Nick and Lilia spent another forty five minutes with Cara, when Nick realized that it was time for him to return to the hotel, so that he could prepare for the concert that night. On the way back, not a word was said between the two of them, and Nick could stand it no longer.

"Lilia, are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"No, I'm not. You bastard. That's all I have to say to you. That and, nice try, I got your message loud and clear, and it doesn't change anything," Lilia spat out.

"What message?"

"Come off it, Nick. You think I don't know what you were trying to tell me by bringing me to meet her? You're trying to tell me how stupid I'm being, when that little girl wants nothing more to be able to sing, and I can, but I won't. Do you think that I didn't get it?" she demanded.

"Yo, Lily, I don't know what you're getting from this whole thing. I just wanted you to meet Cara, because she's a dear. Anything else was unintended, Lilia, you do understand that, right?" Nick said.

"Whatever Nick. Play the fucking innocent, but I know what you're intentions were, and I don't need you to make me feel guilty for not singing, okay? Because I do, but I just can't, okay?" she spouted off, defensively.

"Lilia, I just wanted you to meet Cara. I honestly didn't know that she was going to tell you about the singing, I really didn't," Nick said, desperate to get her to believe him. She sat in silence.

"Do you sing at all? Even just for yourself?" he asked quietly.

"No, not since that day. Not even by myself."

"But if you do it for yourself, then what's the problem? Where's the fear?" he asked lightly.

"I just…Nick, can we please talk about something else?" she asked icily. He nodded, and changed the subject.

* * * *

"Hold on guys, I have to go get…something backstage. Damon, come help me find it?" Jacki asked, as they entered the arena that day. Sandy and Paul didn't notice the mischievous smile that passed between the two. They walked off, and as soon as they were out of sight, Paul pulled Sandy to him and kissed her quickly.

"This is pretty hard," he commented. She sighed.

"Yeah, I know. Sneaking around, behind everyone's back is pretty hard, but what can we do? We obviously can't tell anyone, so we have no choice other than to sneak," she said, resting her head against his shoulder.

"I meant having to act normal around everyone, when all I really want to do is hold you," he whispered.

Meanwhile backstage, the other two culprits where having a similar meeting. Damon and Jacki were dancing around in a circle.

"There's no music," Jacki whispered.

"Do I need music to dance with you?" Damon whispered back.

"Apparently not," she replied. He brushed her cheek with her lips.

"We'd better go back, they might start wondering what happened," he said, and pulled her reluctantly away from their hidden spot.

* * * *

It was there again that night. She watched her friends playing, and the desire began anew. It was crying out to be heard, pleading, begging to be heard, for her to give into her ultimate desire.

She relieved her glory days through their performance, memories of the days when she was the one who sang the very songs they played, taunting her. All of her senses rebelled against her, and no matter what, she couldn't get away from the image and sounds before her. She could even feel the floor humming with their music, and her voice was longing to join their sound.

It was pure torture to sit and watch them, not able to participate. The aching need that she had kept quiet for so long could not be silence, and overwhelmed her to the brink of her strength. She didn't know how much longer she could stand to deny it, sooner or later it had to be heard.

An incognito figure watched her silently from his post. His identity was well hidden from the screaming fans, and he watched her, almost feeling the inner struggle within her. He could feel the longing that was deep inside her, the yearning that she was trying so hard to ignore. He could tell how much it was costing her to just watch them, not being able to add to their numbers.

It almost hurt to watch her, knowing the torture that she was enduring. But there was nothing that he could do about it, it was her fight. Nothing he had said, or did, or tried had helped. Maybe you haven't tried the right thing, he thought with a burst of sudden inspiration. As the idea formed in his head, he took one last fleeting glance at her, and made his way back to where he was supposed to be, eager to put his plan into motion.