"Mmmhmmm, I will. Oh just a second, she just walked into the room," Grandma says holding the phone out to me.

I set my bottle of water down and give her an inquisitive look.

"It's your mama," she mouths.

I smile, nod and take the phone from her.

"Hi mama," I say as I plop down on the couch in our hotel suite.

"Hey sweetie. I just wanted to tell you to break a leg tonight. Are you nervous?"

"I wish everyone would quit asking me that," I kid. "No, I'm fine. I'm excited."

"Good."

"You'll be watching tomorrow when it airs, right?"

"Yep…from home," she says.

"Really? I'm surprised you're going to leave Ashleigh there…"

"No, she'll be with us."

"Oh, she's coming home?" For some reason I almost get choked up.

There's a knock on the door and Grandma walks over to open it.

"Yes, we're taking her home in a little bit. She's getting stronger every day and we have some medication we'll need to keep her on for a little while but pretty soon she'll be back to normal."

"Adriana?" mama says when I don't answer.

"Oh, sorry. Grandma just let Brad in."

"Do you have to go? You have plans with him?"

"Not that I remember," I chuckle.

"Well, here, quick before you go…your daddy wanted to wish you luck."

I hear her walking.

"Justin?"

She knocks on a door.

"Baby? Adriana's on the phone, but she's got to go so say hi."

"Hey snowball."

"Hi daddy."

"You nervous?"

I laugh. "No, I'm fine. Mama says you guys are going to be watching at home…with Ash."

"Yeah, we're going to leave in a few minutes to pick her up. How's Grandma?"

I look over at her. "She's great."

"Is she helping or becoming annoying?"

I hear mama slap him and he says ow.

I laugh. "No, she's been great. I know it was your idea to send her here…thank you," I say softly.

"We wish we could be there…"

"I know," I interrupt him. "You need to be with Ash."

"I'll let you go. I love you. You're going to be wonderful tonight. I don't even need to wish you luck."

"Thanks daddy."

"Oh, here's mama."

"Okay, I love you honey," mama says.

"I love you mama."

"I won't repeat what your daddy said but you know I feel the same way."

"Yeah I know."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, let me know how Ash does, okay? Give her my love."

"I will. Bye."

I hang up the phone and smile as Brad walks over to me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to interrupt."

"No, that's okay. They said what they needed to say. Ashleigh's coming home today."

"Exciting and wonderful news," Grandma says. "I'm going to run downstairs for something," she winks at me.

"Okay see ya."

"She's so cool," Brad says after she shuts the door behind her.

I laugh. "Yes she is. I guess that's why my dad turned out so cool."

"Probably."

I stare at him for a second.

"We didn't have any plans did we?"

He shakes his head. "No, I just didn't know if you'd need a distraction this afternoon. If you would rather be left alone, I understand."

"No, a distraction is good. What did you have in mind?"

"How about a movie?"

"I don't think it's a good idea for me to go out…"

He laughs. "No, I got one from downstairs."

He holds up a DVD of Grease.

"Ohhhh I love it."

He pops the DVD in the player and sits next to me on the couch.

We both start singing to the songs. At one point I stand up and start dancing with the movie too, when Grandma comes in.

"Ohhh Grease," she says.

Brad and I laugh and I sit back down next to him.

"Honey, I saw Tony in the hall and he wanted me to remind you that you guys need to leave in about twenty minutes."

I look at the clock. "Wow I didn't realize how much time had gone by."

"So my plan worked?"

I lean into his side a little bit. "Yes. Thank you. I think it's exactly what I needed."

"Well, I better get going too. If you need to leave soon then most likely so do we."

"I'm going to freshen up. I'll see you later Brad," Grandma waves as she walks into her bedroom.

"Bye ma'am." He looks back at me. "She's a smart lady."

