"Swept away" Rewritten by VeGirl 2014 © All Rights Reserved

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the holidays were over the four friends was heading back to Greenville. Unfortunately not together though. Robert wasn't scheduled at work until two days after Morgan, so he and Wilma stayed in New York and then she would come with him to Greenville.

Isa was so glad to have her friend on the same continent as her again and was reluctant to let her go. Even if Isa was excited to show Wilma the set and production of their favorite show, Robert promised to bring her in just a few days.

At JFK airport the media circus was in full mode. Isa had almost forgot, or perhaps suppressed that annoying fact. This time Morgan didn't let go of her hand for a second. Isa walked proud by his side when the paparazzi flashed their cameras and walked by his side while he barely nodded to people who recognized him.

Famous by association, is that a status, she asked herself.

He had apparently been practicing ignoring people that was obvious by his way of looking somewhere else and picking some remote corner in the first class lounge for them to sit in. Isa was actually impressed.

On the plane they got opportunity to snuggle close together and it had never felt more right, or necessary for that matter.

When they landed it was pretty much the same media circus, but Morgan had the same strategy as in New York; Isa's hand in a firm grip and not letting her go. He totally ignored his fans, who Isa knew was important to him, and she felt bad for them.

"Do you really want to just walk past your fans?" she whispered to him.

He looked blank at her. "It was one of my fans that sent you those pictures, remember?" He answered when they were heading to a cab. That realization shot through her like a struck of lightning.

"But, you caught the one responsible, right?"

"Yes, and she was convicted."

"Then you can't blame the sane ones for what one insane has done." He just stopped and looked puzzled at her. "You forget that I'm one of your crazy stalker chicks." Isa tried to keep the conversation little lighter.

He just put his arm around her neck, pulled her close and kissed her temple. "You've never been crazy," he mumbled and they got into the cab that took them home.

It was mixed feelings going through Isa while once again walking through the entrance to the apartment building. This was where she had gone through both the best and the worst times of her life and everything looked the same; she even recognized the portiere who did his best to smile polite and not let his chin drop in surprise to see Isa back.

Morgan scooped her up into his arms and carried her over the threshold.

"We're not married," Isa giggled.

He just smiled at her. "No, but some day you will be mine for real, and I will never let you go."

Her glistening eyes twinkled with mirth. "Sounds kind of stalkerish, don't you think," she snickered.

Morgan just beamed a huge smile at her. "I love the sound of your laughter." He kissed her. "Please laugh a lot."

"Make me!" Isa challenged with a chuckle.

"I'll love to."

Finally he put her down on her feet again. "Welcome home," he said and it warmed Isa's soul. She was finally home again.

The apartment looked pretty much the same as it did when Isa left it, just some dishes in the sink and his clothes in a pile on the bedroom floor.

"Sorry I haven't turned into a neat-freak during these last six months," he mumbled apologetic, but she just smiled.

"I didn't expect you too," Isa simply stated, not making a big deal of it.

The couch was where they spent the evening just talking, they didn't even turn on the TV.

When they got to bed that night, it wasn't the world-turning crazed passion that accompanied them, but a slow sweet love through which they touched each other once again. They needed to be reintroduced to every inch of skin; to softly not just drench the thirst, but to savor the taste like a wine connoisseur.

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Isa was the one that had things to do and people to see which was a new exciting feeling.

Angela, her New York boss, had surprised Isa when she explained that she would move back to Greenville. "I'm on the verge of opening an affiliate gallery there and I would love for you to help me start it up," Angela said to Isa's huge surprise. Isa was so incredible grateful  for the opportunity and filled with awe.

Morgan wasn't ready to let Isa out of his sight on his last day off work, and insisted to come with her. They arrived at the address Angela had given Isa who was pleasantly surprised by the exterior of the gallery.

A gorgeous black-haired girl with brown eyes, glistening with excitement, met them at the door. Isa was just about to introduce herself when she was cut off. "Hi Felicia, Angela told us you were coming; my name is Shona," the girl said excited.

Isa introduced Morgan and both of them noted pleased that she didn't seem to recognize him.

Shona immediately showed them around the premises, where carpenters and painters were crowding the area with electricians. "I'm so glad for your help starting this thing up, it has been a little stressful with Angela all the way in New York."

"I hope I can be of any help," Isa mumbled. "I have no experience in this kind of work," she admitted. "But I'm really honored."

