Star Wars ringtones sounded in the early morning hours.

�Dazza��

�Mmmph��

�Dazza!� Answer your phone.�

A hand snaked out from under the blankets, and sightlessly slapped around on the nightstand, in search of the noisy object.� Finally it slapped down on top of the phone, and pulled it under the covers.

Daniel turned back over, and snuggled into his pillow.

�H�o?�� Darren�s muffled voice reached Daniel�s tired ears.

�Umhmm� ..oh� mmnn� Really?�� Darren threw his covers off and sat up suddenly.� �That�s great! Thanks, Leo.� Give John our thanks, too.� Okay, bye love.�

Darren beeped his phone off, and tossed it on the nightstand.� Then he turned over, and wrapped himself around Daniel�s prone form.

�Time to rise and shine, you lazy bones.� John said yes.� We sign the papers in three hours.� Then we need to see if we can collect our band back up.�

Daniel rolled over, and blinked sleepily.

Darren couldn�t help but smile, and began placing gentle kisses all over Daniel�s face, stopping to lay claim to his lips as he smiled.

�Um� oh� thanks, babe,� Daniel wrapped Darren in his arms.� �Just remember, as much as I love performing, we�ve got to do it differently this time.� No six month tours��

�Agreed,� Darren kissed his neck.

�No tour longer than a month��

�Um hmm�� Darren placed a kiss on his dimpled chin.

�No more� five countries� in a week��

�Mmm�� Darren began sucking his earlobe� gently rocked his hips, rubbing himself against Daniel.

�I�um� no more� ah� no more� um� ohh��

Colin had to increase the number of security people at Daniel�s house after the nighttime news report�because of both their admission that they were indeed a couple, and because of the possibility that Savage Garden might reform.

Not only did the numbers of reporters increase around the property; but fans had begun to gather outside as well.

Many held placards proclaiming support.� Some claimed disbelief.� Some exclaimed the rebirth of Savage Garden.� And, to Darren�s chagrin, a couple of signs demanded they repent their sins before they burned in hell.

Mostly he found it amusing, as he and Daniel left for their meeting with John Woodruff.

�I wish I could thank the fans,� he commented sadly as he nodded to them in acknowledgement.

�And I wish we could get rid of people like them,� Daniel pointed toward the two fanatics with the hateful sign.

�We don�t have to come back here,� Darren offered. �We could call the folks or go to a hotel.�

Daniel looked at him, a slight frown on his face.� Then he sighed.

�No.� No more running from this,� Daniel shook his head, his arms folded across his chest.� �We ran from it before.� Hid from it.� That�s a big part of what brought it all on.�

Darren smiled.� �Whatever you say, Danny.�

�

They were only five minutes late for their meeting with John Woodruff, at Roadshow Music.� Leonie frowned as they walked in.� Darren smiled his best, �but you love me� smile; while Daniel sported and embarrassed twist of the corners of his lips.

�Darren, I can�t tell you how surprised and happy I was when Leonie called me.� Daniel, good to see you again.�

They sat down and talked contract.

�Coming out hasn�t hurt you,� John said honestly.� �All the feelers point to high acceptance.� Very little surprise, actually.� Most of the talk is �I told you so�, or �it�s about time�.� Sony is fuming though, Darren.� They say you�re under contract to them, and your album is ready to go,� he shrugged.� �They�re right, and I don�t see any way around it.�

�Offer them our third album.� Tell them I�ll promote my album, but only with Daniel, and only under whatever guidelines Daniel specifies for this contract,� Darren motioned to the papers Daniel was reading.� �It�s either that, or they can take a hike and do it without me.�

�They�d blacklist you in America.�

Darren shrugged.� �I won�t say I wouldn�t be disappointed, but my sales have never been that strong in America. I think they�d be more sorry than I will.�

John shrugged and nodded.� �I just need a bit of reassurance this time, Darren.� I�d be stupid not to welcome you back, I mean it�s been five years and you�re still winning longevity awards.� Hell, I like to think we�ve been friends since the beginning.�

�We have been,� Darren agreed.

