Archive of Our Own ^beta

Don always loves to point out that he’s a year older than Cosmo.

It doesn’t get Cos down- after all, nothing really does.  He’s happy with where he is; playing mood music for the pictures, watching Don do his best acting for the camera, standing at the sidelines, and putting off writing his symphony.

When they were kids, it was never a thing unless Don wanted something from Cosmo, touting his age to get the better seat in the theatre, the last bite of popcorn, the lead in the dance.  Cosmo gave it to him, but not because of the age thing- that didn’t matter.  He gave it to Don because he loved him, and because he had always loved him, and will always love him.  It was just fact, plain and simple.

Cosmo knows he’s handsome, reasonably, and a good performer, definitely, and a talented musician, absolutely.  Don would tell him those things sometimes, absent-mindedly, but Cosmo knows that when Don says something like that out of the clear blue, he means it- why else would he have been thinking about it?  Don’s always been a bit of a dramatic guy, even more so now that he has to play the part of casanova and famous star, but with Cosmo, he’s always been the goofy kid Cosmo met when he was four.

Cos knows he’s funny, a flirt, a wise-guy, a quick-step, a romantic.  He knows that he can match Don step-for-step in a dance, interpret his bad moods, cheer him up with a witty joke or a pratfall.  He knows he can play a hundred songs at the drop of a hat, dance a quick riff walk if asked, read lines with as much enthusiasm as any actor- though usually with a lot more faces and good humor.  He knows Don loves him just as much as he loves Don, and that he never has to worry about Don leaving him- they’re a pair, the two of them.  It’s written in the stars.

They live together in Don’s big mansion on Sunset with two bedrooms for show, but Cosmo doesn’t think he’s slept in that bed since they bought it- Don’s room is as much Cosmo’s as it is Don’s.  Cosmo keeps his suits separate, though, after Don had pulled on a pair of his trousers once and ripped the back seam straight up the middle; Cosmo had teased him about his derriere for days, and only a thorough lovemaking session had stopped Don from pouting about it.  Don had floated on air for the rest of the week, and Cos had been so smug that people had actually started asking him about what nice thing must have happened to him.  He just showed off his new suit, winking at them- Isn’t the line of these trousers just exquisite?

The amount that people ignore him sometimes gets to him, like at the big premieres, but seeing the way Don gets ripped apart by fans doesn’t make him want the star-studded life.  He hates to see the way Don’s forced to keep Lina on his arm to please the studio, especially since she can’t take a hint, and would trade the mansion and tuxedos and fine parties if it would let Don have a little bit of peace.  Don, though- Don likes the screaming fans, and the photographs, and the star magazines picking his life apart, even as he complains about it.  Don’s always loved the limelight- and Cosmo is more than willing to stand to the side, because Don always pulls him in and puts an arm around him.

With Don at his side it’s hard for most people to tell, but Cosmo is the biggest flirt out there.  He doesn’t woo with big gestures, but he loves the brush of the hand and the flutter of eyelashes, the way he can lean against a wall and a dame will simper, though it’s usually because he’s the best friend of the famous Donald Lockwood.  He finds, however, that people are usually surprised, and then pleased, by his charm.  Let it not be said that Cosmo Brown doesn’t know how to woo a dame or a fella.

At R.F.’s big party, the talk of the night is Lina getting a cake to the face, everyone tittering behind their hands and falling over themselves to please her and reassure her.  Cosmo makes a quick exit as Don chases after the girl who did it- he was never good at keeping his mouth shut when something hilarious was happening, especially to someone he disliked as much as Lina.  He doesn’t blame Don for running after the girl either, he would’ve too; it’s not every day you meet a gal spunky enough to try to throw a cake in your face, after all.  What a dream.

Cos finds Don outside after a while, moping and scuffing up his shiny shoes kicking loose gravel from the driveway.  It’s not like Don to leave a party, especially not one following the premiere of one of his own films. 

“Don, what’s the matter?”

“Oh, hey, Cos,” Don sighs, stopping his aimless pacing so Cosmo can catch up, bumping their shoulders together gently.  “Nothing... just afraid to show my face after what just happened.  Lina’s gonna be on my case all night.”

“The great Donald Lockwood, scared? No,” Cosmo intones, wrapping his arm around Don’s shoulders.  “That was the most hilarious thing I’ve seen all month, and I look in the mirror every day to shave.”

“Oh, be quiet,” Don chastises, but a smile still spreads over his face as he ducks his head.  “It was quite funny, wasn’t it?”

“I’ll be dreaming about it tonight,” Cosmo sighs, pressing his hand to his chest and his cheek to Don’s shoulder.  “Who was that girl, Don?  I feel like I need to ask her hand in marriage.”

“Her name’s Selden,” Don says, and his mood seems to drop.  “Kathy Selden.”

“Where’d you meet?”

“Well, remember how I was late to the party?  After you left me to be torn apart by my fans-”

“What was I supposed to do? ”

“I had to run-”

“A most daring and athletic escape. ”

“And I dropped into her car.”

“I’m sure she took that quite well.”

“Cosmo,” Don sighs, and stopped walking, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets.  Cosmo’s smile fell- he could tell Don was actually pretty upset about the whole thing.  “She said I was a fraud, a shadow.  She said that movie actors weren’t real actors- that it’s all just pantomime, not like actors on a stage.”

“Is this what you were talking about earlier when you arrived?  Asking me if you’re a good actor?”

“I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Well, she probably could have said it a bit nicer, but you can’t fault the girl for having an opinion,” Cosmo says gently, petting his hand across Don’s shoulder.  “She just said all that unprompted?  Even knowing who you are, what you do?”

“Well that’s the thing- she didn’t know who I was,” Don says, exasperated, and gestures to himself.  “Me, Don Lockwood!  How could she not know who I am!”

Cosmo rolls his eyes; now they’re getting to the root of the problem.  “So you’re mad she didn’t know who you were.”

“I turned on all the charm, all the moves- most girls would count themselves lucky to have me leap into their car, ventilated tuxedo or no!”

“Ventilated… Don, it sounds to me as if you’re just upset she didn’t fall head over heels for you.  Maybe you’re just not her type.”

“Not her- Cos!  I’m everybody’s type!”

“You’re lucky you’re still mine, with that big head of yours,” Cosmo grumbles, and tugs Don back towards the house with a firm hand on his shoulder; they would need to show face at the party for a little longer before making their escape.  “C’mon, let people faun over you and your ego will grow back to its rightful size.  It’s your premiere party, after all.”

“After the talking pictures reveal and the cake?  I don’t think the limelight will be on me.”

“Well, all the better for us to sneak off early so I can get you out of this suit, huh?” Cosmo whispers in Don’s ear, glancing behind him to check if they’re alone before sliding his hand over Don’s rear for a quick squeeze.  Don jumps, but then shoots Cosmo a look from under his lashes, the corners of his mouth turning up.

“Cos, let’s just go home.”

“You’re really making me be the responsible one?  You know that won’t go well.”

“Please, Cosmo?” Don simpers playfully, lacing his fingers under his chin and batting his eyes.  Cosmo laughs.  

“Alright, fine.  I bet there isn’t even any cake left that Lina’s not wearing, and we already saw the important stuff.”

Cosmo drapes his arm back around Don’s shoulders as they change direction towards the car, and when Don starts humming that song the girls sang, all I do is dream of you, slow and a little sad, Cosmo joins in.

---

Over the next couple of weeks, it’s obvious that Don is still shaken by what Kathy had said.  It’s not like him to let a bad review get under his skin- he and Cosmo have had their fair share of poor reception to things they had put on, from music to stage shows to pictures, and usually Don could let it roll right off his back.  There must be something special about this girl.

Cosmo tries his best to cheer Don up whenever he could, using all his best tricks, but nothing is really working in the long term.  Don always seems to have his mind on something else, like a little piece of him is off in the clouds; a few people ask Cosmo about it, but he just shrugs and pretends like he doesn’t know what they’re talking about, and that gets them to back off.  If Cosmo doesn’t think anything’s wrong, he’s probably right, they would day.  The joke’s on them, though; Cosmo keeps his secrets and loved ones as close to the chest as possible.

It gets worse when Don goes to see if he can find Kathy at the Coconut Grove, where she and the other girls had been hired from for the party, and finds that she had been fired for the cake stunt.  Don mopes around the house the whole night; both he and Cosmo know what it feels like to be out of work, and for Don, being the reason for someone’s misfortune is incredibly hard.  He’d never wanted to hurt her like that, he says to Cos one evening.  He had just been teasing.

“She seemed like a firecracker, Don,” Cos replies gently, petting over his soft hair as they laid in bed.  He likes Don like this, relaxed and loose after a bath, his perfect coif unstyled and the smooth skin of his broad shoulders visible from under the sheets.  “She’ll bounce back.”

“I gotta find her, Cos,” Don sighs, rubbing his face roughly.  “It’s my fault.  I won’t be able to let it go until I fix it.”

“Alright,” Cosmo says easily, and presses a kiss to the knob of Don’s shoulder, sliding closer until they’re tucked together comfortably.

How angry Don is when he finds out that Lina was the reason Kathy had been fired is something else; that’s how Cosmo knows it's serious.  He hadn't been listening to their small talk before the shoot, but Don’s sudden What? as he spun on the fake stone steps is what makes him look up and hear Lina admit to what she had done, looking pleased as punch and not one bit remorseful.  Cos feels a flame of anger lick through him, even though he doesn't know the kid- just another way Lina’s entitled, ugly personality had reared its head, harming the career of a girl who had just made a mistake in the heat of the moment.

It's an eventful day, what with his promotion to head of the music department and the shift into talking pictures.  It's a hard pill for Don to swallow, suddenly not working for three weeks while they refitted the studio for sound, but Cosmo tries his best to distract him.

“Let’s go out to a show, huh, Don?” Cosmo suggests one afternoon as he plays a little something on the piano.  He had found the shift from playing every day to not at all to be strange, and more often than not, he would sit down in front of the keys without any conscious thought, playing little pieces or bigger ones, just to keep his fingers loose.  He isn't quite sure what he needs to know to be head of the music department, anyway.

“Yeah, we could,” Don says, and then perks up.  “Oh, maybe we’ll find Kathy like that!  Maybe she’s picked up a job with another club.”

“That’s true,” Cosmo concedes, and now that he's planted the idea in Don’s head, resigns himself to losing the relaxation the next couple of weeks had promised.  Don has a twinkle in his eye not unlike when he has a new idea for a show, or dance- his mind cogs seem to be working already.

The next couple of weeks are filled with the two of them trawling the town, going to shows at clubs big and small.  It's quite a laugh, actually- Cosmo loves doing things with Don, of course, and enjoys any time they spend together.  It's fun, seeing other people perform, for once; usually they were so busy they could hardly kiss before falling into bed at night.  Some of the outings they go on are outings, things that Don's photographed going to, but others are tiny things, where no one pays attention to Cosmo and Don, or Cosmo’s hand on Don’s thigh.

“Let’s blow this joint, this guy can’t play worth a lick,” Don whispers, squeezing Cosmo’s hand, and the two of them escape the smoky bar, giggling like teenagers.

It's always torture, having to keep their hands to themselves in Cosmo’s convertible, but while the car's moving, Don slides his hand over Cosmo’s thigh, fingers brushing over the inseam of his trousers, teasing him until he felt hot all over, gripping the steering wheel of the car.

“Y’know those awful accidents the papers write about, Don?” Cosmo asks, voice tight.  “Well, you’re about to witness one first hand if you don’t stop touching me like that.”

“You’re a great driver, Cos, what’re you talking about,” Don replies with a wide grin, and cups Cosmo through his trousers.

“Don, I swear,” Cosmo says weakly, hips pushing up into Don's hand.  “The other option is that I finish before we get home, which is only slightly better than a car crash.”

“Alright, alright,” Don concedes, but when he leans back in his seat, he touches himself with a sigh.

“Donald Lockwood, arrested for public indecency,” Cosmo intones seriously, cheeks hot all the way to his ears.  “What a headline that’ll be.”

“No fun at all,” Don laughs, but finally stops teasing.  He looks so good when Cosmo glances at him out of the corner of his eye, lean and relaxed as he smiles, waving to people as they drive by.  He finally looks like the weight of the past weeks has lifted off his shoulders a little, if just for the night, which is all Cosmo’s been hoping for.

When they get home, Cosmo crowds Don up against the wall in the hall, feeling the way his breathing catches and shakes out of him in a rush.  He’s so handsome as he stares Cosmo down, jaw clenching under Cosmo’s mouth as he kisses down Don's neck to the collar of his shirt, tilting his head to the side easily.  Don slides his hands down Cosmo's back heavily and up under his sweater, hot through his shirt and underclothes.

“Cos,” Don moans, and Cosmo groans back, clutching at Don’s hips and lifting his head up to kiss him passionately.  Don kisses back just as intently, bringing a hand up to cup the back of Cosmo’s head, and they both open their mouths to deepen the kiss.  Cosmo moans against Don’s tongue when he drags his other hand down to squeeze Cosmo’s ass, hips pushing forward, and wraps his arms around Don’s waist to hold him even tighter.

“You damned tease,” Cosmo breathes when they separate, and Don laughs, pressing back in so their giggles vibrate between their lips.

“Not my fault you got me so worked up at the club,” Don pants, kissing over Cosmo’s cheek to bite his jaw.  “Your wandering hands always get us in trouble.”

“Not my fault, he says.” Cosmo’s laugh slides into a moan when Don bites gently at his earlobe.  “Not my fault you looked so good, and that the club was dark enough no one would notice.  Unlike the car.”

“Stop talking,” Don groans, sliding his hands under Cosmo’s sweater to tug it off.  Cosmo emerges pink in the face and grinning, and drops to his knees easily.

“As you wish,” Cosmo says in a posh accent, unzipping Don’s trousers, and Don’s laugh is cut off by a moan when Cosmo rubs him through his underwear, erection visible through the thin knit.  His fingers are quick on the buttons at the crotch, and he pulls Don out in a second, jerking him in his hand a couple times.