"I have a feeling we'll be great friends," Shona said, and Isa immediately liked her. "How come you decide to leave New York?" she asked curious.

"This is my home town," Morgan revealed with a stunning smile which she returned with twinkling eyes, looking slightly dazed. Isa shook her head.

One of the painters interrupted them. "Miss Perera, may I have word?" Shona followed the guy and Isa took the opportunity to look around in the big bright premises. This could be a really good start, Isa thought. She had an amazing work to focus on, while Morgan had his job. This was a start of something really good where Isa no longer was a bystander.

~ ~ ~

It was with a mixture of nervousness and excitement in Isa, they got out off his car at the studio the day after, and she was so grateful to have his hand to hold on to. The commotion outside the studio gates had been pretty much the same as usual, but Isa was much more worried about the inside. His friends and co-workers had been really nice last time she was there, but since then Isa had left Morgan and made him miserable for months. What would they say now?

"You look worried," Morgan said as they walked up to the door.

Isa looked at him and her brooding face turned into an embarrassed smile. "Perhaps a little," she admitted.

He squeezed her hand. "I promise to protect you if they're mean," he whispered.

Isa snorted. "Yeah, I'm feeling like a little schoolgirl, walking the hallways with the quarterback."

"No one would dare to mess with Vincent!" He used his alter ego's threatening tone of voice and then smirked. "Just you come with me, little schoolgirl." He put his arm around her neck and it felt somewhat safe to recognize Vincent in him. Here at work, he was supposed to be Vincent.

Isa laughed as they walked into the reception area and Marge looked up at them from behind the reception desk. "Isa? My lord!" The old lady smiled wide. "I thought we wouldn't see you again."

Isa smiled back. "Well, apparently you won't get rid of me that easy," she tried to joke.

"Oh, I'm glad we didn't scare you off, dear. Welcome back."

Isa sighed relived and replied a "Thank you," before they continued their path to Morgan's dressing room. "One down, fifty to go..." Isa muttered.

"It can't be that bad," Morgan chuckled as they hung their jackets in his dressingroom. He was just about to grab the handle when Isa stopped him.

"Morgan." Isa looked worried. "I'm just scared that they'll hate me for hurting you," she finally admitted and looked ashamed at him.

"But sweetie; are we still there?" He wrapped her in  for a hug. "Yes, I was hurt that you wouldn't trust me to protect you, but I hurt you as well, so please don't open that can of worms." He looked deep in her eyes. "I want to show off my fiancé today." His face split up in a wry smile. His eyes asked if Isa was okay and she nodded. He opened the door and they were on their way to another days work at the studio.

"Morgan," someone called behind them. That someone turned out to be Jacob. "Isa?" he asked as if he couldn't believe it. "Wow, it's good to see you again." He embraced her in a warm hug that felt almost fatherly.

"Jacob, may I introduce my fiancé?" Morgan said in an old fashion way.

"You got engaged? Wow, congratulation!" He hugged both of them and Isa was so relieved that he hadn't even questioned it.

"Who got engaged?"

Isa turned her head to see Mary walk up to them. "Isa?" her face lit up. "You two are back together?"

"Yes, I couldn't let her go again," Morgan answered, pulled Isa up against him again and she glanced up at him through her lashes with a shy smile.

"Congratulations!" Their positive response was more than Isa could have hoped for and the hugs the couple received was from the heart.

Eric and Lauren met the couple a little while thereafter, when they were on their way to the table-reading. "Isa?" they both exclaimed and hurried up to hug her. "You two are back together? Thank God! We couldn't take another minute of his brooding and sulking," Lauren teased Morgan, who made a grimace at her, which only made the four of them laugh.

"I'm so glad to see you back here again!" Eric hugged Isa again, before they slumped down in their seats.

Table-reading was something Isa hadn't attended before. She knew off course about it, since the time she had worked there, but this time Morgan pulled out the chair for her next to him, and refused to let go of her hand as he leaned back in his chair.

Mary sat with two of the other writers by the head of the table and started to hand out new scripts for the attending actors around the table.

The door opened and Marina scurried in. "I'm sorry," she murmured and took her seat. That was when her eyes locked on Isa and she was unable to hide her surprise to find her there. All color left her face, just to return in a flash to blush her cheeks crimson red. She had a hard time to concentrate as the reading started and Isa had to focus not to glare at her. Marina looked nervous.

