Welcome to My World

Chapter 3

Caroline went on first like the nights before and dazzled the audience. The Rat Pack plus Caroline has become the hot ticket in Vegas. They were going on playing for three weeks in a row and selling out every show. It was the same order every night, but a completely different show. Frank then sang a few songs, Sammy sang a few, and then Dino was on. She watched as he sang "Little Ole Wine Drinker Me" and charmed the audience and her to bits. Then he took "The Birds and the Bees" at an extra fast tempo making the audience howl as he pranced around the stage. After he finished singing, "Everybody Loves Somebody", she grew nervous. She was about to be on with Dean and she didn't know if either of them would be able to control their emotions anymore.

Over the past three weeks, Dean and Caroline had gotten very cozy. Caroline has overheard Frank saying that when they sang "Welcome to My World" together it was like they were making love with their voice boxes for the whole audience to witness. Every time they sang it, her heart grew even fonder of Dean and his of her. She snapped out of her daydream to hear Dean announcing her.

Dean spoke, "Folks, I'm about to bring a very talented, beautiful lady out here to help me close out my act. Please welcome back Caroline Billings. Come on, Cara Baby."

She waved and smiled to the audience and then grinned at Dean. He flashed her a million dollar smile back. "Mambo Italiano" played and they goofed around on the stage as if no one was watching.

Frank and Sammy stood on the side of the stage, "I've never seen him quite like this," Frank noted.

"Damn right," Sammy shook his head, "It's not an act anymore. He's actually that stupid in love."

When Caroline and Dean finished, Dean said, "Folks, we have one more tune for ya and Cara's going to stick around and help close us out. Here's "Welcome to My World"."

Dean sang the first few lines

Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in?
Miracles, I guess
Still happen now and then

Caroline began to sing the next verse and stepped closer to Dean. He grabbed her hand and held it.

Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind

Dean squeezed her hand as the music built while he sang the bridge.

Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given
The key to this world of mine

They sang together after the key change. Frank looked at Sammy as Dean and Caroline stepped even closer together. Caroline was lost in Dean's eyes. It was a wonder she even remembered the words she was supposed to sing.

I'll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world

Dean felt breathless as the notes came falling from his and Caroline's mouth.

Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world

When the song finished, Dean hugged Caroline and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Baby," he whispered hugging her. Caroline couldn't hear him, but she could feel herself falling even harder for him. The audience was on their feet nearly screaming and chanting "Ca-Ra! Di-No!"

To close off the whole show, they decided to sing, "That's Amore".

When the curtains closed, Frank and Sammy went to get drinks at the bar. Dean claimed he was going to bed early, but Frank and Sammy knew he just wanted to walk Caroline back to her room because she was nearly sick from exhaustion. The last few weeks had been grueling: late shows, early interviews, and of course the Vegas life. He walked Caroline back to her room, "Hey, Cara Baby."

"Hmm?" she asked nearly delirious from exhaustion.

"Nothing," he shook his head, "Forget it."

"Dino, do you have something to say? You've seemed like you wanted to say it all day..."

He grabbed Caroline's hand and kissed it, "Caroline..."

"Dean?"

Tears began to fill his eyes, "Have a goodnight."

"Dean?" Caroline asked tears filling her eyes.

"Goodnight," he nodded letting go of her hands and turning to walk away.

"Dean..." Caroline cried out.

He turned to look at her with sad eyes, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Caroline went back to her room and cried her eyes out. She was falling for him and all of sudden... he just left.

Dino went back to his room and close the door bursting into tears not realizing Frankie and Sammy were waiting for him, "Dino, what the hell happened?" Frank asked.

"It's nothing. I'm fine."

"Is Cara okay?" Sammy asked.

"She's rid of me so she's fine."

"Dino... You really love this girl."

"What if she's it? What if she's my only chance?"

Sammy began to say that Dino could have any girl and Dino interrupted him.

"But what if that's THE girl?" he asked.

"Then go get her," Frank said, "And tell her how you feel."

Dino raced from the room to find Caroline. He knocked on her door, "Cara?"

"Go away."

"Please, I can explain."

"Explain this, we sing a song like "Welcome to My World" together for three weeks. And every night, it becomes more passionate and then you just up and leave?! Well, I'm done," she said opening the door just a crack. It was obvious she was sobbing by how bad she was shaking.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Just leave me be."

"Will you still sing with us?"

"Yes, as in the Rat Pack. I don't think there's anymore for us to discuss, Mr. Martin."

"Cara..."

"I'd prefer if you'd call me Ms. Billings."

"I'll see ya tomorrow then for rehearsal." He walked away slowly and feeling as though his heart had been ripped out of his chest.