Hustling, hectic, humming, popping. All words to describe Ross's week. It wasn't just busy, it was hustling - him being inside a car more than he'd like to be; hectic - running from one meeting to the other and trying to stay awake all at once; humming - meetings that went by in a blur that even he, nor his new publicist, could tell you what went on; and popping - filled with so much excitement about the actual Los Angeles premiere of the film that was on everyone's radar, the film that would hopefully be a box office hit and the film that was sending him all over the world. No, busy just didn't seem to cut it.

Though, he didn't mind it. He was always one of those people who liked being overbooked and insanely busy versus the one that was buried in a mound of blankets and playing Xbox all day because the phone wasn't ringing and they were that out of work actor that no one wants to be. He liked being busy and meeting new people and talking with them about this film that he, and the rest of the cast, were insanely proud of. He told the press about getting back into acting after R5's tour and how the movie actually dropped into his lap randomly. He told them about his friendships with everyone and even let them in on something special about Laura - which was on the advice of that new publicist he had just hired.

Don't give them everything. Just one thing, the new guy, Robert, had told him. So, he did. Ross had signed with Robert's agency just a week ago and already was smacking himself and asking why he hadn't been with them since his Austin & Ally days. The agency repped a few other celebrity couples as well and knew how to handle everything. They were pretty brilliant. While Paramount had handled most, if not all of the press in the past, Robert and his agency were now getting him even more things. More interviews with major press, and the print magazines that no one has heard of, but get major circulation around the globe. He had just finished up 20 or so phoners about the movie and Permafrost, before Robert had allowed him to go back home for a minute. He showered and brushed his teeth, before eating the rest of the dinner he'd made last night for him and Laura. It was still good a day later, even more delicious to be honest. If this acting or music thing hadn't worked out, a pilot/cook wouldn't be a bad life at all.

Watching the traffic outside the window of the kitchen while putting the last bite into his mouth, he was greeted by female chatter and the opening of the door - something he wasn't prepared for. Quickly wiping his mouth, Ross left the empty container in the sink and raced back to the bedroom. He wasn't exactly presentable for any company other than Laura; and by not presentable, that meant completely naked. He heard the laugh as soon as he shut the door promptly put on some jeans before going back out.

"The gym has been good to you Ross."

He was greeted with the wiggling eyebrows of Laura's older sister and instantly felt his skin turn red, before she sat down on the sofa. He never really got embarrassed but when your could-be-someday sister-in-law sees you in the buff...you react. Sometimes in a not good way, sometimes in a really not good way and then there was him, who turned into a tomato.

"Why exactly were you naked?" Laura raised her eyebrow as he started to pull on his shirt he'd whipped out of the dresser.

He kissed her quickly, coming out with an excuse out of his ass. "Didn't want to get any stains on clothes?"

"Mmhmm, sure," Laura rolled her eyes. "I thought you had stuff all day."

"I do. I had this little two hour window, so I came home to shower and eat."

"And run around the place naked," Vanessa offered up. "That's what he does now."

"You got mean in San Francisco."

"I've always been like this."

"True story," Laura chimed in as she was plugging in her phone to charge up. "When's your next appointment?"

"In..." he glanced over at the clock. "About a half hour. It's to get me all suited up for tonight."

"My team is here in twenty. I guess I won't see you until the carpet."

"Probably not. I've got to get all my family dressed up and out the door too."

"We can always send Vanessa after them. She's really good at that."

"It's my fallback career," Vanessa mentioned, now in the kitchen and munching on an apple, watching them intently.

Ross only glanced at her quickly, before he noticed the ring on her left finger. "Woah!"

"What was that? 10 minutes? Does that mean you win?" Laura asked her sister.

Vanessa laughed. "I think it was a little more. Either way, I still win. We were betting how long it would take you to notice anything."

"Is this that Adam guy?"

"Yes, and you'll get to meet him tonight. He's at my parents right now."

"You left him with your parents?"