“Cosmo,” Don moans again, mouth dropping open around a gasp, and his hands clutch at Cosmo's shoulders as he leans in to fit his mouth over the head of Don’s cock, pulling his foreskin back to suck at the head.

Over the years, Cosmo’s gotten good at sucking Don off, and like everything else he’s good at, he enjoys the act immensely and believes that practice makes perfect.  Don’s a great subject to practice on, loud in pleasure and unabashed in his love-making, always willing to receive and give pleasure with abandon.  Cosmo bobs his head and sucks as he pulls up, following his mouth with his hand, and Don shakes above him, hands coming to gently cup Cosmo’s head.

It’s easy for Cosmo to just relax into this, dragging his tongue along the underside of Don’s cock, and gets into the rhythm of bobbing his head, breathing through his nose and closing his eyes.  Don’s moaning those sweet little noises with every dip of his head, fingers flexing in Cosmo’s hair, so Cosmo drags his free hand up Don’s thigh to his hip and around to his ass, pushing his trousers down to squeeze a cheek in his hand.  Don gasps, hips twitching forward, and Cosmo pulls off to breathe, jerking Don steadily as he looks up at him.

“Cos,” Don says weakly, bringing a hand around to pet a thumb over Cosmo’s cheek, but Cosmo just winks at him and fits his mouth back over the head of Don’s erection, looking up at him.  Don makes a tiny noise and shivers under Cosmo’s touches, thumbing the corner of Cosmo’s mouth where it’s stretched around him, and Cosmo just closes his eyes to focus on getting Don off.  Don moans above him, and Cos can feel the way all his muscles are tense as he gets close, sliding his hand from Don’s butt to his hip and up over his taut belly.

Cosmo feels so turned on just from making Don feel good, listening to the noises he makes and feeling his body’s reactions, his own cock tenting against the fabric of his trousers and underwear.  He wants to touch himself while he gets Don off, even if he has to rub himself through his pants, but he’d rather touch Don, wanting to feel the way he’s reacting, how his tummy and hips twitch, how hot his skin is through the thin cotton of his underclothes.  He slides his hand down over the line of Don’s hip to slip his fingers into his underwear and cups his sac, squeezing gently as he sucks him.

Don’s moans get tight and desperate sounding, like they always do when he gets close to coming, and he drops his hand from Cosmo’s face back to his shoulder to grip tightly as he pants.  Cosmo can feel the way his cock gets harder, furrowing his brow as he focuses on keeping his movements steady, and then Don’s gasping, hips twitching as he comes hot and sudden across Cosmo’s tongue.

“Hah, ah, Cos,” Don sighs, petting his hands over Cosmo’s neck and into the hair at the back of his head.  Cosmo shivers, pressing his forehead to Don’s hip for a second as he catches his breath and swallows thickly, finally letting himself squeeze his own arousal, panting out a tiny moan.  “Wait, I’m gonna suck you, don’t.”

“I’m not gonna,” Cosmo sighs, squeezing himself one more time before gripping Don’s hips and getting to his feet, shaking his legs out.  “Just taking the edge off.”

“You’re incredible,” Don breathes, and gathers Cosmo close, wrapping his arms around his waist as he kisses him soundly.  Cosmo moans, sliding his hands across Don’s shoulders up to his hair as he kisses him back, rubbing his cock along the line of Don’s hip.

“Show me,” Cosmo says roughly, and Don kisses him again, licking into his mouth with a small noise to taste himself.

They make their way up the stairs to their bedroom after Don hikes his trousers back up and Cosmo grabs his sweater off the floor, giggling and bumping into each other.  Don can’t keep his hands to himself, squeezing Cosmo’s ass, his hips, catching him around the waist to kiss the sensitive place behind his ear, sliding his hand over his cock.

“Don.”

“Irresistible,” Don murmurs against his ear, and Cosmo shivers, a tiny moan sneaking out of him as Don squeezes.

Once they get to the bedroom, Don slows down a little, undoing Cosmo’s tie and tie pin before unbuttoning his shirt, all the while kissing him slow and gentle and deep, like he can’t get enough.  Cosmo feels emotional, flayed open under Don’s attentions like always, the way his fingertips are light as he slides Cosmo’s shirt from his shoulders and off, the softness of his mouth.

“C’mon,” Cosmo moans, clutching Don’s hips.

“Needy,” Don teases, but doesn’t stop Cosmo from pulling off his sweater, smiling and helping him undo the buttons on his shirt, tugging down his trousers.  “We still have our shoes on, Cos.”

“Then take them off,” Cosmo retorts, and sits down on the bed to tug his loafers off and then his trousers, leaving him in just his underwear, socks, and garters.  He leans back on his elbows and watches how Don stands on one foot and then the other to take his shoes off before standing, unbuttoning the rest of the buttons down the front of his underwear and shrugging it off his shoulders, sliding the suit down over his legs to step out of it.

Don looks incredible, the lines of his dancers body fit even though they haven’t been dancing as often as they used to, wide shoulders, flat belly, the lines of hips hips leaning to his soft cock and balls and dark hair.  Cosmo wants him all the time, but he especially wants him now, wants Don to make him feel good, to make him come after so much teasing.  Don puts a knee on the bed on one side of Cosmo’s hips, and Cosmo falls back.

“Leaving the socks on?  I like it,” Cosmo jokes, and Don laughs, his wide smile bright in the dim room.  “Turn the light on, will’ya?”

“Sure, Cos,” Don says softly, smile melting into something more tender, and gets back to his feet to switch the side table light on, illuminating his lean body in harsh light and shadow.  Cosmo knows he’s handsome, but he also knows that Don is beautiful, and regrets not taking a bit more time tonight to show him.  Well, there’s always tomorrow.

“I’ll also take my socks off, to show you I’m willing to compromise,” Cosmo jokes, but Don is quicker at taking his own hose and garters off, pushing Cosmo back to the bed to unbutton his union suit, rubbing his hands firmly up from his hips all the way to his collar.  Cosmo feels breathless from the attention.

“I don’t care,” Don says, kissing Cosmo firmly as he works his way down the buttons.  “I’m tired of waiting.”

“I’m not stopping you!” Cosmo says, voice cracking, and tilts his head back so Don can kiss down his neck, biting at his collar.  Don keeps kissing as he pushes Cosmo’s underwear open and off his arms, thumbing over his nipples as he squeezes his ribs, scraping his teeth over his sternum, kissing the soft skin over his belly button.  It’s so tender it leaves Cos breathless; this is part of the reason why he knows Don loves him, among other things.  It’s like Lina said- Don does kiss a certain way when he feels something, but if she had ever felt these sorts of kisses, she’d never think that their star studded, passionless lip locking was anything but that.  Cosmo laughs, and Don looks up at him, raising an eyebrow with a little smile.

“Yes?”

“Thinking about Lina,” Cosmo says, and Don makes a confused face, pulling back a little.  “No, not like that, you mug.  Thinking about how she thinks your kisses are real, as if they could ever compare to this.”

Don’s features melt back into something tender, but the next kiss he presses to Cosmo’s hip is hot and sharp enough to make him moan, sucking hard before licking over the tender spot with his tongue.  Cosmo lifts his hips so Don can tug his underwear down and off his legs, leaving Cos naked but for one sock fighting heroically as it clings to his garter, not that he even can think when Don takes him in hand and sucks him down.  Cosmo practically shouts out a moan, curling up at the sudden pleasure, and pants roughly as Don bobs his head, clutching at his shoulders.

“Don, ah, hah,” Cosmo moans shakily, falling back to the bed.  Don seems like he’s doing his best to make Cosmo come in a minute, fluttering his tongue over the head of his cock, pulling his foreskin back and jerking him quickly, cupping his balls in his free hand.  Don’s cheeks hollow as he sucks, and Cosmo can’t help but pet his fingers over the line of his cheekbone, speechless and shivering with pleasure.

Don pulls back, still stroking him quickly, and looks up at Cosmo through his eyelashes as he just sucks over his cockhead, making Cos moan brokenly as he watches.  Don mirrors his moan, eyes fluttering shut, and it looks so genuine that Cosmo has to believe him, squeezing his eyes shut as his orgasm barrels through him and he comes suddenly, moaning these tight little ah, ah!’s as he tilts his head back against the blankets.

He pants as he comes down, bringing his arm up to rest over his eyes, and melts into the bed as Don kisses his way back up Cosmo’s body, lingering and wet against his skin.  Finally, Don lays down half on top of him, kissing his jaw sweetly, and Cosmo moves his arm to wrap it around Don’s shoulders to squeeze him close.

“You’re too good at that,” Cosmo breathes, pressing a kiss to Don’s mouth, and makes a tiny noise when he tastes himself on Don’s tongue, running his fingers through Don’s sweaty hair.  How’d he get so lucky?

“No such thing,” Don murmurs against his lips, kissing the corner of his mouth, his cheek, his jaw, before settling with his face in Cosmo’s neck.  “You’d give me a run for my money, anyway.”

“I just know what you like,” Cosmo says, brushing off the compliment, and wiggles his toes happily.  He’s still wearing his sock.

They get up after a while to clean off, giving themselves a quick wipe down with a damp towel before climbing into bed, forgoing their pajamas to feel each other’s skin.  Cosmo curls up behind Don, wrapping his arm around Don’s waist tightly, and presses a kiss to the meat of his shoulder.

Don sighs, but Cosmo can tell there’s something more to it than just settling, so he guesses, and says softly, “We’ll find her.”

“Yeah.”

They lay there for a little while longer but don’t sleep- Cos can feel the tense line of Don’s body against his.  Finally, once his thoughts had formulated a little more, he spoke up.  “Do you think I’ll like her?”

“Yes, Cosmo, of course,” Don says quickly, turning onto his back.  Cosmo can see the light of the moon reflecting in his eyes in the dark.  “Cos, I wouldn’t- I wouldn’t like her as much if I didn’t think so.”

“Do you think-” Cosmo swallows, resting his hand on Don’s chest.  “Do you think she’ll like me?”

He can hear the smile in Don’s voice.  “Who wouldn’t?”

“Be serious, Don.”

“Who am I speaking to?  The Cosmo Brown I know would never ask me to be serious, of all things,” Don jokes, but he turns the rest of the way towards Cosmo and pulls him close with an arm around his waist.  Cosmo can feel the wash of his breath, the beating of his heart.  “Cosmo, she’ll love you, just the way I love you.  And if she doesn’t, then I won’t love her.”

“You can’t just decide that, y’know- declare who you will and won’t love,” Cosmo says, trying to joke about it.

“I can, and I will,” Don says with finality.  “When I think of her, I get- a different sort of feeling, like I want to skip, and dance, and sing.  But, you know, a waltz, something in the moonlight, fog from the mountaintops.”

“Uh huh,” Cosmo says, deadpan and teasing, but squeezes Don to let him know he’s listening.

“With you, I feel comfortable, like how I know exactly how to play my fiddle to make the songs come out the way I want.  I know you’ll match me step for step in whatever dance I do, whatever choice I make- I know you’ll be there.  And you know I’ll be there for you.  To match your steps, to catch you when you fall.”

“Yeah,” Cosmo says softly.

“Cos,” Don pauses, to make sure Cosmo is listening.  He can see the shapes of Don’s face faintly in the dark.  “Cosmo Brown, I love you with all my heart.  I know that this is all… well, speculation, but it must mean something that I can’t stop thinking of her.  I just have this feeling, Cos.  A good feeling.”

“Alright.”  If Don says it like that, as sure as there are stars in the sky, that there are fish in the sea, it must be true.  Cosmo laughs a little, pressing a kiss to Don’s chin.  “She seems like a riot, from what you’ve told me.  I can’t wait to finally meet her.”

“Yeah,” Don sighs, and the smile in his voice is back.  “I still can’t believe she tried to throw a cake at me.”

They both giggle, wrapped up in each other, and eventually drift off to sleep.

---

The studio finally gets retrofitted with the sound equipment, and Cosmo and Don’s little vacation is over, as if they were one for relaxing anyway.  Cosmo thinks they’ve made up three new dances and four new songs in the last three weeks- not to mention how often they’ve had time to make love.  Cosmo feels more content than ever.

He’s back on the lot as new head of the music department, which so far has meant a lot less time playing music and a lot more time sitting in on new shoots, watching people sing and dance and listening for anything out of place, anything to fix.  It’s certainly fun, but he still gets that itch to sit in front of the piano after a long day, fingers twitching for the keys, and usually Don has to drag him to bed at the end of the night.

He’s on set one day, sitting with the director and the cameraman and Zelda of all people, watching a shoot that involves clothes and lots of gams, when R.F. points out the girl in front.  She is good, and pretty, too- her movements are precise and graceful, her smile sweet, and then, Cosmo realizes.

That’s Kathy Selden.

He excuses himself and runs out of the stage, searching for Don.  He’s around here somewhere, and a few well placed questions finds him on another sound stage- that’s the one positive thing about your best friend being one of the most popular actors on the lot.  Everyone always knows where he is.

“Don!” Cosmo calls, waving, and Don grins before meeting him in the middle, clapping him on the shoulder.  “Don, you won’t guess who I just found.”

“Who?”

“Kathy, Don.  I’m pretty sure I’ve found her.”

“What?” Don exclaims, and grips Cosmo’s arm.  “Where?”

“Here,” Cosmo practically sings.  “On the lot!  She’s in the pre-roll I was sitting in on today.  Dancing!”

“C’mon, then!” Don crows, and the two of them make their way back across the studio roads, dodging carts and prop-men, waving and nodding at their co-workers.

“I’m pretty sure it’s her, Don, I only got a second’s glance at her at the party,” Cosmo explains.  “I was too busy committing Lina covered in cake to my memory.”

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough,” Don says, still smiling.  He looks elated, a spring in his step that wasn’t there before buoying him as they walk.

