The green room was buzzing. The show was due to start in ten minutes and only the late or the truly disorganised weren't ready. To a fan, it would be wonderful chaos. Alonzo was leaning against the wall, talking to Mistoffelees.

Etcetera had her arm looped around Admetus waist and was laughing at something that Mungojerrie had said, while Bombalurina sat on one of the chairs, swinging her tail back and forth in her hands.

"Afternoon, people!" A ginger-coloured face peered around the door. Antoine entered in full Skimbleshanks attire, followed by a pretty young woman and child. The woman looked Asian with coffee-coloured skin, ebony hair and golden-brown eyes, but her tall and slim build suggested Western stock somewhere in her blood.

"Heya Twang." Admetus - or Andy - waved merrily. "Bringing in the friends to see us?"

"Hon, if he brings in friends this cute, I say any time!" Raymond was already cooing over the child, who looked like she was around five years old. She giggled behind a small hand. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"I'm Cassie." She replied, twisting her toe shyly in the carpet. The American lifted his eyes to her mother.

She smiled, offering a hand. "I'm Meenah O'Neill." Her voice had a musical lilt to it.

"O'Neill?" Tommy sashayed towards Meenah and there was no mistaking the interest in her eyes, as she looked the woman up and down. Whoever she was, Meenah had the form of a dancer. "I didn't realise that Antoine's relatives were so good-looking."

Antoine smirked. "I'd be much obliged if you'd stop flirting with my wife, Tommy."

There was a long silence.

Then everyone in the room started to laugh, loudly and painfully.

"His wife! Oh, that's a good one!"

"I can't believe I almost fell for that!"

"Anybody else feeling stupid?"

"You really had us going there, Twang."

The orange-painted man and Meenah exchanged glances and small smiles. Lifting Cassie up to his hip, he wrapped his other arm around the young woman. Then, slowly and deliberately, he started to grin.

Andy was the first to break the stunned silence. "Oh God...you...you're serious?"

"He..." Raymond looked bewildered, pointing from Antoine to the Meenah and back again. "He's straight?"

"She's married?" Tommy wailed.

"To him?" Blue added.

"What is she?" Jonny put in.

"Crazy?" Andy offered.

"Must be!" Blue agreed.

"Fainting!" Tommy's hand latched onto Raymond's arm.

"Catching, hon."

Jonny shook his head mournfully. "Antoine, this is just not what you tell us five minutes before we go on!" Malcolm was fanning the sitting Tommy, his tail spinning like a propeller. "What about recovery time?"

"And mourning!" Raymond added bleakly.

"Daddy, why did the funny lady sit down?" Cassie poked her father's shoulder, pointing over at the seated Tommy.

Neither husband nor wife had spoken during the exchange, both grinning widely. Meenah chuckled at Raymond's expression. "You fancied my husband, huh?" She smiled at the man beside her. "Can't say I blame you."

"B-but how?" Blue was almost eclipsed by her boyfriend. "How? What? How?"

Antoine grinned. "We just had our sixth anniversary." Meenah tugged on his tail playfully. "We were on tour together seven years ago. She was the cutest pussy you ever did see."

"Too much information!" Blue grabbed at the ears of her wig, squeezing her eyes shut. "As if hearing it from Tommy isn't bad enough!"

Meenah laughed. "No! I was Cassandra to his Mungojerrie, on the tour." She swung her daughter into her arms. "Rumple got a wee bitty pissed off with us, needless to say. And it's just lucky for Cass that she was a girl."

"Lemme guess." Malcolm put in dryly. "Mungojerrie O'Neill didn't quite have that special ring you were looking for?"

"Got it in one." Antoine looked petulant. "She says she won't have another kid until I change jobs."

She glared at him. "I'm not risking having a son named Skimbleshanks, thank you very much. You and the registry forms are bad enough when left alone!" A call of 'Places' rang out and she hugged her husband briefly. "Have fun, you lot." She said to the group. "And you," She turned to her partner. "Behave."

"Yes, mummy." He stuck out his tongue at her back, as she turned to go through to her seat.

"I saw that, my dear." She called sweetly over her shoulder, before she slinked out of the door, her daughter bouncing after her.

Antoine shook his head. "And she wondered why they cast her as Cassandra..."

***

For much of the first half of the show, Antoine was surprised to be on the receiving end of Tommy's cold shoulder, the tall dancer ignoring his every attempt at interaction. While he had thought she was in a playful mood because of her flirting with Meenah, her mood had apparently gone downhill.

