Stars Shine Bright in London's Eye
Chapter 1

Welcome to my first Smash fic! I only discovered the show recently, and of course fell in love with it and thought it was over far too soon, so I decided I needed to allow it to continue. Originally this was supposed to be a fic exploring the friendship of Ivy and Karen, but then as I was writing it also became quite Derek/Ivy orientated because I really love them. Anyway I'll stop rambling, I hope you enjoy it!

January 2016

The distant sound of applause hit her ear drums. It was so familiar now, she could barely remember a time in her life when it wasn't present. The adrenaline rushed through her body with anticipation, it was almost time for her curtain call. Her final curtain call.

Finally, stage management called her name and another wave of sadness coursed over her. She blinked away a tear as she headed towards the stage. The cast knew, the crew knew, and the audience knew. It was her final goodbye. Her final bow from the show which had been her life for three years. The show which had made her dreams come true. The show which had made her a Broadway star.

She turned the corner and saw the entire cast awaiting her arrival on stage from the wings. This would be the last time she saw this view, the last time she would be with the cast which had become her family. Taking a deep breath she confidently walked onto the stage with a broad smile which lit up her entire face, this was what the audience wanted to see. Her gaze met with some of her co-stars, a few couldn't hide the tears in their eyes. She would be sorely missed. The stage lights were blinding her view of the audience but she knew he was out there watching, the man who had stolen her heart at the beginning of her journey and the man who would be waiting for her at the end of it.

With a heavy heart she took her bow and could not help but fill with pride as the applause and the cheering got ever louder. She could hear people rising to their feet, her final standing ovation. She took the hands of her cast members and for one last time they bowed as a unit.

When the clapping finally ceased she found she had been handed a microphone. Of course, the final performance speech how could she have forgotten?

It was time for Karen Cartwright to say goodbye to the character of Amanda, to Nina. And goodbye to Hit List.

The squinted beneath the stage lights out to the audience, this was for them. "Ok, so this story began about three and a half years ago when I met the incredible Kyle Bishop at a bar, and I signed his programme of the 'failed' musical Bombshell" she paused for the soft murmur of laughter, "and then he let me listen to his friend play the piano and sing a song that he had written himself for the musical they were writing entitled 'Broadway Here I Come'. You all know the rest of Hit List's journey: the move from downtown to Broadway, the loss of our dear friend Kyle, making a splash at the 2013 Tony Awards, and that continues as it is still going strong today... but I know I've made the right decision to let its story evolve by allowing a new Amanda to be created" Karen couldn't stop a single tear falling down her painted face, "so it seemed only fitting to finish where it began, and as a girl from small town Iowa becoming a Broadway star seemed a fairytale destined never to come true, and yet here we are. As my goodbye to you, the loyal audiences, and my friends who have become my family I invite the songwriter and composer, and my fiancé, Jimmy Collins and the cast of Hit List to sing with me one more time"

Through the echoes of the applause Karen saw a figure moving in the shadows towards the stage. As he began climbing the stairs her heart beat just that little bit faster as it did every time she saw him, he grinned as he stood beside her and squeezed her hand.

"You better take to the piano Mr Collins" she smiled, her eyes locked to his.

He nodded sharing the smile, "right away Miss Cartwright"

The audience fell silence as the first few notes were played, as she stood centre stage with just the spotlight over her Karen could hear nothing but the sound of her own heart beating. This was her moment. This was for her and all she had achieved since the show's conception, there was no doubt in her mind that she had made the right decision leaving Bombshell years previous, this was where she belonged and who she belonged with.

"I'm high above the city. I'm standing on the ledge. The view from here is pretty. And I step off the edge..."