Ivy Lynn cast a sideways glance at her alarm clock flashing 6:05 in the morning. Right on schedule, she moaned, dashing for the bathroom. There were definite scheduled moments of morning sickness: early morning, pre-lunch, intermission of performances both matinee and evening. Kneeling on the floor, hovering over the bowl, Ivy felt a rush as everything came flooding up. She braced herself for a second wave, feeling a sensation pulling on her hair. "I didn't mean to wake you," Ivy apologized in between heaves.
"Well given that I was curled up next to you, I couldn't help but feel the movement," Derek observed, placing her hair in a ponytail holder.
"I may as well always wear my hair up," Ivy muttered bitterly. "For the next several weeks at least. This shouldn't last the entire pregnancy."
"I'd be here for you either way," Derek assured her, massaging her shoulders. "Got another round in you?"
"Of this?" Ivy gestured to the toilet seat. "I usually wait a minute to see. Though it's hard to do when it happens right before the curtain call of a show," she grimaced. "I think I was getting a bit of a reputation for being unreliable – not my first time."
"When people find out about your condition, they'll see just how reliable you are."
Ivy patted Derek's arm. "Would you be so kind as to help me off the floor?"
"It would be my pleasure." In one swift motion, Derek pulled her off the floor and steadied her footing. Derek placed a kiss on Ivy's mouth. "Good morning."
"I must be disgusting, I haven't even brushed my teeth yet," Ivy scolded, reaching for her toothbrush and mouthwash.
"Let me check." Derek kissed her once more. "Nothing disgusting about you," he confirmed.
Ivy leaned her body against him as she quickly brushed her teeth. "At least it's Monday, no shows, no work."
"Does this mean we can go back to bed?"
"I do believe it does."
Derek tugged at Ivy's arm, guiding her to the bed. "Now let's resume right back where we were."
Ivy readily agreed snuggling in under the sheet as her phone went off. "Maybe I'll put my phone to vibrate. Would you do the same?"
"I will if you will," Derek stated, accepting her challenge.
"Busy director Derek Wills goes off the grid," Ivy teased.
"I'd like to think of it as making up for lost time." Derek undid Ivy's pony, letting her hair cascade around her shoulders. Nearly an hour went by before a rumbling came from Ivy's phone. "Tell me who is daring to contact you at 7:45 in the morning," Derek growled, reaching over for Ivy's phone before she could grab it.
"Give that back," Ivy insisted, jostling Derek's arm as the name 'Tom' evaporated on the screen.
"Nothing better to do than call you," Derek scoffed. "I thought he'd be off celebrating somewhere."
"He may be feeling pressure from Eileen on what do with the show." Ivy propped herself up on her elbow, collecting her phone. "Box office has never been stellar, but Agnes forecasted a surge if we got some key wins."
"I counted four for your show."
"And seven for yours," Ivy countered.
"The majority of which were technical awards – Bombshell got the biggest win of the night."
"Was that my best leading actress win or best show," Ivy teased. Derek pouted, turning over. "In all seriousness, I'm sorry you didn't win best direction."
"You weren't cheering for Tom all along?"
"I was cheering for both of you and hoping for another two-way tie, like at the Outer Critics Circle awards. I seem to recall Hit List got more of those as well."
"Diane Paulus wasn't really that great was she?"
"She modernized Oliver for a new era," Ivy shrugged. The nominating committee loves fresh takes."
"I'll keep that in mind for next year."
Ivy leaned over Derek's shoulder to kiss his cheek. "Always planning ahead." Ivy snuggled against his shoulder, grateful for another few moments of rest. A persistent ding broke the silence. Ivy chastised Derek for breaking their morning pact. "You said you put your phone to vibrant!"
Derek brushed off Ivy's complaint and slid out of the bed taking the call.
"Well if that's how this morning is going to go then I'm calling Tom!" Ivy waited for Derek to return.
"Apparently my show is in chaos after last night," Derek muttered, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Seven wins and still not satisfied."
"Jerry Rand is never satisfied."
"You're doing business with the wrong Rand," Ivy teased.
"Don't I know it. I'm getting chewed out over last night's apparent 'hijacking'."
"Poor Daisy Parker is bitter that she didn't get to perform?" Ivy questioned with light sarcasm.
