Rose’s Song –

 A Savage Garden Fan Fiction Story

[Disclaimer: This story is fictional! In my mind and dreams, I am "Rose". I received my inspiration not only from several SG songs but also by hearing "Lucky" by Britney Spears (the song is all right but it helped!!) - Copyright Darren's Angel - J. M. Smekar -  2000]

Rose was a little nervous for her 2 performances at the local arena in front of the home crowd. She knew that the fans were excepting something good tonight from her and she was quite nervous. She crawled out of bed, and found her assistant Becca working on the usual pile of correspondence and fan mails.

"Good morning, Rose", Becca said.

"Morning", Rose said yawning, "How much today?"

"Loads of it today", Becca said "The fans are excited today because there will be a special guest tonight duet for your #1 hit song – ‘You’re Here With Me’ but the producers have sworn me to secrecy."

"Please tell me" Rose said "I want to find out."

"Just wait until tonight, by the way, I have today’s agenda. Remember the press conference is at 1 p.m. at the arena, then afterward is the sound check and the meet and greet at 4 PM, then you change, then the show at 8 P.M.. The stylists will be here soon." Becca reminded her.

"Okay" Rose said as she ate a salt bagel and drank a cup of hot chocolate. She was thinking of the duet partner that was the special surprise for her. After finishing her breakfast, she took a shower. When she came out, her stylists were waiting for her.

Her clothes stylist, Karin, had picked out a black satin top that showed off her cleavage with a pair of black capri pants and black platform heels. Then her hairstylist, Annie, fixed her hair in a French twist and curled the top of what was in the ponytail part. Annie did her make up simply because the really theatrical makeup was for later. Rose put on her favorite hoop earrings and gold necklace with the charm given to her by her sister for luck.

"The coast is clear, Rose. The limo is waiting" Becca said as the entourage escorted Rose down the hotel’s backstairs to the waiting limo. Rose was driven to the arena where the lights on the board said "Welcome home Rose, we love you. The show is sold out."

******

Rose saw a huge crowd of people of many ages waiting at the gate that held up pictures of her and posters with a variety of sayings. Several young men even held signs asking Rose if she would marry them.

Rose was escorted into the arena amidst the screaming fans. She waved to them and smiled. The crowd really responded by screaming louder.

The head of the conference said, "Hit Tunes Recording Artist, Rose, please welcome her!"

The press began to shoot questions to Rose.

"Are you dating anyone?"

"What’s it like having an #1 single"

"Do you know who the special duet partner is?"

"What’s it like living on the road?"

"What do you think of your fans?"

"How does it feel to be home?"

Rose began to answer each question as calmly as possible:

"What is your next single to be released?"

"How do you feel about being nominated for a Grammy?"

"Who are your musical influences?"

Rose answered each question calmly:

*****

After an hour, the press conference drew to a close. Rose was escorted away so she could prepare for sound check and meet & greet. The stylists fixed her makeup and hair. A group of selected fans from a local station had the chance to get autographs, take pictures, and watch the sound check. They were all so excited to see Rose, and she wasn’t so nervous anymore. After the events were over, Rose went to the dressing room. She put on the CD of Savage Garden’s Affirmation and did some relaxation techniques, then her voice stuff to limber her voice more with her voice coach. During the voice work, Becca came in and handed Rose a long, white box with a red ribbon on it.

Rose said "What’s this?"

Becca said, "Some delivery guy gave it to me, for you. Don’t worry I checked it out."

Rose opened the box to see a dozen roses and a teddy bear with a card that read: "From your secret partner for tonight, for luck. See you on stage for ‘You’re here with me’ plus I want to sing one of my songs with you after that. Kisses!!"

Rose said, "I wonder who it is. He must be popular and pretty nice to want me to duet with him after he sings with me."

Becca said, "Its time for dinner, then you have to change. The show is in 2 hours."

Rose nervously ate little but was eventually persuaded to eat more because the show was going to take everything she had. She put her reddish brown hair down, and was dressed in a short black sheath dress that she picked off the rack recently. She put on the Walkman to listen and relax to more music to prepare while her nails and makeup was being done. She was hearing the music from the opening act.

******

The stage manager said, "Time for you, 5 minutes, Rose."

Everyone huddled together for a short prayer then her keyboardist said: "Let this night be special, and may Rose have a great performance."

