All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.

This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.

The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.

AN: Oh, wow, two chapters in two days! How did that happen? Inspiration, that's how. As y'all will see, the relationship of our favorite music stars has progressed!

Gaby -can't wait for your review! Please tell me if this chapter feels rushed 'cause I can actually rewrite it.

Inosolan -thank you for your reviews!

Ses -still missing you

Chelsea, Lette, DripDrop, Moani -you are all loved! Please keep reviewing! Enjoy as you read and review!


Chapter Twenty-Eight

Together Again or Together At Last?
September Edition

Amazing to say but we've been spotting Lian Young and July Star all over the city!

Just last week, they were having a romantic picnic in Central Park and as the picture's below show, there was much laughter and displays of affection that could make any cynic go 'aww.'

It seems these two are an item –they are seen having coffee at Ninth Street Espresso, shopping together at Bloomingdales, sharing ice cream at Cones.

Wherever one is, the other seems to be there.

Now, as surprising as this new evolving relationship may seem, many here vote they are the cutest couple in the music business.

Of course, now we wonder –is this going to last?

CMA Awards –Lian Young Performing with July Star by his side!
October Edition

Rumor has it Lian Young will be performing during the CMA Awards –but not alone!

With their video –You and Tequila –being nominated as music video of the year, it's no surprise Lian Young and July Star have been added to the list of performers during the awards show, which will be aired live next month.

Of course, that's not all we've heard. Seems Young and Star have been working together as well as playing together –the next CD to be released will be a collection of songs written and sung by them or so word has it.

Inside source states while they were in Arizona shooting their one and only video –for now –they stopped in Phoenix and took the time to record another duet –this time written by Young.

Seems it's not only the best he's ever written but it's a heart tugger with the emotional combination of two amazing voices…

Young and Star Walk the CMA Red Carpet –Holding Hands!
November Edition

The question many ladies are asking themselves –is Lian Young off the market for good?

He didn't show up alone to walk down the red carpet at the CMA Awards in Nashville –he showed up with July Star by his side –holding hands!

Despite not being part of the country music scene, July Star looked right at home in a beautiful Mac Duggal evening dress, the amethyst silk draped over her beautiful figure, the only skin showing being her slim arms and the delicate curve of her back. Even more beautiful was the bright smiles on their faces –there were many a times throughout the awards ceremony when Young would be whispering into Star's ear making her laugh.

And even better –they held hands the entire time!

Now, we all know what interest us most is if they sang that new song of theirs? For those who didn't get to see the live awards show –not only did they sing their new song 'Give Into Me' but they had the entire audience in tears!


First Week of December
6:35PM

"Do you need help," Julie leaned against the bar, watching as Lian diced tomatoes before dumping them into a pot.

"No, I've got it under control;" Lian grinned at her as he finished with the tomatoes, putting in a couple of crushed garlic cloves, "Why don't you go put some music on?"

"Anything in particular," she pushed away from the bar, walking across the living room floor towards the impressive sound system on the entertainment center against one of the walls.

"Whatever gets your attention," Lian watched as she looked through his collection, swallowing back a groan when she bend down to look at the CDs on the bottom shelf –those tight jeans of hers made her ass look really good.

"You like jazz," she straightened, holding a CD up before opening the case, pulling out the disc as she picked up the remote, pressing the EJECT button to make sure there wasn't a CD in the port, "Dizzy Gillespie is one of my favorites."

"He's got amazing skill," Lian turned around to place the pot on the stove, adjusting the heat so it would simmer, "I've always enjoyed wind instruments, especially the saxophone –find its sound very sexy."

Julie laughed as she took the disc that had slid out of the port, her smile freezing as she looked at the black writing on the cover, "What is this?"

"Uhm," Lian dropped a fistful of pasta into the boiling water, tossing in a clove of garlic and a pinch of salt before placing the lid on the pot, "What is what?"

"This CD," she turned to look at him, holding up the shiny disc, her purple eyes wide as she watched him turn to look at her, "I made this as a Christmas present for someone."

"Yeah, I know," Lian wiped his hands on a dishtowel before placing it on the counter.

"Why do you have it," Julie took a shuddering breath as she worked hard to keep the feelings of betrayal at bay, "How did you get this?"

