AN: I have nothing to say for this chapter; I have to wait until the end to say what I really want to say…

I do not own any of the songs in this chapter.

"Jake, I need your help man!" exclaimed Elwood as he entered the room after dropping off Maria.

"What's wrong?" asked the shorter brother.

"Maria invited me to her place tonight at 6:30 and…"

"Whoah whoa whoa…" interrupted Jake not believing what he heard "So you're telling me, the one chick you've been drooling for, ever since we've met her, invited you to her place?"

"I didn't drool for her" replied Elwood annoyed "but Yeah, she invited me to hang out with her."

Jake laughs & nudges him on the shoulder "Good for you man! Hey, is tonight gonna be your 3rd date with her?"

Elwood looked up in thought & replied "uh…yeah."

Jake looked proud & wrapped his arm around Elwood's arm in a brotherly kinda way.

"Tonight my brother, shall be the night where you get to first base."

"What the hell is first base? I know what second & third are but what's first?"

"First base…is going for the kiss." Jake replied slyly

"What?" Elwood replied alarmingly

"And who knows…Maybe you'll start on first & go straight for the third!" Jake assumed with a smug grin

"But I told you I don't want that yet!" Elwood explained impatiently as he got up from his bed & paced the room "I don't even want her to see me without my shades yet…"

"So then how does she like you?" Jake asked

"She likes my personality I guess" Elwood replied with a shrug

"Please" doubted Jake "your personality can be dryer than the toast you eat."

"Jake you're not helping!"

"So what the hell am I supposed to say, Mr. Loverboy?"

"Can you at least give me reasonable advice?"

Jake sighed a bit & replied calmly "I honestly don't know what to say. It's not every day I see you so smitten for a chick, so I guess all I can say is to treat her right & make sure she treats you right."

Elwood smiled a bit & patted Jake on the shoulder. "Thanks. You're right though; it's not every day I get so involved with a woman, but let me tell you man…"

The taller Blues Brother then smiled a bit, almost in a dream like state. "I have never been so determined before to win a woman's heart, before I met Maria. She has not only beauty…but brains, soul, talent, personality…"

He then stopped because no words can properly describe his feelings for her & what she has that he's just so attracted to.

Jake snickered a bit. "When the time comes, show her how you really feel."

Six thirty quickly arrived & Elwood took a deep breath.

"Go get her, you dirty bastard!" Jake encouraged with a snicker & a nudge on Elwood's shoulder.

"Why is everything so perverted with you?" Elwood mumbled as he stepped out of the room

"Use protection!"

"Goodbye Jake!" he yelled out as he closed the door & walked off.

Once he arrived at Maria's door, he was about to knock, but then he hesitated. He heard some guitar strumming & singing behind Maria's door.

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe In yesterday

Elwood smiled a bit. I've always enjoyed her singing…

He stood by the door silently, letting her sing.

Why she, had to go I don't know
she wouldn't say
I said something wrong now I long
for yesterday

Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play
now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe In yesterday

Why she, had to go I don't know
she wouldn't say
I said something wrong now I long
for yesterday

Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play
now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe In yesterday

Mmm -mmm -mm –mm- mm- mmm

After the final strum, Elwood knocked on the door.

"Coming!"

He heard hurried footsteps running towards the door & the guitarist opened the door in her pajamas.

But they weren't the super revealing kind…

She's not that kind of person, so her pajamas consisted of lavender PJ pants & a plain black shirt. It wasn't much, but it was comfortable to her.

"Hey man. C'mon in, make yourself comfortable."

Elwood stepped in her room & looked around as he sat down on the foot of her bad. The room was a hell of a lot tidier than the brothers' & far more interesting.

On her wall was a huge framed poster of John Lennon with Paul McCartney in the studio. Right underneath were a record player & many scattered albums next to it in a pile. Right next to that were two guitars (one acoustic & the other electric) and an amp.

"It's not much" Maria told him "but its home"

As she rummaged around for a certain album, Elwood noticed on the nightstand a picture of a little girl & what looked like her parents.

Younger Maria & Her parents.

"Is this you?"

She smiled a bit & sat next to him as he looked at the small withered picture.

"Yup. I was 5."

"Your mom was beautiful" he complimented kindly as he set the picture down "You look so much like her."

"You're so sweet." She replied to him.

"It's the truth" he said with a shrug.

She smiled a bit at his humbleness, walked towards the record player & put on a record; something she thought Elwood would enjoy. The trumpet played & Elwood instantly recognized the song.

"This is Louis Jordan!" he exclaimed

"Yeah, 'let the good time roll'. I've always liked this song." She replied as the music played

Hey, everybody, let's have some fun
You only live but once
And when you're dead you're done, so Let the good times roll, let the good times roll

I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll

Don't sit there mumblin', talkin' trash
If you wanna have a ball
You gotta go out and spend some cash, and
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll

"You surprise me sometimes." He admitted with a smile as the two musicians sat down near the sliding glass door, watching the Ells go by

"Is that good?" she asked coyly

"Of course it is! You have no idea how many musically uneducated people I have met, and now I'm glad I met someone who actually is."

Maria smiled shyly at him & at his kind words.

"But you know what?" she asked "You're musically educated too. Most people I know listen to pop & glam rock, but you keep the emotionality of the blues alive whether it's a sad song or…"

"But you do know that not all Blues songs are sad right?" he asked her, testing her true knowledge of music.