Yanking her tail, he received a hiss and a swat, which was the reaction normally reserved for Kashka only. To have Tommy acting like that was certainly not normal.

Getting near Blue up on the car boot, he gave her a nudge, nodding towards Tommy and raised a questioning eyebrow. The tiny girl gave him a rueful smile, gesturing that she would explain later on.

For the first time since Tommy had taken the fur of Bombalurina, her performance seemed to be off. Something seemed to be distracting her so much that she miss-stepped on at least half a dozen occasions.

Even as they were coming into the opening of the Jellicle Ball, Antoine glanced back at the tall dancer. She was looking at the stage, as she performed the routine blindly, but that wasn't what surprised him. Tears were streaking her face.

Sinking to the side, he gave Blue a poke to get her attention, nodding for her to get her roommate off the stage. The girl nodded, springing rapidly to the back of the group and grabbing Tommy's arm.

The red dancer shook her head vehemently, but still allowed herself to be steered towards the edge of the stage. As other members of the cast darted on, obscuring them from sight, both Blue and Tommy disappeared down the ramp.

When it came to the bump-n-grind routine that Bombalurina was so famous for in the ball sequence, more than one cast member snorted with laughter as a tiny figure swung in from the edge of the stage.

The snorts turned to laughs of surprise as Blue mimicked Tommy to perfection, with that kittenish edge still making it all a big joke, a blinding grin on her face.

Smaller and lighter than Tommy, Norman swooped down on her, hoisting her up onto his shoulders, where she balanced on her belly, her arms and legs gracefully poised as he spun to the back of the stage.

Putting her down carefully, he murmured. "Hon, where's Tom?"

"Later." She demurred, hurrying to her next position. Assuming her own position for the rest of the Ball, she was aware of questioning looks people shot in her direction, but ignored them to concentrate on the main dance.

She was the first to run off when the ball came to an end, after gesturing for Georgina to take her place. Andy and Antoine followed, both concerned. They heard her light footsteps pattering rapidly up the flights of stairs, then a door closed.

"She's bloody quick." Antoine huffed, jogging up the stairs behind Andy, who flashed a broad grin back at him. They finally reached the top of the stairs, opening the door to the social seating area.

In one of the seats nearest the wall, shadowed from the main area by bits of costume, they could see a red figure, with a smaller figure seated in her lap.

"Blue?" Andy started between the seats towards them. "Is she okay?"

The petite dancer looked up at him with a faint smile, Tommy hugging her closer. "She's just a bit upset, Andy." She was cradling her roommate's head against her shoulder, her arms around the older dancer.

"What's up, old crow?" Malcolm had edged around the two taller dancers to kneel beside Tommy's chair. He gave her knee a gentle squeeze. "C'mon, gorgeous. You're gonna have to say something or else you'll be renamed the Ice Queen."

"Sod off!"

"Well...that's something." Malcolm nodded amiably, when Blue waved him and the others away. Getting to his feet, he looked towards the door, where a figure had just been brought through from the lower floors. "Wait a minute...Tommy, isn't it your anniversary?"

A black-gloved hand rose and made a rude gesture at the male dancer. "M-my b-b-b-bitch of a g-girlfriend f-forgot..." The muffled sobs reached him. "S-seven sodding years..."

"Tommy." Blue slid off Tommy's lap and lifted the older dancer's face in the direction of the door. Brown eyes went wide, as the oriental-looking dancer rose to her feet, staring at her girlfriend and the immense bunch of crimson roses.

Sylvie smiled. "I wanted to surprise you, love." She said, placing the flowers on a chair next to her. "Someone downstairs said Blue thought I should come up now." Opening her arms, she laughed as Tommy grabbed her in a hug. "Happy Anniversary, Tommy."

Hugging the blonde tightly, Tommy felt tears of happiness overriding the earlier ones. "I thought you had forgotten." She whispered, Sylvie's hands running down her back to teasingly nip at her rear.

"How could I forget, Tom?" The blonde smiled again, turning Tommy's face to hers. "You're my girl." She touched a light kiss to her lover's lips. "Always my girl, even if you forgot my birthday, last week."

"I did not..." Tommy started to protest.

Sylvie grinned. "Shut up, you daft cow." She said, crushing her mouth to Tommy's, hugging the lycra-clad dancer close to her body. Tommy's arms wrapped around Sylvie's neck, her fingers winding through the blonde's silky hair.

