The headlines were everywhere, almost impossible to ignore and spreading faster than anyone could sweep them away.

The critics called it transcendent. The fans called it a masterpiece. 

Leia stood in the kitchen, her coffee going cold as she scrolled through yet another review. The morning sunlight spilled across the marble countertop, catching on the rim of her mug while Taylor leaned against the refrigerator, iced chai in hand and watching her with a mixture of pride and amusement.

"'A masterclass in vulnerability without exploitation,'" Leia read aloud, her voice caught between disbelief and quiet satisfaction. "'Hudson has crafted what will surely be remembered as one of the defining albums of the decade. It would be nothing short of shocking if this isn't crowned album of the year at the 2023 Grammy Awards.'"

Taylor crossed the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Leia from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder while putting her chai down on the counter top next to them both.

"They're not wrong," she murmured, pressing a kiss to the curve of Leia's neck. "Though I'm starting to think I should be worried."

Leia turned in her arms, eyebrows raised as . "Worried? About what?"

"Well," Taylor said with mock seriousness, "I'm just lucky I pushed my album date to October. At least we won't be competing in the same Grammy eligibility year... I'd hate to lose to you."

Leia laughed, the sound bright and unguarded. 

"Right. Because thirteen-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift is terrified of little old me."

"Not quite - twenty-one nominations, eleven wins," Taylor corrected with a playful smirk, Leia rolling her eyes playfully at the reminder. "And yes, terrified. Have you heard your bridge on track four? It's criminal."

"You're ridiculous," Leia said, but she was smiling as she leaned in to kiss Taylor softly.

The moment was interrupted by Tate padding into the kitchen, his nails clicking against the hardwood as he circled their legs once before flopping dramatically at their feet with a sigh.

"Someone's feeling neglected," Taylor observed, reaching down to scratch behind his ears.

Leia's phone chimed with a notification, and her expression shifted as she glanced at the screen. "Speaking of feeling neglected," she muttered, holding up the phone so Taylor could see.

It was a clip from Joe's latest interview, promoting his new series. The interviewer, a woman with a sleek bob and too-bright smile, was leaning forward with practiced interest.

"And of course, everyone wants to know about your relationship with Taylor Swift," she was saying. "You two have been together for quite some time now. Any truth to the rumors of an engagement?"

Joe's expression barely flickered, that same careful neutrality he'd perfected over the years. 

"I think my private life is private," he said smoothly. "That's not something I care to discuss."

The interviewer nodded like she'd expected this, but pressed on. 

"Sources say you've moved into her Tribeca apartment. Is domestic life treating you well?"

Joe's smile tightened at the corners. "Again, I think I'll keep those details to myself."

Leia scoffed and closed the video, tossing her phone onto the counter with more force than necessary. 

"Unbelievable. He gets to play coy while simultaneously feeding into the narrative. 'I'll keep those details to myself' is basically confirmation without saying anything."

Taylor sighed, reaching for her chai as Leia stepped out of her embrace, their moment ruined by Tate's interruption and again by Riven sending the interview of Joe to Leia. 

"It's exactly what his PR team wants, mystery that feels like intimacy. The fans eat it up," Taylor reminded her, rolling her eyes and holding herself back from going on her daily rant about Joe's PR team and their stupid loophole in the fake relationship terms.

"The sooner our lawyers clear this up and make his PR team drop this narrative, the better," Leia said, running a hand through her hair. "I'm tired of pretending this is fine."

"I know," Taylor said, her voice softening. "Tree's pushing for a resolution by the end of summer. They're just dragging their feet because they know what it does for his visibility."

Leia looked at Taylor, her frustration melting into something more tender. 

"I just hate that he gets to keep stealing parts of your story."

"Hey," Taylor said, setting down her drink and taking Leia's hands in hers. "My story is mine. Our story is ours. He can have the headlines."

Tate whined at their feet, breaking the tension as they both looked down.

"Yes, and your story too, obviously," Taylor added, reaching down to scratch his head. "The very important canine protagonist."

Leia laughed despite herself. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't let it get to me."

"It's okay to be frustrated," Taylor said. "Just don't let him live in your head rent-free on album release week. You've earned this moment."

