They rode in silence, Gene's arm safely wrapped around Ray's shivering shoulders. She leaned more into him, snuggling into his protective embrace. Softly he stroked her hair, eyes elusively dark from the smeared patches of makeup beading with sweat. He must look a sight, he figured, as he glimpsed himself in the rear view mirror.

"Almost there, sir..." the cab driver said with a thick Russian accent.

"Thanks," Gene nodded, and reached into his duffel bag for his wallet. Of course, there was no place to store it in his costume.

"That will be three dollars," the man said. Folding out a five, Gene pushed it into his hand.

"Thanks. Keep the rest... we're getting out here," Gene said, voice hoarse from singing. Ray shivered at how sexy it sounded, almost like a creature's growl.

"All right. Take it easy," he said. Gene swung his long legs out, and levered himself up out of the cab. He shouldered his bag and walked around the car to open the door for Ray. He had quickly shed his platform boots in the cab ride for a pair of comfortable tennis shoes. The offending torture devices he pushed into Ray's hands, and she carried them for him as he walked her up to the apartment building.

"Must be close to eleven thirty," she muttered as they made their way upstairs to their apartment.

"Mm, it's early," Gene laughed, nosing into her hair playfully.

"How EVER did you learn to WALK in these?" she asked.

"Trade secret," he growled as she tried to slip the key into the door. He tickled her from behind, making her shriek as she jammed the stiff key into place. She almost fell over when Gene's body pushed her through the door, catching her in his arms the last minute. He took the boots from her, and threw them to the side, hurling his bag with it. Backing her in, he slammed the door and locked it securely.

"Now you can't get away," he growled playfully. Ray darted away for a moment.

"Where are you going..."

"Trying to make life interesting," she joked, trying to push the images of Mark from her mind with this new game. "I don't want you to think its THAT easy to win the prize..."

"Even after I saved the damn DAY?" Gene whined, a mournful look creasing the mask of smearing paint. The white had begun to cake, small bits of powder landing on his costume. For a moment she darted around the sofa, placing it between her and Gene. Turning around one side, he switched to the other.

"Well..." she laughed, and dodged to the side. Gene grinned and strode nonchalantly past her to the hi-fy, where he immediately tugged out the record crates and began to dig through them.

"Let's see... mood music... hmm.... Revolver, Sergeant Pepper, Magical Mystery tour... Double Fantasy... hmmm...."

"What about ME?" she pouted.

"Hold on, this is an important detail," Gene tisked, shaking his head as he leaned over the crate and pulled out one album. He slipped out the paper sleeve, letting the disc fall into his waiting hand. He placed the record on the stack, followed by another, and then flipped the switch. Reaching over to the lamp, he tossed a red scarf overtop of it, dulling the yellow to a dusky rust red hue.

"Roll up, roll up... roll up for the mystery tour..." the Beatles chimed in four part harmony. "The magical mystery tour is coming to take you away... coming to take you away...."

Gene slowly sauntered over to Ray, who backed away with a grin. She slammed into the wall, realizing there was no place left to go. With a mock roar, Gene pounced, and she swerved out of the way at the last moment. He whirled about, then snaked out one long arm and tugged her to him. She winced, groaning as he touched a tender spot.

"Ow..."

"Ray, oh my god are you okay?" he asked, backing away from her.

"Just my bruise," she winced, hugging her chest.

"Easy, sit down Hon.. I'll get you something cold to drink... and some ice for that..." he offered, and rushed to the kitchen. A few minutes later he returned with ice in a plastic bag, and a cold glass of fresca for her.

"Thanks," she sighed, hugging the ice pack to her stomach through the thin fabric of the shirt. Gene leaned down to pick up her legs and move them to rest across his lap, positioning her so she lay down on the couch with her head propped on a pillow.

"Now we can take it NNICE and easy," he half growled, half purred, tickling her leg.

"Oh God I want a shower," she moaned.

"That sounds like a good idea... wait here, and I'll get it running. You just hug that ice..."

By the time Gene returned with a robe, Ray's bruise had stopped throbbing a bit. She heard the rush of water and smelled the steam ushering from the bathroom door. Still he wore the makeup, and carried something behind his back.

"You're STILL in makeup?" she asked.

"I need some help, taking it off..." he licked his lips. "And you're elected, my groupie love slave..."

So saying, he leaned over and traced the letters that spelled out his band's name on her shirt. She laughed and leaned up to take the objects he offered her: a rag and a bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby oil. He pushed his jacket back off her shoulders, and extended a hand to her to help her up. She momentarily put down the baby oil and cloth, letting him reach down to tug her shirt up and off. He removed the bodice next, then unzipped her leather skirt and let it fall around her ankles.

