Encounters of the Grizzly Kind {Stacey/Xan}

Stacey couldn't believe that she had her baby, Ebony Amelia Callaghan, three weeks ago. The first week had been hell, as she had to stay in hospital, after complications with the birth. But when she was finally home, it was a relief. She could finally spend quality time with the baby, and with David, when she could. He had taken some leave, in order to be there for her when she needed the help with Ebony. But she was such a good baby, that she was finding it easier than she thought, though there had been a few restless nights which they took turns to look after Ebony if and when she woke.

So now Stacey was just taking a break in the late morning. Ebony was asleep, and she had sent David to go shopping, which all was quiet. She sat in front of the television, after tidying up, when her phone went off, saying that there was a text. She smiled as she read what Dom had sent her, and then replied back saying that she was available to meet his manager. He soon replied back, saying he would be there in an hour. She quickly text David, to tell him of her plans for the afternoon, and not to worry if they weren't there when he got home. Stacey quickly packed Ebony's bag with everything she would need, then checked her own bag. Looking at the time, Stacey made the decision to make a quick sandwich to eat before Dom came.

Stacey was just taking Ebony into the lounge room, when she heard Dom call through the letterbox. "No worries Dom," she called out. Stacey placed Ebony in the pram, and put both bags over her shoulder. She opened the door, and then locked it behind her. Stacey then made her way out to Dom. She got to the car, stopping the pram, and opening the back door, Stacey placed Ebony into the car capsule that Dom had in his car. Once Ebony was secure in it, Stacey placed the bags in the back on the floor, and then went around the other side, to place the folded up pram in. After shutting that door, Stacey got into the passenger side. She reached over and kissed Dom on the cheek. "Hey," giving him one of her brightest smiles. "So this is the day that I get to meet your manager." She put on her seatbelt, and looked ahead. "Can't wait."

As they went, Stacey looked back at Ebony, seeing that she had gone back to sleep. "I am glad that she is asleep, but at the wrong time of the day. She was up a bit last night." Stacey sighed, and then asked, "So why do you have to go and see your manager, Xander?"

Stacey saw that Dom was out of the car, but she was already used to putting Ebony in David's car, and putting her in the car capsule, even after two full weeks. After she put the pram in the back, she heard what he said, and had to smile. "What can I say? I have picked up the ability of speed with being a mom." Stacey giggled a little, then got into the passenger side, leaning in and kissing Dom on the cheek. He smiled brightly back at her and said 'hey' back.

She had then made the comment about it being the day that she would meet his manager, and Dom giggled with her reply. Stacey shook her head a little, giggling, thinking how she would indeed hold up. "I have no idea. But don't you give me any looks that might get me in a fit of giggles, okay?" If he did, she would just start, and would never be able to stop. His manager might think that she is some sort of nut or something, with a baby no less. Stacey had spoken then, after Dom started the car and moved them towards their destination, about how Ebony had been awake during the night. Dom instantly asked if she wasn't too tired to be coming through here. She put a reassuring hand on his arm. "No. It's fine Dom. It will be nice to get out. I had a bit of a nap before, despite cleaning I did also."

Stacey had then asked why he had to see his manager, and Dom told her, speaking of the music video for his first single. "Okay, cool. So I will get to be behind the scenes then. Definately a first for me. Will be interesting to see what gets done, and see you do your thing." She turned and smiled at him, "Can't wait for that." Stacey knew that whatever song he was going to be using for the clip, it would definately keep Ebony asleep, as his music worked most of the time to help her sleep.

Dom then asked how things were going, other than how it had been last night. "It's been going good. I am glad for David taking that time off to help. And was glad that I was able to stay in hospital for that week, even though towards the end I was going nuts. Ebony has been good, just the last couple of nights she hasn't been sleeping long at all. David and I have been taking turns in seeing to what she wants, even though most of the time I have to get up, as she needs her feeds. When she sleeps during the day, that is when I get some sleep also. But David has been a fantastic help, don't you worry about that. I actually send him to the shops just before you send me that message." Stacey knew that the first few weeks would be hard, and felt that she was doing better than she thought she would.

