Archive of Our Own

Les Étoiles / Starting Takes Courage

Raul woke slowly, the soft light of early morning filtering through the thin curtains. He blinked, his body still warm from the quiet hours spent beside Gwen, who had fallen asleep on the couch next to him while he scribbled late into the night. His mind had been buzzing with ideas, scenes that finally poured out onto the page—scenes that, oddly enough, took on new life after meeting Gwen.

He turned his head slightly and saw her still curled up, nestled in one of his loose t-shirts, looking entirely peaceful. His lips quirked into a smile. She was cute when she slept—her soft breathing evened out into a light, barely-there snore that made him grin.

"Cutely snores," he murmured to himself, recalling the way her presence had shifted something in him last night. He reached for the notebook that had fallen onto the floor during the night, quickly skimming through the pages filled with new dialogue. His eyes landed on a particular scene he'd been stuck on for months, one that suddenly made perfect sense after knowing her.

With a glance at the kitchen, he remembered the cupcakes he'd bought at the airport, completely forgotten in the whirlwind of conversation and tea. Quietly, he slipped off the couch, padding softly to the kitchen. As he made coffee and arranged the cupcakes on a small plate, his eyes caught the chalkboard inscribed with “Creativity Takes Courage.” Thinking better of it, he erased “Creativity” with the heel of his hand and wrote in with a piece of chalk “Starting” instead, before taking a step back to admire the one word altering the idea, matching his mood.

A soft knock at the door startled him.

It was still early. He frowned slightly, wondering who it could be at this hour. Shrugging, he crossed to the door, opening it to find David, his manager, standing on the other side, holding a few folders and a script.

"David," Raul greeted, keeping his voice low. "Didn’t expect you this early. What’s up?"

David, clearly surprised to see Raul in sweats, glanced inside. "I had a couple of things I needed to drop off, thought I'd catch you before you went out for the day. Figured you'd still be jetlagged after that New York trip." He noticed the cupcakes and gave Raul a curious look before his eyes landed on the couch—on Gwen.

Raul’s heart skipped a beat, realizing David had clocked her immediately. Gwen, still fast asleep in his clothes, tucked into the corner of the couch.

David arched a brow, his lips twitching into a small smirk. "Am I interrupting something, or is this just another breakfast meeting?"

Gwen rolled over a bit on the couch, mostly asleep, murmuring to herself. "Noooo, no morning meetings. Only coffee," not at all clocking yet that the voice she may have overheard in part was not Raul's.

Raul stifled a laugh, glimpsing her roll over. He quickly turned back to David, hoping to diffuse the moment before it became any more awkward.

"David, it’s not what you think," Raul said with a playful smirk, stepping out into the hallway to avoid waking Gwen fully. "We got caught up in some late-night writing. She’s… a friend."

David raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to press the matter. "Uh-huh. Just a friend who fell asleep in your clothes?" He held up the script and a few papers. "I have your new pages. There's some stuff from last night’s shoot we need to adjust. Thought I’d bring it by instead of clogging your inbox."

Raul took the folder, glancing briefly at the revisions. "Thanks, man, appreciate it while my printer is out of commission. But next time, maybe shoot me a text before dropping by at the crack of dawn?"

David chuckled, crossing his arms. "Sure, sure. Just didn't expect company this early." He leaned in a little, lowering his voice. "Look, I’m not here to judge, but if you’re getting serious with someone, you might want to clue me in before it blows up on social media."

Raul’s expression softened, glancing back toward the living room where Gwen was still curled up. "Yeah… I know. We’re figuring things out. Nothing to worry about." He clapped David on the shoulder, keeping things casual. "Anyway, thanks for the script. I'll catch up with you later?"

David grinned, clearly having more to say but choosing not to push the matter further. "Alright, just… keep me in the loop. And tell your ‘friend’ I said good morning." He winked, stepping back toward the elevator. "I’ll leave you to your... coffee."

Raul shook his head, chuckling softly as he closed the door behind him and turned back to the kitchen. He set the script on the counter, grabbing the cupcakes and coffee as Gwen began to stir more on the couch.

He crossed over to her, crouching down beside the couch with a playful smile. "Hey, sleeping beauty. You might want to wake up before you start giving my manager more gossip than he needs." He offered her a mug, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You also mentioned coffee, so... figured I'd start there."

Gwen took a sharp inhale. "Manager - you had company? Who would stop by this early? What time is it?" She looked down at her garb, waking up much more quickly. "Oh my god, I'm wearing your clothes and someone saw me? Did they know it was me? Wait, coffee. First coffee."

She grabbed the coffee, grateful for its contents and that somehow Raul already seemed to know she took it with cream. Thank goodness for small favors. "Hazelnut. My favorite, how did you know?"

Raul grinned, handing her the coffee as she processed everything all at once. "Yeah, David stopped by to drop off work stuff. And don’t worry, he didn’t recognize you." He chuckled softly, sitting on the edge of the couch beside her. "At least, not officially. He just saw someone in my clothes and made a few assumptions. But hey, I got you covered. No harm done."

He raised an eyebrow playfully. "Besides, you were cute. Talking in your sleep about coffee, like some kind of caffeine fairy granting me my morning wishes."

