10…

The torches were lit.

9…

The flyers were passed around.

8…

The sun was setting.

7…

The men were ready.

6…

The crowd was clapping.

5…

The mood was palpable.

4…

The instruments were tuned.

3…

John still wasn't happy about it being free.

2…

There were glimmers in everyone's eyes.

1…

Here we go.

Unlike the explosive introductory song that began a typical Family Force 5 concert, the acoustic string-plucking started off softly. The crowd hushed and practically leaned forward in anticipation. This was different from any FF5 song they had ever heard.

Olivia looked over at Danielle in confusion, who then motioned her over. "It's a new song the boys have been working on," she told Olivia. "You should hear the non-acoustic version. It's similar, but even better."

"What's it called?" Olivia asked.

"'You Light Up My Life'," she answered.

Olivia focused on the performance. Solomon was singing softly, and Jacob was quietly doing harmony.

"It's funny how you think you'll always be alone, but then somebody finds you and makes you feel at home," Sol sang. "I know I haven't known you for years or even days, but I know we'll be together 'cause you make me feel this way."

Jacob stepped in with a solo. "I just have to tell you how much you mean to me, you opened up my eyes and you helped me to see…"

All three brothers sang melody and harmony for the chorus. "Oh, I really think that I love you. Oh, I really think you're the one. You help me through each day, and every by and by. And I just wanted to say…you light up my life."

The song continued, but Olivia had stopped listening. The bassist had locked eyes with her during the chorus, and gestured to her for every "you".

This song was written by him…for her.

It was almost too much to handle. No one had ever written her a song before.

She felt tears well up in her eyes as she smiled at him.

He was so perfect.

…

The show had gone off without a hitch. The crowd had loved the new song, and by the last chorus, had even sung along. Of course, they had played more than one song. Fan favorites were twanged out as well. After the entire concert was finished, Josh had walked up to Olivia and embraced her. No words. Just love.

Half an hour later, they were still tangled up in one another's arms. Jacob sat across from them in a beach chair, resting his chin in his hand. He just smiled at the happy couple. He had never seen Josh this way, and it made him happy to see his twin finally satisfied. He had also never seen Josh contribute so much to a song's lyrics. Or tune. Or beat. Or—

Heck, Josh had written the WHOLE song.

But that was totally cool with Jake. He knew it was for Olivia, and although Solomon had originally challenged Josh on his place…("I'm pretty sure I'M the singer…")…eventually they had just let him take control over the process.

And he had to admit, his song was really good. So much meaning behind it.

Not as crunk as their other tunes, but hey. Sometimes a slow song was what a band needed.

Jacob looked back over to his brother and his girl. Olivia's eyes were closed, and she was breathing softly and systematically. Awww. She had fallen asleep in the log's arms.

"So adorable," Jake murmured to himself. He smiled again.

…

Back on the bus, Solomon sat alone in the living room area. Going through the song-writing process always inspired him to write more than one song. And since he really didn't have much say on the last one they had composed, he was in the mood to crank out another.

What should he write about…?

Dancing? Nah.

Partying? Nope.

Love? No.

He crumpled up another piece of paper and threw it into the trash can. "Score," he mumbled.

He had nothing to go off of. C'mon, think, think…He tapped his head with his pencil. Usually he figured out a cool beat on his laptop first, but he wanted to write lyrics today.

DING.

It came to him.

Grinning like he was 14 again, he began to furiously scrawl words on his paper.

…

Later that night, Olivia and Lauren returned to the hotel room they were paying way too much for, considering the amount of time they actually spent in it. They collapsed onto their beds, happy as could be. Lauren broke the silence.

"What a show."

Olivia threw a pillow at her and giggled. "WHOA! What was that for?" Lauren stood up, hands on her hips.

"You're just…I just felt like it," she laughed.

Lauren felt the Solomon in her rising. "Well dude, seriously. No need to chuck things at me." She remembered how a few nights ago Jacob had told her, crying, that he had thrown and destroyed her snow globe. "I just got so angry and I chucked it," he had said. Of course, she had only stroked his short black hair and told him that the globe didn't matter, what mattered was that he was okay.

She snapped back to the present. "1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a pillow war!" she yelled, grabbing her own pillow and tossing it at Olivia.

BAM! It hit her in the face. Lauren guffawed. "Hahahaha, right in the Josh-kisser!" she whooped.

Normally Olivia would've narrowed her eyes at this punchy statement. But she was still on a high from the concert. "You know it!" she called back, dodging another pillow and throwing a T-shirt at Lauren.

"HEY! THAT'S MY FAVORITE SHIRT!" she yelled.

"Geez, calm down, 'Solomon,' " Olivia couldn't stop laughing. "It's just a shirt."

"Well in that case…" Lauren threw a shoe at Olivia. It bounced off her back.

"OW! THAT HURT!"

"Don't throw my clothes then!"

"Clothes are soft, stupidhead! Sheesh!"

Lauren started laughing. "C'mere, you sappy-dap," she said as she lunged forward and hugged Olivia. "We are such lunatics."

"It's 'cause we're in love," Olivia said as she hugged Lauren back. "Not with each other…I mean…uh…"

"Shut up. I know what you meant." Lauren stuck her tongue out. "What do you wanna do now?"

"I dunno. Watch a movie?"

"We could…or…" Lauren revealed a home-burnt CD. "We could listen to YOUR SONG all night long and reminisce!"

"LEMME AT IT."