_______

Three months later, the 2022 VMAs backstage was a carefully orchestrated chaos – production assistants with headsets darting between dressing rooms, artists clustered in corners comparing outfits, security guards stationed at strategic intervals. The air smelled like hairspray and nervous energy, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional curse as someone dealt with a wardrobe malfunction.

Taylor stood at the edge of it all, watching the monitor as Tree fluttered around their small group, taking in information from the organisers about where they were going to be sitting. She wore a shimmering mini-dress that looked like it was made from nothing but diamonds, and caught the light with every breath, her hair styled in a bun with loose waves framing her face. 

Leia smiled gently at her, reaching out and squeezing her hand for a second - a gesture that looked friendly to on lookers but meant a lot more to those that knew the truth. She was in a short forest green dress, her long hair flowing down in loose curls and a trail of small butterfly clips sitting in her hair for decoration. 

"I don't think I've ever sat front row at an awards show before," Dylan said, bouncing on his feet beside them as Tree motioned for them to follow her. The show was starting soon, and everyone knew that all eyes were currently going to be on Leia and Taylor - Leia because of her album being nominated for almost all eligible categories tonight, and Taylor for... well, being Taylor.

"I don't think it gets less nerve-wracking," Leia replied as she stepped back to allow Taylor and Rina Yang, Taylor's other guest and the choreographer of the All Too Well short film, to walk  in front of her and Dylan as they continued their own conversation. "I don't know how Taylor does it so gracefully sometimes."

Leia smiled as she noticed some phones turn to face them as they walked to their feets - there might have been a no phone policy, but fans would always be fans. She smiled at a few, stopping to take a quick photo or two before catching up with the others at their front row seats.

Tree turned to face her, having just said something to the others and now realising that Leia had been trailing behind.

"I'm going to grab some drinks, are you wanting anything in particular?"

Leia knew the unspoken question just by Tree's tone of voice - was she staying stone cold sober in all ways tonight, or was she going to allow herself to relax a little?

It wasn't like alcohol was her problem, but she knew that it certainly didn't help matters if she started to feel that little itch again. She hadn't in a long time, but it was something all of them kept in the back of their minds, especially around award season and afterparty centrals.

"What's Tay having?"

"Old fashioned," Tree replied.

"Don't know why I asked," Leia muttered back with a soft smile. Tree chuckled lightly under her breath. "Yeah, I'll have the same actually, please."

Tree nodded and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Leia to settle into her seat beside Taylor, who was already deep in conversation with Rina about something involving camera angles. Dylan leaned across Leia, inserting himself into the discussion with animated gestures.

The energy in the room was electric, a buzz that Leia had forgotten how much she enjoyed. There was something intoxicating about being surrounded by people at the height of their creative powers, all dressed to impress and riding the high of recognition. The pre-show music pulsed through the speakers, just loud enough to feel in her chest but not so loud that conversation became impossible.

"You look incredible," Taylor whispered, her mouth close to Leia's ear as she briefly paused her conversation with Rina. Her eyes traced the line of Leia's dress appreciatively. "Green is definitely your colour."

"Says the woman literally dripping in diamonds," Leia replied, reaching out to touch the shimmering fabric of Taylor's dress. "I'm afraid to hug you too tightly in case I get impaled."

Taylor laughed, a sound that made several heads turn in their direction. 

Their moment was interrupted by Tree returning with drinks balanced expertly between her fingers. She handed them out with practiced efficiency before sliding into her own seat a row behind them.

"Show starts in five," she announced. "And heads up – they've got you both for reaction shots during the opening number and pretty much every other moment of the entire show."

If there was one thing Tree hated, it was award show cameras. 

The lights began to dim, sending a ripple of anticipation through the crowd. Leia felt Taylor's pinky finger brush against hers for just a moment - so quick anyone watching would miss it, but enough to ground her in the moment.

"For luck," Taylor whispered, and Leia smiled.

The host bounded onto the stage as the room erupted in applause, and the show began.

The first two categories flew by in a blur of flashing lights and thunderous music. Leia found herself laughing at the host's jokes, clapping politely for winners she barely knew, all while acutely aware of Taylor beside her - the way she leaned forward when interested, the slight tilt of her head when considering something, the soft scent of her perfume that occasionally drifted Leia's way.

"And the nominees for Album of the Year are..."

Leia's breath caught as clips from the four music videos she'd put out for ethereal played on the massive screens. The room felt impossibly still and chaotically loud all at once. It was the first proper award show of the season and she had a gut feeling it was going to set the scene for all the rest that followed.

