A quick note:  Thank you all for reading, voting, and/or commenting on my story!  I'm so happy you all seem to like it so far. 

As summer draws to an end, my children are back in school and busy with sports.  I am back to working more hours at my real job.  I absolutely plan to continue writing, but will be modifying my publishing schedule.  As with my other story, I plan to publish Thursdays and Sundays.  I tend to write several chapters at a time.  So if I feel comfortable enough with my progress, I will release chapters other days as well.

By the time Rory and the band left the backstage suite, most of the crowd had dispersed.  But there were still several lingering photographers and paparazzi lingering in the hall and out by the car.  They fought through the reporters to get to the waiting limousine.  Luckily, Mrs. Kim insisted there always be at least two huge, burly body guards near Lane.  They carved a path through the cameras and microphones.  Questions were hurled at them as they made their way.

"Can we get a few pictures of the band?"

"Lane, Zack, where are your twins?  How about a family shot?"

"Gil, is your wife here?  We spotted her earlier, does she always come on tour or stay with the kids?"

"Brian, who are you dating?  Is this pretty brunette your girlfriend?  We've seen her a lot.  Who is she?"

"Tell us where the apartment was you all rented together when you first got started.  Can we do a back story interview?"

"Is it true there will be another tour right after this one?  How does that effect your married life, Lane?"

As the driver closed to door to the limo, the flashbulbs were still going off and questions were still being fired through the heavily tinted windows.  Everyone settled in and ignored the ruckus outside the vehicle.  It was an all too familiar scene.

"Ugh, they're animals tonight,"  Zack said.

"I don't think so.  I think I am the 'pretty brunette'", Rory said.

"Yeah, guess Cyndi and I have to come up with another plan if they saw her,"  Gil said shaking his head.  "We were kind of digging her playing groupie sneaking backstage for a quickie."

"My mom is really not digging that, Gil,"  Lane said.

"Where did Cyn go, Gil?"  Rory asked.

"Oh, she's back at the hotel.  It's a game we play at some shows.  Gotta keep the spark in a marriage.  Role play is a good way to do that," he said looking at Lane and Zack. Zack raised an eyebrow at Lane and gave her a half smile.

"Zack, we do not need to role play.  And how could we?!  We are both IN the band.  I can't be a groupie and the drummer!"  Lane said.

"You'll find another way," Brian said.  "God, they are always hounding me on who I am dating.  I liked it better when they just thought I was gay.  Rory, you're one of the only people that knows about me and Sara.  To everyone else, she is the costume and makeup designer. No one knows.  We can have a normal relationship without getting bothered because she's supposed to be at every single show.  We've been dating a year and a half now.  And you've never seen it in a magazine, have you?"

"That works well.  I never asked, did you purposely date her because she works for you or create a job for her?"  Rory asked.

"We created a job for her, so she can be around,"  Brian said.

"Can she do hair and makeup?"  Rory laughed.

Brian laughed too, "No, not really.  But a fashion designer/makeup person is in the budget.  Lane picks out our clothes and does her own makeup.  It is just a safe way to be able to have a social life. And she really does help out a lot."

"God, I never thought of how insane it must be to have a normal life for you guys now,"  Rory said.

"It can be tough.  That's one of the reasons Cyn doesn't come on tour with us.  The less she is seen, the more normal a life she and the kids can have back home," Gil said.

"It just keeps getting worse because we so seldom do interviews,"  Lane said.

"Why don't you do them?" Rory asked.

"They always twist things and make us sound like morons.  Or they outright lie.  We love the music and our families.  We aren't the huge rock and roll crazy, druggies and drinkers they want us to be, so they change it,"  Zack said.  "We would rather they not say anything than change the truth."

"But it's to the point we need to say something.  The lies are getting insane. Did you see the report that Mama is Gil's secret lover and Steve and Kwan are really theirs?," Lane asked laughing.   "Plus I think the intrigue is making it worse.  They want any tidbit so badly, they pretty much stalk us constantly. Trudy has been on us constantly about doing more interviews."

"It's a toss up with that one or the story that came out saying Steve was Zack's and Kwan was Brian's!" Lane said. "I was apparently very busy on my honeymoon," Lane said to Rory. "But Trudy has been a good manager.  She has been in the business a long time.  Maybe she's right."

"Hmmm...I see,"  Rory said, the wheels beginning to turn in her mind.

The driver took them to the closest Taco Bell and wrote down their orders.  The restaurant was too close to the concert venue for them to risk going in themselves and being mobbed by fans.  He came back fifteen minutes later with several large bags.  The band and Rory dug in.

"Thanks, George.  I hope you got some for yourself,"  Lane said.

"No thank you, miss.  Too late for me to eat," George said closing the door and returning to his position behind the wheel.

"Oh my god, tacos never tasted so good," Gil said with a mouthful.

"Lay off, man.  You already ate three!"  Zack said snatching a bag.

"Come on, don't eat my cheese-free ones! You know I have lactose issues," Brian said.

"Guys, George got like 40 tacos and 40 burritos.  I am sure there is plenty,"  Lane said keeping the peace as usual.

Rory finished one last taco and leaned back against the seat.  "So I have kind of been thinking..." she began.  "You don't do many interviews. Your fans are dying to know more about your guys," she paused nervously looking at Lane.   "I was thinking maybe I could write about you and the band. You know, let the fans get to know you more personally. Maybe we could even go into the love story of you and Zach. And if Gil and Brian are willing, them too."

"It's about time," Lane said stretching out.

"What do you mean?" Rory asked.

"We had a band meeting weeks ago when Rolling Stone was begging us to do a spread. We were going to ask you to write the article then. But I wanted to wait for you to be ready," Lane said.

"Really?"  Rory asked.

With taco spilling out of his mouth, Brian said, "We all suggested it.  I mean, you've been around a lot. And it's what you do."

"Yeah and you would tell the truth about us, like tell it all how it really is," Gil said.

"Until we talked earlier, I wasn't sure where you were with everything, if you even still wanted to write.  I didn't want to pressure you.  I am glad you are interested in this project. Maybe it will help you get a spark back," Lane said squeezing her hand.

"I am excited about it. It feels like something that could work pretty well. And I know the subject matter very well," she said smiling.

"I'd love having you around all the time, for more than just shows on this tour I mean. Let's face it, the boys are great, but they are gross. And, while my mom is a girl, it is just not the same," Lane said smiling watching them fight over the last few tacos.

"Would you really trust me to write an in-depth article on you and the band?" Rory asked.

"Absolutely.  We'd even let you take pictures of the kids.  No one gets pictures of our kids. But I think it might be time for the rocking world to see them,"  Zack said.

"There is no one I would trust more," Lane said. "I'll call Rolling Stone in the morning and agree to the article if I can use my own writer."

"Lane, that would be awesome! I could write for Rolling Stone magazine! Do you think they will agree?" Rory asked.

"They will if they want the exclusive Hep Alien interview and photos," Lane said, "And I get to keep my best friend on tour with me," Lane said.