"So you're our new Victoria?" Standing beside the new girl in the rehearsal rooms, Tommy cast her eyes speculatively over the slender Asian dancer. "I played Vicci, years ago, just when I got into musicals."

"This is my first West End show, but I've done a lot of regional dancing. Who knows...I could be stealing your roles five years down the line..." With a friendly smile, the girl shifted on her feet, lifting one, then the other to put her dance shoes on. "Who do you play?"

"You ever seen the show?" The new dancer nodded. "I'm Bombalurina, the red cat." She struck a sexy pose. "Not that it's at all obvious."

Geeta laughed. "Not in the least." She stripped off the sweater she was wearing, leaving her body clad in a shimmering, sleeveless, dark red leotard and loose shorts. Long, lean legs rippled as she crossed the floor to add her sweater to the heap of clothing. "So why did my predecessor leave?"

"Well," Tommy grinned. "She got herself up the creek."

"Pregnant?"

"Big time." Tying her substitute tail loosely around her waist, Tommy swung it casually in her hands as she spoke. "First time she's managed a natural conception and she didn't want to risk anything going wrong this time."

"Think I'll be okay as her sub?"

Tommy rubbed her cheek pensively. "I don't know, kid. I'd have to see your form." She circled Geeta with a clinical eye. "How high can you manage your leg lift? Do you struggle to keep it up when you're turning?"

"Want to see?" The girl's shorts flew across the room, to land on the heap of discarded clothing. Tommy's grin widened.

Balancing neatly on one foot, Geeta slowly brought both arms and her right leg up, the leg bent loosely at the knee. Stretching towards the roof, she straightened her leg, until she looked like she was doing an upright version of the splits.

Pivoting easily on her foot, she turned one hundred and eighty degrees, extending her right leg at right angles to her body, then slid down into the splits on the smooth floor, arching back over her left thigh.

Running her eyes over the girl's arched torso, Tommy's lavicious grin widened. "Very nice, Geeta." She murmured, eyeing the contours of the young dancer's small, firm breasts and her tight pectoral muscles. Her eyes wandered down Geeta's sleek legs. "Very nice, indeed."

"TOMMY!" The shrill squeal from the warm-up room door made both dancers whip around. A tiny, blue-haired dancer stormed towards the oriental-looking dancer, who was looking sheepish. "That was bad! That was very bad!"

"But I just wanted to check her form." Tommy whined, her eyes dancing with mischief.

"Yeah...check out her form...like you did to me...what would Sylvie say if she knew you were checking out the fresh talent?" She turned to Geeta, who had risen to her feet and was looking confused. "Sorry about Tommy, here. She's a lavicious old cow who likes to prey on younger and more innocent dancers."

Tommy wiggled her fingers in a guilty wave, biting her lip to hide a wide grin. "Looks like I've been caught out." She murmured, not looking the least bit guilty about it.

"You mean...?"

"She was checking you out." Blue positioned herself carefully between the two dancers, smiling faintly. "Hope you don't mind. Everyone gets the Tommy once-over, especially if they're cute, Asian or blonde and female."

Geeta's brow rose. "Ah..." A lop-sided grin crept onto her lips. "If my father knew I was working here, he would have a fit. One, I'm baring all my limbs and two, I have a woman checking me out..."

"And he wouldn't approve?" Tommy wrapped her arms around Blue's neck, hugging her roommate back against her chest.

"He's...uh...very religious, in the kind of woman-hide-under-sheets religious sense." She rubbed the back of her neck. "He moved here from Saudi Arabia when he was twenty and he's never quite understood Western culture."

"So sending him photos of you in unitards, flashing your legs would be a bad thing?"

"In a word? Yes." She shuddered. "I can see me being packed off to the family in Saudi to marry a man I'd never met. Its only because my mother is English that I've been allowed to stay here and be raised as a British citizen."

"Does he know you dance?"

Geeta grimaced. "Not yet. He thinks that I'm some kind of accountant. Mind you, he also thinks I wear a burkha twenty-four-seven. I only ever wear those things when I'm at home, back in Bradford."

"Once again, I am delighted to be estranged from my family." Tommy pulled a face. Turning Blue's face to hers, she dropped a light kiss on her lips. "If I'd kept my sexuality a secret, I would still be miserable there and I wouldn't have a great girlfriend or roommate or non-poofter to irritate."