"And the VMA goes to... Leia Hudson!" 

The announcement hit like a thunderclap, the audience erupting in applause as Leia's name echoed through the arena. For a split second, she froze, her mind blank as the spotlight found her. Then Taylor's hand was on her arm, squeezing gently, and Dylan was grinning wildly beside her.

"Go," Taylor whispered, her eyes shining with pride. "Go get your award."

Leia rose on slightly unsteady legs, accepting quick hugs from Dylan and Rina before making her way to the stage. The walk felt simultaneously endless and too short, the cheers of the crowd washing over her in waves. She caught glimpses of familiar faces as she passed – artists she'd admired, producers she'd worked with, all on their feet for her.

The presenter – Jimmy Fallon, beaming and resplendent in his navy blue suit – handed her the Moonman with a genuine embrace. 

"You deserve this," he whispered before stepping back to allow Leia the microphone.

The award was heavier than Leia expected, solid and real in her hands. She adjusted the microphone, acutely aware of millions of eyes on her, of cameras capturing her every expression.

"Wow," she began, her voice steadier than she felt. "This is... not what I expected when I started making this album in my bedroom during some of the darkest days of my life."

The audience quieted, hanging on her words.

"Ethereal started as a way to process pain, but it became something else along the way. It became a map back to myself." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "I want to thank Jack for believing in these songs when they were just voice memos and tear-stained notebooks. My sister Georgie, who never once doubted I'd find my voice again."

She glanced down to the front row, where Taylor was watching her with such naked adoration that Leia nearly faltered.

"I want to thank my team – Riven, who's probably hyperventilating back at my apartment with Tate, my dog." The crowd laughed, and she caught Tree in the crowd, laughing at the fact she knew he would be too. "And I want to thank the fans who waited for me, who gave me space to become the artist I needed to be."

She took a breath, feeling something settle in her chest – a certainty, a peace she hadn't expected to find under these lights.

"Most of all, I want to thank my best friend, Taylor" she said, looking directly at Taylor, whose eyes widened slightly. "For showing me that creativity isn't diminished by healing – it's transformed by it."

The applause swelled again as she held the award aloft. 

"To everyone who's ever felt lost or silenced or afraid to be who they are - this is for you. Your voice matters. Your story matters. This is for everyone still finding their way through the labyrinth." She lifted the award slightly. "Thank you so much for this. I promise I won't drop it on the way back. Thank you."

More laughter, then thunderous applause as she was guided offstage, where a production assistant immediately whisked her toward the quick-change area. 

Tree was there already, not her publicist but still there. She'd left her seat as soon as the words 'thank you' had fallen from Leia's lips, knowing that Taylor couldn't be there and that Leia wouldn't want to hype herself up alone.

"That was great," Tree advised her, reacting out and holding on to the award to pass to an assistant while Leia's dress was unzipped by one of the costumers. "The fans are going to catch that reference, about the labyrinth."

Yes, Leia thought, of course. 

As soon as the midnights album dropped, she had no doubt some fans would join the dots - but they had already discussed that. Tree liked the idea of them soft launching their relationship if Joe's team weren't gagged by then.

"That's fine," Leia said as she stepped into her performance outfit - a black jumpsuit with silver accents that caught the light when she moved. "It feels good to finally acknowledge something real, even if it's in code."

Tree nodded, helping adjust the collar while a stylist rushed over to touch up Leia's makeup. "You've got three minutes before they want you on the platform. Your in-ears are ready."

Leia took a deep breath, centering herself as the adrenaline of winning began to settle into something more focused. The performance of decode had been meticulously rehearsed, but there was always that electric uncertainty of a live show.

"How's Taylor?" she asked as a technician clipped her microphone pack to the back of her jumpsuit.

"Beaming," Tree said with a small smile. "Dylan's trying to get her to stop gushing about your speech to everyone within earshot."

Leia felt warmth bloom in her chest. "She's not subtle, is she?"

"About as subtle as a freight train," Tree replied dryly. "But everyone just thinks she's being supportive Taylor."

A production assistant with a headset appeared, gesturing urgently. "Ms. Hudson, we need you in position."

Leia nodded, squeezing Tree's arm before following. The backstage area was a maze of cables and equipment, dimly lit except for the occasional work light. She could hear the host announcing her performance, the crowd's anticipation building.