Morgan kept Isa's hand the entire time, and beamed at her when his character wasn't in the scene. Eventually Isa got how everybody understood what they were supposed to do during the shootings later. This was where they got their context, together with the producers and writers. The actors got comments from the writers and they did their best to put in the specifics into their lines.

When they got up from their chairs for lunch, somebody called Isa's name and she turned surprised toward Marina. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" She looked like a wreck.

"Sure," Isa said and was about to walk toward her, but Morgan didn't let go of her hand. Isa looked confused up at his grim face.

"In private please." Marina begged.

"No!" Morgan stated and Isa looked bemused as the two actors exchanged looks. "Whatever you have to say to her, you can say in front of me." His voice was stern and not open for negotiation.

Marina resigned after having glared at Morgan for a while. "Okay," she sighed. "I just wanted to apologise."

That blew Isa away, she wouldn't have guessed that. "I thought you were a little more professional than to read the tabloids," Isa said soft, making Marina look even more ashamed. "They are good at making up stories."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I just saw what Morgan went through and I..."

"You didn't see what Isa went through," Morgan snapped, eyes blazing.

"Morgan!" Isa raised her voice, scowling as if he was a child. "She didn't know, she was just looking out for you," Isa defended Marina, something that made Marina look baffled.

"Yeah, right," he snorted. "Did you know that she tried to make a pass at me on New Year?" he revealed.

"Yes."

"You did?"

"Yes, I heard you, or at least a little of it."

He watched Isa intense, studied her face until she started to crack a smile. "I'm a stalker, remember?" she teased, thinking that it wasn't that a big deal.

"Yeah, you shouldn't have to see that," he pulled her in for a hug.

Now Isa started to laugh. "Girls always hit on you!"

He didn't know what to say, that was obvious.

"Well, I just want to say that I'm sorry," Marina apologized again.

Isa watched her and the corners of her mouth turned up into a bashful smile. "Thank you."

"No," Morgan said once again and took a step toward Marina. "Do you really expect her to forgive you, when you treated her like that?"

By then Isa was regretting telling him about the conversation going on in the girl's room on New Year.

Isa put her hand on his chest to calm him down. "Morgan," she said with her usual Swedish accent and she could feel him tremble. "She's just saying that she's sorry," Isa continued soft, when his eyes found her and she could feel him exhale and calm down.

"Eysa, you're the girl I'm going to marry. I can't accept that people treat you bad; I love you," he said seriously and neither of them where aware that Marina stood just in front of him, staring at the engagement-ring on her hand that rested on his chest.

Isa felt tears sting her eyes. "I love you too."

They observed each other intense for a short while before both faces relaxed and he bent forward to kiss her softly. The sweet smile that softened his features made Isa's heart swell.

"I'm hungry," she said, making Morgan laugh. Trust her to enlightening the mood with that phrase. "Let's get you fed then, darling!" He pulled her in for a hug and turned them both away from Marina, who had been standing there throughout his entire declaration. "I promised to protect you from everything, remember?" he said as they walked away, hoping Marina heard it all.

"Thank you," she mumbled sweet.

Morgan kept his arm around her shoulders in both a protective and a possessive way as he led her to the new restaurant area where all of his working buddies already were halfway through their meal. He guided her to a seat and then got them both some food and something to drink.

The rehearsal after lunch was so much more intense he knew and Morgan definitely needed to get some food to pull through it. He couldn't let this nonsense from Marina affect him. Morgan had enough problems keeping focus due to the gorgeous woman sitting in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Isa asked, and Morgan looked up at her like she was a riddle to solve.

"Why are you asking me that; it should be the other way around; are you okay?" he chuckled.

"Sure, she was just..."

"Stop! I asked if you were okay, not her!"

She stopped and lay her knife and fork down. Morgan was secretly impressed, she always ate so gracefully. "I'm fine Morgan," she assured. "I just asked if it was hard for you to focus with me being here."

"No," he lied with a smile; he had to work like a madman to concentrate on the script in there.

A smile spread on her face and she leaned forward over the table. "Liar," she whispered, making Morgan laugh out loud. As always, she saw right through his bullshit.