As they get close, Cosmo suddenly has a thought, and pulls Don to the side into a little alcove.  It’s quieter over here- having to record with sound stuff means they try to limit traffic outside the stages, and most people avoid coming over here to keep from getting yelled at.  “Don, I was thinking- you should take the lead on this one.”

“What?” Don asks, confusion furrowing his brow.

“She knows who you are.  Beyond the pictures, she’s met you before,” Cosmo explains, and then continues even softer.  “You’re the one who’s falling in love with her.”

“But, Cos-” Don tries to say, sliding his hand up Cosmo’s arm to his shoulder.  “I meant what I said-”

“I know, Don,” Cosmo says, looking at him steadily.  “But most girls aren’t always gonna be hunky-dory for dating two fellas.  You gotta test the waters first.”

“Well, alright,” Don says, looking a little nervous.  “I thought that we’d both talk to her, at first.  So she can meet you, too.”

“Why not you talk to her, clear up everything, tell her how you’ve been feeling,” Cosmo explains, squeezing Don’s arm where his shirt is rolled up, skin hot and just a bit sweaty.  “And then we’ll go out to lunch, after.  It’s around that time, anyway.”

“Yeah,” Don says, slowly, but then with more conviction.  “Yeah!  Then she’ll meet you too, and we can all start to get to know each other.”

“Swell,” Cosmo says, smiling, and Don takes his hand to squeeze before they both hurry into the sound stage.

---

After Cosmo makes his graceful exit, albeit with his voice cracking slightly (what? Kathy was a beautiful dame, Don was right!), he meanders around the lot, peeking in on other shoots as they wrap up for lunch, saying hello to the other fellas he knows, getting caught up in talking about the future of the studio.  Since he’s never been on the screen, people find it easier to talk to him, even with his new promotion- Don’s just as personable, but with his name in lights, everyone ends up falling over themselves to treat him like the other big stars, and they miss out that Don is just as goofy and friendly as Cos.  Anything to keep up the act, Cosmo supposes, and as long as Don didn’t let it go to his head too much.

Cosmo thinks about how Kathy had been just as much of a firecracker now as she was at the party, speaking her mind clearly and not simpering to win the favor of the group, and even though they all had the power to fire her she didn’t shy away from the truth.  He smiles when he thinks again of how she insisted that Don was the one the cake had been meant for, finally able to grin in the way he hadn’t been when she had first said it.  Something Kathy would learn quickly was that there was no love lost between them and Lina; truly, the cake had been a positive, not a negative.  That, and the way she was spirited and honest, not to mention beautiful- Cosmo could see why Don hadn’t been able to get her off his mind the past month.  He’s sure he’ll have a similar problem soon enough, if Don’s wishes came true.

Don finds him after a while, Kathy in tow, both of them with wide smiles on their faces.  Cosmo raises an eyebrow at the blush at the apples of their cheeks, how they’re slightly out of breath, but knows that with what a damn romantic Don is, he must have danced to show her that he cared.  What a ham.

“Kathy, this is Cosmo Brown, my best friend,” Don says when they finally get close, putting his arm at her back to guide her forward.  She smiles at Cos and extends her hand to shake, and when he smiles at her, it’s genuine.

“Selden.  Kathy Selden,” Kathy replies.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brown.”

“Call me Cosmo, all my friends do.” Cos winks at her, and is surprised to see her blush.  “So, Miss Selden, I have to say, I’ve been dying to thank you for throwing that cake at Lina.  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

“Oh, gosh, I’ll never live it down,” Kathy cries, but she’s still smiling a little.  “Do you really dislike her that much?”

“It’s not that we dislike her…” Don says carefully, guiding them to start walking across the lot.  “It’s just-”

“That we dislike her, Miss Selden,” Cosmo finishes, and she laughs behind her hand.  “If you ever meet her, you’ll see why.  There’s a myriad of reasons why we’re not her biggest fan.”

“She reads the fan magazines, Cos,” Dons says with a grin, and Kathy looks between them, mouth open to protest before realizing Don's teasing.  Don turns to her with a raised eyebrow.  “You shouldn’t believe everything you read in those rags, y’know.”

“Oh, except for what they say about me!” Cosmo cries, doing a quick shuffle step.  “I truly am a talentless hack, riding on the coattails of my best friend, not worth but a single sentence mention at the end of Don’s escapades.”

“But I did read you were just promoted to head of the music department,” Kathy says softly, looking at him.  He feels, surprisingly, laid open under her sweet gaze.  “That’s not something you could easily achieve just by, well, riding Don’s coattails.”

“Something you’ll learn soon, my dear Kathy, is that Cosmo always says what he thinks, but never says what he means,” Don stage whispers, and Kathy giggles.

“Not true, Miss Selden!” Cosmo cries, face a picture of shock.  “I always say what I mean!  I just say it in a way where to everyone else, it’s a lie!”

“Well, Cosmo, I’ll never take you for your word, then,” Kathy replies seriously, but when Cosmo clutches his heart in mock-agony, her sweet laughter truly makes his heart skip a beat.  “And call me Kathy, please.”

They’re almost at the gate when Kathy suddenly realizes that she’s still in costume and has to rush back to the dressing room to change, chiffon fluttering behind her as she jogs daintily back on the lot.  They both watch her go, and like utter buffoons, wave in tandem when she turns her head to catch them watching her go, her smile lighting up the sun-drenched roads even more.

“She certainly is something, huh?” Don asks softly as the two of them move to the shade.

"That she is, Don," Cosmo agrees, and then cracks a joke. "You know, I might just have to snatch her away from you."

Don laughs, but the tune of his chuckles is almost a bit hysterical, like he gets when he's excited or overwhelmed.  "Cosmo, I hope it works out."

"Well, she already seems on her way to being smitten with you," Cosmo replies truthfully.  "I'll just have to do my best to woo her, too."

“Exactly, Mr. Head of the Music Department,” Don teases with a smirk.  Cosmo shoves him, making him laugh.

Their first lunch is special- it's not a date, Cosmo doesn't think about it like that, but it certainly is something.  Kathy returns from changing, freshened up and glowing, her simple knit dress showcasing her beauty, cloche perched daintily on her head, and she easily slips between the two of them as they walk off the lot.  Cosmo and Don have a particular restaurant they like to grab lunch at, where no one bothers Don (or Cosmo, but it's not like he gets bothered not at the restaurant), and they sit on the patio in the shade of an umbrella.  It's casual enough that Cos can shrug off his jacket and drape it across the back of his chair as Don and Kathy take off their hats, giving them some relief from the heat.  Don even rushes to pull Kathy’s chair out for her; what a gentleman.

"So, what makes a girl lucky enough to have not one, but two dates for lunch?" Kathy asks, taking a sip of her water.  "Don said it's not a problem to be seen with me, but I can't help but think people will talk when two big names like you are out and about with a simple player."

"Well, no one will glance twice at me," Cosmo explains, leaning casually back in his wicker chair.  "So if on the off chance Don gets mobbed by his adoring fans, you and I can make a quick getaway."

"Ah, I see," Kathy says archly, leaning in as if conspiring.  Cosmo mirrors her, keeping his face serious.  "So what's the plan, Cosmo?  I'm thinking I'll crawl under the table while they're distracted, and then you can help me out the other side while Don's back is turned."

Don laughs, smile wide, but Cosmo only breaks for a moment.  "Perfect, my dear Kathy.  You're not only beautiful, but also smart to boot.  I'd ask where Don found you, but I heard the story."

Kathy looks pink in the cheeks, but she just sits back and looks at Cosmo from under her eyelashes.  "I'm sure he did.  Did he tell you how he dropped into my car out of nowhere, like a criminal?"

"I tried to explain, Kathy," Don says, voice laced with laughter.  "You were screaming too much."

"Don, please, I would scream too if you just dropped out of the sky," Cosmo chastises him.  Don's smile is so wide that it’s almost surpassing the definition of beaming.  "Kathy, please continue."

"Thank you, Cosmo," Kathy says primly, crossing her legs.  "Well, after the police officer corrected me, I offered to drop him somewhere.  He was in quite a state you see."

"Of course, how kind of you."

"And then he started taking advantage of my kindness, putting his arm around me, saying how lonely he was, Cosmo, it was a sight," Kathy sighs, mock-scandalized, gesturing with her hand to her chest.  Cosmo can't keep the smile from flitting across his serious face for a second in the face of her teasing.  

"Now, Kathy," Don tries to argue.  "But then you lied to me, saying you didn't know who I was."

"Don, sometimes I want to pretend I don't know who you are," Cosmo jokes, and Don whaps him with his hat in a show of immaturity that he usually tries to keep checked outside their house.  Kathy laughs.

"And Don, you can't blame me," Kathy says, finally peering down at her menu.  "You were quite forward, and I prefer to not make men's egos any larger than they have to be.  Now, what should I order?"

Don and Cosmo order their regular sandwiches, and Kathy makes a show of trying to decide between the two of their orders before going with something else entirely, laughing when both Cos and Don pull the same wounded look.  She’s radiant when she laughs- even her little snorts she tries to cover up are incredibly charming, just another sweet part of her.

“So, Kathy, do I have to fight Don for your honor?” Cosmo asks, taking on the playfully serious tone from before.  “He told me what you said, but it seemed warranted if he was putting his dreadful moves on you.”

“Dreadful-”

“Oh, Cosmo, what a knight in shining armor you are,” Kathy says breathily, and reaches out to squeeze his hand as she looks into his eyes.  His tummy flips.  “What would I do without you?”

“Alright, alright,” Don laughs.  “If we’re done putting me on the fire, I’d like to get back in the pan.”

Kathy squeezes Cosmo’s hand one last time before reaching over to Don’s but the way she brushes her fingers across Cosmo’s skin leaves him tingling.  What a gal. 

The rest of lunch is really excellent, the three of them getting along like peas in a pod.  They learn that Kathy’s from California, but a smaller place up north, and that she had come down to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.  What she had told Don in the car had been true, at least the stuff about wanting to go to New York, she told them bashfully, picking at her sandwich.  She seemed nervous, explaining that to them, as if they would laugh at her for wanting to be a stage actor instead of someone on the screen.

“Why, Kathy, you know Cosmo and I did live performance for, well, most of our careers,” Don says gently, though the emphasis on the word ‘career’ turns it into a bit of a joke.  “I think it's wonderful that you want to be an actress.”

“I’m sure you say that to all the girls,” Kathy sighs, mouth twisting, and Cosmo speaks up when Don shoots him a scared look.

“Well, I know I’ve told a girl or two that I can get them into the pictures,” Cosmo says earnestly.  “Just harmless flirtation.  But Kathy- if you love performing, we can relate to that.  That’s why we’re here.”

“But you two went to good schools, dancing, acting…” Kathy trails off when she sees the two of them exchange a look.  “Now wait a minute- that’s not even something the fan magazines cooked up.  Don, you’ve said that yourself!”

“Because we like you so much, we’re gonna let you in on a little secret, Kathy,” Don says softly, leaning in.  “As long as you don’t leak it to the press.”

“Who do you think-”

“Kathy, please excuse Don, you’ll have to get used to him putting his foot in his mouth,” Cosmo butts in, putting his hand on hers on the table.  When she looks at him, her indignant expression softens.  “You know how important image is- that’s why they keep pushing that Don and Lina are engaged.  It sells more tickets.”

“Yes, I suppose so,” Kathy concedes.  Cosmo squeezes her hand, and she squeezes gently back, smiling at him.  “Well then, I know I don’t deserve to be told just yet.”

“What?” Don exclaims, sitting up straight.  “Kathy, that’s not-”

“No, I understand,” Kathy says, raising her eyebrows and looking back down at her plate.  She pulls her fingers gently from Cosmo’s to take her sandwich in hand.  “I’ll just wait until I’ve proven I’m trustworthy.  I wouldn’t expect you two to ask my secrets right off the bat, either.”

“The gal makes a good point,” Cosmo says, raising an eyebrow at Don.

“You are something else,” Don says softly, gazing at Kathy, and the two of them grin as she takes a bite of her sandwich, batting her eyelashes at them.

---

The next couple weeks are a whirlwind, with Don having to be on set to reshoot The Dueling Cavalier as well as going to a dictation coach, and Cosmo writing music and conducting for background tunes and small pre-roll pictures.  Kathy’s still on set doing work on that picture with Zelda, but if she’s not already there, she swings by the lot to meet up with them for lunch.  More often than not, she gets Cosmo rather than Don, though she doesn’t seem too upset about it.

“Truly, Kathy, it won’t break my heart for you to admit that you’d rather Don had met you at the gate, today,” Cosmo laments as a joke, and even as Kathy laughs, he knows that if she really did say such a thing, maybe his heart would break, just a little.

“Cosmo, you know I love having lunch with you,” She says, placing her hand at the crook of his elbow.  Sometimes, like today, they go on a little walk to work up an appetite before settling down to eat.  “I would love to see Don, of course, but I know he’s busy.”

“I am also busy,” Cosmo says seriously, raising an eyebrow at her, and places his hand over Kathy’s on his arm.  “But I will always make time for you.”

Kathy doesn’t say anything for a moment, but when she speaks, her voice is soft.  “Cosmo, you’re sweet.”

Cosmo feels his cheeks get hot all the way to his ears, and he ducks his head in a playfully bashful manner, putting his hand to his cheek.  “Oh, stop, Kathy, you’re making me blush.”

Kathy giggles and tugs him close, pressing her temple to his shoulder for a moment.  Her perfume smells particularly lovely today, with her face so close to his, and he wishes he could lean down to kiss her.

“I’m going to swing by Don’s dictation lesson today, if you’d like to come?” Cosmo offers once she lifts her head.

She shakes her head, squeezing his arm.  “I can’t, I have to go back to the stage after lunch to reshoot that scene, remember?  Zelda slipped.”

“Oh, gosh, how could I forget?” Cosmo had to cover his face when it had happened to keep from bursting out laughing- he wasn’t one to laugh at people’s misfortune, but truly, what was funnier than the flail of limbs when someone took a tumble.  Maybe he was just immature.

