Remember When?

By Mavis Applewater

March 2006

Disclaimers, this little ditty and its characters are the sole possession of the author and may not be reproduced, posted or sold without the author’s permission. So there! If for any reason, real or imagined you are uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of two consenting adult women in a loving and sexual relationship then do not read this story or anything else I have ever written. If for any reason it is illegal for you to view this material, that royally sucks, but you must go now and don’t return until it is no longer a crime.

As always this is for Heather.

Thanks to my beta reader Mary

Dee Janice rolled her neck waiting for the makeup artist to finish trying to make her forty something face look exactly the same as it did in 1975. It was always the same at these events. They wanted the fresh faced child star everyone knew and loved. Over the years one of Dee’s biggest fears was to step out on a sound stage and have someone whisper, ’Wow, she got old.’ Getting older didn’t bother her per se. It was having all of America feeling they had a right to comment on her advancing years that annoyed her to no end.

It all began when she could barely walk and her mother dragged her off to a talent agent. Thanks to a diaper commercial she was earning a paycheck before she was potty trained. Her mother still claimed that it was Dee’s choice to enter show business. Dee still couldn’t understand how her mother could claim something so outrageous. How could she have made a life long career choice back when her only interests included playing with her toes and spitting up?

Over the years the work came and went. The money was for her college fund. At least that was what dear old mom always said. When she was all of fourteen she scored her big break. Her mother still called it her big break. It wasn’t quite the truth.

Tracy Rodney and Marni Howell got their big break after appearing in a series of commercials for a now forgotten fast food franchise. Their impish behavior won over the hearts of Americans. In turn they were naturally offered their own sitcom. That is how the business works. A couple of untrained bucktooth cuties without any real training jump to the covers of every magazine in the country and suddenly they were stars. So, naturally no one stopped to ask if they could act.

Fortunately Tracy and Marni quickly learned to hold their own as best they could and a show was born. Most people didn’t realize that the girls had signed the deal before a premise for the show had even been thought of. Some fat cat at the network decided that these gals would boost the sagging ratings and they were signed to a six season deal for an obscene amount of money before they were old enough to drive. Dee always wondered just what the executive producers were thinking when they came up with the premise?

Honestly she was convinced that they weren’t thinking since the premise was a tired cliché even for 1975. Tracy and Marni were cast opposite of Mauve Grey, a veteran Broadway performer. Mauve probably assumed along with most everyone else that the show couldn’t possibly survive past the pilot so why not take the money and run. Mauve was slated to play Sharon Sullivan a single mom raising three daughters. Throw in the impish golden haired Tracy and Marni along with an older sister and her wise cracking best friend and there you have the Sullivan Girls.

Holly Tuliver, a well known face around Hollywood, had originally been cast as the Gail, the eldest sibling. Holly had the good sense to pull out just before the pilot was to be shot. Probably after getting a good look at the script.

That’s when Dee’s big break happened. Her mother got a frantic call begging the youngster to rush over to the studio for a reading. Dee thought it was odd since she had already been rejected at the first open call months ago simply because she was a brunette. Suddenly Dee found herself filling out the ensemble cast. Dee never kidded herself. She knew the main reason she had landed the role was because she and Holly were about the same size and she’d fit the other girl’s costumes. The only question, after she met the right height and weight requirements, was whether or not she could mesh with the rest of the cast. Dee wasn’t worried.  The truth was she didn’t want the job. She hated it when she went off to work and missed school. When she met the four other cast members she clicked with them instantly and her life was forever changed.

It wasn’t hard to get along with the others especially Jolie Marlowe, the young actress who had signed on to play the aforementioned best friend. At fourteen Jolie already had an extensive resume. The only thing Dee never understood was why Jolie was cast as Darla who was described in the script as frumpy and good natured. True, Jolie was good natured almost to a fault, but frumpy? Not unless you considered tall, slender and having a killer bod frumpy. Still her amazing comic timing won her the role. Her would-be frumpiness was handled by dressing Jolie in oversized sweaters, baseball hats and shoving a thick pair of glasses on her. From that moment on Jolie was the best friend-slash-sidekick who was the funny sage but never ever got a date.

Dee fell head over heels for Jolie during the first screen test and was eternally grateful that since each of them was considered to be secondary characters they were forced to share a tiny dressing room. She and Jolie use to joke it was where they hid all the brunettes. They even hung a sign on the dressing room door during the second season proudly proclaiming, No Blondes Allowed!

 Dee‘s mother initially pitched a fit that her daughter was forced to share a dressing room. Dee didn’t mind, in fact she loved sharing space and watching Jolie change her clothes for almost five full seasons. She and Jolie became the best of friends and Dee was certain that nothing could ever come between them.

Oh, how wrong she was. The Sullivan Girls surprised everyone including the cast by surviving for six seasons. The last should have been forgotten. That was when the inevitable happened. The producers tried to save the once popular show by doing what is now known as jumping the shark. The term came from an episode of Happy Days. Fonzie jumps a shark on his motorcycle or something to that effect. It was meant to boost ratings of a once hit show that was gasping for air.

Almost every show in the history of television has tried some stunt to breathe new life into a dying enterprise. Marrying off the lead was one way or doing some over the top stunt, having a new baby or adding a new child to replace the existing ones who had long shot past puberty. Another was having the sexual tension finally resolved. Face it, once the show you are on starts pulling the very special episode gig you need to start calling your agent before he starts ducking your calls. Because at that juncture you’re just a couple of Neilson points away from the unemployment line.

The beginning of the end for The Sullivan Girls began midway through the fifth season. The downfall, many believed, happened when one of the more popular characters was written out and replaced by a long lost cousin. Although Brittany Styles who joined the cast as Cousin Lori was a talented youngster, she was no replacement for Jolie.

Dee was broken hearted when Jolie suddenly departed the show. She and Jolie had become more than best friends on screen and off. Still, Jolie who was a good friend to everyone, was suddenly labeled as difficult. Little splashes about her outlandish behavior started appearing in trashy magazines.

None of the cast believed the dribble about Jolie’s attitude when blurbs of her throwing tantrums on the set started appearing in the tabloids. Jolie was a sweetheart. Originally Jolie’s character was supposed to be minor. But the audience just ate her up. Dee couldn’t blame them. Then in the middle of the fifth season Jolie’s part suddenly shrank. Sometimes she was only appearing at the very beginning or at the very end of an episode.

When the changes began Dee’s mood became sullen. Then she got angry when Jolie was purposely written out of a couple of episodes. Jolie never complained. Hell she never wanted to talk about it. During those troubling times Jolie seemed resistant to talk about anything. Even on the day Cousin Lori mysteriously appeared. The handwriting was on the wall.

Dee was furious at the producers, the network and Jolie for not fighting back. Jolie would just say, ‘It’s all part of the business.’ Then she’d shrug it off. Dee never understood the reasoning behind the move. The ratings quickly dipped, but still the writers churned out script after script that were clearly nudging Jolie’s character out. Jolie took it in stride until the day the infamous script called Moving Day was handed down.

The cast received the script at the last minute. Everyone was gathered around the big conference table and began reading the new script aloud. A read through is a common and necessary part of the production process. The cast, director, script supervisor and other members of the crew sit around reading the script. You make notes, comments and get familiar with the new script. It was usually the cast saw the script first. Midway through the first act it was made abundantly clear that Jolie’s character was moving out of town.

You could have heard a pin drop when everyone realized what was happening. Then frantically everyone was flipping through the pages of the script desperately searching for the scene where Jolie’s character announced that she was staying. Poor Brittany looked like she wanted to crawl under the table when it was made painfully clear there wasn’t going to be a happy ending. She may have been only eleven at the time but she knew the fans would blame her. For the first time in Dee’s life she saw Jolie Marlowe get angry.

The slender brunette slammed her script down and stormed out of the reading knocking her chair over as she made her exit. Dee jumped up and rushed after her. Despite Dee’s desperate pleas, Jolie never turned around she just stormed into the producer’s office and slammed the door. Dee heard the shouting along with the rest of the cast and crew who had gathered in the hallway. Although the words were indecipherable it was clear that neither Jolie Marlowe or the producers were happy campers.

Dee and the rest of the cast later went to the big boys pleading for a script change. In the end, the very special goodbye episode was shot and Jolie Marlowe walked away with her head held high. After the dreadful episode which Dee practically cried throughout for so many reasons aired, the already sagging ratings plummeted. Oh, the powers that be did try to make amends during the following season by bringing Jolie back for a very special Christmas episode. It was too little too late. The chemistry was off and the fans never forgave them.

Before they could begin filming the seventh season Dee got the call she had been expecting. The show was unceremoniously canceled. Dee was relieved while her mother was livid. Mrs. Janice in her infinite wisdom even pleaded that Dee be given a spin off. No one was interested in trying to resurrect a corpse. Dee was thrilled at the prospect of returning to the real world.

After that, Dee, who had been swimming in offers for almost a decade no longer got any calls. Certainly not for anything she’d wanted. The truth was she hadn’t chosen show business as her career and now at the tender age of twenty she could vanish into obscurity and lead a normal life.

Much to her mother’s disdain she went off to college only acting on rare occasions. Mostly small guest bits or walk-ons usually as some kind of joke dating back to her years as Gail Sullivan. It was nice not having her face plastered on every teeny bopper magazine or having to spend her time locked up in the studio for agonizingly long hours.

After enough time had passed and her last lucrative job was a guest spot on the Love Boat, she unceremoniously left the business. Now she only did the occasional interview for a talk show or retrospective. It was always the same, a reunion of sorts with the rest of the cast. The full cast was never reunited. Jolie, although always polite, declined every offer. Brittany also shied away most of the time after her career went into the toilet because everyone blamed her for sinking the once popular show.

In fact Brittany had been cast in several shows after the demise of the Sullivan Girls.  Each time she entered a once hit show that ended up being canceled after she joined the cast. After being labeled the mark of death, she dropped out of sight, went to school and honed her craft before re-emerging years later. At the tender age of thirty-eight she finally ended up with a lucrative career thanks to Crime Time, the hit edgy cop drama she landed on.

Mauve went back to the stage, appearing in the occasional TV Movie. She was happy just to be acting and living a quiet life with her husband of almost forty-five years. She handled still being labeled as a famous TV mom with grace. Tracy and Marni went off trying to keep their careers alive during their awkward teen years with no success. Tracy finally married and settled down in the mid west happy to be raising a pack of kids. Like Dee she only did the occasional guest appearance to talk about her former success.           

Marni made a futile attempt at becoming a recording artist, then a talk show hostess, and some twenty odd years later was still trying to resurrect her stardom. Marni never recovered from being labeled a has been before she hit puberty.

Jolie shocked everyone by walking away from the business. After she was dumped from the show she went off to study abroad, selecting countries to study and travel in where her once hit television show wasn’t aired. She returned after completing her education to become a successful producer and director.  She was almost never seen in public. For all accounts Jolie Marlowe was now more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it.

Now the show only lived in late night reruns on Nick At Nite and some very interesting incarnations on-line. Again the hokey show was gaining a new audience and there was talk of releasing the series on DVD. As much as Dee wanted to put that time of her life behind her the added residual checks would be nice. For the moment it was a moot point since according to the trade papers there was a question as to who actually owned the rights to the series. Another reminder that as much fun as show business could be, it was still a business. Dee had a sinking feeling that the sudden influx of offers to join her former colleagues on talk shows and do the tedious remember-when interviews for a plethora of entertainment shows was an effort to grease the wheels for the DVD release which may or may not happen.

Dee took a cleansing breath when her name was announced. She strolled out smiling, waving to the audience, mildly impressed that after all these years she could still hit her mark. She hugged the host, her former cast mates and took her seat.

“Did you ever think you’d be sitting here thirty years later?” Martin Doran, the host of the show, questioned with a bright smile.

“Don’t remind me,” Dee smiled and rolled her eyes. “Honestly no. I never thought the show was going to last as long as it did. And I certainly couldn’t have predicted the overwhelming success it would find on cable. I find it fascinating that I still get fan mail from teenage boys.”

“I’m not surprised,” Martin chuckled. “I had a crush on you when I was growing up.”

“Aren’t you sweet,” Dee flashed a bright smile. Silently praying for the event to wrap up so she could spend time with her old friends away from the camera.

“Do you only get fan letters from boys?” he pried trying to look innocent.

“No,” she shrugged silently seething. She knew he had been warned. No talking about the quote unquote subtext that everyone began noticing during the last decade. And no talking about Jolie’s departure from the show. It was golden rule that everyone understood. Hell if someone had never seen the show they wouldn‘t have known Jolie was even on it. Since none of the cast ever talked about her in public. It wasn‘t out of disrespec; quite the opposite. Jolie was not interested in remaining in the limelight. She even dropped her stage name after leaving the show. Her former cast mates respected her choice.

“I get all sorts of letters. Most people still think I’m a teenager.” She laughed it off, her dark green eyes narrowing. “It is funny when you think about it,” she prattled on trying to deflect his line of questioning. “When we shot the pilot, I was a fourteen year old girl playing a fourteen year old girl. When we shot the last episode almost seven years later I think my character was only sixteen.”

“Mine was still ten,” Tracy laughed.

“You poor girls,” Mauve shook her head. “They were strapping them down for the last few seasons.”

“They tried to hide everything,” Marni chimed in. “Acne, braces and most of all our bust lines.”

“And of course our fluctuating weight,” Dee groaned. “Over the years, all of us got notes about our weight. We were growing girls. It was horrible sharing those awkward years with the entire country and then to have your boss send you a note about a zit really sucked.”

“I remember an item in a tabloid claiming that I went on binge and was going to be fired,” Tracy threw out. “It wasn’t true. Still I did get a note suggesting that I slim down.”

“Jolie Marlowe never had that problem,” he smiled sweetly while the cast cringed. “In fact it was the opposite for her. They wanted her to look frumpy.”

“Yes,” Mauve slowly drew out. “Jolie was a real trooper about it. All the girls were just great to work with. I often felt like they were my kids. The chemistry with the entire cast was like a family.” Mauve quickly changed the subject. Mauve had always been overprotective with the girls. More than one crew member got the boot if Mauve didn’t think they were behaving like gentlemen around the impressionable young cast. Even after the show came to an end all of the girls called her for advice at one time or another.

“Ah, thanks Mom,” Dee playfully sniffed echoing one of her tag lines from the show.

“Dee - you almost weren’t a part of the show,” Mark prompted her thankfully seemingly abandoning his line of questions.

“No,” Dee smiled once again. “Someone else had originally been cast as Gail. She pulled out just before the pilot was to shoot.”

“Holly Tuliver,” Mark snickered when he mentioned the now Academy Award winning actress.

“Yeah,” Dee chuckled. “Wonder what happened to her?” she quipped as the studio audience erupted with laughter.

“Do you regret joining the cast? Holly went on to win an Oscar and you’ve left the business,” Mark tried to sound sincere.

“No,” Dee laughed it off. It was the truth. “During the run of the show I experienced some of the best times of my life and made dear friends.” She cast a warm smile over at her former cast members who smiled in return.

“You and Jolie were best friends on the show and off,” Mark who was quickly turning into a slime ball pointed out. “Do you still .. .”

“Those two stole the show,” Mauve cut him off in a polite yet direct tone. “The ad libs alone had the writers worried and the cast and crew rolling on the floor with laughter. And they were pranksters to boot.”

“Who me?” Dee gasped with mock indignation.

“You,” Marni wagged her finger. “They use to smear Vaseline on my dressing room doorknob.”

“One time my dressing room stunk for a whole week,” Tracy cut in. “Drove me nuts until I found a bag of fish guts tucked in the back of the closet.”

“And you assume I was the culprit?” Dee huffed with a wink to the camera.

“What other trouble did you and Jolie get into?” Mark smiled probably hoping that Dee wouldn’t smack him after he stressed Jolie’s name. She almost did, thankfully the floor manager held up the sign for him to go to commercial.

Dee’s eyes narrowed, she pursed her lips while covering the tiny microphone that was pinned to her blouse. “Listen you little shit,” she quietly growled so no one could hear her. “You know the do’s and don’ts. You wanna grab ratings do it at someone else’s expense.”

“Miss Janice,” he confidently leaned back thinking that just because he had them sitting on his set he was somehow in control.

“Knock it off or we walk,” Mauve tersely cautioned him. To her credit she also covered her microphone and managed to smile sweetly the whole time. The audience had no idea anything was amiss.

“Me too,” Brit yelled from the wings. Brit rarely joined in for a reunion. Since she was already doing the rounds to promote Crime Time, she decided to do the show and catch up with her former cast mates. She had been watching from the wings and was seething. All Doran seemed interested in was revealing anything scandalous that may have taken place behind the scenes.

“No subtext. No fishing about Jolie,” Dee calmly added. “You were already told not to ask about those things.”

“Play nice or you’ll be sitting in front of the cameras all by yourself,” Mauve concluded her smile never wavering.

He parted his lips obviously fully prepared to object. The look in the four women’s eyes made him reconsider his action. “Fine,” he gulped as the stage manager cued him. The rest of the segment went off without further incident. Once it was over all five of the women stormed off the set. Dee changed and cleansed her face in record time. All she wanted was to just get out of there.

“We’re going for drinks,” Mauve popped her head in just as Dee was grabbing up her belongings. “Join us.” It wasn’t a request it was a command.

They retired to a small restaurant claiming a booth tucked away in the back so their conversation couldn’t be overheard. The group engaged in small talk until they were working on their third round of drinks. With the notable exception of Tracy who never consumed alcohol.

“What was up with that little prick?” Dee finally bellowed amusing and startling her companions. “Sorry Tracy.”

“What?” Tracy laughed. “He was out of line. It’s not like we don’t make it abundantly clear when we agree to appear on these things, that they can’t ask about the rumors.”

“All that subtext crap,” Dee was seething. “I don’t get it.”

“Seriously have you seen the show?” Marni interjected.

“Of course,” Dee furrowed her brow.

“As an adult?” Marni prompted.

“No,” Dee blew it off. “Why would I want to?”

“I caught a couple episodes late one night when I was working a dinner theatre gig in St. Pete,” Marni explained. “As a kid I thought it was funny. As an adult it is freaking hysterical. Did the two of you know what you were doing?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Dee sputtered searching her memory for something that might have been considered risqué. She couldn’t think of a single instant. The show unlike the shows they later found themselves competing against played it very safe.

“Oh come on Dee,” Brittany interjected. “I didn’t get it as a kid either. Now, I’m amazed you got half your scenes with B.J past the censors.”

“B.J,” the others chimed gleefully.

“Goodness I can still hear her mother calling after her,” Tracy laughed. “Betty Jane just because you’re on television doesn’t mean you get out of doing your homework.”

“Now sit your butt down young lady,” Dee concluded with a hearty laugh.

“Just for the record if you get to work with her again,” Brittany cautioned. “No one is allowed to call her Jolie.”

“That’s right you work with her,” Marni tried to smile.  No one missed the hostile edge seeping through her words. Marni’s fall from fame hadn’t been kind to her. Everyone knew it.

“She developed Crime Time,” Brittany quickly explained. “And she’s directed a lot of episodes. Not my fault the casting director liked me when I auditioned. B.J did confide in me that one of the reasons she agreed to sign me was because I had appeared in so few episodes of SG with her.” She expanded using the nickname for their former series.

“She was forced out,” Dee argued. Everyone knew that Marni wanted back in the business in the worst way and resented Jolie’s success. “I can’t imagine SG is one of her favorite topics of conversation. She was smart when she got back into the business to drop her stage name and go by B.J Marlowe.” Dee was taken aback at how quiet everyone became. “Why is it every time we get on this subject I feel like there is something I don’t know?” She determinedly questioned. Her query was greeted by a stilted silence. Instead of getting the answer to her twenty some odd year question she received blank stares until someone ordered another round.

“So where did the name Jolie come from?” Brittany nervously threw out in a vain attempt to change the subject.

“Post production typo,” Dee muttered. “Someone mixed up her first name with another actor’s on the gig she got her SAG card from.”

“Her parents went with it,” Mauve quickly jumped in as the tension continued to mount. “They figured if she didn’t want to stay in the business after she grew up she could go back to being plain old Betty Jane.”

“She was never plain,” Dee blushed slightly when the words slipped out. Again the conversation came to a grinding halt. “How is she doing?” She shook her head fearing that the alcohol was clouding her senses.

“The last couple of years have been hard on her,” Brittany sadly answered.

“I read about her partner,” Dee choked out. “Audrey wasn’t it?”

“Cancer,” Mauve sullenly supplied. “Jolie really took it hard.”

“How long were they together?” Dee asked. She had been envious that when Jolie returned to the industry she never made any attempt to hide her sexuality or her lover. Then again Jolie shied away from the spotlight.  Even when she won Emmy’s for her work she was noticeably absent from the award ceremonies.

“Just shy of ten years,” Tracy sadly added.

Dee was stunned that even the very religious Tracy had kept in touch with Jolie. Dee and Jolie had been closer than anyone else in the cast and she seemed to be the only one Jolie had failed to keep in touch with. She almost blurted something that would have been shocking when a man approached them with a camera. Silently Dee was thankful for the reprieve of posing for pictures and signing autographs. Almost thirty years of keeping their secret and she almost revealed everything. ‘Enough drinks for me.’ She silently vowed.

The lone autograph seeker morphed into a crowd including reporters suddenly clamoring for their attention. The group quickly grew weary of the onslaught of attention with the notable exception of Marni who seemed to be thriving on it. Even Dee would confess if the right project came along she’d eagerly jump back into the murky waters of acting; she just wasn’t consumed with it.

“Sorry ladies,” the waitress apologized after finally shooing away the last of their admiring fans. “Another round and may we ask who is driving this evening?” she carefully added. The entire table pointed to Tracy. “Thank you,” the waitress blew out with relief.

“Is she,” Dee started to pose a question regarding her former co-star. Her lack of sobriety clearly clouding her senses.

“One more round and then why don’t we move this party to my hotel room?” Brittany hopefully suggested while effectively cutting off Dee‘s query. “It is very swank and I don’t have to fly back to New York until the morning.”

“You got a swanky room?” Marni hissed.

“My people arranged it,” Brittany tried to defend herself. “I’ve been doing the circuit for Crime Time. This gig was just added on. I thought it would be nice to catch up with everyone.”

“Let it go,” Mauve cautioned Marni who clearly felt slighted.

“Why the sudden urge for a change of venue?” Dee blinked pushing her fresh cocktail aside.

“Because you’re getting loaded and are about to say something that will make really good print,” Tracy cautioned. “When was the last time you spoke to her?” There was no need to ask who Tracy was referring to. It wasn’t the first time Dee had gone fishing in an effort to find out about Jolie’s life.

Dee shook her head in an effort to clear her thoughts. The truth slowly seeping through. “When we wrapped that Christmas episode. So, the spring of 1981.” It didn’t escape her notice the way everyone cringed at the mention of the infamous Christmas episode. It had been a disaster from day one. Dee was hurt and angry and it showed. Not on the day they shot the episode. Everyone was always impressed by the way Dee had pulled it together just before the cameras rolled.

