A few months go by, and we finally get our big break! We’re booked to play at Volcaldera Stadium, the only band playing since our local popularity has exploded ever since that night at the Lava Lamp. Stella’s amazing performance as our publicist got our name across every lip in the city as she drummed up support to get us here. Her bubbly personality opens doors that might have stayed locked forever without her. Anon managed to snag us a really good payout as well and with it, we’ll easily be able to afford to get a real tour bus and start locking down shows across the nation. At least, we will if this all goes well. I fucking hope it does.

I sit in my dressing room, rubbing my belly that after many months has finally begun to show a bump. It’s not huge thankfully, so with a creative costuming we can keep it hidden. I do not need the audience staring at my stomach the whole time instead of enjoying the music. Anon is in here with me, helping me get dressed and putting on my makeup, combing my hair to perfection as he keeps me in front of the mirror. Nervousness creeps up on me and I start fidgeting, nearly causing him to streak purple across my eyeball.

He stops for a moment, sliding in front of me and taking my hands in his. “You okay, Fang? Almost changed your eye color there.”

I squeeze his hands, biting my lip to push back the nerves. “Just a little freaked out. This is what we’ve been working so hard for, but I never thought we’d get this far so quickly! Or that I’d have a bun in the oven and have to worry about falling off stage. It’s all really coming down hard on me.”

He puts his arms behind my back, gently pulling me close with my head resting against his shoulder. “It’ll be fine. We’re all here and you guys have been killing it lately. Every show leading up to this one has been sold out and each time you’ve left them wanting more. Do your best and we’ll be on the road in no time, spreading your music to the whole world.”

I close my eyes, his comforting words bringing a smile to my face. “Thank you. We never would have got here without you or Stella. You guys made all this possible.”

He pulls away, shaking his head. “We just put the path down. You had to walk it and you have fucking nailed every step along the way. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

I tug him back in for another hug, my wings slowly enveloping us both in a blanket of silken feathers, rubbing my cheek against his. “I still needed a reason to push on…I still needed you guys. I still needed you. I love you.”

He lifts my beak to his lips, giving me a kiss with a wide grin on his face. “I love you too.”

A second later there is a knock on the door as Stella slightly opens it, poking her snout through the crack. “You are on in ten, Fang! Knock ’em dead!”

Anon quickly grabs the rest of my stuff, carefully applying my makeup and making sure my outfit looks immaculate before putting his hands on my shoulders. “Alright, Fang, it’s time. We’ll be here for you no matter what, but I know in my heart you are going to kill it tonight.” He quickly kisses me on the cheek. “You’ve got this.”

“You’re right. I do.” I smile, kissing him back before walking over and grabbing my guitar and strapping it to my shoulder. “This is our moment and I’m going to shine.”

He gives me one last thumbs-up as I walk out the door toward Benji and Jacob, who are looking a mixture of excited and nervous as hell. I walk over to them, tapping them on their shoulders and they spin around to look at me.

“Don’t worry about it, guys. This is what we’ve been practicing for. All those years we spent at Pizza Time and the hours upon hours we’ve spent these past few months together have led to this, our breakout moment. Right here, right now is the most important day of our lives, so let’s fucking kill it, alright? Let’s show them that Strands of Silver is the best band that will ever come out of this fucking town.” A wide grin spreads across my beak and I proudly flare my wings out behind me.

Benji flashes a toothy smile my way as he grabs his bass off the wall. “You’re damn right, Fang. It took us years to get here but ever since we got together, I knew that we’d do big things. Pizza Time would never have been enough for us. It’s been a fucking trip, Fang, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.”

Jacob takes a deep breath, exhaling it in a wispy whistle as he stares out toward the stage. “You know, I could have been happy with what we had. Our little shows, making money, moving up around town. Hell, Lava Lamp was the closest I ever thought I’d get to a real stage.” He looks at me as his eyes mist over. “But here we are. Moments away from playing the biggest show of our lives on the biggest stage in all of Volcaldera Bluffs, and I could never have hoped for this in a million years.”

We gather into a little group huddle with our arms stretched across each other’s backs as we take in the moment. I look around at them, gleaming with pride. “I couldn’t have asked for a better band than you guys. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up with my shit for so long. It took a long time for me to heal…but we’ve made it, guys!”