"Seth sent it to me," Lian placed his hands on the counter, trying to understand why she sounded so upset, "Asked me to give it to Jerry –he passed it on to Natalie who sent the scout to Posh to hear you sing."

"He…" Julie looked down at the CD, trying to swallow past the lump in her throat, "How do you know him?"

"How do I –" Lian's eyebrows lowered in surprise, "Julie, he's my cousin. Didn't he tell you he was going to send me your –"

"You," she interrupted him, her voice rising slightly as she tossed the CD aside, "You're the one who –all this time, you've…have you been laughing at me?"

"What," Lian moved around the bar towards her, stopping in the middle of his living room when she moved around the couch to keep space between them, "No. Julie –I thought you knew –"

"No," Julie shook her head, running her fingers through her long hair, rubbing her hand over her cheek, "He said nothing –he never told me…you never said –"

"I knew about you two," Lian watched her as she wiped tears from her cheek, his gut twisting as a sob escaped her, "I never said because I didn't think you'd –"

"You said…all those things you said about me –" she turned to look at him, her purple eyes bright as tears kept sliding down her cheeks, "What the hell is this? Some sort of competition between you two? Is that why you've –why we've been –you said…you s-said…you s-said you h-hated that he g-got to me f-first."

"Julie, please –"

"No," she shook her head, looking around blindly before taking her jacket from the back of the armchair where she had placed it, "No. You've…he…no."

He watched her turn the knob of his front door, the plea squeezing past the knot in his throat, "Please…please don't go."

She stopped, holding the opened door in her hand, her shoulders shaking as she dropped her head until her forehead touched the door frame.

"I honestly…had no idea…you didn't know," Lian's breathing was slightly labored as he fought back the tears that were building behind his stinging eyes, "Everything I said...what I didn't say…I was an idiot…a jealous idiot wanting what wasn't mine…"

Julie sucked in a sob, her hand tightening around the door, "So that's all this is about…taking Seth's leftovers?"

"Don't…don't you –you're not leftovers…dammit, Julie!"

He shoved his fingers through his hair, gripping the back of his neck, "I love you…I fell for you the very first time I heard your voice…when I listened to you sing…the emotion…the depth of your lyrics…"

She closed her eyes, her chest hurting with every sob that ripped out of her throat, her heart beating fast as he kept talking, "Julie, please…please don't walk out on me…don't…don't do this –not to us."

The fear inside her seemed to swell and pulse with every second that passed yet it didn't keep his words from filling the hollowness inside her.

He watched as she slowly closed the door, her fingers splayed against the wood as her jacket slipped from her hand to fall onto the floor.

Slowly moving across the floor, he stopped a foot away from her, his hand shaking as he reached out to take her hand in his, "I know it's frightening, Julie…I'm scared to death –because without you…I have nothing. You've…you've become everything…without even trying, you've become everything to me."

Her fingers tightened around his, letting him pull her into his arms, his head bowing down to press a kiss against her lips.

Reaching up with her free hand, she buried her fingers into his hair, her mouth opening under his as he wrapped his arms around her, his hands flat against her back.

Sucking her bottom lip, he pressed kisses along her jaw, whispering his love after each one.

Neither knew how it happened but they were in his bedroom, the kiss deep and hot, his hands moving over her body as she pressed her body against his.

Sucking the delicate skin behind her ear, he pulled the hem of her shirt up as she moved her arms over her head, his hands sliding down her arms as soon as he tossed the top aside.

He tugged at her earlobe, his hands moving down her bare back, her hands sliding under his t-shirt, fingers tripping over the ridges of his abdominal muscles.

Pulling back to look down at her, he sucked in a breath at the soft swells of her breasts covered by a pale pink lace bra.

Tracing his fingers along the edge of the lace, he moved his nose across her jaw as she dragged her fingers up his back.

The sharp high pitched fire alarm went off, Lian letting out a sharp breath as he recalled the tomato sauce and pasta he had left on the stove, "I gotta go take –I'll be right back."

She nodded, watching him run out of the room as she bit down on her bottom lip, dropping onto the edge of the bed.

Leaning forward, she dropped her elbows onto her thighs, burying her fingers into her hair.

