Em strolled in and slid into the booth next to her.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Bad news." Nadia handed her the paper. Em scanned it and turned pale.

"Oh no."

***

Damian kept rereading the article.

"Oh, my co‑worker, Damian Webber, and I have the best chemistry. People have commented on how good we look together up on that stage, that we're so natural. . .he's such an incredible actor. And he's so sexy. Without him, this play would be such a bore. We've spent hours rehearsing to get every little detail right, to make everything click. The time we've spent together is just amazing at how much happens with us and in character. He's just the greatest."

"Well, big brother, looks like you're in a heap of trouble. Who would have thought you'd stray?" Kenny teased. Damian shook his head.

"This is bullshit, Kenny. I have to get to Auren."

"Um. Too late. Here comes the tornado now."

Damian looked up from the booth in the student union and swallowed hard. Auren did not look happy.

"You know this is bullshit." he said as soon she sat across from him.

"Yeah, I know." she replied. Damian flinched. Why was she so calm?

"You're not mad?"

"Well, of course I am. She's just a trashy little whore out to cause trouble for us." Auren shrugged. "Two bit tramps like her are a dime a dozen."

Damian eyed his woman suspiciously. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head. It was not like her to be so calm about something.

"You sure you're ok?" he asked. The cold smile didn't fool him.

"Peachy keen, jellybean." she said with a wink.

***

Destiny became alarmed when she saw Auren and Damian at rehearsal the next day, sucking face every time she turned around. Even if she hadn't succeeded in splitting them up, surely she had laid the groundwork.

"Come on, people!! Places! Opening night draws near and we still haven't gotten the dance down!!"

Everyone groaned and slowly took their positions on the stage. Damian draped his arm around Destiny, ignoring her otherwise as she cuddled up against him.

"Ready?" Kenny asked.

"No." Auren made a face at him. Through the dance scene they were magic, easily taking center stage.

Kenny chuckled.

"Let's do it."

Destiny watched Auren and Kenny dancing. There had to be a way. . .

"They look so hot out there." Destiny murmured in Damian's ear. He ignored her. "You'd think they were the couple. Look at the way he has his hands on her. Like he owns her." she whispered breathily in his ear.

"Destiny, your little plan isn't working so give it up. I've never seen a more pathetic woman in my life." Damian replied coldly. Destiny's cheeks flushed. No one insulted her and got away with it.

***

"Looks like your man has the same tendency to stray as you do."

Auren didn't glance up at the buttery smooth voice in the doorway.

"I don't have time for your games, Alexander."

"Who's playing a game? Oh wait ‑ your boyfriend is. I forgot." he said snidely. Auren turned to face him. Pity such good looks were wasted on a creep.

"If you don't have business here, which you don't, I highly suggest you get the hell out of my office."

"Gonna throw me across the room again?" he asked.

"If needed." she snapped. "I'm busy."

"What's going on here?" Damian appeared by Alex.

"I was just visiting my old. . .friend." Alex winked at Auren and sauntered out. Damian turned towards his girl who rolled her eyes.

"What a prick." she muttered. Damian sat across from Auren who suddenly shuffled papers around on her desk.

"What'd he want?"

"To antagonize me." she sighed. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"I skipped today. Wasn't in the mood." his eyes were gleaming as she raised one eyebrow.

"Anything in particular you're in the mood for?" she asked. Damian glanced at the clock.

"Not enough time." He grinned at her.

Auren shook her head silently with laughter. Em was due in at any moment. Her cousin was admirably handling the paper this semester, with the help of Nadia, her new love. Auren was pleased to see her younger relative enjoying herself so much. Nadia had brought a new fire into Em. Their family's trademark blue eyes sparkled more when the dark skinned beauty was near Em. 

"I have to meet Kenny anyway to rehearse." she sighed. Damian held out his arms to her.

"I'm almost jealous. Seems like Kenny sees you more than me these days." he said lightly. Auren frowned, getting up and moving around the desk to him.

"I know. Trust me, I'd rather be with you. Tell me again how I got suckered into this play thing." He pulled her into his lap and held her close, enjoying the fragrance of her hair.

"You can thank me." he said cheerfully, his lips brushing her neck.

"Excuse me, working girl coming through." Em charged into the office, followed by Nadia. Damian groaned as Auren laughed.

"Was on my way out." Auren got up and dragged Damian out of the office. Arm around her shoulders, he walked his girlfriend outside. In a moment she would head to the theatre; he would go to his next class.