When she mentioned the hazelnut, he smiled, a bit of warmth sneaking into his voice. "You mentioned it in passing once. I pay attention." He gestured to the plate of cupcakes he’d set down earlier. "Now, I also happen to have cupcakes from the airport. Meant to break them out last night, but, well..." He glanced at the notebook full of scribbled dialogue and grinned. "Guess we got a little sidetracked."

He sat back, giving her space to enjoy her coffee. "How’d you sleep, by the way? I was thinking... once you’re fully awake, maybe you could help me with something. Want to roleplay a scene I was working on last night?" He gave her a teasing look. "You know, a little morning improv to get the brain juices flowing."

"Hmmm yes, that sounds perfect." She gave him a quick peck, closing her eyes to seal that deal but also to blink away the sleep. She pulled away to yawn. "Cupcakes sound dreamy. You picked them up at the airport and carted them back with your luggage?"

She didn't wait for the answer before grabbing one and peeling back the cup to eat the cake. "Mmmm, I'm wearing your clothes because I forgot to bring up my overnight bag. I remember now. Since you're dressed, any chance you could run to my car and grab it so I can snag my toothbrush and whatnot? My car key is on the table. Black PT Cruiser, looks a bit like an old-fashioned hurse. Keeps people looking at the car instead of me."

Raul chuckled, his eyes warm as she kissed him. "Yup, cupcakes made it all the way from the airport. Wasn’t easy with the jet lag, but I couldn’t resist." He watched her bite into one, pleased by her reaction.

When she mentioned the overnight bag, he smiled and nodded, already standing up to grab the key from the table. "Black PT Cruiser, got it. The 'hurse' aesthetic—I like it. Keeps people guessing."

He slipped on his shoes, giving her a playful salute. "I’ll be right back. Don’t finish all the cupcakes without me." With that, he grabbed the key and headed out the door, chuckling to himself at how easy and natural this morning had already been.

As he made his way to her car, he couldn’t help but feel a certain lightness in his step, a sense of excitement that something real was building between them.

As Raul approached Gwen’s black PT Cruiser, parked just where she said it would be, he thought the quirky vehicle fit her perfectly: a little mysterious but undeniably charming. He unlocked it and opened the back, spotting her overnight bag almost immediately. He smiled as he pulled it out, noticing the GWEN monogram on the side the damask-patterned bag.

At that exact moment, out of the corner of his eye, Raul saw David lingering near the building's entrance having a smoke, clearly not having left yet. David’s brow furrowed as he noticed Raul pulling the bag from the unfamiliar car, and before Raul could catch on while he was locking up the car, David subtly raised his phone and snapped a picture.

As Raul walked back inside, oblivious to David’s actions, David quickly swiped through his phone, doing a reverse image search on the photo. It didn’t take long before a familiar image popped up—Gwen’s overnight bag, featured on her Instagram, linked to a recent product sponsorship.

David’s eyes widened slightly as he confirmed what he suspected. He leaned against the wall, pocketing his phone with a small smirk forming on his lips. "Well, well, well," he muttered under his breath.

Raul, meanwhile, returned to the apartment, completely unaware of what had transpired outside. He knocked gently on the door before letting himself back in, holding up the bag with a grin. "Mission accomplished, m’lady. You’ve got your toothbrush and whatnot ready for retrieval."

He set the bag down beside the couch and joined Gwen, none the wiser about the new piece of information David had just uncovered.

"I made sure to not devour said cupcakes, but I have to admit despite the coffee beginning to kick in and the cupcakes being delicious, I couldn't quite make out the flavor, which is the hallmark of it being some really crazy priced cupcake that has about three flavors going on in tandem. So enlighten me - what DID I just eat?"

Raul laughed, sitting down beside her with a playful glint in his eyes. "Ah, that’s the magic of the overpriced airport cupcake. You just experienced a hazelnut mocha with a hint of lavender and a salted caramel drizzle. Yeah, they packed all that into one little bite."

He leaned back on the couch, watching her savor the last bit. "I figured it’d be something you’d like—complex, but all the flavors balance out if you really think about it."

With a grin, he added, "But honestly, I just grabbed the ones that looked the best. So if that particular combo was too fancy, we can always try the double chocolate later." He gave her a wink. "Gotta save the best for last, right?"

"That explains it, the hazelnut of the coffee must have been comingling—the lavender came through pretty well but mocha... I didn't expect that one. While I drink down that icing with more coffee, fill me in on what you wrote last night—an overview, whatever you're comfortable sharing. What part do you want me to read? Also, I think I need to get a little of this lavender on you..." She dabbed it on his nose and kissed it off playfully.

Raul grinned, scrunching his nose slightly as she dabbed the lavender icing on him. "Oh, you’re in trouble now," he teased, leaning in for a quick playful kiss before settling back to answer her question.

"Alright, so last night…" He leaned over to grab the notebook he’d left on the coffee table, flipping through the pages. "I actually made a lot more progress than I expected. Funny how a little company can clear up writer’s block." He winked before getting serious. "I finally cracked the character I’ve been stuck on for months. The two leads are at this crossroads and neither of them wants to make the first move."

He tapped the notebook lightly. "I think meeting you gave me some fresh perspective. So the scene shifted. Now, instead of both characters holding back, one of them—he’s a musician—finally decides to show vulnerability, and it changes everything. It’s more raw now, more real."

