Chapter 32

Over the past few months, Liam had done everything he could to get under Nova's skin to keep her upset. Slowly he was releasing false information to the media and stalking her. It was spring now and Claire had finished her internship and was doing much better physically. Ace had yet to convince Becket to go along with his plan to take down Liam, but Beck agreed that something needed to be done.

Becket was in the backyard of his large estate on a clear Friday morning enjoying the cool spring breeze. They had a few days off from work and were making the best of their free time. He rubbed his hand over the fuzzy creature before him, shaking his head in amusement as a little puppy bounced around his feet nipping at his shoestring, he couldn't believe he now had a mini-farm.

He heard a boisterous laugh come up behind him. "I can't believe she actually talked you into an alpaca."

He turned to see Kevin and Ace walking around the side of the house.

"Not one. Two. The other one is in the barn. She said it needed a mate. I feel like I'm living with the female Doctor Doolittle." Becket chuckled.

Ace picked up the little Maltese puppy. "What the hell is this?"

"She says it's a dog. I think it might be one of those small fuzzy aliens that took over the Enterprise on the old Star Track show, or a dust bunny. I'm not sure yet."

"What's its name?"

"Waldo."

Kevin reached to pet the puppy. "Waldo?"

"Yep. He hides all the time and is really hard to find."

Both men started laughing as Nova walked up behind them. "Stop making fun of my little fur baby."

"Nova, what is your next animal? You have two alpacas, a mini goat, fuzzy footed chickens, and..." Ace held up the puppy. "Whatever the hell this thing is."

Nova took the puppy, snuggling it with a giggle. "I like animals. Besides, don't let Beck fool ya. He loves the alpacas and is out here every time we're home and feeding them snacks. We have a farmhand who has been taking care of them when we are on the road. I just wish we could be home more with them."

Kevin went over and hugged Nova from the side. "I'm just glad to see you smile again, short stuff."

"Thanks, Kevin. Beck makes me happy. He's let me make this place a real home and I feel like I'm safe here."

Becket turned away from feeding the alpaca an apple and smiled at Nova. "I just want you to be happy, star shine. If a whole dang zoo makes you happy, that's what I'll give you."

"Nah. I'm good. I like our little weird fuzzy family. Waldo makes it complete."

Ace chuckled. "Still not sure that thing is a real dog. A cotton ball with eyes maybe."

"Oh, hush, you. Come on in the house guys. Breakfast is ready."

Ace looked over at Becket with a sigh of frustration. "Good. We all need to sit and talk."

Becket rolled his eyes. "Not this shit again. Ace. No. We are not going with your crazy plan for the Power Olympics."

Ace's head dropped as he kicked at the grass, his hands shoved in his pockets seeming defeated. "Claire saw him again last night."

"Nuh-uh. Claire was with me last night. We went shopping." Nova seemed confused.

"She didn't want to frighten you. She saw him tailing your car. He was parked in one of the shopping centers' parking lots when she first saw him. He's not going to stop guys. We have to do something."

"Why didn't she say something? Is that why she wanted to come home last night instead of going to the movie with me?"

Ace nodded yes. Becket looked at Kevin, the oldest of the crew, for his thoughts.

Kevin nodded in agreement with Ace. "He's right. Something needs to be done. The investigator has enough info now that we can end this for good."

"Okay, fine. Let's head inside and eat. We can discuss your plan but I'm not making any promises," Becket grumbled.

Claire popped her head out of the back door. "Come and eat. The food's getting cold."

As the crew headed inside, Ace stopped Becket. "Please, Beck? We have to keep our girls safe. There is no other way. If you don't do something, I will."

Becket watched as Nova headed inside joking around with Kevin. "As long as the plan is solid, and we make sure the girls aren't in danger, I'll consider it."

"That's all I ask."

***

Three weeks later, Becket was sitting in the empty arena alone thinking about Nova. He couldn't believe he actually agreed to this. He hadn't seen her in three days and had only gotten a few texts letting him know she was okay. He had been sulking around since she left. He felt lost without her and worried for her safety.

Nova's father stepped up and sat beside Becket, looking out over the vast space while the crew set up for the Power Olympics.

"It's going to be a great event this year. I hear there are some big surprises set up by your team."

Becket looked over at Eric with an annoyed grunt. "You find this funny?"

"No. I'm scared senseless, to be honest. Ace told Holt and I the plan. We slipped the info to the production crew an hour ago."

"I'm worried he's going to hurt her. Liam's been alone with Nova on this media blitz for two days now. I know we needed to earn his trust to pull this off, but I don't like it."

Eric sighed and sat back in his seat. "We have security on her 24/7, she's fine. I just talked to her."