As she stepped onto the platform that would rise to the stage, she closed her eyes briefly, letting the moment wash over her. The first notes of the song began to play as the platform slowly ascended. Darkness, then a single spotlight, then the roar of the crowd as she appeared through the floor of the stage, silhouetted against a backdrop of stars.

The performance crescendoed with a bridge that had her in the middle of the stage, bathed in silver light that fractured like broken glass around her as her voice soared. The audience was on their feet, and through the blinding lights, she caught a glimpse of Taylor in the front row, eyes shining and swaying along supportively.

As the final notes faded, the arena erupted. Leia stood breathless, hand raised in thanks as the lights dimmed. 

Backstage was a blur of congratulations and quick costume changes as she returned to her regular dress. By the time she made it back to her seat, several awards later, Taylor reached for her hand immediately.

"That was incredible," she whispered, eyes bright with emotion. "So so so incredible."

Leia squeezed Taylor's hand quickly before letting go, conscious of the cameras that seemed to be permanently fixed on their section. 

"Thanks," she whispered back, settling into her seat as another presenter took the stage.

The rest of the ceremony passed in waves of applause and music, each performance blending into the next. Leia found herself watching Taylor more than the stage – the way she mouthed lyrics she knew, how she leaned forward during acceptance speeches, always listening intently as if each winner was sharing something profound.

When the time came for Video of the Year, Leia felt Taylor tense beside her. The All Too Well short film had been the culmination of years of vision, of Taylor finally getting to direct something she'd held in her heart for so long. Dylan reached across, giving Taylor's shoulder a supportive squeeze as they showed clips from each nominee.

"And the Video Music Award goes to... Taylor Swift for 'All Too Well: The Short Film'!"

The crowd erupted as Taylor rose gracefully, accepting quick hugs from their group before making her way to the stage. Leia couldn't tear her eyes away, watching as Taylor ascended the steps with practiced ease, her diamond dress catching every light in the arena.

"This is a fan-voted award," Taylor began after accepting the Moonman, "which means this comes directly from you. The fact that you would do this for a ten-minute song that was never a single and was a re-recording means so much to me."

Leia watched as Taylor's expression shifted subtly – that look she got when she was about to share something unexpected. Tree had moved from her seat behind Leia to stand next to her, the younger girl holding on to her hand as they both tried to hide huge grins and failed miserably. Leia knew that Tree hated that the cameras were pointed directly at her and Leia, but she ignored it for her sake. 

"Since you've been so generous, I thought it might be a fun moment to tell you that my brand new album comes out October 21st." The crowd exploded with cheers as Taylor continued, "And I will tell you more at midnight."

The camera caught Leia's reaction in full – her genuine excitement melting into pure joy, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. Leia jumped up and down as she whooped, Tree laughing and clapping proudly as Taylor shot them a smile from where she stood at the podium before waving and walking off the stage.

When Taylor returned to her seat, the electricity between them was palpable. Dylan was grinning like he'd just witnessed history, which in a way, he had. 

The show wrapped shortly after, and they were ushered toward the backstage area where a flurry of activity awaited – photographers capturing the winners, interviewers stationed at strategic points, artists congratulating each other between quick outfit changes for after-parties.

Tree materialized beside them, somehow looking both frazzled and perfectly composed. "They want you both for press in five. Separate interviews, back-to-back. Then the car will be ready for the quick change before the after-party."

"See you in a bit?" Taylor suggested, looking at Leia with a raised eyebrow.

"Absolutely," Leia nodded, her smile genuine but carefully calibrated for the cameras still tracking their every move. "Save me a seat in the car."

They were whisked in opposite directions, each trailing their own small entourage of publicists and assistants. The press line was a blur of identical questions with slightly different wordings: How did it feel to win? What was the inspiration behind ethereal? Was she surprised by the critical reception?

Leia answered each with practiced ease, genuine enough to seem authentic but guarded enough to protect what mattered. She caught glimpses of Taylor further down the line, gracefully deflecting questions about what "midnight" would reveal while somehow making each interviewer feel like they'd gotten something special.

When the interviews finally ended, Tree appeared at Leia's elbow like she'd materialized from thin air.

"Car's waiting," she murmured, guiding Leia through a maze of backstage corridors toward a service exit. "Taylor's already inside."