"Take the instruments of my unmasking," he ordered in a low growl that caused her to blister into goose pimples all over. She dared not disobey; scooping them up and letting him sweep her up into his powerful arms to bear her into the bathroom. He gave Ray a playful spank on her bottom as he carried her over one shoulder into the steaming shower.

For a minute he set her down on the commode, covered by a towel. Instead of the shower she noticed that bathtub brimming with hot water, and floating on top were several beads. They melted into the steaming concoction, lending their aroma into the steamy atmosphere. Gene got in first, sitting down on the bathmat, then holding out his hand for her to join him.

He positioned her to sit between his outstretched legs and lean her head against his chest. He just brushed her with his body, then pulled back teasingly to lean his head and shoulders on the china plated metal surface. "Hmm..." he groaned, letting the adrenaline course out of his body, untightening previously tensed muscles.

Embraced by his marvelous thighs, she stroked her hand up and down his legs. Gene pointed to the oil and growled, "Unmask me, if you dare..."

"I think I enjoy playing with you a bit longer," she whispered, turning around and sitting on his lap, straddling him.

"Oh yeah that's it," he whispered.

"I like the way you said that just now..." she whispered back, eyes dark with desire. Gene growled again, rubbing her belly gently where a black and blue mark had come into being.

"Wish I could make that disappear," he whispered.

"It's a war wound," she said firmly. "Think nothing of it... and now it's time for the hero to get his reward..." So saying she kissed his sensitive neck, rubbing a trail of soap down to his chest. Momentarily she rubbed her cheek to his; further smearing the paint into a gray muddled mess. Unable to resist her another moment, Gene grabbed her hips and thrust into her firmly. This caught Ray off guard and she gasped with the sudden intensity.

"Ooh you rotten sneak!" she moaned.

"I couldn't wait," he grinned, licking his lips. The sight of his mischievous leer fired her sex drive, causing her loins to ache with added desire. Bodies locked together, and lips followed, as they devoured each other with a hunger neither could deny for another second. Seizing his tongue, she nibbled on it, purring through their deep kiss. Pounding up into her, he swept himself and her away on the rising tide. All the pain of the past few hours, all the horror vanished in the steam and fierce coupling of Demon and lady.

It wasn't the alarm clock, Gene was sure. It was far too shrill, and muffled from the other room. Grumbling he turned over and shoved the pillow over his head. Next to him, the warm body snuggled under his enveloping arm. Gingerly he lifted his head, trying not to disturb Ray while he pushed himself off the mattress. Still the phone rang, and he rose from the bed to answer it. He didn't even bother to cover himself with a robe or towel.

Grabbing the phone, he answered, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Gene? This is Bill. Sorry to call you so early, but I thought you'd like to hear the news..."

"News, what news?" Gene asked.

"First, how is Ray doing?"

"She's fine," Gene answered, shaking his head. HE squinted to see the hands of the clock positioned at the 10 and the twelve.

"That's good. Look, I just wanted to tell you the news. I got us a booking!"

"Hold on WHAT was that?" Gene asked.

"It's what you'd call a gig. It's your first concert!"

"Wait, you mean a GIG? Holy shit, where?"

"It's in Queens, in Coventry. On January 20th..."

"That's a whole damn month away," Gene muttered.

"Well gives you time to polish your act. And get it together... with your new member.... And you'll need some more songs..."

"Got it! Thanks Bill! Told you it would happen..."

"About a dozen times," Bill laughed. "I'll call the other guys..."

"Great! See you later today..." Gene nodded. He hung up the phone, and realized his undressed state with a chuckle. Moving into the kitchen, he hunted for the instant coffee stashed over the fridge, after putting on the pot to boil some water. There were a couple of bagels still in the freezer, which would work for a breakfast Gene hoped.

When he had it reasonably ready he knocked on the door softly, tray in hand. He heard a muffled response and opened the door. "Ray? Rise and shine honey... it's a BEAUTIFUL day..."

Wednesday afternoon found chalk dust clouded around Raina as she erased the black boards. IT had been another reasonably good day of classes at the private school where she taught earth science. The all girl classes were sometimes difficult to hold the attention of, but they listened for the most part. Perhaps it had something to do with her unconventional class participation, including field trips to the local park and Natural History museum to show the girls the different types of rocks nature forged. Or perhaps it was the application of her storytelling methods and real life application of earth science that caught their attention.