We part as we bounce giddily in place, the worry and stress melting away as we prepare to step out on stage. As I turn to look out at the stage, I see Trish in the corner of my eye walking up to me. She looks ready to take on an army in that security vest of hers, her horns topped with glinting steel.

She doesn’t say anything at first, just pulls me into a soft hug before letting me go, a tear in her eye. “You fucking destroy this show tonight, Fang. I’ll always regret the time I wasted fucking up as a kid, but I’ll never regret these days since I’ve been a part of your life again. I can’t thank you enough for forgiving me and giving me this chance.”

My hands grip the back of her vest, pressing her closer to me. “Trish, I’m just happy to have you back. I know we aren’t playing on stage together but with you here, I feel like we’re living the dream we had…just not with VVURM DRAMA up in lights but all the same it’s us, here and now. I just wish Reed were here…”

I feel warm tears drop onto my shoulder as she quakes in my arms. “I wish he was too. God, I miss him so much. I only hope one day he forgives me for pushing him away.” Her grip tightens around me, gently sniffing back tears before pulling back from me. “But let’s not think about that right now. Right now, what matters is you getting up there and knocking this audience on their asses. I’ll be right there with you, in here.” She presses her hand against my chest.

I place my hand over hers, a tender smile on my beak. “He will forgive you, Trish, I know it. I did…and everyone deserves a second chance.” I give her a peck on the cheek. “Now you get down there and keep those fuckers in line. I need my bodyguard during the most important show of my life.”

Trish straightens up, wiping off her tears with a look of sheer determination on her face and gives me a stern nod. “You got it. Anyone tries anything stupid, they’ll answer to me.” With one final look in my direction, she tightens her vest and goes down to organize the rest of security.

Stella comes up with a tablet in her hand, sliding off apps before checking the time and standing beside me. She takes my chin in her hands, examining me and checking my clothes for wrinkles or dust before stopping in front of me, her blue eyes glittering in the dim light.

“It’s time, Fang. You look beautiful. There isn’t a single person out there who won’t be on their feet tonight chanting your name. Thank you…thank you so much for bringing me along for this. I didn’t have anything really in my life worth doing after Rosa left but thanks to you, I’ve got a booming career as a publicist!” Her tail winds around her leg as a look of pure delight crosses her face.

Her compliment makes my snout turn pink as I smirk. “Thank you, Stella, but don’t thank me. You did all this. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to get our name out there. You were made for this job, Stella. I was just lucky enough to get you before anyone else did!”

Stella erupts in a full blush as she twists her tail in her free hand. “Awww, thanks! But let’s get you out there! Your audience is waiting, and I think it’s finally time for you to be right where you belong, in that spotlight shining like the gorgeous gem you are.” She pats me on the back before giving me a hug and turning me toward the stage. “Show them how talented you are. That same amazingly talented girl I knew in school.”

“I will. After so fucking long I get to live my dream, surrounded by my friends.” I look at her one last time with a smile. “It’s showtime.”

I hold my mother’s gift in my palm, rubbing the ruby gemstone that I’ve been dying to wear on stage. Outside Skin Row, I finally can. I thought back to everything that got me here—the moment on the beach where I thought I wanted to die and the chance encounter with Anon that changed everything. Benji and Jacob never giving up on me, Dave keeping me going when I had long since stopped caring, Stella and Trish being the best supporters I could ask for…and Anon. The man who had no reason to stay or even care, who has never once left my side ever since we found each other again. This is for all of you….

I take my place alongside Benji and Jacob and we step out on stage, the crowd erupting in cheers before we even get halfway across. It is the most beautiful stage I’ve ever seen, our name up high above in sparkling lights with spotlights following us as we make our way to our places. Jacob sits amongst an expensive looking drum set with fog machines billowing out smoke around him. Benji straps his bass to his shoulder, holding it in his hands as small lights below illuminate him in vibrant colors. As I walk to the mic, there are pyrotechnic displays as far as I can see lining the edge of the stage.

I stand in front of the mic, reveling in the energy that flows from the stands. This is Volcaldera Stadium and I have arrived. I wave to them as they put their arms up in the air following my movements before I finally take the mic in my hand.

“Good evening, Volcaldera Stadium!”

