Lady in Red Pt. 02 Ch. 15

"You're telling me that we four are going to host the show, and that three of us may be nominated for awards, but one of us is coming up short?" asked Steve. "If that's the case, I'll be the only one of us that can claim to have three dear friends being considered for Academy Awards. You guys deserve them."

"I still won't have as many nominations as you, Smart Guy. You won twice for two of the 'Sparta' movies you wrote, and you were nominated for best actor in 'Rise of the Warrior'. I won once for 'Rise of the Queen', was nominated for 'Rise of the Empire', and Jordan and Charlie won for their song, 'Midnight Lights'. We're still trying to catch up.

"Besides, I know you. Awards and honors don't really mean that much to you. You're a humble guy. You'd stay out of the spotlight entirely if it were possible for a man that looks as good as you, and does all of the great things that you do, to go unnoticed," insisted Gwen. "But, you're representing President Hanson the next couple of days. You'll be noticed then, for sure!"

"I didn't intend to start anything," interrupted Stephanie. "I was merely pointing out how well things are going for 'Lady in Red' at the moment. Representing President Hanson here, performing tomorrow, hosting, and possibly winning at the Academy Awards is a heck of a lot of positive PR. It makes my job easy."

"Speaking of easy, Jason is going to get so lucky again tonight," proclaimed Lisa as she pointed to a necklace she was wearing. "He bought this for me today in a jewelry store on Champs-Elysees! It's the only thing I'll be wearing to bed tonight!"

There was silence as the men stared at Lisa. "Okay, that's enough!" stated Paula. "You guys are like vultures looking at road kill. I'd suggest that you don't make statements like that, Lisa. Men are very visual and you just planted a vision in their heads that won't soon go away."

"I'll be erasing it from Chip's little brain, if not from his little head, as soon as we get to our room," declared Kate. "He won't remember anything but this cowgirl..."

"Okay, Kate!" interrupted Chip. "Let's talk about something else since we have your mother and father here with us. We don't get to see them that often. How are you enjoying Paris, Mrs. Anderson?"

"A minute ago, I thought I was having a great time here, but Kate's made me wonder. Cowgirl?" asked Paula as Kate finally blushed a little. "To think that Ted keeps insisting on 'reverse cowgirl' all of the time!"

"Mom!" gasped her daughters in unison, while Ted, along with the rest of the group, broke into gales of laughter.

The next morning was the day of the funeral service. At first, it was thought that there would be two services because of the number of deaths and the difficulty in identifying some of the bodies. But with all of the children's' DNA's on record, identification was quickly accomplished.

There were numerous world leaders attending and the French government was concerned about their safety. The terrorists had been identified as a small cell of about ten, but none of them had been apprehended thus far. Jordan, Charlie, Gwen, and Steve were joined by Senator Chatham for a working breakfast.

"There are more than a few pissed off politicians here in Paris today," began Chatham. "They complained bitterly about a freshman Congresswoman, a Navy Lieutenant, and a couple of singers representing President Hanson. He decided on you for several reasons. The number one reason is sitting next to you, Gwen. Steve is known to be certain death on terrorists and that means a lot to a city suffering from a horrendous terrorist act. Secondly, you're loved all around the world, and no where more than here in France. Then there's the fact that you have no party affiliation, so this can't be considered a political move. Finally, Jordan and Charlie are extremely popular here, especially their music. It all adds up to a no brainer for Hanson.

"You'll be asked to speak and I suggest that Steve do most of it since he's fluent in French and that's huge to the people in this country. Don't be controversial and don't promise anything from the U.S. Just be sympathetic. I don't have to tell you what to say. I've never seen anyone that can say the right thing at the right time the way all of you do."

"Are we expected to smile and be all warm and friendly with the politicians that have been bashing Gwen so badly?" asked Jordan. "Personally, I don't think we need them, or their approval. Gwen and Steve are at the top, and the rest of them are just playing catch-up, and not doing a very good job."