"So you two...?"

"Us two?"

"Are you two a couple?" Both Tommy and Blue released a shout of laughter. "I take it that's a big no."

Pivoting to hug Tommy around the waist, Blue grinned. "We live together, but Tom's like a big, nice, adopty sister to me." The taller woman fondly stroked the girl's blue hair. "If I was ever going to be a lesbian, I'd happily take Tommy or her girlfriend."

"Or both." Tommy added, a wicked twinkle in her dark eyes. Blue grinned, nudging the top of her head against Tommy's chest. "And I know that neither of us would complain to having a third kicking around..."

"I might have to take you up on that." Geeta murmured, both of the other dancers gaping at her in surprise. The new Victoria's face split into a gap-toothed grin. "See. I can surprise people as well."

"Everyone here?" A voice bellowed.

"Oh God..." Tommy moaned. "Not him again. I thought he'd left."

The male leading the rehearsals clearly heard her and flashed a cocky grin in her direction. "I think we'll start with Macavity today, boys and girls." He drawled, pulling his black and silver hair up into a ponytail. A scowl from Kashka quickly changed that. "Or...we could start with the invitation, couldn't we?"

***

Almost a week and a half had passed since Andy had assumed the role of Munkustrap, which he was still sharing with Menke. The older actor took the matinee shows, while Andy took the other six, until he was used to the strain of the role and could play it for all the shows.

Happily hanging around at the theatre again, Menke had taken up the joint role of prankster along with Andy, both of them getting into all manner of trouble with the management for not taking their jobs seriously.

At one point, Andy had been forced to understudy Tony, to play Macavity opposite Menke's Munkustrap, one matinee. With Kashka trapped between them, they had both been unable to prevent themselves from cracking up.

It went without saying that Kashka was not in the best of moods with them, following the show. The actress had been growing increasingly frustrated, struggling to keep her temper with the two actors.

Adding Tommy to the equation only made the actress more irritable. Frequently, she missed steps, lost her place or hit a bad note and it wasn't going unnoticed by the stage managers and the rest of the cast.

Entering the common area, Blue was wearing her favourite tracksuit and trainers, ready for warm-ups for the Saturday matinee. She had been sent out to the shops to get some junkfood for Menke and her boyfriend, both of whom spent their time between shows rehearsing.

The morning of rehearsals had been exhausting as they had brought the new Victoria up to speed on the routines. In addition to those rehearsals, Menke and Andy had been checking and re-checking each other's styles, practising like demons.

Looking around, she couldn't smother a laugh. Side-by-side on one of the couches, Menke and Andy were sitting, both clad in the Munkustrap costume and make-up. Menke's wig was the only thing missing, his hair loose around his face. Andy's be-wigged head was resting against the older man's head.

What made it even more adorable was that both men were fast asleep, their feet propped on the low coffee table in front of them, leaning against one another, their arms crossed in an identical position. Andy was in his full costume from going down to the kids club, between bouts of rehearsal.

"Aren't they just the cutest!" Raymond exclaimed. He had been to the nearest MacDonalds with Blue and stopped short at the sight of the two actors. "Oh, I could just pick 'em both up and hug 'em!"

Blue grinned. "Go ahead. I've got popcorn."

"Don't even think about it." Malcolm put in, nudging his boyfriend's hip. "Those arms are only used to hug one person around here."

"Who?" Blue deposited her bag of food on the nearby chair and flung her short arms as far around Raymond as she could. "Me?" The huge dancer issued a deep, booming laugh and practically picked the little dancer up in a hug. "See! He wuvs me, Mal!"

Malcolm gave her his expressionless, calm look. "I don't think he would do half the things to you that he's done to me, tiny." There was a devilish glint in his pale blue eyes and Raymond quickly released Blue to take a step closer to Malcolm, bending to fiercely kiss his lover.

"You think that's meant to shock me?" Blue cocked her head. "Andy's done more than that to me on...oh!" Only then did she become aware of just where Raymond's hand had disappeared to and a flush of crimson rose up her face.

Breaking from the kiss, Malcolm's cheeks took on a rosy tint beneath his deathly white make-up, a half-grin on his face. Turning to Blue, he cleared his throat. "You going to wake up sleeping beauty and his friend?"

"Uh..." Hurriedly crossing to Andy, she sat down in his lap, giving him a shake. "Andy?" He grunted, shifting. Beside him, Menke stirred groggily and swatted at him, before settling down comfortably again. "Andy, wake up."