He turned the notebook toward her, letting her skim the page. "I’d love for you to read the female lead’s part, just to hear how it sounds. And hey, feel free to improvise if anything feels off. I trust your instincts."

With a grin, he added, "And if you nail it, there might be more cupcakes in it for you. No pressure."

She giggled heartily. "More cupcakes? Oh, that's definitely more pressure, but only the best kind. A musician you say?" She looked over the handwritten scene. "Wow, your handwriting is really impeccable, tidier than some printed fonts, especially when you're not working it into a sketch. You want me to take it from the top?"

Raul laughed, shaking his head. "Yep, musician—he’s definitely got some emotional baggage, but don’t they all?" He grinned, leaning back against the couch, watching her reaction as she read the script.

"Glad you like the handwriting. You should see it when I’m really in the zone—gets a little messier, trust me. But thanks for the compliment." He nudged her playfully with his elbow. "Now, let's dive in. I’m curious to hear how it sounds out loud."

He flipped open his own copy of the scene, leaning forward slightly, ready to slip into his character’s shoes. "Whenever you’re ready."

She cleared her throat, blinking and shaking herself a bit more awake. "Jerry, I know that you love me. I don't know how after everything we've been through, but I do believe it. I've never fully understood what makes you tick or makes you the way you are, but if you really think we can make it work, maybe we can give it a try."

Raul’s expression softened as she spoke, slipping seamlessly into his character’s mindset. His voice lowered, his tone thoughtful, as he delivered his line.

“Anna, I know I’ve screwed up more times than I can count. I’ve pushed you away when all I really wanted was to pull you closer. I was scared—of you seeing the real me. But I’m done hiding. If you’ll let me, I want to show you who I really am... even the messy parts. Especially the messy parts.”

He paused, locking eyes with her for a moment, the weight of the words settling between them.

“I don’t have all the answers, but I know I want to figure them out with you. If you’ll take that risk with me, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.”

Raul held the moment, letting the vulnerability of the scene settle before giving Gwen a small nod to continue.

She got lost in his eyes a bit, that earnestness of his that always kept her on her toes. "OH, it's me again, sorry - " she licked the icing off her finger and turned the page. She coughed a bit, finding her place to continue. "Honestly, the messy parts are the best parts, and believe me I've got them too. I want to trust you. We didn't get this far only to pull the rug, but I need to hear from you that things will be different with us. That you'll make time for us - you and me. I care about you—" She traced the words on the paper and followed the action lines, directing her to touch his face, which she enthusiastically did.

Raul’s breath hitched slightly at her touch, though he stayed in character, eyes softening as he continued. His voice dropped to almost a whisper, but the emotion behind it rang clear.

“I promise you, Anna. I’ll make time. I know I haven’t shown up the way you needed me to... but I’m not going to lose you over this. Not when I finally get it. You’re more important than anything else in my life—more important than the gigs, the traveling, the late nights in the studio.”

He leaned into her touch, as the script instructed, his gaze locking with hers.

“I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But I’m ready to do what it takes to build something real with you. If you’ll let me.”

Raul paused for a beat, letting the scene hang in the air before giving her a small, warm smile, a mixture of character and himself shining through. "How’d that feel?" he asked quietly, still holding onto the emotional thread they’d built together.

She matched his tone, kind of quiet and sacred. "It felt good. Honest. Like a reset button had been hit—for both of them, even without knowing whatever history you've written for them."

Raul nodded, his smile softening, appreciating the depth she brought to the scene. "Yeah, that's exactly what I was going for—a reset button. I wanted them to feel like they were standing on the edge of something new, but without erasing all the mess that brought them there." He chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly, I didn’t expect it to hit quite like this when I wrote it. Guess there’s something about reading it with you that adds a little extra."

He leaned back, stretching his arms slightly. "I’m glad it felt honest for you. That’s what I wanted—for the rawness of their relationship to come through without overcomplicating it. Sometimes, you just need to say ‘I’m here, and I’ll try.’"

Raul glanced down at the notebook for a moment before looking back at her. "I think we nailed it. What do you think—do we have time for another cupcake to celebrate our successful morning improv?"

"Oh, there's always time for more cupcakes. But, I have a challenge for you," she said, licking a little icing off the corner of his mouth.

Raul raised an eyebrow, grinning as she licked the corner of his mouth. "Oh, a challenge, huh?" He leaned in slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Alright, hit me with it. What’s the cupcake-worthy challenge you’ve got for me?"

He gave her a playful smirk, ready for whatever she was about to throw his way.

"Now that you've written it, and you know all that context that's both off and on the page, truly improv it with me. I have no idea what that history is, unless you choose to tell me, but I'll extrapolate from what you have on the page and just try to sink into Anna's character a bit more if you'd like to explore that. You said it felt kinda real in my hands so—if you trust me with it— even if I may mess it up because I don't have all the backstory—we can play with it a little and see if it gets you even more out of your head and out of your own way."

Raul’s grin softened into something more thoughtful, appreciating her willingness to dive deeper into his work. He loved that she was ready to improvise, to take his words and make them her own. The idea of exploring the characters further, letting them grow naturally, intrigued him.