"Let's stay in and watch a movie tonight." he kissed her lightly just below the ear.

"We have rehearsal."

"I meant afterwards."

"I have to grade articles."  Damian growled. "You can come keep me company." she said, kissing his lips gently. "I'm sorry, I'm just really behind."

"I know. I just feel like this play has become nothing but a pain in the ass."

"It is." she agreed with a smile. "I'll see you in rehearsal."

Playfully he swatted her on her backside, grinning as she walked away.

"Hi, Damian."

Groaning, he turned as Destiny arrived.

"Hello, Destiny."

Walking towards the large building that held his next class, he inhaled the fresh spring air.

The leaves on the huge elms were blooming, spring was creeping its way onto the huge campus. Daffodils were popping out in the flower beds, some of the hippie students were lounging out on the quad again. Every now and then a squirrel scampered across the parking lot to another

tree.

"I thought it was over between Auren and that Bastian guy." she purred. Damian growled.

"There was never anything to begin with." he snapped.

"Well, according to him he got her in the sack the first night they were working on the paper together. He said she couldn't keep her hands off and he took her right on the table ‑" Destiny stopped as Damian turned to her, fury radiating from his sky blue eyes.

"If you tend to believe everything people say, you should hear the rumors about yourself." he said softly, turning on his heel and walking away.

Destiny stood in shock, then a slow smile spread itself across her lovely features.

***

Auren read the acceptance letter with a mixture of dread and joy. Though she wasn't surprised to read that she had been accepted to the University of Arcadia for the Fall, she was stunned to see she had won the scholarship as well.

To avoid any upsets, she hadn't mentioned the contest to her sister and cousin, or Damian. There had been no real intention of going. More to see if she could do it.

"Enclosed are the details of the semester abroad." she repeated to herself. To study in Ireland, at a top notch school. In the midst of the IRA controversy. What an experience. What a dream.

What a horror to tell her family and Damian. They'd be furious of course. And crushed. But it would only be for a semester. Four months. Surely they'd forgive her that. . .to have the chance to achieve her dreams abroad. . .

The phone rang shrilly, interrupting her thoughts, and Ireland was momentarily forgotten.

***

The final scenes were being drilled, as Kenny followed Auren around the stage of the final number.

Final exams and opening night were drawing closer.

***

Kenny snuggled up against Nicky, as she had dozed off on the couch from fatigue. The rehearsals were exhausting to her.

Watching her chest rise and fall steadily, he brushed a lock of dark hair from over her cheek. So lovely in the soft light from the lamp. Her dark hair was spread out against the ivory leather of the couch. On the floor lay her black leather jacket where she had carelessly tossed it.

Laying his head against hers, he let his imagination return to their first relationship and the passion they had shared. This time around she was too cautious, letting things go so slowly, it was torturous for him sometimes, to be pressed up against her and remember their old days. .

.yet be denied this time. 

How could he fault her though? She was protecting herself, and he didn't blame her one bit. Especially with the feelings for Auren that had been developing.

How could he be attracted to her? Well, of course she was identical to Nicky, minus the blond hair and a little taller. But their personalities. . .Nicky was so warm and open, Auren was the cool one, the Ice Princess. Both were luscious and seductive women.

Forcing the thoughts out of his head, Kenny dozed off.

***

Damian tried not to watch as Auren and Kenny spun around the stage. They were good together, he hated to admit it. Something soft brushed up against him. Destiny.

"Can't deny it, can you?" she purred.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" he asked crossly.

"You, if you give me the chance." she slid her arm around his stomach. Quickly he pulled away from her.

"You know the reason they can't get that first scene right is because they're afraid of what they'll discover." she called.

"Damian, what's up?" Nicky asked, catching him by the arm as he was leaving. The older twin paused, staring at his girlfriend's sister.

"Destiny's at it again." he said disgustedly. Nicky smirked.

"Well, she's got a nice little surprise coming." she snickered. Damianhe

frowned.

"What have you done?"

"Come on. She's almost on."

Damian joined Nicky at the edge of the stage to watch. Destiny always wore high heels, today was no exception. As she ran out to grab Kenny by the hand, her foot slid, followed by her legs, and she landed roughly on her butt as she hit the ground. The cast burst into laughter as Lenn

and a crew member ran forward. Kenny quickly moved to assist.

"I ‑ I don't know what happened!" she wailed. "I've never fallen!"

Nicky was snickering.

"You did that?" Damian demanded. Nicky winked.

"She's always wearing those heels. . .stage can be slick.. ..carelessness, you know."

