Author's Note: Here's the final chapter of Pay Your Dues. Sorry it has been so very long since I've updated. Here's the end of the story. I really hope you enjoy it!

Her heart was in her throat as he walked on stage. She saw him clenching and unclenching his fists. A nervous habit of his she'd noticed. But the second the lights were on, any insecurity he might of felt disappeared. How could a guy in a dorky burgundy velvet jacket singing a Cee-Lo song make her heart positively pound?

She was sitting in the Bellas' block of seats. Since they were all backstage she was pretty much by herself. They had invited her to watch from the wings but the thought of it made her nauseous. What if she ran into Jesse? What if she threw up from second hand stage fright?

She was way better off right here.

It only now occurred to her that Bumper was nowhere to be seen. And they weren't using her track. What the hell was going on? A quick glance at her twitter feed would later tell her that Bumper had taken a back up singing deal for John Mayer but for now she was flummoxed.

All she knew was that Jesse sounded great. And looked great. And was pretty great in general.

How long was she going to spend kicking herself for the way she treated him? She wished he'd just accept her apology. But she knew forcing it was selfish. She'd hurt him and he had every right to be pissed.

But still. She really missed him.

They transitioned into "Magic" and Beca couldn't help but grin as a dorky looking kid belted out the chorus. That could only be Jesse's roommate, Benji. Jesse was grinning at his friend, clearly bursting at the seams with pride.

They finished the number together, unable to keep themselves from hugging at the end. Beca felt a pang in her chest. Jesse was never afraid to show people how much he cared about them. She wished she could take a leaf from his book.

She'd tried with the voicemail. The voicemail she was sure he must have deleted.

The guys left the stage to a standing ovation.

Beca sat back down. Now was the time. The Bellas were going to take the stage and she was going to see if the work she'd done had paid off.

They all walked out, cups in hand.

They sat down on stage, all crosslegged.

They lights turned on, bathing them in blue and purple light.

Clap Clap, Tap Tap Tap, Clap, Grab, Move. Clap, Hit, Clap, Hit, and Move.

Clap Clap, Tap Tap Tap, Clap, Grab, Move. Clap, Hit, Clap, Hit, and Move.

"I got my ticket for the long way home," Aubrey sang, her clear voice ringing out, cutting through the silence.

"Two bottles of whiskey on the way," Chloe joined in, grinning as she moved her cup around with ease.

"And I sure would like some sweet company," Fat Amy chimed in. Beca beamed with pride. It had taken forever for Amy to get the rhythm down and now she was doing it like a pro.

"And I'm leaving tomorrow what do you say?" The three girls sang, pausing. Beca could feel everyone around her leaning in.

All the girls launched into a fuller rendition of the song with more percussion, and more intricate harmonies. Far from their usual fair, the Barden Bellas sounded- if Beca was abandoning all humility- pretty cool.

It was at this moment that Beca saw the Trebels entering the theatre from one of the many side doors. She made eye contact with Jesse almost instantly. She felt her heart leap into the throat. A blush colored her cheeks and she now wished she wasn't sitting alone like an idiot.

She forced her attention back onto the stage. The girls moved into the second song in her medley. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "Home"

Beca was so absorbed in the performance, that she didn't notice Jesse's presence until he sat down next to her.

"Oh Home,

Let me go home,

Home is wherever I'm with you,"

"Great arrangement," Jesse whispered to her. Beca felt a swarm of butterflies in her stomach.

"Thanks," she managed, wanting to say so many things to him.

They continued to watch the performance. "Home" gave way gave way to "My Dark Side" by Kelly Clarkson.

"Will you stay

Even if it hurts

Even if I try to push you out

Will you return?"

"I got your message," Jesse told her in a hushed voice.

She looked at him, unsure of what this meant. Had he accepted her apology.?Was he asking her to leave him alone? Did he want to be friends again? Did he want to be more?

"Good," she replies.

"Thanks for everything you said," he gave her a small smile. "Sorry I gave you the cold shoulder for a while. I just got confused about what we were. You're a good boss and a good friend."

Beca's heart broke. Friend.

She should have been happy.

She should have considered herself lucky he was even speaking to her.

But all she wanted to do was cry.

She wanted to tell him that she really didn't want to be his friend.

"Seriously," he said, nudging her. "This arrangement is amazing."

"It's for you," she blurted out.

Jesse looked at her, confused.

"Don't run away,

Don't run away,

Just promise me you will stay"

Beca couldn't look at his surprised (and adorable) expression a second longer, she turned to look at the girls.

Kelly Clarkson turned into Maroon 5 as the girls started their final number. Daylight.

Beca wished that this moment would end. The girls were killing it and everyone in the crowd was eating their performance up. But in spite of that, Beca was dying to run away.

She felt Jesse's eyes on her but she focused on the stage. Not wanting to see his undoubtedly pitying expression.

"And when the daylight comes I'll have to go

But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close"

"Beca?" his voice sounded different, huskier.

She turned to look at him.

"Yeah?" she asked, trying to keep it together.

"This is for me?"

She nodded. Unable to answer.

"Do you-"

"Yes," she interrupted him, unable to keep hiding it from him for another second. The truth was, she had been falling for Jesse a little bit at a time. The second he walked through the station doors, he had surprised her. He'd challenged her. He'd made her smile.

A perfect grin broke out on Jesse's face.

Before she could return it, he leaned in and kissed her.

He cradled her face in his hands like it was the most important thing he'd ever held and kissed her softly.

He pulled back, his nose touching hers, their breath intermingling.

"You are such a nerd," he told her.

Beca laughed.

"Yeah, maybe I am," she agreed before kissing him again.

Being a nerd wasn't so awful.