"Don't think that's going to work, shrimpy." The Goth dancer snickered, coming to sit opposite the two sleeping Munkustraps. Blue gave him a speculative look, her hand spread on Andy's broad chest.

A sparkle glittered in her blue eyes, as she straddled her boyfriend's lap. "Munkustrap," She purred, scratching her fingers down his chest. "Oh, Munkustrap, wake up..." Both Menke and Andy's brows wrinkled at the voice.

Nuzzling Andy's neck, she lazily kissed his throat, her hands still running up and down his chest. Andy's hands moved of their own accord, rubbing up and down her lean thighs as she continued to murmur to him.

"Wakey, wakey, lover. Demeter is waiting." Bringing her face to his, she touched her lips to Andy's, kneading his shoulders with her knuckles. Nipping his lower lip with her neat, white teeth, she pressed against him. "C'mon, sleepy head."

"Demi?" Dozily, Menke levered himself upright using Andy's chest and looked blearily around the dressing area. "Demi?"

"Afternoon, Menke." Cuddled against Andy's chest, her small body melded against his larger one, Blue gave the older dancer a smile. "Just me trying to wake up Mister Snoozy here." A mumbled grunt from Andy made her chuckle. "He'll be with us in a minute."

As predicted, mismatched eyes slowly opened seconds later, Andy's muscled arms coming up to engulf Blue's body. Tilting her face up, he pressed a warm kiss to her lips, then settled down to hug her, his chin resting on her head.

"Now," He mumbled sleepily, his eyes still half-closed. "Why can't I have a Demeter who would snuggle up to me like this during the show, instead of one who has the sex-appeal of a glacier?"

"That's not nice!" Menke protested. Andy opened one eye, raising a cynical brow. Menke gave a dignified sniff. "I happen to know some very sexy glaciers."

"You would, you sad, strange individual." The brown-haired dancer replied.

"Hey, at least Kashka doesn't look like she wants to castrate me when I put my arms around her." The older dancer argued.

Blue raised a hand. "Menke, you haven't actually seen her face, when you hug her." The green eyes narrowed in puzzlement. "Castration is probably one of the pleasanter fates she has in mind for you."

"I suppose that water balloon on her seat was rather immature." He grimaced.

"Yeah," Malcolm, around a mouthful of cold French fries, said. "And doing it three days in a row wasn't at all."

Menke looked hurt. "Hey! After the second time, you'd think she would learn to look before she sat down." He pouted, then turned and held out his arms. "Andy, give her. I need something to hug."

Before either of the actors had a chance to move, Menke found a very large, very strong, very giggly black dancer happily seated squarely in his lap. Raymond batted his eyes coquettishly, smiling broadly.

Menke stared at him for a long moment. "Oh well," He laughed. "What the hell." He threw his arms around Raymond and hid his face in the massive, muscular chest. Exaggerated sobs escaped him and he jiggled Raymond's huge frame on his knee.

"You know, Ray," Malcolm remarked, sucking some cola up a straw. "You really look like you're enjoying that far too much."

"Look, hon?" The black dancer's grin was spread from ear to ear. "I don't need to look it." He ruffled Menke's long hair. "Sweetie, just keep doin' what you're doin' and I might even think about payin' you for it."

Menke lifted his face and grinned. "You really are easily pleased, aren't you?"

"You think any big ol' queen is gonna complain about being jiggled by a hottie like you? I don't think so, sweetie." He paused for a moment. "Mind you, if I had to choose between you and Tommy-gal, I don't think I could."

"Reassuring." Andy muttered. "Oh so reassuring."

Raymond just grinned and enjoyed the 'jiggling'.

***

"I don't give a damn about the show. Give me five minutes and I'll be out the door." Tear-rimmed eyes stared defiantly at the manager. "I want out. Now."

"And you didn't think to tell us this more than half an hour before the show?" Standing up and leaning on the desk, the grey-haired Henry Jamieson released a sigh of frustration. "Damn it, Kashka, you could have given us more notice."

"You've got all the understudies you need." She snapped angrily. "I'm not going on again. I refuse to work with either of those...those idiots." She folded her arms, her ash-blonde swaying around her face, her dark grey eyes furious. "You can't force me to."

