Hey everybody! Sorry for the slow update, I'll get better at that, cross my heart and hope to marry well. Disclaimer, this show and it's characters aren't mine.

"No." Ivy says

"Oh come on, just think about it." Tom pleads with her.

"I'm already in Bombshell and we just got a Tony. I can't stop when we're so popular."

"We haven't even started this musical yet, you'll have plenty of time to be Marilyn before we even start rehearsing."

"I can't work with Karen, you know that." She says, her blonde hair swishing as she shakes her head vigorously.

"That was because you two were competing with each other, this time you won't be." Ivy scoffs.

"We will always be in competition. She has always tried to steal my spotlight, and somehow she's always gotten it. I don't want to deal with that. I don't have to."

"She doesn't have a Tony." Tom reminds her, Ivy shrugs, her arms crossing, unconvinced.

"And she doesn't have Derek."

"Only because she picked Jimmy." She says, her eyes and clenched hands falling to her lap. Tom reaches over and takes her hands in his.

"Ivy, you know that's not true. Derek is...difficult, but he really does love you." She sighs.

"I know, I do. It's just hard. She gets everything handed to her on a silver platter, and she still acts like her life is hard."

"I know, and that's frustrating-"

"It's infuriating, and I can't work with that."

"You're sort of rivals in this musical, channel that emotion. You'll move your audience to tears and thunderous applause."

"I already do that." She says, laughing as Tom bumps her shoulder with his.

"Just think about it." He says.

"Fine, I will. But if we do end up working together and are nominated for the same award, I can promise you right now, my rationality will fly straight out the window."

"And I can promise you I'll be there to be the calm one." Tom says with a laugh. Ivy smiles and snuggles into his shoulder as she turns her attention back to the old Marilyn movie playing in front of them.

"So what's happening with you and Patrick?" She asks, he groans.

"Nothing. He called once, but it was strictly business, and he hasn't called since." She pats his shoulder sweetly.

"He'll come around soon."

"I don't want him to come around, I want him to come out." Tom grumbles, eliciting a laugh from Ivy.

"Oh, what time is it?" She asks, checking her watch.

"I have to go, I'm meeting Derek for lunch before Bombshell." She hugs Tom as they rise from her couch.

"Julia was talking to him about this new musical hopeful this morning, talk it over with him, will you?" Tom asks, Ivy shakes her head in disbelief.

"I know, we're a great team." He says, smiling cheekily at her.

"That's one thing to call you. I'll see you later."

"Hi Derek, sorry I'm late." Ivy says, taking off her coat as she sits down.

"Hello darling, I've ordered your usual." He says. "You look positively radiant today." Ivy looks at him warily.

"Thank you?" She says, though it sounds like a question. He doesn't say things like that, but compliments are always appreciated.

"What's going on?" She asks.

"I talked to Julia today, she's hoping to make a new musical, and she asked me to direct it."

"That's so great! Did you say yes?"

"I wanted to talk to you first. What are you thinking about this?"

Ivy smiles, even as her mind is making lists of the pros and cons of working on this new project. Derek doesn't consult with her on things, at least he didn't. Things are changing between them, and it's good.

"I'm not sure. By the end of the year I'll probably want something new, but we'll have a kid by then." She says, Derek nods.

"I know, and I want us to be there for our child, but I really think we can do this."

Ivy bites her lower lip, half in thought and half not wanting to smile again because he said the words our and we. It shouldn't cause her heart to flutter as much as it does. She blames it on the hormones.

"I-" she hesitates. "I really don't want to work with Karen again."

She steels herself to Derek's disapproval. He simply takes her hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin.

"Why not?" He asks. "When you two were getting along, you got on well."

"We almost never got along. The times when I could most tolerate her were pretty much when I was either drunk or tipsy."

"Then we'll get you a minibar in your dressing room." Derek says, smiling proudly at himself when she laughs.

"I don't think that would work very well." She says.

"Maybe it would work too well."

"Maybe." Their food arrives and they eat uninterrupted for a while.

"Why don't you like Karen?" Derek asks, only curiosity in his tone. Ivy studies his expression before answering.

"Remember in the very beginning, when I was the first Marilyn?" Derek nods. Ivy looks down at their hands, unsure of how to continue. His hand is strong and reassuring, holding on to hers gently.

"She was so bright, trying to dazzle everyone from behind me. And it worked. She entranced you." He makes a noise, but when she stops he motions for her to continue.

"I would see the way you'd look at her, like she was Marilyn." This time it's his gaze that flickers down, while hers is unwavering, analyzing his reactions even as she tries to seem emotionless.

"That's how it feels to me all the time. In the moments that are supposed to be mine, she's always behind me, trying to steal my spotlight... It didn't help that she told everyone I only got the part because I slept with you." Derek actually flinches.

"Ivy-"

"It's ok, it doesn't matter." She says.

"It does. And that's not-" She interrupts him again.

"Do you know why I slept with you?"

"Because I'm ruggedly handsome." He says, making her laugh.

"Maybe." She teases.

"But mostly," She ignores him when he huffs. "It was the passion in your eyes. You cared so much about your work and this musical, it was- well, it was beautiful." She blushes. He kisses her palm.

"Thank you." He says quietly, something deeper than gratitude in his tone.

They finish lunch on a lighter tone, joking and teasing each other on the way to work, though Ivy can tell Derek has something on his mind. As they reach Bombshell, he finally spits it out.

