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Aubrey Posen has always considered herself to be a rational human being. Growing up with a father who always taught her to keep emotions out of decision-making tends to do that to a person, plus it’s helped her check off almost everything in her “Goals to Reach Before 30” checklist. Most of the goals written are about following her heart and cheesy inspirational bullshit like that that Aubrey has a hard time buying into. This is evidence of the power of Chloe Beale and tequila.
A lot changed since that night in Georgia with her best friend. That was eighteen months ago. For one, Aubrey finally accepted her growing feelings for Stacie Conrad and their FWB relationship which began six months ago while Stacie was on a company retreat with her research team. Two, she finally made the move and applied to Law School bringing herself closer to her goal of becoming a Mediator. Best of all, Aubrey is happy! She and Stacie moved in together and she loves the routine of their life together in Boston. Her father is more involved in her life than ever, even if it is via email with a visit in person every other year. And she has the best sisters a Bella could ask for. One in particular has been family since before the acclaimed misfits joined the sisterhood in ’12: Chloe Beale. This is important because a goal on her checklist was to help Chloe Beale be happy. Chloe was the first person Aubrey had ever cared for or saw as more than a person to help her reach a means to something.
Having to move every couple of years due to her father’s military career meant Aubrey learned early on not to get too attached to the friends she’d made in whatever current location her family was stationed in because those friends always had an expiration date or worse- had already found their best friend and didn’t have room for one more. Thankfully, one constant that remained throughout all the moving was music.
Music was ever-changing; music always moved alongside Aubrey. When she was lonely she would play her grandmother’s favorite blues, when she was angry and annoyed she had her alternative rock (she just out-grew her heavy eyeliner phase unlike Beca Mitchell), and no matter what mood she was in, music always helped her find her voice through song.
And of course, her love of music also helped her find Chloe. Chloe, who sang along to every secret country song Aubrey knew and loved; Chloe, who showed her that 90’s pop and 90’s R&B would always live on through silly karaoke nights;Chloe, who was the first person to still listen even when Aubrey would stop singing. Chloe loves music just as much – if not more – as Aubrey does. And as much as Aubrey didn’t want to accept it at first, Beca Mitchell is music – she understood it in a way Aubrey never would but would always admire.
In the beginning, she didn’t like the influence Beca had on the Bellas since it contradicted her authority and control, but once they all hashed out their aca-feelings in the semi-awkward Bellas practice turned confessional, they were bonded in ways that have only solidified as they remained a part of each other’s lives. Beca was instrumental to their sisterhood. Beyond that, however, Aubrey has come to observe that Beca has also changed Chloe in ways Aubrey has only seen music do.
After a surprisingly long number of skype dates, Chloe finally revealed the real reason behind her status of being a super-senior: she had fallen in love with more than just Beca’s sick beats and sarcastic quips. Her best friend had become a steady bass alongside Beca’s natural rhythm. Where Beca went, Chloe followed. Which leads Aubrey to today, where she was given the important task of getting Chloe to the bar Beca has rented out for Chloe’s birthday surprise.
After years of suspecting that Chloe’s toner for Beca was reciprocated, Aubrey finally got confirmation from Beca herself. It just took a little alcohol (okay, a lot) and Beca experiencing her inner green-eyed monster (just as tiny and mighty). Her fondness for Beca has grown since and seeing her make moves to essentially tell Chloe that she loves her most ardently (Beca vetoed any type of Jane Austen-esque confession, unfortunately) makes Aubrey feel like tonight will be the night her checklist will be complete.
She turns to look at the birthday girl and notices that while Chloe has been engaging and enjoying their day together, she continues to check her phone. Aubrey has her suspicions as to why.
“Still no word from Beca on when her meeting might be over?”
Chloe moves to put her phone in her purse and sighs, “No,” she turns her head to look at Aubrey, “I’m sorry, Brey. I promise that this has been one of my favorite birthdays and I’m so happy you flew in to make it all the more special. I just…” Chloe looks away for a moment, then shrugs her shoulders.
