The next few days, the two enjoyed what time they had left and then it was back off to Florida where Ericka and Nicole were waiting for them at the hotel. The two immediately snatched her up in hugs while Scott went to check in.

"We missed you girlie!"

"Missed you guys too, but I still didn't want to leave!"

"I know baby. I know."

Then Nicole noticed.

"What is up with the rock girl?"

Ericka looked at the ring in question, and Lisa could see the confusion in her eyes.

"Valentine's Day present."

"What are you hiding from me?"

"What do you think? Where is it at Ericka?"

"Oh my God."

"He gave me my fairytale Mom."

"That's why you said yes."

"We're not going to run down the isle or anything. We've got to take care of getting me moved up there which won't be attempted for at least a few more months. I was researching it and the rules and regs are insane. It will take me a while to comply with them all."

"They want to make sure they aren't letting a crazy person in the country."

"He's the crazy one of the two of us, so they are stuck with one."

"I heard that."

"You were meant to."

Lisa turned around placing a kiss on Scott's lips. Suddenly Ericka spoke.

"It goes without saying Scott."

"Yes it does."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you very much."

"Why don't we go do something tonight? Like the six of us when we first met?"

"Girl you read my mind. I did not want to be stuck up in this hotel tonight with nothing to do besides stay in it."

"I wanna do karaoke!"

"Oh God, Nicole has a karaoke craving. We're screwed."

"I have a friend that runs a club nearby, I can call and see if we could go there."

"Yay! Scott please!"

"Ease up on the fiancé sister."

"Sorry. I just want to sing tonight as off key as I may be."

"Let me see if I can get ahold of him."

Scott walked off to make his calls leaving the girls alone.

"So you enjoyed your trip?"

"Like I said when you called that first day, too much. The entire time I've been using hell as a good word instead of bad. I still don't say the other yet though."

"Speaking of the other word, do you know if you're going to do the AL thing with Luda?"

"I think it's something I need to do. As much as I don't like that word, it's my song and I have a right to enjoy something that came from all that."

"That's my girl. Does he know?"

"Not yet. He knows I've been thinking about it but nothing definite."

"I told Xavier about it."

"What did he say?"

"He definitely wants to come see Aunt Lisa sing if she chose to do so."

"It did say it was a family friendly show right?"

"The letter didn't, but the website for the show does."

"It's you're call Mom."

"I know, that's gonna be the fun part."

Scott walked back over, wrapping his arms around Lisa's waist.

"Everything's a go. Brandon and Nelson said they're definitely in on this. They'll come get you two in a minute. We are going to take our stuff and go upstairs."

"We've had a long flight, and are exhausted. If we're going out, I want a nap first."

Scott and Lisa got upstairs and as always Lisa jumped on the bed.

"That went over better than I thought it would."

"Same here."

"I told her it would be a while before I even moved in with you because of all the legalities and stuff and that seemed to settle her down a bit."

"What did Nicole say?"

"She seemed cool with it."

"You're really going to sing tonight?"

"Depends on what they have. They fuss at me, telling me I'm showing off usually when I do."

"Did you tell them what else you found out?"

"Nope. There wasn't necessarily the appropriate moment in time to tell them I know where my mother is."

"She called the station trying to find you?"

"That's what they said when they called. I wouldn't have a clue why the fucking druggie."

"Normally if anyone else would be dissing their mother like that I'd say something. However with you, I'm agreeing surprisingly."

"It makes it even harder to do what I plan on doing."

"You're going to sing in AL aren't you?"

"Part of me would want her there just to hear it, but I don't want anything to do with her. She didn't want to be a mother the first 9 years of my life, why does she want to now?"

Lisa put her head in her hands and started crying. Every time it had been brought up since the call from work the day after Valentines, she was like this. Her phone rang.

"It's Ericka baby."

"Answer it."

"Yea Ericka?"

"She asleep already?"

"Nah, she's just not available and she told me to answer it."

Suddenly Ericka heard the sound she had trained herself to listen for over the years; the sound of Lisa crying.

