Sitting in Jimmy's living room Ivy had been rehearsing lines for over an hour now. "Babe, you are going to be amazing tomorrow. They loved you in previews," her boyfriend complimented.

"They only loved me because my dress fell off and I was completely naked," the blonde actress retorted. "The show itself was said to have issues with direction."

"Not that you being naked for a brief minute wasn't a plus," he smirked "I remember reading something about dynamic and powerful voice," he finished with a kiss to her neck.

Ivy hummed her response. It had been awhile since she had been this happy. "Thank you."

"For what?" he asked.

"For understanding why I couldn't let anyone know before tomorrow that we are together."

"Karen explained what a bitch that Rand lady can be and I already knew Tom was an ass." Ivy laughed at the adjectives used to describe her creative team.

"It wasn't always like that. If you can believe it was Derek who everyone thought was an ass," she remarked.

"What do you mean, Derek is still an ass but even I have to admit now he knows what he is talking about. And if you ever tell him I admitted that I will make you pay."

"Really" she inquired with a raised eyebrow. "And just how would you do that?" she teased.

"Oh let me show you," he answered as he pulled her over his shoulder and climbed the ladder to his bed. Her nervous expertly diverted.

The next morning he wished her good luck, kissed her goodbye and assured he would be waiting for her at the after party. For some unknown reason Hit List had been invited to attend the premier and even if they hadn't Jimmy had no intention of not being there for his girlfriend of one month's big night.

"So what time is everyone coming over," Karen asked. Julia had volunteered the couple's apartments as a meeting place where the ladies could get ready while the men could drink.

"Right after rehearsal," Derek replied, a smile appearing on his face. He still couldn't get over the fact that Karen was now living with him. She had made the decision two weeks ago after a fight Derek had been concerned would be the end of their relationship. In the two years he had known her Karen had always been accepting of any change so long as it was for the good of the show. So he had been surprised when she went into diva mode over an idea that had come to him during a run through. The idea called for changing the opening of the show so the story would be told in flashback. It wasn't the idea that caused Karen's outburst but the fact that Ana would now sing a few lines of her favorite songs before her.

She had begged him not to do it and even went so far as to accuse him of punishing her and being jealous of her for helping Jimmy. Derek had seen Jimmy give Karen a kiss on the cheek as a thank you for giving him advice regarding Ivy. Derek had tried to reason with Karen that she was being ridiculous but she would have nothing of it. She had frustrated him so much that he chose to ignore her. He was short with the cast and spoke to no one outside of barking orders. It was torture and at the time the only thing that gave him hope they would be alright was the fact she continued to allow him to stay with her at her apartment and neither of them was running away. He suspects Julia finally cornered the brunette and counseled her because right before their stumble through with Richard Frances, she came into the theater while he was working on notes.

Flashback

"Hi," she said making sure it was alright to approach.

"Hey," he responded. "Everything alright?" he asked.

Using his concern as sign he was open to talking she walked to him and made a bold gesture by sitting on his lap. His eyes reflected his surprise but she relaxed when his arms came around her waist and pulled her close.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as tears began to fall. "I don't know have an excuse for the way I acted. I know I hurt you and I didn't know how to fix it."

"Shh, " he comforts. "I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't hurt; but I think after all the mistakes I've made in the past you are afforded one," he smiles.

"I know you never make decisions based on personal reasons but I was angry and I became unreasonable. After I said what I did I knew it changed things between us and I shut down. I wanted to give you time but when you didn't come to me I started to worry I lost you. I don't want to lose you. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you. And I've been miserable not having you talk to me."

"This relationship thing is new for me. I promise you though, I'm not going anywhere. We are going to disagree and sometimes it's not going to be pretty; but I think what this taught us is that neither of us is ready to give up. And waking up with you in my arms every morning is what calmed me. It assured me we were going to get through this."

Karen pulled slightly away so that her eyes could be locked with his. "What I feel for you, it's not just right now. I want to be with you a long time or for as long as you want me."

Derek felt his heart skip a beat, did she just tell him she sees forever with him. He realized he hadn't responded and when he regained focus he answered, "Before you came into my life, I never imagined spending forever with one woman but now, I can't imagine living without you. This isn't right now for me either, you are all I want," he finished before capturing her lips.

Karen deepened the kiss only breaking away for air. Smiling she asked "is your offer to move in with you still open?"

His face broke into the biggest smile Karen had ever seen from him, "really?" he asked.