"Poor Daisy Parker told Jerry the entire cast and I are against her. The cast is refusing to perform with her, which leaves us with a few very unpleasant options."
"Recast the diva."
"Keep the diva and recast everyone else."
"Is she really that great?"
Derek kissed Ivy's hand. "She's no you, no one is. But the press is on her side after…after my interview and her playing the victim card."
"Derek…"
"I know what I did was wrong, but she was wrong too in blackmailing me. She nearly had the entire theatre community turned against me."
"No one has that much power."
"Well we may soon find out. Jerry wants an emergency meeting with the creative team to go over next steps. Apparently, he has some 'disturbing news' about Jimmy Collins."
Ivy threw a pillow over her head. "I was hoping to not have to think about Jimmy or Karen today. Will she be there?"
"Most likely. But as soon as I get back, I am coming straight to you."
"You'd better. I guess today would be a good day to tell Tom, Julia, and Eileen about the baby."
"You want me there with you?" Derek offered.
Ivy shook her head. "You have your own stuff to deal with, and Tom may take the news better if it comes from me first."
"Why are you so worried about Tom anyway?" Derek asked, getting dressed.
"He's my best friend."
"Does best friend trump boyfriend?"
Ivy wagged her finger at Derek. "Why don't you come on over here and I'll show you," she challenged.
Derek leaned in for kiss. "Tempting."
"Talk after?" Ivy asked breathlessly.
Derek nodded in agreement, putting on his shoes. "Just remember, every 'goodbye' leads to a 'hello'," he assured her, heading out the door.
Ivy slipped into her robe and started her morning routine. Today she was going to tell the Bombshell production team that she was pregnant, before the baby got any bigger and wound up spoiling her news.
Ivy rushed into Eileen's office building, giving a cursory wave to the assistant at the desk. "Sorry I'm late."
"A leading lady never apologizes for being late," Eileen reprimanded with a smirk. "Especially after she just won a major award."
"We closed out the night with the two big ones," Agnes Molina crowed.
"Is that supposed to make up for the fact that I didn't get best director?" Tom Levitt asked from the sofa.
"Well Derek didn't win best director either," Julia Houston pointed out. "And we all took some something." Julia took home a Tony for Best Lyrics, Tom took home an award for best score, Eileen took an award for best show, and Ivy had won for lead actress.
"Yes, yes, yes congratulations all around," Agnes acknowledged, clapping her hands. "But we have decisions that need to be made."
"Wait, what decisions?" Ivy asked, crinkling her nose. "We aren't closing are we?"
"Quite the contrary," Eileen assured her. "Reports are showing a sizeable bump in sales from our wins last night, and with any luck the momentum will last well into the summer."
"So we need to decide how much more publicity to put out to promote our wins," Agnes continued. "I figure we double down on Ivy's public appearances, get her out front and center. Any time she isn't rehearsing, or performing, she's doing press for the show."
"What about eating and sleeping?" Ivy asked nervously.
"You can do that in between engagements," Agnes replied, brushing off Ivy's concern. Agnes turned her attention to Tom and Julia. "There's buzz and excitement about you two – whether or not you are really done with your partnership."
"My movie deal never came through," Tom replied.
"And I am putting Gatsby on ice," Julia explained. "But we did get an interesting offer about a movie project that we could do together."
"With Patrick Dillon of all people. Patrick Dillon who is apparently straight, despite every single sign I thought I saw."
"Can't get 'em every time," Agnes said. "So Tom when is the cast coming back together for a brush up rehearsal?"
"With all of the after-Tony buzz, we'll hold rehearsals for the next couple weeks," Tom said thoughtfully.
"Thank goodness," Ivy murmured.
"And that brings us to the topic of you and Derek," Agnes soldiered on.
"Me and Derek?"
"After last night, you can't be surprised," Eileen reasoned. "Did you two plan it that way as some sort of ploy?"
"Those were genuine feelings," Ivy responded, trying to reign in her disgust at the question.
"Genuine feelings from Derek?" Tom laughed. "His idea of genuine will last as long as a carton of milk."
"Stop it!" Ivy hissed. "You can't talk about him that way."
"Been doing it for years, nothing new there."
"Well here's something new for everyone – Derek and I are going to have a baby."
