A/N: Just Chapter 37 and the Epilogue left! We're so close to marking this story as complete! I'm so excited!

Happy reading!

Chapter Thirty Six

Caitlyn and Jason left Brown's office to head down to the studio for the recording sessions that were set to continue that day.

They walked through the hallways hand in hand with huge smiles on their faces. Jason spotted an empty conference room and quickly pulled Caitlyn inside. He shut the door behind them and then immediately kissed her. She smiled against his lips and returned his excited kisses. There was so much joy in them this morning. She knew why. She felt it too.

Contentment, peace, and a feeling of purpose had overwhelmed her during that meeting with Brown. She knew where she was meant to be and what she was meant to do. She was meant to be right here, with Jason. He pulled back from the kisses to meet her eyes.

"What I'm about to say is going to sound extremely sudden," Jason said with a nervous gulp. "But, it's not. Caity, I've been in love with you for so long and I know you said to take this one day at a time, but I—I feel like things are finally coming together. The timing of everything feels as though it makes perfect sense now."

She held her breath as he continued. She thought she knew what he was about to say.

"Surely you've noticed that the house I bought isn't just for me," Jason said as he cleared his throat nervously. "Two years ago, when I was looking for a house I thought a great deal about the kind of house you'd want. We weren't together but I always hoped that someday we would be. I wanted to be prepared for that, for a life with you. Now that our life together is starting I can't imagine living in that house without you. So, I was hoping…" His sentence trailed off and she could tell he was nervous. She gave him an encouraging smile and squeezed his hand.

"Just ask me, Jase."

"Would you…move in with me?" He asked as he let out the breath he'd been holding.

She launched herself at him and kissed him deeply before she pulled back and nodded. "Yes, definitely yes."

"Really?" He asked in surprise. "But the other day you said you just wanted to take this one day at a time—"

"I did say that," she said as she interrupted him. "But the more time we spend together, Jase, the more natural this feels. And then yesterday—god, Jason, you were so wonderful. The way you talked everything through with me and the way you were with Ella. You're just remarkable and you don't even realize how remarkable you are. We can take all the time we want but it's still going to be you, Jase. It was always going to be you. So, the way I see it, why wait? Why wait just because we're told we're supposed to? I love you and I don't want to wait to start really living life with you. So…I'm not going to. We've already waited long enough. Don't you think?"

Jason barely let her finish before his lips were on hers. He was so elated that it was the only way he knew how to respond. He held her as tightly as he could and kissed her eagerly. She whimpered as he backed her into the wall and his hands slipped underneath the back of her blouse. They had plenty of time before they had to meet everyone at the recording studio. He planned to enjoy every minute of it.

Nearly an hour later, Jason and Caitlyn found Shane and Mitchie arriving with ridiculous smiles on their faces and their arms around each other as they walked. Shane nudged Mitchie secretively as Jason and Caitlyn approached and she rolled her eyes playfully before she spoke.

"Hey guys," she said as she bit her bottom lip nervously.

"Hey," Caitlyn said with a joyful smile of her own. It was such a wonderful morning, given what she'd just learned about her future with Crow Records. Jason beamed at her and then kissed the top of her head. "Don't you normally drive in with Tess?"

Mitchie nodded. "She called and said she would just meet me here today."

"So, naturally, Shane gave you a ride," Jason said with a knowing smirk.

"Are those your clothes from yesterday?" Caitlyn asked Mitchie with a grin. She chuckled and winked at her. "Walk of shame outfit?"

Mitchie blushed but giggled. "Hardly a walk of shame, but yes."

Shane grinned proudly and shrugged. "I knew I'd win her over eventually."

Mitchie laughed and smacked his shoulder. "Watch it, Pop Star."

He chuckled and then motioned to Jason and Caitlyn. "Go on, Mitch. Ask them."

"Ask us what?" Jason asked.

"Well, Shane and I were talking this morning and we were wondering…what do you honestly think of Tess's song writer?"

Mitchie seemed nervous and Caitlyn couldn't quite figure out why.

"Devonne?" Caitlyn asked. "I think she's too good to be working for Tess."

Jason nodded. "I know lots of other artists better suited to Devonne's style that would kill to work with her," he agreed.

