Our Time Is Now Chapter 13: Vindicated, a jem fanfic

Warning: This chapter contains some implicit sexuality. Nothing offensive, but discretion is advised nonetheless.

Thanks to all who've given me kudos and support through the process of writing this. I do appreciate it. Showtime, Synergy...

- - - - -

Jerrica

"And now, the latest news on the 'Starlight Stalker' scandal! Eric Raymond, the now infamous former CEO of Stingers' Sound, was back in court today for his arraignment on kidnapping, attempted murder and embezzlement charges..."

"...The judge found Mr. Raymond to be mentally unfit to stand trial, ordering him to be sent to Patton State hospital in San Bernardino until he is deemed competent by the court. The defense plans to appeal..."

"...His alleged victim, 25 year old CEO of Starlight Music Jerrica Benton, also now known as the charismatic satin-voiced beauty Jem, is currently preparing to release the hotly anticipated follow up record to the VTV award winning Glitter and Gold with her band, The Holograms..."

A loud, irritated groan interrupted the mindless chatter spewing from the television. "I can't believe they're still harping on this!" Aja cried, jamming the power button down on the remote and angrily tossing it onto the coffee table. "It's been three weeks! Let it go, already."

Kimber snickered at the outburst. Aja shot her a glare, prompting a mocking roll of Kimber's eyes. "Aw, Aja, you're just too tense." She climbed up onto the couch and perched herself on it's back, directly behind the blue haired girl, and began rubbing her shoulders. "You need to relax."

Danse and I, who were both squished together on the loveseat, cracked up at the exasperated expression on Aja's face. The laughter was infectious, and soon even Aja had to smile.

"Come on, Aja, even I can laugh about it by now," I teased her, leaning over to grab the remote again.

After three weeks away from my beloved office spent in grueling group therapy sessions, I was chomping at the bit to get back to work and regain some sense of normalcy. Our new album, rather aptly titled The Dream Is Still Alive, stood primed and ready for release this coming Tuesday. "Gotta Get To You" was lodged in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, but I still felt very apprehensive, especially since our tour dates had already been booked.

It had been Kimber's idea to host a listening party tomorrow night, at Le Klub Kool. The KJEM hosted event, and the album that it promoted, had fans and industry insiders alike swooning with anticipation. All that being said, all of us had decided we needed another "sleepover", for some sorely needed fun and time to reconnect with each other before hell broke loose again.

"See?" I sang to Aja as our new video came on VTV. "It's not all bad press, now, is it?"

"They say there's no such thing." She remarked with a giggle, watching the cleverly edited version of our awards show performance, courtesy of Video, who managed to ignore the conversation by scrutinizing her work intently. As the camera focused on a close up of my face mid-song, she made a sound of dissention.

"I should have put a stage shot in right there," she lamented, reaching for a nearby tray of sushi. Through a mouthful of seaweed and rice, Video added, "I don't usually use close ups. Why did I do that with this?"

"You did a wonderful job, Video," Raya complimented her from her perch on the recliner. "It's so smooth and flawless, you should be proud of your work."

Video shrugged, but thanked Raya with a smile. "It's the song that really stands out, not the random images I slapped together to placate VTV. They're saying this album is going to be a blockbuster, Jerrica! You must be ecstatic!"

I grunted uneasily, chewing on a stick of strawberry flavored licorice in an attempt to calm my nerves. "It's only the controversy and the constant media coverage that's doing it. Everyone's still infatuated with the scandal, and they all just want to hear the song that started it all."

"Don't be silly," Video chided, handing the sushi to a waiting Shana and curling herself into a ball in her sleeping bag. "Your fans adore you, no matter what. They'll love it."

I sighed, trying my best to work up to her level of optimism. "I hope you're right, Viv. I hope you're right."

- - - -

Riot

Looking up from the endless documents spread out over my desk, I peered over the rim of my reading glasses to shoot Rapture a withering glare, annoyed at the repititious shuffling of her ever-present tarot deck. One corner of her painted red lips dimpled into a derisive smirk.

"Oh, lighten up, Rory," she cooed at me, "the cards don't always fall in your favor, you know."

"I know that now, dearest." I replied curtly, slamming the file cabinet shut to emphasize my irritation. "I know that now."

Minx rolled her eyes at the exchange from the black leather divan, listlessly flipping through endless television channels. Each one seared me with repetitive images of my once perfect love, whose scintillating mystery had been mercilessly shattered and dissected for me through the gnashing jaws of the media.

"I don't understand why you two are being so bitchy," our keyboardist complained, tossing her thin tresses in a fashion that made her appear much more valley than vamp. "Our record debuted at number one. What are you so worried about?"

As if my own problems weren't enough, I hadn't yet bothered to tell either of my girls that we were going under on a sinking ship of a record company. Since Eric Raymond's incarceration, I had learned just how much of our earnings he was using to execute his crimes. Without another big act like the Misfits to bolster profits or a second party to help balance the finances, Stingers' Sound would be in the red before long, in spite of the new album's success.

I swore under my breath, spinning around in my chair to reach another cabinet, the one that held all of Stinger's Sound's financial information from the past year. Yanking the drawer open, I sifted through a thick pile of folders until I came to the one I needed, the files from the days of Misfits' Music.

Privately, I cursed myself for ever taking Raymond's offer and not accepting Jerrica's. If nothing else, it would have allowed me more opportunities to seduce her. Even knowing now what the whole world was foaming at the mouth over, I still ached for Jem from the very depths of my soul.

"Is it Jem?" Minx was asking, as if she was the mindreader and not Rapture.

Sighing, I removed my glasses and spun back around to face the two of them. "Not in so many words, no," I lied. "But we are in dire straits, thanks to that sadistic thief of an executive officer. He's used the majority of our company's profits to finance his...escapades."

Rapture raised an exquisitely groomed eyebrow. "Meaning?"

"Eric Raymond has effectively taken us down with him, unless we figure out a way to extricate ourselves from our own contractual ties."

Blinking in disbelief, Rapture plunked down her deck with a heavy sigh, stunned and presumably outraged by the full impact of my words. Minx, however, merely shook her head.

"I always said he was going to be trouble," she chirped, holding out an arm to examine her manicure. "Yes, well, it would have served me better if you had said so in the first place, dear Ingrid," I told her sharply.

Her laughter was coated in warm, gently chiding honeyed tones. "Riot, you never would have listened to me, or Phoebe for that matter. You were so blinded by a certain pink haired songbird that it obliterated all reason. Not to mention Raymond's offer was like heaven compared to slaving away on the streets at the time, and you know it."

Of course I knew it, but I refused to admit as such. Instead I chose to let her comments slide, focusing my energies on a solution to our growing problems. It would not be easy to find a buyer naive enough to buy a company virtually on the brink of bankruptcy, but try as I might, it seemed I had no other option.