Damian hugged Nicky tightly. "I could kiss you for that."

"You do and I'll rip your lips off." Kenny broke in, as he and Auren approached. Nicky grinned and wrapped her arms around Kenny, greeting him with a passionate smooch. Auren slid her arms around Damian's waist.

"You ok?" she whispered. He nodded shortly.

Auren didn't like the change overcoming Damian. Each day he seemed to grow more distant and she found it harder and harder to find time to be with him. Finals weren't too far away either, and she had a lot of work to do. Alexander's paper was enough to give hers a good run, and the

number of Independents being read each week was rapidly declining.

"Yeah I'm fine." he muttered. There was something she was keeping from him. He knew her well enough. Several times he had walked into the room only to have her shove some papers into her backpack or under her seat.

"Hey, let's go out for pizza tonight." Nicky suggested.

"I'll call Em and see if she and Nadia want to join us."

"Sounds good to me. I'm getting pretty hungry anyway." Kenny nodded. Auren hesitated but caught the look on Damian's face.

"Sure, why not?" she smiled weakly.

***

Though she had met the brothers several times, Nadia shyly stayed close to Em. Still adjusting to her newfound sexuality, being around the boys, who were so obviously smitten with the twins, was mildly awkward for  her.

"So you've told Nadia she's going to be an editor next year, right?" Auren asked Em. Nadia's dark eyes widened in surprise. They were crowded into a big round booth with seats of red vinyl. The dark lighting, made for poor seeing of the art on the walls, but the ceiling was well lit to show the hand of God handing Adam a piece of pizza.

"Not yet. Thanks for ruining it." Em replied sarcastically, biting into her artichoke pizza.

"I am?" Nadia asked. Auren grinned.

"If you want to. We'll make the announcement this week in class that we'll be taking submissions for editor positions for the fall, but you're easily the most qualified."

"I didn't know anything was going to be open." Nadia said slowly. Auren didn't mention the possibility of herself not being there.

"Well, our business manager will be graduating. And we're going to probably need another copy editor." she covered smoothly. "I would really like you to be a part of it."

"It sounds great." Nadia flushed with pleasure. Em squeezed her hand.

"A recommendation from the big cheese herself. . .doesn't happen often." she teased. Nadia blushed more. Auren sipped her Dr Pepper, then stuck her tongue out at her cousin. "Hey Damian, did Auren ever show you the  pictures of her from Christmas when we were about five?"

"Em!" Auren hissed, having gone rigid in her seat. Em burst into laughter as Damian looked mildly amused.

"No, I've never seen any pictures of her as a child." he replied candidly.

"I'll have to pull out the old photo albums sometime soon. There are some great shots."

"Yeah, including Em naked in the spa. She thought it was a big bathtub." Auren smirked as Nicky laughed.

"Oh, there are some of you, too." Em mock glared at her dark haired cousin. "Remember playing dress up with your mom's lingerie? It was hanging to the floor and you had these big heels on ‑" Nicky flung a piece of cheese at the redhead.

"Leave me out of it!" she laughed. The boys and Nadia were highly intrigued.

"We definitely must find these photos." Damian chucked. Nadia and Kenny nodded.

***

Auren ran her hands through her thick hair and sighed. She and Kenny had every scene down except that opening scene.

"We have to do this, Auren. No Damianer what we're feeling." Kenny said finally. Auren nodded. The weather had quickly warmed up and today was no exception. Clad in short cutoffs and a tank top, she was very aware of Kenny's eyes on her.

"Ok. Let's do it." she sighed, standing up.

". . .I've just had the best summer of my life and now I have to go away." Auren said mournfully. Kenny pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. The smoldering fire between them ignited instantly and Kenny's hands encircled her back as her arms found their way around his neck.

Auren wrenched herself away.

"Hey, guys." Damian strolled in. Auren swallowed as Kenny exhaled nervously. "How's it going?"

"It's going." Auren said casually, not looking at  Kenny.

"I'm on my way out. Just thought I'd stop in." Damian kissed Auren on the cheek and left the rehearsal room.  Ashen faced, Auren turned to Kenny.

"He saw." she whispered.

"No. He would have gone crazy if he had."

"He saw, Kenny." Auren shook her head.

Damian leaned against the door, his knees feeling rubbery. Destiny had been right. The look the pair had on their faces when he walked in was panic. Sheer panic. There was something going on.

***

"What are these for?" Nicky beamed, staring at the bouquet of wildflowers Kenny presented her with.