The black SUV idled in the alley, windows tinted against prying eyes. As soon as the door closed behind them, Taylor let out a theatrical sigh and kicked off her heels.

"These are literally instruments of torture," she declared, rubbing her feet. "Beautiful, sparkly torture."

Leia laughed, the sound free and unrestrained now that they were alone. "Says the woman who insisted on wearing them despite having three backup options."

"They matched the dress!" Taylor protested, then softened. "Hey. I'm really proud of you. That speech was perfect."

"Yeah?" Leia asked, suddenly shy despite the accolade she'd just received in front of millions.

"Yeah," Taylor confirmed, reaching across to squeeze her hand. "The labyrinth reference was a nice touch."

Leia's smile turned mischievous. "Just wait until they hear the song and connect the dots."

"Twitter will implode," Taylor agreed, then turned toward the garment bags hanging across from them. "Now, about these after-party looks..."

The car was essentially a mobile dressing room, complete with a privacy partition and enough space to change without elbowing each other in the face—mostly. By the time they arrived at the venue, Taylor had transformed into a short midnight-blue dress that hinted at her upcoming album aesthetic, while Leia wore a navy pantsuit that made her eyes look impossibly blue.

"Ready?" Taylor asked as the car slowed to a stop.

Leia nodded, taking a deep breath. "Always ready to be photographed as 'good friends' having the time of our lives."

"One day," Taylor promised quietly, her fingers brushing Leia's for just a moment before the door opened.

The after-party was exactly what they expected - loud music, dim lighting, beautiful people clustered in strategic corners. They entered separately, Taylor first with Dylan and Rina, then Leia a few minutes later with Tree, who quickly disappeared to manage the press situation outside. 

The night unfolded like a carefully choreographed dance, with Taylor and Leia maintaining the perfect amount of distance for the cameras while still managing to orbit each other throughout the room. They'd had years of practice at this point - the art of being together without appearing too together, of exchanging glances that said everything while their bodies said nothing at all.

A number of their friends had came along - Jack, Selena, Gigi... Leia was glad to see them. Georgie was sitting this one out with Riven, and Leia had given Azul the night off since Drew and the rest of Taylor's team promised they'd keep an eye out for her too. 

Leia found herself at the bar beside Jack, who clinked his glass against hers with a knowing grin.

"Quite the night for Team Hudson," he said, leaning in so she could hear him over the thrum of the bass. "Album of the Year at the VMAs is just the beginning. You know that, right? We'll be on that stage at the Grammy's soon."

Leia smiled, taking a small sip of her drink. "One night at a time, Jack. Though I could get used to that little moon man statue. It's got character."

"Speaking of character," Jack nodded subtly toward the other side of the room, where Taylor was deep in conversation with someone she didn't quite recognise, both of them gesturing animatedly about something. "She's been talking about your album to literally anyone who will listen. I think she's memorised every review."

Warmth spread through Leia's chest. "She's supportive."

"Supportive?" Jack laughed. "Leia, I've known Taylor for years. This isn't just support - this is pride. That girl loves you more than life itself."

Leia ducked her head, trying to hide the smile that threatened to overtake her face. Before she could respond, Selena appeared at her elbow, slightly breathless and looking like she'd been dancing. Gigi was beside her, a huge grin on her face as she looked at Leia.

"Our secret moments, in a crowded room..." Selena fake sang, Jack and Gigi bursting into laughter as Leia playfully glared at her, swatting her arm away.

"They've got no idea, about me and you," Gigi continued, Leia shooing at both of them as Jack boomed with even more laughter at the blonde carrying the joke on.

"Shut up guys."

"You two spend most of your life staring at each other across rooms," Selena replied back. "Excuse me if it's getting a little tiring. Just kiss already!"

Leia huffed, taking a sip of her drink as she turned back to look at the trio, forcing herself not to glance back over at Taylor in fear of receiving more jokes about how she couldn't take her eyes off her girlfriend.

"Soon, I promise," Leia mumbled. "Once the lawyers get everything sorted with that stupid PR contract, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops. Believe me."

"Oh, we do," Gigi replied back, "I don't think anyone would be doubting that. I'm almost scared for the PDA that is going to happen."