"You're acting like a child, Kashka. This is ridiculous." Assuming his most wheedling and sympathetic tone, the senior manager sat back down. "I'm sure if we talked to Andy and Menke, we could sort this out."

She glared at him. "I am not a child." She said coldly. "You can talk to them all you want. I refuse to work with either of them. I used to enjoy this job, until they came along, but now, I hate every second. Even you've noticed that I'm not up to my normal standard."

"Well, that is true...but you've got a contract."

She looked down at her slim, crossed arms, her lips pursed in a tight expression. "I have three months left. If I have to, I'll go and contract some illness. Give me any excuse and I'll be out of here. I'm bored to death, I don't want to play against the rest of the crew. They hate me and I hate them."

"But we don't have understudies ready!"

"Mara was my understudy for months. Tell her she's on."

"At this short notice?" Jamieson shook his head. "If you leave, we'll have to cast someone new as soon as possible...God knows where we'll find someone. Can't you at least stay for a few more days...?"

"I'm not staying a day longer." She brushed her shoulder-length hair back from her face. "I stayed extra because you asked and now, my times up. I've had offers from TV companies and I want to take them."

"But your contract..."

"Screw the contract." Standing up, she threw a white envelope down on the desk. "In there is my letter of resignation. I will never enter this building again to perform in this show, as long as I know any of them are here."

Turning, the actress stormed towards the door, slamming it behind her with enough force to make paint flake from the hinges. The manager stared after her for a long moment, then glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Bugger..."

Snatching up the phone, he called down to the stage door, demanding the whereabouts of Mara Jensen, a young Norwegian dancer. With Kashka's impeccable record of attendance, the girl had never been called to play Demeter in her whole two years.

Sending for her, he sat back in his seat, releasing a heavy sigh. This was just what he needed now, he mused. First, Munkustrap went and broke his shoulder, putting himself out of the picture for months. One contract out of the window thanks to that.

Then, Victoria left, pregnant. She was unlikely to return. Two contracts blown away.

Gil Howard, who played Victor and understudied several roles, had tearfully announced that he was leaving for several months, to go back to Belgium and stay with his mother, who had just told him she was dying of lung cancer. Compassionate leave had been granted, Gil being her youngest son and her precious baby.

Three male swing roles were cancelled, one leaving to go on tour, another certified and locked up in a loony bin, the third assuming the role of Munkustrap. That meant they had one male swing left and the Deuteronomy and Gus understudy.

One of the female swings was off for an undetermined period with glandular fever. Another had badly broken several fingers, after falling off the car and landing badly on the stage several nights before, playing Rumpleteaser.

Now, to lose Demeter on top of all that...and it was Kashka to boot. She was the most famous member of their cast at this moment in time, a TV actress and she had also appeared in several films.

Henry pressed his fingertips against his temples.

Perfect. Just bloody perfect.

"Hello?" A pig-tailed head poked around the door. "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Miss Jensen?" She nodded and he rose, motioning for her to take a seat. "We've just had some rather unfortunate news, so I need to know how well you know the role of Demeter."

Blinking owlishly from behind thick, black-rimmed spectacles, she frowned slightly. "I know the role, sir." She replied carefully, rubbing her palms together nervously. "I have never played her before."

"Would you be able and ready to play her in an hour?" Mara's ice-blue eyes went wide with astonishment. "Kashka's left us for the time being, so we need you on that stage playing her, as soon as you're ready."

"I-I can try." She nodded, her face suddenly very pale. "I have only played Cassandra and Tantomile before."

"You can sing the role?" She nodded uncomfortably, biting her lower lip. "And you know the dance routine?" Again, she nodded. "Well, then you are the most qualified swing to assume the role." He gave her what was meant to be a reassuring smile, but it looked more mad that comforting. "You'll do fine."

"Shall I go now?"

"Yes, yes! Of course! If you need any help, just ask someone." Looking terrified and ill, the girl fled out of the office, as Jamieson picked up the folder of agents, to see if they had any of the ex-Demeters available.

***

"So you're just going to sit around in that all day?"

"What? Its comfortable."

Blue rolled her eyes, her boyfriend standing just behind her, still in his unitard. Beside her, Tommy was adding her nose. Georgina was seated on Blue's other side, blowing bubblegum bubbles at her reflection. Blue, meanwhile, was donning her make-up with a familiar rapidity, adding kitten-spots across the pale cream colour of her nose.

