It's time for Blades of Shadow: A Hero's Awakening. This is the actual one that's going to help Charlie's dad. Every ticket sale and extra donations are going to help. My make up is just finished when someone clears her throat.

"Hey guys," We all turn to see Lavender who's holding a tin. "I just wanted to say break a leg and give you these," She opens the tin and I see brownies. "These are actually my granny's recipe and I can honestly say, none of you can guess what the secret ingredient is." I take one along with Holden and smile at Lavender.

"Thanks for this, Lavender, maybe things can go back to-" There's a loud crash and I turn to see Holden on the floor, wheezing. "Shit," I drop the brownie and run for Holden's bag. I pull out his epipen and hurry over, looking at Lavender before tugging Holden's costume down enough to stab it into his thigh. "Was there celery in that?" Lavender nods, looking really pale.

"Yeah. My granny said to add celery spice. What's wrong with him?" I ignore her and look at Lawson and Laurie.

"Call an ambulance and get my dad in the front row," I hold Holden's hand and look at Lavender as Lawson runs off and Laurie calls an ambulance. "Holden and I are allergic to celery. You could've killed us and ruined the play," I look at Uncle Freddy and Charlie before continuing. "Good thing you can help. Charlie, wear the Gregory costume. Looks like you're back in the play, Lavender." Dad runs in with Scott and Lawson behind him.

"Holden! What exactly happened?" Dad kneels beside me and checks on Holden.

"Celery spice in the brownie. Apparently it's good." River's eyes widen.

"It is...I ate one." Lawson steps in quickly, looking calm.

"It'll be fine if you don't kiss. If we end the play as you go to kiss, you'll be fine. You two into your costumes," Lavender and Charlie hurry behind the curtain. Lawson looks between Scott and Dad. "Mr Wolfe, I know you may not like this but if Scott goes with Holden to the hospital, you can stay here and watch the show." Dad looks at Scott who nods.

"Only because you know that he only has that one allergy." Lavender runs out of the dressing room, looking particularly stressed.

"The costume's too small for me now. Does anyone know someone else who can play Tanya?" River nods, hurrying away. Seconds later, Rain appears behind him.

"I know the lines. I'd do anything to help Uncle Perry," Until right now, I had forgotten that River, Rain and Charlie are cousins. "Where's the costume?" Lawson points and claps, heading towards the stage.

"I'm going to explain the delay. Everyone make sure no one has an anxiety attack." Dad kisses my head and I get up, hurrying for my zoloft. I take it dry and take a deep breath. The show must go on.

***

At eleven fifteen, the curtain drops as River and I are supposed to kiss. I hurry to my place beside Charlie who is shaking.

"Holden's fine and you were great," They nod and I loop arms with them. "My dad was recording the show for my mom since she's with the twins so Holden can see it and be proud of his...Charlie. You two need a DTR soon." They nod again as River and Rain bow to a loud applause and it's our turn. We walk forward and bow together, the clap almost as thunderous as with Holden and I. Lawson, Justina, Greg and Uncle Freddy walk out with two bouquets of flowers. Lawson smiles at the audience.

"I know it's late and you want some sleep but we have to give these to our leading lady and Charlie," Justina and Greg hand them over. Lawson turns to the audience. "That's the end so you can leave." I walk over to River and Rain as Charlie talks to Lawson.

"Rain, I don't forgive you for what you did to my brother but," I offer her my hand. "Thank you. I know you did it for your uncle but still, thank you." She shakes my hand, leaning close to my ear.

"I actually did it for Lawson. I screwed it up with him and I won't let him go without a fight." Before I can say anything, Lawson appears, arm around my shoulders.

"Thanks Rain. We couldn't have done it without you," He kisses my cheek and leads me away, lowering his voice. "Why do I have the feeling that Rain's goal is more long term than helping her uncle?" I sigh.

"Because it's true. She wants you back." He turns me around and cups my cheek.

"She could be the most perfect person in the world and I'd rather have you." He kisses me and I wrap my arms around his waist. I pull away with a smile.

