"Ahh, I am SO excited about this!" Krystie squeaked as the plane started to taxi down the runway at London's vast Heathrow airport.

"Never been to America before?" Viks asked.

"Nope!" Krystie giggled. "Never even been outside Europe before, and even then it was only for the other launches, heh."

"Didn't get much of a chance to honeymoon thanks to 'other considerations'," Mikey, Krystie's husband, chuckled as he tried to calm the squirming fifteen-month-old child in his lap.

"And we're technically not even now," Krystie sighed. "Gonna be so busy this coming week we'll barely get any time for any sightseeing, heh. But we are determined to make the most of what we can."

"And you've got to admit," the north-east accented voice of Alice Devry chimed in, "there aren't many jobs where an all-expenses paid week in America is gonna happen!"

"Oh, definitely not!" Viks giggled. "Where you headed again?"

"For my solo appearance?" Alice asked, grinning as her brown-haired friend nodded. "Viva Las Vegas! Think they think that a red-haired girl from Teesside is the best bet out of all of us to be a showgirl, heh!"

"I'd definitely agree with them," Ricky, Alice's boyfriend, said as he gave the young woman's neck a playful nuzzle.

"Oh- shut up, you!" Alice chastised with a giggle. "Yesterday, right? His sister's seventeenth birthday. So what does he offer her? Tickets to see England play the USA at Wembley."

"...It's a night out, right?" Ricky shrugged.

"Uh-huh," Alice nodded. "That Heavenly Talent paid for and had spare tickets left over."

"Point being?" Ricky asked.

"Point being that maybe your sister had had enough of football growing up?" Jamie asked, silencing Ricky as the plane took off and bore its passengers westward.

As she sat back and listened to her friends' conversation, Jamie-Lee Milton knew better than most people on the plane why Ricky's sister wouldn't have appreciated the football tickets. She knew as well as Ricky himself did that for the first eleven and a half years of her life, his sister had been his brother. For over five years, Laura (as she was known after abandoning her birth name of 'Leon') had struggled with her transition from male to female, to become the girl she always wanted to be, the girl she had always been on the inside. Throughout most of her struggle, though, Laura had always had one source of comfort to fall back on- a group of models and reality TV called 'The Angels', the same group of which Jamie, Krystie, Viks, Alice and six other girls (all of whom were on the flight) were members. It was Jamie in particular that Laura, along with many other transgendered girls in the UK looked to for inspiration, because when Jamie had been born just over 27 years earlier, she had been a boy named 'James'.

A chance encounter seven and a half years earlier with an already-famous model named Charlotte Hutchinson, whom 'James' resembled despite being (outwardly) male, had seen Jamie's life take a path she never imagined possible. A skint, unemployed and virtually unemployable teenaged boy was transformed into a rich, famous and glamorous woman under the tutelage of both Charlotte and her agent, a very astute Nigerian-born man named Joshua Benedict. He had marketed Charlotte and Jamie, along with their friends Krystie, Mary, Hannah and Viks as a super-close modelling clique, and fans had lapped it up. And this was in no small part due to Jamie and the message she conveyed- that no matter what your circumstances were at birth, it shouldn't get in the way of your dreams, and most certainly shouldn't stop you from having them.

The other message that Jamie had tried, for the most part successfully to convey, was that one could never have too many friends. It was a message she took to heart, even during the occasions when events conspired to put her beliefs to the test.

In the five years that the Angels had existed, Jamie had interacted with and helped countless young girls throughout the UK and beyond, either through the occasional email or in a more hands-on way as an active mentor, as was the case with at least one other girl on the same flight. The more help she offered, the greater her fame grew, which gave her more scope to help other girls in need.

Jamie's path to fame hadn't been all smooth sailing, of course. Her initial coming out to the general public had been difficult (and had cost her her relationship with her then-boyfriend), and as the Angels grew in fame, there were always those critical of allowing a transgendered woman into an all-female clique, whether they were radical feminists who accused Jamie of 'misappropriating' her gender, or religious fanatics who used scripture to try to justify their bigotry. However, for every critical comment Jamie received either online or in the media, there were tens of fans willing to come to her aid.

The success of the Angels had led to them expanding, adding four new members (including Alice) and being signed to the ever-growing Amazon Prime Video lineup. The simplicity of the format (from both a marketing and production standpoint) quickly led to launches in other markets. Germany was first, followed by Italy, Australia and Ireland. Each new 'Angel group' had one thing in common- at least one member was (at time of joining) a pre-operative male-to-female transsexual. While Jamie initially worried about transgender issues being treated like a gimmick, her mind was set at ease upon meeting each girl and realising that their desire to be a role model was as genuine as her own.

Eventually, the time had come to launch the 'Angels' brand in the world's largest consumer market- the United States of America. Preparations for the launch had taken over eighteen months- since before even the launch of the German 'Angel group'- due to a mixture of licensing issues and the genuine desire to get the launch right. The British Angels had had limited success in some small pockets of America, but for the brand to truly take off, the nation needed its own girls to 'invest' in, just as Britain had with Jamie and her friends. Jamie was nervous about the upcoming launch, though, even though she would be there in person to assist with it, just as she had been in Germany, Italy, Ireland- and in Spain in the summer that had just gone.

However, during the launch of 'Bellezas', the Spanish 'Angel group', Jamie had felt like a fifth wheel for two very good reasons- she spoke very little Spanish, and for the first time, there would be no transgendered members of the group.

Jamie, along with Kelly, the other transgendered 'Angel', had briefly argued that the Bellezas group shouldn't be counted as a 'real' Angel group due to what they perceived as a slight, but their argument quickly petered out when they were reminded of Jamie's initial worries about her transgendered status- as well as that of Kelly, Melissa from the German group, Chiara from the Italian group, McKayla from the Australian group and Tanya from the Irish group- being seen as a 'gimmick'. The true 'gimmick' of all 'Angel groups', as Jamie was reminded, was that they had all been friends prior to the groups forming, and as Jamie herself often said, you can never have too many friends.

Two years earlier, a rival London-based talent agency had attempted to copy the success of the Angels by manufacturing their own group, known as 'Constellation', but despite early successes, they were soon eclipsed by the original Angels, helped in no small part by Kelly defecting from Constellation before the group had even made one public appearance together. All of the talent agencies promoting the international 'Angel groups' had taken this lesson to heart and made sure their girls had had months of interacting together before their public launch and tinkered with their line-ups to ensure the group had gelled perfectly- and nowhere was this more the case than with the two groups that were to launch in the United States over the subsequent few days.

And yet, Jamie still felt nervous about the launch, just as she had with Bellezas, because neither of the two groups contained any transgendered girls. Jamie understood the reason, which was the same as with the Spanish group- that they had to allow the groups to form naturally, and whether she liked it or not, no transgendered girls had naturally gravitated toward the groups. What made Jamie nervous was the fact that yet again, she would be flying into an unknown land and presenting herself as a girl, when there would be thousands, if not millions who would criticise her for doing so.

"Hey," Charlotte- Jamie's oldest and best friend- whispered to the young transgendered woman, derailing her train of thought. "You okay?"

"Hmm?" Jamie replied. "Umm, yeah, fine, why d'you ask?"

"'Cause after seven years, I like to think I know what that look means," Charlotte replied.
"...What 'look'?" Jamie asked.

"The 'I'm entering enemy territory' look," Charlotte replied.

"Umm, I've been to America before," Jamie retorted. "I think this'll be, like, my eighth trip? Second in the last six months, even."

"But first that won't be a holiday," Charlotte said. "And you're nervous about presenting yourself to a country where a good chunk of the population isn’t trans-friendly?"

"Umm, that describes EVERY country," Jamie retorted. "And this is the same country that launched RuPaul's Drag Race. Hell, if anything, America might be the most trans-friendly country in the world. Well, the north of it, anyway."

"Mmm," Charlotte mused. "But you're not a drag queen though, are you?"

"Well- no," Jamie sighed. "Which is part of the problem. There's a difference between a man pretending to be a woman for a job, and actually becoming a woman for life. And there are still some people who think the former's okay but the latter's some kind of weird perversion or something."

"Well then, who better to educate them?" Charlotte said with a grin. "And besides, like you said, there are huge chunks of America that ARE trans-friendly, so you don't need to be so nervous!"

"I know, I know," Jamie said, letting out a heavy, tired sigh. "It's just- ugh, I dunno. It feels like this whole trip is going to be, you know, 'make or break' for the Angels, you know? Either we keep flying high, or we- well, a plane isn't really the place for THAT metaphor..."

"Thank god these three are already asleep," Charlotte giggled, gesturing to the seat where her three-year-old son was sleeping, and to the laps or herself and her husband, where their months-old twin daughters were resting. "But yeah, I think I get what you mean. Joshua- well, everyone at the agency’s worked so hard to get this launch right. Now it’s our turn, heh.”

“Yeah,” Jamie chuckled. “But it’s not just Joshua who’s counting on us getting this launch right- well, not for me, anyway.”

“You will be FINE,” Charlotte insisted. “In a few weeks’ time you’ll be an icon and an inspiration to transgendered people on both sides of the Atlantic, I guarantee it. Hell, you already are for some people, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Jamie replied with a smile as she remembered all the friends she’d made on the Western side of the Atlantic Ocean. “Now we’ll be making it ‘official’, heh.”

“You make it sound almost like we’re getting married!” Hannah Dexter, one of the most high-profile of the ten Angels, teased.

“Meh, in a way, we kind of are,” Jamie replied.

“Well I really can’t wait to get there and get started!” Hannah giggled. “Yeah, it’ll be hard work, but no harder than being on Strictly, right?”

“Oh- you could at least have waited until we were out of British airspace before bringing THAT up!” Alice snorted as she and the other Angels began good-naturedly teasing their blonde friend. However, the mere mention of Strictly Come Dancing caused another of the flight’s passengers to start to tense up.

Like Jamie and Kelly, Stephanie Abbott was one of the most famous young women in the UK, albeit for her singing talent rather than for modelling, and like Jamie and Kelly, she had been born male, but had long since begun to transition to female. Unlike Jamie and Kelly, though, she hadn’t undergone gender confirmation surgery, but that didn’t stop her, any of her friends or any of her millions of fans from viewing her as a woman. Over the previous three and a half years, Stephanie and her bandmates had become just as famous and as loved as the Angels, and seen as role models to countless teenaged girls, but the road hadn’t always been smooth for her.

Stephanie’s struggles with juggling her transition and her fame had also resulted in struggles with anxiety, stress and depression, which had also resulted in her briefly running away from her life, her staying in a psychiatric hospital for a few days and conflict with her friends- including Jamie, with whom Stephanie had had a physical altercation. However, Stephanie hadn’t just survived, but had thrived, thanks to help from her family, her friends, her bandmates, and in particular her best friend.

Stephanie had met Kayla on the day they’d both auditioned for Out of Heaven and had immediately developed a liking for the petite girl. Just had Stephanie had grown during her time in the band, so had Kayla, developing from a nervous, shy seventeen-year-old girl into a confident and beautiful twenty-one-year-old woman. Over time, Stephanie's fondness for Kayla had grown into physical attraction, and eventually, the two had begun a loving, committed relationship. However, despite being together for over a year, Stephanie continued to be frustrated by Kayla’s reluctance to go public with their relationship, and Kayla’s appearance on the famous BBC dancing show had caused them to spend even less time together. The frustration even extended to the trip to America, as the last time Stephanie had visited the US, she had been on holiday with Kayla, celebrating the wedding of two close friends and spending time as a virtually incognito couple. During this trip, however, everyone would know who Stephanie was, and if they didn’t, an army of publicists would soon correct that. And worst of all, thanks to her Strictly commitments, Kayla had remained in England. However, as she was soon reminded, Stephanie was far from alone on the flight.

“You awake?” Becca, one of Stephanie’s bandmates, said, snapping the young transwoman out of her daydream.

“Hmm?” Stephanie replied. “Umm, yeah, just, you know, thinking…”

“Technically, I think it’s called ‘pining’,” Adeola, Stephanie’s other bandmate, teased with a wide grin on her dark-skinned features. “And believe me, I know the feeling. Pretty much everyone from Heavenly Talent is on this flight, but my fiancé? Nope, got to work all week back in England.”

“You know Jonathan did that deliberately,” Becca teased, referring to Adeola’s cousin, who was also the husband of one of the Angels and the general day-to-day manager of Heavenly Talent.

“No I didn’t!” Jonathan replied from his seat two rows in front of his cousin and her bandmates. “Wish I could take credit for it, though!”

“BOY,” Becca and Adeola retorted, earning giggles from many of the other women on the plane.

“No offence, Riley,” Stephanie said to Becca’s fiancé with a snort of laughter.

“Yeah, if I haven’t developed a thick skin by now, I never will,” Riley replied with a tired sigh, before grinning as Becca leaned into him for a cuddle.

“Ah, looks like it’ll be me and you keeping each other company!” Adeola teased Stephanie, who simply rolled her eyes and let out a small giggle in response.

“We’re NOT sharing a bed,” Stephanie replied, before sharing a louder giggle with her two bandmates.

“Ahh, no danger of THAT happening!” Adeola giggled. “Thank god we’ve got a great PA who’s got us great hotel rooms for our trip, eh?”

“A great PA who’s also gonna be sleeping alone tonight,” Becca said quietly as she gestured toward the back of the plane, where the PA in question sat by herself, staring intently at her iPad.

Nikki Phillips-Thomas wasn’t as famous as Jamie, Kelly or Stephanie. She had a significant online following, with over 100 000 followers on Instagram and over 10 000 subscribers on YouTube, and had briefly been a member of a group of ‘Angels’ aimed at a younger audience than Jamie’s group, but she wasn’t what you’d call a ‘celebrity’. However, this didn’t stop Jamie and the rest of the Angels from including not just Nikki but her friends as well in their lives as not just fans and colleagues, but genuine friends. Nikki had been a bridesmaid at Jamie’s wedding, and vice versa, and Nikki knew that she could always go to Jamie for help with any problems she might have. This was partly because Jamie believed in adhering to her most famous saying- that you can never have too many friends- but also because when Nikki was born, she was a boy named Nick.

Nikki’s transition officially started in 2013, when she began hormone replacement therapy, but it had truly begun two years earlier when she met her future wife, a girl named Sarah. Together, they had helped ‘Nick’ become ‘Nikki’, and over time, Nikki and Sarah had become the couple known to their friends as ‘Snikki’, as they were rarely seen apart. However, on this particular November morning, things were different. Nikki’s job as PA to the Angels required her to fly to America with them, whilst Sarah’s studies required her to stay in London, and even though they’d only been separated for a matter of hours, Nikki was already feeling bereft.

“Are you going to sulk for this whole trip?” Katie, Nikki’s friend and photographer for Heavenly Talent, asked.

“Oh- leave me alone,” Nikki pouted. “I’ve got a lot of work to do, got to make sure all the flights are booked, there are no delays…”

“Yeah, that’s not what I meant, and you know it,” Katie said with a tired sigh. “It’s not like you’re never gonna see her again, is it? Thought you’d got it out of you at the airport.”

“By now you should know that Nikki plus airports equals dehydration through the tear ducts!” Jacinta, a friend of Nikki’s and a fellow transwoman, teased, chuckling as Nikki rolled her eyes.

“Hilarious,” Nikki snorted. “The thanks I get for getting you an invite to this trip…”

“Oh- come on,” Jacinta said with an exaggerated sigh. “I am grateful, you know? The magazine will love the exclusives. And I’m definitely going to love getting to spend time with all of you, hehe!”

“Yeah,” Nikki sighed happily. “Dilating in an aeroplane toilet probably won’t-“

“That’s all I need to hear about THAT, thank you very much,” Katie protested, making her two friends smirk as she pressed the call button above her head. “If this is what we’re going to be talking about all trip, I am VERY glad I’m twenty-one!” Nikki and Jacinta smirked again as a smartly dressed stewardess approached their seats.

“Hi, how can I help?” The flight attendant asked with a professional smile.

“Glass of Bailey’s, please,” Katie replied.

“Make that two,” Jacinta said. “Nikki? You want one?”

“Ehh… Better not,” Nikki replied. “Need a clear head for all of this, heh.”

“Meh, don’t blame you,” Katie said, before thanking the flight attendant for her drink and relaxing back into her seat. “And who knows? Might be more trips across the Atlantic in years to come, if these new Angel groups take off. Pun intended, hehe!”

“Ooh, speaking of transatlantic trips,” Jacinta teased as a young, short-statured man with unruly ginger hair passed their aisle. “Hello, Kurt!”

“Oh, umm, hey,” Kurt replied in his soft Canadian accent. “Just, umm, going-“ Jacinta and Katie both giggled teasingly as Kurt gestured toward the toilet at the back of the plane.

“Don’t let us keep you,” Katie giggled. “Looking forward to getting closer to home?”

“A bit,” Kurt shrugged. “Me and Kelly are going to have a week in Winnipeg after the LA launch, we’ve already missed Thanksgiving and won’t be able to come over for Christmas so thought we should make an effort, heh.”

“ALREADY missed Thanksgiving?” Nikki asked with a look of panic in her eyes. “I- I thought-“

“Canadian Thanksgiving is at the start of October,” Kurt explained. “American Thanksgiving is next week. And I’m about to pee for about an hour, so please, for the love of god, excuse me!”

“You’re excused,” Katie said with a smug grin, before she was joined by her friends in a cry of one word: “BOY!”

“Thanks, and thanks,” Kurt said with a smug grin as he headed toward the plane’s small toilet.

“You know better than to try to use that as an insult,” Stuart Milton, Jamie’s husband, said with a grin from his seat directly in front of Nikki.

“Meh, that won’t stop us,” Katie said, smirking as Stuart chuckled and went back to cuddling his daughter.

Stuart and Kurt’s pride at being called ‘boys’ stemmed from the fact that at the beginning of their lives, they had been girls named ‘Claire’ and ‘Kate’ respectively. Like Jamie, Kelly, Stephanie, Nikki and Jacinta, they had struggled with their gender identities from early in their lives, and had taken steps, including undergoing surgery, to correct their gender to reflect who they truly were on the inside. And while the Angels as a brand was aimed at a mainly female demographic, both men found comfort in their message of unconditional acceptance.

When he was a little girl, Stuart never imagined that he would grow up to be a man, let alone a husband or father, and while the operations and the recovery periods he had to undergo to fulfil his wish were often painful, if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Weird to think this little one will have been to New York twice in six months,” Stuart mused as he and his wife cooed over their twenty-one-month old daughter. “That’s more times than I had before I was twenty-five!”

“Yeah,” Jamie sighed happily as the plane carried on westward. Whatever happened over the following week in her professional life, at the end of the day, she would still be a wife and a mother, and would still have countless amazing friends on her life. Because, as she mused to herself, you can never have too many friends…

The plane landed at JFK airport a few hours later, and everyone on board let out a sigh of relief as they disembarked and were able to stretch their legs, though the excitement levels soon rose as they collected their bags, cleared customs and headed into main concourse of the busy airport.

“Okay,” Nikki said as she took charge of the large group. “Does everyone have their American SIM cards installed in their phones? Don’t want anyone getting massive phone bills when they get home…”

“Yes, MUM,” Krystie teasingly replied, giggling as the younger woman stuck her tongue out at her.

“Good,” Nikki replied, before checking her iPad once again. “Taxis should be outside in a few minutes, you can all get checked in to your hotel, drop your bags off, then I’ve got a restaurant booked for-“

“Nikki, honestly!” Jamie interrupted her young protégé, before stepping toward her to talk as quietly as the noisy surroundings would allow. “Take it easy, okay? We’ve got three days in one of the most iconic cities in the entire world, somewhere I know you’ve never been before, take some time to look around and enjoy the sights, okay?”

“Well, okay, but-“ Nikki said.

“No buts!” Jamie insisted, before sighing. “Okay, what’s the ‘but’?”

“…Jon’s said he’s going to look at giving me more responsibilities if the America tour goes well,” Nikki mumbled, blushing as Jamie’s jaw dropped.

“A promotion?” Jamie excitedly asked.

“Not a ‘promotion’,” Nikki replied. “Just extra responsibilities, maybe a raise… Okay, yeah, I suppose you could call that a promotion, hehe!”

“I get it, I understand,” Jamie giggled. “And I get that you probably want to keep yourself busy with a whole ocean between you and Sarah.”

“Just a bit, yeah,” Nikki said, sniffing and wiping a tear away from her eye.

“Well, I just have one word to say to you for that,” Jamie said, before whispering in her friend’s ear. “Girl!” Nikki and Jamie exchanged excited squeaks as Nikki composed herself, before smiling at the crowd and leading them to the airport’s exit, where several iconic yellow taxis were waiting to whisk them into the heart of the big apple.

As they drove through the metropolis toward their hotel, all the men and women- not to mention the children- were in awe of their surroundings. Most of them had lived their whole lives in London, which was hardly a small or quiet city, but they were unprepared for the sheer scale of New York- not just the size of the buildings, but the noise of the millions of citizens going about their daily lives.

“This is AWESOME,” Krystie gushed as she gazed out of the taxi window.

“It’s certainly a bit bigger than Nottingham, that’s for sure!” Mikey chuckled, referring to his home city. “Hard to imagine how cities get this big, heh.”

“I know,” Krystie sighed. “And- and I don’t mean this as, like, a boast, but- it’s weird to think that no one here knows who we are, you know? Can barely go anywhere in London without being stopped by fans, you know?”

“Well, enjoy it while it lasts,” Mikey advised his wife. “This time next week everyone on both sides of the Atlantic will know you are.”

“Yeah, hehe!” Krystie said with a giggle, before sighing as she thought of her transgendered friends. “I’m just worried that too many of the wrong people will also know WHAT some of us are…”

Jamie couldn’t help but smirk as she and her friends entered the lobby of the Four Seasons hotel and immediately drew the attention of everyone present- especially the young men who all stopped and gazed at the bevy of beautiful women. Jamie allowed her grin to widen as she waited in line to check in to her hotel suite- while she was a happily married woman, she always felt flattered whenever she drew men’s attention, especially when the men weren’t aware of her celebrity status. However, she also found herself wondering just how badly the men might react if they found out about her ‘other’ status…

“Nervous?” Kelly asked Jamie, derailing the blonde transwoman’s train of thought.

“Uhh, maybe a little,” Jamie replied with a quiet chuckle. “Always am when I come somewhere foreign, even if America is as close to Britain as you can get culture-wise. Well, apart from your other half's homeland, heh! And I mean, everyone at the actual launch itself will be here to see us, right? “

“Well let's face it, they’ll really be here for the American girls,” Kelly teased. “We’ll be second fiddle. AGAIN.”

“Speak for yourself,” a refined Dublin accent said from behind Jamie and Kelly, instantly increasing the two women’s excitement levels.

“Tanya?” Jamie squeaked as she exchanged a gentle hug with her Irish counterpart. “Oh my god! When did you get here?”

“A few hours ago,” Tanya replied. “We’ve all checked in, me and some of the girls are going out for dinner in a bit. We would invite you, but we kinda have a pre-booking, you know?”

“It’s okay,” Jamie replied with a grin. “You nervous about tomorrow?”

“A bit,” Tanya replied with a shrug. “Have you seen any of the buzz online about the launch?”

“I’ve tried to keep away from social media for the last few days,” Jamie replied.

“We all have,” Kelly explained. “Figured the best way to do this was to go into it and be ourselves, not trying to, you know, meet any expectations or anything like that.”

“You two talking about ‘being yourselves’ when you’re going to be turned into a cartoon next week,” Tanya teased, giggling as Jamie and Kelly blushed.

“Yeah, well we didn’t have any say in THAT,” Jamie chuckled. “Other than ‘saying’ as in ‘voicing the characters’, heh.”

“Though the scripts did look great,” Kelly said. “Can’t wait to see the first episode in full, hehe! But as you were saying, there’s online buzz about the launch?”

“LOADS,” Tanya replied. “The girls they’ve got, for the New York Angels, I mean, already have over a million Instagram followers EACH. So forming a supergroup like this, especially one with links to similar groups in Europe and Australia?”

“Yeah,” Jamie grimaced. “It- it’s those ‘links’ that are kinda worrying me.”

“Yeah… Me too,” Tanya quietly confessed as she remembered her childhood- a childhood spent growing up in Dublin, playing football, rugby and being a boy called ‘Thomas’. Then, at the age of nineteen, she'd seen a British TV show starring a transgendered woman- the same woman that Tanya now considered a close friend- and the rest was history. “I mean,” Tanya continued, “there’s been a LOT of support. Stonewall and other LGBT charities have been REALLY positive about it, and about 95% of all the comments since the announcement have been positive.”

"Stonewall of course taking its name from the riots that took place in this very city," Jamie said with a knowing smile.

"Exactly," Tanya said.

“But that leaves 5%, right?” Kelly asked.

“You get a few arseholes, yeah,” Tanya sighed. “But not really any more than you get in England or I get in Ireland. Ireland, I mean, come on, one of THE most Catholic countries in the world, in case you needed reminding. And even then, most dickheads like that just call me ‘Mrs. Brown’. We just need to accept that we’ll get this shit wherever we go no matter how famous we are.”