"E-excuse me?"

"Yep?" Both women turned. Blue grinned. "Hey, Mara! You're on tonight?"

"Yeah...short notice..."A panicked-looking young woman with long, brown pigtails stared hopelessly in at them. "I-I'm not sure what my make-up is meant to look like." She was holding the pattern on the sheet. "I can't read her writing."

Adding a last spot on her nose, Blue swung off her seat, climbing over Georgina. "Who is it you're playing?"

"Demeter."

Tommy's brushes and paints clattered across the desk accompanied by a series of somewhat rude words, a thick black smear squirming across her face. The cup of water Andy had been drinking from splattered on the floor. A loud expletive escaped Georgina.

"Uh...what?"

"Kashka's off?" Tommy was staring at Mara, a manic expression of delight in her dark eyes.

Mara shook her head. "I-I was speaking to Mr Jamieson. She's not off." Several confused looks were exchanged. "She-she's gone."

"Gone?" Tommy breathed, eyes wide with glee. "Kashka, the bitch-bane and biggest torment of my existence, is gone?"

"As in gone, gone?" Andy repeated, clasping his hands together hopefully.

"You do mean completely gone?" Georgina echoed.

Mara could only nod helplessly. "I don't know what happened, but Mr. Jamieson was looking a bit crazy when I saw him." She looked down at the sheet in her hands. "He told me I have to play Demeter. I've never played her before. What if I screw up? I haven't had a major singing role since I had my tonsils out, last year."

"You'll do great, Mara." Blue gave her hand a squeeze. "You're playing opposite Menke and he'll help you along if you need it. Tommy will as well." The taller dancer nodded. "If you need a hand, I could do your make-up for you. I spent enough time staring at Kashka to freak her out to be able do it for someone else."

"I would be very grateful." The dancer gave the blue-haired girl a watery grin. "You have no idea how terrified I am."

"I think I can imagine." Taking the brunette's arm, the two went off in the direction of Mara's shared dressing room.

The small dressing room was silent for several seconds, then Tommy and Andy released whoops of delight, hugging one another and bouncing up and down like children at a pop concert, laughing.

"We should tell Menke!" Andy said. "He'll be over the moon."

"Who won't be?" Tommy's grin was blinding. "I say that we make an announcement ...bags I get to say..."

Before she finished, Andy had barreled through to the common area, yelling at the top of his voice. "KASHKA'S GONE!"

"Bastard!"

***

Unfortunately, the show didn't go as smoothly as the cast initially hoped. While Mara could play the character well and could do the dance routines to perfection, she had one serious flaw that no one could miss.

Her voice.

In the middle of the previous year, she had been struck down by a serious dose of tonsilitis and her tonsils had been removed right away. After three weeks off, she was back at work. It had been assumed that her voice wouldn't be too seriously affected. They had been mistaken.

In the wake of her illness, she had played minor roles constantly. Cassandra and Tantomile only had small singing parts, but upgrading to the main singing role of Demeter proved to be simply too much.

By the middle of the show, her throat was raw and every member of the cast winced in sympathy each time she had to sing. Struggling on many of the higher notes, her voice wavered and sometimes faded out, forcing her to clear her throat repeatedly.

As soon as she could get off the stage after The Jellicle Ball, she had run to her dressing room, downing glasses of water. By the time Tommy and Menke had reached the rooms, she had her face buried in her arms and was sobbing.

"Hon, are you okay?"

"I can't go back on!" Gathered in the red-garbed dancer's arms, Mara's shoulders were shaking with silent, gulping sobs. "I feel like my mouth keeps filling with blood every time I sing a note. It hurts to sing. I can't go back on...I can't sing Macavity, not like this...I can't sing anymore...I can't sing anymore..."

Tommy hugged the younger dancer tighter, raising her eyes to Menke. "Get Rachel. Tell her she's got to go on as Dem for the second half. She doesn't even have to be able to do the routines well, but I'm not letting Mara go on in this state." She stroked the Norwegian's cheek soothingly. "The only place she's going is the doctor."

"What about the management?" Menke asked.

Tommy smiled coldly. "If the management complain, they'll lose Bomba as well and they really don't need that." She gestured for him to go, holding Mara gently against her and rocking her in a comforting manner.