�But you left me high and dry once before.� And that hurt.� Personally, more than business wise.� Do you understand what I�m saying, Darren?� Daniel said a break, and the next thing I know, you�re saying Savage Garden is dead, and you�ve signed with Sony for your solo work.�

Darren lowered his head in embarrassment, and blushed.� �I know, John� I�I�m sorry.� We�re going to make it work, John.� I promise you,� Darren finished, as Daniel flipped the pages of the contract back in order.

�No tours this year, John.� There�s only three months left anyway.� And we need to see who of the old band is still available��

�Ben and Lee are.� Karl has commitments.� Anji is available.� I�ve got a young man who�s a superb drummer, auditioned by playing along with several of your tunes.� I�ve got three girls lined up who are all complementary to Darren�s vocal range.�

�Already?�� Daniel asked, his mouth ajar in astonishment.� �How?�

�I started calling around after the news last night,� he grinned.� �And I�ve always made a note of which girls sounded like Darren when they auditioned.�

�Oh?�� Darren asked with a grin.

�Ever since that fiasco with your first tour��

Darren nodded.� �At least that first concert turned out well in spite of the slight disharmony.�

He looked at Daniel, and chuckled lightly, then put his fingers under Daniel�s chin and prodded slightly.

�Um, yeah, okay.� One, at most two, comeback concerts.� Brissie, Melbourne, or Sydney, maybe Canberra or Wollongong; but nowhere else.�

�Daniel!�� Leonie huffed.

�No, Leo!�� Darren agreed.� �The concerts are done Daniel�s way or it�s off,� he gestured with his right hand.� �After all he�s gone through�after all we�ve gone through, I�m not pushing it again.�

�If he can�t handle it��

�Then we won�t do it!� Leo, please.� Stand beside me for once� I�m not giving in this time.�

They glared at each other across the table; Darren�s glare slowly darkening.

�That�s fine with me, Daniel,� John announced suddenly, to break the tension.� �Anything else?�

�No tours longer than a month.� With a month�s break in touring to follow.�

�That will be expensive,� Leonie pointed out.

�We can afford it,� Darren growled.

�No more five countries in-a-week type touring, either.� One week, one country.�

Leonie laughed, a bit sarcastically.� �What makes you think you�ll sell a weeks worth of concerts?�

�What makes you think I want a whole week of concerts?� There�ll be places like Paris, or Madrid, or Brussels where I�ll be more interested in screwing Dazza senseless, than performing.�

Darren raised his eyebrows, and his jaw dropped, as he looked at Daniel.

Daniel grinned at him, his green eyes twinkling mischievously as he raised Darren�s right hand to his lips.

John laughed, while Leonie blushed furiously.

�You�� Darren squeaked nervously, blushed, took a quick drink of the water that had been provided.� �Leonie, you wanted me to forgive you.� I did.� You said you knew you�d have to work to make it up to me� Start with this, please.�

�I do have a couple of promising P.A.s in the wings�� John commented offhand.

Leonie took a deep breath and sighed.� �You�re right Darren.� Daniel, I�m sorry.� We�ll do whatever we need to do, to keep you comfortable with the pressures of touring.�

Daniel�s beaming smile lit the room.� �Thank you, Leo.� John, if you�ll put those stipulations in the contract, we�ll be happy to sign with you again.�

�I�ll see to it� say, Rumba is being held in Brissie this year��

�Could you get us a spot? An unannounced spot?�� Daniel asked.

�Not very fair to the fans��

�Just let it drop that Darren might be performing some of his solo stuff��

�You�re planning something, Danny��

Daniel�s beaming smile widened.� �I do have an idea� but we�ll have to start practicing.�

�My solo stuff��

�I�I know some of it already,� Daniel�s smile shrunk to an embarrassed grin.

�I want to rework it.�

�Oh, Darren, no� it�s beautiful.�

�Even Heart Attack?�

Daniel pursed his lips sadly.

�I�ve got a list, we can talk this out later, right?�

Daniel nodded.

�Can you get us a studio for tomorrow afternoon, John?� Have that drummer, and those girls there for us?�

John smiled warmly.� �You bet I can, Darren.�

�Plenty of water, too.� I�ve got a feeling we�ll need it.�

They all stood up then, and John shook their hands.� Gave each of them a �welcome back� hug.