"It's not like he's going to be eaten," Vanessa swatted at him, welcoming the hug he was about to give her after circling the peninsula.

"I almost was," he mentioned. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Ross gave her one more squeeze before he had to go. Not that it took long for him to get dressed for anything, but factoring in the wrangling of the Lynches and drive time, he had to go now if he wanted to actually make the carpet. "Okay, I have to go. You two be good," he pointed straight at Vanessa. "Behave...and you," he leaned into Laura, giving her longer kiss. "See you tonight."

It didn't take him long to get over to his parent's home, where Robert was already waiting outside and on the phone. He was parked behind about a million cars and Ross had an inkling that a million more people were inside the home making his entire family look good. Riker didn't really need it, nor did Rydel. But Rocky and Ryland...that was another story. He loved his brothers to death, but this was such an insanely important event to him that he needed them both to step up their style game. He had nothing against the jeans and leather jackets and open shirts - that used to be his every day wear a few years ago - but this was a red carpet premiere and not just any red carpet premiere. This was THE red carpet premiere. He needed them to all look good. Insanely good.

Stepping inside the home, he was right. There were a million people (more like six) going from Lynch to Lynch. Rydel had her hair up in the highest knot he'd ever seen with a makeup artist doing up her makeup while his mom was doing her own hair. His dad was battling it out with Rocky for the nicest suit on the rack that had been brought over while Riker was trying to put Ryland in the most ridiculous suit ever - the bright blue one that more than likely he wanted for himself.

The only one not accounted for was Ratliff, but that was because he was currently sneaking up behind him and making him jump out of his socks. "What the hell man?" Ross punched him in the arm.

"You were wide open. Had to."

Ross punched him again for good measure before heading for his parents before meeting with the stylist that was brave enough to take on this mess of a family. She pulled him aside, showing him two options for the premiere. During the past few promo stops, he'd been good and picked out the right suit but he thought that was all because Laura was with him and when he gravitated towards one, she either nodded in approval or turned away in disapproval. This time, there was no Laura. So, he called in the next best thing. "Rydel!"

It was only a few seconds before she walked in - with a sliver of eyeliner across the rest of her face.

"Sorry, did I do that?"

"Did you do this? Yes, you did this!" Rydel punched him. "Now Jenny has to redo it, you ass. Also, Saint Laurent."

Ross watched her stomp off so she didn't have to deal with him anymore and back to Jenny, who looked like she was about to murder him as well. "Saint Laurent it is."

+++

She always kind of prided herself on not being that girl who had to show off skin. Laura remembered the premiere dresses she'd seen on younger actresses which were barely there. A little fabric here and some there, with the rest of the dress completely sheer. She never liked that look and if it had been presented to her to wear at all, she probably would've walked out on Karen. Thankfully though, Karen knew her better than that. Way better than that. She never got the need to show off everything that was underneath and she definitely didn't do that tonight. Her red carpet dress was something out of her dreams and thanks to Karen and Balenciaga, it became a reality. The black top of the vintage inspired dress hugged her upper half before sprouting into a gorgeous blue high low, full skirt. A black solid belt looped around her waist for fluidity and for that added dramatic effect, long black gloves covered almost over her entire arm. She looked like she had been plucked out of a 1957 Vogue magazine and she wouldn't have had it any other way.

But that was for the premiere. Now...now it was the after party.

And showing skin at the after party...was kind of a must. She loved her vintage look. Loved, loved, loved. But, it was not the best dress for the after party. They were inside the Roosevelt and as she stared back her premiere dress on the rack, she looked back at her new look for the rest of the night. Killer heels lead straight up her legs to a Diane Von Furstenberg slip dress that was something she knew would 1) drive Ross crazy and 2) was much more suited for a party. Her hair was down from an updo and being brushed through as soon as she turned around by Heather, and Paolo was changing out her lip color to something bold; something ruby red that she wasn't exactly known for wearing. Earrings changed out quickly, as did her arm candy and within minutes she was back with her sister and inside the party, weaving her way through the crowd and trying to pick out which mess of blonde hair she called her own.