Minx had turned the television's volume up again, letting bits and pieces of LinZ Pierce's weekly chart report filter in through my thoughts. It seemed Destiny was performing well enough, but the Misfits' self financed return to music, America's Sweethearts, had taken our place at the top of the charts after only one week. Predictions for the Holograms' new record in particular, would give us, quite literally, a run for our money.

LinZ's chatter turned to news of the Holograms' listening party at Le Klub Kool, and the irony in their choice of nightclubs did not escape me. "Everyone who's anyone in the business is expected to be there!" The video feed shifted to a clip of Pizzazz, with that irritating little white haired guitarist in tow, implying coolly that "the Misfits might bother showing up, if the prom queens need a little more spice in their salsa."

"Yes, perfect!" I whispered, unable to believe I hadn't thought of it before. It would be far too easy to convince the world's richest and most irresponsible rock star to buy back the company her band's royalties had built, and that event was my ticket out of this mess.

"Well, the Stingers will certainly bother showing up," I announced with a private sense of relief. "It will be good for publicity, and I could use a night out on the town."

"I knew it was Jem," Rapture commented to Minx over her shoulder with a mischievous grin, and I frowned.

"It is not Jem," I said to her in a firm voice. "Right now, my priorities lie with sustaining our success. I've come up with a plan, but I'm not divulging anything to you until I choose the time is right."

The two women exchanged surprised looks of dissapproval. "Riot, usually we don't question your decisions, or your motivations for those decisions, but this is not a usual situation." Rapture said. "Don't you think all three of us should be involved in our band's future?"

"No, I don't." I retorted coldly, rising from my seat. "I am the one who allowed you to join Minx and I, forming our little troupe. I am the one who decided that we were ready to tour America. I am the one who assumed control of this company, for better or for worse, and I am not about to relinquish that control, especially under these circumstances. I don't want to hear another word about it," I added, my voice rising as she started to protest. "My word is final!"

Rapture recoiled as if I had struck her. She sank slowly back down onto the chair, staring at me with eyes that anger had sucked the warmth from. Minx appeared saddened, like she'd just been betrayed by her only friend.

My resolve softened with a sigh when I saw the pained expressions on their porcelain faces. These precious creatures knew full well how much I adored them; it had always saddened me to see either of them in any kind of distress, and to know I had insulted them upset me greatly.

With an air of apology, I came to each of them, kissing each girl with a passion that had come to be so familiar amongst the three of us. My longing for Jem became a dull throb as I drowned myself in their forgiving softness, their stimulating caresses. Our bodies undressed and entwined themselves on the leather couch, ardor ebbing and flowing until it peaked with a fiery ecstasy.

"My darlings, you know I'd let you hold my soul in your hands." I whispered to them in the breathless aftermath, as I cradled each one in my arms. "Please, you must trust me, have faith in me, for I have never done wrong by you before."

A dazed Rapture moaned sweetly in aquiescence. My darling Minx echoed her sentiment, still nestled against my chest. I smiled knowingly.

"Yes, you will allow me to do this. You will trust me with your lives, for I am Riot. I am your protector, your father figure, the one who fufills your every need and desire." I purred, feeling arousal build in me once more. Minx stretched against me like a cat, and I captured her mouth with my own as Rapture descended upon me with an animal grin.

Our private Bacchanalia continued like that for some time, deep into the night. Eventually, both Ingrid and Phoebe's passions appeared to subside, so I reluctantly allowed them respite from my still burning hunger.

When each woman's breathing took on the slow pulse of slumber, I gingerly extricated myself from their embrace. Gently, I laid a soft blanket over their bodies, wrapping another around my waist as I did so. I gravitated to the vast picture window to admire the skyline, perhaps for the last time.

I would miss Los Angeles, I decided as I gazed down upon the little glowing threads of traffic winding through the grimy corridors below. I enjoyed it's illusion of grandeur, it's promise of elusive thrills. It had been good to us, but there was nothing here for me anymore, now. I needed to retreat to familiarity, to cut my losses and regroup so I could form a new plan.

Stealing a glance at my two sleeping lovers, who were now cradling each other in a spoonlike fashion, an affectionate warmth uncoiled deep inside me. I didn't openly show my emotions to them; only in a physical fashion did I express the true nature of my heart. But we had an eternal unspoken bond, one that was forged the moment I knew these women accepted me, truly accepted me, in a way that no one else had ever bothered to before. They understood my whims, however unreasonable, and I worshipped them for it.

And there, as they say, was the rub. Ingrid and Phoebe knew me better than I would let anyone else, except for one woman. One woman who had been equally as accepting, and it only made her perfection that much more bittersweet. She was the proverbial Holy Grail to me now, a spectre of unattainable love that taunted me, and there was nothing that thrilled me more than pursuing her.

The girls were my beloved family, but Jem, or Jerrica, should I say, possessed the elements that made me whole. She had been breathtaking that night in Athens, but never would I have guessed that Jerrica Benton was truly the one destined for me. I could only imagine how that flunkie boyfriend of hers must have felt when he found out the truth and wondered, not without a sudden spark of hope, if that had prompted the couple's inevitable undoing.

For I still knew that I was the perfect man to fufill Jem's every need and desire, and I silently vowed that I would someday convince her of it, no matter who she was. No matter how long it took.

- - - -

Eric

In a vacant cell across the hall, a faucet was dripping. The sound rippled, magnifying as it echoed through my throbbing head. After a time, the pain began to follow the rhythm of the endless droplets.

Drip, drop, drip. Drip, drop, drip, drip.

I watched it through a sliver of a crack under the thick cell door, unblinking, sedentary. The floor felt cool, almost refreshing, against my face, a sensation I relished. Any sensation but pain I was more than open to.

Since Phyllis had turned her back on me, I had lain on this filthy linoleum floor, pleasantly apathetic to the metal bar of a cot pressing into my spine. My body still hurt from the attack hours earlier, and my neck still stung from whatever serum those brutes injected into me. When I tired of watching the water, I switched to staring at the wall, so hard that blue spots swam before my eyes.

I was alone. All alone, and rejected once again. The game of life was determined to kill me, but I resolved to myself, in these various rare moments of lucidity, that I would not allow myself to be defeated.

Unfit to stand trial, my ass, I thought. Of all the days to have my kind of luck, it had to be the day of my hearing. That judge is obviously the one out of her mind, not me. If she can't see that all of this is Jerrica Benton's doing, well, she should be sharing this cell with me. And that greasy gold-chained excuse for a lawyer deserves the chair for not bothering to back me up in court.

I sighed, heavily.

I knew I had behaved badly when Phyllis was here; I knew I had scared her, and I hadn't meant to, per se. It was just that I was so excited to see her and tell her everything I'd accomplished. I expected she'd be happy about it, but Phyllis overreacted in the exact opposite way I was accustomed to. She called me names, which wasn't unusual, but this time she meant it. Granted, I might have had a bit of an anger management problem lately, but that unto itself did not a sick man make.

