"Pllleeeaaaassseeeeeee. Pretty please with cherries and sprinkles and hot fudge sauce and caramel on top."

Ross chuckled at Laura, who was doing her best, trying to convince Rocky to help her move into her new apartment. She had suckered in both Riker and Ryland with a bat of her eyelashes, but Rocky was the one holding out for something more and Ross was pretty sure that altering the appearance of her please was not going to convince him.

He sat in his gaming chair next to his older brother, more than ready to get the game they had been playing back on. However, instead of kicking Rocky's butt in the latest edition of Assassin's Creed, he was laughing at him and Laura. She had just signed all the papers and gotten the keys to her new place the day before, anxious to move in as soon as she could.

"I can let you..." Laura tried to think of what she could offer Rocky in order to help her. "I could wash your car."

"Already clean."

"Cook you dinner?"

"You're not your father."

"Come on, Rocky, give me something," Laura whined, sitting right down in front of him to block his view of the TV that was still stuck on the screen from twenty minutes ago, when she had first interrupted them.

Ross watched Rocky lean forward and stare back at her intently. He rubbed his chin, drawing it out longer than Ross could bare. He knocked his brother's arm. "Faster you say yes, faster I can kick your ass in this game."

Rocky punched him back and looked back at Laura, "I'll do it, on one condition," he pointed his index finger in the air. "You keep my brother happy for a long, long, long time."

Laura straightened her back and looked over at Ross, and just by that, they were surprised at what Rocky said. "Are you Rocky Lynch? My brother?" Ross questioned, still taken aback. He was used to Rocky making fun of them, especially him. He would tease and embarrass him more than Riker, Rydel or Ryland and to see him do a complete 180, it was just a little out of character.

"Yea, I'm your brother doofus," Rocky turned back to Laura. "Can we get back to the game now?"

Ross kept staring at Rocky weirdly, only just catching a glimpse of Laura giving him a thank you kiss on his head before walking back out to the kitchen where their mom was cooking up a big dinner they both were looking forward to. "Seriously, what have you done with my brother."

+++

Her chair spun around in a whirl and Laura looked back at herself in the mirror. It was back - her brunette hair was back and she was loving it. Not that being blonde wasn't fun or anything (because it totally was), but she was such a brunette. Brown was sturdy and supportive, luxurious, genuine and a little wild when it wanted to be all at the same time and she liked to think she was as well. Running her fingers through the new layers around her face, Laura admired the new shade that made her eyes pop even more.

For the longest time, she had had the same chestnut hair with amber highlights that just about everyone had, but now, the chestnut was gone and it was replaced by a deep, luscious mahogany that at just the right angle almost looked auburn. A few lighter pieces broke up the color on her locks and gave her the dimension she needed for all the layers her hairstylist had put in. Laura was kind of hoping there would be no more hair changes for a while because she truly loved her hair right now.

Quickly paying for the service and bidding goodbye to the stylists in the salon that no paparazzi or any other celebrity (besides her sister) knew about, Laura hopped in her car and headed off to another appointment downtown - the one she had been looking forward to all week - furniture.

From the first time she stepped into the apartment, she had been fantasizing about all the pieces she could and would bring into the space. There was a sectional, a large ottoman that could be pulled out and turned into a bed if one wanted it to be, a dining room that screamed of her grandmother's home (but Laura couldn't help it, it's what she wanted) and the big Alice in Wonderland chair she had ordered to size had her name written all over it. The big moving day was on Thursday and she got all the Lynch boys, her dad and even Calum to drop everything and help her. She would definitely owe them dinner and knowing how Riker was, a massage or two.

Heading into the furniture warehouse, Laura quickly checked her phone to see a funny text from Calum before greeting the sales rep that she had worked with since before First Aid. She had almost signed on another apartment years before, just as she booked the role of Jennifer Sutton and had to high tail it to Savannah.

"You're not blonde anymore," were the first words out of his mouth.