The announcer said loudly, "Are you ready for ROSE???"

The crowd of 22,000 was on their feet and screaming loudly, and chanting her name. She walked on stage and waved as the crowd was still making noise.

"It feels great to be home. Thanks for the warm welcome. Are you ready to rock tonight?" she said as she grabbed the microphone. The crowd responded favorably and very loud.

"I am going to start off with a personal favorite oldie of mine that was my 1^st release, please join me…"

Rose began to sing, "Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn’t have to wait so long…..",

The crowd began to sing along to the familiar tune. She was no longer nervous as she led the crowd into the final notes of the song. She finished the song and was given a standing ovation.

"Thank you for the warm welcome from my home state fans. I would like to perform my second single ‘This Woman’, please dance with me!" she said

The crowd began to dance as the fast tempo song began. "I was lonely in the club, and no one wanted to dance with her….This woman is special, she really wants to dance….Come and ask me to dance…" The crowd cheered loudly and danced.

At the end of the song, she said " I was told that I was going to get a special surprise tonight. I would like the surprise to come out to join me for ‘You’re Here With Me’." The keyboardist blindfolded Rose then the surprise duet partner was led out to loud cheers.

He said, "Welcome, everyone, I am happy to be here!" in an Australian accent. Rose thought she was really hallucinating but she realized it was really Darren Hayes. The crowd was really pumped now.

"Thank you Darren for joining me tonight. Will you now introduce the song?" Rose said a semi nervous voice.

"With much pleasure, here is ‘You’re Here With Me’", Darren said.

The piano was led out with loud cheers with Darren’s guitarist, Daniel Jones to play.

"Please welcome Mr. Daniel Jones to the stage." Daniel acknowledged the audience, then started the intro to the song. Both Rose and Darren leaned on the piano and faced the stage as the notes began to rise and Rose began to sing:

"Some place far, far away, I was alone in a way that I had never felt before, You told me that you could not stay, and my heart became broken."

Then Darren joined in: "I was confused and alone, not sure what to do. I had to go in a way that would not hurt you. I realized I was wrong and needed to return to you."

Then Rose and Darren started into the chorus, "Now you’re here with me, I am not afraid anymore because you are here with me, just stay the night because I need you here with me.."

Rose sang: "You were never far from my thoughts, I missed you with every heart beat, with every beat of my heart, I need you here with me even though you are far away now, please come home to me now."

Then they started into the chorus again, ""Now you’re here with me, I am not afraid anymore because you are here with me, just stay the night because I need you here with me.."

Then the piano went into the bridge then they sang "Ooooh, oooh, oooh…."

Then Rose simply said during the piano break: "I see you here now, I have nothing to fear now. You are here with now, I will never let you out of my sight…Stay the night, and never stay far from my side."

Then Rose and Darren sang the chorus again, ""Now you’re here with me, I am not afraid anymore because you are here with me, just stay the night because I need you here with me.. Now you’re here with me, I am not afraid anymore because you are here with me, just stay the night because I need you here with me.."

The crowd went wild as they took a bow holding hands. Rose was a little surprised that Darren even did that. But he led her into another bow because the crowd demanded it.

After a few minutes, the crowd calmed down.

Darren asked the crowd, "How many would like me to perform one of my hits with Rose?"

The crowd realized that this was a treat in the making and cheered loudly. Darren gave the signal for Daniel to begin the song.

The crowd went wild as the beginning of "Truly Madly Deeply" began.

Darren looked at Rose, then spoke to the crowd. "You all know this song is one of her favorites, and that’s why I wanted her to sing along with me.. Please join us…"

"I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your fantasy…." Rose and Darren began to sing.

The crowd joined in and singing loudly, as they got into the chorus, "I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea, I want to lay like this forever, until the sky falls down over me…ooh oooh.."

The crowd was totally into at the point as Rose and Darren finished the song. After the song was over, the crowd gave them a 5-minute ovation. Rose was overcome with emotion as she spoke, "Thank you Darren and Daniel for joining me on stage tonight, It is a night I shall never forget…". The crowd cheered loudly as she regained her composure to finish the show.

She finished her 6-song set with Darren and Daniel watching from offstage. They applauded loudly after each song. Then Darren walked back on stage after Rose’s final song.

"Who wants to hear another duet?" he said.

The crowd got very vocal and cheered loudly.

