Miles had picked up Jensen at her hotel in the morning because he hadn't wanted her to have to catch "some creepy cab" who was going to charge her too much. (Jensen had teasingly said, "You could just say you want to spend more time with me.") (To which Miles had replied, very not teasingly, "I want to spend more time with you please let me drive you to work.")

Walking into Millerview Studios was slightly less intimidating knowing Miles was there. And he was with Jensen. And they were together. Even if no one else knew.

"Great, you two are here," Grace said as Miles and Jensen walked into the studio. She stopped typing something on her phone to point a finger between Miles and Jensen. "Together. Interesting."

Miles groaned. "Grace, you're making a face."

"I'm not making a face," Grace said. Very much making a face. A suggestive one.

"You're making a face."

"Don't think so," Grace said. "Keira wants to talk to you. By the way. Both of you. In her office. You know where it is."

Miles and Jensen exchanged looks before he made a motion that she should go first. Which probably didn't do anything to help Grace's face that she was most definitely making, but they couldn't really help that.

Jensen stepped forward and Miles fell into stride with her. He got to the office door first, holding it open so Jensen could walk through first. Stepping through, Jensen held her hands behind her back—suddenly feeling like she was one of her students, waiting for a talk about lines or auditions. When Jensen looked at Miles he looked about the same. She swallowed hard.

Keira's chair was facing opposite them. Her head was down. Surely she'd heard them walk in...? Jensen looked at the walls, lined with posters of Keira's films she had made. In the middle was Losing Her, which proudly said 6 Academy Award Nominations including Best Director in bold letters across the top. A picture of Grace and Tanner sat on her desk.

"Keira?" Jensen said, more of a question than she had intended. "Um, you wanted to see us?"

Keira spun around in her chair. A leg draped over the other, a magazine in her hands. Jensen's eyes widened when she saw who was on the cover. Without saying anything, Keira flipped open the magazine. Her eyes scanned the pages as she read aloud. "Sparks Fly between co-stars Miles Fox and Jensen Rhodes at local LA café."

"Keira—" Miles started.

Keira held her finger up to keep him quiet. "I have to say, first, that's a damn good pun and that's exactly what I wanted with the title of this movie. Round of applause." Keira clapped her hands in a quick circle before knitting her fingers together and resting them on her stomach. "Second," she said, "I'm going to be straight with you. I'm not the kind of director to tell you to fake date to promote my movie. I think that's a dick move."

Jensen felt her cheeks redden and silently prayed Keira didn't notice. She didn't dare steal a glance at Miles to see if he was doing the same. "Um—" Jensen tried.

Keira held up her finger again before letting her hand settle back to where it had been resting comfortably. "But this—" She tossed the magazine on her desk and eyed them. Jensen's ears felt like they were on fire. "—this loved up whatever-the-fuck you're doing is working. It's getting me free publicity. It's getting buzz. And I like buzz. I like it a lot. So, I'm not going to ask what's going on. I don't care if you're really good friends. I don't care if you're dating. I don't care if you're sleeping together and that was you grabbing a coffee afterwards—"

"Keira!" Miles said. He'd scared Jensen enough she jumped and looked at him. His face was as red as hers, if not redder. "We're not—"

"I don't care," Keira said. "I just called you in here to say you're giving me free press. So, whatever it is you're doing—I repeat, I genuinely don't care what it is—keep being seen. Together."

"I think we can do that," Miles said, nodding quickly. "I mean, if it makes you happy, oh gracious director who's not at all abusing her power."

"Thank you, star of my film who's not at all being sassy on his first day," Keira said. "What about you, Jensen? Anything not at all sassy to say?"

"I mean, um..." Jensen started. She looked at Miles quickly before she made eye contact with Keira, who stared at her over the edge of her horn-rimmed glasses. Making the same kind of face her wife had earlier. "Yeah... um, yeah. We can... you know. Do... that."

"Good," Keira said as she waved her hand dismissively. "That's all. Go to wardrobe. Or makeup. Or... whatever. I don't need you here for another hour, really. At least. Hollywood decided not to have the right light today so we've gotta adjust everything. Take your time."

"Um... thanks," Jensen managed.

"Oh, Jensen?" Keira said. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

Keira let out a small laugh. "Do you do your own stunts?"

Keira turned the magazine toward Jensen, who turned redder than she already was. The photos staring back at her were various stages of her climbing out the bathroom window at Chocolate and Vanilla.

