FIC!

[glitterglue-21.livejournal.com]

Howdie-how people! 
*Cowers* I haven't produced a fic in a while so this is my SUMMER LOVING fic fantanza because it's my holiday and I have time to burn, see! So I have invested my time in this Greg, Josie and Tony fic which is buzzing full of FLUFF and ROMANTICNESS. So I hope you like that! See, I have been taken with romantic films recently (LOVE ACTUALLY) so I needed to write ROMANCE! Umm this is a Christmassy fic, even though it is in the middle of July...and a heatwave...but still! I hope you like it!
A little note, if I may....I'd like to thank Ally for being my BETA! What a super job she did! Thanks hun! *cookies*

Title: Stay With Me (link to song below)
Chapters: Prologue, Chapters 1 & 2
Author: Molly
PIMPED (betaed) by: Ally  (ally_pops)
Pairing: Greg/Josie, Tony/OFC
Rating: PG...mild language in places.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAYKmdNGfcc    (DJ Ironik- Stay With Me)

CROSS POSTED TO

wliialove

 

Prologue
The lock on the door echoed as Josie packed up her books from the empty studio. Spearing another mound of cake into her mouth she grunted. “Hold on a minute please.” The rattling continued until the flimsy lock clicked open. A young, tanned man, an armful of books covering his face staggered in dropping them in a pile on the floor. His eyes met Josie’s and he backed up, collecting the books he had dropped with his foot. “Oh sorry, I didn’t know you were here.” Josie flapped her hand and stacked some of his books on top of each other. “It doesn’t matter.” She flipped a book around, “New show?” Nosiness had always been a particularly bad trait of hers. The man nodded, “Very new. New channel.” Josie nodded, “Same here. Whose Line.”
“No way..” The man smiled and placed a hand on his hips, “Same.” Josie gasped and held her hand out, “Well, my name is Josie.”

 

“Tony.” he placed his hand on hers, “Seems we are going to need to be friends, otherwise this is going to be a shit ride. Excuse my expletive.” Josie bit her bottom lip and quivered a smile. “Seemingly. Would you like some cake?”

Chapter One - Two years later
St Paul’s danced and mellowed into the grey backdrop of the city, the Thames crashed a white ice against the bank wall as Tony wound his checked scarf around his neck and delved into his pockets for his cigarettes and lighter. Filming had finished and for these few minutes every day he would stand against the wrought iron bars, the Octoberian chill creeping up his arms as he sucked in lungful of stress reliever. He loved his job; he didn’t doubt that. For as long as he could remember he loved to entertain, to make people laugh. Slowly he flicked the ash into the churning water below and tasted the sharp taste of nicotine and smoke on his lip. But, nevertheless, despite having the job he always dreamed of, something was missing. Every night he would hail a cab home, eat a shoddy meal for one (he was never a good cook) and maybe flick through the TV channels and delve into a new book. There was no excitement. Tony couldn’t complain about friends either. He was a friend to everybody he worked with and those he didn’t work with coincidently. All the women warmed to him like they would do to a “gay best friend” and he could slink into the male joviality limelight when the need arose; beers after work and whatnot.

The bitter chill nipped at his stubbled face and he ran a hand through his hand. The faint clip of shoes echoed across the banks and Tony swivelled his head to see Josie, her puffy perm bouncing as she joined Tony along the barriers, leaning over the gusts of water wind wisping her hair across her face. “Aren’t you cold, Tony?” She pulled at the sleeve of his jacket and shuddered. Shaking his head Tony coughed a little and threw the butt of his cigarette into the tide. “Nope, when I was built, we were built to last.” He winked, slapping his stomach. “You hailing a cab from the high road?” He winced against the low sun and tried to make the faintest outline of a black taxi. Josie nodded, “Yeah. But Tony, there’s something I need to ask you.” Tony had already walked a few steps towards the main road, exhaust fumes gassing the air but stopped. “Why? What’s the matter?” His voice was high, concerned as he studied Josie’s pale face for any signs of distress. A small certain smile crept across her face, “Nothing bad, no!” she grabbed him around the middle and cuddled him cutely. “Aw, I didn’t mean to make you scared. Sorry.” Tony breathed a gust of relief and stroked her head. Josie pinched his cheek and sighed, “Have you got a minute for a coffee perhaps?”

****

Josie hovered her hand over the steaming cup and looked back at Tony. “Listen Tony, you are my best friend, you know that don’t you.” He was aware; they had been inseparable since day one. It was the whole “gay best friend” thing again. Apart from the fact he wasn’t gay. He loved the fact everybody admired their friendship; he could get away with saying or doing anything to her for a laugh and vice versa. And if anybody did anything to hurt her? There was a vicious protective streak available too.

