Sorry guys, this is the last chapter, the next one's gonna be my special thanks… love you loads xx

20 minutes. 20 minutes to get changed, quench his thirst, grab a quick bite to eat then get his ass back on that stage. Apollo's dressing room was already a state; the flowers were everywhere in little bunches and the room and tables were covered with bottles of wine, soda, juice and various other alcoholic drinks. He had no idea where his food had gone.

He threw the jacket of his suit on the sofa and was tugging violently on his tie to undo it. There was a loud knock on the door.

"Apollo!"

"Come in!" He managed to loosen the knot on the tie and unbutton his shirt. Ema burst through the door, she was sobbing again. She ran straight into Apollo, knocking him back into the cushions of the sofa. "Ema what's wrong?"

"The bastard's fucked it again! He's flirting with Gemma!" Apollo had to prise her arms away from his chest.

"Ema…" He wanted to soothe her but he couldn't.

"I…" She screeched. "I just need someone to tell me they care!"

"We do care!" Apollo yelped. "For god sake! I can't take this anymore!"
"What?"

"You wanna know why I want you to go back to Klavier?" Apollo joined her, lifting her hands away from her face. "It's because I…uh…love you Ema."

"You?!" She leapt towards him.

"But I can't give you everything you deserve…" Apollo couldn't believe he had just told her.

She was silent for a moment. Trying to take in what Apollo had just said.

"I…see…" Ema swallowed her disappointment clear in her voice. "I wish…you'd told me sooner." A single tear escaped her eye.

"I know and I'm sorry…but-" He cut off his air then added: "Klavier can give you everything your heart desires, nobody else can! And I understand that he's very flirtatious but he won't change…" She pushed herself into Apollo's chest, her tears causing all of his muscles to contract in his chest as they trailed down. She leant up and kissed him; even though he wanted to return it or hold her there he forced her away.

"You deserve the best in the world…" He pulled her face up so she was facing him. "Even though it hurts me to say this, you have to believe what I'm about to say." She nodded. "I'll always be your shoulder to cry on, nothing more."

"That means a lot…why do you think like that though?" Her tears had stopped.

"He may be imperfect but he can give you a lot more than I can if you look past those imperfections." He returned her kiss tenderly. "Go on, batter his head in then forgive him."

"T-thank you" She pushed herself up off the sofa. "I love you too Apollo…"

"I know, remember I'm looking out for you."

As she walked out the door Apollo felt his heart sink. He had done right by his heart but the famous What if? Questions were appearing in his head. He took the roses off the table in front of him, they were red and a small tag had been stuffed into the packaging. 'Apollo, thanks for all your help but I don't think Klavier can fix the mess he and I have made. Lots of love Ema xx.'

"You will if you do it together." He unbuttoned his pants and switched them out for the red pants to his red suit.

"Can I come in Apollo?" Lana called from the other side of the door.

"Sure!" He made quick work of buttoning the white shirt.

"Nice show by the way." She trod carefully, making sure she didn't step on any of the wine bottles or chocolates. "Thanks for helping Ema."

"Like I said, just because she dates someone else doesn't mean I should stop caring."

"I know but you've just had to reject your own feelings because of that." She took a look at the young man in the suit. "You could make Ema very happy yourself ya know."

"She deserves much more than I can give her. She's a great woman." He grabbed the red jacket for his suit and hung it on the hook alongside the door. He grabbed the lemonade and carton of peach juice from the mini bar. Mixing some of the liquids in a glass he pulled the only other free seat in the dressing room out and sat in front of Lana.

"Thanks loads for looking out for my sister, I've never met a man like you but I'm proud of who you are." She smiled grabbing a chocolate from the open box beside her. "I better head back to Jake."

"Lana!" He shouted as she opened the door to step out. "Make sure Ema talks to Klavier."

"Of course." She smiled softly.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Uncle Apollo!" The two innocent looking 'bad idea bears' puppets called as the curtains opened back up.

"Hey you two, hope you haven't been causing trouble." Apollo replied.