She was still holding the girl, when Rachel raced in, halfway out of her Tantomile unitard. "Is she okay?" She panted, dodging around the pair to get to the make-up desk.

"I think the kid needs the doctor, ASAP." Tommy replied. "Something's gone seriously wrong with her throat."

Rachel grimaced, grabbing several baby wipes and wiping off her make-up as fast as she could. "All this cos Kashka had a stick rammed so far up her arse that it blocked her brain and she couldn't think about someone else."

"This might be a dumb question, Rach, but have you ever played Deme?"

The wigless dancer looked at her. "Now that you ask, no, I haven't, but I've played around with the role. I know the words and can bluff for the dance routines." She looked down at her own unitard. "Um, do you know where I can get a Dem unitard? I don't have a Dem costume."

"Kashka's is next door." Standing up with Mara, Tommy directed the younger girl towards the door. "I'll be back in five. I have to get this little lady around to the medics to see what they can do about her."

"You make me sound like I'm contagious." Mara croaked.

"Hon, you most certainly are." Taking the young dancer down to the room that the medics and physios used, Tommy made sure she was comfortable with a lot of soothing throat remedies, before heading back towards her dressing room.

On the way passed the toilets, she came to a sharp stop. A female voice rang out from the ladies room and was huskily singing Macavity in perfect pitch and in tune, but it wasn't a voice that she recognised.

Darting towards the dressing rooms, she found a make-up-less Andy, just back in from MacDonalds. "Andy!" Grabbing him by the arm, she dragged him back up towards the bathrooms, gesturing for him to be quiet.

"What?"

"Listen!" She hissed.

Andy cocked his head, his brows rising, clearly impressed. "Is that Joely?"

"I don't think so." Looking around, she grinned. "Let's take a peek. If it's one of the crew, we run for cover and never speak of this again." Andy shook his head with a chuckle as she carefully pushed the door open, both of them edging in.

The voice rose to a shrill soprano. "MACAVITY'S NOT THERE!" Andy shivered at the tingle shooting down his spine. Tommy nodded approvingly. Whoever it was, they could match Kashka's voice, if not better it.

Both of them peered around the dividing wall, both of them swearing as one in utter shock.

The small figure whipped around, her expression that of a rabbit caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. "Crap!" Darting back into the cubicle, the door slammed shut and was locked quickly from the inside.

"Get your arse out here right this second!" Tommy marched to the door, rapping smartly on it.

"You weren't meant to hear that."

Despite initial wariness, Andy hurried over as well. "Come out, shorty. What's wrong with us hearing you sing like that?"

There was a thump as Blue leaned against the back of the door. "No one knew." She replied quietly. "I like trying to sing with a big voice, because I'll never be big. I know I'm not any good at it, but I like to try. I have to sing like Rumple and Cettie cos I look like that."

"But you're good."

"No, I'm not."

Tommy sighed. "Okay, you're not good, then." She slapped her palm against the door. "You, kid, are so effing good, you're making me sick with envy."

"Even if I am good," The latch was slipped and the door opened. Blue looked from one to the other, a sad half-smile on her lips. "It won't make any difference. I'm just too small for playing any big characters."

Tommy and Andy exchanged glances, seeming to think as one, both exchanging wicked grins over Blue's bowed head. "Never mind that now, Shorty." Andy caught her in a hug. "Let's get you back to the stage. You're due on any minute."

"Enjoy your break, you lazy git." She returned his hug, then joined Tommy to hurry back to the dressing rooms to retrieve Rachel in her hastily-donned Demeter make-up, Georgina dolled-up as a small, dainty Tantomile.

Tommy cast her eye over both of them. "Oh, I see this as being a whole lot of fun." She muttered, hurrying towards the stairs with them. "A Tanto-Dem and and Electra-Tanto. Two combinations that sound like varieties of dildo..."

"Tommy!" All three of her companions wailed.

***

"Can't you even listen to her?"

Jamieson looked across and up at Andy, who was standing, his fists balled on the surface of the desk. The manager had papers scattered around and had been ringing up different agents for the last two hours.

So far, none of their past Demeters had been available and now, here was their current Munkustrap saying that their current Etcetera would be a great Demeter.

"She's less that five feet tall."

"You've never set a height specification for Demeter." Andy reminded him quietly. "You took Kashka on, even though she was taller than average. Hell, she was near enough the same height as Tommy."