"Now that is just unfair." John Marquez grumbled as he passed in Gus regalia. "Two gorgeous ladies should be snogging me instead of each other." As one, Tommy and Sylvie lifted their hands and gave him the single-fingered and double-fingered salute respectively.

Raymond was smiling slightly. "Y'know," He remarked. "If I was straight, I'm bettin' I'd be findin' those two hunnies quite a turn on." He looked down at Malcolm, who was kneeling to adjust his warmer, a faint smile crossing his lips. "But I ain't straight, thank God." He drew his eyes away from Malcolm as the smaller dancer looked up.

"Blue," Andy cleared his throat. "Um...could you distract me please?"

"Can't deal with Tommy and Sylly together?" She looked over at her roommates with a broad smile as they broke apart, then hugged each other tightly. "Those ladies almost convinced me I batted for their side."

Andy tutted. "Can't have you thinking that." He remarked, bending and pressing a gentle kiss to her mouth.

"You'll have to wait til later for that, though." She shoved him indelicately away. "I'm not having you messing up my make-up. Tommy's made enough of a mess of my unitard and wig." She slipped past him before he could stop her and ran over to Tommy and Sylvie. "You two all reconciled and stuff?"

Their arms still wrapped lovingly around each other, they nodded happily. "I'm taking Tommy out tonight." Sylvie said with a broad smile. "You know that exclusive ladies club you always wanted to go to?" Tommy nodded. "Guess who got tickets!"

"You didn't!"

"As soon as you're finished here, we're going into the Crimson Velvet." Sylvie was bowled over by the red-clad Tommy, who was squealing like a teenybopper.

Smattering kisses all over the blonde's face, Tommy hugged her tightly. "Have I mentioned that I love you lately, Sylly?" Pressing a last kiss to her lover's mouth, Tommy hauled her upright. "But, now, gorgeous, I have to straighten my make-up and show you how sexy Bomba can really be."

"Oh dear God..." Andy was heard to mutter.

While Tommy raced away, Sylvie straightened her ankle-length dress coat. Damp patches from her lover's unitard were visible on the front of her cocktail dress, but she didn't seem to care anymore about that than she cared about the colours striped over her face.

"Do you think she's forgiven me?" Sylvie looked down at Blue, who was sipping some water from a tumbler.

"I think she'll manage." Blue grinned. "How long in advance did you have to book for those tickets then?"

Sylvie gave her a mischievous smile. "I've had them for two months. I put them the one place I knew she wouldn't look in a million years." Blue raised her eyebrows. "In the pile of sensible underwear in her drawers."

Again, Andy was heard to proclaim. "Oh dear God..."

***

If Kashka was bitter about Tommy stealing her thunder normally, on that particular night Kashka was not only staring daggers, but axes, chain saws and butcher's knives. And, for once, Tommy didn't care.

She found her girlfriend, sitting in the second row of the moving platform and was dancing for her alone. Just when stage manager had thought Bombalurina couldn't get any closer to needing censorship, Tommy proved him wrong.

For once, John Marquez wasn't the only cast member staring mutely at Tommy as she danced. Robbie, as Munkustrap, knew he was allowed to play around with any of the Queens as long as he returned to Demeter, so he took the chance to play around. Bombalurina and Munkustrap had never been more intimate.

Norman wasn't one to be left out, the flirtation between Tugger and Bombalurina heated up to boiling point, as she ended up in his arms during Mistoffelees and gave him a sultry, come-hither look.

Even Skimbleshanks, Mungojerrie, Coricopat and the kittens weren't left out. The Jonson twins both faked swoons as Bombalurina rubbed up against them, slumping on top of one another in a heap on the stage.

However, two pairs of eyes were never on Tommy. They were never on each other at the same moment, either. Raymond and Malcolm were never at the same side of the stage for more than a few seconds, each glancing the other furtively.

Blue had arranged for Etcetera to spend a lot more time closer to Admetus than usual, her rust-coloured side-kick being given the role of trying to distract either Raymond or Malcolm, or both if she could manage.

While all of them did like Helen Marsden, who played Grizabella, the biggest challenge for a cast member was to try and make another cast member laugh, while they were looking away from her during Memory.

Malcolm was sitting on the tyre, facing the back wall, while Raymond was seated on the car bumper, on the far side of Old Deuteronomy. Both of them were pretending that they weren't aware the other one was there, neither of them doing a very good job of it.