Hell, all I'd wanted in the first place was an apology. A simple "I'm sorry, Eric, I stole your livelihood, I deserve your wrath" would have done just fine, from either Phyllis or Jerrica. But no, as usual, the little blonde Benton just had to make things harder on herself by resisting me, and beating me senseless with a folding chair did little to appease my hurt feelings. As for Pizzazz, well, I suppose it would be impossible to tell her how I truly felt, after all, considering how trite and spineless the sentiment was; nevertheless, I wished with everything in me that I could.

A startling clanging sound distracted me from my thoughts, and my eyes flicked in it's direction. Someone in the hall unceremoniously shoved a gray cafeteria tray through the miniscule food slot.

"Chow time, Raymond," the droll, almost butch female voice announced from the other side of the door. I flinched at the way the woman spoke. It was so much like Phyllis' it stung, yet in a way it was almost comforting.

Physical hunger gently probed at my tired stomach, urging the rest of my body to right itself and consume some much needed nourishment, however vile it's contents. I took a deep breath to prepare myself, willing my now flaccid muscles to move.

I may be trapped in this dank, urine soaked hellhole, I said to myself as I struggled to sit upright, a quite daunting task if one was so restrained in this jacket as I was. I was indeed confined to my wee corner of this cage for the time being, but time was on my side. I was not done yet, not by a long shot. There was much more in life that was meant for Eric Raymond, and I would stop at nothing to attain it. It was owed to me.

An agonizing stab of pain suddenly crackled across my cerebral cortex, making me clutch my head in both hands, clenching my teeth to hold back the scream.

"It is owed to me!" I seethed, and the pain retaliated, flaring inside my head with a vengeance. My scream voiced itself, erupting from my throat like a bullet from a gun. My limbs spasmed violently as control deserted me yet again, leaving me to fend for myself against the savagery of my own mind.

The swimming spots morphed into dark fluid that enveloped my sight, drenching my senses and my awareness. I slept and dreamt of shivering, bloodstained blonde women, of screaming chartreuse shrews and shattered glass.

I awoke suddenly, swallowing another scream as I stared into the darkness.

My dreams were like that now. They brought back too many memories, memories that I couldn't quite remember fully, yet froze me with an all consuming rage. It kept me alive, it fed my will to live.

Anger, in my case, was indeed a very special gift.

- - - -

Kimber

"Aren't you finished yet?" Jerrica asked impatiently as I dabbed a tiny sponge of shadow along her browline. I could hear Aja and Raya stifling their laughter from behind me as they zipped each other's dresses up.

"Almost there, Jem," Regine replied, cheerfully oblivious to my sister's annoyance. She lifted a silken extension of freshly dyed pink hair with two trained fingers, lightly teasing the natural blonde tresses underneath with a fine tooth comb so that they concealed the bandage on her ear.

"What do you think?" The effervescent designer asked Shana, looking over Jerrica with a critical eye. "I think your new degree in cosmetology is well deserved," Shana replied with a grin, and Regine beamed. Jerrica winced as I moved to work on her left eye, painting a subtle shade of silver on her closed eyelid.

"Will you hold still already!" I scolded her when she began squirming in her seat. "Please be careful, Kimber," my sister entreated as I tried to work. "I'm very fond of my eyesight, and I don't want to lose it."

"Very funny, ha ha." I retorted, flicking the brush one last time before backing away. "There! You look outrageous, sis." Regine yanked the protective sheath away from her neck with a flourish, revealing the new shimmering golden minidress that she had designed for her spur of the moment.

Everyone held a collective breath as Jerrica turned her chair to face her new, hologram-free reflection.

"Wow," she breathed, staring at the flawless blend of Jem's familiar flamboyance and her own down to earth chic. "How did you get my hair so long, and the colors so vibrant? And the dress, it's perfect! Oh, Regine, thank you!" Jerrica exclaimed, rising to embrace the girl.

Regine laughed, gingerly embracing Jerrica back. "It was nothing. I only wanted to help however I could."

The doorbell chimed, prompting me to check my watch. "Ooh, that must be Rio!" I cried, taking Jerrica by the hand. "Come on, he's got to see this."

"But Kimber, we're not - "

"Yes, I realize you're 'just friends' right now," I interrupted, rolling my eyes as we ran down the stairs, the others following close at our heels. "It doesn't matter. He just needs to see what he's missing!"

Jerrica blanched as I reached for the doorknob. "Just don't say anything incriminating, okay?" She pleaded, stepping back to avoid the door being flung open. Her worried expression, much to my amusement, instantly brightened into a beaming smile at the sight of the man in the doorway.

"Hi," She chirped, standing demurely before the dazzled Rio.

"Hi," Rio almost whispered, drinking in the sight of her with eyes so wide, I was sure they would pop right out of his skull. "You look absolutely stunning,"

Jerrica blushed a deep red, looking away from him as though his eyes said too much. "We're ready if you are," she told him, biting her lip.

- - - -

Rio

"Just friends," I muttered under my breath as I descended the steps with the Holograms close behind me. "How am I supposed to pretend we're 'just friends'? We're deluding ourselves if we believe that one."

"What's that, Rio?" Jerrica inquired, her warm voice interrupting my private conversation.

"I said, we're delaying ourselves if we stay any longer," I responded quickly. I could have sworn I detected a frown playing on her features, but she said nothing, and the awkward moment passed.

So, always the gentleman, I opened the Roadster's door to allow the band entry. Each woman smiled and thanked me politely, though with decidedly more warmth than they had projected towards me at the press conference. Time had apparently healed that divide. But the distance between Jerrica and I was acutely obvious when her body brushed dangerously close to mine as she ducked inside the cab. She paused as our faces aligned, hovering as if to lean in and kiss me.

I held my breath when our eyes caught, telling each other what neither of us was willing to admit.

"Thanks," she breathed. Unintentionally, I caught a glimpse down the front of that gorgeous minidress, offering blatantly to me what I might never fully appreciate again. My loins, and my heart, tightened.

"Anytime," I replied, noting uncomfortably that my voice sounded strained. Jerrica smiled at me, crossing those impossibly long legs as I carefully shut the door behind her. I cursed aloud to myself as I walked around the grille of the car and flung the driver's side door open, sliding myself inside with a deep, cleansing breath. I could do this, I encouraged myself as I turned the key in the ignition.

The aging engine grumbled a lame protest before churning to life. Closing my eyes briefly, I popped the clutch and rolled the classic car out of the long circular driveway, noticing Regine and the Starlight Girls waving goodbye in the rearview mirror. My mind finally began to clear as I wove the Roadster through the worst of the downtown traffic with enduring patience, only flinching at a particularly musical burst of Jerrica's laughter from the backseat.

The traffic seemed to thin as we neared the club, thanks to the ranks of police directing cars and pedestrians away from the scene. As I turned the car into the entryway, though, I could see the full extent of the pandemonium. Before I could react, a throng of screaming fans closed in on the vehicle, pounding on the windows and proclaiming their undying love for the Holograms.

"Jesus!" I exclaimed, creeping along so as not to run over any of them. I'd seen a lot of crazed fans over the years from touring with various bands, but nothing could have prepared me for this. It was like the Beatles had just arrived from Liverpool; the din was that crushing.

