Once I had decided to jump in with both feet, it was hard to not float off in a daze. I was happier and more loved that I had been in years. Rory was good for me and I wouldn't have it any other way. He was warm and loving, amazing and thoughtful. Every time we made love it was better than the last. He was my addiction. We had been together two months and sleeping together for a week, and yet it felt like so much longer. I smiled to myself as I sat in my office, shaking my head and getting back to work.

"Jerrica!?" I heard Kimber screech as she exited the elevator before she thundered into my office. In her hand was a Cool Trash magazine, crumpled up and waving madly. Her blue eyes were big in her face. More sedately Aja, Shana and Raya followed. The last Hologram through the door shut it.

"What is the meaning of this!" My little sister shoved the magazine in my face, pointing to a picture of me and Rory lounging by his pool. We were both in swimsuits and relaxing under patio umbrellas. It had been taken two days ago.

Normally, I would have been filled with dread, sick with the knowledge that Starlight was being published in Cool Trash. Now though, I couldn't make myself really care. Yes, it wasn't a situation I wanted the company to be in, but there was little that could be done now. I was also surprised by how happy I looked. I was relaxed and enjoying myself as the two of us had our heads turned toward each other talking.

"What do you mean?" I ask, cringing at what may come out of my sister's mouth. Still, I was a grown woman and I didn't have to answer to anyone.

"You are alone with Riot!" Kimber exploded. "I thought we had agreed that he wasn't a good guy and none of us were to have anything to do with the Stingers."

"He's actually a really nice guy." I shrugged, watching as Kimber was beginning to build up steam. "All three of you would really like him."

My sister sputtered like a tea pot and it took everything in me to not grin. I knew it wasn't a funny situation, but I couldn't help it. Kimber always looked so ridiculous when she got mad. Aja and Shana were shaking their heads, used to Kimber's antics. Raya simply looked on, one of the most level headed people I had ever met.

"I wonder if Minx will go after Rio now that it's really out in the open that the two of you have split up." Raya twirled a piece of her dark pink hair around her finger. "I feel sorry for him if she does. She didn't like taking no for an answer then. She's really not going to take it now."

"That's not our problem any more." Aja shrugged.

"Yeah, if Rio couldn't get over the reasons Jerrica did what she had to do, then karma may come back to bite him." Shana crossed her arms. "The least he could have done was take some time before he'd made his decision."

"There is still the problem of Riot." Kimber brought the conversation back to where it had started. "You're dating the enemy. What if he tries to find out about Synergy?"

That made my temper spike. I stood from my desk and looked them all in the eye.

"Rory is not an enemy. He's not even a rival really. Their sound has changed over the years as well; their fan base is no longer a direct sampling if ours." I moved around my desk to sit on the edge of it in front of the girls.

"As for Synergy. He had expressed that he is not interested in knowing how I become Jem. All he knows is that she's a part of me, one that hides my true identity from the world. It's no different in principle than his Riot stage persona. It just happens that mine is more extensive than his."

"Jerrica is right." Synergy manifested to my right. "I have been with her every time they have been together, and while for discretion I don't listen to every moment, I do know that Rory Llewelyn is no threat."

"But -" Kimber started only to be cut off by Raya.

"Jerrica, if you're happy, then who are we to judge?" She shrugged. "After all, you deserve to be happy after so many years of fighting how to tell Rio."

"I still don't like it." Kimber crossed her arms and turned her back on me. I sighed and moved to hug her from behind.

"Kimber, I know you loved Rio like a brother, but we just didn't work anymore. Honestly we had slowly started drifting apart even before father's death, I just didn't want to see. I had given up a lot to become Jem, including Rio. Rory figured out who I was long before I told him. He's suspected since Mexico and has known since Greece. He wants me, not Jem. He could care less about her."

"I just want you to be careful." My little sister turned to return my hug.

"I am. I really don't think I have anything to worry about. Not as long as I have all of you and Synergy to watch over me."

"We're family. Whether by blood, adoption or music." Aja smiled and moved to hug both Kimber and I. Shana and Raya followed laughing.

"Nothing will change that." Shana added.