"Yes, there isn't anywhere I'd rather be than with you and building a home together."

End of flashback

"Hello, Derek!" Karen waived her hand in front of his face.

"I'm sorry, what Love?"

"I asked what you were thinking about that made you smile."

"That's easy, you," he beamed, "and how I pinch myself every morning to make sure I'm not dreaming that you moved in."

"I know, I can't believe it either but it feels right to me. When I think of home I think of here in this apartment with you. Now, as much as I would love nothing more than to stay here with you, we need to go or we will be late."

Five hours later and Julia, Ana and Karen were getting ready for the evening. Relegated to the guest restroom downstairs Derek took his tuxedo and needed garments with him. Watching Karen getting dressed was one of his favorite past-times but he had no interest in neither seeing the others nor hearing them.

"What time are the boys coming over he asked?" getting ready to exit their bedroom.

"Scott will be here at 6:00 pm" Julia said.

"And Jimmy, Kyle and Sam said they would be here at 5:30pm," Karen added.

"I'll be downstairs then Love," Derek stated rather grumpily. Karen chuckled at his reaction. She knew while Derek hated the idea of having to dress up, he hated so many people invading the privacy of his bedroom even more. She walked over to him and gave him a kiss "thank you for giving up the room," she said seductively.

A sexy smirk played on the corners of his lips "I know a way you can repay me," he said kissing her soundly before she could protest. He released her and said "ladies," before turning and shutting the door behind him.

At six o'clock the group exited the apartment to the waiting car with a nice but not unruly buzz readying them for the possible encounter with Tom and Eileen. Two and a half hours later and Bombshell was officially on Broadway. The group made their way to the sectioned off area for the after party and once again Derek, Karen and Julia were bombarded by media wanting to know why they had not sat with Tom and Eileen. Diverting attention away from the elephant in the room the trio instead introduced the members of Hit List.

The attention was gratefully interrupted to a rousing cheer when Ivy's presence was announced. Tom of course made a toast and then handed the microphone to the star. After properly acknowledging Tom, Eileen and the members of Bombshell's cast, Ivy then did something which surprised everyone present in the room. She continued her speech went on to personally thank Derek, Julia and Karen for support she said helped her when she had doubts and wanted to quit. Then she thanked her boyfriend Jimmy Collins. While the announcement was not a surprise to their group or Bobby and Jessica; Derek swore Tom was about to choke and Eileen appeared to spew smoke from her ears. To top things off, Ivy asked Jimmy to play the piano while she and Karen sang a duet.

The two woman's sultry and powerful voices filled the room and everyone was captivated. When the song ended the the applause went on for what seemed forever and as the pair shared a geniun hug. "Thank for coming to see me before the show," Ivy told her. "What you said, no one has ever believed in me the way you and the others do. It meant so much."

"Didn't anyone tell you?" Karen teasingly asked. "You are an honorary member of Hit List," she said earning a laugh from the blonde actress.

Ivy was then embraced by Jimmy and she beamed when he gave her a gentle kiss, the moment captured by the cameras. Not wanting to hear anything from Tom or Eileen Ivy took the opportunity to follow Jimmy and Karen back to her fellow cast members. They were joined by Bobby and Jessica who loved spending time with the group.

"Ivy!" Kyle, Ana and Sam exclaimed at once. "You look beautiful and you were amazing.

"Thank you," she answered before turning to Derek and Julia.

"Ivy," Derek kissed her cheek. "I'm glad you proved me wrong. You do Marilyn justice."

"You were incredible," Julia added.

"I meant what I said. When I had no one to turn too and you had every right to shun me; you instead let me rant and were there to encourage and support me. You, all of you she turned to the eclectic group have become like family."

"Awe," the women said.

"Alright enough with the emotional stuff," Jimmy teased. "Let party."

And party they did laughing and enjoying the success of a member of their group.

Ivy turned to Jimmy "I'm glad you're here with me tonight. I couldn't imagine celebrating with anyone else."

"I'm glad you asked me. I may not ever be perfect, but you make me want to be a better man, Ms. Ivy Lynn. Or should I say Broadway Star?" he kissed her.

Across the room Derek asked the woman in his arms "Do you regret tonight, Love?"

"Not at all, I'll get my chance on Broadway and with the man I love at the helm and the people I've come to love by my side."

"You will never seize to amaze me" he whispered pulling her close to nuzzle her neck.