"You all are amazing, you're the reason I love what I do!" Massie paused and took a step back, breathless after her performance.

Twisting a stray curl back into place, she casually sought out Derrick backstage. He flashed her a cheesy grin and even cheesier thumbs-up, and she rolled her eyes playfully but smiled back all the same.

"I know I've been teasing you all about a big announcement lately, so what do you say I tell you just in time for the new year?" She called out to a round of thunderous screams.

"This never gets old," She sighed to herself, basking in the spotlight. Focusing her amber eyes back on the crowd, she paused again, loving the suspense.

"What would you say… If I told you I'm kicking off a world tour this summer?" She beamed, then winced slightly at the roar of applause that met her announcement.

Subtly, she turned to face Derrick, who quickly composed his face into an encouraging smile. Naturally, he wasn't pleased that his girlfriend would be taking off around the world for the summer, but between his soccer and her… Massie-ness, they agreed that it would be tough, but they would make it work.

"That's right! I'm so ah-mazingly excited about this and I hope you are too!" Massie widened her eyes, fully aware of the effect of the innocent look, and noticing Derrick's growing impatience, she finished, "So I definitely have the very best fans ever, and you better have the very best new years ever! Hope to see you all on tour, happy new year!"

With a wink and a handful of blown kisses, Massie exited the stage to massive applause and sank into Derrick's arms.

"Have I told you lately how I think you're pretty much Superwoman?" Derrick asked, eyebrow raised.

"No, but I know that without having to be told," Massie smirked, pulling him down the stairs towards the VIP room.

"Block, you wound me," Derrick pouted dramatically, swiveling to face her. "There I was, trying to compliment my girlfriend, only to have her throw it back in my –"

Massie, still one step above him, swiftly shut him up with a kiss. "Better?"

Derrick grinned. "Much."

Scoffing, Massie flung open the door and found herself engulfed in a hug from Claire.

"You were fabulous, Mass, but of course I wouldn't expect anything less." Claire giggled and Cam waved before she tugged him back towards Taylor Swift and the karaoke machine.

"Does she ever slow down?" Derrick wondered. "She must be part Energizer bunny."

"Probably," Massie agreed, tossing her hair to tousle her strategically-messy curls. "Personally, I'm ready to spa, spa, and spa by now. If Joe had dragged me around that stage any more, I would have slapped him. All that bouncing around on stage is just over the top."

Derrick widened his eyes in faux-surprise. "Did Massie, Massie Block, just say that something was… Over the top?"

Massie steeled her eyes into a fierce glare before bursting out laughing again. "You're my boyfriend, Harrington. Aren't you supposed to be getting me a drink or throwing rose petals at me or sweeping me off my feet or something?"

Derrick crinkled his nose. "Well, you know me, always the thoughtful and sensitive boyfriend."

Massie nodded absentmindedly, scanning the crowded room and the picturesque view of Times Square through the massive windows. "Given.."

"Massie, darling! Great performance, great speech, great way to get the country thrilled for your tour! We'll have it sold out before we even release the tickets. What a money maker, this one is." A sleek, grinning man slipped his arm protectively over Massie's shoulder, his loud voice attracting numerous stares.

Massie rolled her eyes. "Hey Michael. You've met my boyfriend Derrick, haven't you?" She turned to Derrick, and said, "And you remember my agent, of course."

Derrick smirked. "How could I forget?"

Michael was still talking loudly to a cluster of men in Gawd-awful suits far too formal for the occasion. "Brilliant, brilliant I tell you! My little superstar is going to take over the world."

Massie bluntly picked up Michael's hand and dropped it unceremoniously, and then slightly more subtly mouthed to Derrick, "Let's escape?"

Derrick grabbed her hand and tugged her through the crowd before both of them collapsed in a booth, laughing.

"Maybe I have a career as a mastermind kidnapper," Derrick mused.

"And maybe I have one as a professional wrestler," Massie countered, grinning wickedly.

Derrick pointed to her heeled boots. "Why wrestle when you can take someone out with one of those wicked pointy things?"

"Because I shouldn't have to quote, 'take anyone out,'" Massie explained, twirling her bracelets demurely. "That's your job, boyfriend."

Derrick opened his mouth to retort but quickly thought better of it. "Let's get out of here? I mean, it's been nice catching up with the A-List of the world, but some Black Ops and Hot Cheetos sound pretty good right now…" He trailed off.

Massie considered. "Make it The Notebook and sugar-free-chocolate-dipped-strawberries and consider it done, done, and done."

"Rock paper scissors?" Derrick smiled his most charming smile.

"Not a chance," Massie shot back. "I'll text C and then we're out of here!"

Within the hour they were back at the Block Estate, with a crystal tray of strawberries, bowl of melted chocolate, and a romantic kiss in the rain playing on the movie screen.

"Why this movie?" Derrick groaned, his eyes twitching to the Block's legendary movie closet. "You must own every movie in the world, and it has to be this sappy love story!"

"It's not just a sappy love story!" Massie protested. "It kind of reminds me of you. Of us."

Derrick tilted his head. "I don't get it."

Massie slapped him affectionately. "Well, they challenge each other. They're not afraid to mess with each other and put each other in their place when they need it. They're different, and they balance each other out. No matter how much time or distance separates them, they always find their way back to each other, because that's love. Does that sound familiar to you? Did that get through that thick hair and even thicker head of yours?"

"Sure, sure," Derrick nodded, knowing not to get in the way of Massie on a rampage.

Feeling a familiar buzz, Massie reached for her phone, sliding her perfectly manicured thumb across the screen to unlock it.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Mass. Can you come outside? It's important.

Massie frowned. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to grab some popcorn."

Derrick nodded, and the second she left the room, he jumped towards the movie closet.

"And don't even think about changing it!" Her voice shouted from up the stairs.

Hesitantly, Massie unlocked the front door, tightening her jacket around her thin shoulders.

The biting December – or January, actually – wind whooshed through the doorframe as she opened it and stepped out into the dark.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

She bit back a scream when a warm hand grabbed her arm. "Mass?"