"Look at them all!" Raya marveled behind me, watching the scene unfold from behind the safety of the glass. "This is insanity!" Shana added, waving to the revelers.

Sighing with relief, I finally managed to roll the car to a stop at the door. Security flanked either side of the velvet rope, barely flinching as the screaming crowd pressed against them. Preparing myself for the worst, I ducked out of the car and opened the door for the girls, stepping back as each one made their entrance to deafening applause. The noise only grew shriller as Jerrica, in full "Jem" mode, stepped out into the limelight.

As she turned to elegantly wave to the throng, Aja quietly came up beside me. "You don't want to forget this," she murmured, discreetly slipping the jewelry box into my left hand. With a grateful smile, I placed it into the left hand pocket of my tuxedo jacket.

"I ran a final diagnostic check early this morning, before she woke up."

"And it works?"

"Of course it works. I followed Emmett's original blueprints exactly, and don't think it was easy getting Synergy to cough them up from her hard drive, either."

"You think she'll like it?" I asked Aja. She gave a little laugh and shook her head.

"More than you'll ever know, Rio," she replied cryptically as we both watched Jerrica bask in the glow of her fans' worship.

- - - -

Kimber

"Jem!" "Kimberrr!"

"Oh my God, it's really her!"

"You rock so hard, man!"

Jerrica and I burst out laughing at the last comment that rang out of the clamoring crowd, and we decided to do something we'd never really done before; an impromptu meet and greet. I reached for an outstretched notebook, nudging an exasperated Rio for a pen as the other Holograms dispersed to mingle with fans.

The fans were absolutely overjoyed, beaming as we took pictures, signed autographs on various items, including a few copies of our Rock Fashion book, and I noticed Raya nervously laughing as she signed one burly man's tattooed chest. He beamed like a schoolgirl as she perfunctly kissed his cheek.

"God, you've changed my life!" One young woman proclaimed to me as I squiggled my name on a tattered LP of the Starbright soundtrack. Her eyes shone at me as she tugged on a lock of hair dyed pink in tribute. "I mean, that song, 'Show Me The Way', I just can't thank you enough!"

Touched and humbled, I pressed my hand to my chest. "The pleasure is all ours," I told the girl as the bodyguard stepped aside to let us hug each other. She pulled back with a grin, and I grinned back.

The surrealistic feeling only grew bigger as we bid the fans a fond farewell, stepping into the glamourously lit club. "Look at all the people who came!" I exclaimed, surveying the crowd that filled the expansive dance floor. "This is just unreal!"

I noticed Danse and Video among them, of course, but so was LinZ and her entire crew, along with Raya's family, who all ran to embrace their beloved daughter before she could even say hello. Regine had managed to make it, too, and even Astral, whom I knew we hadn't heard from in ages. From across the room, I spotted my old friend Switch, who was spinning a club mix of "Gotta Get To You" from behind the deejay booth. When I waved to him, his eyes lit up with acknowledgement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, friends and fans, I am pleased to welcome you to KJEM's very special live listening party for the record you've all been waiting for!" He announced. "Our ladies of the hour have finally graced us with their presences, so without further adieu, here it is, the Holograms' brand new album, The Dream Is Still Alive, broadcast in its entirety!" Switch winked at me as he switched the records, cracking me up with an enthusiastic sign of approval.

Anthony and Video handed us all glasses of champagne after we crossed the floor, while Danse distributed glasses to all the passersby. "Compliments of the house," he commented, smiling radiantly at Shana, who blushed happily as he placed a protective arm around her shoulder.

Craig snuck up behind Aja unawares, making her squeal as he grabbed her waist, and I burst out laughing as that jokester of a boyfriend did the same to me.

"You're incorrigible," I chastised him after he bent me over in a lascivous kiss. His baby blues twinkled as a bright grin lit up his face, giving him that look that made teen girls all over the world only wish they were me. "What can I say? You bring out the best in me."

I swatted him playfully. "Yeah, well, save your best for a time when LinZ and her ever present cameras aren't taping everything we say and do, okay?"

His eyes softened. "I'm just happy you're yourself again," Sean noted, and I kissed his cheek gratefully.

Aja laughed, raising her glass in a toast. "We did it, ladies! We've beaten the odds!"

"And retained our dignity and popularity in the process," Jerrica added with a smile, as the impact of all that we'd overcome finally sank in. "The new Holograms are here to stay!"

"What did I tell you?" Video remarked with a grin. My sister shook her head in awe, taking a sip of her drink to avoid answering.

"I, uh, have another reason to celebrate," Danse softly interrupted as Video migrated to her side. The dancer looked up with apprehension at the blonde woman, who nodded her approval.

"I received a letter yesterday, from a Nadia Symczak. She claimed she's my mother, and she'd been searching for me for years, but only now finally tracked me down through Vivia- through Video's production company." Danse said shyly, gently swirling the liquid in her glass.

Gasps and soft exclamations fluttered through our little circle. "Danse, are you sure it's her?" Aja asked.

"She sent a copy of what looked like my birth certificate in Czech as proof," she replied. "And I spoke to her on the phone last night. We talked for a long time, about a lot of things, and ended up making a lunch date. I'm a little worried about meeting her for the first time, but Vivian has volunteered to come with me...for moral support." Danse supplied, looking at Video with bright eyes.

"But what about Victor?" Jerrica interjected. "And why did she leave the way she did?"

Danse pursed her lips in a hurt expression. "Nadia didn't say. But she did promise to tell me the whole story when we get together. I guess it's not something one can discuss over the phone in good conscience." She said sadly, prompting Video to slide an arm around her delicate waist in a comforting gesture. Danse gazed at her lovingly, and I realized with a start what I couldn't believe I hadn't figured out before, especially with the overnight parties. They were a couple!

"All right people, you can start the party now, cause 'America's Sweethearts' are here to crash it!"

Pizzazz's unmistakable voice shattered the potentially awkward moment, and all of us spun around to stare at the five professional party crashers strutting their way into our celebration.

"America's sweethearts?" I repeated, feeling clueless.

"It's the title of their new 'hit' album. They seem to think they're being ironic." Aja scoffed, glaring at the quintet as they pranced across the dance floor, parting the sea of people as if they were religious deities to claim themselves a prime table. "Some things never change."

"Well, if they behave, they can stay," Shana said. "But if they don't, well, I know Stormer's your pal and all, Kimber, but I'll physically throw them out myself." I nodded in agreement, but offered no other comment. The fact that she had shown up when Jerrica was abducted still didn't answer my questions about her loyalty, or our so-called friendship.

Jerrica groaned, suddenly seeming distressed. She rubbed her forehead as if to ward off an oncoming headache. "I think I need some air," she said brusquely, excusing herself and retreating to a quieter corner of the club. With a touch of concern, I watched her leave, and noticed Rio doing the same.

He's being awfully quiet, I thought. Sean must have been thinking along the same lines, because he spoke up before I could. "The album sounds fantastic, Rio." He offered in a friendly manner.

