Justin had made it crystal clear. On no uncertain terms was she to come early to visit them, chit chat, whatnot. Of course, he'd said it in a more polite, less cruel way. Justin was a gentleman even if he had to pretend. He'd stressed how busy everyone was and would be in addition if she came. They just couldn't be proper hosts. Emily could take a hint as thinly veiled as that one. She'd get in the way and obviously he nor anyone else wanted her there. The party was scheduled to begin at ten tonight, dress rehearsal was nine-thirty sharp. Don't be late. Don't be early either.

She'd been here since four o' clock, enduring just a short flight from England. She'd gone on a shopping spree in England on the spur of the moment. She had bought so much there that she bought another suitcase. Thousands of outfits hung in her closets and they didn't mean a thing to her. Half of them still had tags on them, never worn. She wondered if she had ever realyl wanted them. There had always been something missing in her life, a void she tried to fill with everything from food to money. In the end, she had set goals for herself. She had to keep going to fill that void. She'd run off to live on her own, then after, to become a model. She had to keep going now, up, up, up. She had to make it to the top, be the best in this rat race of fashion woes. She had a plan.

Things would not be easy, but not impossible she hoped. She had to gather all her strength and play out friend or foe. No one was safe... she'd have to harden her mind and remember her purpose. Jan, JC, Skye, Justin... Justin. O, but he was beautiful. Too beautiful for words. At his smile the world dropped at his feet. His eyes sparkled with the light that had brought Justin fame and made him the envy of all the stars above. Oh, she had wanted him, and everything he could do for her, his beautiful face. Once... once, she would have spared him, loved him like no one else could, used him him like no one else had. But he didn't want her.

Her eyes darkened despite any effort on her part to ward it off. She was angry. She pitied the fool that would stand in her way. She slid her hands through her hair, wringing water from it and feeling its smooth texture. She would have loved him well. She would have showered him with affection for having the smile of a god. But he'd made his mistakes. He'd lost and she'd yet win, leaving them in her trail of ashes and tears. They would never want for mercy as they would now. Yes, she would have loved him. He should have smiled her way. He should have held her the way she desperately needed to be held. He should have never broken her heart.

Oh well. Everyone made mistakes. Some just had to pay more than others.

-§-

Ring... Ring... Ring.

He listened as the phone tried to connect to the number he'd dialed.

"Pick up, pick up..." But he wasn't sure if it was a demand or a prayer. He could afford a little patience. "Come on, Emily."

"Hello?"

"Emily?"

"Who is this?" There was a lot of rustling on the other side.

"It's Riley. Are you alright?" Suspicions arose as the rustling grew louder.

"Fine. I'm just trying to tie my robe. I just got out of the shower."

"Where are you?"

"In my hotel room."

"No, where are you? City, country?" He was aware of the eagerness in his voice.

"Dublin, Ireland."

His smile was wide at that moment. "So you got through?"

"Yes."

He knew he'd been right to tell her about this party.

"Good. You have a plan?"

A girlish laugh followed his question. Her voice was coquettish. "Dear man. Tell you and ruin the surprise? Never. That is for me to know and you to find out."

His eyes narrowed. "Are you planning to disappoint me? You promised you'd help." He wondered if he should have regreeted telling her.

"Why are you so worried about me disappointing you?"

"What are your plans then?"

"You obviously don't know me well."

"What a keen observation Emily." His voice was dry with sarcasm.

"Hold your tongue, Riley. If you knew me, you wouldn't ask me that. I would never disappoint myself."

"I don't know what that means."

"Do you trust me Riley?"

"No."

"Well that's too bad isn't it?"

Click.

-§-

Seven o'clock already. He looked out into the sea of faces as he did almost every night. He could see all or nothing. Together they were a crowd. Individually they were blurs. Just maybe the first ten rows he could make out... if he was lucky. But he knew she wasn't sitting out there. He'd put her elsewhere, in a VIP box. He wanted to smile, but the curtain cut off his view. If he could not see her, she most likely could not see him.

He'd given explicit instructions for Skye. Oh, she was excited all right. The rules- no one was to say a word to her about tonight. She'd sit in the VIP box with Jan and a few other crew members. He'd asked them to help her feel at home. It shouldn't be too hard, for the VIP was furnished with several plush couches. He seemed to forget the privacy of home for a moment.

He smiled at the thought of her. She was wide-eyed, drinking in everything with her eyes, drinking in him. It was as if she couldn't get enough of life, this new life she'd entered. He smiled sadly, remembering a time when he'd been just like her. It seemed so long ago, so long he'd briefly forgotten that once upon a time he'd never been immersed in this culture that told him the stage was his home. But she'd brought that all back.

Strange how it felt as the memories flooded his system. It was almost as if he was looking at another person in his body, bearing his face. He'd always said he hadn't changed, always tried to convince himself. But he'd lied to everyone who wanted to know. To himself. Mostly to himself. And he wondered how he could have been so foolish to believe this life, this world, would let one such as him stay the same. Carelessness was the guise for materialism and recklessness. Yet they were allowed to get away with it.

They were trophies.

As good as gold.

And expected to be just as cold.

Justin shivered. Briefly, he wondered if it was the last human defense he had.