"You should see them when they're in the studio together and start doing that thing where they sing while staring into each other eyes. I don't think I've met a hornier couple -" Jack started, and was immediately cut off by Leia slapping his arm aggressively as Selena and Gigi continued to laugh. "Ow!"

Before anyone could say anything further, Dylan appeared at their sides, saying hello tot eh trio before turning back to Leia.

"There you are," he said, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "I've been commissioned to steal you away for a moment. Someone wants to congratulate you properly."

He steered her toward a quieter corner of the venue as Gigi, Jack and Selena made high-school kissing noises, and to where a small private room had been set aside for VIPs who needed a break from the main party. Inside, Taylor was waiting, having slipped away from her conversation.

"Hey, winner," Taylor said as Dylan closed the door behind them, leaving them momentarily alone. "I wanted to give you this."

She held out a small velvet pouch, midnight blue with a silver drawstring.

"What's this?" Leia asked, taking it.

"Open it."

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny crescent moon charm. Simple but elegant, the kind of piece that would go unnoticed by most but held obvious significance.

"For your first moon man," Taylor explained, her voice soft. "I had it made a few weeks ago. I was pretty confident."

Leia looked up, her throat suddenly tight. "You were that sure I'd win?"

"I've never been more sure of anything," Taylor said, taking the bracelet and fastening it around Leia's wrist. Her fingers lingered there, tracing the pulse point. "There."

Leia's breath caught as she looked down at the bracelet, the tiny moon catching the dim light of the VIP room. It was such a small thing, but the weight of it felt significant on her wrist – a tangible reminder of the night, of everything they'd built together.

"It's perfect," she whispered, turning her wrist to admire how the charm settled against her skin. "Did you get yourself one for your win too?"

Taylor smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye as she pulled back the sleeve of her midnight-blue dress to reveal an identical bracelet. "Great minds..."

"Or just one mind with two wrists," Leia finished for her, stepping closer until they were breathing the same air. The music from the party was muffled through the door, the bass thudding distantly like a heartbeat.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the electricity between them almost palpable. Then Taylor reached up, her fingers ghosting along Leia's jawline with such tender reverence that Leia felt her knees weaken.

"I'm so proud of you," Taylor murmured. "Not just for tonight. For everything."

Leia leaned into her touch, eyes fluttering closed for just a second. "We should get back before they send a search party."

"Mmm, probably," Taylor agreed, but neither of them moved. Instead, Taylor's hand slid to the back of Leia's neck, drawing her in until their foreheads touched. "But I needed this moment first. Just us."

Leia smiled, her hands finding Taylor's waist. "Just us," she echoed.

The kiss was inevitable – a collision course they'd been on since the moment they entered the building. Soft at first, then deeper, more urgent, Taylor's fingers tangling in Leia's hair as Leia backed her against the wall. They moved together with practiced familiarity, knowing exactly how to make the other gasp.

When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Taylor's lipstick was smudged, and Leia's hair had come loose from its careful styling.

"We should fix... this," Leia laughed softly, gesturing vaguely at their disheveled state.

"Worth it," Taylor said with a grin, reaching into her clutch for a compact mirror. She handed it to Leia before retrieving a tissue to fix her own makeup. "Though Tree would have a coronary if we walked out looking like this."

They spent a few moments putting themselves back together, stealing glances and suppressing giggles like teenagers. Just as Leia was tucking the last wayward strand of hair back into place, there was a soft knock at the door.

"You both better be decent before I come in here!" Tree's voice, low and somewhat un-amused.

"Define decent," Taylor called back, exchanging a conspiratorial look with Leia.

Tree slipped in, closing the door quickly behind her as she rolled her eyes at the two. 

Tree crossed her arms, looking between them with a mixture of exasperation and fondness. "I should have known better than to leave you two alone for more than five minutes."

"We were just celebrating," Taylor said innocently, adjusting the strap of her dress.

"Mmhmm," Tree hummed, unconvinced. She glanced at her watch, then back up with a sudden shift in expression. "Actually, I'm glad I caught you both together. I just got off the phone with the legal team."

Leia straightened immediately, her attention sharpening. "And?"

"They've reached an agreement," Tree said, her voice measured but with an undercurrent of excitement. "The contract with Joe's team will be officially terminated on November 17th."

Taylor's breath caught audibly. "November 17th? That's..."

