After a few more stops, the band went to Pittsburgh, which was their hometown apart from Stella and Daisy.

They got off their private jet to be greeted by their hometown friends and family, who were all cheering and yelling for them as they walked out of the jet.

Stella wasn't bothered by it since she had just seen her parents, but she noticed Daisy looking a bit out of place. "Hey, it's okay. We can stick together," Stella assured her and Daisy nodded, glad that she had said that.

"Daisy Jones," Billy and Graham's mother called out after a second and both girls looked to see the happy look on their mom's face.

Daisy just stood there for a second, not knowing if she was imagining it. "That's you, Daisy," Stella whispered, nudging her.

Daisy fell out of the trance and slowly walked out. "Mrs. Dunne," the redhead greeted before the older woman wrapped her arms around her, giving her a grateful. She was part of the reason why "Daisy Jones and The Six" was becoming a household name, after all.

Stella smiled at that before Eddie told her to come over. "Guys, this is Stella Stone. She's the rhythm guitarist and the backup singer," Eddie introduced, seeing as though there were too many people around for him to introduce her as his girlfriend.

"After that Saturday Night Live performance, you should be up front all the time," his grandma complimented.

Stella held a hand up to her heart. "Oh, thank you so much."

"Now, come here," his grandma spoke before pulling the blonde in for a hug, causing Stella to chuckle and hug her back. Eddie smiled as he watched Stella hug the rest of his family, wanting that to be a regular occurrence.

After the whole meet-and-greet right after coming to Pittsburgh, they were all welcomed back to a "welcome home" party at Mrs. Dunne's new house that her sons had bought her.

Stella had a wonderful time meeting all of their hometown friends and even Chuck Loving, who was in their band before quitting to become a dentist. It was crazy to think that if that never happened, then Stella would have never been part of probably one of the best bands in the world right about now.

The Stone girl also caught up with Camila, which she was super excited about. At least this time, Stella had some nice things to say about her husband which made Camila feel better since she always felt bad about Billy and Stella's hatred for each other while Camila really liked the girl.

The conversation also moved over to Eddie, but Camila didn't seem too interested in that part of the conversation which Stella had noticed. She guessed it was just because her having to keep an eye on Julia.

As Stella and Camila walked around and chatted, they noticed Karen come out of the house with an anxious expression on her face. "Oh, what's going on?" Camila immediately whispered, knowing something was wrong.

"No, it's nothing. I'm fine," Karen quickly shook her head, trying to get past the girls, but they both blocked her.

"Karen..." Stella trailed off as she gave her a comforting look, even though she wasn't entirely sure what was wrong, while Camila tilted her head, knowing what was going on. Camila then breathed out, causing Stella to look at her face.

It then clicked for her: Karen was pregnant.

The girls had talked about babies a few times while drunk on tour, and Stella knew for a fact that Karen didn't want kids. Stella wasn't too sure, but she definitely wasn't ready to have some any time soon. She couldn't even imagine what the Sirko girl might have been feeling.

Camila and Stella then decided to pull her into a hug, wanting to calm her down for the time being. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

✯✯✯

STELLA: I'm just glad that there was no baby drama for Eddie and I. That...That would've changed a lot of things (shakes head).

✯✯✯

"I can't speak for all of you, but I sure as hell wouldn't trade this for anything," Billy spoke as the group huddled together backstage, waiting to go on to perform for the cheering crowd in Pittsburgh. "Thank you."

"All right, who we playing for tonight?" Graham questioned excitedly.

"For family," Billy answered. "'Pittsburgh' on three. One...two...three."

"Pittsburgh!" They all shouted.

"And Brooklyn!" Stella added with a laugh before they all got onto stage, playing their hearts out for their family and friends.

Once they were done playing 'Regret Me,' they all got together at the center stage and took a bow for the audience, signaling the end of that set. The crowd cheered and yelled as they walked off the stage, wanting them to play more.

"Oh, we sounded amazing," Stella gushed as she was handed a beer, taking a sip of it after she was done talking.

"You were rippin', man!" Warren complimented Eddie happily as they were all handed beers.

"Definitely the best we've ever played before, I would say," Karen voiced before she was handed a beer. "Oh...no, thank you," she turned it down, making eye contact with Stella. The blonde gave a subtle, yet encouraging nod her way since she didn't want the girl to lose focus; she knew how important her career was to her — Stella was the same way.

A stage crew member then went to hand Eddie his guitar for the next set before Billy grabbed it. "Can I take this one?" Billy asked, but Eddie just stared at him. "Daisy, come on." The two then went back onto stage, making the audience cheer even louder.

Stella's mouth parted a bit as she watched just the two of them on stage before she walked over to Eddie. "Did he just take your solo?" She queried, wanting to make sure she saw that right. But Eddie was too busy staring at Billy to respond, trying to process what just happened.

✯✯✯

EDDIE: You gotta understand, going about your life like that, you know...feeling like a second-class citizen in a first-class resort (licks lips)...It messes with you. It messed with me.