-§-

The grin of the Cheshire cat materialized right before her. A lanyard with a pass hung around her neck. Justin must have asked her a hundred times if she had it. He had also repeatedly checked the "list" to make sure her name was on it. Skye felt a little lost, Justin here and there, running around, talking of things she didn't know. He looked so busy, she wondered if it was regularly like this, but he'd always seemed to throw her a smile, the wide one that showed his white top teeth and crinkled the corners of his eyes... the one that always made her smile back.

The screaming crowd surrounded them as she sat a little too rigidly on the cushion of the soft plush loveseat. Beside her, Jan had lost her Cheshire grin. It was replaced by a grim look and completed with narrowed eyes.

"Will you look at these signs, Skye? 'JC, I want to marry you.' , 'Justin, I want to be the mother to your children.' You'd think they could be a little more creative..." The mischeivous grin reappeared across Jan's pretty face. "... A little more witty. What do you think of this?"

In a flourish Jan whipped out a sign of her own and held it out for Skye to see. Besides being neon orange, the sign boasted girlish writing and a scrolled message: 'JC, this time with strings!"

Skye looked up at Jan, who smiled back at her, that devilish grin constant on her face. "What was last time?"

In an instant, Jan's face contorted into shock and then just as immediately, dissolved into laughter.

Skye felt her cheeks grow red and her head lowered.

Jan must have caught on quickly. "Oh, no, no! It's not you I'm laughing it. It's the situation. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Just... most people would interpret it as a sexual innuendo."

Skye lips formed the "O" she felt. Hesistantly, she looked at Jan, half - afraid to ask, but itching to. "Would they be right?"

But Jan just laughed. She stopped and seemed to size Skye up with a lazy grin. "You're a big girl now Skye. What do you think?" And then she winked.

It was a sarcastic question, subject to silent affirmation instead of an actual answer. And judging by Jan's reaction to the question, it was hardly one that needed to be asked in the first place.

"I'm gonna hold up the sign when I know JC's looking. He'll get a kick out of it... The crowd's in for a real surprise, but it won't be me. Twenty bucks says JC's hair will steal the show."

"Oh yea," said Skye. "Justin told me you two had gone down to the salon."

"Oh yes... the salon. Well... it was quite an experience, what JC did to his hair..."

"What'd he do?"

"Oh, you just wait. Soon enough you'll see..." She smirked. "It's hideous."

"Hideous? You think it's hideous? But you just said..."

Jan cut her off with a laugh. "Skye, I'm just dating him... I love him, but I'm not blind."

"Oh..." She smiled and gave an unsure laugh. It was different for Skye. When she loved someone, she loved all of them, every inch. She loved her sister... She loved Justin.

"So how are you Skye? What's up, pussycat?"

A lot. "Nothing much really." Of course, I haven't told him it's my birthday tonight. I haven't told anyone. "Everything's going well." Maybe if she said it enough she'd start to believe it. But everything wasn't all right. The voice she'd wanted to hear the most had not called in two days. She'd thought Lucy would call before she left Toronto and Skye had waited by the the phone as long as possible before she had to go to the airport. But she didn't call. It was Martha's voice instead that wished her a happy birthday and good-bye. Where was Lucy? And briefly, she wondered if Lucy had forgotten. But no. No. Lucy wouldn't ever forget. Ever. Not on a day that meant so much to Skye: November 24th.

"Are you ok?"

A voice broke through the worry and Skye was dazed. "What?" She'd hardly heard, her reaction late.

"What's on your mind?"

I'm eighteen. "Nothing." The lie slipped a little too quickly off her tongue.

"Nothing, huh? That didn't look like 'nothing' to me."

Jan was suspicious, Skye could tell. Half-truths would have to suffice. "It's just the crowd... it's very intimidating." It was true. Every other second they were screaming and everytime the lights dimmed they would scream even louder. It had been a ruckus when BBMak had come out. False alarm. Skye would have wanted a one-way ticket out of this madness... but Justin was out there... somewhere. Even out of sight, he was not out of mind. Nothing bad could happen when he was there. In a strange way, he gave her the feeling of safety. In the same way, he gave her strength.

"Don't be. They can't get to us. Just sit back and relax. Tonight is your night."

Skye smiled, somewhat relieved that Jan had bought it. "Thanks."

Jan smiled. "Don't thank me. Tonight is once in a lifetime. Isn't it, Skye?"

Skye just nodded, puzzled at the question.

"Then look around you, and try to remember this all. I remember this night. Nights like these... you gotta make the most of them."

Skye was even more baffled than before. What night? How could Jan remember this night if it hadn't even taken place yet? She turned to ask. But Jan was already leaning forward, sign ready in hand. The lights dimmed. The bedlam broke out. And all Skye wanted now was a pair of earplugs.

-§-

"Doo ta do ta doo... da do da do."

"Chris."

"Doo ta do ta doo... da do da do."

"Chris."

"Doo ta do ta doo... da do da do."

"Chris."

"Doo ta do ta doo... da do da do."

"Lance!"

"It's ov-er, it's done. We're gon-na have some fun. We're done with it, it's through. We're gonna sleep a few..."

"You, here!"

"Doo ta do ta doo... da do da do."