"You're right, but when you represent President Hanson and the U.S., you have to always be patient and courteous to everyone, regardless of what they really deserve. Please be kind, and always be civil in public."

"I think we understand what you're saying and we'll do our best," promised Gwen. "This is for President Hanson and the U.S. and the people of France, and not for any sleazy politicians. We promised Michelle we'd meet her there well before the services, so we could discuss the plans for today and tonight. Would you care to join us, Senator?"

"Absolutely!" replied Senator Chatham. "I want to see you young people work your magic in person. You make news wherever you go. Just tagging along with you is good for my image," admitted Chatham. "Let's go!"

The group arrived several hours before the services were going to be held. Afterward, they were going to join in a procession from the bombed orphanage to the church to commemorate the lost and injured children and to show unity. Within half an hour of their arrival, news crews began showing up. Steve and his friends stood around speaking with Michelle, her father, and civic leaders. A dozen policemen patrolled the area, which served to remind everyone that the terrorists had not yet been apprehended. People were chatting in small groups and in low voices when they heard several loud reports.

The streets had been blocked off for the procession to the church, so everyone was surprised to see an automobile turn the corner a block away and drive away from them for a short distance. Then it stopped and began backing rapidly their way!

"Everyone, get down!" ordered Steve as he moved in front of the gathering to face the car backing toward them. The automobile stopped about fifty feet from Steve. A man suddenly appeared through the sun roof and threw something at the group. The driver then gunned the engine and peeled rubber as he sped away.

Steve immediately recognized the danger that they all faced. The man had thrown a grenade at them! Steve knew that there would be an explosion within seconds, and the carnage would be extensive. He instinctively moved to his right and snatched the missile in mid-flight.

Gwen, along with many others, watched in stunned silence as Steve made the catch. Then he immediately stepped forward and rifled the object back in the direction of the car. Gwen was certain that he threw it so hard that it would land well in front of the speeding automobile, even as it accelerated up the street.

Because Steve threw it hard and on a low trajectory, it was only airborne for a couple of seconds. Many of the observers gasped as they saw the small object somehow drop through the open sunroof of the speeding car!

A second later, everyone was knocked backward by a powerful concussion as the car exploded before their eyes. Debris flew high into the air before settling harmlessly in the street and on the deserted sidewalk. Smoke began billowing from the shell of the automobile as gendarmes raced around the same corner the car had so recently turned. They had guns drawn, but slowed to a walk as they surveyed the charred metal that had been an automobile only a few seconds earlier.

Several officers continued on to consult the officers that had been patrolling the area. There was a quick exchange before one of the gendarmes approached Steve and shook his hand before questioning him about the encounter. Steve and the officer walked away from the group as he described his actions. He also asked the officer about the apparent gun shots that sounded shortly before the car appeared.

A few minutes, Steve returned to his friends. "There were four men in that car. They shot the two policemen that were charged with keeping the street closed, but both are expected to live. The guys that were in the car are scattered all to hell and gone. They might have had other explosives with them because that was quite a blast for one grenade to make."

By the time Steve finished his synopsis to his friends; several reporters were in front of him, asking questions. Steve patiently responded to every question, responding in French when the reporters asked in French and in English to the English speaking reporters.

"Your young man certainly came through for us," praised Senator Chatham as she wiped the perspiration from her brow. "That was some fast thinking. The rest of us were frozen in place, but he knew exactly what to do, and how to do it. I still can't believe he managed to drop the grenade inside that car when it was going so fast, and was so far away!"

"He's an extremely fast thinker," agreed Gwen with obvious pride. "His instincts take over in times of danger. He's a great athlete, and with U.S. Navy SEAL training, he's honed his skills even more. He's a wonderfully gentle man most of the time, but he's hell on terrorists. That's for sure!"

It was decided that the original schedule for the service would be followed, in spite of the failed attack. Many of the people in French law enforcement felt it would even be beneficial if the news showed the burned out husk of the car as a deterrent to future attacks. Near the end of the memorial, Jordan and Charlie were asked to speak. Jordan spoke for them both.