✯✯✯

"Eddie?" Stella said his name, trying to snap him out of the trance he was in.

He then began to shake his hand angrily, steam practically flying out of his ears. "I swear to God, I'm gonna fucking kill him," Eddie mumbled, his hands curling into fists.

"Shit," Stella whispered before she looked around, seeing Rod. "Rod! Rod, I need you!" She shouted quickly, wanting him to stop Eddie from storming the stage.

Rod immediately came speed-walking over at the sound of Stella's concerned voice before looking at Eddie, noticing his furious face. He then looked out to see Billy playing the guitar that Eddie was supposed to be playing.

"Okay, buddy, let's take a walk, okay?" Rod suggested, placing his hands on his shoulders and turning him around so he wouldn't do anything stupid. Stella walked alongside them, wanting to try to calm her boyfriend with her presence. "Let's not ruin it being mad, huh?"

"No, fuck him, Rod. And fuck this," Eddie replied frustratedly.

"Eddie..." Rod shook his head as Eddie sped up away from them, causing him to sigh. "This ain't gonna be good tomorrow."

"I know," Stella groaned, extremely conflicted since she had just made up with Billy, but now he went along and did this to her boyfriend.

"Just keep and eye on him, will you? You two seem to be...close," Rod winked at her.

She arched a brow. "What are you trying to imply, Rod?" She knew that there was no way Rod could know about their relationship, but she definitely knew some people were suspicious of them.

He shrugged. "Oh, nothing. Just look after him, okay?"

She nodded, her brow still arched. "I will." She then continued to follow Eddie until they got outside, which wasn't full of people since they were all listening to Billy and Daisy inside. "Eddie," she called out, but he just kept on walking. "Eddie, come on, it's me. You can talk to me."

Eddie stopped walking, but didn't turn around to face her. "What if I don't want to talk to you?" He responded, but he immediately regretted it in his mind.

Stella's eyebrows raised and she slowly crossed her arms, watching him turn around to face her. "Oh, really? You don't want to talk to me?" She questioned.

"Okay, no. That's-that's not what I meant," he stammered, too riled up to think or speak correctly.

"It wasn't?" She tilted her head, but Eddie just looked away guiltily. "Look, you know it's not good when we avoid each other and don't talk about it. Remember what happened before we got together?"

"This is different, Stell. It's not about us, it's about Billy," he explained.

"It's always about Billy!" She pointed out, her voice heightening. "We both know this. At this point, you just can't let it get to you anymore."

"It's easy for you to say when he's actually let you have some recognition in the band for once. He's never given me goddamn shit and I've been in this band longer than you have," he countered and Stella sighed quietly, knowing he had been right. "I mean, you guys are technically, like, best friends now."

"Oh, come on, Eddie. You know that's not true. We tolerate each other," she corrected him, shaking her head since she thought he was being a bit dramatic. "You've always been my best friend, and even more so now."

"If that was true, you'd be acting the same way I'm acting because of the fact that Billy fucking took my solo at our hometown show," he emphasized. "My fucking family is here to see me and he took it away from me, Stella!"

"I know, Eddie, I know."

"No, you don't know, Stella. Because no matter how much you fucking complain, you always get everything you ever wanted. Become a famous musician? Boom, there you go. Being able to sing your original song in your hometown? Boom, there you go. Getting Billy to see you as someone he respects instead of just a second-class citizen. Boom...there you go," he listed furiously, knowing that he was being harsh but Billy just brought out the worst side in him. Especially since he was drunk.

She scoffed at him. "Seriously? You're acting like I didn't work hard for those things, Eddie."

"And I didn't?" He raised his brows.

She sighed. "Look, I'm done arguing about this."

"Why? 'Cause you know I'm right?" He queried.

"No, because you're fucking drunk and you're acting on your emotions. We can talk about this in the morning when you're sober and had some time to sleep on it," she told him sternly, knowing that there was no point in continuing since the both of them would just end up getting angrier and angrier. "I'm sleeping at the hotel, tonight." She then turned around, walking to the hotel which was only two blocks away.

"Fine! But I still know I'm right!" He called out after her, but she just rolled her eyes and kept on walking. She tried not to let the argument get to her, knowing that Eddie couldn't have meant all of that. She was mature enough to know that he practically worshipped her and he was only saying those things because of being intoxicated and because of Billy.

✯✯✯

STELLA: I think that was our first real fight ever since getting together, believe it or not. I thought it was no big deal at the time, but it seemed like [Billy] was the root of our problem in our relationship after looking back on it (clicks tongue).

EDDIE: (shakes head at self and sighs).

✯✯✯

Once she made it back to the hotel, she saw Karen walking towards one of the elevators by herself. "Karen?" Stella voiced as she neared her, getting into the elevator with her.

"Oh, Stella. What are you doing here?" Karen asked as the elevator doors closed.

"I wanted to sleep here tonight. Eddie's acting...irrational," she told her truthfully.