“You wanted Beca to be a part of it as well,” Aubrey finishes. She moves to wrap her arm around Chloe to provide her friend with comfort. She squeezes Chloe’s arm and says, “You and I both know Beca would be here right now if she could.”
“I know,” Chloe sighs, and gives Aubrey a smile as a thank you.
“And she did kick off the celebrations today by making your favorite banana pancakes for breakfast,” Aubrey’s smile turns a little mischievous, “I can still taste the burnt edges from my serving. Do you think she intentionally burnt mine because I’d get to spend the whole day with her favorite?”
“Stop it, she did not!” Chloe nudges Aubrey’s side and knocks their heads together as a slight reprimand. She sees Chloe holding back her smile as she bites her lip, which only encourages her to tease further.
“Yeah, ‘cause your portion was decent. Plus, you aren’t a reliable witness because you were too busy being distracted by all the eye-fucking going on between you and the little hellion. Right in front of my pancakes, Chloe?! Really??”
Chloe cackles with laughter at that, a small blush coloring her chest and cheeks. Aubrey loves that she can still use her teasing and banter with Beca to get this reaction out of Chloe, Beca’s own reaction to it being a close second. Beca Mitchell still carries a heavy-eye roll in her repertoire even if she has cut back on the heavy-eyeliner and ear monstrosities.
“Was I really that obvious?” Chloe ask as her laughter settles into a shameless smile.
“Aca-scuse me, it was two sets of eyes, meaning you both were so obvious. For a moment there I didn’t know which one of you would start accidently pouring syrup all over themselves and offer it as an extra serving!” Aubrey knows she’s exaggerating and the visual is something her girlfriend Stacie has done before for Aubrey’s birthday, but she still swears the same vibes were being passed on during this morning’s breakfast, she just wasn’t a part of this time.
“What’s going on with you two?”
“I don’t know, Brey!” Chloe exclaims, a mix between hope, excitement, and frustration can be heard in her tone. “Beca has just been…more. More affectionate with her touching and there’s been kisses on the cheeks and cuddles in bed that she’s initiated and I can only hope that it means what I want it to mean, but then why hasn’t she made a move to ask me out?”
Chloe looks to Aubrey for a definitive answer, and while Aubrey can give her one, she knows it’ll blow the whole plan behind Beca’s actions and the surprise for tonight. So she asks the question she knows will distract Chloe.
“Why haven’t you, bug?” Aubrey only ever uses this term of endearment when she asks Chloe to reflect on her feelings, ones she knows Chloe has struggled to understand and fit into a box. It’s another thing they found they had in common in the beginning of their friendship, their mutual need to analyze every emotion they experience. And while Aubrey did it so she can compartmentalize and hide the ones that distracted her from her goals, Chloe did it to better understand herself and express them. Something that Aubrey has always found to be one of the many beautiful things about Chloe and has also always wanted to protect her from.
They walk in silence as they turn the corner, arms still linked with each other. Aubrey sees the bar a block up ahead and finds relief in helping Chloe get closer to the answer she’s been hoping for. She looks at Chloe’s face again and can see her friend pondering the question she had asked. She knows all the reasons as to why Chloe has held herself back from revealing too much to Beca, the strongest being a deep rooted fear Chloe has that Beca wouldn’t reciprocate and that she would no longer have room for Chloe in her life, even if it is as just friends.
During one of Chloe’s horrible breakups their junior year Chloe told Aubrey that people always left her because they claimed she felt too much, that her love was overwhelming. She had held Chloe as she sobbed uncontrollably and told her that these people weren’t worth Chloe’s love and heart in the first place because it was too big and too good for people who didn’t know how to take care of it. From then on Aubrey established the Bella oath that no Treblemaker would ever be able to have a chance with Chloe or any other of her Bellas as they were unworthy. Aubrey tended to be petty, so she also helped Chloe get a little retribution by egging said ex’s car and filling the interior with vinegar, nothing major. Aca-obvs.
Aubrey decides she doesn’t want Chloe to think about what ifs any longer and hopes her offer will put Chloe into the birthday mood once again.
