London, England 1985

Dolly's POV:

I'm in my dressing room, getting ready for my last performance on that stage as I looked at my wardrobe in the mirror behind me as I sighed.

"What's wrong honey?" My best friend Judy asked as she could always tell how I'm feeling.

"What are your thoughts about this tour?" I asked her as she set her magazine down.

"I thought y'all were amazing. Y'all always are, no matter what."

"Are you just sayin' that?"

"No, because when y'all leave here and go back home, you'll be the same people you were on stage."

"Can I ask you something."

"Sure."

"What do you think about him?"

"Of Kenny?"

"Yes."

"He's kind and a gentlemen. Not like those guys from Sevierville."

"Anything else?"

"Dolly, do like him?"

My breath got hitched into my throat as if someone had taken all the breath I had left in my lungs.

"Would it be bad if I did like him, I mean I love him as my best friend but would it be bad if I liked more in another way?" I asked her.

"No, I think he's a great guy and I love you honey. You've been through quite a lot lately and I know he's the only guy I have liked since the guy from Nashville."

"That was such a long time ago."

"I know. Now, are you ready to put on your dress?"

"Sure." I said as we started really getting ready.

Kenny's POV:

I'm ready as I'll ever be in my dressing room, feeling nervous of getting on stage with her as I heard someone knock on my door.

"Yeah?"

"You're on in ten Mr. Rogers."

"Thank you." I said as he walked away from the door.

"What's goin' on in that head of yours?"

"I think I have feelings for Dolly." I said as everyone suddenly got quiet.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"I thought she was dating again?"

"Is she?"

"Maybe."

"Go ask her."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Why would I go ask Dolly Parton if she's dating again?"

"Because as her best friend, I want her to know I'm her bodyguard."

"She has plenty of those man."

"Just go ask her, please?"

"Fine."

"Wait a sec... Give her this for me."

"A bouquet of flowers?''

"These are her favorite flowers, plus yellow is her favorite color."

"You do like Dolly, don't you?"

"Did you hear the man earlier? He's in love with her."

"He said he likes her."

"Same difference."

"I like her and I'm in love with her. Now, go on and give those to her before the show." I said as I just hoped after tonight that I will finally not be lonely anymore.

Dolly's POV:

I was talking to Judy as I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I said as a young looking boy walked in, holding an bouquet of yellow roses.

"Mr. Rogers told me to give you these."

"As in Kenny Rogers?"

"The one and only." I smile as I felt my cheeks blush underneath my makeup as I just mentally kicked myself for asking that question.

"Well, tell him I said thank you."

"I will Ms. Parton."

"Just call me Dolly."

"Yes Ms. Dolly." He said as he walked out.

"Sweet boy." I said as I smiled at the roses.

...

Before we knew it, we stood side by side on stage together as I smiled and looked out at the crowd of our fans.

We started out singing 'Real Love' as we did our usual thing. I walked around waving at people as they shouted our names from the top of their lungs.

"We got real love, not infatuation." I sang as he smiled at me.

"We got real love, it's our destination."

"You know, I love you."

"You know, I love you too." I sang as my gut was telling me something.

...

We finished our last show of the year and we headed to our dressing rooms to pack it all up and leave.

...

Kenny's POV:

I walked into my dressing room after a few minutes of signing autographs backstage and did not even get to say goodbye to Dolly, only if weren't a goodbye.

"Hey! Go see if Dolly is still here."

"Why?"

"Please!"

"Man! You must really love this woman."

"You have no idea." I said as my bass guitarist ran to see if Dolly was still in her dressing room as he ran back.

"She's not there."

"I gotta go stop her!"

"Wait!" My manager took off running with me to catch her car that was going to the airport.

...

By the time we got out into the parking lot, it was empty and I just stood there with my manager and assistant.

"Aren't y'all catching the same plane together?"

"No. We were on the flight here, but they got her on a different plane this time."

"Maybe we can catch her at the airport."

"No chance bud. They whisk her in and out of there." My manager says to my assistant.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I'm just hoping whoever she's dating treats her like the queen she really is."

"What about you?"

"What about me?" I say as we walk back towards the dressing room.

"Do you think you'll ever date or get married again?"

"The only person I could see myself with is Dolly. I have these feelings that I could not share with anyone else."

"When we get back to Nashville, all I can say is run to her."

"I'll figure something out."

...

We had just boarded our plane, going home will put me at ease as I started thinking of Dolly and how much I missed her right at this very moment.

"She's crazy about you too man."

"She might turn him down again."

"We're trying to make him feel better, not worse."

"Being on this plane without her is the worst. I'm sorry to be down like this, but I miss Dolly."

"It's okay, I can tell she makes you happy and that's what I want for you."

"What if she says no again?"

"Then, I'll just let her be."

"You need to win her heart."

"A lesson in life young man, when a woman says 'no', it means no."

"Yes sir."

...

Everything finally calmed down and it was peaceful as I seen the moon floating through the air with us as I could hear a faint laughter in my head, the only laughter I just could get lost in.

"Maybe we can finally find the one missing piece of the puzzle. If not? Then, I guess I'll go on with my life and she can go on with hers." I sat here, thinking about it as I drifted off to sleep, thinking about Dolly.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoy the first chapter!