“Oh, we need to understand it, maybe, and prepare for it,” Jamie said. “But accept it? Hell no.”

“Too right!” Tanya cheered with a giggle. “Ahh… It will be an awesome week, I guarantee you that, hehe!”

“Where are you going on the tour?” Jamie asked.

“Boston, with Charlotte,” Tanya replied. “They reckon ‘cause of the large Irish population…”

“That’s kind why I’m going to San Francisco,” Kelly said. “Large Chinatown. Think most of the Spanish Angels are going to Florida or cities near the Mexican border, the Italian Angels are going to places like Philadelphia and Chicago.”

“In fairness, they want to sell the Angels ‘brand’,” Jamie said. “So, they need to put us where they think we’ll generate the most positive publicity.” Jamie maintained a neutral expression on her face as her two friends both nodded.

“…So who’s going to Washington DC, then?” Kelly asked, smirking as Jamie and Tanya both sighed and rolled their eyes.

“None of us ten, I know that much,” Jamie chuckled.

“Or any of us,” Tanya said. “Think a couple of the German girls might be going down there though, ones who speak fluent English anyway.”

“I would say ‘it’s a pity there are no Russian Angels’, but that might be getting a bit TOO political,” Kelly giggled.

“Just a bit!” Tanya laughed. “Think they want to keep the launch as non-political as possible, which is a pity as I was hoping they’d invite Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tomorrow, seeing as her borough’s around here.”

“Though she’s just as controversial as the orange idiot in the White House,” Kelly sighed. “It’s a pity, though, I always wanted to visit Washington, see all the sights, and I know there’ll be a lot of fans there who’ll be disappointed too.”

“It’s a big- well, huge country and there’s only so many of us to go around in very little time,” Jamie mused. “Someone’s inevitably going to end up being disappointed.”

“Well, we’ll just have to work extra hard this week, won’t we?” Tanya cheered, before giggling as Stuart approached carrying his daughter in one arm and a room key in the other.

“Speaking of working hard,” Stuart said with a mock tired sigh, “while you’ve been gossiping, I’ve been getting us checked into our suite upstairs. They’ll have the bags sent up to avoid overloading the weight limit of the lift.”

“BOY,” Tanya, Jamie and Kelly said simultaneously.

“Ah, but not you though, cutie!” Tanya cooed to the tiny infant in Stuart’s arms. “You’re going to be just as girly and gorgeous as your mother, aren’t you- oh, oh my god, Stuart, I- I’m sorry, I- I keep forgetting-“

“Don’t worry about it, honestly,” Stuart chuckled as he gave his daughter a gentle kiss on her head. “I was born the wrong gender, sure, but believe me when I say it’s VERY obvious that Olivia was born the right gender.”

“You should see her bedroom at home,” Jamie giggled. “You’d think it had a pink carpet. Nope, that’s just all her toys and her dolls.”

“Ah, SO jealous,” Tanya sighed happily. “there’s a part of me that’s desperate to become a mother, heh.”

“Well, out of all the many, many amazing things about being a woman,” Jamie said as she took Olivia into her arms, “being a mother is probably the best one.”

“Being a wife is also high on the list, right?” Stuart asked with a mock pout, before giggling as his wife fixed him with a withering stare.

“Come on,” Jamie giggled as she led her husband by the hand. “And it’s called an elevator, not a lift!” Stuart chuckled and rolled his eyes as he and his family headed up to the suite that would their home for the next few days.

After unpacking their bags and changing into smarter, more expensive outfits, Jamie and Stuart (and Olivia) headed down to the hotel lobby, where they met up with several other Angels and their families, and before long the group was settled into the back of yet more taxis, enjoying more sights and sounds of the big city en route to the restaurant that had been booked for them.

While the Angels enjoyed their meal, Nikki was sat cross-legged on her hotel bed reviewing the following day’s itinerary on her iPad while Jacinta and Katie lounged on the room’s sofa, trying to not get exasperated by their friend’s anxiety.

“Tell me,” Katie said with a sigh, “are you actually THAT worried about tomorrow, or are you trying to distract yourself from missing Sarah?”

“Think you know the answer to that already,” Nikki replied in a tired voice, prompting her two friends to roll their eyes and look at each other.

“Both,” Katie and Jacinta said simultaneously, before sharing a giggle.

“And it’s not like neither of you have work you can be doing,” Nikki said. “I saw you both taking hundreds of photos downstairs.”

“Can’t do anything with them until Riley gets back from dinner,” Katie retorted.

“Can’t do anything with them until I get home,” Jacinta said with a smug grin. “I could always take some more, though…” Nikki growled and raised her middle finger at the giggling Jacinta as the she took her phone out of her handbag and took several quick photos of the her.

“Send that photo to Sarah!” Katie teased, before giggling as Nikki hurled a pillow at her. “Ahh… Why ARE we in here anyway instead of hitting a bar or a club?”

“Two reasons,” Jacinta replied with a sad sigh. “Jet lag and work. It’s currently 7pm, which is midnight our time, so we wouldn’t be back until about 6am our time, and we have got a VERY busy today tomorrow.”

“Oh- okay,” Katie said, before chuckling with relief. “I was kinda worried that, you know, there was, like, another ‘issue’…”

“What, the fact that me and Nikki are, umm…” Jacinta said.

“Taller than average girls?” Nikki asked, before smirking. “I suppose I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about that. Same as anytime I go anywhere new.”

“Same here,” Jacinta said. “Even if we’ve been to America before, hehe! But, you know? Every time we visit Manchester, we only ever go out on Canal Street. Every time you guys come to Brighton, we- well, okay, bad example. But even there of all places I've had issues in the past. In hindsight it’s no wonder I can’t get a guy, heh. But anyway, a city like New York’s bound to have loads of LGBT friendly bars, right? It’s not like we’re in Alabama or anything.”

“And…” Nikki said with a grin, before showing Katie and Jacinta the map that she’d brought up on her iPad’s screen. “There IS an app for that, hehe!”

“Ah, cool!” Katie squeaked. “So… Is the headmistress saying we can bunk off early and go for a few drinks, then?”

“Only if you promise not to call me ‘headmistress’ ever again!” Nikki retorted, giggling as she put her iPad away and began rummaging through her bag for a fashionable dress to wear. “Besides, a very clever person did tell me earlier today to take it easy, to take some time to look around and see the sights..."

"And is 'the inside of a bar' one of these sights?" Katie asked with an excited grin.

“Hell yeah!” Jacinta giggled. “The only question is, will Miss Henderson be okay going to an LGBT bar and being hit on by all the girls in there?”

“As long as it’s not you two doing it, then yes!” Katie giggled as she headed back to her room to change.

The following morning, New York's newest residents rose from their beds early, eager to get stuck into the long day that lay ahead of them. As Stephanie headed down to breakfast by herself, she couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of the three exhausted-looking young women that greeted her.

“Good morning, girlies!” Stephanie said a loud, eager voice that earned pained groans from Nikki, Jacinta and Katie. “I see someone FINALLY decided to loosen up and have some fun last night, then?”

“Ugh,” Nikki replied. “Kinda regretting it now, heh. Well… I am and I’m not, hehe!”

“It was a great night though,” Jacinta giggled despite her hangover. “Did you and the rest of the band enjoy your meal?”

“Well… Kinda,” Stephanie sighed as she sat down with her friends. “Did feel a bit like a third wheel even though Adeola’s fella wasn’t there either. Kinda wish I was out with you three last night, heh. Enjoy my last day of stateside anonymity while it lasts!”

“No one recognised you or the band yesterday, then?” Katie asked.

“Nah, the other people in the restaurant didn’t exactly strike me as girl band fans, heh!” Stephanie replied. “Some didn’t exactly strike me as, you know, ‘me’ fans either, heh.”

“Kinda why we were at a gay club last night,” Jacinta chuckled. “Though me or Nikki aren’t as famous as you are, heh.”

“Yeah, well, famous in Britain doesn’t mean I’m automatically gonna be famous in America,” Stephanie reminded her friends. “Okay, yes, we have a small US-based fan club, but it’s, you know, small?”

“Well,” Nikki said with a smug grin, “it’s a good job we’re doing a big launch event today, isn’t it?” Nikki’s question was answered by the excited squeaks of the other three women at the table.

After a quick breakfast, the four girls headed back to their rooms, where they quickly changed into their outfits for the day. Even though she wouldn't be the focus of the day, Stephanie wanted to make an impression, and smiled as she pulled a low-cut satin and lace top over her head, savouring the sensation as it clung to her narrowing waist, widening hips and ever-growing breasts. A pair of black pantyhose was next, followed by a tight leather pencil skirt and, as had become tradition for Stephanie, a pair of shiny black knee-high boots with a chunky 3-inch heel.

“Oh, hey Steph!” Jamie said with a nervous giggle as she encountered her fellow transwoman in the hallway. “All ready for today, then?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be!” Stephanie replied, fanning herself with her hands to try to remain calm. “I love that dress, by the way!”

“Thanks!” Jamie replied as she did a slow twirl to show off the delicate features of her slinky knee-length dark blue dress. “I love your boots, as usual, hehe!”

“Meh, figured I had to keep up appearances!” Stephanie replied with a giggle. “Have- have you heard anything about what we’re going to expect today?”

“I’ve deliberately kept myself away from social media,” Jamie replied with a nervous grimace. “Tanya- you know, from the Irish Angels? She’s been looking a lot, says we can expect a huge crowd today. Not that that should worry someone who’s sung in front of 30 000 people, right?”

“30 000 people who paid and knew exactly what they’d be getting for their money,” Stephanie said. “This is a voyage into the unknown. And besides, those 30 000-“ Stephanie trailed off as she remembered the concert that she and Jamie were referring to- the concert held just over a year earlier at the St Mary’s stadium in Southampton, the home town of the one member of Out of Heaven who was still on the other side of the Atlantic.

“…That was Kayla’s birthday concert, wasn’t it?” Jamie asked, smiling sympathetically as Stephanie nodded. “Can’t imagine how much you’re missing her. God knows I’d be a wreck if I didn’t have Stuart and Olivia with me, heh.”

“Speaking of, where are they?” Stephanie asked.

“Well, Eilish came over with us,” Jamie replied. “She and a few of the dads will be running a kind-of crèche today.”

“It’s called ‘daycare’ over here,” Stephanie teased, giggling as Jamie rolled her eyes. “And you know they’ll be sitting around playing videogames while Eilish does all the hard work, and we do all the REAL work.”

“They’d better not,” Jamie growled, before letting out a quiet giggle. “And don’t think of today as ‘work’. Like you said, 30 000 people paid to hear you sing last year. They didn’t pay just to hear Kayla Ford sing, the name on the posters outside said ‘Out of Heaven’. Just like today, the posters outside the venue will say ‘Angels launch event’.”

“Yeah, the New York Angels, though,” Stephanie reminded her friend. “Like I was telling the girls over breakfast, we’re foreigners here, no matter how close British and American culture might be.”

“Well then,” Jamie said with a shrug and a confident grin. “We’re just going to have to show these Yanks what they’ve been missing this whole time, aren’t we?” Stephanie smiled as her friend led her down to the hotel lobby, while Jamie mused on how just two years earlier, she'd have given anything to not be even in the same room as Stephanie Abbott, but was now deeply fond of her- proof that anyone and everyone has the potential to be a friend, if the circumstances were right, and Jamie crossed her fingers and prayed that the circumstances would be right that day.

Jamie marvelled at the sight that greeted her when she reached the lobby- it wasn’t just the Angels and the other members of Out of Heaven and Heavenly Talent who were assembled in the lobby, but members of Angel groups from around the world. Tanya and her friends from Ireland were present, as was Jamie’s friend (and fellow transwoman) Melissa and her friends from Germany, and many of their friends from Italy, Spain and Australia as well. Jamie felt herself getting giddy as she mingled with the crowd, knowing that each of the women was a friend of hers, and by the end of the day, she'd be making yet more friends- and as she reminded herself, you truly can never have too many.

“Hi Jamie!” The distinctive soft voice of Melissa Schubert called. “It has been a long time! But today is going to be exciting, isn’t it?”

“Hi Melissa!” Jamie giggled as she exchanged a hug with the German transwoman. “You look great! And you sound great too, your English has really improved this last year!”

“I thought I should put in an effort,” Melissa giggled. “Especially as I knew I would come here!”

“Well it’s great to have you here, hehe!” Jamie giggled. “How’ve you been, anyway? I mean, after the…”

“The operation?” Melissa asked, smiling as Jamie grimaced and nodded. “Everything is fine. I healed fast and the scars are fading. It is like I was always totally woman!”

“Because you were,” Jamie reassured her friend. “We all were, no matter what anyone else says. Have- has there been, you know…”

“I- I do not follow?” Melissa asked.

“Has anyone- have you had any abuse in Germany?” Jamie asked. “From transphobic people, I mean?”

“…A little bit,” Melissa said quietly. “It is the same everywhere, but in Germany it is punished more harshly, Berlin has anti-hate speech laws that punish it. I know America has freedom of speech but why should that mean freedom to abuse people?”

“Freedom of speech also means that you can tell them you are a rich, famous, beautiful and anatomical woman,” Jamie retorted. “And if they disagree, they’re objectively wrong and can shove it.” Despite her confusion, Melissa couldn’t help but giggle at the confident look on her friend’s face.

“I did not know what all of that means,” Melissa replied. “But I know what ‘shove it’ means and I agree!”

“Ah- sorry,” Jamie grimaced. “I’m still right, though.”

“Hell yes you are!” Melissa said. “And now we wait to see our fans, the only people with good opinions! Each fan is like a new friend, ja? And you know what they say about friends?”

“I definitely do,” Jamie replied with a warm smile.

The women didn’t have to wait long for their rides to arrive, and all of them squeaked with excitement when they saw that the yellow taxis that ferried them to the hotel yesterday had been replaced by a fleet of gleaming white stretch limousines. Jamie, Charlotte, Krystie and Mary took their seats in the rear of the first limo, and within seconds had popped open the complimentary bottle of champagne that had been provided for them.

“Just one glass each, okay?” Jamie said excitedly. “Don’t want to get squiffy before we even get there, hehe!”

“Well, make it zero glasses for me,” Charlotte said bashfully. “Kinda still got two babies to nurse when I get back to the hotel, and even though it’ll be hours-“

“One tonic water for Mrs. Hartley,” Krystie said with a smug grin as she opened a smaller, more non-descript bottle and poured it into her friend’s glass.

“And one for me too, please,” Mary said, blushing as her three friends’ jaws simultaneously dropped.

“Oh- oh my god, Mary?” Krystie squeaked, almost dropping the bottle of tonic water as she poured it into her best friend’s glass.

“Yes, yes, get it out of your systems now,” Mary said with a sigh, before giggling excitedly. “Me and Dan only found out a couple of days before we flew, we were planning to tell you girls- well, now, hehe!”

“Oh my god oh my god!” Jamie squeaked as she, Charlotte and Krystie took turns hugging the pregnant Irishwoman.

“Calm down, god!” Mary said, taking several deep breaths and fanning herself with her hands. “We won’t be due until next summer, and that’s ages away!”

“Summer?” Krystie asked excitedly. “Does this mean that Mrs. Milton won’t be the only birthday buddy to your kids?” Jamie giggled as she remembered that her 25th birthday was also the same day that Mary’s second daughter was born. Jamie didn’t hold many happy memories of the weeks surrounding that particular day, but she would always fondly remember the birth of another member of her ‘extended family’.

“Maybe, god, I don’t know!” Mary replied. “We think it’s due in July. God, you’d think this’d be easier the third time round…”

“You’ll be awesome, just like you were first and second times,” Charlotte assured. “And baby number 3 is going to be every bit as cute and clever as her older sisters, I guarantee that!”

“You can’t even guarantee that she’ll be a girl!” Mary retorted.

“Oh, but I can!” Krystie giggled as she gave Mary’s belly a playful rub. “Girl rays! Girl rays!”

“Sure, are you ever gonna let your brother forget he said that?” Mary asked.

“Think we all know the answer to THAT!” Charlotte giggled excitedly. “Ahh… I mean, I know we’re all mothers already, but the thought of yet another cousin for our kids to play with, you know?”

“Totally,” Jamie squeaked. “And I’ve already got loads of baby clothes Olivia’s grown out of, some that she never even wore, hehe!”

“Still a chance it could be a boy,” Mary reminded her friends.

“Nah, there isn’t,” Krystie said confidently. “Ahh, I can’t believe how excited I am! Are you going to tell anyone on the tour?”

“God no!” Mary replied. “It’s gonna be mad enough when we get home. Thank god we’re doing the animated series, though. You don’t get stretch marks on cartoons, hehe!”

“Ugh, tell me about it,” Krystie sighed. “Thank god I spend all day with my belly covered by a leotard, heh!”

“I’ve got you both beat,” Charlotte said defiantly. “Twins. Twice the babies, twice the stretch marks.” Krystie and Mary both giggled at Charlotte’s joke, though the laughter soon stopped when they saw the fourth woman in the limo biting her lip to try to stifle her tears.

“Jamie?” Krystie asked.

“…No stretch marks for me,” Jamie said with a sad sigh. “Never been pregnant, never will be.”

“Oh- god, jeez…” Mary grimaced. “I- I’m so sorry, Jam-“

“No, please, don’t be sorry!” Jamie said with a chuckle. “I should be sorry for being such a buzzkill, maybe I need another one of these!” Jamie forced a smile on her face as she poured herself another glass of champagne. “A toast- to Mary, who’s gonna be an amazing mother. AGAIN.”

“To Mary!” Charlotte, Jamie and Krystie cheered.

“Well I have another toast, then,” Mary said. “To Jamie, for proving that no matter how you were born, an amazing mother will always be an amazing mother.”

“And no less a REAL mother than any of us,” Krystie said as she gave the blonde-haired transwoman a gentle hug.

“Aww- you guys…” Jamie said, her voice filled with emotion.

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you any different,” Charlotte said softly.

“And god knows a few people have tried,” Jamie sighed. “People who say I shouldn’t even be in the same toilet as Olivia.”

“Bathroom,” Krystie corrected her friend, giggling as Jamie gave her a playful nudge with her elbow. “Ahh, you’re not wrong, though. Fortunately, none of those idiots will be here today.”

“How can you be so sure?” Jamie asked.

“Take a look out of the window,” Krystie advised, directing Jamie’s attention to the venue they were quickly approaching…

At the back of the motorcade, Nikki stretched her muscles on the back seat of her yellow taxi to try to quell her nerves, which were increasing with every passing second. She’d worked extra hard over the previous weeks to ensure that the New York launch would be a success, but now that the day had arrived, she found herself mentally running through every element of the day in her head over and over again, certain that there was something she had missed somewhere. However, as she herself was forced to acknowledge, her obsession with her work was at least in part to distract her from the fact that her wife hadn’t texted her in over an hour…

“If you want to stretch out any more, I can always climb out the window and ride on the roof,” Katie said, earning a scowl from her friend. “Or the boot, I suppose…”

“It’s called a trunk over here,” Jacinta said, giggling as Katie rolled her eyes. “But Katie’s not wrong, stop panicking, for god’s sake! It’ll all be fine, and besides, you didn’t do all this single-handed, did you? If something does go wrong, there’ll be blame to share, right?” Jacinta’s smile fell as Katie and Nikki regarded her with angry stares.

“Not helping,” Katie mouthed at her roommate. “Besides, we know it’s all going to be fine, anyway.”

“How can you be sure?” Nikki asked.

“Well, THAT is a pretty good sign,” Jacinta said, gesturing out of the taxi window at the launch venue- or rather, at the massive lines that had formed outside it.

Jamie allowed herself a wide, toothy grin as she stepped out of the limousine and was immediately greeted by the blinding glare of the paparazzi’s flashbulbs and the deafening noise of the assembled fans. Glancing over the crowd, Jamie could tell from the t-shirts and the posters that were being held out that most of them were fans of the soon-to-be debuted New York Angels, but there were still plenty of people wearing the logo of the British Angels- and better still, plenty of people wearing the pink, blue and white of the transgender pride flag.

Jamie smiled professionally as she posed for the cameras and waved to her fans, before heading into the venue and making way for the next Angel to soak up the adoration of their fans. Once she was inside the venue, Jamie was escorted by a member of staff to the main reception area, where she gasped at the sight that greeted her.

Dozens of tables had been arranged around the room, many selling merchandise of not just the New York Angels, but all of the international groups and Out of Heaven too. Tables bearing flags of the countries with international 'Angel groups' had been set out in such a way to allow the Angels to interact with their fans, sign autographs and take selfies, and numerous other attractions had been laid on for the fans who would pass through the hall that day.

Jamie had only been able to explore a small part of the room before a very familiar, and very loud voice brought her back to reality.

“Jamie!” Joshua Benedict, the owner of Heavenly Talent, boomed in his hybrid African-London accent. “How are you enjoying New York, New York?”

“It’s a hell of a town,” Jamie replied with an excited squeak as she approached Joshua’s table, where Charlotte, Hannah, Viks and Alice were all already waiting. “And this venue is awesome! It must have cost a fortune…”

“Money well spent, going by the crowds outside!” Alice giggled.

“Money well invested!” Joshua corrected the red-haired woman.

“We are going to get absolute thousands of new social media followers from this tour,” Viks enthused. “New followers, new endorsements…”

“Bucketloads of money,” Jonathan said with a grin as he finished his wife’s sentence. Jamie giggled along with her friends at the prospect of increased wealth and fame, though secretly, she was hoping that she could use at least some of her increased wealth and fame to raise awareness of the struggle that many transgendered women like her faced on a daily basis. If she could help at least one person, Jamie reasoned to herself, the trip would have been worth it...

“Hey everyone!” Krystie cooed as she approached the Angels’ table, with Mary following closely behind.

“Hello my Angels!” Joshua boomed. “Are you keeping your adoring fans wanting more?”

“Sure, they’ll get more of us soon enough!” Mary giggled.

“You can say that again!” Charlotte teased, before biting her lip and giggling as Mary shot an angry glare at her. “I mean those who were lucky enough to get passes for this event, hehe!”

“Speaking of, when do the doors open?” Hannah asked.

“When everyone’s here,” Jonathan said. “Going to get photos taken first- well, when Katie gets here, anyway, then a Q&A in the main auditorium, then a meet and greet. And believe it or not, that’ll be the whole day, with how many people are out there!”

“I can believe it, I remember some meet and greets we did back in the UK,” Jamie said, before remembering a key element of many of those meet and greets. “Umm, speaking of which, back in the UK, on those meet and greets- umm…”

“I know, I know,” Joshua said softly. “You have my word that THAT topic will be treated with the same sensitivity here as it is in the UK and every other country we have visited. We are launching the American Angels, not the Russian Angels!”

“Yeah, I suppose,” Jamie chuckled. “It’s just always a worry, you know?”

“I know, and I remember how nervous you were in Spain,” Jonathan said. “But we’ve been proactive here, even invited a few local LGBT charities along to the launch just in case the message wasn’t loud and clear enough.”

“The message of course being ‘transwomen are women and transmen are men’?” Jamie asked with a grin.

“Aka ‘stating the bloody obvious’,” Hannah said with a supportive smile. “You might want to check out some of the booths, before it gets too crowded in here?”

“Sure,” Jamie said with a shrug. “Send Nikki over to get me when I’m needed, okay?”

“Sure,” Hannah said with a knowing smile that confused Jamie as she headed off to have a look around the hall.

When she reached the first charity’s booth, however, Jamie’s jaw dropped as she realised why Hannah was being so insistent about her checking out the booths.

“P- Paige?” Jamie asked, smiling as the dark-haired woman setting up the booth turned around and her mismatched blue and green eyes widened.

“Jamie?” Paige replied in her thick Scottish accent, before squeaking excitedly and giving Jamie a hug. “Oh my god! I didn’t even notice you come in! How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, thanks, but how have you been?” Jamie asked. “I was so gutted I didn’t get to see you and Jess off at Heathrow, but- oh my god, is Jess here too?”

“No, she’s still at home,” Paige said with a sad smile as she thought of her laid up wife. “Still on the mend from- well, you know, hehe!”

“Definitely,” Jamie sighed.

Like Jamie, Paige and Jessica were both transgendered women, and like Jamie, they had both had gender correction surgery. However, unlike Jamie, neither woman was a national celebrity. The two women had met when they were working as flight attendants for an airline based in Paris, and had fallen in love at first sight, and despite more than a few bumps in the road, had finally married in August that year. Despite the fact that she gained no fame or fortune from attending the ceremony, which was held on the shores of Loch Lomond, hundreds of mile from her home, Jamie had immediately accepted her invitation- after all, a friend was a friend, regardless of how famous they were, and as Jamie herself often said, you can never have too many friends.

“She might be along later,” Paige said. “She’s working on getting her strength up for travelling on Thursday.”

“Thursday?” Jamie asked. “Oh, right, Thanksgiving.”

“It’ll be the first time Jess has been home for Thanksgiving in years, so she’s really looking forward to it,” Paige said. “Especially after all the trouble she had when she first came out.”

“But everything’s fine now?” Jamie asked.