Isa felt a pair of hands on her shoulders. "Aren't you lovebirds done yet? We start in fifteen minutes." Eric was teasing them. "You shouldn't have taken that quickie in your dressing-room before eating," he whispered near Isa's ear, and I saw her inhale sharply and her cheeks turned slightly pink.

"That's what we were supposed to do!" Morgan pretended to take the tip. "Sorry, we were sidetracked by an evil witch," Morgan commented, making Eric chuckle and walk out of there. They continued their meal, and again he was impressed of her table manners; she might have been at some fancy award dinner and not just a simple lunch.

"So, is it rehearsal next?" she asked as if the conversation with Marina hadn't happened.

Morgan gave her a scrutinizing look. She was a better actor than him, he thought. "Yes rehearsal; I think we'll be shooting this tomorrow, after a costume rehearsal." That was if he would be able to refocus after lunch, he thought.

It went actually really well, Morgan kissed Isa when they arrived at the first set, and she took her seat in the chair with his name on, while Morgan shook the distractive events off and got into character. Vincent had a complicated life, trying to keep appearance up, but sometimes it was easier than Morgan's own. It was Vincent that had kept the actor on his feet during this horrid autumn.

Time flew when he got into the scenes, and suddenly it was time for coffee break. Two and a half hours had flew by in a blink of an eye, and Morgan turned his eyes on his perfect girlfriend; no, fiancé. She sat there with tears in her eyes. Morgan took a deep breath, just walked up to her and stroked her cheek.

"I'm sorry," she laughed, trying to blink the tears away. "That was really intense." She referred to the scene where Vincent's friend Luke died. "I'm just a little emotional." She did her best to shrug it off as they walked back to the cafeteria. "I've always been told I get too much into books and films and stuff," she laughed.

"You've never considered an acting career?" Morgan asked, but she gave him a glare as if he was teasing her. Morgan laughed. "I'm serious!"

"He says with a laugh?" she commented sarcastic, making him totally forget the emotions he had to endure to get through the last scene they rehearsed.

"Did I say I love you?" he asked light with an arm around her shoulders, killing the laughter.

"Yes; and I love you," she replied soft. Morgan kissed her and they both smiled.

After a break, sipping coffee, work pretty much took over Morgan's body again and he was totally drained when John called that's a wrap and he could take Isa home.

They picked up Chinese food on their way home and snuggled on the couch that evening.

~ ~ ~

Isa spent the next day separated from Morgan. After a lazy morning in bed, she moved her stuff back into the wardrobe and drawers that looked like they had stayed empty since she left.

It felt both weird and good to once again walk through this town that held all the horrific memories. All Isa wanted to do now was to fill it with new, good ones.

Shona was really glad to see Isa walk through the door and she had a lot to get into. A couple of hours later she and Isa sat down for lunch at a cute coffee house next door, and talked and giggled like they had known each other for years.

"Your boyfriend looked familiar; is he from around here?" Shona asked.

"Yes I think he's been living here for three years now, but I'm not really sure." Isa laughed.

"What line of work is he into?" That was just a normal curious question.

"He's an actor."

"Wow! Have I seen him in anything?"

Isa snickered. "That depends; what kind of films or shows you are interested in."

"Touché!" Shona said with a laugh.

"He's a vampire right now, on a network show called Possibilities," Isa explained.

That snapped her head up in a flash. "That's where I've seen him!" she exclaimed. "He's Vincent! He is so hot" Then she looked apologetic at her new partner. "Oh, I'm sorry; can I say that?"

Isa just laughed. "Yeah, he's hot. I was sitting at home in Sweden drooling over him on TV, and then I'm suddenly here on set and he wrapped his arms around my neck, trying to scare me with the fangs and all." She shook her head, smiling.

"That's a real Cinderella story," Shona said beaming at her with puppy-dog eyes and a silly smile.

"Yeah if it just hadn't been for the secretly taken photos and the threats, scaring me from this continent... " However quiet her voice got, it still revealed all the pain and bitterness Isa had been through. She looked up at Shona who now had a worried face on. Isa tried to shake it off and plastered a smile in her face. "I have to meet a friend of mine in a couple of hours, if you don't mind." she revealed. "She's only been in this country for a few days."

"Of course, that will be okay," Shona veryfied. "There isn't really that much we can do here yet, so... you should definitely spend some time with your friends."

"Thank you, sweetie." Isa said, already glad for this new friendship.

