"It's time for our weekly song choice session but as we told you last night we'll have two rounds. First for solos then second your duets so hopefully you guys have figured that out already so Jared if you'd start off our sign up."
This week the process went quickly. The contestants were given a list of solos and a list of duets so they didn't have to choose from the same list.
Once both lists were complete Simon spoke again, "Alright your solo mentoring session with our guest will be on Sunday. Allison will hear your duets and your solo if you want on Monday. Tuesday Ashley will hear either or both; it's up to you what you want to sing. Anyone have any questions?"
"Yeah who is the quest mentor?" Kate asked.
"You'll find out on Sunday." Simon said with a grin. "If that's all I'll leave you to the rest of your day."
"Well that kinda sucks." Brian said.
"I'm sure it's someone good because they want us to be surprised." Dana added.
"Oh well let's work out our group song so we can concentrate on our other two songs for the week." Scott suggested.
"I'm so glad you're here." Ashley said hugging Kyla.
"Me too Ashley."
Dylan tugged on Ashley's shirt, "Ashy, when can I see my mommy?"
Ashley knelt down to look Dylan in the face, "Very soon little man, don't worry about it."
Dylan smiled and said, "My mommy calls me that."
"What?"
"Little man, my mommy calls me that."
"Ash let me introduce you to Spencer's mom Paula. Paula this is my sister Ashley Davies."
Ashley shook Paula's hand, "Nice to meet you Mrs. Carlin."
Paula smiled at the formal greeting, "Please call me Paula. Thank you for meeting us here at the airport."
"No problem. Ky exactly how many people did you bring along with you?" Ashley asked seeing the group around her sister.
"Well Paula and Dylan, Jeff and myself of course, and six other friends. So ten in total."
"Alright. I had Amy get the house ready so you guys should be all set."
"Aren't we staying at your house?" Paula asked.
"Sort of. You guys are staying at Kyla and my house that was our father's house. After Ky and Jeff moved up to Chicago the house was just too big for me so I got a flat closer to the city."
They gathered everything up and headed outside. "Here's our ride." Ashley said pointing to the black stretch Hummer limo.
Dylan's eyes got wide and he said, "We're riding in that?" his mouth gaping open as he pointed at the vehicle.
"Yep you're riding in style while you're here visiting."
"Cool." He squealed as he raced into the limo.
After a tour of the house Ashley addressed Dylan, "I have a couple surprises for you at my studio Dylan but we gotta get going."
"Can we grandma?" Dylan said shaking with excitement.
"Of course you can go sweetie. But I need to relax a bit. I'm sure Kyla will go along if you aren't comfortable with Dylan by yourself Ashley."
"Dylan is it alright if it's just you and me?" Ashley asked the young boy.
"Let's go let's go let's go. Are we riding in the limo again Ashy?"
"Well you pick. Let's go to the garage and see if you want to have me drive you in one of the cars instead of riding in the limo."
"Cars as in more than one to choose from?"
"Yep, go on through that door and take a look." Dylan raced to the door then Ashley turned to Paula. "There are plenty of suits in the pool house if you didn't bring one. Make yourself at home and if you need anything Kyla has my number."
"Thank you Ashley, for the warm reception and for taking Dylan off my hands for a while so I can relax for a while. Now I hope you two have a good time."
"No problem." Ashley said as she grabbed Dylan's booster seat and headed out to the garage. "Did you pick one?"
"Yeah this blue one with no top." He said with a huge grin.
"The Mustang, good choice little man. Let's get you settled in back and head back into town."
As she was driving Ashley kept looking in the rear view mirror at the grinning five year old. It felt natural to have him back there, if only his mom was next to her.
"Where's the hyper little monster?" Kyla said to Paula when she found her alone by the pool.
"Gone to the studio with your sister." Paula said with a satisfied smile on her face.
"You let Ashley take Dylan by herself?" Kyla asked, surprised by Paula's actions.
"What? Don't you trust your own sister? She seemed pleasant enough to me."
"Oh I trust her I'm just surprised you did."
"Well if what you've been telling me about Ashley and Spencer is true then Ashley needs to get used to Dylan. Why not get a head start." Paula said with a smile.
"You are a brilliant woman Paula Carlin, scary sometimes, but brilliant none the less."
Ashley was impressed at how good Dylan had been during the nearly hour long car ride. He had actually stayed awake the whole time looking around and singing along with the radio.
When she pulled into her parking spot Dylan happily asked, "Am I gonna get to see my mommy soon?"
"In about an hour buddy but first we have to talk about something okay?"
"Sure Ashy, what's up?"
"Look you can't tell your Mom that I brought you here, not in front of any of the contestants anyways okay?"
"Ashy my Mommy told me it's wrong to lie." Dylan said with a stern look on his face.
"Well it's not a lie exactly. If the other contestants knew you were with me your Mommy could get in trouble."
"I don't want Mommy in trouble."
"Neither do I buddy so this will be our little secret okay?"
"Okay Ashy, I'm good at keeping secrets." Dylan said proudly.
"Let's go inside, I've got a special surprise for you."
"Okay Ashy, is this where you work besides on TV?"
Ashley laughed as they walked into the building, "Something like that little man. Actually I own this place."
"The whole building?" Dylan asked in amazement.
"Yes I do."
Amy approached the pair, "Morning boss. Everything is ready for you in the studio." She then stooped down and addressed Dylan, "And what is your name cutie?"
Dylan grinned and held his hand out saying, "Dylan Arthur Carlin, nice to meet you. And what's your name?"