"I—um—"

Keira let out a small laugh. "Rhetorical question. I just wanted to see your reaction. That's all. Go to makeup."

Jensen and Miles both turned on their heels and walked out the door. She held the door open as Miles stepped through and followed him out. Grace looked up from her phone as they walked out of the office.

"All good?" Grace asked.

"Um. Trailers?" Miles asked.

Grace pointed over their shoulders. "Out there. Follow the yellow paint."

Miles thanked her and they turned around and started walking. As soon as they were out of the building, Miles bumped his hip against hers. "Real stealthy in there, Rhodes. I'm sure Keira has no idea."

Jensen let out a laugh and bumped her shoulder into his bicep. "You're one to talk, Mister Beet-fucking-Red."

Miles laughed. "Was it bad?"

"It still is," Jensen said. Her eyes fell to the yellow paint and she walked along it. One foot in front of the other. "Your makeup artist is going to have a great time."

"Honestly, her problem will be finding the right shade concealer for under my eyes," Miles said. "It's a bitch. Took me six years to finally get the exact shade I needed. Even then it still needs to be blended to shit to look right on camera."

"Six years?" Jensen asked. She held her arms out as she walked along the paint.

"Well, I mean," Miles said, "I finished my certificate with a model but when I wanted to practice at home, you know, I had to use myself. But yeah. Six years."

"I didn't think it would've been that hard."

"I think I just didn't want to admit to myself that my shade was eggshell."

Jensen laughed. "You don't want to admit you're eggshell, I don't want to admit that almost no brand carries more than, like, four shades anyone darker than tan. Which is really just white in disguise."

"Which is bullshit."

"Do I bother asking why you have a makeup artist certificate?" Jensen asked. "Or is it similar to the stunt driving thing?"

"You can't deny my stunt driving came in handy. I started the makeup artist that September. Took me eight months."

"Eight months plus five years and four months."

Miles laughed. "That's very true."

"Did it cure your boredom?"

"It was interesting as hell, Rhodes," Miles said. "And by the end of it, let me tell you, killer cat eye."

"Oh yeah?" Jensen asked. "Are you doing your own makeup for this, then?"

Miles grinned. "Does Jason seem like a wing tip guy to you?"

"He has a daughter," Jensen said. "You could have some painted nails."

Miles stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide.

Jensen looked around before quirking an eyebrow at him. She dropped her arms at her sides. "What, did you see a ghost? Is it Patrick Swayze? Does he want to make pottery with you?"

"You're a fucking genius, Rhodes."

"It's been known."

"Do you think my makeup artist would do my nails for me?"

"I'll paint your nails if she won't."

"Do you think I should get one colour?" Miles asked. "Or all the colours?"

"Is Holly on set today?" Jensen asked. "You could ask her. She's the one playing your daughter, not me."

Miles let out a small snort. "I'd hope not."

Jensen wrinkled her nose. "Ew."

Miles looked around before quickly wrapping an arm around Jensen and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Sorry."

Jensen wiggled out of his arm and walked up the steps to the makeup trailer. "I don't think you get to do that right after saying something like that."

"Are you sure?" Miles asked. But Jensen had already stepped into the trailer. Which, in her mind, meant she won. Because that was fair. Totally. Checkmate, Jensen Rhodes.

"Jens!" a familiar voice yelled as Miles stepped through the door behind Jensen.

Jensen turned on her heel and was met with a bone-crushing hug. When Jensen realized who was making her feel like her soul was leaving her body, Jensen gave her an equally tight hug. "Lor, oh my God, how are you?"

"I'm fantastic. Flew out yesterday." Lori grinned as she pulled away. "Look at you, Hollywood starlet! You're glowing."

"So are you!" Jensen said, "I'm so happy you're here."

"How could I pass up when Lucille called me?" Lori asked. "I told you you'd make it, didn't I? I'm so excited to work with you again. The set just hasn't been the same without you."

Jensen smiled. "How's everyone doing?"

"They're doing well," Lori said. "They're already planning on seeing this on the premiere day. And they don't even know when that is!"

"That's so nice," Jensen said. She looked at Miles, who stood with his hands in his pockets. Awkwardly. Like he didn't quite know how to stand and pretend to be out of the conversation. Makeup trailers were only so big, after all. "Oh, Lori, this is Miles. Miles, this is Lori. She was my makeup artist for Legendary."

"Nice to meet you," Miles said, smiling as he held out a hand toward her.

Lori shook his hand. "Lovely to meet you as well. I've read a lot about you."