Georgina as the rusty Electra was sitting on top of the mattress next to Blue and Andy, all three of them staring straight at Malcolm, daring him to grin. His pale eyes flicked sidelong one moment, a faint twitch tugging at the corner of his lip.

Blue pouted at him, her face hidden from much of the audience by Andy's wig. Most of them were watching Grizabella anyway. Malcolm saw the pout, saw Andy's hand rise and saw him yank on Blue's lower lip. He cracked. A grin flashed on his face before he could stop it.

Leaning on Andy's back, Electra licked her finger and marked a one in the air, her eyes dancing with mischief. The trio then turned their attention to Raymond, who had foolishly chanced to glance in their direction when he saw Malcolm's grin.

They usually made him grin within a matter of seconds, which usually coincided perfectly with Grizabella's bellow of "TOUCH ME!" but he stared back at the three of them, resolutely, blankly, expressionless.

"Oh brilliant..." Georgina whispered as Grizabella came to the peak of her crescendo. "We didn't get Smiler."

Andy looked puzzled. "S'weird." He hissed back, rising on hands and knees as Cassie – pure white Victoria – moved towards Grizabella, stretching out her hands to the older actress. "He normally cracks in seconds..."

"Oh!"

"Oh what, shorty?"

They rose together, sliding off the mattress. "He goes home tomorrow." She muttered. "He's gonna be away from Mal."

"Ah..." Georgina and Andy nodded in unison, flashing broad grins at Malcolm, who scowled at them, before turning Grizabella towards Old Deuteronomy. His petulant expression only made them grin even more widely.

Andy took a chance to softly asked. "Does Mal know?"

"About the crush or the holiday?"

"Either."

Blue looked from the black and white Mistoffelees to Alonzo. She shook her head. "Neither."

***

"How do I look?" Her face carefully made-up, her body given a quick rinse by standing in a basin in the ladies toilets and pouring a jug or two of warm water over herself, Tommy had dried herself and dressed quickly and was now smoothing her slinky scarlet dress down.

Blue and Georgina both gave admiring whistles and applause as she pirouetted on her stilettos, her hands raised to show off every one of her provocative curves. The redhead shook her head. "You know, Tom, I could so do you right this second."

"I thought you were straight." Turning back to the mirror, the oldest of the trio added her deep crimson lipstick carefully and smacked her lips.

Hiking her loose jeans up, Georgina shrugged. "I like to think of meself as experimental." She said, tucking gingery strands of hair back from her freckled cheeks.

"In other words," Tommy turned to her. "If you can't get laid by a guy, you'll get laid by a woman? Am I even close?" Georgina's face cracked in a broad, cheeky grin. "You're a right little nympho, you are."

Brushing her knuckles on her T-shirt, the red head grinned. "And proud of it too, thank you."

"I think I'll stick with my Andy." Blue looked up at her roommate. "I know what Tommy can be like and I think its probably safer sticking with our resident swing man." She gave Tommy a smile and squeaked as she was tugged into a warm hug.

"You have fun, kid." The older dancer pressed a bright red kiss on Blue's forehead. "I know me and Sylly will. We'll try not to wake you...and Andy when we get it." Blue eyes stared at her in shock. "Okay, okay. You'll still be up. Gotcha."

Blue's face was flaming and she looked down. "He's just taking me home and we're having a takeaway." She muttered. "That's all."

"Want me to come along with you?" Georgina suggested brightly.

The youngest of the three shook her head, smiling faintly. "I'll be okay." She said. "You have fun, Tommy. Sylvie's been planning all of this for months, y'know."

"Bet she hasn't been planning the reward I've got for her when I get her home tonight." The black-haired dancer's grin could only be described as filthy. Blue blushed to the tips of her ears, while Georgina sniggered.

Clearing her throat, Blue pleaded. "Just don't make it too loud."

"You know Sylly." Tommy flashed a wicked smirk at her. "She's always...enthusiastic."

Burying her face in her hands, Blue groaned. "I'll ask Andy to knock me unconscious or something before you get home, okay?" Tommy raised a brow. "Yeah...I know...like that would even be enough..."

Tommy just laughed, looping her arm through Blue's and Georgina's and strutting towards the door with them both by her sides.

***

Half-carrying her girlfriend, Tommy kicked the door open and tossed her keys onto the table that stood beside it. Her attention was focused on steering the giggling and slightly tipsy Sylvie through the opening, as opposed to face-first into the wall.