"That... sounds perfect," he said softly, his voice tinged with excitement. "You know what? Let’s do it. Let’s throw the script out for a minute and just feel it out, see where it takes us." He reached over to the notebook, gently closing it and setting it aside. "I trust you with it. Let’s see what happens when we let go of the backstory and let the characters guide us."

He leaned back into his character, exhaling deeply as he shifted into Jerry’s mindset. "Anna, you know me better than anyone else. But you’re right—I haven’t always made you a priority, and I’ve let work consume too much of me. I need you to believe that I’m not just saying this because I want to fix things… I’m saying it because I can’t imagine my life without you in it. And that terrifies me."

His gaze held hers, waiting to see how she’d respond, fully opening the door for them to explore wherever the improv would take them next.

"If you can't imagine life without me in it, what does life with me look like—" she looked him in the eye, deeply, adding almost as an afterthought— "Jerry?"

Raul, as Jerry, held her gaze, the question cutting through the air like a quiet challenge. His breath caught, but he stayed in character, allowing the weight of her words to settle over him. He took a slow breath, his voice soft but steady.

“Life with you… it’s messy, sure. But it’s real. It’s waking up next to you, even when we’re both exhausted from our own crazy schedules. It’s finding time, no matter how little, to actually be present with you, not just next to you.” He paused, searching her eyes as if the answer was still forming.

“It’s us fighting sometimes, not because we want to hurt each other, but because we care too damn much. It’s me learning that I don’t need to fix everything, that sometimes just being there is enough.” His hand reached out instinctively, brushing her cheek, as if Jerry was finding comfort in the touch.

“Life with you is me being better—not perfect, but better. Because for the first time in a long time, I’ve got something to lose. And I’m not letting that happen.”

His voice lowered, a hint of vulnerability seeping in. “You asked me to show you. This is me showing you… ”

"I want to believe you, Jerry. I know you believe what you're saying. And it sounds so good, so ideal. But I need you to fight for me, not with me. I mean, we'll disagree sometimes. We'll have our spirited discussions.”

She leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes. "I need you to keep seeing and really hearing me. Not just when it's convenient. Not just when you may want time with me, want something from me. But also in those moments when you just can't find the words."

She hovered her lips in front of his, daring him to be vulnerable, to stay connected and focused. "Take me with you," she whispered.

Raul, as Jerry, inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her words pressing into him. Her forehead against his, her breath warm on his lips, anchored him in the moment. He closed his eyes for a beat, letting the vulnerability she’d asked for take root inside him.

“I hear you,” he whispered back, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m tired of fighting the wrong way. I know I’ve been stuck in my own head, in my own world. But you’re right. We can’t keep doing this unless we’re a team. And I don’t want you to ever feel like you’re in this alone. I’ll show you… I swear.”

He paused, opening his eyes to meet hers, holding onto that connection like a lifeline. "Even when I don’t have the words, I’ll be here." His hand found hers, squeezing it gently, a silent promise.

Without breaking the moment, he gently pressed his lips to hers, not out of urgency or desperation, but out of a need to show her—everything he couldn’t quite say with words. He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers again, his breath unsteady.

As Anna, she accepted him then, taking that kiss as the opening of an envelope. She kissed him back in way that said that she accepted all of it—the pledge, the apologies, the promise of something better and something more. Something fuller and longer lasting.

After she took her time giving him that Act III kind of kiss, she slowly pulled back, low and quiet, but still close, her arms looped around his neck. "How did that feel? Did you feel connected to Jerry? Did you still feel like you were writing, or did it just spill out without having to think about it so much?"

Raul, still half-immersed in the moment, blinked as she pulled back, the warmth of her kiss lingering in his mind. He could feel the weight of the scene still hanging between them, the intensity of their shared vulnerability echoing in his chest. Her question grounded him, pulling him gently from character back into himself.

He took a deep breath, a small smile tugging at his lips as he looked at her, still close, her arms looped around his neck. "That felt… real," he admitted softly, his voice laced with a quiet sense of wonder. "I wasn’t thinking about Jerry, or the writing, or whether I got the lines right. It just… happened. It felt like we were both there, like we really understood each other in that moment."

Raul chuckled, a little self-conscious but deeply grateful. "I’ve been trying to write Jerry in a way that felt genuine, but I guess I needed to stop trying so hard." He met her eyes again, his expression soft and thoughtful. "You made it easy. I think I finally get what Jerry’s been trying to say all along."

He paused for a second, then added with a playful smile, "And that kiss didn’t hurt either."

She couldn't help herself, she leaned forward into him again, kissing him with glee, giggling into it. "There's nothing quite so grounding and focusing as a good kiss, amirite?" She stayed forehead to forehead with him again, "But I knew you had it in you. Sometimes you just have to put yourself in a position to sort of stop thinking and just create, just say what you're thinking."

She toyed with his hair. "Say what's real." She stayed quiet but also sobered up a little - a little more Gwen and a little less Anna. "I can't believe I'm saying this out loud but I'm a little crazy about you and that unnerves me. Especially with our backgrounds, it almost worries me that things with you feel so easy. I know we have so much in common and we seem to just be in the right place and right time."

She paused, clarifying her thoughts before continuing. “But what if something we can't even foresee messes it up, something outside our control? I mean, I know you're back off to New York anytime, and believe me I can do pretty well with long distance whatever, I have some good practice under my belt. But connecting with you comes so easy, it almost worries me."