"Anybody seen my towel? Here's a hint to find it: it stinks."

"Who let the dogs out?"

Good ole' backstage. It was Superman, the energizer bunny, the cellphone, sex kitten and him. Who was he? Usually the tired one with the weak tea smile, the one who wanted to go to bed so he could be ready for tomorrow if he had somewhere to be. But tonight... he only had one place to be and his usual tired self was replaced one strangely exuberant, yet strangely mellow. Tonight was the night. The one he'd planned for, made, and set out. He'd worked so hard. Somehow he felt like tonight... he'd have to prove his worth. But only to himself. Never to her. Strange... she was the only one who never seemed to question. And Justin... was all right with that. More than all right.

-§-

"Check the list again."

The man sighed, but quickly looked down, his finger quickly sliding down the list, a glance by glance report.

Foot tapping ensued. Oh, JC would never hear the end of this. Never. She vowed this under her breath.

A few fans milled around the area and gave her dirty looks mixed in with the sympathetic ones at her third attempt to get through. "I'm sorry ma'am. Her name is on here so she can go through, but you can't."

She almost screamed in frustration. "This was not how it was supposed to go down. Do you see the pass around my neck? It isn't there for nothing."

"I'm sorry ma'am. Three nothing I can do. You can be let into the backstage areas, but not the restricted areas."

"Oh for God's sakes. Fine. Skye, see that dressing room right there?" She pointed to a slightly sideways door shut tightly. "Yes, the one labeled Johnny Bravo. Knock on it and tell JC to get his ass out here. I need to get through. Then I need to kick that ass."

She saw Skye wince at her words, but obediently go through.

The sounds were muffled for Jan as Skye came to the door and knocked softly.

Hmm. Better her than me. I would have huffed and puffed and blown that damned door right down. She wasn't sure why it wasn't already crushed by her stare.

What sounded like a "Who is it?" answered and Skye answered her name. She was let inside rather quickly... and the door opened again in a few seconds.

"Jan?"

Oh, that still sweaty wifebeater... but her mind would not be led astray. She still had fire in her eyes no matter how delectable he looked. "JC?" she answered.

He turned his face to the guard's. "What's the problem here?"

"Oh, sir. She's not on the list."

"Yes she is. I put her on there this morning. I saw it with my own eyes."

"I'm so-rry sir, but she's not on here."

"Let me see it," demanded JC, holding his palm out. Security handed it over. "Oh hell. Ok, JANINE Anwar is on this list."

The guard looked a bit scared to contradict him in anyway. "Si-r, that's not what her ID says..."

Jan saw it fit to clear her throat. "Joshua Scott Chasez, whose full name I know... What's my full first name?"

"Jan..."

"BEEEEP. Wrong. Try again."

"Ja...ne?"

"BEEEEEEEEEP. Wrong."

"Ja...na?"

"Janet, JC, Janet! Like Janet Jackson. That is like the most common name besides Jane. Janet."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh is right babe."

JC sighed tiredly and turned to the guard. "Will you please just let her through? It's my fault, I wrote her name wrong on the list."

"Yes sir," he said quickly, and stood out of the way.

Jan almost rolled her eyes out of her head as she walked through, straight into the dressing room, without a word to anyone.

JC closed the door tightly and turned around. "Jan," he whined, stalking after her and catching her by the shoulders. "It was an honest mistake on my part. I'm sorry. I really am."

Jan said nothing, but walked forward and plop herself down in a big red armchair, crossing her arms and lowering her face. JC quickly moved to stand in front of her.

"Jan. Come on. Please? It was a mistake... I don't know what I was thinking, it'll never happen again. Janet... Yes, I know your name is Janet now. Janet, Janet, Janet. See? I've commited it to memory."

He couldn't see the small smile that came to her face... and then quickly disappeared as he dropped to his knees to stare up at her. She gazed at his hands in her lap, but not at him.

"Jaaaaan. Honey, you can't be mad at me for this. I told you, I made a mistake. I've already apologized. What more can I do?"

All at once her eyes met his. "I can think of a few things..."

"What?" he asked suspiciously, his eyes growing narrow.

She tried not to smile. "Kiss it and make it better."

Slowly he grinned. "Now that I can do."

She smiled back. "I was just... a little pissed about having to stand out there. I mean people must have thought I was some crazed fan trying to get in your dressing room and rape you."

"I'm sorry, and all that matters is I know you're not," stated JC.

She raised one eyebrow. "Who says?" She asked. "Did I ever make my intentions clear about just what I was going to do to you... and that body for making me wait outside?" She was glad their voices were hushed.

She could tell from the look on his face that his mouth had just gone dry. He swallowed. "You better punish me now, or stop talking immediately..."

She laughed. "And ruin Skye's night?"

"Damn, I forgot about that."

"If you're a good boy, maybe I'll have a little something for you when we get home..."

"What'd I tell you about talking? Here, come on, get up," he said, reaching for her hand.

"What?" she started to rise. Before she could say anymore, he pulled her up, and sat down on the armchair, pulling her back down onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, her mouth near her ear, as he hugged her from behind. "I'm really glad you're here."

She closed her eyes and exhaled, all at once lost in his voice, her body giving in to his embrace. "I am too, Josh. I am too."

