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Jennifer
02 July 2009 @ 09:33 pm
when fandoms collide: a Zikki / Kradam cross-over... sort of

Rating: NC-17

Written for the 450th Zac Efron/Nikki Blonsky thread milestone on Fan Forum

Disclaimer: Jess gave me permission to cross these 2 pairings, and Kay dared me to write it. Blame them :P


more Kradam, just click )
 
 
Jennifer
01 February 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Incognito

Rating:
R

Fandom: Snowfronsky aka Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Brittany Snow. It's a dirty threesome, so be warned :P Oh, and it's an AU fic :)

Author's Note: Congratulations everyone on the 50th Nikki and Zac thread on Nikki's board!!! This fic is dedicated particularly to Kay, my fellow Snoblo-lovah, and to Jess, the inventor of Snowfronsky! lol

Someone call for Snowfronsky? )
 
 
Jennifer
05 January 2009 @ 10:49 pm
LMFAO

Oh, Zaccy LOL




Man his voice sounds soooo good here! *thud*
 
 
Jennifer
WARNING: It is dirty, cruel, and wrong in so many ways. But it just might be right in the end.

RATING: Um... totally NC-17.

This fic was started quite a long time ago. I think I had begun it for the 69th thread, but was only able to post the first part. I've reposted the first part here with the rest, so please read it through as one whole story :D

DEDICATION: This is firstly dedicated to Kay, for her love of "glaze" hehe. And to the rest of the BlackSheep for their appreciation of all that is twisted and subversive and just plain naughty. I love you Nonna, I hope you don't hate me for Emile ;)

Get your dirty Hirskyfron here )
 
 
Jennifer
03 January 2009 @ 09:42 pm
This is my entry for the Holiday Fic Challenge on the Fan Fiction Board of Fan Forum. The entries are due on January 6th, so there's still time to enter if you'd like! Just check out the details here: http://www.fanforum.com/f24/challenge-thread-4th-challenge-up-deadline-extended-january-6th-62844310/index18.html You can also vote on the entries when they get posted :D

It's HSM slash, but G rated ;)



Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore


Pink cashmere sweater, turned-up collar of a striped shirt, feathered fedora tilted askew upon short blonde hair. A toothy grin and big blue eyes that were focused on only one person.

Ryan sat on the hearth of the fireplace watching across the room.

Her hair was long and wavy, dark like the midnight sky, as she walked towards the window where he stood. Her red cardigan had slipped from her shoulder as she grasped his arm, and there was tension in her beautiful face. Ryan watched them, as Troy looked away from her. Tears welling in her eyes, Ryan could see her defeat. He turned back to her, a flash of regret upon his face, before looking down at the floor. She walked away, her arms wrapped around herself, pulling her sweater tight, questions and accusations and secrets filling her mind. All the memories of the past year twisting and falling apart.

Ryan rose from the hearth and took a few steps towards the window. His courage faltered when Troy looked in his direction, and he stopped by the Christmas tree. He pretended to be interested in one of the shiny ornaments, looking in close and turning it around on its hook. Ryan stole a quick glance across the room as Gabby ran through the door. He breathed deeply, reaching into his pocket to feel the small box. It was still there, where it had been all night.

Troy grabbed his coat from the back of an arm chair and pulled it on, zipping it up. He began wrapping a soft scarf about his neck when he stopped, remembering her smile when he opened it on Christmas day. The guilt was too much, and he tore it off, leaving it on the chair. He pulled his collar up close to his neck instead, and headed for the glass door that led to the patio.

He stood alone, looking up at the stars, trying to formulate a wish but his mind was too muddled. He couldn’t even think of the words to the song he’d known all his life. Putting his hands in his pockets, he felt his phone. He pulled it out and searched for the photo he took in that very spot one year earlier. The New Years Eve that brought her into his life. Now, he had to face his truth, as much as it hurt.

Chad and Jason and the other guys, they accepted him with Gabriella, the braniac. They accepted him singing in the musical. They even accepted it when he gave up tickets to a Redhawks game to go to the ballet with Ryan. But, could they accept….

“What the…?” Troy turned around, wiping at the snow that had hit his back. “Oh, you!” he laughed.

“Just me,” Ryan smiled, making jazz hands. “Dork!” he thought to himself. He blushed and stuffed his hands back into his pockets.

