So, Here I Am

Chapter Thirty Two Back To Normal ?

The next few days were unbelievable.  Their faces were in the tabloids, the social and entertainment pages of every newspaper, and their interviews headlined the entertainment T.V. shows.  Everyone wanted to know who these women were, that were so obviously now a permanent fixture in the Twins lives.   Laurent was heard to say to an interviewer who wanted to know who his companion was

"This is Maggie McLean, my much better half" looking in each others eyes and holding each others hands tightly as he said it.   Larry was also busy cooing over Issy

"We've been really good friends for a long time, but I needed her in my life as more than a friend" he gushed, also holding her hand tightly, a million flashes of light aimed in their direction when he bent to kiss her on the lips.

Twindom, as expected, went bezerk.  Facebook, twitter, instagram blowing up and shutting down at the prospect that "their men" could have a serious relationship in their lives.

"How come we didn't know that. We know everything" one fan said, bitterly.                                   Not this, they didn't.                                                                                                                                                  Some of them were vicious, but many more were positive and happy for "their men"

"Maggie and Issy both looked beautiful"

"Laurent and Maggie make a very classy couple"

"I always knew an older woman would be good for Lau"

"The Twins looked SO happy"

"Larry and Isobel were so CUTE together!"

This and more, the girls would now have to get used to.

The workshops went well, although once the fans thought the guys would be there with the girls, it was like running a gauntlet trying to get into the building.  Extra security took care of that.

The Twins were obviously tired after the workshops, but they had a day off before the Fashion Institute Gala the next day.  Laurent, Larry and Maggie just chilled for the day, watching movies, playing games, cooking fabulous food and napping.  Issy joined them for dinner, relaxing with everyone afterwards.

-- This is my new family  --  Maggie thought to herself, smiling  --  and I love it.  I will remember this week, these people, this love for the rest of my life  --  and vowed to commit this particular scene, this particular moment to memory.

She could feel things were back to normal now between she and Laurent.  No, they weren't "normal", they were amazing, exceptional.  He kept telling her how happy he was, how much he loved her.  Even Larry told her he'd never seen his brother this happy, and that she couldn't leave again.  She realised she was deliriously happy too.

So why did she keep getting -- only ever so slightly, only every so often -- this knot in her gut, those words of warning to herself.  Those words that had never proved her wrong before.  She'd seen Laurent's dark side now, had exorcised it, it had disappeared, it was gone.  She couldn't see any of it anymore, anywhere.  And whenever this feeling reared its ugly head, she would push it back down and drown it.  Now her gut was letting her down, and she had to ignore it, it was obviously wrong this time.

The next day arrived bright and sunny, as usual, there weren't many of another kind in southern California.  The Twins weren't performing tonight, so they could all chill once the red carpet was over.   As it was a Fashion Institute evening, they knew they all had to look amazing, and designers were falling over themselves to dress the Twins and their two beautiful women.  They would be asked in interviews, and even by photographers

"Who are you wearing tonight ?", the upshot being that whatever designer they chose sales just went up by fifty percent.  They all decided on Armani Prive, classy, classic with a twist, and beautifully tailored.

Issy was working from home, but promised to be at Larry's in time to transfer to Laurent's to get ready in time.  Maggie needed something a bit more sophisticated done with her hair for tonight, so she headed to her stylist while she was in L.A., Blade. (Yes, Blade was his real name, huh?)  However, he wasn't available and she didn't want any of the other stylists there, so she decided that between them, she and Issy could figure something out.

She made her way back to Laurent's apartment feeling excited about tonight.  Yes, it was going to be bedlam again, this was going to be bigger than the benefit the other night, but she was looking forward to again being on the arm of her amazing man.  He would hold her hand, and look into her eyes, as if she were the only person that existed in that moment, announcing to the world that she was his, and he was hers.