AN: I do not own Sky Full of Stars, Can't Stop the Feeling, or Can I Have This Dance or any of the songs in this. Thought that was obvious.

Part 36

The theater seats were almost completely sold out Sunday night. There was only one empty private box with two empty chairs, box number 5. Nana was given a private box where Jerry joined her. She had refused to let him come for the week but had agreed to let him attend opening night with her to support Eddie. It was just as well, she didn't want him on his own just yet anyway.

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Marcus was in charge of security that night so Suki and Linda had the press box all to themselves.

"He did what? Are you serious?" Linda asked with a laugh. "What'd you say?"

Suki shrugged. "That I wasn't ready to make that kind of decision yet."

Linda laughed with a compassionate expression. "Poor guy."

"What? That's not a 'no!'" Suki protested.

"It's not a 'yes' either. I stand by my 'poor guy' statement," the mare waved her hand. "Girl, what are you doing? Look at me. He's a good man. And they're not like buses. There's not going to be another one in fifteen minutes."

Suki nodded. "I know and I care about him so much. I… I…I love him… I just don't want to be hurt again. I mean, I used to think James was a great guy too." That was the first time she had admitted it to herself.

"And he's not James! Has he done anything like Jimmy?" Suki shook her head in reply. Marcus was a completely different person from James. "If you love him then say 'yes.' You owe it to yourself. Don't miss your chance again just because you're afraid." Linda grabbed her shoulder. "You're like a sister to me, Suki. I just want you to be happy. Oh, it's getting ready to start."

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Eddie stepped up to the microphone. "Good evening, all creatures great and small. Welcome to outer space…"

The screen expanded into place and the lights went dark before the screen changed to make it appear like they were in outer space. The spaceship lowered. "My name is Captain Rosita and I'm on a mission to find a lost space explorer who mysteriously vanished long ago."

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In his red warrior costume, Ryan watched Johnny talking with Nooshy, getting himself psyched up for the first act. He carefully opened his pocket, making sure it was still there. He bit his lip.

After Johnny went out on stage, Nooshy joined him. "Okay, dude, have you popped the question yet?" She asked.

He shook his head. "No, but I'm about to. I just hope he says yes."

Nooshy chuckled. "He has no idea. I hope you don't mind if I record and send it to all of our friends." She held up her cell phone. Big Daddy had insisted she have one just in case she ever was in a position where she needed to get ahold of him.

Ryan laughed. "It'll be your turn someday." He warned her. "When you're older, you'll meet a nice girl and when they propose, I will be there, recording." He teased her, hooking her under his arm and giving her a noogie.

"Yeah, if that happens, you're welcome to," she teased back. She liked having brothers and a sister.

"I must take care," Rosita's voice said in a stage whisper. "For I have landed on the Planet of War…"

The lights dimmed on her and Gunter while they brightened on Johnny's circle of ruins. He played the upright piano. "Cause you're a sky, cause you're a sky full of stars. I'm gonna give you my heart…"

He was more than a little nervous. On the one hand, they were going to do the fight scene as planned. Klaus couldn't ruin it this time. Except that presented another problem. He was going to dance with his boyfriend. He was so excited but what if he got too nervous and messed up?

He looked towards the edge of the stage as he stood up to begin breakdancing while the rest of the dancers gathered around him, forming an aisle. He blushed despite his best efforts when he locked eyes with Ryan as he approached with his pair of sticks. They both get in the center ring. Once they were both safely within the circle, flames were lit around them. It almost felt symbolic of what Johnny was feeling. They traded lunges and thrusts, their sticks making a rhythmic tattoo until the final move, when they each stood on one of their staves, the other two staves meeting in the center. The audience applauded as the song ended and they started to take a bow. Johnny was about to leave the stage but Ryan got down on his knee, almost bowing like Klaus did.

"My alien warrior, you've bested me but now I have something to say and I want everyone to hear," Ryan started nervously, reaching into his pocket. "When I first saw you, I knew you were special. You're the strongest yet the most tender, gentlest, sweetest, most soulful person that I've ever met. From the first day, I could not get you out of my mind." He held up the little box and both Johnny and the audience gasped with surprise. "I love you. I want to love you for the rest of my life. Marry me, be my husband and let's always dance together." He opened the box while Johnny's lip wobbled suspiciously. The ring was solid gold with three Tiger's Eye gems set on the top.

The entire theater was silent, waiting for Johnny to process the question and control his emotions. Finally an oddly familiar voice shouted from the crowd, "Say yes, you idiot!"

Johnny snapped out of it and nodded. "Yes, yes. A thousand times yes! I will marry you!"

Ryan put the ring on his right ring finger and stood up, kissing him passionately. The audience stood and clapped for the happy couple before they finally left the stage so the next act could go. Johnny took a scan of the audience. He could have sworn. No, it was just his imagination.

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Klaus was just finishing up for the night when his phone played his favorite classical piece, Moonlight Sonata. He opened the message from the street dancer. It was a video.