Ryan breathed in deeply and took a few steps closer to Troy. “I saw…” he gestured inside the lodge, as he stepped closer.

Troy nodded slightly as he looked down. “We just couldn’t…”

“Work it out?”

Troy laughed softly and smacked Ryan on the arm. Even through his sweater Ryan could feel the heat of Troy’s hand.

“It’ll get better. You’ll meet another girl, and…”

“I don’t want another girl. I want…” he looked into Ryan’s eyes, before stopping himself. He looked away, focusing his eyes on a snow-covered branch of a tree. The snow shimmered in the moonlight, glistening, dancing.

Ryan shivered then, and pulled his arms closer to his body.

“You’re not wearing a coat. You must be freezing. We should go back inside.”

“No, I’m okay. I like it better out here. It’s quieter.” He could still make out the beat of the music from the karaoke machine.

“I never thought of you as the quiet type,” Troy laughed.

Ryan smiled. “Sometimes you need quiet.”

“Mhm. Here, take my coat,” Troy said, as he unzipped it.

“No, I couldn’t! I’m fine…”

“I insist. We can take turns,” he laughed, as he slung the coat over Ryan’s shoulders. It was warm and soft inside when Ryan pulled it around himself. It fit perfectly. Ryan zipped it up and pulled the collar up against his neck, like Troy had worn it. It smelled like him.

“It’s been fun having you here, Ryan. I’m glad Sharpay got your parents to bring you guys.”

“Yeah, it’s been a great break!” Of course, a ski trip to Colorado had been his idea, not his sisters. She had wanted to go to Hawaii, until Ryan convinced her how good she’d look in a Prada ski suit.

“Troy, I have something for you.” He figured that he had to just get it over with, or he’d hang onto that box until next Christmas. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, wrapped in silver paper with a delicate blue ribbon. Troy looked at him curiously as he reached out for it. “Merry Christmas. Late, I know, but, well, I hope you like it.”

“A present, for me?”

Troy smiled as he tugged at the ribbon. Opening the box, he looked back at Ryan. There was a red iPod, engraved with the words You Are the Music in Me – R.E. Ryan was blushing, biting his lip.

“It’s my entire collection of musical soundtracks!”

“It’s perfect!” Troy reached out and hugged Ryan, holding on longer than a usual hug. When he did pull back, he looked into Ryan’s eyes. There was something in them, something that told him not to let go. So he didn’t. Not for a long time. Not until all the words had been spoken.

“I wasn’t sure, if you knew how I felt,” Troy said. Sometimes, I’d think you felt the same way, but then, I’d think you liked Gabriella.”

“Deflection. Something you got pretty good at yourself.”

Troy nodded, then said, “Let’s see what we got here.” He put one ear bud in Ryan’s ear and one in his own, and started random play. They laughed together as the Rod/Nicky duet came on, from Avenue Q, Troy's hand slipping into the pocket of his coat that Ryan was still wearing.

As the countdown to midnight began inside, for both Troy Bolton and Ryan Evans, it was the start of something new.
 
 
Jennifer
01 January 2009 @ 02:53 pm
Who Better To Love
Chapter 11: Tomorrow is Another Day, But We’ll Take Tonight


Disclaimer: I own nothing but myself and my own ideas.

Rating: PG-13

For Jess - Happy Hannukah! xoxo And many thanks and big hugs to all my other readers, and continued apologies for being so slow to update.

Please see links to the first ten chapters "under the cut"



Who Better To Love Chapter 11 )
 
 
Jennifer
04 December 2008 @ 08:38 pm
Elvis and Priscilla - Tracy and Link, Hairspray

I wrote this for the third fic challenge on the Fan Fiction board on Fan Forum :D The challenge was to write 1000 words of fluff, inspired by an autumn photo.


Photobucket


“Wait! Wait for me!” Short, chubby legs were working double time to keep up.

“Daddy! Wait for-“ She stopped and sharply turned her head in the direction of a rustling in the trees. She moved in closer, watching the squirrel climb higher up the tree with a nut in his mouth. She could just make him out between the yellow and orange leaves. He stopped on a branch, holding the nut in front of him, turning it between his two front paws, nibbling, opening the shell. Big blue eyes were focused on the squirrel, when she was suddenly hoisted into the air.