“I had to work so hard to keep a straight face,” Kathy whispers, tugging him close, and they giggle with their heads tucked together.  “You know, I used to love going to those vaudeville shows that would come through town.  My father hated it, but I’d always steal his coat and trousers and sneak in.  Everyone just thought I was a boy.”

“You did what?” Como asks, blinking at her in shock.  “Really?”

“I love that sort of stuff,” Kathy laughs.  “I think that making someone laugh is- well, it’s important.  I always feel much better after I’ve had a good laugh.”

“Yeah,” Cosmo says softly, looking at her, and she looks back for a moment before seeming to realize how close they are.  She ducks her head, sweet blotches of pink rising to the apples of her cheeks, and Cosmo puts his hand over hers on his arm.  What a gal.

---

“I think I’m falling in love with her,” Cosmo says that night, as he and Don put on their pajamas.  

“Really?” Don asks, looking at Cos with the most open, hopeful look.  Cosmo nods, feeling like all his emotions are clear across his face, mirroring Don’s expression ten-fold.

“She’s- she’s really something, Don.”  Cosmo’s voice breaks, and he sits on the bed with a sigh.  “What if-”

“Cos,” Don says, crawling onto the bed to sit behind Cosmo, wrapping his arms around him.  “Why am I the one reassuring you over this, huh?”

Cosmo takes a deep breath before straightening up.  “You’re right.  I’m Cosmo Brown- what lady wouldn’t choose me over you, huh?  Look at this physique, this talent, this face, Don!”

“Now, Cos-” Don begins, even as a grin spreads over his face.

“No, you said it yourself, Don,” Cosmo replies primly, and turns in Don’s arms to push him back to the bed.  “How could anyone resist this?”

“I never said anything!” Don cries, laughter threading it’s way through his voice as Cosmo pushes open his unbuttoned pajama top.  “Cosmo, we have to be up early tomorrow!”

“Then I’ll be quick,” Cosmo says, and ducks his head to press his lips to Don’s.

---

“She kissed me, Cos.”

Cosmo looks up in surprise from the piano, Don’s arrival in the studio a shock.  He had the day off, having finished with all the talkie reshoots, and for once had decided to spend the time off the set, taking Kathy out on a drive that morning.  Cosmo had agreed wholeheartedly- Don had been working like crazy on the flick, and Cosmo had gotten much of Kathy’s time over the past weeks.

“Really?” Cosmo asks, and Don practically floats over to lean on the piano with a sigh and a nod.

“When I dropped her off at her apartment,” Don explains, looking dreamy.  Cosmo grins.  “She kissed me, Cos.  She kissed me.”

“Well I can’t say I’m not jealous of you,” Cosmo jokes, and Don sighs happily again.  Cosmo stands, patting Don on the shoulder.   “C’mon, moon eyes, let's go for a turn.  I’ve been sitting here all day.”

“Our drive was really quite nice,” Don continues, tucking his hands into his pockets as they walk.  “She’s really something.  We should go out to a show, sometime.  The three of us.”

“She told me she likes vaudeville,” Cosmo replies, and Don nods.  “We can put on disguises.  She’d look quite cute in one of my suits.”

“Can you imagine?” Don laughs.  “We should ask.”

“Mhmm,” Cosmo hums, and looks up at the blue sky.  “I wanted to kiss her the other day.”

“Oh?”

“Before I came to see you at the dictation coach.  But-” Cosmo pauses, raising his hand up to shield his eyes.  “You know.  Don’t want to be that fella, the guy who comes across like he’s making a move on his best guy’s girl.”

“Cosmo, you’re still feeling okay with me taking the lead?”

Don looks contrite when Cosmo looks at him, so Cos claps him on the shoulder with a grin, trying to reassure him.  “Of course, Don. I’m just getting in my head a little.  Or she is.”

“She has a way of doing that, huh?” Don says, and puts his arm around Cosmo’s shoulders as they continue to walk.  “We can ask her soon, if you’d like.”

“I don’t think I can take it much longer, she’s already ripped my heart out,” Cosmo jokes, but when Don shoots him a glance he knows that he wasn’t as good at hiding his feelings as he hoped.  “What, Don, a man can’t live with his heart outside of his chest.”

“Uh huh,” Don says, smiling.  “Good thing she has two hands, huh?  For my heart, too.”

“Stop stealing my lines.”

---

The night of the preview of The Dueling Cavalier they pick Kathy up at her apartment in the cab, since it’s pouring cats and dogs, and she is their date.  Cosmo doesn’t trust his car to get them there and back in one piece after last time, and with Kathy with them, there would be a lot of explaining to do if they got caught out together.  

Don’s all jitters in the car, but when Kathy takes his hand he calms a little, talking about how much work they’ve been putting into the picture, all the things that have gone wrong; Cosmo stretches is arm across Kathy between them to pat his knee, try to get him to snap out of it, telling him that it surely won’t be so bad.  Kathy brings her free hand up to rest on Cosmo’s forearm, keeping him there for a moment while she echoes his reassurances, and Cos feels practically delirious with happiness at the way she fits perfectly between them.

It’s a drag to not be able to sit with Kathy during the picture, but when Don glances nervously at Cos he just winks and shifts closer.  He keeps his knee pressed against Don’s throughout the film, a silent support, and tries not to laugh too hard at how awful the thing sounds; he has to pretend to rub his nose whenever a chuckle threatens to bubble out of him, and after the fourth time, Don’s shooting him glances like he’s not doing as good of a job as he’d hoped.

Don’s moping up a storm after the show, and when he leaves, Cosmo can’t do anything but follow him.  Don hails a cab and climbs in, leaving Cosmo hesitating on the sidewalk as he pulls his raincoat over his shoulders.  “Don, what about Kathy?”

“She knows where we live,” Don says, and grabs Cosmo’s hand to pull him into the car.  “C’mon, she’ll understand.  She knows that we can’t just wait around outside the theatre, especially not after that.”

“It wasn’t so bad, Don,” Cosmo tries to say, as Don tells the driver, Camden and Sunset.

“Cos,” Don says softly, slumping back in his seat.  “Don’t lie to me.  It was awful.”

“Well, it certainly could have gone better, but it wasn’t your fault the sound got screwed up-”

“But- Cosmo, it wasn’t just that, gosh, the way the clothes sounded, Lina’s voice… my voice, my lines,” Don groaned, putting his head in his hands. 

“It’s just the first attempt, Don, it’ll be okay,” Cosmo replies, putting his hand on Don’s back.

“Say, are you Don Lockwood?” The cabbie asks suddenly.  “My wife’s a big fan!”

“I wish I wasn’t, tonight,” Don groans softly, but gives the cabbie an autograph and a wide smile when asked.  The two of them stay quiet for the rest of the drive, now that they know that the cabbie’s listening intently- it wouldn’t be good to let Don’s feelings about the picture be leaked to the press.

It’s still coming down when they get home, so they pull their slickers on and jog to the door.  Cosmo’s stomach rumbles as Don lets them in, and after they’ve pulled off their wet rain gear, Cos leans in to press a kiss to Don’s cheek.  “Hungry?  Let’s make some sandwiches for when Kathy arrives.”

“If she does,” Don says sadly, but lets Cosmo take him by the hand to lead him to the kitchen.  “If she ever wants to see me again after that.”

“Don, if anything, that girl loves to laugh,” Cosmo says.  “There’s no way she won’t be coming by.  If anything, she might love you more, now that you’ve shown you have a sense of humor.”

“Hah hah,” Don says cheerlessly, though he goes easily when Cosmo pushes him towards the cabinets with the china.

The doorbell rings soon- Kathy must have just missed them outside the theatre.  Cosmo leaves Don where he’s finishing up with the food and jogs through the house to the door, letting in a slightly damp, worried looking Kathy.

“Sorry we left you behind, Kathy,” Cosmo says, before she can speak.  “Don had to run for his life after that showing, and I didn’t want to be seen in public with him.”

“And Lina was still there when I came out, I don’t blame you,” Kathy says, smiling at him as he helps her out of her raincoat.  He hands her his handkerchief to pat her damp face and curls dry after she takes off her hat, and is surprised when she kisses him on the cheek with a little thank you as she returns it.  “How’s Don?”

“Not great,” Cosmo says softly, recovering from his surprise, and puts his hand on her back to lead her through the house.  “We were just making a midnight snack.  Are you hungry?”

“Starved.”

When they come in the room, Don looks up with a little smile, coming over to press a quick kiss to Kathy’s lips in hello.  She looks pink in the face of his attention, but quickly goes to business getting them set up to eat, pulling the milk out of the ice box as she sends Don out to the table with the plates.  Cosmo wishes, desperately, that she had kissed him hello like that, but smiles when he thinks about the feeling of her lips on his cheek.

“Don, the picture was wonderful,” Kathy says softly as Cosmo swipes his hand across the tablecloth to push it to the side, shrugging his suit jacket off to place on the back of the chair.

“You don’t have to lie, Kathy,” Don sighs, putting down their sandwiches.  “I know it was- well, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Not worse than that one, remember?  When we were fifteen?” Cosmo asks, a laugh in his voice.  “At least you looked at the camera.  And, y’know, acted.”

“I’ve definitely seen worse,” Kathy agrees, nodding with Cosmo. 

Don just shrugs them off, picking at his food after taking off his own jacket, and Cosmo concedes to his grumbling tummy by finally giving in and taking a bite.  Kathy exchanges a glance at him, but then tucks into her own sandwich, the heavy cloud of the evening hanging low over the table.

They sit at the table for a while chatting and eating before Don gets up, and then Cosmo has to enlist Kathy in making Don feel better, winking at her and gesturing to get her to fall to Don’s other side.  Cosmo feels a sweet burbling of happiness at how easily Kathy follows his jokes, smiling and laughing as he does a tap step bit to make Don cheer up.  She even has the grand idea of adding dance into the movie, as sharp as a tack, and her voice is as sweet as pie as she cries good morning! out the open window into the rainy night.

---

They end up staying up even later than Cosmo expected, righting the couch they had tipped over to fall back on it and get comfortable.  Don’s so much happier than he was earlier in the night, relaxing back casually, and the two of the watch as Kathy kicks off her heels to curl her stocking feet up underneath her, leaning her head on the couch cushion with a yawn behind her hand.

Cosmo’s still reeling from her kissing him, even though it was just a peck.  He plays a soft little ditty on the piano, already writing a tune that he thinks could go in The Dueling Cavalier, but his mind is still on the sweetness of her lips and the ghost of her perfume.  He bites his lip as he does a little trill, and feels hot in his waistcoat.

“Cosmo, come here,” Don says softly.  “Leave the picture for tomorrow.”

“How d’you know I was writing for the picture?” Cosmo asks, but stands from the grand and goes to sit on Kathy’s other side.  “That could have been my symphony you just interrupted.  I’ll never find that inspiration again.”

“I want to take advantage of having you both here,” Kathy says softly, smiling at him.  “We never get to do things, the three of us.”

“We’ll have to rectify that, I know spending time alone with Don can be quite taxing,” Cosmo says seriously, and Don laughs.

“I like spending time with both of you,” Kathy says, looking at Don and then Cosmo.  “You’re both different, but also similar-  Oh, I can’t explain it, it’s too late.”

“Well, we have known each other since we were kids, the rags got that right,” Don explains, and Cosmo’s surprised when Kathy uncurls to tuck her feet near his thigh.  “We didn’t meet in dance school, though.”

“I’ve had my suspicions,” Kathy says archly.

“Neither of our families could keep a close eye on us, so we met trying to sneak into a picture,” Cosmo says, throwing his arm along the back of the couch, almost close enough to touch the soft skin of Kathy’s neck.  “And then we were inseparable, right Don?”

“Right,” Don says, looking at him with that tender look.  “We got tap lessons from traveling shows, and then would dance in bars and clubs for pennies.  We learned everything we knew from the nice folks who would travel into town.”

“No,” Kathy says, and when she turns her head, she slips a little.  Cosmo scoots closer, moving to catch her and help her right herself, but blinks when she just leans back against him.  Don looks like he’s fighting a smile at Cosmo’s wide eyes.  “But you’re both so swell at dancing.”

“Well, it’s been a long time since we were, what, five?  Right Cos?” Don says, and he puts his hand on Kathy’s ankle.  “We’ve learned a lot since then.”

“Let me guess, your traveling show was more like those performers you learned from, huh?” Kathy asks, and the curve of her cheek betrays her smile to Cosmo, even though she’s turned away from him.

“How’d you think Don was so quick to dodge that cake you tossed at him, huh?” The feeling of Kathy’s laughter against his side sweetens the sound tenfold.  “We used to get thrown out of clubs for some of the schtick we pulled.”

“I’m sure you were fantastic,” Kathy says, turning her head to look at him.  Her eyes are sleepy when she looks at him, but her gaze is still piercing.  “As a fellow patron of the arts, I’d love to see you do one of your performances, one day.”

“A private audience?” Cosmo swoons jokingly, and she giggles.

“Kathy, we had meant to ask,” Don pipes up.  “We’d love to go to a vaudeville show with you, at some point.”

“Oh, I’d love that,” Kathy says, smiling at Don.  She wiggles her toes against Don’s wrist.  “I can’t imagine anything more fun.”

“Have you been to any, since you were younger?” Cosmo asks.

“Not really,” Kathy says softly, and surprises him again by reaching up to play with his fingers along the back of the couch.  “The girls I know don’t really want to do that stuff, and with work- well, it was at night a lot of the time, you know?”

“Sure,” Don says easily.  “But you’ll make time for us?”

“Always,” Kathy says softly, and when she leans her cheek on the couch again, the line of her neck is so tempting that it takes all of Cosmo’s willpower to not lean down and press his lips to her skin.

“What about you, Kathy?” Don asks.  Cosmo can see how he pets over her ankle with his fingers, and watches the way goosebumps rise along her exposed arm.  “How did you get started?”

