Ky: Thank you for the very kind reviews =) it means a lot that people don't mind my OC's back story, especially since it is so true. Anyway, before I get all sappy and nostalgic, let's move onward! So, this chapter will skip a little, two or three stops on the tour, so it's been like two weeks? This is an approximation, so don't hurt me if it's wrong DX there will be some Breredith in here! I'm also working on another chapter to my oneshot prize for Have- which I've decided to make a longer story –and my other TUp chapter, tonight. I took most of the week off from work, so I should be able to get one or two more chapters of each up- fingers crossed!

In other news, LEAKYCON IS THIS WEEK! And I can't go… )= if you are going- you lucky, lucky, freaking ducks… -then have fun for me! Emma- the person not the OC –was going to try and go, but she has to work! So, she sent her stuff to a tumblr friend and is getting it signed by the team! If anyone is going, tell the team my friend Emma said hi! Oh, and Kyra- me –too! If not, well we can mope about not being there, together… Also, tumblr related, Emma and her brother are starting a vlog and will be posting it on my tumblr, so watch out for them!

Anyway, let's get on with the chapter! I still don't own anything except Emma, but I hope you enjoy the story anyway!

Chapter Six: Playing Cupid and Falling In Love

You Don't Know You The Way I Do

After the Nashville show, Emma and Joe were literally inseparable; Emma swapped buses with Brian- not that he minded bunking closer to Meredith –and she and Joe nearly always fell asleep in each other's bunks- and each other's arms. If not, they fell asleep talking, Emma in the bunk above, her hand dangling down to clasp his even as they fell asleep. The incident with her mother had to be addressed, however, and Julia was the one to bring it up, a good deal after they had left Nashville and were now nearing their show for LA. Joe and Emma were standing together in the small faux kitchen area of the bus, laughing as the techie tried showing the boy how to make homemade shakes- with disastrous results so far. Brolden had attempted to join in, but both he and Meredith had ended up chocolate coated, in the process. Julia avoided another shot of chocolate substance that Joe was trying to smear on Emma's cheek, and gave the couple a stern look.

"Why so serious, Jules?" Emma teased. Julia rolled her eyes at the very bad reference to Batman, and leaned back against the counter." Holy Musical Batman!"

"Holy Musical Batman!" Joe chimed in with the girl, who in turn splashed chocolate goop on his nose. The man grinned and grabbed her around the waist, spoon midway to her face, Brolden and Meredith chiming in from further up the bus. Julia cleared her throat loudly." Sorry Julia, did you have something to say?"

"Are we going to talk about the other day?" Julia asked sternly. Emma froze up and gave the director an odd glance." Emma, like it or not I really need to know what went down, and more so why that woman- I guess your mother –was trying to talk to you…"

Emma, who had been frozen before, felt her hands start to shake, and her shoulders joined in the nervous tremors. Joe dropped their utensils, and shoved past Julia who had been facing the small techie. He scooped her up into an embrace and tucked her under his chin, giving Julia a "What the hell?" look. The director gave him a scoff in return and he rolled his eyes in response to her retort.

"Em, you don't have to say anything, really," Joe whispered into the girl's hair. Her hands grasped his shirt front in tight fistfuls and nodded, her body sagging a little in relief.

"Um, no, she does have to tell me something," Julia said harshly. Her eyes softened a little when Emma whipped her head up, panic in her big green hued eyes." Look, I'm not trying to make Emma uncomfortable or upset- Joseph Walker quit giving me that 'I'm gonna kill you'-'Vicious Alpha Male Lion' look!" Brolden gave a barked laugh at this comparison, but Julia ignored him." I'm not trying to hurt her, okay? I just have to know what's going on because if her mom tries to follow us again, I have to take the correct precautions and protocols. So, I need to know if it was your mother, and if there's a legitimate reason to keeping her away, and if you want me to…"

"Julia-"

"It's okay Joe," Emma said softly. She ducked her head down again, her forehead against his chest, and sighed." She is my mom, I was emancipated when I was seventeen, so you have a right to keep her away. I would like her to keep away, because I don't want to talk to her again… Ever."

"That's all I need to know," Julia said. Emma nodded and Joe led her away from the kitchen area, back towards where the bunk pods were, and sat her on his bunk. She kicked off her Toms and curled up on the far end of the bunk. She was about to curl herself into a tight ball when she felt Joe lay beside her. He wrapped his arm around her waist, forcing her back flush against his chest, and ducking his head down to bury in the crook between her neck and shoulder. She relaxed against him, automatically, and sighed, closing her eyes tiredly.

"Joe, will it ever be easy to talk about her?" Emma asked softly," I can't even tell Julia the bare facts without clamming up and turning into a shaking mess… I mean jeeze… If it weren't for you, I would probably fall apart every night… The nightmares come back and you're the only one who can make them go away…"

"Good," Joe said against her neck," Because I don't want to hear that you've got any of the other guys holding you at night, to make the nightmares go away…"

"Hah, no," Emma said with a soft chuckle," Although, Brolden did give me that lingering hug the other night…" Joe gave a growl against her throat and she chuckled again." I'm kidding, don't kill him okay? Or at least wait until the last show and make it look like an accident. The techies kinda owe me; we could totally get away with it…"

"See, this is why I love you, you crazy girl," Joe said without thinking. Emma's body stiffened under Joe's arms and he panicked." Oh shit, Emma, I'm sorry I didn't… I mean, you don't have to… Seriously it was stupid and… Fuck."

