The buzz of excitement filled the air as Riven's voice cut through the chatter, commanding attention. Leia's heart raced as she stood just out of sight, smoothing down her sparkling emerald green dress with trembling hands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for," Riven announced, his charismatic smile evident in his voice. "Please join me in welcoming the woman of the hour, the artist whose album is about to change the music world as we know it - Leia Hudson!"

A thunderous round of applause erupted as Leia stepped into view, her cheeks flushing crimson. The makeshift stage was adorned with twinkling fairy lights, casting a warm glow over the sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Her gaze flitted across the crowd, catching glimpses of her family, friends, and industry bigwigs all beaming up at her.

Riven's arm wrapped around her shoulders as he continued, "This girl right here, she's got a voice that'll make angels weep and lyrics that'll have you questioning your very existence. Trust me when I say, her upcoming album is nothing short of revolutionary."

Leia ducked her head, overwhelmed by the praise and attention.

"Oh my god, Riv," she whispered, "you're laying it on a bit thick, don't you think? How much have you drank already?"

He simply winked at her, raising his champagne flute. "To Leia Hudson, the brightest star in the musical galaxy!"

The crowd echoed his toast, their glasses tinkling in a symphony of celebration. Leia's heart swelled with a mixture of pride and trepidation. This was everything she'd ever dreamed of, yet the reality of it all was almost too much to bear.

Riven turned to her, lowering his voice. "Want to say a few words, superstar?"

Leia's eyes widened in panic. Public speaking had never been her forte, and the thought of addressing this type of crowd sent butterflies ricocheting through her stomach.

"Come on, they're eating out of the palm of your hand," Riven encouraged, already extending the microphone towards her.

As another wave of applause washed over her, Leia stepped forward, taking the microphone. Her voice quavered slightly as she spoke, "Thank you all so much for coming. Please, have a wonderful night!"

She handed the mic back to Riven, relief flooding through her as she made her way down the steps. The moment her feet touched the ground, she was engulfed in a tight hug, a loud voice cheering and chanting in her ear causing her to burst into laughter and wrap her arms tightly around her sister.

"There's my money maker!" Georgie's familiar voice rang out, slightly muffled against Leia's shoulder.

Leia laughed, returning the embrace. "Is that all I am to you?"

As they pulled apart, Leia caught sight of her parents approaching, their faces beaming with pride. Her mother's eyes glistened with unshed tears, while her father's chest seemed to puff out a little more than usual.

"Oh, sweetie," her mom breathed, pulling her in for another hug. Her ginger hair matched Georgie's, the two looking so alike in the venue light. "We are so, so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom," she managed, her voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't have done any of this without you guys."

Her dad ruffled her hair affectionately, a habit from her childhood that she both loved and hated. "That's our girl. Always so humble."

When Ronnie and Linda had told her they were coming, she really hadn't expected them to turn up. She knew her parents loved her and she loved them too - but they had always made it very clear that this was not the life they wanted to be involved in. They had lives back home that worked perfectly fine without them needing to be involved in the glitz and glamour of the music industry.

With that in mind, Leia felt like her entire life was at it's absolute peak right now.

Georgie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Alright, alright, enough with the mushiness. This is supposed to be a party, remember?"

Like the perfect distraction, Adrian approached the family, his usually stern expression softened by a genuine smile. He greeted Leia's parents warmly, shaking her father's hand and giving her mother a brief hug.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, it's wonderful to see you again," Adrian said, his voice carrying its characteristic brevity. Georgie and Leia shared an amused look at how polite he was being for a change. Leia's father beamed, clapping Adrian on the shoulder.

"Adrian! Thank you for looking after our baby girl. We couldn't ask for a better manager."

Leia felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Dad," she groaned, "please stop calling me that. I'm not a child anymore."

Her protest only made her parents chuckle, and Leia found herself torn between exasperation and affection. She loved her family dearly, but sometimes their doting could be a bit much, especially in such a public setting.

Just as Leia was contemplating how to gracefully extract herself from the situation, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Riven, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Mind if I borrow the star of the evening for a moment?" he asked, flashing his charming smile at her parents.

"Of course," she said quickly, perhaps a bit too eagerly. "I'll catch up with you guys later, okay?"

As Riven led her away, Leia let out a small sigh. "Thanks for the save," she murmured, grateful for his impeccable timing.

Riven laughed, the sound warm and infectious.

