Warning: NSFW Content towards the end of the chapter.
"Please welcome the biggest superstar on the planet. One of the best singers working in the industry right now, and the recipient of multiple Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, and Emmys. Troy Armitage, everyone!"
The studio exploded the moment my name was announced.
I walked out from behind the curtain, lights flooding the stage as the band struck up its familiar tune. I waved enthusiastically at the crowd, their cheers crashing over me in a wall of sound. The standing ovation was honestly a little too much in my opinion, but I won't lie, it felt fucking awesome seeing the reaction I was still getting from my fans even after all these years.
I crossed the stage and pulled Jimmy Fallon into a quick hug, patting his back before dropping into the chair beside his desk.
The audience still hadn't sat down, so I lifted my hands and laughed.
"Come on, sit down," I called out.
It took nearly a full minute before the applause finally died down and the crowd retook their seats, though the energy in the room still buzzed like electricity.
"Wow!" Jimmy exclaimed, shaking his head. "I don't think I've ever seen a response this wild in all my time hosting this show."
I tilted my head to the side with a grin. "That's because you've never had me here before."
The crowd laughed, and Jimmy did too before I added, "On a serious note, I love my fans more than anyone in the world."
He raised a challenging eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? Because I know for a fact one particular Black Widow won't be happy to hear that part."
I couldn't deny it, so I nodded. "You got me there."
Jimmy burst into laughter, leaning back in his chair, and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes at his excessively exaggerated reaction.
"I think it's the first time a couple has ruled the box office back-to-back," he said once he caught his breath. "[Iron Man 2] and [Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows] have both been number one at the domestic and international box office without a break."
"Thank you," I said sincerely. "The credit goes mostly to the audience who loved our movies."
"How do you feel about the end of Harry Potter?" Jimmy asked, his tone turning curious. "I'm assuming it can't have been easy to let go of a series you've been a part of for most of your life."
"It wasn't," I admitted. "It's a little painful letting go of a character you've played for so long. If someone calls out Harry, I can't help but look over to see if they're talking to me. It's a role people will probably recognize me for the rest of my life."
"And for good reason," Jimmy said firmly. "I can't think of anyone else who could've played this character. You were incredible in it, especially this one. The climax was so powerful. I cried my eyes out when the weight of it finally hit me."
"The credit for that goes to Alfonso Cuaron, our director," I replied. "He's unbelievably good at manipulating human emotions. You can watch any of his films and walk out emotionally wrecked."
Jimmy nodded in agreement before leaning forward slightly. "I also loved the music in this film. Was it your idea to compose it?"
I shook my head. "It was my dad's. Nicholas Hooper, who composed the score for the last movie, chose not to come back for the final installment, and Dad asked me to fill in. The last film I'd composed was [Echoes of You], so it took me some time to get back into that mindset. But once I started, I couldn't stop. It was while composing the music that I got the idea for a song as well. 'Sign of the Times.'"
"Oh my God! That's my favorite song right now," Jimmy gushed. "I've got a few questions about it, if you don't mind answering?"
"Sure, fire away."
Jimmy rubbed his hands together eagerly before leaning toward his desk. "Alright, let's start with the big one. What does the song even mean?"
The question was so anticlimactic that both the audience and I burst into laughter. The camera panned across the crowd as they clapped and hooted, while Jimmy simply shrugged, pretending innocence.
When the laughter finally subsided, I gave him the answer he, and probably most listeners, had been waiting for.
"The song's written from Lily Potter's perspective, for those who haven't watched the film. There's a scene that flashes back to the day she was killed. She's crying and holding her toddler, promising him that everything's going to be alright. She knows they're both going to die soon, but she still holds onto the hope that somehow Harry will be saved. And since she comes from a Muggle background, she compares the deadly spells Voldemort casts to bullets."
"Whoa," Jimmy said, eyes wide. "I didn't make that connection at all. That's way too deep."
"Thank you," I said, inclining my head gratefully. "At first, I suggested that a female artist should sing it since it's from a mother's perspective. I recorded the demo in my voice, but everyone who heard it told me I should sing it myself. So I did."
"I'm glad you did," Jimmy said firmly. "I've been craving your voice for a while. By the way, when are you pumping out that fourth album? The people want to know."