~ ~ ~

Eric drove Morgan to work, so Isa could take Morgan's car to the airport to pick Robert and Wilma up. She was amazed by the fact that even today the airport was swamped by fans and paparazzi; were they stationed there every day?

Wilma and Isa were inches from squealing like teenagers when they hugged. Robert hugged Isa, but reminded the two friends that they were right in front of the press and fans. "Would you mind if we get home?"

Isa was a little surprised that none of them had noted that little small detail, inexperienced as they were by the press. "Sure, or we could just change language?" Isa suggested and Wilma and her continued in Swedish.

"Girls?" Robert just said and they snapped back into time and place again. They grabbed their bags and then flanked Robert on each side to make it through the fans and into the car.

"I can't believe this is winter, where's the snow?" Wilma laughed and motioned for her thick winter-jacket.

"I was really glad to have it last winter, when that one dragged me out in the woods in the night." I nodded towards Robert who tried to look innocent. "They were shooting fighting scenes between the werewolves and vampires in the full moon," Isa giggled, glad to finally being allowed to tell. "Do you remember which episode that was?" Isa asked Robert.

He looked thoughtful. "I think it was when Eric was bitten and turned into a werewolf, wasn't it?" he replied.

"I've seen that one!" Wilma exclaimed.

"Wilma; we've seen them all!" Isa glared at her and she looked a bit embarrassed.

"Did you have to tell him that I'm just a crazy stalker chick?" she made a stage whisper, totally audible for Robert to hear and they all snickered.

"He already knows that I'm a crazy stalker, so..." Isa admitted and they kept laughing. "Are you still staying at the same hotel?" she asked Robert while he was driving toward Morgan's and her apartment building.

"No. Haven't Morgan told you that I live just two stories under him?"

"We're staying in the same house? Yay!" Isa squealed thinking about how much she had missed her best friend so much.

They had so much to talk about and Isa was grateful that Robert preferred to drive instead of her. The backseat became a loud cacophony of Swedish words and laughter and Isa caught Robert smiling at them in the rear view mirror. She just raised one of her brows in a challenging question.

Robert laughed. "I'm sorry, but I can listen to you all day. I just make up what you're talking about," he added in a somewhat seductive tone.

"Ew! Robert, you're supposed to be my brother!" Isa scowled him, but he just laughed.

"You can't stop me from enjoy listening to you," he chuckled. "I love to eavesdrop when you talk in tongue." He kept teasing as he turned down into the garage under their building, where they got out of the car.

"Can I help you carry anything?" Isa asked.

Robert just glared at her. "Do you think I look weak or something?" He gave Isa a sarcastic glare and sighed. "Sometimes you're just so Swedish," he said which made both Wilma and her gasp, but then he just started to laugh.

"Oh I am so gonna get you, you miserable excuse of a brother," Isa said with a really seductive tone; in Swedish of course. Both Wilma and Isa smirked at him and he just started to laugh.

"I get it, but even threats sound hot." He laughed.

Robert's apartment was just like Morgan and Isa's and just two floors under theirs. Despite that fact, his home was completely different; different furniture, wall colors and even the kitchen appliances differed. Robert gave them the grand tour after he put his and Wilma's suitcase in the bedroom. The apartment had two bedrooms, an open living area with kitchen in one, just like Morgan and Isa's.

Robert's phone beeped. "Morgan's on his way home," he announced after have checked the message.

"Why did he text you and not Isa?" Wilma spoke the words that were floating in Isa's head.

Robert laughed. "Because I texted him when we arrived at the airport, asking him when he got off."

"Oh," both Wilma and Isa said, feeling equally stupid. They sat down on the couch for a while, talking about New Year Eve, and the apology Marina had offered.

"Yeah, I think she had her eyes set on your man," Robert said.

"That was quite obvious from Morgan's reaction yesterday at work," Isa commented and that was when the doorbell rang and Morgan stepped inside.

He hugged Wilma and gave Robert a slap on the shoulder before taking his seat next to Isa and gave her a sweet kiss.

"How was work honey?" she said in a teasing tone.

"Much easier and much more boring when you weren't there," he answered truthfully, making them all laugh. "It is much easier when my eyes can't flicker towards you every other second. I'm Morgan all the time when I'm supposed to be Vincent."

"I'm sorry for distracting you."

He looked into her eyes in that special Vincent way with a crocked eyebrow and a lopsided smirk. "No you're not."