Xander had asked Dominic to come into the studio today because he wanted to discuss recording the video for the first single he was going to be releasing from his forthcoming album, but he also had a little surprise for Dominic as well because even though the double A single he had recorded in the name of his niece Ebony had only just hit the shops, it had reached a max number of sales due to people who had pre-ordered copies of it. He hadn’t told Dominic on the phone because he had wanted it to be a surprise for when he came into the studio.

When Dominic opened the door and said in a rather flamboyant way that he had made it with fifteen minutes to spare and wasn’t it good timing he had to laugh and shook his head slightly. “Yeah, ya could say tha’.” He replied giving Dom a brighter smile. Dominic could annoy the hell out of him most of the time, but he was a good singer and songwriter and an awesome performer so Xander knew he hadn’t made a mistake in taking Dominic on when the manager assigned by American Idol had tried to change him. Seriously, who would want to change Dominic Salvatore? He was everything a pop star could be and more.

Dominic had then made introductions and Xander made his way over to Stacey and held his hand out, “It’s sure good to meet ya Stacey, I heard plenty abou’ ya.” He gave her a smile and then bent down to where Ebony was in her pram. “Jeez, takes me back ya know to when ma little Tonya was jus’ tha’ age, feels like yesterday an’ she’s nineteen now, scary stuff ya know.” He then looked up at Stacey and gave her a bright smile, “She’s a real little beauty.” Xander had then turned to see Dominic who had pushed himself to sit on the edge of one of the desks and slapped his thighs asking exactly what it was he wanted him to do today.

“Well, yer gonna be releasing ‘Whataya Want From Me’ on February twenty second, so I was hoping tha’ we might get some of the video recorded today in the studio. Then I’ll need ya to come into the studio again in a couple of weeks to do the finishing touches to yer album.” Xander said in his slight mixed accent because he was originally from Tennessee but the family had moved to Canada for quite a while before moving to Las Vegas and then he and his now ex wife had gone back to Canada again and now he was back in Las Vegas once more after realising he couldn’t stay away from his daughter whom he had left behind when the family moved to Canada for a second time and Tonya hadn’t wanted to leave Las Vegas.

“I got something to give ya Pretty Boy.” Xander said as he went over to the side of his desk and lifted up the item which had arrived at the studio that morning. He then walked over to where Dominic was currently sitting on the edge of one of the desks and handed it over to him, “Reckon tha’ should put a smile on yer face cause it sure as hell put one on mine.”

After Dominic had given Stacey his look of mock shock asking why he would do that to his best girl, referring to making faces to make her laugh he soon heard Stacey giggle as well and then she spoke saying she knew what he was capable of and wouldn’t expect anything less but he was to explain to Xander if she did end up laughing. He just glanced at her pouting his lips and winked, “You know I will sister.” He just wondered what kind of mood Xander would be in today, he wasn’t always in a bad mood but when he was he could be really bad which resulted in Dom calling him Grizzly.

Stacey had then asked why he had to see his manager and after he had explained and Stacey had shown her excitement about seeing some of the video being made he had commented that she could watch it later saying she was there while some of it was filmed. He had to smile at her reply when she said it would be cool to see him work. “Well it’s going to be cool to have my best girl there while I work.” They had surprisingly been able to see quite a bit of each other given that he was supposed to be a busy pop star, but then he had said he would always make time for Stacey since they had fallen back into each other’s lives.

When Dom had asked Stacey about David coming home to find that they were gone he was sort of teasing her because he knew that she wouldn’t go out without telling him where they would be and when Stacey replied he had been right with his thoughts on the matter. “I knew that Stace sugar, I was sort of messing with you, I just hope that he won’t mind me pulling you away from him for a few hours.” He knew that David treated him like part of the family as well now, but sometimes he did wonder if he would get narked at Dominic wanting to spend so much time with them, but really after the session he had had with David he knew that he was an easy going guy who was kind and caring so it probably would never bother him that much.



Once they reached the studio and Dominic had parked the car he had immediately went to take the pram out and brought it round to Stacey who thanked him. He smiled brightly, “You’re welcome sister.” He then saw that Ebony was awake as Stacey placed her into the pram and he couldn’t help but smile some more at Stacey speaking to her. She was a gorgeous little thing and the more time he spent with her, the more broody he got. Dominic then looked in the pram and spoke to Ebony saying, “Hi Ebony, just look at you, so beautiful, just like your mommy.” He then looked at Stacey and gave her a bright smile. Sure he was gay, but he knew when a woman was beautiful and Stacey was very beautiful.

