Jaina opened the door to the downstairs bathroom. "Check out the tub."
"And the huge window the neighbors can see into. Is Colin an exhibitionist or something?"
Chuckling, Jaina shook her head.
Emily followed her out of the bathroom. Colin came down the stairs then, holding the kitten.
"Hello, Emily."
“Ooh, kitty!" She grabbed the kitten and immediately snuggled it. "This is now mine!"
Jaina rolled her eyes. She stood on her toes and kissed Colin. "My saviour."
"No!" Emily exclaimed. "No saving of any kind! No one shall escape my evil.”
Then she said, “I want cookies."
Jaina blinked. "Well, that was a subject change."
Emily grinned. "I know."
"From the nature of evil to chocolate."
"Sometimes, I would think they're synonymous," Colin put in, wrapping an arm around Jaina's waist.
"Chocolate is good, why you calling it evil?"
"Probably a Devil's Advocate reference," Jaina said. "You wanna see the upstairs?"
Colin shook his head. "No, I was thinking of the way it affects you in the mornings. It's like the One Ring and Gollum. You have to have it."
"Me?" Emily said, mystified.
Jaina headed up the stairs. "No, he means me. He doesn't seen you in the morning. Careful, there's no handrail. Plus, big nasty glass panel."
Emily pushed past Colin into their bedroom. Of the rug, she asked, "Was that a cow? If it was, it was a tiny cow. Do you support the slaughter of baby cows?”
"No, that's not a cow," Colin said weakly, and bolted into his office.
"I scare him," Emily said, looking positively delighted.
♥♥♥
After they dropped Emily back off that night, Colin ventured, "Your sister scares me."
Jaina smiled fondly and replied, "She has that effect on a lot of people."
"And your family hasn't sent her to a shrink?"
She laughed, sensing that he was joking. "She scared the shrink."
Colin grinned. "So you didn't find a non-scared shrink?"
"Figured it wasn't worth it." Getting serious, she said, "Emily's Emily."
"So what's this movie you were telling her about?"
"Like I'm gonna tell my sister we're just going back home to, well, entertain ourselves. She said we're like bunnies."
Colin offered, "I think it's more like guinea pigs."
"What's the difference?" Jaina asked.
"Never mind. Want to rent a movie anyway?"
“Yeah, maybe. Colin. About my appointment today? We need to talk.”
♥♥♥
On the weekend, after a tense week of avoiding Jack, Jaina decided to have a game night, and invited Angela and Emily over. Emily's choice was Star Wars Monopoly.
"Here," Emily said, handing Leia to Jaina, and Luke to Colin.
Jaina looked at the figurines. "That's so wrong."
Colin snickered. "Em, give me Han."
Emily rolled her eyes and made a big production of handing over the pewter Han Solo. "Fine. Here you go."
Colin waggled his eyebrows at Jaina. "But, you know what they say. Twincest is best."
"That's disgusting," she laughed.
They exchanged a few more bantering remarks as the board was set up. Angela eyed them with curious amusement for a minute or two before she commented, "You guys are just like Nora and Alex."
Jaina shrugged as she rolled the dice. Eleven. "Yeah, I guess. But as far as I know, Nora and Alex aren't having sex. Yet."
There was a long moment of silence. Angela looked at Jaina. Looked at Colin. "But... No offense, Colin, but... aren't you gay?"
Colin grimaced and ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end. "I'm not gay! Why does everyone think that? Is it because I don't really date? Or do I act fruity and not know it? What is it about me that makes people think I'M GAY?!"
Completely unhelpfully, Jaina offered, "Maybe it's the haircut."
Angela, having recovered from her shock, put in, "Oh, yeah. Definitely. It's the hair."
Emily, currently taking over Dagobah, said, "It's all the rumors on the 'net. They have you dating the young dude from that Hercules movie."
"You keep saying dude," Colin said. "What is dude? What does it mean?"
Em shrugged. "Dude is dude. Jaya, help."