A grin formed on her face. "No I'm not," she admitted, making them all laugh again.

Wilma commented that she was excited to come to set and see the magic.

"How easy life would be if you could compel everybody," Wilma commented, and Robert felt the need to reveal to her about the evil eye Isa gave Morgan at that interview forever ago. Wilma started to laugh and Isa had to sit there rolling her eyes until Morgan put his arm around her.

"I would never compel you, darling."

Isa's annoyed face trembled and cracked into a huge smile. "You've compelled me since the first day I met you." Morgan just laughed and kissed her.

They all went out for dinner that night and it was as if no time at all had passed since the guys showed up at Wilma's and Isa's birthday party. They were just four old friends having a blast together like there hadn't been six months of purgatory between that party and now.

~ ~ ~

They carpooled to work the next day and it felt like they were on their way to some party. Isa loved her job, but it never felt like this. Both guys were already halfway in character and Wilma and Isa were cracking up.

When they got to the gates though, Wilma was astonished by the group of people standing outside, expecting and hoping to see some of the actors. "Are they here every day?" she hissed while the guys up front rolled their windows down to say a few words to the people freezing outside for hours.

"Yeah, pretty much," Isa hissed back to her and then she smiled and waved toward the group outside.

After some autographs they continued inside. Marge looked at the girls who were so alike and just blinked. "There are two of you?" They couldn't help but to laugh at her expression.

"This is my friend, Wilma."

"Not your Wilma; my Wilma!" Robert teased.

That was when Morgan laid his arm around Wilma's shoulders. "My Wilma..." That really made laughter echo around.

"I think you'd better head off, guys," Isa commented while Marge was getting the forms ready for Wilma to fill. Wilma and Isa were here for recreation, but the two guys had a job to do and Isa remembered how long it had taken her. "I'll show Wilma around," Isa said while the guys checked the time once again, gave them a kiss each and then headed off.

While the guys sat down in the makeup room, Isa took Wilma for a guided tour around set. She told her friend about her first visit to the studio, when Morgan had showed her around. "I was terrified just being here and... well you've seen Vincent on TV, here he sat beside me on the couch," Isa giggled as they walked between sets.

They met some people who Isa hadn't met before, but they just continued their conversation in giggling Swedish. "I almost expected him to just sink his teeth in me or something." Both of them burst out laughing, and that was when Isa almost walked into somebody.

"Hi Eric!"

"Isa!" Eric smiled, but started to blink as his eyes flickered between Wilma and her. "There are two of you? Have mercy!" Wilma still looked shocked, but Isa laughed.

"This is my friend Wilma," she introduced and Eric greeted her with a huge smile and a kiss on the cheeks. She had a hard time to keep from laughing while her cocky friend was blushing. They stood there and watched him rush into one of the sets.

"Can we see any of the sets?" Wilma whispered.

"Sure, as soon as they're not using it, that'll be okay," Isa laughed and hooked her arm in Wilma's again and they continued the tour, until they finally ended up in Vincent's living room.

"Wow, this is the couch," Wilma breathed and carefully sat down where Morgan and Isa had sat that first time. Isa was happy to see her friend like a small child, the same feeling Isa had on her first visits to this magical place. With a huge grin she put her hand on the couch and stroked it; Isa chuckled at her and took a photo.

"Is it okay for us to be here?" Wilma asked worried.

"Sure, they always start with a dry run," Isa stated simply and her friend looked puzzled at her. "That's the final rehearsal before shooting," she explained.

"You know so much about this stuff," Wilma was impressed, and slightly jealous.

"Well... I used to work here," Isa laughed.

"Work, here? You're no actress!" Wilma teased her and they laughed a bit, due to the fact that Isa almost wore her heart on her sleeve.

"I'll show you!" Once again they walked along the winding paths that connected all the sets. Like always, they met people along the way, technicians and a lot of the people who never got to go to any conventions or award dinners; people who made Robert and Morgan able to collect the people's awe.

Isa pointed out the settings she had worked with, and how she had put their joined courses to good use. Wilma had a few pointers about the early era that was supposed to show Hans' human years and the discussion deepened.

Suddenly Isa's phone went off as Morgan called. "Where are you? I've been looking all over." He sounded irritable.

"We're at Eric's place." Isa heard on his questioning tone that he thought about Eric's real place, so she clarified, "Studio twelve..."