They could have one moment, couldn't they?

They stayed there for a moment longer.

"I really had to say this, but we have to get up... Justin wants this as efficient as possible for Skye and I still need to shower and get my things."

She sighed. "Yea, I know. I have some things that Justin asked to do too. But... speaking of Skye... where is she?"

-§-

The ringing still hadn't gone out of her ears and her hearing was a bit on the foggy side. She strained to make out conversation that seemed separated by a thin wall for her. Things didn't seem to get unbusy. People still ran around, trying to get things done. No one noticed Skye. That was normal. She had yet to see a familiar face since she'd left Jan and JC. They needed to be... alone. She left them to themselves.

She took a deep breath and leaned against the wall for just a minute. She'd gotten lost, forgetting the way she came and she needed to stop for a moment. She felt a little tired, a little scared, a little uncertain. Eighteen now, and she felt no different. Wasn't she supposed to feel... She didn't know. Just different. Not the same. Not the little girl who could hold onto nothing. But here she was, lost, alone.. with nothing. She couldn't even tell them today was her birthday. Special. It should have been special. Not the same old, same old. She couldn't find her voice. She was so frustrated... tired of being the one left behind.

She swallowed. She took a deep breath. She could do this. Like every other day.

"Hey Skye!"

Her head popped up and she saw him walking towards her, a smile that could break records and hearts alike on his face.

"Justin!" Her face lit up. She wasn't alone anymore. It had just ceased to be every other day.

-§-

"Princess," he said smoothly as he saw her begin to move to him. Only she didn't walk... she ran.

"Oomph!" That was the sound Justin made as she flung herself into his arms. She hugged him so tightly. "Princess?" he asked after a few seconds had gone by and her arms still held strong to his neck. "You ok?"

He felt her nod into his chest and exhale before she loosened her arms and slowly drew back, away from him. His chest that had been instantly warm was now instantly cold as she put distance between them.

"Are you sure? What brought that on?"

This time Skye saw it fit to answer him in words. "I'm fine. Just really... happy to see you, that's all. I haven't seen you in... months now."

He frowned... and then frowned some more as her expression grew troubled as she was looking at him. "I'm sorry. Is something bothering you, Princess? Me being away?"

"No, no," she quickly assured him. "It's not that... I'm just... new to all this. It takes awhile to to get used to Justin. It's... cool and I'm happy to see you."

"Ok," said Justin looking down at her. He wasn't sure whether to believe her or not, but he could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. So Justin let it drop. "Hmmm. Why are you out here? I thought Jan was supposed to be with you."

"Oh, well, she was, but umm..."

"But umm what?"

"Well, JC sorta... didn't put her correct name on the list and she got mad at him."

Justin was a little taken aback... a little disgusted. "Do you mean to tell me that he put another chick's name on there?"

"No! It wasn't anything like that. It was... do you know Jan's full first name?"

"Janet," he answered automatically. He had seen her full name written in some old programs she kept with her.

"Right... well, JC didn't know that. He put 'Janine Anwar' on the list."

"Janine? How'd he come up with Janine?"

She shook her head. "I don't know, but it says Janet Anwar on her ID, so the guard wouldn't let her back. My name was on there though, so I went in back to get JC. He got her through, but she was still mad. They walked off into this room and shut the door, so I just walked around."

He raised his eyebrow to that. "Oh. Ok." He wasn't going to say anything to Skye, but Jan was going to get a little piece of his mind later. How could she just let her roam around in a strange venue? Justin had specifically asked Jan to take Skye around because Skye didn't know this scene well or have any clue what to do next. How could Jan just leave her like that?

"It wasn't a big deal. I just thought they needed to be alone. So I just walked around out here."

His expression lightened as he momentarily put it behind him. "Well, it's a good thing I found you. We're leaving in a few minutes." Tonight was Skye's night and he was not going to ruin it.

"Back to the hotel?"

"Yea," he said. "C'mon Princess." He held out his hand to lead the way. It felt so natural when she took it that he didn't even look back as he grasped it. And he began to walk down the corrider.

-§-

"So, ok, let me get this straight... so Lance got..."

The door swung open and shut quickly, somewhat loudly.

"Hey, pack it up and move out guys. Lewis says the vans are all warmed up and ready to go.."

There was no mistaking the authority in his voice. A few murmured "hello to you too"s and they were offf.

"Does this mean I have to get up?"

Jan smirked. "'Fraid so loverboy." Nevertheless, he slumped back into the chair.

"Damn."

She turned her head to see him. "Oh, long face. But the story doesn't have to end here." She none too innocently ran her hands over the fabric next to his arm, lightly rubbing his skin with her thumb.

"Really?" He asked quietly, staring up at her with hooded eyes. So dangerous it was, so dangerous. "And what did you have in mind Mrs. Anwar? Even said formally, her name was her seduction from his lips. "Ms. Anwar" he'd said this time. Imagine if he'd said Jan. She shivered at the thought of him having such power with only those words.

"Well, Mr. Chasez, I don't know. Maybe we could say... throw our own little party back at the hotel."

"Or the bed?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She had to turn away a bit as she blushed. "Is it too late to tell you how naughty of a boy you are?"