Dear God –he loved her…he said he loved her, that she was everything to him…was it possible he could love her completely, irrevocably –she was going to have to tell him –and she was going to do it soon because…because she was running out of time –but that wasn't the only thing…he loved her –he said she was everything…she was his and he said he loved her which meant he was hers…all she had to do was…oh God, all she had to do was tell him the truth because she already loved him.


Get a grip on yourself, Young. You've done this before –you love her for God's sake!

Lian dumped the pots into the burnt sink, taking a deep breath as he gripped the edges of the counter, his head hanging between his hunched shoulders –

It's not like he hadn't noticed she hadn't responded in kind when he'd told her he loved her.

And that was what had him scared to death –it had been so long since he'd put his heart on the line like this…but this time it was different –so different because if this…if she…

Pushing himself away from the counter, he ran his fingers through his hair, fisting his hands and pulling hard enough to cause pain.

Dropping his hands to his sides, he took in a breath, mentally chiding himself –she may not love him the way he loved her but he knew –he knew –she had feelings for him…and he was going to do everything to have her fall for him –even if it meant not going through with this if she changed her mind.

Taking in another deep breath, he moved around the bar towards the hallway that lead to his bedroom, taking in another breath before walking into the room where she was waiting.


Julie looked up, her eyes wide as he slowly approached the bed where she sat cross-legged, still in her jeans and bra, her shoes beside the bed.

Reaching the edge, he stood still, their eyes locked on each other as she slowly got on her knees to move across the bed towards him, her fingers sliding down his forearms to interlock with his.

Staring at each other as seconds ticked by, he rubbed his thumbs against the pulse that beat at her wrists.

Realizing she needed to make the first move, she tilted her head back and pressed her lips against his, the tip of her tongue touching his bottom lip for a brief second before his tongue moved over hers, the kiss deepening in seconds.

His hands moved over her body, her fingers tracing his muscles –his shirt hit the floor as he kicked his shoes off, following her onto the bed as she moved back.

His mouth touched her skin, her body bowed into his –he moved his hands down her hips, dragging her jeans down her long legs, pressing a line of kisses down one leg, then up the other after he tossed the jeans to the side.

She groaned softly at the way his hands felt against her skin, the calluses on his fingertips causing a trail of goosebumps to break out, the slick feel of his mouth on her skin causing her body temperature to increase.

It wasn't awkward or strange –their bodies moved together in perfect accordance, their breathing harsh as they melded together to become one body…one soul.


2:02AM
Julie let out a soft breath, her fingers slowly combing through his hair, his head resting on her stomach, his arms wrapped around her hips.

The silence was comfortable…a moment of sacred beauty shared in unity.

A rumbling noise from her stomach had Lian chuckling as he looked up at her face, catching the look of embarrassment on her face, "I promised to feed you, didn't I?"

Her lips spread into a smile as she let out a soft laugh, "You did."

"How about we order pizza," Lian reached over her to pick up his cell phone, scrolling down until he found the number for his favorite pizza parlor –Lombardi's, "Here, go ahead and order –you know what I like."

Julie smiled as she took the phone from him as they answered at the other end of the line, "Lombardi's, how may I help you?"

"I'd like to put in an order for a delivery."

Lian pressed a kiss against her hip, his fingers moving over her thighs to trace the curve of her bottom, Julie's voice hitching slightly as his fingers moved between her thighs.

"Yes, please," she let out a soft moan as Lian licked a path between her breasts, his nose brushing the curve of one breast before closing his mouth over a nipple, "Ex-extra ch-cheese and…oh, God…I'm sorry, I-I stubbed my toe –yes, I'm f-fine…yes, please, yes."

Lian chuckled as he moved his mouth over her chest and up her throat, his hand between her thighs causing her to let out another moan that she tried to stifle with her hand.

Taking the phone from her, he gave the operator on the other line his address before flipping the phone off, tossing the phone onto the bedside table as he closed his mouth over hers, her fingers digging into his back as she wrapped her legs around his waist, her moans increasing with every touch of his hands, every kiss of his mouth –his tongue drawing patterns over her shoulders, her collarbones, leaving tiny little love bites behind.

By the time the delivery guy arrived with their pizza, they were both sated, their breathing finally under control as their hearts beat a slow synchronized rhythm.

Leaving her in bed with a kiss, he pulled on his jeans before taking his wallet, opening the front door and paying the guy as he took the pizza box from him, making sure the door was locked before he returned to the bedroom, smiling at the sight of Julie –his Julie –sitting up in the middle of the bed with nothing but the bed-sheet wrapped around her.

