"I'll explain things later on, right now," Tay started as he walked out into the back garden with Will.

"Right now," Will said sitting down, "I'd like to know what has been eating at you for so long."

"I just have a lot of things I need to take care of at home."

"Things?" Will asked.

"Yeah, before we can get settled together."

Will sighed and stared off into the flowers. Trying to figure out how a week had passed, how Taylor had managed to avoid ever speaking about whatever it was that had him nearly sobbing that night at Tavern on the Green.

"Um ok," Will sighed.

"Listen, I know you're confused but soon everything will be explained. I know I've been acting weird, believe me," Tay whispered as he swallowed the lump down in his throat.

"That's an understatement," Will muttered turning to face him.

Growing quiet Taylor fiddled with his sleeve.

"So how long are you going to be gone?" Will asked.

"Just a few days, maybe a week at the most but I really doubt it," he replied quietly.

Will nodded quietly.

"Well let's go get something to eat, or I don't know," Will exclaimed slapping his thighs standing up.

"I don't wanna sit around here all day," he smirked as he walked inside.

Taylor stood to follow when his cell phone rang.

"I'll be there in a second," he called out as he looked down at his phone.

His face dropped as he looked at the ID.

"Yes," he exclaimed quietly with a broken voice.

As he stood there his face grew pale, his eyes began to water and the bright blue sky began to shatter and fall from the heavens. His worst fears realized as the voice on the phone rang through his ears like the toll of the twelve noon clock at the gallows.

*          *          *          *          *

"I'm gonna miss you so much," Daph exclaimed hugging Zac tightly as the cab rolled to a stop.

"We won't be gone long," he assured her as he rubbed his nose against hers.

"It went by so fast," she whispered.

Zac smiled softly as he got out of the cab and grabbed his back pack.

"The luxury of packing light, eh," he smirked.

Daphne smiled and glanced over her shoulder as the cab with Tay and Will rolled up behind them.

"I love you," Taylor muttered quietly as he hugged Will.

"I love you too, you're not gonna be gone forever you know?" Will laughed slightly.

Taylor looked away, trying to keep from breaking down.

"Tay?" Will asked turning his face to meet his.

Taylor swallowed and gave him a fake smile.

"Yeah, I know," he smiled as he kissed him.

"Ok, that's better."

The two of them got out of the cab as the driver unloaded Taylor's luggage from the trunk.

"The disadvantages of not packing light," Zac smirked as Daph stared in slight shock at the luggage Taylor had brought.

"Hey, I need all of it," Tay defended as he noticed the three of them laughing quietly.

"Yeah, babe I know," Will smiled as he hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"We'll be in touch, just keep everything going on the same track. I know things will run smooth," Tay exclaimed to Daphne. Who glanced at him with a strange look.

"You're both coming back right, all three of you, Ike too, right?"

"Yeah," Tay replied looking away.

"Ok, 'cause you know without you, and all your help, me the girls wouldn't have gotten this far," Daph exclaimed as she hugged him.

"I know," Tay whispered as he kissed her on the forehead.

"We've gotta go dude," Zac called out from the curb side check in.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," Will whispered as he hugged Taylor.

Tay wrapped his arms around Will and squeezed. The feeling of him in his arms, the scent of his hair, all of it he wanted to capture, to trap and hold in his memory.

"Remember it's just a few days," Will whispered.

Tay pulled back, a lone tear had successfully found its way onto Taylor's cheek.

"I know," Tay whispered.

"I'll call you," he exclaimed looking down at the pavement.

"You do that, I'll be waiting for it," Will smiled as he wiped the tear away with his thumb.

"Later you," Daphne smiled as she gave Zac a peck on the mouth.

"Later you," he replied with a grin.

Daph and Will stood there and watched as Zac and Taylor's shapes blended and disappeared into the crowds. A few moments later they turned and got into the first cab.

"Are you feeling ok?" Daphne asked Will as he sat there quietly.

"Yeah, I mean yes and no," he tried to explain.

"Kinda, odd right?" she asked.

"Yeah, something feels like it's up, is Zac ok?" Will asked.

"Yeah, he's fine, as far as I can tell at least."