They all cheer and whistle, the sounds a beautiful melody to my ears. This isn’t some joke, me calling out to a few dozen people at some bar. No, this is me calling out to the thousands of fans that have filled this stadium to the brim. Not a single seat is empty, and people are squishing against each other on the stadium floor to get closer. They adore us and security has their hands full already keeping them away from the barrier in front of the stage.

I lift the mic to my mouth again, my hand outstretched to them. “I’ve waited so long to play here in front of all of you, ever since I started playing in Skin Row, and you have all given me so much support. I cannot thank you enough.” A few more cheers pour from them as I pull my hand close to my heart, looking down at the floor.

“But now…” A devious grin spreads across my face as I raise my gaze to the crowd with a sultry flick of my tongue. “I can at long last give you a show you’ll never forget.”

With that, Benji shocks the whole stadium as he sends a wave of resounding bass blasting across them. As their cheers intensify, Jacob joins in before I start strumming my guitar with all the energy in my heart and soul. I stand in front of the mic singing my heart out, tapping a beat out with my boots as my tail swings to the tune. They are absolutely ecstatic and small brawls break out in the mosh pits as they knock each other from side to side. The powerful chords of our music drives them to further heights of raw energy as they pump their hands in the air.

Even if I need to be a little careful, I still belt out my lyrics with such primal energy as to shock the life into anyone out there, all the while strutting across the stage as my hands masterfully dance across the strings of my guitar. This is my element, this is my stage, and this is my soul. I bare it all with every lyric and every chord driving up the energy in the mob, and they form into a chaotic ball of people dancing. Song after song, it never dulls—not us nor the audience as they start to sing along with me. Benji is sweating up a storm as he dances in place, headbanging to the beat in his mind as Jacob spins his drumsticks in hand, playing his drums in a way I’ve never seen him do. We are killing it as the horde snaps pictures and surges against one another.

It goes on for hours, but it feels like an eternity in heaven for me. I never want to be anywhere else but on this stage for as long as I can be. Less than a year ago, I wanted to be dead. Now I want to do this for the rest of my life. I look back to Benji and Jacob as we prepare for our finale. The stage erupts in pyrotechnics, gouts of flame bursting to every strum of his bass and sparks flying to Jacob’s every beat of the drum. I take to center stage with my voice still strong as I sing the last few notes before dancing my fingers across the fretboard, ending the show with a meteoric solo that causes a glimmering lightshow. All the lights fall on me as I hold the last note before silence falls.

I slowly raise my head to the crowd with the biggest grin on my face and their cries start to wash across us on stage. The show has been an absolute success; the audience jumps and stomps in the stadium, calling out our name. Phone cameras almost blind me as we are bombarded with photos, doing our best to strike poses, when I suddenly hear a soft song over the speakers.

It confuses for a moment; that was the end of the show. What else could be going on right now? My worry instantly washes away as a spotlight focuses on the slowly emerging form of Anon, who walks in from offstage. He is wearing a wonderful full suit and jacket with starry galaxies running across the fabric, a bowtie around his neck and slick dress shoes. I have no idea where he kept this all hidden; he never bought formal stuff ever.

Another spotlight comes on, locking solely onto me as Anon pulls a mic out from behind his back as he approaches me. A soft version of the song I played for him so long ago starts to play through the speakers beside us. The audience watches in silent reverence as he brings the mic to his lips.

“Fang. Back when we first met, I never knew how much you’d end up meaning to me. How you’d change my life even as I was trying to hide myself away from the world. I believed that I was better off that way. All those days we spent together getting to know one another, the time you showed me how to play guitar, and the moment we shared on that roof…they showed me I was wrong.”

The music softly gains volume as he makes his way toward me. “I didn’t know how good I had it back when we first were dating. In a moment of weakness, I almost destroyed the only good thing that had ever come into my life. For so many years afterward, I only ever thought about how I wished I could have made up for that night. How I wanted so badly to undo the hurt I did.”

Our spotlights combine as he stands beside me, my eyes wet with tears as his gaze meets mine. “Fang…I love you. I’ll never get those years back that I lost when I broke your heart, when I tossed away everything we had built together. But I do know that all I want now is so many years with you, by your side.”

