AN: I personally know that yes, the pain Porsha is experiencing lasts for a very long time. It's been ten years and I still can't think about my father without crying.

Part 35

The bus rolled up to the hotel, letting the passengers out before Barry drove off to the usual parking spot. Rosita and Norman carried the quints while Gunter, and Johnny helped with the piglets. Ash loosely helped Lance with the twins.

They just made it to the check-in desk before Ryan raced up and attached himself to his beau. "I missed you!"

Johnny laughed. "I missed you too." They shared a brief but deep kiss. "Wait, where are we going?" He asked as Ryan began leading him away.

"I got us our own suite and I know you must be tired," the tiger said slyly.

His gorilla laughed again. "Is that all you think about?" But he let Ryan lead him to the elevators. "Guess we're gonna go take a nap, see you guys later!" He called back to his friends.

Ash shook her head in amusement. "I can't believe he hasn't picked up on it."

Meena nodded. "I wonder how Ryan's planning to do it. Though that's assuming we're right, but why else would he want to talk to Mr. Green without Johnny there?" She was a lot perkier now they were off the bus and her emesis had settled down.

"Well, I hope we are right," Rosita said. "Johnny is such a sweetheart and Ryan is perfect for him. Eddie, are you alright?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, Mama. Ready to relax in our suite.

"Great! You're here!" Suki said, stepping off the elevator with a team of bellhops. Porsha ran over for a hug. "Hey sweetheart. How was the trip?"

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After getting checked in, Meena accompanied Alphonso out to the plaza where the food trucks were parked. Tyler and their two other new employees who had joined him the day before yesterday. Lance was there to support Ash, which the bull elephant made clear. The porcupine's pride insisted he work at least one or two shifts while they were there but Alphonso had scheduled him off for most of it.

Alphonso and Meena accepted hugs of welcome from the other vendors. "It seems busier than we anticipated." He said to Tyler. "Let me get my uniform on and I'll help."

The orangutan shook his head. "Nahh, we got this. The hotel is almost fully booked for the week. It's awesome! But you guys just have fun this week. You never take a vacation, Alphie. You deserve it." He took a wrapped crepe from Ralph, a lanky crocodile. "I have a "cookies and cream" for Tanya!" He called and a wombat accepted the sweet treat she'd been craving. "Can I get you guys anything?" He asked. "Meena, we have your favorite. Banana and Nutella."

"Sounds great, Tyler, but we shouldn't eat the inventory," she said. She yawned. "I think what I need is a bath and a bed."

Alphonso nodded. "I'm going to go with her. But I'm coming back to help." He promised. No matter what Tyler said, he wasn't going to make the three of them tackle the rush without him.

"Alphonso, I swear, if you try, I will dump the cannoli cream on your head!" Tyler promised. Alphonso was a bit of a workaholic at times, which he understood but his best friend had more than earned the time off.

The bull elephant laughed. "Whatever Tyler. I'll be back soon."

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Johnny's mouth fell open when he saw the room. It was a pink marble and gilt in gold around the edges. The bed was circular with rose petals scattered on it. A bucket of champagne sat on ice. "Whoa! What did you…." The question was silenced by a passionate kiss.

A few minutes passed before they had to separate. Ryan petted his hair. "I just wanted to show you how much I love you." He pulled him towards the soft bed.

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Alphonso poured Meena a tulip glass of the chilled ginger ale that Suki had put on ice instead of a bottle of champagne. Even if they did drink, Meena couldn't have any right now anyway. The ginger ale was definitely more appreciated.

"Suki was really nice to let us have this gorgeous suite," she observed as she sipped the bubbly drink.

Her husband smiled. "Yeah, seriously. I wonder how they got teal marble?" He quickly changed into his uniform. "You don't mind me going to help Tyler do you?"

She shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. I'm just going to take that hot bubble bath and then get some sleep." She kissed him before taking her ginger ale into the bathroom and locking the door. Occasionally, it bothered her that he worked so much but she was afraid to say anything. He was only trying to provide for his family and take care of the business that he'd built. How could she object to that?

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The first place Porsha wanted to see was her father's office. It was just as she remembered it. Suki hadn't changed a thing aside from cleaning up the broken antiques.

She looked around at the furniture and the statues and other fine art pieces. So many of the paintings were of her father but she didn't care about those. They were painted as if he were some Great War hero. She only cared about the photo on his desk. Him, her mother and herself all sat together around a Christmas tree piled high with presents.

"How are you really doing?" Suki asked her knowingly.

The wolf shook her head. "I… I… I don't know. Big Daddy is great. I shouldn't still be feeling like this. Will it ever stop, Aunt Suki? Will I ever be able to think about him again without…"

The theater scout put her arms around the girl who was fast becoming like a daughter to her. "Yes, honey. Eventually, it won't hurt as much as it does now. The pain does fade. It might not completely go away but it will become manageable."

"I hope so…" Porsha sat down at the desk. "Just the idea of coming back here… Suki, I don't want to come back here again. After the show is done… I don't want to come back."

Suki nodded. "I understand… and you still have a few years before you need to worry about taking over the company."

The gray wolf sighed, remembering her dream. "No. I don't want the company, I'm not going to take over. In fact, when Out of this World's contract is over, I want nothing more to do with it."

The saluki considered her words. "Well, you do have a couple of options. You could simply hire a new CEO to manage the company for you. Or… you could sell. But are you sure? Your father…"

"My father is dead!" Porsha snapped. "My father is gone! And he's not coming back! I can't make my decisions based on what we think he wants of me!" She instantly felt bad for snapping when Suki flinched. "I'm sorry, Aunt Suki, but… I don't think he'd want me to take over if he knew it would make me miserable!"