The room remained silent for a full sixty seconds. Eileen gripped the table, Tom grabbed onto Julia and Agnes pulled out her phone.
"What are you doing?" Julia asked.
"Damage control to stay ahead of this," Agnes said. "I'm going to make some calls."
Julia turned to Ivy. "What are you two going to do?"
"Do? I'm going to have the baby," Ivy responded. "I've known that for the past month."
"You've known a month and didn't tell us, didn't tell me?" Tom pressed.
"Do not start making this about you," Julia warned Tom under her breath.
"You must be hiding it very well," Eileen observed.
"Not for much longer I'm afraid," Ivy explained.
"Well that explains the erratic reports I've been hearing from the cast and crew."
"I make every effort to be professional. The baby, well the baby seems to have its own ideas."
"You're going to have to train it to keep it together during performances." Eileen's eyebrow lifted slightly, demonstrating that it was a joke.
"Pregnant?" Tom said dumbfounded. "Are you sure it's Derek's?"
"What exactly are you trying to say, Tom?" Ivy found herself losing her temper. "Are you saying that I sleep around? I've only been with one person all spring."
"You've been sleeping with Derek since spring?" Julia asked.
"We connected after my birthday, the one that Tom forgot about."
"Did he see Liza Minnelli too?" Julia asked, referring to the surprise dinner Tom had put together at the last minute.
"He must have come to the surprise birthday party that I wasn't invited too." Tom replied tightly.
"So you're pregnant and you're together," Eileen said, trying to move the conversation forward.
"I always thought Derek was infertile." Julia shot Tom a frustrated look. "Well all of the women he's been with, he's somehow managed to escape unintended pregnancy," he reasoned.
"This wasn't planned, was it?" Eileen asked.
"No," Ivy said finally. "None of it was planned; it came as a surprise to me."
"How are you feeling?" Julia finally asked.
"I have moments of morning sickness, my body aches, my costumes don't quite fit the same way."
"We'll have them taken out," Julia said encouragingly.
"Costumes are the least of our worries," Tom said. "We're going to need to recast."
"Recast?" Ivy gasped. "I am two months pregnant, I am not an invalid."
"We can't have you dancing around and being tossed in the air when you're ready to pop."
"But we aren't there yet. I've still got a few months in me. When my mother was pregnant with me…"
"You high-kicked right along with her," Tom concluded. "That was before round the clock social media and everything else. Do you know what this does to the show?"
"Clearly the show is what you're most concerned about," Ivy said dejectedly. "Why don't you call me when you have a game plan? I'll see if I get to be included." Ivy stood up and left, brushing past Agnes.
"What did I miss?" Agnes said.
"Sit down, Agnes," Eileen instructed. "There are decisions that need to be made."
Julia jabbed Tom in the side. "Why aren't you going after her?" she hissed. "You blew up at her for no good reason."
"No good reason, the show is in jeopardy!"
"Not necessarily," Agnes intervened. "If anyone can make lemonade out of these lemons, it's me. Let me do my magic."
"Ivy's pregnant," Eileen said matter of factly. "At some point, we will need to figure out the casting, but for this week at least, Ivy seems competent to continue."
"She's in a relationship with Derek Wills. That brings her competency into question," Tom retorted.
"Why don't you spend more time focusing on retooling some of the numbers and patching things up with Ivy," Eileen strongly suggested.
"So I'm the bad guy here? I was in the wrong."
"Yes," Eileen and Julia said together.
"And if you don't fix this, you'll have bigger problems than the show," Eileen warned.
Ivy buried her head in her pillow, the lingering scent of Derek being her solace. He was still out at his morning meeting, leaving Ivy alone with her thoughts. Warm tears continued to fall. They had started when she left the production office and continued the entire way home. She couldn't imagine leaving her role any time soon, not after having such a huge win. The thought of leaving the show had never occurred to her, though she supposed it would be inevitable to take a few months off.
Ivy was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the door open.
"Ivy, I'm back. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be I guess. I envisioned Jerry closing the show and marking it as some sort of write-off but…" Derek's voice trailed off when he saw Ivy on the bed with red-rimmed eyes. "Ivy? Ivy is it the baby?" Derek sat on the bed next to her, wrapping his arm around her. "You've been crying," he whispered, rubbing her back in a circular motion.