"Rose will you join me?" Darren said.

"Of course" , she said

Darren took her hand, then Daniel started playing the notes on the guitar to begin "Affirmation"

"I believe the sun should never set upon an argument….." Darren began then Rose joined him to help sing the song.

The crowd was just going wild, but staying in control, and was dancing in the aisles. They would never forget this night. They sang along with Darren and Rose. They knew every word by heart.

Then the final notes and the last words were sung by all: "I believe that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone…."

"Thank and good night, everyone" Rose said. "Please give you applause to Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones of Savage Garden for being my surprise guests…"

The crowd went wild as Rose, Darren, and Daniel walked off as the crowd continued to cheer. They all grabbed some water and wiped themselves off with a towel. Then Darren asked Rose, "Let’s do one last song, your favorite movie song, I have the sheet music here as an encore."

Rose said, "Sure. Thank you!"

Daniel took the sheet music to "My Heart will go on.", and walked back on stage. The crowd went nuts as Darren and Rose walked out. The familiar notes came from the keyboard then Rose began to sing: "Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you, that is how I know you go on."

Then Darren said, "Lets sing the rest, please join us."

"Far across the distance, and spaces between us…I believe that the heart does go on…." The crowd was quiet during the song and began to link arms and swayed back and forth as the song was being sung.

Rose and Darren finished the song, "You’re here there is nothing I fear, there is nothing I fear and I know that my heart will go on, Once more, you open the door, and you’re here in my heart and my heart will go on and on."

*****

The crowd cheered loudly as everyone took one last bow. Then they left the stage for good this time. Rose nearly collapsed from the exhaustion. Darren caught her and helped walk her to the dressing room. She was given another bottle of water then she said, "Pinch me please…This is all a dream.."

Everyone stood there, then her assistant Becca said, "It is not a dream, I have been trying to keep it secret for a while. I am quite surprised that it didn’t get out in the media."

"Thanks everyone, I shall never forget this night forever." Rose said gratefully.

She raised her water bottle then everyone hit them together in a toast of sort. Then she received congrats, hugs, and kisses from everyone including Darren and Daniel.

Rose said, "I would like a few minutes alone with Darren and Daniel. Thanks."

Everyone stepped out, then Rose said "Thank you for making this a night to never forget. Thank you for your gifts and for joining me on stage."

Darren said, "You did beautifully. I wanted to write a song for you but initially I did not have the right inspiration, now I do. Thank you for the chance."

Daniel said, "I was quite taken back when you began to sing. I was totally touched. Thank you for your kind words."

Rose said, "May I have a few moments with Darren, alone please if you don’t mind."

Daniel said, "Of course, take all of the time you need."

Daniel left the room, and closed the door to allow Darren and Rose to talk.

Darren and Rose sat in her dressing room for several hours talking and laughing. They definitely had hit it off in a major way. They talked about family, music, friends, and much more.

Daniel opened the door to let Darren know the limo was going to leave shortly.

"I’ll be right there" he told Daniel, then Daniel walked through the tunnel to the limo.

"It was a great honor to sing with you tonight, Darren, thank you for making my dream come true." Rose said and her voice began to crack, she was on the verge of tears.

"Thank you, you are so welcome", Darren said then he took Rose’s hand and placed a piece of paper in it. She was so shocked with what was going that she never noticed it there.

Then Darren told her to come with him. He led her down the tunnel to the waiting limo. She was totally smitten at this point. He asked her if he could kiss her good night.

"Yes, you may." Rose said, then he kissed in a way she had never been kissed before. It was a totally new experience, and it seemed like her body was melting like it was butter, and she felt so warm and different.

"I will miss you, Rose. Come to Brisbane for a show sometime. I am taking your CD with me so I can get someone to get on the radio. People really need to hear your messages and songs." Darren said tenderly.

"Good bye Darren, and thank you again. Do see me anytime you are free. I will miss you, too." Rose said, then before she realized it, she was crying.

Darren did not see Rose’s tears, then as he turned around to wave good bye near the limo, he saw Rose’s tears. He came back and gave her a long hug then said, "I have to really go now, read the paper in your hand, okay?"