For the eight graders, it was earth science, for the ninth and tenth it was chemistry or basic exploratory college prep science. She had somehow gained the trust of the sisters and nuns to interject her own brand of education, including many hands on projects. They had enjoyed the model volcano they had made together in class, which spat food coloring. Or the rock polishing experiment where ordinary rocks were transformed into pretty trinkets with a tumbler, demonstrating the effects of erosion and weathering.

Now Raina erased the picture cutaway she had drawn in multicolored chalk of a soil stratum. They had tested the soil of the local building next door to see what minerals were found in various types of earth. She was just packing away the test tubes when she heard a soft knocking at her classroom door. Opening it, she stood in shock at the man behind it, holding a bouquet of daisies.

"Jason!" she exclaimed. "This is a surprise!"

"This is class 203, earth science, isn't it?" he asked with a pleasant smile.

"Yes... come in..." she offered, ushering him in. "I was just packing away the equipment for the day..."

"I thought I'd stop by and surprise you," Jason MacLaren said, entering the room. His blue three-piece suit coordinated with the light blue shirt and blue pin striped tie neatly knotted in a perfect Windsor. Over his arm, he carried the woolen overcoat in the arm opposite the leather briefcase.

"It's been a while," she said with a distant smile. "How did you find me?"

"I was worrying about you. You're one hard lady to track down," Jason said, moving toward the desk as she sat down behind it, and started to grade the stack of tests to her left. "Why did you suddenly vanish without so much as a bye or leave, and an occasional phone call...."

"There was a reason for that," Ray said firmly.

"Ray, I wanted to come here to make sure you were all right! I mean the last time you called mom and dad was close to a YEAR ago... and it's been at least a month since you last even sent me a letter or called me at my office. You'd said you were in Jersey, but to find you here... in Brooklyn... why didn't you tell me..."

"For the simple reason that someone could have tracked me down. If I dared let you know where I REALLY was, you might have told mom and dad, and they would have told that jerk of an ex, and it would have been all for nothing," Ray said firmly. "I couldn't take that risk."

"Ray, I heard about you and Mark... my GOD why didn't you tell me he was hitting you?" Jason asked, resting his hands on the top of the desk, and leaning over to look her straight in the eyes. "Denise and I, you could have come to us instead of DISSAPEARING like that!"

"I know... but I DID let you know I was all right, didn't I?" Ray asked tersely.

"To suddenly call us out of the blue and say you're okay... and you leave me no phone number?" he asked. "And the only contact I have are letters to a post office box in JERSEY? And always calling from pay phones? Why it was only three months ago you even left a number, and it turns out you don't even LIVE there, it's a studio where you're not even there HALF The time..."

"I had no choice Jason," she snapped back. "He would have stopped at NOTHING to track me down. For my own sake and yours, I couldn't let you get stuck into MY problems..."

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't come here to argue with you, Ray," Jason said. "I know it's been tough for you, and I simply wanted to make sure you were all right... and give you these..."

So saying he handed her the bouquet of daisies, yellow and white mingled with soft greenery. She took them and placed them in her coffee cup, filled partly with water. Ray looked back up at him and sighed deeply at the hurt look in his blue eyes. He ran a hand through his copper hair, so it stood on end. It was cropped efficiently on either side, left a bit wavy on top.

"I'm glad you're here," she answered after a few minutes silence. "I've missed you. And believe me if there was any other way I would have done it. But he had me so brainwashed I was afraid.... And when I finally got away, I didn't want to risk contacting you directly, in case my cover got blown..."

"I could have helped you. I'm a lawyer for God's sake," Jason shook his head. "We could have put a restraining order on him..."

"I wish I had thought of that," Ray sniffed, pushing back tears of regret. "But I had created such a mess I needed to get out of it on my own..."

"I'm your brother Ray. I've always tried to be there for you. If I had known what Mark was doing to you... I would have stopped at nothing to make him pay for hurting you... you have to believe that..."

"I know. But it's too late for that..." Ray hung her head. "I wasn't in my right mind. I had to get away. I didn't want to drag you into my messes. And I didn't want to lose the freedom I had gained."

"You could have stayed with Denise and myself... till you got back on your feet..."

"For the first time I have a life that's truly mine, Jason," she said softly. "You know what they say about caged animals? When they're set free?"

"I want to make it right... I wanted to help you... instead of standing idly by, letting that bastard hurt you," Jason slammed his fist on the desk.

"I know.... That's why you're here now, isn't it?" she asked.

"I wish you had told me where you were..."

"I figured you'd find out in time," Ray blushed. "After all, you are a prosecuting attorney. And sooner or later you'd have used your contacts... to work it out..."

