diff --git a/app/api/add-page/route.ts b/app/api/add-page/route.ts
index 1a5f2fc..eaf72e5 100644
--- a/app/api/add-page/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/add-page/route.ts
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
     });
 
     const client = new Together({
-      apiKey: process.env.TOGETHER_API_KEY_DEFAULT,
+      apiKey: process.env.TOGETHER_API_KEY,
     });
 
     let response;
diff --git a/app/api/check-credits/route.ts b/app/api/check-credits/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c65b93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/api/check-credits/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+import { type NextRequest, NextResponse } from "next/server";
+import { auth } from "@clerk/nextjs/server";
+import { freeTierRateLimit } from "@/lib/rate-limit";
+import { db } from "@/lib/db";
+import { stories } from "@/lib/schema";
+import { gte } from "drizzle-orm";
+
+export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
+  try {
+    const { userId } = await auth();
+
+    if (!userId) {
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: "Authentication required" },
+        { status: 401 }
+      );
+    }
+
+    const { hasApiKey } = await request.json();
+
+    // Check if user has API key (unlimited)
+    if (hasApiKey) {
+      return NextResponse.json({
+        hasApiKey: true,
+        creditsRemaining: "unlimited",
+        resetTime: null,
+      });
+    }
+
+    // For free tier, check rate limit status
+    try {
+      // Try to check remaining without consuming
+      const limitResult = await freeTierRateLimit.getRemaining(userId);
+
+      return NextResponse.json({
+        hasApiKey: false,
+        creditsRemaining: limitResult.remaining,
+        resetTime: limitResult.reset,
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Rate limit check error:", error);
+      // Fallback to database check
+      const sevenDaysAgo = new Date();
+      sevenDaysAgo.setDate(sevenDaysAgo.getDate() - 7);
+
+      const recentStories = await db
+        .select()
+        .from(stories)
+        .where(gte(stories.createdAt, sevenDaysAgo))
+        .limit(1);
+
+      const hasUsedCredit = recentStories.length > 0;
+
+      return NextResponse.json({
+        hasApiKey: false,
+        creditsRemaining: hasUsedCredit ? 0 : 1,
+        resetTime: hasUsedCredit ? sevenDaysAgo.getTime() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000 : null,
+      });
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error("Error in check-credits API:", error);
+    return NextResponse.json(
+      {
+        error: `Internal server error: ${
+          error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Unknown error"
+        }`,
+      },
+      { status: 500 }
+    );
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/api/generate-comic/route.ts b/app/api/generate-comic/route.ts
index 3270c62..512f14c 100644
--- a/app/api/generate-comic/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/generate-comic/route.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
 
     if (isUsingFreeTier) {
       // Use default API key for free tier
-      finalApiKey = process.env.TOGETHER_API_KEY_DEFAULT;
+      finalApiKey = process.env.TOGETHER_API_KEY
       if (!finalApiKey) {
         return NextResponse.json(
           {
diff --git a/app/story/[storySlug]/story-editor-client.tsx b/app/story/[storySlug]/story-editor-client.tsx
index acaa741..ca8fac5 100644
--- a/app/story/[storySlug]/story-editor-client.tsx
+++ b/app/story/[storySlug]/story-editor-client.tsx
@@ -167,16 +167,55 @@ export function StoryEditorClient() {
   }, [pages.length, apiKey]);
 
 
-  const handleAddPage = () => {
+  const handleAddPage = async () => {
     if (!isLoaded || !isSignedIn) {
       return;
     }
-    
-    if (!apiKey && pages.length >= 1) {
-      setShowApiModal(true);
-      return;
+
+    // Check credits
+    try {
+      const hasApiKey = !!apiKey;
+      const response = await fetch('/api/check-credits', {
+        method: 'POST',
+        headers: {
+          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        },
+        body: JSON.stringify({ hasApiKey }),
+      });
+      const data = await response.json();
+
+      if (!response.ok) {
+        toast({
+          title: "Error",
+          description: "Failed to check credits",
+          variant: "destructive",
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (hasApiKey || data.creditsRemaining === "unlimited") {
+        // Has API key, unlimited
+        setShowGenerateModal(true);
+      } else if (data.creditsRemaining > 0) {
+        // Has credits
+        setShowGenerateModal(true);
+        } else {
+          // No credits left, show API modal
+          setShowApiModal(true);
+          toast({
+            title: "No credits remaining",
+            description: "You get 1 credit weekly. Add an API key for unlimited generation.",
+            variant: "destructive",
+          });
+        }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Error checking credits:", error);
+      toast({
+        title: "Error",
+        description: "Failed to check credits",
+        variant: "destructive",
+      });
     }
-    setShowGenerateModal(true);
   };
 
   const handleRedrawPage = () => {
diff --git a/components/api-key-modal.tsx b/components/api-key-modal.tsx
index 955fcbe..51c8117 100644
--- a/components/api-key-modal.tsx
+++ b/components/api-key-modal.tsx
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ export function ApiKeyModal({ isOpen, onClose, onSubmit }: ApiKeyModalProps) {
               : "Add your API key to continue"}
           </DialogTitle>
 
-          <DialogDescription className="text-center text-muted-foreground">
-            {existingKey
-              ? "Update your Together API key or add a new one. You can also delete your existing key."
-              : "Your first page was free! Add your Together API key to generate more pages."}
-          </DialogDescription>
+           <DialogDescription className="text-center text-muted-foreground">
+             {existingKey
+               ? "Update your Together API key or add a new one. You can also delete your existing key."
+               : "You've used your weekly credit! Add your Together API key for unlimited generation."}
+           </DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
 