"Less than three months away," Tree confirmed, a rare smile breaking through her professional veneer. "After that date, you'll be free to go public with your relationship however you choose."

Leia reached for Taylor's hand instinctively, gripping it tight as the weight of Tree's words sank in.

"No more hiding," Leia whispered, her voice barely audible over the muffled bass from the party outside.

Taylor's eyes were bright with unshed tears. "No more hiding."

Tree cleared her throat, clearly trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism despite the emotional moment unfolding before her. "We'll need to develop a rollout strategy, of course. Something tasteful but authentic. But that's a conversation for another day."

Taylor nodded, still processing. "November 17th," she repeated, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.

"Mark your calendars," Tree said, her usual businesslike demeanor returning. "Now, I need you both back at the party before people start talking. Separately, please. Leia first, then Taylor in five."

Leia nodded, squeezing Taylor's hand once more before letting go. She adjusted her suit jacket, took a deep breath, and moved toward the door.

"Leia," Tree said, stopping her. "Your lipstick."

Leia quickly wiped at the corner of her mouth, shooting Taylor a look that was equal parts accusation and adoration.

"Better?" she asked.

Tree nodded. "You're good to go."

As Leia slipped out the door, she heard Taylor's quiet laugh behind her, followed by Tree's exasperated sigh. She rejoined the party with a smile she couldn't suppress, the weight of November 17th settling in her chest like a promise.

---

The morning light filtered through the partially closed blinds, casting golden stripes across the rumpled bedsheets. Leia blinked awake slowly, consciousness returning in gentle waves as she registered the weight of Taylor's arm draped across her waist, the steady rhythm of her breathing against Leia's back.

She didn't move right away. Let herself soak in it instead, eyes fluttering shut again as Taylor's leg slid gently against hers beneath the sheets. The night before replayed in fragments: the victory, the speech, the silver bracelet still around her wrist, now hidden beneath the duvet like a secret. Their kiss. Tree's news. November 17th.

Soon, she thought. They wouldn't have to sneak off into corners. Wouldn't have to pretend to be just friends, or hold back their laughter in case someone captured it the wrong way.

She rolled onto her back, careful not to jostle Taylor too much. The shift stirred her anyway, a quiet hum escaping her lips before her eyes blinked open.

"Hey," she murmured, voice still heavy with sleep. Her face was slightly puffy in that endearing, morning-after way. "What time is it?"

Leia glanced toward the bedside clock. "Not even eight. You can go back to sleep."

Taylor hummed in protest, scooting closer until her head found Leia's shoulder. "Don't want to. I like waking up with you."

Leia's heart twisted at the simplicity of it. No cameras, no performance. Just words whispered in the morning light.

"I like waking up with you too," she said quietly.

They stayed like that for a while. No need to fill the silence. Taylor eventually reached out and gently traced the charm on Leia's wrist with the pad of her finger.

"You wore it all night," she said.

"I didn't want to take it off," Leia replied, glancing at her. Her voice was soft, but the truth behind it pulsed like a second heartbeat beneath her skin. She reached down and traced the crescent moon charm with her thumb, the silver warm now from her body heat, as if it had absorbed every moment of last night and decided to stay lit from within.

Taylor didn't speak right away. The way Taylor always looked at her when she was half-finished with a lyric and needed to feel safe enough to finish the rest. The way she looked at her now, in this messy, golden-lit bedroom that still smelled like perfume and applause.

"You know," Taylor said at last, her voice low but certain, "you don't need it to remind you. But I wanted you to have something no one else understood."

Leia nodded. Her throat was tight in a good way, like the emotion was too big to hold but not painful to carry. "I know."

A small silence stretched between them, not awkward, just real. The kind that only existed between people who knew how to breathe in the same rhythm. Taylor's fingers brushed over Leia's bare arm, trailing gently, thoughtfully. 

"You're not scared anymore," Taylor said quietly.

Leia looked up at her. "No," she answered, surprised by the truth of it. "I'm really not."

They lay there for a while like that - tangled, content. Then Taylor reached behind her and grabbed her phone from the nightstand, squinting at the screen as it lit up.

"Oh my God," she murmured, snorting. "You need to see what Twitter's doing."

Leia lifted her head slightly. "What now?"

