The last day and a half of our break was blur. I vaguely remember exchanging gifts on Christmas day with Paul before meeting with the guys and having dinner and another gift exchange with them. They tried to act like everything was normal, but even they knew some things wouldn't be going back to how they were. January and most of February flew by, with Rising Phoenix making an appearance or two. It was now Valentine's Day, and Paul told me to put on something nice. Even with the emotional stress I was now under, he stayed by my side as I was sure that my forced smiles, fake cheer on stage, and my silent demeanor would have made him give up on me.

"Where are we going?" I asked as Paul drove my white Ford GT through the streets of Seattle.

"I got us a reservation at a French restaurant called La Boucherie." he replied placing a hand on my knee and giving it a squeeze. "With everything that is going on, I figured we could use a night that's just the two of us."

"Good thing I had an action figure of you." I chuckled. A real chuckle this time.

"Yeah, creepy. But good." he laughed.

"OI! At the time, it wasn't like I knew I was going to meet you, let alone date you." I playfully glared. Even just driving to dinner, I felt better. When we pulled up outside, a valet took the keys and parked my car after gawking at it before we entered the restaurant.

"Do you have a reservation?" the host asked looking us over. I was in a red knee-length slip evening gown with a fur shawl and Paul was in a black suit without a tie and viest.

"Stanley." Paul said. The host looked at his list before nodding and gesturing for us to follow.

     The place was quaint with tables for couples or whole parties. The host led us to a table in the corner with windows overlooking the city. Paul helped me into my chair before taking his own and ordering a bottle of La Vigne Sandrone, Barolo. I glanced at it on the menu and my eyes nearly bugled out of my head. Paul just smiled and looked over the menu causing me to do the same. I ended up deciding on the Beef Tartar as it was one of my favorites when going to Aunt Fleur and Uncle Bill's house. The wine soon arrived along with some bread. Paul wasted no time pouring the wine until our glasses were a quarter full.

"You're outta your damn mind." I said picking up my glass and swirling the wine before taking a sniff then a sip. The flavor of cherries, rose, tar, balsam, some sort of mineral, and even a hint of oak invaded my tastebuds making me hold up my glass in shock. "Merlin, this is good wine."

"Glad you like it. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but I know you are." he said taking a sip of his own and making a face that said he actually liked it. "You're right, this is good."

Soon the waiter returned and took our order.

"Paul, I want you to understand that French restaurants don't let customers tip. It's a European thing. It's the same way in the United Kingdom." I explained. "They see it as rather rude."

"I never knew that. Glad I met you to teach me this stuff." he said. Soon our food arrived, and I couldn't help digging into my beef tartar. The flavor was very similar to Aunt Fleur's, and it made me miss home even more. "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just... One of my aunts is French and she would always make this when I came over." I sighed taking another bite. 

"Your family must have been incredible; with the way you talk about them." Paul reached across the table and took my hand in his. "You'll see them again someday, I'm sure of it."

"Thank you." I gave him a small smile before taking another sip of wine.

     Dinner passed with idle chatter about the tour, our pasts, and other random stuff. Mostly about my time at Hogwarts and what I was taught. It was getting late, and we had just finished off the bottle of wine when the waiter came with the check. Paul barely glanced at the check before pulling out his card and handing it back to the waiter. Once the bill was paid and Paul had his card back, I made to stand up and a wave of vertigo hit me. Wine, my arch nemesis. Paul helped me stabilize myself before leading me outside where my car waited. He helped me into my seat before getting back behind the wheel. I watched the city pass by us as we returned to the hotel we were staying at. A few hiccups escaped me now and then, earning chuckles from Paul, but I ignored them as we drove through Seattle. After parking, I transfigured my car into a toy version of itself and put it in my purse before letting Paul help me into the building. I had to stop and take my heels off when we got off the elevator and stumbled my way to our room. Paul opened the door for me, and I flipped on the lights as I walked through.

"Are you okay?" Paul asked for the millionth time this night.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Red wines hit me different." I giggled before going into our room and dropping my heels by my trunk before flopping onto the bed.

"Different. If I had to guess, I'd say you're on the verge of drunk." Paul huffed out a laugh while taking off his suit jacket and dress shirt. My inner tigress purred at the sight of him, and I didn't realize I was actually purring until Paul spoke up. "Are you purring?"

"Me? Nooo." I giggled again before getting up and stalking over to him. "I just find you very, very sexy like this."

     Rising to my toes, I pressed my lips to his cheek while running my fingers down his hairy chest. Paul made a sound in his throat before moving his head to where our lips became connected. I purred again when I tasted the roast duck on his breath and the tangy wine on his lips. His arms wrapped around me, and I could feel his hands playing with the zipper of my dress. Moving my lips from his mouth to the corner of it, I began kissing my way along his jaw to his neck, eliciting a groan from him as his hands tightened on my dress. He was fighting his body's reaction to me. Cute. Flicking my tongue out, I gave his neck a light lick before pressing against him. He stiffened before taking a step back.