"Oh... well, we're about to go through dress rehearsal at the Diner," Morgan informed.

"We'll be there," she just said and ended the call with an 'I love you'. It felt more and more natural to say, but it still made Isa's heart tingle when he said it to her. "Come on, we better go!" Isa pulled Wilma along.

With their phones securely on silent, Wilma and Isa took their seats in Morgan and Robert's chairs. Wilma looked actually amazed to even be in that chair, and her eyes widened as the spectacle called shooting begun. She followed everything close up and Isa had to remind her not to laugh at the puns. "This is not the kind of show that has audience laughter," she whispered and both of them giggled muted. Wilma was surprised to find so many people working around the set, just as Isa had been and she was also puzzled by the short shootings, just like her friend.

By lunch they sat down with the guys, talking and laughing, just as usual and they answered any questions Wilma had.

After lunch, the girls got the opportunity to sit in the writers' room where the story already was way ahead. They were anxious to check Wilma's confidentiality clause, and Isa assured them that she had signed documents when they arrived, just like Isa had done on her first visit.

"We can't have anyone leaking stuff to the press."

"I'd rather stay away from the press," Wilma said. "I've seen enough of them!"

People chuckled a bit, but Isa totally agreed with her friend.

This visit to the writer's room was probably the most exciting for Wilma, with her new university class of creative writing, and that visit was what she kept talking about the rest of the evening.

~ ~ ~

Wilma followed Isa to her new work at the gallery the next day and was instantly absorbed by the ambiance and expectation of greatness. This was after all the same thing she had full knowledge of, as much as Isa had.

The gallery was really coming together, the offices, lunch-room and meeting rooms were almost done.

Shona was excited to meet Isa's friend from Sweden and delighted when she found out that Wilma knew a great deal about art as well. They ended up having really interesting conversations about art and different galleries they had visited or worked in. With Wilma's help, Shona and Isa got some new angles that they definitely would be trying out later.

The three of them had lunch together at some small diner; talking as if they had known each other forever.

Wilma was still full of emotions from visiting the studio's the day before, and Shona became curious. "How on earth did two girls from Sweden end up here with vampires and werewolves?"

Wilma and Isa just looked at each other, not really sure what to answer. "Love," Wilma said finally with a huge smile towards her friend.

That afternoon Wilma and Isa checked out the Mall and Wilma found a few clothes and souvenirs before they went grocery-shopping to fix dinner at home. Morgan texted that they had to stay late at work that night, but would have the day off tomorrow. Isa felt her mood dropping and was clearly unable to hide it.

"You have quite a lonely life here," Wilma commented.

Isa hadn't thought about it like that, but it was quite lonely. "When Morgan has time off from shooting, he's promoting with interviews or conventions, so if I don't want to join him, it is lonely. But it'll get better now that I have a job of my own."

"Yes, and if he had been some kind of contractor, he would probably been on the road during the weeks, and only come home on the weekends," Wilma continued and they chuckled dryly.

"Yeah, however much you turn, the butt is always back; as the Swedish saying goes." Both of them laughed, because it sounded silly in English.

"Proverbs aren't easy to translate."

Isa had just got to bed when Morgan got home that night; they snuggled close together. Isa loved the warmth and the safe feeling of being in his arms. The next morning he had disturbing news; well not disturbing for him, but definitely for her.

"I got a call from my agent yesterday; Cosmopolitan wants to do a photo-shoot next week, and they want you in on it."

"Say what?"

"It's a simple photoshoot for clothing, and they want the two of us together."

Isa just blinked in surprise. "Why?"

Morgan laughed. "We're hot!" He wrapped his arms around her waist. "You seriously don't know how beautiful you are?"

She glared at him. "You're famous and all, I get that, but I'm just a nobody; why would they want me?"

He smiled sweet. "I think it's the whole Cinderella story between us; how I met this girl that happened to be a princess."

"I think you need to check your bed time story book. Cinderella is about a plain Jane, meeting a prince; do you see the resemblance?" Isa's voice was a little sour.

"Okay, then it is the wrong story altogether; I'm no prince just because I have been lucky to get this job." He kissed her. "But you're definitely a princess to keep up with this whole crazy circus. I think you should be treated like a princess a little more, so you get into your head that you are one."

Isa intended to roll her eyes, but all she could do was to smile.