"I know you're living with a man who fancies himself something of a rock star. Gloria told me that much. At first she said she was sworn to secrecy... but when she told me about what a monster mark was, I wanted to know where you were. And she told me about the man you were living with... and that you were safe, but she couldn't tell any more, because she figured you would tell me. And then she gave me the address of the school where you worked. Last night I heard from your friends... about what he had done..."

"Karen called you?" Ray asked.

"Actually Liz did. She figured I should know," Jason said. "You've got some good friends there, you know..."

"Bless Liz. Sometimes she has it more together then me," Ray laughed sadly.

"You picked the right intermediary," he laughed in turn. "Gloria, Liz and Karen are good friends. I don't know about that Trish girl. She sounds half stoned most of the time. Are you using drugs?"

"NO!" she said sharply, rising from her seat. "Never... Gene doesn't let me..."

"Is that his name... Gene?" he asked. She shut her mouth, blushing.

"Yes. His name is Gene Simmons," she answered. "And he can't stand drugs or alcohol. And he certainly would make DAMN sure I never had any exposure to them, even if I WAS interested, which I am not."

"I hope not, for his sake," Jason said.

"Look, is this the Spanish inquisition, Jay?" she half joked.

"I just want to know what sort of a man he is. I mean you are living with him, not married... or in any sort of a committed relationship. How can I be sure he's not taking advantage of you..."

"What makes it any different from Mark?" she asked. "I mean you didn't even BOTHER to ask about him... you just assumed since he was Mister Right that he was incapable of faults, and you JUMP to conclusions about GENE, whom you've never met."

"Then tell me about him. What sort of a man is he?"

"He's a hard worker," said Ray honestly. "He's got a dream, and he isn't going to let anyone or anything get in the way of it. And he takes care of his own. He knows the value of a well earned dollar, and he knows how to treat women with respect."

"How does he keep things going... I mean you mentioned he was in a rock band... but I'm assuming that he hasn't exactly made a living of it..."

"He works like me, during the day. At a magazine doing editing, and various other jobs. And he's been helping me out financially when I needed it... but I do pay my share around the apartment when I can..." Ray explained.

"Well if he's a hard worker," Jason said slowly.

"Not to change the subject, but I really DID miss you," Ray interrupted. "I'm only sorry I didn't feel safe about coming to you and Denise sooner... I wish it could have been different..."

"I have something else for you," he said, setting his briefcase on the table and opening it. She saw him pull out a framed picture and hand it to her.

"Oh...."

"It's the newest photo of Denise, Me and the boys," he said with a proud smile. "And the hopes that you will consider stopping in once in a while to visit..."

"Jay... I HAVE missed you," she said, finally allowing the tears to freely fall down her face.

Reaching across he grabbed her hand, and kissed it softly. Tears formed in his blue eyes, moistening as they gleamed in the sunlight streaming in through the window. For a few minutes they held hands, Jason squeezing Ray's finger's tightly between his own. As if holding onto some common ground for a precious moment. He got up from the chair and rounded the desk, leaning over to hug her tightly. She buried her head in his shirt and held him close.

"Hey it's okay Sis," he whispered. "I'm here now... I want to understand, really I do... I just wish you'd tell Mom and Dad where you were..."

"I can't. Don't you see that will undo everything I've worked so hard to achieve?" Ray asked.

"I sided with you, when I told them about what Mark had done. They didn't want to believe at first.... When I told them I'd gotten letters from you..." he explained, stroking her hair. "Dad thought it was ridiculous, and mom.... She was quiet for a long time..."

"I bet they were disappointed they weren't invited to the wedding," she complained.

"If you don't want me to tell them I met up with you, I promise I wont..." Jason assured her, stroking her cheek.

"Thank you," she answered, squeezing his hand as he separated from her to lean over her.

"It's all right."

"I have a picture of Gene," she said, reaching for a picture on the corner of her desk. She handed it to him, in its simple but nice wood frame. "Lydia, a photographer friend of mine, took this of us..."

"He... um... seems all right," Jason said.

"What are you giving that look for?" she asked. "Jay..."

"It's nothing... he just sort of doesn't look like a Simmons to me," he shook his head. "He just uh, looks rather ethnic for that sort of a name..."

"Jason, does that really matter?" she rolled her eyes. "If you must know, he's Hungarian, and changed his name. And he's Jewish."

"Ah, I see," he said, handing the picture back to her. "I guess... that makes things a little more complicated. No wonder you didn't want to tell Mom and Dad..."

"It doesn't matter to me or to him," Ray said.