"That's what I'm here for, darling. Can't have you dying of embarrassment at your own party, now can we?"

As they walked, Leia's eyes scanned the crowd, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized familiar faces. Selena Gomez was chatting animatedly with Cara Delevingne near the bar, while Martha Hunt was swaying to the music on the dance floor.

"Everyone is here," Leia breathed, still not quite believing the caliber of guests at her party. She knew her friends would be, but she was spotting faces that she hadn't expected to see here. "This is surreal."

Riven nodded, following her gaze. "You've made quite the impression, Leia. Everyone wants to be here to celebrate you."

Riven's expression shifted slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"One thing, actually. I did send Karlie an invite, for your appearance's sake and so your friend's don't realise something is... amiss, but she won't be attending due to other commitments. Thought you'd be glad to hear it."

Leia felt a confusing mix of relief and disappointment wash over her. "Oh," she said softly, unsure how to feel. "I see. Well, thanks for letting me know."

As they continued their circuit of the room, Leia's mind wandered. She was grateful for Riven's foresight in handling the guest list, but the mention of Karlie had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions she wasn't quite ready to confront. Not tonight, not when everything else was so perfect.

"Where's this man of yours?" She teased, changing the topic. Riven blushed, swatting at her shoulder as she continued to trail alongside him, only now realising that he actually did seem to have a destination in mind rather than just pretending he needed her.

"Oh he's here," Riven replied, a smirk on his lips for a moment. "Who is he? That's for me to know..."

Riven gently guided Leia through the throng of party-goers, ignoring her complaints that he wouldn't reveal who was his mystery guest, his hand a reassuring presence on her lower back. They slipped into a quieter back corridor, the pulsing beat of the music fading to a dull thrum. Leia inhaled deeply, grateful for a moment's respite from the whirlwind of attention.

As they rounded a corner, a flash of ginger hair caught Leia's eye. Tree Paine was striding towards them, her face wreathed in a warm smile. In her hands was a small black gift bag, swinging gently with each step. She looked great - in a lovely black sequin dress and heels that reminded Leia of how powerful the woman in front of her really was.

"Tree!" Leia exclaimed, her face lighting up. "It's so great to see you again."

Tree's smile widened as she reached them. "Leia! The pleasure's all mine. You look absolutely radiant tonight."

Leia felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Thank you," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I still can't believe all of this is for me."

"Well, believe it. You've earned every bit of this celebration."

As Tree spoke, Leia couldn't help but notice the gift bag she was holding. Her curiosity piqued, but she didn't want to seem presumptuous by asking about it.

Tree, ever observant, caught Leia's glance. "Oh! This is for you, actually," she said, holding out the bag. "It's a little album wrap gift from myself and the rest of Taylor's team, including Mark and Drew."

Leia's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh, Tree, you didn't have to do that," she said, taking the bag with trembling hands. The weight of it felt significant, both literally and figuratively

"There's no pressure to open it now," Tree assured her. "We just wanted to show our appreciation."

Leia's throat tightened with emotion. "I don't know what to say. Thank you so much. You really didn't need to do this."

Tree's expression turned serious for a moment. "Leia, we all owe you a lot more than you'll ever be able to understand."

Confusion flickered across Leia's face. What could Tree possibly mean by that? She opened her mouth to ask, but something in Tree's eyes made her hesitate. Instead, she simply nodded, clutching the gift bag close to her chest.

"Thank you," Leia repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt overwhelmed by the kindness surrounding her, from Riven's constant support to this unexpected gift from Taylor's team. It was all so much more than she had ever dared to dream.

As Tree excused herself to rejoin the party, Leia stood there for a moment, lost in thought. Riven's voice snapped her back to reality.

The backdoor creaked open, drawing Leia's attention. Her breath caught as Taylor swept in, Drew close behind. Leia's eyes locked onto Taylor, drinking in her presence. The blonde's face was tight with stress, but the moment she spotted Leia, her features softened, melting into a warm smile that made Leia's heart skip.

Riven chuckled, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze as he turned on his heel, heading back towards the party without another word.

Taylor was in a short gold dress, covered in what looked like little crystals that reflected off the low light in the corridor. Leia couldn't help but suck in a breath, her eyes trailing up and down the singer without any remorse. She looked ethereal.

Taylor's gaze traveled slowly down Leia's body, lingering appreciatively on the curve of her hips before trailing back up to meet her eyes. The intensity of Taylor's stare sent a shiver down Leia's spine.