"It's the inevitable I guess, it was bound to happen. I just didn't think it would be this soon," Ivy stammered.
"What happened?" Derek leaned into Ivy. "Tell me."
Ivy shook her head. "It's my issue to deal with, not yours."
Derek squeezed Ivy's shoulder. "Your issues are my issues now. If there's a problem, I can help. You've helped me with mine before."
"Tom…"
Derek grimaced. "Tom," he repeated.
"He didn't take the news very well at all." Ivy looked at Derek's deep brown eyes and found the compassion that she longed for. Slowly but surely, she reenacted the entire morning meeting.
Derek cursed under his breath as Ivy finished her tale. "I won't let him do that to you. Not without a fight first."
"Derek, I am exhausted, after everything Tom said…"
"No one is recasting anyone right away," Derek vowed. "If he tries to, I'll make it as difficult for him as possible. And in terms of choreography," Derek tilted Ivy's chin up, "you are in a relationship with the original choreographer of the show. I bet I could put some alterations together that would prove Tom wrong."
"You have time for that?"
"I will make time," Derek promised. "Hit List is on the way to being self-sufficient, once we get casting all worked out. Then they won't need the director all of the time. Which leaves me plenty of time and space for you."
Ivy rested her head on Derek's chest. "Why couldn't Tom be more supportive?"
"Maybe he's scared of the future, but that is no excuse for what he said."
"Aren't you scared?"
"I'm with you, and I love you. I have nothing to be scared of." Derek placed a kiss on Ivy's forehead. "Are you scared?"
"About us? Or about the show?"
"Anything."
"I love you, and I love our baby, but I love the show and the thought of losing it, even for a few months…"
"That hasn't happened yet, that is a long way away. Who's your main understudy, Jessica?"
Ivy nodded.
"Jessica is no threat to you, no one is."
A small smile formed on Ivy's mouth. "I feel better just being with you."
"Glad I can help." Derek closed his eyes, reveling in his moment with Ivy.
A knock at the door broke their hour-long nap.
"I'll get it," Derek mumbled, carefully pulling himself away from Ivy and positioning her safely on the bed. Ivy mumbled a response as Derek opened the door. "Haven't you done enough for one day?" Derek asked, narrowing his eyes at Tom.
"I'm here to see Ivy," Tom said, holding a bouquet of petunias and a 'congratulations' balloon in one hand.
"I think you two have seen enough of each other," Derek replied, blocking Tom from entry.
"So she told you what happened?"
"You are not recasting her any time soon," Derek growled. "I won't allow it; I doubt you'd get Eileen on board, not after her win last night."
"I acted hastily," Tom agreed. "I said some things I didn't mean."
"I am not infertile," Derek added with his arms crossed.
Tom sighed. "So she really did tell you everything?"
"Every last word." Derek turned around. "Ivy is resting at the moment, I will her tell you stopped by."
"But I'd like to apologize in person."
Derek shook his head. "There will be time for that, this isn't about you Tom."
"It's about her?"
"Yes it is."
Tom attempted to see past Derek's shoulders. "Answer me this, do you love her? Do you really love her?"
Derek frowned. "I do not have to explain my relationship with Ivy to you."
"After everything you put her through over the past two years…"
"I love her more than life itself," Derek cut in. "I love her so much that it hurts to see her in pain – you hurt her today, Tom." Derek let out a sigh. "I know I've hurt her too, and I've got a lot of making up to do, but believe me when I say that I would do anything for her."
"Would you be willing to help me rework the show?"
"I was planning on my offering my services, yes."
"Well it sounds like I am going to need a bit of help there; I let my fears get the better of me and I lashed out at her."
"She won't be pregnant forever; she'll be able to come back to the show."
"That's if the show stays open."
"How many shows close after winning best show?" Derek asked with a raised eyebrow. "Bombshell will be set for success; I will see to it myself."
"Can I see Ivy?"
"I don't want to disturb her; she hasn't gotten much rest lately. And if you want her ready to perform tomorrow she needs to take it easy today."
Tom nodded. "I love her too, you know. Just, in a different way. She's my best friend."
"I thought Julia was your best friend."
"You can have more than one best friend," Tom pointed out. "We've known each other for years, seen each other through ups and downs. I've never seen her pregnant though. It didn't even occur to me that she could be."