“Better than fine,” Paige replied, showing off the two rings on the third finger of her left hand. “Especially in this city, hehe! I’ve always, always dreamed about living and working in New York. And here I am! Dreams really do come true, heh!”

“And you’ve not had any, you know, ‘trouble’?” Jamie asked, biting her lip as Paige frowned.

“Not myself,” the Scotswoman replied. “But I hear about it all the time- well, at work, you know? Every day I hear some story about a kid who’s been kicked out by their parents… Lucky that we’re here to help, heh. And by ‘we’, I mean you too, Jamie.”

“Me?” Jamie asked, before smirking. “Well, I mean, I'll do what I can… It’d be better if there was, you know…”

“A ‘girl like us’ in the New York Angels?” Paige asked, smiling as Jamie nodded. “Yeah, but you can’t just shoehorn someone in if they don’t fit with the rest of the group. Luckily, Josh Benedict and the head of the NY Angels’s agency are HUGE LGBT rights champions. Just means we’re gonna work a bit harder this week, heh!”

“If you call standing still and having your photo taken ‘work’?” Jamie asked.

“No, I know how hard you work,” Paige giggled, before laughing even louder as she saw a familiar face approach Jamie. “Though not as hard as someone…”

“Hey Jamie,” Nikki said in an almost breathless voice. “Oh, hey Paige! Didn’t think I’d see you today, hehe!”

“Trust me, if I wasn’t here on business, I’d have bought a ticket!” The Scotswoman giggled. “How are you, Nikki?”

“Busy!” Nikki replied. “Believe me, I’d love to stay and chat, but Mrs. Milton here needs to get her butt in gear as it is very, very nearly showtime!”

“Okay, MUM,” Jamie teased back, before following her protégé to the centre of the room, where dozens of beautiful women were assembling.

Jamie took her place amongst her countrywomen and posed professionally as every other 'Angel group' assembled around them, including the newest group from the city they were in. As the women all took their place and posed for the group photos, Jamie mused on how if she hadn't known beforehand, she'd have struggled to realised that girls like Kelly, or Melissa or Tanya- or even Jamie herself- were not 'like' the other women in the group. However, she was also forced to acknowledge just how lucky she was that that was the case, especially as she thought about some of the women she'd helped who weren't lucky enough to be 5' 5" and have a naturally slender build...

After the photographs were taken, the assembled women began to disperse and mingle with each other, and before she could even compose herself, Jamie was all but dragged to another part of the room by her best friend.

“Jamie, I’d like you to meet Crystal and Monica,” Charlotte said, introducing Jamie to two unfamiliar women. “Crystal, Monica, THIS is the world-famous Jamie-Lee Burke, hehe!”

“Hi, it’s so nice to finally meet you!” Crystal said in a thick New Jersey accent as she exchanged a gentle hug with Jamie. “I have been following you online for SO long!”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you too!” Jamie replied with a polite giggle. “So, you’re America’s newest superstars, then?”

“Yep!” Monica said as she exchanged a gentle hug with the blonde transwoman. “We start recording in January, I can’t wait!”

“Cool!” Jamie squeaked. “I hope Charlotte has already welcomed you into the wider family?”

“Oh- totally,” Crystal replied.

“It’s so amazing to think there are already so many different groups around the world,” Monica enthused.

“It is,” Charlotte giggled. “All thanks to the amazing brain of Joshua Benedict!”

“More like all thanks to you guys!” Crystal said. “It’s amazing to think that you’ve been friends for so long, and can work together and still be friends, especially when-“ Jamie bit her lip as Crystal furtively glanced in her direction, before grimacing and glancing at her drink.

“It’s okay, honestly,” Jamie said with a sigh. “It’s the first thing people usually ask when they meet me, heh.”

“First thing they ask if they know ahead of time,” Charlotte corrected her BFF. “Because I mean, would you really be able to tell?”

“Hell no!” Monica giggled. “Hell, you know, you two- has anyone ever told you two that you look a little like each other?” Jamie and Charlotte both bit their lips to stifle a giggle as they recalled the circumstances of their first meeting.

“…Sometimes,” Charlotte replied. “And no, I don’t think of that as an insult at all, being told I look a little like someone who used to be- a long time ago- male.”

“Well, duh,” Crystal said. “Any woman with any sense would give anything to look like Jamie-Lee Burke!” Jamie giggled at her new friend’s compliment- even though it was more than a little sycophantic, she could tell that Crystal’s acceptance of her was genuine, as was Monica’s- and Jamie had no reason to believe that any of the other new Angels wouldn’t be genuine either.

Jamie, Charlotte and all the other Angels spent the next half an hour mingling with their international equivalents, and the more Jamie got to know her American counterparts, the more she got to like them. They were all very professional, of course- knowing exactly what to say and when to say it, leaving Jamie in little doubt that the New York Angels would be a great success, at least commercially. However, she was left with the nagging doubt at the back of her mind that without a 'girl like her' in the group, the group was missing a key element.

As the multi-national Angels mingled and posed for photos, Nikki took the opportunity to sit back and relax, happy that at the very least, the first part of the launch event had gone smoothly. As she waited for the next segment of the launch event to begin, Nikki distracted herself by sending text messages to her wife on her iPad, even though she knew that Sarah would likely be eating dinner with her mother and unable to reply. Nikki became so distracted that she failed to notice her friend sitting down next to her until she gave her a gentle nudge, causing Nikki to squeal with surprise and nearly drop her phone.

“Who- Steph, for god’s sake!” Nikki chastised her giggling friend. “Not got anything better to do?”

“Nope!” Stephanie replied with a smug grin. “Not going to be singing until later this evening. Texting Sarah?”

“Yeah,” Nikki sighed. “Always makes me feel less stressed, heh. You heard from Kayla today?” Nikki smiled sympathetically as her friend grimaced and shook her head.

“She’ll probably be getting ready for her dance, if she hasn’t already danced,” Stephanie replied. “Think I’ve got the time zones right there, heh. Though if they had to launch Angels in America, couldn’t they have done it in Florida in July instead of New York in November? It’s FREEZING outside…”

“It's not that bad, and it’ll be warmer when we get to California,” Nikki replied, sensing her friend’s need to change the topic and knowing and understanding why. Nikki knew how stressed Stephanie was about having to keep her relationship a secret from the world, and while she understood Kayla’s reason of having to maintain a public profile, Nikki still couldn’t help but feel sorry for her famous friend.

“You don’t feel like getting out there and hob-nobbing too, miss ‘former teen Angel’?” Stephanie teased, making her friend roll her eyes and giggle.

“Maybe if I didn’t have a million other things to do!” Nikki replied, showing Stephanie the to-do list on her iPad. “Looking forward to taking some time tomorrow to actually look around New York.”

“Even if you won’t be seeing it with the person you most wanted to see it with?” Stephanie asked, smiling sympathetically as Nikki nodded. “Yeah, I know the feeling. Still, I’ve got the feeling this won’t be the last we see of the big apple, hehe!”

“I hope not!” Nikki giggled along with her friend as the excitement levels in the room rose in anticipation of the venue being opened to the public.

Twenty minutes later, the front doors of the venue opened and thousands of excited fans poured in and began checking out the stalls, taking photos and buying merchandise as they waited to take their seats in the main auditorium. Eventually, all the fans were seated, and as the excitement level reached fever pitch, the house lights dimmed and the familiar strain of ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams filled the vast room.

“Showtime, girls!” Charlotte said with a wide grin as she led the other nine British Angels onto the stage in front of a backdrop of the Union Jack, where they eagerly soaked up the cheers and the camera flashes of the crowd. Once their ‘section’ was complete, the ten women stepped back to allow their German counterparts to take the limelight, followed by the Angels from Ireland, Italy, Australia and Spain. Once all of the existing Angel groups were assembled, the music stopped and was replaced by 'Empire State of Mind' by Alicia Keys, and the noise of the crowd, which was already high, somehow got even louder as one by one, the New York Angels took their place on the stage.

“Thank you, New York!” The de facto leader of the group, a tall blonde woman named Megan, shouted into her microphone. “It’s great to be here in front of you all!”

Jamie stood back and allowed herself to relax as the American women soaked up the admiration of the crowd, musing on how the launch of the British Angels had been a much more subdued affair, but how in recent times, their public appearances had been increasingly popular- though nowhere near the level that was playing out in front of her. After the introductions were completed, a brief video trailer of the New York Angels’ upcoming TV series played on the screen behind the women, before chairs were set up on the stage for the New York Angels to formally introduce themselves to the audience and answer their questions.

“Good start,” Hannah said to her friends, who nodded in agreement.

“The crowd obviously adores them,” Jamie commented.

“Us,” Charlotte corrected her friend. “The crowd loves us. We’re all part of the same family, and today, that family’s just got even bigger.”

“I suppose that’s the great thing about the show being broadcast over the internet,” Viks mused. “Everyone can watch, no matter where they live. The American Angels could end up getting just as many British fans as we have American fans.”

“As long as they share and don’t steal!” Alice said, earning giggles from her friends.

“Well,” Hannah said as the group emerged back into the venue’s reception area, “I don’t think sharing will be a problem…”

Jamie allowed herself a wide grin as she and her friends stared out at the area they’d been only a short while earlier, which was now packed with excited fans. The ten British Angels were escorted through the crowd to a long table that had been set out for them, where a long line immediately formed to get the famous women’s autographs and have selfies taken. Jamie couldn’t help but grin at the star-struck looks in the eyes of the fans as they took their selfies, especially the large group that had gathered around her end of the table.

After about half an hour of autographs and selfies, Jamie felt a tap on her shoulder from Nikki, who escorted her and two of the other British Angels back to the auditorium. As Jamie took her seat in the plush leather chair on the stage, she felt her nerves start to jangle. Posing for photos and taking selfies with fans was one thing, but answering questions in front of a packed crowd always caused Jamie to be anxious- especially crowds that weren’t there to see her, but to see a completely different group of Angels. Suddenly, Jamie felt like a very small fish in a very large pond.

“Hello Jamie!” The blonde transwoman heard a voice with a soft Italian accent say, distracting her from her anxiety and bringing a smile to her face.

“Oh, hi Chiara!” Jamie said. “You’re going to be- well, I was going to say ‘thrown to the lions’, but seeing as you actually do live in Rome…”

“Hehe!” Chiara replied as she elegantly lowered herself into one of the chairs. “I do not get ‘thrown to the lions’ but I assume it is to do with colosseum?”

“Ah- sorry, forgot you’re still learning English,” Jamie chuckled. “I’d have thought they’d have sent someone who was fluent in English to answer these questions?”

“I wanted to come on the stage,” Chiara said defiantly. “Not because to practice my English, but because- well, you most certainly know!”

“Yes, that’s true!” Jamie giggled. Chiara had been born in Rome at the start of 1993, but it wouldn't be until early 2014 that she took the name 'Chiara', having had to live the first 21 years of her life as a man named 'Riccardo'.

“I am hoping to change a few people’s thinking!” Chiara said with a nervous giggle. “Like you are, I think?”

“…I don’t think many people’s thinking needs to be changed,” Jamie said, before grinning as she took her phone out of her bag. “Want a crowd selfie?” Chiara giggled as she stood up and followed Jamie to the edge of their stage where they turned their back to the crowd, who immediately started cheering as Jamie lifted her phone for the selfie.

“Ah, haha, you are probably right!” Chiara giggled as she sat back down. “It- it is just difficult, sometimes. I remember in Madrid, I felt like I should not be there, because, umm…”

“Because there weren’t any ‘girls like us’ in that group?” Jamie asked. “Yeah, I know that feeling, heh. But let me guess- the rest of Bellezze told you that Angel groups aren’t just about transgendered girls, but about girls full stop, which we most definitely are?”

“…Yep,” Chiara replied with a giggle, which Jamie shared. "Which all of us are!"

"Gorgeous, successful girls!" Jamie giggled as Chiara returned to her seat.

Once all the women were seated, the emcee, a good-looking American man in his early thirties named Paul, returned to the stage to applause from the audience and introduced the panellists. Jamie smiled professionally at the loud cheer that greeted her own name, though it didn’t help to settle her nerves at speaking in front of a large crowd. When she was sixteen, she’d never dreamed that one day she’d be answering questions in front of an audience of thousands of fans, in New York City, wearing a designer dress and heels…

“So, ladies,” Paul said, “what do you think of the New York Angels?”

“They’re great girls,” Hannah Dexter replied first. “We had the chance to chat before the launch, I reckon they’ll be great additions to the family.” Jamie and the other ten women on stage murmured in agreement with Hannah.

“I definitely would like for them to come to Rome some day!” Chiara said with a giggle. “But they get on well and you can tell that they are real friends.”

“I can definitely see the New York Angels lasting a long, long time,” Cherelle, one of the Australian Angels, said to more general agreement.

“That brings me to a question I’d like to ask our English roses, if I may,” Paul said, making Jamie tense up- she doubted it was a coincidence that the question was prompted by Cherelle, who along with her fellow ‘Aussie Angel’ Alice Oliver, were the only ‘Angels’ anywhere in the world to be in a relationship with each other. Jamie knew that LGBT issues would be raised during the Q&A session, she’d just hoped that it would’ve been a little later…

“The British Angels have been running for five years now,” Paul said. “How much longer do you see the group lasting, especially now that half of you are parents?” Okay, Jamie thought to herself as she scrambled for her thoughts. Not the question I was expecting…

“For as long as we’re friends with each other,” Hannah replied bluntly. “For me and Viks, that’s been more than half our lives, and I can’t see us ever not being friends.”

“Same for me and Charlotte,” Jamie said firmly.

“Though the two of you have fought in the past, haven’t you?” Paul asked, making Jamie fidget uncomfortably in her seat.

“Well- I wouldn't say FIGHT,” Jamie replied, shifting uneasily in her seat at her white lie. “All friends fall out from time to time, me and Charlotte are no exception. But we’re still best friends and always will be, we’re godmothers to each other’s children…”

“There is already enough hostility in the world,” Helena, the youngest member of the German Angel group, said. “Sometimes it is good to show what is positive.”

“Many reality shows such as yours depend on drama and conflict to get ratings,” Paul said. “Why do you feel this positive message has been successful, and how successful do you think it will be in front of an American audience?”

“I think it’s because we’re not like other reality shows, that’s why we’re successful,” Cherelle said.

“A lot if it is also probably due to social media,” Hannah interjected. “Last few years, all the celebrities and role models have come from Instagram and YouTube instead of TV. People like watching real people in real situations, with us- with all of us, what you see is what you get.” Jamie tried not to grimace as she feared that Hannah had given the emcee the perfect opportunity to segue into some awkward questions…

“As for American audiences,” Claudia, a young Swiss woman who was a member of the German Angels, said, “you would need to ask them!” The twelve women on the stage grinned as Claudia gestured to the audience, who all cheered as one.

“We all have plenty of fans from around the world,” Cherelle said. “And Americans have great taste, so naturally we have plenty of fans from this country as well!” This earned another cheer from the audience, which in turn earned another grin from the women on the stage.

“I suppose that’s one of the great things about the internet,” Jamie mused. “It makes the world smaller, you know? Make us more, like, accessible…” And I’ve just opened the door myself, Jamie thought to herself.

“The internet can also be a source of conflict,” Paul stated. “And I know many of you have faced criticism and even online abuse from internet trolls. What’s it like, dealing with that when you’re famous?”

“Well, you hit the nail on the head when you said the word ‘troll’,” Hannah said. “There are people who get their kicks from sending online abuse, and those people have something seriously wrong with them.”

“They’re sociopaths, simple as that,” Saoirse, a member of the Irish ‘Angels’, said in a disgusted voice. “I mean, I hope they eventually grow up and realise that what they’re doing isn’t big, clever or funny, but while they do it- nope. Don’t deserve any of our time.” The twelve women all nodded in agreement as the audience applauded the young Irishwoman’s speech.

“It’s a question I’d particularly like to put to you, Jamie,” Paul said, making Jamie take a deep breath. Here we go, she thought to herself. Better to get it over with sooner rather than later.

“…Yes, I’ve had far more than my fair share of online hate,” Jamie confessed in a quiet voice. “And yes, most of it is for the ‘obvious’ reason. Even though I’ve been living 24/7 as a woman for seven and a half years, there are still people who can’t get over the fact that for the first nineteen years of my life, I was a man. WAS. That’s the distinction. Some people are born into the wrong gender, and the way a person needs- not chooses, NEEDS to live their life isn’t any business of anyone else.” Jamie allowed herself a smile as her speech earned a rapturous round of applause from the audience, many of whom also leapt to their feet. Before Jamie or Paul could speak again, however, they were interrupted by an unexpected source.

“It is difficult for someone born into the correct gender to understand what it is like to not be,” the soft, refined African accent of Malaika Okumu said. Malaika was the tenth member of the British Angels and the last one to have been added to the group, and as such was the one Jamie felt least close to. Jamie considered Malaika a friend, of course, but had struggled to get to know her at first, thanks in large part to Malaika having only lived in the UK for five years and English not being her first language. This had also resulted in Malaika being known as ‘the quiet Angel’, but on this occasion, Malaika clearly had no intention of being quiet- and the smile on Jamie’s face widened with every word her Kenyan friend said. The fact that Malaika had unquestionably accepted Jamie as a woman, when her home country had long been violently repressive toward LGBT people, didn't hurt Jamie's opinions of her.

“A lot of people dismiss transphobia as not important because it does not affect them,” Malaika said. “As though because they cannot understand it, it must not exist. I know firsthand what this can be like. I am fortunate that I am not transgender myself, but I have experienced more than my fair share of bigotry because of the colour of my skin and the way I speak. And I have known many white people who dismiss racism as not being a problem anymore because they do not see it in their day to day lives. But it is a problem, and so is transphobia, homophobia and every other form of bigotry. We need to live and let live. My being black does not hurt or inconvenience anyone else, and it had no effect on me being successful. The same applies to Jamie or Chiara being transgendered, or Cherelle being in a same-sex relationship. It doesn’t hurt anyone. So let us be.” Malaika bit her lip and blushed as almost everyone in the audience rose to their feet and applauded her speech, including the other eleven women on the stage.

“That was very profound,” Paul said. “I think everyone in here can agree with what you said, though my question was actually directed at you Jamie as you have a young child.” Sure it was, Jamie thought to herself. “You and the other Angels who have children have been including your children less and less in your social media accounts and onscreen in recent months.”

“We feel it’s not fair on them to force them into the limelight when they’re still very young,” Jamie replied in a matter of fact voice.

“Which we can definitely appreciate,” Paul said. “But it has led to speculation that it will lead to the eventual breakup of the Angels, as your family life takes time away from your careers.”

“I definitely consider myself a mother first and an Angel second,” Jamie said. “And maybe the day will come when I’m no longer able to be an Angel, I don’t know, nobody knows what the future might hold. But as long as I can be both, I will be both.”

“As will I,” Malaika said, flashing a supportive smile at her friend as every other woman on stage murmured in agreement.

The Q&A session lasted for another 45 minutes, during which time Jamie fielded questions from both the emcee and the audience about multiple topics, including about any advice she might have for transgendered girls embarking on their journey- advice Jamie was only too happy to give. After receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, Jamie and the other women headed to the backstage area to catch their breath, though as they walked, there was only one thing on Jamie’s mind.

“Oh my god, Malaika!” Jamie squeaked, making her African friend giggle and blush. “What you said… Wow.”

“Seriously, wow!” Hannah gushed.

“It’s- it’s just something I have wanted to get off my chest for a while,” Malaika said in a quiet, demure voice.

“I never knew you’d had it THAT bad since you moved to England,” Hannah asked.

“It’s not been nearly as bad since I joined the Angels,” Malaika said. “But when I first moved to the UK and could barely speak the language… I wouldn’t treat an animal the way I was treated. It is perhaps why Joshua is fond of me, because he experienced the same when he moved to London in 1982.”

“And god knows he’s done well for himself in the 36 years since,” Jamie chuckled. “As will you.”

“And you!” Malaika giggled. “We have both had obstacles to overcome, obstacles put in our way. And we will rise above them. For do Angels not have wings?”

“Too right we do!” Hannah giggled as the three women returned to their table to continue meeting their fans.

Jamie had only been sat back down and meeting her fans for ten minutes when her table was approached by a nervous, almost tearful girl in her late teens.

“Hi!” Jamie said with a friendly smile. “Are you enjoying the event so far?”

“Oh my god, SO much!” The girl replied, her quavering New Jersey accent betraying her nerves. “I- I’m Sally, by the way.”

“Jamie,” the Englishwoman replied, holding out her hand, which Sally eagerly shook.

“I know!” Sally squeaked, fanning herself with her hands and sniffing back tears. “I- I heard what you said in there just now, and- oh my god, I sound SO dumb…”

“No, go on, please,” Jamie said.

“You- you’re just such an inspiration, you know?” Sally said, making Jamie giggle and blush. “What you said, about needing to be your own person, no matter what everyone else says…”

“Yeah…” Jamie said. “Sally, do- do you need to talk privately to me, or- or to someone?” Jamie smiled sympathetically as Sally began to sob, before leaping up from her seat and leading the distraught teenager to a quiet part of the hall.

“I’m sorry, I am SO sorry,” Sally blubbed as she and Jamie sat down away from the hustle and bustle.

“No, no need to be sorry,” Jamie said softly. “Sally, has- has something happened? I mean, I’m not a counsellor, but if you need to talk, I’m happy to listen.”

“But I’m taking you away from your event,” Sally moaned.

“They can carry on without me for a few minutes,” Jamie whispered. “Do you need me to call someone? The police, a parent-“

“No- no, not my parents,” Sally whispered. “You- you can probably tell by now…”

“’Tell’?” Jamie asked, before her eyes widened as she examined the young woman, who despite her young age, was almost 5’ 11” tall, had broader than average shoulders and, most notably, an Adam’s Apple…

“…Oh,” Jamie said. “And you- your parents…”

“Kicked me out when I told them,” Sally blubbed. “That was four months ago, and I- I-“

“It’s okay,” Jamie said, giving Sally’s hands a gentle squeeze. “You’re my friend now, and that means I’m going to help you. Like I said, I’m not a counsellor, I don’t even live in New York- or even America- so I can’t give you any, you know, practical help… But I know someone who can.”

Jamie kept a determined smile on her face as she led Sally by the hand through the crowd. It would’ve been easy for Jamie to simply dismiss Sally as an overeager fan, or to just give her directions to get to where she was taking her, but that wasn’t in Jamie’s character. She knew what it was like to be young and have no support from anyone, but Jamie also knew that it was important to never lose hope. When she was 19, Jamie was lost, with no family, no friends and no direction in life. Thanks to her best friend, a year later she had a job, wealth and had begun to recover her relationship with her parents. And now, at the age of 27, she was able to help a girl who had been just like Jamie was ten years earlier.

“Oh, hi Jamie!” Paige said as the famous transwoman approached her booth with Sally in tow. “You got some time away from the fans, then?”

“Sort of,” Jamie replied. “Paige, this is my friend Sally. Sally, this is my friend Paige. She and her wife are girls like you and me, and they work for a charity that’s set up to help girls like you and me.”

“Hi Sally, it’s nice to meet you!” Paige said, greeting the teenager with a gentle hug.

“Hi,” Sally replied with a nervous giggle. “I- I love your accent, hehe!”

“Thanks!” Paige replied in her distinctive Scottish twang. “I can take it from here Jamie, thanks.”

“Thanks Paige,” Jamie said with a smile. “And Sally? Keep in touch, okay?”

“W- will do!” Sally said with a nervous giggle as Jamie headed back to her table, barely taking five steps before being intercepted by her PA and protege.

“Hey Jamie,” Nikki said. “Did you need a bathroom break?”

“No,” Jamie replied with a cool smile. “Just needed to help out a friend.”

“Ah,” Nikki replied. “An old friend or a new friend?”

“Does it matter?” Jamie asked, sharing a giggle with her young protégé. “It’s been a great day today, Nikki. You definitely deserve a pat on the back.”

“Thanks,” Nikki said with a shy smile.

“So, are you feeling a little less stressed, then?” Jamie asked.

“Definitely,” Nikki replied, though the reason for her relaxation was less due to the success of the day, and more because she had an unread text message from her wife waiting on her phone…

The event continued into the late evening, with the line to meet the Angels not dwindling until the very last minutes of the event. Eventually, the time came for the Angels to grab their coats and head out to the limousines that were waiting to ferry them back to their hotel. Once they arrived, the women all headed back to their suites to change into more comfortable (but still stylish) clothes, and once they were changed, five of the ten women headed to a different suite in the hotel, where there were several younger people eagerly awaiting their return.

“Mummy!” Olivia squeaked, reaching for Jamie the second the blonde woman entered the room. Jamie was, of course, only too happy to reach down and take her daughter into her arms, gently cuddling her as she giggled contentedly.

“Hey there, cutie!” Jamie giggled, giving Olivia a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Has she been too fussy today, then?”

“She’s been good as gold,” Eilish replied. “Went down for her nap, ate all her supper… I was gonna put her in her cot but figured you’d want to see her first before she went to sleep. God knows she wanted to see you, hehe!”