"Charlie and I are proud to be here to help represent the President of the United States at this most somber of occasions. We share your grief, and your anger. Children are precious, as is all human life. We pray that these children finally find the love and peace they sought all of their lives, and which they so richly deserve.

"Tonight, the people of Paris and the world are invited to join us as we celebrate the lives of these children that were taken from this world far too soon. We ask that you remember what happened here and consider ways to improve the world so that it never happens again. This evening, we dedicate our performance to the children of the world. May they enjoy a life without famine, war, disease, or intolerance!"

It was obvious that the crowd wanted to applaud Jordan, but the somber attitude of the occasion muted the reaction from the audience. Most watchers simply nodded and wiped tears from their eyes.

"I'm always impressed by how well Jordan speaks and how meaningful and insightful her speeches are," remarked Gwen to Steve as they prepared to be introduced.

Everyone in the crowd knew the actions Steve had taken earlier and was excited to hear him speak. When he and Gwen were introduced, those in attendance struggled to control their enthusiasm.

"Thank you!" began Gwen, before gesturing toward Steve. "He's amazing, isn't he? We didn't come here to praise Steve, but rather to say our farewells to these precious souls that were taken so violently from us. We feel your loss. We all lost something the day these children died, as we all lose every time senseless acts of violence are committed.

"We, all of us citizens of the world, need to strive to eliminate the causes for these unspeakable crimes against humanity. We need to end hunger and disease, educate the intolerant, and help the least among us to prosper. Of course, if that were easy, it would already have been done.

"People need food. We can provide it short term, but for the long term, we have to find ways to raise it everywhere that people live. We need to provide vaccines and health care to the less fortunate, especially children. We have to educate people, not so they think the same as us, but so they learn to determine their own destinies. All people want these things for their children and loved ones. All people deserve the opportunity to be safe and happy. All of us need to do our part. We have to remove the causes of terrorism, and help the less fortunate. This is our challenge. The people of the world must determine their response."

The crowd had been very quiet as Gwen spoke. As she finished, they were once again nodding agreement. Then Steve stepped in front of the microphone and spoke in fluent French. His speech was short and very much to the point.

"We were asked by our President to represent him here today. We were asked to convey his deepest sympathy for these innocents that were taken from us. While the U.S. does believe that we must all work together to end intolerance, we also pledge that we will never yield to terrorism, nor will we allow it to go unpunished. We will do all we can to improve the lot of people around the world, but we will also pursue justice for these cowardly, despicable acts against innocent victims. That's our pledge to you!"

The French President spoke next. When he concluded his short speech the mourners lined up about twenty across for the slow procession to the church. It was intended to be a sign of unity and determination by leaders from around the world. Steve found himself in the front line, to the right of the wife of President Marchant of France, and left of the Chancellor of Germany. He was able to converse with both ladies as they walked, thus allowing him interesting discussions with both women as they proceeded to the funeral.

Gwen was delighted to find herself walking between President Marchant and the British Prime Minister, while Jordan was on the other side of the British Prime Minister with the Italian Prime Minister to her left. Charlie was also in the front line between the wives of the Prime Ministers of Italy and England.

The procession moved slowly and took over an hour to reach the church. As they walked, thousands of people watched from behind barriers. Cameras and phones were in constant use. Seldom would the general public have the opportunity to see so many famous figures in one place.

Gwen, Jordan, Charlie and Steve were seated near the front for the funeral services. Steve chuckled to himself when he saw the rest of the American delegation sitting near the back of the huge church. After the service, Senator Chatham confirmed what Steve had suspected.

"There are some very pissed off American politicians in Paris today. They wouldn't even speak to me since you're my attaché, although it feels more and more like I'm your assistant," whispered Senator Chatham as she and Steve met up after the service. "I'm staying at your hotel again tonight and I'll be watching your concert from the rooftop of a business on the Champs-Elysees. The French are expecting a huge turnout this evening, so bring your A-game."