"Yeah I know. One of my favorite blues songs that is happy is 'Pride and Joy' by Stevie Ray Vaughn."

She then got hold of her electric guitar, tuned it & began playing the beginning riff, rather smug that she got to show off in front of him.

"You know the song?" she asked over the riff

"Course I do."

"Well then let us perform!"

As she played, he sang the song…

Well youve heard about love givin sight to the blind

My babys lovin cause the sun to shine

Shes my sweet little thang...shes my pride and joy

Shes my sweet little baby...Im her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby...heart and soul

Love like ours won't never grow old

Shes my sweet little thang...shes my pride and joy

Shes my sweet little baby...Im her little lover boy

Yeah I love my lady...shes long and lean

You mess with her...youll see a man get mean

Shes my sweet little thang...shes my pride and joy

Shes my sweet little baby...Im her little lover boy

Maria began playing the solo & Elwood watched her in awe. Her fingers seemed to be moving at lightning speed as she had a concentrated look on her face. He knew he could never do that & he doubted Matt Murphy or even Steve Cropper could do that…

Well I love my baby...like the finest wine

Stick with her until the end of time

Shes my sweet little thang...shes my pride and joy

Shes my sweet little baby...Im her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby...heart and soul

Love like ours wont never grow old

Shes my sweet little thang...shes my pride and joy

Shes my sweet little baby...Im her little lover boy

After the final strum, she claps her hands a bit for Elwood. "Bravo! You voice is perfect for the song!"

"No, Bravo to you! That was amazing!" Elwood told her calmly with a smile.

She grinned at him as she got her trusty acoustic six string. "and now for the emotional side of the blues…"

She strummed a bit & began singing

Oh! Darling, please believe me
I'll never do you no harm
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm…

Oh! Darling, if you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I beg you
Don't ever leave me alone.

Elwood sat & watched enjoying her voice, but then he noticed something wrong with her. As she sang, anger was in her eyes & she belted out as if singing to whoever is making her mad.

When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly broke down and cried
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly fell down and died

Oh! Darling, if you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm

He continued watching her with mixed emotions of wonder, awe & wariness.

When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly broke down and cried
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly fell down and died

Oh! Darling, please believe me
I'll never let you down
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm

After a fierce sounding final strum, she kept the anger on her face. Elwood felt uncomfortable, but he still approached her concerned.

"Maria…you ok?"

She looked up at him, hearing the concern in his voice & the anger slowly faded from her eyes.

"I'm fine" she responded with a sigh & as her hand ran through her hair worriedly "I just chose the wrong song I guess. It always made me think of my ex-band."

"What happened?" he asked concerned "Did they hurt you?"

"Not physically…" she began sadly. She took another deep sigh. "You see, we were all friends at first with a common goal. To be rock stars. We got a band together & we booked gigs like normal bands & things seemed to be going well. It wasn't until we had major success that…tensions & expectations were rising. The band members began getting greedy & lustful for fame; while I personally wanted to be humble. They kept on badgering & badgering me until finally, they just…fired me."

She sighed once again & continued "I honestly don't know why they did. I never did anything to them! I was loyal to them 100%"

"Maybe they were…intimidated." Elwood thought with a shrug.

"But why would they be intimidated by me?"

Elwood paused, unsure of what to say.

Tell her something honest

"Well" he began hesitantly "You're…um…a r-really talented musician who can really steal a show. Maybe they were worried that you were too good for them."

She was silent for a moment as she looked at him, touched by his words.

"Am I too good for you?"

He knew what she meant. Is she too good for the band?

She then got closer to him & Elwood's pulse raced As She gave him that look…

The one he wished that was aimed at him when Maria 'Flirted' with Mr. Fabulous.

What did she really mean when she asked that?

Is she too good for Elwood?

No…don't be a coward. With her…you won't need to be a coward anymore.

He tucked a stray hair behind her ear & responded quietly "You're perfect for the band and, I think you are too good for me; but unlike your band, I won't leave you."

My god, he's being serious!

Her heart began racing as she gazed at him dreamily. Her emotions towards him were as strong as the ones she felt when he hugged her in the cemetery. If not as strong, then stronger.

Go Elwood, her eyes are pleading for your kiss.

He cupped her face between his hands & leaned towards her.

He ignored Jake's advice & went for the full kiss.

Maria was surprised a bit, but she couldn't deny that she was full of bliss.

So she kissed him back, eyes closed & wrapped her arms around his neck to bring them closer.

Her kiss was sweet & romantic to Elwood while his was warm & soft to Maria.

For a while they sat there, as the night dragged on, in each other's bliss

Until Elwood noticed the time.

"Damn!" he whispered. "It's late & we have an appointment that was moved to tomorrow."

"Don't go!" she pleaded, holding his hand

"I Have to. It's not right if I spend the night."

She sighed, knowing he had a point.

"Ok"

He smiled once again & kissed her once more before departing.

Once he left, her heart still raced as she mouthed Wow before falling backwards onto the bed.

Elwood walked back to his room, heart also racing & once again feeling he was on cloud nine.

AN: I need to listen to Elton John..

Because…

CAAANNNN YOU FEEEEEEEL THE LOOOOOVE TO NIIIIGHT?

Finally Elwood conquers his anxiety & nervousness!

And Maria finally has confidence that she found someone kind…

R&R please