Dominic then led them into the studio and told her where they were going and soon enough he had them both in the room where Xander was. After he had shouted out about having time to spare he giggled as Xander replied saying that he could say that. He then introduced Xander to Stacey and Ebony and then watched with a smile as they conversed with each other. He did catch the look from Stacey as if she was saying that Xander seemed fine. He just raised his eyebrow at her and then mouthed ‘just you wait until I start working on the video’ and then he brought both his hands up into a claw like grip and did a quiet growl and then went into a giggle knowing fine well that Stacey was going to kill him for doing that.

Dominic had then asked Xander what it was he wanted him to do exactly and as Xander told him he began to nod his head and replied, “Sounds like a good idea to me.” He wondered if they would get the video finished in the one sitting or if it would be too much, especially when he had Stacey and Ebony to take back home. It was alright working until things were finished when he was on his own at the studio, but he had to think of his girls this time. Then Stacey asked Xander if he would mind if she breastfed Ebony, he glanced at Xander giving him a look as if to say don’t you dare say anything about that, and he hoped he wouldn’t.

Then Xander said he had something to give him and Dominic wondered what it was. Soon enough Xander came walking over to him holding something which looked quite big. Once he handed it over to him saying it should make him happy as it had made him happy Dom’s jaw dropped open. Dom put his hand up to his mouth and giggled slightly, “Oh my god, really? I’ve never had one of those before, I guess it just shows my popularity, or maybe people just loved those songs knowing that I was giving half the royalties to this little one.” Dominic said as he looked at Ebony and gave her a smile and turned it to show her. “Look at that, see what my songs for you did?” He then heard Stacey’s reaction to it.

“I know isn’t it great?” He asked and then he knew exactly what he was going to do with it, even though it was his first one and he knew that Stacey couldn’t take it from him just now he smiled brightly at her, “I want you to have it Stace sugar, you can hang it on Ebony’s nursery wall along with the song lyrics if you like.”

Stacey shook her head, when Dom said that he hoped that David wouldn't mind him pulling her away from him for a few hours. "No, he was fine. He replied back after I texted him. He is all good." She gave Dom a smile, knowing that whatever happened today was definately going to be an experience and a half.

**** 45 minutes later ****

Stacey had soon placed Ebony in the pram, after Dom brought it around for her. She had then spoken to Ebony herself, then got up to follow Dom, but then watched as he spoke to Ebony also. Stacey couldn't help but smile at what he said, feeling a slight blush come over her. She let out a bit of a breath, willing for it to leave her, and it felt like it did. Dom then looked at her, and Stacey returned his smile. "Why thank you Dom. I do what I can these days. No time for pampering that is for sure." Stacey tried to make time for herself, but these days she was trying to be a good mum with Ebony.

When Xander was talking to Stacey, then Ebony, she had given Dom this look, thinking that Xander seemed fine to her. Dom then returned the look, and Stacey tried to read his lips, but couldn't make out what he said. Then he did something that she thought would send her over the edge. Dom put his hands up like claws, and did the quietest growl ever. Stacey gave him a stern look, making her eyes grow wide. Then Dom did it, he started to giggle. Stacey had to turn away from him, or she would have started too. She felt her mouth turn up in a smile, then had to cough a little to stop herself from doing anything embarrassing, waiting for Xander to say something.

Xander then said he was sure that she had heard plenty about him from Dom, and said that he dare say that it wasn't all good either. Stacey shook her head. "I would say it was good things." What could she say? After Xander had said that Ebony was a real beauty, Stacey had thanked him, and he said that she was welcome. So far he seemed nice enough. Stacey still couldn't think of a reason for Dom to think he was a big bad person. Dom had been giggling after what he did before, and Xander questioned it. Stacey thought to herself, I wonder how you are going to get out of this one Dom.

While Dom and Xander conversed, Stacey had positioned herself in the room, so that they could work on whatever they had to do for the video. After Stacey had gotten Ebony out of the pram she had noted that she would have to feed her soon. So Stacey asked Xander if it was okay to feed Ebony soon. She saw that look that Dom gave her, and shook her head very slightly, waiting to see what Xander might say. When he finally replied, Stacey gave him a smile, "Thanks. I just have a habit of asking that is all. I know that some people don't like it when women breastfeed that is all."