"I can't believe Ace talked Holt into letting Nova pretend to have him as her manager again."

Eric looked over at the guitar leaned against Becket's knee. "You picked up playing again?"

Becket smiled picking up the guitar and strummed the strings. "Nova was struggling with one of the songs she was working on. I thought I would help her out. I finally got the music to the course right. She's going to love it."

"Can I hear it?"

Becket nodded. "Keep in mind, I'm not as good as she is."

"I'm sure it's great."

"Okay.... Here it goes."

Becket started strumming on his acoustic guitar and started to sing. To Eric's surprise, Becket was just as good as his daughter. Becket's words echoed across the empty arena as people stopped what they were doing to listen in.

"I wondered why I never liked a love song. I heard the words but never felt the pain. The lovers seem to find the melody I'd been missing... but not me."

A sweet harmony sang softly behind them, turning the song into a duet. "I never knew that love was all around me. I never felt the warmth of someone's touch. The lovers seem to find the harmony I've been seeking... but not me."

Nova stepped up beside them and the duo sang together as the stage crew around the area listened in amazement. Eric smiled listening to the couple as he became aware the song was about them.

As the course played Nova sat beside Becket and ran the back of her hand down his cheek.

Together they sang. "Then I found you... A new beginning. Where the music starts repeating..."

The duo sang as if every word mimicked their every emotion and thought. Eric closed his eyes as he realized his daughter had found what he had been looking for. Through all the pain and struggles she had been through, Nova found solitude in the man she was sharing more than a song with. He knew before long she would no longer be just his daughter. She was a grown woman who was learning to stand on her own two feet, learning what true love really was.

Her soulful voice was better than anything he had ever heard from her before. The missing link all these years to a sound she had been trying so hard to find, and Becket was a key to it all.

As the song ended everyone in the arena sat in silence. The stage crew and production staff just stood watching the couple and blinking back tears all around.

Eric sighed asking, "You're going to marry her, aren't you? I'm going to lose my baby girl all over again."

Nova went to sit on her father's lap and hugged him. "You'll never lose me, Daddy. I'll always be your pumpkin."

Becket watched the father and daughter as he tried to catch his breath. How did Eric know? Becket sat quietly without making a sound but he knew the man was right.

Nova looked over to him seeing the expression on his face seemed so far away. "Beck, what's wrong?"

Becket stood and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, Nova."

"I know. I knew when you asked me to move in with you. I told you I know you're not to shack up type."

Becket laughed. "I guess you're right. The old man ruined our big surprise for him at the ball tonight, huh?"

Nova giggled. "Guess so."

"Got the ring?"

Nova pulled a necklace from under her collar. "Right by my heart."

"That's my girl." Becket smiled, leaning to kiss the tip of her nose.

Eric took the ring in his hand as it dangled from the chain around her neck. "You already proposed?"

Nova nodded. "It was the only way he would let me leave with Liam for the media promotions for Power Olympics. I think Beck was staking his claim. I can't wear it until this thing with Liam is over. We have to keep the facade that he still has a chance to get me back."

Eric looked around. "Where is the rat bastard anyway?"

"Catering, hitting on Raven."

Beckets' eyes got wide. "Oh, Shit!" Becket jumped over the chairs and took off running backstage.

Nova just laughed knowing her friend was probably beating the crap out of the creepy man by now.

Eric grabbed her arm. "Come on. I have to make sure Raven hasn't killed him."

Once they made their way to the catering area, Liam was standing with his nose bleeding and trying to catch the blood. "That bitch broke my nose!"

Raven just laughed and went over to Nova. "Hey, rockstar. How are the alpacas?"

"Adorable. I think that one of them is pregnant."

"Cool. Wanna go grab something to eat?"

"I can eat."

Liam stood in utter disbelief. "I'm bleeding here!"

Nova shrugged. "But did you die?"

"No."

"Humm. Too bad," she said with a shrug. "Go see the medic. He's down the hall to your right. Tell him Raven sent you."

The girls started laughing and walked away. Liam looked at Eric for help and he just mirrored her shrug and followed behind Nova.

"You'll pay for this! You'll hear from my lawyers!"

"Actually she won't. When you signed your agreement to be backstage at Powerbomb with Nova, you agreed that any injury was no fault of the company or its employees. It's just the dangers of the industry. Tough luck," Becket said while smacking the man hard on the back, making him stumble.

Liam snarled as they all walked away from him. He turned on his heels to go see the medic. Behind him, he found Claire was standing there glaring at him.

He just smirked and walked past, taunting, "How's the head, Claire. Pity they haven't found the guy who ran you over."

"Funny. I think they will find out who was responsible soon enough."