"Scott, why is she crying?"

"We were talking about a sore subject and it upset her."

"OK, mind filling me in here?"

"Can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both. Not my place to."

He heard Lisa speak.

"Tell her, please."

"You're sure."

"Yea."

"Okay."

"Alright Scott, I heard her, start talking."

"She got a phone call from work the day after Valentine's. Apparently the druggie who gave birth to her is looking for her."

"Oh my God. No wonder she's upset."

"Tell me about it. I asked her had she told the two of you, and it upset her. Every time the subject is discussed she gets like this. It gets even better."

"For God sakes, what?"

"She lives in AL."

"Oh God. And Lisa's going to sing there in April."

"Yep. She's already said she wants nothing to do with her, but would want her to hear the song. Her exact words were she didn't want to be a mother the first 9 years of my life, why does she want to be one now?"

"I don't blame her one damn bit Scott."

"Neither do I."

"Take care of her Scott. We're gonna leave here about 7:30."

"Believe me Ericka, I'll try. We meeting in the lobby?"

"Yea."

"Okay."

Later in the evening they were all at the club and of course, the sisters headed towards the book of songs. Well Lisa was drug more accurately. When she heard Nicole gasp she knew she was in trouble.

"Which one did you find Nicole?"

"Madonna."

"Oh my God. Any song but that."

"I'm not seeing any of your others baby."

"Shit."

"Just think, you'll get laid when we get back to the hotel."

"I was going to get laid anyways."

"Well think of it as a reassurance."

"Ha ha. This is not Fort Myers."

"We're very much aware. Please sissy!"

"Oh God you know I hate when you do that."

"Cause I get my way."

"And I'm the baby of this bunch? Yea sure."

"Yay!"

"You know you're getting paid back for this at some point."

"I know."

Lisa walked over to Scott sitting down beside him.

"Nicole's going to die a painful death."

"What did she do?"

"Talked me into singing a song I have NO business singing here. In Ft. Myers it would be different. I feel safe in that environment as I know everyone. Here is a different ball game."

"You can be safe because us guys are here."

"I won't be safe after I finish."

"What does that mean baby?"

"The song."

"What is it?"

"Nope."

"You're not telling me?"

"No way jose. Not even a hint."

"Baby…"

"Let me put it this way, you'll definitely enjoy it. You'll understand why I perform it in an environment I feel safe in."

They finally called her up to the stage and she shot Nicole a death look, which got her a smile in return. When the music started Scott's eyes got big as half dollars as he was familiar with the song. Madonna's Hanky Panky? No wonder she had said what she did.

(Spoken) Come over here!

Some girls, they like candy, and others, they like to grind,
I'll settle for the back of your hand somewhere on my behind.
Treat me like I'm a bad girl, even when I'm being good to you,
I don't want you to thank me, you can just spank me. Mmm.

Some guys like to sweet talk, and others, they like to tease,
Tie my hands behind my back and, ooo, I'm in ecstasy.
Don't slobber me with kisses, I can get that from my sisters,
Before I get too cranky, you better...

Chorus:

Like hanky panky [hanky panky,
Nothing like a good spanky [good spanky.
Don't take out your handkerchiefs,
I don't wanna cry, I just wanna hanky panky.
Like hanky panky [hanky panky,
Nothing like a good spanky [good spanky.
Don't take out your handkerchiefs,
I don't wanna cry, I just wanna hanky panky guy.

Oooo.

Please don't call a doctor, 'cause there's nothing wrong with me,
I just like things a little rough and you better not disagree.
'Cause I don't like a big softie[no, I like someone mean and bossy,
Let me speak to you frankly, you better...

(chorus)

Oooo, yeah.

Spoken:

What about? Yeah. That's an interesting...
Oooo.
My bottom hurts just thinking about it.

[She wants you to Treat me like I'm a bad girl,
[She needs you to Even when I'm being good to you.
I don't want you to thank me [Don't thank her, you better...