"Really?" Mitchie asked with a surprised expression. Shane gave her a pointed look as if to say, 'told you so.'

Caitlyn nodded. "Yeah, really, why?"

"Just curious," Mitchie said with an unconvincing shrug.

The elevator opened at the end of the hall and Nate and Ella walked out with their arms wrapped around each other. Despite the press release that was impending they were all smiles too.

Ella waved as if she were the most carefree person in the world as they approached. "Good morning."

"Ella wanted to observe," Nate told them as he kissed Ella's temple quickly. "I hope that's okay?"

The group nodded and then Shane nudged Mitchie again. She sighed and gave him an amused glance before rolling her eyes just as she had earlier.

"Hey, Nate?" Mitchie asked.

"Yeah?" Nate asked.

"What do you think of Devonne?"

Ella bit her lip and gave Nate a curious glance. Ella didn't know much about producing music but she knew Nate was a musical genius. He hesitated to answer and she could tell he was carefully measuring his opinion. Ella saw Mitchie's nervous face and bit back a sigh.

"You still in there, Maestro?" Ella asked him with a grin.

He turned to face Ella slowly and chuckled. "Yes, thank you. I was thinking about all of the songs she's written to form an opinion. Do you mind?" He asked teasingly.

Ella gave him an expectant look.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head at her in amusement before turning back to Mitchie. "I think she's selling herself short by only allowing one artist to record her music. She should at least look into a publishing deal with a label directly. Her songs are too good to only be recorded by one kind of artist. Though, knowing Tess, I'm sure she's somehow convinced Devonne that only letting Tess record her songs is somehow for her own good, so I doubt that will happen."

Ella's eyes widened and she gave Mitchie a proud smirk. "Well, you certainly can't argue with that."

Shane looked from Ella to Mitchie and nodded his agreement. "No, you can't."

Mitchie blushed and then nodded to Nate. "Um, thanks."

Caitlyn's eyes narrowed on Mitchie. "Is there something you'd like to tell us, Mitchie?"

Mitchie ran a hand through her hair and nervously shifted her weight. "I, um, I don't know."

"That means yes," Jason said with a nod.

"Thanks, Jase," Caitlyn said with a chuckle. "I think we figured that out."

"You know," Nate said as he gave Mitchie a perceptive glance. "Shane raved about how talented you are. It seems very convenient that Tess would have such a talented assistant and a secret song writer who no one ever meets."

"Yes, very convenient," Shane agreed. "Too convenient."

As if summoned by the mention of her name Tess suddenly breezed through. "Why are we all standing out here?" Her eyes scanned the group. It was clear she interrupted something. Her eyes landed on Ella and her brow furrowed. "Oh, well, if isn't Shop Girl. What are you doing here? Or haven't you gotten enough attention from the gossip rags today?"

Ella forced a smile and leaned a little further into Nate. "Nate said I could watch him work. So, here I am."

"Oh well, If I knew we could invite just anyone to these things…"

"You're here, aren't you?" Caitlyn asked Tess pointedly. Ella was nice to everyone. Where did Tess get off being rude to her?

Tess's gaze ignored Caitlyn but quickly found Mitchie and Shane, who had his arm around Mitchie's waist.

"What the hell is this?" Tess asked with a glare.

Shane tensed and opened his mouth to speak but Mitchie held a hand up to stop him.

"Shane and I are dating, Tess," Mitchie said plainly.

"That's mildly disappointing," Tess said with a click of her tongue. "But I guess I just can't help you if you're determined to be an idiot."

Mitchie laughed but the sound was hollow and bitter. Mitchie was beginning to realize Tess was conning her. Nate was right. She'd convinced Mitchie that only working with Tess was for her own good. Now, she knew better. Tess had been keeping Mitchie to herself by manipulating her fears. She shook her head before she spoke. "You know what, Tess? I've tried to be your friend. I really have, but you run hot and cold and I never know which Tess I'm going to see every day. I'm a good assistant and I've defended you when no one else would. But I just can't anymore."

Especially given how betrayed she was currently feeling by someone she thought was her friend.