Laura smiled. "No, I'm back to my brown hair."

Chip, who she had found out was possibly the best furniture maker ever, looked her over and nodded. "I like it better," he said before waving her to follow him through the warehouse to the back where all her finished pieces were wrapped up and ready to go.

Getting a bit excited at the sight of the pieces, Laura couldn't resist - she had to take a selfie. Making Chip take it for her, Laura reminded herself to post it later just as a few of Chip's employees brought in another piece. "Oh my gosh, is that..."

"It is," Chip confirmed just seconds before she jumped on it.

It was perfect and it was all hers. Padded with the comfiest fabric and cushions ever, the chair was round and Laura could already see spending all her free time in the chair with all of her favorite books, a never ending pot of hot cocoa and preferably, a rainy day. It was the perfect chair in an even more perfect shade of gray that she could just imaging being draped in pure white fuzzy blankets. She seriously could not wait to move in now. Snapping a quick shot of the chair alone before seeing the rest of the pieces and sent it to Ross with a very clear message: MINE.

+++

She was in heaven right now. Complete heaven. With her brunette hair shining in the spotlight, Laura twirled around in her larger than life gown and got a little giddy at the mere fact she was standing center stage inside the El Capitan Theatre. Laura had been there many times before - for endless premieres and events that Disney invited her to, but this was a first. It was a first for her and her team to have the place all to themselves for the day for her photo shoot. To be honest, she was kind of surprised Disney was okay with them doing it but she wasn't going to question it at all.

She was in a dream, dolled up in a gorgeous emerald green gown against the glittering background of lights behind her. Her hair was curly upon curly upon curly and if she had a little golden statuette in her hand, her dream would be complete. Turning just slightly at the bid of her favorite photographer, Laura minded the flashes going off and let herself just bleed into the shoot. A smile here, a pout there, showing off a little leg there...this was bound to be her favorite photo shoot yet. It was just the thing she actually needed to get her mind off of her move a few days away. Everything was coming into place. She had an amazing job with endless opportunities, a new apartment that was the perfect place, a great family and well, she couldn't forget her amazing, and hot rockstar of a boyfriend.

"Laura, no smiling for this one," the photographer yelled out at her.

She nixed her smile then, but for the life of her, could not keep it down. There was just so many things to smile about...especially after her audition earlier in the morning. She never really got all confident after auditions thinking she had a role in the bag, but for this one, she knew she did and was banking on a call from Chris later about getting it. It was a great role too. It was a TV movie and she would be playing this struggling single and young mother who was the victim of Murphy's Law. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong and the hunky nest door neighbor seemed to always be there to help her out. She was a sucker for a true romantic comedy and this was right up her alley.

Turning to her left, Laura pulled the sheer fabric up in the air, letting it drift slowly down and prayed to every deity above that the photographer got that shot. Twirling around once more in the gorgeous gown, Laura listened to him call for another outfit change and hopped over backstage for her next look from her stylist. It just happened to be the look she'd been wanting since she set foot inside the theater. It was the vintage, 1950s tea length dress that just oozed Audrey Hepburn in her mind and Laura could not wait to put it on her body. Slipping off the emerald silk number, she shimmied her way into the corseted smock and at that moment decided she wasn't going to take it off for anything.

A deep cobalt in color, the corset top had a scalloped pattern that dipped into a sweetheart neckline. The scallop pattern laid over each layer and onto her waist where it flattened out before the fabric jutted out into a full skirt. She wasn't sure where the photographer wanted her for this shot, she just knew it had to be somewhere that people would see it. A dress like this had to be admired, not just on her, but in general. Her stylist placed tiny diamonds on her ears and plain pumps on her feet before upping the glam value with a cream bolero that was soft as her dog Velvet and silk white gloves. She actually looked like she had walked right out of a 1940s movie and she was loving it.