"Ok, then it's Tay. I don't know what though. He'd been acting a little odd off and on for a week now," Will almost replied too quietly to hear.

"Everything is gonna be fine, trust me," Daph said as the cab pulled away.

*          *          *          *          *

Exactly one week later.

Will paced back and forth in the front entry of Daphne's condo. His hands shaking, his eyes watery.

"You're gonna drive me insane if you keep doing that," she called from the bedroom.

"I'm sorry," he groaned as he walked into her room and flopped down on the bed.

"Daph, why?" he asked staring up at the ceiling.

"Don't worry, I'm sure there's a very good reason for all of this," she replied.

"I waited two days to call him, Daphne, two days."

"I know."

"We're sorry the number you are attempting to reach is no longer in service," Will replied in a nasal female voice.

"I don't understand that either," she sighed as she walked in.

"His cell phone, disconnected," his voice trailed to silence.

"Zac too, I know, I know it's," she grew quiet sitting down.

"It's like they all dropped off the face of the planet, not a word, not a call, not an email, even the teenie rumor mills have grown quiet," Will swallowed.

"I can't believe you went digging through those message boards and news groups."

"Even Groupie Central had nothing, Daph, do you realize how killing it is to look for news on your boyfriend on gossip websites?" Will sighed closing his eyes.

"Well, I know he's not totally gone. He's made about four calls to the management and production teams that are putting tonight's gig together."

"That only makes it worse, I mean come on. I've heard from Ashton, and we're not even dating. I don't even live with him anymore," Will almost sobbed rolling over.

"I'm sure, almost positive Tay will be here tonight, seriously he's pulled and pushed and worked too hard getting the stuff I couldn't get done to miss it," she tried to sound convincing as she rubbed Will's back.

"It's like, something feels really wrong, really bad, something awful," Will cried into the pillow.

"Don't get yourself all worked up. You know you get all stuffy and cranky after you cry, and it destroys your complexion," she tickled him.

"Stop, really Daph. I've held this in all week," he sat up staring at her intensely.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she hugged him closely.

"I know you're scared, we all are," she sighed.

"Ok stop pampering me. You've got the concert in less than five hours and you don't need to be sitting here trying to sooth me," Will sniffled as he pushed Daph off of him and towards her bathroom.

"Hey, you know something?" she started then grew quiet.

"What?" Will asked looking up.

"Wanna pick out my wardrobe for tonight?" she grinned knowing the effect that would have on him.

"Oh my God," he squeaked jumping up, but then growing quiet and still.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Yeah, I pick out your cloths and Amber and Cristin are going to throw a fit and a half," he sighed sitting down.

"Oh, come on, who says they'll know it was you who picked it out?" she smiled.

"I will," he exclaimed raising his eyebrows.

Daph laughed through her nose and shook her head returning to her bathroom.

"You can pick out anything you want, really and I'll throw it in with the rest of the stuff that I already want to give a shot tonight," she exclaimed as she towel dried her hair.

Will walked into her closet and glanced at all the clothing. He sighed quietly, remembering the last time he was in a closet this full, it was Taylor's. His mind drifted back to their cute arguments over who would wear what. Always fighting to wear what they wanted, while pleasing each other, and not clashing too much at the same time. He smirked. The thought made him grin. Inevitably they would end up making out and soon would find themselves on the closet floor.

"If we're ever gonna get dressed, we had better lay off the hanky-panky," Taylor's voice echoed through his mind.

"Just so long as I can introduce your hanky to my panky later," Will laughed like a nerd causing Taylor to smile and shake his head.

"It's a deal," Will heard in his mind as he snapped back to reality.

"Do you mind the skimpy stuff?" he called out wiping a tear from his eyes.

"Just remember I have to play drums in these outfits," she replied.

"I'll pack the double stick tape then."

"Oh my God," Daph laughed from the bathroom.

