Through The Dark

54: America

"I gotta tell you, your fanbase is very committed. They flooded our socials with comments when we announced you'd be on the show."

"Yeah, it's crazy. Wherever we go, the response is just incredible." I shook my head in disbelief, because it all sometimes felt like a dream.

"And they're incredibly supportive in everything we do as well." Levi added from the end of the couch.

"Oh that's just great, innit? And it's your first time in America, is that right?" James asked as he looked at his cards. We all nodded, each mumbling a quiet response.

"What do you think of it? It's a lot different from Europe. Azumi?" James smiled, making sure she was included as he smiled warmly at her. Surprised to be addressed directly, she looked at him with her eyes a bit wide.

"Yes, very different. There's a lot more noise." Her comment had the audience laugh, her nerves evident. Levi patted her shoulder as reassurance.

"You're weirdly kind of right." James furrowed his eyebrows in concentration before he looked down at his cards again.

"But this is your first time being so far away from your families. That must be difficult."

"For most of us, yeah." Levi laughed, Curtis joining him right after.

"Not for this guy though. Brought his entire family along." Curtis added and pointed at me, James' jaw dropping as the crowd cheered.

"Really? Who did you bring?" James asked in nothing but excitement. The sudden attention that was on me still made my cheeks heat up, but I was no longer afraid to speak like I used to in the beginning of our career.

"Got the wife and kids with me." I proudly smiled, earning yet another applause. James covered his mouth with his hand, looking around the studio behind the cameras.

"Are they here?" He eagerly questioned and I laughed at his excitement, looking through the people crowding the floor for the familiar shade of blue hair. I knew Saph and Maeve were here, since Maeve insisted she wanted to be able to watch from up close. Elliot, the baby, was most likely asleep in our dressing room, being watched over by our manager's assistant.

Saph walked forward with Maeve in her arms, waving at James while still staying hidden behind the camera. She never liked the limelight and I always made an effort to keep her and the kids concealed from it. But there were times where this was not possible.

"Hi Saph! How are you?" James spoke to her from the distance. I smiled to myself, watching the bright smile on her radiant face as she responded to James.

"Is that who I think it is?" James gasped, referring to Maeve. I could see her calling for me from the distance, though I couldn't hear her. Saph set her down and she wasted no time running towards us in her cute little green dress and pig tails.

"Come here gem." I smiled at her, leaning forward and extending my arms to her. Looking at the unfamiliar face next to me shyly, she walked into my arms and I lifted her up, setting her on my leg. Her face instantly disappeared into my neck as she rubbed her eyes with her hands. She definitely got the shyness from me.

"Hi! Are you Maeve?" James cooed at her in a high and soothing voice, the audience awing at her reaction. Reluctantly, she turned her head just enough to glance as James and nod at him.

"I love your dress!" He complimented in an effort to make her feel comfortable, but I knew she'd keep hiding in my neck no matter what James told her.

"She's practically a copy of you, isn't she?" James joked, causing me to laugh because he was right.

"Apparently so."