“Yes, and yes!” Jamie said, before giggling and rolling her eyes as her husband entered the room.

“Daddy!” Olivia squeaked, wriggling around in Jamie’s arms before being handed over to her father.

“Hello baby girl!” Stuart cooed, giving his daughter a kiss in the same spot that Jamie had. “Have you been a good girl for Auntie Eilish?” Jamie and Stuart both giggled happily as their infant daughter grinned and nodded excitedly.

“Daddy’s girl,” Jamie said, sharing a giggle with her Irish childminder before flopping down onto one of the room’s sofas.

“Well,” Charlotte announced as she sat down next to Jamie with one of her twin daughters in her arms, “I think we can officially call today a success!”

“It was,” Viks said with a happy sigh as the five non-parent members of the Angels entered the room. “And from what I hear, the day’s ‘MVP’- well, ‘MVA’ was none other than Miss Malaika Okumu!”

“Oh- don’t,” Malaika said, blushing as she slumped into one of the room’s sofas. “We all played a part today. Not just us, but all of the other Angels from around the world, and Out of Heaven, Nikki and Katie too…”

“It was most definitely a team effort,” Charlotte said with a nod. “Think we gave the New York Angels the launch they deserve, hehe!”

“Did anyone get to talk much to them today, though?” Kelly asked. “I noticed each country’s Angels seemed to stay mostly to themselves. I get that for some of us, there’s a language barrier, but still, who knows when every Angel in the world will be in the same place again?”

“Umm… next Saturday, AngelCon in LA,” Hannah replied. “But I kinda get what you mean, it’d have been nice to talk to them more. But we were VERY busy today.”

“Hell, how often do the ten of us get the chance to just get together and talk like this?” Abbey-Gayle asked to murmurs of agreement from the room.

“That was one of the questions we were asked, actually,” Jamie sighed. “How long can the Angels, as an organisation, continue the way we are? I mean, half of us have extra ‘responsibilities’ now…”

“We go on for as long as we can, and as long as our fans want us,” Charlotte said firmly. “But ‘Angel’ is just a label, a brand. Take that brand away, and the ten of us will still always be friends, right?”

“Right!” the other nine women said confidently, while Jamie relaxed back into the sofa, as contented as she had ever felt. Even though she was in a foreign land and had a lot of work ahead of her, she was surrounded by her friends and her family. Jamie had rarely if ever felt a more powerful sense of belonging- and the comfortable skirt and clingy sweater she wore only enhanced that feeling.

The following morning, Jamie woke up just after 7:30am and made no effort to get out of bed. Her husband had already risen early to give their daughter her breakfast and change her nappy, and she had nothing planned that day other than to see the sights that the Big Apple had to offer. As she tried to drift off, though, her mind kept being brought back to the young woman she’d met the previous day. Jamie had helped countless young transgendered women during her life, including several from outside the UK (including America), but there was something about Sally that stuck with her.

Unable to drift back to sleep, Jamie reached for her phone and logged in to Facebook, quickly composing a private message that she hoped would ease her mind.

‘Hey Paige,’ Jamie typed. ‘Are you up yet?’ Jamie set down her phone, reasoning that as the Scottish woman had also had a long day the previous day, she would also be enjoying a lie in, but within seconds, Jamie’s phone pinged to inform her that she’d received a reply to her message.

‘Hi Jamie!’ Paige replied. ‘Great day yesterday!’

‘It was!’ Jamie typed. ‘How did you get on with Sally in the end?’

‘We got on fine,’ Paige replied. ‘She told me about her history with her parents, I got her referred to a support group that’s going to get her an apartment, help her finish school, hopefully get into college.’

‘That’s great!’ Jamie replied.

‘It’s what we do,’ Paige typed with a ‘smiling’ emoji. ‘Why did you need to follow up, though? You’ll probably never even see Sally again.’

‘I know,’ Jamie typed. ‘I dunno, maybe I just feel responsible in a way. Here I am, going up on stage, being treated like royalty, when there are girls like us who have nothing, simply because they need to be girls like us.’

‘With great power comes great responsibility?’ Paige asked.

‘Something like that,’ Jamie replied. ‘Keep me informed about Sally, please? And make sure she knows she can friend me on here too.’ Jamie signed off her message with a smiling emoji, before relaxing back onto her plush bed. Even if Sally turned out to be the only person she helped during the trip, it would’ve worth it.

“Not suffering as much this morning, then?” Stephanie asked as she entered the hotel’s restaurant to find Nikki, Katie and Jacinta eagerly tucking into their morning meal.

“Like we were going to go out again after yesterday,” Nikki snorted. “Got back to the hotel room, collapsed on my bed and that’s about all I had the energy for. Especially as I’m going to spend most of today making sure the Angels all have their plane tickets in order.”

“Still going to Chicago with Jamie?” Stephanie asked.

“Philadelphia with Mary first,” Nikki replied. “Then Chicago with Jamie on Tuesday.”

“I’m heading to Philadelphia tomorrow as well,” Katie said. “Dan wants me to video him running up the Rocky steps, whatever that means. Where are you heading, Steph?”

“Straight to LA,” Stephanie replied. “Might make a stop off in San Francisco first, introduce Becca and Adeola to the fan club we met there in July.”

“Kelly’s going to San Francisco,” Nikki said. “Think she’s looking for company on the flight, heh.”

“Cool,” Stephanie said. “But I really, really want to see more of New York before I leave, hehe! Dunno when I’m gonna be back here again…”

“Same here,” Nikki said with a sigh. “Though…”

“She wishes she could see it with Sarah,” Jacinta and Katie said simultaneously, making their friend roll her eyes.

“Well,” Stephanie sighed as she thought about her lover, who was also still in London, “I can definitely sympathise with that…”

Despite missing their other halves, Stephanie and Nikki joined the rest of the Angels after breakfast as they embarked on their sightseeing tour of New York City. The women gasped in awe at the historic Chrysler and Empire State buildings, skyscrapers far taller than any building in London, before heading through Times Square, Wall Street and Broadway and paying their respects at the World Trade Center memorial.

The women's final stop was a trip to see the Statue of Liberty up close, a monument both Nikki and Stephanie were eager to have their photo taken in front of- photos that were immediately sent to Sarah and Kayla. As they took the ferry back to the Whitehall terminal, Nikki and Stephanie took the opportunity to relax and reflect on both their experiences of the day, and their relationships as well.

“So,” Nikki asked hesitantly. “Have- have you talked to Kayla yet today?” Stephanie frowned as she fidgeted uncomfortably at the mention of her girlfriend’s name.

“I texted her,” Stephanie mumbled in reply. “Waiting for her to get back to me. She’s probably, you know, tired after yesterday, heh.”

“She’s done really well to get this far in Strictly,” Nikki mused.

“Hmm,” Stephanie mumbled in agreement. “Doubt I’d have done as well, heh.”

“Have you seen last night’s show yet?” Nikki asked.

“Ehh… No,” Stephanie replied, her cheeks flushing with her confession. “I, umm, know she’s back next week as I read a spoiler online but, umm, no.”

“I get that this is gonna be tough,” Nikki sighed. “Especially when you’re not at home as well. Heh, can’t believe I’m feeling homesick already…”

“Well, ‘Sarahsick’, anyway?” Stephanie teased her friend, who rolled her eyes and smiled sadly.

“I guess,” Nikki sighed. “As long as you admit to being ‘Kaylasick’ too?”

“Obviously,” Stephanie said. “And this week shouldn’t be THAT tough, I mean, I’ve had three months to get used to missing her…”

“But you’re still together, and that’s the important thing,” Nikki said softly. “If she didn’t feel about you the same way you feel about her, well, you know, right?”

“I guess,” Stephanie said, a smile slowly creeping onto her face. “And it’s not like we can’t come back to New York at some point in the future. While we’re still relatively unknown in New York, anyway.”

“I was about to say,” Nikki chuckled. “Normally you’d be clamping your hand over my mouth the second I started talking about ‘Stayla’!”

“If only to stop you using that horrible couple’s name!” Stephanie replied, her smile widening. “Seriously, you need to think of a better name than ‘Stayla’, Mrs. ‘taller half of Snikki’!”

“Meh, I used to hate ‘Snikki’ at first,” Nikki shrugged. “Now I love it. Want to know why?”

“Because by merging your name with Sarah’s, it in some way merges you with her?” Stephanie asked.

“Bingo,” Nikki said with a grin that was shared by her friends as the ferry docked.

As Nikki had an early flight the following day, she and Stephanie agreed to head back to the hotel and to flag down a taxi once they were out of the ferry dock. Before they were able to get 10 yards, however, both women became aware of several pairs of eyes staring at them- eyes belonging to a group of six teenaged girls, whose excitement level increased when Stephanie looked back at them.

It was a situation Stephanie was familiar with, of course- back in London, she would regularly be stopped by teenaged fans eager to get a selfie with a singer from their favourite band. However, she had also experienced situations where the ‘fans’ hadn’t been fans at all, but had openly sneered at her to her face, had called her a 'fag', a 'queer' or words even worse than that. Such occasions were few and far between, enough to reassure Stephanie that most of the time, she could safely let a fan approach her, but that was in London, where everyone knew her, where most of her fans lived and where she had a support network that would instantly come to her aid if she needed it. But in New York, Stephanie was unknown- and even a skinny 5’ 6” transwoman who’d been taking oestrogen for over two years would still stand out in a crowd if the first thing you noticed about them was their Adam’s Apple…

“Should- should we talk to them?” Nikki whispered, making Stephanie bite her lip as she considered her response. The whole purpose of the trip to America was to engage with new fans, after all, and even though the day was designated for rest, Stephanie had standing orders to interact with as many fans as possible… But she had a superseding standing order to keep herself safe. The trips to New York and Los Angeles were designed to keep her and the Angels as far away as possible from the less salubrious parts of the cities, and a group of teenaged girls hardly posed a major physical threat, but there were more types of harm than just physical harm…

“Let’s do this,” Stephanie said, forcing a professional smile on her face as she approached the giggling teenagers, whose excitement levels increased with every Step Stephanie took closer to them.

“Oh- oh my god,” the apparent leader of the girls said as Nikki and Stephanie stood mere feet away from them. “Are- are you-“ Here it comes, Stephanie thought to herself. “…Stephanie Abbott?”

“Yep, that’s me!” Stephanie replied with a giggle, grinning widely as the girls all squeaked with excitement.

“We are SUCH huge fans of yours!” The lead girl squeaked. “Can- can we get a selfie with you?”

“Of course!” Stephanie replied with a smile. “Nikki, d’you want to do the honours?”

“Sure!” Nikki said, smiling knowingly at her friend as she took the photo with one of the girls’ phones. “Were you girls at the Angels launch yesterday?”

“We wanted to be,” one of the other girls replied. “But we couldn’t get tickets.”

“Huh, didn’t realise we’d sold out,” Nikki said as she returned the girl’s phone.

“I didn’t realise we had fans in New York!” Stephanie giggled.

“Oh- totally,” the lead girl said. “We’d kill to go to one of your concerts, if you ever do one in New York!”

“Well, I think I can suggest it to my bosses, hehe!” Stephanie said. “You girls take care, okay? And keep listening to Out of Heaven!”

“We will!” The lead girl giggled as she and her friends headed toward the nearby subway station while Stephanie and Nikki headed toward a nearby taxi that had pulled up.

“We are SUCH huge fans of yours!” Nikki teased her famous friend once the girls were out of earshot.

“Oh- shut up,” Stephanie replied. “It’s nothing I don’t hear on a daily basis in London anyway.”

“Yeah, but it’s exciting to hear it from American fans, surely?” Nikki asked.

“Definitely,” Stephanie replied, though deep down, she felt regret about the loss of her anonymity, effectively ruining her chances of a romantic trip to New York with Kayla, and she also regretted that Kayla herself wasn’t able to meet the fans that she just had…

As the sun began to set, Nikki and Stephanie returned to their hotel rooms to prepare for the following week. Nikki checked and rechecked the Angels’ schedules, making sure everything was planned down to the tiniest detail and nothing was left to chance. Before she went to bed, Nikki checked her phone for any messages from her wife- however, as it was after 2am in London and the following day was a Monday, no new messages had reached Nikki’s phone in hours and Sarah was showing as offline on all of her social media accounts. Nikki tried to put her misery at being alone in bed to the back of her mind as she drifted off to sleep- she had a long week ahead of her, after all…

The following morning, Nikki, Katie and all the Angels and their families rendezvoused in the hotel lobby for a quick goodbye before splitting up ahead of their separate nationwide trips. Nikki and the Carters headed to LaGuardia airport, where the atmosphere became more energised as each flight was called one by one, and the energy levels remained high for Nikki as she (along with Mary, her husband and her children) headed west, deeper into the United States of America. However, Nikki remained nervous about the other nine Angels' trips- even though other PAs would be taking care of them, Nikki had been responsible for writing a lot of the itineraries for the week, and hoped she hadn't made a mistake somewhere that could cost her company dearly...

Just over an hour later, the plane landed at Philadelphia International airport, where Nikki and the Carters were whisked to a nearby television studio for Mary’s sit-down interview in front of a live audience. After the interview, Mary and several of the Italian Angels headed to the studio's reception area, which had been set aside for a meet and greet session. Mary, Nikki and the others remained in the studio until late into the evening signing autographs, selling merchandise and taking selfies with a seemingly never-ending stream of fans. Eventually, the fans began to dissipate, and Nikki let out a loud sigh of relief as she and Mary took a taxi back to the hotel.

“Why were you so panicky?” Mary teased her young friend. “We’re the ones who have to go up on stage, you know? And that was after mixing a bumpy plane ride with morning sickness too!”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Nikki replied with a tired giggle. “Ah… I just want everything this week to be perfect, you know? And…”

“…And?” Mary asked.

“And you get to go back to your hotel and cuddle up next to your hubby while I get to sleep alone,” Nikki sighed. “Not that I want to cuddle up next to Dan, god no, but-“

“Yeah, I get it,” Mary chuckled. “Sure, we’d better hope you can hold out until you see Sarah again or you won’t need a plane to fly back home, heh!”

“I guess,” Nikki giggled.

“And just for the record, any woman would be lucky to be able to cuddle up next to Dan Carter,” Mary said defensively. “Well, any heterosexual woman, anyway. Which I suppose you’re not. Heterosexual, that is.”

“I guessed,” Nikki said with a giggle as she crossed one leg over the other, smiling at the sensation of her nylon-covered legs gliding over each other with nothing between her legs to 'get in the way'.

"Though I suppose I'm going to get plenty of home time when this little one comes along, heh!" Mary giggled as she patted her midsection. "Ah... You know, we were talking last night about how long the Angels can go on, you know?"

"Really?" Nikki asked. "Is this a subtle way of telling me to look for another job?"

"Oh, god no, you are doing a more than brilliant job, believe me!" Mary said. "It's just, you know, our lives are all so busy, those of us who have kids, and I haven't been back to Belfast in months... Malaika was saying she was homesick too, you know?"

"All good things must come to an end?" Nikki asked with a sad smile on her face.

"Eventually," Mary said. "But- but never mind that for now. This week, we make America OURS!"

"Hell yeah!" Nikki cheered as she mused on Mary's words. Her potential promotion at Heavenly Talent made Nikki less nervous about the prospect of the Angels potentially disbanding, but didn't prevent her from wondering what the future held. All she knew was that wherever her life would take her, she would always have the love of her wife and her friends- and she would always be the woman she always was inside."

After another early night spent re-reading her messages from Sarah (who had again gone to bed long before Nikki), Nikki woke up early for her flight to Chicago. As she checked in at the airport, Nikki couldn’t help but muse on how alone she suddenly felt. She’d never flown alone before- previous occasions had either been with family, with Sarah or with other friends, such as the previous day’s flight. Even though she was able to exchange text messages with her wife while waiting to board her flight, which calmed her nerves, Nikki couldn’t help but feel increasingly anxious as the plane delivered her westward. She was in a foreign land, and even though she'd been to America multiple times beforehand, travelling away from home always brought her anxiety- especially about the possibility of being 'found out'...

Nikki’s anxiety lessened, however, when she landed and was greeted in the airport concourse by the smiling face of (and a friendly hug from) her mentor.

“Hey Nikki!” Jamie giggled as she escorted the twenty-one-year-old woman to their waiting taxi. “Did you have fun in Philadelphia?”

“Yep!” Nikki replied. “Mary’s show went REALLY well, heh! Loads of people at the meet and greet afterwards, too."

"That's good to hear," Jamie said. "So... Are we feeling any less panicky yet?"

"A bit, yeah," Nikki confessed. "I heard everything went great in Boston and Atlanta as well. Is Stu back at the hotel?"

"Well, you just mentioned Atlanta, where Krystie was, right?" Jamie asked.

"Umm, right...?" Nikki asked.

"Which is also where Mikey WASN'T," Jamie explained. "Him and Stuart stopped off in Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll hall of Fame."

"Okay, well, they're both musicians, I guess?" Nikki said.

"And they're both fathers who left me and Krystie literally holding the baby," Jamie said in a mock angry voice, before giggling and shaking her head. "I dunno. I suppose I can allow them ONE day. But they know they're going to pay for it in the long run. On three, okay?" Jamie giggled as her protege nodded in the affirmative. "One, two, three..."

"BOYS," Nikki and Jamie said simultaneously, giggling as they headed toward their waiting taxi.

After checking Nikki into the hotel and ensuring that Olivia was settled with the Heavenly Talent PA who was doubling as childminder for the day, the two transwomen headed to the venue that had been booked for the launch. The venue's manager, a short, scruffy-looking man named Kovlachek, warmly greeted the two women and escorted Jamie to her dressing room, while Nikki inspected the area that had been set aside for the meet and greet after Jamie's on-stage interview.

"Is everything set up fine?" The manager asked, breaking Nikki's concentration as he approached.

"Hmm? Umm, yeah, it's perfect," Nikki replied with a grin. "I think we're just about ready to get going!"

"Yep!" Mr. Kovlachek replied. "Just as soon as the others get here."

"Umm, well Carla from the New York Angels and Serena and Caterina from the Italian group got here a while-" Nikki said.

"No, no, no, not them," Mr. Kovlachek said. "The others, you know, Charlotte, Hannah, those girls?"

"Umm," Nikki said, her heart beginning to race as she wondered whether she'd forgotten something. "No, the deal was for one of the British Angels to visit each city, aside from the launches in New York and Los-"

"WHAT!?" The unkempt manager yelled, startling the young woman into silence. "You mean I'm only getting ONE Angel?"

"Th- that was the deal," Nikki said as her teeth started to chatter with nerves.

"Well I've got a marquee on the front of this building that says 'Come and meet the Angels'," Mr. Kovlachek yelled. "What am I meant to do, go out there with a can of paint and cross out the 'S'?"

"Mr. Kovlachek," Nikki pleaded. "The deal said-"

"No, you listen to me!" The manager yelled. "YOU fucked up! You promised me ten Angels and you've delivered only one! Now I've got to go on stage and look like an idiot because of YOU! We should've let the Germans bomb the shit out of you people!"

Nikki felt her stomach churn as the angry man stormed away, while she dropped into the nearest seat out of fear that her legs would give way right there in the middle of the hall. In the hallway behind her, Nikki could hear the muffled sounds of a loud argument between a man and a woman- no doubt Mr. Kovlachek arguing with Jamie about the situation. As the sounds grew louder, Nikki's future flashed before her tear-filled eyes- her promotion would be toast, closely followed by her job, her independence...

Nikki's distressed state meant she didn't hear the argument come to an end, or the sound of footsteps approaching her. She was only brought back to reality by a comforting arm being wrapped around her shoulders, and the last voice she expected to hear.

"Don't worry, Nikki," the voice said. "It'll be okay. I had a few words with that fat bastard, and I told him that was NO way to talk to a woman."

"Huh- Alexa?" Nikki asked. "Wh- what are you doing here?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" The Minnesota native replied with a sympathetic smile. "I'm helping my sister."

“Well- well you look amazing,” Nikki giggled, composing herself as she and her friend exchanged a warm, friendly hug. “When did you get here? I didn’t think I was going to see you until Thanksgiving?”

“Did you really think we were going to miss this?” Alexa asked. “The closest Angel launch event to Minnesota, AND it’s Jamie? Of course we’re going to be here!”

“Well I am seriously glad you are!” Nikki giggled, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Ugh, my mascara’s probably wreck- wait, you said ‘we’? So Jenny’s here too?”

“Did you really think she was going to miss this either?” Alexa replied with a smart Alek grin that widened as her wife approached and gave her a gentle kiss, before greeting their English friend with a hug.

“Hey Nikki!” Jenny squeaked, bouncing up and down with excitement as she hugged her friend.

“Hey Jen!” Nikki giggled happily. “Ugh, did- you didn’t hear what happened just now, did you?”

“Who d’you think was doing most of the shouting?” Alexa asked, causing her wife to briefly pout before giggling.

“Well- well I’m glad you’re both here, I really am,” Nikki said. “I have been so stressed about this week, you really have no idea.”

“Well… Your mascara does kinda give me a clue,” Alexa said, making her British friend moan and roll her eyes as she wiped some of the smeared make-up off her face. “Bathroom break?”

“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Nikki giggled as she and her two friends headed toward the backstage area. “So when did you two get into Chicago?”

“This morning,” Jenny replied. “We’re flying back tomorrow. We were going to do some sightseeing, but SOMEONE decided she’d rather come straight here. And to be fair, she was right, hehe!”

“I’d say so!” Nikki giggled as Alexa and Jenny shared another kiss.

“It was tough trying to get to get leave from the foundation, seeing as I’ve only been working there a few months,” Alexa said. “Fortunately, SOMEONE has some sway with the owner!” Nikki giggled as this time, it was Jenny’s turn to pout, which was only ended by another kiss between the two wives.

“We’d have been in New York too, if we could’ve got more time off,” Jenny explained as the trio entered the bathroom and Nikki began repairing her make-up. “The launch looked amazing! Lex of course couldn’t wait to add all the New York Angels on Instagram.”

“They all look really cool,” Alexa said as she gave her lipstick a quick touch-up. “Bit surprised there are no, you know, transgendered girls in the group…”

“Yeah, Jamie was surprised as we-“ Nikki said, before pausing. “Wait, have you seen Jamie yet?”

“What, here?” Jenny asked. “No, we thought she’d be along later?”

“No, she’s here already,” Nikki explained. “Getting changed now. Do you two want to go meet up with her?” The excited squeaks from the married couple were all the answer Nikki needed, and after her make-up was once again immaculate, she led her friends back through the corridors of the venue toward her mentor’s dressing room. Before they had got ten yards, though, the three women froze when they saw the venue’s manager walking toward them.

“Hello- umm, hello,” Mr. Kovlachek mumbled in a quiet, cowed voice. “I, umm, I want- I want to apologise for my behaviour just now. I’ve re-read the contract your company sent, and it does say that only one member of the Angels will be present today. So again, umm, I’m, umm, sorry.”

“Apology accepted,” Nikki said in a quiet voice as the scruffy man scuttled away, before breaking into a fit of giggles with her friends once he was outside earshot.

“He’ll know better than to shout at my sister next time!” Alexa said with a proud grin as she wrapped a comforting arm around her British friend’s shoulder.

“Girl power?” Nikki asked with a smug grin.

“You said it, girlie!” Jenny giggled as the trio approached Jamie’s dressing room door, which Nikki playfully knocked on.

“Come in,” Jamie said from the other side of the door, smiling as Nikki let herself into the room before giggling excitedly as she was followed by their American friends. “Alexa! Jenny! Hey you two!” The married couple collectively known as ‘Jexy’ both squeaked as Jamie greeted them with a gentle hug each, before directing them and Nikki to the dressing room’s plush sofa. “So how are you two enjoying married life, then?”

“It- it’s great,” Jenny replied as her fingers instinctively interlocked with her wife’s. “I’ve genuinely never been happier.”

“Me either,” Alexa said.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Jamie said with a wide, genuine smile.

The four women relaxed and chatted for the next fifteen minutes about their lives, the tour and their plans for the future, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. The conversation was only interrupted when a knock came from the dressing room door, notifying Jamie that she was due on stage promptly.

“Looks like it’s show time,” Jamie said with a grin as she escorted her friends out of the dressing room.

“I should probably get back to doing actual work as well, heh,” Nikki said as she grabbed her iPad.

“Luckily you’ve got a boss who’ll count ‘chatting’ as ‘working’ on your timesheet, eh?” Jamie teased as her protégé blushed, before turning to talk to her American friends. “And as for you two, normally I’d suggest getting a drink or two after the show, but I’ve got a 21 month old waiting in my hotel suite and I know that where you guys are concerned, ‘drink or two’ doesn’t usually stop at just two drinks!” Alexa, Jenny and Nikki all pouted in mock offence, before giggling and blushing as they were forced to concede that their friend was right.

“…We’re not THAT bad,” Jenny feebly mumbled.