"I know you've never been much into the religion thing," Jason sighed. "But I just hope you know what you're getting into..."

"Stop sounding like Mom," she snapped.

"I'm sorry... I just..."

"Look, maybe if you met him, would that reassure you I'm not in any danger?" Ray asked.

"I guess," Jason said, only half convinced. Trepidation wrote itself across his features, not altogether reassuring to Ray.

That evening, Ray leapt off the bus near 42nd street, a few blocks from the studio where the guys rehearsed. Right in front of the building where their loft was she saw parked the familiar taxicab with its off duty sign lit. Full rehearsal must be in swing because it was there. Trotting up through the unobtrusive run down door, she heard the sounds of loud raucous guitar fusing into a pulsing base.

"You gotta let me know... you gotta let me know..." were the words she could make out over the lead line and supporting rhythm. Another new song, she mentally noted as she tried the key in the lock and found it still worked without sticking. It soon clattered to a stop inelegantly, much to the chagrin of Bill Aucoin. Gene sighed a bit with frustration."Gene, look stop ragging on me!" Ace snapped. "I'm freaking WITH The damn beat already..."

"Lay off him Gene, it's been a long morning..." Peter chimed in.

"For the last time, I'm NOT ragging on you. I just don't understand why this part is so damn hard for everyone. We've been over it all f***cking morning," Gene protested.

"Well maybe we need to change it," said Ace. "It doesn't WORK.'

He plays a new riff, part Gene Part Paul. "Instead of this..."

"Oh, really, well, I happen to think it works just FINE!" Gene said angrily. "And since I WROTE the damn thing, I ought to know!"

"So?" Ace shrugged. "Like what's your point man?"

"Well whoop-de-friggin-do," Peter muttered under his breath, twirling his finger in the air.

"Ace, just play the damn song..." Paul snapped.

"Well as long as I don't have to frigging SING it," Ace laughed. "Who gives a f**k right?"

"Will you two.... No, you THREE, shut the f**ck up so we can move on.... please?" Gene says with irritation.

Ace ignored Gene and began to play a riff totally independent of Gene or Paul. Peter laughed as he watched the lead guitarist showing off to an indignant Paul and Gene. "Cold gin time again..." Ace slurred in a rather whiny but very credible rock star voice.

Gene was in the process of putting his bass down, but stopped as he heard the song. "Where the hell did THAT come from? I thought you couldn't write shit."

"Just a song I wrote, nothing..." Ace shrugged shyly. "Nothing YOU'D care to hear... Eugene!"

"For the last FRICKIGN time, it's GENE!" Gene bellowed at him.

"Ace play the goddamn thing for them, will ya?" Peter asked.

"You know, Simmons, this may come as quite a shock, but you don't exactly have to write every damn thing we do." Stan sniped. "Just so happens that Karen and I are working on some killer shit too."

"I don't write, I play till it sounds good man," Ace cackled.

"Don't look at me, I don't write," Peter waved a dismissive drumstick in the air.

Gene regarded Ace with a calmer voice, almost patronizing him, "Go ahead. Sing it. I want to hear it."

"Uh... I don't think so man," Ace shook his head.

"I'll sing it," Peter offered. "You play it."

"You can barely keep the friggin' beat" Gene snapped.

"Screw you fatso," Peter snapped. "Play it Ace."

'I'll sing it" Gene interrupted.

"How do you know what to friggin SING, you haven't heard it?" Ace asks, cackling at Peter.

"You sign it to me. I'll learn it. Sort of the way this thing goes," said Gene.

"Gimme a pen..." Ace said. Peter threw him one, and he started scribbling down on a legal pad. "I'll write the fricking words down."

"Bill, you SURE we can't shitcan that stupid Kissin' Time song?" Stan whined. "Karen and I have written better material in our sleep."

Bill shook his head at Paul, "No, we need something catchy, something they might play on the radio...maybe."

Ace handed the pad to Gene. "Here... here's the words Geno..."

"Can't I sing a frigging song?" Peter demanded. "I need one goddamn SONG."

"Shut up Peter," Gene muttered waiving him away.

"How about Strutter?" Peter interrupted. "That's a good song..."

Stan turned away from Bill and rolled his eyes at Peter, "I don't have to sing that one..."

"Then lemmie sing it, damn it," Peter argued. "You don't like it, I'll f**king sing the damn song!"

"Pete, mellow out," Ace cackled. "They're in a pissing contest again..."

"You HAVE to sing KISSIN time. We discussed it, Paul," Bill scolded him.

"F**king bullshit," he muttered.

"Hey, excuse me here... But I need ONE damn song to sing..." Peter cut in. "Since I CAN..."