Henry exhaled a breath. "As talented as Miss Spence might be, I doubt she would have the strength to carry off the role of Demeter." Laying down a sheaf of papers, he met the dancer's mismatched eyes evenly. "It is very demanding on both voice and body." "I am aware of this." Andy gritted out. "But I know for a fact that she used to dance six hours a night for a living, so strenuous means nothing to her. Her voice is incredible and she sounds very similar to Kashka."

That got Jamieson's full attention for the first time. "Is that so?"

"Look, Mr. Jamieson, I know that she would make a very good Demeter and it doesn't look like you're going to find one any time soon, even if you ring all ex-Demeters via their agents." He spread his hands. "What will you do if you can't find one?"

"In which case, we will simply audition for a new one. Kashka's understudy can keep the role going until we find one."

"In case you hadn't heard, Kashka's understudy can no longer sing. The medics have ordered her to the hospital because she burst a blood vessel in her throat during the first half of the show." Jamieson looked up, startled. Clearly that little piece of news hadn't reached him yet.

"I wasn't aware it was that serious."

"She probably won't sing again, professionally." The dancer replied. "Rachel Majors was forced to assume the role of Demeter, even though she has never even rehearsed it." Andy's voice was shaking slightly from underlying anger at the man's sheer stubborn pettyness. "Blue knows all the lyrics and the full routine. All she needs is an opportunity."

"And you believe I should be the one to give her it?"

"Well, let me put it this way. For this evenings show, there's no Demeter and there's a good chance you'll have a mute Tantomile, because Rachel isn't used to singing so much. It won't surprise me if she loses her voice by this evening. You're not going to find anyone else and both Demeter understudies are on sick leave." Andy smiled tightly. "And at least with Blue as Demeter, you can guarantee both Bombalurina and Munkustrap would like her."

Leaning back in his seat, Jamieson looked up at the younger man. "And if I do give her the chance to play Demeter, who will play Etcetera?"

"Georgina knows all the kitten roles well and would be able to play Etcetera if she had to. Also, the female kitten understudy, Marsha, is one of the only swings still available." Andy smothered a delighted smile. "At least, that way, you're guaranteed a full ensemble."

Henry almost smiled. "You have clearly put a great deal of thought into this."

"About five minutes," Andy shrugged. "Which is pretty high by my standards." He tilted his head. "So you'll consider it?"

"Have her in the rehearsal room after the show finishes." Jamieson retrieved the wad of papers, flicking them open again. "If she is good enough, she may take the role tonight, but only for tonight unless we can't find another Demeter."

"That, sir, is good enough for me." With a broad smile, Andy reached over and shook the manager's hand. "Thank you."

***

The piano loomed in the corner of the room. The lights were still flickering on, illuminating the paneled floors of the wide room. No one was there, a light rain pelting against the windows set high in the wall.

Standing in the doorway with Andy, Blue looked up at him nervously. "What am I here for?"

"Mr. Jamieson wants to see you." He replied with a smile. The petite dancer was still wearing her Etcetera wig and make-up, the rest of her body clad in one of the extra-large Cats t-shirts from the stall. It hung passed her knees, her feet cased in cat-shaped slippers.

"Mr. Jamieson?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Andy, what have you done?"

The dancer shrugged with as innocent a look as he could manage. "I just happened to mention that you were a bloody good singer..." He cleared his throat and mumbled under his breath. "And that I thought you should play Dem."

"ANDY!" Turning, she would have fled down the passage, if she hadn't bumped squarely into Henry Jamieson and the company pianist. "Oh! H-hello, Mr. Jamieson, sir."

"Sara Spence, I presume? Or shall I just call you Blue?"

"I-I don't mind, sir." Stepping back, she deliberately slammed her foot down with unnecessary force on Andy's toes. "Most people just call me Blue."

He nodded, gesturing for the pianist to go the piano. "Tommy said she will be along in a moment." He eyed her slippers and the baggy T-shirt. "You don't happen to have anything more...appropriate for dancing in?"

"I like rehearsing barefoot. It's one of my habits." She replied nervously, hastily tugging the T-shirt over her head to reveal a sports bra and a loose pair of shorts. Smoothing her shorts down, she looked down at her tattooed belly sheepishly. "Uh...and I forgot about that."

Jamieson looked at the flaming circle on her muscled belly and the small beaded ring that was looped through the belly button. His eyebrow rose slightly, but he said nothing. Clearly he wasn't impressed by what he had seen so far.