It was only when the blond tottered forward the ten feet that separated to the door and the black leather couch, tripping head-over-heels over the back of it, her legs flailing in the air, that Tommy realised Andy was there.

Alone.

Sitting on the arm of the couch, side-on to the front door, he was staring intently at the bathroom door, his brow knit with concern.

"Sylly." Catching the blonde's flailing legs and hauling her upright, Tommy patted Sylvie on the rear. "I want to check on something, okay, love? Go up to bed and I'll be up in a minute." The blonde nodded blearily, planting a badly aimed kiss on Tommy's eye, before staggering towards the stairs and clicking her way up. "So," Turning to Andy, Tommy crossed her arms. "Care to tell me what happened?"

Andy looked around at her, as if just becoming aware that she was standing there. "I-I don't know, Tom." He replied honestly, with a helpless shrug. "We were watching a film...we started messing about and she freaked...ran in there and hasn't come out for an hour."

"Oh brother..." Pulling her long coat off and depositing it over the back of the couch, Tommy moved to the door, stepping out of her shoes as she went. "Blue?" She rapped on the wood. "Kiddo?" There was no reply and the older dancer turned to Andy. "Lemme guess, mate. You went a base further than usual?"

Andy shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. We were having a pillow fight that turned into a tickle match, then..." He looked to the door again.

The Oriental-looking woman sighed. "She didn't tell you, did she?" His blank look answered the question. "Okay," She twisted her body around to unzip her crimson dress as she turned back to the door. "Blue, open the bloody door." She shouted, as she let the dress slide down her body.

"Uh...Tommy?" The all-but-naked dancer glanced at him. Clad in only black stockings and her crimson and black suspenders, she loosened her dark hair around her shoulders. "Uh...you... uh...you're starkers..."

"How observant." She drawled, her waist-length hair shielding much of her stunning figure, to his relief. "Let me explain something, Andy. This is my apartment, so I do what I like it, wear or don't wear what I like, regardless of who might be in."

"So...you wander around naked on a regular basis?"

"Don't be daft!" He looked relieved. "I'm only half-naked now." She turned to the door. "Blue! Get your bony arse over and open the frigging door!" Pounding at the door, she swore in annoyance. "I need my bustier, short stuff! I promised Sylly a treat."

"Is...is he still there?" A shaking voice asked.

"Who?"

"You know."

"Um...Saint Nick and his crew of gay elves?" Tommy groaned. "Look, kid, my nipps are rock hard. If they get much colder, they'll poke right through the leather. Just get out here with my bustier!" There was a pause, then Tommy slapped the door again. "Like now!"

"But is he..."

"Do I sound like I'm bloody interested, you whiny brat?" Andy was shocked by her callous, cold words. "Come out here before I kick the frigging door in and bill you for it. I've done it before and I can do it again."

"Tom..." Andy started to rise, looking angry. Tommy gestured him back, her expression wrought with anxiety.

There was the soft click of the door being unlocked. A pause. Then, the handle dipped down and the door gradually opened. Her T-shirt stretched and twisted beyond recognition, Blue looked like a lost child, scrubbing her make-up and tear-streaked face with a small fist.

"Oh Lordie be..." Tommy rolled her eyes. "Which toe did you stub this time?"

Blue shifted from one foot to the other, eyes fixed on the floor. "We...it..." One shaking hand brushed across her chest. "I thought...I rem...remembered..." Tears were streaming down her pale face. Andy tried to rise, but was gently pushed back down by Tommy.

"So you went and hid in the bathroom?" The older woman sighed and shook her head. "What did I tell you to do if that happens again, shorty? Always knee 'em in the balls."

Blue hugged herself miserably. "H-he did it that way..." He hands traced over her chest again, shaking violently. "He-he-he did th-that..." Her red-rimmed eyes rose to her friend. "I-I'm scared, Tommy..."

The older dancer uninterested pose melted away and she dropped to her knees in front of the smaller girl. Hugging her tightly, she tilted Blue's chin and kissed her fiercely on the lips, her hand tangling through Blue's hair.

Much to their observer's astonishment, his girlfriend's arms went around Tommy, returning the kiss. Finally, Tommy drew away, cradling the quietly crying Blue against her shoulder and murmuring softly.

Drawing her young friend into her lap, as a mother would a child, Tommy gently rocked the smaller dancer. Andy watched, saying nothing, as one of Tommy's hands disappeared under Blue's shirt, tracing down the centre of the girl's chest.

