"Do you know how close I was getting her to say 'yes'?" Nico thrusts his finger in Bill's chest. "You're just blowing this for me! Stay the hell out of our private lives." Bill laughs & pushes Nico's finger away. "You signed my contract, boy, & the company owns you now: you don't have a 'private' life."

Not quite finished, Bill pushes his finger at Nicolas. "You got my star pregnant, and you are going to take care of this for me." Nico backs away from the angry CEO. "Listen, Bill, I play guitar for you. I take care of Jackie for us, so stay out of it," Nico answers, purposely keeping his voice low & even, though he's angry enough to throw a few punches.

"You know what, kid? You've got the right look, the attitude, everything, to be a star...it might be worth your while & the company's too, to consider a different band for you. Getting too closely involved with Jackie & her band's damaged reputation could take you down with her...the company could get you musicians for your own band...F Hole can sink or swim with a different guitarist, but you could be huge star as the center of your own band, you'd bring in the whole teenage girl audience with your looks.." Nico waves his hand in disgust, "Don't even start that crap with me, Bill, I'm not taking off on her to be your pretty boy of the year. Jackie's my family now, if she goes down, I go with her. So get another plan, I am taking her up to the top with me," he says & turns to leave the studio & go find Jackie.

Who has just come back into the room. "Are you okay, angel?" he asks her, taking her in his arms. She looks like she's been crying, like she could start crying again. "Don't let the record company crap get between us, k?" he pleads, knowing she's very likely to vow never to marry him just to piss Bill off, just to be contrary..

"I wouldn't do that," she says, smiling through fresh tears, kissing him. Maybe Bill's stupid demands didn't set him back at all. Bill leaves then promising to have his assistant call with photo shoots schedules, and some shows. Before Matt & Stacey leave, they agree to throw a big party at their place in Silver Lake, where both their bands can play. Nicolas is near shaking from the excitement & intense emotions of the day. He's signed a big record contract, he's on his way to the stardom he's always dreamed about. There are some rocks on the road, but Nico knows he can handle them.

As soon as Nicolas gets her alone, can stand by her skin to skin, he takes her in his arms for a dance, celebrating his hapiness. "This was a pretty big day for me," he sings in her ear, & twirls her around, "I signed a record contract," he continues, twirling her in the other direction, "It's what I came here for, to L.A.," he finishes, dipping her, kissing her as he lifts her up again. Jackie leans in close to him when he lets her up, her lips brush against his shoulders & neck as she whispers "I heard what you said to Arthag today, about us being family." Nico was pretty angry at Bill, he doesn't remember exactly what he said in response to that major insult. But, knowing his feelings on the matter, Nico can guess the gist of what he might have said.

Nico dips her down again, still dancing, and looks her in the eyes, "We're having a child together, Jacklyn, that makes us family," he says in his singsong hum, lifting her & then dipping her in the opposite direction, smiling down at her, "you are stuck with me in your life, because you are family. Whether you marry me, or not." He lifts her back up, nuzzling her neck as he waltzes with her. "Arthag is right, you know, Nico, you could be a huge star on your own," Jackie says quietly, her hand trembling in his.

"I know that, Jackie," Nico laughs as he twirls her around, then dips her, "I'm a badass guitar player & I'm gorgeous. I'm going to be huge," he murmurs, kissing her neck. "There will be stories about me on the entertainment channel every night," he laughs, and twirls her around. "And those stories aren't going to be about how I'm a jackass loser that deserted my girl & our baby." Nico has never doubted he had star quality, it was always just a matter of being seen at the right place, at the right time by the right person.

"I love you, Nico," she sighs, and she starts moving with him in his dance. They sway in rhythym, close together, a glorious feeling. "Marry me, Jacklyn," he hums in her ear, burying his face in her hair. She takes a deep breath & sighs out a timid, "Yes."

Nico is exultant. This is officially the best day of his life.