Taylor turned the screen toward her, and there it was - a fan edit already racking up thousands of likes. A slow-motion montage set to invisible string of their reaction shots at the VMAs, intercut with close-ups of their faces when the other was on stage. Leia clutching her chest during Taylor's speech. Taylor mouthing "wow" when Leia's name was announced. A brief, caught moment where they leaned into one another laughing, unaware the camera had landed on them again.

"Oh my God," Leia groaned, laughing into Taylor's shoulder. "They're too powerful."

Taylor laughed with her, scrolling. "Wait, wait... here's another one. This one's using Style but they synced it to that look you gave me right before you went onstage? Like... when you brushed your hand down my arm and smiled? They slowed it down and made it black and white and -oh. Yeah. Okay, well now I look obsessed in this."

Leia lifted her head enough to watch, and burst out laughing. "You are obsessed with me, though. They just know."

"Guilty as sin," Taylor grinned, unbothered.

They kept scrolling, passing the phone back and forth. TikTok was worse - or better, depending on how you looked at it. Clips of Taylor mouthing along to decode had already been turned into thirst traps - which really made no sense given the context of the song but Leia just laughed and moved on. Someone had even screen-recorded Leia's speech and slowed down the part where she said "my best friend, Taylor" and then cut to montages of them, like it was a declaration in a romance drama.

"It's the way they don't even pretend we're platonic anymore," Leia said, propping herself up on one elbow as another TikTok played.

"Oh no. They've moved past platonic. We're officially in 'this is so sapphic it's canon' territory."

Leia watched one of the edits in silence for a moment, her lips parted slightly as the footage cut between her performance and Taylor cheering, her reaction captured in full. She looked so moved. So proud. So undeniably hers.

"You know what?" Leia said, almost surprised by her own voice. "I don't mind it."

Taylor blinked over at her. "No?"

Leia shook her head. "I think I kind of... like that they see it. That they're guessing. That they're editing us into their favourite love story, and they're not even wrong. It's like..." she trailed off, frowning thoughtfully. "It's like they're already carrying the truth before we even tell them."

Taylor's expression softened. "You mean before we're allowed to tell them."

Leia nodded slowly, then looked down at the phone again. 

"They're close to figuring it out. One of them zoomed in on the bracelet."

"I saw," Taylor said with a grin. "That one has two hundred thousand likes already. Someone commented, 'I know a soft launch when I see one.'"

Leia let out a surprised laugh, then groaned. "We are so bad at pretending we're casual."

"We're not casual," Taylor said matter-of-factly, setting her phone aside and lying back down, folding her arm behind Leia again. "That's why it's hard to pretend."

Leia's smile softened as she leaned into the familiar curve of Taylor's body. "Tree's going to kill us if we get outed by a fan cam."

"She'll survive," Taylor replied. "She'll yell, but she'll survive."

They lay there for a while longer, letting the morning unfold around them as more fan edits rolled in, some hilarious, some heart-achingly sincere. One used audio from a romantic film, captioned: "you looked at me like I was your whole world" over a clip of Taylor watching Leia perform. Another used the bridge of 'you are in love' over video footage of their after-party entrance, side by side but not touching, both of them trying and failing to look unaffected.

Leia felt her chest flutter at that one. Not with nerves. With certainty.

"You know," she said slowly, "when we do announce - when we finally say it - I don't want it to feel like some big planned thing."

Taylor nodded. "No press release. No iPhone notes app post. Just... us."

Leia reached for her phone, scrolling until she found a photo they'd taken a few nights ago - the two of them curled up on the couch in sweats, their faces half-hidden, blurry from movement. It wasn't aesthetic. It wasn't staged. But it was real. Leia saved it into her favourites.

"Maybe that's the one," she said. "Maybe on November 17th... we post that. And we don't say anything. Just let it be."

Taylor looked over, eyes warm and clear. "That's perfect."

Another edit played quietly in the background, some slowed-down moment of Taylor brushing against Leia's back during the award show. A fan had overlaid the text: "You don't look at someone like that unless you're in love."

Leia smiled faintly and whispered, "They really do know."

Taylor leaned in and kissed the top of her head, whispering back just as softly, "Good. Let them."

And then she set the phone aside and pulled Leia closer, their laughter still hanging in the air, their limbs tangled in sleep-warmed sheets, as the world outside continued to wonder and edit and speculate. But inside, here, in the quiet of their truth, it didn't feel like a secret anymore.

It felt like a beginning.

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