“What was it your friend Katie called you?” Jamie asked. “The fearsome foursome?” The blonde Englishwoman smiled smugly as her friends all blushed deeper shades of red, before breaking down in a fit of giggles herself. “Ah, I’m just teasing, heh. God knows me and Charlotte had a few nights to forget before we had ‘other responsibilities’. Just have fun, and take care, okay?”

“We will,” Jenny said with a smile as she and her wife headed back to the main auditorium. “Oh, Jamie?”

“Yes…?” Jamie asked.

“What- what are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Jenny asked.

“Umm, I’m not sure,” Jamie replied. “I know we have to fly early on Friday to get to LA, so we’ll probably eat at the hotel.”

“Why don’t you come and have Thanksgiving dinner with us?” Jenny asked “You, Stuart and Olivia.”

“Y-yeah,” Alexa agreed

“Oh- I couldn’t, really,” Jamie said as her own cheeks started to flush. “I mean, it’s a family thing…”

“Nonsense, you ARE family,” Jenny insisted. “There'll be plenty of food, so don't worry about imposing.”

“And besides, Nikki’ll be there too,” Alexa said, flashing a smart Alek grin at her British counterpart that earned her a playful shove.

“…I’ll ask Stuart,” Jamie said, grinning as her American friends squeaked excitedly. “And I’ll see you there if I don’t see you after the show. And if I don’t, try not to have TOO much fun, okay?”

“We will,” Jenny replied, before letting out another squeak as Jamie made her way to the stage. “This is so exciting! I’ve got to call daddy, let him know he’ll have to set out three extra places! Are any of the other Angels free? Maybe we could-“

“Whoa, slow down a bit!” Alexa said, before biting her lip and grinning. “Nikki…?”

“…All of the other Angels are either at their individual appearances or already in LA,” Nikki replied with a giggle of her own. “Out of Heaven are still in New York, Jamie’s probably the only one close enough to fly last minute.” Nikki suppressed a grin as Jenny pouted, before shrugging her shoulders and smiling.

“It’s probably for the best,” the blonde woman said. "We don't want daddy thinking we've turned his home into a guest house, heh" Nikki smiled as the married couple shared a giggle, before looking at her iPad and sighing.

“I’d better get back to work now too,” Nikki said.

“But we’re still getting a couple of drinks after the show, right?” Alexa asked with pleading eyes that made her English counterpart giggle.

“…A couple,” Nikki said, flashing a sad smile that Alexa and Jenny immediately saw through.

“Nikki, is- is everything okay?” Alexa asked.

“Yeah,” Nikki sighed. “I- I’m just missing Sarah a bit, that’s all. Jamie called us ‘the fearsome foursome’ but I’m only counting three of us.”

“She couldn’t get any time away from her course?” Alexa asked, smiling sympathetically as Nikki shook her head.

“You know what a workaholic she is,” Nikki said. “And this course seems about ten times more intense than her degree. Ugh, god, I dunno…”

“How about,” Alexa said, “we keep your mind off your ‘withdrawal symptoms’ for the rest of your stay in the States?”

“Well- that’d be nice,” Nikki chuckled. “Kinda gonna have to do it long range when we’re in LA, though I can sorta drag Jacinta and Katie- well, Hendo, heh.”

“And us too,” Alexa said smugly. “What, first ever ‘AngelCon’, did you really think we WOULDN’T be there?”

“…You guys are the BEST,” Nikki said as she shared a group hug with her friends before heading to her designated backstage spot. “See you after!”

“See you!” Jenny said as she and Alexa headed back to the main auditorium. “Jacinta and Hendo are here too!?”

Despite Nikki’s reservations, the event went off without a hitch. Jamie and her Italian friends entertained the audiences with tales of their lives, answered the audience's questions and posed for a seemingly endless number of selfies. When she left the auditorium, Jamie was equal parts exhausted and exhilarated from her time in front of her fans.

“Great show, yet again!” Nikki squeaked as she escorted Jamie back to her dressing room. “And… That’s you done until Friday, if I’ve got my charts right!”

“Which you always have,” Jamie replied, causing Nikki to smile and blush. “Nikki, I- I heard about the little, umm, ‘confrontation’. One of the staff- well, you know…”

“Yeah,” Nikki whispered. “Lucky I had my- well, A guardian angel, hehe!”

“It’s just a pity they live so far away from New York or Los Angeles,” Jamie said. “Alexa and Jenny would make perfect, you know, ‘proper’ Angels.”

“Well, if memory serves, Chicago IS the third largest city in America,” Nikki teased, giggling as Jamie rolled her eyes.

“Don’t you dare get their hopes up like that,” Jamie said. “It was enough of a legal nightmare getting together the two groups that we have! But they’ll always be-“

“Friends?” Nikki said with a grin.

“You can never have too many,” Jamie said, giving her protégé a gentle hug as she entered her dressing room to get changed back into the comfortable (but still stylish) white turtleneck and black dress she wore to pick Nikki up from the airport.

After escorting Jamie to the taxi that took her back to their hotel, Nikki returned to the reception area to find it nearly deserted save for two fans, whose wide grins mirrored Nikki's own.

“That was so cool!” Alexa gushed. "Jamie looked SO cool up there, and those Italian girls seemed so nice too!"

“Even if you didn’t get to ask your question?” Jenny teased her wife, who rolled her eyes and pouted until Jenny made it up to her with a gentle kiss. “Ah, but there were so many people who asked questions, if Jamie tried to answer them all we’d still be here at Christmas, let alone Thanksgiving!”

“I kinda expected more questions about, you know…” Alexa trailed off as she gestured to herself and Nikki.

“I think Jamie might’ve done too,” Nikki said quietly. “But it just shows that the Angels- all of them- have really cool fans, hehe!”

“Yep!” Alexa giggled.

“Have- have you, you know,” Nikki asked, “had any more, like, ‘problems’?”

“Way to bring the mood down, Nikki!” Alexa teased, earning an eye roll from her British counterpart. “But sometimes, yeah. Now that I work at the foundation there’s no one who really knew ‘Alex’, so I haven’t had any issues there.”

“And they know they’d have hell to pay from dad and grandma if they did!” Jenny said, wrapping a protective arm around her wife.

“It’s when we’re out that it can be a problem,” Alexa said, returning her wife’s gesture. “There are still some people who see a same-sex couple and HAVE to tell us that they think we’re- well, you of all people should know, right?”

“Ugh, yep,” Nikki spat.

“And it always hurts me more to see Jenny be on the receiving end of it,” Alexa sighed sadly as she held her wife tighter.

“Yeah, I know that feeling too,” Nikki sighed. "I don't keep in touch with anyone I knew from second- high school, I never really had any friends there and I'm not interested in any opinions they might have. Though I kinda feel guilty for Sarah sometimes. She only joined the school in year 10- umm, whatever that would be in America, when you're, like, 14?"

"Ninth grade," Alexa clarified.

"Right," Nikki said. "So she's only at the school two years but makes a lot of friends- besides me, I mean, girl friends- well, friends who were girls at the time."

"I still can't believe that you were ever anything other than a girl," Jenny said, giggling as a proud smile spread across her friend's face. "Sorry, you were saying?"

"So, I come out, Sarah basically declares that now that I'm a girl, she's a lesbian," Nikki continued. "None of her friends support her. Literally none. Sarah says she's absolute fine with this- I mean, we met Katie- our Katie, that is- and Lauren on our first day of college, then Jacinta and Ophelia when Sarah went to uni, and loads more from the LGBT society, 'cause Sarah really threw herself into that. But- ugh, I dunno."

"I think I can guess," Alexa said with a proud grin. "If Sarah were here, she'd say 'stop moping and go out and have some fun with your friends who you barely ever get to spend time with'?"

"...She'd probably say 'whinging' instead of 'moping'," Nikki said, giggling as her American counterpart stuck her tongue out at her. "But yeah, now that I have ID confirming that I am 21, and more importantly, legally female, I think we should have some fun, hehe!"

"So does that mean you're buying the drinks then?" Alexa teased as the trio set off in search of an LGBT-friendly bar.

Nikki woke up the following morning grunting in pain at the familiar throb in her head, before letting out a louder, more pained moan as she rolled over to yet again find herself alone in bed. Before even shaking the cobwebs out of her head, Nikki reached for her phone to check for any messages from her wife. As with the previous few mornings, there were several messages from Sarah telling Nikki how much she loved her, and several more 'intimate' photos that had been taken shortly after Sarah had got out of bed. However, when Nikki went to reply, she let out a sigh as she saw that her wife's status was offline, despite it only being mid-afternoon in England.

With a loud sigh, Nikki padded through to the shower, and when she was done cleansing herself, returned to her room to dress for the day in a casual thick grey turtleneck and a short pleather skirt with warm black tights underneath. As she was applying her make-up for the day, Nikki’s phoned bleeped to inform her of a new message. Nikki’s heart sank when she saw that the message wasn’t from her soul mate, but she quickly perked up again when she realised it was from the airline confirming her flight later that morning from Chicago to Minneapolis, especially as it meant that a few rooms away, her friends would be waking up with the same hangover as her.

When Nikki headed down to breakfast, however, the only friends that she could see were English.

“Hey guys!” Nikki said as she got her fruit and cereal and sat down with the young family. “Hey Olivia!” Nikki giggled as the infant girl squeaked at the sudden attention she was given.

“You’re not suffering too much this morning, then?” Stuart teased his young friend, who let out a sarcastic laugh in reply. “I saw who you were out with last night, you’re all over Facebook again!” Nikki’s eyes widened and her panic levels rose as she reached for her phone, only to be stopped by her mentor.

“Relax, relax!” Jamie reassured Nikki. “You three were good last night, it's just that some BOY thinks it’s funny to play a practical joke on a hungover girl!” Nikki and Jamie both scowled as Stuart shrugged and beamed a smart Alek grin at them.

“…And I was going to ask you if you had fun in Cleveland,” Nikki said, before giggling and shaking her head.

“It was great!” Stuart replied. “Definitely something off the bucket list. Just wished I could’ve gone with my family but, well, there’s always time for that later.”

“And me and especially Olivia would’ve been bored to tears,” Jamie said. “And yes, yes, I know I’ve dragged you to things you’ve found boring.”

“Every single shopping trip, for starters,” Stuart said.

“BOY,” Jamie and Nikki replied, sharing a giggle and a knowing look.

“So,” Nikki said, her mood quickly brightening, “have you told the BOY about the plans for tomorrow?”

“Yes, by text,” Stuart replied, before smirking. “Though I was never going to turn down the invitation.”

“Glad to hear it,” Jenny said as she and her wife approached, exchanging hugs with all the adults at the table and gentle cuddles with Olivia.

“Well, you two are definitely perkier than I’d expect for first thing in the morning!” Jamie teased as her American friends simultaneously blushed.

“We knew we had an early flight today, so we weren’t out late,” Jenny mumbled.

“And we made sure we’d switched our phones OFF,” Alexa said, earning a giggle from both her wife and Nikki. “Besides, it wasn’t the same with just the three of us there.”

“You can say that again,” Nikki sighed sadly.

“Well, you’re going to be seeing Sarah soon, right?” Stuart asked. “You’re in an amazing part of the world, just, you know, try to enjoy the experience. I know I’d have enjoyed Cleveland yesterday much more if Jamie and Olivia were with me, and I missed them like mad when I was there.”

“I’ve got him well trained,” Jamie said with a smug smile.

“But I thought to myself ‘I’m here, this is great, make the most of it’,” Stuart shrugged. “And knowing you- all four of you- you’re definitely gonna be back over here at least once in the next twelve months, right?”

“…Next two months,” Nikki mumbled, before giggling and letting out a sigh. “You know, you can be pretty wise for a BOY sometimes?”

“Well, I support Chelsea, so you’re not wrong,” Stuart replied with a smug grin.

“Annnnd normal service is resumed,” Jamie said, smirking as her husband rolled his eyes. “What time’s our flight, Nikki?”

“11:45, so we should get moving pretty soon,” Nikki replied, before grinning as Alexa and Jenny squeaked excitedly. “Looks like it won’t just be the four of us on the flight, hehe!”

“Just as long as you three behave,” Jamie giggled as she helped her daughter finish her breakfast and gently wiped her face with a napkin.

The three young women indeed behaved themselves during the short flight north, as did the young family, though when the time came to disembark the plane, the English passengers were in for an unpleasant surprise.

“Okay, bit colder than the last time we were here!” Jamie said as she hastily zipped up her daughter’s winter coat and pulled a beanie hat over her head.

“I swear I will never complain about British weather again,” Stuart concurred. “Except for when it rains, of course.”

"It's barely below freezing," Alexa said with a giggle. "You should come here in January when the temperature gets below zero."

"Freezing IS below zero," Stuart said, before sighing and nodding. "You mean below zero Fahrenheit, right? I think I'll take a pass on that if you don't mind."

“Fortunately, the house is always nice and warm,” Jenny said as the small group grabbed their cases and headed toward the parking lot.

Just under an hour later, the travellers pulled up outside the vast family home of the Thompson family and the six travellers piled out of the taxi, eager to get into the warmth of the house.

“Just drop your bags in the cloakroom,” Jenny instructed before heading into the kitchen.

“So,” Alexa said to her British friends with a wide grin, “are you looking forward to your first proper American Thanksgiving?”

“Oh- definitely, yeah,” Jamie replied. “I’m just wondering if there’s anything, you know, we should do? Like, do you exchange cards and gifts, or decorate the house?”

“All I really know about Thanksgiving I learned from repeats of Friends,” Stuart said with a chuckle. “Sorry- I mean ‘reruns’.” Alexa giggled at her friends’ confusion, and Nikki couldn’t help but notice that her friend was more excitable than usual- though she quickly put this down to anticipation of the coming holiday.

"We don't really exchange gifts, or cards," Alexa explained. “Some families do, but the main thing is spending time with friends and family and enjoying the meal. It’s kind of a time to be thankful for what you have in your life… And god knows I’ve had a lot to be thankful for this year, heh. Though it’s not unheard of for there to be, well, a surprise or two…” Nikki gasped as a pair of hands suddenly covered her eyes, before her heart began to race as a familiar scent filled her nostrils and a familiar voice announced her arrival.

“Miss me?” Sarah whispered in her wife’s ear, who replied with a tender kiss and a long, tight hug.

“I missed you so much,” Nikki whispered in her wife’s ear as tears trickled down her cheeks.

“I missed you too,” Sarah sniffled, not letting go of her soul mate as their friends looked on. As they embraced, Nikki looked over at her American counterpart, who had a wide, proud grin on her face.

“Thank you,” Nikki mouthed, the look of genuine gratitude on her face bringing a tear to Alexa’s eye.

After the young couple had finally broken their embrace, the three families headed to the living room, where they relaxed on the warm, plush sofas. Nikki, however, had a question she needed to ask.

“Go on,” Nikki said with a sigh as she and her wife cuddled together on the sofa. “How long did you have this planned?”

“Since you told us you were coming out here by yourself,” Jenny replied with a smug grin. “I called Sarah, she said she’d planned to meet you in LA, and everything kinda fell into place from there.”

“Well- I appreciate it, I really do,” Nikki sighed happily.

“Hopefully now you’ll be a little less stressed out,” Stuart teased.

“BOY,” the five adult women in the room replied, making the lone man chuckle and shake his head.

“And hopefully even though the four of you are reunited, you won’t go TOO mad tonight!” Jamie cautioned as she gestured to the infant girl in her lap.

“No guarantees,” Alexa said with a devilish grin as her wife nervously fidgeted in her chair.

“And I’m hoping for an early night anyway,” Sarah said. “Still on London time, heh.”

“That, and you’ve got a lot of catching up to do?” Stuart asked, flinching as his wife shot a quick elbow at him before playfully covering their daughter’s ears.

“BOY,” the five women said once again, before giggling as the door to the kitchen opened and a distinguished-looking older gentleman came walking through.

“Daddy!” Jenny said, smiling as she and Alexa jumped up to greet the older man with hugs.

“Hi Mr. Thompson!” Nikki said as she and her English friends exchanged polite handshakes with the man.

“Hello everyone,” Marty said with a smile. "Glad you made it back safely from Chicago."

“Thanks for inviting us for Thanksgiving dinner,” Jamie said politely.

“You’re welcome, but it wasn’t me who did the inviting,” Marty said as he stared at his daughter, who blushed and smiled bashfully. “Still, it is their home now too, and since they will be doing most of the cooking tomorrow..." The older man allowed a grin to creep across his face as Alexa shared in her wife’s blushes.

“Don’t worry too much,” Sarah reassured her friends. “Alexa is an excellent cook. Jenny, on the other hand…” Sarah giggled as Jenny shot a stealthy kick toward her shins.

“…I think I’m going to need a drink,” Marty said with a tired laugh. “I think I’m going to need several drinks over the next few days!”

“Daddy…” Jenny protested.

“I’ll leave you all to it,” Marty said. “What time will your friend Hayley be here?”

“We’re picking her up from campus tomorrow morning,” Alexa replied, before exchanging another hug with the older man as he left the room.

“Who’s Hayley?” Jamie asked as the group sat back down.

“A freshman at the university,” Alexa replied. “We’ve been kinda acting as, you know, ‘surrogate big sisters’ to her as she’s living away from home for the first time.”

“Ah,” Jamie said. “So- so is she, you know…?”

“Oh- oh, no, she’s not, umm, like us,” Alexa said as she fidgeted in her seat.

“Oh- oh god, I’m sorry,” Jamie said with a grimace. “I just, you know, assume, since you mentioned it…”

“She’s Jessica’s sister,” Jenny interjected. “You know, from London, works for the airline? So you’re not, you know, completely wrong to assume…”

“Ah, right,” Jamie said. "Well- that's still cool. Even if she's not, you know, like us', there's still a lot she can learn from you, Alexa."

“Thanks,” Alexa said, sniffing back another tear. “Also, Hayley’s a good friend, and I don’t need to tell you the old saying about how many friends you can have, do I?”

“Indeed you don’t!” Jamie replied as her daughter began to squirm in her lap. “Ah… Think someone really needs a nap, heh! And no, I don’t mean Sarah.” The occupants of the room giggled as Sarah stuck her tongue out at Jamie.

“I’ll show you to your room,” Jenny said as she escorted the mother and her daughter up to one of the guest rooms.

“Thank you so much for letting us stay,” Jamie said with a wide, genuine grin.

“What are friends for?” Jenny replied with a giggle. “I knew daddy wouldn’t mind, really. Besides, he’s probably going to spend all his time fussing over Olivia anyway, and then spend the next 6 months pestering me and Lex about grandchildren.”

“Well Olivia COULD use an American cousin…” Jamie said, before giggling as Jenny shot her an angry glare. “I’m kidding, really! Though if I could ask one favour… Can you give me the Wi-Fi password, please? Kinda need to Skype the other Angels, let them know the new plans.”

“Sure,” Jenny said. “Is it, you know, going to be a work call? Confidential, I mean?”

“No, just catching up, seeing how everyone is,” Jamie replied, before rolling her eyes and giggling. “…Yes, you and Alexa can sit on it if you want.” Jamie smiled as her American friend let out an excited squeak at the prospect.

After Sarah finished hooking up her laptop to the living room's widescreen TV, Jamie logged into her Skype account and smirked when she saw that a chat was already in progress- a chat she was immediately invited to.

“Hey girls!” Jamie said with an excited squeak as Krystie, Mary, Hannah, Viks, Alice, Kelly and Malaika’s images appeared on-screen.

“Hey Jamie!” The seven women replied simultaneously.

“Ooh, and hello to the chat’s special guest stars!” Krystie teased, making the two married couples on the sofa next to Jamie blush. “Don’t need to ask if you’re still in Chicago then, do I?”

“I got a very generous offer that I couldn’t refuse,” Jamie replied with a giggle. “Stu’s here too, he’s just seeing to Olivia right now. Did Mikey get to you safely?”

“Yep, and he’s on a short leash for the rest of the week,” Krystie said with a sly grin. “And babysitting duties too, hehe!”

“Glad to hear it,” Mary chuckled as her husband mock pouted in the background, before cheerfully going back to playing with his daughter.

“How’s everyone been, anyway?” Jamie asked.

“Great!” Hannah replied. “Even if I did spend a good chunk of the day dressed as a cheerleader, what with being in Dallas and all that.”

“Try spending all day dressed as a showgirl!” Alice scoffed. “Think my make-up weighed more than my costume!”

“Make us jealous, why don’t you?” Nikki said, earning teasing jeers from the other women on the screen.

“I think someone’s just picked the theme for their birthday party!” Hannah teased, making Nikki giggle and blush.

“Oh- shut up…” Nikki mumbled. “Besides, wasn’t that the theme for our hen night?”

“And Katie and Jacinta’s birthdays are before then anyway,” Sarah interjected.

“And yours is next Tuesday!” Viks reminded the soon-to-be 22-year-old woman, who shared her wife’s blushes. “Though you’ve got a point, especially about Jacinta… Shall we get her in on the call?” The Minnesota-based women all grinned as the other Angels murmured in agreement, and after a quick text message from Nikki, the grinning faces of Jacinta and Katie Henderson appeared on the big screen, while Alexa sent a sneaky text message of her own.

“Hey girlies!” Jacinta squeaked. “How’s everyone?”

“SO great,” Hannah replied. “How are you two, are you still in New York?”

“Nope!” Katie replied. “Followed Kelly to San Francisco, heading down to LA tomorrow to get ready for Saturday’s launch.”

“…And I kinda tagged along,” Jacinta giggled.

“They’re at a different hotel to me and Kurt, that’s why they’re not on my side of the call,” Kelly explained.

“They’re at the Hilton, of course,” Katie teased, giggling as the Chinese transwoman sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Did you three enjoy San Francisco then?” Jamie asked.

“Oh- totally,” Kelly replied. “Chinatown was amazing, of course, but it was surprising how many- well, you of all people should know what I’m gonna say next, right?”

“Yeah,” Jamie said. “Had a few questions like that in Chicago, not quite as many as I expected though.”

“We’ve been getting a few, you know, ‘questions’ as well,” Viks said hesitantly. “You know, along the lines of ‘what’s it like being friends with someone who hasn’t always been a woman’, that sort-of thing.”

“…And?” Jamie asked nervously. “How- how do you answer these questions?”

“By telling whoever answered it that Jamie-Lee Burke is every bit the woman that we are,” Mary replied in a defiant voice. “That who she was in the past doesn’t stop her from being our friend, from being a wife, a mother, and a role model for girls- ALL girls- around the world.”

“And the same goes for Kelly Watson,” Krystie said. “And Nikki, and Jacinta, and Alexa, and Stephanie, and anyone else you’d care to name.”

“Aww- you guys…” Jamie sniffed as tears formed in the eyes of everyone on the call.

“After seven and a half years, right?” Krystie asked with a warm smile. “The world will get it eventually.”

“Even if we have to educate them one person at a time,” Viks said.

“Which we’re more than happy to do,” Malaika interjected. “I mean, ten years ago this country put a man with the same ethnicity as me in the White House. How long before there is a transgendered president?”

“What do you say, Alexa?” Jacinta asked, causing the Minnesota native’s eyes to widen.

“Oh- I, umm, I dunno…” Alexa stammered as Jacinta burst into a fit of laughter. “He- hey, not fair…”

“I’d vote for you, babe,” Jenny said as she soothed her wife with a gentle, loving kiss.

“Hell, I think we all would,” Katie said. “God knows you’d be an improvement over the current president.”

“No offence intended,” Viks hastily interjected.

“Ugh, believe me, none taken!” Alexa said. “Good job Paige isn’t on the call, heh!”

“Well, why not see if she’s available?” Alice asked. “The more the merrier, right? Or to put it another way, you can never have too many friends, right?”

“Too right,” Jamie giggled as she sent a text message to the Scottish woman and her wife, before pausing. “I’m gonna invite Steph and the rest of Out of Heaven as well. As you really can never have too many friends, hehe!”

“Right then,” Krystie said, “if that’s the case, I’m going to invite Zoe and Nat too! Think Zoe should be back from our adult class by now.”

“Absolutely!” Jamie giggled as Stephanie’s face appeared on the screen. “Hey Steph!”

“Hey Jamie!” Stephanie giggled. “Ah, hello Out of Heaven tribute act! Are we going to be treated to a Skype concert, then?” Stephanie let out a cheeky grin as her question was answered by four stealthy middle fingers.

“Olivia’s upstairs,” Jamie explained. “So they know they have to behave themselves.”

“Not sure whether to be disappointed or relieved,” Stephanie giggled. “So what’s up? Is this, like, just a general chat? Where are Charlotte and Abbey-Gayle?”

“A-G’s still onstage in Florida,” Hannah explained. “’Cause she’s in the half of us that doesn’t have a family, she’s actually doing some work, heh. Charlotte’s in a conference call with some other international Angels, doing a formal interview, she should be free in a bit.”

“Tell her to bring all of the international girls with her!” Stephanie said.

“So where are you, Steph?” Alice asked. “Still in New York?”

“Umm, no, flew to LA earlier today,” Stephanie replied.] “Going to get a late lunch with Becca and Adeola in a bit.”

“Why not get them on the call while you wait?” Jamie shrugged.

“Are we stress testing Skype or something?” Alice giggled.