"We shouldn't. You aren't yourself right now." he sighed dropping his arms from around me. 

"I understand." I said before stepping back myself and turning to my trunk where my nightgown laid hanging out of it. Reaching back, I grasped the zipper and tried to unzip, by the angle my arm was at made that difficult. "Um, could you-?" 

"Here." he gently took the zipper from me and slowly unzipped my dress. When it pooled around my ankles, I stepped out and grabbed my nightgown and slipped it on. 

"Thank you." I looked up at him with a smile. "For everything."

     Paul seemed stunned before he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. The force of his body against mine, sent us onto the bed with a shared grunt. Our lips couldn't seem to stop until I felt his tongue trace my bottom lip, begging for entrance. Parting my lips, I gave him that and moaned softly when our tongues connected. My arms found their way around his neck, and I could feel the swell of an erection against my my inner thigh. One of his hands slid down my cheek along my side until he gripped my thigh and grinded against me with a moan of his own. We parted for air, but he then took my own neck placing light kisses along it before settling on a spot near my collar bone where he grazed his teeth against my flesh making me moan. He chuckled before I could feel him sucking on that spot.

"Paul." I groaned holding him tighter. In response, his hand slid up my thigh to the hem of my nightgown before slipping under it to grasp my hip. Sparks seemed to emit from that spot as he squeezed it, making my back arch.

Warning: Smut Ahead. If you do not want to read it, scroll down to the next bold message!

     He seemed to take great pleasure in my reaction, because he did it again and this time my breath hitched. I moaned his name again and he lifted his head from my neck to look at me with half-lidded eyes. A sultry smile graced his lips as he kissed me fully while sliding his hand over my hip and between my legs, gently rubbing my clit. I broke the kiss with a gasp as my head tilted back into the mattress. Paul used this to start kissing along my shoulder and slipping the strap of my nightgown down. The material of his slacks felt like they were straining against his erection, making me give a soft whine. Paul chuckled as he slipped his hand further down along my underwear to trace my folds through the material.

"Somebody wants me." he breathed into my ear before sliding back up to the waistband of my panties and slowly pulling them down.

"Yes." I whispered as he removed my panties and tracing his fingers along my entrance. 

I could feel heat pooling within me, like a raging fire that wanted to be released.

"Paul." I whined when he moved his hand back to my hip.

"Patience, Princess." Cooed the man above me as he then stood up and looked down at me. I looked up at him while propping myself up on my elbows.

"Tease." I pouted before letting my eyes trail down his body. In the light of the lamp, I could see that his slacks were in fact straining. Sitting up, I reached out and traced my hands along the bulging material, earning a hiss from Paul.

"Who's the tease now?" he replied as I began undoing his belt and the button. Slipping my fingers under the waistband of his pants and underwear, I was about to start pulling them down when he stopped me by grabbing my nightgown and pulling it off me. "Much better."

     Paul smirked down at me as I slipped my fingers back under his waistbands and began sliding the last of his clothes off. A trail of thick black hair led from his torso down into his pants and eventually to the base of himself as the material finally released him. Having only had a few lovers in the past, I was rather impressed with what was before me. Letting go of his pants, I traced my own hand up his thigh before lightly wrapping my hand around him. Leaning forward, I began placing a kiss along his length then finally the tip before sticking out my tongue and licking away the precum that had beaded up. Looking up at Paul, I have him a smirk before running my tongue along his whole length, from base to tip. Carefully, I took him in my mouth and rolled my tongue along the head of his cock. A hum escaped me while Paul moaned as I bobbed my head and began sucking.  His hands found their way to my hair, and he tangled his fingers in it as if trying to keep himself from thrusting. My whole body felt like it was buzzing at this point as I reached between my legs and began to rub circles into my clit. I could feel him tensing, so I released him with a soft pop and slid back on the bed.

"Well?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Feeling better?"

"I will soon." he replied climbing on top of me and kissing me roughly before moving to my breasts and taking one in hand while giving the other a flick on the nipple with his tongue.

"Mmm. Good." I moaned as he kissed my nipples on both breasts before slipping his hand between my legs and gently pushing my hand out of the way to take over.