"It was right under our noses," Derek agreed. "She's really something special."
"I've always known that."
"Well you found out before I did," Derek grimaced.
"Derek?" Ivy peeked out from behind the wall.
"Sleeping Beauty is awake," Derek murmured, crossing over and putting his arm protectively around her. "Your friend Tom stopped by."
"I heard."
"Belated congratulations," Tom said, handing Ivy the flowers and balloon. "I was horrible to you this morning."
Derek beckoned for Tom to come in. "I think I am going to go for a walk and let you two talk."
Ivy pulled Derek in for a deep kiss. "Thank you."
"Be back soon," Derek promised, closing the door behind him.
Ivy watched Derek go and turned to Tom. "It's going to be different this time."
Tom patted Ivy's shoulder. "You seem so sure of him."
"You don't see a difference?" Ivy asked. "From the Derek that you argued with years ago."
"He may have mellowed some, but he'd better do right by you…and the baby."
"I believe he will. It's not every day that someone gets an 'I love you' broadcasted across the theatre community."
"Props for that," Tom conceded. "But you'll let me know if things get rough and you need a little…help," he offered.
"You are still my best friend, Tom. Nothing is going to change that."
"So the baby is going to know me?"
"The baby will get to know their Uncle Tom very well." Ivy cringed at what she just said. "Maybe Brother Tom?"
"So we're Amish?" Tom joked.
"We are an unconventional family," Ivy decided. "And you need to let Derek be a part of that."
"I will, I will. But I am going to be watching him."
"Something tells me he'll be doing the same with you."
"Can I feel the baby?"
Ivy nodded. "She's not active at the moment, but you sure can."
Tom placed his hand on Ivy's stomach. "Now you have an excuse to eat whatever you want."
"The baby is giving me certain parameters. I have a growing list of foods that are making me sick."
"You let me know everything and I'll do what I can to help," Tom promised. "Eventually you're going to be stepping away."
"Not tomorrow."
"Or next week, but we're going to need to prepare the cast, make alterations."
"You don't have to do everything alone – Derek will help."
"Derek will direct and I will get pushed aside," Tom grimaced.
"Now you stop that. Derek is willing to work with you; you need to do the same."
"You just watch us in the room together and you see what happens."
"Can't wait."
Derek reentered the apartment carrying three smoothies. "I read somewhere online today that smoothies are great for pregnant women, easy to digest." He handed a mango smoothie to Ivy. "The bodega up the street had a great selection." Derek offered a drink to Tom.
"See," Ivy mouthed to Tom as he accepted his drink.
"Cheers," Tom said, lifting his cup to Ivy.
"You two have a nice talk?" Derek asked.
"We did," Ivy said. "Tom is very excited to go over the numbers with you for the show."
"Sounds like a plan."
Tom nodded along, sipping on his drink. "I'm sure Derek already has thoughts."
"I have plenty of those."
"Derek, how was your meeting with Jerry?"
Derek put down his drink. "We've decided what do with the diva."
"Should I go?" Tom asked.
"Stay," Derek suggested. "No secrets here. Apparently Jimmy Collins won't be with the production for the next six to ten months – he'll be in the Queensboro Correctional Facility."
"Why?"
"Something about drugs and his past. He's come clean, so there's a possibility for a lighter sentence, but it sounds like Sam Strickland is getting bumped up to the Jesse role."
"And Daisy?" Ivy asked.
"Ah yes, Ms. Parker is out of the show," Derek smirked. "Turns out the cast has enough pull with Jerry who doesn't want to deal with having to recast the entire show, including the leading character of Amanda if Daisy stays."
"Who will be the diva?"
"We're looking into buying Ana Vargas out of her Once contract. She hasn't officially started yet, and Jerry's willing to pay the penalty fee, spin it into some positive press for the show for once."
"So then everyone wins?" Tom asked.
"Everyone but Daisy Parker." Derek couldn't keep the grin from his face. "Sometimes karma really does exist."
"Be careful when you say that given your history," Tom warned with a smirk.
"Very funny. At least I have two hit shows treading the Broadway boards this year – that's one more than you."
"Oh for crying out loud…" Tom started, clenching his hand.
Ivy's eyes lit up as her two favorite people shared a spirited debate about who was more successful than the other. There were still moments of joy to be found in the chaos.