“Ooh, can we invite Ophelia and Lauren too, then?” Jacinta asked excitedly.

“Why not?” Jamie giggled as Jessica, Paige, Natalie and Zoe all joined the call. “Hey girls!”

“Hi Jamie! Hi everyone!” Jessica giggled. “Ah… SO sorry I couldn’t be there on Saturday, but, you know, still kinda having trouble getting around, hehe!”

“It’ll get better,” Jamie reassured her American friend. “Are you two still in New York?”

“Nope,” Paige replied. “Flew to Baltimore yesterday evening.”

“Ravens flock!” Jessica cheered, smirking as the two American women sat next to Jamie sighed and rolled their eyes.

“For the record,” Paige says, “when she’s off the painkillers she’ll have to take a drink every time she says that to someone who ISN’T a Ravens fan. If I have to drink every time someone mentions the orange-“

“Drink!” A large number of the women, including all of those in Minnesota, shouted at the Scottish woman, who grinned and took a sip of her wine.

“See you haven’t gone native yet, then,” Natalie teased her friend and former colleague.

“Give it time,” Jessica said with a proud grin as she cuddled her wife close to her, before turning back to the screen. "What time's Hayley getting there tomorrow?"

"She has to take a drink every time she asks about her sister as well," Paige whispered, making Alexa and Jenny giggle while Jessica rolled her eyes.

"We're picking her up tomorrow morning," Alexa replied. "And yes, we have been looking after her the past few months, and no, we haven't got her into any trouble."

"And we're not going to," Jenny said. "Even if her sister is over a thousand miles away and not able to travel long distances right now!"

"You'd better not," Jessica said, before giggling and shaking her head. “So, how’s everyone liking America, then? Those of us who don’t live here, anyway?”

“Really loving it,” Kelly replied. "Everyone's so friendly, and there's a lot of excitement about the brand as well."

"I doubt this'll be the last time all of us are on this side of the Atlantic," Viks concurred.

“Glad to hear it,” Jessica chuckled.

“Alice, I’ve lost your car at the craps table,” a deep, Yorkshire accent shouted from behind the red-haired Angel, who rolled her eyes and groaned loudly.

“We didn’t rent a car, you pillock!” Alice retorted as Ricky sat down next to her. “Girls, say hi to Ricky, for those who haven’t met him yet he’s my boyfriend and a total moron.”

“BOY,” most of the women yelled at Ricky, who smiled smugly.

“And the only one on this call, apparently,” Ricky said. “Kinda feel like Hugh Hefner, being in Las Vegas and all.”

“What, old, shrivelled up and perverted?” Hannah asked, making the other women on the call laugh and Ricky roll his eyes.

“Guess what theme I’m having for my birthday party, then?” Ricky asked to more eye-rolling.

“Your birthday’s not until June,” Alice reminded her boyfriend. “I’ll think of something else to distract him by then.”

“I’ll just have the Playboy party in 2020, then,” Ricky said smugly.

“By which point your sister will be eighteen…” Krystie retorted.

“You wouldn’t dare invite her along,” Ricky snorted. “You used to be her teacher, for god’s sake!”

“Just try us,” Zoe said in her refined southern French accent as Jamie and her friends sat back and giggled.

“Ah…” Jamie giggled, before lowering her voice so the microphone wouldn’t pick it up as easily. “You sure you two still want to be in on this call?”

“Are you kidding?” Alexa replied. “I LOVE this.”

“Me too,” Jenny said with a happy, contented grin. “I mean, I’ve watched every episode of the Angels, but this is, like, a real reality show, if that makes sense?”

“Kinda,” Jamie said with a smile. Alexa and Jenny both giggled happily, before their smiles widened as the living room door opened and Stuart entered, followed by two other familiar faces.

“Danny!” Alexa giggled as she jumped up from the sofa and gave her brother a tight hug.

“Oh- for god's sake, Alexa,” Danny grumbled as he tried to wriggle free of the embrace, before sighing and surrendering as Jenny joined in the hug. “Hi Jamie, Nikki, Sarah.”

“Hi Danny,” Jamie said with a giggle at the siblings’ antics. “Alexa was telling me earlier you’ve been up here a lot recently?”

“Yeah,” Danny said with a loud, exaggerated sigh. "These two are moving back here after Christmas and they wanted the place modernizing a bit, and they decided I should do the job. And they decided they should 'help' me every free moment they get."

“Aww, that’s cute, you getting to spend so much time together,” Nikki teased.

“When they’re not trying to kill each other, anyway,” Katie- Danny’s fiancée- said as she greeted the five women with a gentle hug each. “What’s everyone- woah.” Katie froze as she gazed at the room’s widescreen television, and the cavalcade of faces on the screen.

“Katie!” The English Katie, who consented to be known by the nickname ‘Hendo’ in these situations, exclaimed when she saw her American namesake.

“Katie!” The American Katie replied with a nervous giggle.

“Jeez- how many people have you invited to Thanksgiving, you two?” Danny asked his sisters, who immediately blushed.

“Ah, this- this was my idea,” Jamie said. “I wanted to have a group chat with the other Angels, and things have kinda got out of hand!” Jamie giggled as she gestured at the faces on the screen, which now included Lauren Burnett, Ophelia Love, Ricky’s sister Laura and her friends Ashley and Megan.

“Hey ‘new’ girls!” Nikki teasingly said with a wave, which the five additional young women eagerly returned.

“Hi Stuart,” Ricky defiantly said. “Hi other guy.”

“BOY,” at least eight of the women said simultaneously, including all the women in the living room.

“Hi Rick,” Stuart said with a tired sigh. “Ricky White, meet Danny Quinn, Danny, this is Ricky, Alice’s boyfriend and sister of Laura, who’s the young girl in the top-right corner there. She and Ashley are in the fellowship with me, Jamie and Nikki and- and this is where it starts to get a little complicated.”

“Starting with what the ‘fellowship’ is,” Danny said. “I mean, I’ve seen Lord of the Rings…”

“You may want to sit down,” Jamie chuckled.

“Especially as I explained the ‘fellowship’ to you at the wedding,” Alexa said in a low, tired voice, earning an eye roll from her brother.

“Maybe it’d be easier if us guys had a separate chat?” Stuart suggested.

“Oh- no, really,” Hannah said. “Just ‘cause you’re guys, it doesn’t mean you can’t be part of, you know, ‘the family’.”

“Even guys who, for some reason, actually enjoy being guys,” Nikki teased.

“Okay,” Ricky said. “So could the rest of you get your husbands in on the chat then, please?”

“Of course,” Krystie said as she, Viks, Mary, Lauren & Ophelia called for their other halves before returning to the screen. “You do realise then even with all the other BOYS on the call, you’re still not going to get a word in, right?”

“What else is new?” Stuart asked as he sent a text message.

“BOY!” The women all shouted at once.

“Who are you inviting?” Jamie asked her husband. “I am right in assuming you’re inviting someone else into the chat, right?”

“Ian,” Stuart replied. “Only one of the ‘fellowship’ not in the call yet. Assuming you’re okay with another BOY on the call?”

“You can never have too many friends,” Jamie reminded her husband as she pressed the ‘send message’ button for him.

The group, who were soon joined by Ian and his friends Lee and Ellie, spent the next two hours chatting non-stop. People came and went throughout the chat- Ashley only stayed for a few minutes, citing homework as her reason, though Jamie and Nikki couldn’t help but observe some awkwardness between her and Laura, who also left a few minutes afterward. Becca and Adeola from Out of Heaven also briefly joined the chat, though Kayla was unable to do so- something that prompted Stephanie’s departure from the chat a short while later. Eventually, as early afternoon turned into late afternoon in America and evening in Britain gave way to night, the chat dwindled until it was just Jamie, Mary and Krystie- though they were soon joined by one other Angel.

“Hey girls!” Charlotte said as her image appeared onscreen. “Just us tonight, then?”

“Oh- you have NO idea,” Krystie chuckled. “About an hour ago there were, like, twenty people on the chat. Seriously.”

“Let me guess- Mrs. Milton invited her entire ‘fellowship’ around?” Charlotte teased as Jamie blushed and giggled.

“She did, and it was AWESOME,” Krystie said. “We really should have more chats like that.”

“Speaking of which, how was the interview?” Mary asked.

“Great!” Charlotte said. “Really got the brand promoted well, the other girls were all fine too, though they did only send along the English speakers.”

“So no Melissa or Chiara?” Jamie asked.

“No,” Charlotte replied, immediately sensing what her BFF implied by her question. “But McKayla from the Australian Angels was there, and she was- well, just as good as you’d have been if you were there.”

“Glad to hear it,” Jamie said with a grin. “Ahh… I am looking forward to LA more and more, hehe!”

“Same here,” Charlotte replied. “God, who’d have thought seven years ago that we’d be right here, right now? About to have our own convention, millions of followers on social media…”

“Wives and mothers?” Jamie asked as she gazed down at her own slender, feminine body. “God knows I wouldn’t have done. Especially after- well, you of all people should know.”

“Really?” Mary asked. “’Cause I never doubted it. Everything we are, we deserve, we have earned.”

“Especially you, MRS Milton,” Krystie said.

“Aww- guys…” Jamie sniffed as tears started to form in her eyes. “What- what are you all doing for Thanksgiving tomorrow?”

“Oh, get you, desperately changing the subject!” Krystie teased. “But, if you want to know, I’ll be flying out to LA tomorrow afternoon with my family. Well, my husband and daughter, anyway. The rest of my family is who I spent the last couple of hours talking with.”

“Same here,” Mary said. “Speaking of which, there are two little girls who need their dinners, so I’d better love you and leave you, heh!”

“See you Friday!” The other girls said as Mary dropped out of the chat.

“Same here,” Krystie sighed. “Maria’s become such a fussy eater lately. See you two in LA!”

“Bye!” Jamie and Charlotte replied, before each letting out a deep sigh as they were left by themselves.

“I’d better go too,” Charlotte said. “Got as many little mouths to feed as those two put together, and two of them aren’t even close to weaned yet, heh. But I really did need to check that you were okay.”

“Me?” Jamie asked. “Yeah, I’m fine, why d’you ask?”

“Because EIGHT years ago, you must’ve had some very different dreams about your future!” Charlotte said.

“Honestly? I don’t even think about that anymore,” Jamie said. “THIS is my life. Mary was right, it’s who I was meant to be all along. And none of this would’ve happened without you. No wonder they wanted to call the show ‘Charlotte’s Angels’ when it launched.”

“Thank god I talked Joshua out of that,” Charlotte giggled. “Because this is 100% a team effort. No- a family effort. Even if the Angels as a brand does eventually come to an end, we’ll still be friends, right?”

“Friends?” Jamie replied. “Try ‘family’.”

“Can’t think of anyone who’d make a better sister than you,” Charlotte said, before sighing. “I’d better get going. Send my love to Stuart and Olivia.”

“Will do,” Jamie replied. “As long as you send my love to my brother-in-law, nephew and nieces, hehe!”

“Will do,” Charlotte said with a wink as she ended the call and left Jamie by herself on the sofa- though the excited sounds coming from the kitchen reassured Jamie that she wouldn’t be alone for long.

Nikki couldn’t help but giggle as she entered the kitchen and found her American counterpart in an almost trance-like state, fixated on her pots and pans.

“Just stick it on the counter, babe,” Alexa said, not looking up from her cooking.

“Sure thing, sweetheart,” Nikki replied in an exaggerated American accent, before giggling as Alexa turned around with an angry look in her eyes.

“Oh- shut up,” Alexa grumbled as she threw a tea towel at her laughing British friend. “I thought you were Jenny…”

“Yeah, I hope you did!” Nikki teased. “Think she’s getting some wine from the cellar. Dinner smells delicious, though!”

“Thanks!” Alexa said with a proud grin. “This is nothing compared to tomorrow, though.”

“Oh- yeah, believe me, been there, done that!” Nikki chuckled. “Has Sarah ever told you about the time we hosted Christmas dinner?”

“No,” Alexa replied. “But I’ve been in your kitchen, cooking dinner for the nine of us when we were over was- huh.” Nikki frowned as Alexa paused and a wistful look came over her face.

“…Alexa?” Nikki asked.

“Oh- nothing, it’s just-“ Alexa said, before blushing and mumbling. “The nine of US. Sometimes I forget that ‘us’ includes me, heh. Like, I am just ‘one of the girls’.”

“’One of the girls’?” Nikki retorted. “Absolutely. ‘Just’ one of the girls? Nuh-uh. This world, this whole universe even, it just wouldn’t be complete without you in it.”

“Oh- oh for god’s sake…” Alexa said with a tired chuckle as tears formed in her eyes, before reaching out for a warm, friendly hug with her British friend.

“I leave you alone for ten seconds are you start bawling like a baby,” Jenny teased her wife as she returned to the kitchen with the wine in hand.

“It’s Nikki’s fault, you know she sets me off,” Alexa retorted, grinning as her British friend’s jaw dropped.

“Oh- you!” Nikki snorted as her friends giggled.

“Oh god,” Katie sighed as she entered the kitchen and found her three friends bickering. “Am I going to have to play referee for you all holiday?”

“I’m sure you know the answer to that by now, ‘sensible big sister’!” Alexa teased, giggling as Katie rolled her eyes and reached into a cupboard for some wine glasses.

“Better get that bottle open quick,” Katie said. “It’s going to be a long few days…”

The whole household sat down to dinner a short while later, after which they returned to the living room to relax while Stuart entertained everyone with a medley of songs on the piano. Eventually, evening made way for night and the residents of the house all headed to bed, none more eagerly than Nikki and Sarah, who wasted no time in enjoying each other's company the second they climbed into bed.

Nikki’s arms were still wrapped around her wife’s sleeping form when the sun rose the following morning, but it wasn’t the light streaming through the curtains that woke Nikki from her slumber.

“Mmph,” Nikki grunted as she felt her body rocked from side to side, before yelping with panic as a hand pinched her nose shut. “I- who- Alexa!” Nikki growled at the American transwoman, who wore a look of smug triumph on her face.

“I figured I owe you for all the times you were my ‘alarm clock’,” Alexa said, her grin widening.

“Mm,” Sarah lazily moaned as the noise woke her up. “Nikki? What time is it?”

“Time you were both getting up,” Alexa ordered. “I’m gonna need your help all day in the kitchen.”

“Oh- come on,” Sarah moaned. “I’m still jet-lagged…”

“It’s 1:45pm London time,” Alexa retorted as she motioned to remove the bedcovers, only to be stopped by Nikki wrapping them tightly around herself and her wife.

“And we’re naked under here and it’s cold out there,” Nikki said. “We’ll be down in a bit…”

“We’ve saved some hot water for you in the shower,” Alexa said smugly. “But I think there’s only enough water for one shower…” Alexa giggled as Nikki replied by throwing her pillow at her, before sighing and leaning back into her wife.

“We probably should get up,” Nikki mumbled to her wife, who moaned in reply and cuddled the sheets closer to her. “We have got a long flight later…”

“All the more reason to get more sleep now,” Sarah protested.

“…And Alexa probably isn’t going to leave us alone until we do get up,” Nikki sighed.

“Nope,” Alexa confirmed with her arms folded over her shapely chest.

“Ugh, FINE,” Sarah groaned. “But we’re NOT getting out of bed naked while you’re standing there!” Alexa giggled as she left the couple to slowly extract themselves from their sheets.

A short while later, with their long hair still damp from the shower, Nikki and Sarah padded downstairs hand in hand, dressed in warm sweaters, thick tights and knee-length skater skirts.

“Ah, good morning girls!” Marty said as the English couple entered the kitchen. “Happy Thanksgiving!”

“Happy Thanksgiving!” Nikki and Sarah replied simultaneously.

“Where are Alexa and Jenny?” Nikki asked.

“Alexa had to run to the store to pick up a few things,” Marty explained. “Jenny’s having breakfast with her grandmother. So I’m afraid you’re stuck with me this morning, at least until your other friends from London get up.”

“I think I heard Olivia earlier this morning,” Sarah said with a tired smile.

“Yes, it’s been a while since we’ve had anyone that young in this house,” Marty said, a sad smile creeping across his face. “Anyway, what do you two have planned for today? Do you need the living room for any more video conferences?”

“No, we’ve all got today free,” Nikki replied. “Well, up until we fly later this evening, anyway.”

“Pity, really,” Sarah said. “Flying AWAY from the biggest mall in America the day before the biggest shopping day of the year.”

“Well, I know my credit card’s breathing a sigh of relief that Alexa and Jenny will be flying that particular day,” Marty chuckled. “Even if the house will seem a lot emptier than it is today.”

"Kinda reminds me of what Alexa said yesterday about Thanksgiving," Nikki said. "About being thankful for the people you have in your life."

"Don't you have any similar celebrations in the UK?" Marty asked.

"Only Christmas," Sarah replied. "You could also include Mother's Day and Father's Day, but nothing like this. And I really hope this isn't the last Thanksgiving we celebrate over here."

"So do I," Marty said, smiling as both Englishwomen suddenly developed tears in their eyes. "A couple of years ago I had only one daughter. Now it feels like I have four- five if you include Alexa and Jenny's friend Hayley. Which I fully intend to today."

"Thanks," Nikki whispered with a happy smile on her face.

“Hey girlies!” Jenny said as she walked through the kitchen door, taking off her coat, hat and gloves before exchanging a hug with Nikki and Sarah and leading them through to the living room. “What were you three talking about?”

“Your dad wants grandchildren,” Sarah bluntly replied, making Nikki giggle and Jenny roll her eyes.

“What else is new?” The blonde American woman said with a giggle as she and her friends waited for her wife to return with their 'fifth sister'.

The three women didn’t have long to wait, and the rest of the morning was spent preparing a feast fit for a king. Roast turkey with all the trimmings, as well as two different types of stuffing, pillowy mounds of mashed potato, sweet potatoes, turkey gravy, vegetables and cranberry sauce. Alexa even went out of her way to ensure that Olivia had food to eat, having baked a tiny turkey meatloaf for her and cut it into fun shapes. After the meal, all the four English men and women, as well as a very tired Olivia, wanted to do was relax and digest their meal, but they had flights to catch, and after an hour long car ride, they were in the concourse of Minneapolis-St. Paul airport bidding farewell to their hosts for the previous two days.

“Ugh, why am I crying so much, we’re going to see each other in 24 hours anyway?” Nikki sniffled as she exchanged a hug with her American counterpart.

“Eh, just practice for Sunday, I guess,” Alexa sighed. “God, I wish you guys, you know, lived in America, or at least closer than 6000 miles away…”

“I know what you mean,” Nikki sighed, before exchanging a hug with Alexa’s wife. "However long we get is never enough."

"Jamie likes to say you can never have too many friends," Sarah said as she hugged Alexa. "She should actually say you can never have enough time with your friends. So treasure the time you do have."

"Absolutely," Jenny said with tear-streaked eyes as she hugged Sarah.

“We’ll see you two tomorrow, okay?” Nikki asked as she grabbed her luggage and waited for her friends.

“We’ll see you,” Jenny said, wiping a tear from her eye before bidding farewell to Jamie, Stuart and Olivia.

A short while later, the English men and women's plane took to the air, heading south-west to the final destination of the Angels’ tour. Nikki and Sarah took the opportunity to sleep off their large meal, while Jamie and Stuart took turns watching over their tired daughter for the duration of the four-hour long flight.

Eventually, the plane touched down at LAX airport and the tired group disembarked, grabbed their luggage and flagged down a taxi to take them to their fancy Hollywood hotel, where they all let out tired chuckles at the sight that greeted them in the hotel lobby.

“Flashbacks to New York,” Stuart whispered to his wife as they joined the check-in line and were immediately drawn into the conversation in front of them.

“Oh, hey Jamie!” Saoirse, one of the Irish Angels, said with a grin. “I was just telling Helena about the cartoon, we’re really excited to watch it tomorrow!”

“For sure!” Helena replied in her refined Berlin accent. “I just hope they make one with us in it as well, or we can be guests in the next season!”

“Think we need to get the first season out of the way before we think about the second season,” Jamie nervously chuckled.

“We said that about the live-action Angels show, though,” Viks said as she joined the conversation and greeted each woman with a gentle hug.

“We said that about the first EPISODE,” Jamie reminded her friend.

“And look where we are now,” Viks said with a grin. “About to film our sixth season?”

“Even if it will be a lot different than the previous five,” Jamie said. “What with the live studio audience and all…”

“Why are they doing that, anyway?” Saoirse asked.

“Probably because of the Grand Tour abandoning the studio format,” Viks shrugged. “They want something they can sell tickets to, and this way we can have celebrity guests as well.”

“AngelCon is pretty much the same idea,” Jamie said. “I know James Corden’s going to be there, as well as Seth MacFarlane, Ariana Grande...”

“But each extra celebrity we interact with raises our profile,” Viks said, making Jamie smile and nod, as every time the Angels’ profile was raised, so was awareness of the message Jamie wished to spread.

“So, have you guys already had dinner?” Jamie asked. “I mean, like, a real Thanksgiving dinner, rather than an aeroplane meal?”

“No, and thanks for showing off that you have contacts here in America,” Saoirse teased, making Jamie giggle and blush.

“We all ate on the plane,” Helena explained. “It is probably too late now to find a restaurant. But one year for sure I would love to have a real American Thanksgiving. Maybe this weekend I can get a contact here?”

“I wouldn’t say they’re ‘contacts’ exactly,” Jamie said. “The word I’d use is- heh. The word I’d use is ‘friends’. And I think we all know what saying comes next, right?” The cheers from her multinational friends were all the confirmation that Jamie needed.

The men and women in the lobby opted for an early night, wanting to be fresh for the long weekend ahead of them. However, Jamie still felt fatigued when she woke up the following morning, which didn’t alleviate when she headed down to breakfast to find many familiar faces already sat and eating.

“Hi Jamie!” The tall, elegant figure of Ella Henry said in her distinctive Australian accent as she approached Jamie in the line for the food.

“Oh, hey Ella!” Jamie replied. “Long time no talk, heh! I was hoping I’d get to chat to you this week, how’ve you been?”

“Great!” Ella replied. “SO happy to be living back in Melbourne, I can’t wait to get back there, heh. Not that I haven’t loved America- Florida was amazing, especially Universal Studios with Abbey-Gayle. Kinda like the old days, heh, when me, Abbey-Gayle and the girls would plan all the trips we’d take when we were famous… Almost hard to believe that, you know, me and Abbey-Gayle made it. Even harder to believe than- umm, never mind…” Jamie smiled sympathetically, knowing exactly how Ella was going to finish her sentence.

“Harder to believe than one of the girls not being a girl anymore?” Jamie asked, smiling again as Ella blushed and nodded. “It’s okay. And I doubt Ian would be that offended either.”

“’Kayleigh-Ann’ would’ve made a great Angel,” Ella mumbled, before letting out a sad sigh.

“Maybe,” Jamie said. “But HE had to follow his own dreams, and I know he’s a lot happier now where he is. I actually spoke to him yesterday, he said as much.”

“That’s good to hear,” Ella chuckled. “What time are we heading to the convention centre?”

“Early afternoon, I think,” Jamie replied. “They’ll still be setting things up, but we’ll have a private room to watch the cartoon, maybe a few photos as well. Nikki’s got all the details, she should be down in a bit.”

“Ah, the REAL boss of the Angels!” Ella teased as Jamie sighed and shook her head. “God knows where we’d be if we didn’t have Shae, our PA, on hand whenever we need her. Where is Nikki, anyway?”

“Probably enjoying the lie in she didn’t get to have yesterday,” Jamie replied with a smirk as she thought of her PA and protégé, who was indeed still in bed, but was far from asleep, and nor was her wife...

Eventually, Nikki was able to tear herself out of bed and away from Sarah, and after a quick shower, she headed down to the hotel restaurant to find it virtually deserted, save for a handful of people- one of whom she instantly gravitated toward after getting her meal.

“Hey Steph!” Nikki said as she sat down.

“Hey Nikki,” Stephanie replied with a barely suppressed yawn. “Ugh, sorry, still a bit jet laggy, heh.”

“I thought you didn’t get jet lag?” Nikki asked. “Not as bad as Kayla, anyway?”

“…Yeah,” Stephanie sighed as she lowered her head.

“St- Steph?” Nikki asked quietly. “Is everything okay?”

“As okay as things have been lately,” Stephanie said, before sighing. “I- I’m sorry, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate with this tour, you don’t want to hear-“

“I’m all ears,” Nikki said softly. “Seriously. A friend in need, right?”

“Yeah, but- ugh, I guess you’re right,” Stephanie sighed. “God knows Becca and Adeola have babysat me enough this week, heh.”

“Did you speak to Kayla last night?” Nikki asked.

“Yeah,” Stephanie replied. “We FaceTimed a bit, the time difference kinda helps as when she’s done with rehearsals her time, it’s, like, late morning over here.”

“Yeah, it was the same with me and Sarah, with her uni,” Nikki said. “Still, this time on Monday, we’ll either be back in London or on our way back, heh.”

“You sound almost disappointed?” Stephanie asked.

“Meh,” Nikki shrugged. “I mean, I did miss London, but now that Sarah’s here… Heh, guess I missed Sarah more than I missed England. And I’m going to miss Jexy when we go back too.”