******

Rose waved good bye with tears in her eyes. She held out her hand and she watched Darren blow her a kiss. She watched the limo pull away then she was just stunned and stood there a few minutes. Then she opened her hand to read the piece of paper. It read:

"Thank you Rose for a great night on stage, you were wonderful, take care of yourself, I will ask my agent and yours to get you to do a few shows in Australia, I love you and your music. Here is my number, and secret word so you can me anytime that you need a friend. Kisses, Darren."

Becca saw Rose standing there and led her away. The limo was long gone. It was time for her to get to bed because there was another show tomorrow, then she would be going to take time off to travel and write music for her follow up album.

Becca put her arm around Rose, and told her that the show was wonderful. Rose couldn’t speak, and was a little embarrassed to tell Becca what had happened.

The next day, Rose read the review in the paper:

"Local Girl Makes Great, and Gives the Town a Night to Remember: She gets a surprise guest duet with Savage Garden. It was a night to remember for home-stater Rose. She had a huge night with an incredible line up plus she received the surprise of her life by getting to duet with Savage Garden’s Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones. She performed such hits as ‘This Woman’, ‘Wouldn’t be nice’ and a few more that have yet to be released. The true highlights were the duets with Darren Hayes on ‘You’re here..’, Truly, Madly Deeply,’ and ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ The crowd loved it and it was a night that I won’t forget. Truly, it was the best concert I have ever attended, and worth the money to see. Rose’s remaining stops in Chicago, Minneapolis, and California, are sold out including an 2^nd show here in Detroit. Thank you Rose and best of luck on your next album. Her next album is due for release in the fall, it is yet untitled."

The paper praised the show highly. There were even several pictures of her duet with Darren. Rose was stunned to see the pictures, and ensured that copies were given to her family in frames for them to remember since they were unable to attend the 1^st show.

******

She sat in her room, and opened her journal that she used to write her experiences and songs. She began to write: "Yesterday I had the night of my life. I got to sing my song with Darren Hayes. It was amazing, and what a surprise. Then we did a few of his group’s songs. After the show, we spent hours talking. Then just before he left, he kissed me goodbye, and gave me a note to treasure. Hopefully, Australia will be a stop for me soon. I miss him, and I hope he really means what he wrote. I am sure that he does. If what happens gets out, it may be horrible. Oh well, que sera sera. I hope he will call again."

Rose completed the tour within 2 months, and hadn’t heard from Darren that whole time. The remaining weeks were a blur. She thought "he is just like the other guys, and only likes me for the money and the fact I am famous." Her train of thought was broken when her cell phone rang when she was in her room at home.

"Hello", she said

"G’day Rose, how are you", Darren said

"I am doing good, yourself." Rose said.

"Very well, thank you. I have arranged for a few shows in Australia. The radio people loved your CD especially ‘You’ re here..’ People are really eating it up." Darren said.

"I will come, if it is okay." Rose said.

The following week, Rose flew to Australia to perform in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, and finally, Brisbane. The crowds loved her especially her dance songs. She spent a lot of time off stage with Darren, and realized she was truly falling for him.

******

One day, she was in a store in Brisbane getting some snacks and saw a huge headline on a tabloid paper: "Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes and Rose the singer of ‘You’re here’ are having a passionate affair, details inside." Rose dropped the bag of chips and left her cola at the counter and ran out of the store, and back to the hotel.

Rose was very devastated. She ran back to the hotel and called Darren on her cell phone.

"What’s wrong?" he said.

"It’s in the tabloids, us, they have all wrong.", Rose said.

"I never said anything, someone blabbed and that wasn’t right.", Darren said in a voice of concern.

"Come and see me at the hotel, just come in disguise so you aren’t noticed. It will be in America, the story soon.", Rose said and her voice was shaking at this point then they hung up the phone.

Darren managed to get to the hotel where Rose was undetected. She was in tears but Darren comforted her. He told her that people will sometimes do anything for a dollar even if it means telling lies. She told him that she knew that her life was not hers but some things needed to be private and still be hers. He understood completely. After a while, Rose felt better, and Darren left under disguise again so he would be undetected by the media.

Soon Rose was getting a lot of phone calls about the alleged affair. She simply said that she and Darren were friends and nothing more. It was becoming hard not to tell that anyone that she was in love and he with her.