“How bout we enjoy a couple celebratory drinks and some karaoke before we make a pit stop at Beca’s label and see if we can get her to play hooky on the rest of her night. We can even pick up takeout from that Thai place you both love so much.” She grins as she sees a smile on Chloe’s face again.
“Yes, I would love that!” Chloe stops in front of the bar’s entrance and pulls Aubrey into a hug, tucking her face in Aubrey’s shoulder.
“I love you, Brey.” Chloe sighs happily.
“I love you, too, Chloe.” Aubrey moves to place a kiss on Chloe’s forehead. She takes a moment to look at her best friend’s face. She feels excitement creep into her smile and can’t help but tease Chloe one last time, all the better to distract her from what’s in store as she starts leading Chloe up the entryway.
“I’ll even bribe the bartender into providing us with a cake so you can keep up tradition and make your birthday wish for you to become Beca Mitchell’s.” She winks at Chloe over her shoulder.
“Brey!” she hears Chloe exclaim as she opens the door to the bar. She holds it open and pushes Chloe to enter first.
“I should’ve never told you what I wished for on my birthdays. This is probably why it hasn’t come true. Do you think wishes only work when they’re wished upon a star? ‘Cause I can totes—” Aubrey sees Chloe stop abruptly, as she has finally noticed what’s inside the bar. From the colorful banner wishing Chloe a happy birthday to the tiny person who’s holding up a bouquet of red roses. Aubrey muffles the squeal she feels in her excitement at seeing Beca standing there, at seeing their plan at surprising Chloe come to fruition. It’s Beca’s turn to take the lead now.
“Becs, what? What is all this? What happened to your meeting?” Aubrey hears Chloe ask, and she watches as Beca moves her left hand to move a strand of hair behind her ear and her right hand tightens their grip on the bouquet. She’s nervous, and Aubrey would feel a little intrusive for being present in this moment were it not for Beca asking her to help her bring Chloe here.
“The meeting was never real. It was my excuse, along with Aubrey, to buy time and kinda set this up for you.” Beca moves forward and offers Chloe the bouquet. “These are for you. I know roses aren’t your favorite, but they’re needed for what I hope is a special occasion.”
Aubrey moves a hand to cover her smile at seeing this side of Beca: the look of hope, want, and love shining from Beca’s facial expression is one she is not accustomed to being privy to. She recalls a drunken sappy Beca from the night a month ago when Beca would not stop talking about all the things that made her fall for Chloe. The same night that was followed up with a sobered up Beca sharing her plan to finally take the leap and tell Chloe the truth.
“Well, it is my birthday and I am pretty special, so thank you, Becs. They’re lovely, and this is all so sweet.” Aubrey imagines the sly smile that accompanies Chloe’s teasing reply but she can still hear the sincerity behind her ‘thank you.’
Beca is grinning widely at Chloe and Aubrey watches as she takes one of Chloe’s hands in one of her own, her smile becoming tender once again. Beca’s thumb sweeps over Chloe’s knuckles before she gives her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Well, my intentions are a little selfish and in the spirit of honesty- I did actually go to the studio, just not for a meeting.” Beca takes a moment to lick her lips and Aubrey notices how Beca’s ears have turned a dark shade of red from their tips down to the studded diamond earrings she’s wearing.
“You see, for the past couple of weeks I’ve been working on a special track to gift to you. Can I play it for you n—”
Beca’s questions is cut off by an enthusiastic, “Yes!” Aubrey and Beca both chuckle at Chloe’s immediate reply. Beca then turns to Aubrey and gives Aubrey the cue she’s been waiting for since she and Chloe arrived. She walks further into the bar and comes to a stop in front of the bar’s stereo system where she presses play on the machine that releases Beca’s track to the speakers.
When she looks up from having pressed play, Aubrey can now see Chloe clearly from her vantage point. Aubrey doesn’t understand why what seems to be a cover of Beca singing Sia’s “Titanium” has erupted waves of tension from where Beca and Chloe are standing. Something she is familiar with is the look of utter enthrallment upon Chloe’s face as her best friend gazes at Beca. Beca who starts taking a couple of backwards steps bringing her and Chloe closer to the table that holds a small cake with candles on it. Seven to be precise. Aubrey does feel a little guilty for sharing what Chloe’s birthday wishes have been the past 6 years with Beca, but what was she to do with a spiraling Beca Mitchell after she thought her chance at a relationship with Chloe was lost?