“Daddy!” She laughed and squealed as he tossed her in the air, catching her expertly in his arms.

Gently lowering her to the ground, he teasingly said, “Don’t get so far ahead of me again, Baby Doll.”

“What? Me? You were ahead of me, Daddy!” She stood there with consternation on her rosy face and her hands on her hips. He laughed in spite of himself, and took her warm, mittened hand in his.

“We have to go back to the campsite. Momma’s coming. She’s got something special waiting for us!”

“A surprise?” The little hand swung his arm along with hers, as she skipped along the grassy path. Link knew she’d be excited to see Tracy, since it was the first time they’d camped out a night without her, but he knew the thought of a surprise would be at the forefront of her mind.

“Yep! A big surprise!” he looked down and winked in his signature style, his own eyes as blue as his little girl’s.

“Yay!” She let go of his hand, and skipped ahead of him, snapping twigs and crunching leaves below her feet. “What is it?”

“Oh, I can’t tell! That would spoil the surprise!”

“Hint?” He shook his head. “Please?” She had stopped before him, and turned to give her biggest smile. For a four year old, she was very charming. Another quality she inherited from her father.

Unable to resist his little girl, he sighed and gave in. “It’ll use a lot of newspapers,” he laughed. She was puzzled. Her face scrunched up, and she turned towards the lake to think.

“That wasn’t a good hint, Daddy. I don’t know what it’s gonna be!” She frowned at him, and opened her mouth to ask for another hint when he picked up a pebble and tossed it over the lake. The stone skipped along the water, and she giggled and jumped up and down. Skipping stones was a good distraction. Link didn’t want to give any more hints, as he didn’t want to get into trouble with Tracy.

A few moments and several dozen pebbles later, he took her hand and they continued on. Hearing music from a distance, Link knew they were almost there. He bent down and she climbed up on his back. Piggy-backing her the rest of the way, the music became louder. They sung along happily, and Tracy could soon hear them approach.

“Momma! What’s my surprise?” she called, as they first caught Tracy in view.

“Link! What did you tell her?” Tracy stood with her hands on her hips, just like Priscilla had done earlier. The little girl was the spitting image of her mother, save the brilliant blue eyes of her father.

“Nothing! I told her nothing… well, just that it’ll use a lot of newspaper,” he laughed.

“Really? Well, you’re getting better at resisting her, then.”

“Better at distracting her, more like it!” He let Priscilla down, and immediately the little girl began snooping around the cars, the picnic table, inside the packages of food. Just then, as she was making her way towards the tent, she heard a sound coming from the trees. It wasn’t the rustling of leaves that the squirrel had made. It wasn’t the chirp of a bird. It was something very unexpected for the woods. Priscilla’s eyes lit up, and she ran towards the trees. Link and Tracy laughed when they heard the squeal of excitement.

A moment later, little arms were filled with the yapping bundle. “A puppy! Oh Momma, you brought me a puppy!” Priscilla ran to her mother, puppy in her arms, and Tracy wrapped her arms around both of them.

“Do you like it, Baby?” She scooped them up in her arms. Priscilla gently handed the puppy to Link so she could give her mother a proper hug, then quickly wriggled down to the ground again, reaching up for the small dog.

“I love it, Momma! I love her so much!”

“Actually, it’s a he” Tracy laughed.

“Oh!” she laughed. “Does he have a name?”

“Nope. Not yet.”

“You get to name him all by yourself,” Link replied. Her eyes opened widely, and she began to pace around the campsite, not letting the puppy down from her arms, while she thought of a name.

Tracy began humming along with the song playing on the transistor radio, and Link stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. They swayed together to the rhythm of the music, while Tracy sang along. He turned her in his arms and held her close as they danced together there in the woods, stepping on crisp leaves, layers of plaid flannel between them.

“I got it! I’ll call him Elvis! Then we can be Elvis and Priscilla!” Link and Tracy laughed, as Priscilla danced to the music with Elvis in her arms.

“Well, now that that’s settled, I have a surprise for Daddy, too.”

“Really? Can I have a hint?” he smirked.

“Sure. It won’t need newspapers on the floor, but it will use a lot of diapers,” she smirked back. He stood facing her, his mouth and eyes open wide.

“A baby? We’re having another baby?” She nodded.