"Ivy, I'm not good with words or expressing my feelings, I usually just say things and hope you understand." Ivy nods, remembering the times he'd surprised her like that before.

"But I'm going to try harder this time." He says, taking her hands in his.

"Ivy, I chose Karen because she wasn't you." She tries to keep her features calm. He notices her hurt anyway.

"That's not what I meant. I just meant, she was moldable. I could shape her to be the Marilyn I saw in my head. I couldn't do that with you."

"Why not?" She asks.

"Because you cared too much. You had your own image for how Marilyn should be. She was a part of you. You wear Marilyn like a second skin; and very well too, if I might add." She rolls her eyes, used to his flirting but still loving it.

"But you're Ivy Lynn, and your brilliance can't be covered over. When people applaud Karen, they cheer for her character. When people applaud Marilyn, they're clapping for you." Ivy kisses him. For a really long time.

"And you said you're not good with words." She says breathlessly, flashing him her megawatt smile.

"I told you I was trying." He says, kissing her again. She pulls away reluctantly after a bit, but only slightly.

"I have to go to work now." She breathes against his mouth. He kisses her once more quickly before letting her go.

"Oh, Ivy?" He says as she starts to walk away.

"Yeah?"

"I slept with you because I wanted to. You got the part because you deserved it."

Ivy is humming as she gets ready in her dressing room, Leigh walks in the doorway, smiling as she watches her daughter sway around the room.

"Someone's in a good mood." She comments. Ivy smiles, though she stops dancing.

"Hi Mom, I am." She shimmies into her dress, Leigh walks over to help her with the zipper.

"Have you started working out yet?" Leigh asks, Ivy sighs.

"I haven't really had the time."

"I always found time to work out before doing a show, it's important." It's quiet for a while, both of them silent as they put on their stage makeup.

"I was asked to be in a new musical today. Tom and Julia are writing an original, and they want me to be in it."

"How wonderful, have you said yes yet?" Leigh asks excitedly.

"I don't know if I want to do it."

"Why not? You can't be Marilyn forever."

"I have some pretty good reasons." Ivy says, her hand unconsciously sliding over her stomach. There's barely anything there, but she's always aware of what she's hiding.

"Like what?" Leigh asks, her eyes checking her reflection in the mirror.

"Well for one thing, they want Karen to be in it too."

"She's a sweet girl, very talented." She says. Ivy's mouth falls open in shock.

"She stole my part from me." She says tightly.

"You got it back." Leigh says, shrugging her shoulders once.

Ivy struggles to keep her emotions in check, loosening her jaw every time it clenches. She has to do it three times. Leigh notices it in the mirror's reflection, she turns her chair to face Ivy, placing one hand on her knee.

"Sweetheart, you are a star, just like you always said you would be. You fought and fought and fought for this role. And you won. And you're always going to have to fight like that, this is show business. So if one girl is going to keep you from doing what you love, then you're in the wrong profession."

Ivy's smile is watery as she hugs her mother. She called her a star. Sometimes, Leigh knows just what to say.

"Thanks Mom." Leigh brushes the hair from her daughter's cheek, smoothing it in place behind her ear.

"Don't cry, it'll mess up your makeup." She says gently, Ivy nods with a laugh, swiping her fingers against the bottom of her eyes.

"Ivy, you're on in five." A stage hand says, knocking on the door.

"See you onstage." Ivy says, Leigh smiles.

"Go be Marilyn."

Derek is reading the material for the new musical when he gets a call from Karen.

"Derek, I just got asked to be in Tom and Julia's new project!" She says as greeting, her voice practically bursting with excitement.

"Did you accept?" He asks.

"Yes, of course!"

"What about Hit List?"

"I love Hit List, but it's different without Jimmy."

"You mean better." Derek says.

"That's not fair. He was great."

"A great pain in my-"

"Be nice." She interrupts.

"Fine. Have you visited him?"

"Just once. I'm visiting him again when I'm not so busy."

Derek hears voices in the background.

"I have to go soon." Karen says. "Oh, Derek?"

"Yes?"

"Is Ivy going to accept the other role?" He hesitates to answer.

"I'm not sure yet, we're still talking about it."

"Ok. Well, just know that I'll be professional if she will."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Great. Ok, I really have to go now. Bye."

"Good luck."

Derek hangs up the phone. He takes a deep breath, then he pours over Julia's drafts with new vigor.

It's late when Ivy comes home on aching feet, Derek's sitting up in bed, a scotch in one hand and the TV remote in the other, mindlessly flipping through channels.

"Hey." He says softly, muting the TV.

"Hi." She says, stretching as she pads over to the bathroom.

"How was it tonight?" He asks her.

"Really fantastic." Ivy says as she brushes her teeth. He hears her rinse and spit.

"We had a really great audience tonight." She says, though muffled as she changes into pajamas. She walks back into the bedroom, hair mussed and eyes sleepy. She sighs contentedly as she slips under the covers. She kisses Derek once.

"You're still wearing lipstick." He says, she just snuggles into his side.

"Yeah. Didn't take off my makeup, and not gonna till tomorrow." She slurs from exhaustion.

"Ok." He says, smiling at the image she makes. He turns off the TV and slides down the bed, Ivy burrowing herself deeper into his side as he lies down. It's dark and quiet except for the sound of their slowing breath.

"Oh, hey Derek?" Ivy says, poking him in the side to get his attention.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to accept the role. You ok with that?"

"More than ok."

"Good."

"You'll be amazing."

"I know. Goodnight."