“I thought for sure there was going to be bloodshed by the time we wrapped that one,” Tracy groaned. “Thank goodness they didn’t stick the two of you in the same dressing room.”

“They wouldn’t,” Mauve scowled.

“Yeah time to pay the check,” Brittany cut off the question lingering on the tip of Dee’s tongue. She waved her credit card frantically as Dee looked around the table.

“Everyone knew?” It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes,” Mauve quietly answered while Brittany paid the waitress.

********************************************************

“Everyone knew?” Dee repeated an hour later once she had consumed a lot of coffee while they hung out in Brittany’s hotel room.

“Not then,” Tracy volunteered. “Later after Jolie publicly came out the pieces fell into place.”

“I didn’t know until later either,” Marni conceded. “Hey I was just a kid.”

“I knew,” Mauve shrugged sipping her coffee. “So did the brass.”

“What?” Dee’s lungs seized.

“Dee, Jolie wasn’t forced out,” Mauve slowly explained. “She fell on her sword. Jolie had known she was leaving before we started taping the fifth season.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Dee barked with a sudden surge of anger.

“Because,” Brittany quickly jumped in. “Originally I wasn’t being brought on board to simply replace her. They were going to write the both of you out. I think the two of you were going to college or something like that. They had even started auditioning actresses to play my best friend.”

“Excuse me? Crap I almost wished I had stayed drunk for this conversation,” Dee sputtered. Dee hadn’t been this surprised since the day she learned that even after working almost nonstop since she was in diapers there wasn’t any money to show for it. The only upside to that little drama was she finally had an excuse to fire her mother.

“They were going to invoke your morals clause to get you to walk away quietly,” Mauve finally spelled out for her.

“My what? I can’t believe they were going to do that,” Dee gasped horrified at what she had just discovered.

“I can’t believe it took them five years to figure out that the two of you were in love with each other,” Mauve sighed heavily. “When did you figure it out?”

“My screen test,” Dee sighed happily. Despite the way her head was pounding it felt good to finally tell someone. She had told her overly pushy mother years ago who still refused to believe that Dee was gay. Other than that, no one knew the real truth about her and Jolie. Or so she thought.

Dee Janice and Jolie Marlowe spent the seventies as poster girls for the American public. They were photographed, interviewed and idolized. Best friends on screen and off. They went everywhere together always polite and charming. If one of them had been a boy the public would have linked them as a couple. Which they were. All these many years Dee had mistakenly assumed that no one knew. Oh, now in the modern age of reruns and the internet there was talk. Lot’s of talk. Still even the most die hard fans assumed it was wishful thinking. Now hearing the revelation that the producers along with her former cast mates knew Dee felt as if a huge weight had been lifted.

She felt all of them staring at her eagerly awaiting for her to expanded on her story. “When we started on the show nothing really happened until just after we wrapped the second season. I was filming an after school special in Oregon. Jolie decided to visit me. I mean little things and not so little things had happened before that. The tension and angst had been brewing for a long time. Then all of sudden I don’t know, we were away from the studio and our parents and nature or our hormones took over.”

“Love at first sight,” Tracy sighed wistfully.

“For me it was,” Dee confessed. “I’m surprised at you Tracy.”

“Why because I follow my faith,” she dismissed Dee’s concerns. “Not all religions condemn homosexuality. Although I don’t believe in sex outside of marriage, I also don’t believe that marriage is defined by a piece of paper. Neither does my church. In fact we are advocates for gay marriage. Thank you very much. Which is why I support Jolie’s idea that if we ever do a reunion movie her character should be gay. Heck the popularity of the show went through the roof with that whole subtext business and Jolie coming out.”

“Jolie would do a reunion movie?” Dee stammered. She was stunned to hear that Jolie who had done everything she could to distance herself from her childhood claim to fame would even consider signing on for a movie. “I thought I read somewhere she’d only direct a reunion movie and only if the rest of the cast was reuniting for Darla’s funeral.”

“She might have. She does enjoy torturing the press,“ Tracy laughed. “What Jolie told me was she’d do it but only with the right script and the entire cast returned. The same as the rest of us.”

Well almost all of them. Marni was the only one who’d sign on no matter what. Not that anyone would fault her. “Darla being openly gay,” Dee mulled over the idea. “That would be brilliant. Better if my character came out as well.”

“You really do enjoy sticking it to the censors,” Marni couldn’t help but laugh. “Still if it was done right it would be ground breaking.”

“Get the old chemistry back and it could work,” Mauve readily agreed. “No offense Brittany.”

“None taken,” Brittany shrugged it off. “Face it, Cousin Lori was a huge mistake. You guys needed another blonde like you needed a hole in the head. Still I did resent being blamed for the show dying. That and the six other shows I managed to bump off afterward. I swear every time I walked into an audition the cast were calling their agents. I started looking forward to doing summer stock in Vermont.”

“Still we could get mileage out of that,” Marni surmised. “Remember the last few episodes you shot with her? She kept asking why you were still there?”

“Yeah,” Brit groaned. “She thought it was funny. She did pull me aside to reassure me that she wasn’t holding a grudge. I can’t think of another actress who would be so gracious towards a newcomer who had been brought on to replace them.”

“We certainly could play with that,” Tracy grinned. “Especially if we hook Gail and Darla up.”

“We could,” Mauve agreed. “Think about it though, if we finally got Gail and Darla together as a couple the fans would wet themselves.”

“Not all of them,” Dee cautioned. “There would be that whole pack of right wingers burning our dolls in effigy. Then again I never liked my doll.”

“Me either,” Tracy groaned.

“Ugh, mine looked like GI Joe in a dress,” Mauve blanched.

“I never got one,” Brittany asserted with a mock pout. “I didn’t make the last lunch box either.”

“I have one of those,” Marni gleefully exclaimed.

“With the thermos?” Dee gasped.

“Uh huh,” Marni boasted. “Paid a small fortune for it on EBay. You know even on that you and Jolie look like a couple. Again why didn’t the producers see it? The fans picked up on it.”

“I seriously wonder if they were watching the show,” Mauve snickered. “Think of the lunch box they’d come up with now.” She laughed heartily. “Better still think of how much fun we would have by making a movie, that would finally hook Gail and Darla up?”

“It could work,” Marni threw out hopefully. “All that tension and angst from the Christmas episode finally answered.”

“You had teenage crushes on one another and never acted on it,” Tracy added.

“Or we did and I was broken hearted when she left but couldn’t tell anyone?” Dee was getting excited by the possibilities.

“Oh that’s good,” Mauve concurred.

“Pity it will never happen,” Dee flatly added feeling suddenly deflated. “No one can decide who owns the rights. Plus Jolie and I haven’t shared a civilized conversation in over twenty-six years.”

“Jolie owns a big chunk of the show,” Mauve slowly began rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

“Yeah that because even as a teenager she understood how this business works,” Dee proudly stated. “When she first signed on she took a smaller salary and opted for points. Then every time the big boys would lean on her not to appear in public or on film looking like the stunning woman she was she’d bargain for more points. Her reasoning was that since they were limiting her career she should be compensated for it.”

“And she picked up more shares after the show ended just before the first syndication deal went through,” Mauve began to get excited. “You picked up some as well after you renewed your contract.” She directed towards Dee.

“Jolie explained to me that cash up front is nice but subsidiary rights make the world go round,” Dee explained curious as to where Mauve was going with this.

“I know,” Mauve smirked. “That’s why I took a smaller salary and opted for a percentage as well. What about the rest of you?”

“No,” Tracy shrugged. “Standard gobs of cash and royalty checks. My old business manager has to let them pile up since the amounts are so small. Thank goodness Daddy invested my TV money well.” She laughed. It was true. People often assume that because you were once on a hit television series you’d be set for life. Truth was sometimes your check wouldn’t cover a trip to McDonalds.

“My folks took the cash,” Marni snarled.

“I didn’t garner any points either,” Brittany furrowed her brow. “But I only did ten episodes.”

“I have thirteen what did you get Dee?” Mauve eagerly questioned.

“Five,” Dee shrugged. “Eighteen percent ain’t getting us a movie deal.” She explained finally catching up to where Mauve was heading.

“Who else is left?” Brittany pressed.

“Kaufman, Lowing, and Bryce,” Mauve listed three of the original producers. “Then there is a list of assorted others who are muddying the waters.”

“Wait,” Tracy interrupted. “When Mr. Bryce passed on his children sold off his shares.”

“And Arnie Kaufman’s son inherited his,” Mauve was on a roll. “Which could be useful. I mean with our eighteen and whatever Betty Jane has tucked in the mattress, if we wanted to we might be able to get things moving on towards a reunion. Or at the very least getting together for bonus material on the DVD release. I don’t know about you girls but I’d love a second chance to work together again and this time wrap things up. I hated the last episode we aired.”

“It was horrible,” Marni whined.

“That it was,” Dee whole heartedly agreed. “But what can we do? Call Jolie and ask her about her personal finances?”

“Why not?” Mauve persisted. “She had enough clout to get the suits to back off from you when she was only a teenager, chances are she owns enough of the show to help us swing a deciding vote.”

“Right and while we’re at it I can apologize for trying to clock her with a can of Aqua-net one of the last times I saw her,” Dee grumbled.

“You didn’t,” Tracy was horrified.

“Yeah,” Dee sheepishly confessed. “Hey, she broke my heart.”

“She was trying to save your career,” Mauve annoyingly pointed out. “Not to mention keep your mother from finding out.”

“We were together for almost three years and I didn’t get so much as a goodbye,” Dee snarled. “Her good intentions aside, she should have told me the truth.”

“Point taken,” Mauve seemed to agree. “Well it was a good idea. Maybe someday.” She threw out. The was something lingering in her voice that made Dee feel like the conversation was simply being tabled for the time being.

They fell into a more causal tone talking for another two hours simply trying to catch up on one another’s lives. It didn’t escape Dee that Mauve, Tracy and Brittany kept disappearing into the bedroom. Each time they would return all of them were sporting a very curious expression. It was finally time to call it an evening. They poured Marni into a cab and for some reason convinced Dee to hang around.

“What?” Dee wearily demanded. She had been having a rough go of it lately. Her lover walked out on her months ago. Dee was still cleaning up the mess from the break up. All she wanted was to return to her modest hotel room and crawl into bed.

“Dee, we wanted to talk to you without Marni,” Tracy tenderly began. “God bless her but the girl is job hunting. If nothing else we all agree that even if we can’t wrangle this project together you and Jolie should bury the hatchet. I know she’s your ex-lover and your parting was far from amicable.”

“Amicable?” Dee almost laughed. “She just walked away. Fine, I now understand why. It was the late seventies and no one in our business came out back then. She should have been honest with me.”

“An action I sense that she regrets to this day,” Mauve tried to comfort her.

“I have an idea,” Brittany chimed in. “I think the three of us are on the same page.” She turned to Mauve and Tracy who nodded in agreement. “Would you be interested in picking up an acting gig? Say on a hit show where your ex is the director?”

“Are you insane?” Dee slowly drew out trying to convince herself that the three of them weren’t serious.

“Despite what my ex-husband says no I‘m not,” Brittany chuckled. “When I excused myself to use the restroom I made a few calls. One was to B.J. She doesn’t know what we are up to. Here’s the deal; the guest star for this week’s episode pulled out this morning. You’d be perfect. She’ll probably pitch a fit when she finds out I’ve already called the casting director. Come on; it is your chance to get a little closure. The worst that will happen is this time you really will clock her with a can of hairspray. But at least you’ll have tried.”

The three of them ganged up on Dee until she found herself agreeing to their hair-brained scheme. The following morning she was sitting next to Brittany on a plane heading towards New York. “I still say you’re insane,” she grumbled praying that the pounding in her head would either cease or kill her.

“Aren’t we all,” Brittany snickered all the while wondering if her boss was going to skewer her. She had already called the casting director and Dee was good to go on filling in. The question remained what would B.J say when her old flame walked onto the set.

******************************************************

Brittany hadn’t been this nervous since the day she had been cast as Lori Sullivan. The producers had made it painfully clear that she was to keep the fact that if all went well she’d be a returning character. At first she thought that perhaps Marni was going to get the axe. She was stunned when she realized that it was Jolie’s head on the chopping block. She didn’t believe that Darla, and possibly Gail, were being written out. Until the infamous Moving Day script was handed down.

Even at her tender age she had been in the business long enough to understand that the studio had sandbagged Jolie. And chances were people would rightly or wrongly blame her for the cast change. Even her parents were regretting allowing her to join the hit show. Now thirty some odd years later she was using all means possible to avoid her boss.

“What are you doing way back here?” George Rivers, one of her co-stars, pried.

“Just need a moment,” she lied glancing over her shoulder watching B.J setting things up. “Again?” She sighed when she noticed the way George was squirming. “Turn around.” she instructed before she started scratching his back.

“Ah,” he groaned with relief. “I swear wardrobe hates me.”

“I still think you’re allergic to whatever they clean your shirts with.” Brit scratched harder. “Then again it does help you keep that pensive look your character is known for.”

“I’m glad you’re back,” George purred rolling his shoulders. “I can’t believe Corrine bolted. We already started blocking.”

“Why exactly did she bail?” Brit questioned giving George one last scratch.

“You didn’t hear? She eloped,” he explained.

“Ugh,” Brit shivered. “Not with that sleazy pinhead who thinks he’s a rock star.”

“That’s the guy,” George chuckled. “Just as well, I did a quick reading with Gail, I mean Dee, and she’s great.”

“Oh my God, you used to watch the Sullivan Girls?” she questioned keeping her voice low so B.J wouldn’t overhear them.

“Hey,” he shushed her. “Don’t let that get around, I have a rep to maintain.”

“Not to mention our boss,” she snickered jerking her thumb in B.J’s direction.

“No kidding,” George shivered. “I made the mistake of calling her Darla once and she threatened to have me killed off. I’m surprised that she would cast Dee.”

“She doesn’t know yet,” Brit frantically waved her hands.

“What?” George’s eyes bulged out. “Uhm, I think I need to check my makeup.”

“Coward,” Brit hissed watching the large actor running away like a frightened child.

“Sandra,” B.J shouted across the set beckoning her casting director.

“Yes,” Sandra rolled her eyes as she met up with haggard looking woman.

“Are we set with the replacement?” the director demanded. She still couldn’t believe the actress they hired pulled out at the last second to elope with her rocker boyfriend. Back when Betty Jane Marlowe started in the business a stunt like that could have ended your career. True the studios may have broken the child labor laws time and again, not to mention exposing impressionable children to some very unsavory elements, but everyone was always a professional.

“Yes,” Sandra rolled her eyes once again. “She’s in wardrobe and she’ll be perfect for sweeps week.”

“Yeah?” The brunette furrowed her brow. “Okay then. Britt?” She moved on to the next order of business.

“Yes, oh mighty one,” the petite blonde snickered.

“Everyone is a smart ass this morning,” B.J grumbled under her breath. “How was the talk show circuit? Enjoy the reunion?” She teased knowing that Brit hated doing SG reunions since everyone treated her like she was the Yoko Ono of the show.

“The host got snotty,” Brit shrugged. “Mauve told him to stuff the subtext questions or we’d walk. Then we all got loaded. Except for Tracy of course. She got to baby sit.”

“With five boys, she’s had a lot of practice,” B.J grunted. “So who is the guest star you managed to find at the last minute?”

“Here she comes now,” Brit nervously squeaked when she spied Dee strolling onto the set.

B.J watched the attractive woman tentatively approaching. It didn’t register at first until she flashed a nervous smile. “Son of a,” the words trailed off.

“Nice to see you too,” Dee shyly offered. “Hey Jolie.”

“Dee,” B.J shook her head still not believing her ex-lover was there and she hadn’t tried to smack her. “Wow this is a surprise.” The normally confident woman stammered. “You look great.”

“Back at ya’,” Dee expelled a gasp of relief. She was more than a little surprised she hadn’t been fired on the spot.

“Any questions about the script?” B.J cleared her throat trying valiantly to at least appear professional.

“Not yet,” Dee quietly answered. “Brit kept me up most of the night trying to get it down. Mauve and Tracy helped.”

“And here I thought you gals got snookered,” Jolie laughed. “Okay. Places.” She smiled. “Oh and Dee?” She called out as the actress took her mark. “Call me Jolie again and you’ll be buying me a very expensive dinner.”

“Whatever, Betty Jane,” she cockily retorted invoking a rush of laughter from the unsuspecting crew.

“Ouch,” Jolie snickered. “Just wait until we film scene twelve in the rain. I’m getting the feeling that it is going to take forever to get it right. Places people.” she shouted cutting off the last snickers.

******************************************************

It was almost midnight when B.J called cut. “That was you Dee,” she politely informed the weary woman who had just dropped her line.

“Sorry,” Dee yawned. She was exhausted from a lack of sleep and suddenly being thrust back into a grueling filming schedule. She had forgotten how arduous it was to keep repeating the same lines over and over again.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jolie reassured her turning to her assistant. “How are we doing?”

“For someone who barely got a look at the script, she’s doing great,” Lyle reassured her. “Much better than that twig you originally cast.”

“Dee always had a knack for getting her lines down as quickly as possible,” Jolie smiled shyly.

“We’re ahead if you want to call it a night?” Lyle eagerly suggested.

“Do it,” Jolie nodded. Lyle called it a night and began to hand out the call sheet for the following morning. Jolie pretended to flip through her script as she made a conscious effort not to look at her ex-lover. She paused when something caught her eye. There was a scene they had cut because the original actress slated to play the killer put up a fuss. ‘Method actors! Can‘t live with them, can‘t set them on fire!’ She silently scowled. “Pain in the ass.” Jolie smirked thinking Dee was going to be fabulous in the scene.

“Most people say good night,” Brit scolded her.

“Most people don’t sandbag their boss,” Jolie quipped without bothering to look up. “Are you going to tell me why or make me guess?”

“Because I like the both of you and it is time that Dee found out the truth,” Brit brightly surmised. “We told her. She never knew that you saved her career.”

“And she wasn’t supposed to,” B.J barked as she jerked her head up. “And how did you know about that?”

“Well now I know,” Dee huffed from behind them. “So, get off her case. Come on Jolie this has gone on way too long.”

“You owe me dinner,” B.J beamed trying to skip out of the conversation.

“And you owe me one hell of an explanation,” Dee confidently countered.

“You did great today,” Jolie sheepishly offered.

“Don’t,” Dee scoffed secretly amused that over the years Jolie hadn’t really changed that much. “No changing the subject, Quick Draw.”

“It’s late and we have an early call tomorrow,” Jolie turned somber. “Look if all goes well we can wrap this episode in eight days. After that we’ll sit down and I’ll tell you anything you want to know. In the meantime, I have some new pages for you in the morning.”

“New pages?” Dee swatted her. “You suck.”

“You’ll love the scene,” Jolie shrank back truly fearful of the uncertain glimmer in Dee‘s eyes. “Crap, I was really hoping you wouldn’t still want to smack me around.”

“I never hit you, liar,” Dee snorted indignantly. “Thought about it. But I’m opposed to spousal abuse.” She regretted the words the instant they escaped her lips. ‘Way to go, I was her girlfriend a long time ago. Audrey was her spouse.’ She mentally kicked herself. “Sorry,” she reached down and caressed Jolie’s shoulder.

“S’okay,” Jolie shook it off. “You would have liked her.” She tenderly offered seeming to read Dee’s mind.

“Can we go?” Brit whined.

“You’re crashing with her?” Jolie laughed.

“Her penance for hijacking me,” Dee curtly affirmed. “I told them they were nuts.”

“My God, it was a group conspiracy,” Jolie blinked as she watched the duo walking away. She sat alone just staring out at the empty set. “You would have liked her too, Audrey.” she finally choked out before climbing out of her chair and calling it a night.

It had a very long day for Betty Jane Marlowe. Her past colliding with her present left her feeling off kilter. Dee was still nothing short of amazing. She could still make her smile without any effort. She scratched her head wearily as she prepared for bed. Dee and Audrey were polar opposites; yet each of them would always own a piece of her heart.

Over twenty-five years ago Jolie made a difficult choice. The producers were going to out Dee and she was in the position to stop that from happening. They were shocked when they learned how much of the production they had willingly signed over to the young actress. They couldn’t just fire Jolie but they could hang Dee out to dry.

To save Dee, she had to make a deal with the devil. They agreed to let her out of her contract and stop planting lies in the tabloids, if Jolie would agree to just walk away, keep her mouth shut and break things off with Dee. She accepted their terms to save Dee.  She should have known they were going to find someway to stab her in the back. They promised Jolie she’d finish out the season giving her the chance to end things with Dee in a positive manner. Instead they booted her off midway through the season. When she tried to fight it, the producers and studio dangled Dee’s fragile career in front of her. She still hated that they forced her to cave in. At the time she had convinced herself it was the right thing to do.

Over the years Audrey begged Jolie to make amends with Dee. To tell her old flame the whole truth. Jolie refused. Now the truth was out and it didn’t really matter anymore. “Well maybe I can do this one last thing for you Baby,” Jolie sighed heavily staring down at her lover’s picture. “I’m still going to skewer Brittany over this.”

**********************************************************

Dee couldn’t sleep. Instead she was staring out the window of Brittany’s apartment. It was a great view. Dee just couldn’t enjoy it. Her mind was muddled with far too many memories. The first time Jolie smiled at her, the first time they cuddled a little too closely, the first time they kissed which happened a good two years before they became lovers. Then there was that first time they made love. Jolie suddenly shutting her out during those last few months together clouded the sweet memories. Then there was that first time she saw Jolie after everything had happened. It was a short clip on some entertainment news show. Jolie looked amazing. The paparazzi calling her name as she waved and smiled before taking Audrey’s hand and leading her into a restaurant. It was like a knife through her heart.

Dee had moved on. Dated and had relationships with other women it was just that there was always something special about Jolie. “I don’t care if I end up owing her a hundred dinners,” she grunted in amusement. “No way I’m calling her B.J.”

“She’ll be thrilled,” Brittany grunted.

“What are you doing up?” Dee shook her head as the blonde snatched up the television remote and clicked on the television. “No!” She wailed when the theme song assaulted her.

“They’re running a marathon,” Brittany held the remote in a death grip while Dee tried to wrestle it away. “Look at you. You’re practically jumping the girl and you wonder why lesbians love the two of you.”

“I was not trying to jump her,” Dee whined finally plopping down on the sofa and watching the show. “Oh my God I am.” She gasped. “Poor Jolie.  They made her wear that heavy ass turtle neck because I gave her a hickey in the dressing room right before we started taping. She was sweating like a pig under the lights.”

“And still the producers didn’t figure it out for another year or so,” Brittany tsked.

“I can’t believe I said that?” Dee blushed after listening to a line that was more than a little suggestive.

“She’s looking at your tits,” Brittany squealed just as the telephone rang. “This is too funny,” she cackled before snatching up the phone. “Hi Bob,” she blushed.