"You sound like you're rehearsing lines for Holy Musical B man..." Emma said shakily. She turned slowly in his arms and faced him, her hands coming up to touch his chest, gingerly. She met his deep blue eyes and her bangs fell over her left eye. Joe moved a hand up to brush her bangs back behind her ear, so he could see both of her eyes." Did you mean it?"

"Of course," Joe said softly. His heart felt like it was beating faster than Meredith when she was angry and playing her bongos. Emma glanced down, thoughtfully, chewing her full lower lip." Please say something that makes me feel less stupid than I do right now…"

"If you meant it," Emma said carefully," Then don't be sorry… If you mean it, then I'm glad that you care that much for me… And even though I can't say it back yet, I hope I can soon… Because I feel like I could say it back… But only to you…"

Joe's eyes snapped up to meet hers, the green gold pools curious, shy, scared, and anxious all at once. He knew his own blue eyes were probably shimmering in awe and wonder, but he didn't care.

"So, I'm allowed to say it?" Joe asked softly, scared that the minute he said the words, he would wake from a dream. Emma nodded, her face turning down shyly, in a way so cute that Joe had to lean down and peck her nose gently." I love you Emma… Love my Vader…"

"You've just affirmed about a million whacked out Star Wars fandoms, Sky-Walker," Emma whispered back. It was a total mood wrecker, but Joe didn't care as he ducked down to kiss her, on the mouth this time, and laughed into the kiss with her. If he had questioned being in love with her before, it was entirely cemented now.

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"We have to do something…"

"It's making me sick!"

"I feel like we should either look away or pay for the free porn show…"

"Guys, it's not that bad," Emma said to Joey, Jaime and Lauren. She flicked the page of the thick book she was reading, not glancing behind her to see the trio, or what she knew they were staring at. She glanced up when Joe sat on the end of the couch with her, lifting her feet onto his lap, to smile at him. She knew, without looking, that her three friends were looking at Brolden and Meredith, who were sitting on the floor about ten feet away, close together listening to music and talking. Brian had his arm over her shoulders, explaining something about his last visit home, and Meredith was listening like he was giving her all of life's secrets. Emma glanced up as Joey made a disgusted sound and sighed." Oh like you don't oogle at Jaime, like that. Jesus you all are such dorks… If it bothers you so much that they're like that, and not together, do something!"

"Well Miss High and Mighty, why don't you?" Lauren said with a scowl. Emma sighed, slamming her book shut and tossed it at Joe, who caught it and continued on with his casual pose while the other three Starkids stared at her in curiosity. She walked over to Meredith and Brolden and knelt down in front of them, tugging their ear buds out of their ears and giving them a smile.

" 'sup Ems?" Meredith asked with a quirked brow. Brolden gave the girl the same curious look, but she surprised them both when she spoke.

"So, Mere, remember when we were talking a few days ago?" Emma asked." And you said that Brian was just to die for hot in his Tour outfit? But then you followed it up with how he looks super-duper yummy in regular clothes too, especially his skinny jeans?" Meredith's mouth was now agape, and Brolden was staring at her in awe." Oh! And Brian, remember how you were helping me with clean up the other night in San Diego? And you were going on about how Meredith just sparkles when she sings, and she looks so gorgeous? And then you followed that up with how it wouldn't matter, though, because she was so gorgeous all the time? Even when she was just waking up and had bed head and was wearing her sweats and baggy sweatshirt?" Now both were staring at her in shock and awe." Well, I thought that you two should hear what you say about each other! Oh, and by the way, you've both been crushing on each other for months, but you're both too scared to say anything; So, I said it. Okay, ta-ta lovers, looks like you have a lot to talk about!"

Emma stood, then turned heel and walked back to where she had been before. She plopped down next to Joe, laying down and tossing her legs over Joe's lap again. She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh of exhaustion and fatigue. Joe began rubbing her calves, massaging her sore muscles and earning a sigh of relief from her. Jaime, Joey, and Lauren were alternating between giving Emma an awed look, and watching Meredith and Brolden, to see what would happen.

"And in five, four, three, two, one… Action," Emma said under her breath. On her cue, Meredith and Brolden shot together so they met in the middle of a hot kiss; a kiss that had been nearly six months waiting. Emma smiled despite her sore body and exhaustion. She grinned and opened one eye, meeting Joe's gaze and return smile.

"Forget Vader and Emcee," Joey said plopping on Joe's other side," I'm calling you cupid."

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Ky: Alright guys, I'm working on the new chapter in Haven's prize story as well, but the next chapter of Our Story, the TUp fic I'm working on, may be a few days late; I have family coming in tomorrow and I want to spend some time with them while I have it. Anyway, next chapter I'm going to throw a curveball at you, and I bet money NO ONE will see it coming :D so, stay tuned and review please!