"Just because." He kissed her eagerly, passionately.

"Are you feeling ok?" Nicky demanded.

"I feel great." He smiled at her. Nicky laughed and let him in. Piglet ran to greet him.

"Hey, big girl. You are getting big, aren't you?" Hefting the growing puppy into his arms,  she slobbered doggy kisses across his face.

"Hi, Kenny. Bye, guys." Auren dashed through the house.

"Where's she going?" he asked.

"Her run. She doesn't get it too often these days. Fears she's getting out of shape so she's been spending a lot of time exercising and practicing." Nicky replied. Kenny put Piglet down and drew his best girl into his arms.

"So, does that mean we have the house to ourselves for a while?" he wiggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively, causing Nicky to giggle.

"For a little while."

"Good." he growled, kissing her neck.

***

Auren stretched her legs briefly and resumed her jog.

So much had changed since last September, when the boys first appeared in their lives. How had Damian gotten through to her so quickly? If she really thought about it she could see them together in the future. If she wanted. Did she? What would he say if she took the scholarship?

Auren knew him well. Though he wouldn't stop her, he wouldn't be happy. But he'd never interfere with her dreams.

Auren waved to a neighbor as she jogged by. Children were out playing in the yards, delighted to be free from winter's bite.

Ireland. Faerie rings. Myth and legend. Magic. What an opportunity. Though she and Nick could take a trip over there, the thought of studying amongst the natural splendor of the country just thrilled Auren.

And the thought of leaving Damian broke her heart. Four months could be a very long time. Especially in another country where she knew no one  and was on her own. Nicky would be furious, she knew. The twins had sworn a pact years ago, when their parents died, to never be more than a few hours apart. What would Auren do without her? And how would Nicky

stay out of trouble without her? And who would run the paper?

Sighing, Auren continued her way through the neighborhood, pondering the questions rolling in her mind.

***

Damian sat slumped at his table, staring listlessly outside at the quad, where an improvised game of soccer was going on. How could they. How could Kenny and Auren carry on so? Especially with Nicky.

Auren had threatened Kenny with his life if he hurt Nicky again, yet. ..it didn't make sense. Auren and Kenny? No. It just wasn't. . .right. Destiny had been right. Of course the tramp would pick up on it. . she was used to breaking people up. But what did she get out of it?

Him? Damian wasn't sure. Destiny did pay an awful lot of attention to him. Or did she just hit on him because of Auren?

His head was beginning to hurt from wondering about her. Usually he would talk to Kenny when something was bothering him, but not this time.

"Well, if it isn't the Princess' Fool." Damian looked up to see Alexander standing over him. Just what the headache needed, he thought.

"Go away." he muttered.

"Finally realized she's a tramp, huh. . .just like all the others. With your own brother, no doubt."

"Alex, beat it before I beat you." he growled. Alex grinned coldly.

"Some women are like that, man. Gotta try out the whole family to find the best stud."

Damian was on his feet and had Alex pinned against the glass. People were staring and pointing. Campus security was running towards them.

"You ever insult my girl again and I'll throttle the life out of you, you arrogant bastard." Damian hissed as the guards reached him. He released Alex as the guards started to reach for him. "Just a matter of honor, boys." Damian straightened his jacket, picked up his backpack and left. Alexander smiled to himself.

Another round won.

***

Damian looked up from his paper to see Auren staring out the window. Since when did his girlfriend get distracted?

"What's up?" he asked. Eyes expressionless, she glanced over at him.

"Nothing. Just thinking." That wasn't a lie.

"What about?" He held out his hand to her and she came to sit next to him, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Taking a trip." she murmured. He waited for her. "I was thinking about going to Ireland."

"Ireland? I've heard it's pretty. When are you planning on going?" he asked. What the hell had brought about a trip to another country?

"Probably August." she said slowly.

"Early August? Yeah, you could make it back before classes started." he ran his hands through her silky hair. Biting her lip, she sat up and looked him in the eyes.

"Actually, I've been accepted to a special scholarship program for the semester." she blurted out. Damian paused, letting the information sink in.

"You applied for it?"

"The University of Arcadia. I applied on a whim. . .not only did I get in, but I won a scholarship."

"When did you apply? Was it before us?" he asked. Auren shook her head, hating the pain she saw in his eyes.

"No. It was a few months ago."

"And you're going to take it?" he asked. Auren sighed.

"I don't know yet. I haven't decided. I'd be a fool not to. It's a once in lifetime opportunity."