Suki sighed and sat down opposite the girl. "You're right. If this is what you want, then I'll help you make it happen."

Porsha took a deep breath. Saying what she wanted helped to lift a few of the bricks weighing on her shoulders. "I mean, I won't until after we finish the contract. I don't want to sell to someone who could never understand why this contract will never be renewed, you know."

The redhead hugged her. "Well, it'll be time for rehearsal soon. Would you like me to walk you to the theater?"

She nodded. "Please…" She stood up. They went to the office door and she looked back. "I'll be okay, Daddy… I just miss you…"

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Lance and Ash spent most of the afternoon in the children's area of the hotel. Until she finally managed to convince him that the caregivers had them under control so they could go be alone.

"So, are you ready for tomorrow night?" He asked her as they drank their cocktails.

She laughed. "Lance, I need a cocktail before five o'clock just to get through the rehearsal tonight. No, I'm not ready." She admitted. "I don't want to relive that night."

He took her hand and squeezed. "Hey, if anyone can do this, it's you. Mr. Moon would be proud of you." He looked into her blue eyes. They had been growing closer and he was sure of how he felt but not sure how to convey it. It didn't help that there was never a good time. "If you really don't want to do it… I could… I haven't played for an adult audience in forever but…"

She shook her head. "I'll be okay but I appreciate the offer." She drank down her cocktail. "I just need the alcohol to help me get through it. I'm gonna get one more."

He watched her go off to the bar. They had been dating for several months now but they had yet to get past handholding. He knew she was keeping him at arm's length because of their history. He needed to find some way to prove he had learned his lesson.

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When Johnny and Ryan got up from their much needed nap, it was almost time to go down to the theater. There was just enough time to get something to eat at the buffet. Lovingly, they fed each other, just enjoying being together until a large shadow heralded the arrival of his father.

"Here you lads are," the older gorilla sat down at the table. "Ryan, I hate to steal him from you but I'd like to talk to my son."

Ryan nodded. "Sure." He kissed his boyfriend. "I'll meet you at the theater."

Johnny cocked an eyebrow at his dad while Ryan left. "What's up, Dad?" He asked while Marcus fumbled in his pocket.

"What do you think of Suki?" He asked plainly, taking his son off his guard.

"What? Why are you asking?" Had Ryan told his dad about his resentment? He would kick his ass.

His wrath died though when his dad pulled out the ring box. "Well, you know it's been a long time since your mother died. I know it might be hard but… I love her. I'd like to ask her to marry me. But I need to know how you would feel about it?"

The younger silverback's mouth fell open and closed again several times, looking at the ring. "Wow! Um… that's great, Dad. If she makes you happy and you love each other then yeah… go for it."

"I just wanted to be sure. She'd be your stepmom. I might be jumping the gun a bit though. I love her but…"

Johnny stopped him. "Dad, you're just going to have to take the chance. Remember what you told me? It's the only way you're gonna know."

Marcus ruffled his son's hair. "When did you get to be so wise?"

He shrugged. "I had a great teacher." He hugged his father.

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Later that evening, unable to put it off any longer, the troupe convened in the theater. Their significant others and families and friends were there, providing just a little buffer against the trauma they had endured there. Reluctantly, they ran through the show. Johnny and Ryan got to practice the dance they should have done together. Porsha and Darius proved to be a good partnership, their personalities complimenting each other while they danced across the stage.

However, they reached a problem on the Planet of Love number. As planned, Alphonso was supposed to be pretending to be asleep but he was not a trained actor and couldn't help chuckling.

Meena loved him for trying. "It's hard not to laugh when you're not used to it."

He nodded. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'll try harder." He promised.

Eddie scratched his chin. He thought it was a good plan but maybe not for someone with his lack of experience. "What if we went another direction? You could sing together." He looked to Rosita for her thoughts. She nodded in approval at his bold suggestion.

The bull elephant's eyes became fearful. "I… I don't know…" He looked at Meena.

"I was scared too," she reminded him. "Sing with me and you'll have nothing to fear." She could sing with him forever. She bit her lip and began singing. "Take my hand, take a breath. Hold me close then take one step." Alphonso found himself taking her hand and she pulled him into a waltz around the stage.

At the end, their small rehearsal audience and their friends applauded and they got off the stage for Rosita and Gunter's climactic number.

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With Porsha and Nooshy staying with rest of the troupe, Suki and Marcus had a rare night alone in her suite. "Well that rehearsal was promising," she said.

He put his arm around her. "It certainly was." He put his other hand in his pocket and surreptitiously looked down at the ring. They were alone.

"The love number was beautiful and wait until you see what Alphonso has planned. He wants to surprise Meena with a special song," she laughed. "I guess love really does conquer all, even stage fright."

Marcus nodded. "Yes, love can be very powerful. Speaking of… Suki… I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. I don't have much to offer beyond my love but…" He pulled out the small solitaire diamond set on the white gold. "It's not much but… Suki, will you marry me?"

She froze and looked down at the ring in shock. She hadn't even said the words herself yet and he was proposing. "Marcus… you're a wonderful guy… I care for you very much… I'm just not ready to make this kind of decision though."

He nodded with understanding and put the ring away. "I'm sorry, I know… I'm overstepping… it's alright… I love you…" The refusal hurt, he wouldn't lie, but he wouldn't let her know that. All that mattered was that he did love her. And he would wait as long as he needed.

AN: Poor Marcus, but love can't be easy for everyone or there's no real drama. Give your thoughts on Suki and Marcus, please.