Raul’s playful smile faded into something softer, more reflective, as Gwen shifted from the character of Anna back into herself. He held her close, listening intently, his hand gently tracing small circles on her back. Her confession about being a little crazy about him made his heart skip a beat, but it was the vulnerability in her voice that struck him the most.

"I get it," he said quietly, forehead still resting against hers. "It’s been a whirlwind, and yeah… things feel easy with you. Like we’re just... in sync. And I’ll be honest, that scares me a little too." He paused, letting his fingers toy with a lock of her hair. "I’ve been in situations before where things seemed perfect, only for something totally out of left field to throw everything off course."

He pulled back slightly so he could look into her eyes, his expression serious but tender. "But the thing is… that connection we’ve got? It’s real. And I think we’ve both been through enough to know how rare that is."

Raul exhaled slowly, his voice softening even more. "As for the long-distance thing—I’ve been thinking about that, too. I won’t lie and say it’ll be easy, but I also don’t want to run from something good just because of what might happen. We’re both in a world where plans change, where things are unpredictable... but that’s kind of what makes this worth trying, right?"

He paused, brushing a thumb gently across her cheek. "What I’m trying to say is... I’m willing to take that chance. And if something out of our control tries to mess it up, we’ll face it together. I think we owe ourselves that much, at least."

Raul smiled softly, pulling her closer again. "So yeah... I’m a little crazy about you too. And maybe it’s a little unnerving, but I’d rather figure it out with you than walk away wondering ‘what if.’"

"God am I that transparently obvious that normally when something seems like it's too good to be true I just bolt? Or are you just projecting that you may have that inclination too?" she admitted.

Her vulnerability, paired with her honesty, made him feel closer to her, like they were peeling back layers that most people kept hidden. He kissed the top of her head gently before responding.

"Maybe a little of both," he admitted quietly, the hint of a chuckle in his voice. "I’ve been known to run when things get a little too real, especially if they seem too good to be true. Self-sabotage or self-fulfilled prophecy. But I’m not planning on bolting anytime soon. And I don’t think you are, either."

She rested her head on his shoulder, kissing his neck lightly. Raul smiled softly, holding her a little tighter as she rested her head on his shoulder. He leaned into her kiss on his neck, feeling a warmth spread through him.

Her voice quieted a bit. "Being in your arms feels so natural. Like I've been doing it for a year instead of a week. I do know how rare that is. Like, I know that if I asked you last minute to come with me to a Grammy listening party tonight—one I was planning to skip because I didn't know if I would even have the energy to interact with that squad after what went down and how late in the game they told us we wouldn't even be directly on the ballot—I have every faith that in that totally new environment, you could hold your own. Not that you haven't done red carpet events obviously, I'm sure you have for your shows. Musicians are just—a very colorful bunch, as your own writing seems to recognize."

Raul raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You’re right about one thing—I can hold my own in those kinds of environments. I’ve been to my fair share of events with the actors' crowd, but a Grammy listening party?" He grinned, eyes twinkling with curiosity. "That’s a whole different beast. Colorful, as you said."

She sat up a little more to see eye to eye. "I don't mean to diminish the musical work you do with your acting at all, of course. I hope that's not the way I sound. I'm sure you're no freshman on the music side of the industry. These events just take so much out of me, I always have to talk myself into going."

He tilted his head, meeting her gaze as she sat up. "You didn’t diminish anything at all," he reassured her, his tone sincere. "I know music is your world. I love the music work I do, but it’s definitely not the same as what you’ve built. And I get it—those events can drain the life out of you, especially after everything that happened with the ballot. It’s completely understandable to feel that way."

Raul gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his voice soft. "But if you want to go, if you need someone by your side, I’m there. Even if it’s last-minute. I’ll be your plus one, no questions asked." He smiled warmly. "And if we don’t go, we can always stay in, order pizza, and finish off those cupcakes. Whatever feels right to you."

She was suddenly a little bleary-eyed but laughed to try to shrug it off a little. "I do have a great affection for pepperoni." She thought on it. "I haven't really pressed you about your sobriety, are you comfortable at an industry event where there's a fair amount of drinking? It’s not an all-out brawl or anything, but a lot of people come in from out-of-town Academy chapters, and after traveling all that way they sometimes like to let their hair down. I've sometimes compared it to a high school reunion. There's lots of old bad blood, lots of quirky people, those kind of creepy uncle types that you shake hands with and try to avoid photos with so they don't circulate too much on Getty Images as comrades of yours."

She pulled back enough to admire him, imagining him in a tux or some fashionable equivalent maybe. "And—of course—there's dancing."

Raul’s smile softened as she spoke, noticing the shift in her mood, but he appreciated her lightheartedness. When she mentioned his sobriety, he gave a small nod, understanding her concern.

"Yeah, I’ve learned how to navigate those kinds of environments," he said gently, his hand still resting on her back for comfort. "I won’t lie, it can be a little tricky sometimes, especially when people get loose after a few drinks. But I’m good about keeping my boundaries, and if it ever gets too much, I just slip away for a bit. You don’t have to worry about that with me."

He gave her a reassuring smile, appreciating that she’d asked. "And as for the creepy uncle types and high school reunion vibes—well, I’ve dealt with plenty of that in my own corner of the industry. Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll be your buffer. We’ll make sure those awkward Getty photos never see the light of day."