"What a polite little boy you are, you're gonna grow up to be quite the heartbreaker if you keep that up. I'm Amy."
"Ah Amy we're gonna head to the studio okay?"
"Right I have other things I need to get to. I'll see you two later. Have fun today Dylan. Talk to you later boss."
"Let's head into the studio Dylan."
"Cool," Dylan said his grin growing larger.
After entering the control room Ashley looked at Dylan who was looking around wide eyed. "So have you ever been in a recording studio little man?"
"Not like this. They have stuff at Aunty Ky's bar that records you singing."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I have two cd's from there. One is just Mommy singing and one of Mommy and me singing together. I brought them with me if you wanna hear them but they're at the house."
"I'd love to hear them Dylan." Ashley couldn't help but smile when Dylan's face lit up as he mentioned Spencer.
Although Dylan was obviously excited by his surroundings he stood a few feet back from the sound board.
"Dylan you are the first person of any age I've brought in here that hasn't immediately started messing with the sound board. Are you okay in here with me?" Ashley asked concerned that Spencer's son was uncomfortable around her. That would be really bad if things went how she wanted them to.
"No Ashy I like you and like hanging out with you. My mommy taught me it's not nice to play with other people's things unless they say it's okay. I try to be a good boy and do what Mommy says most of the time." Dylan said with a proud smile.
Ashley laughed. "Well it's a good thing you try. How about we go into there and play with the instruments?"
Again Dylan looked like he would burst with excitement. "Can I really play them?"
"Of course, let's go."
Dylan ran around the studio trying to play every instrument before finally settling at the piano. While he was playing simple nursery rhyme songs the guest mentor entered the studio. Ashley quickly walked over to her indicating to be quiet. They exchanged a few whispered words then the guest went over to the piano and sat next to Dylan.
When he finished playing and singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star the mentor said, "That was very good but aren't you a little young to be a contestant on this show?"
Dylan laughed and said while still looking at his hands, "My Mommy's on the show not me." Then he looked at the woman, "Whoa you're… you're…"
The woman held out her hand and said, "Hi, I'm Taylor Swift what's your name little man?"
"I'm ah… My name… is ah… Dylan."
"Nice to meet you Dylan. Ashley told me you are a fan of mine, is that true?" Taylor asked with a smile.
"Yeah… Oh my gosh… you're really… wow…" Dylan was now standing on the floor unable to stand still, too excited to form a full thought.
"Well Dylan I've got to help the contestants today but about you help me out with that?"
"Really?" Dylan's eyes went wide. He looked at Ashley and asked, "Can I really help Taylor Ashy?"
"Well you can stay in here for a while. I think we'll figure out later how long you'll hang with Taylor okay?"
Dylan ran over to her and threw his arms around her, "Thank you Ashy, you are the best."
"So Dylan let's sing for a bit until the contestants get here. What should we sing?"
"Um…" Dylan looked at the ceiling thinking. "How about Come In With The Rain?"
"Good choice kido, you do like my music hey?"
"Yeah my Mommy plays the cd's for me all the time cause I like them. She doesn't like country that much but she likes you too."
"Good to know." Taylor said with a laugh.
"Hey do you think after this we could go somewhere for ice cream or something?"
"I think that can be arranged." Taylor said smiling at the boy.
"Cool, I'm sure my Mommy will give me some money." Dylan said with a big grin.
"How about me you and Ashley go after I'm done with the contestants and I'll pay."
"Even better." Dylan grinned.
Ashley went back out into the control room and started to record the interaction between the two. She knew Dylan would get a kick out of it and Taylor thought it would be fun to hear back too. She was thankful she started it soon enough to get Dylan asking Taylor Swift out, that was priceless. This would be a day Dylan would never forget with or without the recording.
The contestants were extremely eager to find out who they were going to work with. They all piled into the studio to see Taylor Swift playing her guitar facing the piano.
Spencer, Scott and Cassie were at the back of the group so they couldn't see that Taylor was actually facing a smiling Dylan sitting on the piano bench.
"Who's the kid with Taylor?" Brian whispered back.
"Kid? She's not even old enough to have a kid is she? Probably a kid of one of the employees." Scott whispered.
When the kid started singing with Taylor most of the contestants smiled at the cuteness of the situation but Spencer nearly fell over.
Seeing the look on Spencer's face Cassie whispered, "You okay Spence?"
"I know that voice."
"Ah duh Spence, Taylor is one of the biggest music stars in the world, of course you know her voice."
"No, the other voice!" Then she walked around the others to make sure she wasn't crazy.
As the song ended Dylan looked up and was surprised to see the eight people standing in the room. He quickly scanned the faces until he saw the one he was looking for. "Mommy! I've been singing with Taylor Swift," he said throwing his arms around Spencer.
"I see that sweetie but what are you doing here?" She asked concerned since none of her family was in sight and he was supposed to be in Chicago.
"We're here to see you Mommy, aren't you happy to see me?"
"Of course I am happy to see you sweetie." Spencer hugged her son again then looked up to see Ashley smiling at them. Spencer wasn't sure but she had a feeling that Ashley had something to do with this and she was grateful. She had missed her son.
"Guess what Mommy, Taylor and I are gonna go out for ice cream after you guys are done."
"Really?" Spencer smiled at the superstar who was smiling down at Dylan. "That's very nice of her. So do you have any time in your busy social schedule for your old mom?"
Dylan giggled then said, "Of course Mommy." And gave her a big kiss and hug.