"Wowza."

Riker. That was Riker. Laura turned around and sure enough it was. She was proud to say that she had all of their voices memorized now. Giving him a hug, she followed him over to the rest of the gang, sans Ryland, who had taken over the DJ booth and whipped out some of his own tracks.

"Looking good Marano," Rocky nodded towards her.

She took a little curtsy. "Thank you. Not too bad yourself."

"Hey now. Significant other is over here," Ross rounded the tall table off in the corner and wrapped her in his arms. "Hi gorgeous."

"Hi," she smiled up at him, her arms going around his neck. "Dance with me later?"

"Among other things, yes," he nodded, leaning his forehead against hers.

Laura watched Rocky roll his eyes from her peripheral view. He was already slightly annoyed with their PDA, might as well amp it up. Leaning up, Laura captured Ross' lips in a sultry kiss, her fingers twisting the back of the hair that had escaped from the gel he'd slicked back his hair with earlier in the evening. She bit his lip an dhe bit hers right back, making it a kiss that was usually an indicator that sex was on the horizon in mere minutes. Although it still was, she just wanted to make Rocky as uncomfortable as ever. Just because they could.

"I'm gonna go find Vanessa and Jenna."

"Okay," Ross loosened his grip only to pull her back moments later, another kiss stolen. "But later, kiss me like that again."

Laura winked at him and waved to Rocky, slipping down to the dance floor before she found her sister, and her new fiance Adam chatting with Milo. She forgot just how long it had been since the two had seen each other. After reuniting for the Gilmore Girls movies, the two had kept in touch for a little while before both of their careers took over again. Milo was in and out of the country on several movies whereas Vanessa had been shipped up to San Francisco for her show. It was good to see them together again.

"I still can't believe you're engaged now."

"Me either. I didn't think it would happen this quickly after everything," Vanessa told him, Laura overhearing her words. "But I'm happy. So, so happy."

"Please tell me that you'll put Laura in the most hideous bridesmaid dress ever."

"Hey now," Laura chimed in.

"Just saying. It would be hilarious and I would be snapping all the pictures I could. You know, for future blackmail," Milo winked at her, sipping on his drink he had in his hand.

Laura playfully punched him before going to join Jenna who was up on the next level, drinking and flirting with one of Godfrey's friends that he had invited to the premiere. She got acquainted with the guy and monitored her drinking (because she didn't want to see Jenna make a stupid mistake) before Stevenson took over the booth for his speech - another one after his premiere one. Stevenson was definitely a speech maker.

"To my beautiful cast," he raised his glass of champagne high for everyone to see. "Thank you. Thank you for being the best cast on the face of this planet, and for making this hell of a weird script come to life and into something we can all understand. Thank you."

They drank more, they danced more and somehow she found herself deep into a conversation with Godfrey and two of his friends, James and Lyle. Well, deep was open to interpretation. "Deep" actually meant her nodding and making it seem like she was interested in what they were saying, when all she wanted to do was get back over to Ross and get that dance she made him promise her. But actually excusing herself was proving harder than she anticipated, especially since Lyle was trying to dance with her himself. Not that he wasn't a cool guy - he built robots for a living after all - but she was more of the blonde, hot rocker type, not the guy who thinks he's smooth and can get any girl he wants with the robot thing and with the being best friends with Godfrey thing.

"How about that dance now?" he asked again. "I swear I'm not that bad of a dancer."

Look at it this way Laura. You dance with him, you can glide your way across the floor and go straight to Ross after. Listening to the voice in her head, for better or for worse, she nodded at Lyle, who practically pulled her arm out of the socket getting her on the dance floor. She was good with the fast pace of the song and if she timed it right, they'd be on the dance floor for about a minute before she could get back Ross. That was the plan anyhow...until the music went to a slower one and Lyle insisted on dancing with her for that one too.