Stacey put down the towel she had to put over her shoulder later, when she burped Ebony, and walked over to see what Dom had gotten. Carrying Ebony over to them, she just couldn't stop smiling. After her 'oh my' comment before, Dom had replied, and Stacey could just nod in acknowledgement. Then the next thing Dom said kind of made her take a step back, and Stacey shook her head. "Dom, I can't. It's your first one. You should keep it." But she knew deep down that he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Stacey side glanced at Xander, and when he reacted, she didn't know what to say or do, so she went back to where she was sitting, and got herself ready to feed Ebony. So it seemed that Xander was going to tell Dom to keep it, as Stacey knew it was only right. She undid her shirt a bit, and then her bra, and moved Ebony to her breast to feed. Stacey moved her eyeline up to the two men, and that was when Xander looked at her, and said that he didn't mean to offend her. She nodded. "No, no, it's okay. I understand." Stacey turned to Dom, to see what he might say to it all.

Stacey then got herself comfortable in the chair, allowing Ebony to have her feed. From the first day that she was able to breastfeed Ebony, it seemed to go well. There was no hesitation from Ebony that much at the beginning, which was great. Xander then spoke of them getting cracking on the video, then watched as he spoke on the phone to get people in to start. Once he was done, Xander gave Dom and herself a smile. She returned the smile. "So, what is the concept for the video, if you don't mind me asking?" Stacey looked down at Ebony, and saw that she was finished. She quickly did up her bra and shirt, then moved Ebony up to her shoulder to burp her.

When Stacey told him that the things that Dominic had said were good things he scoffed slightly but followed it with a chuckle. He looked at Stacey and replied saying, “It’s alrigh’ Stacey I know what this one’s like, am sure you’re just bein’ kind.” He then chuckled some more and then as they had continued to talk to each other Dominic had gone into a fit of giggles making him turn round and ask him what the hell he was giggling at. When Dominic told him that he had told Stacey about the nickname he gives him when he’s being grumpy and that he had made a teasing face about it and couldn’t help but giggle at Stacey trying not to laugh all Xander could do was laugh himself and shake his head. “Tha’s a real good thing to do to yer friend the first day she meets me Dom, real good.” He shook his head again and then went over to Dominic and slapped him on the back of the head gently chuckling some more.

After Stacey had asked if it was alright to feed Ebony and caught that look from Dom even though he wouldn’t have said no, he answered Stacey telling her it was fine so long as she didn’t mind doing it in front of a guy she hardly knew. She thanked him and said that it was just habit to ask as she knew some people didn’t like it. “Yeah, well I ain’ got a problem with it Stacey, the child has to be fed, I can’t stand them folks who have a gripe about it.” Dominic then said that if Grizzly had a problem with it he would have soon said something. Xander chuckled, “Yeah, I dare say it would have, an’ what ya callin’ me Grizzly fer, I ain’ been grumpy yet, have I? Thought ya called me Teddy when I was bein’ reasonable with ya?” He laughed out loud then, truth be told he preferred when Dom called him Xander or Xan, but then he had a habit of calling Dominic Pretty Boy so it was only fair Dom had a nickname for him too.

Xander had then given Dominic his first ever platinum disc and listened with much shock and disappointment as he told Stacey he wanted her to have it for Ebony’s nursery wall. He had thought he was mad to do that with his first disc but Stacey had soon said she couldn’t take it because it was his first one. That was when Xander said something about it saying that he was mad to be giving away his first ever disc. Then he had turned to Stacey saying he hadn’t meant to cause any offense by what he had said. Stacey had said that it was okay and she understood but Dom had then told Stacey that he could give it to her adding that he wouldn’t have gotten it if it hadn’t been for writing the songs for Ebony and that he wanted for her to know how much she meant to her Uncle Dominic. When he heard Dominic say that to Stacey he realised that it really wasn’t up to him what Dom did with the disc.