It was a little before seven PM, Paris time when the foursome stepped into the elevator to ride to the top of the French national monument. Their volunteer band had gone up an hour earlier to be certain their instruments and equipment were in place and properly set up.

Gwen was wearing a short red dress that also displayed a fair amount of cleavage as it clung to her body. Steve and Charlie wore tight shirts and jeans while Jordan was dressed in a dark blue, low cut dress with spaghetti straps. As he rode to the top, Steve wondered if the material of the dress would be able to contain her ample breasts.

Once out of the elevator, the foursome climbed the makeshift steps to the large round platform sitting in the center of the monument's roof. Four cameramen were seated on crane-like devises that could each move left and right in a thirty degree arc. The four cameras would be able to broadcast the faces, or at least the profiles of the singers, regardless of which direction they faced. All four performers had been instructed to keep moving and to face in all directions as equally as possible since fans were crowded out from the Arc de Triomphe in every direction.

Once on the stage, Gwen felt her knees grow weak for a few seconds. All of Paris was aglow. The Eiffel Tower was clearly visible and appeared surprisingly close. Then she lowered her eyes to the crowd below. She slowly turned as she looked over the sea of humanity. In every direction, on every avenue, people were standing as far as her eyes could see!

"My God!" gasped the usually imperturbable Jordan. "Look at all of the people! This is huge!"

Steve felt some jitters as he passed out the wireless microphones to his friends. He forced himself to take deep breaths as he mentally prepared himself for the introduction, which fell on him since he spoke French.

The Jumbotrons showed his dazzling smile in detail before switching to Gwen's beautiful face. Next Jordan and Charlie were seen as they walked with Steve and Gwen to the center of the circular platform.

"Hello, Paris! We're here to entertain you, but more importantly, we're here tonight to remember the children that lost their lives in an horrendous act of terrorism. We celebrate their lives, and mourn their passing. Let's please have a moment of silence for those beautiful children," requested Steve before bowing his head for a short time.

"We'd like to start the evening with a couple of songs dedicated to those children that survived the attack. Know that this city, this country, and the entire world love you and want nothing but the best for all of you."

Steve was joined by his friends as they once again performed 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', with Jordan and Gwen singing in perfect harmony as Steve and Charlie backed them. The crowd was obviously emotional as faces of people in the crowd were flashed on the huge screens from time to time. Once the applause died down for that song, the two couples joined to sing 'Let It Be' which Steve and Gwen had also sung at the memorial service for their friends that were killed in the attack in Sparta years earlier. Hundreds of thousands of voices joined theirs in the refrain. Once again, tears flowed on every avenue.

Then the stage went dark for a minute or so, before the driving drum beat told the crowd that the show was set to begin. Although they now had numerous hit records, the four friends knew that people expected and wanted 'We Will Rock You' to open the show. It had become their much anticipated opening number over the years.

Gwen sang lead, but with no instruments to play, Jordan, Charlie, and Steve participated more in backing Gwen.

Jordan then delivered one of her early hits. France had a surprising appreciation of country music and Jordan delivered them as well as anyone. The crowd loved it. The friends took turns with their personal hits and concert favorites. They made a conscious effort to keep moving on the platform so they faced all of the fans at various points in the performance.

Early in the show, Steve and Charlie picked up guitars and performed 'Bad Moon Rising' as the full moon appeared above the skyline. Once they finished, Jordan came forward to perform one of her biggest hits, 'Stand By Me'. The Jumbotrons showed her singing with the moon directly behind her. When the applause died down, Charlie sang Van Morrison's 'Moon Dance' with Jordan backing him. Steve and Gwen performed a very lively dance as their friends sang. Many of the thousands watching began dancing as well.

The applause was long and loud as the audience showed its approval of the singing and the dancing. Then Steve and Gwen came forward to join in singing 'Moon River' with the cameras moving to show the full moon behind the couple in the foreground as they sang. Once again the huge crowd demonstrated its appreciation at the end of the song. They seldom heard Gwen and Steve harmonize on a song, and they had just done so beautifully.