“Ah Mr. Wonderful,” Dee cackled while Brittany ducked into her bedroom. “Ugh, that was lame,” she groaned with disgust after watching the rest of the scene. She cringed when a very young Tracy entered the scene. “God they taped down her boobs for that one.” She shook her head. “Surprised she didn’t explode all over the camera.” She ended up viewing three episodes before forcing herself to go to bed and get a full hour’s worth of sleep.

****************************************************

“Why?” Brittany choked out staring into cold green eyes. “How could you do something so heartless?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Dee coldly responded with a chilly sneer. The room was eerily quiet as their eyes defied the other to speak. The tension seemed to linger for hours.

“Cut!” Jolie finally called out everyone on the set releasing an amazed gasp. “Damn that was incredible,” she whispered.

“Thank you,” Dee groaned rolling her shoulders. “I was wondering how long you were going to hold that shot. She has onion breath.”

“Do not,” Brittany shot back.

“Whatever works,” Jolie laughed. “It was damn good.” She complemented the actresses.

“Need to go again?” Dee questioned.

“No, “ Jolie rejected the suggestion. “I’m not going to mess with it. Lyle lunch.”

“Lunch!” Lyle shouted. “Be back for scene seventeen in one hour.”

“Uhm Dee?” The director called out.

“Jolie?” Dee smartly retorted.

“Deidre,” Jolie bantered in response.

“Betty Jane,” Dee not one to be out done countered.

“Gail?” Jolie shot back.

“Darla?” Dee was unwavering.

“Ugh,” Jolie threw up her hands in defeat. “You’re impossible.”

“Something you wanted?” Dee continued to taunt her.

“I was going to offer to buy you lunch,” Jolie snidely remarked. “But since you’re being a big pain in the ass,”

“Oh you’re buying,” Dee snickered.

“Why?” Jolie whined climbing out of her chair.

“You just said,” Dee persisted.

“No, I didn’t,” Jolie scratched her head wondering what exactly she had said. “Well this feels like old times. I don’t know whether to wind my watch or spit. Come on.”

*****************************************************

Jolie escorted Dee to a quiet cafe where over lunch she began to fill in some of the blanks. It was during the hiatus between the fourth and fifth season. Jolie was living on her own, things with Dee were great. Except Dee was still living with her domineering mother. Not only that Dee was off making some horror flick her mother accepted sight unseen just because the boy toy flavor of the month was starring in it. Jolie promised herself to sit Dee down and politely suggest that she limit her mother’s reign over her career.

The Sullivan Girls was already dipping in the ratings. The show had a good run - still nothing lasts forever. Jolie was seriously considering ignoring the points she was collecting and do an another project. Anything that would break the pigeon hole the studio had folded her into.

When the telephone rang and she was greeted by Lilly, her agent’s secretary, she thought that perhaps Myron, her agent, had read her mind. Lilly’s frantic voice should have alerted Jolie that something was amiss. Normally when Lilly sounded frantic it meant work.

It wasn’t a job this time. Myron requested her presence ASAP. She didn’t feel fearful thinking that the worst thing he would say was the show had been axed. It seemed unlikely since it was still clinging, albeit narrowly, to top ratings. She strolled into his office ready to receive the news whatever it would be. Nothing could have prepared her for Myron’s opening remark.

“Are you having an affair with Dee Janice?” he demanded before the door had fully closed.

“That would be none of your business,” she curtly cut him down. “Anything else?” She defiantly folded her arms against her chest.

“Betty Jane?” he pleaded. “Tell me it is just backstabbing gossip? Marni’s parents kicking up their heels again.”

“We are not having an affair,” she answered honestly.

“Thank you,” he gushed crossing the room to hug her. “I was really worried.”

“We’re in a relationship,“ Jolie calmly explained without so much as batting an eye.

“You didn’t say that,” he frantically begged, “Tell me you didn’t say that?”

“Oh, come on Myron,” she waved him off. “You knew that I’m gay. You did, didn’t you?”

“We all know,” Myron groaned. “Fine get your kicks, discreetly.” he cautioned. “Having a fling with your co-star on a family orientated, prime time show is out of the question.”

“Excuse me,” she hissed. “What part of "we’re in a relationship" did you miss? Dee is a wonderful lady. I’m lucky to be with her.”

“Mozeltoff,” Myron groaned sinking onto the edge of his desk. “You and your girlfriend are about to get fired. If you don’t go quietly, the production company will out the both of you.”

“Can they do that?” Jolie squeaked with horror.

“You have a morals clause,” Myron sighed heavily. “And before you say it, no it’s not fair.”

“I warned you about that clause,” Jolie barked as she began to pace.

“Everyone at the studio is forced to have it in their contract,” Myron argued. “I didn’t think it would be a problem. You’re a good kid. So is Dee.”

“We’re not immoral,” Jolie tried to argue.

“I agree,” Myron tenderly agreed. “Half of Hollywood is gay and everyone turns a blind eye. Except the sponsors and the Neilson families. You can’t be out and have a career.”

“I don’t give a rats ass about my career,” Jolie tersely blew out. “I won’t let them take Dee down. Is Kaufman on the lot?”

“Betty Jane,” Myron gulped. “What are you planning on doing?”

“Sit him down and have a civilized conversation with him,” Jolie reasoned, still the glimmer in her eyes was bordering on evil. “How much stock have I accumulated?”

“I’d be very careful playing that card,” Myron cautioned. “I’ll drive. I want to make sure you don’t do anything suicidal.”

“Oh you’re just worried that I’ll kill him,” Jolie snorted. “Fine, you’re driving.”

After the very heated meeting with Arnie, Jolie was back in Myron’s office rubbing her throbbing temple. “It is a good deal,” Myron meekly offered. Jolie just gaped up at him. “You get to walk away with an unblemished reputation and Dee keeps her job.

“Did you miss the part where I have to dump her?” Jolie snarled.

“I heard,” Myron grimly conceded. “I’m sorry.”

“I love her,” Jolie brushed away an errant tear.

“I know,” Myron took her hand.

“We were so careful,” Jolie sniffed.

“No you weren’t,” Myron cringed. “You forget, I watch the show. Betty Jane a blind man could see how the two of you feel about one another. It was just a matter of time before the network bozos connected the dots. Maybe they were doing what I’ve been doing for years, praying that I wasn’t seeing what I was seeing. You don’t have to do it. I’ll stick by you.”

“No,” Jolie felt spent. “If I fight them, they’ll ruin her. I can’t let that happen. The only thing I can hope for is the show gets the axe and Dee will forgive me.”

**********************************************************

“You should have told me,” Dee patted Jolie’s hand tenderly after she finished explaining everything. “I wasn’t a child.”

“If I had told you,” Jolie cleared her throat while she paid the bill. “You wouldn’t have let me do it. At the time, I was convinced I was doing the right thing.”

“You fell on your sword,” Dee grimly echoed Mauve’s words. “Heavy burden you were carrying.”

“Yeah, well,” Jolie grunted as they made their way back to the studio. “So, you knuckle heads have an idea for a reunion movie? Mauve called me. She’s really excited. So is Marni. Maybe if it works she’ll stop trying to get me to hire her. Honestly she can’t act her way out of a sack. Never could really. Except when you team her with Tracy. Then all of a sudden all the lights are on.”

“I know,” Dee nodded. “She’s going to be pissed when she finds out I worked for you. So, what did you think about the premise for the movie?”

“I love it,” Jolie beamed. “Certainly would be a ratings grabber. We’d have to shoot on a closed set. That ought to get tongues wagging. Then we could drop a few hints here and there. If we do this right people will be begging us to do a movie.”

“If we can get it together,” Dee cautioned.

“Well, you and Mauve own eighteen percent and I own thirty-three,” Jolie proudly supplied.

“Fifty-one percent,” Dee choked. “It won’t matter if the other share holders object. How in the hell did you manage to stock pile that much of the show?”

“I got most of it after the show was canceled,” Jolie shrugged. “At that point, it looked dead in the water. I doubt the share holders were thinking about syndication. I bought out shares little by little on the sly. Mauve and I are going to work on the script over my hiatus,” Jolie smirked holding the studio door open for Dee. “It is going to be weird going in front of the camera after all this time.”

“You might get to kiss me,” Dee quirked a wry grin.

“Oh yeah,” Jolie stuttered her body suddenly tensing. “Forgot about that.”

“There was a time you enjoyed that,” Dee tried to tease her own body tensing. ‘Oh boy what have I gotten myself into?’

*******************************************************

No one could have suspected that the Sullivan Girls was going to be such a hit. Jolie certainly hadn’t seen it coming. After the first few episodes aired it was clear that the young cast was on their way to stardom. Jolie and Dee quickly bonded. That was when the notes started coming about Jolie not appearing in public without her trademark glasses. The producers were stunned when Jolie didn’t just agree with their instructions. Instead they got a call from Myron.

If they wanted his client to look dowdy they would have to give Jolie a little something to make it worth her while. They never suspected that the request had been the teenager’s idea. Underestimating Jolie Marlowe was always a mistake.

Although Jolie did get in trouble a couple of times. The first was when Mauve was doing a behind the scenes interview. While the cameras were rolling the ever playful Jolie and Dee snuck up on the older actress and pelted her with silly string. It was funny and the reporter ate it up. Even Mauve thought it was a riot. Arnie Kaufman chastised both Jolie and Dee for making a mess backstage. Then Jolie was chastised for being photographed with out her glasses.

One other rare time the girls got into trouble was when a reporter for Teen Beat was interviewing both of them. The older woman asked a seemingly innocent question. ‘Did the girls do something before the taping of their episode for luck?’ The answer was innocent enough. Both girls claimed they gave each other a high five. It was the way the answered the question that gave the report the wrong idea. The woman was certain that the girls were into drugs. She would later regret her incorrect assumption when the Marlowe family threatened to sue after she had spread rumors around.

Arnie Kaufman was furious and gave the girls a lengthy lecture regarding their public image. After they were released from the producers office the girls were in a miserable mood. “Think we should have told that lady the truth?” Jolie quipped in an effort to brighten Dee’s spirits.

“That we snap each other’s underwear?” Dee whispered blushing furiously. “I don’t think so. I don’t even want to think about the lecture we’d get from Mr. Kaufman over that.”

“Well you started it,” Jolie quipped.

“Did not,” Dee howled. “You did.”

Jolie had indeed inspired their little tradition. One day they were getting ready to tape. Dee was only half dressed bending over the table while checking her hair in the mirror. Jolie jokingly snapped the elastic strap on Dee’s panties. Dee reacted by spinning around and tackling Jolie. They wrestled playfully until Dee pinned Jolie’s body beneath hers. Suddenly Jolie was no longer interested in struggling. Dee pressed her advantage tugging Jolie’s pants down and giving her co-star’s panties a little snap. From that day on when it was show day they’d give a little snap for luck.

Over the years, Dee was amazed it had taken them almost two years to confess that they had feelings for one another. Still getting there had been half the fun. The duo had used a multitude of lame excuses to touch, fondle and caress the other.

************************************************************

The wrap party was in full swing. Dee couldn’t believe how much she had enjoyed being in front of the camera again. She had to confess working with Jolie made all the difference. “What are you thinking?” A sultry voice sent a delightful tingle down her spine.

“That I owe you dinner,” Dee smiled over at Jolie who was nursing a glass of white wine.

“You, my dear old friend, owe me many dinners,” Jolie astutely corrected her.

“Rain check?” Dee numbly requested. “I have to get back to the West Coast. I was in the middle of moving in with my mother when all of this happened.”

“Bad break up?” Jolie sympathetically offered.

“I’ve had worse,” Dee groaned. “I swear every woman I meet wants Gail Sullivan. How did you manage finding someone who wasn‘t looking for Darla?”

“I met Audrey in Zurich,” Jolie timidly answered. “She never heard of the show. The first time she saw it was two years later after we moved back to the States.”

“What did she think?” Dee couldn’t help smiling.

“She thought it was cute and wanted to know what was going on with Darla and Gail?“ Jolie laughed. “I told her about us. She threatened to start writing fanfic since she had an inside track.”

“Have you seen that stuff?” Dee playfully nudged. “Some of it is pretty racy.”

“I’ve skimmed through some of it,” Jolie hedged. “I couldn’t get into it. Since it was about us. After all the story behind the scenes was much more interesting.”

“Yes it was,” Dee blushed taking a sip of her soda. “So, is that your sage advice? Leave the country?”

“I got lucky,” Jolie sighed her smile quickly fading. “Then again I’ve always had great taste in women.”

“Are you flirting with me?” Dee had intended her flip comment to sound like a joke. Based on the suddenly frightened look in Jolie’s dark eyes she knew she had missed her mark. “It was a joke,” she quickly clarified. “I’m sorry. It can’t be easy for you.”

“Some days are better than others,” Jolie explained with a hard swallow. “Look there’s Bob.” She quickly deflected the attention away from the hole Audrey had left behind.

“Oh my, he is much prettier in person,” Dee nodded with approval.

“And he treats her a hell of a lot better than that low life ex-husband of hers,” Jolie grumbled. “I heard Marni got divorced again. How many times is that?”

“Three,” Dee sighed. “You, Mauve and Tracy got it right. The rest of us are victims of childhood stardom. At least none of us got into drugs. Thanks to Mauve and your mother keeping a very watchful eye on us.”

“Didn’t stop us from learning how to drink, smoke, cuss like sailors and play cards with the crew,” Jolie chuckled. “Mom was great though. Still is.”

“The perfect stage mother,” Dee sighed with envy. “You want to act, fine. You want to play and act like a normal kid even better. Just don‘t forget to do your chores when you get home.”

“How’s your mom doing?” Jolie reluctantly inquired.

“Same, “ Dee groaned. “I love her but she’s a classic stage mom. Still wants me to get back into the cesspool full time. I had fun working on Crime Time. Maybe I’ll go out on a few casting calls just to make Mom happy.”

“You did great,” Jolie asserted. “If we hadn’t just killed off your character we’d bring you back.” Jolie concluded pointing at the fake blood on Dee’s blouse.

“Well if we pull off this movie, we’ll get to work together again,” Dee added hopefully.

“It looks good so long as Marni doesn’t try to sing,” Jolie cringed. “Why did she try to cut an album? You can sing, Tracy can sing and Mauve is out and out phenomenal. That’s why the writers got all of you to sing on the show as often as possible. Neither Marni or I can carry a tune in a bucket.”

“Her mother insisted she could sing,” Dee shrugged. “I thought my mom was bad. Remember when all those catch phrases you and I used to banter about on the show ended up on t-shirts and bumper stickers? I thought Marni’s mom was going to have a cow. Why can’t Marni have cute lines like that?”

“Because we made ours up,” Jolie spat out. “And Marni was only seven and could barely read her lines. She’s not going to like what Mauve has planned for her character. Little Jenny is going to be married with a boatload of kids. What else can we do? The years haven’t been kind.”

“What about Darla? Not more frumpy sweaters and glasses?” Dee protested.

“Although I really wear glasses now,” Jolie chuckled pushing up the sleek wire frames up the bridge of her nose. “No, I’m going to look like me. Mauve has a lot of great ideas.”

**********************************************************

A few months later Dee was happily hiding in the Midwest at Tracy’s humble abode. Staying with her mother had been working her last nerve and she needed a break. When Tracy invited Dee to come for a visit, the restless brunette jumped at the chance. The movie project was moving ahead much faster than anyone could have hoped for. Normally a project of this magnitude took years to get off the ground. Dee almost wished for the normal delays, so she could ease herself into the idea of becoming Gail Sullivan again.

“I love the script so far,” Tracy blew out before cautioning one of her sons to stop running. “Are you sure you don’t want to baby sit while you’re visiting?” She taunted Dee who was resting on the sofa.

“I told you before I’d be happy to,” Dee shrugged. “I just can’t guarantee that when you come home you will have the same number of children. Oh they’re showing the clip. Brittany is up next.” She beckoned Tracy to join her. “Oh, who was that dweeb? You know him? They kept trying to pass him off as my boyfriend on the show during the last season.”

“Michael something,” Tracy scrunched her brow. “I never liked him or the fart jokes he kept telling.”

“You didn’t like him,” Dee cringed. “I had to hold his sweaty hand for seven episodes. And he kept hitting on me.”

“Oh here she is,” Tracy preened turning up the volume.

“She said she was going to try and plug the possibility of a reunion show,” Dee added as Brittany made her entrance.

“I can’t believe you showed that,” Brittany playfully scolded the late night talk show host. “Couldn’t show Crime Time?”

“Hmm,” the host pretended to think about it. “Crime Time or you in braces and pigtails.  Tough call.”

Tracy and Dee rolled their eyes. They knew that Brittany had set up the clip and was looking to stir up talk about the possibility of a movie. “Is it true,” the host played along, “that the original cast hasn’t been together since the show ended in 1981?”

“I wasn’t in the original cast,” Brittany toyed with him. “In fact, I get blamed for breaking it up,” she added with a pout. “Cousin Lori sent Darla away. It’s a heavy burden.” The audience laughed at her plight. “I think Darla got over it since she’s my boss now.”

“That’s right,” the host laughed. “B.J Marlowe is Jolie Marlowe who played Darla, and she is one of the executive producers of Crime Time. So I guess she’s forgiven you.”

“Sometimes,” Brittany frowned. “Honestly when I joined the Sullivan Girls I was just starting out and for years after the show ended I’d walk into an audition and casting directors would say you killed Darla.”

“You didn’t kill her,” the host sniffed in agreement.

“No, Darla moved away,” Brittany argued, “Everyone is convinced I have Darla buried in my backyard. She’s fine. I let her out now and then. So she can sign my paycheck and direct an episode here and there.”

“That is mighty nice of you,” he laughed. “Seriously, when was the last time all six of you where in a room together?”

“The last episode we filmed together,” Brittany thoughtfully answered. “I mean all six of us have gotten together just not at the same time. The closest we came was recently five of us appeared on a talk show together.”

“Not mine,” he groused.

“No, we’re saving you for the full ride,” she winked. “I’ll have to clear it with Bob.”

“How is Bob?” He snickered.

“Great,” she wiggled her eyebrows.

“You know what I’ve always wondered about,” he continued the banter.

“What?” She played along. “The subtext?”

“What subtext?” He feigned innocence.

“There wasn’t any,” she sighed poking her tongue in her cheek. “I swear.”

“Right,” he scoffed. “No I’ve always wondered about Darla’s parents. I don’t recall ever seeing them.”

“I don’t think we ever saw them,” Brittany nodded. “I certainly didn’t. Maybe that’s why poor Darla was always sleeping over?”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s it,” he chuckled.

“You know when I was on the show I was just a babe in the woods,” she slyly began. “I never thought about why Darla was always there. Recently I happened to catch the show. Dee Janice was with me.”

“Gail?” the host purred.

“Nice plug for you,” Tracy smiled patting Dee’s arm.

“She was visiting, actually she did a guest appearance on Crime Time,” Brittany clarified. “It will be airing on the twenty-sixth of this month and she is just amazing in it. But I digress with a shameless plug.”

“Feel free,” the host shrugged. “So, the two of you watched an episode and?”

“Yes we did,” Brittany prattled on. “And I don’t know if it is just me but I thought I saw a little spark between Gail and Darla.”

“What did Dee say?” the host prompted her.

“She’s thinks I’m insane,” she shrugged.

“Well,” the host teased.

“Hey,” Brittany cautioned him.

“So you had a mini reunion?” the host prompted her.

“Kind of,” Brittany nodded. “Jolie directed the episode so it was really fun.”

“Oh, she owes her dinner,” Dee laughed.

“We’ll have to tune in for that,” he smirked. “Is there any chance of getting all six of you together again?”

“You mean a very special Crime Time?” She taunted him. “Kidding. We’ve talked about doing a Sullivan Girls reunion. I don’t know. Would anyone be interested in that?” she questioned the audience who went crazy over the idea.

“I think you have your answer,” he concluded before turning the rest of the interview back to Crime Time.

“Well if that audience is any indication,” Tracy smiled turning off the television. “I’d say we’d be crazy not to get this project off the ground.”

“We’ll see what the trade papers have to say about it,” Dee nodded thoughtfully. “If the buzz is half as good the other share holders won’t fight us on any script we hand them.”

**********************************************************

The buzz was better than expected. You couldn’t pick up a magazine without some blurb mentioning a possible reunion show. Oddly enough most of the remaining share holders nixed the idea. They were into releasing the series on DVD, but beyond that they had no intention of being involved with a reunion show that would out any of the characters.

So, Mauve, Jolie and Dee bought all but one out for a very hefty sum. The only one who wanted to stay on was Saul Kaufman, the son of the driving force behind the original series.

The women were more than a little fearful that if the project failed they were beyond screwed. They weren‘t simply buying the rights, they were backing the movie project. Instead of showing up for work and being paid, it now fell on their shoulders to hire everyone and to ensure that everyone was paid. Mauve and Dee were painfully aware that they were out of their element.

“God I hope we know what we are doing,” Mauve woefully sighed after mortgaging her home to meet her end of things. Dee shared her sentiment but tried to hide her fears. “Jolie signed right?” Mauve pleaded.

“The lawyers said she signed yesterday in New York,” Dee tried to reassure the older woman. “And Danny is definitely coming on board to direct.” Danny Simon had directed more episodes of The Sullivan Girls than anyone else. He also had the best relationship with the cast. “He’s skittish about outing two of the characters but he’s willing to go for it. How is the script coming?”

“Jolie and I have been faxing, emailing and IM’ing each other nonstop for months now,” Mauve sighed. “And I’ve been working with Iris.“ She expanded mentioning the head writer for the series. “It looks good. It looks like the scripts I was begging for back in the seventies. Still the network is going to freak when the two of you kiss.”

“So, we are going to kiss?” Dee couldn’t stop the bold grin she was sporting. They had talked about it. They also discussed just having Jolie’s character be gay. Or going with both characters being out without kissing.

“My you’re awfully excited about that,” Mauve laughed. “Just what happened in New York?”

“Nothing,” Dee was clearly flustered. “I mean it was great patching things up with Jolie. We reconnected but we didn’t reconnect if you get my drift.”

“But you want to?”

“I’m not opposed to the idea,” Dee choked out turning pink right up to her ears. “Mauve it has been a quarter of a century. I’m not wishing on a star. I’m just happy to have my friend back in my life. Back to business. Jolie emailed me. She’s getting together with Saul. She wants to find out if he is hanging on out of sentimental reasons and if he plans on stirring up any trouble. I still can’t believe that Arnie did what he did. I always thought he was one of the good guys in this business.”

“He was,” Mauve sighed. “But he was also a business man. Millions of teenaged girls and boys had your picture hanging in their bedroom. Every time someone bought your poster he made money. If they knew you were gay it would have hurt the show and his income. No one could have predicted that decades later it would be exactly what the fans wanted.”

“He could have handled it better,” Dee was still furious. “Blackmailing Jolie. Writing in boyfriend after boyfriend for Gail. Not to mention forcing me to appear in public with them acting like we were on a date.”