She watched him as he stared at her, tilting her head sideways as her long tangled hair tumbled over her shoulder, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he gave her a soft smile as he moved to sit cross-legged on the bed across from her, the pizza box placed between them, "Seeing you like this –it just awed me."

Her smile was shy as she opened the box, her face flushing slightly when he kept staring at her as she took a slice of pizza from the hot pie, "I'm not going to be able to eat if you keep staring at me like that."

Lian laughed, leaning over the box to kiss her bottom lip, "I definitely wouldn't want that –you need to eat for energy."

"Mhm," Julie chuckled, taking a bite of her pizza as he took a slice of his own, "You've got something in mind to use up that energy?"

"Do I ever," he gave her a roguish smile, reaching across the space separating them to hook a single finger into the edge of the sheet, giving it a slight tug to reveal the top curves of her breasts, "And I think you're going to like it."


9:45AM

Julie let out a soft sigh as she stretched, her muscles pleasantly sore after the night's activities.

Opening her eyes, she stretched her arms over her head as she looked over to Lian's side of the bed just to find it empty.

Pushing herself to a sitting position, she leaned against the headboard of the bed, tucking the bed-sheet under her arms as she wondered where Lian was –the silence was just a little too absolute.

He couldn't have left –she was in his bed, his room, his apartment –so where was he?

Biting her lip, she studied her hands as she pushed back her cuticles, eyes swinging towards the door as a slight sound caught her attention, her lips spreading into a smile as he walked in with a tray –he had made her breakfast and was bringing it to her in bed.

Setting the tray over her lap, he sat on the side of the bed, reaching up to tuck a curl of her hair behind her ear before tilting her chin up so he could kiss her swollen lips, "Good morning beautiful."

Julie smiled against his lips, reaching up to stroke her long fingers across his jaw as she opened her mouth, softly sucking his tongue as soon as he slipped pass her lips.

A soft moan escaped her as he pulled back, her index finger touching his bottom lip briefly before she looked down at the tray.

Blinking, she picked up the purple iris sitting next to a plate of pancakes, the color deep and beautiful with a bright yellow center, "How did you know?"

"They remind me of your eyes," Lian ran his fingers down her arm, smiling as she lifted the bloom to her nose; "They're your favorite flower, right?"

"Yes," she smiled as she gently placed the flower back on the tray, "Thank you…would you like to share my pancakes with me?"

"Why else would I make four?"


Tacoma, Washington
First Week of February

"How was Christmas in Australia?"

Lyn stirred the batter as she looked over at the laptop screen where she was video chatting with Julie, laughing at the way her sister's eyes danced, "It was amazing! Lyn, he's got a huge ranch –and the house is beautiful, with six bedrooms and three bathrooms. It was all decorated and ready for the holidays when we got there."

"What's the nightlife like," Lyn chuckled at the way Julie's face flushed as she tapped the whisk on the side of the bowl before setting it aside, the muffin tray ready for her to start scooping into them, "Did you even go out?"

"We went dancing for New Year's Eve," Julie bit her lip, her eyes bright as she leaned onto the desk, moving her closer to the webcam, "But mostly we spent it on the ranch –sledding, horse riding –"

"Love making?"

Julie giggled, the rose coloring her high cheekbones as she bit her bottom lip, "Lots of it. He's…he's amazing, Lyn."

"You love him," Lyn set the bowl on the table, her lips spreading into a grin, "Oh my God, Julie! You found him!"

Julie laughed as she tucked her hair behind her ear, shyly nodding her head, "I have…but I haven't told him the truth…about my being a –"

The sound of a lock opening had Julie's head snap up, her face lighting up as she ran out of view, Lyn chuckling at the sound of Lian letting out a grunt –he had obviously caught all of Julie's weight.

"What are you doing, baby?"

"Talking to my sister."

The sound of kissing had Lyn feel slightly uncomfortable –even though she couldn't see them because they were out of the webcam's view, it still felt like voyeurism.

Lyn finished filling out the muffin tray, looking up just as the video spun before it settled on Lian and Julie –he was sitting on one of the bar stools, Julie straddling him with her arms around his neck, "Hey Lyn. Julie tells me you're graduating med school in May."

