"I can't believe that Jewel are going to be playing live at this big awards ceremony tonight!" Sylva skimmed over the poster with an excited twinkle in her eyes, setting it down on the desk. "Jetta, why didn't we know about this before? I knew we were up for an award for the last album, but playing, too? What gives?"
"We decided that it'd be a good chance to use all this positive publicity of yours and give them a taste of the new single." Sheila Pelligrini or "Jetta", Chief executive of Misfit Music and Nancy's mother to boot cast the keyboardist an amused look. "You've been rehearsing like crazy anyway. No point in wastin' all that work."
"What about stage effects?" Copper looked startled. "And the programme...won't it throw everyone out if we're suddenly put on the bill?"
"No." Jetta shook her head. "Some singer from Maine 'as 'ad to drop out an' Pizzazz acted quick, suggested that since you girls are up for an award an' will be there, then you might as well play Reveal there whilst you're at it."
"Works for me." Nancy smiled. "If the song's out on Monday, we could use the publicity."
"Publicity and us seem to be hand in hand at the moment." Topaz perched herself on the windowsill, rolling her eyes. "Jetta, can't you do something about the tabloid press? I made it very clear on KBST that I wanted to be left alone...and what do they do? Stalk me."
"Topaz, love, you ain't learnt anythin' if you think that the press will simply do as you ask 'em to." Jetta told her unsympathetically. "You girls are California's biggest sellin' act at the moment...you even 'ave Sirena beat. Your album is up for a prestigious award, albeit a state one, an' you're about to release a brand new single with a video produced by the woman who's no stranger at present to press 'erself - Zoe Montgomery. Between the announcement of 'er comin' out, the news of Copper's engagement to my son an' of course, your own tidbit of information, Jewel are all anyone wants to 'ear about."
"Well, I don't mind a bit of friendly interest." Topaz admitted. "Or some attention. I was answering fan emails this morning and I had so many nice messages sent to me from Jewel fans about the baby, it almost made me tear up inside. But the tabloids are another matter. They're all for finding out who the Daddy is - and they're so unoriginal, they think it's Luca Ranieri and are predicting some big squabble between Sirena and me over it - you know how convinced they are that because she and he are friendly that they must be sleeping together."
"In tabloid land, Topaz, everyone is sleeping with everyone else." Sylva rolled her eyes. Nancy nodded.
"For once, Syl is right." She agreed. "Hell, they probably think Zoe is sleeping with all of us, now she's come out publically and admitted she's gay. You know what tabloids are like. If you know someone well or are friends with them, you must be sleeping with them too."
"Jetta, when you were a Misfit, did you ever have scandals like this to deal with?" Copper asked plaintively.
Jetta looked thoughtful.
"Well, there were scandals." She admitted. "Thing is, Pizzazz is a rich woman an' most people were scared of 'er. Us too. So the biggest an' juiciest stories often never got uncovered. Not many people knew for a long time that Roxy was illiterate, that I was married or that Pizzazz, as you well know, 'ad a daughter. These things 'ave come out since."
"Well, I wish Phyllis would use some of that scariness to help us out." Topaz frowned. "I'm looking forward to the ceremony tonight and I'm praying real hard that we win, but I can't help worrying that the press will ruin it for us. You know how they are when they're chasing a story."
"Well, we'll just get Cynthia to zap them with her lasers." Sylva said, then clapped a hand over her mouth as she realised who was present. Jetta raised an eyebrow.
"Cynthia and lasers?" She demanded. 
"Private Jewel laser tag joke." Copper said hurriedly, casting Sylva a reproachful look as she did so. "Don't worry, Jetta. Just, erm, adolescent fun."
"Mm, I see." Jetta rolled her eyes. "You know, someone told me you were adults...I'm beginnin' to wonder if you are."
"Aw come on, Jetta, you telling me you never played at laser tag?" Despite herself, Topaz grinned. Jetta laughed.
"Paintballin' was our thing, and food fights." She admitted remeniscently. "Speakin' of which, no trouble tonight, all right? Diablo won't be there, thank God, they're still tourin' in Canada, but there will be a lot of people an' Rory Llewelyn will likely be among them."