“Perhaps,” Mauve sighed. “Amazing to look back at it now. Our show just scratched the surface of some very tough subjects. Hell even The Facts Of Life, which ended up kicking our butts in the ratings, delved a hell of a lot deeper than we ever did. Now we’re going to try and blow it all out of the water.”

“Should be interesting.” Dee nervously concluded.

“You know I’ve been watching tapes of the show trying to get a bead on things,” Mauve slowly began. “Would you mind coming over and sitting through a few episodes?”

******************************************************

Dee was nestled on the sofa in the house Mauve was renting. Mauve popped a tape in the VCR. “This is the Christmas episode.”

“I never watched it,” Dee shyly confessed.

“Really?” Mauve was more than a little surprised. “I still can’t believe how you pulled it together. The audience never knew that you spent the entire week trying to throttle Jolie.”

“You so don’t want to know how I resolved things,” Dee blushed profusely.

“You’re pink up to your ears,” Mauve studied her as she paused the tape. “Out with it.”

“I,” Dee’s voice trailed off her face turning scarlet. “Uhm, in between the last run through and taping I went to her hotel room and got closure.”

“Naked closure?” Mauve gasped.

“Very naked closure,” Dee tried to hide behind the sofa cushion.

“I raised you better than that,” Mauve taunted yanking the cushion away.

“I swear I just went there to talk,” Dee whimpered like a child. “You might have noticed I was a little snotty to her that week.”

“I noticed,” Mauve groaned. “It is safe to say that anyone within a hundred mile radius noticed.”

That afternoon Dee’s intention really had been to talk. She had no trouble getting the desk clerk to give her Jolie’s room number. After all she was Gail why wouldn’t they tell her where Darla’s room was. During the ride up in the elevator she ran a million different scenarios and speeches through her mind. None of them included Jolie opening her hotel room door wearing nothing but a towel.

‘So much for good intentions,’ Dee wisely surmised before grabbing Jolie by the back of her neck and kissing her absolutely senseless.

“Dee?” Jolie managed to squeak out after Dee had kicked the door shut.

Dee could sense that Jolie wanted to talk. Dee couldn’t bring herself to listen. “I want to say goodbye,” Dee forcefully explained before capturing the unsuspecting Jolie in another searing kiss. Her hands groping Jolie’s body.

“This is how you want to say goodbye?” Jolie gasped with a look of uncertainty.

“Yes,” Dee pressed her fingers to Jolie’s trembling lips. In Dee’s mind the time to talk was over. Before Jolie’s last season began she sat Dee down and gave her the old I need space speech. Initially Dee went along with it assuming her lover was suffering from growing pains. She patiently waited for Jolie to work out her demons and come back to her. It never happened. If not for Jolie’s tirade during the first reading of what they thought was her final episode, Dee would have assumed that Jolie asked to be written out. Now Jolie was back. There were rumors swirling about that it was just one of many episodes she would appear in. Dee’s unchecked emotions took over. She needed to say goodbye to the love they had once shared and move on. Part of moving on in her mind meant one last time together. She was so very young and still hadn’t learned the rules of life.

She kissed Jolie with wild abandonment. Pushing her down on the bed. She unceremoniously slipped the towel from Jolie’s body. Her hands and mouth savagely exploring Jolie’s body. She knew every curve, freckle and nuance of the slender woman’s form. Her tongue traced every inch pressing it to memory. She only paused for a moment when Jolie insisted that Dee remove her clothing. Jolie’s touch burned her flesh. Dee’s heart was breaking.

Her only solace was the feel of Jolie’s flesh quivering beneath her touch. Jolie’s hot breath tickling her ear just before she released the familiar short gasps before her body exploded. Dee’s own cries echoing throughout the hotel room carefully orchestrated by Jolie’s tongue touching her just right.

When it was over the telephone rang. Dee refused to allow Jolie to speak after she answered her wake up call. Dee simply collected her clothing and said goodbye. A life time later, Dee felt she had a second chance. She wiped an errant tear from her cheek as Mauve hugged her tightly.

“Hey, start the tape again,” she choked out bracing herself before she witnessed her past playing out on the large television screen.

“Look at Jolie.” Mauve gaped a few moments into the show. “Darla does not like Gail’s boyfriend.”

“Neither did I,” Dee grunted her emerald eyes widening when she caught the look of disdain Jolie cast at the actor playing Gail’s beau from behind Dee’s back. “Oh, yeah she’s jealous,” she wryly noted.

“Gail where are you?” Mauve bellowed from the TV. Sharon Sullivan was seeking out her oldest child after discovering the younger children involved in some serious shenanigans.

Dee howled with laughter when Jolie popped out from behind the kitchen counter her face covered with a thick white foam.

“Hi, Mrs. S,” Jolie nervously squeaked, her face still masked with the gooey white foam.

“Darla is that you under there?” Mauve gasped.

“I sure hope so, Mrs. S,” Jolie innocently quipped.

“I don’t remember this scene,” Dee laughed harder when Jolie slipped her trademark glasses from her face.

“That’s because you’d do your scenes then disappear,” Mauve dryly informed her. “They sprayed her with that stuff you put on windows at Christmas time. Damn near burned her skin off.”

“Oh,” Dee nodded recalling how she refused to linger in the wings like she normally did during taping. She leaned against the sofa amazed by Jolie’s timing. “That would explain the extra make up they slapped on her.”

“Here’s where they set it up to bring her back again,” Mauve pointed out as the episode was just about to end. “And where you blew it.”

“What?” Dee sneered not seeing anything out of the ordinary. “All I did was hug her.”

“Look,” Mauve grinned rewinding the tape. “There.” She announced after hitting the play button. “That is a serious hug.”

“Hmm,” Dee pursed her lips mildly conceding the hug was a little close. “Still,”

“Your hands,” Mauve practically shouted rewinding the tape.

“What?” Dee groused still not seeing what the problem was. “Oh my God.” She gasped shocked by what she was seeing. “I grabbed her ass.”

“Oh, yeah,” Mauve released a devilish cackle. “Not a full fledged grab mind you. But you definitely brushed her bottom. I get the distinct feeling that millions of lesbians play that moment over and over again.”

“Thank goodness I didn’t stick around for the cast party,” Dee shivered nudging Mauve to unfreeze the scene which clearly showed her fingers resting on Jolie’s shapely behind.

“Neither did Jolie,” Mauve groaned finally unfreezing the shot.

“Bet when the suits caught that little moment they wished Holly had stayed,” Dee growled.

“If she had,” Mauve began just as the closing credits began to roll. “I doubt that the show would have lasted past the first season. Too many blondes. Jolie would have stolen the show, been spun off and the rest of us would have been a dim memory, if that. I have to get going.” Mauve announced. She was performing in a touring company of Sunset Boulevard and needed to head to the theatre. “Why don’t you stay and watch some episodes.  Make some notes for me.”

“Is it that obvious I don’t want to go home?” Dee sighed wearily.

“No,” Mauve lied. “I just want your input.”

“Liar,” Dee smiled up at her second mother.

“The ones with the red dot on the label are the heaviest with subtext,” Mauve concluded with a tender pat on Dee’s shoulder.

“That’s almost all of them.” Dee squawked protesting the point.

“Just watch them,” Mauve laughed. “Lock up if you leave before I get back.”

“Yes, Mom,” Dee dryly responded.

*********************************************************

Jolie blew out a nervous breath before taking her seat across from Saul Kaufman. “It has been a long time,” she politely greeted him as he sat down. Saul like his father was a gentleman and stood when a lady approached. “How are you?”

“I’m well,” he nodded politely offering a warm smile. “But that isn’t why you wanted to meet now is it?” He almost seemed jovial.

“No,” she smiled in return taking a quick look at the menu before placing her lunch order. Saul ordered as well before each of them waved to a photographer lurking outside the window of the restaurant.

“More press,” he smiled once again turning his full attention back towards Jolie. “Dad would be pleased by how much interest you stirred up in such a short time.”

“I learned from the best,” she politely acknowledge. “I really admired your father.”

“Until he fired you,” Saul sadly interjected. “He didn’t want to.”

“Could have fooled me,” Jolie curtly retorted. “Sorry.” She quickly apologized.

“No need to apologize,” Saul graciously offered. “I never knew what really happened behind the scenes. I was too young to understand what had happened. Still even I was shocked when you left the show. Dad really loved working with you. The Sullivan Girls was his all time favorite project. I was shocked when I found out the truth. He told me it broke his heart and he was ashamed by the way he handle things.”

“Then why didn’t he let me finish out the season?” Jolie sputtered.

“The same reason he never got to do episodes that went deeper,” Saul expanded. “Pressure. From the network, the other producers and the studio. He always wanted to do more with that show. He knew about you and Dee years before he called you on the carpet. He saw no need to do anything about it. As long as the two of you were careful - who cared. Until one of the sponsors kid said something flip about Gail and Darla. Dad tried to ignore it even after the sponsor threatened to pull out if Gail and Darla weren’t femmed up and got boyfriends. Everyone rode him about it. They had meeting after meeting everyone demanding that one or both of the characters be written off the show. They didn’t think the rumors were true. They didn’t care. It didn’t look good and they weren’t taking any chances.”

“And he finally had to do something,” Jolie shook her head with disgust. “From a business stand point, I get it.”

“I don’t think you do,” Saul nervously continued. “Some sleaze ball proved the rumors were true. It happened early in the fourth season. You and Dee Janice spent a weekend in Big Sur. Some creep took some very damaging pictures. Dad paid him off. That’s when he decided to bully one or both of you off the show. He was going to let you finish out the season until the creep came back for a second helping. When Dad threw him out of his office, he went to another producer.”

“Some one took pictures?” Jolie choked her body trembling. “What happened to them?”

“Dad swore that he burned them along with the negatives,” Saul vowed. “Jolie, I’m not going to do anything to stop the movie. I want you to do it. From the rumors I’ve been hearing about the script, I think my father would have been proud that you are finally making the show into something that he always dreamed it would become. Not just some cookie cutter cute show, but something socially relevant. He always regretted that he took the coward’s way out. Maybe by telling you this and helping you make the movie I can help my father rest in peace.”

“Saul,” she released a lilting laugh. “I have to tell you I never saw this conversation going this well. Let’s make a movie.”

*********************************************************

Jolie was still reeling by recent events. She mentally clicked them off in her troubled head. First her ex-lover had unceremoniously reemerged in her life. Full of understanding and grace. It was more than Jolie had ever dared hoped for. Although she still resented Arnie for what he did; she now understood his motives a little better. The movie looked like it was going to be something everyone could be proud of. ‘Hopefully,’ she cringed slightly thinking of the possible backlash.

A big part of the backlash she feared was something Saul mentioned as they were wrapping up their luncheon. He feared that perhaps his father hadn’t gotten all of the pictures. Since all the new interest had been stirred up Saul was getting odd phone calls that eluded to the pictures. The caller never out and out said anything definitive but Saul was concerned that the sleaze bucket had crawled back out of his hole.

“Have to keep my eyes and ears open,” she grumbled searching around the finished basement. She couldn’t help wondering just how someone got pictures during one of the trips she and Dee had taken to Big Sur. The Tree Top Inn had always been their little hideaway. They had been so very careful or so she thought. “I have to call Dee,” she grumbled under her breath.

“Talking to yourself Betty Jane?” Her mother’s lilting voice disrupted her thoughts.

“Yeah, Mama,” she smiled glancing over her shoulder at her mother wiping her hands on her apron. “Got some things on my mind.”

“Nothing new there,” June Marlowe smiled. “You were always deep in thought even as a baby.”

“If you say so,” Jolie snickered furrowing her brow as she took a good look around the room. There was her father’s pool table and built-in bar, which her mother, being a good southern lady, thoroughly disapproved of. The rest of the room was a shrine for all the accomplishments she and her brother achieved including Jolie’s Emmy’s. Two for directing, one for producing and one from 1977 for acting. Proving once again that her former life as Darla was bittersweet.

“Jimmy Jay called,” her mother disrupted her thoughts. “He’s pleased as punch you’re staying with your Daddy and me while you’re in town.”

“Mama,” Jolie shook her head. “You know I said I’d stay with you for a bit. Once the film gets rolling I’m gonna need my space.”

“He said,” June prattled ignoring her daughter’s words. “If you get the time you should drive up to Napa and visit him and Shelly. You haven’t seen your nieces and nephew in a good long while.”

“Is that your way of telling me I’m a bad sister?” She pursed her lips to hide her grin.

“No,” she rolled her eyes. “You promised Audrey.”

“Mama,” Jolie began to choke up.

“You promised her that after she was gone you wouldn’t turn into a chain smoking, caffeine swilling, cranky work-alholic,” June Marlowe pushed. “She made me promise if that happened I was to give you a swift kick where it counted. You know I never go back on my word. Now were you just mumbling something about calling Dee? I think you should.”

“Mama,” Betty Jane gasped. “It’s . . .,”

“Been almost three years,” June cut off her youngest child. “Honey, I love you. And I loved Audrey like she was my own. There have only been two people outside your family that made you happy and one of them is gone now. The other happens to be right here in California. I’m just saying that if you’re going to visit your brother, Dee might be pleasant company. She is in California isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Jolie slowly drew out. “She just broke up with someone and is staying with her mother for now.”

“Oh?” June pursed her lips with dislike. “How is her mother?”

“According to Dee, the same,” Jolie mumbled. “Dee told me that after the show ended, she went to move out and discovered that the money was gone. How is that possible? Dee worked almost every day of her life and had nothing to show for it.”

“Parents of child actors should never act as their children’s agents or business managers,” June wisely noted. “They should find reputable people to do that. The only reason I spent so much time on the set with you and your brother was because I was concerned about your well being.”

“I know,” Jolie smiled proudly. “All you and Daddy ever wanted was for Jimmy and I to be happy.”

“That’s all we still want,” June asserted. “Now go wash your hands. Your Daddy will be home soon and supper is ready.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Jolie respectfully answered.

“And after supper, you can call Dee,” June concluded with a self satisfying smirk.

“Mama,” Jolie growled under her breath.

******************************************************

“Oh, Darla nothing will ever come between us,” a very young Dee innocently chimed. “Yeah that wasn’t queer.” Her older self laughed. “And another hug. Yeah, they were just good friends.” She rolled her eyes at the scene she was watching. “It’s like the writers were playing into it.” She was in the middle of watching her tenth episode her running commentary growing louder with each scene. She paused the tape when her cell phone chirped. “Hello?” She greeted her caller.

“Hey kiddo, what are you up to?” Jolie’s soothing voice greeted her.

“Watching you trying to get into my pants,” Dee dryly explained pleased when she heard Jolie laughing.

“Seriously,” Jolie managed to continue.

“Seriously,” Dee asserted. “I’m hanging out at Mauve’s. She’s at the theatre. She wanted my opinion on some of the episodes.”

“And just what is your opinion?” Jolie encouraged still laughing.

“Gail and Darla we a couple of major homos who were probably getting it on long before we ever did,” Dee wryly theorized. “We signed the papers this afternoon. How did it go with Saul?”

“We have to talk,” Jolie grimly informed her.

“I hate it when you say that,” Dee groaned. “Come pick me up.”

“I’m on my way,” Jolie sighed heavily.

“Now what?” Dee frowned while she snapped her cell shut. She stood removing the tape she had been viewing from the VCR. She was prepared to shut everything down and await Jolie’s arrival. Instead she popped one more tape in. She reclined back on the sofa humming along with the theme song. “Oh, this one I remember.” She blushed realizing that it was the first show they had done after she and Jolie had become lovers.

“Darla!” Dee heard herself squealing as she hugged her co-star. “You’re the best.” Dee rolled her eyes wondering if anyone on the set that night knew that they had hot sex in their dressing room two hours before they shot the scene.

Dee shivered recalling her body pressed up against the wall of her dressing room. Jolie kneeling before her urgently stroking her throbbing clit. Dee’s head banging against the cheap paneling; her fingers deeply burrowed in Jolie’s hair. Dee fought to keep her pleas from escaping. Jolie’s touch becoming hurried when one of the stage hands knocked on the door alerting them that they needed to get on the set.

Dee blushed recalling how Jolie hated leaving things halfway done. She was still blushing when the doorbell chimed. She clicked off the tape. Before standing brushing out her blouse and quickly running her fingers through her hair. As instructed she locked up and greeted Jolie who was waiting out on the stoop.

********************************************************

“Your accent is showing,” Dee chuckled swinging her legs over the ledge they were sitting on. She loved the spot in the hills just above their old studio. They used to sneak up there and look at the stars or watch the crews working down on the lot.

“Hmm,” Jolie scowled. “A couple of hours with Mama and Daddy and I’m southern again. I always wondered if they regretted leaving home to come here. After that talent agent discovered me and Jimmy Jay. They say no.”

“I’ve never known your parents to be liars,” Dee sighed deeply drinking in the fragrances of the night. “I’m glad you called me. I wasn‘t in a hurry to go home. I’m thinking maybe I should have stayed with my father. How did it go with Saul?” She asked noticing that Jolie was being far too quiet.

“We have to talk.”

“So, you said,” Dee groaned. “What happened?”

Dee sat back and listened to every detail. She remained silent until Jolie had finished. “Big Sur, huh? We certainly snuck off to there enough times for it to be true,” Dee quickly surmised. “We were so careful. Always the same hotel, the same room on the second floor tucked around back hidden by the trees. How could someone get pictures?”

“Don’t know,” Jolie shivered. “We didn’t even use our real names. Remember?” She tossed a small pebble over the ledge.

“I remember,” Dee laughed. “Mabel Houston.”

“Justus,” Jolie corrected.

“Right,” Dee laughed once again. “That character from the B movie you did when you were five. What was the premise of that again?  Your parents were eaten by grizzly bears and you and your brothers were trying to out run a psycho?”

“It was wolves and we running from moon shiners,” Jolie tried her level best to look insulted. It was hard the movie was truly horrible. Even getting stoned didn’t make it more enjoyable.

“My mistake,” Dee snickered. “Wasn’t the kid who played one of your brothers supposed to be the next Leif Garret or something?”

“He thought so,” Jolie chuckled. “God, I don’t even remember his name. Such a strange world we grew up in. We spent our lives portraying normal kids and had no idea what that was like.”

“How could we?” Dee reasoned tossing her own pebble down at the studio. “We had day jobs. We attended real school maybe one week a month. The rest of the time our education was limited to three hours a day on the set which was divided into twenty minute increments.   We weren’t allowed to go out and play because we might get dirty. And our nights weren’t spent studying or hanging out with regular kids it was parties and photo op’s. Your parents and Tracy’s parents were the only adults I recall who tried to make your childhood seem a little normal. The rest of us were just sitting around waiting to see what happened after we reached the bridge. The tell tale point in every child actor’s career when you’re not cute anymore and all you have left is talent and or drive.”

“I know the bridge,” Jolie conceded. “That point where most kids end up leaving or being forced out of the business. When Jimmy reached that point he decided that he enjoyed being a kid more than being an actor. So, he quit.”

“That’s because your parents let him quit,” Dee thoughtfully pointed out. “Unlike most kids, like Marni. Her mother kept pushing long after her cuteness had faded. Even when it was painfully clear she really didn’t possess the skills to survive in this business. Hell if I hadn’t fired my mother and took off for parts unknown that would have been my fate. The kicker is that even after living a quote unquote normal life and trying every career from waiting tables to real estate the best gig I ever had was preening for the cameras.”

“But you have the talent to keep going,” Jolie wisely pointed out. “You’re more than a pretty face.”

“Thank you,” Dee nodded blushing slightly from the compliment.

“So,” Jolie’s tone turned serious. “What do you want to do about these pictures?”

“Frame them,” Dee boldly announced. “What? You think sending them out as Christmas cards would be better?”

“Dee?” Jolie pleaded. “This is serious.”

“No it’s not,” Dee argued. “This isn’t the seventies anymore. I won’t pay to bury them. Those days are long gone. Neither of us are in the closet. Who cares if they get out. Think of it as free publicity.”

“Dee, I’m out,” Jolie carefully began. “Technically you’re still in the closet. Your career is just starting over again. Do you really want to risk it?”

“I’m calling Ellen DeGeneres and have her smack you in the head,” Dee huffed. “I’m not out only because no one asked. Over the years, do you know how many times someone threatened to out me? You want to know what I’ve told them each and every time? Go ahead. No one ever did. Maybe it’s time I did.”

“You have Ellen’s number? Cool,” Jolie teased.

“No,” Dee confessed nudging Jolie with her shoulder. “I thought you might.”

“I doubt she even knows who I am,” Jolie shook her head leaning slightly closer to Dee. Feeling Dee’s warm body brushing against her own felt good. Too good. She shifted slightly needing to break away from the foreign temptation brewing inside of her. “Is that our old sound stage over there?”

“No,” Dee frowned feeling disappointed that Jolie felt a need to move away from her. “Over there.” She corrected pointing in the right direction.

*****************************************************

Jolie managed to duck her mother’s queries when she returned home. “I have work to do, Mama,” Betty Jane fussed clicking on the television and popping a tape in the VCR. She did have work to do but she was avoiding her mother in an effort to dodge questions regarding Dee.

“Watching television?” Her father snickered as he joined her in the basement. “Now that’s what I call work.” He snickered filling a tumbler with ice before pouring a generous amount of Jack Daniels over the crackling cubes.

“Wanna help?” Jolie couldn’t help smiling as he made himself comfortable in front of the television.

“I always liked this show,” he smiled boldly.

“You’re biased,” Jolie snickered claiming the spot next to him.

“Which one is this?” He questioned when the theme song began.

“Moving Day,” Jolie scowled.

“I liked that one,” he nodded thoughtfully.

“It was the episode they used to fire me!” Jolie squawked.

“You had some good moments,” he countered. “And it was the only time they let you take off those glasses.”

“They didn’t. I just took them off to piss off Arnie,“ Jolie shrugged grabbing up a notebook and a pen. She tapped the pen furiously as the show began.

“Hey Mrs. S,” Darla shyly greeted her neighbor.

“Darla?” Mrs. Sullivan smiled. “Haven’t seen you around very much.”

“That’s because I was being nudged out,” Jolie snarled at the television.

“Ssh,” her father cautioned her.

“Oh, well,” Darla tugged on her baseball cap. “My parents want me to spend more time with them.”

“That’s good,” Mrs. Sullivan smiled quirking her head slightly.

“Yeah,” Darla’s face dimmed. “They want me to decide which one of them I want to live with.”

“Oh, Darla,” Mrs. Sullivan gulped hugging the girl.

“The writers really handled the subject of divorce very well,” Walter Marlowe noted.

“They did, didn’t they,” Jolie reluctantly conceded.

“Important subject matter for the time,” he noted. “More kids came from what we use to call broken homes than not. I still say, Mrs. Sullivan should have called social services on Darla’s parents. I mean where in the Sam hill were those people?”

“The studio didn’t want to cast anyone unless they absolutely had to,” she informed him. “Still it didn’t send a very good message. Darla was way beyond being a latch key kid.”

“I’m gonna start locking that window!” An adolescent Tracy whined when Darla fell threw the bedroom window. “It’s bad enough I have to share a room with the bulldozer.”