     I leaned back into the comforter as he massaged me before moving to my folds and slipping a finger in. A jolt of energy coursed through me, and I looked into his eyes to see they were glowing purple slightly. Cheater, using his powers on me when I haven't even used magic. Slowly, he began to trust his finger and curl it inside me before adding another finger and doing the same. My back arched as I moaned his name. He seemed to like that, and I could feel his fingers slide out of me, causing me to become even slicker than I had been. Rubbing the fingers that had been inside me on the tip of his cock, I watched him as he then braced himself over me with his hands on either side of my head. The feeling of his tip pressing against my folds was exciting as he slowly pushed his hips towards mine, pushing my folds out of the way and into me. Since I haven't had sex in a long time, the feeling of being stretched out hurt a little and I groaned and tensed, causing him to pause. Once I had relaxed again, he began pushing in further until he was hilted within me. Slowly, Paul began to pull out until only the tip remained before thrusting forward. He was slow at first, watching my face for any sign of discomfort, before picking up the pace as I wrapped my legs around him.

"Mmm, fuck." I moaned as his eyes began to glow a bit brighter. Leaning up, I captured his lips with my own and maybe it was the wine, but this moment just felt so right.

     He kept a steady pace, a sign of past experience, experience I didn't care about. I could feel the heat slowly building within me as he kept going, peppering me with kisses or burying his face in my neck. Eventually, I started tightening my muscles whenever he'd thrust back, making him moan my own name into the dimly lit room. Sweat rolled down my temple into my hair, but it only added to the feeling that was building. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him close and kissed him along the area where his neck met shoulders before finding a spot to suck on. That made him moan more and pick up the pace. His breathing was speeding up as was my own as the bed shook with our movements. The heat within me felt like it was going to burst. Then when he hit a specific spot, the damn within me burst and the heat flooded my body making me breathily cry out his name. Paul kissed me to silence me while keeping up his pace. Our tongues danced until he thrusted deeply and stayed that way for what felt like a few minutes. Eventually, he slid out of me and fell onto the bed beside me. Rolling over, I could feel something slide out of me, probably his seed, as I gave him a kiss before falling onto the pillows. Paul also moved to the pillows and wrapped his arm around me while pulling the blankets over us.

"That was incredible." I sighed snuggling into him as we laid there.

"It was." he agreed nuzzling my hair.

Attention! Sex Scene over. Safe stuff now.

"Paul! Ava! It's time to get up! Check out is in an hour and we need to hit the road!" Gene's muffled voice came from the door, waking me up. My hips were sore, and my neck was too.

"We'll be out soon." I tiredly called out in reply while pushing the covers back with a groan. Looking at my hips, I saw a hand shaped bruise on the left side. Looking over at Paul, I saw he was still asleep. "Paul, we need to get up."

Gently shaking him, brought him out of dreamland and into the waking world. He looked around confused at first before his eyes landed on me.

"Good morning, Beautiful." he smiled sleepily.

"Good morning to you too." I returned his smile before swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. My legs felt like jelly as I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie as well as clean underwear before stumbling to the bathroom.

     Looking in the mirror, I saw my makeup was smeared all over, my hair looked like Merida's from Brave, and I had hickeys all over my neck. Sighing, I turned on the shower and stepped under the warm water before grabbing the complimentary soap and washing up. My nether area was slick from my own arousal last night and Paul seed. Not bothering to wash my hair, I wet it so it would be tamable before getting out and dressing. The hoodie covered most of the hickey, but after magically drying my hair and parting it around my neck, the rest were hidden. As I came out of the bathroom after doing my business, I saw Paul was gathering up my dress and shoes from last night as well as my discarded nightgown and panties and trying to put them in my trunk.

"Here. Let me." I offered taking my clothes from him and giving him a quick kiss before dropping the clothes into the compartment where I kept dirty laundry until I washed it.

"How did you sleep?" he asked gathering his own clothes and putting them in his bag.

"Really well." I smiled locking my trunk and slipping on my Uggs. "What about you?"

"The same." he returned my smile and hoisted his bag over his shoulder before grabbing my luggage and heading for the door. "Last night was amazing."

"Yeah, it was." I giggled as we left the room and headed for the elevator. Stepping out into the lobby, I saw the rest of the group. Ace was giving us a shit eating grin which confused me.

"You two have fun last night?" he grinned. Oh shit, did he hear us? I could feel my face heating up as Paul frowned.

"We did. Dinner was excellent." Paul replied before giving the receptionist our key and coming back over. 

"I meant the dessert." he chuckled. I scowled and jammed my elbow into Ace's ribcage before walking out the hotel doors towards the bus.

"Ha! That's what you get for prying!" Peter laughed as the guys followed me. 

We all climbed into the bus and unpacked back into our rooms before the rig started on down the road. Everything was lively as we settled into routine. With me cooking and cleaning as well as giving advice for lyrics, because well, I knew their future songs and had them all printed out into a binder and had all their CDs. Montana and California were great shows. Thinking back on it, I smiled remembering how excited fans got seeing me and my band on stage.

"Who's ready to rock!" I yelled making the crowd go crazy. "Good, because have we got a show for you!"

Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah

Chad and Rev started off the song.