"Yep," Lyn nodded, washing her hands then drying them on a kitchen towel, "I'm sending tickets to her –will you come?"

"Of course," Lian grinned as he wrapped his arms around Julie's waist, a hand lowering to her bottom to hoist her up higher on his lap, "Where Julie goes, I go."

"Well, ain't that cute," Lyn laughed, opening the oven door to slide the tray in before looking at the screen, "Seth's going to be there."

Julie didn't say anything, simply looking at Lian as he kept his eyes on the screen, "That's fine by us. Seth's got his girl and I have mine."

Lyn watched with amusement as Julie kissed Lian, his surprise evident before he kissed her back.

Moving her fingers over the keyboard, she quickly typed in several codes, a flash catching their attention as Julie pulled back to look at the screen, "What was that?"

"The webcam," Lyn grinned at her as she motioned with her hands, "I got a picture of that kiss –I'm going to print it, frame it and give it to mom for her birthday –she's gonna love it!"

"You hacked into my computer?"

"Yep," Lyn grinned, her head snapping up as the front door to her apartment opened, "My husband's home! Firecracker, keep an eye on the mailbox by the end of next week. Oh, and you both be ready to party."

"Will do," Julie and Lian replied simultaneously, all three laughing before the video chat cut off.

Letting out a soft sigh, Julie smiled down at Lian, running her fingers through his hair, "How as your meeting with Natalie?"

"She had a proposition for us," Lian leaned forward to kiss the side of her neck, smiling at the giggles that escaped her, "Wanted to offer us a new contract –as a duo."

"Oh," Julie pulled back to look into his dark brown eyes, nibbling her bottom lip, "How is that going to work? I mean, we've got a good combination with the band and everything but…you sing country…I sing jazz."

"We can call it jazztry," he waggled his eyebrows at her, grinning as she laughed, her fingers linking behind his neck as he kneaded his fingers into her hips, "Just think about it –I think it'll be a good venture but if you're not comfortable with it, that's fine."

Julie smiled, leaning down to kiss him, her teeth tugging his bottom lip before giving it a light nip.

"I got it," Lian gripped her bottom as he stood up, moving across the living room down the hall into her bedroom, "We'll talk about it later…Firecracker."

Julie laughed as Lian lowered her onto the bed, his mouth moving down her neck as he dragged her shirt over her head.

"Now, see, through personal experience, I can understand the nickname," Lian undid the front clasp of her bra, sliding his hand under one cup to cover her breast, the nipple hard against his palm, "But why does your sister call you that?"

"You mean, aside from my name?"

Julie groaned as her head fell back, his mouth sucking hard at her other nipple as the straps of her bra slid down her arms, "I used to have a temper…w-when I was a...a teenager…a-and I w-would just ex-explode…but that was be-because of…of the drugs…and the booze…"

"Right," Lian pulled down the zipper of her jeans as she sat forward to reach for the snap on his jeans, "You were a wild child –you still got some of that in you?"

Julie looked into his dark eyes for a few seconds before grabbing him by his hair and pulling him down, her mouth hard against his.

Her reaction to his question lit his own desire; hands groped each other as clothes were ripped off.

Heavy breathing, bodies' slick with perspiration and just as Lian lifted her hips to bury himself in her, he realized, "Fuck! I forgot to bring a condom."

"I don't care," Julie wrapped her legs around his hips, her fingernails leaving welts across his back as he covered her mouth in a lustful kiss, his words a growl from deep inside his chest, "Neither do I."


Next Morning
10:45AM

"How can I be of service, Mr. Young?"

Lian sat down, settling his foot on his opposite knee as he looked across the desk at the bank manager with a smile, "I'd like to open a trust fund –I've already got a bank account here."

"We can certainly do that," he clicked his mouse a few times, pulling up the information he needed, "What amount are you interested in putting into this trust fund?"

"Half of my checking account as well as my savings."

"I see," he nodded, his daily work with money keeping him from showing any surprise –Mr. Young had quite an extensive portfolio, "Who will your beneficiary be?"

"Equally divided between any children I might have in the future."

He nodded, clicking a few more times before moving his fingers over the keyboard, "You have a trustee in mind?"

Lian gave a nod, his smile relaxed as he looked at the bank manager, "July Star Nelson."