“Blame Cousin Lori,” Gail huffed jumping from her bed. “And I don’t snore.”

“Yeah you do,” Darla snickered. “Look Gail, I really want to talk to you. Alone!” she added glaring down at Susie.

“It’s my room,” Susie definitely argued.

Jolie leaned back studying the scene carefully. She choked back a sob midway through. “Gail this isn’t about you,” Darla asserted sounding like an adult for the first time. “I loved being a part of your family. But it’s time I was a part of my family. Mom and Dad are really trying. Kind of weird it took them deciding that they couldn’t live together for us to be more of a family. I need to be with them. I’ll miss you to pieces. Here.” She reached up yanking the baseball cap she wore in every single episode from her head, clearly stunning the studio audience when her long dark tresses spilled out. She handed Gail the hat. Deciding to give the audience a bigger thrill, Jolie removed her glasses.

“Holy cow!” Susie squealed. “Darla’s Wonder Woman!”

Darla shrugged before stumbling. “And blind as a bat,” she laughed before shoving her glasses back on. “I have to go.” Darla turned back towards Gail. “I’ll write.” She added with a big hug.

“You better,” Gail sniffed clinging to Darla.

Darla brushed back a tear before straddling the window. “You could always use the door?” Sharon grumbled entering the bedroom door.

“Why start now Mrs. S?” Darla smiled crossing the room and hugging the older woman fiercely before climbing out the window.

“I’m gonna miss her mom,” Gail sobbed throwing herself into her mother’s arms.

“I know baby,” Sharon comforted her daughter.

“And goodbye Darla,” Jolie groaned fast forwarding through the credits.

“Until Arnie threw all that money at you,” her father groaned.

“That God awful Christmas episode,” Jolie cringed.

“Or as your mother and I call it, Darla and Gail break up,” he commented. “Your Mama and I hated that was the way things ended between you and Dee. She was always a sweet girl.”

“She still is, Daddy,” Jolie quietly answered.

“Any chance of rekindling that spark?” He tenderly asked.

“Daddy,” Jolie groaned yanking the tape out of the VCR. “Any requests?”

“The one where Darla and Gail steal the opposing team’s mascot,” he beamed.

“I think that was The Brady Bunch,” she scowled.

“Then the one with the pie eating contest,” he smiled brightly. “Reminded me of the county fairs back home.”

“Ugh,” she blanched putting in the requested tape. “I was sick for days.” She grimaced reclaiming her spot on the sofa. “Do you ever regret moving to California, Daddy?” She shyly inquired as she started the tape.

“Swimming pools and movie stars,” he joked before turning serious. “Only twice, when your brother couldn’t find work because he entered his awkward years. How do you tell your son he can’t work because he’s growing up. Once he went back to going to a regular school and ended up liking it more than being on the set, I got over my apprehension.”

“What was the second time?”

“When they bullied my little girl,” he growled. “Your Mama and I didn’t have a problem with your relationship, I don’t see where it was Arnie Kaufman’s concern. Still I am proud of the way you stood up for your lady.”

“Thank you, Daddy,” she smiled giving him a quick hug. “Okay, let’s watch Darla win that pie eating contest.”

“Don’t spoil it for me,” he teased.

******************************************************

Meanwhile Dee was across town being cross examined by her mother. “Mother, I am over forty,” she finally called an end to the inquisition. “If I want to go out and meet up with an old friend, I will.”

“Deidre I will not have you taking that tone of voice with me,” Mary Janice fumed. “That woman ruined your career once I won’t have her do it again. Lesbian Chic is over.”

“Mother,” Dee bit back her fury. “My sexuality is not a fad or a way to garner publicity. And the only reason my questionable career is seeing the light of day again is because of Jolie Marlowe. So, give it a rest.”

“Dee you have some very serious offers coming in,” her mother earnestly argued.

“You are not my agent,” Dee curtly cut her off. “Or have you forgotten that?”

“Now we can look past your lack of judgment,” Mary tried to placate her stubborn child.

“Oh, no we can’t,” Dee slowly drew out. “Not unless you’re finally going to tell me what happened to the money?”

“I told you then,” Mary snarled. “The house, your upbringing,”

“Dad paid for the house as part of the divorce settlement,” Dee quickly countered. “He also paid you an absorbitant amount in child support and alimony. You forget, I had you audited.” Dee cut her mother down. She hated doing it. She knew that many a child star had been the bread winner for their family. In Dee’s case, it wasn’t true. Her father really did support them. Which begged the question what happened to Dee’s hard earned money?

She hadn’t paid attention to the money flow until she wanted to stop acting and go to school out of state. She had been shocked when her mother informed her that there wasn’t any money. Dee felt terrible that she was forced into having hers and her mother’s finances investigated. Then she got angry when she discovered just how much she had earned during her career. Even Coogan’s Law had failed to protect Dee. Coogan’s Law required parents of child actors put fifteen percent of the money in a trust. The law was created in 1939 was named after Jackie Coogan who had earned four million dollars as a child and ended up with nothing. Dee’s mistake was not paying attention which allowed her mother free reign. Mary Janice was Dee’s employee and drew a hefty salary from Dee’s earnings. After Dee turned eighteen instead of cashing in her Coogan trust and taking over her own finances she unknowingly signed everything over to her mother.

Dee always held the sneaky suspicion the estimated two point seven million dollars disappeared because of her mother’s fondness for the finer things in life and gambling. Even as an adult Dee paid her mother’s debts even though Mary Janice was still collecting a sizable alimony check every month.

“Dee you should consider some of these offers,” Mary tried to lure her in.

“No,” Dee flatly refused. “I’m not sure I want to go back to this fulltime. I might. Then again I might not.” She stomped off before her mother could catch her breath. All the while thinking, ‘Two point seven million, we could have lived out our lives in the lap of luxury! How do you piss away that much money?’ “Thank God, I listened to Jolie and took points,” she tersely blew out before slamming her bedroom door. Knowing that if she hadn’t renegotiated her contract she would have nothing to show from her former success.

She tried to wash away the old anger. She could still recall her mother denying it had been that much money, even after Dee showed her the paperwork which listed every check, royalty, residual, promotional fee, and endorsement contract. That was just the legit money it didn’t take into account the backroom deals Mary had made over the years. Mary Janice went to great lengths to ensure that her daughter’s image was everywhere. No matter how Dee looked at it, the amount of money was still more than most people won hitting the lottery.

Dee sat down on the small bed another reminder of her childhood. She tried to shake of the tension. The money really didn’t matter, it was the way her mother kept lying to her, the way she wouldn’t listen to Dee and her insistence that Dee wasn’t gay. “Let it go,” she softly muttered. After all a lot of good had come from her youth. Topping the list was Jolie.

She smiled sweetly the memory of her first time with Jolie coming back to her. The tempest between the two of them had been brewing for such a long time. The night they wrapped the second season Dee and Jolie ducked out of the party and snuck off to their dressing room. They began kissing. It wasn’t the first time the teenagers had made out. Dee really liked the way Jolie kissed. It made her lose all sense of control. They ended up on the sofa. Jolie’s body squirming beneath her own. Dee’s hand slipping between Jolie’s thighs.

Neither of them were innocent. A downfall of the business they had grown up in. Kids working in an adult world had a price. She kissed Jolie with a wild abandonment grinding the heel of her hand against the seam of Jolie’s blue jeans. If not for her mother banging on the door they might have consummated things that night.

“Man she’s in a hurry tonight,” Jolie breathlessly stated slipping from Dee’s touch.

“I’m flying to Oregon in the morning,” Dee grumbled.

“Aren’t you gonna have any time off during the hiatus?” Jolie scowled while adjusting her rumpled clothing.

“No,” Dee groaned. “I’m filming an after school special then I have a talk show circuit to do. After that I’m off to do a made for television movie. I won’t get back until the night before we start shooting next season. Mom says we need to strike while the iron is hot.”

“That’s bogus,” Jolie snarled glaring at the door Mrs. Janice was still thumping on.

“I’m coming, Mom,” Dee shouted. “I’m kind of looking forward to Oregon. Greg Carver is directing. I heard he’s great to work with.”

“I’ve worked with him,” Jolie smiled. “He is great. Maybe I’ll swing up to Oregon and keep you company. That is if your Mom doesn’t mind.”

“She’s not coming,” Dee smirked. “She said she has some business to take care of.”

“Really?” Jolie brightly questioned.

Two weeks into filming Jolie arrived. Greg was thrilled to see her again and loved allowing her to follow him around. Jolie had often said what so many actors claimed, ‘What I really want to do is direct.’ as it turned out Jolie was telling the truth.

Upon arriving Jolie respectfully hid in the background. When a break was called she greeted Greg and requested if it was alright if she hung around even calling him Mr. Carver. One of the reasons Jolie worked so often wasn’t simply because of her talent. Unlike so many of her peers she was kid, not a small adult.

“Did you see the grip’s t-shirt?” Dee slyly questioned nodding towards the thin redheaded man.

“I swear it wasn’t me,” Jolie read aloud shaking her head.

“Did you ever think, the things we say would end up on someone’s chest?” Dee giggled. “It’s kind of weird.”

“I don’t mind,” Jolie shrugged. “After all I make money off it.”

“Huh?” Dee scrunched her brow.

“Tell me you didn’t sign the standard five year deal for a flat salary?” Jolie groaned.

“How should I know? My Mom handles that, doesn’t yours?” Dee was truly perplexed.

“No, my agent handles those things,” Jolie astutely pointed out. “My mother handles teaching me how drive, be respectful and on occasion still kisses my boo-boos.”

“I’ll kiss your boo-boos,” Dee whispered huskily in Jolie’s ear. She smiled devilishly when Jolie squeaked in response. “Make me happy and tell me that you didn’t get your own room at the hotel?”

“No,” a clearly flustered Jolie stammered. “I did what you said and had my bag delivered to your room. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that you were planning on getting fresh with me.”

“I’m planning on finishing what I started at the wrap party,” Dee vowed with a purr.

“Jolie? Come here?” Greg politely called out eager to show the inquisitive teenager something.

“I hope you lose the light real quick today,” Jolie exclaimed before darting off to join the director.

When they arrived back at the hotel Dee was a bundle of nervous energy. Jolie quickly quieted her fears. She hung a do not disturb sign on the door closed it before closing the distance between them. She captured Dee’s face in her hands and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “I’ve missed you,” Jolie whispered her warm breath tickling Dee’s face.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Dee confessed with a hard swallow fighting to calm the rapid beating of her heart.

She clasped her hands over Jolie’s their breath mingling until they began kissing. Sharing slow tender kisses unlike the hurried ones they usually shared in the shadows, never knowing when someone would disrupt their bliss. Barely sixteen, the girls were completely alone for the first time. All the pent up emotions finally came spilling out.

“I love you,” Jolie’s shy voice confessed while her fingers brushed against the hem of Dee’s shirt.

“’bout time you admitted it,” Dee happily murmured clasping the buckle on Jolie’s belt.

“Ugh,” Jolie groaned with a playful smile her fingertips brushing against the trembling flesh beneath Dee’s top. “You’re such a romantic.” Her words were light still Dee could see the apprehension in Jolie’s dark eyes.

Dee brushed her thumb against Jolie’s soft supple lips. Slowly tracing them. “I love you too,” she quietly reassured the woman who had stolen her heart the first moment they met. Dee shyly allowed her hands to drift down the front of Jolie’s body. Jolie’s smile warming her heart.

Dee leaned closer kissing Jolie’s chin, her fingers suddenly busy with the task of undoing the buttons on Jolie’s shirt. Her fingers began to tremble. “What’s wrong?” Jolie tenderly inquired brushing Dee’s bangs back; caressing her face with her fingers.

“I don’t know what to call you,” Dee sheepishly confessed awkwardly unsnapping the buttons.

“Huh?” Jolie shook her head clearly confused.

“Do I call you Jolie, Jo or Lee like I do on the set? Somehow it seems strange to call you by your stage name,” Dee nervously sputtered. “I’m not comfortable with Betty Jane or B.J since I’ve never called you that. Face it you have more alias’ than a gangster.”

“What do you want to call me?” Jolie murmured nuzzling Dee’s cheek.

“Mine.” Dee asserted a sudden surge of bravado coursing through her.

“I’ve always been yours,” Jolie reassured her with a promising kiss. “Call me whatever you want, just don’t stop touching me.”

“Trust me, stopping isn’t on the agenda,” Dee boldly proclaimed finally yanking open Jolie’s blouse.

Jolie quirked her lips ready to offer a witty retort when Dee cut off her words with a searing kiss. Jolie offered no resistance completely succumbing to the delirious sensations clouding her senses. In a whirlwind the teenagers grappled with the restraints of their clothing. Dee guided Jolie’s naked body down. She inhaled sharply at the sight of Jolie’s sinewy body lying there waiting for her. Dee stood at the edge of the bed, her eyes eagerly raking up and down Jolie’s body.

“You are so beautiful,” Jolie’s husky voice breaking Dee away from her lustful meanderings. Dee tried to summon the words that could explain how completely happy she felt at that moment. Mere words seemed inadequate. Dee opted to show Jolie how she felt. She climbed onto the bed trailing her fingers down, Jolie’s quivering body.

Dee shuddered with excitement from the feel of Jolie lacing her fingers through her hair, drawing her closer. Soft supple kisses quickly turned passionate. Dee gasped feeling Jolie’s erect nipples brushing against her flesh. Jolie’s hands slipped down along the curves of her body, clasping her hips. Dee’s needy gasps turned to guttural groans.

Dee clasped her lover’s shoulders pressing her down onto the bed. The feel of Jolie’s desire painting her flesh drove her insane. Wanting to make the moment last, Dee fought against the urgent pounding of her heart. The feel of Jolie’s nails dragging down her spine made her willpower crumble.

Jolie’s hot breath caressed her flesh urging her on. Dee’s kisses turned insistent probing deeper while her hands explored Jolie’s body. Dee began to kiss her way down Jolie’s body, tracing her young lover’s nipples with the tip of her tongue. Dee moaned suddenly fascinated by the feel of Jolie’s nipples hardening against her touch.

“You’re trying to kill me,” Jolie trembled.

“You make the cutest little noises,” Dee sighed with a devilish gleam in her eyes.

“I do not,” Jolie answered painfully.

“Oh, yes you do,” Dee murmured kissing Jolie’s stomach. “The more excited you get, the more you squeak.”

“I don’t,” Jolie gasped releasing a tiny squeak as Dee’s lips brushed against her flesh.

Dee released a self satisfying snicker before returning to the tantalizing taste of Jolie’s body. Dee nestled her body between Jolie’s quivering thighs. Her emerald orbs smoldering with desire when she drank in the vision of Jolie’s naked body trembling with anticipation. She brushed her fingers against Jolie’s damp curls before blowing a warm breath against her lover’s sex. The image forever seared into her memory.

Her smile growing bolder, she clasped her lover’s firm backside drawing her closer. Dee’s heart hammered loudly as she watched Jolie parting herself. She licked her lips the vision of Jolie’s overflowing desire beckoning her closer. Her tongue flicked against Jolie’s thigh; tasting her lover’s passion for the first time. All thoughts of taking things slowly vanished. 

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” she helplessly whispered before running her tongue along her lover’s sex. Her last clear memory was the sight of Jolie’s fingers burrowing into the bedding.

Dee slowly stroked Jolie’s throbbing clit her own body aching for release. Her lover’s scent and taste were driving her insane. “Jolie,” she happily whispered before capturing her lover’s throbbing bundle between her lips. Nothing in her young life had prepared her for the rush that surged through her body. She barely held on; the thrill of feeling her lover climaxing against her almost sending her over the edge.

It wouldn’t be long before she joined Jolie in the throes of ecstasy. Jolie quickly turning the tables. Dee found her body trapped beneath Jolie’s willingly allowing her lover to take all that she had to offer. Her legs wrapped tightly around Jolie’s body, her voice raw from pleading. Jolie’s fingers tenderly plunged  deep inside of her warmth.

“Ah, to be that young again,” Dee blushed recalling how they made love until it was time to return to the set.

The only sour point of their time in Oregon was Norbert Peters, Dee’s driver. She really disliked the young man her mother kept hiring. Norbert was always a little too attentive towards her and he was less than polite towards Jolie. Dee had initially hoped when she was sent off to Oregon by herself she would have another driver. Mother insisted that Norbert accompany her. When they first arrived, much to Dee’s disdain, good old Norbert was falling all over himself just to please her. After Jolie arrived Norbert was surly. Not to mention a general nuisance whenever she and Jolie tried to be alone together. “Eww, he was one creepy little freak,” Dee shivered at the memory. “I’ll never understand what it was Mom saw in him. He wasn’t even a good driver. Then again I’ll never understand why she does anything she does.” Dee grimly conceded before getting ready for bed.

*************************************************************

Several months later a very weary group was gathered around a large conference table. They had flown in from all over to be there that morning. All eager to embark on their new journey. There was one minor delay.

“Our first meeting and she’s late,” Brittany scolded from behind her sunglasses. “I just flew in from London cutting my trip with Bob short and she’s late.”

The group seated around the conference table agreed with Brittany’s grumbling. Jolie was already forty minutes late for the first reading of the script. “She said she was going to check on the old sets,” Mauve yawned her head jerking up when Jolie burst into the room.

“Sorry,” Jolie profusely apologized making her way towards the head of the table. She stopped abruptly when she spied Danny sitting there.

“You forget that your just a lowly actor this time?” Dee yawned checking her watch. “My God it is a disgusting hour to be out of bed.”

“It’s almost noon,” Jolie scowled grabbing the seat directly across from Dee. “Speaking of actors, congratulations.”

“For what?” Dee yawned once again. “So, far all I’ve managed to do today is get out of bed, get dressed and arrive here on time. Oh, and for the record nine AM isn’t remotely close to noon.”

“I’m still on east coast time,” Jolie shrugged. “And I wasn’t complimenting your ability to dress yourself. I was talking about your Emmy nomination. They just announced it.”

“An Emmy for what? Still being alive,” Dee grumbled certain that Jolie was teasing her.

“I hate that one,” Mauve growled having on more than one occasion been informed by a fan that they thought she was dead.

“Crime Time?” Jolie slowly spelled out. “The episode from last season. You were in it?” Jolie prompted trying to jog Dee’s memory.

“You didn’t know?” Brittany yawned. “Both of us were nominated. So was Jolie. Don’t!” she cut Jolie off. “Here you’re Jolie. I can get away with stuff.”

“Don’t forget you go back to work for B.J in three months,” Jolie gloated. “Didn’t your agent call you?” She turned her attention back to Dee.

“I don’t have an agent anymore,” Dee shrugged. “I worked on Crime Time eight months ago. I kind of forgot about it.”

“Thank you. It was nice working with you too,” Brittany pretended to be insulted.

“You know what I mean,” Dee tried to clarify. “Wait, the two of you are serious? I was nominated?”

“I’m not surprised after the reviews you got,” Tracy congratulated her with a heartfelt hug.

“I didn’t pay attention to them,” Dee shyly confessed. “I’ve been too busy working on this and not killing my mother.”

“You’re still crashing at your mom’s?” Jolie cringed. “Why?”

“Oh!” Tracy gleefully shouted cutting off any chance Dee had to answer Jolie‘s question. “You’ll need a dress.”

“You really are pissed about not having a girl,” Dee chuckled.

“You live in a house with six men,” Tracy groaned. “The seat is never down. And it never will be.”

“Congratulations ladies,” Saul interrupted. “Well deserved on all accounts. Shall we get down to business?”

“Yeah,” Marni grunted. “I mean congratulations,” she grudgingly added.

“First things first,” Saul began. They had agreed that it was best to let Saul act as the boss there-by eliminating the line between co-star and employer. “Confidentialitly agreements.” He passed around the forms. “The crew, which I’m happy to announce, is comprised mostly of the original crew and has already signed. It is a standard form that says you can’t talk about the movie outside of mentioning that there is a movie. Also, the set is going to be under tight wraps. No, spouses, parents, children, boyfriends, girlfriends, agents, handlers, friends, cats, dogs or anyone else not working on the production will be allowed on the set. No, ifs, ands or buts.”

Everyone signed and passed the papers back to Saul who then distributed the scripts. Most of them were happy to be working on a closed set. Most of them rarely spent time in front of the camera in the past few decades and were happy that there wouldn‘t be any outside distractions.

“I know this is the first time most of you have seen the script in its entirety,” Saul explained. “Remember it is subject to change.”

“Ugh,” Brittany shivered. “Sorry. I just remembered the last time we were sitting around a table like this and someone said, I know this is the first time you’re seeing the script.”

“Yeah that was a fun day wasn’t it,” Jolie snidely retorted.

“Darla’s mythical parents got a divorce and Arnie got a new orifice,” Mauve snickered.

“Hey,” Brit jumped. “I was on a talk show and the host asked about that. Did we ever see your parents?”

“No,” Jolie laughed. “Never saw my house either, even though I lived next door.”

“No wonder they got a divorce,” Brit cackled opening her script.

“Never saw your parents either, Blondie,” Jolie shot back. “They just abandoned you on Auntie Sharon’s doorstep.”

“I think they were dead,” Brit tried to remember.

“You’re right,” Marni stated. “We did a whole funeral show.”

“Right,” Brit nodded.

“I don’t remember that,” Jolie scrunched her face.

“You weren’t in that episode,” Dee pursed her lips.

“Should have started cleaning out my trailer sooner,” Jolie muttered under her breath. Realizing that she should have paid more attention to what was happening way back when.

*****************************************************

“Excuse me I was looking for Sharon Sullivan,” Dee apologized. “This is her office isn’t it?”

“That might explain why her name is on the door,” Jolie quipped. “She just stepped out. My computer is down so I’m using hers. I’ll tell her you stopped by Gail.”

“I’m sorry have we met?” Dee sounded surprised.

“You could say that,” Jolie snickered. “We use to take baths together.”

“I beg you pardon,” Dee forced herself to sound indignant.

“Granted we were only four at the time,” Jolie chuckled. “But I still hold it as a fond memory.”

“Darla?” Dee started. “Oh my.  Darla has gotten brazen in her old age.” She broke out of character and started laughing.

“Old?” Jolie huffed. “Poor Darla.  She grew up with invisible parents relying on the kindness of strangers and now you’re calling her old.”

“Should I add a second Darla there?” Dee asked ignoring Jolie’s pouting. “The first one is surprised, you know Darla? Then add a second one like what you use to call the grrr Darla, Danny?”

“You mean the Darrrrla,” Danny coughed. “The guys in editing could never erase all of them. It sounded like you were trying to seduce her.”

“I was,” Dee wistfully retorted.

“You did,” Jolie snickered in return. “But did Gail? Come on Iris? Mauve? Give us a hint. None of us have read the entire script yet. Were they or weren’t they?”

“Keep reading,” Mauve calmly challenged them.

“Darla stands.” Lynn the script supervisor read the stage direction.

“Oh so you do remember my name,” Jolie tersely responded.