"Oh for God's sake, quite your pansy ass whining up there, drummer boy!" Gene snapped in amusement, beginning to enjoy the banter.

"Shit, is it too much to ask to sing ONE song?" Peter snorted. "Pansy? Come up HERE and say that! Mr. ACROPHOBIA."

"Screw you!" Gene laughed.

"GENTLEMAN!" Aucoin threw up his hands, "Please let's keep an eye on the task at hand."

"Yeah, you heard the man," Ace slurred. "Seig heil!"

"Say that again, asswipe and I'll make your balls into ornaments," Gene growled.

"Ace, save it for later," Peter drew a hand across his throat. "WE don't wanna have Gene's hand up our asses, do we?"

"Maybe some people would ENJOY it," Ace cackled.

"And let's start getting serious about what songs are going to make it to this album," Bill said in a calmer tone.

"Strutter is in," Peter nodded. "And definitely Deuce... And Black Diamond... since I do sing PART of that..."

Stan sniffled, "I still like Around the Bend. Karen and I wrote that. I think its kick ass."

Gene hooted, "No freaking WAY on that song! I thought we decided on that."

"How about Cold Gin?" Ace asked.

"Fine," Gene nodded. "These lyrics are killer enough. Not bad, Frehley."

"Yes sir," Ace saluted him.

"Ace's new song is.... uhhhh...interesting. I think that's a possibility. I still want to hear the whole thing first though," said Bill.

"But my song!" Paul protested.

Bill threw up his hand again, "Gene's right, Stan. The vote was to turn that one down. I'm sorry"

"What about Roughing it?" Ace cackled. "I mean that's a song that you banged out right?"

Stan turned around for a drink of water. He is pouting rather profusely at this point.

"Aww poor Paul's got a poutie!" Ace cackled.

"What's the matter music boy, your feelings hurt cause he won't' play your widdle songie poo?" Peter joked. Stan turned to both of them and glared. Both Peter and Ace grinned.

"Soooo, it comes down to THIS? I'm missing a shift tonight where I could be earning money to pay bills, and instead I'm hearing schlepping with you idiots?" Paul yelled at them.

"Life is hard, pretty boy. Man I need a SMOKE," Peter complained. "Got any Ace?"

"Here Petey boy," Ace tossed him a pack.

"And I could write better music with my left NUT than all of you combined!" Stan snorted as he fiddled with his guitar.

"Uh huh," said Peter. "Paul writing with his balls... that I'd like to see..."

"Better writing with one nut then a screw loose," Ace cackled. HE fiddled and played the rest of Cold gin. Peter joined in with a pattern from a jazz riff. Gene laughed loudly, as Bill shook his head in frustration.

"Gene, quit trying to start shit. Stan, your songs are great, buddy. Without you, we have no album, there's no doubt. But some of this new stuff you wrote with Karen.... It's not quite THERE yet, you know?" Bill snapped at him.

While they argued, Ace played along with Peter's new rhythm. Peter started singing some of the lines of Cold Gin, slurring it like a drunkard, "The light is on at the corner store..."

Paul and Gene stopped dead in their tracks, their banter interrupted by the loud song Ace and Peter ground out. It drowned out their protestations, much to Bill's amusement. Ray giggled, clapping as Gene nodded reluctantly, and Paul fumed silently on his guitar.

When Peter was done singing, Bill said, "And Ace, if you're going to come to the plate with music, let's hear it. This is the time to throw all this experimental crap on the table."

"Sounds Jake to me," said Gene.

"Thank you from the peanut gallery!" Ace chimed in.

"And Pete, get your damn cigs at our next break, bud, OK? We've got some serious work to do." Bill said to Peter, who had a cigarette hanging out of his lip.

"Gotcha," Peter nodded, taking a drag. Gene winced and waved the smoke away in distaste.

"Have we all decided that we like Strutter? Is that a go?" Bill asked, trying to move forward.

"HELL YEAH!" Ace whooped.

"Ditto," Peter nodded.

"BLACK DIAMOND!" Ray shouted. Stan still pouted a bit, but he signaled to Bill with a slight nod that Strutter was a strong possibility.

"Black Diamond is a definite go," Bill agreed.

"Of COURSE, your girlfriend's song makes it" Paul snarled at Gene, "But mine doesn't."

"FIREHOUSE!" Ace shouted, and makes a siren.

"Eisen, go take a walk!" Bill snarled at him.

"GET THE FIREHOUSE!" Peter said, clanging the bell. "Hose off Paulie!"