The audience backed him up instantly, cheering and clapping in agreement.
I laughed before replying, "You'll get a new album when it's time. I don't like rushing my music. When it happens, it happens. When it doesn't, it doesn't. So it could be next week, next month, or even five years from now. No promises."
"You're an evil man," Jimmy said in mock seriousness before smoothly changing the topic. "Last December, you were in the biggest movie on the planet. [Avatar]."
A loud cheer rippled through the studio at the mention of the film.
"A year before that, you were in [The Dark Knight], which is the third biggest movie of all time behind [Avatar] and [Titanic]. And with the way [Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows] is minting money, experts are saying it could very easily land among the top four films ever made. Maybe even beat [Avatar] and take the top spot. That would mean three of the top four movies of all time feature you. Don't you think that's a little selfish?"
I chuckled. "Oh, Jimmy, I was born in the wrong era. If I'd been born earlier, I would've done [Titanic] too. Is that selfish? I don't know. I prefer to call it being motivated. Wanting to do better isn't a bad trait, as long as you're not crushing others to reach your goals."
Jimmy looked momentarily surprised by my answer, but he accepted it quickly, flashing his familiar grin.
"Troy Armitage, everybody," he announced to the crowd. "[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows] is in cinemas near you. Book your tickets before it's all sold out. It's very good. When we come back from the break, we'll have an exclusive performance from Troy with the song 'Sign of the Times.' So stay tuned."
(Break)
~Just stop your crying
It's a sign of the times
We gotta get away from here
We gotta get away from here
Stop your crying
Baby, it'll be alright
They told me that the end is near
We gotta get away from here~
Scarlett sniffled as she listened to the live performance from Jimmy Fallon's show. She'd watched the clip so many times she'd lost count. After hearing Troy explain the real meaning behind the song and the intention woven into every lyric, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by emotion.
She rubbed her bulging belly lovingly, tears still slipping down her cheeks as the final notes faded from the screen.
It was to this scene that Troy walked into their shared room after an intense gym session. His hair was still damp, his skin warm from exertion, and the faint scent of sweat followed him inside. The moment he saw his fiancée like that, he didn't need to say a word.
He simply sat beside her and pulled close.
Her head settled automatically against his shoulder, while his arm curved around her back, his hand drifting down to caress her belly gently, slow and reassuring. Neither of them caring that he was all sweaty.
"Are we okay?" Troy asked softly after nearly two minutes of silence.
Scarlett had calmed down by then. She nodded. "Yeah. It's just that… after realizing the song's from Lily Potter's POV, it makes so much sense. Seeing her love for Harry, I can't help thinking about our own children."
"Babe," Troy said quietly. "It's a fantasy story. That hardly ever happens in real life. And it's not gonna happen to us for sure. So stop watching sad films and songs and watch something happy. If you stay happy, our kids stay happy, and that's half the battle already won."
Scarlett wiped her face and nodded. "You're right. Let's talk about something else then."
She turned fully toward him, her eyes slowly roaming over his body. He was wearing a tank top and a pair of ridiculously short shorts that might as well have been boxers.
"Damn," she murmured. "You're looking fine. How much have you been working out?"
"A lot," he replied seriously. "That's all I've been doing these past few weeks, as you know. Even when I was promoting Harry Potter and staying at hotels, the gym was unavoidable for me."
Scarlett nodded. "And it's all because of that rom-com you're doing with Steve Carell, right?"
"That and Game of Thrones," he replied.
Scarlett fisted her hand into Troy's tank top and tugged him closer. "I wouldn't mind an early peek at what you'll be showing your audience with Game of Thrones."
Troy pushed her hand away with mock seriousness. "Have some shame, woman. The kids are listening."
Scarlett laughed before leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips. He didn't shy away this time and returned it with full enthusiasm. Her hand lingered against his body longer than strictly necessary until she finally closed her fist around—
"Whoa," Troy stopped her before things could go any further. "Let's take things slow."
Scarlett groaned. "I don't want slow. You've been away for so long. I want some fast excitement. I missed you. And believe me, our kids did too. They need to feel close to Daddy as well. The doctor said it's fine if we do it."
Troy shook his head. "That's… disturbing. But no. You're… huge."