“Yeah, I saw the Instagram posts yesterday,” Stephanie said. “Wish I’d known about that in advance.”

“What, Thanksgiving?” Nikki teased, making Stephanie roll her eyes.

“You know what I mean,” the famous singer retorted. “Probably wouldn’t have been enough room for me there anyway.”

“Oh- believe me, Jenny would’ve made the space,” Nikki giggled. “You should’ve been there when she invited Jamie, if every Angel in this hotel had been present she’d probably have invited them too, hehe!”

“Yeah,” Stephanie sighed sadly. “Ah well. Next time, maybe.”

“Well- well me and Sarah are going to spend New Year with Jexy in Florida,” Nikki said. “Since there’s not going to be a party at Charlotte’s because of the twins… You and Kayla could, you know, tag along?”

“If we’re not busy,” Stephanie replied. “And- and obviously I’d need to clear it with Kayla first. Heh, when we get back to England, anyway…” Nikki smiled sympathetically as her friend continued nibbling at her breakfast.

After all the guests had eaten their breakfast and changed into their most chic, fashionable clothes, a fleet of taxis arrived to deliver them to the nearby convention centre, where Jamie and the rest of the Angels were ushered into a large conference room that had been temporarily repurposed as a small cinema.

“God, I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” Hannah said as she sat down next to Jamie. “I mean, we’ve seen previews of this, right?”

“True,” Jamie said.

“But, like, it was months since we recorded our lines for it,” Hannah said.

“You’ll be great,” Charlotte reassured her friend. “We ALL will. We’re all gorgeous, successful women, and that’ll come across even if you can only hear our voices. Right?”

“Right,” Jamie said in her effortlessly feminine voice. “Ooh, it’s starting…”

“Well,” Jamie said as the end credits rolled on the cartoon. “That was - that was different.”

“Yeah,” Charlotte concurred. “I mean, I’m used to seeing myself on TV, but - yeah. Not too sure about that.”

“But I’m sure the kids will love it,” Hannah said. “And there’s no arguing with the message, right?”

“Definitely,” Jamie said. “If we help only one person with this cartoon, it’ll be worth it.” Much like the main Angels show, Jamie thought to herself as she and her friends filed out of the makeshift cinema.

“Oh - absolutely,” Alice said. “So then, what are we doing for the rest of the day?”

“Whatever we’re told to,” Charlotte said with a giggle as she gestured behind her to where the Angels’ PA was standing, checking her iPad.

“Hmm?” Nikki said, looking up with a puzzled look on her face. “Oh - believe me, I’m not in charge today, hehe!” Nikki cast a glance to the side of the auditorium, where a familiar tall, dark-skinned man was approaching the group.

“My superstars!” Joshua boomed across the room. “As beautiful in ink as in the flesh!”

“Actually, I think that cartoon was computer animated,” Hannah teased, earning a loud chuckle from her boss.

“Well, whether it’s ink or pixels, you are all still magnificent!” Joshua “Did you all enjoy your grand tour of America?”

“Definitely,” Abbey-Gayle gushed. “Florida was AMAZING, I can’t wait to get back there!”

“In time, in time!” Joshua said, before letting out a tired sigh.

“Joshua?” Jamie asked, a look of concern spreading across her face. “Are you okay?”

“I am just a little tired, that’s all,” Joshua replied, before beaming a trademark wide smile. “My heart is fine, seriously! I had a checkup just last month. I am as strong as an ox! But we have all worked hard this week. We will definitely have earned a break when we get back to London!”

“We just have to get through the busiest day of the whole week first, heh!” Hannah said with a tired sigh of her own.

“One final push!” Joshua said. “And do not worry, I will make sure that next year’s AngelCon will be in London. The same hard work but at least you will be able to sleep in your own beds.”
“And in our own time zone!” Kelly said with a giggle and a yawn.

“AngelCon 2020 will be in Rome, so you need not worry about that for at least three years!” Joshua chuckled. “Though it would be good to be back in America for 2021, especially if the two new groups take off.”

“Hmm,” Jamie mused. “I might have an idea about that, actually, can we go somewhere to talk?”

“Of course,” Joshua replied. “The rest of you need to stick around for a bit, the Californiangels will be arriving shortly for a private introduction.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Charlotte said as the ten women began to disperse, while some of the other women who had watched the cartoon headed to one of the venue’s many drinks machines to quench their thirst.

“I kinda liked that,” Becca said as she and her two bandmates helped themselves to hot cappuccinos. “It was different, you know? And we’re gonna get royalties every time they play ‘Stronger’, hehe!”

“Maybe we should ask Uncle Joshua if we can have our own cartoon?” Adeola said with a smug grin on her face.

“If any of us has a chance of getting that to happen, surely it’s you?” Becca teased her best friend.

“Uh- no,” Adeola giggled. “Not since last March when Uncle Joshua because GREAT Uncle Joshua, hehe!”

“Meh,” Becca shrugged. “We’re still filthy rich and world-famous, that’ll do for me, hehe! Especially if our American fan club shows up tomorrow, right Steph?”

“Hmm?” Stephanie asked, having been lost in thought. “Sorry, Becca?”

“Our fan club?” Becca asked. “You know, the girls you met when you were over here in the summer? Think they’re based in LA, aren’t they?”

“Oh - oh, yeah,” Stephanie replied. “San Francisco, actually, but I’ve looked on their Facebook and they said they’d be along tomorrow. One of these days, they might actually meet the whole band at the same time, heh.” Becca and Adeola both smiled sympathetically, quickly realising the real reason for their friend’s distraction.

“Well, they can come to London anytime we have a show there,” Adeola shrugged. “And we’ll be back over here again next year, I can guarantee that.”

“Assuming none of us are on Strictly next year?” Becca asked, biting her lip as Stephanie frowned yet again. “Anyway, I think we’re supposed to hang around for a bit, I’m going to see if there’s any, umm, food…”

“I’ll go with you,” Adeola said, before grimacing and pausing. “Steph? You hungry?”

“Ah - no, I’m okay, thanks,” Stephanie replied, before sighing as her bandmates walked away. Stephanie had enjoyed a brief webchat with Kayla when she woke up that morning, but it was cut short when Kayla had to go to the BBC studios for her final rehearsal, and even though it was lunchtime in California, it was late evening in London. Stephanie instinctively knew that Kayla would be getting an early night ahead of her show the following day.

With a heavy sigh, Stephanie returned to the main auditorium to drink her coffee, before sighing again when she saw that her confidante from that morning was sitting eating lunch with her wife.

“Hey, you two,” Stephanie said with as wide a smile as she could force onto her face. “Mind if I sit?”

“Go right ahead,” Sarah replied with a smile. “I was beginning to think I wouldn’t get to see you this week- well, not not on a screen, anyway!”

“Yeah,” Stephanie chuckled. “How was Minnesota? I really hope Alexa and Jenny will be here tomorrow so I can chat with them properly…”

“Oh - they’ll be here,” Nikki giggled. “I Think they’ve already booked flights to London for 2020, hehe!”

“Cool,” Stephanie said. “Annnnd we’ll be on our flights to London on Monday, heh. Back just in time for your birthday, hehe!”

“Yep!” Sarah said with a quiet giggle.

“You sound almost like you can’t wait to get home,” Nikki said.

“You mean you can?” Stephanie retorted.

“Well l - now I can, heh,” Nikki replied as she exchanged a gentle kiss with her wife, before letting out a soft sigh. “But I get why you’d be eager to get home. And it sucks that Kayla has to miss this, she’d love all the - umm, attention…” Nikki blushed as she realised she’d inadvertently insulted the absent woman.

“Oh - definitely,” Stephanie agreed. “There’s plenty enough to go around though, hehe!” The three women shared an excited giggle, which only stopped when they were approached by a slender, nervous-looking dark-haired young woman holding an iPad.

“H- hi,” the young woman said. “Are you Nikki?”

“Yep, that’s me!” Nikki replied, standing up and exchanging a gentle handshake with the newcomer.

“Hi!” The dark-haired woman nervously giggled. “I - I’m Jenna Da Silva, I’m the PA for the Californiangels, your boss said I should speak to you about arranging for the Angels to meet our group?”

“Yep, I can sort that!” Nikki said, before turning to her wife and her friend with a tired smile. “Duty calls, heh!”

“See you in a bit,” Sarah whispered as she pressed her hand into Nikki’s in the special way they’d been doing for as long as they’d known each other.

“So,” Nikki asked as she escorted Jenna back to where the Angels were sitting, “how d’you come to be working for the new Angels?”

“Oh - umm, Christina - one of the Californiangels?” Jenna replied. “She’s my cousin, my dad’s her manager, so we kinda have a family business, heh.”

“Oh - Heavenly Talent is TOTALLY like that,” Nikki giggled. “Let’s see… Viks is married to Jonathan, who’s the nephew of Joshua, who is also the uncle of Adeola, whose best friend Becca is engaged to the brother of Krystie, whose husband Mikey is the best friend of Stuart, who in addition to being Jamie’s husband is also Becca’s brother and godfather to Mary’s oldest daughter and Charlotte’s son, whose father is Keith, whose younger brother Reuben is engaged to Abbey-Gayle, and believe it or not, I COULD go on.”

“Uh - no, you kinda lost me very quick there, heh!” Jenna said. “Though it’s cool that it’s like that, you’re all, like, one big family.”

“WE are all one big family,” Nikki said with a giggle. “You and the other new Angels are.”

“Well - they might be, I guess,” Jenna said. “I’m just, like, the PA…”

“Don’t say JUST the PA,” Nikki said. “’Cause what we do is important. Sure, we might not get the fame or the money.”

“…But?” Jenna asked.

“Oh, there - there’s no but,” Nikki said quietly, before sharing a giggle with her new friend. “Ahh… Job’s still great though.”

“Totally,” Jenna said, before grimacing. “Nikki, you - you said - you mentioned Stuart earlier, he’s Jamie’s husband, right?”

“Yes…” Nikki replied.

“But he - he used to be, umm, a woman, didn’t he?” Jenna hesitantly asked.

“Erm, yes…” Nikki said. “But believe me, there is NOTHING even remotely feminine about him. Jenna, umm, if - if you have a problem with this - this, you know, thing, you...“

“Oh - no, believe me, I don’t!” Jenna giggled.

“That’s probably for the best,” Nikki said. “Even though there aren’t any transgendered Angels in either of the American groups, I would’ve hoped that it’s common enough knowledge that the other groups, well, you know…”

“Yeah,” Jenna said. “That - that’s kinda how I learned about the group, even before Christina signed up for the Californiangels. Well, I learned about Out of Heaven first after watching a YouTube documentary about them, where...“

“Where you watched an interview with Stuart and learned about his history, I see,” Nikki said.

“And like you said, everyone’s linked, so I learned about Jamie and the other Angels,” Jenna explained. “And so did Christina, so when they were advertising for LA-based models for a group over here, she jumped at the chance.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Nikki giggled. “Surprised you didn’t make more of a fuss of Stephanie when you saw us sitting with her.”

“Oh - I wanted to, believe me,” Jenna sighed. “But like you said, we have a job to do, heh!”

“Very true!” Nikki giggled as the two women approached a group of eight young women in their early twenties, all of whom were immaculately made-up and dressed in expensive designer clothes.

“Hey Jen!” One of the women, who Nikki immediately assumed to be Jenna’s cousin based on her resemblance to her, said as she greeted Jenna with a gentle hug. “Who’s your new friend?”

“Hi, you must be Christina, I’m Nikki, the Angels’ - well, the UK Angels’ PA,” Nikki introduced herself. “Jen says you haven’t met the UK Angels yet?”

“No, and we’re really looking forward to it!” Another of the American women said.

“We’ve been fans of the show for, like, years,” another Californiangel said.

“Well - no time like the present!” Nikki giggled as she led the group toward where the UK Angels were gathered.

“Hey, Nikki!” Charlotte said with a smile that widened when she saw that her PA was not alone. “Ah, and you must be the newest members of our family, hehe!”

“Hi, yes!” Christina said as the two groups of Angels began to mingle, exchanging handshakes and gentle hugs before eagerly getting to know each other.

Nikki and Jenna stood back with proud smiles on their faces as the eighteen young women got to know each other, exchanging contact details and taking what seemed like hundreds of selfies. Jenna’s eyes widened, though, when one of the English women split off from the group and headed over toward her.

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve been introduced yet?” Jamie said with a warm, friendly smile. “I’m Jamie-Lee Milton, it’s nice to meet you!”

“Oh, I - I’m not one of the Californiangels,” Jenna stammered as Jamie extended her hand. “I’m - I’m just...“ Jenna sighed, before exchanging a knowing look with Nikki. “I AM the PA for the Californiangels.”

“Well it’s still nice to meet you,” Jamie said. “…Can I - can I know your name?”

“Oh - god, sorry,” the dark-haired woman gasped. “I’m Jenna, Jenna Da Silva.”

“Oh - any relation to Christina?” Jamie asked.

“We’re cousins,” Jenna replied with a nervous giggle.

“Cool!” Jamie giggled. “It’s great to be able to work with family, I know Stuart - my husband- loves that he gets to work so closely with his sister. She’s not as keen on it though, hehe!”

“Heh,” Jenna chuckled. “Your husband’s sister is Becca, right? From Out of Heaven?”

“We’ve got ourselves a fangirl here,” Nikki whispered to her mentor, who smiled sympathetically as Jenna blushed.

“The best kind of girl,” Jamie giggled. “And even though you’re NOT ‘just’ a PA, you can still come and meet the girls, hehe!” Jenna squeaked as Jamie and Nikki escorted her to where the other Angels were standing, who all greeted the young woman as a new friend.

After everyone had been introduced, and the Californiangels (and Jenna) had been introduced to the other international Angel groups, the women all found themselves at a loose end. Rather than stick around the venue, the group opted instead to head out and explore Los Angeles, particularly the ostentatious part of Hollywood surrounding their hotel. Hundreds of photos were taken in front of the famous Hollywood sign and on the Walk of Fame, as well as countless other sights that the famous city had to offer.

As afternoon turned into evening, the many Angels began to disperse and head to nearby restaurants for dinner, while Nikki and Sarah hailed a cab to take them to LAX airport to greet their Minnesotan friends. However, much to the couple’s surprise, they found that they wouldn’t be travelling alone.

“Hey,” Jenna said as she approached the young couple. “Where you headed now?”

“Umm, back to the airport, picking up a couple of friends of ours,” Nikki replied.

“Hoping to show them a little of LA before the big event tomorrow,” Sarah said.

“Cool!” Jenna enthused. “So, umm, so you - so you need a tour guide?”

“I’m actually pretty familiar with LA,” Sarah said. “My mum’s cousin lives out here, we used to visit her every summer holiday while I was still in school. Jenna, do - do you want to hang out with us? ‘Cause we’d both be okay with that, right Nikki?”

“Oh - definitely,” Nikki said. “Why wouldn’t you want to hang out with your cousin and her friends, though?”

“Meh, I can hang out with them any day,” Jenna replied. “I’ve made some great new friends, and I want to spend time with them while they’re in LA. And you can never have too many friends, right?”

“Very true!” Sarah giggled. “Jamie will be happy to hear that catchphrase has crossed eight time zones, hehe!” Nikki smiled and nodded in agreement with her wife as the three women climbed into the back of the cab, though Nikki couldn’t help but wonder whether there was something Jenna wasn't telling her.

Just under an hour later, the three women were standing in the concourse of LAX airport, and as had become tradition, Nikki and Sarah let out near-deafening squeals of excitement when they saw their American counterparts approaching. Their squeals intensified, however, when they saw that Alexa and Jenny hadn’t travelled alone.

“Hi girlies!” Katie squeaked as she let go of her fiancé’s hand and greeted her British friends with tight, friendly hugs.

“Oh my god!” Nikki squeaked. “I didn’t know you were coming too!”

“Like I’d miss it?” Katie retorted.

“Do we get hugs too?” Alexa asked with a mock pout, which turned into a wide grin when Nikki and Sarah exchanged hugs with her and her wife.

“Do I?” Danny asked, before yelping with alarm as five young women immediately pounced on him and wrapped him in a group hug. “Okay, okay, sorry for asking!” Nikki allowed herself a devilish laugh at the young man’s expense, before smirking as she spotted her newest friend stood off to one side with a bemused look on her face.

“Girls - and Danny,” Nikki said as she dragged Jenna toward the impromptu huddle. “This is Jenna, she’s the PA for the new California Angels group - basically the ‘LA me’, hehe! Jenna, this is Alexa, Jenny, Katie and Danny, friends of ours from Minnesota.”

“Ah, well, welcome to the Golden State,” Jenna said with a grin as she exchanged polite handshakes with the four Minnesotans.

“Thanks,” Alexa replied with a grin. “We’ve only ever been to California once before but never to LA, we’re really excited to have a look around after the event tomorrow.”

“When she says ‘look around’, she really means Disneyland,” Jenny whispered, giggling as her wife gave her a playful nudge with her elbow.

“Oh - I totally get that,” Jenna giggled as the group made their way toward the airport’s main entrance. “Dad used to take us to Disneyland every summer, before - well, umm, we haven’t been in a while.” Jenna bit her lip as an awkward silence fell over the group.

“So, Jenna,” Danny said. “Rams or Chargers?”

“BOY,” Alexa and Jenny replied, pre-empting Nikki and Sarah and triggering a large giggling fit among all six women.

“I’m not really a football fan,” Jenna replied. “Well, not what we’d call football, anyway, those two - maybe.” Nikki and Sarah both giggled and blushed as Jenna gestured toward them. “My brothers are huge LA Galaxy fans, and I liked them when Beckham played for them, and now that Zlatan's here, well, hehe!”

“…Okay, you don’t get a ‘BOY’ for that, hehe!” Nikki giggled, earning a confused look from her wife.

“So you’re looking at footballers now, are you?” Sarah asked, making her wife’s cheeks flush as the Americans giggled at her expense.

“Katie - Hendo, that is - had posters of Beckham on her bedroom wall,” Nikki sighed. “As you already know.”

“…Yeah, I know,” Sarah said, making it up to her wife with a gentle cuddle.

“Oh - knock it off, you two,” Katie sighed. “I had to put up with these two on the plane for the last four hours.”

“Us!?” Jenny protested. “And you were snuggled how far into Danny?” the women all giggled as Katie blushed while her fiancé rolled his eyes, though Nikki couldn’t help but notice that her newest friend had a faraway look in her eyes.

“Jenna?” Nikki asked. “You okay?”

“Hmm?” Jenna replied. “Umm, yeah, I’m fine, it’s just...“

“Feeling a bit like a ‘seventh wheel’ among three other couples?” Sarah asked with a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay, I get it. Last few days in London hanging out with my friends Lauren and Ophelia and their other halves weren’t fun, heh. Even though I’ve known them for more than a few hours, I can get why this might be a little overwhelming!”

“Do - do you have a boyfriend, Jenna?” Nikki asked. “Or a girlfriend, of course?”

“Kinda between relationships right now,” Jenna replied. “So busy with work, especially this weekend, heh!”

“Yeah, I can definitely appreciate that!” Nikki giggled as they arrived at the taxi stand. “So… How are we going to do this? All seven of us aren’t gonna fit in one taxi…”

“Especially not with all the luggage SOMEONE brought along,” Katie teased her two best friends, who stuck their tongues out in response.

“Danny can take the roof,” Alexa suggested, earnings giggles from the women and an eye roll from her brother.

“Only if you go in the trunk,” Danny retorted.

“Tell you what,” Katie said, “how about you four take one taxi, and Jenna can come with us in the next one so she doesn’t pick up too many bad habits from you?”

“Bad habits?” Alexa asked. “Us?” The couples known as ‘Jexy’ and ‘Snikki’ pouted at their friends, before giggling and loading their luggage into the first taxi while the other three loaded their luggage into the second one.

“It’d probably be too confusing having two ‘Jen’s in one car anyway,” Sarah said, earning a giggle from her newest friend as the taxi set off.

The seven people arrived back at the hotel late in the evening, their excitement levels still high after their trip through the glistening city. As they waited in line to check in, though, the Minnesotans’ excitement levels rose even further when a familiar face approached them and immediately wrapped the newly married couple in a tight hug.

“Hey you two!” Stephanie happily squeaked. “I was hoping I’d get to see you this weekend!”

“Hey Steph!” Alexa said with a happy giggle. “SO wish you could’ve made it to Thanksgiving…”

“If I’d known in advance that was an option, believe me, I’d have gone,” Stephanie said with a sad sigh.

“Well, consider yourself permanently invited from now on,” Jenny said with a grin. “You AND Kayla.”

“Ah, the popular half of the band,” a refined London accent said from behind the group, making Stephanie roll her eyes and causing Alexa and Jenny’s excitement levels to rise even further.

“Ah, heh,” Stephanie giggled as the owner of the voice and her best friend approached the huddle. “Becca, Adeola, let me introduce Alexa and Jenny Quinn-Thompson. Alexa, Jenny, let me -“

“Yeah, we - we know who they are!” Jenny said nervously as she exchanged polite handshakes with the two singers, before giggling as they eschewed the handshakes in favour of gentle, friendly hugs.

“I was hoping we’d get to meet you properly,” Becca giggled. “My moron older brother’s always going on about our ‘American fan club’, heh!”

“Yeah,” Alexa giggled. “Speaking of moron older brothers, this is my brother Danny and his fiancée Katie.”

“Nice to meet you!” Adeola said as she and Becca exchanged hugs with the engaged couple.

“Is your brother feeling alright?” Becca asked. “He’s looking kinda flushed…”

“It might have something to do with the fact he’s surrounded by nine gorgeous women,” Alexa teased, giggling as her brother began to sweat even more.

“Eight,” Danny protested. “You’re my sister, you don’t count.”

“ONE,” Katie said firmly. “I’m your fiancée, I’m the ONLY one that counts.”

“BOY,” the nine women said simultaneously.

“Now we’re just being cruel,” Stephanie said with a giggle and a roll of her eyes. “The other BOYS are up in one of the rooms babysitting. Well I say ‘babysitting’, what they’re actually doing is playing video games while keeping one eye on the kids. I’ll get Stuart to text you which room they’re in. Assuming you don’t mind playing FIFA instead of Madden?”

“Uh, I - yeah, thanks,” Danny said, scuttling off seconds later as his phone beeped.

“Ahh...” Becca sighed happily. “Older brothers are FUN, hehe!”

“Is your Danny here this week, Steph?” Jenny asked as she and her wife received their room keys.

“No, he’s too busy with the pub,” Stephanie sighed. “Well, that and wedding prep. And prep for his fiancée’s birthday, which is next Thursday. So, kinda bad timing all around for him, heh. God…”

“Steph?” Alexa asked with a look of concern on her face.

“Oh, it - it’s nothing,” Stephanie sighed. “I’m just thinking - ‘cause I said I’d drop in and see him at the pub when I get back, just how weird it’ll be to get back to reality, heh.”

“And back to Kayla?” Alexa whispered, smiling sympathetically as Stephanie nodded.

“Anyway, I um, I should let you two couples get checked in,” Stephanie said, exchanging another hug with each of her friends. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure,” Alexa replied with a friendly smile.

“Come on,” Nikki said as she escorted her American friends to the elevator. “I’ll show you where the FUN party room is, hehe!”

“I’ll text Jacinta and other Katie to let them know we’re on our way,” Sarah said, prompting an excited look from one of her friends.

“Hendo’s here?” Katie asked excitedly as the elevator doors closed.

“Meanwhile,” Stephanie said to her two bandmates as she glanced to one of the lobby’s many chairs and the young woman that occupied it, “I thought I saw a familiar face hiding herself away! Becca, Adeola, this is Jenna Da Silva, PA for the Californiangels. Jenna- Jenna?”

“Hmm?” Jenna asked, suddenly distracted from her phone. “Oh, umm, sorry Steph, was kinda - never mind.” The smile quickly returned to the American girl’s face as she stood up to greet Stephanie’s bandmates. “Nice to meet you!”

“Likewise!” Becca said with a genuine smile.

“Take it my uncle and your bosses are keeping you busy ahead of tomorrow?” Adeola asked.

“Actually, everything’s just about ready,” Jenna replied. “Just need to start the show now, heh! You guys are performing tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“Only a couple of songs,” Becca replied. “The band just isn’t complete when there’s only three of us.” Stephanie suppressed a sad frown as she nodded in agreement.

“Though singing in front of an American crowd will be REALLY fun,” Adeola said. “Are we - are we, you know, popular over here?”

“Well - you’ve definitely got a lot of fans, that's for sure” Jenna giggled.

“The three women who just left, for starters,” Stephanie said to her bandmates, who beamed proud grins.

“And the woman you’re talking to now!” Jenna said. “I must’ve listened to your first album a million times when I was taking my SATs.”

“Glad we could help,” Adeola said. “Anyway, me, Bex and Riley are about to head out for a late drink - you two are welcome to come if you want?”

“I, umm, I’d better not - I’m still only 20,” Jenna replied.