"Hey you fat, stupid old monkey, get a load of this…" The camera turned to the stage where Ryan was getting down on one knee. He could only just make out what he was saying but he wasn't a fool. His attempts to tempt Johnny with a pretty female had failed. He sighed. He'd just have to be ready if Johnny hurt Ryan. He'd kick the gorilla's ass so hard when it eventually happened. Of course, he could be wrong but he doubted it. He was never wrong.

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Offstage, Nooshy laughed. "That was awesome! I've already sent it to Fathead." She showed Johnny the video. "I was going to say something clever but I figured why? The video will say it all."

"Wait, you knew?" Johnny asked. "And you couldn't give me any warning?"

Nooshy put her hands on her hips. "Johnny, when Ryan said he wanted to talk to your dad about something alone, that was your clue. It's not my fault you were too dense. I wasn't going to ruin the surprise."

Eddie came over. "That was great guys. Congratulations." He told them. "Porsha, Darius, you're up!"

Porsha and Darius stepped out onto the stage as the music started. "I got this feeling inside my bones. It goes electric-wavy when I turn it on." Porsha opened the song.

Darius held out his arms. "And if you want it inside your soul, just open up your heart, let music take control." The dancing tarsiers sang backup for them.

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Suki watched Porsha sing and dance with the yak. It was definitely a pleasant change. She looked for Marcus in the crowd. When she found him, she followed his gaze to Porsha. That look of pride was the expression Crystal should have had that night if he hadn't been so stuck on his ego. Marcus was a much better father. He loved his family. He loved her. She never had to question his motives or wonder what he was really thinking. He wore it on his sleeve. Was Linda right? Should she take a chance on him? She already was, she supposed, but before it was like a game to keep herself from going insane but now it was becoming real.

"Marriage is such a big step," she whispered to her friend. "So much has changed already, I don't know if I'm ready for another big change."

Linda whispered back, "What change? You're living with him when you're there."

"Only because he doesn't want me to pay for a hotel when I'm welcome in his home," she explained.

"It's still not as big a change as you're making it out to be. You're in love with the big, hulking gorilla. I can tell. You're practically glowing," Linda explained. "So, I'll echo whoever that was. Say yes, you idiot!"

Suki laughed. "Point taken, Linda. I love you, but this has to be my choice." But the more she thought about it, the more it felt like the right choice. But why did it have to be now? Why did things always have to change? Why couldn't things stay the same for just a little while? "I'll be right back, I need something to drink. You?"

Linda shook her head and held up her ever present travel mug filled with coffee. "I'm good."

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"There's no sign of the explorer on this planet. I must move on to the Planet of Love…"

Meena and Alphonso went on stage together. Though she could see he was still very anxious. "It's okay," she whispered. The playback started and she held out her hand. "Take my hand, take a breath, hold me close, then take one step. Keep your eyes locked on mine and let the music be your guide."

Letting her lead him in the dance around the stage, his nerves fell away and the audience vanished so that it was just the two of them. His voice melded beautifully with her own. "It's like catching lightning, the chances of finding someone like you. It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do."

The song ended when they reached the archway of morning glories where they said their vows. "So can I have this dance? Can I have this dance?" She was confused that there was a bench there that wasn't there last time. He indicated she should sit down as another song began that she wasn't ready for.

"You're having my baby," he began singing, making her blush and smile at his surprise. "What a lovely way of saying how much you love me. You're having my baby. What a lovely way of saying what you're thinking of me."

She smiled and sang with him. "I'm a woman in love and I love what's going through me."

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Sitara sat with Nana and Jerry. Her father and mother-in-law sat beside her. She smiled at her baby girl and her husband. What a sweet surprise since she knew the bull elephant suffered from worse stage fright then Meena used to. "Oh Naveed, I wish you could see her now."

"He can see her!" Her father told her. "I'm convinced that he's watching over her now." He wiped his eyes. "And he is no doubt just as proud as I am." No one could ever accuse Ishin Gupta of not loving his granddaughter. After his son-in-law got sick, he'd sworn to be there for Meena when he could not be. But he'd done his job, he kept that promise until it was her husband's turn to take over. Now he just needed to go a few more years. He was determined to meet his great-grandchild.

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Suki returned right at the beginning of the beautiful love song. She carried not just an extra-large diet soda but also a tray of chili cheese fries topped with jalapeños and black olives. "I decided I was craving chili fries."

Linda nodded. "Interesting. Since when do you eat jalapeños?"

The Saluki shrugged. "They sounded good." She normally didn't like spicy foods, especially hot peppers but she just wanted them this time. "Wanna share?" She offered and Linda helped herself to a fry.

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From her position on the ship, Rosita watched Alphonso and Meena with a maternal smile on her own. But now… now it was time… "I don't know if I can do it, Gunter." She admitted quietly.

He nodded. "I know you can. So does Mr. Moon. Let's make him proud tonight." He hugged his dance partner. For the audience, he said louder. "Captain, we cannot land on the last planet. Zere is like a huge wormhole. The ship will never make it."