"Hi," Leia breathed, suddenly feeling shy under Taylor's scrutiny.

"Hey you," Taylor replied, her voice low and rich. "You look absolutely stunning."

From the corner of her eye, Leia caught Drew rolling his eyes, poorly concealing an amused smile as he tried to pretend that he wasn't listening in to their conversation.

"Ms. Swift, I'll be nearby if you need anything. Just give a shout, and we'll be right there."

Taylor nodded, her eyes never leaving Leia. "Thanks, Drew. We'll be fine."

Leia turned back to Taylor, suddenly aware that they were alone. The air between them crackled with electricity. She swallowed hard, her mind racing. What does she say now? How does she act? It was like she'd never been alone with Taylor before.

"So," Leia began, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, "how's your night been so far?"

Taylor stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "It just got a whole lot better," she murmured, her blue eyes twinkling. "But I've been dying to get a moment alone with you all evening. Sorry that we were late. Had to wait for the back alley to be free of paps..."

Taylor's gaze swept over Leia once more, her eyes lingering appreciatively.

"Wow," she breathed, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I knew my girlfriend was talented since we're at this party, but that dress..."

Leia's eyebrows shot up, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Girlfriend? Is that what I am?" she teased, her heart fluttering at the word.

A blush crept up Taylor's neck, coloring her cheeks a soft pink. She ducked her head slightly, a rare moment of shyness from the usually confident pop star.

"Well," Taylor said softly, meeting Leia's eyes, "I'd like that. If you would."

Leia's breath caught in her throat. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips gently against Taylor's. The kiss was soft, sweet, and filled with promise.

"Yes," Leia whispered as they parted, her forehead resting against Taylor's. "I'd like that very much."

Taylor's smile was radiant, her blue eyes shimmering with joy. She intertwined her fingers with Leia's, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"We should probably head back to the party," she said reluctantly. "Before they send a search party."

As they approached the end of the corridor, Taylor reluctantly loosened her grip on Leia's hand. The reality of their situation settled over them like a heavy cloak. Back to being just friends, Leia thought, her heart aching at the necessity of their public facade.

Just as Leia was about to step back into the throng of the party, she felt Taylor's breath hot against her ear.

"By the way," Taylor whispered, her voice low and husky, "I only bought this dress so you could take it off me later when we celebrate. Alone. Just us."

Leia froze, her mind short-circuiting at Taylor's words. She turned, mouth agape, but Taylor was already sauntering away, throwing a wink over her shoulder as she made her way towards Selena and their friends on the dance floor.

The pulsing music and chatter of the party faded into a distant hum as her thoughts raced.

"Oi, Earth to Leia!" Georgie's voice cut through her daze. Her younger sister materialized before her, a familiar smirk playing on her lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Or maybe something even more shocking?"

Leia blinked rapidly, trying to compose herself. "Shut up," she muttered, her cheeks still flushed. She glanced around the room, suddenly aware of how exposed she felt. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

Georgie rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Seriously? You're at your own album wrap party, surrounded by the who's who of the music industry, and you're worried about where our parents are?"

"I'm not worried," Leia protested weakly. "I just—"

"You just need to stop being such a responsible big sister for five minutes and enjoy yourself," Georgie interrupted, grabbing Leia's hand. "Come on, I hear your new song playing. Let's dance!"

As if on cue, the opening notes one of Leia's more upbeat tracks on the new album filled the air. Leia felt a surge of pride mixed with nervousness. It was still surreal to hear her own voice, her own lyrics, playing at a party like this.

"Fine," Leia conceded, allowing Georgie to pull her towards the dance floor. "But just for a little bit."

As they reached the center of the crowd, Leia caught sight of Taylor across the room. Their eyes met for a brief, electric moment before Taylor turned back to her conversation with Selena. Leia's stomach did a somersault.

"You know," Georgie shouted over the music as they started to dance, "for someone who is just about to release an amazing debut album, you look way too stressed!"

Leia laughed, forcing herself to relax.

"You're right," she admitted, letting the rhythm of her own song wash over her. "I guess I'm still getting used to all of this."

As they danced, Leia felt the tension slowly leaving her body. She watched Georgie, carefree and exuberant, and felt a rush of affection for her little sister. Despite the craziness of her new life, some things – like the bond she shared with Georgie – remained beautifully unchanged.