"Okay, Laura, we're going to have you up on the second floor balcony. Just join us as soon as Heather gets your hair done," the photographer told her and left towards the exterior of the theater. It only took Heather a few moments to tame her curls and pull them into a soft wave to make her look like the Old Hollywood movie star she was feeling like. She and her glam team took the back way through the stage to head up to the second floor for the next shots.

As the hour passed along, she was now on her last look and it was possibly the most glamorous yet. Heather was working on her hair, pulling it into a soft updo. Strands of brunette twisted and turned inside and over each other before being secured by the biggest hair jewel that her hair would ever be fastened by. Her makeup went from bold and wow to soft and elegant. Pinks replaced deep reds and upped the stun factor of the dress she was about to put on - an off the shoulder blush pink gown that if one took a second look, was actually a wedding dress. It was full of layers and ruffles like she never worn before and fit her tiny body like a glove.

Laura chuckled a bit at the look. She loved it, there was no doubt about that, but the photo shoot was for V magazine, which wasn't the biggest glamour magazine ever. It was more artsy and edgy, nothing like this. Apparently the forthcoming issue was a retro glam theme and she was the poster child for it. Meeting the photographer in the concession area, Laura held up the edges of the dress and made sure not to get it dirty or let it drag.

"We're going to have you up on the stairway, like you're climbing to get to your seat, but something has caught your attention," he explained. "Or maybe, someone."

Laura looked up then, having a good feeling he was hinting at something and he was. The sly little devil was hiding that amazing, and hot rockstar boyfriend of hers just behind him and if she could see her own face, like the Grinch's heart, she would have sworn her smile grew three sizes all thanks to him. "Hi."

"You're making it really hard not to get on my knee right now," Ross joked just as she swatted him in the chest.

"Don't get any ideas," she warned him. "I didn't think you had any free time today."

"I didn't think I did either," he told her as she used him for a steady anchor as her stylist slipped the clearest heels on her feet. "But after our meeting at the label, Rydel had a class, Riker had an audition, Rocky went somewhere, Ell went home to sleep and I thought I'd visit my gorgeous and apparently wedding ready girlfriend on her photo shoot. I do hope that's okay," Ross turned back to the photographer once more, just to make sure it was.

"I've got no problem."

"And I wouldn't have told you all the details about it if you weren't allowed," Laura reminded him. "Even if they didn't want you here, I'd be that actress throwing a fit." Ross laughed with her before she pecked his lips, giving him his own pink pout that her make up artist had just perfected. Laura got a fresh coat on them just before climbing the stairs carefully and listening to the photographer's instruction.

"Remember, you're going to the theater and look back, only to see this movie star," he told her, clicking away on his camera as she held her surprise emotion steady. "Turn just a bit towards me." He pulled the camera away from his face to click through the shots he had taken and she saw Ross peek over him to check them out.

"Seriously, I need to get down on both knees now."

"Don't you dare," she told him, not moving from her spot on the stairs.

"These are gorgeous Laur," he winked at her before the photographer showed him the others. The ones where she transformed into a 1940s siren, the ones where she was the star of the stage and even the ones where she was a reincarnated Ava Gardner and oozing sex appeal. "Yea, I'm gonna need so many copies of that one. I need to hang them up on my bedroom walls."

An hour later, Laura was back in her normal clothes and Heather had straightened her hair out after having it in curls and pins all day. Ross had stayed and waited for her, grabbing her hand as soon as he could and leading her to the back parking lot. "Where are we going?"

"I was thinking pizza. I had a craving earlier today. You in?"

"I'm Italian. I'm always in for pizza. Oh, that reminds me," she slipped into the passenger seat of his car just before he started it up. "Wanna help me paint tonight?"

Ross looked over at her, with one eyebrow raised at her. "How does pizza remind you of paint? You know what, I don't want to know."

"I was going to have myself a paint party tonight and pizza was on my list to join," she explained.

Ross pulled out onto Highland Avenue, heading to a secret pizza place that he, nor she would ever let anyone know about. It had the best pizza and the best people and if everyone found out about it, it would be ruined. "Later tonight or after we eat pizza?"