"Jan, my dear, you do it every night.. so you must love it. I mean, right after we're done and sweat--"

"Uh." She put two fingers to his lips. "Don't say another word."

His eyes lit up. "Make me."

She didn't even hesitate as she covered his lips with hers.

"Ahem." A foot tapped impatiently, but they hardly heard.

"AHEM." The figure strode closer. "Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds." Their faces quickly turned to the all too charming face of Justin Timberlake. "But we have to go." His voice was silky smooth, his eyes dark blue and his half - smile was unnerving. Unmistakably, Jan knew the look of annoyance.

They had a tendency to do that... forget about anyone and anything else when they were together. It had been only a few short months, but they had forgotten more times than Jan cared to remember. Of course, they didn't do it on purpose. It sorta just... happened.

"Guys, snap out of it. We need to get going. Are you coming?"

But they were already moving, getting up, Jan first for she was was sitting on JC's lap.

"Thank you," Justin said a bit smugly and flashed a brilliant smile their way before turning around and walking back to Skye. But Jan had seen something more than just a smile directed at her. Something more disturbing than happy.

Jan absentmindly kissed JC on the cheek as she stared at Justin's back. "I'll see you later, Jace. I have to go relieve Skye now."

"9:30?"

She just nodded, vaguely hearing him. She felt him kiss her cheek and squeeze her hand before he was to leave. One last time, she turned her head and smiled at him briefly. Waiting for no more words, she walked towards Justin and Skye. Jan swore that the boy had eyes in the back of his head because just before Jan had reached them, he turned around, his eyes still dark. His smile grew as he crossed the short distance between them, just out of Skye's earshot. He leaned to her ear, close enough so she could feel his even breath on the side of her face. "Do it right this time. I don't want her wandering around again. Please."

She looked up at him strangely, wondering why his eyes seemed so dark. "Are you ok Justin?"

"Just please," he repeated, his eyes still dark, but pleading with her yet.

She sighed. "Aye, captain." She watched one last time as Justin moved to Skye and kissed the top of her head before walking off.

That boy... Jan shook her head. Turning, she looked at Skye as the door clicked. "Well, I guess it's just you and me now kiddo."

-§-

"Ok, now, you better all take showers in less time than in takes you to brush your teeth. We're running just a little bit late. I expect you all to be there at 9:30 sharp."

Chris grumbled as Joey laughed.

Justin's eyes sprang up to the direction of the laughter and pierced the invisible air between him, Chris, and whre the laughter used to be. "What was that?"

Chris' eyes didn't falter before his, but his face lit up and side of his mouth slid up to the corner. "Yea, who died and gave junior over there decision making power? You're not supposed to order me around. I'm like... a decade older than you."

"Chris. Now is not the time for arguments. You knew I was planning this..."

"Arguing? Who's arguing? I am merely pointing out they got it backwards. As someone older, may I point out..."

"Yea Chris? So what are you gonna do? Not go to her party? Fine. Don't come." Justin's temper was flaring up. He'd worked so hard for this and now Chris had the audacity to tell him he didn't feel like it anymore, and didn't want to follow his orders anymore because Justin was younger. Well, fine.

"Hey, chill little bro'. What are you getting so strung up about? I didn't say anything about not wanting to go. Besides, if I wasn't there, Joey would eat all the cake himself."

Lance laughed. "Same difference. Now that both of you will be there, you'll just split the cake between you two and leave none for the rest of us."

"Hear! Hear!" chimed in JC. "Same difference."

"Not true!" yelled Joey in his defense.

"Yea, not true!" echoed Chris. "We fully planned to give a piece to Skye first, then split the rest." Chris grinned like the maniac he was.

Justin settled back down, relaxing his spine and slouching down into his seat. What had he gotten so worked up about? He shook his head for a moment, almost as if to clear it of the tension. He had been so moody since he'd found Skye wandering around the venue, ready to snap at anyone and everyone that didn't follow his schematic. Breathe, Timberlake. Just breathe. He hadn't meant it to come out like that. He'd half-heartedly known Chris was just joking with him and he shouldn't have gotten so upset, but he hadn't worked so hard just to see it all crumble because of a forgotten promise or a changing mind. He felt a hand on his back. He hadn't realized he'd closed his eyes and his ears as well, tuning them out.

"Hey Justin, take it easy. I didn't mean to upset you like that. You just haven't been acting like yourself likely. I know how important this is to you, but you can't forget your friends. Don't make this a habit. Don't yell at us and order us around like children all the time, or ignore us cause you're always busy. I understand that you had a lot to do, but you have to make time for the important things, number one, yourself, number two, your friends and family. And relax once in awhile. Be the Justin Timberlake we all know and love again."

Justin sighed. At the moment, he couldn't do much more. Leave it to Chris to come up with something like that... and be totally right. "Yea... I'm sorry Chris. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I've just had a long day. It's weird. I'm so excited, yet at the same time beyond exhaustion. I'm cranky to begin with, and when things don't run smoothly... you've got Justin the fire-breathing dragon on your hands. But I didn't mean it. You know that right?"

"Yea, I know..."

"I really will try to relax. I know I'm a little -high-strung- at the moment."

Chris made some noise that sounded very close to a snort. "That's an understatement General Justin."