He was about to say something when Dom then turned to him pretty much having a go at him although he didn’t really blame him. Xander sighed and put his hands up in surrender, “Damn Dominic, there ain’ no need to get quite so defensive abou’ it. I already told her I didn’t mean to cause any offense. But yer righ’ it is yers an’ ya’ve got every righ’ to do what ya want with it, ya’ll be sure to get more, because yer an amazing singer Dom.” Xander then gave Dominic’s shoulder a squeeze so he would know that he wasn’t annoyed with him anymore.

Xander had then gone into manager mode calling through for the set designers and camera men to make a start on recording the video. Stacy had then asked what the concept of the video was and he just decided to let Dominic answer her. He nodded his head at what Dominic said to her, “Yeah, tha’s pretty much the idea of it. I want fer ya to show as much emotion as possible. Ya see Stacey, when it comes to video’s it ain’ just abou’ the singing ya know? It’s good if ya can get the video to tell a story, an’ tha’s what I want fer this one.” Just as he said that the team began to come into the small studio and Xander opened up the doors at the back of his office to lead into the much bigger studio which was where most internal scenes for the videos got recorded.

“Guys, I want Dominic to be wearin’ a few style of clothes, the casual look, one with him wearin’ a suit and one where he’s wearin’ a coat. I want fer us to do the scenes where he’s wearin’ the suit an’ the casual look indoors, can ya get Dom’s makeup done Tracy an’ guys fer the set design I want it to look like it’s Dominic’s home, I need a bedroom scene, a kitchen scene an’ a living room scene, got it?” He then turned to Dominic and Stacey, “Ya both jus’ want to come on through into the bigger studio an’ Dom, Tracy will get a start on yer makeup.” Not that Dominic needed much what with always wearing makeup anyway, but he wanted it touched it up for the cameras.

{ooc - It's going to be getting to the exciting bit of filming soon and I can see that Xander will bully Dom a bit soon over his emotions with the video - you'll get what I mean when I post as Dom and Xander next lol}

After Dominic had told Stacey that she still looked beautiful whether she had less time to pamper herself or not and that she always had and always will look beautiful, he had to give her a bright smile as she answered thanking him and adding that she didn’t have to worry so much then and gave his arm a gentle squeeze with her hand. He playfully nudged into her again, “You know it sister.” He replied and then winked at her.

When Dominic had giggled all the more after Stacey gave him ‘the look’ and turned away he had to admit to himself that she was doing remarkably well at keeping her cool, well she was doing better than he was at any rate, he was doubled over giggling and he knew that she would tell him off about it later, but as much as Xander hated him calling him Grizzly or Teddy he was good enough to take it on the chin probably because he called Dom Pretty Boy.

When Stacey had spoken to Xander saying that it was all good things she had heard about him from Dom he had winked at her and he couldn’t help but giggle again as she rolled her eyes at him. Xander had then made the comment that he knew what Dominic was like and was sure that she was being kind. Then when Xander had asked him what he was giggling at he told him the truth outright and he couldn’t help but giggle again as Stacey put her hand up to her face, well really there was no point in lying, it’s not as if Xander didn’t know that Dom spoke to his friends and family about him.

When Xander had laughed over it Dominic looked to see Stacey’s reaction and was glad to see that she was smiling. However Xander had said that it was a real good thing to do to his friend the first day she meets him and then slapped him on the back of the head lightly and chuckled. “Yeah I know, sorry Stace sugar, couldn’t help myself I guess.” Dom said giving Stacey an apologetic smile and a slight shrug of the shoulders. Really with Xander and Dom it was playful banter most of the time, and really Xander wasn’t ‘that’ bad, he was just doing his job, just that sometimes it got to Dom when he couldn’t do something normal like talk to Stacey for the first time after years apart without a telephone call from his manager, but that was the price you paid for fame and fortune.

When Xander asked him why he was calling him Grizzly when he usually called him Teddy when he was being reasonable with him Dom just shrugged, “I don’t know Xan, I guess I was just getting prepared in case you had a problem with it.” He then went into a fit of giggles again and then composed himself, “But you’re right, you’ve not been grumpy with me yet Teddy.” He said as he turned to Stacey and winked at her and then began to giggle once more hearing that Xander was having a good laugh.