“Started doing what? Dancing?” She replies, a trace of bitterness lacing her tone.  “I came down here to try to act, but you know how it is.  Lots of girls, not a lot of acting jobs.”

“And your dreams of the stage?” Don prompts gently.

“Dreams…” Kathy sighs.  “I used to read all those plays, you know.  They were something special, to me.  A place for me to imagine I was- more than where I was.”

“Yeah,” Cosmo agrees, voice soft. 

“But New York is far away,” Kathy says lightly, shrugging.  “So here I am.”

“And now you’re gonna be in a picture,” Cosmo replies, squeezing her fingers.  She turns to look at him, and they sit there for a second as he brushes his thumb over her wrist, faces close.  “Not so bad.”

“I suppose working opposite Zelda isn’t awful… but The Dueling Cavalier-'' Kathy pauses, and then echoes Don’s question from earlier.  “Do you really think it’ll get by?”

“It will,” Don says confidently.  “It’ll be great.”

Kathy takes a deep breath, and when she turns her head back towards Don, she presses her cheek to Cosmo’s arm.  “You’re both something special, huh?”

“What?” Don asks, laughter lacing through his tone.  His smile is wide and genuine as it spreads across his face.

“Wouldn’t you know, Kathy, we say the same about you all the time,” Cosmo says.  Kathy giggles.

“Always with the jokes, huh?  Be serious,” Kathy says softly, like a gag, but when she squeezes his fingers, Cosmo’s tummy flips in a rare show of nervousness.

Don shifts further down on the couch, legs splayed out in front of him, and leans closer to Kathy’s side.  She reaches out with her free hand to pet over his hair affectionately, and when she brushes her knuckle over his cheek, he reaches up to take her hand, pressing a kiss to her fingers.  Cosmo feels like they’re on the edge of something, the hot weight of Kathy’s body along his side, the feeling of her hand in his, the way she drapes her legs across Don’s lap.

“I’m happy,” Don says simply.  “Here, with you two.”

Kathy hums.  “I like the both of you a lot.”

“Glad Don leapt into your car?” Cosmo asks, just to make her laugh against him again, and then continues, so soft.  “I like you, too, Kathy.”

She turns to look at him, her gaze keen as she looks into his eyes.  He looks back, feeling pinned, and though his eyes feel sleepy from the late hour, he could never imagine looking away.  Then, in a tiny, minute shift- her gaze drops to his mouth before skittering away across the room.  But he saw.  He saw.

Don’s eyes are on them when Cosmo finally snaps out of it, looking at him as Kathy looks around the room.  Don’s giving him that affectionate look, the kind Cosmo always jokes is too open, too much in love, for anyone to see but the two of them- but that’s never stopped Don from looking at him that way.  Cosmo swallows, feeling like his expression is out of his control, desperate and eager and overwhelmed, and he shivers with anticipation even as he sweats in his layers.  

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to choose,” Kathy says, breaking the silence.  Her words sound like a joke, the way she wraps the sound with her tongue, but Cosmo saw, and he knows Don saw, and that’s all they need.

“You don’t have to,” Don replies after a moment, lifting her hand again to press a kiss to the back of it.  His brow furrows as he lingers, betraying his emotions, and Cosmo swallows again at Kathy’s shocked silence.

“If you’ll have us,” Cosmo chokes out.  “I don’t know how you’d be able to put up with us, but the offer is there.”

Kathy sits up, and Cosmo feels like his heart breaks little at how she pulls her hand out of his, tugs her feet off of Don’s lap.  “What?”

“We both love you very much,” Don says plainly.  Cosmo can see the way the words make Kathy take in a sharp, surprised breath.

“But-” Kathy stutters out, head turning to look at Cosmo.  He can’t even hope to school his expression.  “Cosmo-”

“I know that I seem like I’m just a stooge, but I’ve- we’ve never been as deadly serious as we are about this,” Cosmo says, and his voice cracks, betraying him.

“You,” Kathy blinks at him, and Cosmo is shocked to see the sheen of tears in her eyes.  “You love me?”

“Yes, Kathy,” Cosmo says, putting his hand over hers.  “And Don-”

“I love you, too,” Don says, and she turns to look at him.  A soft smile spreads across his face.  “And I love Cosmo.  I love you both.”

“This is a lot,” Kathy says with a little laugh, and when she brings her hand to her eyes, Cosmo makes a little noise and reaches in his pocket for his handkerchief again.  “I’m sorry, it’s just- it’s late.  I get weepy when I’m tired, sometimes.”

“And I thought you were just getting emotional over having to go home in the rain,” Cosmo jokes, and she laughs wetly, dabbing her eyes.  “I’m sorry, Kathy.”

“Sorry?”  Kathy asks, confused.  Even teary, she’s still beautiful.  “Why are you sorry?”

“For making you cry,” Cosmo says weakly.  “We didn't mean to upset you.”

“I’m not- I’m not upset,” Kathy says, almost indignant, voice breaking a little.  “For two fellas to tell me they love me, especially such kind, sweet men… wouldn’t you cry?”

“Definitely,” Cosmo says seriously.  “I cry whenever Don tells me he loves me.  It’s quite annoying, actually, having to hide my face so often.”

Kathy laughs again, and Cosmo finally feels his heart lighten a little.  “So I truly don’t have to choose?”

“If you love us both,” Don starts, but then looks down at where he’s still holding her hand in a surprising display of bashfulness.  “Or, if you think you might be able to, someday.  We’re both here, and we both love you.”

“And of course you love each other,” Kathy says, honestly.  “How could you not?”

“Exactly,” Cosmo says, and finally reaches up to stroke her arm gently.  “Have you seen me?”

Don laughs, and when Kathy joins him, Cosmo gets a jitter of excitement that rushes through him like a lightning bolt.  She turns to look at him, eyelashes wet and stuck together, and when her gaze softens, he leans in to kiss her.

He leaves enough time for her to pull away, pausing right before their lips meet, but she’s the one who pushes forward to finally kiss him soundly.  He makes a tiny noise in his throat, cupping her shoulder in his hand, and she rests her small hand on his chest- he’s sure that she can feel how hard his heart is beating, even through all his layers.  He tilts his head slightly to kiss her more firmly, sliding his hand across her back, and after a moment they part.  Kathy blinks at him, and Cosmo feels like he’s been hit over the head, stars in his eyes, ears ringing.

“Kathy,” he says, voice weak, and tugs her close to hold her tight, pressing his face to her neck.  “Oh, Kathy, I’ve wanted to kiss you for weeks.”

“Me too,” She says softly, holding him.  “I’m sorry, I-”

“Don’t apologize,” Don says, scooting closer.  Cosmo lets Kathy go enough that she can sit up and look at him.  “Please don’t apologize.  You had no idea.  It’s not like this is- well-”

“If you say not normal, Don, I’m going to take offense,” Kathy jokes, and Cosmo’s laugh is almost hysterical.

“And then I’ll take offense, so fair’s fair,” Cosmo chimes in, and when she smiles at him, he can’t help but lean in and press a kiss to her cheek.

“I’ll never have a moment's peace from now on, huh?” Don laughs, but he looks happier than he’s ever looked when Kathy shifts forward to kiss him.

---

After a while, Kathy’s leaning against Cosmo heavily and nodding off, their talking and kissing petering out to a comfortable silence.  Cosmo sits there for a while, reveling in the weight of her body against his, the sound of the rain and her breath, the smell of the wet earth and his and Don’s cologne mixing with her’s.  He leans his head back against the cushions and breathes out a sigh, completely and utterly happy.

“We should get her home,” Don says softly, and Cosmo cracks an eye open at him.  Don had shifted closer, hooking Kathy’s legs over his as he practically curled around her, but he doesn’t look any more ready to let her go than Cosmo feels.

“What a gal, huh?” Cosmo whispers, pressing his cheek to Kathy’s hair.  She makes a small noise and nuzzles into his shoulder.  Her lipstick is completely rubbed off and her tears had washed away her mascara, leaving her sweet and fresh-faced, just a hint of rouge left on her cheeks.  Cos feels like he could spend another hour just looking at her.

“Yeah,” Don says, and scoots closer to wrap his arm around her.  She makes another noise and jerks awake, startled.  “Oh, I’m sorry, Kathy.”

“Did I nod off?” She asks roughly, and then yawns widely, only remembering at the end to cover her mouth with her hand.  So charming.  “Gosh, I’m sorry fellas.”

“It’s past three,” Cosmo says, and she hums, reaching her arm around his waist to squeeze him.  “As much as I’d love to keep this going, we should get you home.”

“Mhmm, my landlady is going to have a fit as it is,” She says softly.  “But I don’t wanna say goodnight.”

“Me neither,” Don says, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.  “C’mon, doll.”

Kathy toes back into her shoes as Don calls a cab, and then the three of them stand waiting in the entrance for the car.  Cosmo helps Kathy with her coat as Don shrugs his own on, the rain still coming down, and she turns in his arms to kiss him again.

“So, it’ll be like I’m only with Don, in public?” Kathy asks, and Cosmo nods.

“We figured that would be best,” Cosmo says, mouth quirking up.  “As long as I know I’ve got you both, I don’t need to show off.”

“Are you trying to imply I do?” Don says with a cheeky grin, sliding up behind Kathy to wrap his arms around the both of them.  Kathy sighs happily from between them, cheek on Cosmo’s chest, and then the three of them giggle at the squeaky sound of their raincoats.  Cosmo kisses Don over Kathy’s head, just a quick peck, but still feels the way Kathy takes in a sharp breath as she watches.

“Okay?” Cosmo asks, looking down at her, and Kathy nods.  She looks a little wide-eyed, delirious and shiny eyed in that sleepy sort of way, but she’s not one to censor her feelings, so when she doesn’t say anything Cosmo doesn’t worry.  “We can talk more about it when you’re not about to fall asleep standing up.”

They stand like that until they hear the Taxi honk impatiently, and then Cosmo sends them both off with a kiss and a wave.  As he closes the door behind them, he sighs and clutches his chest, leaning his head back against the door.  What a dream.

Don returns a while later cold and clammy, his clothes making wet noises as he sheds them in the bathroom, and he has the audacity to climb into the bed like that, grinning like a loon.  Cosmo’s practically asleep when he gets home, but when Don’s cold toes touch his leg, he points to the bathroom and demands he take a warm bath before bed.  Can’t have the star of The Dueling Cavalier getting sick with six weeks to reshoot the whole thing, huh?

---

It may have not been the smartest idea to start up a new relationship right before shooting an entire movie in six weeks, but what were they supposed to do- wait?

Adding Kathy to their pair had been a truly enlightened idea, if Cosmo does say so himself.  While they don’t get a lot of time together- gone are their long lunches and relaxed walks- they are together a surprising amount, especially since Cosmo’s head of the music department, and is helping with the scriptwriting.  He’s there every day they have to record a song, or a line of dialogue, and even though Don’s allowed to be simpering and starry-eyed towards Kathy, Cosmo still gets in his tiny touches and snuck kisses while it’s just the three of them in the studio.

Watching Kathy sing for the picture really is something else- her voice is beautiful, and Cosmo feels blessed to be able to conduct her, to make sure she sounds her best, to watch the way she and Don look at each other, and then him.

Don, of course, has to still put up with Lina on set, which he declares to be much harder now that Cosmo isn’t there all the time, playing their mood music.  There’s no one there for him to make weird faces at to break the tension, and after a long day of shooting, Don usually comes home tense and agitated.

Tonight, Kathy got to their house before Don, and she and Cosmo had been fooling around at the piano, sitting next to each other on the tiny bench as he played little ditties and she hummed along.  The feeling of her arm around his waist isn’t something he’s gotten used to, yet, nor her head on his shoulder, and especially not her hysterical laughter as he comes up with some silly lyrics off the top of his head.  

“Cosmo, play me something from when you were younger,” Kathy asks, and Cosmo hums for a moment before rattling off a tune he had written when he was fifteen.

“I wrote this on a friend’s piano,” He said, as his fingers move up and down the keys.  “She let me come by early to play in exchange for helping her with her costume after the show.”

“Oh?” She asks, and he laughs.  

“She was more interested in partners of the feminine persuasion,” He says, her laughter echoing the way he trills high on the keys before running back down.  “It was my sweet face, I’m sure, that made me trustworthy.  Don wasn’t allowed near her dressing room.”

“You two have had such grand lives,” She says softly.  He lets his fingers slow into something softer, to allow her to speak.  “I feel as if I’m not as interesting.”

“Sometimes, interesting isn’t as fun,” Cosmo replies, resting his cheek on her curls.  “Sometimes the people we met weren’t as nice.  And we left home at thirteen, darling.  That wasn’t grand at all.”

“Oh, Cosmo, I’m sorry,” Kathy rushes out, and when she hugs him around the middle, he stops playing to hug her back.  “I didn’t think.”

“You didn’t know,” He says, kissing her hair.  “I’m sure you’re just as interesting.  C’mon, let’s make dinner so it’s ready when Don comes home, and you can tell me some of your fun stories.”

Don’s exhausted when he comes home, but still greets them both with a kiss each, shoulders relaxing once they’re all sat at the table.  It’s still such a sweet novelty to eat dinner like this, feeling like friends and family and lovers all wrapped into one- though they weren’t technically lovers yet.  With how busy they had been, they’d only had one or two opportunities for petting, and usually had to end just as quickly to avoid being walked in on.  The studio, while convenient for getting the three of them together, was not convenient for listening to the sweet noises Kathy would make as Don kissed her.

“Say,” Cosmo bursts out, grinning.  “Let’s go out to a show, tonight.”

“Oh, yes!  We don’t have to be in until later, tomorrow.  They’re reviewing some of the film,” Kathy says.  “I overheard Roscoe talking about it.”

“That’s true,” Don concedes, raising his brow.  “Is there anything going on?”

“There’s always something going on in Los Angeles, Don,” Cosmo says, unamused, and Don grins.  “Let me make some calls.”