�I�ll see you tomorrow,� John promised as they left.

�Will you be coming to practice, Leo?�� Darren asked outside.

�I think I�m going to catch a flight back to America.� Talk to the Sony execs in person.� See if we can come to some sort of compromise� they may refuse to let you do your new songs.�� She frowned.

�Hunh� I hadn�t thought of that�.� Well, if that�s the way they want to play, then tell them to stuff it, and they can sit on it for five years, and when the copyright runs out, we�ll release it ourselves.�

Leonie�s worried gaze met his, and her eyes flicked back and forth as she searched his.� �You really mean that, don�t you?�

�I do. �I�ve plenty more songs that haven�t been laid down yet,� he reached a hand out to Daniel, and pulled him close.� �And every one of them is easily rewritten to make them ours.�

She nodded, and slowly broke into a smile.� �Well, we�ll just see who sits on what.�

Darren smiled broadly then, and wrapped Leonie in a hug.� �Thank you, Leo.� Thank you.�

He kissed her forehead, and she blushed.

�I�ll be back as soon as I can.�

Daniel gave her a hug, too, and then she left.

When they got back to Daniel�s, they were surprised to see all the news crews had left.� There were still a few fans waiting.� Darren stopped his BMW just inside the driveway.

�Feel up to meeting some fans?� There�s only eight.� I�ll bet Colin could give us someone to walk over with us, if you�d feel safer that way.�

Daniel glanced over to the fans across the street.� They weren�t screaming, just� waiting.� Expectantly.

�Remember the websites?� The support?�

�What if those two people, or others like them, are hiding there?�

Darren shrugged.� �What if they are?� Then we ignore them, and let security take care of them.�

Daniel turned back to Darren, surprise plain on his face.� �Just like that.�

Grinning, Darren nodded.� �Just like that.� What do you say, Danny?�

He nodded.� �If someone comes with us.�

Darren bounded out of the car, grinning madly.� �Colin! A word, please?�

Daniel smiled as he got out of the car.� Darren barely contained himself as Colin walked up, grinning at the Diva like he�d gone crazy.

�You okay, Darren? �Can you hold it?� You could have parked closer to the house.�

Darren gasped, feigned offense, and smacked Colin in the shoulder.� �Sod!� Danny�s agreed to go meet those fans.� I�d like someone to come with us.� What happened to all those reporters anyway?�

�I kind of let it slip that you�d gone to your place.� Had a couple of people leave as decoy.� The newshounds just had to follow.� Most of the crowd left, too.� I�ll come along with you.� He looked at Daniel, and smiled.� �Good to see you out again, Daniel.�

Daniel returned his smile as they crossed the street.� �It feels good, I must admit.�

�You need to get tanned again,� Darren commented cheekily.

Daniel laughed.

The girls screamed when they realized they were coming over.� Daniel stopped suddenly, sobering.�

Darren put his hand on Daniel�s shoulder.� �We don�t have to.�� He looked over at the girls, trying to silently convey his concern.� His anger, really, when he realized he was mad.� He had to remind himself they were typical teens.� Just once, he wished for truly understanding fans.

They stopped screaming then, talking among themselves.

�We�re so happy for you!� one of them called out.� Another held up a sign.� Darren and Daniel 4ever.� Expectation and quiet filled the air then.� And hope.� Darren could sense their hope, and he smiled.� As proud as a new father.� Squeezed Daniel�s shoulder lightly.

�What do you say?� I think they�ll behave.�

Daniel smiled nervously, slowly began moving forward.

Smiles.� Handshakes.� Autographs.� More words of congratulations.� Best wishes for their future together.� Oddly, none of the girls asked about Savage Garden reforming, or if they�d be touring soon.� Maybe they�d understood Daniel�s fear.� Darren wasn�t certain just what had happened, but he was grateful for it.�

Ten minutes later, everyone had their autographs, handshakes, and hugs.� The girls left, chatting and giggling among themselves, and Daniel was smiling his relaxed sunbeam smile.� It warmed Darren inside, as he smiled with him, and they headed back to the house.

�tbc