“Ah - shit, forgot about that,” Adeola grimaced. “Legal drinking age in England is 18, you see.”

“Yeah, I - umm, I know, heh,” Jenna replied as her cheeks started to redden.

“I’d better - take a rain check? Is that how you say it over here?” Stephanie asked, smiling as Jenna nodded. “It’s, like, almost morning in England and I’m STILL struggling with these time zones, heh.”

“Okay,” Becca shrugged. “Well - see you tomorrow!”

“See you!” Stephanie giggled, waving after her bandmates as they left the hotel. “So, Jenna, what’ve you got planned now?”

“Umm, early night, probably,” the American woman replied.

“Don’t blame you,” Stephanie chuckled. “I’m probably going to head up to the party with Nikki and the others for a bit then get some kip myself.”

“Oh - okay,” Jenna said, a disappointed look spread across her face.

“…Though I suppose the party isn’t going anywhere,” Stephanie said with a soft smile. “Do - do you want to get a non-alcoholic drink?”

“Sounds good,” Jenna replied with a grin as the two women went to get a drink from a nearby vending machine, before returning to the lobby’s comfortable chairs.

“So then,” Stephanie asked as she took a sip of her Diet Coke, “nervous for tomorrow?”

“A little,” Jenna replied.

“More nervous for your cousin, though?” Stephanie asked.

“Well - kinda, I suppose,” Jenna said. “She’s been a model since she was fourteen, though, and I haven’t even been - umm…” Stephanie frowned in confusion as Jenna’s face began to redden.

“Je- Jenna?” Stephanie asked. “You’ve never been… What? A model? Me either, not professionally, I mean, I’ve posed for album covers and the odd promotional event, but - Jenna?” Stephanie paused as tears started to stream from her new friend’s eyes.

“I - I’m sorry,” Jenna sniffled. “I - I shouldn’t - ugh, talking to you, of all people…”

“Umm, what do you mean, ‘me of all people’?” Stephanie asked. “Jenna, if something’s wrong, please, I’d like to hel-“

“I’m transgendered,” Jenna suddenly blurted, stunning Stephanie into silence. “I - umm, I should - I need to go…”

“W- wait, Jenna, wait!” Stephanie said, chasing after the American woman as she raced to the elevator. “Please!” Stephanie groaned with frustration as the elevator doors closed, separating the two women and leaving Stephanie in a state of near panic.

It had never occurred to Stephanie that Jenna might be transgendered - she was barely taller than Stephanie herself, had a slender waist, well-defined curves and breasts even larger than her own. And yet, as Stephanie thought back, she realised that Jenna's nervousness wasn't just that of a mere fan - she'd obviously had something she'd wanted to tell Stephanie, a secret she didn't want to hide anymore. Stephanie grimaced as she remembered the start of her own transition, and realised that it was a feeling she was all too familiar with.

After taking a deep breath to compose herself, Stephanie reached for her phone and fired off a quick text message to Nikki, fidgeting nervously as she awaited her friend’s reply.

‘Hey Steph,’ Nikki’s message read. ‘Can pop out to chat for a bit, what’s up?’

‘Will explain when I see you,’ Stephanie said as she took the elevator to the floor her friends were gathered on and met her friend outside her room.

“What’s up?” Nikki asked with a concerned look on her face as she rendezvoused with Stephanie in the hotel corridor.

“Umm, uh,” Stephanie mumbled as she wondered how to sensitively word her concerns. “How - how much do you know about Jenna?”

“Jenna?” Nikki replied. “Hardly anything, I know she’s from here, from LA, her cousin’s one of the new Angels…”

“Did -“ Stephanie asked, before lowering her voice to a quiet whisper. “Did you know that she was, you know, umm… ‘Like us’?”

“Like u-“ Nikki said, before her eyes widened in shock. “You - you’re kidding, right? How did - how did you find out?”

“She told me,” Stephanie replied. “We were chatting about tomorrow, I asked her if she was nervous and she just blurted it out. Then she ran off before I could talk to her further about it. Do you have her number, have you got her on Facebook maybe?”

“Umm, I sent her a request, don’t think she’s replied yet,” Nikki replied. “Steph, I - I honestly wouldn’t have guessed, you know? Though… When you think about it, does it really matter? All the new friends we’ve made this week, hell, all we’ve experienced over the last few years…. I feel - I feel more ‘girl’ than ‘T-girl’, if that makes sense?”

“Perfect sense,” Stephanie replied. “I feel the same way, even if I haven’t had SRS.”

“Ooh, has - has Jenna...“ Nikki asked cautiously.

“Don’t know, didn’t ask,” Stephanie said. “Didn’t even think about that, if I’m honest. Guess that doesn’t matter either, heh.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Nikki said with a sympathetic smile. “So- so where do you think she is now?”

“Ugh, no idea, that’s why I was asking you,” Stephanie sighed. “Maybe with her cousin?”

“I haven’t got contact details for any of the Californiangels either,” Nikki sighed. “Ironically, if I needed to get in touch with one of them, I’d seek out Jenna, but as I haven’t got her on Facebook yet either, well, yeah. Ooh, but I know who might have some contact details- Jamie.”

“Right,” Stephanie said. “Where’s she right now?”

“Ah - out to dinner with some of the other Angels,” Nikki replied with a tired sigh.

“Oh - hey Steph!” Alexa said, interrupting the conversation as she approached. “Nikki, the film’s about to start, thought you’d want to know.”

“Thanks, I’ll be there in a bit,” Nikki replied with a grin. “We’re watching La La Land, heh. Felt it was appropriate given what city we’re in!”

“Yeah, Kayla loves that film,” Stephanie said with a sigh. “Alexa, do you, umm, do you have Jenna’s contact details by any chance?”

“Yeah, I got her number,” Alexa replied, earning a confused look from Nikki. “We swapped numbers while we were in the bathroom at the airport, why do you need it, weren’t you two just in the lobby?”

“There - there’s been a bit of a development,” Nikki said. “Turns out the three of us have more in common with Jenna than we thought.”

“Wh- wait, what?” Alexa said, her jaw dropping. “Really?”

“That’s what she said,” Stephanie replied. “Right before running off to god knows where. It’s like she told me, then just freaked out, and now - now I’m kinda worried.”

“Just a sec,” Alexa said, dashing back into the hotel room and emerging seconds later with her phone already pressed to her face. “It’s ringing. Hi, Jenna? It’s Alexa here, I’ve got Steph and Nikki with me, they’re kinda...“ Alexa paused, and bit her lip as she listened to her phone. “Jenna - Jenna, please, we’re concerned, and we...“ Alexa paused again and began to fidget, her knees gently trembling. “Just - just we know where you are. Please.” Alexa blinked back tears as she nodded and made a mental note of what she was told. “Okay. We’ll see you in a bit.” Alexa ended the call and took a deep breath, before grunting and stumbling forward only to be caught by her two British friends.

“Easy, easy,” Nikki said softly. “You did well, that is NOT a call I’d like to have made."

“Where is she?” Stephanie gently asked.

“In her room,” Alexa replied, taking several deep breaths to compose herself. “She sounded - she sounded like a mess, all panicky…”

“What number room is she in?” Nikki asked.

“622,” Alexa replied. “I - I’m, umm… I want to go too. I’ll let Jenny, Sarah and the others know we might be a minute.”

“Are you sure?” Nikki asked softly.

“I’m sure,” Alexa said, before letting out a quiet chuckle. “I mean, all the help you’ve given me, it’s the least I can do, right?”

“Only if you’re sure,” Nikki said, before grinning as her American counterpart nodded. “Alright then!”

“I’ll get the elevator,” Stephanie said as Alexa returned to their hotel room, only to emerge seconds later with a wide grin on her face.

“Everyone okay?” Nikki asked.

“Better than okay,” Alexa giggled. “I said that something came up and we’d be a few minutes, and everyone in there volunteered to come with us. Though I thought that Jenna might not want an entire army comforting her.”

“They’re all that concerned about her?” Nikki asked.

“Nope, didn’t mention Jenna by name,” Alexa said with a proud grin. “Just said that WE needed to do something, and everyone jumped up to help.” Nikki sighed happily as she wiped a solitary tear from her eye.

“We have the best family ever,” Nikki giggled as she and her two friends, or as she considered them, her sisters entered the elevator.

A short while later, the trio were standing outside room 622, where Stephanie took the lead and gently knocked on her new friend’s door.

“Hello?” Stephanie asked. “Jenna, are you there?”

“I - I’m here,” Jenna said in a tiny, emotional voice as she unlocked the door and allowed her friends in. “I’m sure you’ve got, like, a MILLION questions…”

“Just one,” Stephanie whispered. “Are - are you okay?” The three guests in the room all sighed softly as Jenna tearfully shook her head.

“Come on, sit down, take a deep breath,” Nikki said softly as she escorted Jenna back to her bed.

“Would you like something to drink?” Stephanie asked as she made her way to the room’s Keurig machine. “Umm… Alexa? Can you give me a hand with this thing?”

“I’m okay, thanks,” Jenna whispered.

“Do you mind if we have something?” Stephanie asked, smiling as Jenna shook her head. “I’ve got to admit, I - I was surprised when you told me what you told me. Not - not shocked, I mean, just - you know, surprised, it was kinda unexpected…”

“And we definitely mean that as a compliment,” Nikki said, giving her newest friend’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“Honestly, none of us would’ve guessed,” Alexa said softly.

“Thanks,” Jenna said with a tired chuckle. “I - I’m guessing you want the whole story, then?”

“Only if you want to tell it,” Nikki replied.

"I do," Jenna said, before taking a deep breath to compose herself.

The three guests sat and listened intently as Jenna described her early life - how her parents had rarely been around, how she'd been raised mostly by aunts and uncles and how they had been the only ones to support her when she had come out, and how she'd struggled to afford HRT until she began working for her cousin. After Jenna was finished explaining her story, Nikki asked a question that had been burning in the back of her mind.

“Do the other Californiangels know?” Nikki asked. “I mean, I’m guessing your cousin does, right?”

“They all know,” Jenna said. “But that’s as far as it goes, the public doesn’t know that their PA used to be a boy, god knows what they’d think if they did.”

“They’d wonder why you weren’t an Angel too?” Nikki asked, frowning as Jenna scoffed. “I’m serious, Jenna.”

“They’re all beautiful, successful, popular women,” Jenna retorted.

“As are you,” Stephanie said softly. “All four of those things.”

“I’m not a model, though,” Jenna protested.

“Neither was Viks when she joined the Angels,” Nikki retorted.

“And I’m only twenty,” Jenna said.

“So’s Abbey-Gayle,” Stephanie said. “Jenna, do - I mean, would you want to be an Angel?”

“…More than anything,” Jenna confessed with a sad sigh.

“Then why don’t you ask to join them?” Alexa asked.

“Because the Californiangels is a group of EIGHT women,” Jenna replied. “Because they’ve made all the promotional material, the merchandise…”

“All of that stuff can be replaced very cheaply,” Nikki assured her friend. “Besides, your bosses would love an excuse to pump out more merchandise.”

“Most of the stuff that was made when Out of Heaven had five members are now collector’s items,” Stephanie said.

“…But would I be accepted?” Jenna asked in a quiet, timid voice.

“You’re friends with all the Californiangels, aren’t you?” Nikki asked.

“Oh - I’m not worried about THEM,” Jenna said. “I mean - I mean, you know…”

“You’re worried the American public isn’t ready for a transgendered ‘Angel’?” Alexa asked. “Trust me when I say that WE are. More than ready, in fact.”

“You only regret the things that you DON’T do,” Stephanie said softly. “I think all four of us can speak from experience there.”

“Definitely,” Nikki and Alexa said simultaneously as they contemplated their lives - specifically, the rings on their left hands.

“…I’ll have a word with Christina tomorrow,” Jenna sighed. “But if they say no...“

“Then you’ll still be a beautiful, successful and popular woman,” Stephanie said. “You don’t need to be an Angel to be THAT.”

“Says the world-famous singer,” Nikki teased, giggling as Stephanie gave her a playful nudge. “She’s right, though.”

“Th- thanks,” Jenna said softly. “And - and I’m sorry for taking you away from...“

“Don’t apologise, seriously!” Nikki giggled. “That’s what friends - no, that’s what SISTERS are for.”

“Thanks,” Jenna whispered. "You guys are the REAL angels, heh!"

"Well - I won't argue," Nikki said with a proud giggle.

"Me either," Alexa said. "I mean, you don't need to be from Britain to be an Angel anymore, do you?"

"Hmm... Nope!" Jenna said with a quiet giggle.

“Are - are you going to be okay by yourself this evening?” Stephanie asked, before shaking her head. “Actually, scratch that, the rest of the girlies are going to watch La-La Land.”

“And there’s always room for one more,” Alexa said.

“…Sounds great,” Jenna said, giggling happily as her new friends escorted her out of her room and toward where the rest of their friends were gathered.

“You took your time,” Jenny teased her wife as she and her friends re-entered the room. “Is everything okay?” Alexa smiled as she stared back at her three friends, all of whom had happy smiles on their faces.

“…Yeah,” Alexa said. “I think everything’s going to be okay.”

“We invited Steph and Jenna to watch the film with us,” Nikki explained. “Guessing that’s not a problem?”

“Well that depends on one thing,” Sarah said. “Can you have too many friends?”

“No!” Everyone in the room cheered simultaneously.

After watching the film (and an ill-advised attempt by a tipsy Nikki, Sarah, Alexa and Jenny to recreate some of the dance sequences), the young women each decided to get an early night, eager to hit the ground running for what would be the busiest day of the entire trip.

Despite their sore heads, Nikki and Sarah woke up at 7:30am, and despite their overwhelming urge to remain in bed with each other, they immediately got up; and after showering and dressing for the day in short but smart dresses light-coloured tights, they headed down to breakfast in the hotel restaurant. As they sat down to eat, Nikki smiled with relief when she saw that Jenna was sitting with several of the other Californiangels, and, dressed in her clingy top and designer black skirt, she would never have guessed that Jenna wasn’t a member of the group - or indeed that she had ever been anything other than 100% female. The smile that Jenna flashed Nikki as she passed by was also reassurance for Nikki that everything was going to be okay.

“Think she’ll be okay?” Sarah asked quietly as she and her wife picked at their meals.

“Yeah,” Nikki replied with a grin.

“Think she’ll ever be an Angel?” Sarah asked in an even quieter voice, which made her wife pause to think.

“…I hope so,” Nikki replied. “Even if she isn’t, she’ll be alright.”

“Well, we’ll find out in July, at least,” Sarah said, prompting a confused look. “At AngelCon 2019? In London?”

“Assuming this year’s AngelCon is a success,” Nikki retorted.

“I’ve got a feeling it might just be,” Sarah said with a smug grin.

Sarah’s suspicions were proved correct a short while later when the taxi ferrying herself, Nikki, Hendo and Jacinta arrived at the venue to discover a crowd outside that put even the New York crowds to shame, both in terms of size and the noise that was being generated.

“…Wow,” Jacinta breathed.

“Tell me about it,” Nikki said as she stared at the excited crowds, among whom were many girls wearing t-shirts bearing the logo of the UK Angels.

“What a way to end the week, eh?” Hendo asked with a giggle. “Gonna be a bit of a downer when we get back to London…”

“Until AngelCon next year, anyway,” Sarah said. “Which I think we can say will DEFINITELY be going ahead, hehe!”

“Hell yeah!” The four women cheered as their taxi pulled into the venue, where many of their friends were already gathered.

"...Sounds like you did great," Jamie said softly, bringing a smile to Stephanie's face.

"I guess," the young singer sighed. "But, I - you know? I replay it in my mind, and..."

"Don't dwell on it too much," Jamie advised. "You did what you thought was best, and looking at Jenna now - I'd say you can be proud of yourself."

"Yeah, but..." Stephanie said, before sighing and blushing. "I - I wish you'd been there, you know? You're better at this sort of thing than I am..."

"Well, I can't be everywhere," Jamie chuckled. "Though it's good to know that even if I'm not, the job of 'guardian angel' is in good hands, heh!"

"Yeah," Stephanie said, before giggling and sighing as she and Jamie exchanged a gentle hug.

"If you weren't in Out of heaven," Jamie said, "you'd make a DAMN good Angel. But as it is, you definitely make an awesome friend."

"Thanks," Stephanie said with a happy, tired smile, which turned into an excited grin as she saw activity in the backstage area reach fever pitch. "Ooh, looks like it's almost showtime..."

"See you on the other side," Jamie said with a wink as she skipped over to the where the other Angels were standing, ready to go on stage.

Jamie allowed herself a moment to try to relax as she and the other Angels awaited their introduction to the LA crowds. Like Nikki, Stephanie and all of her friends, she had had a long, tiring week, made all the more exhausting by having to care for a young child as well. However, Jamie knew that she would come to look back on the tour with only fond memories. The places she’d seen, the fans she’d met and the friends she’d made would hold a special place in her heart for the rest of her life. And as she looked around her at the numerous other Angels from around the world, she knew that wherever she went, she'd always be surrounded by friends.

“I think it’s showtime!” Krystie giggled to her friends as the noise in the auditorium reached fever pitch and a familiar large-framed man walked out onto the stage. Jamie took a moment to adjust her form-fitting designer dress, before smiling as that familiar large-framed man strode out onto the stage.

“Hello Los Angeles!” The always ebullient voice of James Corden reverberated through the auditorium, drowned out only by the noise of the crowd.

Jamie found herself only partially paying attention to the famous MC's introduction, before the familiar strains of 'Angels' by Robbie Williams filled the arena and she and her nine colleagues strode out onto the stage.

“What’s up, LA?” Jamie yelled into her microphone, whipping the crowd into an even greater frenzy. Jamie didn't doubt that many of the crowd knew the 'truth' about her, but if they did, they certainly didn't seem to care, which made Jamie all the happier to be in front of them. Jamie also knew the same was true for all of the other transgendered Angels as the other international groups were introduced to the LA crowd.

“And now,” James announced into his microphone, “give it up for LA’s very own: The Californiangels!”

Jamie stood back and grinned as the eight young women walked into centre stage and soaked up the adoration from their fans. Jamie didn’t mind playing second fiddle on this occasion, and neither did any of the other Angels - after all, the Californiangels were their friends, and Jamie was happy for them to have their time in the spotlight. Besides, in eight months’ time it would be time for the second AngelCon from London, when Jamie, Charlotte and the other Angels WOULD take centre stage.

However, Jamie still couldn’t get out of mind the niggling thought that there were still no transgendered Angels in the US…

“Alright!” James cheered as he retook the stage and stood among the Californiangels. “Come on, gather round, gather round. So, how does it feel to officially be Angels!”

“It feels amazing!” Nikita, one of the Californiangels, replied.

“Being here, on stage, with so many amazing women is just incredible,” Christina enthused. “We really have been made to feel like we’re part of the family.”

“And so are all of you!” Nikita yelled, earning loud cheers from the crowd.

“We’ve got a short clip from the premiere of your show,” James announced. “After that, think you can stick around and answer a few questions?”

“I think we can, yep!” Nikita replied with a giggle as the auditorium lights dimmed and a TV clip played on the big screen.

After the clip played, the eight Californiangels were given comfortable chairs to sit in and answer questions, while Jamie and the other international Angels retreated to the backstage area to watch. Jamie found her attention wandering as questions were asked about the Californiangels’ lives, their relationships, fashion choices, likes and dislikes, but her attention was brought straight back when the one question she was anticipating was asked.

“A lot of the other Angels from around the world have transgendered girls in them,” the audience member asked. “A lot of fans were disappointed when neither the New York nor California Angels had trans girls in them. Was this a deliberate choice?”

“Not at all,” Christina immediately replied. “We were chosen to be part of the group as we’ve all worked with at least two other girls from the group in the past, so we all know each other. But that doesn’t mean that this group is fixed, never gonna change - the English girls added new members a few years ago, and we’ll probably do the same in the future. Maybe the next girl we add to the group will be transgendered - after all, there’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t.” The applause that reverberated through the arena brought a smile to Jamie’s face, but it was the knowing look on Christina’s face that made Nikki grin- a grin that was reflected on Jenna’s face, who knew exactly what her cousin was implying.

After the Q&A session ended, Jamie and the rest of the Angels were escorted back to the arena concourse, where they spent the rest of the day meeting their fans, signing autographs, taking selfies and answering the fans’ many questions. Unlike in New York, Jamie didn’t return to the stage to answer any questions, but she didn’t mind - interacting with the fans one to one was just as satisfying for Jamie, especially the fans who told her how inspired they'd been by her. Jamie didn't ask what any of the fans had meant by that, but she didn't need to. All she needed to know was that there were girls out there who she had helped, and that there were still many more who she could help.

The arena was buzzing for the rest of the afternoon as thousands of fans lined up for autographs and selfies, as well as at the many merchandise stands and the other attractions that had been laid on, including karaoke machines, costume competitions and much more.

As the day drew to an end and the crowds began to thin, all the people in the arena - fans, Angels and PAs alike - returned to the auditorium where the MC had once again taken to the stage.

“Has everyone had a great time?” James yelled to the crowd, who all replied with excited, albeit tired cheers. “Before we go we’ve got one last treat for you all! Singing a song I’m sure you all know, give it up for Out of Heaven!” The crowd applauded as Stephanie, Becca and Adeola took to the stage, microphones in hand.

"Hello Los Angeles!" Becca yelled to the delight of the crowd. "We want you ALL singing along to this one."

"'Cause as far as we're concerned," Adeola said, "you're ALL our friends."

"When you're down and troubled,
And you need a helping hand,
And nothing, nothing is going right,
Close your eyes and think of me,
And soon I will be there,
To brighten up even your darkest night.

You just call out my name,
And you know wherever I am,
I'll come running, oh yeah baby, to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall,
All you've got to do is call,
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah,
You've got a friend..."

As the song reached its climax and the crowd screamed, Stephanie couldn’t help but feel mixed emotions, even as she exchanged a hug with her bandmates. On the one hand, she’d just sung in front of a massive crowd in one of the biggest cities in the world, but on the other hand, Kayla wasn’t there to share it with her. Stephanie knew just how much of a kick Kayla would’ve got out of singing in front of such a huge crowd

As the venue slowly emptied, Jamie, Nikki and Stephanie found themselves sitting together, watching with melancholy looks as the venue staff stripped the decorations away.

“Kinda feel, you know, deflated now,” Nikki mused as she slumped back in her chair. “We’ve been planning for this for so long, and now that it’s over, you know?”

“Oh - definitely,” Jamie said. “Jonathan and Joshua are really happy, they say our profile’s, like, exploded in America, but - dunno.”

“I know what you mean,” Stephanie said. “I mean, singing on stage in Hollywood should be a highlight of my career, but now that I’ve done it - you know?”

“Yeah,” Jamie sighed. “And - I guess, I - I just hope we’ve done some good. Like, we’ve accomplished something other than just making money, or fame, that we’ve been able to help someone, you know?”

“I think we can say ‘mission accomplished’ there,” Nikki giggled as she watched Jenna walk past, deep in conversation with her cousin. “I reckon both groups of American Angels are going to work out fine. Both official groups, anyway - the unofficial American Angels have of course been doing great for years!”

“Speaking of, where are Jexy?” Stephanie asked.

“Heading back to the hotel,” Nikki replied. “They’ve decided - or rather, Alexa decided and Jenny agreed - to spend a day at Disneyland tomorrow. Kinda wish I was going with them, heh. But, you know, duty calls.”

“Especially now that someone’s received the promotion they deserve!” Stephanie teased, making her young friend giggle and blush.

“Seriously,” Jamie concurred. “This tour wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without the work you put in. Both of you.”

“If you can call being adored by thousands of fans ‘work’!” Stephanie giggled. “Ahh… Though I guess it would’ve been if we’d gone to any of the, you know, bible belt states?”

“Well - you can only educate people one at a time,” Jamie said. “And god - heh, irony - knows there are millions of Brits who could use a better education. The real ‘work’, heh.”

“Well, we’re leaving America in capable hands, at least,” Nikki chuckled. “At least the next two, France and Holland, will be less than eight time zones away!”

“I’m already looking forward to it!” Jamie giggled. “But I’m looking forward to getting home first. Can’t wait to sleep in my own bed, heh.”

“Same here,” Stephanie sighed. “But we are totally coming back to America, aren’t we?”

“Oh, hell yes!” Jamie cheered, before leading her friends to a nearby refreshments table and grabbing three drinks. “I think this calls for a toast - to the United States of America - the perfect host for the last week, and home to millions of new friends!”

“The USA!” Nikki and Stephanie both cheered with wide grins on their faces.

All of the many men and women who flew home the following day were exhausted following their long week, and looking forward to returning to their London homes, but all of them found that a part of them longed to be back on the western side of the Atlantic Ocean in the nation that was their home for a week. They’d worked hard, entertained their fans, raised their public profile and even, in a limited way, raised awareness of the struggles many girls and boys go through on a daily basis, simply because their bodies don’t match their true selves.

But what the men and women thought most about were the many friends, old and new, that they’d met during their trip. Friends who would always hold a special place in their hearts, no matter how many miles separated them, because of the one simple truth - you can never have too many friends.