His expression softened further as he saw her admiring him, clearly imagining something. "Dancing, huh?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "I could be convinced. And don’t worry—I clean up pretty well for these events. You won’t have to worry about me embarrassing you on the red carpet." He chuckled softly. "But in all seriousness, if you want to go, I’m game. Dancing and all."

He leaned in, his voice low and warm. "Or we can stay in, eat pizza, and dance here. I’m flexible."

"God you have no idea what that voice does to me. Staying in with pizza and dancing with you here sounds like the promise I would need to get through the party."

She toyed with his shirt, thinking. "If you're really up for it, I say we pop in. We can turn into pumpkins and jet whenever either one of us cries mercy. My only rule with myself—whether going alone or with anyone else—is that however long it takes me to get ready, I have to stay at the party at least that long to make it worth the trouble. So... if we get ready together I need you not to slow me down by—" she coughed flirtatiously "—distracting me."

Raul laughed, his grin widening at her playful tone. “Oh, trust me, I’ll try to keep my distractions to a minimum,” he teased, leaning in just a little closer. “But no promises if you keep looking at me like that.”

He brushed a soft kiss against her forehead before pulling back with a mischievous smirk. "Alright, deal. We’ll pop in, do the rounds, and if either of us needs a pumpkin escape, we’re out of there. And I like your rule about staying as long as it took to get ready. Makes it feel worth the effort."

He stood up, stretching his arms out with a little bounce in his step. “So, how long do I have before I have to make myself presentable? I’m thinking tux-adjacent... unless you’re going for something more casual, in which case, I can dress it down a bit.” He winked at her. “I’ll try my best not to get distracted by your glam process. But, no promises on that either.”

She bit her lip mischievously. "Well, you're in luck, because I'm a total girl scout who learned from Queen Elizabeth's mistake of not having a funeral dress when she went to Africa and now always has a dark dress at the ready. That Gwen bag you brought up has a couple of options just in case we were in the mood to be brave souls tonight. Soooo..."

She pops up and strolls over to the bag, unzipping it and poking around inside until she pulls out two options. "I've got this little black pantsuit number from DVF that's elegant enough for black tie—" she clears her throat "—or as you so wisely put it, a more modest tux adjacent." She holds it up on display, "Lots of little sparkly details on the edges. Not incredibly warm though, might require some handsome man to drape his jacket over my shoulders halfway through the night. Or, option B—" She holds up a very photo-ready red dress, one that would make Chris de Burgh proud. "—this classic Hollywood number that can't quite decide if it's from 1920, 1960, or 2024. What's your poison?"

Raul's eyes lit up as Gwen presented the two options, his gaze bouncing between the sleek black pantsuit and the bold red dress. He chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the playful energy she was bringing to the decision.

“Well, I’m not gonna lie,” he started, stepping closer to get a better look at both. “The black pantsuit definitely says ‘elegant and mysterious,’ especially with those sparkly details. Plus, I’d be happy to play the role of the handsome man with the jacket." He flashed a grin, but then his eyes landed on the red dress, and he let out a soft whistle. "But that red dress? It’s got ‘showstopper’ written all over it. You’d definitely steal the room in that one."

He tilted his head, admiring both for a moment longer before meeting her gaze. "Honestly, you’d look incredible in either. But if we’re going for something more Hollywood glam, I’d say the red dress has that 'wow' factor. You might just knock me off my game before we even get there.”

He winked, leaning back against the couch with a smirk. “So, what’s your poison, Gwen? Should I be prepared to pick my jaw up off the floor with the red dress, or stay cool and tux-adjacent with the pantsuit?”

She blushed despite herself. "Well when you put it like that, I think I have no choice but to make you swoon in red. I just hope I can find the matching lipstick or it'll be all off-kilter. You'll be glad to hear it's a stay lipstick, so you can kiss me as much as you like and your lips, neck or collar shouldn't show any tell-tale signs."

Raul's grin widened, clearly enjoying the thought of her in the red dress. "Swoon in red, huh? You’re definitely making this night more interesting already," he teased, his eyes twinkling. "And stay lipstick, you say? Well, that’s just dangerous information to give me."

He winked, leaning in to brush his lips lightly against hers, just enough to tease. "I’ll do my best to behave… until we leave the party, at least."

Gwen gave him a playful side-eye glance, only half believing him. “Well, I’ll put that to the test then. We’ve got some time, the party isn’t until early evening, and even with time to get ready and drive over—I’d say we could sneak in a nap if we wanted one. What say you?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

But before he could even answer, she was already off, running toward the bedroom, leaping into the bed and lying flat on top of the blankets. She felt wired but exhausted at the same time, knowing that if she really wanted him to come along for the big to-do tonight, they’d both need more sleep than they’d managed so far.

Raul chuckled, chasing after her. "I’m not gonna argue with that," he said, settling into bed beside her. He curled up next to her casually, wrapping an arm around her waist as he pulled her close. The warmth between them was enough to ease the tension from their morning.

Gwen stretched, adjusting an extra blanket from the foot of the bed and pulling it up over them. “Let’s set an alarm, though. Don’t wanna oversleep and miss the whole night.”