"Since you were described as a perfectionist before we met, I find that very comforting," I go to kiss him when someone clears his throat behind us. "Hi Dad." I say as I turn and Dad offers his hand to Lawson who takes it.

"You better keep her happy. I've taught her how to throw a punch and how to kick, niño," He smiles at me. "Say goodbye to your friends. I have to drop you off before I go sit with your brother." Dad walks over to Charlie and the donation box, smiling as he drops what looks like fifty. I turn back to Lawson and kiss him gently.

"I'll see you tomorrow for our date?" He nods and kisses me before letting me go. I hug Charlie and Uncle Freddy before going after Dad.

***

"Well, you look alive," I say to Holden as we video call. He looks better and seems happy to see me. "I have one question; did the brownie actually taste good?" He thinks about it before answering.

"Before my throat closed...Yeah, a little," I smile a little and he rubs his throat. "Good thing you were talking to Lavender or you would've ended up here." I shake my head with a frown.

"Actually, we could've died. None of them knew about our allergy or where we keep our epipens," We both look at each other, realising how close to death we actually had been. "What was it like with Scott at the hospital?" He rubs his eyes.

"He had to tell the nurse he wasn't our dad, that Dad was...He looked relieved that Dad took over," He holds up a familiar, battered manga of As You Like It. "Apparently he kept this and it still has its healing properties." I grab a equally familiar battered manga.

"Yeah, he found Hamlet as well. It still has its 'Don't worry about Holden' properties," We both laugh before I decide to ask him something that I've been putting off. "So...What do you think of Lawson?" He sighs, pushing back his floppy mess of hair.

"I think he makes you happy and that's all that matters," I grin at him and he smiles back. "What do you think of Charlie as more than my friend?" I keep grinning.

"They make you happy and you make them happy, that's all that I care about," I glance at my window and see Lawson on the terrace. I quickly look at Holden again. "I'm going to get some sleep. We'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He nods and ends the call. I hurry over to the window and open it. "What are you doing here?" He smiles, climbing in quietly and hugs me.

"I wanted to see how you were and if Holden's okay," I hug him back and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. "So, is Holden okay?" He asks as he pulls out of the hug and we sit on the bed.

"Well, he's alive and has his manga so I think he'll be fine," I put my head on his shoulder. "We were talking and I realised if I had eaten the brownie, we both could've died. No one knows where we keep our epipens or about the allergy." He looks at me with a small smile.

"Where do you keep your epipen?" I point at my emoji pencil case and he presses his cheek against my head. "Now I know where yours is and that Holden keeps it in the small pocket of his bag. So, if that ever happens again and I'm around, I can help both of you." My door opens and I turn to see Mom who smiles at us.

"Hi Lawson, lovely to see you. I think it's too late for you to go home now, so feel free to stay the night," She points at the door. "I'll be leaving it open because although I trust you two, I don't want to tempt you." She walks over and kisses my forehead before smiling at Lawson again. "Please remember that I am a light sleeper with two infants, I won't take kindly to you two flaunting my rules. Goodnight you two." She leaves the door partially open and Lawson turns to me, slowly nodding.

"Your mom is cool but terrifying," I nod and take out my contacts before going under my duvet. "Serious question, would your mom kill me if I got under the duvet with you?" Before I can answer, a very blurry Mom sticks her head in.

"No but I will kill you if you get handsy. Cuddling only." I bury my face into the pillow, face burning. I listen to the quiet thudding of his shoes on the ground and try not to think about how warm he is as he climbs under the duvet.

"Full disclosure, I've never actually cuddled with anyone before," I turn off the light and turn over, resting my head on his chest, one of my arms going under him. "Where do I put my arms?" I roll my eyes before putting one hand on my ribs and the other on his stomach. "This is nice," He kisses my temple. "Goodnight, Wolfe." I smile into his chest, breathing in the familiar strawberries and cigarettes.

"Goodnight James." I close my eyes and let my free hand fall until I realise it's on his beltbuckle and put it on my leg. I hear him do a cute little huff and start to fall asleep.