The reason the guy's had the day off, was that there was a full moon on the rise and Wilma and Isa got to go with the guys on a midnight shooting. The girls were both excited, even if Isa had been at this particular sight before. The mood was so different in the shootings on location, instead of in the studio; the cold weather, the people around, the scent of mushy wood and dampness. Somehow it was more real on the outdoor shootings.

This time it was tougher, being quiet is easier to do when you're alone.

This was also tougher for the actors, because it was fighting scenes, and the line between making it look believable and making it hurt is a thin one. Both Morgan and Robert actually had bruises the next day.

"Oh the glamour of being a movie star!" Isa couldn't help but to mock Morgan.

"I would hunt you down and take a bite off of you as Vincent would; if it didn't hurt." He ended the threats with a cute little pout.

"Oh, my poor baby."

~ ~ ~

It was really sad when Wilma had to leave for Sweden, but she promised to come back here when her university course was over. "But that's months from now!" Isa whined.

She laughed at her friend. "Time will move fast now when you're happy," she promised according to the Swedish saying.

"I will miss you every day until we meet," Isa said and hugged her hard when Robert interrupted them to take Wilma to the airport.

"Time will pass quickly, and suddenly I'll be back."

"And we'll be here, doing the same thing," Isa said with a sigh and an eye-roll. "Same, same but different..." They laughed and then it was time for her to leave.

~ ~ ~

The week after followed about the same pattern, but it felt extremely lonely without Wilma.

The frightening day came, when Isa had decided to join Morgan for the photoshoot. She was totally freaked out, and was even fussing over what clothes she should wear.

"They will provide you with clothes to wear; that's their job," Morgan stated in a patient and calming tone of voice.

"That's easy for you to say," Isa muttered.

A team of make-up artists and hairdressers were doing my hair and face and it would have been really nice if she wasn't totally freaked out. She was so out of her element here. Luckily Isa could see Morgan sitting in his seat a little way along the table and he smiled at her through the mirror.

"Are you okay?" The hair-girl, whose name had slipped Isa's mind the minute she heard it, asked.

"Not really," Isa exhaled sharp. "This is my first time ever, doing anything like this and I'm totally freaking out," she mumbled.

The make-up girl chuckled lightly. "It's not so bad. People wouldn't be doing it for a living if it was that bad," she joked.

"Maybe they're crazy?" Isa suggested, making her laugh even harder.

"Hey! This is a part of my job," Morgan protested.

"And you're sure you're not crazy?" It might have been the nerves making her cocky, but Isa sure made everybody laugh.

Looking at the finished result in the mirror was mind-blowing. With her hair curled and with these professionals working on her, Isa looked good. "Damn you're good," slipped through her lips, making them laugh.

"It was easy with that face."

"She has no idea how gorgeous she is." Morgan sauntered over to her; looking like a God as usual. Isa looked shyly up at him, and when she watched their reflection in the mirror they looked like they belonged together; they were equals.

Isa thought the photographer's name was St John, but she was too scared to ask or say anything at all. "Does he know he's dealing with a novis here?" Isa hissed to Morgan when the photographer spoke to his assistants.

"You'll do fine; it's no big deal."

"You better not leave my side for a blink of an eye, mister," she hissed.

Standing by a bar, looking somewhat like the Bar and Grill on the show; Isa felt a little better at ease.

Beyond being a professional of high rank, the photographer was actually a really good guy; he had been informed that I was a total beginner and he was very supportive and sweet.

"That's good Felicia... a little more pouting."

"Morgan can you give me a little more of the vampire character?" the John guy commented.

"If I can?" Isa recognized Vincent's sarcastic tone of voice immediately and surprisingly enough it calmed her down; in Vincent's company anything seemed possible.

"Just arch your back a little over the bar Felicia."

All she had to do was follow instructions. I'm sure he was really exhausted after this day, and glad to work with real models tomorrow.

They had different scenarios set up for the couple, and they changed clothes several times and she got different hairdo's for the different scenarios.

An hour later they were sitting on a ladder-like stair outside with yet another change of clothes on, and by now Isa started to get the hang of it; she wasn't scared anymore. Afterwards they got to see a few of the pictures and Isa was amazed over how good they looked together.

Maybe people wouldn't see her as an outcast, maybe they could believe that she belonged with Morgan, and maybe she could believe it herself.

.