“Whoooooo!” He picked her up and spun her around, then gently placed her back on the ground, bending down and pressing his face to her stomach. “Hello Baby! Daddy loves you!” Tracy ran her fingers through his hair, which had softened in style over the 60s, although she missed the little curl.

“A baby?” Priscilla asked. “That’s almost as good as a puppy!”
 
 
Jennifer
01 September 2008 @ 09:29 pm
Who Better To Love: Chapter 10

Roman Holiday



Disclaimer: I own nothing but myself and my own ideas.

Rating: NC-17

Please see links to the first nine chapters "under the cut"

Thanks (sort of) to Jess, for her TOUGH LOVE :P

Who Better To Love Chapter 10 )
 
 
Jennifer
31 August 2008 @ 12:18 am
Who Better To Love: Chapter 9

I'll Stand By You



Disclaimer: I own nothing but myself and my own ideas.

Rating: PG

Please see links to the first eight chapters "under the cut"

Who Better To Love Chapter 9 )
 
 
Jennifer
27 August 2008 @ 10:13 pm
Who Better To Love: Chapter 8

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day



Disclaimer: I own nothing but myself and my own ideas.

Rating: R (for swearing)

Please see links to the first seven chapters "under the cut"

Who Better To Love Chapter 8 )
 
 
Jennifer
25 July 2008 @ 11:43 pm
This short fic was written for the fic challenge on the Fan Fiction board on Fan Forum. 500 words of angst. (anyone can join, just submit entries by August 5)

It is a RPF Zac Efron/Nikki Blonsky & Zac Efron/Vanessa Hudgens fic, I guess :) Rating: PG

Of course I don't own anyone! If I did, they would be better behaved ;)

I was inspired for this story by this song, Diana Ross's "Touch Me in the Morning":



Once you get to the end, you might want to read it again ;)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Say Good-Bye to Yesterday

The curve of her hip beneath the white sheet. The red satin strap slipped from her shoulder. The long, dark curls falling around her beautiful, peaceful face. He stood there, beside her bed, their bed, really, watching her breathe deeply, slowly, surely. Each breath drawn in was another memory recalled, each breath exhaled was another second delayed.

The sun shone through the slats of the wooden blinds, drawing stripes across the cherry floor where his luggage waited. Black suitcases neatly packed from his apartment. As his gaze returned to her, the sheen of the sun on her cheekbone, he recalled her words of the night before.

“I understand, Zac. I think… I think I knew before you did. I just couldn’t say it out loud.” She reached up to him, brushing a lock of hair from his eyes. “They’ll give you a good haircut, you know,” she managed to tease.

“Don’t,” and he grabbed her hand, wincing at the lightness of her tone.

“I have to, baby. If I don’t, I’ll break, and I’ve done that enough already. Not tonight. ” She looked up into his eyes with resolve. “We’ve had our time. I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. Not even the nights I spent in your arms, wondering when you’d stop thinking of her and remember who I was.”

“I do love you, you know. I’ll always-“

“I know. You’ll always love me, but it’s more of a yesterday love, than tomorrow, isn’t it?” She looked away from him when the steps of a small dog scratched across the floor. “Hey, love!” she called, as she reached to scoop him up into her arms. She nuzzled her cheek against his soft fur, and placed him back down to the floor. “Not now, boy. We need to say good-bye.” Her voice cracked in it’s whisper.

As she stepped back towards him, he took in every inch and every movement of this young woman that had been there with him as his life changed. As both their lives changed. The strap of her nightie slipped from her shoulder, as it always did. He reached across to guide it back into place, and her arms wrapped around him.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you. But, I know that neither of us can keep going on like this. You need to know, Zac. I hate it, and it killed me inside when I realized it, but it isn’t going away.” He nodded, slowly. “Just, give us tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll be gone, and I’ll find some way to start again. He closed the blinds and kissed her, before leading her to the bed to say good-bye.