"See," The dark-haired woman was whispering, her other and stroking Blue's hair. "It doesn't have to feel bad, does it?" She kissed the younger girl's brow, the tiny dancer resting against her own bare body. "You know he wouldn't hurt you, kid...don't you?"

She nodded for Andy to join them. He came to his knees beside them, bending to press a kiss to her brow. He felt her stiffen and drew back a little.

"Blue, love, she's right." He felt Tommy's hand squeeze his. "I could never hurt you." The same hand lifted his and placed it on his girlfriend's chest. He tried to pull away, but Tommy glared at him cautioningly.

One of his girlfriend's small hands rose, closing across Andy's larger one, where it lay on her breast. "I'm s-sorry, Andy." Sliding from Tommy's lap, she stood up to tearfully wrap her arms around his neck. "I-I-I should have told you."

"Told me what, shorty?"

Blue looked to Tommy for help, sinking down onto Andy's lap, drawing his head down to press her face hotly against his neck. "Can you tell, Tommy?" She whispered, pulling his arms around her in a snug cocoon.

"Course, kiddo." The darker dancer lifted her friend's fingers to her lips. She received a faint smile. "Here's the background, big guy. When our heroine was ten, her parents divorced and her father moved to Canada. When she was thirteen, her old mum got married to a much younger man. How old...?"

"He was t-twenty-three."

Tommy nodded. "Big lad, he was. Tall, strong, rugby-playing sort." She pulled a face. "Then, we had Sara Spense. Tinier than she is now, long, gorgeous blonde hair just like Sylly's and big blue eyes. Cutest and most Angelic-looking thing you could ever imagine."

"H-he was nice when m-m-mum was around." Blue was crying quietly again, her tears burning against the skin of his neck. "B-but he was b-b-bigger than me..." She trailed off, winding a dark lock of Andy's hair around her small fingers.

Tommy squeezed her knee. "He did the usual routine. Keep it light, a grope here, a pet there, nothing much. Enough to freak little Sara, but trivial enough that if she told her mum, it could be shrugged off as affection." Andy hugged his tiny girlfriend tightly. "You want to add anything?"

"He liked me to sit on his knee." Blue's voice was croaky. "I-I was scared he would hit me more...I had to do what I-I was told..." Andy felt her arms slide around his chest. "Wh-when mum wasn't l-looking, h-he would touch me...touch me in p-p-places...I t-told him to stop and h-he laughed."

Tommy stroked the younger girl's forehead gently. "When she was fourteen and a bit, Sara's mum went away for the weekend, so step-dad took the chance to ground his step-daughter, then tried to get her drunk. That failing, he grabbed her and tried to kiss her."

"I t-t-tried to run away, b-but h-he had locked th-the door." Blue was sobbing softly. "I s-screamed and he-he hit me. H-he was s-so big and f-f-fast..." She pressed her face into the hollow of Andy's shoulder, her arms tight around him. "I c-c-couldn't stop him...he-he said h-he'd kill me..."

"Oh God..." Bringing his girlfriend's face up to his, he stared down at her. "Love, I'm sorry..."

She nodded, cuddling against his chest. "I-I ran away th-the next day." She whispered. "S-Sean had drunk himself un-unconscious...I m-made sure...hit him on the head with th-the desk drawer..."

"Which I would have paid to see." Tommy added.

"H-he had cash s-savings...didn't trust banks...I found them...t-took every pound the b-bastard had...figured h-he owed me s-something...it-it was a-a lot of money...I h-hid it in my clothes...hit him with th-the drawer again...had to climb o-out the window...ran away to Newcastle a-and bought a new identity." She raised her hand to her hair. "I-I became Blue."

There was a long silence broken only by the snoring wheeze of Sylvie, upstairs.

"I-I can't remember h-how I d-did it...I got f-fake ID...booked meself on a train to London...the ID said I was eighteen...I learned how to make myself look older...I looked l-like a teeny punk...I th-thought it was cool...n-no one came near me..."

"Hon, I think it was the fact you were covered in leather, chains and heavy metal gear that scared them away." Tommy chuckled.

Blue pulled a face, scrubbing her nose on the back of her hand. "I g-got to London...f-found a cheap h-hotel to stay in...l-looked for any d-dancing jobs...begged a job at a n-new night-club...a ladies only place...th-they thought I-I looked exotic...there was a b-box-room above the c-club "a-and I got to l-live there f-for a small f-fee."