Jaina nodded. "Dude is dude."
The game continued.
"Dang it!" Jaina burst out, realizing she’d landed on one of Emily’s landmine-properties.
"Ha! Gotcha, Leia-wannabe." Emily grinned.
This was old territory. "I am NOT a Leia Wannabe!"
Emily listed, "Leia wannabe bellydance costume. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Short."
Angela was entertained greatly by this. "Jaina's got green eyes."
"You're ruining my argument, shut up." Emily stuck her tongue out at Ange, who laughed. "Anyway. Brown hair, short. Check and check."
Jaina paid her dues and passed the dice to Colin. "I have no choice in my height. And I have to practice on myself."
"You're just saying that," her sister retorted.
"You practice what on yourself?" Colin wanted to know.
"Shut up!" she laughed. "The Leia hair."
Angela turned to Colin. "Are they always like this?"
He shrugged and took up the dice. "I don't know. I've only known the stranger one a week."
"Hey. I have issues being the stranger one," Emily said. "I am not a Leia wannabe. Therefore, I am less strange."
"For the last time, I'm not a Leia wannabe. I have way better hair!"
"Doesn't matter. Bellydance costume says it all."
Colin was confused on that point. "The costume looks nothing like Leia's."
"Bikini top? Gold on it? Big slits up the side?"
"Yeah..."
"Leia wannabe. Plus she'd wear it without underwear."
Jaina interjected, "But mine's a short skirt, not an ankle-length one. And I wear underwear."
Colin said, "That one time you didn-"
"Quiet!" Jaina hissed, blushing.
Angela shook her head with a laugh. "This is a little too much information for me. Here I thought you were gay, and you've seen my boobs!"
"We were acting!" Colin said defensively. "I didn't look at them!"
"You meant you weren't at all attracted to me?" Angela smirked.
"No, I, uh, I mean..." He stammered and made himself stop talking.
Jaina finally took pity on Colin and said, "Let's get back to the game, shall we?"
They did. It was a long game.
"Dude, you owe me money," Emily said, realizing that Colin was on Bespin.
Colin frowned. "When did you buy that?"
"You were in the bathroom."
Ange shook her head. "We're all losing to an eighteen-year-old."
"I tried to warn you," Jaina said.
Emily grinned. "I always win. The Force is with me."
"She's got Jedi mind trick powers," her sister said.
"Plus, you guys suck. I'm surprised you've got money in the bank. No strategy. No finesse."
Wryly, Colin murmured. "No sadism?"
"I might as well play with Christian... Which one is sadism again?" Emily collected her rent from her sister's boyfriend.
Colin lifted a dark brow. "Are you saying that you'd have a better challenge if you played with a five-year-old, rather than with me?"
Emily glanced at her sister. "Catches on quick, doesn't he?"
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Okay, enough with the bashing of my boyfriend, Satan."
"Hey, only Gerry can call me Satan."
Chapter Thirty-Two
Emily went with them to the set on Monday. Jaina figured that if she ran into Jack, it'd be nice to have Emily there to possibly drive her ex insane.
The chairs in the makeup trailer were the kind that spun around, so Emily entertained herself with that for a while, before she started in
with "I'm bored."
Jaina, who was applying make-up to Colin's face, said, "I have to do this. Once everyone's made up, I can show you around, but this comes first."
"Can I wander by myself?"
Her sister shrugged. Emily had a visitor pass, and if there was an off-limits area, she'd be told so. "Stay close. And don't break anything."
"What if I do break something?" Emily inquired gleefully.
"Then you'll be in big trouble."
Emily went to the door, but didn't leave. "I don't know where I'm going."
Jaina finished powdering Colin's face. "Colin, would you take her to meet Jacob and Marlene?"
"Who are they?" Em asked.
"Jacob plays Walter Noble," Colin said. "And Marlene is Lydia."
"Oh! Okay. I'll meet them. I'm easy." She paused, and added, "But not cheap."
