Ivy ran into the lobby of Derek's building, heading straight for the front desk.

"Good afternoon," a doorman with the nametag 'Jacob' greeted her.

"Good afternoon," Ivy acknowledged hastily. "I'm here to see – I'm hoping to see Derek Wills; he lives on the top floor. My name is…"

"I know your name, Miss Lynn," Jacob responded. "I've seen your show and you are wonderful in it."

Ivy let out a small laugh. "It's hardly my show." It was a response she often gave, but she loved hearing Bombshell referred to as 'hers'. "Is he in?"

Jacob nodded his head and buzzed her to the top level.

Ivy rode the elevator upstairs, grateful for the privacy. The past week had been a whirlwind of revelations and adventures, and now she was sure of one thing.

The elevator dinged to its final destination and Ivy stepped forward. Her mouth opened in surprise as Derek intercepted her in the entryway. "Hi."

Derek nodded, offering her a small smile, and guided her to a corner of the penthouse. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I hope it's okay – I had to see you."

"Ivy, can I call you later…."

"I took care of the situation with Daisy Parker," Ivy said quickly, taking Derek's hand. "She won't be around the city anymore."

Derek winced, squeezing her hand. "What do you mean you took care of her?"

Ivy let out a quick laugh at the thought of taking such a drastic measure. "She's in one piece – in California. With a new job as a cabaret singer. I used one of my old contacts to land her a job. That and a few of my grandmother's designer bags is more than enough to tide her over and keep her away from us."

"Ivy…."

"She's under a five year contract in Los Angeles, and if she plays her cards right, it could lead to bigger opportunities. It's a second chance for all of us." Ivy waited for Derek to say something. "Unless that's not what you want anymore." Ivy started to pull her hand away. "In which case, Daisy is still out of your hair, and so am I."

Derek reached for Ivy's hand. "I didn't want you getting involved."

"I became involved the minute I saw those messages on your phone."

"I'm going to pay you back for the handbags. Does your grandmother know what they're being used for?"

Ivy shook her head. "She only knows that I needed them. And I don't want money for them. All I want is you. I love you too, and I have for quite some time. I wasn't ready to tell you last week, but I am now."

A small smile formed on Derek's mouth. "There's someone that I want you meet." Derek guided Ivy into the main area of the penthouse.

"Oh." Ivy stood behind Derek feeling suddenly shy in the presence of New York Post columnist Michael Riedel.

"Michael, I'd like to formally introduce you to the one and only Ivy Lynn – a very special person."

Michael stood up, offering Ivy his hand. "At last we meet properly. Glad to see you've finally found a production worthy of your many talents."

"You should have seen her under my direction," Derek smirked.

"Pleased to meet you," Ivy eked out, struggling to meet the journalist in the eye. Having spotted him at various events, and reading his column religiously, this was still the closest she had ever been to the critic.

Derek placed his hand at the small of Ivy's back. "I was just telling Michael about what's been going on at Hit List these past few weeks, and a certain red head star."

Ivy felt her body stiffen, wondering if her deal with Daisy was made too late.

"But it sounds like there's a more interesting story to tell," Michael pressed, looking at Derek and Ivy. "I was never quite able to confirm my suspicions about you two last year, and now that you're in two rival productions…"

"A professional rivalry," Derek clarified.

Michael grabbed his tape recorder and quickly erased the recording from earlier that day. "If you two have a story to tell, I'm all ears."

"Why don't the three of us set up a time for that?" Derek suggested. "Ivy's just gotten back from a weekend with her family and I haven't seen very much of her."

Michael nodded. "Well I will let you two catch up. And I'll be holding you to that interview – I believe I am owed a story. Ivy, it was a pleasure to meet you – I look forward to speaking with you further."

"Me too," Ivy murmured, a tingling beginning to run down her spine. She managed a goodbye wave and turned to Derek. "You were going to confess about Daisy?"

Derek took Ivy's hands in his. "I thought it was the only way I would ever get another chance with you."

"You could have blown up your career!" Ivy scolded, swatting him on the arm.

"I would have bounced back…eventually," Derek finished.

Ivy let out a low laugh. "You seem so sure of yourself."

"I'll admit it was a gamble. But I had to try." Derek leaned in to kiss Ivy, only for her to intercept him midway.

"We need to talk first – before we do anything else." Ivy felt Derek's eyes boring into her, waiting for an explanation. "When you kiss me, I forget about everything and then life gets in the way, keeps us apart."

"Then why don't we both get comfortable?" Derek offered, heading towards the bar. "Have a seat."

Ivy gratefully accepted a glass of red wine. "First question – is there anyone else? Anything else that I need to be aware of."

"No," Derek assured her. "There's no one else, Ivy, there hasn't been for quite some time. Since we started hanging out, I haven't thought about anyone else. I don't know what life will bring tomorrow, the next day, or the one after that, but I do know that I want you by my side, no matter what."

Ivy nodded in agreement.

"I'm guessing that this is a two-way street, that I get to ask a question or two as well."

"Of course." Ivy curled her feet onto the sofa and poured another glass of wine for herself and Derek.

"Would it be alright if I accompanied you to see your family on your next visit?"

Ivy's eyes lit up. "You'd really want to come back with me to Connecticut?"

"You seem surprised."

"I guess I am. I never took you for much of a 'family' type."

"Well," Derek said softly, his body tensing. "I didn't have much of a family life growing up in England. But the one day that I spent with your family – it made me long for something that I never had."

Ivy leaned forward, cupping Derek's face in her hands, her lips meeting his. He had never made himself so vulnerable to her. "Well it's a good thing that my family and I are a package deal," Ivy said with a gentle assurance.

Derek returned her kiss with his own. "I could even spend time teaching you to drive, go beyond a learner's permit."

"Well if you teach like you direct," Ivy teased. "I'm not so sure we'd both make it out alive."

"Give me a chance to redeem myself," Derek prodded, running his finger down Ivy's arm.

"You are very persuasive," Ivy murmured, closing her eyes. There was in fact, a new story being written, and just in the nick of time.