He takes my hand in his. My entire body trembles as I do all I can to focus on his eyes and his words. “I know we haven’t been back together for very long, but I do know what I want in my heart. I also remember what you told me the night you took me back into your life. That we might have been going fast, but that life…life is too short for anything else.” He chuckles as he rubs the back of his head. “Though…I guess that line loses a little weight when you are currently carrying our kid.”

A collective gasp is heard from the audience and Benji and Jacob are beside themselves as they watch as Anon gets down on one knee next to me, pulling a box from his jacket pocket and lifting it up. “You made me the happiest man on Earth the day you took me back, so I want to ask you, Fang…” He slowly unclasps the box, a beautiful gold ring with roses etched across the band holding a single perfectly cut ruby. “Will you make me even happier and marry me?”

The only sound in the whole stadium is the music softly playing as everyone holds their breath. Tears stream down my cheeks as I gaze at the ring. I look into Anon’s eyes with the biggest smile on my lips, a blush erupting across my face. “Yes, Anon, yes! Of course I will! Gawd, just put the ring on me before I melt, dweeb.”

He takes my hand, sliding the ring onto my finger before standing up beside me. I instantly wrap him in my arms, sending his mic flying free from his fingers and it clatters on the floor. My wings come around us both, pulling him tightly to me as I take his face in my hands and pull him down to my lips. Our lips meld together as he holds me close, and I let my wings slowly reveal us as they spread out behind me. The mob cries out in joy as they watch us on stage. Stella bawls her eyes out from the stage wings as Trish looks up from below with a smile on her face, and Benji and Jacob have collapsed into each other’s arms crying like idiots as they watch Anon and I.

It is the most perfect moment I could have asked for. I never expected anything like this to happen to me, but here I am standing on this stage with the only person I’ll ever love in my arms after having played the best show of my life. Every last piece had fallen into place, and my dreams are no longer just hopeful specks in the corner of my eyes but reality. I have it all.

Our kiss ends with us slowly parting before resting our foreheads together. Time seems to stand still even as I hear the cheers from the audience and the encouragement of my friends. I don’t want or need anything else but this right here—my music, my friends, my Anon. I don’t want any of this to end, a once in a lifetime moment that stretches on for so long.

My eyes meet his as we look at each other, both with stars in our eyes thinking of the future that awaits us, one without the pain of regret but instead with the joy of what is to come. Sliding a hand behind his back I turn us to face the crowd, waving to them as they continue to cheer for us. I take the mic from the stand, a blush still coloring my beak.

“Well, that wasn’t the end I’d planned for the show…but I hope you all loved it as much as I did!” Their raucous cheers gave me the answer I already knew. “Thank you all so much for coming to our very first big show! I can only hope it’ll be as memorable for you all as it is for me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I guess I have a wedding to plan!”

I drop the mic back into the holder before grabbing Anon in my arms and dipping him down low. The look of shock on his face is adorable as I lock my lips around his and kiss him deeply in front of the cheering and laughing masses. The blush on his face makes it that much more adorable as I pull him back up and he staggers in place for a moment before we wave to the audience as we walk off stage, arm in arm.

 As we enter the green room all of my bravado instantly melts and I fall onto the couch in a heap.

Anon stands over me, blinking as he leans down to check on me. “You okay there, Fang? You fell hard.”

“I’m fine…I’m fine. You just decided to…I dunno, propose to me in front of literally thousands of people after a show and cap off my greatest show with another fucking great moment in my life. I’m just a tiny bit—meaning completely—exhausted now.”

He laughs as he settles in beside me. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. I don’t think I could have found a better time in this life than right then and there. I had to take it.”

I jokingly roll my eyes at him and take his hand in mine. “You think you could at least maybe have warned me something was going to happen at the end of my show?”

He shakes his head with a smirk. “Nope. I mean, I could have…but that would have ruined all the fun. It couldn’t have worked out any better in a million years. Not to mention the whole band was in on it. How do you think I was able to use the PA system?”

“Wait everyone was in on it?” I look around the room to a few hidden smirks as the band starts to flow in. I shake my head with a sigh as I tug him down to me, kissing him on the cheek. “But no, no it couldn’t have. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Get a room you two.” Trish comes in from the stairs shaking her head with a grin as she stands over us.