"I found her there, three years later. She was the little star attraction." Tommy stroked Blue's hair again. "She was the wildest live-wire you ever did see, doing private gigs for small groups or pole and table dancing when it was needed."

"Hold up a second..." Andy looked down at his girlfriend. "You were a lap dancer?"

Blue almost smiled. "N-not quite. I did the pole and table routines, but n-never right down in the laps. I-I-I was the most expensive p-person to g-get a l-lap dance from. Most people liked to-to watch me on the s-stage."

"Until I came along." Tommy said with a dirty leer.

"Perv." Blue whispered. "The b-boss came to me and t-told me someone wanted to buy me for the night. Like a-a date. Nothing more. I-it was going to get me two hundred quid straight off...she sh-showed me Tommy, told me that she was a...a Lady of quality..." She smiled faintly. "She was so beautiful. I couldn't help thinking that if I was going to be a lesbian, why not start with her?"

"She honestly thought I was going to pounce on her and ravish her." The older dancer stroked the younger's thigh affectionately. "Even if I had only asked to meet her to ask what she thought she was doing, dancing at that kinda standard in a sub-standard club, it was mighty tempting not to bring her home with me." She dipped her head to kiss Blue again, fondly. The smaller girl hugged her. "In the end, I did."

"You did?" Andy double-blinked.

Tommy laughed. "Big guy, the furthest Blue and I would ever go is a comforting make-out session. No naughtiness in the contract." She gave the younger girl a smile. "I practically adopted our girl after six months of watching her. Gave her a little boost into the West End circuits and we went for Cats together."

"And now, we're both pussies." Her arm still around Tommy, she pulled Andy down into the hug and buried her face in his neck. "And I've got you."

He nuzzled her shoulder lightly. "That you have, shorty." He caught her chin, lifting her face to his. "And I'm not going anywhere." He dipped his head down and kissed her softly. Her small hands slid up and wound into his hair.

"Are we all sorted here?" Tommy looked from one to the other, then smiled when there was no reply. "Night, you two." She added in a slightly louder voice, collecting her bustier from the bathroom, before clattering up the stairs, where she pounced on the dozing Sylvie, who squealed.

Both Andy and Blue looked up as yelps and shrieks sounded from the top floor. "Oh great..."

"I-I'll just got and wash my face...you won't go anywhere?"

"Me? I'll listen to the two lesbians making out and wonder how." He gave her a smile as she got to her feet.

As the bathroom door closed, Andy stood, moving to sit on the couch. Stretching out his legs, he stared across the flat, up at the open dance area that was opposite Sylvie and Tommy's open-sided bedroom.

The door opened and he looked around. Blue stood in the doorway, smiling shyly. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt as a nightshirt, her face scrubbed clean, her cheeks rosy, her eyes red-rimmed, but clear.

The dancer swallowed hard, gaping at her. He had seen her looking cute, but he couldn't recall her seeing her look so demure and downright adorable.

He had also never seen her in her nightclothes.

"Uh..." Looking down at his watch, he scrambled to his feet. "Oh! It's very late, Blue!" He reached up for his navy denim coat that was hanging on the wall next to the bathroom door. "I should probably get going..."

Her hand touched his arm. "Andy."

"Well, it is late..."

"I know." She waited until he was looking down at her, lowering her eyes shyly for a moment, then looking up at him. "Do...do you want to stay here tonight?"

"On the couch?" He felt like he was about to drown in the big blue eyes that were staring hopefully up at him. "I don't want to be an imposition, but if you think that would be okay and everything, then I..."

"Andy." She smiled, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him down to her level. "I didn't mean on the couch."

"Oh God..." He managed to mumble, before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Bent backward over the arm of the couch, Andy bent over her, Blue broke the kiss and raised her hands to cup his face.

"Is that a yes?" She asked, suddenly shy again.

Turning his face to press a kiss to her palm, Andy slid an arm under her back, bringing her up against him. "Love, if you're sure," He said, his voice husky with emotion. "That was most definitely a hell yes. I want to show you how much I love you."

He lowered her to her feet, her small hand enfolded in his. "I'm sure, Andy." She said, her voice trembling. "I love you." Mismatched eyes blinked at her, a huge grin spreading across his face, as she reached up to kiss him once more.

"Really?"

"Really." She nodded, leading him by the hand across the living room floor to the door that led to her bedroom. Neither of them noticed Tommy and Sylvie lying on their bellies on their bed, watching as Blue smiled timidly up at Andy, leading him into her room, the door closing quietly behind them.