(chorus)

[Hanky panky Oooh, yeah
[Good spanky Get the picture?
[Don't wanna cry, I just wanna

That's the way I came into this world,
The doctor said, "Lady, she's a beautiful girl."
He gave me a spanky and I started to smile,
So give it up, honey, 'cause I want it.
Yeah.
[Hanky panky, good spanky, don't wanna cry, I just wanna

Lisa got off the stage as they were calling up Nicole. She smacked her in the back of the head as she passed her by and Ericka just laughed. Lisa was the only one allowed to hit Nicole since they had met. She told her one time it was because she reminded her of Stacy, her best friend she had lost right before she ran away. Lisa got back over to Scott and she saw the smirk on his face.

"Told you I wouldn't be safe."

"You feeling like fried chicken baby?"

"Oh yea."

"The song's so opposite of you though."

"Exactly why I sing it. It allows me to pretend to be someone I'm not for a few minutes. You didn't get to see the whole performance thing I do with it though. It was kinda toned down."

"Understood, but I hope to someday see the whole thing."

"I've created a monster."

"Yep. You going to sing anymore tonight?"

"Knowing my sister, Nicole will rope me into one more at least. I pick this one though."

Then he saw a light bulb go off inside her head. She went over to the book and he could tell she found whatever it was she was looking for and called over the lady who ran it. That went well too apparently. She headed over to Ericka and told her something then came back over to him.

"Ok what was that about?"

"You'll see. It's just Ericka's favorite song for me to do. Nicole thought she'd be cute and have me do the other first. It's mine because it shows off a bit of my vocal range."

"I can't wait baby."

Lisa had told Ericka not to mention it to Nicole so when the lady called her back up, Nicole was shocked. She put on a handless microphone. When the music started she heard a squeal from Nicole. Paid My Dues, by Anastacia.

[Spoken:
You can say what you want about me
Wanna do what you want to me
But you can not stop me

I've been knocked down
It's a crazy town
Even got punched in the face in L.A.
Ain't nothing in the world that you keep
me from doing what I wanna do

'Cause I'm too proud, I'm too strong
Live by the code that you gotta move on
Feeling sorry for yourself
Ain't got nobody nowhere

so I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Well I made it (I made it)
I don't hate it (Don't hate it)
That's just the way it goes
Yeah
I done made it through
Stand on my own two
I paid my dues, yeah
Tried to hold me down
You can't stop me now
I paid my dues

[Spoken:
so like I told you
You cannot stop me
I paid my dues

Now I'm still tested everyday
people try to mess with Anastacia
gotta nothing in common
cause I handle mine
and I thought I better let you know

I'm no punk I can't get down
I don't give a damn about who's around
that was just fine 'til now

So I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Well I made it (I made it)
Oahh (Don't hate it)
That's just the way it goes
Yeah
I done made it through
Stand on my own two
I paid my dues
Yeah yeah
Tried to hold me down
you can't stop me now
I paid my dues, yeah
yeah yeah yeah
Took so long to get me here (here)
But I won't live in fear (fear)
You try to steal my shine (shine)
But first they wanna build you up (up)
Then they tear you down (down)
It's a struggle tryin' to bubble
so I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Oahh (I made it)
(Don't hate it)
Said that's - just - the - wayyyyy
(I done made it through)
(Stand on my own two)
I said I paid my, I paid my dues
Yeahhhhh
(Tried to hold me down)
But you can't stop me now (you can't stop me now)
(I paid my dues) I paid my, paid my dues
(I done made it through) oahhh
(Stand on my own two) oh
(I paid my dues) I paid my, I paid my dues
yeahh (Tried to hold me down)
But you can't stop me now (you can't stop me now)
(I paid my dues) I paid my dues

Scott watched in amazement of her on the stage. She had mentioned that Ericka had told her on several occasions that she thought she could sing professionally if she wanted to. Right at this moment, he was agreeing 200 with Ericka. He was surprised someone at her work hadn't contacted someone, etc and tried to sign her. The whole audience was clapping along with her and everything. She owned that stage. He could only imagine what was going to happen in AL with Ludacris.