“This counts as a room, doesn’t it?” Anon says as I smack him upside the head. “Oww…”

“Anyway…” Trish continues. “You two are really gonna get hitched, huh? Can’t say I didn’t see it coming with how much you two fawn over each other all the time.” We both blush as she takes a seat nearby. “I’m happy for you both, I truly am. And I better be the maid of honor.”

I roll my eyes with a scoff. “Of course you are, Trish. Can’t have a wedding without my best friend at my side.”

“Can I be in it toooooo?” Stella almost looks like she floats over with how fast she moves, her face suddenly mere inches away from mine with her doe eyes wide.

“Well, no duh, Stella. Like you’d get left out.”

She squeals with delight and she bounces around the green room as Benji and Jacob come up beside us. “Welp, I guess that makes one of us your best man, Anon. Wanna fight for it, Jacob?” Benji grins wide as he holds up his fists toward Jacob who waves it off.

“No way. I want to live. You are way stronger than me, Benji.”

“That makes it easier on me, I guess. Don’t need to spend time asking around.” Anon cuddles up close to me on the couch. “But we’ve got more to plan than just that. We gotta start planning out the tour! There’s no way after a show like that we aren’t going to be going across the nation. It’s gonna be a lot of work but with Stella and I working our butts off, we’ll get it done.”

Stella suddenly bounces up, a huge smile on her face. “Ohhhh! And I forgot to tell you!! I arranged to get a recording of the show tonight so we can put out a live album. We’ll have CDs to sell and that will spread us to even more people. We’ll be touring for sure!”

I drag my hands across my eyes with a groan. “Good grief! It’s gonna be weird having a kid on the road with us but I’m sure you’ve already been planning that out, Anon.”

“Yep!” Anon smirks. “You think I wouldn’t already be several steps ahead? We can have a highchair installed so they won’t get shaken up and a whole bunch of child safety locks and gates on everything so they don’t get themselves all beaten up walking around.”

“And no rail guns.” I wag a finger at him which only makes him grin wider.

“No promises. But don’t worry, it’ll be the coolest and also safest tour bus in the world.” He hops off the couch after giving me a kiss. “Come on, Stella, let’s get planning! We’ve got a lot of calls to make over the next few months so I don’t think we’ll be getting much sleep.”

“It’ll be no different than when I binged an entire series in a week!”

I laugh and roll my eyes. I have no doubt that Stella does that on the regular even now, though I have no idea how she’s so bouncy with such little sleep.

I continue to rest on the couch as everyone else is in a flurry of movement, all preplanning out what they are going to do and how to best make sure the kid is safe when we are doing shows on the road. Trish promises that no one will touch a hair on their head or she’ll stuff the offender into the wheel wells and spin them out onto the pavement. Note to self, do not give Trish the keys.

After a nearly endless amount of back-and-forth we all finally go home. Anon brings me into our apartment, no longer in Skin Row but just a few miles from my parents. It’s a two-bedroom that can comfortably provide room for us both and the child that soon will be joining us, and the walls are painted a welcoming soft white instead of covered in peeling paint and holes

Anon carries me into our bedroom and puts me on the bed before lying down beside me. I pull him close, wrapping a wing around him as I snuggles against his chest.

“I’m so glad you came back. I was going nowhere fast and spiraling out of control but then out of nowhere…you came back and put the pieces back together.”

He wraps an arm around my waist, pressing me against him. “I was the lucky one, Fang. Lucky as hell when you took me back. Somehow you would have made it without me, but I know I’d never have been the same without you.”

My eyes raise to meet his and I place a hand on his cheek. “No, Anon. Neither of us would have been the same, and I am grateful every day that I’ll never have to worry about that ever again. Especially since soon, I’ll be Mrs. Mous.”

He smiles, his eyes misting over. “What a wonderful thing that’ll be when I get to say that. Something I never thought I’d ever get to do.”

“Neither of us did, but life had other plans for us that night. I love you, so very much.”

“I love you too.”

I close my eyes as I put his lips to mine, kissing him with all the warmth in my heart. We were broken so long ago, pieces scattered around with no hope in our lives except to make it just one day longer. Now, together, with our dreams reignited, we are going to cut across this nation, showing the whole world everything in our souls. All the pain gone and the wounds healed, I am whole again. No longer a ptero woman with shattered hopes, now I have a dream to live out, here with him and the young child that will soon join us on our new journey together, wherever it leads.