"I'm glad you're here," Leia said, pulling Georgie into a quick hug.

Georgie pretended to gag. Leia laughed, twirling Georgie around. As the chorus hit, she found herself singing along, her voice joining the recorded version. For a moment, surrounded by the music she'd created and the sister she adored, Leia felt truly, incandescently happy.

As the song faded into the next track, Leia's eyes unconsciously scanned the room, landing once again on Taylor. The blonde was laughing at something Cara had said, but her gaze soon drifted back to Leia. A small, secret smile played on Taylor's lips as their eyes locked.

Leia felt her cheeks flush, her heart rate quickening. She bit her lower lip, unable to look away from Taylor's intense stare.

Georgie's voice cut through Leia's reverie. "Oh my God, could you two be any more obvious?"

"What?" Leia stammered, tearing her eyes away from Taylor.

"You and her!" Georgie exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, get a room already."

Leia's blush deepened. "We absolutely will be. After this," she muttered, then immediately regretted her words.

Georgie's eyes widened in mock horror.

"Ew! Too much information!" She paused, then added with a smirk, "I'm suddenly very glad I'm staying with Mom and Dad tonight and not at our apartment."

"Georgie!" Leia hissed, mortified but unable to suppress a laugh. "You're insane, I need to get some air."

Georgie laughed as Leia walked away, both girls trying to hide the grins that were engraved on to their lips.

Weaving through the crowd, Leia made her way to the balcony. The cool night air hit her flushed skin as she stepped outside, bringing instant relief. She leaned against the railing, looking out over the twinkling city lights below.

Taking a deep breath, Leia closed her eyes. The muffled sounds of the party behind her faded as she focused on the moment.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Leia turned to see Adrian approaching, two glasses in hand. He offered one to her with a knowing smile.

"Thanks," she said, accepting the drink gratefully. "I just needed a moment to process everything."

Adrian nodded, leaning against the railing beside her. "You're handling it all like a pro, you know."

"I don't feel like a pro. Half the time I feel like I'm just pretending to know what I'm doing."

"That's the secret," Adrian said with a wink. "We're all just pretending. Some of us are just better at hiding it than others."

As Leia chuckled at Adrian's comment, a tall man in an expensive suit approached them, his smile wide and eyes gleaming with opportunity.

"Leia Hudson!" he exclaimed, extending his hand. "Robert Klive, VP of Marketing. I just wanted to congratulate you personally on this incredible album."

Leia shook his hand, her practiced smile sliding into place. "Thank you, Mr. Klive. I'm glad you're enjoying the party."

"Oh, absolutely," Robert nodded enthusiastically. "Now, I was thinking about your album rollout for your sophomore album. Have you considered a surprise drop? It worked wonders for..."

As Robert launched into his pitch, Leia's mind drifted. She nodded politely, but her thoughts were consumed by Taylor's parting wink, the promise of what awaited them later. The way Taylor's dress had hugged her curves, the softness of her lips...

"...and then we could follow up with a multi-country tour. What do you think?" Robert finished, looking at her expectantly.

Leia blinked, realizing she'd missed most of his proposal.

"That's an interesting idea, Robert," Adrian smoothly interjected. "Why don't you send over a detailed proposal next week? We can discuss it then. Right now, I'm afraid I need to borrow Leia for a moment. Label business, you understand."

Relief washed over Leia as Adrian guided her away, leaving a slightly disappointed Robert behind.

"Thanks," she whispered. "I completely zoned out there."

Adrian's eyes twinkled with amusement. "I noticed. Go on, enjoy your night. I'll handle the suits."

As Leia re-entered the party, she was immediately accosted by an excited Georgie.

"There you are! Mom and Dad want to take a family photo on her phone."

"What?" Leia started, confused.

Georgie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, yeah, no phones allowed. But Mom couldn't resist breaking the rules just this once." She leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, "I think she's had a bit too much champagne."

Leia groaned, but allowed herself to be pulled through the crowd. Their parents stood near a quiet corner, their mother fumbling with her phone.

"Mom," Leia hissed, "put that away before someone sees!"

Her father chuckled. "That's what I've been telling her for the last five minutes."

"But sweetie," her mother protested, "it's your big night! We need to capture the moment!"

Leia sighed, torn between exasperation and fondness. "Look, how about we ask Riven's photographer friend to take a quick shot instead? That way we're not breaking any rules."

