Warning: Mentions child abuse (though not for very long).

It's not very long at all before we arrive.

I breathe out slowly then, soon, I'm heading out with, obviously, my guitar.

I eventually meet up with what I can tell is a security guy.

Shit, he's taller than Clark. Hell, I think that he might be taller than John*.

"Are you Starling?"

I nod, feeling kind of nervous and not knowing what to say.

He smiles and the sight of it completely gets rid of my nervousness. "I saw the rock off video too. Can I be the first to get your autograph?"

I'm about to get my pencil from my songbook but he stops me, handing me a pen with a pad of paper.

I smile and open it to a blank page and write my first and last name, dotting the i with an asterisk, one that looks like an eight pointed star.

I hand him the notebook and pen back.

He thanks me and puts both in his pocket then starts showing me, but not Clark, to what I find out is the greenroom, telling me something that I already guessed. The members of Just Dank Gray want to talk to me in private.

I ask him the question that's on my mind.

Damn, he is taller than John. He's got three inches on him.

"Well, you're the tallest guy that I've ever seen."

He laughs. "I get that a lot. By the way, you can call me Stick. Everyone does."

Okay.

I ask him how he knows the band.

His smile widens. "Well, I'm an uncle to the lead guitarist and the drummer."

I laugh. "That's cool."

He thanks me then asks how long I've been playing guitar.

I tell him.

He whistles. "That's two years longer than Nails."

That's one of my questions answered. Think I'll ask him one about each of the other members.

I start with the bassist.

"Yes, Scars is completely blind. No, she wasn't born that way."

He sighs. "She had the bad luck to grow up in a rotten home. Her blinding was the last thing that her parents left her with though it could be said that good came out of it because that was what led to those assholes finally getting arrested. I'm also a neighborhood watchman so I'm the one who found her."

He shakes his head. "No child should have to go through what she did. That girl was put through hell."

Damn, Clark was right. She was abused.

"Thankfully, Scars will never have to worry about them ever again. No way in hell am I letting them so much as contact her."

That tone sounds familiar.

"You're her Dad, aren't you? I can hear it in your voice."

He nods. "I've had her since she was 12. The powers that be thought it was for the best and I agree. I just wish that she could see me, or at least go by the name I chose for her."

I ask what it is and what led to her playing bass, feeling too curious to go with my plan.

"It's Willow and I suggested that she choose an instrument because I felt that music therapy would help out with her night terrors. She's been playing bass for about three years now."

Whoa, she's my age?

I ask.

"She turned 15 in January."

Well, that means she's a little older than me.

I ask about the ages of the other two members.

"Elaine is 16 and she's also the driver. Nails is old enough to drive too, since she's the same age, but I wouldn't let that girl behind a wheel if you paid me."

One more question.

"I chose the name Willow because the tree represents standing firm along with withstanding the greatest of challenges. I like trees, well, all plants really and that's what I wanted for her."

I wipe my eyes. "Stick, she's lucky to have you as a Dad. You sound like a great one."

His smile widens. "Thanks. My husband thinks so too."

So he's gay. I don't have any problem with that.

Soon, he's knocking on a door, saying who's there. That must be for his daughter's benefit.

She is the one who opens the door, wearing a very wide smile. "Hi, Dad."

Well, no wonder she doesn't talk much. Her voice sounds kind of raspy.

I pull out my songbook then, shortly, I'm writing down the answers to some of my questions so that I don't have to see them hug.

Willow's words were already a blow. I just barely kept my eyes from welling up.

I finish what I was doing then slowly look up and find what I wanted to. I'm in the closed greenroom with just girls.

Out of curiosity, I ask each of them their height after giving mine.

Scars...Willow? is 5'2", Elaine is 5'3" and Nails is 5'4". I'm the tallest though the height difference between us makes me laugh.

Okay. I'll get my answers for the rest of my questions and clear some things up.

I write down the answer for each one and learn what I was expecting after they're all answered. I had a feeling that Scars and Nails were stage names.

Clark was wrong about the one that Nails goes by offstage though. Her name is Judy.

I grin and say that Judy Nails is one of my favorite Guitar Hero characters, also mentioning my other one.

