My grandfather got me a touchscreen laptop for Christmas! I'm so excited! I haven't set it up yet, so I'm still writing on my old one, but it's so cool!

I do not own Be Careful, It's My Heart!

Enjoy!

"Hey, lady, you know we open in a couple hours." Jerome knocked on Mara's door. She opened it a moment later, dressed in a long, crimson dress. She held up her hand for Jerome to tie the cuff of the puffy sleeves. "Beautiful."

"You sound excited about something." She stated, blushing from his compliment.

"I've got a present for my valentine." He replied, taking her hand and kissing the back of it, leading her down the stairs.

Mara smiled softly, taking his arm, and looking around the room that was decorated with hearts, balloons and streamers of pink, red and white. "It's beautiful."

"I posed for those cupids myself." He joked and she giggled, releasing him so he could sit at the grand piano in the back of the room.

"Morning, boys," she spoke to the band and they hollered happy greetings in return.

"I whipped this up just this morning. For you, darling." Jerome said, handing her a thin box with a bow.

Mara opened it and smiled at the cover of the thin book, To My Valentine sprawled across it. She opened the book to the bookmarked page. "Be Careful, It's My Heart." She read.

"I mean that, Jaffray," he winked and motioned for the band to begin playing, while Mara placed her hand on his shoulder. "Be careful, it's my heart. It's not my watch you're holding, it's my heart. It's not the note I sent you that you quickly burned. It's not the book I leant you that you never returned. Remember, it's my heart; the heart with which so willingly I part. It's yours to take to keep or break, but please before you start, be careful, it's my heart."

Mick and Eddie walked into the room, stopping short when they saw Mara swaying beside Jerome as he sang to her. Mick tapped Eddie's shoulder quickly.

"That's her!" he hissed and Eddie nodded with a grin, quietly hurrying up behind her.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and took her hand, and when she looked back at him confused, he shook his head, silently instructing her to be quiet. He led her to dance to the song as Jerome unknowingly continued to play the piano.

"It's not the note I sent you that you quickly burned. It's not the book I leant you that you never returned. Remember, it's my heart; the heart with which so willingly, I part. It's yours to take to keep or break, but please before you start, be careful, it's my heart."

Jerome turned to look at Mara, but when he saw that she was no longer beside him, he turned to find Eddie and Mara dancing to the song the band was ending slowly. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as Mara and Eddie slowed to a stop. Eddie grinned, taking Mara's hand and walking up to Jerome with Mick coming up to stand beside him.

"You found her, Jerry. Thanks, man, you're the best." Eddie grinned.

"She perfect, light as a feather," Mick declared.

"I feel as if I've known her for months."

"Do you realize we've been looking for you, for weeks?" Mick told her.

"Why would you be looking for me?" she asked.

"The girl in the flower shop." He recognized.

"Yes, Mr. Campbell." She smiled.

Jerome looked between the three of them, the bitterness he should've felt when Patricia told him she was leaving him for Eddie finally setting in.

"Where have you been working since New Year's Eve?"

"Right here," she replied.

Mick and Eddie looked down at Jerome knowingly.

"Thanks for the help, Clarke." Mick said sarcastically.

"Why don't we open the new act here," Edie suggested, "It won't take long to change a few of the decorations and rehears a new number."

"I can get every news reporter in the country here in a few hours." Mick piped in.

"Now, hold on, this is my Inn." Jerome interjected. "I'm not running it for a bunch of stuffed shirts. Maybe I can't use the act."

"Can't use Eddie Miller?" Mara queried.

"We already had something put together." He tried.

"But you can make an exception just this once, couldn't you?"

Jerome sighed, looking down at her, using everything in him not to cave in for her.

"He can, he's just trying to hide his gratitude." Mick said.

Jerome arched an eyebrow at Eddie. "What do you suggest, mate?"

"I'll sing the song you had ready, but instead of whatever number you had planned, the costumes and dancing will be classy; charming. And after every verse, the music will slow down just a little every time I take her in my arms and kiss her." he grinned, taking Mara's hands in his.

Mara blushed and Jerome frowned.

Jerome boredly stared forward as the number began and the guests that had arrived applauded when the dancers came onto the floor. Eddie and Mara were in the front, dressed in the elegant costumes for the number.

Eddie sang the lyrics of the song Jerome had written for Mara and as the verse ended, he leaned down to kiss her, but Jerome pointed to one of the band members behind him and the music changed to jazz instantly. Eddie looked up in shock and Mara turned to Jerome confused and he feigned bewilderment, shrugging his shoulders. He instructed the band to continue the original song and Eddie carried on singing, finishing another verse and Jerome caused the same thing to happen again.

Eddie sent him a warning look as the music fell back into the quiet tune. The couple on the dance floor was confused for a moment, not knowing what they should dance to, and then the jazz music broke out again when Eddie was about to kiss Mara.

Jerome allowed the music to be soft again and Eddie took one of Mara's hands while his friend watched warily, acting as if to kiss the back of it, switching to the other, going back, and then shooting up to attempt to kiss her and Jerome signaled for the jazz music to be played again.

Eddie embarrassingly spun and hopped around the dancefloor, Mara following his improvised dance moves as best she could. When the number finally ended, Eddie was fuming and Jerome was feeling more triumphant than he ever had in his life.

"Are you decent?" Eddie asked through the door.

"Yes," Mara replied, slipping a brush through her hair.

The American entered the room, closing the door behind him and he smiled at her happily. "You know, we could run away right now."

"What?" her delicate eyebrows drew together in confusion as she turned to him quickly.

"We'd make it big together." He explained. "We could be the most famous dancers in the business. We'd make movies. There's no reason for you to be buried here."

"I'm sorry, Eddie, but I promised Jerome that I'd be in the shows for the rest of the year." She replied.

"You can get out of that. He tricked you into that while he was hiding you from me."

"No matter how he did it, I promised. Besides, we're going to be married." She told him.

"Married? Now, hold on a second; he didn't give me a chance. After all, I love you too. Come on, he'll let you go if he wants you to be happy, and we can travel and dance—"

"I'm sorry, Eddie, I promised." She told him.

"Hey, Jerry, I wanted to apologize for coming in between you and Mara." Eddie sighed, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he walked into Jerome's bedroom. "I didn't know you two were engaged."

Jerome looked up from untying his shoes. "Engaged?"

"Yeah." his eyebrows rose. "Aren't you?"

"Well, yeah, I guess we sort of are." He chuckled.

Eddie nodded in understanding. "I'll get out of your hair now. Sorry if I caused you two much trouble. You're my best friend, after all. I wouldn't want to do anything to make you hate me or anything."

"Nah, you're all right, mare." He assured him.

"Good. I guess I've gotta start searching for a new partner then, huh?" he laughed.

"Yeah, you do," Jerome smirked.

"I'll see you around, man."

"Later, Edison."

Eddie left the room and Mick walked up to his side as he started down the steps.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"Two minutes ago, I would've given up on this whole thing, but when the man is surprised to hear he's engaged that's when I go to work with a clear conscious."

"Everything's good," Mick grinned.

"Everything is perfect!"

Review?

"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why; Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa Claus is coming to town! He's making a list, and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naught and nice. Santa Claus is coming town! Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa Claus is coming to town!" -Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Jackson 5

-Rachel