He grazed his fingers along her arm, touching her one last time that morning, before walking away, shutting the door on yesterday. Shadow barked a sad good-bye from the window, joined by Vanessa, as Zac climbed into the back of the waiting car, heading off to the girl he hadn’t forgotten, heading off to tomorrow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


A/N: I thought I would put this at the end, as it would be spoilerish for the story. This fic was inspired by the song given above, but also from the recent news of a Hairspray sequel, likely to begin filming in a year. I thought about the possibilities of a reunion between Zac and Nikki, and what that could mean for Zac and Vanessa, and this is what I came up with. I wanted to leave it kind of ambivalent, as to who the girl was. I’m sure most of my regular readers thought it was Nikki (and her dog, Rocky), so hopefully this was a surprise :D
 
 
Jennifer
16 June 2008 @ 11:35 pm
Who Better To Love: Chapter 7

In Your Arms is Where I Want to Be



Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people in this story, as they are real people and that would just be wrong. But, I do really wish that I owned Zac and Nikki!

Rating: PG

Please see links to the first six chapters "under the cut"

Who Better To Love Chapter 7 )
 
 
Jennifer
26 April 2008 @ 09:36 pm
Who Better To Love: Chapter 6

I Know Where I'm Going Because I Know Where I've Been


Summary: Nikki has seen the tabloid with the picture of Zac and Vanessa kissing in Hawaii. This chapter tells of her thoughts and memories in seeing it, and what happens between Zac and Nikki at the Young Hollywood Awards the next day.

Dedications: Firstly, this is dedicated to Carrie, as a (very) belated birthday present. I know you've been waiting for this since I first gave you spoilers months ago. Thanks for being so supportive, and patient! Secondly, it is dedicated to Alex, who took so much time to make the amazing banner for me! Big hugs to you, hon, for so much! Finally, it is for all the Zac and Nikki fans on the ZN thread of Fanforum. Congratulations on 250 threads, everyone! Let's celebrate everything we love about Zac and Nikki, the love and friendship and respect and joy we see between them, and what could and should, and may, be. They have inspired us to dream of possibilities, and let's not lose sight of that. (Sorry this chapter is so angsty, in light of my previous words lol)

Rating: R?

Who Better to Love Chapter 6 )
 
 
Jennifer
02 April 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Dream a Little Dream: A Zikki/Blofron One-shot

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own anyone!

Dedication: To Dave, for his 21st Birthday! And to all the girls and boys on the Z/N thread on FF, Happy (belated) 69th Day!

Rating: Oh god, I don't know. R? More than R? Beats me!

So, it started out as a little smexlet for 69th Day, then I had to add some context, then the New York discoveries happened and I wanted to add them in, and I added a bit more non-smexiness, and then some more smex, and ... anyways, it's now a longer one-shot, but I hope you like it!

Author's Note: As one of the timeline gurus, I am giving a timeline quiz :P There is a significant date on the Zikki timeline that I used here. Tell me what that date is, what event happened on that date, and why I chose it to use in this story. (I really only expect Irish and Krystin to get full points, but everyone should try!) lol
Dream a Little Dream )
 
 
Current Mood: nervous
 
 
Jennifer
This the third, and final (yes Nonna, FINAL!) "deleted scene" that I have written, based upon Kayla's (daydreamer22688) series Once Upon a Dream, or otherwise "affectionately" known as Bathtub Smex.

Dedication: First, I dedicate this story to Magie, as her belated birthday present, and because I know how much she's been waiting for it. Second, to Anna, my Little Puppy, who started posting on FF again to get it! lol To Kayla, whose story (and the decidedly frustrating lack of smex) inspired it. And finally to Nonna, Jess, and everyone else who enjoyed the first two parts so much that they have continued to lovingly (I think) pester me for the third.

I hope you all enjoy, and that it was worth the wait!

Disclaimer: I do not have any rights of ownership over Zac and Nikki. I don't even own Prince Zachary and Servant Nicole, really. But I do own the bird! ;)

Rating: Oh geez. I never know what to say. Um, R?

Links to the first two stories are under the cut.

Someone ask for bathtub smex? )
 
 
Jennifer
18 March 2008 @ 08:09 pm
A Zikki Drabble

Nope, don't own 'em.

This is just a bit of fluff, inspired by recent fics posted by Lola and Lanie.



The blue ocean rolling in her memories of the afternoon’s adventures, she sat down tiredly on the old tree swing and gently rocked herself from side to side. Her eyes closed, and thoughts of sand between her toes and the sun warm on her rosy cheeks stole her back to daydreams.

His eyes glancing across the yard, to the swing he had pushed his brother on in their days of innocence and magic, he reached out to take a woman in his arms. She was softness and love, a melody that his heart listened for each day and the breath of life that made him feel like a man. Her curls brushed across his 5 o’clock cheeks as he held her close against his chest.

