Never Not You

Comeback

A/N: this one took a while because I had no idea how to write it but I hope I've done it well

Aurora paced the living room, deep in thought about the pop-up concert she'd promised Leah. Leah was the one who truly wanted to see her on stage again, and Aurora had agreed, but there was a looming concern—Mateo. What were they going to do with him?

"We could bring him, but... someone might see him, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that," Aurora said, her brow furrowing.

Leah leaned against the counter, arms crossed, thinking it over. "Well, we could leave him with Mum, but knowing her, she'd want to come to the show too."

Aurora nodded. Amanda was always supportive and adored Mateo, but it didn't solve their problem. They couldn't exactly ask her to sit this one out. Aurora tapped her foot nervously on the floor.

Leah suddenly perked up. "What about having him stay backstage? Nobody's allowed there anyway, and we'll have our family there, plus I'll be with him. That way, you can check on him during your break, and afterward too. It's a win-win."

Aurora bit her lip, unsure. "And if I bring you on stage... what then?"

Leah blinked, clearly not expecting that. "B-bring me on stage? What, uh, what for?"

Aurora smiled teasingly. "Who knows? Maybe I'll give a special performance. You know... give the fans the confirmation they're after." Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

Leah's face turned a little pink, excitement clear as she nodded. "Yeah, uh, you can definitely do that. That would be... incredible." Her mind was already racing with thoughts about what song Aurora might pick, and the very idea of Aurora performing to her in front of everyone made her heart race.

Leah, still thinking, added, "Someone will be with him the whole time, and backstage will be quieter. He'll probably sleep through most of it."

After a few more moments of hesitation, Aurora exhaled and smiled. "Okay. But we need to get him in without being seen. No surprises."

Leah grinned, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "We'll make it work."

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It was the day of Aurora's much-anticipated performance, and what had initially been planned as an intimate, small-venue show had transformed into something much larger. The tickets sold out within minutes, despite the minimal promotion, prompting the decision to move the show to the O2 Arena to accommodate the overwhelming demand from fans. What was meant to be an intimate event had now become a full-scale production, and the weight of that reality was settling in.

In the dressing room, Aurora was seated in front of the vanity, her heart fluttering with nerves. Mateo clung to her, his tiny hands gripping her loose, slightly see-through oversized shirt. Underneath, she wore a bralette and high-waisted shorts that peeked out subtly. Despite the chaos surrounding her, Aurora held him close, keeping him entertained as her trusted hairstylist, Kylie, worked magic on her hair. The room buzzed with activity, but Aurora remained a picture of calm—at least on the surface.

Leah was there too, standing off to the side but never taking her eyes off Aurora. She couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly stunning she was. There was something about watching Aurora, so calm yet so captivating, getting her hair and makeup done that left Leah entranced. She admired how her stylist expertly applied the glossy red lipstick, making Aurora's lips look even more irresistible. It was all so mesmerizing, from the way Aurora kept Mateo entertained to how the glam team transformed her from effortlessly beautiful to a living masterpiece.