Judy laughs. "No way! We have the same favorite characters. Love your shirt, by the way."

I tell her that I made it and she says that's kickass.

Elaine laughs. "You have the longest first name and you're the tallest. That's kind of funny."

I run one hand through my hair. "You guys can call me Star, actually."

Willow nods. "Better for me."

I don't want to know what led to her voice sounding like that but I do decide to tell her the red flags.

Apparently, she already knew. Stick is kind of over-protective.

Elaine asks about my parents.

I slowly breathe in and out. I might as well get it over with. "I'm an orphan."

Part of me can't believe I said the word but I explain it too because I feel like I should.

"No apologies, okay? The guy who killed them has been handled."

I give them my set list because I really want to change the subject.

Judy grins. "Good choices."

Willow nods. "I like Alter Bridge."

Elaine grins. "That's a massive understatement. Willow's a huge fan of that band. It's totally Uncle Stick's fault. He used to play Blackbird for her when she was in the hospital."

I smile. "Good choice and, hey, it does have her name in it."

Willow grins, wide and toothy. "Yes!"

She turns to where Elaine's voice came from. "Can Star be a sister?"

I would really like that.

Elaine's grin widens. "Why the hell not?"

Judy agrees and it makes me feel warm inside.

I get all their phone numbers then, after I put them in, I'm wearing a wide and toothy grin. "Thanks so isn't enough."

I put my phone back in my pocket, saying that I've always wanted sisters and that it's awesome I have ones who are musicians.

Nails says that it's no problem then asks if she can hear me sing.

I nod and am about to play a song when there's knocking on the door.

Apparently, Stick brought Oak, pizza and Clark. Yes, he said them in that order.

Oak must be his husband.

Willow opens the door again.

I learn that Stick's real name is Hyperion and I don't blame him for not wanting to go by it. Judging by Oak's tone, he used that name because he was kind of annoyed that Stick didn't bring him here sooner.

He's filled in. "Okay, fine, I can understand that our little girl wanted a break from us guys. She is part of an all girl band."

Clark closes the door once everyone's inside then I look at him and, under my breath, tell him what he got right. I also give him in a regular speaking voice what else I've learned, adding that I like the band members very much.

He smiles. "You have some friends now."

I would correct him but my stomach just growled.

Right. How could I have forgotten about the pizza?

I get a few slices then, after I finish them and wipe my fingers, pull out my phone so I can see what, if anything, I get for Googling Hyperion tree.

Well, that's pretty on the nose. It's the name of a redwood which is the tallest tree in the world.

I kind of doubt he was named for that though.

I ask and he rolls his eyes. "My parents were mythology nuts."

I can tell he feels like he's had to explain that way too many times so I thank him for telling me.

He nods. "Can you blame me for choosing to go by Stick?"

I shake my head. "I think it's nice that you all have the names of trees though." I get some root beer then drink some and tell him that I have the name of a bird like my Mom.

He smiles. "I like it."

I thank him then finish my root beer.

I like Stick. He's a good guy.

I tell him what I learned about his daughter.

He looks at her. "Why would you go by that?"

She drinks some water. "I don't like mine. I want to reclaim them."

I bet that's the most she's said at one time. Elaine proves me right.

Stick says that's not how reclaiming works but he eventually comes around. Oak was already on board.

Willow can't really not be a Daddy's girl, can she?

Oh. Clark just said that it's time for my concert.

That was fast.

I breathe out slowly then I'm soon giving it.

Wow, that felt amazing.

It's not long before I'm listening but it's over before I want it to be. I can deal though.

I look at Clark before we head back to his place. "You can call me Star now. I have sisters because of you."

He smiles.

I get a text on the way home. I pull out my phone to see that it's from Nails.

I can't help the fact that my grin's got even wider. She's just told me that I can be part of the band.

I text back that Thanks so isn't enough.

Again, I'm told that it isn't a problem. Well, that and the rest of my band family agreed to make me a member.

I so have the best sisters ever.

*Clark is canonically 6'3". John is canonically 6'7". Yeah, Steel is taller than Superman. How's that for a mind screw?