*****

One night, Rose wrote in her journal for nearly an hour:

"These trash papers have it all wrong. They don’t understand that I am not having an affair with Daz. We are just dating and that’s isn’t wrong the last time I read the rulebook! I never realized what things I had to give up to be famous. I can’t even go to my parents’ house without photographers following me. I have to be in disguise to lead a semi-normal life. I miss shopping at the mall, going out to McDonald’s and being with my friends, playing cards, etc. I am glad that most of the fans are good and don’t believe everything they read. I just went to my official web site and posted a message for the fans to not believe the stories that they hear. The fans were amazing and nice about everything. There are over 100 posts already in over an hour. I am happy that I can still be myself regardless of what others say or write. I am a little prudish to write my true feelings about Daz here in case someone comes across this journal, so I will just keep those thoughts between myself and God."

She later found out that a member of her entourage saw her and Darren kiss that night, and decided to sell the story. That person was immediately fired for betraying her trust and telling lies to the media.

*****

Rose and Darren continue to see each other but it was something they kept a secret. If the media caught on, she would be in major trouble. But it was all worth it because she was in love. They did manage a 3-day holiday together so they could time alone together because she had to go back to America to start her new album.

They were more in love than ever but feared public outcry if they made it the affair public. The last night they spent together on a deserted beach, they cuddled together, and just laid there all night with the waves rolling on the beach.

Nothing intimate happened for them but they knew they had to separate at the airport in the morning. Then the moment happened at the airport on the private airstrip.

She gripped Darren’s hands tight and said, "I don’t want to leave you now."

Darren said, "Go and record the album, then call me."

Then he sang for her: "I love you more with ever breath, truly, madly, deeply, do.. I will be faithful.." then he kissed her goodbye.

Then she boarded her private plane and it took off. She had plenty of memories to sustain her but it was the longest ride of her life. Rose cried during much of the ride not knowing what her future was.

What would happen with Darren? She wouldn’t know.

****

She recorded the album ‘My Love’ and released it to critical acclaim. In her liner notes she wrote: "I ador mi amore D.S.H., merci beaucoup…" in addition to her other lines. No one knew whom she was referring to since she disclosed little about her private life to the media.

Darren received a copy of her new CD, and was moved by the words and music. He realized that he missed her too. A few weeks had past since the album’s release. Rose was busy working on the next set of dates to do some promos for the album and personal appearances in 12 cities. But Darren was never far from her mind. The piece of paper he gave the night of her duet was always with her for inspiration and good vibrations.

****

Rose was in her condo by herself in her room one afternoon. Her entourage had been given the week off and went to do things and relax so she was alone. She switched on the radio, and began to listen. She listened intently to "When Doves Cry" by Prince, "Endless Summer Nights" by Richard Marx, "I’ve had the time of my life" by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley.

The DJ on the radio station said, "The fans of Rose want to dedicate this song to her in thanks for the great concerts and great second album!" and then her favorite song came on:

"Truly Madly Deeply". At this point she just buried her head in her pillow, and started to cry. As the song began: "I’ll be your wish I’ll be your fantasy…" Rose’s mind flashed back to the night in Detroit when she got to sing on stage with Darren.

"What would happen was up to God," she thought. "Someday, I can tell the world, and so can he that we belong together, when the time is right…. When the time is right…"

She was ready to take a nap one afternoon when someone rang her doorbell. It was Darren. He asked her if he could come in. She accepted, and they were able to spend time without having to disclose the fact that they were dating.

A few days later, Someone knocked on the door of her suite, Rose said, "One moment, please".

She wiped the runny makeup quickly so no one would know that she had been crying. Then she opened the door, and a man had his back turned. Rose was a little afraid, then the man turned around. It was Darren.

He said, "I couldn’t stay any longer. I missed you!"

They embraced tightly and then walked into the room. She was a little taken back, then she asked, "Why and how did you get here?"

He said, "I made the arrangements with a little help from Daniel. I missed you, and I wanted you to hear this song. I am sure you that may have never heard it before. It is from the 1^st album." Then he placed the CD in the CD player, and the beginning notes of "Universe" began to play.

They just laid there on the bed in a tight embrace as the song played. Darren stroked her hair and then she laid her head on his chest:

Then "their song" came on as they just laid there and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

They just let the CD play several times over. What would happen in their future? Would Rose give up her career as her 2^nd album just reached number #1 and her new single "My Everything" was rising rapidly up the charts to be with him and join him on the road for his upcoming tour? Only they and God knew what was in the future ahead!

Like Scarlett O’Hara said, "After all, tomorrow is another day."