“She’s you, you know,” she murmured. He knew she meant more than her big blue eyes. She meant her curiosity, her gentleness, the laugh than sung from her heart and the smile that shone from her eyes.

“She’s you, too,” he answered. She knew he meant more than her soft brown curls. He meant her courage, her kindness, the grown-up soul in her 3 year old body.

She nodded, and smiled, and slowly lowered her hand from his to her own growing stomach.

“And him? Who will he be?”

“He’ll be you. And me. And her,” and her eyes closed as she imagined the tiny bundle of warmth and love that she would hold in her arms at the end of the summer.

She breathed in deeply, loving the scent of fresh cut grass and lemons, mixed with the saltiness of their ocean afternoon.

“And, who are we?” he asked, barely a whisper against her ear.

“I’m yours. You’re mine. We’re the children of music, of possibility, of tall buildings and crashing waves and a love that brought us together and opened our eyes to magic again.”

He bent down and lightly kissed her neck as she sighed. Lifting his head, he pulled her closer to his chest and gazed again at his darling on the swing. Her hat had fallen to the newly-mowed lawn and her pudgy legs were still. Her little fingers had loosened their grasp on the cord of the swing, and she had drifted from memories and daydreams into a land of peace and calm and haze.
 
 
Current Mood: sappy
 
 
Jennifer
11 February 2008 @ 09:02 pm
Zac and Nikki: Who Better To Love ch. 5

What Happens in Vegas… But, Does It?



Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people in this story, as they are real people and that would just be wrong. But, I do really wish that I owned Zac and Nikki!

Rating: R

Please see links to the first four chapters "under the cut"

Who Better To Love Chapter 5 )
 
 
Current Mood: emo, but then naughty =P
Current Music: Total Eclipse of the Heart
 
 
Jennifer
06 February 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Zac Efron/Nikki Blonsky/Emile Hirsch Threesome fic

I felt bad about daring Nonna to write a Zanessikki threesome fic, so I thought I'd give her some Hirskyfron to make it up to her. It went angstier than I intended, so I hope she forgives me :P

I wanted to get something posted for the 169th thread festivities on FF, so I'll post this as a Part 1.

WARNING: It is dirty, cruel, and just wrong in so many ways. And this is just the beginning.

RATING: Um... totally R.

Get your dirty Hirskyfron here )
 
 
Jennifer
15 January 2008 @ 10:34 pm
Second “deleted” bathtub scene, based on Kayla’s fic “Once Upon a Dream” (by daydreamer22688) This encounter takes place the night after the first deleted bathtub scene.

(A/N: for Prince Zachary’s clothes, I’m imaging something like what Mr. Darcy wears in BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, even though it’s too late in history for this kind of story. I won’t tell, if you don’t!)

Rating: Pretty 'R' I guess ;)

Prince Zachary and Servant Nicole )
 
 
Jennifer
09 January 2008 @ 12:48 am
(God, this is really growing on me! lol ) Post-Critic's Choice Awards


The lights were out and the stars were gone, and he found her, hiding behind the curtain alone with the honour of her work in her hands, but the honour of her heart lost to the one that hadn't come.

"He's an ass."

"Don't say that."

"If he cared, he would have been here."

"If he'd been here, he would have brought her. Again. And I couldn't have handled that."

"I'm here."

"I know. But, why? Why are you here, now? Everyone else has gone."

"I waited for you. I looked for you. Your mother's worried. Your friends are worried. Why..."

She showed him her phone.

*Congrats, Baby! I knew you'd get it, Nikki B! I'm home, alone. I'll wait.*

He knelt down to be at her level, and gently wiped the tears away with his finger. His hand was in her hair, those soft, dark waves that shone near blue in the one backstage light that was left on. Her arms were around him, feeling the heat of his body through the lace of her sleeves.

"Don't go."

"I always go."

"Don't go this time."

"Give me a reason."

"Me. Am I enough of a reason?"

"For tonight?"

"For more than tonight. Much more than tonight."

She took his right hand in hers. The hand that was strong but soft. The hand that was free of attachment and confusion and promises and lies. She nodded, and she smiled. She stood up and walked with him, out from behind that curtain and into tomorrow.