“Gail is still holding a grudge?” Dee bellowed.

“My goodness doesn’t that woman let anything go?” Tracy joked.

“Apparently not,” Dee sighed before she continued reciting her lines. “Now don’t say it like that of course I remember you. I just didn’t recognize you. It has been a long time.”

“Yes it has,” Jolie sweetly recited.

“What are you doing here?” Dee continued. “See she has forgiven Darla,” she stuck her tongue out at Tracy.

“My computer is on the fritz,” Jolie supplied in a confused tone.

“Oh you work here?” Dee mumbled out the line. “Uhm duh Gail.” She added rolling her eyes at her character’s stupidity.

“Sharp as ever,” Jolie laughed along with the others as Dee hurled her pencil at her. “Don’t blame me it’s in the script.”

“Keep going,” Danny coughed in an effort to suppress his laughter.

“Actually I’m the boss around here,” Jolie exclaimed pumping her fist. “Yes, Sharon and Jenny work for Darla. How sweet is that?”

“As long as I don’t have to strap down my boobs again,” Marni added her two cents.

“Some how I doubt Darla would request that,” Jolie laughed.

“Oh I see,” Dee stated. “Oh I see.” She repeated with a different inflection.

“Try it with a little surprise instead of indignation,” Danny suggested.

“Oh? I see,” Dee repeated sounding surprised. “What if I drop the I see? Give me the cue again?”

“Actually I’m the boss around here,” Jolie repeated sounding a tad shy.

“Oh?” Dee delivered the line sounding surprised and a little curious.

“I like it,” Mauve nodded.

“It works,” Danny nodded. “Moving on.”

“Wide shot the two of them standing there. Jenny enters.”

“Hey Sis,” Marni boomed a little too forcefully. “Mom said you were taking us to lunch. Want us to bring you back anything Boss?”

“No, I’m just dandy,” Jolie read cringing slightly at the old tag line. “Good seeing you again.”

“Good seeing you Darla,” Dee smiled.

“Fade out.” Lynn read.

“Okay, why don’t we break for lunch and get back to it in say one hour?” Danny stood stretching out his body.

“Food, yes!” Dee exclaimed. “Who wants to go to Dominic’s? I don’t think I’m brave enough to face the commissary just yet.”

“I need a smoke,” Iris wheezed excusing herself. “Damn smoking laws,” she cursed grabbing her beloved cigarettes and lighter. Back when the show originally aired it wasn’t uncommon for Iris to cover the set with a thick cloud of smoke.

The cast ignored Iris’ all too familiar need to light up before agreeing to eat at Dominic’s. The stylish eatery located down the street from the studio had always been a favorite of the cast. The food was always great and the autograph hounds were always kept away.

The jovial mood quickly vanished when they discovered Mrs. Janice and Mrs. Howell lurking in the parking lot. Neither woman liked the other and they both seemed to be irked at not being allowed onto the lot.

“You’d think they’d get along since they are so much alike,” Mauve grimly noted as the rest of them waited for Dee and Marni to finish arguing with their mothers.

“Gypsy Rose’s mother has nothing on mine,” Marni uncharacteristically barked.

“What has her so upset?” Tracy warmly inquired.

“I’m not nominated for an Emmy and she is barred from the lot,” Marni growled just as Dee approached.

“Mine’s still mad cause I fired her two decades ago,” Dee scowled.

“Oh that too,” Marni groaned. “Guys, I’m sorry. I’m really happy for everyone. I promise no more acting like my mother. If I start, feel free to smack me.”

“Sure,” Jolie beamed.

“See she is a real director now,” Tracy teased. “I’m hungry. Feed me.” Everyone turned to leave just as Tracy’s cell phone chirped. They continued walking along as she took the call. Dominic himself seated them. He was beside himself upon seeing his favorite customers together again.

“Bad news?” Mauve questioned concerned that Tracy seemed to be very quiet after her phone call.

“No,” Tracy smiled with a soft sigh. “That was Roger. My doctor called. You’re going to have to make a script change. I’m pregnant again.”

“Get out,” Marni squealed hugging her old friend.

“Pray that this one is a girl,” Tracy laughed.

“Sixth time is a charm,” Dee announced.

“Ladies,” Dominic beamed. “Just so you know drinks are on the house for anyone nominated for an Emmy or seated with anyone nominated.”

“No alcohol,” Mauve still the Mom of the little group quickly refused for the table.

“No?” Dominic furrowed his brow. “That would mean that this is a work day?” He pried.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Nope me either.”

“Not me.”

“I see,” Dominic nodded understanding the situation. “I guess I will be seeing more of you ladies. Just like old times.” He pointed to the picture of the original five cast members hanging on the wall behind them.

“Wow,” Dee blinked noting that they were sitting in the same seats. Jolie even had her arm draped over Dee’s shoulder in the same casual manner. Jolie noticed it as well and quickly withdrew her arm.

“Spoil sport,” Dee whispered in Jolie’s ear.

“We should order,” Jolie quietly responded.

*************************************************

“I don’t do public appearances,” Jolie stammered pacing back and forth.

“Then say no,” Mauve dryly answered growing weary of watching Jolie tromping back and forth.

“This is her first nomination,” Jolie prattled on.

“Then say yes,” Mauve yawned. She had been listening to Jolie’s ramblings since Danny called cut.

“It will cause talk,” Jolie pressed on.

“I thought we wanted to cause talk,” Mauve couldn’t resist giving Jolie a well needed nudge.

“Not this kind of talk,” Jolie squeaked.

“Then say no,” Mauve checked her watch.

“She asked me,” Jolie whined. “And since it is for guest appearance it wouldn’t be the main ceremony.”

“Say yes,’ Mauve climbed out of her chair.

“But if she wins she’ll be asked to be a presenter at the main ceremony,” Jolie argued.

“Say no. Just say anything,“ Mauve groused having long grown tired of Jolie’s insane ramblings. “We’re due back on the set. How did the two of you get together the first time?”

“This isn’t a date,” Jolie protested. “No, not a date. Dee just asked if I’d go with her. She’s nervous.”

“She’s nervous?” Mauve laughed.

“What?” Jolie gulped.

“No, she isn’t,” Mauve cackled on. “She’s surprised. After all the girl retired from the business a long time ago. She does a guest spot and gets an Emmy nod. A well deserved nod. She wants her friend to go. Say yes or say no. Just answer before we wrap for the night. You’re driving the rest of us crazy.”

********************************************************

It had been almost a year since Dee Janice made an appearance on that talk show that reunited her with the past. Since then she fell or stumbled, as it were, back into acting. She mended fences with her ex-lover. She garnished an Emmy nomination and was about to wrap up a movie she had only dreamed about making.

The only regret she had was inviting Jolie to join her at the Emmy awards. Well that and the fact that she was still living with her mother. Poor Jolie looked like a scared bunny rabbit from the moment Dee invited her. ‘Well at least I get to kiss her in a few weeks. Doesn’t matter she’s only kissing me because the script calls for it,’ Dee smiled as the stage manager called for everyone to get on the set.

“Dee?” Jolie stammered taking her mark on the set. “About the Emmy’s.”

“You don’t have to,” she graciously let Jolie off the hook.

“No, I want to.” Jolie blushed. “You were there when I won my first one. Maybe I’ll bring you luck.”

“Good,” Tracy groaned for everyone watching. “Now I get to take the both of you shopping.”

“If we’re finished with the off-screen angst,” Mauve grumbled. “Can we get back to the on-screen angst?”

“Yes, Mom,” the rest of the cast chimed.

“Places!” the stage manager bellowed.

“And,” Danny instructed from his chair. “Hold. Derek check that light on stage left. I’m getting a shadow.”

“Hurry up and wait. I so don’t miss this,” Tracy groaned.

“And the one of stage right,” Danny shouted.

“Hurry up I have to pee again,” Tracy pleaded.

“And can we have Tracy’s stand in?” Danny politely requested. “Tracy go take care of whatever you need to. We’re going to be awhile.”

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she chanted as she dashed off the set.

“Oh sure the pregnant woman gets to leave,” Brit joked. “So, Jolie itching to go back to this side of the camera?”

“Are you kidding,” Jolie rolled her eyes. “This is driving me nuts.”

“You were already nuts,” Dee snickered as Tracy made her way back onto the set.

“Places, take it from Susie’s line, are we interrupting?” Danny instructed. “Roll film. Roll sound. Action.”

“I’m sorry are we interrupting?” Tracy delivered her line sweetly.

“No,” Jolie glumly answered. “I was just leaving.”

“Cut.” Danny called out. “Okay one more time. I need close ups on Jenny and Susie.”

“I’m sorry are we interrupting?” Tracy delivered her line once again.

Three hours later they were still shooting the same scene. “Sorry, we need that one again,” Danny apologized. “Brit could you not move your hands.”

“Don’t,” Brit cautioned Jolie who was smirking. Mixing up her hand gestures had been a problem for her throughout her career. Jolie was always harping on her about it.

“You always do it,” Jolie snickered. “I’m thinking next season we should have your character permanently handcuffed to her desk.”

“Roll film,” Danny ignored the banter. “Roll sound. Action.”

“I’m sorry are we interrupting?” Tracy struggled with her line.

“Keep rolling,” Danny instructed with a slight groan. “Tracy one more time.”

“Liar,” Tracy whimpered before delivering her line cleanly.

Another three hours later the last shot of the scene was complete. The cast and crew released a collective sigh of relief. “Six AM call tomorrow.” The assistant director announced.

“Just a couple more weeks,” Danny tried to comfort a very tired looking Tracy. “Can you hang in there? We could shoot the tail end of the last shot sooner that way you can skip showing up that Friday.”

“I’m fine,” she smiled patting his arm. “Trust me being pregnant is something I really know how to handle. Besides I don’t want to miss seeing these two playing tonsil hockey.” She pointed towards Jolie and Dee. “Some of us having been waiting over thirty years to see that.”

“Does your husband know that you’re a pervert?” Dee exclaimed surprised by Tracy’s comment.

“How did you think I got pregnant?” Tracy coyly informed her.

“It’s always the quiet ones,” Jolie dryly assessed.

“I’m so tired,” Dee groaned rolling her shoulders.

“No small wonder; it just took eight hours for Darla to walk out the front door,” Jolie concurred reaching up and rubbing Dee’s weary shoulders.

“Oh that feels good,” Dee released a happy moan her body giving into the delightful sensations of Jolie’s touch.

“Yes, it does” Jolie whispered allowing her hands to glide down Dee’s arms.

“Save it for the final shot you two,” Mauve yawned. She had meant it to be a joke. Based on the pensive look on both women’s faces and the way Jolie jerked her hands away she knew instantly she had made a mistake. “Or not,” she sheepishly offered.

“Is it just me or are those two doing a terrific imitation of a Roman candle on the fourth of July?” Tracy slyly offered to Brit who just nodded in agreement.

“That last shot should be interesting,” Marni gleefully murmured under her breath. “Come on Sleeping Beauty,” she linked her arm in Tracy’s.

“Dee what time for you tomorrow?” Danny called out just as the weary woman tried to duck into her trailer. “I know you have that interview with People.”

“Leaking more rumors?” Jolie yawned stretching her arms over her head. Pleased when she heard her back popping into place.

“I’ve scheduled them for the lunch break,” Dee called out handing the wardrobe girl the sweater she had been wearing for the scene. “Just make sure I can bolt by noon. Jolie how much should I say about the movie? We’re getting close to wrapping, is it time that we confirm the rumors?”

“About?” Jolie gave her a curious look.

“The movie,”  Dee prompted. “If I tell them it is in production, they’ll want to know the details.”

“Tell them,” Jolie yawned again. “But don’t tell them. Know what I mean?”

“Got‘cha,” Dee nodded. “Just say I’m working on a project I hope my former fans will be happy to see, then talk about Crime Time.”

“That’ll work,” Jolie agreed. “I thought we could save the big announcement for Emmy night. I managed to get everyone else invited. Marni and Tracy are going to present. This way we aren’t slighting any reporters.”

“Why have we waited so long?” Dee was truly puzzled. “I thought we wanted to stir up an interest.”

“Our old network isn’t chomping at the bit,” Jolie grimly confessed. “If they pass we’ll have a movie that may never air. I’m working the cable networks. Showtime has expressed interest.”

“And I’m just hearing this now because?” Dee was furious. She had a lot riding on this project learning that it all might just be a waste of her hard earned money wasn’t sitting well with her.

“Because you asked us to keep you out of the loop so you could focus on your acting,” Jolie calmly explained. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll market this sucker. In the meantime don’t forget we are meeting on Sunday to do the bonus material for Season One. If we do this right we’ll have the first three seasons in the stores before Christmas. More importantly just before the movie airs. Which it will. Have faith in me.”

“I hate it when you’re all rational,” Dee reluctantly conceded.

“Relax,” Jolie laughed. “It never lasts. Just focus on the part and your acceptance speech.”

“I’m not going to win,” Dee scoffed at the notion. “The only thing I’m practicing is how to say, ‘It is an honor just to have been nominated,’ while trying to look sincere.”

*********************************************************

“Work with me here,” Tracy bellowed nudging Dee back towards the changing room.

“I don’t need two dresses!” Dee vehemently argued.

“Yes, you do,” Jolie groaned from the corner she was hiding in.

“When you win,” Tracy prattled on slamming the door shut behind Dee. “You’ll be asked to present at the main ceremony.”

“I’m not going to win,” Dee whined. She was tired and cranky. They had spent the whole day sitting around commenting on episodes from the first season of The Sullivan Girls. It went so well they decided to tape the second season just to get it over and done with. Now it was late and she, Tracy and Jolie were loitering in Langley Lilies’ shop in Beverly Hills. Langley had graciously offered to meet them after hours and furnish Dee with the appropriate wardrobe for the up-coming ceremonies.

“Yes you are,” Jolie shouted out while Langley chuckled. “Even if by some miracle Doris Roberts kicks your ass, you’re still attending the main ceremony. You’ll need to be wearing something.”

“And why aren’t you trying on dresses?” Dee howled forcing herself in yet another Langley creation.

“I’m wearing my white Armani for your night,” Jolie dryly explained. “And my black Armani suit for the main event.”

“You dare mention him in my shop,” Langley sniffed.

“Keep it up and I’ll mention a lot more, Larry,” Jolie narrowed her gaze in a threatening manner.

“I never liked you,” Langley huffed waving his hands dramatically.

“Isn’t that cheating?” Dee bellowed from the dressing room. “Why don’t you get something new to wear?”

Jolie parted her lips fully prepared to argue the point when her cell phone rang. “Saved by the bell,” she sighed extracting it from her pocket. “Hey Jimmy,” she greeted her brother.

“Is that Jimmy Jay?” Tracy bounced from the dressing room.

Jolie just snickered as all of the girls with the exception of Dee had a crush on Jolie’s brother when they were growing up. She dismissed the blushing Tracy with a wave and turned her attention back towards the phone call. Tracy scowled at her before stomping back into the dressing room. Jolie managed to ignore Tracy’s behavior and focus on the conversation. All of a sudden her jaw dropped. “Uhm, Jimmy I have to go,” she stammered unable to focus. “Thanks for the help.” She managed to conclud before absently snapping the phone shut. “You look incredible,” she gaped at Dee who was standing before her wearing an elegant slightly short black evening dress.

“I take it that means it meets with your approval?” Langley patted himself on the back.

“Uhm, yeah,” Jolie blew out feeling like a complete goober.

“This one is more casual,” Langley prattled on spinning Dee around and pulling up the hem. “Perfect for your night. Let’s get you pinned and we can try to find something for the main event. You’ll want to make a splash.”

“How is Jimmy?” Dee questioned noticing that Jolie was still gaping at her.

“Uhm, good,” Jolie somehow managed to utter. She knew she looked like an idiot just standing there drooling like some adolescent at his first dance. “He . . . Uhm, says hi. I’m going to visit him after the Emmys. And he checked into that business about Big Sur for me.”

“Is Saul still getting those phone calls?” Dee squeaked when Langley missed with one of his pins.

“Yeah,” Jolie blinked in an effort to clear her mind. “Now he’s getting weird emails too.”

“What about Big Sur?” Tracy pried.

“Some scum bag took nasty pictures way back when and used them to blackmail Arnie,” Dee groaned.  The thought of someone invading their privacy to such a degrading degree made her sick.

“That’s disgusting,” Tracy shivered.

“What did Jimmy Jay find out?” Dee prompted quickly becoming annoyed by Langley’s poking and prodding.

“Not much,” Jolie cleared her throat once again trying to tear her focus away from Dee’s lovely form. “The Tree Top, the place where we used to go isn’t there anymore. Jimmy said Mr. Dunn and his wife passed away over fifteen years ago. So much for finding out if it was a member of the staff. With your big night just around the corner, I wouldn’t be surprised if our friendly neighborhood blackmailer will make his move soon. Saul wants to call the police.”

“We should,” Dee cast a warm look over her shoulder.

“Think of the fallout,” Jolie cautioned.

“Think of getting justice,” Dee bitterly countered.

“I’m with Dee on this one,” Tracy nodded with a slight yawn. “I never liked the press following us around when we were just trying to be kids. But that’s part of the business. Taking scathing photos of a private moment is inexcusable. Doesn’t she look great?” Tracy announced when Langley finished his primping. Jolie simply nodded her face turning a deep shade of scarlet. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

*******************************************************

The following morning most of the cast arrived on the set on time. The scenes that they were shooting didn’t require everyone so Tracy and Brittany got the day off. Everything was going well until they broke for lunch. “What’s up?” Dee anxiously questioned Mauve and Jolie who were huddled in a corner.

“The network is going to pick up the project,” Jolie nervously explained.

“Phew,” Dee released a heavy sigh. “So, what’s the bad news?” She pressed feeling that there just had to be more.

“Saul received an upsetting package this morning,” Mauve gravely stated. “He’s already called the police. They’re already there and would like to see the both of you.”

“Will you come with us?” Dee requested with a hard swallow. Despite feeling eager to put it all behind her, she needed to have her TV mom close at hand for moral support.

They drove over to Saul’s office. Dee’s heart was racing the moment she stepped in his office and found him and a group of police officers awaiting their arrival. She felt sick to her stomach when they finally allowed her to view the grainy black and white photos. “Look at how skinny I was.” She threw out in an effort to alleviate the tension.

“You can’t see your faces,” Mauve noted peering over Dee and Jolie’s shoulders. “That could be anyone.”

“It’s us,” Jolie hissed pressing the photos to her chest.

“My, you girls were limber,” Mauve tried to tease the brooding woman.

“Were being the operative word,” Dee joked.

“I feel sick,” Jolie snarled. “Who ever took those had to be in a tree outside our window.”

“Ladies, I know this must be difficult,” the Detective tried to comfort them. “My department will handle this matter with the utmost discretion. Mr. Kaufman filled me in on what happened in 1979. Have either of you ever been contacted?” He stroked his bushy moustache trying to hide his surprise. Working in Hollywood he had seen far too many things. He was a little unnerved finding out that Dee Janice whose picture hung in his locker all through high school was gay. He got over his initial heartbreak and focused on the matter at hand.

Both Dee and Jolie explained that neither of them had been approached and hadn’t known about the photos until very recently. “That isn’t that surprising,” Steiner surmised. “The two of you keep a very low profile. He might not be bright enough to figure out a way to get in touch with the two of you.”

“He wants money,” Saul confided with grim expression.

“Good luck with that,” Dee couldn’t help laughing. “With the movie the both of us are over extended as it is.”

“Movie?” Steiner questioned before he could stop himself.

“Reunion movie for the Sullivan Girls,” Jolie explained.

“Really?” Steiner smiled before realizing his faux pas. “Sorry.”

“Let me guess you had her picture tucked under your pillow?” Jolie nodded towards Dee laughing for the first time in hours.

“Gym locker,” he sheepishly admitted.

“The calls started right after the rumors about the movie began,” Saul cut in trying to get the suddenly star struck detective to focus. “I just wish Dad had told me who this slimy bastard was. All I know is the original set of pictures were very damaging and they were taken in Big Sur.”

“The Tree Top Inn,” Jolie clarified. “We stayed there quite a few times. The owners were great about granting us our privacy. We always stayed in the same room. Room 211. It was on the second floor and around back. My brother tried to check with the former owners. They passed away sometime ago,” she bitterly explained while she continued to flip through the pictures. “Oh my.” She gulped freezing on one photo.

“Yeah. you can see our faces among other vital parts in that one,” Dee cringed snatching the photos and shoving them back at the detective.

To his credit Detective Steiner shoved the pictures in an evidence bag. “Who knew about your trips?” he cautiously asked.

“My parents,” Jolie shrugged. “They knew about us back then. They weren’t thrilled about us becoming intimate at such a young age, but they just loved Dee.”

“My mother knew about the trips,” Dee added rubbing her throbbing temple. “She didn’t know about our relationship until later. My father lives in San Diego and although he knows about my lifestyle now, then he didn’t have any idea.”

“How many times did you go up there?” Steiner quickly jotted down some notes.

“Uhm,” Dee furrowed her brow trying to recall just how many trips they made together. “We started going up there after the both of us turned seventeen and probably made about a dozen trips or so before we split. Until Jolie got her own apartment after she turned eighteen it was a little hard for us to be alone.”

“I’ll need to speak to your parents,” he explained treading very carefully. “Was there anyone else who knew?”

“No,” they responded in unison.

“You have to understand we weren’t just a couple of teenaged girls in love,” Dee carefully explained. “We were on television. Telling anyone would have been catastrophic. Of course in hindsight, things might have been a lot easier if we just shouted it from the rooftops.”

“Always the optimist,” Jolie burst out laughing. “Sorry,” she quickly collected herself. “Detective, we don’t know anything. I wish we did. Frankly we’re not concerned about those photos coming out. What we are concerned about is catching the person behind this.”

“I share your concerns,” he reassured everyone. “He wants money. Unlike most people, you’re not just going to pay. I think we’ve got a real good chance at catching him.”

“Thank you,” Jolie nodded at him for his kindness.  She still was unable to quell the churning in her stomach.

“If we’re done?” Dee wearily began. “I have an interview. I was hoping to come up with a humorous anecdote. I don’t suppose this qualifies.”

“No,” Mauve shook her head. “Detective, you will keep the girls in the loop won’t you?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he promised.

*******************************************

“Why are you here?” Darla pleaded completely frustrated.

“I’m visiting my relatives,” Lori brightly countered. “What’s your excuse?”

“I’m not entirely certain,” Darla whimpered.

“At least she came in through the door,” Susie taunted the agitated woman. “Thank goodness Mom finally had an alarm system installed.”

“You make me sound like I was a felon,” Darla squawked. “I was just visiting your sister.”

“Of course, that’s what you were doing,” Susie laughed.

“Girls,” Sharon interrupted as she entered the living room. “Could you not torture my boss?”

“Cut!” Danny called out. The cast blew out a sigh of relief as he began to organize the next shot.

“I’m melting in this heavy coat,” Jolie whined.

“Now you know how the other half lives,” Brit taunted her.