Justin spun his head around to snap at Chris.. but stopped and took a breath instead. A long breath, one that had been coming for a long time and perhaps should have come a little sooner. But then where would the lesson learned be? Justin nodded. "Right, Chris. Right."

"Ah, I see we agree." Chris gave a big smile. "That's my boy! That's the way it's done!" He scooted closer to Justin and gave him a pat on the back. "Now let's agree some more. Repeat after me: Chris rules because..."

Justin stopped him with a look. "Don't push you luck, buddy."

Chris batted his eyelashes. "Who me? Never!"

And Justin laughed... just like in the old times.

-§-

A chilly day had turned into an even chillier night. Emily had hurried out into the clear night air only to be whisked away by a taxi not a minute later. She had been staying at the Westin Dublin, near Trinity College. The leaves had gone with the pages of last month's calendar. Ireland was now bare, but still beautiful. Snow had already fallen, but weather reports indicated that it had "warmed". Whatever that meant. Emily still shivered.

She was there, her second hand of the pocket watch having just struck nine twenty-eight. Two minutes early. Could they stand it? She'd worn her hair up this evening. It was messy and glamorous and red... shiny red, a copper penny. The hairdresser had accomplished an impossible task with a curling iron and some magical spritz that held her stick straight hair into lovely ringlets. She strolled into the Westbury Hotel as if she owned it. She hardly doubted that every glance, every double take would be hers tonight. Blue eyes would look into her green eyes adn dark lashes and then it would come... that unmistakeably look of unmistakable lust. It always came. She knew what she'd come for.

Her stroll had brought her to the front desk where she flashed a careless smile the the bellboys and clerks in one fell swoop. "Excuse me. Could you help me? I'm looking for the ballroom. I'm to meet some friends there at nine-thirty."

They were looking at her. They were blushing. She smiled again and gave them another generous glimpse of her face. She thought she was beautiful tonight. She could tell that they thought so too. And she was pleased. They had only helped to cement her confidence. She felt that smile growing. Perhaps his blue eyes would stare at her the way the bellhop's did. She could hope.

The clerk cleared his throat and did his best to stare not-so-discreetly at the bellboys, clearly displeased. "Return to your work," he snapped under his breath. He turned back graciously to Emily. "Sorry ma'am. Name please?"

"Emily Monroe," she supplied, looking at the clerk's flushed face. All the while, she had been smiling prettily at the scene.

He then hastily proceeded to flip through the pages of a flat, leather bound book. And he did it while trying to type. Not a very good idea on his part. He dropped the book twice and was practically pounding on the keyboard in what she could only imagine to be frusttration. Meanwhile, his face was steadily reddening. Emily smiled and waited patiently, pleased to have caused it.

Abruptly, he looked up at her and smiled with slight embarrassment, his cheeks still red. When he spoke, his voice held false bravado. "Yes, Ms. Monroe. The ballroom," he looked uncomfortable. "If you go forward and look to your left ma'am, you will see a hallway, the first one. The ballroom is the second door to the right."

"Thank you," she answered and stepped off, heading in the direction he'd given her. She g;anced back after a moment, anticipating the sight she'd see. Ah, they hadn't disappointed her. They never did for he was still there, the little clerk, standing where she'd left him. But now his head was swivelled around, staring fixedly at her. Beauty could work wonders. It could make dreams come true. It could get you what you wanted. It could, it could. Could it not? Her shrill laugh was to follow.

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Time had passed. She'd arrived at twenty of nine and had been rushed here or there until finally she had been set down in a hotel room. "Her" room. She had been with Jan when her cellphone had gone off. "Some emergency," Jan had said in a hurry. "But nothing for you to worry about. You just wait here. I'll be back in a minute."

But a minute had come and gone. So had two. And ten. And twenty. Skye was growing restless. The concert had been spectacular. Never had she seen so many lights in one room before. And watching them perform... amazing. Simply amazing. Justin had been wonderful. Well, of course they all had been wonderful. But Justin... She needed to tell him, needed to find him.

But it was more than that. Well, yes, of course he had been wonderful and she wanted to tell him so, but it was more than that. She felt.. she.. Well, she was a stranger... in a strange land. And she had been for a very long time. No one understood that she hadn't gotten settled because there was no where to settle into. But maybe Justin knew. He was who she had settled with. There was no place she could call her own, but there most certainly were people. Lucy. And now Justin.

He was who she knew here, who she felt comfortable with, who she trusted. Because... it was hard to explain the feeling she got in the pit of her stomach every time she touched him and every time she didn't. All she had to do was think of him and know that he cared. That he'd protect her and always keep her safe.

She needed to find him.

Timidly, she turned the knob and opened the door to an almost empty hallway. Where was everyone she had seen leave to come here? She walked lightly down the hall, slowly, cautiously. She tried to peek into the ajar doors.

"My dear!"

Skye jumped out of her skin.

An arm came around her shoulders. Skye looked into the face of one of the tour assistants, though she could not quite place her. She tried to remember. Vaguely she did... hair? Clothes? Make-up? All three? Skye couldn't remember well.

The lady smiled at her. "What are you doing out here? I thought Jan left you in your room."

"She did. Uh... I just came out looking for Justin..."