I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas, please (Woo)
Fold 'em, let 'em hit me, raise it, baby, stay with me (I love it)
LoveGame intuition, play the cards with spades to start
And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart

Oh, whoa-oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, whoa-oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

The lights dimmed before flashing all over as I sang the chorus.

Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him, a hard pair we will be (Woo)
A little gamblin' is fun when you're with me (I love it, woo)
Russian roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby, when it's love, if it's not rough, it isn't fun, fun

Smiling, I looked out at the dancing fans.

Oh, whoa-oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, whoa-oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)

I won't tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
'Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin
I'm not lyin', I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunnin'
Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand 'cause I'm marvelous

Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
(She's got me like nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(She's got me like nobody)
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, f-f-fuck her face
(Mum mum mum mah)

Looking out over the fans, I didn't say anything as we started the next song. Blue lights filled the stage as I put a solum expression on my face.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

Chad covered the background male vocals as I grasped the mic.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

Closing my eyes, I swayed my hips before grasping my guitar and playing.

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you are the life among the dead

An epic guitar solo drove the crowd wild.

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

"This next song is a bit more upbeat and pop like. Hope you enjoy!" I said as Chad began to play.

Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
I've done alright up to now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls, loneliness calls

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Raising my hands, I started to clap. The audience joined in making me smile and look over to the wings seeing Paul smiling at me.

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

I've been in love and lost my senses
Spinning through the town
Sooner or later, the fever ends
And I wind up feeling down

I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls

Blowing him a kiss, I turned back to the crowd and picked up the mic before walking to the edge of the stage and reaching out towards the crowd.

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Somebody ooo, somebody ooo
Somebody who loves me yeah
Somebody ooo, somebody ooo
To hold me in his arms oh

I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Don't ya wanna dance with me baby
Don't ya wanna dance with me boy
Hey don't ya wanna dance with me baby
With somebody who loves me

Don't ya wanna dance, say you wanna dance, don't ya wanna dance
Don't ya wanna dance, say you wanna dance, don't ya wanna dance
Don't ya wanna dance, say you wanna dance
With somebody who loves me
Dance

The crowd cheered as we all bowed before the curtain dropped. I could hear them shouting for one more song, so we retook our positions, and I started on the opening of the song.

Watch your tongue or have it cut from your head
Save your life by keeping whispers unsaid
Children roam the streets, now orphans of war
Bodies hanging in the streets to adore

Hearing our most popular song, the crowd absolutely lost it.

Royal flames will carve a path in chaos
Bringing daylight to the night (night)
Death is riding into town with armor
They've come to take all your rights

Hail to the king, hail to the one
Kneel to the crown, stand in the sun
Hail to the king

Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
The King...

I could feel some sort of power building within me. Was this my KISSterian power? I did start wearing the amulet after Seattle.

Blood is spilt while holding keys to the throne
Born again, but it's too late to atone
No mercy from the edge of the blade
Dare escape and learn the price to be paid

Let the water flow with shades of red now
Arrows black out all the light (light)
Death is riding into town with armor
They've come to grant you your rights

Hail to the king, hail to the one
Kneel to the crown, stand in the sun
Hail to the king

Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
The King...

Stepping back to the edge of the stage, I began the solo and between the crowd going wild and the pure rock I was providing, I felt the power flow out of me. My hair started to float as golden energy swirled around me. A smile split my face as I threw my head back. Seeing the light and now ghostly flames spiral around me, I backed up to my mic and began to sing again.

There's a taste of fear (hail, hail, hail)
When the henchmen call (hail, hail, hail)
Iron fist to tame the land (hail, hail, hail)
Iron fist to claim it all

Hail to the king, hail to the one
Kneel to the crown, stand in the sun

My power flowed out and over the crowd, making them cheer as if it was part of the show.

Hail to the king, hail to the one
Kneel to the crown, stand in the sun
Hail to the king!

Hail!
Hail!
Hail!

"Well, that was some light show, huh?" I asked the crowd hiding the fact that it wasn't actually meant to happen. "But anyway, next up is the Hottest Band in the World. So, I bid you all, adieu."

The fans cheered as the curtain dropped again and we walked off stage. The guys were gathered around the back door waiting for us to pass by. Seeing Paul, I gave a squeal and jumped into his arms.

"My powers. They manifested!" I said.

"We know, we saw. It was incredible." he smiled spinning me around.

"Looks like I'll have to teach you how to use those flames!" Gene chuckled ruffling my hair.

"That sounds like fun. I look forward to it." I giggled shooing his hands away. "Good luck out there!"

"Always." they laughed before going onto stage.

Poker Face:

https://youtu.be/w1IYWHHI2-E

Bring Me to Life: The Evanescence version

I Wanna Dance With Somebody:

https://youtu.be/jU49KhZjKlA

Hail to The King:

https://youtu.be/KIg3N4PF3Bc