         <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-4 mt-4">
diff --git a/components/landing/comic-creation-form.tsx b/components/landing/comic-creation-form.tsx
index 01980d8..2204d2b 100644
--- a/components/landing/comic-creation-form.tsx
+++ b/components/landing/comic-creation-form.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { COMIC_STYLES } from "@/lib/constants";
 import { useKeyboardShortcut } from "@/hooks/use-keyboard-shortcut";
 import { useApiKey } from "@/hooks/use-api-key";
 import { isContentPolicyViolation } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { ApiKeyModal } from "@/components/api-key-modal";
 
 interface ComicCreationFormProps {
   prompt: string;
@@ -23,11 +24,14 @@ interface ComicCreationFormProps {
   setIsLoading: (loading: boolean) => void;
 }
 
+const DEFAULT_STYLE = 'noir';
+const STYLE_STORAGE_KEY = 'comic-style-preference';
+
 export function ComicCreationForm({
   prompt,
   setPrompt,
-  style,
-  setStyle,
+  style: initialStyle,
+  setStyle: setParentStyle,
   characterFiles,
   setCharacterFiles,
   isLoading,
@@ -39,11 +43,22 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
   const { uploadToS3 } = useS3Upload();
   const { isSignedIn, isLoaded } = useAuth();
   const { openSignIn } = useClerk();
-  const [apiKey] = useApiKey();
+  const [apiKey, setApiKey] = useApiKey();
   const hasApiKey = !!apiKey;
   const [previews, setPreviews] = useState<string[]>([]);
   const [showPreview, setShowPreview] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [showStyleDropdown, setShowStyleDropdown] = useState(false);
+  const [creditsRemaining, setCreditsRemaining] = useState<number | null>(null);
+  const [showApiModal, setShowApiModal] = useState(false);
+
+  // Initialize style with saved preference or default
+  const [style, setStyle] = useState(() => {
+    if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
+      const saved = localStorage.getItem(STYLE_STORAGE_KEY);
+      return saved || initialStyle || DEFAULT_STYLE;
+    }
+    return initialStyle || DEFAULT_STYLE;
+  });
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const textareaRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
 
@@ -78,6 +93,38 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
     }
   }, []); // Run only on mount
 
+  // Save style to localStorage and sync with parent
+  useEffect(() => {
+    localStorage.setItem(STYLE_STORAGE_KEY, style);
+    setParentStyle(style);
+  }, [style, setParentStyle]);
+
+  // Fetch credits on mount
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isSignedIn && !hasApiKey) {
+      const fetchCredits = async () => {
+        try {
+          const response = await fetch('/api/check-credits', {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: {
+              'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+            },
+            body: JSON.stringify({ hasApiKey: false }),
+          });
+          const data = await response.json();
+          if (response.ok) {
+            setCreditsRemaining(data.creditsRemaining);
+          }
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.error('Error fetching credits:', error);
+        }
+      };
+      fetchCredits();
+    } else if (hasApiKey) {
+      setCreditsRemaining(null); // Unlimited
+    }
+  }, [isSignedIn, hasApiKey]);
+
   // Keyboard shortcut for form submission
   useKeyboardShortcut(() => {
     if (!isLoading && prompt.trim()) {
@@ -151,15 +198,33 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
     setLoadingStep(0);
 
     try {
-      if (!apiKey) {
-        toast({
-          title: "API key required",
-          description: "Please add your API key to generate comics.",
-          variant: "destructive",
-          duration: 3000,
+      // Check credits
+      const hasApiKey = !!apiKey;
+      if (!hasApiKey) {
+        const creditsResponse = await fetch('/api/check-credits', {
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: {
+            'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+          },
+          body: JSON.stringify({ hasApiKey }),
         });
-        setIsLoading(false);
-        return;
+        const creditsData = await creditsResponse.json();
+
+        if (!creditsResponse.ok) {
+          toast({
+            title: "Error",
+            description: "Failed to check credits",
+            variant: "destructive",
+          });
+          setIsLoading(false);
+          return;
+        }
+
+        if (creditsData.creditsRemaining === 0) {
+          setShowApiModal(true);
+          setIsLoading(false);
+          return;
+        }
       }
 
       const characterUploads = await Promise.all(
@@ -174,7 +239,7 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
         },
         body: JSON.stringify({
           prompt,
-          apiKey,
+          ...(apiKey && { apiKey }),
           style,
           characterImages: characterUploads,
         }),
@@ -214,6 +279,11 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
     }
   };
 
+  const handleApiKeySubmit = (key: string) => {
+    setApiKey(key);
+    setShowApiModal(false);
+  };
+
   const handleKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLTextAreaElement>) => {
     const isEnter = e.key === "Enter" || e.key === "\n" || e.keyCode === 13;
     const isModifierPressed = e.shiftKey || e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey; // metaKey for Cmd on Mac
@@ -418,7 +488,7 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
               {hasApiKey ? (
                 <>Using your API key (~$0.01 per comic)</>
               ) : (
-                <>1 credit weekly</>
+                <>{creditsRemaining !== null ? `${creditsRemaining} credit${creditsRemaining === 1 ? '' : 's'} remaining` : 'Checking credits...'}</>
               )}
             </div>
           </div>
@@ -431,6 +501,12 @@ export function ComicCreationForm({
           </SignInButton>
         )}
       </div>
+
+      <ApiKeyModal
+        isOpen={showApiModal}
+        onClose={() => setShowApiModal(false)}
+        onSubmit={handleApiKeySubmit}
+      />
     </>
   );
 }
\ No newline at end of file