"Oh!" She exclaimed with a little too much pep. "Justin, did you say? Well, he's um... showering. Yea. Showering." The lady gave her a big smile.

"Oh, really, well, um, why don't I..."

"Go back to your room? Lovely idea! I was just heading there myself."

"Really?" asked Skye, wondering why.

"Yes! Come dear. I was just on my way to deliver this package to you."

Skye looked down In her hand, the woman had a white rectangular box, holding it out to Skye.

"What is it?" asked Skye, taking the package. It felt heavy.

The woman smiled. "Well, open it and find out."

They had just reached Skye's door. The woman unlocked it and held it open, motioning for Skye to go first.

"Who's it from?" asked Skye, stepping inside.

The woman just smiled again, repeating her former phrase. "Open it and find out." Skye heard the lock of the door and knew the woman had closed it.

"Sh..." Skye had turned around, mouth poised to ask another question. She stopped mid-motion. The woman was no longer there. She creased her brow and looked around in a confused fashion. "What the?" Apparently the woman had shut the door and left. She shook her head. "Strange people."

"Well.." She turned around and placed the oblong white box on her bed. What in the world could it be, she wondered as she eyed it. The shape didn't give her any clues. Too big for papers. Too big for books. She just taken two tests for Mr. Buchanan, her tutor, whom they'd had given a room two doors down from her own. She had taken them just this morning and they had required essays. So it couldn't be from him. Could it?

"No way to find out other than to open it."

She smiled. In a flourish, the top was pulled off, the tissue paper parted. And inside was a card sitting on top of what looked to be red velvet. "Hmm."

She plucked the card up and studied the picture, that of a young girl, dark hair like her, sitting on a star. It seemed to be evening in the picture and the sky was dark cerulean blue, while other smaller stars painted with silver sparkles twinkled around her. She delicately opened the card to the generic message scrolled inside: May all your days and nights be filled with glimmer and happiness like today. Happy birthday. Simple, yet sweet.

And then she paid attention to the handwriting scrawled on the other side of the card. Written were the words: "Dear Princess, I tried to find the perfect card for you. Boy, was it ever hard. Especially when you're not in a country that speaks English... hence the cards don't either. I mean.. of course they don't speak English... hehe... cards don't speak, but they aren't written in English, right? Anyway, I don't want to screw this up, so let me continue. I found this card in England (where they speak English!) and it reminded me of you, so I bought it. Only I don't think the message inside was right. So I wanted to write my own here. Instead of, 'May all your days and nights be filled with glimmer and happiness like today. Happy Birthday,' it should say, 'You are the brightest star in heaven. May your light shine forever and especially today. Happy birthday.' You're thinking I should work for Hallmark now, aren't you? I thought so too. For a very short moment. Then I decided to stick with singing. Good plan, huh? Yea, I thought so too. Anyway, happy birthday Skye. And I mean it too. You are the brightest star in the sky. Don't ever let that light fade. Love, Justin."

Her eyes almost teared up before she found the PS at the end of the note. "PS - try it on. I hope it fits. Come show me after."

She smiled at that, though her vision was a little blurred. He knew! He knew today was her birthday! How'd he know? She hadn't told him. But he'd remembered too, which was the most important thing out of all of this. He'd remembered, he'd taken the time to find out, he'd taken the time to buy and write it this beautiful card. She'd almost forgotten the gift. Try it on, he'd said. What was it?

She lifted it out of the box. It was a dress and shoes. But not just a dress. And it was not just shoes. It was the most beautiful dress she'd ever owned and she'd almost gasped at the sight of it. It was a fairy's dress... a short bodice of red velvet, ending just after the top of chest with an inch wide pale gold ribbon. Flowing from the ribbon, panels of some sheer, glittering material hung, all red, cranberry and gold, layer after layer blending to create what resembled a dark flame. The sleeves weren't much different from the skirt. They were long sleeves, made of the same red velvet the bodice was, but over it were inserts of the gauzy material hung from pale gold ribbons, like those that ended the bodice. They created another sleeve made entirely of gauze, this one free floating and beautiful around the red velvet sleeve till you could only faintly see the real red velvet sleeves. It was beautiful. Maybe too beautiful for her. Maybe...

Try it on. Even when Justin wasn't in the room, he was reprimanding her. He told her that she was just as good as anyone else and never to believe otherwise. She took a deep breath and went to the closet. She would try it on for Justin. After all, it was her birthday. Today she should happy. Right?

A few moments later she emerged from the closet, newly attired in the gown and shoes. They had all fit her perfectly. She wondered how Justin had known her sizes. This dress was so beautiful. She felt... sorta beautiful in it. She twirled around, letting the skirt fan out below her, watching it flow with glee. She clapped her hands together. It really did fit her perfectly and it was in her favorite color too: cranberry red. Had Justin guessed? Around and around she twirled, till she hit something. A wall to be exact. But she was too dizzy with excitement and joy to be hurt although she had to grabbed on to the back of a chair to steady herself.

A knock sounded on her door. Sky looked up with a smile. Justin! He'd finished his shower and was coming to check if she'd gotten her gift. Skye raced to the door and pulled it open. "Jus..." Her smiled faded though she willed it not to.