When Xander had given him the platinum disc which he had immediately told Stacey he was giving to her to put on the nursery wall for Ebony, Xander had gone off at him over it because it was his first one. Naturally Dom had reacted more or less putting Xander in his place and as he side glanced to Stacey he could see that she wasn’t overly comfortable and he felt bad. But really it was his disc and it was up to him what he wanted to do with it. Xander put his hands up in surrender and told him there was no need to get quite so defensive about it adding that he had already said he hadn’t meant to cause offense and that he was right, it was his disc and up to him what he did. Then Xander said he would be sure to get more because he was an amazing singer and then he squeezed Dom’s shoulder. Dominic smiled knowing that was the sign that meant Xander wasn’t angry with him anymore. Dominic gave Xander an apologetic smile then, “Sorry Xan, but thanks, it means a lot to me for Stace to have it for Ebony.” Stacey finally said she would let him hang it on Ebony’s nursery wall and Dom gave her a bright smile. “Thanks Stace sugar, I wouldn’t have it if it weren’t for Ebony, and I know I can see it anytime I visit.”

Stacey had then asked what the concept of the video was for the song and Dominic answered explaining about the song and what he thought Xan would want from the video and had raised an eyebrow in question to Xander to see what he would say about it. He more or less agreed with Dom adding that the videos were more than just the song it was about telling the story. Dominic actually wasn’t sure how he was going to be filming the video because when Xan had suggested that ‘Whataya Want From Me?’ was to be his first single Dominic hadn’t wanted to release it asking for it to remain an album track instead. However Xan said because it was such an emotional song he wanted it to be released because he was sure it would be a high seller. Now he was being forced into filming a video for it and one he wasn’t sure if he would be able to do without getting upset and Stacey still didn’t know about what he had gone through with Simon. The time was never right to tell her what with her being heavily pregnant when he first met her again he hadn’t wanted to burden her at all.

Soon enough everybody was coming into the smaller studio and Xander had asked for the both of them to go through into the bigger studio. The bigger one was like five times the size of the smaller recording studio. It was that big so that they could do indoor scenes for videos, it was always easier to make your own set designs and add them to the studio than to hire out somewhere. Dominic jumped off the desk he had been sitting on and soon Stacey was following him into the big studio and right away Tracy had him in the chair and was working on his hair and makeup, not that much needed doing but she was just adding powder to various places so there would be no shine from the camera and then fixed his hair up putting plenty of wax onto it so that it wouldn’t move too much during the filming. The next thing he had to do was get into the right clothes for the shoot as he stepped behind the partition and changed into the look with the suit where he would be standing in front of his bookcase supposedly yelling at the other person you don’t see in the video.

After a few moments Dominic was ready and the video director got him standing in front of the bookcase, “Xander tells me he wants you to give it your all, to put as much emotion into it as possible, so ready, here we go then, three, two, one.” Then the music started up for the song and the soon as it got to the right bit the director indicated to Dominic with a wave of his finger and Dominic began to act out the scene giving it as much emotion as he could. Recording a video was tricky because it was lip syncing so you had to make sure that you lip synced perfectly to the song. Once the bit with wearing the suit was filmed which didn’t take too long as each section was only for a small part of the song it was time for Dominic to change into the casual look for the scenes in the bedroom, kitchen and living room area where he was to be sitting down.

The whole time he had been filming the bits wearing the suit he could feel the emotion beginning to build in him and he had wanted to just stop and break down telling Stacey everything but knowing that he couldn’t let Xan down; he knew he had to carry on keeping it to himself. The director beckoned for Dominic to sit down which he did. “Alright Dominic once more with as much emotion as possible, you know this is an emotional song, give it all you can, okay?” Then he counted Dominic in again.

Dominic tried to give it as much as he could but inside he was dying and even though he wasn’t singing out loud he could feel himself beginning to crack and eventually he just lay back onto the sofa he was sitting on and put both his hands up and began shaking his head and looking at the director he said, “I’m sorry darling I can’t do this.” He then turned to Xander, “I told you I didn’t want this one released as a single, I can’t...” Dominic then got up and before he walked out of the main studio he turned to Xander again, “This is killing me like I knew it would and I told you it would, so why didn’t you listen to me?” He then walked out of the studio into the smaller one and sat on the sofa there and brought his knees up as he began to sob his heart out uncontrollably.

{ooc - how the video should look when it's completed Whataya Want From Me? - Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this material, borrowing it for a character based on Adam Lambert}