"Hope you didn't judge it too hard," Miles said as he stuffed his hand back in his pocket. "I'm a huge fan of your work on the show. The makeup always looks fantastic on camera."

"Well," Lori said, "I've got some good canvases."

"Yeah, you do." Miles stole a glance at Jensen before realizing where he was and looking back at Lori. Beet red again—up to the ears.

Jensen smiled softly as Lori took her hand and led her to her to her makeup chair. She sat down as Lori started rifling through her makeup kit and placing what she needed in front of Jensen.

"Devyn said she was running late," Lori said. To Miles, although she wasn't looking at him. "Her babysitter didn't show up on time, but if she doesn't get here by the time I'm done with Jensen, I'll do your makeup, Miles. That okay?"

"Absolutely," Miles said. He gave Jensen a quick wink when Lori turned her back as he headed toward another makeup chair in the room and sat down. Putting his feet on the counter, Miles pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Rhodes?"

"Yeah?" Jensen said, looking up as Lori started applying concealer under her eyes.

"Do you have Instagram?"

"What?"

"Smile."

Jensen saw a flash out of the corner of her eye. "What are you doing?"

"Keira said we need to give people something to talk about."

"Hold up, paparazzi," Jensen said, holding her hand up. "What's going on?"

"Do you have Instagram?" Miles asked. "Or should I post this with the hashtag treatment?"

"I almost never go on my phone. No, I don't have Instagram."

Lori let out a small snort as she blended Jensen's concealer in gently. "Unless it's to read shitty articles."

"Lori!" Jensen protested. Miles let out a laugh.

"Tell me I'm wrong, dear," Lori said, riffling around in the makeup she'd pulled from her bag.

"I said almost."

Lori laughed. "There it is."

"You haven't seen me in a couple months and this is how you treat me?" Jensen teased. "Lori, I'm appalled."

"What can I say? I've been missing out on my tabloid fix since you left the show."

*

As it turned out, Keira loved the idea of Miles' nails being painted. He'd convinced Devyn to go with ten different colours, and was grinning like a school child by the time she was done. (He'd also promised that if Keira hadn't been on board, he would take all of her anger and Devyn would take none because it was his—well, Jensen's—idea.)

Miles and Jensen were at the catering table in the middle of a conversation about how they felt everything was going when there was a small tug on the side of her shirt. Which were also her pants. Because Keira had them dressed in the baggiest welder uniforms imaginable.

Jensen turned to look at where the tug had come from and saw a small girl with big eyes staring back up at her. After placing her plate on the table she took a knee so she was closer to the girl's height. She smiled softly. "Hey."

"You're Jensen," the girl said.

"I am," Jensen said. "Are you Holly?"

"Yes," Holly said. "Nice to meet you."

"Have you met Miles yet?"

"I haven't," Holly said. "Could you introduce us?"

"Miles," Jensen said, turning to where Miles was piling food onto his plate.

"Yeah?" Miles asked. He turned toward Jensen and his eyes lit up. Tossing his plate down on the catering table, he walked the couple steps over to Jensen and Holly and knelt down as well. "You must be Holly. I'm really excited to work with you, kid."

"I just wanted you to know that I think your work in Daydream Believer all those years ago was marvelous," Holly said. "And I will try to give my acting the same level of integrity as you did back then."

"That's..." Miles started. "Um, thanks. But... you know, don't put too much pressure on yourself, you don't want to spiral into something you can't get out of."

"Oh, I won't," Holly said. "My goal is to be youngest person ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. I have less than three years to beat Tatum O'Neill."

"I—okay." Miles nodded. "I hope you reach your goal."

"I will," Holly said. "So, let's get some good work done here. Okay?"

Miles swallowed hard enough for Jensen to hear it from beside him. "Okay."

"Nice to meet you," Holly said. "I have to go find my mom."

"Um, nice to... meet you too, Holly," Miles said. "Do you need some help?"

"I think she was talking to Mrs. Lim, so I'm going to head over there. Enjoy your lunch."

"You too," Miles said. Though he sounded like he wasn't sure. "Good luck finding her."

"Thank you," Holly said. "I'll see you later to run lines before our scene together. Let's have a goal for no more than four takes."

"Um. Okay. Sure."

Holly gave them both a smile and walked away. Her small sneakers silent as she headed toward where Keira might have been.

Miles and Jensen exchanged looks and let out small laughs. Jensen ran a hand up his bicep reassuringly. "No pressure, Mr. Fox."