"I can see the steam coming out his ears!" Ace cackles. Paul threw his guitar down and stalked out. The door slammed with a definitive bang.

Gene smiled a bit and pulled Aucoin over, "You've got to treat him with kid gloves. Trust me."

"What a baby," Ace laughed. "He doesn't get his girlie's song and he has to go out to cry..."

"Shaddup Ace," Peter smirked, as he tried not to laugh.

Gene grinned at Ace and continued to Bill, 'If someone doesn't go out there and tell him his and Karen's songs are the shit, he'll brood all night."

"Well I'm going out for a SMOKE," Peter said firmly. Aucoin threw up his arms and rolled his eyes. HE began to walk toward the door. Ray sighed and sat down, hoping she hasn't ruined anything.

"Hey there little girl," Peter said, waving hello.

"Hey leather lady," Ace cackled. They walked past her toward the fire escape and climbed out, cigarettes in hand. Gene sank down on the sofa next to Ray, exhaling the breath he'd been holding for a while.

"Did I come at a bad time?" she asked Gene.

"Nah, actually, it's been like this all night. It's crunch time. Time to decide what stays and what goes. Feathers have been ruffled all damn night."

"I'm sorry... I'll leave if this is a bad time," she said, and turned away.

"And the Kid really wants to have a Karen song make it so he can surprise her, I guess. Get good sex out of it. I don't know. Freakin' baby," he said as he motioned her to massage his shoulders.

She rose to leave, but felt Gene catch her hand. He sighed, "PLEASE don't leave me alone with these idiots!"

"All right, anything for you, Gene," she sighed. Moving behind him, she started to rub his shoulders. He closed his eyes and let out a low contended moan. Leaning back, he lay his head and shoulders across her lap. They heard hoots of laughter from Ace and Peter on the fire escape. She smelled Peter's smoke, and Ace pulled out a bottle of jack D from his jacket pocket and swigged down a mouthful.

"Something up, love?" he mumbled.

"I saw Jason today," she admitted reluctantly. After all, Gene had his own problems right now. He didn't need another headache.

"As in....your BROTHER?" Gene straightened up.

"Yes... He wanted to know I was okay..."

"Don't tell me he came down there to start shit. You do NOT need that right now. I do not need that right now," Gene shook his head.

"No. Dammit Gene... he came to say...how SORRY he was..." she said, turning away. "That he wasn't THERE for me..."

"Ray, we need to work out some parts on Black Diamond tonight. Something isn't working," he mentions in passing.

"It's your song now," she says slowly.

"Yeah, it is, but I STILL want your help" he opened his eyes and gave her a puppy dog look. He leaned over and kissed her lightly. She turned away, and tries to hide her tears.

"Your whole family needs to be sorry, in my opinion," Gene said.

"You don't know him," she muttered.

"No....I suppose not. I AM getting tired of seeing your family hurt you, though." He said firmly.

"He didn't come to hurt... In fact... we hashed a lot out."

"I'll believe it when I see it," he muttered as he removed one of his boots. He reached down to rub his aching foot. "For your sake, love, I hope it's true."

"He wants to have lunch and meet you," she said. "But if you're not interested, I'll understand."

"Well, that can be arranged, as long as he realizes what he is getting into. I won't be bullied into changing one iota of how I do things."

"That's not the point," she protested.

"I'm me, Ray, love me or hate me. Even though he might not like what he sees," he added, for emphasis.

"I want him to see you for who you are," said Ray. "I miss him and I want him to know for himself who you are."

"I want to ask him why the hell your family sat back and let Mark kick the shit out of you for years," he said, evenly.

"You're welcome to do that..." she shrugged.

"But if you want me to be nice...I will," he smiled sweetly.

"As long as you at least TRY to meet him."

He put his boot back on slowly and sighed. "For you, I'll do anything"

She feels tears come to her eyes at hearing this.

"Actually babe, I even have money to treat. Aucoin gave us our first recording bonus to edge us along on this damn record. It's not much, but it's enough to take the three of us for a pizza."

"Thank you," she said, leaning over to kiss him. Gene sighed and pulled her close, deepening the kiss as he threw his leg over her lap.

"Bought you something today," he whispered in her ear as he took off the other boot. Ray rubbed his feet, balanced across her lap.

"Gene... you didn't..." she got out.

"Yep," he grinned, "I DID."

"AWWW, isn't that SWEET?" Ace cackled, climbing in from the fire escape.

"Those new brown suede boots you were admiring at Macy's.... size 7 and a half? They're in your closet now." he winked.

"Aww shit," she started to cry.