"Well…"

"Well what?" Apollo looked at them suspiciously.

"We…err…sorta…" one began.

"We kinda went to introduce ourselves to that Price dude." The other finished.

"You mean Princeton?"

"We made him believe his purpose was to spend his grandma's money on a case of beer…" One answered making it seem like it wasn't a big deal.

"You what?"

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Lana had given a lift home to Apollo and the Wrights so she could help transport all of the gifts he had earned. As Apollo and Lana had left the building earlier, they both had a satisfied smile. On the way out Ema had slapped Klavier but then apologised for taking it so hard and said she would stay with him for the night. While not being the response Apollo or Lana wanted it was a half decent start.

"Here, got a present for ya partner." Jake through the cowboy hat onto Apollo's head. "Girls seem to be suckers for guys who are individuals."

"Hey!" All that sounded in the car was a loud smack.

"Polly! Can I wear the cool hat?" Apollo handed the hat to the fifteen year old.

"We may not have got the result we hoped for tonight but I'm sure it's a good start." Apollo chuckled to himself.

"That's just it. They're relationship won't be the same though even if they do get back together Apollo." Lana smiled as Apollo hopped out and took the remainder of the gifts from the boot of her car.

"I know."

"I'll ring Ema in the morning and see what she wants to do; we'll give you a call if you're out."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The following morning Apollo had the look of pure determination on his face as he glanced between the two puppies. They seemed to have a smug smirk on their face.

"Today, you two are going to get tired before me!" He declared, the dogs barked. "Is that a challenge?" He chuckled. He clipped the two dog's leads onto their harnesses and put on his roller blades. "We're gonna get some serious exercise today."

"Here you go Polly!" Trucy put his trainers in his bag. These puppies were fast and far too energetic so Apollo figured a challenge was what they needed.

When he got the call to meet Ema and Lana outside café by the park he was hoping to see Ema revitalised and saying she had a decent night's sleep in Klavier's arms. When he got there she looked confused.

He managed to get the dogs to stop and took a seat beside the two girls outside the store. The waitress came over before he got chance to ask what was wrong.

"Can I have an ice tea please?" Lana asked first.

"Banana milkshake please…"

"A strawberry milkshake and a bowl of water for my dogs if that's ok?" The woman glanced down at the two puppies tangling their leashes around the boy's feet.

"Aww they're so cute!" She cooed. "Of course I'll get your order right away."

"Thank you." Apollo lifted the two pups onto his lap.

"They are looking cute today!" Lana reached over tickling them. "They look all smiley too!" As they were panting they seemed to develop a cute child-like smile.

"Ema what's wrong?" Lana asked. "You said you wouldn't tell until Apollo got here."

"And here I am."

"You wasted your time…" Lana and Apollo glanced at each other then back to her.

"What do you mean?" Apollo watched as the young waitress placed the glasses in front of them and the dish of water on the floor. He dropped the puppies onto the floor beside the dish and watched as the little pint-sized animals drank every last drop in the dish.

"Where do they store all that water?" Ema asked shocked.

"I dunno." Both of the dogs then lay under the shade of the table.

"I wish Blitz – Klavier's cat was like that. That things an evil little swine."

"Ok so why have we wasted our time?"

"Klavier told me there was no relationship anymore…" Apollo couldn't believe it. After all the hassle on Klavier's part! "He said I wasn't right for him, that we should go back to being friends. He told me that he'd said to you that he wanted me not to have a child and he thought it was cruel. He then told me he couldn't give me everything I desire."

"Just like I'd said…" Apollo sat with a vacant stare.

"He was right though, I need someone who will always be at my side, maybe I expected too much of him." Ema swallowed. "I spent the whole of the night in the next biggest bedroom to his own with that evil sod of a kitten of his trying to think of what to do…"

That was when his heart went out to the detective. He had worked hard, and it was thrown back in his face yet he wasn't mad. Disappointed, perhaps, but Klavier had the guts to tell her to her face this time. Klavier I hope you realise you've thrown away what could have been the best part of your life…