"It's because of what Billy did, isn't it?" Karen guessed and Stella nodded. "Boys and their egos," she sighed.

Stella let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I know. Well, anyway, we ended up arguing but I just left 'cause he's drunk and doesn't know what he's saying. But I know by tomorrow he'll regret what he said and apologize if he doesn't want me to threaten to break up with him." Karen chuckled softly, but didn't say anything else. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know, I'm tired because of the whole...you know..." She trailed off and Stella nodded slowly, knowing what she was referring to. "Stella...I don't know what to do. If it's gonna be like this...I-I don't know if I can do it."

"Did you talk with Graham?" She inquired, knowing that Graham knew of the pregnancy.

"No. He's so hell-bent on wanting this baby that I'm too scared about bringing up the other possibility. I don't want to hurt him, but..." She shook her head, looking down as tears started to form in her eyes.

Stella looked at her friend sadly before the elevator doors opened to their floor. "Come with me," Stella said gently before she carefully took Karen's hand and brought her to her room. They both sat on the bed together as a few tears fell down Karen's face. "I know that you don't want to hurt Graham, but you also have to take your own feelings into account. If you think this is going to ruin your life and your career, then you know what decision you have to make."

"I know that, but Graham — He'll be crushed," Karen replied.

"He will be. But if he really loves you, he'll understand. It may take him a few days — weeks maybe — but he'll stick with you. And from the looks of it, Karen...he really, really loves you."

"But what if he doesn't stay? What-what if he's too betrayed?" Karen said worriedly, wiping away at her falling tears.

"Then you'll know it wasn't meant to be," Stella shrugged, not wanting it to seem like a big deal so she wouldn't scare the Sirko girl. "Sometimes, that's just how things end."

Karen breathed out, nodding slowly. "Okay...but what would you do if you were me? Would keep the baby?"

"Oh, Karen, I don't know. But if I did have an answer, I don't think you should let that guide your decision. You have to do this for yourself. And I know that as women, we're not used to that. But this time...this is for you," Stella preached. "And you don't have to tell Graham your decision because his reaction will only sway you one way. It's not up to him, it's up to you. You're the one carrying the baby."

Karen took in the words that Stella has said, all of her tears dried up by the end of it. She then nodded slowly once she processed what she had said, clearing her dry throat. "I think I know what my decision is."

The next morning, Stella called up Camila, and the three of them went to the abortion clinic. Karen ended up not telling Graham her decision in fear of Graham trying to convince her otherwise, so she had Stella and Camila come to support ever step of the way.

It was a tough decision, but Karen knew deep down that she never wanted kids. Especially when she was the keyboardist in the most popular band in the world at that minute. She couldn't let a baby ruin her successful career.

But then, it was time to part from Pittsburgh, and there were definitely some extra tensions on board from before they landed.

Stella and Eddie still never spoke about their argument after the show, and there was evident tension there. There also seemed to be tension amongst Billy, Daisy, and Camila — who would be coming with them this time with Julia — that everyone seemed to notice except for Billy himself. Not only that, but Karen had been feeling guilty about not telling Graham even though the girls constantly told her not to, so it was obvious to them what she had been feeling.

The only person who seemed to not be having any problems was Warren, who was wishing his girlfriend a loving goodbye from the plane.

"I like her man. She's cool," Graham told him as Warren slowly sat down. Graham had been sitting a few seats away from with Eddie across from him. Stella was sitting across from Warren with a soft smile on her face, but she couldn't help but glance at a brooding Eddie from time to time.

"I'm gonna marry that woman," Warren grinned.

Karen then came over and sat next to Graham. "Hey. You get some good sleep?" He asked. She nodded, briefly making eye contact with Stella before she leaned into Graham, allowing him to give her a quick kiss on her head.

"Hey, where were you last night, Stell Bell?" Warren inquired, remembering that he hadn't seen her on the tour bus.

She looked over at Eddie, who's eyes had finally moved away from the window for a quick second to meet her's. She then gave him a quick look before looking back at Warren. "I was tired. Thought I'd go back to the hotel to actually get some sleep," she told him, which wasn't exactly a lie.

Warren glanced in between the two, noticing the looks. He was the only one who didn't really suspect anything going on between them since he just never thought Eddie had it in him, so he just assumed they got into a friendship fight or something like that.

"Well, I hope you got some good sleep."

"Oh, trust me. I did," she assured him, sending one last look at Eddie before she laid back in her seat with a quiet sigh. She knew that once they got off this plane, then they would have to talk about it.

Rod then came walking out of the cockpit excitedly. "Next stop: Chicago, Illinois."

authors note
so sorry for the lack of updates.
school just ended for me yesterday
so hopefully i'll be able to have more
inspiration to update!!!! there's prob
only gonna be a few more chapters
left since we're on ep 10 sadly, so im
def gonna miss writing this book once
it ends :((( anyway thank u guys for
reading and voting and i hope u guys
enjoyed this long overdue chapter!

(p.s. if there grammar/spelling
mistakes, pls ignore them)