Rio glanced up, as if he were surprised someone was talking to him. "Thanks, Sean. Yeah, Starlight finally invested in a new DI-AN console. It produces such a warm, clean sound, which is exactly what I was aiming for."

He trailed off, letting the ear-splitting music fill the uncomfortable silence. Sean and I looked at each other knowingly as Rio stared off into the distance again, as he was so good at doing. I knew he was dwelling on Jerrica, and his sadness was palpable.

"I think I'm going to say hello to Pizzazz for a bit," Sean lied, sensing my intentions, and I silently thanked him with a smile. "I'll catch up with you later." He kissed my cheek and turned to dissappear into the crowd, while I pulled Rio aside.

"You know you love her, Rio." I said bluntly, but gently. "You have to go to her."

Rio closed his eyes, sighing sadly. "I know. But I don't know if I can, Kimber."

"Why not? It doesn't matter who did what to whom, the important thing is that you still love each other," I entreated, spotting Jerrica curled up on a tiny, secluded sofa across the way. "After all you've been through together, she deserves to know."

He seemed to absorb what I'd said, but made no move to act on it. I laid a hand on his arm. "Just think about it, Rio. That's all I'm saying. Just think about it." With that, I left him alone with his thoughts and went to return to the rest of the group.

"Kimber?"

I turned around at the sound of Stormer's voice, startled and immediately apprehensive. Her body language was cautious and tense, ready to flee at the slightest retaliation. I paused.

"What is it, Stormer?" I asked, keeping my voice even.

Stormer clasped her hands in an attempt to keep them from wringing nervously, casting her eyes to the floor. "Well, uh, I know I said this at your place when Jerrica went...missing, but you probably don't remember," she stammered. She was wrong, I thought darkly. I did remember. I had heard every word.

"Kim, I just wanted to say again that I'm sorry." Stormer confessed. I relaxed immediately, filled with relief. "You know, for the stuff I said at the afterparty. I didn't mean any of it. I was angry, and I didn't think in the heat of the moment. I'm just glad, y'know, that Jerrica's okay and all, and I hope that you can forgive me and my big mouth."

"Oh, Stormer, it's okay, really." I told her, as she looked up excitedly. "It was my fault. Look, I'm the one who overreacted and thought the worst. Let's just forget about it."

Stormer's pretty face brightened, and I laughed as she embraced me wholeheartedly. "How could I ever doubt that you were my best friend?" She crowed as we hugged each other tight. "And I missed working with you, too. Nobody's lyrics compliment my music the way yours do."

"I know," I told her as we pulled apart. "I'd love to do another album together. But we won't get the chance anytime soon. Our tour is already booked."

"So's ours," Stormer replied, clearly dissapointed. "It's too bad. That song turned out so well, and you and Jetta sounded great together."

Her comment made something click in my head, and just like that, I got another famous flash of inspiration.

"Hey, Stormer, how'd you like to perform onstage together again?" I suggested, and Stormer lit up, instantly catching on. "You think anybody will actually go for it?" the girl asked with trepidation. I hesitated, glancing at Jerrica again and wondering briefly if this was the right time to broach this potentially controversial idea.

"We'll never know unless we try," I replied brightly.

- - - -

Jerrica

I couldn't take it. I couldn't be in that close a proximity to Rio and not be with him, not be able to feel his familiar tenderness in the way he held my hand, or the searing passion in his kiss. It was too much. I tried to keep my feelings under control, but the unexpected arrival of Pizzazz and her equally loud cohorts stretched my patience to the breaking point.

I retreated hastily to the most secluded area of Le Klub, a red velvet couch nestled in an intimate gazebo-like structure, facing a tall, almost Victorian picture window that seemed to not belong in a place like this. Sitting down with a breath of relief, I sipped my drink and settled in to watch the traffic pass by.

Kimber and Stormer padded up then, shyly revealing their grand idea of a joint Holograms and Misfits headlining tour. "If it's a rotating bill, Pizzazz might actually go for it, and Kimber and I really wanted a chance to perform together again," Stormer said, Kimber nodding emphatically at her side.

"We'd take our seperate tour buses," she added, noticing my frown, "and wouldn't cause any trouble."

"Any trouble?" I inquired skeptically, casting a glance towards the Misfits' table, where Pizzazz was shouting at Roxy and Jetta to stop yet another catfight, while Video's cousin looked on with amusement. Stormer cringed. "Well, not with your band, anyway. And we think people would really love it. Think of it, a chance to give our fans a ringside seat to the two biggest acts in the country."

"If not the world," Kimber piped up.

Despite my reservations, I had to admit that it actually sounded like a really good idea. Glancing at the other Holograms, I knew it would take a lot of convincing to get them to agree, but I also knew once the famously stubborn Aja gave in, Shana and Raya would, too.

"If the other Holograms and the other Misfits decide they want to do it, then I'll be happy to make the arrangements," I relented, much to Kimber and Stormer's delight. They squealed and clasped each other's hands excitedly, and I couldn't help but smile at their boundless enthusiasm.

"But, you two have to pitch the idea to them," I added, bringing them back to reality. They immediately became serious. "We will," Kimber promised, a wide grin lighting up her face. "Oh, Jerrica, you won't regret this, you'll see. It'll be outrageous!"

"Yeah, outrageous," I said dryly as Kimber danced back to Aja, Shana and Raya while Stormer returned to her band's table. I watched the Misfits cavorting from the safety of my darkened perch, preferring to wait for the right moment to make the deal with Pizzazz.

Just as I began to settle back into the softness of the couch, savoring my champagne, I was interrupted yet again. More than a little chagrined, I cast a glare at Riot, who had taken it upon himself to come sit beside me. Minx and Rapture lurked in the darkness nearby.

"Forgive my intrusion, Jerrica," he began, "but I simply had to let you know how relieved I am that you are all right after your harrowing ordeal, and also to commend you on how beautiful your new album is. It's almost as beautiful as you are," Riot insinuated, kissing my hand. A tiny old flame of attraction fluttered anew in my lower stomach, only burning out when I reminded it of Rio.

I cleared my throat, removing my hand from his. "Well, I appreciate that, Riot, really. But you must know by now that I'm not the 'Jem' you fell in love with." And in my heart, I thought, I still belong to another.

A sad, breathtaking smile lit up his classically handsome face. "Yes, I'm aware of that." He replied, a note of affection inflecting his deep voice. "I'll always miss that special mystery, but at the very least, I know now why Jem had always rejected my...perfect...charms."

Riot's words were meant to be sincere, but I saw the fire in his eyes that glinted knowingly at me before he leaned in close to me. His lips brushed my cheek in a manner that was anything but chaste, and I knew it. I stared at him as he stood up, motioning for his bandmates to follow. The two of them flocked to his side as he smiled down at me.