Scarlett frowned the moment she heard that. "So that's it, then? Because I'm huge and ugly, you won't touch me? What if I can't get thin again after the kids? Will you leave me for a thinner model? You—"
Troy cut her off by pulling her into a deep kiss.
She pushed him away a few seconds later. "Don't do that. I was talking."
"You were talking nonsense," Troy shot back. "I love you and always will, even if you're old, fat, and wrinkly. Don't twist my worry for you and our children's safety into something cruel just for the sake of it."
Scarlett pouted like a child. Deep down, she knew he was right. She'd been moody lately, snapping and searching for faults where there were none, all because she missed him so much while he'd been away.
After a moment, Troy suddenly stood up. "I want to take a bath."
"A bath?" Scarlett repeated, confused.
"Yeah. You can join me if you want," he said suggestively, his hand sliding down her back. "We'll all be close then. You, me, and the kids."
He leaned toward her ear and whispered, "I'll make sure you won't feel lonely at all."
He kissed her cheek before pulling off his tank top and letting it fall to the floor.
Scarlett could only stare, momentarily frozen, as her perfect fiancé looked back at her with a wicked grin. He pushed his shorts down next, standing in front of her completely naked and giving her an unobstructed view of his sculpted back and perfectly toned butt.
Troy winked once before turning and heading toward the bathroom.
Scarlett didn't waste a second. She pushed herself up as quickly as she could and followed him, her clothes slipping to the floor one by one before she even reached the doorway. By the time she stepped inside, steam was already beginning to fill the room.
Seeing Troy standing beneath the running shower, water trailing down his body as he turned to face her, made her breath hitch. She was truly lucky to fall in love with a man as gorgeous as that.
She crossed to the shower area and stood beside him. He turned immediately, his body glistening with water, and kissed her again. Scarlett intensified it, her hands roaming the hard planes of his back and lower. Troy's arousal pressed almost painfully against her belly, a persistent heat that drove her mad with desire.
So, of course, that was when he pulled back.
"We have to take it easy, remember?" he said softly, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Come on, let's get in the tub and not get out 'til dinner."
Scarlett giggled. "I can live with that. But I'm warning you, I want to feel taken care of."
"Oh, I'll take care of you, alright," Troy husked, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Come."
(Break)
Seeing Scarlett standing before me, her pregnant curve silhouetted in the steam, almost made me bend her over the tub and have my way with her right then. My dick was of a similar mind, throbbing without a single touch. I knew she'd probably love it more than I would if I gave in to that raw urge.
With great reluctance, I led her to the tub, which had filled while I showered. I don't make a lot of extravagant purchases, but I'd splurged on this bath. It was big enough for five, not that I'd ever need that, but I liked the room. It had jets, all that jazz, and you could soak for hours without the water going lukewarm.
I settled into the perfect warmth, then helped Scarlett in. She sighed in bliss as she leaned her bare back against my chest, even though there was plenty of room. I picked up a sponge and started cleaning her, beginning with her beautiful, fuller breasts.
"Seriously," I murmured into her damp hair, "I don't get why pregnant women have such low self-esteem. Don't you understand you're smoking hot? The fact you're carrying my DNA right now makes you ten times hotter than any other chick in the world."
She seemed happy to hear it. She leaned her head back and captured my lips in a slow kiss, her hand drifting down to fist my throbbing length, moving with a torturous slowness. I accepted her ministrations with a hissed moan before returning the favor.
The sponge travelled down her body, paying special attention to the gentle swell of her stomach, before finally landing between her legs. Her breath hitched against my lips as I let the sponge go, my bare fingers finding her lower lips and rubbing gently.
Her grip on me tightened as I circled her clitoris.
"Troy," she wheezed. "I want you inside me. Please."
Before I could protest, she turned, facing me, and guided herself on top.
"Scarlett…" I let out, but the thought died as she sank down, sheathing me completely.
"I did some research," she purred, her body snug around me. "It says sex at this time is actually healthy for the babies, as long as the woman's in charge. So shut up and enjoy it."
All my senses dissolved the moment she began to roll her hips.
So, of course, I did what any man would. I put my head back and let the feeling take me. I had no intention of taking control back from her.