca frowned. She wasn't sure whether she should a) be talking to this girl and b) if she should be angry at her for hurting Chloe or not. Chloe had never mentioned her before though… What if this girl was important to Chloe? Maybe it would be nice to help her girlfriend get through this, Stacie seemed nice enough.

"What happened?"

"Uhmm" her eyes began to swell. "Stuff was said and misunderstood. We said some harsh things that I don't really want to talk about... I just wish I could put them right..." She sniffled and wiped her eyes apologetically.

"Hey it's ok, please don't cry. I'm sure you and Chloe will work it out." Beca said rubbing Stacie's arms.

"I have no way of getting in contact with her, I don't think she wants to talk to me." Her face dropped even more.

"Well she's coming round for dinner tonight.. I couldn't always talk-"

"Oh my god I'd love to come" suddenly her face lit up and she yanked Beca into a tight hug. "Shall I just come with you after work or?"

Dumbfounded, Beca just nodded and smiled (she was scared that she'd upset Stacie again if she said no).

"Thank you so much Beca, you have no idea what this means to me!"

"Any trouble though and I will have to kick you out.. Chloe means the world to me.."

Stacie saluted.

"Sure thing boss. See you after work!" She kissed Beca on the cheek and waltzed out of the walk-in closet.

To say Beca was nervous was an understatement. She had no idea how Chloe was going to react to Stacie being round and she hadn't even warned her. The brunettes were both sat in the living room waiting for Chloe to come home. Dinner was on the stove ready and the table was set out so that Chloe wouldn't suspect anything upon first arriving. Stacie was suggestively twirling her hair around her finger and studying Beca whilst Beca was trying to look anywhere but at Stacie. After about 20 minutes, Chloe wandered mindlessly through the door and threw her bags down. Beca gulped.

"Hey sweetie, I bought Taco Bell!" Chloe sung as she wondered into the kitchen. When she got no answer she headed towards the living room but was abruptly stopped by Beca throwing her arms around Chloe's neck and pushing her in the other direction. Before Chloe could question it, Beca kissed her hard. "Bec… Becs… What on earth is going on?" she said wriggling out of the kiss.

"Well, I've missed you and I also have a surprise b-but it's a surprise I'm not so sure about anymore…" she stuttered.

"Becs, whatever it is I'm sure I'll love it! But I have to talk to you about something over dinner, can it wait?"

"Ummm, that's the thing, she's kind of waiting for you in the living room…" Beca whispered suddenly avoiding all eye contact.

"She? What do you mean she?" Chloe said in frustration as she pushed past her into the room where she immediately spotted Stacie and froze. Stacie smirked and moved towards Chloe pulling her into a hug. Chloe immediately pushed her away and turned to Beca. "What the fuck is she doing here?"

Beca felt awful. She had never seen Chloe's face so cold and stern towards her, and she certainly wasn't enjoying it. She should have listened to her gut, she should have seen that this wasn't a good idea. If Chloe had wanted to patch it up with Stacie, surely she would have done it before. The air was thick like water and Beca was definitely drowning.

"Uhh, we kinda met at work today and… shetoldmeaboutyourpast a-and that she wanted to make it up to you…" Chloe's face went white and she grabbed Beca's arm and dragged her into the hallway.

"Beca… what exactly has she told you, because I promise I never meant to hurt you." She had started to sob into Beca's shoulder.

"Chlo, what are you talking about? Stacie told me about how she's hurt you and was desperate to make up with you… why would that hurt me?" Suddenly it all made sense to Chloe, Stacie was testing her to see if she would have the guts to tell the truth.

"Oh… Well… I don't know if I can do this" she croaked.

"Chloe we can do this together. I promise if anything happens I will have her out of here like lightning. I love you Chloe." And there it was. Beca froze and so did Chloe momentarily.

"You love me?"

"Of course I do." Beca said wrapping her arms around Chloe again. She kissed her forehead and stroked her fingers through her red locks gently. After a couple of minutes of calming her down, Beca and Chloe resurfaced in the living room. Stacie looked a little impatient at this point, things weren't quite going to plan.

They all sat at the table and tucked into the taco bell Chloe had brought back, Beca's homemade food had gone a little soggy at this point anyway. It was an awkward start to say the least, they all just sat there eating in silence. Stacie was obviously the first to speak, she was rather enjoying watching Chloe internally squirm.

"So Chloe, how have you been since we last met?" she smirked raising an eyebrow.

"Good thanks."

"I'd just like to apologise for my behaviour, I didn't realise that I was being mean, I was just trying to… relieve some tension" she winked. Chloe blushed a bright shade of red, she had never been so uncomfortable in her life. If Beca didn't know something was up by now then her name isn't Chloe Beale.

"Becs, can I have a moment with Stacie, I just want a quick word…" Beca's face fell even more and she got up to stand outside. As soon as she'd left, Chloe's face flared into anger and she clenched her fists on the table. "What the fuck do you think you're doing Stacie? Just because I rejected your bootie-call, now you think it's ok to try and wreck my relationship?!" she hissed.

"Oh Chloe sweetie, that's not what I'm doing, I just want a bit of your girlfriends ass, wouldn't say no to yours either… threesome?"

"Get out. Now."

"Chloe I'm sorry, why can't you just forgive me?! I miss you, I just want to be friends again." Stacie whined loudly so that Beca would here.

"Just get the fuck out Stacie. I'm done with your stupid games. I love Beca and I'm not letting you ruin this now. Go and find another slut to have sex with every five minutes!" she screamed and immediately threw her hands over her mouth when she realised what she had said. Stacie's smirk grew wider as Beca burst in. Chloe mentally prepared herself for Beca's hand on her face, she had yet again ruined another relationship and she had no hope. However, to her surprise Beca just stood there staring at her and Stacie.

"Stacie. Get out." Beca whispered. When Stacie didn't move, Beca repeated it but grabbed the taller brunette and pushed her out the front door. "Don't talk to me at work, ever." She said before slamming the door in her face.

Beca slid down the front door and crouched onto the floor. She rested her head onto her knees and began to sob. Chloe silently moved out of the kitchen and sat in front of her. She had no idea what to say, she had no idea how much Beca heard or what conclusion she got from Chloe's blurting and she had absolutely no idea if Beca still loved her. They sat there in silence for a few minutes before Chloe reached forwards and took Beca's hands in her own. She flinched but didn't yank her hands away – at least that was a good sign.

"Becs… I… I don't know what to say…" Beca sighed and looked up into Chloe's eyes.

"All I wanted to do was have a nice quiet meal with you tonight… But then Stacie seemed so upset earlier and I just wanted to fix things for you two, I thought it would make you happy" she sniffled. "But I guess I don't know the half of what's happened between you two… and I don't know how to feel about it because I don't know when any of it happened."

"I wanted to tell you Beca, I just didn't know how…"

"Well… I guess that means it's recent then. Listen, could I just have a bit of space tonight? I need some time to think"

"Beca please don't break up with me, I'm so so sorry, I know I promised I'd never hurt you and I promise I never meant to!" Chloe sobbed as she clung to Beca's hands.

"Chloe stop. I love you and this is why it hurts so much. Just please leave me along, get out of my house or just sleep on the sofa and give me some time ok…" she said as she got up and made her way upstairs.

Chloe just broke. She curled up in a ball on the floor and sobbed. She had to make this up with Beca, she just had to figure out how.