Her arm around Sylvie's bare back, Tommy sighed. "Finally. I thought those two would never get it on."

"They're cute together." Sylvie agreed sleepily, her chin propped on her crossed wrists. "Even if he's like two feet taller than her." She turned to accept a kiss from Tommy, curling against her girlfriend. "Think we're cute together?"

Tommy smiled, drawing Sylvie back up to the right end of the bed. "Hon," She said, spooning herself around her half-asleep lover. "They can be cute together." She pressed a kiss to the blonde's freckled shoulder, pulling the sheet around her. "We're bloody beautiful."

"And modest." Sylvie smiled, cuddling against the black-haired dancer.

"Absolutely." Tommy agreed, reaching over to flick the light off. "Happy Anniversary, Sylly."

"Happy Anniversary, Tom." They exchanged a good night kiss. "Love you."

"Love you back."

"Night."

"Night."

There was a moment of silence, then two voices spoke as one.

"Wanna make out?"

***

Leaning on his forearm, Andy gazed down at the girl curled in front of him. Her hair was mussed, a faint smile curving her lips up, her thick lashes smudges on her cheeks. The morning sun was peeping through the blinds already, dappling on the bare skin of her arms and shoulders.

Bending to kiss her gently on the lips, his smiled into the kiss as she murmured sleepily, one hand rising to run through his tangled hair. Sleepy eyes flickered open as she snuggled back against him, giving him a lazy smile.

"Morning, shorty."

"Mmm-hmm."

He had just bent to kiss her again, when the door opened a crack. Lips still joined to each other's, they both looked up to see Tommy standing there, an amused look on her face and not a stitch on her body.

"So you're still here." She raised a brow.

"Looks like it, Tom." Andy grinned.

Blue peeked under her blankets, then looked up at Tommy sleepily. "We're nakee." She said with a sleepy grin. Rubbing her nose under Andy's chin, she stretched, arching her body and singing tunelessly. "Everybody's nakee..."

"Let's have a look then..." Tommy grabbed the corner of the duvet, trying to yank it off with a mischievous grin. Andy yelled in dismay, yanking Blue in front of his body and keeping a secure grip on the blanket. "What?"

"You're not seeing that!" He protested.

"Why?"

"Cos its mine!"

"I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours." Tommy cajoled.

"Uh, Tommy…if you got one of them," Blue peered up at her roommate. "It must be a teeny weeny one…"

Andy looked her up and down. "Tommy, I can already see yours." The dancer looked down, then gave the blanket a sharp tug, yanking it away from his body. "TOMMY!"

"You've seen mine, so I'm going to see yours."

"Tommy, leavim." With Andy's arms and legs holding her close against his body, his chest pressing against her back, Blue waved her roommate back. Tommy pouted. "I'll take photos for you, oki?"

"You will not!"

"You want me to move?" Blue raised her eyes to him. Andy groaned. "Oki, Tommy, I'll get photos of my boy..."

Tommy wagged a finger. "No doctoring them. I want to see life-size images."

"Do they make normal photos that big?" Blue cocked her head. Tommy raised an eyebrow and Andy gave her a smug grin.

"Why is he so shy, if he's got that, then? Its not like I'm going to pounce on it." Tommy pointed out. "He's gonna get to see my girl naked, so why don't I see him naked, for the sake of argument? He's a dancer. He's not meant to be bloody shy."

Blue looked at her boyfriend. "I think you're going to have to show her, if you want her to go away." She said hopelessly.

"Damn straight." Tommy smirked smugly.

"All right already." Andy groaned, wriggling out from behind Blue and standing up to face off with the dancer. Hands on his hips, he raised his eyebrows, he cocked his head. "Are you quite happy now?"

Pointing at his crotch, Tommy doubled over with a shout of laughter. "I forgot how stupid those things always look!" She chortled. "Oh God...I needed a laugh to get me started this morning." Giving him an impish squeeze, she turned and walked out the door. "Thanks, Andy! I'm having a good day already!"

"Uh...what just happened?" Andy asked.

Standing up on the bed, Blue reached up to kiss him. "I don't think it matters, do you?"

"I guess not." He gave her a grin, which faded as a giggle of laughter rang through the door. He looked up to see both Sylvie and Tommy pointing and laughing. "One moment." He shut the door over. "Now, where were we?"

Pulling him back down amid the blankets with her, she pressed a kiss to his mouth. "Right about here." She purred.