Damian didn't answer. His unasked question was one hundred percent selfish and he had no right to ask it.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about it, I just didn't know how to."

Damian sipped his beer, thinking.

"Damian, please say something." she said softly.

"It's your decision." he finally spoke. Auren drew her knees up and locked her arms around them, laying her head down against her jeans.

"I know it's a lot to swallow all at once, Damian. Like I said, I did it on a whim. I never thought I would feel about you the way I do." her voice was muffled.  Damian was at a loss for words.

Auren got up and approached him, kneeling next to him to rest her head on his knee.

"You don't want me to take it, do you." she said softly.

"Of course not. I don't want my woman traipsing around some other country for four months." he snapped. "It's up to you, Auren. I know how important your career is to you."

Auren couldn't miss the bitterness in his voice. Moving next to him on the couch, she tried to take his hand but he didn't respond, staring into space.

"Damian, I know things have been strained since this whole damn play started but please, don't shut me out now." she said quietly. "I'm not going to just jump up and abandon you. I need to weigh everything out carefully."

"I know." He held back his tears. In his heart he knew she would take that plane across the Atlantic and be gone.

Auren's misery grew as they sat on the couch, each silent.

*** 

Opening night of  Grease dawned bright and sunny. Finals were in three weeks. The play would wrap up in time to give the students panic attacks about final exams.

"You ready?" Kenny asked. Auren shook her head.

"We're doomed." she sighed. He ran his comb through his hair one more time.

"Nah. We'll make it. Ready?" She grinned.

"Let's do it."

***

Damian, unsettled by Destiny's and Alexander's words, watched his girlfriend and brother closely. The first scene went smoothly, allaying Lenn's fears. It didn't look like there was anything else there. No, he was getting paranoid, exactly what they wanted him to be.

The lights dimmed and he moved into position for his entrance.

***

Kenny spun Auren around the dance floor. Destiny moved out, into position. So far they had kept their passions under control. In fact, Auren even looked like she was actually enjoying herself.

His dance with Destiny was here and he threw himself into it.

***

Kenny and Auren climbed into the ‘car’ they were supposed to ride off in.

"You're sure this contraption is secure?" Auren muttered.

"Well, it worked today when they tested it." Kenny said cheerfully. Auren winced. Kenny reached over and took her hand.

"Hey, it's gonna be ok. It's a short ride."

Auren didn't hear him, startled by the electricity of his touch.

The motor started and they were lurched forward. Onstage the dancers parted to make way for them. Offstage, Destiny was glaring daggers at Auren and Kenny.

Auren was laughing as the car landed up above.

"Oh, man . . .ok, that was cool!" she laughed. Kenny grinned at her.

"Much better when everyone is singing and dancing, huh?" he shouted over the crowd's applause. Auren impulsively threw her arms around him and, surprised, he hugged her back. When he pulled away she kissed him gently. Pressing her against him with one arm, Kenny gave in long enough to savor the passion. Simultaneously they pulled back.

"We can't." she murmured.

"I know."

"Curtain call!" someone hollered. Quickly the pair scrambled out of the car and hurried down to the main stage, where their significant others waited happily.

The curtain opened and the dancers stepped forward. Finally it was time for the twins. Holding hands, the four walked out into thunderous applause. Damian squeezed Auren's hand. Em ran out onstage to present the four with roses.

No one saw Alexander Bastian lurking in the shadows.

***

"If being on that stage gives you this much energy, I think you should do it all the time." Damian murmured, nuzzling Auren's neck. Auren giggled.

Wrapped under the comforter on her bed, they had partied extensively through the night, before coming home and falling into passion. 

"I don't know. It was exhilarating." she admitted.

"Worth all the agony?" he asked. She paused.

"Maybe. We get to do it all again tomorrow."

"I know. I can't wait. You looked so hot in that black leather. I'm glad you changed your mind."

Auren laughed as she snuggled closer to him.

***

Nicky laid her head against Kenny's shoulder. They had ducked out of the cast party early to go back to his place where Nicky finally allowed him to make love to her.

"You were so beautiful up there tonight." he whispered, holding her tightly. Guilt nibbled at him for the kiss with Auren.

"I had fun." she smiled, kissing his bare chest.

"Yeah? During the play or after?" he asked with a wicked grin. She laughed.

"The play, of course." was the innocent reply, followed by a seductive laugh. His hands found her waist to tickle her.

"Kenny, don't!" she shrieked, thrashing her legs around.

Quickly he pinned her down to kiss her eagerly and their passion surged again.