I nod as I lean in closer. Our lips touch, hesitantly at first. It feels like it's been forever since we've kissed. My lips part slightly and I feel his tongue trace my lower lip. I turn my head a little bit for better access as my fingers run through his hair. His hands snake their way around my waist and he pulls me up to sit on his lap. I stretch my arms out behind his head and entwine my fingers. My upper arms and helping to pull his face closer to mine. When I feel his fingers touch my bare back, I tense a little.

"I'm sorry," he says as he pulls back.

We both try to catch our breath.

"For what?"

I rest my forehead against his.

"I'm moving too fast again," he says pulling the hem of my shirt down a little bit.

"That's okay," I say before I kiss his cheek and stand up.

"I just can't think when I'm around you," he says standing up and taking my hand.

We walk to the door together and I watch him walk down the hall toward the elevator. When I shut the door I lean against it and sigh.

I'm guessing Uncle Lance hasn't had his conversation with Brad yet or he wouldn't have been that, uh, friendly.

I'm standing off to the side of the stage. The crew is up there doing last minute preparations for my set. The rest of the crew, the band and I do our nightly ritual of all getting together in a huddle and saying a prayer. Tonight, Brad leads it.

"Dear Lord, first of all thank you for letting Adriana's sister well enough to go home."

I look up at him and smile.

"And thank you for our successful shows so far and our safety. Bless all of our families and friends…and each other. Help us get through this show tonight without any major mess-ups. Oh and bless all of the Concert Network people."

There are a few giggles.

"Amen," we all say.

Everyone starts to take their place as I stand there and start stretching. The rest of the band walks on stage but Brad stays behind. He takes my hand and squeezes it.

"You'll be brilliant," he winks at me.

I smile at him and watch him take his place behind his keyboard. The band starts to play, I look over my costume one more time and wait until the stage goes to black.

As I walk off-stage after the set I'm greeted by Kevin and Bert from KCB.

"You were great," Kevin says picking me up and swirling me around.

I laugh. "Thanks. You didn't have to stay and watch."

He sets me down and Bert gives me a hug. "We aren't leaving for another thirty minutes so we thought we'd check out the set. You did good."

"Thank you. I have great support," I say as the band walks by me. Most of them patting me on the back.

I realize that Brad hasn't walked by me yet so I turn around and see him standing off to the side.

Kevin gives my hand a quick squeeze. "Well, I just wanted to tell you terrific job. I can't wait until this airs and people realize what a great entertainer you are."

"Come on Kevin, you're embarrassing her," Bert says, noticing me blush.

I giggle. "Thanks guys, really. That means a lot coming from you."

"We're going to get going now. See you in Alabama."

"Okay, see you in the next city," I say as they walk away.

"I'll walk you to your bus," Brad says as he gently takes my arm.

We follow Andre and don't say anything to each other for a couple of minutes.

"I didn’t realize you guys were so close."

I look up at him. "Why, you jealous?"

He throws his head back and laughs. "Maybe."

"Awww, come on. They liked the show," I shrug.

"Well, I liked the show too."

Andre grabs my arm and guides me around a large group of people who are probably there for Michael.

"I was thinking about watching Michael's set," I said to Andre.

He shakes his head. "You need to get going…Tony's orders."

I sigh.

"Just remember a couple more days until Louisiana and you seeing your baby cousin," Brad whispers in my ear. I'm surprised he's able to keep up with us considering how much Andre is weaving me around the people backstage.

I smile at his words.

"You're right. I can't wait to see them."

We finally reach the bus and I stand with my back to the door.

"I wish you could ride on my bus this time."

He looks around. "Why couldn't I?"

"Because that wouldn't be such a good idea," Uncle Lance says as he stands behind me.

I turn around and he gives me a huge smile and pulls me into a hug.

"The show was as perfect as can be. You're going to blow the Concert Network audience out of the water."

I laugh. "Thanks. It wasn't all that but I'm glad you thought so."

He touches my cheek. "No, this is going to be big. I can feel it in my blood. You are always on, but tonight was different."

"Tonight she had a new audience she was playing too," Brad said, with an almost dreamlike tone to his voice as he looked at me.