*          *          *          *          *

Will stared with watering eyes, the packed arena going wild. Madison Square Garden had sold out. Somehow, having opened for Hanson during their previous tour, Freezer Burn had managed to land the opening act for N'Sync as well just months later. Those two accomplishments alone seemed to be enough sell out the entire venue, which shocked everyone. Will watched as Daph rolled through the beats and managed to keep an ever present sexy gleam on her face, which without a doubt had her male fans drooling. His eyes scanned across the front row. A mixture of females, who obviously worshiped one of the three on stage bobbed and sang along. Not to mention every imaginable mixture of males. From the flaming queens and feminine boys, to the preppy and grunge with a few scattered Goths it was staggering. Because of their unique look and sound Freezer Burn was one of few bands that could boast such a wide fan base.

Mixing their sounds and styles to span from bubble gum pop all the way to grass roots rock that Joan Jett herself would have been proud of, there was something in the show for everyone. In fact, there were rumors circulating backstage that Joan indeed was in attendance.

Will smiled as the thought of Daphne running full face into Joan Jett backstage crossed his mind. He smiled and nodded, Joan would approve. Everyone knew Daphne was obviously the source of the rock vibe, while Amber and Cristin looked nearly out of place on stage. It was Josie and the Pussy Cats meets Spinal Tap. While Amber and Cristin had the teenie bopper girls and ex Britney fans swooning over their talent to look like created pop queens, Daphne sat like a true Rock Goddess atop her throne behind the drums.

Will glanced over as he watched a writer from Rolling Stone scribbled notes on a palm pilot.

"You know Daphne is the guts and the grit of the band," Will exclaimed.

"That's obvious," the reporter grinned.

"Looks like the reigning pop queens are gonna have a rough time once these girls sign their final contracts," the writer exclaimed.

Will felt his eyebrows arch. How the reporter knew they already had been signed to Columbia Records he had no clue. However he pretended not to notice.

"Yeah, if it weren't for Daphne, the entire set would be poppy bullshit and cry baby 'why did you leave me,' style garbage," Will exclaimed watching the stage.

"Is that so?" the writer exclaimed scribbling madly.

"Yeah, those two skanks constantly try to force their way, with their shitty Britney knock off songs. Daph has to nearly throw furniture at them to get them to stop with the constant bubble gum dribble."

"Well, it's good that she does, because they wouldn't be able to hold onto this broad of a fan base if all they did was a female boy band angle," he replied without looking away from the stage.

"She's really cover story material, Amber and Cristin, eh, you'll get lengthy replies to how many shoes they own and how often they shop, and what other rockers are cute. Daphne on the other hand, will lock you into a deep conversation about sounds, styles and just about everything else that you'd expect from a real Rock Goddess," Will gushed.

"You sound like a pretty big fan of hers," the writer grinned.

"No, not really that, it's just I see through the shit and pay attention to the reality, yeah, great body, beautiful face, a smile you could see from the moon, but while she's got all that, she's got a brain and talent out the ass," Will smiled.

"I'm gonna make sure to spotlight her more than the other two," he started.

"Don't be obvious about it, or she will get upset. Believe it or not she pretty much thinks those two," Will searched for the word.

"Robots," the man offered.

"That works, those two robots are her equals. Her only short coming is that she can't see how they are holding her back, so don't make it obvious what you're doing or she'll force them into your face and demand you talk to them more," Will explained.

"I gotcha, don't worry, it won't look like it while I'm interviewing, but once it hits the magazine ... it will be obvious," he smiled.

"Good," Will grinned.

"Isn't she dating Zac Hanson?" the man asked suddenly catching Will off guard totally.

"Say what?" Will played dumb.

"She's dating Zac, it's everywhere," he exclaimed.

"I can't comment on her personal life," Will started.

"Oh, well that's ok, I just thought she would have been there yesterday," he started.

"Been where?" Will asked confused.

"At the," he started as his cell rang.

"I'm gonna get going," he exclaimed as he rushed off.

"What the hell?" Will asked himself as he watched the man rush away.

"At the what?" he asked quietly.

"Had something happened," he asked himself why he was feeling that they had totally missed something.

Suddenly the skin on his arms covered in goose bumps and his stomach turned slightly. Something felt horribly wrong. His mind was yanked from the terror that had surrounded him momentarily as Daphne came bolting down the side stage stairs.

"Well?" she yelled covered in sweat.

"I can see your nipples," Will laughed trying to shake off the feeling.