Colin opened his mouth, but Jaina cut him off. "Don't. Even. Think. About. It."
He closed his mouth. "Are we still on for 'Doctor' later?"
Jaina blushed. Emily clapped her hands over her ears. "I don't need to hear it! I don't need that image in my head."
♥♥♥
Colin informed Jaina that his parents had called his cell while they were at lunch, and they wanted to meet for dinner that night, as he'd informed them he was seeing someone. They wanted to meet "Jay". Jaina got that deer-in-headlights look and immediately started to panic about meeting his family.
"We don't have to go," he said. "Not if you don't want to."
"No, no, I need to meet them."
Jaina spent the rest of the day pondering what to wear. Then she started worrying that they wouldn't like her.
Back at the house, she ran around frantically, trying on outfits and immediately rejecting them. Colin watched with patient amusement.
"Okay," Jaina said from the bathroom. "I think I picked something."
She stepped out and brushed at her hair.
"You look a little nervous." Colin slid an arm around Jaina's waist.
"That's like saying the Dark Lord of Mordor was 'a little evil'," she replied.
"Hey, that's a good one." Colin dropped a kiss on Jaina's shoulder. "You look amazing. So much that if Mum and Dad weren't due in twenty minutes, I'd take you back to bed."
"Back? We haven't got there yet."
"Technicalities."
Jaina pulled out of his arms. "How do I look, I mean, really?"
She spun in a circle. "Passable?"
"More than passable," Colin replied, eyeing the black blouse with split, flowing sleeves and the black skirt with a pink lining that fell just below her knees.
"You are gorgeous," he continued. "But I have to warn you, since my parents think I'm gay and I'm effectively 'coming out of the closet' or, well, going back in, really... Please don't be offended if they think at first that you're a beard."
Jaina laughed, a high trill that made him grin. "I'll keep that in mind."
He looked at her for several moments, blue eyes unreadable. She returned the look for a while, then walked over, reached up, and removed his tie.
"Uh. Jay, I just said a minute ago that I don't think we have the time for-"
"You look strangled," she said. She finished by undoing the top button on his shirt, which was a vibrant blue that brought out the color of his dark blue eyes. The hem of his shirt was tucked into black slacks.
"You look good enough to eat," she said huskily. "After your parents leave, I'm ravishing you."
“You'll ravish me?"
"Yep."
"I can hardly wait."
Jaina grinned impishly. "But if you let your parents think I'm a beard, you'll die without getting any."
Colin grinned and shook his head. He pulled her close, a serious expression suddenly wiping the smile away. "Jaina, I've been meaning to talk to you about something..."
"Yeah?"
"I-"
The doorbell rang.
Jaina muttered something about living in a fanfiction as she pulled away. "I think your parents are here."
♥♥♥
A black high-heeled pump bounced off the mattress and fell to the floor. A moment later, it was joined by a second. Jaina flopped down on the mattress, arms flung out.
She groaned. "Well, that was excruciating."
Colin wordlessly moved over and crouched at her feet. He took one foot in his hands and began rubbing distractedly. Jaina made a small noise of satisfaction.
"I really like your parents," she said. "Don't get me wrong. It's just that... I half think your parents didn't believe that you're straight."
"Dad was relieved," Colin pointed out. "And they didn't think you're a golddigger."
"No, they just think I'm someone willing to pretend to be the girlfriend of a homosexual who won't come out of the closet." Jaina sighed. She had difficulty sitting up because Colin had hold of her leg. "Why are people so eager to believe the lie?"
"All lies lead to the truth," he murmured.
"Why are you quoting X-Files taglines?" she asked, amused.
"Sorry." He paused and studied the pink polish on her toes.
Her brow furrowed as she looked down at him. "Hon? Something wrong?"
Colin gave himself a shake. "No, no, it's fine. I was just... thinking."
"About what?"
"You, me. Us. Emily's only going to be here for another few weeks, so you wouldn't need to stay here any longer."
"Do you want me to move out?"