Raul reached into his pocket and fished out his phone, tapping quickly to set a nap alarm. He placed the phone down on the side table, giving her a small grin. “There. Alarm’s on, so no excuse to sleep through the party. But for now...”

He wrapped his arms more firmly around her, nuzzling into the pillows, his voice dropping into a softer tone. “Just rest.”

Gwen smiled, closing her eyes as their breathing fell into rhythm. As their bodies relaxed into the pillows and each other’s arms, sleep came easily, giving them the brief recharge they needed before the evening ahead.

Time lapsed, hours passed with each of them sleepily adjusting configuration, his rolling over and her spooning him before they repeated the pattern and he returned the favor. Before the alarm went off, his phone buzzed on the bedside table. He sleepily picked it up, glancing and squinting at the screen, his brow furrowing slightly as he saw the notification.

A Google alert. Vanity search.

Raul tapped the notification, and his eyes widened as the headline fully popped up on his screen: "New Romance Rumors: Raúl Ruiz Spotted with Mystery Woman—Is It Musician Gwen Deschamps?"

"Uh… babe?" He cleared his throat and turned the screen toward her, showing the article. "Looks like someone leaked something … it’s already out there."

She blinked back the sleep, confused and surprised, taking the phone into her hands to look more closely. "Wow. Tell me David didn't send them photos of me on your couch? I'm afraid to click, I hate to support the clickbait gossip sites." She took a calming breath. "Good to know though, I... just prefer to be in front of these things. I hate to ask and please don't take it the wrong way, but are there any firestorms I should know about if... when... now that our names are in a joint headline together? Ooof that sounds awful to say out loud, you're more important to me than a headline. I trust you know that."

Raul’s expression softened as he saw her concern, understanding the weight of the situation. He gently placed a hand on her arm, trying to offer some comfort.

"I know you’re not saying that for the headlines, and I appreciate you being upfront. I’ll be upfront too—there’s nothing you need to worry about. No firestorms, no skeletons in the closet that'll come back to bite us now that our names are together." He smiled warmly, trying to reassure her. "My life’s been pretty quiet on the scandal front. David might’ve gotten a little ahead of himself, but I’m guessing someone pieced things together after seeing us at the party, or maybe a crew member talked."

He hesitated for a moment, making sure she knew he was being sincere. "I want us to be able to move forward without worrying about the noise. And if anything does come up, we’ll handle it. But right now? I think we’re good."

He took the phone back and set it aside. "We’re in front of it now. Let’s show them how great we are together." He leaned in to kiss her softly, offering a bit of calm in the midst of the uncertainty.

His kiss was the definition of calming. "Well, I have no doubt we'll look good together. Honey, you don't even have to 'clean up nice' - I could take you in your sweats and you'd still make at least half the ladies, gents, and theys jealous; the others would be too, just pretending they're not for their other halves. Taking your handsome face with me will help ensure there's a little less attention on me personally, honestly."

Raul chuckled softly against her lips, his arms wrapping around her waist as he held her close. "You’re giving me way too much credit," he teased, his voice warm and playful. "But I appreciate the compliment. And I have no problem deflecting a little attention away from you, though I doubt that’ll happen. In that red dress? You’ll be the one stealing the show."

He kissed her forehead, his expression turning a little more serious. "But hey, whatever happens, I don’t mind the attention if it means we’re out there as a team."

He took a deep breath to try to wake himself up more, get his bearings. “Okay," he murmured, his voice still clearing from a sleepy tone, "I have to admit, I actually feel human again. That nap might’ve been the best decision we’ve made all day."

“C’mon, we’ve got to get moving if we’re going to make jaws drop tonight,” he teased, giving her a playful grin.

As they slowly disentangled themselves from the bed, Raul stood and stretched, rolling his shoulders back with a satisfied sigh. “You know,” he added, his voice light, “if this whole party ends up being a disaster, at least we’ve already had a solid nap and some quality cupcakes. So… win-win, right?”

Gwen groggily laughed, tossing the blanket aside as she made her way toward the bathroom to start getting ready—taking a small detour to climb on top of him and give him a kiss to help wake him up completely.

"I'm looking forward to getting you home already." She took a deep breath in, letting that way he brushed his lips against hers be the first item she put on to get ready, sure it had put a little blush in her cheeks naturally so she'd probably not need to add more.

As she rose from the bed, Raul watched her disappear with a smile, shaking his head fondly.

She grabbed the bag from the other room and headed to the shower before popping her head back out of the bathroom to add. "Oh, I guess I should ask—if the paps ask, do you want me to declare you?" She stepped into the doorway a little more. "Absolutely zero pressure here, no right or wrong answer. You might be recognized any way we slice it unless we decide to go with a matching masquerade theme but—I don't want you to feel rushed to be public before you're ready."

Raul smiled as she stood in the doorway, his heart warming at her consideration. "You’re sweet for asking, and I appreciate it. I don’t feel rushed, but I also don’t want to hide what we’ve got. So, if the paps ask…" He paused, his grin widening slightly. "I’m cool with it. We don’t have to make a big announcement or anything, but I won’t pretend we’re not together, either."

"Now, let’s get you glammed up and me into something a little more formal than sweats." His grin returned as he winked at her. "I’ll try not to make anyone too jealous."

She playfully rolled her eyes. "Fiiiine."