"Thank you," I told him flatly, trying hard to conceal how nervous he made me feel, although by the look on his face, it was clear he already knew. Knowing Riot, it had probably been his intention.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Miss Benton," he purred, pausing for a beat before turning to leave. I watched him go, downing the last of my drink when their three figures dissappeared into the crowd. Breathing deeply to ward off the shaking in my limbs, I turned my attention back to the window.

"Are you all right over here?"

I glanced up at Rio, who seemed unsettled from seeing me converse with Riot. I nodded, moving aside a little and motioning for him to sit down. "Don't worry, he was just basically telling me he only loved the hologram," I told him, a note of sarcasm in my voice, as I continued to gaze out the window.

"That's okay, he's not my concern anymore. You still are, though." Rio put his drink down to fumble in his pocket, producing a little white box. I gasped, all my tension forgotten as he opened the lid.

"My earring!" I exclaimed, gingerly lifting the tiny scarlet star from the cotton barrier. "How in the world did you -"

Rio laughed gently, taking the trinket from my hand and carefully sliding it through the piercing in my good earlobe. "Aja and I worked on it together. We figured both of us could rewire it, create something compatible with your other earring."

I was speechless, overcome by his ingenuity and generosity beyond measure. I couldn't believe he'd taken the time to do such a thing, and harder still to believe he and Aja had managed to keep it from me. "Oh, Rio, it's perfect. I can't thank you enough."

Rio tried to smile, but ended up staring at the floor instead. "There's something else I need to tell you." He said suddenly. "I can't work for you anymore. I'm resigning from Starlight Music."

"What?" I exclaimed, my heart plummeting. "You can't do that! You're the best engineer in the business, to say nothing of what you do for our live shows, and we couldn't do this without you!"

He shifted uncomfortably. "I know that, but I have to be honest with you, Jerrica. I can't be just your friend. I've never been able to stand seeing you with another, and I'm not about to start now. If you don't agree, well, I'll go my own way, for certain this time. But I can't be around you and not be able to be with you."

By now I was gaping at him incredulously. "Let me get this straight. You love your job, you love working with us, but you love me too much, so you have to leave?"

Rio nodded his head silently, and I almost cried. "My God, Rio, are you telling me that you're truly okay with all of this?" I ventured, an unabashedly hopeful tremor in my voice. "That you still love me after all I've done?"

There was a nerve jangling silence as Rio hesitated, then embraced me suddenly, laying a long, wet, loving kiss on me the way he used to do. Startled and yet completely swept away, I lost myself in his embrace.

"I may get mad, but I still care." He quipped breathlessly when the kiss broke, and I couldn't help laughing at the memory of five terrified burly men fleeing from Rio and the protective wrath of his baseball bat. "Oh, so do I, Rio." I told him, grinning through my tears. "So do I."

We kissed again, oblivious to the crowd's applause until it grew into a joyous cacophony of whoops and whistles. Rio and I hastily pulled away from one another, slightly embarrassed.

"Let's hear it for the happy couple, people, what do you say!" the deejay crowed, and the noise grew louder and more jubilant. Someone nearby in the crowd uncorked a fresh bottle of champagne, spraying the fizzy sweetness everywhere in celebration.

Rio laughed, pulling me with him as he moved away from the spray. "I don't know about you, but this party's getting a little too messy for my taste." His voice dipped to a low, conspiratorial tone. "Let's go back to my place and have a real celebration."

My breath caught in my throat as his left hand slowly worked it's way up my thigh, leaving my skin tingling in it's wake. I shivered and drew back, touching his chest gently in protest. "Oh, come on, Rio, I've got so much work to do. There's a brand new record to promote, a stadium tour to plan for, the list is endless."

Rio shook his head. "Jerrica, haven't you learned anything from this? You know you can't just keep working yourself to the bone anymore. You need to get away for a while," he murmured in my ear, lowering his lips to my neck deliciously as if to emphasize his point. I bit back a soft moan, still grasping for reasons not to leave my post.

"I'll call Joanie," I panted as those lips threatened to move lower. "Tell her I won't be in tommorrow...first thing in the morning."

"Good," Rio replied huskily. "Because you're not going to have any time tonight."

"Just let me just take care of this one thing first," I told Rio, looking in the Misfits' direction, namely Pizzazz, who was chatting, or maybe flirting, with Riot in the far corner of the ballroom.

Pizzazz

"Well, would ya look at that." Roxy remarked dryly from across the table. "A big ol' happy making up scene in front of all the friends. Whoopee."

The five of us erupted into giggles, not so inconspiciously laughing at the so-called perfect couple's sappy reunion. "Ain't love grand," I quipped, leaning back in my chair casually.

"Exactly why are we attending this lousy gig?" Clash whined, twisting a long purple tail of hair around her finger. "We should'a held our own listening party instead of watching these wimps."

"Relax, honey, it's strictly for entertainment purposes only," I snapped back. "To show them how the other half lives."

Staring blatantly at the scene unfolding across the room, most of me still glowered, but a teensy part of me was forced to give it up to little miss Benton. All that time she'd been pulling double duty and still she had the balls to come out in public like that. You don't get that tough and savvy being your daddy's pet all your life, and I knew that one for a fact.

"Well, I'm anything but entertained," Clash quipped, provoking a glare from me. I watched as the groupie drummer's eyes widened, her finger twirling faster as she stared at something behind me. Exasperated, I started to yell at her, but I was interrupted by a smooth, deep voice.

"Pizzazz, my dear, may I speak with you a moment alone?" Riot requested, a little too politely, and I frowned.

"What the hell for?" I asked suspiciously, yet some part of me was dying of curiosity.

"I'd like to talk business with you." He replied calmly, unresponsive to my obvious irritation. I smirked at the others, who were sizing up Riot with cold stares.

"Whatever you got to say to me, you can say in front of them." I told him bluntly, resulting in big grins from my friends and an affable shrug from the hairsprayed rock god.

"Very well." He replied, boldly pulling out the chair beside me and slipping himself into it. "Before we begin, may I offer you a drink?"

His seemingly innocuous question triggered a memory of my dream of him a while back, which in turn made me realize just how hard I'd been hitting the bottle in the wake of Eric. Well, hell, I thought. I can't very well conquer the world if I'm blind drunk all the time.

"Just Perrier," I replied coolly, turning to the girls. "You guys want something?" They shook their heads silently, still staring Riot down, but he didn't seem to notice. He motioned to the bartender with a quick snap of his fingers before launching into what I figured would be a long and winded speech.

"The Stingers love Los Angeles," he explained as my drink arrived, "it's been good to us, but the media glare and the fan frenzy in the wake of the new album is becoming too much of a hassle. And I'm sure you have heard by now of Eric Raymond's...inabilities."

He knew full well I did. It was no secret Eric and I were partners in more than just business. Bored and aggravated, I sighed loudly and recrossed my legs.

"I desire to return to Amsterdam with Minx and Rapture, perhaps embark on a European tour to bring in enough profits to start our own label. But I need to find a buyer first, one who knows the company and is worthy of running it successfully in the U.S. In short, I'd like to give back what Eric took from you."