"I have to pick up the paint from the store this afternoon sometime still."

"I'm in. A full day with just you, me, an empty apartment and paint? I'll take that everyday."

+++

Ross stared back at the paint on the wall, trying to find a way to tell Laura that it was an awful color. In fact, it wasn't even a color. It was gray. Not dark charcoal gray, but the gray that is drab and lifeless and just well, gray. The roller was still in his hand, dripping a few drops from it onto the clear plastic she had covering the deep and rich black walnut hardwood floors. He stepped back a few feet more, trying to picture all her furniture in place, with all the accessories she had stuffed in the bedroom with the color on the walls.

"You stopped."

He turned towards her and placed his roller back in the pan.

"Why did you stop? The deal was that we paint, we get Chinese and then we christen this place. No stopping. I want to christen this place sooner rather than later."

Ross couldn't help but smile at her. "If you wanted to do that first, all you need to say is now," he told her waiting for the word. But it didn't come, at least not yet. He knew she wanted to finish all the painting before anything. That was the goal for the day anyhow. Paint it all so they wouldn't have to do it later on...like after all her stuff was inside and she would have to move and cover everything up again to paint. No, paint first, foreplay second, food third.

"So, why did you stop?"

"Just trying to envision this color all over."

"You don't like it?"

"I like it...it's just..." Who was he kidding? Laura could see right through him. "Okay, so it wouldn't be the color I would've chosen."

"And what color would you have went with? Yellow, by chance?" she started to tease him.

"No, not yellow...just not gray either," he looked back at the wall again. It was almost finished before they would do a second coat later on. Maybe after the second coat he would have a different opinion. He didn't see her dip her fingers in the paint can and he was not expecting her to smear the same paint over his cheek.

"You know," she stepped back as he turned to face her, wiping some of the liquid off of his face. "You're right. I think I like the color better on you than on the wall."

Ross shook his head, counting down from five before dipping his entire hand in the can and chasing after her. It was such a good thing they had covered the entire apartment with plastic with the way his hand was dripping. Laura ran from him, in and out of each room and stayed ahead of him until he caught her by the waist and scooped her up, carrying her back to the living room. He smeared her own face with the paint on his hand, trailing it down her neck and onto her raggedy shirt. "You think you're so smart."

"Ross! You ruined my shirt!"

"You started it."

She squirmed away from his grip and didn't dip her hand back in the paint this time. This time, she did one better and just grabbed the roller. She twirled it in her hands and eyed him once again. "I wonder how you would look with gray hair..."

"Don't you dare."

A devilish smirk graced her lips and Ross couldn't leap in the air high enough away from her. Circling back around, he grabbed the paintbrush she had been using for the trim and dipped it in the paint for good measure. She lunged for his own shirt and nailed him good, he got her right arm and before they both knew it, they were both covered in more paint than the actual walls were. Letting the brush drop on the plastic, Ross tried to pull his hand through his hair and couldn't get past his ears. "This is why you never dare a Marano."

"I think I like daring a Marano," Ross sashayed over to her, gripping her hand that held the roller and taking it swiftly away from her. "In fact, I might just do it all the time."

"You're walking on thin ice."

Before he tossed the roller back to where the cans were, he let the paint sponge onto his finger and painted her nose with the color that was drying on the wall. He smeared the paint all over her nose, ignoring the buzzing of his phone on the kitchen counter just steps away. "I hope it is."

It was her who made the first move this time, her hands sweeping up his painted face and into his hair as her lips seized his own. His arms wrapped around her tiny waist, squeezing her and getting her as close to him as was possible. His fingers tickled her skin at her sides as he fiddled with the hem of her shirt and he kept kissing her. He caught her tongue and made it dance around his before nipping at her bottom lip. Ross felt her hands slip out of his hair and move to the back of his neck, playing with the short hairs and driving him nuts in the process.