I look between the two of them and suddenly I feel nervous.

"You really think so? I didn't feel like I did anything different."

"Not intentionally and it wasn't anything dramatic. Just subtle things."

Brad nods. "Yeah, I noticed too. More crowd interaction maybe?" he asks Uncle Lance, finally looking up at him.

He ponders the thought and nods. "Yes, more of that, but there was more…charm…"

"Okay, why don't we analyze the performance later when I can actually see what you guys are talking about," I say holding up my hands.

"You're right…we're overwhelming you, I can tell."

"Say goodnight…we have to get going. Good night Brad, see you in the next city."

He gets on the bus and lets the door shut behind him.

"He's not subtle," Brad laughs.

"He's got his reasons…most of them business."

"He's your Uncle. He's looking out for you on a personal level."

I shake my head. "No, he likes you on a personal level, it's the professional one he worries about, trust me. I should probably warn you…"

He takes both of my hands. "About what?"

"He's going to have a talk with you."

"About?"

"Us, I guess. I don't know. He's going to school you on what my life is going to be like, or something like that. He just doesn't want this to overwhelm either of us."

"I'm not overwhelmed yet, are you?"

I chuckle. "You just told me I was."

"Just about us talking about tonight's performance…not in general," he says squeezing my hands.

I drop my head. "Okay. Look, I've got to go. I'll see you in Birmingham."

He quickly looks around and kisses my cheek. "Okay. Have a safe trip."

"You too."

I watch him walk away and then I get on the bus.

"You feel like watching the video of the show?" Uncle Lance says when I sit down next to him.

"No, I want to go call my parents…see how Ash is doing."

He grabs my arm before I stand up.

"You understand, don't you Adriana?"

I nod. "Yeah. But when you act like my boss, it makes me not want you to be my boss…that's all."

He gives me a sympathetic smile and nods.

"I've been in your shoes before, remember?"

I sigh and nod.

When I walk to the back of the bus I hear Grandma on the phone.

"Here she is now…okay, hold on, I haven't even given her an after show hug," she says before she sets the phone down on the bed.

She stands up and hugs me…rocking me back and forth in her arms.

"You were wonderful. It was the best I've seen," she says pulling back a little as she looks at me.

"Thanks, Grandma."

She kisses my cheek. "Your mama is on the phone."

"Okay."

I pick up the phone and sit down on the bed…Grandma sits down next to me and takes my hand.

"Hi mama."

"Actually it's me and your daddy now."

"Hey baby," I hear daddy's voice.

I laugh. "Hey daddy."

"Grandma says your show was amazing…" mama says.

"Which doesn't surprise us, of course…" daddy interjects.

"It felt good. Uncle Lance said that he thought it was my best. He says he can feel it in his blood…something big's going to happen," I say softly.

"Does that scare you a little?" mama asks.

My eyes get a little watery. "A little. All of this has been so big already and seems to be happening so fast. How can it get bigger, faster?"

Grandma leans her temple against mine and squeezes my hand.

"It can happen because you're strong enough for it to happen. Just remember your family. We'll keep you grounded, okay?"

"Okay daddy. I love both of you so much. How is Ashleigh doing?"

"She's so happy to be at home," mama says.

"I bet she is."

"She's sleeping right now, otherwise I'd put her on the phone."

I shake my head. "No, that's okay. I'll talk to her as soon as she feels up to it. I'm excited that I get to see Aunt Jamie Lynn and the baby in a few days."

"Aunt Jamie Lynn is excited too. She's going to see if Uncle Sam can watch the baby so she can see the show in New Orleans."

"That would be great."

Grandma starts to rub her hand up and down my back.

We talk a little bit more about things going on with them and the family. I almost ask mama how she's feeling but stop myself since Grandma is sitting right next to me and still doesn't know yet.

When I finally hang up I rest my head on Grandma's shoulder.

"I'm so glad you're here," I say.

She kisses the top of my head. "So am I sweetie."