Taking place after “Need You Now,” and part of the “What Happens in Copenhagen” universe, Stacie calls in the troops to support Aubrey during a competency hearing.
Chapters: 1/15
Fandom: Pitch Perfect (Movies)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Stacie Conrad/Aubrey Posen, Stacie Conrad & Emily Junk, Emily Junk & Aubrey Posen
Characters: Stacie Conrad, Aubrey Posen, Emily Junk, Aubrey Posen’s Father
Additional Tags: Barden Bellas - Freeform, Implied/Referenced Homophobia
Series: Part 9 of What happens in Copenhagen?
Summary:
A follow up to “Need You Now,” and part of the “What Happens in Copenhagen” Universe. Stacie calls the troops in to support Aubrey when her competency is challenged.
this new posting system is great but doesn’t let me tag my partner, @misschf-aisa
It also won’t let me leave a longer comment.
this was written several years ago, before life sorta exploded. It’s been in our slush pile, but we decided it was worth publishing to finally explain the references to Aubrey’s competency hearings. Yes, they still happen, but this one has a happy ending. We promise.
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Aubrey has a day, Stacie has an idea, and between them they feel unstoppable.
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And thanks as always to @misschf-aisa who solves the problems of the world over chardonnay every time.
Have yourself a Merry little Christmas: a Bechloe story.
Happy Holidays, @kdawgsuperfan
Here’s a little something from your secret Pitchmas Santa. Thank you for the idea. I just might break my writer’s block after all. (=
———
Chloe sighed as she finished the kitchen dishes. She looked around at the Bella house and tried to remember what had possessed her to stay this winter break.
Then the ad showed on the television, and she remembered.
She poured herself a glass of wine and walked over to the sofa. She sipped it while reading again all the messages from the various Bellas as they related their arrivals, their plans and their holiday wishes.
After another glance at the television, still showing ads and snippets of news stories, Chloe pulled a throw blanket over her barefeet and legs. She straightened her robe before bending her legs. Resting her cheek on her knees, she looked over at the tree.
Was it just last week that Beca and she were making plans?
Beca was free of Jesse. He wanted a life in Los Angeles and she wanted to see if the Bellas could repeat. Chloe had to admit, she had no idea what she would have done had Beca left.
The thought caused a lump in her throat.
Chloe corralled her thoughts back into a recap of why she was at Barden, in the Bella house, alone, on Christmas Eve.
Finals week, Beca had practically crowed with the news that her father and stepmother (step monster, Chloe could almost hear Beca say), were taking a cruise for the holidays. Beca had planned to stay and work at the radio station, but had grumbled about Christmas with her father. Now she was off the hook.
So Chloe had cancelled her plans to head to New York. Watching New Year’s Eve on television was the same no matter where she was at, and she had no one to hang with in Times Square anyway. It seemed a no brainer, to stay in the Bella House with Beca. Just the two of them for a week? Chloe thought she had died snd gone to heaven.
Chloe sighed and closed her eyes. The program started up, but she didn’t really want to listen to Hugh Jackman. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to hear Sheryl Crow. But she left it on in the background as she remembered the phone call that had thrown everything into disarray.
“Oh my god, Chloe!” Beca’s eyes had widened as she walked back into the living room where Chloe was placing a garland carefully around the tree.
Chloe had looked up, smiling. But something in her tummy tightened at the look in Beca’s eyes.
“Campbell sent my tape in. I got selected.” Beca’s voice shook with excitement.
“For what?” Chloe got down off the step ladder and crossed closer to Beca.
Beca looked down at her phone before she answered. “I’m going to sing for the President.”
Chloe blinked as the television program erupted with applause, breaking her rumination and introducing the President and First Lady. She smiled, and swallowed. Christmas Live in Washington meant Chloe was now alone with her glass of wine and half decorated living room, happy for Beca and missing her like crazy.
She put her legs down and reached for her glass again.
Then she froze. Had she heard something? Her heart started to beat fast. No one else was supposed to be here.
Chloe tossed off the light blanket and stood quietly. She picked up her phone, thumb ready to call security, and listened again.
There was definitely a noise coming from the kitchen.
Frowning, she looked around. Seeing an umbrella in the stand near the front door, she crept over to claim it. Then she followed the sounds.
After a deep breath, she slowly pushed open the swinging kitchen door with the hand holding her phone, umbrella brandished above her head. “Who are you?” She tried to pitch her voice in the lower register her node surgery had provided.
“Shit.”
The intruder jumped and spun, scattering popcorn kernals everywhere.
“Are you crazy? You scared the shit out of me!” Beca leaned back against the counter, hand on her chest, and breathing hard.