"What?" she exclaimed looking down at her white flimsy top which had been soaked with sweat, her nipples showing a darker shade beneath the material.

"Oh my God," she yelped wrapping her arms over her chest.

"Oh shut up, you know it doesn't bother you," Will laughed pulling her arms away.

"No, but if Amber and Cristin see they will have a cow," she hissed glancing over her shoulder.

"Funny I took them more for puppies than cows," Will exclaimed looking up at the stage.

"Hah," Daph smiled.

"So, did you find them?" she asked.

Suddenly Will realized that he had spent so much time with the Rolling Stone reporter that he hadn't even looked for Tay or Zac. At that moment the feeling rushed around him again.

"What's wrong?" Daphne asked.

"I don't know," he whispered his hands shaking.

"Everything is fine," he suddenly blurted, not wanting to destroy her first major stage moment with the fact that he felt his life was seconds away from coming apart at the seams, again.

"Right," she frowned as his cell phone rang.

"Ooh, answer it," she chirped grinning.

Will fumbled with his pants pocket trying to wrench the phone free.

"Hurry, I gotta get back up there for the encore," she exclaimed dancing from side to side.

"Hello," Will asked as he put the phone up to his ear.

Daphne watched as Will's face brightened then dropped.

"You've got to be kidding me?" he almost growled.

Then he pulled his ear away and looked at the phone and around him.

"What?" Daph asked.

Will jumped a bit, he could hear Daph's voice on his cell too.

"They saw the show but, fuck it all, they can't come see us," Will snapped looking up at Daph who's face dropped as well.

"Listen," Will started as the rep interrupted him.

Will's eyebrows pinched again and he winced as he caught another echo in the phone, he was hearing the rep through the earpiece but also distantly somehow in his other ear.

Instantly he realized that the rep must have been calling him from nearby, so close by that he didn't even need the phone.

"They are here," Will exclaimed covering the mouthpiece.

Instantly Daphne's head began to jerk from left to right, her eyes scanning the crew and assorted people backstage.

"Remind me to give out no more passes," she exclaimed as she tried to identify people she didn't even know.

"Ike," Will yelled as he caught sight of him about ten feet away near the backstage entrance.

Ike glanced over and darted to the side trying to pull out of sight.

"What the?" Daph exclaimed as she watched Ike dodge them.

Will started running, Daphne behind him, through the people who suddenly seemed to come out of nowhere to walk between them blocking their view. Briefly as they got close Will caught glimpses of Taylor and Zac. Finally pushing through the last group of roadies Will closed the last ten feet with his arms out stretched.

"Taylor, oh my God what?" he started when he suddenly was stopped by a man in a suit who stood between them and began to push Will back.

Will felt his fists clench and his eyes begin to water.

"What the, who?" Will started swatting the man's hands off of him who continued to push him back.

"You're in my backstage mother fucker, get your hands off of him," Daph exclaimed as she threw a solid right hook and clocked the guy in the jaw. The man stumbled back and an enraged look splashed over his face as he shoved Will back nearly knocking him and Daphne down.

"Stop," Taylor's voice suddenly cut through the noise.

Will stood there in shock. Daphne behind him lightly shaking her hand, her chest heaving, out of breath.

"It's ok," Taylor exclaimed putting his hand on the man's shoulder pulling him back a bit.

Will felt his heart begin to race. His mind spinning as the nightmare around him seemed to melt away. A smile began to spread across his face when a sparkle caught his eye. He glanced over at the man's shoulder where Taylor's left hand pulled him back firmly.

Before Daphne knew what had happened, she felt nearly all of Will's weight press back against her. She put her arms up behind him pushing him up a bit, unaware of what was happening.

Will felt his world crumble, as the angels in heaven began to cry, as the stars fell from the skies and the oceans began to boil. The stage lighting reflecting brightly, a golden shine casting it's light on Will's eyes. The source not a star, nor the sun, but a solid gold wedding band on Taylor's left ring finger.


On to Chapter Nineteen

Back to Chapter Seventeen

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A Love Incognito is Copyright © 2000 by Taylor W. Quest.
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All applicable copyright laws apply. All individuals depicted are fictional with any resemblance to real persons being purely coincidental.

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