"What?" Tess asked with a furrowed brow. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, in the last five minutes you've insulted three people I care about and I don't know if I can defend that. Nor do I really want to," Mitchie told her with a huff. Besides, it was time she stepped out of Tess's shadow. "I quit."

"You can't quit!" Tess told her. "If you quit then what exactly are you going to do?"

Mitchie glanced around the group and then smirked with a shrug. "You know, some friends recently told me I should try my hand at song writing. They're all pretty smart so I think I'll try that."

Caitlyn smiled and nodded. "I think I know a label that might be interested in whatever you come up with, Devonne."

"You told them you're Devonne?" Tess asked her with a glare.

Shane shook his head and pulled Mitchie closer to him. "No, Tess, she didn't. You did."

"They'd pretty much figured it out anyway," Ella told her with a feigned sympathy. "So don't feel too bad." Ella winced and then pointed to her own teeth. "Oh, Tess, you have some lipstick just…here."

Nate smirked at his girlfriend and bit back a laugh. He couldn't tell if she was being passive aggressive or genuinely trying to help.

Ella turned to Nate as casually as possible. "That's why I wear lip gloss. That doesn't happen nearly as often."

"Not to mention," Nate told her with a grin. "It's very shiny and...distracting. For me anyway."

Ella chuckled and leaned forward to quickly kiss his lips. "Good to know."

"Did I ask for your advice?" Tess asked Ella in a sharp tone with a roll of her eyes.

"No, but you might want to think about it," Mitchie told her. "Since she's E and all."

Ella grinned at her best friend and winked at Tess. "Mitchie tells me you like my dresses."

"Fine, go ahead, laugh," Tess said with a grimace and a huff. "You're no different than anyone else."

Caitlyn gave Tess a serious glance and shook her head. "No, Tess, we're not. If you really wanted to, you could be one of us. If you told us, here and now, that you wanted to change or that you were interested in getting to know all of us, we'd give you a chance. We would hear out your side of the story and we would give you a chance to change our minds. But, as much as some of us might like you to turn over a new leaf, you won't."

"But if you change your mind," Jason offered. Ever the patient and most forgiving one. "You'd only have to say the word. Or if you have no one else to run to, you can always come to us. We'll help you, Tess. You just have to want us to."

Caitlyn let go of Jason's hand to slip her arm through his instead. He was really too sweet. No wonder she loved him.

Tess rolled her eyes at him. "Whatever, let's just get this over with."

For a second Caitlyn felt bad for her but then she snapped at Jason and any sympathy she felt for Tess vanished. They all collectively shook their head as Tess turned and entered the studio.

"Show of hands," Nate said with a sigh. "Who saw that coming?"

They all raised their hands into the air, even Jason.

"Someday she'll get it," Mitchie assured them. "I don't know when that day will be, but…someday."

They managed to finish the song. Tess seemed very motivated. They all assumed it was because she wanted to get away from them as quickly as she could. Once Tess was gone Caitlyn sat down next to Mitchie, she patted her knee to get her attention.

"So, listen, we should set up a meeting between you and Brown."

"We should?" Mitchie asked.

"Absolutely, and you should bring your songs," Caitlyn told her. "Trust me, Brown's going to snatch you up."

"O-okay," Mitchie said nervously as Caitlyn got up and made her way to Nate, Shane, and Jason. Ella sat down in her place and hugged Mitchie tightly.

"This is so exciting!" Ella told her. "I told you, you had nothing to worry about."

"That's what Shane kept saying too," Mitchie told her with a soft smile and a blush.

"I knew I liked him," Ella said with a chuckle. "He's been good for you."

"I think so too," Mitchie told her. "He thinks I should perform."

"Okay, I don't just like him, I love him," Ella said as she smiled proudly at Mitchie. "He's completely right! Mitchie, you're so wonderful and you love music so much. You should share that with the world. You really should."

Mitchie gave her a pointed glance. "I could say the same thing about E. I know you want to keep the E operation small but you also want to reach normal women, don't you?"

"E has been approached by several retailers over the years to do a line of clothes and accessories," Ella told her. "I dismissed it because well…I was afraid, but I don't know…things are different now. I'm different now."

"Look at us," Mitchie said with a grin. "Growing up."

Ella laughed and nodded. "Took us long enough."