“It’s not an original track, but I couldn’t resist using this song that carries a- uh..” Beca chuckles as she throws a wink towards Chloe and continues, “once previous traumatic moment that I can now look back on fondly because as surprising as you interrupting my shower was it was also a moment that changed everything for me. It’s just taken me awhile to realize it.”
Aubrey’s a little stuck on the knowledge that Chloe has kept some Bloe moments to herself, but she doesn’t stay stuck on it for too long as she watches Chloe follow Beca’s every move with her bright blue eyes; she watches as Beca lets go of Chloe’s hand to reach for the cake on the table and uses a lighter from her pocket to start lighting up each candle as she continues her speech to Chloe.
“Aside from the significance this song has in our wet musical history together, I’ve also chosen this song because of its title, titanium. Did you know that one of titanium’s most valuable qualities is its high strength-to-weight- ratio? This means that while it’s very strong, as strong as steel, it’s also very light.” Beca turns back to give Chloe her full attention again as she finishes lighting the last candle on the cake.
“I’m spewing this information from a site I found on the web, so I don’t know how accurate this all is,” Beca states and she and Chloe share a chuckle. “But I do know that when I read those words all I could think about was you and how you make me feel.”
The bar’s lighting reflects even brighter on the two sets of eyes that Aubrey notices now have welled up from all the aca-emotions in the room. She’ll have to remember to leave out her own eyes that have watered up as well when Stacie asks for all the not-so dirty details.
“Chloe, I’ve never felt as light as I do when I’m with you. Whether we’re fucking around in bed playing the song association game where you cheat by claiming the songs you make up to the word I choose are legit real or when you come home to me excited from a full day of being surrounded by animals you love and helped or the feeling of relief and happiness I feel when I know you’ll be there when I get home from a stressful day at work. “
Chloe’s bubble of laughter that erupts at Beca mentioning some of the special moments they’ve shared in their friendship warms Aubrey’s heart.
“Every day, Chlo. Every day you give me the strength I need to believe in myself because you have never given up on me, my dreams, or my capabilities. I have never felt the strength behind someone’s love for me as I do when I’m surrounded by yours. It’s taken me awhile to realize that I’ve been slowly falling in love with my best friend. With you, Chlo. And I finally have the courage to share this with you because I have never been surer in the strength of my feelings for you. It’s titanium. We are titanium, and I am so, so in love with you.”
Chloe is now full-on crying, but her whole being is brimming with happiness. Aubrey casually wipes a tear from her own face as she sees Beca do the same for Chloe. Beca’s hand lingering on Chloe’s face before it moves down to reach for Chloe’s hand, bringing her forward in front of the cake.
“Now, seeing as it is your birthday, I’d like you to blow out your candles and make a wish. One I hope I can finally make come true, if you’ll have me.”
There’s a moment where Aubrey sees Chloe and Beca just stare at one another, the mutual grins on their faces looking as if they’re in a competition to see who’s happiest that comes to an end as Chloe leans over her cake, all the while continuously staring at Beca, and blows her candles.
Aubrey estimates half a second to have passed from when the smoke hits the air and Chloe’s lips collide with Beca’s. She does her best to look away to try and give her friends a moment of privacy. She looks back when she notices the kiss has turned into a hug. She doesn’t hear what Chloe’s whispering in Beca’s ear, but she figures Beca’s received her answer when the hug ends, and they share another quick kiss to only then turn to Aubrey.
No longer able to hold herself back Aubrey squeals and runs to hug an already prepared Chloe who catches Aubrey around her middle. Aubrey feels the vibrations of Chloe’s laughter with how tight they’re holding on to one another.
“Happy birthday, Chloe!” She looks at Beca from over Chloe’s shoulder and extends her right arm asking Beca to come join in on the hug. Once Beca does Aubrey lets out the same words she uttered the night Beca drunkenly admitted her feelings for the girl of honor, “Aca-fucking finally.”
FIN.