"Hey, people." A throaty voice remarked from the door. "What's the buzz? I was in the lavvy, when someone yelled I was needed along here." She looked at Andy, then at Blue, who was uneasily shifting from foot to foot. "Kid?" Blue's eyes snapped to her. "C'mere."

Darting to Tommy's side, Blue pressed against her, drawing a calming breath, comforted by her friend's touch. "Tom...do you think I can be Dem?"

"Kid, look at you." The tall dancer smiled, bending slightly to brush her brow gently against Blue's, one arm loosely around the petite dancer's waist. They had unconsciously struck the ideal Bombalurina-Demeter pose. "You'll be perfect."

"Perhaps we should actually hear her sing, first." Jamieson suggested coolly, receiving a glare from Tommy.

Straightening in her friend's arms, Blue nodded. "I can do that." She replied, giving Tommy a confident smile. "Are we going to do Macavity?" She ran her head lazily against Tommy's arm and sighed. "I love Macavity."

"I suppose we might as well start there, as it is Demeter's main part."

In a heartbeat, the small dancer's whole stance and demeanour completely shifted. No longer crouching down, in her familiar kitten pose, her back was straight, her chin lifted proudly, a small, enigmatic smile on her lips.

"That's my girl." Andy whispered, moving to stand against the wall, as the pianist started to play the introduction for Macavity.

From the start, she slipped straight into the character of Demeter, darting this way and that across the floor in fear. As the song progressed and she sang, she became sultry and seductive as she described the criminal that she was meant to despise.

When Tommy started her section of the song, she could barely sing for the wide smile that split her face from ear-to-ear, her eyes dancing. As their voices melded together, they were a perfect foil for one another.

Seeing his lover, as Etcetera, singing Macavity was enough to make Andy chuckle, but the second she hit the high notes, he felt goosebumps rising on his skin. Rolling her body, laying emphasis on all the right places, she oozed sensuality to match her outrageous roommate.

Finishing the song, Blue looked up at Tommy with a broad smile. Andy applauded as loudly as he dared, receiving a happy grin before Blue darted over to the pianist and flicked through the pages of music.

"Oh man..." Andy breathed as the first chords of Grizabella the Glamour Cat rang out. Looking in the direction of an unseen Grizabella, Blue counted herself in, running forward to reach out to the fallen queen, then shrank back.

Tommy embraced her briefly, then Blue drew away again, stretching out a shaking hand, hard-paw-styled. Then, her other hand to her heart, she started to sing, bringing her extended hand back close to her body.

Andy could see tears filling her eyes as she sang. She started to run forward a step, only for Tommy's arm to come up and halt her. Rubbing her head up Tommy's upper arm as the older dancer sang, she looked away from the spot she had selected as Grizabella, occasionally sending half-glances in the direction, before looking away with a pained expression.

Only when she joined with Tommy's voice for the final stanza did they both look off towards the imaginary Grizabella. Both of them stepped forwards, Blue looking up at Tommy as if asking permission to reach forward, but by then, it would have been too late and Grizabella would have been gone.

Running forward, Blue came to her knees, stretching out a hand pleadingly in the direction that Grizabella would have gone, her expression one of abject despair. Lowering her face, even a touch from Tommy couldn't draw her from her despair.

The second the last chord of song finished, loud whoops and cheers rang from the hall outside of the rehearsal room. A mass of faces was grinning in the doorway and Blue blushed, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

All eyes turned to Jamieson as their applause died down. The pen that had been tightly gripped between his fingers before the song lay on the table. His jaw was slack. His eyes were wide. Sweat was beaded on his balding crown.

"Kid," Tommy looked down at Blue who had scrambled to her feet and was leaning against her side. "I think you killed him."

The tiny dancer laughed, brushing her nails against her chest. "Well, when you're good, you're good."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Standing up on apparently shaky legs, the manager mopped his brow with a handkerchief. "I think its safe to say that we have a replacement Demeter for the time being."

"Whooha!" Andy raced across the room and swung Blue up in his arms. "I told you! I told you you could do it!" Hugging her tightly, her could hear her happily sobbing against his shoulder and laughed. "You and me, Shorty! We'll show 'em how Munk and Dem are really meant to be."

"God help 'em." She muttered against his neck. Andy couldn't help laughing.