“You are in so much trouble when we get back to work,” Jolie threatened.

“Couple of more days until the Emmys, you guys getting nervous?” Tracy politely inquired taking a moment to sit.

“No,” Jolie shrugged it off.

“A little,” Brit stammered. “I’m driving Bob crazy. How’s Dee holding up? Where is Dee?”

“She’s dealing with a problem,” Mauve quietly offered.

“What?” Jolie moved closer.

“Detective Steiner called,” Mauve whispered. “Her mother, who is at the front gate causing a ruckus, won’t talk to the police.”

“Danny?” Jolie called out. “Can I have five?”

“Sure, I got your close ups already. Your stand-in can deliver your lines,” he nodded.

Jolie was out the door before he finished speaking. Her stomach clenched when she spied Dee and her mother engaged in a heated argument. “Is there a problem?” she growled taking a protective position next to Dee.

“She won’t talk to the police,” Dee furiously blurted out.

“Deidre, this is a private matter,” Mrs. Janice scolded her daughter.

“Mother it isn’t like she doesn’t know,” Dee huffed.

“I was there,” Jolie conceded taking great delight in annoying Mrs. Janice.

“I won’t have you ruin my daughter again,” Mrs. Janice howled. “It was bad enough the first time.”

“Mrs. Janice,” Jolie sputtered fully prepared to blast the woman with both barrels.

“Wait,” Dee cut her off by placing her hand on Jolie’s shoulder. “She knows something.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Mrs. Janice wailed clutching her heart. “Just have her pay the money.”

“Me?” Jolie almost started to laugh. “I’m not paying some scuz ball just so he can do this again.”

“See she wants to ruin you,” Mrs. Janice defiantly argued. “She has enough money to make this stop and she won’t.”

“He who?” Dee demanded the hair on the back of her neck prickling when her mother silently stood there. “Did you know then? Tell me you didn’t have anything to do with this nightmare?” Mrs. Janice stood there in a stony silence challenging her daughter to defy her. “Fine.” Dee snarled. “Jo do you have your cell on you?”

“No,” Jolie blinked with surprise. “I left it inside.”

“Alright then I’ll call Detective Steiner when we go back inside,” Dee concluded taking Jolie by the arm. “I’m going to tell him that you know. I’m certain that the police have ways to handle these matters. When I get in tonight I’m moving my stuff out.”

“Always so dramatic,” Mary Janice sighed. “Now stop being ridiculous.”

“I don’t know Mrs. Janice,” Jolie rolled out. “I think under the circumstance Dee is showing amazing restraint. She’s right Mrs. Janice, if you know anything not talking to the police isn’t a wise course of action.”

“Advice from you?” Mary scowled the disdain dripping from her words. “He was trying to protect my daughter unlike you.”

“Jolie sacrificed her career to save mine,” Dee shot back. “Who is he? Did you have some little spy following me around?”

“Come on we’re needed back on the set,” Jolie suddenly blurted out. “I’ll send my assistant over to your mother’s place to collect your things. You can stay with me.”

“She will not,” Mary growled.

“Come on,” Jolie encouraged not wanting to repeat what had suddenly occurred to her when Dee mentioned a spy.

Dee’s body was rigid. She couldn’t understand Jolie’s sudden insistence that they drop the subject. “What is going on?” she questioned once they were out of earshot.

“I know who it is,” Jolie whispered. “Or at least I think I know who it is. I just need to get to a phone and call Steiner. Then I’m calling my assistant. I’m staying in a suite so you will have space.”

“Space be damned, who is it?” Dee demanded when they reentered the sound stage.

Jolie didn’t say a word as she ushered Dee into her trailer and dug out her cell phone. “What was the name of that weasel who used to drive you around?” She asked as she punched in Steiner’s number.

“Norbert?” Dee scrunched her face. “Ugh, Mom’s pet, the one who, even after I left the business, bordered on being a stalker.”

“Detective, it is B.J Marlowe I think we have a name for you,” Jolie smiled confidently. “Norbert . . .,”

“Peters,” Dee quickly supplied.

“Peters,” Jolie echoed. “Mrs. Janice will probably deny it. But I’d ask her about him anyway. He was Dee’s driver when she was on the show. He knew her comings and goings. He even had a habit of showing up when he wasn’t on duty. I don’t know if I’m right about him, but I’d say he’s a good candidate.” She listened as the detective explained what was happening. “No, that sounds like a good idea. We should be on the set until late. Then we’ll be at my hotel. Thank you.”

“What’s up?” Dee urgently questioned.

“He’s going to talk to your mother and check out Norbert,” Jolie began to explain. “Saul’s had a payment demand. Tomorrow morning. Steiner is setting up the drop, marking the bills and all of that. Hopefully by this time tomorrow this will all behind us.”

“God, I hope so,” Dee shivered praying that her mother wasn’t as deeply involved with this as Dee feared she was.

***************************************************

During the ride to the hotel Dee couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had been strangling her ever since she realized that her mother had once again done something phenomenally stupid. It wasn’t the first time and Dee had a sinking feeling it would not be the last. Dee had always considered Norbert to be a complete dufus. Based on the way he would always follow her around it wasn’t a hard stretch of the imagination to suspect that he would take dirty pictures of her.

Dee glanced at the divider that shielded the limo driver from them. ‘How much do we know about the people we put so much trust in?’ She silently pondered reviewing the scores of people she had crossed paths with during her time in the business. She cast a glance at Jolie who had her cell phone plastered to her ear from the moment they climbed into the limo.

“Thanks, Hope,” Jolie finally wrapped up her last call. “Tired?” she inquired after tucking her phone away.

“I feel like hell,” Dee wearily grumbled.

“Hope got everything on your list,” Jolie calmly offered. “She said that she’ll be happy to go back to your mom’s for anything else you need.”

“That’s sweet,” Dee sighed. “I don’t want to wear out your assistant.”

“She’s happy to have something to do,” Jolie chuckled. “She isn’t used to all this free time.”

“Is she sharing the suite?” Dee asked suddenly pondered.  Just how much privacy would she and Jolie be afforded?

“No,” Jolie yawned. “She’s one floor down. For some reason she prefers having a little space. Max, my PR guy was staying in the other room. He flew back to New York last week.”

“Thanks for doing this,” Dee smiled as the limo pulled up in front of the palatial hotel.

“My pleasure,” Jolie waved it off as the doorman opened the door. “I consider keeping your mother and her greedy paws away from you my civic duty.”

“I still can’t believe she was in on this,” Dee growled climbing out of the limo.

“We don’t know that she was,” Jolie tried to reason.

“Oh, she was,” Dee snarled. “I can feel it in my bones.”

“Feel like a night cap?” Jolie asked once they had entered the large suite.

“Sounds good,” Dee groaned feeling tired to her very core.

“What’s your poison?” Jolie politely threw out. “Still wine?”

“Yes,” Dee slumped down on the sofa and pulled off her shoes. Every part of her body ached. The long hours on the set and the added stress was taking its toll on her. “This was so much easier when I was a teenager.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Jolie groaned in agreement. “I’m going to be a lot nicer to my actors.”

“You’re fabulous as a director,” Dee quickly reassured her.

“I ordered us a snack as well,” Jolie threw out.

“Food?” Dee questioned apprehensively. “At this hour?”

“Aren’t you hungry?” Jolie challenged.

“Famished. But I never eat this late,” Dee pouted. “At my age anything I eat after a certain hour goes straight to my ass.”

“We’re the same age,” Jolie argued. “And your ass looks fine. I mean . ..” she stammered while Dee laughed. “I’m going to take a shower. Just sign for the food when it gets here.”

“Thank you,” Dee cackled while Jolie made a hasty retreat. She considered saying something else that would make Jolie even more uncomfortable. “Nah, too easy.” She dismissed the notion while digging her script out of her bag. “Now, let’s take a look at what shenanigans Gail has planned for tomorrow.”

**************************************************

Dee darted towards her trailer the second Danny called it a night. It had been another long shoot. Thankfully with the Emmy awards taking place over the next couple of days the cast had a slight reprieve. Dee furiously scrubbed her face eager to get back to the hotel. Crashing at Jolie’s palatial hotel suite was quickly proving to be a godsend. Dee was enjoying the peace, quiet and, albeit limited, the pleasure of Jolie’s company.

At the end of each day each of them were spent. They’d share a little time together before retreating into their own room and crashing for a few short hours. If Dee was forced to be honest she was relishing spending time with her ex-lover. “Pity it won’t last much longer,” she grumbled cleaning the last of the make-up from her face. She began to moisturize her face when a knock on the door disrupted her musings. “Come in,” she called out expecting Jolie to enter.

She spun around when the crowd entered her tiny trailer. “Is there a party?” she playfully addressed the group which included, Saul, Mauve, Jolie and Detective Steiner. “It’s not even my birthday.” She chuckled in an effort to hide her discomfort. The group silently stood there. “Okay.” She sighed filled with a sense of dread. “No, party then.”

“Sorry,” Jolie sheepishly supplied. “It is good news. Kind of.”

“Kind of?” Dee pursed her lips before leaning back and waiting for the show to begin. “Saul you look like crap.” she wryly noted.

“I just spent the day playing James Bond,” he nervously squeaked. “I’ve been popping antacids like they’re tic tacs.”

“You made the drop?” Dee questioned with a hard swallow.

“Oh yeah,” he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“We got the guy,” Steiner jumped in. “It wasn’t hard, this guy isn’t the sharpest knife in the draw.”

“Norbert Peters?” she fearfully questioned.  She was still clinging to the slim hope that the person behind this was some nameless, faceless stranger and not someone she knew.

“Yes,” Steiner grimly confirmed. “We got everything on tape before Mr. Kaufman made the exchange. Then we took Mr. Peters into custody. Then we raided his apartment.” he concluded with a shiver.

“Do I want to know?” She trembled, calming slightly when Jolie rushed to her side.

“It was like a shrine,” Steiner uneasily confirmed. “The guy is obsessed with you. The really good news is he spilled his guts right away. Didn’t even ask for a lawyer. We got him.”

“What about my mother?” She tersely asked.

“She wasn’t very co-operative,” Steiner sheepishly supplied. “All we know for certain is she may have been aware of the original crime. Due to the statute of limitations we’re unable to take any action. As I said, we don‘t know anything for certain, she may have had nothing to do with any of this.”

“Just as well,” Dee shivered unable to shake the feeling that her mother was in it deep.

“I don’t think there will be a trial,” Mauve offered. “From what Detective Steiner told me it seems this guy will end up pleading out. You won’t have to worry about the press getting wind of it.”

“Let’s hope,” Dee whimpered. “Thank you, Detective Steiner.” She offered her hand to him.

“It’s over,” Jolie interrupted after Dee shook the policeman’s hand. “Now, let’s get you back to the hotel. You have an acceptance speech to write.”

“I’m not going to win,” Dee protested.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jolie placated her.

*****************************************************************

The press and fervor was considerably less at the Emmy ceremony for technical achievement than it would be at the main ceremony. Still was thankful to finally be inside and away from the press. She had quickly grown weary of answering the same questions over and over again. Yes, she was thrilled to be nominated. Yes, it was funny that it happened after she had quote, unquote retired. Yes, she and Jolie were still friends.

Dee refused to believe that she had the slightest chance to take home the golden statue. Even when her name was announced she still didn’t believe it. “You won,” Jolie finally gave her a nudge. “You better get up there before they change their minds.”

Dee’s knees almost buckled when she finally stood. The trembling brunette almost dropped the statue when it was handed to her. “Wow,” she gasped into the microphone. “It really is heavier than it looks.” She nervously exclaimed resting the golden idol on the podium before she dropped it. “It would be an understatement to say that I’m shocked. I should have listened to you Jo, when you said I needed to write a speech.” She couldn’t see Jolie from her spot on the stage. Yet, she would have sworn that she could feel Jolie smiling at her. “I guess I’ll just have to wing it. I really need to thank Brittany, Mauve and Tracy for talking me into this gig. I thought they had lost their minds when they suggested I go work for Jolie.   I certainly never thought it would land me up here. I’d also want to say that I share this with the four extremely talented ladies I was so fortunate to be nominated with. Just to be mentioned in the same breath with these women is an honor. Thanks to B.J Marlowe for her understanding and direction. And to Mark Raymond for his incredible script that was so good even I couldn’t have screwed it up. And thanks to all of you for honoring me.”

She blew out a sigh of relief as she was guided off stage. “Miss Janice,” the stage hand guided her through the throngs of people. “You’ll need to go to the pressroom. The moderator will call out numbers the press has been assigned and you’ll answer their questions. Not to worry there isn’t that many down there tonight.”

“Thank goodness,” Dee gulped not ready for a full assault. She walked out on to the microphone balancing her award. A blaze of flashing lights instantly blinding her. She managed to hit her mark with a little help. The moderator reminded the press that they had to wait for their number to be called and only so many numbers would be called. “Wow, thanks for remembering me.” Dee quipped just before things got started. The first number was called out and Dee found herself trying to calm down while searching for the person who would be asking the first question.

“Miss Janice what are you thinking right now?”

“My shoes are killing me, other than that I’m drawing a blank,” Dee smiled pleased when the press laughed. “I honestly didn’t expect to win. I haven’t really caught up with all of this.”

“Dee, you retired a long time ago does this mean we might be seeing more of you?”

“What ‘cha have in mind?” Dee teased the nervous young man. “I don’t know. This was sort of a fluke. I am working on a project at the moment. Other than that I don’t have any real plans. So far not making plans seems to be working.”

“What is the project you’re working on and are the rumors true?”

“Which rumors? I hear a lot about myself,” Dee laughed knowing that they wanted to know about the reunion movie. It had already been agreed upon that if she won she could be the one to announce the movie. “Unless you’re talking about the gossip about a reunion?”

“Yes,” the older woman politely asserted.

“Well,” she scrunched her face. “Can you keep a secret?” The press laughed. “Yes, we are just about to wrap The Sullivan Girls Reunion movie.”

“Has the entire cast returned?”

“Yes,” Dee smiled proudly. “It was the only way we would do it. All or nothing. The original head writer Iris Murdock and my TV Mom, Mauve Grey, co-wrote the script. I’m very proud of it.”

“Will it be geared more towards your early fans or the present fan base?”

“Both,” Dee smiled devilishly. “How much I can’t say.” This earned a collective groan.

“Dee, you weren’t the original actress slated for this episode of Crime Time. How do you feel about falling into the role?”

“Right now, pretty gosh darn great,” she flashed a smile holding up the Emmy. “Being second choice seems to be the key to my success.”

The questions kept coming and Dee did her level best to seem witty. All the while her mind hadn’t really caught up with the fact that she had really won. She was escorted back to her seat. Her mind was still reeling as she looked over at Jolie who was smiling. “How did it go?”

“I have no idea,” Dee whispered her hands shaking. “I told them about the movie that much I remember. Was this how you felt the first time?”

“Pretty much,” Jolie clasped her still trembling hand. “It didn’t seem real until I woke up the next morning.” She gave Dee’s hand a squeeze. “Hey, you got through the hard part. Now you can enjoy the rest of the evening.”

“Thank you,” Dee smiled feeling more excited that Jolie’s hand was still holding hers than winning an Emmy. The thrill lingered throughout the rounds of parties they were obligated to attend.  Jolie’s hand never strayed resting on Dee’s arm or nestled against the small of her back. Dee was caught in a whirlwind trying not to read too much into Jolie’s action. Jolie had always been an affectionate person. Then there was the small matter of the heavy golden winged lady she was toting around.

She was still lost in a haze when they returned to the hotel. The only cold jolt of realty striking when she flipped through her messages. “What?” Jolie tenderly questioned as they rode up in the elevator.

“My mother,” Dee crumpled the message tossing it to the floor. “She’s miffed that I didn’t mention her in my acceptance speech.”

“Sorry,” Jolie whispered guiding Dee’s head to rest on her shoulder.

***************************************************

“Another night another award ceremony,” Dee smiled as they waited for the limo to pull up.

“At least tonight all you have to do is smile and look pretty,” Jolie smirked.

“I’ve got the smiling part down,” Dee shrugged.

“You look fabulous,” Jolie reassured her with a quick squeeze on her arm. “We’re in the second one.” Jolie explained when two limos pulled up. “With all the spouses and guests one limo wasn’t going to cut it. Brit is riding up front with the rest of the Crime Time crew.” Jolie tenderly explained assisting Dee into the limo. Jolie was concerned by how quiet Dee had been ever since she started receiving a barrage of messages from her mother. The poor girl finally had to block her mother’s calls to the hotel and on her cell. Jolie had seen it before. The rift between mother and daughter wasn’t surprising given the circumstances. Jolie understood it was difficult for Dee. No matter what, Mary Janice was still her mother.

Jolie couldn’t help smiling when Dee began chatting with the others. The limo they were traveling in was for the Sullivan Girls. Mauve, her husband Ken, Tracy and her husband Ron and Marni was being escorted by agent slash latest flame Doug Brenner. “Jolie,” Tracy coyly began rubbing her slightly round belly.

“I’m surprised you aren’t riding with the gang from Crime Time. Not that I’m unhappy to see you.”

“I Uhm,” Jolie blinked with surprised. She hadn’t really thought about riding with the cast from her current series. She just assumed that her place was by Dee’s side. “I didn’t stop to think about it. I don’t go to these things very often,” she confessed.  Suddenly she questioned why she hadn’t considered riding with the others.

They pulled up in front of the theatre where the gang from Crime Time waited for them to exit the limo. They then made their way through the throngs of fans and reporters. Jolie was becoming agitated at having to stop every two feet to answer questions. Her mood might have been better if the questions varied even in the slightest. They didn’t. All the press wanted to know was who they were wearing, Tracy’s pregnancy, what was it like working together again, were they excited by the project, and why did they finally decide to do the movie?

Mauve come up with the best response, “We would have done it sooner but someone was being shy,” she gleefully offered nudging Jolie. “Truthfully whenever we’ve talked about getting together again, it was always an all or nothing deal. Once Jolie finally came to her senses we just went with it.”

Jolie was filled with a strange sense of relief once they were safely inside and seated. She, Dee and the rest of the Crime Time cast and producers were lined up in one row. The rest of the Sullivan Girls and their escorts were seated behind them. Once the festivities began things went quickly. Brittany’s category came up first. She won, thanking her agent, parents, God and the cast, crew and producers of Crime Time then Bob. George was next, also winning in his category. He too thanked his family, the powers that be and finally Dee. “I really want to thank Dee Janice, she was incredible in the role and really made it great. She also enlightened me as to what B.J stands for,” he snickered. “It wasn’t what I thought.” He added in a deadpan tone before thanking his loving wife once again.

“Oh, he is going to pay for that one,” Jolie groaned.

The evening progressed, Dee made her presentation with an the older actor who had garnered best guest actor in a supporting role on a comedy or drama. Jolie and the rest of the audience couldn’t help laughing at the two of them. Dee had the pleasure of working with the gentleman years earlier.

“Frank it has been a very long time,” Dee smiled her well rehearsed ad lib.

“I know,” the elderly actor nodded. “We did a movie together. I played your father didn’t I?”

“Grandfather,” she quickly corrected.

“Right, thanks for reminding me,” he gruffly played along.

The audience rolled with laughter when they read the list of nominees and Frank questioned if any of the nominees had even been born when he and Dee were famous.  They presented the award to a youngster who indeed hadn’t been born before the early eighties. Jolie noticed how relieved Dee appeared when she returned to her seat conveniently located next to Jolie. Later Mauve, Tracy and Marni made a presentation in a minor category.

“You’re up soon,” Dee whispered in her ear during one of the breaks.

Jolie shivered slightly when Dee’s warm breath caressed her ear. “Uhm,” she cleared her throat. “Yeah,” she stammered slightly. “Best director and best drama.”

“Crime Time is certainly sweeping tonight,” Dee noted still lingering dangerously close to Jolie’s sensitive earlobe.

“It is going to make marketing my new series easier,” Jolie tried to act casual. Squirming slightly in her seat she prayed for a long break in the festivities so she could steal a little distance from Dee. For the life of her, she didn’t understand why she felt squeamish all of a sudden. She shivered violently certain that she heard Audrey laughing at her. ‘Come on Babe, you know,’ she would have sworn she heard her lover’s voice taunting her. Audrey had promised to heckle her from the great beyond. Jolie refused to admit that was what she was experiencing.

“You’re developing a new series?” Dee calmly asked capturing Jolie’s trembling hand.

“Yeah,” Jolie whispered nodding like an idiot. “Kind of a CSI meets Murder She Wrote. Well it is more detailed than that. I was going to talk about it with you after we wrap the film. Are you trying to distract me?” She questioned finally noticing Dee’s smug smile.

“Yes,” Dee nodded. “They’re about to do best director in a drama. You seemed a little out of sorts.”

“I’m always out of sorts,” Jolie chuckled. “Thanks,” she added realizing that she had been extremely fidgety which wouldn’t look good on camera. She leaned back and listened to thehoopla. until Mauve nudged her informing her that she had won.

“Crap,” Jolie shook her head. “Now I have to make a speech.”

Jolie made a very quick speech, thanking her family and everyone who had ever worked on Crime Time. Then she made her way down to the press room. The questions came quickly, mostly about Crime Time and the new Sullivan Girls movie. Jolie was graceful joking about how she was going to make George pay. Which of course prompted questions regarding her name.

“Oh, yeah now he is really going to pay,” she couldn’t help laughing. “Betty Jane,” she confessed.

“Where did Jolie come from?”

“Someone screwed up my name on the credits for a film I did when I was four and it stuck,” she confessed.

“Is it true that you fine people on the set of Crime Time if they call you Jolie or Darla?”

“Double for Darla,” she wryly confirmed. “That reminds me Dee Janice still hasn’t paid up.”

She wrapped it up so she could return for the best drama category. Once again Crime Time slammed the competition. Thankfully this time Jolie was surrounded by the two other producers and was more than happy to allow them to give the speech and handle the press.

“Hate to be a party pooper,” Tracy yawned as they waited for the limo. “We need to get back to the hotel. I’m not due back on the set for a couple of days and I really need the rest.”

With Tracy and Roger safely returned to their hotel the rest of the crew headed off to the endless list of parties. Jolie was fading fast and knowing she had to be on the set first thing in the morning was darkening her joyous mood. There was another dark cloud lingering over her.

“What is it?” Mauve cornered her.

“Late night, early call bad mix,” Jolie shrugged.

“Uhm, there’s something else,” Mauve prodded.

“Maybe, I should have done at least one of these before,” Jolie quietly confessed.

“With Audrey,” Mauve nodded seeming to understand. “You forget she hated the spotlight more than you do. She didn’t mind the benefits, but something this ostentations wasn’t her cup of tea.”

“I know,” Jolie frowned lost in thought. “I just feel her tonight. It’s strange.”

“No, it isn’t,” Mauve smiled cupping Jolie’s face in her hand. “She’s with you and probably ready to kick your ass right about now.”

“What?” Jolie exclaimed.

“For not opening your eyes and seeing what is right in front of you,” Mauve scolded her just as Dee approached them. “Speak of the devil.”