"We don't cause trouble, it comes to us." Nancy replied darkly. "Don't worry, Mom. We'll play our song, sit and see if we win our award, and then smile and clap everyone else like good Jewels. We know the rules - no bitching in public places."
"Yeah, an' don't forget it." Jetta returned. "Right, if that's all, can you kids clear off? I got some paperwork to file an' I want out of 'ere by six, if possible."
"Won't you be there tonight?" Nancy looked startled. Jetta shook her head.
"No. Pizzazz will be accompanyin' you to the ceremony." She responded. "I'm 'avin' a night off an' me an' your father are goin' out for dinner."
"Well, don't forget to wish us luck then." Sylva dimpled. "This award is a big deal."
"You don't need luck, or you shouldn't." Jetta told them firmly. Then she relented. "Oh, whatever. Good luck, then. Now shoo! I 'ave enough to do!"
Taking the hint, the band withdrew from the executive's office, exchanging looks as they did so.
"I can't believe we get to play tonight!" Sylva exclaimed. "It rocks!"
"I can't believe you almost landed Cynthia in it." Nancy told her cuttingly. "Syl, you have the world's biggest mouth."
"It's okay, Copper covered." Sylva shrugged, not noticeably dented. "Besides, she's our lighting technician and our light shows use lasers sometimes. If she'd have pushed the issue I'd have told her that."
"Just be careful, huh?" Copper chided. "Cyn's already suffered once from over-interest - remember Stefana and the computer virus she concocted?"
"Will any of us ever?" Topaz shivered. "Poor Cynthia. It's a good thing that Aaron is so good with computers and managed to get it out."
"And a good thing Nancy cracked the password." Copper agreed. Nancy grinned.
"I'm just glad it's behind us." She responded. "Hey, tonight - what do you guys reckon about giving Reveal a special twist?"
"You're really fired up about this show, aren't you?" Topaz grinned at her.
"I have a lot of faith in this song." Nancy admitted, her cheeks pinkened. "Besides, well, this is my music writing that's been nominated for an award - I'm pretty stoked about that."
"Cool Trash reckons we're a shoo in." Sylva reported. "I read their rundown this morning. Now we're playing...do you reckon that'll just top it off?"
"It won't matter. It's voted on by the state of California, not a group of judges." Copper said sensibly.
"The album went multi platinum. Most of California already bought it." Sylva grinned. "You know, Jetta is right. Jewel are number one in Cali."
"As it should be." Topaz decided. "We've worked damn hard for this kind of success."
"It's kinda amazing to think that from where we began, pretty much the whole world know our names." Copper looked dreamy. "I'm engaged...we've had top selling singles, albums, and now an award nomination. What next? A Grammy?"
There was silence, then Nancy spoke.
"I suppose that depends whether or not Jewel exist by the time the Grammies come around." She murmured.
"Why wouldn't we?" Sylva demanded.
"Topaz is talking about leaving." Nancy indicated the Canadian. "I know you're not decided yet, Topaz," as the blond opened her mouth to protest, "But it's a possibility we have to face."
"Doesn't mean for a moment that Jewel are done for. Sheesh, Nancy, I'm a little part of this equation." Topaz spread her hands. "If you quit, well, there'd be a problem. You're the songwriter. If Copper left there'd be noone to play beat and if Syl went there'd be no keyboardist with that special Jewel flair. But you three were a band without me - you don't need me to keep going." She shrugged. "I love you guys and singing with Jewel, but I know I'm not an irreplaceable componant."
"Who says?" Nancy raised an eyebrow. "Forgetting for one moment how closeknit a team we've all become, there's the little matter of who'd play bass guitar? I've written bass lines for every song we've released since you joined. I edited the songs we released before that, to include your bass. Now the strong bassline is a part of Jewel's sound."
Topaz looked troubled.
"I didn't think about it from that point of view." She murmured. "I'm sorry, guys. I really didn't. I guess I'll just have to stick with things and come back to you as soon as I possibly can after baby is here. I mean, that's what I want to do anyhow. I just thought I might need some space."
"It'll work out." Copper hugged her reassuringly. "And it's not like you have to quit right now. We've a lot of time to work out what we're going to do and make sure everyone is happy."
"Copper's right." Sylva nodded. "We'll work it out. So don't fret, huh? Everything is gonna be just fine!"