She nodded. "You're right, it won't make it. But I will." She picked up her helmet and stalked to the door of the ship with purpose. Gunter was right. She could do this. She had to do this. "If you want it, take it. I should've said it before. Tried to hide it, fake it. I can't pretend anymore" She walked onto the springboard singing the next line until reaching the end. She felt the memories of that night welling up as she feared. The night she failed.

"You can do this, Rosita…" she heard a whisper near her ear but when she looked she saw nothing.

"I don't want to hear you lie tonight, now that I've begun who I really am!" With a deep breath, she backed up on the board and began running, jumping off before her acrophobia had a chance to overwhelm her. "This is the part when I say I don't want you, I'm stronger than I've been before. This is the part when I break free. Cause I can't resist it no more." She flew around the theater, Gunter flying and singing with her with triumph to the cheers of the crowd.

They landed and twirled around the ice cave set together, singing the final chorus. The audience exploded with applause at the number they hadn't gotten to hear before. Her lip shook. "We did it, Buster… I did it…" She looked out the audience, blinking a few times. Nope, she did not just see that.

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Norman had worried that his wife wouldn't be able to make the jump. He wouldn't have blamed her if she hadn't. He was angry at the board. Who forced someone to return to where they experienced such horrible trauma?

But when she jumped, singing out in her victory over her fears, he felt a surge of pride and love for her. This was why he loved her so much. This was what made him love her when they were in high school, just dating.

"We have survived the wormhole! But there is no sign of the missing explorer. There's only an empty cave." She drew attention to the ice cave.

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Inside the cave, Ash and Clay stood, waiting patiently for their cue. "Are you ready?" He asked her.

She nodded. She walked out and scanned the audience. She saw Lance and the twins sitting with Norman and the piglets. Hobbs was once again watching the quints on orders from his mistress. A theater was no place for infants.

She wished she could decide how she felt. She knew she cared about him. She wanted to be with him. She wanted to help him care for his kids. She wanted him to hold her hand when they were together. She felt sad when he was sad, happy when he was happy. His first day on the truck, he'd called her with so much excitement at how it went.

She held her guitar but sang acapella. "I have climbed the highest mountains. I have run through the fields. Only to be with you. Only to be with you. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for…"

As before, Clay waited for two repeats of the refrain before striking his first chords on his instrument. He could feel his late wife in every string but when he stepped out on stage, his eyes found his new girlfriend sitting in her seat. As much as he tried to think of Ruby, Sitara was the one in the front of his mind and in his heart. A small part of him felt terribly guilty, as though he were having an affair but the larger more logical part of him knew the wedding vows they'd taken were until death parted them, and so it had.

"It's okay, darling… it's okay to love again…" the thought came to his mind as though she were speaking directly to him.

Inwardly, he thought. "I'll always love you, Ruby… Even though I love Sitara, you'll always be my first love." He promised.

"But I still haven't found what I'm looking for," he and Ash sang the last bars.

The lights came on and confetti burst into the air while the audience stood and applauded even more wildly as they had that night. Eddie watched the troupe with mixed emotions.

"I did it, Buster. We did it," he said softly. "I still miss you pal. But we did it. I just wish I could know if you saw it from up there." He stood up straighter as a really cold sensation brushed his cheek.

"I did…" the whisper was almost imperceptible but he heard it. Or he thought he did. He wouldn't tell anyone of course, they'd think he was crazy.

"Eddie! Come on!" Rosita called to him as they stood for curtain calls.

He nodded and hurried out. He joined the lineup in the center, taking Rosita and Gunter's hands in his own as they stepped out from behind the curtain and took their bows. Flowers were being tossed at them and the guests cheered and whistled. Several of the girls called out their adoration of Clay. Some for Johnny, some for Ryan. Eddie looked out at the audience, their applause and cheers echoed somewhere deep inside. He smiled. So this is why Buster loved this job so much. The adulations were intoxicating. The thrill of watching their hard work come to life and be appreciated by the masses surged through his chest.

Suki came out on stage. "Thank you everyone for coming tonight. And thank you to the New Moon troupe for coming back. I know it wasn't easy."

Rosita nudged Eddie. He was the leader, she was addressing him. "Yes, Miss Lane. It was very hard but we needed to do this for Buster. Thank you for "inviting" us back." It probably wouldn't go over well if the audience knew they'd been forced back.

Suki nodded. "Now, there will be a meet and greet of our cast as well as an after party at the bar. Everyone is welcome to join us." She announced as the cast left the stage to go out to the bar for the meet and greet.

AN: We'll save the meet and greet for the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed this revision of the show and hope you enjoyed the personal additions Ryan and Alphonso added. You're having my baby is of course by Paul Ankha and felt appropriate. Please, oh please, leave a comment or review. Can anyone guess WHY box 5 was left empty and what the significance of it being BOX 5 specifically? Hint, it's a reference to another famous musical, one of my favorites.