"Not happy to see me, Skye?"

"No, no!" She was quick to make amends. "It's not that! It's just, I was expecting..."

"Justin? It's ok sweetie. I've had more girls than one do that to me. Although they usually were in his room... Well now look at you, don't you look pretty?"

"What? Oh the dress. Oh yes, it is beautiful."

"And so are you honey. Don't you ever doubt it."

"No. My sister Lucy..."

"Your sister's a beauty, dear, no doubt about it. But she doesn't have the look you have. She doesn't have the dimension of your face. You two look a bit alike, as most sisters do, but there's something about you... Something fresh. Something... innocent. A decade of staring at faces allows me say that."

Skye was struck speechless. "T-Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now let's get you ready."

"Ready for what?" Skye asked, confused.

"For Justin, of course. You want to look your best, don't you?"

She nodded slowly.

"Well good. Cause I can do that for you. Now sit down in the chair and look up."

Skye obeyed.

"Sit up straight," she chided.

Immediately, Skye straightened and sat tall.

"Very good." She walked towards Skye with a look of concentration upon her face. She seemed to look at every angle on Skye's face, pushing back her hair to stare at her profile and lifted her chin. "You've got amazing bone structure, dear, but why do you hide it so under this heavy mop of hair? I mean, your hair is beautiful, but you're clearly not taking advantage of these beautiful cheek bones. Your brow line could use a little cleaning up as well, just a few stary hairs. But the eyes, dear... and those lips. They are almost perfect. Well, let's get to work."

Skye was almost in a state of shock. Work? What work? The lady had brought a case with her that Skye had almost forgotten about. Now she lifted it off the bed and took it to the dresser that Skye sat in front of. She turned on a light beside the mirror.

"Let there be light, no?" Skye could only stare. The woman chuckled. "Don't worry, Skye. There's not much work to be done on you."

Skye thought she would take out lipstick, or eyeshadow maybe or those other things she'd seen Lucy use before. But from her bag appeared instead a brush. "Let's take care of your hair first." She took a few strands in her hand and played with them. "Your hair is very condition. Moderately fine... thank God you have a lot of it." Then she began brushing Skye's hair. "Half up, half down sound okay to you? It suits the dress. Your hair shouldn't take attention away from it." Skye just nodded. "Perfect." And she began, brushing and threading it a pale gold ribbon that almost exactly matched the one on her dress. She eyed the hair. "Hmm, I think we're gonna braid the ponytail with the ribbon, ok?" Skye nodded again and felt expert hands twist her hair. Five minutes later, it was done. "There! Beautiful, although your hair is awfully straight. Ok, now for the face. I have just the thing. Don't move a muscle."

And Skye tried. It didn't take long at all. A sweep of that here, a touch of this there. She was so swift, she seemed to know what she was doing. "Finishing touch. Open your eyes, don't blink." Skye hurried to obey. Pulling a small wand out, the lady coated her lashes with so think, gooey brown substance. "There. Done! Take a look, Skye."

One look into the mirror provided Skye with a glimpse of someone that was her... but so much more... beautiful. The make-up was dark, but soft at the same time, providing her face with dimensiion she had never seen before... maybe the dimension the woman had been talking about. Colors of rose and gold graced her face and blended together to create the air of romance and health.

"Do you like it?" the woman asked, smiling widely, admiring her own handiwork. "You didn't take much work at all. You're blessed, child."

"It's... beautiful. It's.. magic. I feel..."

"Like a princess? When Justin sees you he'll think so too," she said, nodding at Skye's reflection in mirror. "He sure will."

He already does. But Skye didn't dare say the words aloud.

Suddenly, the door burst open. Skye spun. There entered a franctic looking woman. "Quick, Skye, there's been an emergency in the ballroom. Justin need you down there ASAP."

Skye spun and hurried out the door, forgetting everything. "Wait!" she cried, turning back to the room she'd almost left behind. "I don't know where it is!"

"Take the elevator down to the first floor. To your immediate right, you will see a hallway. Go down it. On your right, two doors down is the ballroom."

"Thank you!" Skye turned to run.

"Wait! Skye!"

"Huh?" she turned around, mid-step.

"Don't forget to knock. It needs to be quiet in there. Ok?"

Skye thought that was a little odd, but nodded anyway and hurried to the elevator. She jabbed the button at least three times before the doors slid open to reveal an empty elevator. She pushed one and the elevator began its descent. It was not going nearly fast enough for her and she caught herself grimacing as if it caused her pain. At last, the ding announced the first floor and the elevator doors slid open. Skye practically ran out and down the hall. She almost pushed the door open, but remmbered what the woman had said and rapped gently on the door.

It opened softly with a click. Justin appeared through the crack of the door. "Hey there, Princess." he said, grinning "Happy birthday." He kissed the top of her head.

"Justin? Are you all right? Where's the emergency?"

But he paid no attentiion. "Give me your hands."

"What?"

"Give me your hands, Princess."

She did so, but her eyebrows were dark with wonder. "Ok, but why?"

His smile was lazy. "Now you can't run away."

"Run away from wha...?" But he pulled her inside the room with him.

Darkness awaited her. "Justin..." she began.

"Surprise!!!"

And what was dark went light.

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