I snorted. My dignity? My sanity? Millions of my father's hard earned dollars? I thought sarcastically.

"I want you to be the new owner of Stinger's Sound, or Misfits' Music, if you prefer." Riot said bluntly when I didn't reply, but I couldn't believe my ears. Me, a real CEO? I heard the others muffle a collective gasp.

"Riot, for one thing, I'm no freakin' Benton. I'm a rock star, not a business manager," I retorted, ignoring their response. "And last time I checked, your company is about to royally kick the bucket. How do you propose I deal with that one?"

Riot laughed, a deep musical sound that, in spite of me, still could turn my knees to jelly. I scowled at him.

"My dear, you've more than proven yourself worthy. You financed the recording, promotion and production of your latest album, did you not?"

"Yeah," I relented.

"From what I've seen and heard, it is a solid success, is it not?"

His phrasing annoyed me. Who the hell talked like that in this day and age, especially someone like him?

"Debuted at number one," I boasted, proudly lifting my chin. I didn't mention that I knew it would promptly be knocked down to the second spot when the Holograms' record came out, but it was none of his stupid business anyway. We'd knocked his record down a notch, which was sweet enough.

"Well, then, there you have your answer." Riot replied smoothly. "I must admit, Pizzazz, you are one of the most innovative entrepreneurs I have ever come across. To start from scratch and build an empire on the strength of an album you knew would succeed, despite the odds against you, is simply genius."

I was sure my eyes were bugging out of my head by now. "You gotta be kidding."

There was that jelly inducing laughter again. "I assure you, my dear, that I am utterly serious." He took my hand, and my knees just about started to knock together. If I hadn't been so blown away, I would have been completely disgusted with myself. "And so is my offer."

I leaned to my right to whisper in Stormer's ear. "What do you think?"

Stormer tapped her lips, thinking. "I don't know," she hissed back, eyeing the blonde man warily. "You know he's not exactly trustworthy, but it's your money and your decision."

"Mostly Daddy's money," I corrected her. "But I guess his lawyers can straighten out whatever Riot here can't. It could work."

"Darling, it's either this or bankruptcy," Riot interrupted before Stormer could form an answer. "You know you want to reclaim your company, Pizzazz. If you don't say yes, it will just be sold to the highest bidder, snapped up by some faceless corporation who wouldn't love it half as much as you would."

Damn, I thought, Blondie's right. "Oh, what the hell." I relented, turning his flirtatious gesture into a firm businesslike handshake. "All right, Riot, I accept. I'll buy back Misfits' Music."

The coiffed blonde man bestowed a smile on me that he must have thought to be dazzling. "Excellent. I'll send you the paperwork first thing in the morning. Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Gabor." He said, kissing my hand before strutting off.

"Well, that was weird," Roxy commented as she watched Riot depart. "I sure hope you know what you're doing, Pizzazz, cause if you don't..."

"Oh, please, Rox, I'm not a moron." I replied haughtily. "I know he thinks I'm some idiotic little rich girl he can unload his big bad financial monster on. Well, I got news for him. I'm gonna be the biggest, baddest financial monster on the block, and I'll beat 'im at his own game."

"Speaking of idiotic girls," Clash muttered, motioning to my right. Sure enough, there was little miss Benton, with her lapdog in tow, waiting for me to notice her presence.

Stormer swore aloud. "I was going to tell you, Pizzazz, before Riot interrupted..."

"Tell me what?"

Jerrica cleared her throat almost nervously. "She and Kimber had the idea for your band to come along on a co-headlining tour with the Holograms."

I almost choked on my Perrier. "You want us, the Misfits, to go on tour with you?" This night just kept getting more and more weird, I marveled.

She exchanged a look with Rio, pausing to find the right words. "Look, all of us definitely got off on the wrong foot, and I admit, I started it myself. But I think it would be a great business venture for our groups, and it's high time we made amends once and for all. The Holograms are willing, Pizzazz, if you are."

Blinking rapidly, I stared at her and then exchanged shocked looks with everyone but Stormer, who was starting to blush with embarrassment. By now I definitely felt like I'd fallen into an old Twilight Zone episode, but the promise of performing to double the crowds we'd draw by ourselves, not to mention the income spike, outweighed my long standing grudges. One by one, Jetta, Roxy, Stormer, and Clash all eventually nodded their approval.

"Okay," I conceded, standing up to shake my former sworn enemy's hand. "It's a deal."

"Great!" Jerrica exclaimed with a relieved smile, shaking my hand enthusiastically. "I'll be in touch."

"You and Blondie both," I muttered as I watched the once stoic blonde woman take her boyfriend's hand and leave the room. Right on cue, the Holograms' old song "All's Right With the World" came on over the PA system, and the timing couldn't have been more ironic.

"I can't tell whether that's a good omen or a bad one," Jetta remarked, casting a glance towards the deejay booth. Shaking my head, I laughed a little and folded my arms over my chest.

"Neither. I don't know about you guys, but I'm not the superstitious type," I replied with a grin, and everyone echoed their decidedly reluctant agreement.

Jerrica

I awoke suddenly in the wee hours of the morning, half expecting to hear the usual stampeding footsteps of teenage girls outside the bedroom door. Rio's arm drowsily slid around my waist, instantly reminding me of where I really was, and what I had been doing.

I lay there in the bed we made for a while, listening to the sounds of traffic passing by quietly in the streets below. Through the nearby window, the shadows of night gradually shifted from blackest blue, melting through shades of gray and finally sky blue as the first rays of morning cracked open the horizon.

I couldn't remember ever feeling so comfortable with him, I thought drowsily, even when we were kids. And we definitely had never been that uninhibited before, even when I was Jem.

Sitting up slowly, I wrapped a white terry robe over my nudity and wandered into Rio's kitchenette to start some coffee brewing. Lifting the bedroom window sill to breathe in the fresh morning air, I exhaled deeply, reveling in the weight that I had finally cast off my shoulders.

In a way, I was almost grateful that things happened the way that they did. It taught me some valuable lessons...even though I was perfectly capable of learning them without the violence and the trauma, thank you.

Rio quietly slipped up from behind me, kissing my neck as he pulled my soft body close to his. I sighed contentedly, reaching behind me to cradle his head in the sensitive crook of my shoulder.

"Come back to bed," He implored, tilting my face to his to kiss my lips softly.

"Mmm, I couldn't sleep," I murmured back. "Too much excitement last night." Rio laughed, slipping a hand inside my robe possessively.

"I love you," he whispered, and I flushed with warmth. It felt so indescribably good to hear it again, finally, and I wholeheartedly returned his sentiment .

If perfection is a myth, I thought as we shared a kiss that built quickly into something more robust, then this moment is as close as it gets to being real. This is the end of those old habits forever, I resolved to myself. No more denying who I really am, and that includes Jem. She's part of me too, and always will be.

The robe fell away, and I allowed myself to be led back to the bedroom, losing myself in the bliss of love rekindled.