She disappeared back into the bathroom in a flurry of showering, hair drying, curling ironing, wrapping up in her ready-robe to put on the base layers of makeup, sneaking peeks at him getting ready and trying like hell not to get ahead of herself and fall for him more than she already had.

He wasn't wrong—he did clean up nice. This jacket, that watch, every hair in place—it wasn't even that he needed it all to elevate his natural good looks, but none of it hurt. She caught herself staring at him before reminding herself the iron was still on and her eyeliner wasn't yet. She stepped back into the bathroom and—eyeliner in hand—added the fine black lines with her eyes literally closed, opening them again to inspect her work and make sure it was even. When she was satisfied that her work thus far was reasonably symmetrical, she stepped out to the bedroom and slipped on her hose under the robe. "Can you drive us? Is there anything you need on the way or before we get there, hon?"

Raul was adjusting his jacket in the mirror when he caught her peeking at him, his lips curving into a soft smile as he pretended not to notice her stolen glances. He felt the same pull—every time she stepped out, even in her ready-robe, she caught his attention, and it was harder and harder not to get swept up in her presence.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, his eyes followed her movements, appreciating how effortlessly she carried herself. When she asked if he could drive, he turned toward her, already nodding. "Yeah, of course. I’ve got the keys ready to go," he replied, smoothing down the lapel of his jacket one last time. "And I’m good—just need to grab my phone and wallet, but other than that, I’m all set."

He took a step toward her, his gaze softening as he saw the hint of amped energy mixed with excitement in her expression. "You’re looking amazing already, by the way," he said, his voice low, as if he couldn’t help but say it. "Take your time finishing up, though. We’re in no rush." He leaned down to kiss her temple gently. "But yeah, I’ve got us covered. I’ll drive and make sure we get there in style."

He stood by the doorway, giving her space to finish getting ready while keeping his eyes on her with a fond smile. "Anything you need before we head out?"

"Just this before I lipstick up." She backed him into the closet doorframe and gave him a taste of the way she would kiss him later if he ‘behaved’ at the party. She ran her hands down his lapel to smooth it for him herself, and snuck a hand around his back to pull him closer to her. "What should our safe word be?" she asked low and deliberately, before adding, "... in case either of us turns into a pumpkin and needs to jet sooner rather than later?"

Raul’s breath caught slightly as she backed him into the doorframe, her kiss sending a thrill through him. He melted into it, his hands instinctively finding her waist, pulling her in even closer. When she finally pulled back, his grin was full of warmth and playful appreciation.

"Well, if that’s a preview of what’s coming later, I’ll be on my best behavior," he murmured, his voice low as he brushed a finger lightly along her cheek. The way she smoothed down his lapel and pulled him closer made it clear this night would be one to remember.

At her question about the safe word, his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Hmm… safe word, huh? How about 'pepperoni'? It’s fitting, given your love for it. Plus, it’s casual enough that we can use it in conversation without anyone knowing." He gave her a teasing smile, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Unless you’ve got something better in mind?" he asked, voice still low as he leaned in to kiss her lightly again.

She positively laughed into his kiss. "'Pepperoni'? My god man, are you trying to kill me with your perfection?" She found it hard to let go of him. "I might only get as far as saying 'Pep' before you grab me by the hand and fireman carry me out of there."

Raul chuckled, his grin widening as she laughed into the kiss. "Hey, I’m just trying to make sure our escape plan is foolproof," he teased, his hands resting comfortably on her waist. "But now that you mention it, 'Pep' might be all I need. I’d definitely scoop you up and make a quick exit."

He leaned in closer, his forehead resting against hers. "But for the record, if we end up using 'pepperoni,' I’ll make sure we’re somewhere cozy before you can even blink." His voice dropped, a playful edge in his tone. "And then… we can focus on that 'later' part of the night."

With a wink, he kissed her again, savoring the moment before finally pulling back, letting her finish getting ready. "Go on, lipstick up. I’ll try not to distract you anymore… for now."

"Very well." She gave him a quick peck before heading back into the bathroom for last looks and final touches, a little powder, a 360 to ensure any little tags and ribbons were where they were supposed to be. She added a little hair oil to her hands and rubbed them together, smoothing down any last frizz that brazenly tried to make a stand. She slipped on her shoes and checked her phone for the entry code to scan, having it open and at the ready. "Alright, you'd better tote me out of here now before I pin you to the bed and forget all about this party nonsense."

Raul laughed softly, watching her with an affectionate gaze as she finished her last touches. He appreciated how effortlessly she moved from glamorous to playful and back again, always keeping him on his toes. As she checked her phone and made her final preparations, his eyes followed her every movement, still a little in awe of her.

When she gave him that last playful warning, he grinned, stepping toward her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You’re not making this easy on me, you know." He slid his hands to her waist, leaning in close enough that his breath brushed her ear. "But, I guess I’ll just have to be strong."

He gave her one last lingering kiss, pulling back reluctantly but with a grin still on his face. "Alright, let’s get out of here before you change your mind about the party." He held out his arm, his voice teasing but full of warmth. "Shall we, my lady?"

Raul grabbed the keys from the counter, opened the door for her with a small flourish, and with a final, playful wink, he gestured toward the hallway. "Lead the way, or I’ll be tempted to take you back to that bed myself."