“Beca?” Chloe lowered her arm. The frown on her face deepened as the program in the living room started to introduce singers. “You’re in Washington.”
Beca laughed and looked down at the floor. After shaking her head and taking a deep breath, she managed to speak again. “Live for pay per view, yesterday. Tonight is tape delay on cable.”
Chloe looked toward the living room, then back at Beca. “You’re here!”
“Yeah, crazy lady. I wasn’t gonna leave you all alone for Christmas eve after you stayed for me.” Beca grinned and straightened up. “Want some popcorn?”
Chloe nodded her head quickly. She leaned the umbrella against the table. “Let me get a broom and clean this up.”
Beca snorted. “I got it. Go watch Sheryl Crow. She was awesome.” Beca winked and shooed Chloe out of the room.
Bemused, Chloe returned to the sofa and sat down. Only half of her attention was on the show. She kept staring at the kitchen door, willing Beca to walk through and prove she was really here.
Soon, the smell of fresh popcorn and butter filled the air. Beca padded in, now barefoot, but still wearing the jeans and flannel she had worn for traveling. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it,” she confessed as she landed on the sofa next to Chloe. “Half the flights are overbooked and a bunch more cancelled. They were really pushing people to take vouchers to give up their seats, especially those of us who were traveling alone.” She grinned at Chloe and popped a handful of popcorn into her mouth. “Yourmydyngrna.”
“What?” Chloe laughed as she watched Beca, her heart lighter than it had been in days.
Beca swallowed, “If anyone asks, you are my dying grandma. It was the only way people would leave me alone about my damn seat.” She grinned. “But it got me here.”
Chloe laughed. “You are crazy, you know that?”
“Nah, you are the crazy lady.” Beca’s eyes danced. “You tried to bean me with an umbrella.”
“You didn’t tell me you were coming.” Chloe protested, but took a handful of popcorn and nibbled at it.
Beca laughed out loud. “Then you’da been pissed if I’d been knocked to standby.” She paused and looked at the television. “That’s weird. There was a whole set by a choir in this section.”
Chloe was distracted and followed Beca’s gaze, then looked at her again. “I’m sorry, I still don’t get it. The screen says it’s live.”
“Isn’t that weird?” Beca grinned again. “Wait till after this commercial.” When the program continued, she pointed to fine print on the bottom of the screen. “There. Taped live.” She looked at Chloe. “It’s why I had to be there a couple of days ago. There was a tech rehearsal to give the crews the timing and light cues and stuff.” After another handful of popcorn, she continued. “Last night we did it live for some pay per view station. But tonight on regular cable, it’s on tape. For all I know, I’ll be one of the pieces cut for commercials.”
“They better not.” Chloe replied hotly. “I’ll get every Bella alumni to call and complain until they at least release your piece onto YouTube.”
Beca smiled and leaned closer. “I get a copy, I promise to show you.” She lifted her hand to brush an errant popcorn kernal from beside the corner of Chloe’s mouth.
Chloe swallowed hard. Without thinking, her eyes still on Beca’s, she kissed the fingers lingering on her cheek.
Beca felt her breath catch. It was her turn to swallow hard. She let her thumb caress Chloe’s cheekbone, all playfulness forgotten.
Chloe leaned into the caress and smiled. “Missed you.”
“Me too. I mean,” Beca’s voice cracked. “I missed you,” she finished softly.
Chloe turned her head to kiss Beca’s palm.
Beca felt a shiver take her. “It’s weird. Like, with Jesse. My dad likes him, the damn step monster likes him.” She swallowed past a lump in her throat. “But it was like a chore, you know? Make an alert to call him, make an alert to have lunch with him. Make an alert to make an alert.” She shook her head. “We could go days without a word before one of us remembered we were supposed to be a couple.” She softened her voice again. “I don’t think it’s supposed to be like that?”
Chloe turned to look into Beca’s eyes. “No?” Her voce was equally as soft.
“No,” Beca rubbed her thumb across Chloe’s cheek bone. “Before I came to Barden, I never thought about dating and shit. I had my music and that was enough.”
“And now?” Chloe tilted her head to one side and smiled encouragingly.
“Now?” Beca smiled back. “I don’t need alerts to remind me to make an alert to talk to you.” She leaned closer. “I just keep singing that Clarkson song: My life would suck without you.”
Chloe nuzzled Beca’s nose. “Funny. I was thinking the same thing.
As their lips touched and they slid closer together, the popcorn was forgotten. They didn’t even hear Beca’s voice float from the television.
“Next year all our troubles will be out of sight….”
at the station: Jesse cancels a shift leaving Beca holding the bag. At least Chloe thought to bring coffee.
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thanks to @misschf-aisa who knows exactly how I like my coffee.❤️
