"Please give a warm welcome to LA's darlings of rock and roll - Jewel, everybody!"
Lights glimmered across the television set as Jewel struck up the introduction to their latest single, 'Fallen' amid the cheers of the crowd. Flushed by the excitement of performing live, Sadie took the microphone, launching into the opening verse of their latest number. Nancy had thrown her heart and soul into her writing since the group had returned from their adventures in Morvania, eager to capture a little of what she called 'European flair' in her writing. The result was a catchy, high-tempo song, which soon caught the audience's interest and imagination, and before the song was through the whole auditorium was alive with rhythmic clapping.
As they finished their performance, Connie beckoned the four-piece group over to her couch, greeting them with warm smiles as she did so. Mother of Jewel's video artist, Zoe Montgomery, Connie's interest in the group was always high, and they were among her favourite local guests.
"Well, you girls have rather saved the show tonight, with one thing and another." She said playfully. "And what a rescue! That's one hell of a song! Can I ask what the inspiration for it was?"
"Most of these things come out of Nancy's imagination." Sadie cast Nancy a smile. "But I think that there are elements of our recent performances in Morvania in this one, too."
"Sadie's right." Nancy nodded. "Even though it was quite a stressful visit for us, with everything going on, it was also a very enjoyable view at another culture and another way of life. Winning the contest out there meant a lot to us, and I wanted to put a little bit of that into what we did tonight."
"The song you performed in Morvania - 'Someone' - will that ever see a single release in the United States?"
"We've decided not." Copper shook her head. "We're releasing it in Europe, to spearhead our new album, which the song will appear on. But we all liked this one better for America, and we realised that it had been a while since we had a catchy, up-tempo song, so that's why we decided on doing it this way around."
"Jewel are recovering, then, from all the changes flung your way since Topaz left the group last October?"
"Oh, yes." Sylva grinned. "We love Topaz to death, and we're thrilled about her movie role, but Jewel has to go on, and we've done so. I can honestly say that everything in England and Morvania have cemented a special bond between us as a quartette now, and we'd not be without Sadie at all. Everything's worked out for the best, all in all, and it's great."
"I'm loving it." Sadie agreed. "It was a huge surprise to me when 'Someone' won in Morvania, considering it's the first song I've properly written for the group. And Nancy's helped me such a lot with my composition...I'm hoping that maybe a couple more of my songs will appear on the album."
"I can almost guarantee they will." Nancy's eyes twinkled. "Sadie's a better writer than she thinks she is, and there are some perfect songs we've been bandying about, that I think just might make the cut on this disk."
"So, it's business as usual?"
"Something like that." Copper nodded.
"What about you, Copper? Any date set yet for you and Aaron?"
"Not at all." Copper flushed red. "We're both agreed on a long engagement, because we're both still young and have a lot of things to organise before we can settle down together. We've no plans for it to be in the imminent future."
"Is it awkward, working with your fiance so closely? I know he's here tonight." Connie cast an amused look across the set to where Aaron, out of shot, was starting to dismantle Jewel's equipment. "Doesn't it mean you see too much of each other?"
"Actually, with everything we do, I don't think we see each other enough." Copper admitted, sending Aaron a sheepish grin as the cameras zoomed in on him, taking him by surprise. "But it's fine. We like working together."
"Well, we're out of time, so my thanks to all the guests tonight, and of course, we'll see you again at the same time, same place Friday." Connie grinned at the cameras. "So tune in next time, when we'll have an exclusive interview with Diablo singer Luca Ranieri about plans for a European tour, and much much more!"
As the credits rolled, Jewel headed across to where Aaron was still busy sorting out the equipment.
"Need a hand?" Sylva asked, and he glanced up, casting them a grin.
"As many hands as are willing." he agreed. "I appreciate why Cynnie cut out on tonight, and I won't tell tales on her to Mom, but I could've used her help this evening. It was hard enough getting your stuff set up in time to play, and now it all has to come down again."
"Well, in the circumstances there was nothing else to be done." Sadie reasoned, reaching over to help disconnect the cables from the amplifiers, neatly rolling them up. "This was a last minute engagement, after all, and we pulled it off okay. Cynthia's taken care of Hollie and Topaz has done her bit to promote her film by appearing wherever it is this premier is being held."
"Yeah, I'm sure that was a real hardship for her." Nancy rolled her eyes, unhooking her guitar. "I'm sure she's hating every minute of it."
"Meaning what, Nance?" Sylva cast confused eyes across at her bandmate. Nancy shrugged.
"Nothing particularly. Just it struck me that we've had a hell of a long day, and now we're going to go home, dead beat, after having to clear our own equipment...to a baby who's teething and who will likely scream all night long. Did that not occur to anyone else?"
"Hollie lives with us, Nance. We know the cons of living with her, but we want Topaz to stay." Copper chided. "And she did tell Syl it was just a one off. I don't think we can begrudge her a night out. She's spent a lot too much time holed away with Baby since she came, if you think about it. And she missed out on England and Morvania, too. It's just one evening, and we handled it. No biggie."
"Maybe not." Nancy acknowledged. "And I'm not blaming Topaz, guys. It's just that if she's setting out her own career now, she's gonna be keeping different hours from the rest of us. Next time something important springs up, well, who's to say if we will be able to handle it? And at the end of the day I think a lot of Topaz, but I'm not going to compromise my music - and Jewel - to take care of her daughter. That's her job, not ours."
