Thank you everyone for sticking through this. Thanks for the read and reviews!
Especially to Tracy without whom this story would have not been written.

(the song can be found on YouTube if anyone is interested)

Chapter thirty

Inez came up behind her and whispered in her ear, "Are you surprised? He wanted to do this for you."

Amber looked at Inez, "It's unbelievable. Inez……" The council members ran out onto the stage and stood in a long line behind him. "We never did this at rehearsal." Amber said in shock.

"Oh WE did Honey!" Inez kissed her cheek, "Gotta run." And she was gone too.

Link and Maybelle came from behind the podium to give him a hug. You couldn't hear through the cheers. He put up a hand to quiet the applause and Link handed him a microphone "And now I'd like to introduce someone very near and dear to my heart." Corny began, "Without her skill and motivation, this show would not have been possible. Our three time Miss Hairspray Champion, 1959, 1960 and 1961, and General Manager of WYZT, Ms Amber Von Tussle."

She felt like she floated out onto the stage and took his hand. Her eyes were still wide when the music swelled and the boys began to sing. It was a "Oooooooo." Amber turned. She looked at the boys as Seaweed sang, "Yi-yi. Yi-yi-yi…."

She knew this song. Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks sang it back in 78. It had always reminded her of him. It was her car song that year and sang it over and over, wishing he was there to sing the duet with her. Now here he was. He took a deep breath, looked into her eyes and began to sing.

"Whenever I call you "Friend", I begin to think I understand

Anywhere we are, you and I have always been. Ever and ever." The council sang "Oooooo".

Amber was giddy. She looked up and couldn't help herself, she didn't even think, she leaned into him and her voice joined his.

"I see myself within your eyes, and that's all I need to show me why

Everything I do always takes me home to you.'

His eyebrows arched and he pulled her toward him. Maybelle hugged Link. The Council members smiled in surprise. A couple high fives went around. They sang out from behind. "Ever and ever" And started to Ahhhhhh.

His voice rang out, "Now I know my life has given me more than memories, day by day, we can see."

"In every moment there's a reason to carry onnnnnn." She held her final note.

He grabbed her hand and they began to slowly strut across the stage in time to the beat. The cheers started again. "Sweet love showin' us a heavenly light. I've never seen such a beautiful sight." They sang as they hit the end of the stage. He twirled her and started back. She giggled. "See love glowin' on us every night. I know forever we'll be doin' it. Sweet love showing us a heavenly light."

He brushed her cheek, "I've never seen such a beautiful sight."

"See love glowin' on us every night." They continued and he ended with, "I know forever we'll be doin' right"

She turned to him, "Whenever I call you "Friend", I believe I've come to understand,

Everywhere we are, you and I were meant to be, Forever and ever"

He took it "I think about the times to come, knowing I will be the lucky one. Ever our love will last. I always want to call you….." then their voices blended, "Friend".

They started to strut again. "Sweet love showin' us a heavenly light."

"Never seen such a beautiful sight," he sang as he smiled.

"See love glowin' on us every night. I know forever we'll be doing it." They harmonized.

As the interlude stared, he spun her to a waltz. The audience went nuts again. "I love you, ever and ever." He whispered to her. She didn't have time to respond before the music cued her.

"Now I know my life has given me more than memories." she sang.

He belted out as his eyes closed, "Day by day, we can see,"

Her arms went out in front of her and swept open as she held her final note, "In every moment there's a reason to carry onnnnnnn."

Corny motioned to the Council and they moved around them and sang and danced. Link moved to Tracy and put his arm around her. They glowed.

"Sweet love showin us a heavenly light

I've never seen such a beautiful sight……"

Inez made her way to Amber and threw her arms around her. There were tears in her eyes, "Oh thank you" Amber cried as she hugged back.

"Improv! You go girl!" she smiled as she wiped her eyes. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Me either." Amber grinned.

They hugged again as the group continued, "See love glowin' on us every night. I know forever, we'll be doin it. Doin' it. Sweet loves showin' us a heavenly light."

"I've never seen such a beautiful sight." Amber sang with her whole heart as she grabbed his hand.

"See love glowin' on us every night" they all sang, "I know forever we'll be doin' it, doin' it, doin' it."

Just the girls sang, "Sweet love, sweet love, yeah, sweet love……."

He turned to her and his voice sounded above the others, "You're the glowin' light in my life, source of pride in my life"

She responded, "Oh everything I do takes me back to you"

The audience couldn't be contained as the music faded out. He still had his arm around her waist as he brought the microphone up again.

"This is Corny Collins and for Link Larkin, Motormouth Maybelle and all of the "Nicest Kids in Town" we'd like to say thank you for joining us! Good night and God Bless." He smiled as everyone waved. The theme started and so did the hugs and congratulations.

She threw her arms around his neck, "You were amazing. Thank you so much."

He laughed, "Me? You did that song cold. That was unbelievable! You can't be beat!"

They touched foreheads, "I love you. I always have and always will." She said.

"Then show me."

She gave him a look, "Oh I'm going to." She said slyly. She grabbed his hand and started to move but he stopped her.

He turned his back to the still screaming audience, "Okay Woman. I've done everything you wanted from me. And I've waited, God Knows, I've waited. Twenty years or eight weeks, however you want to count it, I've waited. I made it real for you. Now will you make it real for me?"

He snatched her hand and slipped a small ring on her finger. She looked down. It sure looked like that kind of ring. Right finger and the whole thing. She looked into his eyes.

"Will you do this for me? Will you make it forever?" he asked seriously.

"Forever and ever." She sighed, "You can't know how much I love you."

He grinned, "But I love you more." He looked around, "Come on, let's get outta here, I think I remember something we were going to do on Maybelle's kitchen table that needs to be addressed. Baby, I need to show you something that I'm sure you'll like."

They headed out the door and no one noticed until they were gone.