Type of work: Chapters of In Joy and Sorrow
Genre: Romance
Title: In Joy and Sorrow: Chapter Two, Caught the mouse
Author: dreamsinfiction
Rating: PG-13
Warning: mild swearing
Summary: Her fan status is discouvered....
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

Links to previous chapters


After the incident at the window, she and the band continued to tempt the crowd below, especially when they had all drank a couple of beers. Kat could only really pull off pretending to be Ville, so the other band members had joshed around the windows themselves. Little did anyone else know, but Ville had in fact posed as himself a time or two, just so he wasn't left out.

Riffs of the opening bands made their way to HIM's room, hinting that the no longer outside crowd was getting revved up. Between sets, chants of 'HIM! HIM!' even made their way down the hall. Kat couldn't help but smile at that.

An hour before their show, the guys had all set to getting into the mindset of playing, which meant the drinking had turned to water. All the better for Kat, as she hadn't expected the Finnish beer to be so potent. Or maybe it was due to the fact her stomach hadn't really accepted much food earlier that day.

"Darling, it's time for us to head downstairs. Come with and let me know what you think?" Ville requested, his hand held out to her in offering to help her from the couch.

Kat was still amazed she hadn't slipped and told them how much she loved the band and had for a few years, especially with her buzz. But she had kept that mask on and smiled, accepting his offered hand.

"Of course, Ville. Gotta figure out why those girls scream sometime," she teased as he pulled her to her feet.

He smirked, leading her to the door, oddly still holding her hand, not that Kat was complaining of course. A few minutes later she stood at the steps to the stage with Ville, waiting for the other guys to get in place, the crowd's roar echoing off the rafters of the club.

"Will you be able to see all right here?" he asked, green eyes meeting hers.

"I think I can manage. If not, I'll make my way out there," she motioned to the crowd with her head. "As long as you promise to let me back up after the show."

"You will have no problems," Ville declared, before pecking her on the cheek, releasing her hand, and hurrying onto the stage.

Kat stood there dumbfounded for the longest moment. When his voice filled the air, quieting the crowd, she found her brain working once again. With a big grin, she headed out to the join the other fans. Front view was generally better than from the side.

Having to maneuver to the floor through another hall, Kat chatted with the security guys, making certain they would let her back when the show was over. Because the band was already playing, getting close to the stage wasn't going to be easy, or so she thought. But for whatever reason, the crowd seemed to step aside when she pushed towards the stage. By the third song of the set, Kat was in the very front of the crowd.

And Ville noticed her.

A smile flashing down at her as their eyes met for a moment, he started in on the next song. She couldn't help the flush that crept to her cheeks, especially since it certainly felt like he was singing to her. And believing that wasn't that far of a stretch. Especially when he winked at her before moving to another part of the stage.

"Dude, he just winked at you!" some guy next to her exclaimed. "Right on!"

Kat could only grin... which lasted all through the set.

Up in the 'green room', they had discussed the set, so when the next to last song began, Kat knew it was time to make her move from floor to backstage, once again. She was tempted to ask to be hoisted up onto the crowd, as that would be an easy and fast way to get out of the crowd. Instead she pressed forward, bumping into the guard in front of the stage.

"I need out of here," she shouted near his ear.

He nodded and escorted her from the crowd, "You gonna be all right, Kat?"

"Almost definitely," she grinned in response before he returned to his post.

Making her way back to the hall that would let her backstage wasn't all that easy. Guys stepped in her way, wanting to chat or hit on her or whatever. She brushed them all off rather curtly, before making it to the guard standing in front of the door that kept the hall free of fans. She didn't even have to say a thing to him, as he opened the door for her without request. She hurried down the hall, certain the last song was playing and the guys would be off the stage any moment. She just had to be the first to see Ville when he stepped down those steps.

Kat skidded to a stop just as the last note was played. She took a deep breath to not belie she had been nearly running to get there, not that she expected he would notice. With the lights out, the guys left the stage. Kat complimented the show as they came off, even though the crowd was still screaming and the chant was beginning again.

"That was amazing, Ville," she grinned, trying to not act all twitterpated when his arm slipped behind her, guiding her from the stage.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, you were singing along," his teasing eyes met hers.

"I... yeah, you caught me," Kat replied, not letting her smile slip. "And I think you owe that crowd one more song. They love you."

He stopped in the hall, "You're right. Your choice, which song?"

There wasn't a moment of hesitation in her reply, "Sacrament."

Ville nodded, "Encore is Sacrament."

The band had been hanging around nearby, not yet heading back upstairs, just in the event an encore was decided upon. With Ville's announcement, Burton headed to the stage, the others hanging back for a moment or two.

"For Kat," his eyes went to her again.

As before he kissed her cheek before returning to the stage. She couldn't help but watch in awe as the band performed an encore for the crowd, especially since it was for her. They may have only known each other for a few hours now, but there was certainly a connection, and it was far more intense than just his charisma.

"...the Sacrament is," his green eyes looked off stage for her, "you."

The stage lights went off and the band exited once more. The crowd chanted but soon gave it up when the club's normal lighting returned. This time the guys headed directly upstairs, only pausing to make certain Kat was joining them. They chatted excitedly, revelling in the high from performing. Ville however was quiet, the only indication he was still with them was his hand on the small of Kat's back. She wasn't about to complain.

Spending a few minutes to cool off, the guys collapsed into chairs and the couch once more. Water was first passed around and then of course the beer returned. Kat's head was spinning because of Ville's touch so she turned down all offers of drinks, even after he disappeared for a moment to shower and change.

"Kat and I will go down and meet some of the fans. You guys join us when you're ready," Ville announced. "Then I'm sure Kat can show us around town?"

She nodded, having scooped out the town a few nights prior.

With that, the two headed down for Ville to sign autographs and make girls faint. Kat's grin was indescrible, almost like the cat had caught the most wanted mouse in the house.