Jerrica, as Jem

The final strains of "It Takes A Lot" vibrated through the arena, building into an earth shaking climax as the Misfits finished off their last number of the night. Perched on the edge of my dressing room chair, I looked up from the new copy of Billboard, courtesy of Rio, that I just couldn't seem to stop rereading.

The numbers for The Dream Is Still Alive had been absolutely staggering, debuting at number one in over ten countries. It moved about 500,000 copies in the U.K., and in the U.S., it almost went platinum in a matter of days, which was virtually unheard of in the industry. The news media was finally forced to stop endlessly reporting my ordeal and instead relay the amazing news throughout the world, calling it an unprecedented comeback, and our most solid effort since the Starbright album.

All of us, needless to say, were overjoyed. I almost couldn't absorb it all; it was so much all at once, and I still couldn't get used to the idea that the world accepted me for who I really was.

We heard Pizzazz thanking the sold out crowd in her trademark sarcastic fashion, then their deafening roar as all five Misfits exited the stage, bounding one by one down the stairs into the backstage area.

"See if you can follow that!" Pizzazz chortled at me, slinging her dark blue Les Paul behind her back.

"I'll follow that and raise you one better!" I shot back with a grin. She cackled, dissappearing with Clash, Jetta and Roxy into their dressing room. Stormer glanced at Kimber, who was nestled in her own corner, busy warming up her voice.

"Knock 'em dead, kid," She teased. Ever the mature one, Kimber stuck her tongue out at her, and Stormer burst out laughing, slamming the door loudly behind her in true Misfit fashion.

While we hurriedly applied our stage makeup, the crowd began chanting for Jem, their pounding and cheering shaking the very walls. Aja laughed, watching the objects on the wall vibrate. "I think they want to hear us play again, what do you think?" She quipped, turning to Raya, who snatched up her drumsticks eagerly. "Bueno, what are we waiting for?"

"Wait a second, everybody come here," I ordered, gathering all of my sisters into a circle. Everyone put their right hands into the middle.

"Truly - " "Outrageous!" We chanted three times, lifting our hands in jubilation before piling into the hallway and climbing the stairs that lead to the custom made stage. Kimber, Aja, Shana and Raya took their places behind their instruments, while I stepped onto my own platform, my stomach tight with anticipation.

The house lights dimmed, and the applause was deafening as we launched into the long, carefully planned intro to the first number, "Like A Dream".

"Like a dream..." Kimber and Aja crooned in unison, their voices blending into a gorgeous harmony as the strobe lights kicked in .

"I'll appear to you..." I responded, inciting a shriek going up from the audience. The hair on my arms stood up.

"Like a dream..."

"That is coming true..."

My platform slowly rose to join the main stage, and I knew all eyes would be on me as I sang the next line, cueing the rest of the band to fully launch into the song, much to the crowd's delight. I loved seeing the ecstatic looks on the fans lucky enough to be in the front row.

As we ran through all of our hits, peppering the set with new songs off the album, our sound really began to flow, each woman playing off of one another's talents. I don't think I'd ever enjoyed the rush of performing so much before; it felt astounding to me that all of these people still loved our music, were still fans of mine through all of the controversy and scandal.

Raya clicked her sticks together three times, signaling the rest of us to merge into "Gotta Get To You". Apprehension rippled through me at Aja's familiar riff, remembering the last time I had performed this song. But, it was our big hit, and the fans expected it.

To my surprise, every person in that arena seemed to be shouting along to my lyrics as I strutted across the stage, making sure to work every angle so everyone could get a glimpse of me. They especially loved the tense bridge and the "slip out" line. I held the note as long as I could, prompting ecstatic cheers.

After the applause from the last song died down, I stood at the foot of the stage, grinning breathlessly at the vast expanse of people. "Thank you for being so understanding, so loyal and so loving towards us and towards me. You are truly the best fans anyone could ask for, we love you guys." I gushed, and the audience's roaring response almost brought me to tears.

"There's just one more thing," said a male voice from my right. I whirled around to see Rio, microphone in hand, holding in the other another mysterious little box. The crowd hushed, and the Holograms and I watched in awe as he took my hand.

"I love you," He said sincerely, and I felt my face turn red from all the attention. "Jerrica, I've always been in love with you, and these years spent with you have been the best years of my life. I feel pretty nervous about asking you this in front of all these people, but the crew kind of made me." Rio explained with a smile, watching my reaction as he bent down on one knee. My stomach flipped as anticipation rippled through the waiting crowd.

"Oh God!" I mouthed to Kimber, who was watching the scene unfold with her trademark enthusiasm.

"Outrageous!" She squealed, clasping her hands together tight. Trembling now, my attention shifted back to Rio, who gazed at me with eyes alight. He flipped the box open to reveal a tiny, sparkling diamond ring, and my breath caught in my throat.

"I don't ever want to take the chance of losing you again. Jerrica, I wanted to offer you this ring in hopes that you'd say you'll be my wife."

Laughing through my tears, I knew my answer. I'd known since I was ten years old. I nodded down at my first love, my longtime companion, my very best friend.

"Of course, Rio!" I exclaimed, and the audience erupted into ecstatic cheers. "God, of course I'll marry you. I never wanted anything else!" The young man's face instantly lit up, prompting an exuberant laugh as he gathered me into his arms.

"I can't believe you did this," I cried over the din. "I can't believe this is happening."

"I can't believe you accepted," Rio replied with wet eyes, and pressed his lips to my own.

The sparkling synth notes of "Love Is Here" began to tinkle through the air, causing me to break the kiss with a start. "No," I motioned to Kimber and Aja, horrified. They grinned at me and then conspiratorily at each other. Raya and Shana kicked in with the gentle backbeat.

"No!" I repeated louder, waving my arms and laughing. Rio laughed, too, and kissed me again before retreating into the backstage shadows. "It's not even on the setlist!" I protested, to no avail, as squeals of recognition peppered throughout the crowd. Laughing, I turned to face the people.

"I guess we're doing this one for you now," I conceded before launching into the first verse. Little glowing flames sprang up from lighters thrust into the air, turning the stadium into a starlit wonderland. It seemed everyone in the arena, including ourselves, were swept away in the heady romance of the moment as the impromptu song coasted along into a warm crescendo.

"Love is here," I crooned, looking deeply into those eyes. "where you are..." I could see his loving smile as the Holograms chimed in with the song's chorus.

"Wish upon a star / and the one you're dreaming of / is certain to appear...love is here..."

With a final resounding chord from Aja, the song climaxed with an elegant bang. Glitter and confetti burst out over the vast audience, who roared in approval. I posed there at the edge of the stage, my arms flung out in a welcoming embrace, my head reared back as I closed my eyes and soaked it all in.

As I took a collective bow with the Holograms and waved to the crowd one last time, the most complete, contented warmth filled me, made me glow from the inside. Out of the corner of my eye, I could make out Mom and Dad smiling at me from the corner of the stage, but when I glanced in their direction, they weren't there. It didn't matter. I knew they were elated that I had finally gotten my love, and my life, together.

fin