Blue eyes lifted to meet green. "No. I don't. I want you to stay forever."
"Forever?"
He ducked his head and cleared his throat, reaching a hand into his pocket. "I, uh... I don't know how to say this. I had a bunch of prepared speeches, but they all sound stupid now."
Colin pulled his hand out of his pocket. He held his hand out, fist closed. Hesitantly, Jaina placed her open hand under his. Something small but heavy fell onto her palm.
She looked at the gold band, adorned with a solitaire brilliant-cut diamond. Her eyes flew to his face. He was watching her carefully, cautiously. When Jaina just stared at him, Colin glanced down at her hand as he placed his in hers.
Then he looked back up, blue eyes more earnest and intense than she'd ever seen them.
"Marry me?"
Shocked beyond words, Jaina slid off the bed and threw her arms around him. He let out a nervous laugh.
She drew back, giving him a teary smile. "This is unexpected, but..."
"Uh... is that a yes? I really hope so."
Jaina placed the ring in his hand, then presented her splayed fingers. "That's a yes."
His fingers shook as he slid the ring on her finger, accidentally scraping her knuckle. She didn't even notice. Jaina wrapped her fingers around his, and leaned forward to kiss him.
Feeling as though a huge weight had lifted from his shoulders, he kissed her back.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
The last day of filming, not just the show but of the series itself, was the wedding of Officer Keith Wilson and Nurse Diane Sorensen. Everyone dressed up in formal wear for the shoot.
When the director called "Cut! That's a wrap!", there was a long moment of silence, before everyone broke into applause. It was hard to believe that it was over.
Colin, in his tux, waited until the applause had died. Then he stood up and motioned for silence. He started off with a few words about how wonderful it had been to work with everyone. "But I'm sure that we'll all see each other next week when we all get cast in the same series. Again."
Everyone laughed.
"But seriously… working with you all has been a pleasure. True, we've had our ups and downs, but this has been an experience that I don't think a one of us would trade."
A couple people clapped, and nearly everyone was grinning. Colin quirked a smile and continued, "Three years we've been working together. At times, it's felt like we've become… family. I count some of the people here among my dearest friends. I know I'm go
ing to miss this, but we're taking a bit of it with ourselves when we leave. Some more literally than others."
"I get Alex's car!" someone in the back shouted, and the room dissolved into laughter.
"No, you don't!" John shot back.
Colin waited until the laughter died down. "It's with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to Waybridge. But… I can think of no better occasion on which to make this announcement."
He held up his glass, full of sparkling… something… and said, "While Alex may have ended a bachelor…" Colin cleared his throat. He drew Jaina to her feet. She’d been an extra for the wedding scene, and wore a floor-length burgundy gown with a scatter of beading, her brown hair in an elegant coif she’d done herself.
"Some of you know already, some do not. But I'd like to share with you all one last thing, before we go. Jaina McGregor, our talented makeup artist, has done me the honor of agreeing to be my wife, and we will be following in Keith and Diane's footsteps this January."
There was a surprised silence that lasted a moment or two longer than the one that had followed "It's a wrap".
Then, across the room, Sara burst out, "I knew it! I knew it! Rob, you owe me twenty!"
There was more laughter, and a multitude of applause and congratulations. The director decided to hold the wrap party then and there.
As someone put on some music, and the caterers scattered to gather party food, Colin held his hand out to Jaina. He admired that she had been able to come today; only a week had passed since they’d received her positive diagnosis of Lupus, and she’d been a mess. But whatever happened now, they’d be in it together.
“Dance with me,” he said.
“Always,” she said, and let him pull her out to the floor.
Marianna Roberg has been a costume designer, a website designer, a slush pile reader for a science fiction and fantasy magazine, and con committee for Life, the Universe, and Everything, Brigham Young University’s symposium on sci-fi and fantasy. She is also the author of the Broom Closet Mysteries series.
She lives in Utah with her family and two cats, and makes jewelry in her spare time. Readers can visit her website at www.mdroberg.net.
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