oh screw the disclaimer. you know by now =P.

The suitcases were open on her bed, and Jackie was finishing packing the last few bags. She had her CD player on full volume and she was dancing as she packed. It was upsetting her to leave this little house, her own for the first time. It was upsetting her to leave Wilsted again. But this role as Belle promised her over a million dollars, a sum of money incomprehensible to her. It was the chance of a lifetime.

Booker had come the night before, and they had had dinner. Her face reddened at the thought of the night before and she resumed packing. There was nothing left to do, she realized with a shock of disappointment and finality. The car was coming in twenty minutes. Jackie took a fast shower and changed her clothes.

The taxi was outside as she dragged her things to the trunk. She sighed as the car rolled off down the street towards the airport.

* * * *

The airport was huge, Jackie thought uneasily. It was abnormally big for such a small town, and it upset her by its incongruity. Wilsted was little, homey, and snug. There wasn't room for this modern invasion. Then she shook her head. She was only twenty-six and thinking like on old woman.

The flight attendant took her ticket and Jackie walked slowly through the gate. ^Flight 467 to New York City now boarding at Gate 16,^ the announcement came over the speakers.

To anyone watching, the beautiful girl looked perfectly happy. But inside she was screaming. But that was Jackie for you. She was used to hiding her emotions except in front of those she loved most. Tears for her had always been a private thing except among her closest friends and family.

The man dressed in jeans and a blue button-down shirt came running through the lobby. He reached the front desk panting. "I need to get on that flight!" he told the slightly surprised flight attendant. "I need that flight to New York. I need it now."

"If I may ask?"

"I'm about to lose the love of my life. I will pay anything. Just get me on that plane."

The woman typed into the computer. "You are a lucky man. We have one seat in coach left. Seat E6. You can have it for two hundred fifty."

The man pulled out a credit card. "Anything."

The woman scanned the card and handed it back to him, along with a ticket. "Go right in."

He sprinted off, breathing a hurried thanks.

The flight was pretty nice, as planes go. He looked through the rows for his seat and found it. Miracle of miracles. He sat down.

"I hope you know you just cost me two hundred and fifty dollars," he said to the woman next him.

She turned to meet his eyes and her mouth fell open. "Booker?"

Booker grinned smugly at his girlfriend. "Told you so."

Jackie's eyes widened. She was speechless. "What... what are you doing here?"

"Like you said, damned if you were going to let this happen again. And so I decided not to let it happen."

Jackie leaned back and smiled suddenly. "You bastard. You just couldn't leave me, could you?"

Booker leaned over and kissed her. "Not a chance, beautiful."

"Hello, folks, and welcome to Flight 467 to New York City. I'm Jason Greene, your pilot. And yes, people, there is someone up front."

People laughed.

"Anyway, it is now 1:30 PM Wilsted time. We will arrive in New York City at 3:02 PM. Sit back and enjoy your flight, and thanks for flying OpenAirways Airlines."

Jackie could hardly believe that the love of her life had just chased her onto a plane to New York. This was beyond what she had hoped for. "How the hell did you manage this?" she asked him as the plane leveled off.

"I told Wood I couldn't let you go. I told him I would be back eventually, and that if he wanted to replace me as deputy he could. I packed my bags and I ran," Booker explained, and his grin made her kiss him again.

They sat back. The flight was very short, only an hour and a half, and they talked through most of it.

The weather as they disembarked at LaGuardia Airport was flawless, with a perfect blue cloudless sky. Jackie led Booker into Manhattan after they got their luggage. Sitting on the number 7 train, only Booker was a little uncomfortable. The train sped through the Midtown Tunnel and they emerged into Grand Central Station.

"Wow!" Booker had only been to New York once before, and the sight of the immense station sheathed in coral marble and sandstone made him gape. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, and New York stores lined the walls. They walked out onto Lexington Avenue. "Okay. I'm staying at the Waldorf-Astoria."

"Ooh, big money for the star," Booker teased.

Jackie swatted him. "They sent me an advance check when I signed on."

The hotel itself was immense, and to Jackie's surprise, several new cast members from the show were staying there before rehearsals started later that day.

The room was huge, decorated in red and gold. Jackie flopped back on the bed and sighed. "At last."

Booker sat down next to her as she rolled onto her stomach. "I feel like I'm looking my future right in the eyes."

Booker leaned down and looked right into her eyes. "You are indeed,"