They end up finding out about a vaudeville show in a tiny club downtown- exactly along the lines of what Don and Cosmo used to do themselves.  They dress down to go, putting aside their waistcoats for more casual sweaters, and Cos was right- Kathy does look as cute as a button in a pair of his trousers.

“They’re a bit big,” Kathy says nervously through the door.  “Do you have a belt?”

“Kathy, what are you trying to say?” Cosmo whines playfully, and hears her laughter echo through the door.  “Of course I have a belt.  Can I come in to help?”

“I suppose,” Kathy replies, and lets him into the spare bedroom where Cosmo keeps his suits.  Don trails in behind him, looking over Kathy with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.  “Oh, get that look off your face, Don Lockwood.  It’s too silly, isn’t it?"

“Not at all, dear,” Don replies honestly.  “What’s the matter?”

“My chemise got all bunched up in the trouser legs,” Kathy sighs as she hikes up the pants again, holding them in a bunch at her waist.  Cosmo turns to find the aforementioned belt, blushing like a schoolboy at the mention of her underthings.  “But they’re so baggy, anyway, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

“Let me roll them up,” Don says, and kneels at Kathy’s feet to help her.  Cosmo returns with the belt, and watches her thread it through the loops as Don futzes with her hems; she’s also wearing one of his shirts, and once she cinches the belt (on the smallest hole), he helps her into a sweater.  She holds her hands out so he’s able to roll the sleeves up once so they're not to her knuckles, and he brings her hands up to press little kisses to the backs of them once he’s done

“If these actually fit me, I’d kind of like it,” She says, giggling, and turns from side to side to look at herself in the mirror.  They both stand at her flanks, smiling like loons, and she goes up onto her tiptoes to kiss Don, and then Cosmo.  “Thank you for lending me your clothes, Cosmo.”

“Of course,” He says, and surprisingly, feels hot in the cheeks.  He didn’t realize seeing her in his rags would make him feel so flustered.  “You’ll have to wear your heels still, I’m afraid.”

“It might make me a bit more believable, since I’m so short,” She says absentmindedly, and pads down the hall in her stocking feet.  “C’mon, fellas, let's get going.”

They squeeze into Cosmo’s car and hope that it doesn’t give him any trouble, Kathy sat between the two of them on the bench seat, and drive down Santa Monica Blvd to get into the city proper.  Cos loves being able to glance at the two of them out of the corner of his eye while driving, unable to stop himself from smiling. 

“Technically, this is our second date,” He says, and feels the two of them turn to look at him.  “Sure doesn’t feel like it, huh?”

“I suppose you’re right,” Kathy replies thoughtfully.  “How strange!”

“I guess if you’re nit-picking,” Don says, smiling.

“Well, I’d like to say right now, I’m not that type of girl,” Cosmo says primly, making Don and Kathy laugh.  “I’m afraid if you’re looking for fun at the end of the night, you’ll have to look somewhere else.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Kathy says, and her tone makes Cosmo turn his head to look at her.  “Cosmo, isn’t this it?”

“Now wait just a minute, Kathy-” 

“Cos, there’s a lot to park,” Don cuts him off, pointing.  His eyes twinkle as he winks.

“Ganging up on me, I see,” Cosmo grumbles, but pulls into the lot deftly.  Kathy puts her hand on his thigh as he turns, and he feels it all the way to the tips of his toes.  “Leaving me out of the plans for the evening.”

“There’s no plans,” Kathy laughs as they climb out of the car.  Cosmo and Don pull the roof up, just in case.  “I had just been thinking about how my landlady was going to be away for the weekend, is all.  Completely unrelated.”

“Oh?” Don says, higher pitched than normal.  Good, Cosmo thinks, glad that he’s not the only one Kathy is affecting.  “Really?”

“Yes,” She says, and hooks her arms into both of theirs, leading them back towards the sidewalk.  “But that’s for later.  Let’s have fun, huh?”

It is fun.  The club isn’t as small as they had expected, but it’s smoky enough that no one gives them a second glance.  They don’t know the secret to getting hooch here and Don’s sparkling grin can’t win over the love of the bartender, but even when they’re stuck with sodas it isn’t too bad.  They’re crammed at a tiny table, knees knocking, and when Cosmo drapes his arm across the back of Kathy’s chair to brush Don’s shoulder, it feels like coming home.

The crowds here are a lot more forgiving than some of the groups he and Don used to perform for, which they whisper to Kathy when she leans in to ask between acts.  Her breath ghosting across Cosmo’s ear, the touch of her hand on his belly, the press of her knee to his thigh- She has to know what she’s doing.  The woman was going to drive him mad.

He crosses his legs as he shifts, leaning back in his chair as he takes a sip of his drink, and practically chokes on it when he feels the touch of Kathy’s hand on his leg, hidden by the shadow of the table and the cross of his other thigh.  He coughs, pulling his handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his mouth, and turns his gaze to Kathy; she looks smug as she looks under her eyelashes at him, and doesn’t move her hand.

“Kathy, darling, I’m afraid to inform you that we’re in public,” Cosmo murmurs in her ear, smiling when he hears her laugh.  “And that your hand may have found its way to my leg.”

“Oh?  Silly me,” She simpers, and squeezes slightly.  “I didn’t realize my touch repulsed you so.”

“I’m sure you know it’s quite the opposite,” He says tightly.  He already felt hot in the club, sweat prickling under his arms and at his lower back, but her touch made a shot of arousal rush through him.  He takes a deep breath and lets it out, putting his glass back on the table and covering her hand with his.  “First Don, now you.  I’m going to have a rap sheet by the end of the year at this rate.”

“He’s hard to resist, isn’t he?” Don asks, leaning over, and Kathy presses her cheek to his shoulder.  

“Fellas, the next show’s starting,” Cosmo replies, mock-annoyed, but winks at Kathy when she squeezes his leg again, her hand under his.

It’s the most torturous foreplay, the way Kathy touches him, but he can only imagine it’s worse for her, the way she’s sandwiched between him and Don.  He can see the way Don’s been playing her her hand, touching her leg, and is sure under the table they’ve been playing footsie all night- then, combined with how he touches the back of her neck with his arm draped across her chair, how he’s held her hand against his leg, the touch of his fingertips along her wrist.  Needless to say, but he’s excited for them to head home.

It’s getting late, and when the second to last act ends, Don leans over and says, “How about we head out, fellas?”

“Yes,” Kathy says, breathy, and Cosmo feels himself twitch in his trousers.  She presses a kiss to the corner of Don’s mouth, like she can’t help herself, and Cosmo wishes dreadfully that she was able to do the same to him.

They exit into the chilly night air, refreshing and reinvigorating after being stuck in such a stuffy room, and Kathy loops her hands through both of their arms.  They must look like such a funny gang, sweaty and wrinkled from the club, all three of them dressed in men’s clothes, Kathy clicking along in her heels between them.  Cosmo looks up at the starless sky, a spring in his step, and he can’t help but laugh.

“Share with the class?” Don asks.  When Cos looks at him, Don has the sweetest, most tender look in his eye.

“Just thinking about what a great, well- triplet we make,” Cosmo chuckles, grinning.  “I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”

“Me neither,” Don says gently.

“Same here,” Kathy chimes in, and the sound of her smile is lovely.

If Cosmo thought the club was hard, the ride home is torture.  The way Kathy has to squeeze between them is a tease, the hot line of her body pressed from ankle to shoulder along Cosmo’s side, but her gasping breaths when Don starts to kiss her neck are too much for one man to bear silently.

“Please, fellas, have a little consideration,” Cosmo says weakly, feeling the way Kathy shivers against him.  “I have to get us all home in one piece.”

“Sorry, Cos,” Don replies roughly, but his actions contradict his words as he slides his hand over onto Cosmo’s thigh.

“Please,” Cosmo says again, gripping the steering wheel tight.  “Kathy, talk some sense into him.”

“Don,” Kathy tries to argue, but it comes out sounding more like a moan.  “Don, poor Cosmo is going to be left out.”

“Alright, alright,”  Don sighs, and leans back in his seat with a huff, fidgeting with his trousers.  When Cosmo glances over for a second, he can see the line of Don’s cock resting against his hip. 

Kathy squirms, rubbing over her thighs as she presses them together, and Cosmo breathes out a shaky breath when he thinks of how wet she must be, the silk of her underclothes damp and hidden away by his trousers.  He flexes his fingers on the steering wheel.

“So, fellas, how about the weather,” Kathy says cheerfully, and both Cosmo and Don bark out laughs, the tension leaking out of the car.  The three of them start to chatter on about the show they saw, talking about what they liked, laughing and singing little snippets of the songs, and soon- Sunset and Camden, home sweet home.

“Are you fellas hungry?” Kathy asks as Don unlocks the door, and Cosmo wraps his arms around her waist as they shuffle inside, pressing a hot kiss to her neck as soon as the door is closed.  She tilts her head to the side with a gasp, bringing her hands up to grasp at his forearms.

“You sheba,” Cosmo teases, and Kathy giggles breathlessly, pressing back against him.  “Though, if you really did just want to eat, I would of course be a gentleman.”

“I’d rather you use your mouth for something else,” She says, and he makes a desperate noise, pressing his hips forward against her.  “Cosmo.”

“That can be on the agenda,” Don laughs, and takes her hand to tug them upstairs.  “C’mon, now.”

“You wanna, Kathy?” Cosmo asks, unwinding his arms to put his hands on her hips, and she nods.

“If you want to?” She says, roses in her cheeks.  She looks incredible, biting her lip, curls a little out of place, her tiny figure hidden by his larger clothes.  He can’t want to get her out of them.

“Yes, desperately,” Cosmo laughs. 

“Have you ever…?” Don trails off as they get to the bedroom, and Kathy sits on their bed matter of fact, reaching down to pull off her heels.  Cosmo and Don are left standing, watching her- the sight of her sitting on their bed hits harder than Cos thought it would.

“Once, with my first boyfriend,” Kathy says, and stands again once she’s in her stocking feet.  “C’mon, we’ll take it slow.  Help me out of these bags, huh?”

“That’s not very nice, I love those trousers,” Cosmo chastises playfully, but he helps her pull the sweater off.  Don’s hands are quick on the belt, and once it’s loose, the large pants fall easily to her ankles.  Cosmo takes her hand to steady her as she steps out of them, and the line of her leg, the hem of her knickers emerging from under his shirt, the way her garters disappear up under towards her garter belt- Cos drops to his knees right there, pressing a kiss to her thigh through the silk.

“Cosmo,” Kathy breathes, steadying herself on his shoulders.  “Have you-?”

“Not in a while,” Cosmo says between kisses to her thigh, pushing up the hem of his shirt to expose more of her bloomers, the lace bottom of her chemise wrinkled from being stuffed in his trousers.  “Though I’ve never wanted to as much as I do right now.”

“It’s just been the two of us for- well, a long time,” Don says, stepping around behind Kathy to wrap his arms around her waist.  She leans back against him with a sigh, shivering as Cosmo drags his hands up her legs, pushing all the fabric up and out of the way to reveal her garter belt and tiny hips under his palms.  Cosmo presses his lips to the bottom of the belt, right where her hip turns into her thigh; from this close, he can smell her arousal, musky and sweet and mouth watering.  

“I don’t know if I can stand,” Kathy says shakily, running her fingers through Cosmo’s hair.  “Can we lay down?”

“Mhmm,” Cosmo hums, but he lingers another moment, surging up to press his face against her.  She moans as he breathes out against her, her silky underwear wet under his mouth, and he groans.  “Kathy.”

“Cos,” She replies, voice breaking, and she’s right- her thighs shake against his arms.  “Please-”

“Let’s get in bed,” Don says roughly, and Cosmo forces himself to pull back and sit on his heels.  Kathy’s so pink in the face as she looks down at him, and Don doesn’t look much better, both of them panting and aroused.  Cosmo pulls off his sweater in one tug, still on his knees, and starts on his buttons as Kathy practically flops to the bed. 

Kathy’s the first one down to her underthings, just Cosmo’s shirt to unbutton, but instead of moving to take off her garters or helping the pair, she relaxes back onto her forearms as Don and Cosmo get undressed.  Her gaze is hot on the two of them, trailing over their bodies as they strip, and Cosmo feels self-conscious for the first time in a long time, hesitating as he stands to remove his trousers, cock hard and insistent in his underwear.

“C’mon, Cos,” Don says softly, trailing his hand up Cosmo’s side as he steps closer.  He’s already down to his union suit, the buttons undone down to his belly button, looking handsome with his hair disheveled and a flush on his cheeks.  “What’s the matter?”

“Just contemplating the mechanics of making love to two beautiful people,” Cosmo jokes, ducking his head to undo his belt.  “Don’t mind me.”

Don leans in to press a kiss to Cosmo’s cheek, and then his jaw, his neck, his shoulder- Cosmo abandons his trousers to bring his hands up to clutch at Don’s arms, tilting his head with a sigh.  He feels a touch at his waist and looks to find Kathy sitting up, playing with his belt.

“May I?” She asks, and he can only nod with the way she’s looking at him, moaning when Don sucks a love bite into the soft skin of his neck.  Kathy gets his belt undone and trousers unbuttoned and unzipped in only a moment, pushing them down over his hips before dragging her hands back up to cup him.  He gasps, hand flying down over hers, and his head falls to Don’s shoulder as she rubs him through his underwear.

“Kathy-”

“Come to bed, please,” She asks.  Don leaves the spot on his neck alone to climb onto the quilt, and Cosmo reaches up to touch it, the way it throbs with his heartbeat making him shiver.

“Kathy, what would you like?” Don asks, urging her up on the bed, and Cosmo crawls on by their feet as Don kisses over her neck.  “Anything you want.”

“Help me take my stockings off,” Kathy says.  “And then I want to kiss you.”