Tony nodded and sipped his rich coffee, “Yeah and your mine, now what’s up?” he leant forward and Josie pulled her hair behind her hair smiling adorably, “It’s Greg.” she looked up from her mug, a depth of brown staring back at him. Tony felt his chest puff, “Why what has he done?” Stifling a small giggle she hiccupped and stroked his hand, “Calm down, dear. No, he…” she paused and twiddled her hair, “He asked me on a date.” She echoed a little giggle and held her hands to her blushing face.

“Really? Greg?” Tony sniffed, his eyes wide. Inside he was beaming with pride. Josie smiled, “Yeah and because you’re my friend, I was, well wondering whether you…” Tony grinned widely, “Thought he was good enough?” he chuckled, “To go on a date you, dear? Of course he is!” Josie gasped stammering and tried to pick up her sentences, “Well not a date, well I suppose it is a date. I mean he asked me for a drink tonight and I said yes and he gave me a peck on the cheek. Is that a date? Does that constitute as a date? Surely not? It must do, I mean-”

“Hey, slow down.” Tony held his hands up and pulled the reigns on her ramble. She was so excited; bless her. Blushing, Josie stirred her coffee as Tony flicked his watch around. “Okay, so your date, and yes it is a date, is tonight?” Josie gave a vigorous nod. “Yes.” Tony looked at the ceiling, “Then what are you waiting for? You need to get ready.”

****

Josie had persuaded him to come inside and help her choose a dress to wear. “The green or the black?” She groaned holding both pieces of material against her body. Tony sprawled across the bed and inhaled the different aroma’s of perfumes. “Definitely the black.” he nodded “And you can wear those black shoes I got you last Christmas.” Josie gasped, “Oh yes.” She bent down and put the shoes underneath the dress and sighed, “Ok, I’m having a shower now, are you still going to give me a lift to the bar?” Tony gave her a nod and waved her off to the bathroom. “You know, you should really wear this purple perfume, Jos.” he said through the door, “I’ll leave it on the bed. I’m going to watch some TV downstairs.”

“OK.” Josie’s muffled voice came over the rain of the shower as he crept downstairs and took a seat on the sofa, flicking through the channels on the television. “Bloody stupid TV,” he groaned pushing the button of the remote with force. With the absence of TV, his mind flickered to Greg. He was probably at home now, getting ready, deciding what aftershave to wear. Tony had always liked Greg, he was funny, polite and he was always kind to both Tony and Josie. In honesty, if he had to choose somebody to get with Josie, Greg would have been at the top of the list. As long as he treats her good, he thought.

Josie’s flat walls were donned with photographs of the years they had been together. Photographs of them in Brighton, roaming about London, at the zoo holding a snake. Tony laughed and peeled the snake one from the wall. Josie was screaming and the snake was looking at her square in the eyes; he could remember that day as though it were yesterday. They had been spotted by eight people (it was just after the launch of the show) and people had somehow got the wrong impression. He replaced it and carried on along the wall. There was one at a Christmas party, with one of Josie’s old boyfriends; wanker, Tony muttered to himself, sniffling a smile at the scratched dents on the mans face in the picture, dents he and Josie had inflicted together when he had broke Josie’s heart. There must have been two hundred pictures on the wall and most of them had a Tony beaming from them.

“Tony?” Josie whispered as Tony hunched, dropping a dozen photographs. Her small but tall frame was fitted into the black dress, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face was painted with the most delicate make-up and she had teased her feet into the heels. Glittery earrings hung from her ears. Tony felt himself gulp. “Josie, you look beautiful.” he smiled, kicking himself silently for being so cheesy. Josie blushed, “Well…thanks. I used that perfume.” She offered her wrist to Tony who nodded, “I make such good decisions.”

When they pulled outside the bar, Josie was looking in her lap. “Not getting cold feet are we?” Josie shrugged and bit her lip, “He’s good for me isn’t he, Tony.”

“Yes, of course he is. I couldn’t be happier for you.” Tony scanned the bar and sniffed, “And, if there’s any, you know, bit of alright’s in there, tell them there’s a red hot Italian looking hunk only a phone call away.” Josie blurted a laugh. Tony pushed her hair and rearranged her necklace, “Ok, now you look…passable.” he grinned as she gave him a friendly shove. “Nice one.”

“Ok,” Tony checked the time on his watch, “I’ll make sure you see him okay, and make sure you give me a full detailed description tomorrow morning.” Josie breathed twice and opened the door. “Ok.”

“Oh and Josie.” Tony leant across the gear stick, “Have a nice night, won’t you.” Josie nodded and gave him a friendly peck on the cheek, “Thank you, Tony. I will.”