"Frehley, perhaps you haven't realized it yet, but NO ONE f**cks with me. Capiche?" he laughed. He turned back to her and puts his arm around her.

"YEAH we read you LOUD and CLEAR!" Peter rolled his eyes.

"But you could have used that money for your band..." she protested.

"Now, LOOK, don't cry. C'mon, Ray. It's just a pair of dumb boots."

"That's it exactly... you shouldn't feel you have to do that," she whispered.

"Besides, I saved some of it for the band.... And I spent some of it on you. So shoot me!"

She said nothing, and looked out the window. "Gene what is WRONG with me..." she asked slowly.

"You'll look HOT on stage in those babies, yes, ma'am..." he started, then stopped. "Wrong...as in WHAT? I thought everything was going great."

"I don't know..." she sighed. "I love the band and all... it's just when Jason visited... aww shit what is WRONG with me... Never mind, it's nothing..." So saying, she rose from the sofa, and headed for the door. "You're under pressure and I don't want to add to your problems."

He walked over to her and put his arm around her. "Walk with me" he soothed as he led her out the door.

"Hey Gene, are we done or what?" asked Peter. "Since you're taking a walk with your lady?"

"Yeah can we like go home, your majesty?" Ace asked.

"Yeah, take off. And show up here on TIME," Gene called back. "See you tomorrow!"

"Bye Gene," Peter waved.

"See ya fatso," Ace cracked.

"Screw you, see through!" Gene laughed back. He urged Ray out the door. They passed by Bill and Stan in the hall. Stan held a cigarette he's picked up and is still sulking as he sat on the floor. Bill was leaning forward, speaking to him in a calming tone.

"Now Stanley look," he said. "You have to realize that you ARE talented, but Ace and peter need their time in the spotlight too... In fact if you have peter sing Black Diamond... it would be far better."'

Gene walked by and patted Stan on the shoulder.

"Besides," Gene said to calm Stan. "That one song that you and Karen did -- Anything for My Baby, or however that goes -- that one wasn't too bad, was it Bill?"

"That's actually a GOOD song," said Bill. "I think it has possibilities..."

Stan looked at the ground, glaring at his boots. "We must have written six songs together and only ONE is good enough. What's the deal?" he pouted.

"Luck of the draw?" Bill asked.

Stan shuffled a bit and said, "I think maybe I'll just go home."

"Well what about Let me Know?" Bill asked. "Didn't you and Karen write THAT ONE together?"

"The HELL you will," Gene says, "I need to talk to Ray just a sec, and then I'm back here and you can bite my ear off all night if you want. I aim to PLEASE."

Stan sighs, "Yeah, she helped a little."

"Well we can use it." Bill said. Stan grinned a bit and takes a drag off his cigarette.

"Firehouse, black diamond, 1000 years... Deuce... Strutter, Nothing to Lose... Acrobat, but you HAVE to change the name to something at least like love theme..." Bill counted on his fingers.

"I want to sing at least part of it.... Let Me Know," Stan said, glancing at Bill.

"Sure!" Gene smiled, "You can sing the lyric about how you're so horny and she won't say yes. That'll sound familiar. Just like you two in the bedroom," he grinned as he slapped Stan's back again.

"F**k you, Gene!" Stan snapped, but he was smiling at this point. Ray still held hands, and Gene looked at her periodically, helpless.

"Gene, let him SING the damn song," Ray said.

"I've got to...take care of something," he whispered to Stan.

"All right Gene," he nodded.

"Keep this clown on the straight and narrow and I'll be right back" he says as he gestured to Bill. "You're in charge when I'm gone, Kid."

Stan smiled. Just then, Karen walked up. She had just gotten off her shift at the Greek restaurant. Stan looked at her momentarily in shock.

She took a puff of a cigarette, and moves over to him. At that moment, he was feeling weird about letting her see him smoke, since he razzed her about it often.

"Honey! I came to surprise you," she laughed. He hid the cigarette behind his back. She tossed her butt away, and comes over to kiss him, arms outstretched.

"And it IS a surprise!" he said, surprised. From a distance, Gene and Ray watched amused.

"Excuse me ladies and gents, but I have to work on the album order... be back..." Bill excused himself. HE headed back into the studio.

"Hi ray," Karen winked at Ray. Then she leaned up to kiss Paul on the lips. He kissed her back, still hiding his cigarette. "Mmm, you smell like the restaurant," he chuckled.

She reached around behind him to stroke his back. He panicked a bit and moves his arm down more. Gene laughed silently as he has figured out what is going on. Ray giggled.

"Let's leave the Eisen lovebirds alone," she whispered to Gene.