Cosmo crawls up so he can lay down next to her as Don sits up, both of them petting over Kathy’s hips to smooth her chemise to get at the hooks of her garter.  Her underwear is loose and soft under Cosmo’s fingers once it’s free of the elastic band, shifting against her skin, and he watches Don slip his fingers over her once he’s done unhooking the belt, petting over the damp fabric of her underwear as she gasps.

“So wet,” Don murmurs, but he moves on to carefully slide her hose down her legs, foregoing undoing the garters themselves for time, kissing tenderly at each inch of revealed skin.

“Don,” Kathy moans, and squirms as Cosmo slides his hand up over the silk of her slip to her breast, thumbing over her nipple through the lace as he kisses her shoulder.  “Oh, Cosmo.”

“You are so beautiful,” Don says softly, kissing the top of her foot once he’s done with the first stocking.  Kathy’s legs are spread, wanton and gorgeous in pleasure, and Cosmo watches Don drag his eyes over the two of them, lingering on Kathy’s soaked knickers and where Cosmo is sure Don can see his cock, straining against his underwear.  “Look at the two of you.”

“Hurry up, Don,” Kathy urges, desperate sounding, and Cosmo goes up onto his elbow to kiss her.  She throws her arms around his shoulders, holding him close, and moans so sweetly against his lips as he palms her other breast.  Cos already feels delirious with pleasure, the feeling of Kathy’s body against his, the noises she makes, all so new and incredible and intense.  

Don crawls back up to her other side, kissing over her shoulder to her neck, and Kathy pulls away from Cosmo to turn her head towards him, leaving one arm around Cosmo’s shoulders and bringing the other hand to Don’s cheek.  He had watched them kiss before, that first night, in the car, on the lot, but nothing like this, wet and deep with intent and passion.  He presses his cock against Kathy’s hip as he kisses her collar, wanting suddenly to be naked, to touch her all over and be touched by the two of them.

He scoots down the bed, unbuttoning his underwear to shrug it off his shoulders, but by then he’s between Kathy’s legs, and all he can do is go down onto his elbows to press his face to her again.  Her thighs twitch on either side of his face as she moans, high and desperate, and he hears the wet noise of their mouths parting as she gasps.

She is so wet, her underwear soaked against his lips and chin, and he breathes in deeply and then out, squeezing her hips.  All of this, the quivering of her thighs, the wetness, the sweet noises and gasps- all of it is for him, and Don, and because of them, and now he gets to make her feel even better, make her come.

“Cosmo,” Kathy moans, touching his hair.  “Yes, please.”

“Can I?” Cosmo asks as he looks up at her, hooking his fingers where the waist of her underwear has the tiniest little buttons, rubbing the pad of his thumb over them.  She nods enthusiastically, and he’s so glad his hands have never been shaky, getting them undone the first try before slipping her bloomers down and off her legs.  Her chemise is all bunched up at her waist, leaving her bare as she spreads her legs, incredible.  “Gosh, Kathy, you’re so- wow.”

“Cosmo, speechless?” Don chuckles, sliding his palm up Kathy’s tummy to reveal more skin. 

“Cosmo,” Kathy whines, and that snaps him out of his staring, pressing a kiss to her knee before laying back down on his belly.

Her cunt is so pink, her wetness spread to her thighs and in her hair, so turned on he can’t even imagine.  He ducks his head, pressing his face to her, and moans as he opens his mouth.  She moans back above him, high in her throat, and one of her hands grips his on her hip.

It’s easy to get lost in her like this, the taste and smell of her, focusing on the way she reacts, the shake of her thighs, the different noises she makes.  He licks her until he’s breathing heavily through his nose, neck starting to get a little sore, and he finally pulls back to gasp for a second, using his free hand to rub her clit with his thumb as he looks up at her and Don, panting.  Don’s pushed her chemise down and off her shoulder to free her breasts, kissing over her skin and playing with her nipples, hair completely in disarray from her hand running through it.  The head of Don’s cock is visible from inside his underwear, another button having come undone in his shifting, and Cos wants to get his mouth on him too, red and hard and wet at the tip.

He ducks his head again, feeling the shiver that rushes through Kathy’s body as he licks her into his mouth and sucks, and when she makes a high, desperate noise he focuses on just doing that over and over.  Her hand squeezes his tight as her thighs shake, and then she’s moaning, her cunt getting impossibly wetter against his face as she shudders through her orgasm.

He kisses her hip, leaving a wet smear, and pushes his hips to the bed with a little moan, feeling hot all over and breathless with arousal.  Kathy pets over his hair, sighing as she relaxes back into the bed, and tugs at one of his ears gently.  “Come up here, Cosmo.”

Cosmo slides up until he’s on his side next to her, and when she pushes at his underwear, he slides them off his legs.  He reaches across Kathy’s body to tug on Don’s too, and then they both help Kathy slide her chemise over her head, all three of them finally naked and bare to each other.  Kathy turns to kiss him, pressing her body against him from tip to toe, and he gathers her into his arms reverently.

“Good?” He asks, hand sliding over Don’s side as he scoots up close behind Kathy, and she nods, smiling at him.  He pets over her cheek, leaning in to kiss her again quickly.  “Sorry, Don, you’ll have to have your audition later.  But you know how show-biz is, don’t feel too bad if I get the part.”

Don laughs as Kathy protests playfully, and Cosmo is too busy giggling to notice the way Don’s hand slips over Kathy’s hip until he already has Cosmo’s cock in hand, making him choke on his laughter as he gasps.  “Well, I know I’ve got this part, at least.”

“Please don’t joke when you’ve got your hand on my cock, Don, I’ll take offense,” Cosmo says roughly, and Kathy laughs again, reaching down to slide her hand over the line of his hip, touching all the places Don can’t get to.  “Oh.”

“Oh,” Kathy echoes back, soft and a bit breathy, and Cosmo moans as Don strokes him.  He already feels close, just from the way Kathy’s pressed up against his front, legs tangled, their hands touching him all over, Kathy’s mouth hot on his when he pushes forward to kiss her again.

“See, Kathy?” Don murmurs, resting his head on his hand as he jerks Cosmo, watching him.  “He makes those noises when he’s close.”

“Oh?” She asks again, breathless, and slides her hands up his chest to rub over his nipples and then back down.  He feels like he’s going to fly apart, so many hands on him, and thinks about how intense just this is, just Don getting him off with his hand- what will it be like when they do more, when Kathy sucks him, or he’s inside her- or when he’s inside Don, where will she be?  He moans, brow furrowing, pressing his cheek to the blankets, and chokes out a little noise as he comes all over Don’s fingers and Kathy’s belly.

“Cosmo,” Don says roughly, the way he says his name when he’s overwhelmed, so turned on or so in love he can’t speak, just trusts that Cos will know.

“Yes, darling,” Cosmo replies roughly, and goes up on his elbow to lean over Kathy, shaky from his orgasm but knowing that he has to kiss Don, right now.  Don kisses him back desperately, falling back to lay on the bed so he can wrap his arms around Cosmo’s shoulders, and makes a gorgeous noise when Cosmo bites gently at his lip.

“Cosmo,” Kathy giggles from under him.  She slides her hand up over his back, and when he looks at her, she’s smiling at the two of them.  “You’re squishing me.”

“Gosh, sorry,” Cosmo stutters out, laughing, and pushes himself up on his hands.  The three of them start giggling, almost hysterical, and even though Cosmo knows he’s feeling how big this is for them, they can’t talk about it yet- Don’s still hard, pressed to Kathy’s hip, and the flush on his cheeks has traveled all the way down his chest.

“Let me,” Kathy says, wiggling down the bed a little.  Don grabs a handkerchief on the bedside table to wipe his hand clean, and Cosmo swipes at Kathy’s belly as she arranges herself, turning so she’s not so far away from the two of them, like they’re almost making a triangle on the bed.  Cosmo puts his hand on her waist, and watches as she takes Don in hand and licks over him.

“Oh, Kathy,” Don gasps, clutching at Cosmo’s shoulder, heels sliding across the rumpled blankets.  “Uhn-”

Cosmo kisses Don again, cupping his face to pet his thumbs over Don’s cheekbones, and thinks about how gorgeous he is as he lets them make him feel good.  A wet noise from Kathy’s mouth makes Cosmo pull away to watch her, and his cock twitches as Don moans, watching the way she bobs her head, cheeks pink.  She shifts, and he drags his eyes down the line of her body leading him to where she has her thighs pressed together, shifting like she’s turned on again.

He pets up the outside of her thigh before reaching around, following the crease of her butt to feel how wet she still is, stroking over her.  She moans, pulling off Don’s cock for a moment with a gasp, and presses her forehead to his hip as she shifts more onto her knees, letting him drag his fingers over her to touch her clit again.  “Oh-”

“Okay?” Cosmo asks, breathless, and she nods before licking the head of Don’s cock again.  Don’s gone up onto his elbow to watch, dragging his hand heavily over her shoulder to her neck, but when Cosmo looks back at him it’s like he doesn’t know where to look, gaze darting from her mouth on him to the line of her body to where Cosmo’s hand disappears.  “Kathy, you really are something.”

Kathy just moans, making Don drop back to the bed as he echoes her, the tense line of his abs and hips stark in the light from the bedside lamp.  They’re gorgeous together, and Cosmo wishes he could get off again- next time, he won’t be as hasty, and will take his time so he can watch.

Don makes a desperate, tight noise, clutching at Kathy’s shoulder, and when she pulls off to jerk him it only takes a stroke or two until he’s coming with a gasp.  Kathy presses her cheek to the top of Don’s thigh, moaning as Cosmo rubs at her, and arches her back to push her cunt against his fingers.

“Come’ere, Kathy,” Don says, breathless, and she shivers as Cosmo pulls his hand away so she can wiggle her way between them again.  The way she hooks her thigh over Don’s hip is wanton, leaving her open and ready for Cosmo to touch her again as Don kisses her, and the way she shivers between them makes him desperate to make her come again.

Don drags his hand down Kathy’s body, and when he cups her Cosmo lets him take over, pressing close so that he can kiss her.  He’s petting his wet fingers up over her hip, lightly teasing as he pushes his tongue over hers, but is surprised when she catches his hand and pushes it back down, holding his wrist to guide his fingers to her entrance, hot and so wet.

“Cosmo,” She whines desperately, and shudders when he pushes two fingers into her, gasping against his mouth. 

“Incredible,” Don murmurs, kissing her cheek, her jaw.  Kathy’s hands float, like she’s unsure where to put them, distracted by their touches, but when Cosmo curls his fingers she grasps his hip, shifting with a gasp.

He keeps curling like that, pushing his fingers into her, the sound of his movements and Don’s and her moans, their panting breaths, all so loud and erotic in the quiet of their bedroom.  Cosmo feels dizzy from it, the smell of sex mixing with their perfume, clean sweat and the comforting smell of their bedroom- he presses his forehead to Kathy’s temple as he feels her squeeze around his fingers, his cock twitching again, thinking about what it’ll feel like to be inside her, if she wants that someday.

“I’m-” Kathy gasps, hips shifting, clutching at the two of them, and then she arches against their hands, shuddering and moaning through her second orgasm.  The way she clenches down around Cosmo’s fingers as he tries to keep moving them, curling and pushing and wringing her of as much pleasure as possible, is outstanding.  She’s so wet.

“Oh, Kathy,” Don murmurs, kissing her cheek, voice thick with emotion.  “I love you.”

“I love you,” Kathy replies, voice small, and they all press closer, wrapping their arms around each other.  Cosmo tucks his face into Kathy’s neck, feeling overwhelmed by what he’s feeling, so happy, so incredibly lucky.

“Cos?" Don prompts softly, petting over his messy hair.  Cosmo makes a little noise and burrows deeper into the embrace, making Kathy and Don giggle, and Kathy squeals when Cosmo blows a little raspberry against her neck. 

“Just happy,” Cosmo murmurs, nudging his nose under Kathy’s jaw before going up on his elbow to kiss Don, and then Kathy.  “In love.  Feeling more lucky than I have in my entire life, you know the drill.”

“Me too,” Kathy replies after kissing him back sweetly, her fingers over his heart.

“Me three,” Don replies with a grin, dragging his hand heavily down Cosmo’s arm, nudging his nose to Kathy’s cheek.  “My lucky stars.”

---

Waking up to find Kathy in their kitchen, dressed in only Don’s nightshirt, is truly something Cosmo doesn’t think he will ever get tired of.

They make an easy breakfast and giggle as they bring the plates back to bed, feeling rebellious, like they’re teenagers and not fully grown adults who work for a major movie studio.  It’s certainly a teenagerhood that Don and Cosmo never had, curled up in a large bed with their lovers and friends, and Kathy tells them quietly it was the same for her, her overbearing dad controlling many aspects of her life.

They have to get ready to go into the studio too soon, denying themselves the love-making that they had been leaning towards with every touch.  Gladly, Kathy’s landlady would be gone for another evening, so when they swing by her apartment for her to change, she returns to the car with a little suitcase.  Cosmo can sense that Don wants to tell her that she can keep some things at their place, but knows why he stops himself, worrying that it’s too fast, too soon.  It may be, but Cosmo thinks that they’re all on the same page- even so, better to let Kathy take the first steps.

The rest of the weekend is blissful- they work that day, but coming home together is something special, and it gives them a taste of what they could have, someday.  Don’s looking at Kathy with that sparkle in his eye, the one he gets when Cosmo does something sweet for him, and it makes Cosmo’s tummy flip with happiness.  He wonders if that’ll happen, one day, the three of them in this big mansion- he’s sure Kathy would make it feel even more like home.

The rest of the filming and dialogue recording goes swimmingly, until one day, Lina catches Don and Kathy kissing in the booth.

It was Zelda who told her, and brought her there- Cos can only imagine she had seen Don come to get Kathy from the set of their own picture one too many times, even though both Kathy and Cosmo had told him to lay off.  Don had been talking quietly to Kathy, too quietly to be picked up on the mic and piped into Cosmo’s headphones, when Lina’s shrill voice rings out loud enough to be heard inside the recording booth.  Cosmo rushes out of the booth as quickly as he can after checking to make sure that the recording was set, and catches what Don says to Lina.