Chapter Two
The two stared smirking from behind their cups of coffee, their plates of breakfast growing colder by the second. Tony swirled his cup and looked back his eyes wide, knowing by the smile of her face what was to be said. “So…” he smiled, coaxing her on with a roll of his tongue. Josie set her mug down and rubbed the corner of her eyes, pushing her hair back. “It was amazing.” she bit her bottom lip and squealed slightly, grabbing Tony’s hand, “It was so great.” Tony munched on a spoonful of cereal and grinned, “He treated you good then?” Josie nodded and bowed her head, “He asked me back out again.”

“Really?” Tony’s voice crept higher, why Greg, what a dark horse. “Where are you going?”

“Just a little place for dinner,” she beamed, “Nothing special but…well it is special. I’m just so glad you like him.” Josie sighed, fiddling with her breakfast then wiped her mouth on a napkin, “Ok. I shall see you on set in about half an hour okay, Suzie wants me for make-up now.”

“Ok, could you pick me up some of those little sachets of face cream from Suzie’s case please.” Tony smiled.

“God, Tony. Turning a bit effeminate on me?” She smirked at him over the table. Tony groaned, “No Josie, I most certainly am not.” He added a cheeky “hello ducky” hand wave and peeped over his hands as she skipped off into the swing doors to the dressing rooms.

****

Tony pulled on another shirt and took another dab of face cream to his tanned skin. His microphone case protruded from the rim of his trousers.
“Tony?” Greg knocked on the door after he walked in the door, a practice Tony had never quite understood. “Can I come in?” Tony slapped some fresh aftershave around his cheeks and motioned to a chair, “Didn’t give me an option there did you buddy?” Greg scoffed and lowered himself in a chair, biting a nail on his right hand. “Glad I caught you before we went on air.” he breathed. Cracking open a bottle of water, Tony poured himself and Greg a glass and balanced himself on a tall stool before his aged mirror. “Ok, what’s bothering you, Proops?” Tony asked, swallowing a gulp of water. Greg peeled a piece of nail and terrifying amount of skin away. “Well I was just wondering, how you felt-”

“About you and Josie?” Tony finished the sentence before he could stop himself, adding quickly, much to Greg’s relief, “I’m really happy for you both.” Greg blew a sharp sigh of release and wiped the corner of his eyes. “Listen, thanks.” He slammed a palm against Tony’s and shook his arm and hand heartily. “It means a lot to me, you being Josie’s friend and all.”

“Listen, as long as you’re making her happy. And I can see you are, so good luck.” He gave Greg a small slap on the back and ushered him along the corridor to the studios.

****

Josie pulled the door back after filming and breathed a mist into the cold air, the sharp twang biting her back teeth. Tony was in his usual spot, puffing away at a cigarette over the waves of the river, the chill of autumn creeping over the city. Pulling on a pair of gloves and a hat, she began her steady decent down the metal plate stairs to the bank. She heard the door swing again and stopped, knowing the footsteps anywhere.

“Greg.” She didn’t know how to stop her cheeks from raising and tautening; her happiness in seeing him was rather apparent. Greg stopped in front of her, the air of a shy schoolboy still wallowing on the outskirts of his proud exterior, his little Rupert Bear checked scarf simply adorable. “Josie. I thought you’d left already.” he smiled, his smile bubbling along his lips. Josie coughed a little laugh and tied a scarf around her own neck, “Just in time.” A lullaby silence danced between them, neither knowing why the other had stopped, until Greg finally realised why he had stopped her.

“Oh yeah.” He exclaimed, slapping his head, “That right. Um, are you still free Friday?” he wiped a little fluff from the lens of his glasses and peered back at Josie.

“Yes, of course I am.”
“Right.” Greg began to delve into his pockets and produced a little slip of paper, “This is the restaurant. And my number is on the back, just in case…” Josie studied the card and nodded, “Yeah totally, thanks.”

For a moment, they swayed towards one another but shied away. Tony was watching from the banks; it was like watching two shy teenagers. Josie went to go one way and Greg did the same. Giggling they did it once more until Josie finally got a step down. Tony could see her biting her lip in excitement, oblivious to everything in the world around.

“Josie.” Greg caught her by the arm and welled in and stopped abruptly, swallowing. Their faces but centimetres apart, Tony willed them to make something of the moment. Greg leant forward but stopped, the agony of embarrassment seizing the scene. “Have a lovely night.” he whispered. Josie shuddered a smiling nod and galloped down the metal stairs, barrelling towards Tony who threw his cigarette into the river. “Come on Slattery,” she whispered excitedly. Tony gave a delightful smile to Greg who was biting a smile into his fingers. Gripping his arm hard she squealed behind a mane of hair, with absolute delight.

Comments and critisism always appreciated and taken onboard. Next chapters coming sooooon!