Laura wasn't an argumentative person. She wasn't a person who could actually turn anyone down and that was part of her downfall in this situation. She really didn't want to dance with him any longer, but she wasn't exactly running either and it was a mistake. It was a mistake to linger around him, giving him the idea that he could put his hands on places that they weren't welcome. She backed away from him quicker than a cheetah could catch a zebra; and he moved in closer.

"Don't tell me you're not into this," he whispered closer to her ear.

"I'm not into this and you're overstepping."

"Come on, Laura. It's just a dance..."

"No, no, it's not just a dance," she backed away again, already seeing the blonde hair headed her way. "I told you that I had a boyfriend and I am fully committed to him. Your hands should've never wandered at all."

"You should've stopped sending me signals then," Lyle argued back.

Before she could answer, telling him that any signals he saw were in his imagination, Ross was there and asking more questions than she could form. His body was no in between hers and Lyle's, backing him away from her with short steps that would intimidate anyone.

"Did I just see your hands feeling up my girlfriend's body? Did I?"

If Laura was facing Ross, she would see his eyes flash red as he backed Lyle away from her and into his own little corner of the spacious area that was filled with people. The tone of his voice was deep and livid as he called out the guy who was trying a dirt move right in front of him and in simple terms, that if he dared look at her or thought of touching her, or any other committed person, he'd be wishing he was blind...and a few other choice words that Laura never really thought she heard Ross say before. She glanced over at Rocky, whose eyes were just as wide as he heard Ross utter the words. Taking a hold of his wrist from behind, Laura turned him towards her and hoped to calm down his rage that was building.

Words weren't needed there, just touch. The touch of his arms looping around her and her, feeling her way up his neck to his cheek. Laura stared at him closely, watching the madness slip from his eyes and the tenseness float away slowly. She'd never really seen him this jealous before, or if he had been, he'd hid it well. The most mad she'd ever seen him was when he failed his driver's test the first time around. The stupid no more than three questions wrong rule was still a sore spot to talk with him about. It was a little thing in the bigger picture, but at the time it was huge. He was sixteen and getting his driver's license. Not passing after studying the book for three weeks straight was bound to get anyone mad. It was such a good thing that he passed his pilot's exam the first time around.

She smoothed her hand over his cheek once more as his breathing became steady. "Better?"

Ross shook his head. "Not one bit," he told her as she spied Rocky come back to the same corner with Godfrey and Riker.

"Laura, are you okay? I'm so sorry about Lyle. I didn't..."

She stopped Godfrey right there. "It's okay."

"Like hell it's okay," Ross spoke up again. "Your friend was feeling her up right in front of me and this entire room."

Godfrey looked away from Ross and back to Laura. "I'm sorry Laura. We already put him in a cab back home. I didn't realize he was coming on to you like that."

She offered him a small smile, while still trying to keep Ross from exploding. "It's not your fault at all, Godfrey. It was his."

The tall Taiwanese actor shook his head. "But it is," he lowered his head. "Ross, I'm sorry."

Ross brushed him off, taking Laura with him and headed out of the crowded room. She had no idea where he was taking her or what was going on in his mind right now but she was determined to find out. On top of the madness, she'd never seen him this jealous before either. Not even when she saw him competing with Riker over Tina. Although, there wasn't really any competition since Riker hated Tina from the get go. Who knows though, maybe he'd been jealous like this after Tina, maybe with Gabrielle or Mandy. Maybe it wasn't just with her.

They had passed by her family and his own in a blur, and she heard the bell ding on the elevator. She watched him tug on her arm into the dumbwaiter before she was pushed up against the wall and had her breath taken away. His one hand slipped down to her leg, sending chill bumps over her skin and the other up the side of her neck, arching it just so for a passionate kiss that was giving her more pleasure than what she was prepared for. His tongue slipped into a dance with hers and she wrapped that one leg around his waist, praying that they wouldn't be stopping to let any other hotel guest on.

"I hate when you get jealous," she said, her breath hitching as his mouth traveled from her lips to her neck.