Georgie snorted. "Always the goody-two-shoes, Lee."

As Leia signaled the photographer over, she couldn't help but smile. Despite the chaos of her new life, some things never changed. Her family, with all their quirks and complications, remained her anchor in the storm.

The photographer positioned them, and as the flash went off, Leia felt a surge of gratitude. As the photographer lowered his camera, a familiar figure caught Leia's eye. Taylor, radiant in that insane shimmering gold dress, was gliding through the crowd nearby. Leia's heart skipped a beat, her earlier conversation with Taylor flashing through her mind.

"Oh my goodness!" Leia's mother exclaimed, her eyes widening. "Is that Taylor?"

Before Leia could react, her father was already waving Taylor over.

"Tay! Would you mind joining us for a photo?"

Leia felt her cheeks flush as Taylor approached, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through her. This wasn't how she'd imagined introducing Taylor to her parents. Georgie was sniggering with laughter into her hand, Leia reaching back and elbowing her to get her to shut up.

"Of course, I'd be honored," Taylor replied smoothly, though Leia noticed a hint of uncertainty in her blue eyes. She knew fine well that the blonde felt like a deer caught in headlights as soon as Leia's dad had summoned her over.

As Taylor stepped into their group, Georgie leaned close to Leia's ear.

"This is gold," she whispered, clearly amused. "You two look like deer caught in headlights."

Leia shot her sister a warning glance, but couldn't deny the truth in her words. She could feel the heat rising in her face as Taylor's arm brushed against hers.

"We're such fans of your music," Leia's mother gushed, oblivious to the tension. "And you've been so supportive of our Leia!"

"Really supportive," Ronnie Hudson said, winking at his daughter who wanted the ground to swallow them up now. Taylor blinked in surprise, her cheeks a little redder as she tried to hold back from reacting to his words.

"Smile, everyone!" the photographer called out.

Leia plastered on her best grin, hyper-aware of Taylor's presence beside her.

As the crowd began to thin, Leia found herself cornered by Riven, his eyes twinkling with mischief and residual excitement from the night's events.

"We're not letting this party die just yet, are we?" Riven grinned, slinging an arm around Leia's shoulders. "I know this great little place downtown. How about we round up the crew for some late-night eats and drinks?"

Leia's heart raced, her mind immediately flashing to Taylor and their unspoken plans. She bit her lip, scrambling for an excuse.

"Actually, I, uh... I was thinking of having a smaller after-party. You know, just a few close friends at my place."

Riven raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "A 'smaller' after-party, huh? With 'close friends'?"

Leia felt her cheeks flush. "Come on, Riv. It's been a long night. I just want to unwind a bit."

"Alright, alright," Riven chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender. "I can take a hint. Just promise me you'll actually get some rest tonight, yeah? We've got a busy week ahead."

"Promise," Leia nodded, grateful for Riven's understanding. As he walked away to chat with some industry execs, Leia let out a small sigh of relief. She loved Riven dearly, but right now, all she wanted was to be with Taylor.

As she made her way towards the exit, Leia was intercepted by her parents and Georgie. Her mom pulled her into a tight hug, eyes glistening with tears of pride.

"Oh, sweetie, we are so, so proud of you," her mom gushed, cupping Leia's face in her hands. She was so drunk and Leia could see her dad wasn't much better off either.

"Thanks, Mom," Leia smiled, feeling a lump form in her throat. Despite her eagerness to leave, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the love surrounding her.

Georgie rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "Alright, alright, enough with the waterworks. Let's let the superstar get some... rest."

As they said their goodbyes, Leia felt a mix of emotions wash over her. Gratitude for her family's support, excitement for what lay ahead with Taylor, and a lingering disbelief that this was all really happening.

Once she was outside and in the car with Azul, Leia pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she typed out a quick message to Taylor.

meet me at my place when you can. can't wait to celebrate...

Her heart pounded as she hit send, a giddy smile spreading across her face. Seconds later, her phone buzzed with a response – a simple winking emoji from Taylor.

Leia couldn't suppress the laugh that bubbled up from her chest. As she slid deeper into the back of her waiting car, she felt lighter than air. The night had been a whirlwind of emotions, but the best was yet to come.

As the car pulled away from the curb, Leia leaned her head against the cool window, watching the city lights blur past. Her mind raced with possibilities, with dreams of the future, and with the promise of Taylor's touch.