“Mauve?” Jolie’s jaw dropped.

“What?” Mauve’s hazel eyes held a mischievous gleam.

“Should I ask?” Dee furrowed her brow.

“No,” Jolie emphatically responded.

“Okay,” Dee opted to ignore whatever was happening. “If you don’t mind, I’m kind of partied out. I’m going to head back to the hotel.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jolie volunteered. “I’m exhausted and we have an early call. We’ll send the limo back for you.” She growled at Mauve who was laughing at Jolie’s plight.

*******************************************************

The last of filming finally arrived. The tension in the air was crackling. Jolie had been on edge for days. She tried to distract herself with work on her new series. Her efforts failed miserably. It was the one of the last shots of the movie. The kiss. Danny slated it dead last because he wanted the tension to build. He got his wish, Jolie was beyond tense. Each time she thought about the bloody kiss she wanted to throw up.

“Jo?” Mauve’s rich voice disrupted her pacing. “What the hell? You’ve done an on screen kiss before.”

“No, I haven’t,” Jolie squeaked out deciding that wringing her hands was far more satisfying than pacing. “Directed a lot. When I was an actress I was the best friend, sidekick or baby sister.”

“Oh?” Mauve was taken aback. “Well, you’ve kissed Dee before. You have haven’t you?”

“Yes,” Jolie grunted. “Over twenty-five years ago, in private. Not in front of a full film crew.”

“Jo, you know how different an on screen kiss is,” Mauve tenderly reminded her. “It isn’t real. You have seven guys circling you to make certain that the light is right, the actors are on their marks and so on.”

“You’re right it’s just make believe,” Jolie tried to laugh it off. “All I have to do is stick to the script and not have onions for lunch.”

“There you have it,” Mauve encouraged, her heart sinking when Jolie seemed to believe her.

“How is she?” Marni cautiously questioned.

“She’s a freaking mess,” Mauve groaned. “What about Dee?”

“Can’t say.  She’s been hiding in her trailer all morning,” Marni cringed. “Last day should be a blast.”

“A regular party complete with a couple of clowns,” Mauve sniffed.

***********************************************

“What?”

“What, what?” Sharon echoed her daughter’s question.  She stared at Gail for a moment before she realized what was amiss. “You didn’t know? How could you have not known?”

“I suspected,” Gail sheepishly confessed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you knew,” Sharon confessed. “I mean weren’t the two of you,”

“No,” Gail blushed gaping at her mother. “Never.”

“Sorry,” Sharon gulped. “I always thought there was something going on. Especially when you were teenagers. Then later after the two of you came out, I kind of assumed that something had happened.”

“Mom.” Gail wailed. “True I had a crush on her when we were kids. But up until a few moments ago I wasn’t sure she was gay.”

“I got an email,” Susie rushed in.

“That’s great news,” Sharon hugged her middle child.

“Mark says his unit will be shipped home long before the baby comes,” Susie gushed.

“Good to hear Sis,” Gail smiled.

“So, you didn’t know who was gay?” Susie chimed.

“Oh, man,” Gail smacked herself in the head.

“Darla,” Sharon blurted out.

“Mom.” Gail squealed.

“Didn’t you date her?” Susie innocently questioned.

“Geez, who else thinks there was something going on between us?” Gail whined.

“Everyone,” Susie shrugged. “Hey Lori.”

“Sis,” Gail threatened as their cousin entered.

“What’s up?” Lori innocently inquired.

“Tell the truth, did you think Darla and Gail were messing around?” Susie smugly questioned.

“Well, yeah,” Lori chuckled. “You were.”

“No we weren’t,” Gail denied.

“Mom,” Jenny bellowed entering the living room. “Set an extra place I invited the boss home for dinner.”

“This isn’t happening,” Gail whimpered.

“Cut!” Danny called out. “We need to do the close ups. Where is Jolie?”

“Probably in her trailer throwing up,” Mauve muttered under her breath.

“What?” Dee sputtered.

“Nothing,” Mauve tried to shrug it off.

“Well we won’t need her for awhile,” Danny curiously glanced over his shoulder.

“Is she okay?” Dee questioned Mauve.

“Just a little stage fright,” Mauve reassured her.

“Are you sure?” Dee pressed.

“Did you know she’s never done an on screen kiss?” Mauve was still surprised.

“Uhm,” Dee searched her memory before her eyes bulged out. “That’s right she hasn’t.”

“You’re kidding?” Tracy gasped.

“Nope,” Mauve confided. “Look, let’s just leave her alone. Jolie’s a pro, she’ll be fine. It is one of the last shots we have all night.”

They went back to work.  Almost two hours later they were ready to start filming the big scene. When Jolie finally emerged from her trailer the air on the set was electric. Danny began to go over the set up. “I think we got it,” Dee uncharacteristically cut him off. She touched Jolie on the arm and leaned in. “Hey this is just us. Don’t worry just go with whatever feels right.”

Jolie could only nod in response feeling like a scared bunny rabbit. She took her place just off camera while Dee stood on her mark in the middle of the living room. ‘What the hell is wrong with me?’ Her mind screamed as Danny called for action. Suddenly she was propelled into auto drive.

“Dinner was great Mrs. S,” she called out making her entrance. “Oh, hi. I was just getting my coat.”

“Taking off?” Gail shyly questioned.

“Uhm, yeah,” Darla gave her a curious look. “If I don’t see you again,”

“I’m going to be staying on for awhile,” Gail blurted out.

“Oh, then I guess I’ll see you around,” Darla stated clearly confused.

“Darla?”

“Yes?” She questioned crossing the room. Jolie stopping on her mark.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you’re gay?” Gail blurted out.

“Sorry?” Darla shook her head. “Honestly, my coming out party was a bit of a drag.”

“Very funny,” Gail sighed dramatically.

“I thought you knew,” Darla shrugged. “I wasn’t filled with an overwhelming need to announce it. You never came out to me.”

“True,” Gail conceded. “Did you know that my entire family thinks there was something going on between us?”

“What?” Darla gasped.

“You don’t have to sound so shocked,” Gail howled. “You could do worse.”

“And I have,” Darla laughed. “I didn’t mean to sound offended. Trust me if you ever thought of me that way, offended was the last thing I’d feel.”

Dee looked at Jolie as she reached for her coat. She furrowed her brow clearly confused that Jolie had just dropped her line. Jolie set the coat back down and Dee was just about to break out of character when Jolie turned to her. Jolie quirked her head ever so slightly, a shy smile gracing her lips as her hand came to rest on Dee’s arm.

Jolie’s smile grew a little brighter as she leaned closer. Her heart beat rapidly as she dipped her head and captured Dee’s soft supple lips. The reality of the situation slipped away. Jolie gave into the tantalizing feel of Dee’s mouth moving against her own. The consummate director forgot all about camera angels and the fact that the crew were watching.

For her part Dee also became caught up in the moment, parting Jolie’s lips with her tongue. Slowly she explored the warmth of Jolie’s mouth while allowing her hands to wander. Dee wrapped her tongue around Jolie’s coaxing and teasing it. Leaning into Jolie’s firm body dimly aware that someone was speaking. Her eyes were still shut when she broke away from the passionate kiss.

“I think I called cut.” Danny sheepishly informed her. “Uhm, Dee we can’t use that on network television.”

“Huh?” she dreamily whispered slowly allowing her eyes to open. Her eyes suddenly bulged while she jerked her hand away from Jolie’s breast. “Oops.” she whispered while the set erupted into applause. She blushed deeply while Jolie buried her face against Dee’s shoulder. Jolie’s body shaking from laughing.

Jolie finally lifted her head. “Sorry,” she sheepishly offered.

“No, no, it’s okay,” Danny babbled. “We have do it again. Keep playing with the lines just no getting to second base. Please?”

“One sec,” Jolie choked out. “Dee is still blushing.”

“So are you,” Dee sighed their gaze meeting. “Damn, you still,”

“Yeah, you too,” Jolie smiled rubbing her neck. “I forgot my lines.”

“Don’t worry about the dialogue. Just kiss me,” Dee eagerly suggested pulling slightly away.

“Anytime,” Jolie promised moving back just enough to get the shot right. Her stomach fluttered  silently begging for the cameras to start rolling. The moment filming began she touched Dee’s arm once again just before reclaiming her soft inviting lips.

Take after take the couple grew more amorous only slightly mindful to keep their hands from wandering. Jolie was breathless barely waiting for action to be called before wrapping herself up in Dee’s arms. There was a collective groan when Danny announced that they had enough takes. “I want you,” the words escaped as her cheek brushed against Dee’s. The smoldering look in Dee’s emerald eyes reflecting Jolie’s words.

“Come Danny, let’s put this sucker in the can,” Dee shouted when the director seemed to be taking his sweet time setting up the last couple of scenes.

“My someone’s in a hurry,” Tracy snickered.

“No, hurry,” Jolie quietly reassured Dee.

“No?” Dee whimpered.

“I’m still a little off balance. It will give me a chance to catch my breath,” Jolie confessed with a hard swallow.

‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ Dee mentally assessed as she took her place for the next set up.

The last few scenes went quickly. Danny called cut for the last time and the entire set erupted with applause. Dee was itching to get Jolie alone to talk about the kisses. She knew staged kisses from the real deal. There was no way on God’s green earth Jolie was faking it. Dee’s heart had been caught in a constant state of confusion for the past year. She had to find out if it was just her. But there were pictures to pose for then she had to shed her costume and make-up. She sprinted to her trailer the first chance she got.

She grumbled when a knock on the door interrupted her. Before she was afforded the opportunity to fully open the door she found herself pressed up against the wall. Her toes curling from the searing kiss she was receiving.

“That was just incase you were worried,” Jolie whispered taking a shy step back. “I haven’t felt this way in a very long time.” She confessed brushing an errant lock of hair from Dee’s face.

“I know,” Dee clasped Jolie’s hands gently kissing the knuckles. “Neither have I. Good to know I’m not being delusional. Hey where are you going?” She gasped when Jolie slipped from her touch.

“I have to clean up,” Jolie tenderly explained.

“But?”

“No way we can slip out of the wrap party,” Jolie frowned. “Don’t forget I’m your ride home tonight.”

“Oh, yeah,” Dee responded with a brilliant smile. “That big hotel room and just the two of us.”

“And I don’t have to leave for New York for another week,” Jolie grinned.

“New York,” Dee’s heart sank.

“It is where I live and work,” Jolie quietly answered. “You know I am developing a new series. One of the characters is a bit edgy. You might want to take a look at the script.”

“What?” Dee was floored.

“Think about it,” Jolie smiled.

*******************************************************

Throughout the evening’s festivities Jolie was having a hard time staying away from Dee. The brunette was all she could think about. That and the amazing kisses they had shared for the camera. “Editing is going to be pulling their hair out over that,” she snickered refilling her wine glass.

“What’s that? The snogging session you performed for the camera?” Mauve snickered.

“Uhm,” Jolie hesitated. “Ah, what the hell. Yeah that.”

“I thought I was having a hot flash until I caught the look on the grip’s face,” Mauve laughed. Then her expression turned serious. “Not to sound like an overprotective mother. But what happens now?”

“Mauve.” Jolie gasped choking on her wine.

“Not the nitty gritty details,” Mauve swatted her playfully. “I just want to make sure you’re not toying with my television daughter’s heart.”

“Have I ever?” Jolie boldly countered. “I’ve offered her a role in my new series. I was going to do it anyways, you know before I stopped fighting what I’m feeling. There’s a recurring role you might be interested in.”

“Keep talking.”

“Later,” Jolie frowned. “The press we invited just showed. Time to smile for the cameras.”

    Jolie made the rounds making nice with the press. Surprising herself by being able to formulate a sentence when all she could think about was Dee. The smoldering glances the brunette would cast in her direction from across the soundstage were not helping Jolie’s agitated state. Jolie knew that there were no guarantees, no promises and no way on earth that she would be able to further resist Dee.

Dee had bewitched her the moment she appeared on the set just over a year ago. At first Jolie wrote off the surge of emotions that had blindsided her as old memories. Now she could no longer deny her feelings. It wasn’t the girl she had left behind that was haunting her dreams. It was the woman who had entered her life. Deep in her heart she knew that Audrey would approve. She almost believed that Audrey was miffed that it had taken Jolie so long to wake up. ‘After tonight will I be able to put the genie back in the bottle?’ She silently pondered fearful of what the morning would bring. Casual encounters had never been the director’s strong suit.

She braced herself when she spotted Dee making her way through the crowd. “Don’t you dare freak out on me,” Dee cautioned her with a hushed whisper. “We’ve survived more than our share of tempest over the past three decades. If you bolt this time, keep going.”

“So, confident,” Jolie stated filled with complete wonderment.

“I’m scared witless,” Dee timidly confessed as she brush her hand against Jolie’s. “I’m just wise enough to know that second chances don’t come along everyday and only a fool would cast them aside.”

“You know what I think,” Jolie began suddenly filled with bravado.

“Not a clue.”

“I think, the party is in full swing and no one will miss us if we duck out the back,” Jolie slowly explained taking Dee by the hand.

*******************************************************

The ride back to the hotel was awkwardly silent. Tucked in the back of the limo both women were suddenly confronted by their inner demons. What had been so painfully clear a few short hours ago suddenly slipped into a murky haze. The ride up in the elevator proved to be equally as trying. Dee just about jumped out of her skin when Jolie locked the door behind them.

“This was so much easier the first time,” she heard herself admitting.

“The first time,” Jolie said softly crossing the room and wrapping her arms around Dee’s waist. “We were so sure of everything. We didn’t have a lifetime of memories and hard earned knowledge taunting us. You remember what you said just before we filmed the first kiss?” Jolie questioned brushing her fingers against Dee’s cheek. “It’s just us, do what feels right. This feels right,” she whispered her warm breath caressing her lover.

Dee’s eyes fluttered shut her parched lips suddenly sated by a tender promising kiss. Suddenly everything felt right. Jolie’s lips gently pressing against her own. Jolie’s soft hair laced between her fingers as their bodies melted together until not even a breath of air could separate them. The only turmoil Dee could feel was the battle her body was waging over the need for oxygen before she passed out and her fervent desire to never to stop kissing Jolie. Sadly her survival skills won out and she was forced to relinquish her hold on Jolie’s lips.

    She clasped Jolie’s shoulders certain that she was indeed going to fall over. They stood there enjoying the feel of their hearts beating in unison. Dee’s hands glided down Jolie’s arms caressing her tenderly until she felt her lover’s fingers becoming entwined with her own. Without uttering a single word she guided Jolie into her bedroom, never really certain why she had chosen her room. It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered at that moment in time was feeling the warmth of Jolie’s body.

Jolie stood behind her wrapping her arms around Dee’s body. Dee shivered when she felt Jolie nuzzling her neck. She reached up caressing Jolie’s face before stealing another kiss. Dee deepened the kiss straining her neck needing to feel more. Moaning from the feel of Jolie’s hands caressing her stomach and, unable to withstand the waiting, she turned in her lover’s embrace.

For a brief moment she once again felt like an impetuous teenager tugging at Jolie’s clothing. Again it was the urgency of wanton desire that guided her hand and not her rational self. She struggled to free Jolie of the troublesome garments while her lover was making quick work of freeing Dee from her clothing. Clearly neither would ever succeed unless someone stopped. Dee brushed aside Jolie’s wandering hands. Bestowing a promising kiss upon her trembling lover before completing her task. She was mesmerized watching her hands shedding Jolie’s clothes. Her pulse was racing when she cast the last piece of Jolie’s clothing aside.

Dee guided Jolie down onto the bed. The sheer beauty of her lover’s body left her speechless. She stood beside the bed guiltily drinking in the vision awaiting her. Jolie’s lingering gaze silently informed her they had waited long enough. Dee shed her own clothing, once again tossing them aside not caring where or if they landed. The rags could be circling the moon for all she cared at that moment.

Jolie reached for her grasping her hand and pulling Dee down beside her. A feral moan escaped Dee when she felt her naked flesh brushing against Jolie’s. ‘Ah yes more kissing is in order!’ Dee gleefully clamored when the heated exchange began once again. Jolie’s blunt nails trailing down her body eliciting a moan. Erect nipples brushing together fanning the flames of her passion proving to much for Dee to handle.

She felt her passion seeping from her body. Jolie guiding her onto her back their bodies melding together. The mischievous glimmer in Jolie’s eyes alerting Dee that her lover had no intention of rushing things. Their consummation would be a slow torturous dance. Jolie’s hot breath caressing her ear. A velvet tongue slowly tracing the lobe before quickly darting inside.

Dee burrowed her fingertips into her lover’s flesh. Her body arching searching desperately for release. Butterfly kisses tickled her skin, Jolie’s mouth making love to her shoulders. Dee’s body arched higher silently begging for more. Dee fingers released Jolie’s tender flesh fearful that she would inflict harm. She raked her fingers down Jolie’s strong back delighted by the feel of her lover’s flesh prickling beneath her touch.

She clutched Jolie’s firm backside drawing her closer, releasing a strangled cry when her lover’s desire spilled over her. The feel of Jolie’s wetness on her flesh was driving her insane. Her chest damp from Jolie’s kisses. Her body thrashing when she felt a slight flicker against her already hard nipple.

Grasping her lover tighter pressing the erect bud against Jolie’s soft lips begging for more. Dee fought against the demanding rush coursing through her body. Jolie taunting her with her teeth and her tongue. Gentle nips giving way to demanding teasing. Jolie only ceasing so she could lavish Dee’s neglected breast with the same attention.

Dee struggling to hold on fearful that once Jolie’s touch finally drifted lower she would be undone. Jolie’s kisses caressed her stomach coaxing her closer to the edge. The constant throbbing in her ears kept a steady rhythm with the throbbing of her clit. Hot breath greeted her wetness, shifting she welcomed her lover. Dee glanced down at her shaking body. Her breath catching when Jolie’s sparkling dark eyes greeted her.

A praise to the heavens catching in her throat when she felt a single digit brushing against her throbbing bundle. For a brief moment she pondered the possibility that Jolie was purposely trying to drive her insane. A quick stroke of Jolie’s flattened tongue quelled her fears. Another quick stroke and the room was blanketed in a luminous glow.

Dee was lost in the sensations of Jolie’s tongue flickering against her engorged clit. The feel of Jolie’s hands caressing her flesh was driving her over the edge. Caught in a catalystof not wanting the feeling to ever stop and needing to completely let go, her body thrashed wildly. Jolie’s touch ebbing slightly caused Dee to groan with disappointment.

She could have sworn she heard a snicker before Jolie’s fingers slipped inside of her. Unable to hold back her body arched higher. Jolie tenderly holding on as the waves of ecstasy consumed her. The world spun out of control, her body convulsing, the only clear image was Jolie hovering above her.

Dee struggled to say something. Watching Jolie’s body thrusting against her own made words unnecessary. Jolie’s long fingers stroking her sex; the feel of Jolie’s hard clit stroking her thigh made her body and soul soar higher. Dee raised her knee pressing harder against Jolie’s wetness. Clinging to her lover’s flesh until Jolie’s head fell back the veins in her neck straining as she cried out.

The look of sheer pleasure shinning in Jolie’s eyes warmed Dee’s heart. The moment was perfect. Jolie’s spent body collapsing against her. The feel of their hearts beating in unison filled her with a sense of peace. Dee ran her hands along the soft curves of Jolie’s body.

The feel of Jolie’s flesh quivering beneath her touch excited Dee. Stealing a soft promising kiss, she slipped her hand between their bodies. Stifling a deep moan when her fingers brushed against Jolie’s wetness. Her lover softly murmured shifting her body to allow Dee to fully explore her. The softness of their breasts brushed together.  Jolie’s needy whimpers urged her on.

Dee slowly stroked Jolie’s throbbing bundle; her senses reeling from the feel of Jolie’s body trembling against her own. Her fingers danced against Jolie’s clit until their bodies trembled furiously against one another. Dee held her lover tightly slightly fearful of what the morning would bring.

When the sunlight disrupted her slumber the fear was still lingering. Dee blew out a terse breath, finding solace when she realized that Jolie was still nestled in her arms. “Good morning,” Jolie whispered placing a kiss on Dee’s shoulder.

Dee smiled brightly lightly stroking Jolie’s hair. Her smile growing as Jolie lifted her head before kissing Dee. “Good morning,” Dee echoed finally allowing her fears to slip away.

“May I be so bold as to suggest ordering some room service and sharing a very long shower?” Jolie timidly suggested.

“A brilliant plan,” Dee readily accepted. “Shower first?” She giddily suggested sitting up andpulling her lover along with her. Jolie agreed by jumping off the bed and dragging Dee into the bathroom.

Jolie turned on the water allowing it to warm while taking time to caress Dee’s body. Dee released a sigh when the warm water encompassed her body. The feel of Jolie’s soapy hands gliding along her curves sent shivers down her spine. She leaned back allowing Jolie’s hands to wrap around her. She stood under the warm water with Jolie’s naked body pressing into her back while her hands skillfully washed Dee’s naked form.

Taking turns at washing one another until their skin was raw from the unneeded attention, they stepped out of the shower and ordered food. Dee felt like she was living out a dream as they shared breakfast in bed. The need for sustenance giving way to passion. Dee set aside the food before turning her attention toward slowly licking her way down Jolie’s body.

She was filled with a sense of urgency until she found herself nestled between Jolie’s thighs. Despite Jolie’s fervent pleas she took her time, slowly drinking in her lover’s passion, stroking her slowly with her tongue. She teased Jolie long after her body exploded. Dee would have happily continued if Jolie hadn’t finally begged her stop.

“God, this room is a mess,” Dee proudly exclaimed. “The poor maid.”

“Not my fault,” Jolie meekly choked out.

“Oh, I beg to differ,” Dee taunted her raking her nails down Jolie’s body. “If you weren’t so beautiful none of this would have happened.”

********************************************************

The maid wouldn’t get a chance to clean the suite for a good week. The former lovers making good use of their time together before the world demanded their attention. It was time for Jolie to head back to the east coast. She knew what she was about to suggest lacked all sense of reason. “Come with me,” she stated simply.  She held her breath fearful of what Dee’s reaction would be.

“Well,” Dee slowly responded. “I am in between jobs.”

“I can fix that,” Jolie countered with determination. “You can read my new pilot on the plane. If you don’t want to go back into the business, that’s fine. Or if you don’t like the show, I can deal. I just want more time with you.”

“Time, I can give,” Dee smiled. “I’ll read the script on the plane. But...,”

“Oh, I just knew there was a but coming,” Jolie groaned throwing her clothes into her suitcase.

“I’ll need a place to stay,” Dee quickly explained holding up her hand before Jolie could suggest what she knew was coming. “Not with you.”

“Fair enough,” Jolie nodded understanding Dee’s hesitation. “I can deal with living in the same city but not in the same apartment. I just don’t want to walk away from this. Not a second time. Win, lose or draw I really need to try.”

“So, call the airline already,” Dee laughed knowing that it was only the beginning.

The End.

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