"Nancy, you're getting crabby." Sylva scolded. "One night short handed and you're preaching doom and gloom already! It's not going to be like that. This was at short notice, true, but so was us playing tonight. And Topaz is our friend. That's more important, surely?"
"I know it's important." Nancy nodded. "I guess I am just beat."
She stifled a yawn.
"I was at the studio before seven this morning writing - we've been practicing most of the day and now it's almost ten at night and we still have to cart all this stuff away. Going home to Hollie's cries is not my ideal choice."
"I don't think any of us want to do anything more than go to bed and sleep." Sadie admitted. "But Hollie doesn't cry that much, considering she's teething. She's actually a fairly good baby, all in all. My niece Megan was a whole lot brattier."
"Well, Hollie's just getting started with the teeth thing." Nancy shrugged. "I dare say you guys are right and it'll be okay. After all, that's why we settled on this arrangement, isn't it? So that Jewel could go on without having to bother about rescheduling around a baby."
"Right." Copper nodded. "And that's what we're gonna do. We just have to get used to the way things are now, that's all. Then everything will be fine."
"I don't suppose you girls could use a hand?"
A fresh voice startled the group, and they turned, Sylva letting out a gasp as she registered who was watching them. Jack Miller was leaning over the barrier that seperated audience from the stage, a slightly trepidant smile on his face.
"We could use all the help we got." Nancy told him bluntly. "One of our backstage crew is otherwise indisposed."
"Then can I help?" Jack asked.
"Syl?" Copper sent Sylva a questioning glance. Sylva hesitated for a moment, then shrugged.
"Thanks, Jack." She said finally. "But where's Court? You didn't just leave her, surely?"
"No. Mom has her tonight. I got tickets to see the show - it's my night off." Jack vaulted the railing, coming to join the group on stage, and with one accord, Sadie, Nancy, Aaron and Copper moved to the far side of the dais, in order to let them talk.
 "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it. I hoped I might have a chance to talk to you, actually, after our encounter the other day."
"Why are you really here, Jack?" Syl paused in where she was struggling to dismantle her keyboard, eying him in some confusion. "Just to talk to me?"
"Yes, pretty much." Jack nodded, moving to help her with the stand. "Here, I got it...you can unfasten it now."
"Thanks." Sylva deftly unfastened the clips, folding the stand neatly away. "But why? I don't understand - doesn't anyone use a phone any more?"
"If you'd forgotten, Syl, you don't answer my messages, and whenever I call, your phone seems mysteriously to be switched off." Jack said evenly. "I know I upset you, and I know you've every right to hate me till the day that I die, but I'm not just going to give up and walk away. You and I were pretty good pals before the whole Melanie business, and Courtenay misses you like hell."
He paused, then,
"Mom paid for my ticket tonight. She's sick of me fussing over the way you and I screwed up our friendship, and even sicker of Courtenay looking mournful and asking why Sylvie never comes to play any more. When she heard you were playing she told me to come down here and sort things out one way or another."
"You screwed it up." Sylva pushed the keyboard into it's holder with an emphatic bang. "I merely told you that your fiancee was mistreating your daughter, and you threw a fit at me."
"I know, Syl, I know!" Jack rolled his eyes. "And even if I didn't, you've not let me forget it. But that was a long time ago now. Can't you even forgive and forget now? Not even for Courtenay's sake? She misses you like anything, and...so do I."
Sylva paused, eying him carefully. Then, she sighed.
"I miss you guys too." She admitted. "We had a blast, before the fight. But..."
"Do you still have...you know...feelings for me?" Jack's tone became awkward.
Sylva sighed.
"Not like it was before." She responded at length. "Sad, I guess, that I never got to make anything of it - after all, you were the first guy I really fell for. But I guess I'm over it, Jack. I'm kinda sorry if it made you feel, well, odd about things."
"I didn't know how to deal with it." Jack admitted. "And then when I broke up with Melanie and you weren't there, it hit home what I'd done. But..." He held out his hand. "I want to put that in the past now. Can't we shake hands and make up? Please?"
Sylva pursed her lips, then nodded, taking his hand and shaking it resolutely.
"All right." She agreed. "Friends again. I guess it couldn't hurt, and I don't want to let Courtenay down."
Her eyes twinkled, and Jack grinned, relieved to see a spark of the old playful mischief in her expression.
"Dependant, of course, on how willing you are to take me out to dinner some time this week to seal it."
"I'll call you." Jack winked. "If I can get through!"
"Well, there's one happy ending, at least." Copper murmured, slipping her lucky drumsticks into their stick bag. Sadie glanced up, then smiled.
"Yes, I suppose it is." She agreed. "I wish Topaz and Cameron were so easy."
"Me too." Copper admitted. "Still, at least she has tonight off, huh? Even if we are short handed, she needs a break from everything. I reckon it'll do her good to go out tonight - and who knows? Maybe this Travis guy will turn out to be more than just a business acquaintance for her."
"You think so?" Sadie looked surprised. Copper shrugged.
"I don't know." She admitted. "But she deserves it, so maybe. I'd like her to be happy."
"Me too." Sadie nodded. "Me too."