He’s going to marry Kathy.

Cosmo stops, shocked for a moment, before starting forward again to catch Lina, saying what everyone but her already knows- that without Kathy, the picture would be finished, she’d be finished.  Kathy stays quiet, but Cosmo revels in being able to rub it in Lina’s smug face; she’s always looked down on him, on others, and now those small fry are getting their chance.  Don’s arm is wrapped tightly around Kathy’s shoulders, but Cosmo sends her a wink when Lina’s looking at Don, trying to make her smile.  It’ll be okay, Cos tries to tell her.  We have you.

After Lina storms off, Kathy presses her lips together, upset as Don and Cosmo crowd in close, trying to comfort her.  Cosmo pulls them back into the sound booth so they can have some privacy, and gives the other tech a wave, telling him they’ll start back up after lunch.

“Don-” Kathy starts one they’re alone, looking upset, but Don cuts her off.

“Wait a minute, please, Kathy,” Don says plaintively.  “I’m sorry we got into it out there like that.  I’m just- I’m so tired of Lina treating me like her plaything, her toy.  She never gave me one glance when I was just a stunt-man, but as soon as I was cast opposite her, it was suddenly love this and engagement that.  You have to understand.”

“I do understand, Don,” Kathy says, stamping her foot.  “But that is no way of asking a girl to marry you.”

Don blinks at her, shocked speechless, mouth agape.  Cosmo steps forward.

“Kathy-”

“No, Cosmo!” She says firmly, hands in fists.  “Did you know about this?”

“No,” He replies.  “Honest.”

“Don, you can’t do that.  I don’t-” Kathy breaks off, crossing her arms.  “This- this is more than just you, and what you want.  Cosmo and I are here, too.”

“I’m sorry,” Don says, softly, and Cosmo knows he means it with all his heart.  “I was just-”

“Upset, I know,” Kathy replies.  She sighs, and as her shoulders slump, it’s like some of the fight drains out of her.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get so angry.”

“No, Kathy, you’re allowed to be angry,” Cosmo says, and when he steps forward, he’s surprised when she falls into his arms for a hug.  “Hey, dear, it’s okay.”

“Don, come here,” Kathy says firmly, holding her hand out, and Don steps over to wrap his arms around the two of them, sandwiching Kathy between them.  She sniffles.  “I’m still mad.  You better make it up to me.”

“Of course,” Don says quickly.  “Anything.”

They stand there for a moment, Don resting his forehead on Cosmo’s shoulder; Cosmo leans his cheek against Don’s temple, knowing he must feel lower than low.  Cos has had years and years of dealing with Don’s whims, the way he thinks about things for so long it’s like they’re real, even if he hasn’t told a soul.  Don must have been thinking about asking Kathy to marry him for a while now, for it to just come out of him like that in the heat of the moment.

“You really want to marry me?” Kathy asks in a tiny voice, cheek pressed to Cosmo’s chest.

“Yes,” Don says, plaintively.  “I love you.”

“Cosmo?” Kathy asks, putting her chin on his chest to look up at him.

“Well, my dear, I’m afraid to tell you that you can’t marry both of us,” Cosmo jokes, though his tone is soft.  Kathy smiles at him, and he can feel Don chuckle.  “But yes, I’d love to marry you.  Don and I probably would’ve gotten married if we could- remember when that woman offered?  The fortune teller?”

“We almost did, but you chickened out at the last moment,” Don says, grinning.  Cosmo sighs heavily, putting on a sad face.

“As you can see, Kathy, I’m not the marrying kind.”  He ducks his head to press a kiss to her forehead.  “But I am here with you two, and here I shall stay.”

“If Don and I got married, it’s not-” Kathy pauses.  “It wouldn’t change anything.  I don’t care if you’re not the marrying kind, Cosmo, I’m marrying you, too.”

Cosmo, surprisingly, gets choked up at that, her earnest tone, her big eyes as she looks at him, and presses his lips together as he looks away to the side of the room.  Both Kathy and Don squeeze him tight, and he rests his cheek on the crown of Kathy’s head, breathing shaky.  He wishes he could bring his hand up to wipe his cheek, a tear slipping out into Kathy’s hair, but just closes his eyes and thinks about how lucky he is to have these two, to be in love, to be happy, to be whole.

---

Kathy’s jittery in the car on the way to the picture, looking beautiful in her pink gown.  Don couldn’t ride with them, having to arrive with Lina like he does for all of their premieres, but it pleases Cosmo to be able to step out of his car with Kathy on his arm, even though no one knows who the two of them are yet- they will, soon.

“Oh, Cosmo, this is so-” Kathy trails off, swallowing, and Cosmo wraps his arm around her waist.  “What if it sounds horrible.”

“It won’t, Kathy.”  He pulls her to the side once the photographers get their couple of photos, like he always does, to wait for Don to arrive before heading into the theatre.  “Your voice is perfect.  You’ve saved the movie.”

“Cosmo,” Kathy says, looking emotional, but can’t say any more as the crowd surges and swells with noise- Don and Lina have arrived.  She clings to Cosmo’s side, looking around with wide eyes; she’s never been to a premiere like this, on the red carpet, and the fervor, especially now that she knows and loves Don, is intense.  He holds her tightly, and watches the way Don’s eyes light up when he sees them waiting for him, feels the way Kathy’s body relaxes against his at the sight of him.

Don speaks to the crowd like always, giving the reporters their clips, talking about how special it is to be sharing the studio’s first all singing, all dancing, all talking picture.  Cosmo and Kathy linger to the side, and Cosmo has to fight to keep a straight face as Kathy giggles at Don’s white lies and sly digs.  It’s usually easier without her, and he has to rub his nose a couple of times to hide his smile.

Don grasps Cosmo’s hand and then Kathy’s once they’re inside the theatre, hardly able to get a word in before they’re separated to be seated.  Don and Lina have to sit in a box, ready to be ushered backstage at the end of the film, but Cosmo and Kathy have seats together on the floor.  It must be strange for her to see Don like this now that she’s with him, loves him, and knows he loves her- Cosmo’s had practice since day one.  She wrings her hands in her lap until Cosmo takes her hand, and then she plays with his fingers through the whole picture, leaning into one another.

They slip out as the final chords are playing to rush backstage, ecstatic.  Kathy’s giggling giddily, and Cosmo can’t help but tug her into an abandoned corner to kiss her, pulling her into his arms as she throws hers around his shoulders.

“Cosmo,” She laughs, and he has to use his handkerchief to wipe her lipstick off his mouth before they practically skip the rest of the way, his hand on her arm.

Don’s on stage still, so Cosmo congratulates R.F., but he can’t for the life of him make himself let go of Kathy’s wrist- her giddy joy is infectious, and he’s so pleased with the picture, how good Don looked, how lovely he and Kathy sounded, how his music had been in a picture, his music.

Don rushes off and gathers Kathy in a hug, gripping Cosmo’s arm tight, and Cosmo makes sure to keep himself back just enough for the sake of the illusion, but the way Don is beaming at the two of them, the feeling of Kathy’s hand at the small of his back- it’s almost impossible.  He’s never felt like this before, this overwhelming excitement at a picture he was a part of.  Is this what Don feels like every time?

But then, Lina Lamont has to ruin it.

Don takes the lead, gripping her arms and berating her, but when Cosmo takes Kathy’s hand in his where it’s hidden by the folds of her skirt, he feels her shaking.  With adrenaline, with fear, with anger, he’s not sure- he wishes dreadfully that he could tell her something to make her not worry, but for once, he’s at a loss for words.  His anger wells up in him like a tide at every word Lina says; they couldn’t do this to Kathy.

He steps forward to speak to R.F. but then Don’s back, pointing in Lina’s face, the picture of fury.  Cosmo’s never seen Don like this with her before- he usually tries to laugh her off, explain to her gently, but now...  Well, he’s seen Don angry before, once or twice, but it’s usually because of the way Cosmo’s been treated.  Now, Cos sees that protection has extended to their dear Kathy, too, and rightfully so.

Kathy steps forward, standing up for herself, squeezing her hands into fists at her sides.  He can see how tense she is, watches how straight she’s holding her back- Cosmo can’t help but smile, and he sees Don smile too, the fiery personality that kept her from leaving Don’s mind those couple of months ago rearing it’s head.  Not that it matters, it seems, when Lina brings up her contract.  R.F. seems flummoxed, as if the choice wasn’t as simple as it actually was.  He wasn’t actually going to destroy Kathy’s career, not for Lina Lamont of all people?

When R.F. doesn’t immediately say something, it seems as if Lina’s smug smile is what puts Kathy over the edge, and she turns on her heel to walk out of the backstage area into the hall.  Cosmo follows after her, putting his hands over hers where she’s painfully wringing them, so tense.  His stomach is in knots.

“Kathy, It’ll be okay,” Cosmo says softly, but she doesn’t look at him.  He puts a hand on her back, looking over his shoulder at where Don is still arguing, seeing how tightly his jaw is clenched.  “Kathy, Don loves you.  I love you.  We won’t let this happen.  It’ll be okay.”

“I don’t want you to ruin your careers for me,” Kathy says, voice wobbly.

“It’ll be okay,” Cosmo says again, and looks over his shoulder to see Lina walking out on stage.  “Wait here, Kathy.”

He jogs back over and finds Don with that twinkle in his eye, and then it all just falls into place- the crowd’s reaction, Lina’s desperate screeches in regards to singing, the plan.  Oh, Kathy, he thinks, as R.F. calls her over.  Forgive us fools, just one more time.

Don takes the lead again, and Cosmo can’t even speak, hearing how hurt she is when she tells him that she never wants to see him again.  He hopes that she can forgive them, once she realizes what they’ve done, how it’s for her, for her future, so she never has to be hidden behind Lina Lamont again.  He puts on a little smile, watching Lina as she struggles with the conductor, but still his belly clenches.  He feels Don put a hand on his waist for a moment, sees him glancing behind the curtain at Kathy, and knows that he feels the same nervousness, even as he smiles at Lina’s impending doom.

Nothing has felt as sweet in show-biz as pulling those curtains open.

After that, he can’t leave Kathy hanging, not when she keeps looking over at them, eyes glistening even as she continues singing, wringing her hands in front of her.  Her voice is so beautiful that Cosmo almost doesn’t want her to stop, but she looks like she’s about to cry, so he runs on stage to take over, bursting into song.  Kathy’s breathing is shaky, he can feel it through his hand on her waist, but he can’t do anything to stop her as she runs off stage.  Don can, though, and he does.

He realizes as she runs down the aisle that she must think they were playing a joke on her, making her a laughing stock, but Don knows what to do to show her otherwise, and so does Cosmo.  He drops into the pit to support Don, like always, conducting the orchestra and knowing that Kathy knows that he’s there, that he loves her, even though he can’t hold her in his arms on stage.  He’ll play the music, and Don will sing, and together, they’ll make music for Kathy.  Their lucky star.

---

“Cosmo, get over here!” Kathy calls, waving him over.

“Coming, dear!” Cosmo calls back, shielding his eyes against the beautiful sunny day.  They’ve driven out to the first billboard for the new picture, Singin’ in the Rain, starring Don Lockwood and Kathy Selden.  Kathy and Don had even packed a little picnic for them for lunch, thinking of how this was the way it all started, lunches and walks and long chats.  Cosmo misses that dreamy time, but wouldn’t give what they have now up for the world.

The music in the flick is by him, after all.  He may have not gotten around to writing that symphony yet, but he’s sure being in love will give him plenty of inspiration.

He jogs across the grass and throws his arm around Kathy’s shoulder, sandwiching her between the two of them as they look up at the billboard.  “Don, I don’t think they got you quite right.  You definitely aren’t that handsome.”

“You do look quite smooth,” Kathy says, like she's considering it, and squeals when Don squeezes her around the waist, kissing her neck.  “Don!”

“Kathy’s allowed to say it, she’s your costar, Don, hey- ” Cosmo gets cut off as Don reaches for him, and then they’re chasing each other across the lawn, laughing like children.

Kathy grabs the basket out of the car after a while, Don and Cosmo collapsed on the grass as they pant, and they find some shade to spread their blanket, weighing it down with their shoes.  It feels good to be out, the three of them, on this high hill with no one watching.  It was a bit hard to get up here in his damn jalopy, but he hopes they won’t break down on the way back along the dirt road.  Kathy wore flats, just in case, anyhow.

“So, what did I do to get the honor of not one, but two wonderful fellas as dates on this fine afternoon?” Kathy asks playfully.  Cosmo grins, and is glad he’s not the only one thinking about their first lunch together.

“Well, see, Kathy, if Don gets mobbed by fans-”

“Oh no, Cosmo, that’s not going to work this time,” Don laughs, beaming.  “You’re someone now.  Remember that woman who asked you to sign her slip?”

“How can I forget, with how often you remind me!” Cosmo cries, flopping back onto the blanket.  When he speaks next, he affects an upset tone, throwing his arms into the air.  “How will I ever be free of all the women falling at my feet?  I’m just a lowly musician.”

“A lowly-Cosmo!” Kathy laughs, nudging his side with her knuckles before beginning to unpack the lunches.  “Alright, fellas, which is which.”

“Whatever you give me is fine,” Cosmo says genuinely.

“Me too,” Don says softly, leaning on his elbow.

Kathy hums under her breath, the silver band on her finger glinting in the dappled sunlight as she peeks between the folds of butcher paper.  “Then that’s settled.  Whatever happens next, it’ll be okay.”

“Yeah,” Don agrees, and hoists himself up.  A similar band shines on his own finger as he reaches for one of the packages to pass to Cosmo.  

“Are we still talking about sandwiches?” Cosmo asks through a grin, already knowing the answer.  Kathy and Don laugh as they pile on him, abandoning the food to shower him in kisses, the three of them giddy with the prospect of the future.

And wouldn’t you know it- Cosmo was wearing a ring too.

THE END